The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-03-11
nY MARGARET D. sANGsTER.

Copyright, 1906, by Joseph B. BowIes'
 As the bright spring weather sets our pulses dancing and wakens sins Rish blood to a quicker flow Tn our veins, the social instinct reasserts It. self. We want some form or festlNity that suits the season something that may be enjoyed In the daytime when every shower passes or With FMeih M bow, and the sunbeams glitter on ne" leaves and budding flowers.
 majority of the women's cluDs and patroitic societies have chosen the spring as their time for anniversary occasions, when danes and daughters rally at a central point of convergence 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 Tor the home in giving wives and mothers a congenial outlet for energy, superflu- ous 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 Nave learned in self-control, in tactful 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 a great benefil 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 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
 It may be a 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 program is usually the same. The president and executive committee, with the guests of honor, receive, an hour before the time for proceeding to the dining room. All the ladies are arrayed in the glory of their finest gowns. Most of them cannot resist the tempa tation to retain becoming head gear, and the effett of 200 or 300 brand new spring bonets is that of field of varigated bloom. Everybody looks fresh and unworn and joy ously expec- tant. and grandmother not less than the dainty maid recently a debutante. few women have the courage to ap- pear with only the adornment of their own beautiful hair. but the woman without something in the line of mill linery on her head is exceptional. This rule, let it be noted, obtains as gem orally at a luncheon of any formality fin a private house where the guests are limited to a 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 a later period in the day It is usually over at an hour in the afternoon admitting of further en- gagencnts on the part of many la 6ies.
 The menu, of course, includes dell cate viands, daiutly prepared and deftIy served. If the luncheon be givel in a hotel or other public place, there is a corps of walters whose training enables them to manage the changing courses with silence and dex- terity. The presidant and her party have a table on a slightly raised plat form A little below this are the ta- bles of the other members of the club and their individual guests. The prest- dent raps with her Gavel and indicates the moment for beginning tho 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 trib- ute of praise to the Giver of all good when they come together In this soclal way. As for the refreshments every woman knows their order from the preliminary course of fruit to the final ice or bonbon. Wine is never intro duced, and the only spakling beverage that foams in the cup is some harmless mineral water. Woman honor temper ance in their common observance of hospitality.
 The crown of ladies luncheon is not reached until the very end. when the president. rising with dignity in her place. and with little air of grave importance, raps once more on the table to still the pleasant tumult of voices. Instantly a hush falls on the room and eyes are fixed on the wo- man who, in queenly self possession awaits the attention of the company The president may or may not be the toastmistress. If that gracious ofhce has been assigned to some one else l the president introduces her and leaves | the carrying out of the program ir her hands, Nothing has been left tc