The Washington times., 1905-12-29

All seasons very evidently held beauty
and happiness for Whittier. but with
his snow bound. his frost spirit and
other poems of like nature. the fact that
his birthday anniversary comes on De-
cember IL seems particularly appropri-
ate. Whittier's centennial is not far
away. the coming anniversary making
the ninety-eighth birthday of the poet.
who died in September. 1892.
The nearness of the anniversary date
makes Whittier the netx in the series
of birthday luncheons for American
poets.
The table of honor may be a play
upon the poets unusual middle name
in decoration. In his poem MY Name
sake he takes this liberty himself. in
serting the line. "A Greenleaf on your
own green banks in his first stanza.
This may be chosen the line &C dec
oration for the first table. or merely the
name OF the poet may be used. For
another the use of cut flowers viii an
swer TO the half-line breath OF flowers
from "At Eventide,' and still another
table OF cut flowers may be used with
the line BLOW from summers blossom
ed land from the Prayer Of Agassiz. q"
! II hemlocks or a like green may be Sc
|cured Snow Bounds"
THE soznbre green
OF hemlock-"
will make a pretty winter table.
For the outside page of the folder
menu, water-color vines OF green leaves
should be used. II a folder is not de-
sired heavy card with the leaves deli
cately painted and the menu printed
over is equally attractive The dates
December II, 1s97-September Z. 1892.
should be printed Immediately below
the full name OF the poet. II the folder
Is used this will be placed on the first
page; IL the card. at the TOP. Fer the
second page of the folder or Immediate
ly beneath the dates on the card this
lire from 'Peace-Autumn''- that
sits as Plenty's guest"
IL an opening course of oysters Is
served take the line Their scallop-
shells so many bring" from My Name
sake" for the description For a bouil-
Ion course which may follow, another
line from the same poem-"Imagination
held in check"-will serve. Fish OF any
kind may be described as follows:
gather
Old oceans treasures in"
This comes from THE Fisherman"
For the roast or meat course two lines
from THE Drovers''. may he CHOSEN to
serve: NO bones Of leanness rattle"
or
stately beeve bespeaks the hand
That fed him unrepining"
Salad, with its bad reputation as a
digestive. may be described by the use
of the lines:
''-somehow smuggled in
To keep the thorns and thistIes com
pany."
This comes from The Fruit Gift" If
game course is wanted the lines from
The Exiles:"
Ny life is hunted-evlI men
Are following In my track"
may be used
coming In the very shadow Of the
holiday time. and following so closely
the Thanksgiving season, the regulation
coffee cakes and cream might be varied
al TINS whittier luncheon, and pumpkin
pie, apples, nuts and sweet cider served
instead. Before the serving OF the pump
Kin pie some one should read the poet 5
poem TO the Pumpkin Pie" which is
vivid enough 10 make the mouth water
even after so hearty repast as the one
outlined on the menu should read:
Thy life be as sweet. and its last sun
set sky
Goiden-tinted and fair as thy own
pumpkin pie"
Then while the nuts and apples are
eaten and the cider slipped. the whole or
Passages from Snow Bound" should |
be read. These lines from the poem
should be found on the menu card:
The mug Of cider simmered slow
The apples sputtered in a row.
Ana close ar nand the basket stood
with nuts from brown October's wood. "