The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-03-27

- sweeping the parochial territory,
had announced: "A Lawn Party, to be
given under the auspices of the Blank
Street Colored Baptist Church, at the
residence OF Mrs. James Williamson, No
70 Blank Street. on the evening of
Thursday, July =. Music. Illumination.
Refreshments. Proceeds to go for the
benefit of the Colored kindergarten in
Alabama. The public cordially invited.
Admission, ten cents"
1t IS only the conventional magma
ton that cannot picture a lawn party
without a lawn. Sarah Williamson's
neighbors had anything but conventional
imaginatiOns, and the knowledge that
the lawn party was to be such in spirit
rather than in letter excited neither their
wonder nor their derision. For the
Williamsons, like all their neighbors. had
a yard, and the distinction between
slOping terraces of velvet turf and this
sun-scorched rectangle, arid and stony,
whose occasional patches of hardy, yell
lowed weed-growth were its nearest ap-
proach to verdure, seemed, to these in
genuous observers, unimportant.
Thus, amid untold speculation and ex-
appointed Thursday: day of oppressive
length, inasmuch as the lawn party was
not to come into being until the fashion
able hour of eight o'clock For the
greater number of prospective patrons
this hour implied too prolonged a de-
ferring OF hope, and it was barely six
when, from nearby street corners and
porches, scores of uneasy black eyes
were already directed toward the incipi-
ent function. This excess of neighboriy
interest had, however, been anticipated
by the hostess, who knew that she was
IN no danger of being misunderstood
when she armed her husband with her
entire stock of household linen, that he
might drape with prohibitive sheets the
high picket fence, through whose ac-
commodating interstices the lawn party
was in danger of being witnessed free
OF charge by the meanest hereto. But
no sooner were there heard Jim Will
l1amson's brisk hammer-strokes lacking
the sheets in place than nimble army
advanced to the attack. Meanwhile, on
the promise of two plates of ice-cream
apiece, to be eaten in advance, Sarah
retained as aides two cheerful young
neighbors, of whose agility she had had
frequent, If annoying, proof AS their
first duty, these were set to repel the
persistently intruded heads of the ex-
tramural horde. Wherever there appear
ed a grinning chocolate face, above, be-
low, between the sheets, it was the task
of Sarah's young gentlemen forcibly to
compel its withdrawal. This difficult
defence they accomplished as effectually
as any Horatius at the Bridge; and en-
joyed it keenly witha1, there being no
hard feeling among either besiegers or
besieged
Seven O'Clock came Saraf's strong,
even voice could be heard in argument
with the "ice-cream man." The re
freshments" had arrived, and the proper
method of preserving the consistency of
that most perishable of delicacies was
discussed at exciting length. Eph and
Benjamin Harrison, the modern Ho-
ratii, could not but relax their military
vigilance to overhear the toothsome de-
tails.
"Yo' are positive bout de chocklit ?"
was Sarai's final admonition, after the
man had sworn upon his honor as a
purveyor that the Refreshments" would
not melt before midnight.
Eph and Benjamin Harrison danced
with emotion.
GO back ter yo' fencesp commanded
Sarah. Then, herself intoxicated by the
realization that the machinery of the
event was finally in motion, she directed
Jim to hang the six Japanese lanterns.
To distribute these to the best adj
vantage proved something of a problem.
But the peach-tree plainly suggested it
self as a starting-point The right to
existence of this. tree, the only one the
yard afforded supplied a permanent topic
of debate between Sarah and Jim, mas
much as some years back it had rebelled
so strongly against existence that al
though one-half of it still feebly -four
ished, the other half stood withered and
stark Accordingly, Jim hung two Ian
terms on the tree and lighted them
Then he looked helplessly about for
other points of suspension. Too close
contact with the sheets must be avoided,
while to hang the remaining lanterns on
the porch would be to reveal too plainly
the accommodations for Refreshments"
"Gwanl Hang 'em on de close-line =
sung out BENJAMIN Harrison, resource
fully
Thus aided, Jim perceived that by its
construction the square clothes-frame,
revolving about pole, was indeed the
logical centre of illumination. To the
four corners of this respectable family
institution the remaining watch-fires OF
philanthropy were made secure. he
illumination" was complete
From this point excitement qulckehea
both within and without the barrier OF
sheets Without, in the streets, there
were the swelling murr1ur of voices and
the idle scuffle that IS never heard ex-
cept when work-hours are over. The
mild flare of lights within had sharpen
ed the interest of the watchers. Fas-
cinated. intent, they followed the shape
less shadows that now moved vaguely
across the sheets The rites OF prepare
ton were plainly under way.
Within. the air grew close and sitting.
Sarah. impressive in massive comb,
and flowing white necktie that reached
TO her ample lavender waist, moved
nervously about, tortured by an anxiety
which many more experienced hostess
will understand. Mainstay OF the &C