The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-24

supper that they have provided.
There was big church supper not long
ago. Now. be sure to come tonight said
little woman of the church to male ac-
quaintance. "Our section isn't giving it.
and l can't guarantee that it will be first
class in every respect. of course, but it will
only cost you so cents and you will be con-
tributing to good cause. It's for charity,
you know
The male acquaintance went. He con-
cluded that he might as well spend his sc
cents that way as any other. 1t is true
that he had been arranging for different
sort of disposition of the money, but then,
he argued there are other 80 centses and
he might, by hard work get hold of an
other some time. Any way he went
to the supper and took chances And from
what he there himself and from what
he heard, and from what he CLEANED from
others who were present, he is in a posi-
ton to give reasonably faithful account
of that supper from its inception TO its
finish.
1t wasn't the tip-top section that was
giving the supper, but the ladies who were
acting as the hostesses were bent upon
outshining their more celebrated rivals. The
one great fault was their lack of system
and the determination of each one of them
not to allow any other one of them to
assume the dignity of commander general
Now. you bring ham, and you bring
oysters and you bring cake were the
orders given; but nobody paid any attention
TO these orders. Each woman brought just
what she chose TO bring, and just as much
the afternoon preceding the supper ar
rived, many women appeared upon the
scene loaded down with baskets containing
cakes, crackers, pickles. jellies, pies and
doughnuts. but nothing in the way of sub
stantial edibles. 1t was only through the
most frantic hustling and bustling and end
less telephoning that anything like a real
supper was made ready for the expected
guests at 80 cents per guest.
When o'clock came. all too soon. the
little kitchen adjoining the big dining room
was filled with tired women. young and
old, and all of them as cross as the pro-
verbal bundle of sticks. One young lady
a new bride, who had asserted weeks be-
fore that she could make the best coffee
that anybody ever tasted. had begged to
be permitted to prepare that beverage and
ii was decided to allow her to distinguish
herself. AT the last moment it was found
that the coffee-pot leaked and so il was
necessary TO make the coffee i'm a large
milk can.
How many cups shall prepare?" asked
the young matTon of several women who
were surrounding her. each one of whom
was itching 70 make the coffee herself. Il
always measure it carefully. you know
allowing a heaping tablespoonful for each
cup, and one for the pot
well. my dear friend, said sharp
faced woman. just two pounds Of cof-
fee have been doEated and you are ex-
pected by some peorle--ladies who were
told only yesterday to bring a pound each
of coffee and who turned up this evening
with several bags of doughnuts-to make
four gallons OF the liquid refreshment out
of the material you have on hand. I'd adj
wise you to put IN the two pounds and fill
the can up with water" And the sharp
faced one glared mercilessly at three en-
barrassed young women who were fast re-
treating from the kitchen.
SO the little bride did as she was told
as those who drank some OF the beverage
later Will bear witness. She filed the