The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-05-30
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Primitive man is living still in the
souls of his civilized descendants
stirring in them a yearning for the
tent life and the cave dwelling OF the
past. So people are happlest out OF
doors, the only habitation with enough
fresh air and a sufficiently high cell
ing. Occasionally, women in their so
cial life, take account of the human
love of grass and sky, and they give US
a garden party. Mrs. Frank Merriam
and Mrs. Fred Freeman were hostesses
Monday at a lawn fete at the Merriam
home, which is peculiarly fitted for
such an entertainment Mrs. Merriam
is considered one of the most success
full dilettante gardeners in Topeka,
and her friends still speak with en-
thusiasm of a garden party she gave
some years ago when she was Miss
Kate Guenther In spite of the morn
ing rain, Mrs. Merriam and Mrs Free
man proceeded with arrangements tor
the party with fine confidence in
Jupiter Pluvius to postpone the pro-
motion of his irrigation schemes TIL
another day. Their trust was justihed,
for not drop of rain fell during the
afternoon, though the clouds made the
day all the more delightful by keep
ing it cool. Navajo rugs were spread
upon the grass in the dampest places.
The receiving party, Mrs Merriam
Mrs. Freeman and Mrs Merriam S sis
ter Mrs. Arthur McClintock of Dem
YER stood at the entrance to the rear
lawn and welcomed their guests. In
the yard are old gnarled fruit trees,
with wide-Spreading branches. and
near one of them was erected an I'M
mense umbrella, covered with green
canvas and festooned with pink bios
sons A half dozen girls served punch
under its shelter. Just beyond is
small cemented pond, in which the
moss can be seen through the clear
oTd lilies float the sur
face. Near the pond second table
was spread, and tea served. Near the
center of the lawn a tent with open
sides contained chairs, where the
guests went to eat sandwiches and cor
fee and in front of a screen of roses
climbing over white trellises, group
of women served ices. Jars of roses
and garden flowers stood on all the
tables and on tree stumps here and
there. An orchestra, screened by vines
and flowers, played during the after
noon.
The light summer frocks were more
than ever pretty against the back
ground of green and bright color. Mrs.
Merriam wore gown of white en-
broidery over pink and carried pink
and white flowers. Mrs Freeman's
gown was blue, with an overdress OF
thin white. A deep band of the blue
about the bottom of the skirt extend
ed below the embroidery of the over
OTeSS, anu d ueep SlIQle VI pAuC SliN
ed in q sash above the white. Mrs.
McClintock wore a pink figured or
candle. Mrs. Schuyler Nichols, who as
sisted with the serving, was dressed in
white Wide embroidered bands fell
from the girdle loosely over the skirt
in front and back and were fringed
with tassles. Mrs. Jack Dillon's dress
was tailored pink linen embroidered
in a floral design in white. Mrs.
Thomas of Oklahoma, who is the guest
of her sister, Mrs Eugene Hagan,
looked charming in a gown of pink
chiffon, andwith it she wore a long lace
shawl Miss Meta Robinson was
dressed in a pale green soft silk with
a small Persian figure in a wide band
trimming the dress on the skirt and
dainty white hand embro idered gown.
A pink sash, tied a little to one side at
the back. gave it an added air of
smartness. Her hat was one of the
new poke bonnets of white Clipped
straw, faced with pink. and having
wide pink bow of ribbon across the
back. Mrs. Charles Blood Smith was
dressed in white, and the yoke of her
gown was made of Irish lace. Miss
Lenore Stubs wore a gown of pink
draped in white, and with it a garden
hat of soft straw trimmed in purple
lilacs.
Several hundred people attended the
party, including number of out-of
town people. who are guests of friends
IN Topeka. Mrs. Marshall Shontz and