The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1906-06-16
by MARGARET E. sANGSTER.

AS the bright spring weather sets
our pulses dancing and wakens slug
gish blood to a quicker flow In our
veins, the social instinct reasserts It.
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 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 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
q congenial outlet for energy, superfiu-
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 beneh.
in home life, where suavity. gentleness
and cheerfulness are solvents of many
| troublesome problems.
| What has all this to do with the
| meal distinctively known as the ladies'
luncheon? The answer is familiar
enough to those of us who have had
| now and then the great pleasure OF
participating In the annual feast of o
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 a New England society or
an alumnae association or some other
assemblage that invites one to its Ia
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 heal
/ 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 ar-
pear with only the adornment 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 gen.
orally at a luncheon of any Formally
In private house where the guests
are limited to few, as in the largcI
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 IL
} the afternoon admitting Of further On
gagements on the part Of many la
! dies.
. The menu, of course, includes deli
cate viands, daintily prepared ant
; deity served. II the luncheon b.
given in hotel or other public plaza
/ there is a corps of walters who's
training enables them to manage tn,
. changing courses with silence and dex
terity. The president and her part.
have a table on a slightly raised pla.
!, form. A little below this are the ia
bles of the other members of the clul
and their individual guests. The presl
dent yaps with her gavel and indicate
the moment for beginning the feast.
Frequently in womens meetings o
this kind grace is said or sung befor
, any of the food Is served, America
women being for the most part rever
> entail and earnest and yielding trih
z ute Of praise to the Giver of all goo
when they come together in this socid
\ way. AS for the refreshments, ever
{ woman knows their order from tn
preliminary course of fruit. to the flns
a ice or bonbon. Wine is never intro
!. duced, and the only sparkling beverae
that foams in the cup is some Harmless
mineral water. Women honor temper
ance in their common observances {
hospitality.
The crown of ladies' luncheon Is ne
reached until the very end, when th
president, rising with dignity In be
b place, and with little air OF grave In
portance, raps once more on the tab
" to still the pleasant tumult Of voice
a Instantly hush falls on the rooI
and eyes are fixed on the woman VIII
a. in queenly possession, awaits tt
X attention Of the company. The pres
4. dent may or may not be the toas
n mistress If that gracious Office hs
"A been assigned to some one else, Il
,d president introduces her and leaves Il
IN carrying out Of the programme
!. her hands. Nothing has been left
az accident. speakers and topics, music
\. numbers and every portion Of the O.
=. ercises having been carefully arrangt
weeks earlier.
rno al