The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-05-10

BY MARGARET e. SANGsTER.
As the bright spring weather sets
our pulses dancing and wakens slug
gish blood to quicker flow in our
veins, the social instinct reasserts H.
self. We want some form of festivity
that suits the season, something tina.
may be enjoyed in the daytime when
every shower passes of with a rain
bow, and the sunbeams glitter on new
leaves and budding flowers.
A majority Of the women's clubs
and patriotic societies have chosen the
spring as their time for anniversary
occasions, when DANES and daughters
rally at a central point Of conveyance
and when all sorts of questions are
discussed with the frankness and good
temper that at present characterize
parliamentary conferences of women.
Too much cannot be said in praise OF
what the Woman's club has done for
the home in giving wives and mothers
a congenial outlet for energy, supersl-
GUS in housekeeping, and in furnishing
them with an interest keen enough to
cheat domestic life of monotony. Add
ed to this, women have had an advan-
tage worth prizing in the lessons they
have learned in self-control, in tactfu;
address, and in the art OF putting per
sonal wishes in the background. as they
have convened in their social clubs.
Indirectly, all this is great benefi.
in home life. where suavity, gentleness
and cheerfulness are solvents of many
troublesome problems.
What has all this to do with ths
meal distinctively known as the ladies'
luncheon? The answer is familiar
enough to those of us who have hal
now and then the great pleasure or
participating in the annual feast OF a
great convocation of women like Sor-
osis or the Fortnightly or the Wednes-
day Morning or any other gathering
of women young and old.
1t may be New England society or
an alumnae association or some other
assemblage that invites one to its ta-
bles in the middle of the day. The
programme is usually the same The
president and executive committee,
with the guests of honor, receive, an
hour before the time for proceeding %
the dining room. All the ladies are
arrayed in the glory of their finest
gowns. Most Of them cannot resist the
temptation to retain becoming head
gear, and the effect of 200 or 300 brand
new spring bonnets Is that of field of
variegated bloom. Everybody looks
fresh and unworn and joyously expect
ant, the grandmother not less than
the dainty maid recently a debutantc.
A few women have the courage to ap-
pear with only the adcrnment of their
own beautiful hair, but the woman
without something in the line Of mil
linery on her head is exceptional. This
rule, let it be noted, obtains as gem
orally at a luncheon of any formality
in a private house where the guests
are limited to few. as in the larger
and more public functions.
Doubtless the reason for this is found
in the fact that luncheon presupposes
something else at later period in the
day. 1t is usually over at an hour ia
the afternoon admitting OF further en-
gagements on the part OF many la
dies.
The menu. of course, includes deli
cate viands, daintily prepared and
deftly served If the luncheon be
given in hotel or other public place.
there is corps of walters whose
training enables them to manage the
changing courses with silence and dex-
terity. The president and her party
have table on slightly raised plat
form. A little below this are the ta-
bles of the other members of the club
and their individual guests. The presi-
dent raps with her gavel and indicates
the moment for beginning the feast.
Frequently in women's meetings Of
this kind grace is said or sung before
any Of the food is served, American
women being for the most part rever-
ential and earnest and yielding a trib-
ute Of praise to the Giver of all good
when they come together in this social
way. AS for the refreshments, every
woman knows their order from the
course of fruit to the final
ice or bonbon. Wine is never intro
duced, and the only sparkling beverage
that foams in the cup is some harmless
water. Women honor temper
ance in their common obseryances Of
The crown of ladies' luncheon is MOI
reached until the very end, when the
president rising with dignity in her
place, and with little air OF grave i'm
portance. raps once more on the table
to still the pleasant tumult of voices.
Instantly hush falls on the roora
and eyes are fixed on the woman who.
In queenly possession, awaits the
attention of the company. The presl
dent may or may not be the toast
mistress. If that gracious Office has
been assigned to some one else. ths
president introduces her and leaves tho
out OF the programme in
her hands. Nothing has been left to