Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-06
FOR A PORCH PARTY
A Few Hints How to Go
About One.
T KES INGEN UT Y
ESPECIALLY WHERE WAYS AND
MEANS ARE LIMITED.
Cooling Drinks, Plenty Seats, Plants
or Vines and Other Ac-
ceSsorieS.
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
One of the most unique and pleasant
modes of summer entertaining has been
evolved from the brains of a few clever
women blessed with originality and adapt
ability to all conditions of living.
Unless one is the fortunate possessor of
large and picturesque lawn, home
parry in the open air seems out of the
question. Yet the typical indoor affair with
piano playing, ice cream, cake. desultory
dancing and card playing, has become al
together an old story, and a thing not to
be desired on a warm, dreamy, midsummer
evening.
But if you have a porch, and clever fin
gers to decorate it, you may give pretty
and pleasant outdoor party, even if you
do not possess a square inch of grass
around the house. OF course, there are
porches and porches. In fact, there are
porches, verandas and plain, everyday
stoops. The stoop is out of the question,
because on moonlit night it only takes
two to make successful stoop party. Even
a Chinese lantern would be de trop.
If you live in a whole house, with a
large veranda attached, invite all the guests
you want The overflow will sit the
steps and ratings and think it all the more
fun Chinese and Japanese lanterns are
the first essentials. The toy ones. which
can be bought for ten cents or fifteen cents
a dozen, are pretty to string on cords and
loop overhead, while the large ones may
be hung between the posts.
Beg borrow steal a few palms or
rubber plants. They are cool and decora-
tive, but put them in places where no one
will stumble over them. Flowering ole
anders or aZaleaS look well in the soft
light and some climbing vines on the out
side will transform your porch into a veri
table fairy bower. One woman, who lives
in the suburbs and had no chance of get
~, a1r,,C vnIan Mt
punches of sweet clover, and nailed them
around the top of the porch and in the
corners The effect was delightful. and
the faint, sweet fragrance added a rustic
charm.
The Goody Corner.
One corner should be utilized for the re-
freshment table Place it conveniently near
an open window, so that the dishes may
be passed in and out of 1t, and thus avoid
going around among the guests. The table
should either have a pretty girl in attend
ance or run ITSELF in buffet style. Ice
cream, cake and sandwiches are the stand
ard eatables, but variation is possible, es-
pecially with the sandwiches. 1t is best to
choose filings that are easily kept cool.
Deviled yolks of eggs on lettuce are dainty,
or ham and nuts chopped together very fine
and mixed with mayonnaise may be used.
Salad sandwiches to be preferred to
plain meat butter is then Unnecessary
We have all experienced plain ham or cold
meat sandwiches in warm weather with
the butter in a hopeless state of LIQUID col
lapse.
Iced tea should be on hand in abundance
A separate smaller table may be used for
drinks. Have the tea in a large glass
pitcher, fanked by a fancy bowl of loaf
sugar and slices of lemon placed in a glass
dish with cracked ice.
Fruit lemonade is delicious, inexpensive
and easy to make. Use as many oranges
as you do lemons for foundation and add
either crushed strawberries or red rasp-
berries. The dark berries are not good 10
use, as they give BLUSH color to the wa
ter, which spells the effect. Save some Of
the finest berries whole to put in last. Add
slices OF orange, some red cherries and
sprigs of green peppermint, and you will
have a tempting beverage for a warm
night.
Suit All Tastes.
Ices may take the place of ice cream II
desired, and the menu may be varied to
suit the taste or ability of the hostess A
girl who gave a porch party to her class
mates decorated entirely with wild crab
apple blossoms, and all the refreshments
were strawberries served in different STYLES
Another, with a taste for the unique gave
a flower costume party, where each guest
represented some flower Prizes were given
for the best costume, and also for the most
complete list of correct guesseS. One
young man was declared ineligible because
he had not complied with the spirit of the
party by coming in fancy costume, but
sharp-eyed girl spied safety pin fastened
on the lapel of his coat and put him down
as bachelors button"
In one of the top floor eyries of a four
story apartment house a porch party was
given last July. which is to be duplicated
this year, owing to its great success. The
inhabitants Of the eyre are trio of young