Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-08
A MOSQUITO PARTY
A New Way TO Avoid an
Annoying Pest.
DRAPED UMBRELLAS
CLOTHES SATURATED WITH
KEROSENE HELP, TOO.
Other Precautionary Measures Are
Necessary to Do Away With
This Evil.
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star
So unusually annoying has been the mos
quito pest this year that several new de-
vices for avoiding the trouble have sprung
up. The most ingenious Is the umbrella
cage and SO popular has it become among
people In the mosquito regions that they
even give mosquito parties, where each
one sits In comfortable cage Of mosquito
netting of pink. blue, green, red or yellow.
The first time I saw this unique device I
was filled with delight. Visiting a neighbor
one evening. fancy my surprise on ap-
preaching the house to see what resem-
bled several huge pink cabbage roses squat
ted about on the piazza. Drawing nearer.
they resolved themselves into gauzy cages,
each of which contained an Individual. On
reaching the piazza steps, one Of them
arose to greet me and I saw to my sur
prise that she held in her hand an UNI
brella- over which were gathered a couple
or widths or pink mosquito netting. Ex-
tending her hand through the seam in
front she greeted me, and, inviting me to
a seat provided me with cage" OF
course, was eager to learn all about the
construction of the wonderful affair. I
found 1t very simple and easily made. Two
breadthS Of mosquito netting, each about
two and a half or three yards long, sewed
together to form one wide piece, are all
that Is required Gather this piece up at
one end, leaving hole large enough to in
sert the top of an umbrella. Now close
the open seam at the top a yard or more
and 1t Is ready for the umbrella. the top
piece OF which should be slipped through
the puckered up end. When the umbrella
Is opened and held over the head the mos
quito netting will fall in cascade to the
feet at a sufficient distance from the body
to insure safety from a bite 1t can be
kept closed in front by pinning or merely
tapping 1t over.
was so delighted with the device that
L lmmeolately purchased a quantity OF diff
ferent colored netting and had one made
or three for company. I also purchased
couple Of extra umbrellas. The large cot
ton variety which costs very little Is the
best. We now resemble a bouquet of
giant poSies as we sit on our piazza, en-
joying the cool air of evening, free from
the sting and scratch, punctuated with
frequent slaps which had become the in
evitable accompaniment Of our evening
conversation.
Grandpa Size.
OF course. a very large person would
need an extra big umbrella and perhaps
another breadth Of netting So it might
be well to have a special cage for grandpa
If he weighs more than 200 pounds. It
could be made Of a stationary umbrella,
such as one sees on the big trucks. This
would be sure to protect him all around
and, as 1t would hold two smaller people
Edwin and Angela could occupy It to.
gether in his absence, or nurse and the
baby would find 1t most convenient. In
fact think 1t would be well for every
summer piazza to have at least one of
these large stationary cages. Not having
to hold the umbrella, one could employ the
hands With whatever occupation one chose,
embroidering, crocneting or simply waving
fan to the accompaniment Of the ex-
tormentor's buzz
We have had many jolly parties under our
gay nets. while the fragrant Joss stick burns
near by, filling the air with its pungent
odor. which is also effective in driving
away this inveterate pest, and, while walk
use our cages, we carry lighted Joss sticks
in our hair. OF course the boys can't do
this, as their crop is too short, but then to-
bacco fumes serve the same purpose.
The Present Season.
August and September are months when