The Washington herald., 1908-04-05
By THE ARBITER.


buzz Of preparations Tor the social fes-
tivities for that season. and invitations
ara already out for the dinners. teas, and
breakfasts that viii be crowded into the
few days following Easter Sunday when
the schools in town viii be closed and
those young Washingtonians who are
students at the schools and universities
at a distance will be home for the holi-
days.
The Arbiter has been asked by num-
Der Of the mothers Of the schoolboys and
girls what to do for their entertainment
when they are at home. a question not
easy 10 answer in this age, when the
young people affect the eirs and manners
Of their elders and assume. or endeavor
10 assume, their prerogatives. Now, every
age has its pleasures. and things are all
awry when a boy Of fifteen and eighteen
has enjoyment IN the same distractions
that appeal TO a man ten years his senior.
Simplicity should be the keynote of all
entertainments arranged for boys and
girls under twenty. and too much cannot
be said in favor OF the old-fashioned
amusements, the pretty games, the con
merly had pleasure, and for real fun.
gayety, and charm there is no party
equal 10 an old-fashi0ned dance where
ragtime waltzes are abandoned for the
quaint old music played on a fiddle; where
muslin fr0cks and ribbon sashes. like
those our mothers used to wear take the
place OF the eXtTavagant creations of the
French modiste and where the refresh
ments are simple, substantial, and plenti-
ful. Bat, unfortunately, such an old
fashioned party is almost an impossible
ity IN town. with the bake shop so conven- /
lent. with Marie demanding a frock
quite as fine as GLADYS next door. and
where the acceptable thing in dance music
is the latest catchy air. whether il has
merit or not. But no matter whether il
be an old-fashioned party or a new-fash-
Toned dance such a function Is always
more popular with young people than any
other. for one must have had some. social
experience and training 10 properly ap-
pTeciate dinner
II is a pleasant departure 10 give a
young peoples dance at one OF the coun-
try clubs in the suburb for the ride TO
and fro either in cars. machines, or car
riages, is gay feature. The floors are
certain to be in good condition, there is
no fear that the neighbors viii complain
Of the noise. and the feeling from re-
straint is delightful Such a dance. too.
Is an easy matter for the hostess. who
has only TO give her orders and then ban
ish the affair from her mind. for she is
absolutely certain that the smallest detail
she has planned will be carried out. and
her own house topsy-turvy for the affair.
and the wear and tear on her nerves Of
overseeing her servants and attending 10
the many minor details that go 10 make
the success OF such party
A few years back il was the general
custom, and il is now being followed
more or less, 20 finish a dance with a
cotillion. For such an informal affair no
favors are necessary save cut flowers
and the japanese crackers that. when
pulled apart yield all sorts of fancy arti-
eles, such as caps, bonnets. aprons. and
neckwear, made from colored tissue pc
per, which convert the wearers into pic
turesque figures The things in the more
expensive crackers are both handsome
and elaborate, and whole fancy costume
can be made from handful Of them
- AZ NtaFfetfo tttel1ftt4A 10 EiOAA0E cUllE
little surprise in a dance for young peo-
pie. Last year a hostess at the Easter
dance she gave for her daughter hid the
bOnbOns. which were in shape Of colored
eggs, IN fancy nests Of spun candy all
over the house, and there was much fun
after supper when the hunt for them was
started. At another dance an egg-pick-
ing figure was introduced into the cotil-
lion. the eggs used being Of thin candy
filled with little candy eggs. The way in
which the figure is carried out is obvious
TO any one who has ever picked" eggs.
and induced much merriment Tiny
chicks. TOlly little balls of down were
used in another figure. and when the
little wicker cages holding them were
brought in there was an exclamation of
horror and disgust from the young wOm-
en- present at what they thought to be
cruel and inhuman. The chickens proved
TO be mere little efigies of the real
thing, but they were so cleveTly made 5
70 deceive any one at a first or second
glance. II was an extremely interesting
german where nothing but wild shrubs
and flowers We're used as favOrs. and the
figures in which the maidens carried great
boughs of dogwood, Towering peach, and
cherry blossoms made an enchanting pic
ture.
Much originality can be shown I'm the
decorating Of the supper tables at Easter.
and among the many lovely and interest
ing conceits TO choose from one can
hardly go amiss, but the temptation is to
rather overdo the matter and to adopt
eccentricities. which are always in bad
taste. No flowers are so effective for dec
Grafton at this time of year as bowls of
Towering shrubs. and these have never
been more plentiful at Easter than now.
when that holiday comes later than
usual The mOlds for the ice cream are
so exquisite and so eleverly done that
they would tempt the most confirmed
anchorite. Big white rabbits Of ice cream.
surrounded by little rabbits of every color
and flavor, and ice cream eggs. served in
every conceivable form are the favorite
molds, and none are more pleasing. AT
a dinner in New York not many Eastere
ago the ice cream was served in the form
Of eggs, and in each egg there was a
souvenir. rings with egg-Shaped pearls
for the women and stickpins with barodue
pearls In the shape of eggs for the men.
The favors were undoubtedly charming.
but it is always questionable taste TO give
such presents, ana stamps the host as
one Of the newly rich Dorothy Whitney.
daughter Of the late William p Whitney.
who was at the time Secretary OF the
Navy in President Cleveland's Cabinet,
was christened at St Johns Church Just
nineteen years ago. and many of those
who assisted at that charming ceremony
still cherish the favors they received then.
They were little silk-eovered. hand-paint-
ed boxes in the shape OF eggs. flied with
dragees, and after they were emptied of
their sweet contents could be used as ring