New-York tribune., 1909-10-21
HALLOWEEN PARTY
Country House FroHc zcith
Unique Features.

Halloween is fun Of picturesque possibiii-
Nes Tor entertainments, but a country
mouse party planned for that date this year
oF certain original hostess. a woman who
doesn't mind work when it's a question of
giving young people a good time. should
take a high mark even among Halloween
pafues Tor the unique stunts on its pro-
gramme. When the score or so of boys
and girls who are invited arrive al the
house they will find their costumes all
ready for them. For the out-of-door part
OF the frolic. which comes first. there are
brilliant yellow dominos and paper pump
Kin headdresses. Disguised in these. the
young folks viii assemble I'm the great liv-
ing hail, which is TO be transformed into an
autumn bower, with vivid foliage and
masses OF yellow chrysanthemums. From
here they start out on the hunt for the
witch OF All Halloween" bearing broons
with electric lights let into the handles for
torches. A weird little black and yellow,
wagon, drawn by two hobgoblias of strange
and awful aspect. viii head the procession.
To add TO the general effect. two paper bats
and two green-eyed cats will perch aloft
on the poles at the corners Of the wagon.
Suddenly, as the witch hunters wind
through the grounds. an electric sign will
blaze out before them: Go TO the red
barn" The witch isn't in the red barn, but
there VIII be wicker trays Of apples for the
refreshment Of the jewellers Further along
the trail will be another sign: stop at the
white birch tree" Under the white birch
tree viii be table lighted with pumpkin
lanterns and laden with baskets of deli
cious doughnuts. Go to the boathouse" IS
the next sign, and a winding path. along
which pumpkin faces grin at the jewellers
from the trees. takes them finally 20 the
hiding place Of the witch. The boathouse
has been converted into picturesque cave,
with blazing signs suggesting the possible
whereabouts OF the witch. Then there will
be great hunt through the thiekets. and
when she is found-she is a papier-mache
witch, clad in red skirt and black cape.
with a pointed hat covering her shaggy
gray loeks-the hunter who sees her first
hales her forth and blows a blast on the
siren whistle, which IS q part Of the cos
tune provided by the hostess. With appro-
pirate ceremonies. shouts and dancing the
witch is ducked in the lake
Then Will come the dinner. TO be fol-
lowed by ball. For these the girls will
wear fluffy yellow paper dresses. simu-
lating pumpkin blossoms. and the boys
will appear in white trousers and short
pumpkin colored coats. The dining room
will be very dim and mysterious, with no
light except that which glinlmers from
the Jack-o-lanterns on the table and the
/ broad mantelpiece above the fireplace
Here and there. where the shadows are
deepest, little skeletons Will add to the
ghostly effect The table centrepiece viii
be a large yellow cake, containing the
ring, coin and thimble and encircled by
little black witches a witch for each
slice. At each place, for dinner favor.
will be a miniature pumpkin with tiny
red and green electric lights for eyes.
Throughout the menu the pumpkin color
scheme VIII be carried out by means Of
garnishes OF eggs. carrots and oranges.
The salads will be passed in bowls hol-
lowed from small pumpkins Round sand
witches, bearing grotesque faces outlined ,
with small raisins, VIII accompany the
courses. For dessert there viii be yellow
fee cream in little spun sugar pumpkins.
The ball will take place in the barn,
and the carriage house Will be turned in
TO a regular harvest festival with stalls
partitioned of with cOrnstalks, and deco
rations OF pumpkins autumn leaves ana
chrysanthemums. The first dance will be
q virginia reel Then will follow the
german. with several figures. In one the
girls Will ride around the room on fancy
silk pennants bearing the name of the
place where the party is given In yellow
letters 4 pretty figure is one in which
a huge paper pumpkin, flied with con-
fetti is brought on the floor. Numbered
ribbons ending in yellow chrysanthemums
depend from IL. one for each dancer. ana
when these are pulled the favors appear.
Corresponding numbers decide the dance
partners. Even prettier is the taper fig
ure. Yellow candles. stuck into rosy
checked apples are given TO the girls.
who light them and dance around the
room with them 10 the music Of the
.'Jack-o-I.antern March At the sud
DEN stopping Of the music the dancers
pause before a row Of boys. and in this
manner partners are chosen FOR the last
Of the german.
For q crowninE touch OF mystery one
os The box stalls will be turned into a
fortune teller's cave. A masked Mephis-
topheles in brilliant red viii tell the fort
unes.