Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-09
SIMPLE GARDEN PARTIES
FOR SUMNER AFTERNOONS

Fortunately for the lovers of out
doors, successful garden parties may
he got up nowadays at comparatively
small cost The prospective hostess
must simply decide on the species of
party she wishes to give, whether big
or small, simple or grand. So while
the affair might cost several hundred
dollars for no more than twenty or
thirty guests, the same number of per-
sons could be entertained very salts
factorily on ten if there is to be no
paid band and the refreshments are to
be of modest sort.
Garden party, however is the name
usually given the larger and grander
function, the affair which takes place
on an elaborate scale. Lawn party is
the more common name here. and if
the arrangements of the affair are to
be of informal sort it is the best one
to use.
Every summer the girls at out-of-
town resorts invent new notions for
garden aud lawn parties, a phrase of
the invitation giving the cue as to the
sort of dress expected, or else the
party being called by a special name
which at once explains it's character.
A shirt waist lawn party was a very
successful one at Lake George last
summer, and as the printed invitations
plainly stated that shirt waists and
f1anneis were to be the order of the
day those who came more gorgeously
attfred were compelled to pay a fine.
Croquet, lawn tennis and dancing were
the amusements of this occasion, the
party beginning at and ending at
Z. the usual hours for outdoor fetes.
Sandwiches. lemonade and homemade
candy were the refreshments, every
how a OF ri <hnc
good things when the time came for
the bite.
The fines were put toward the buy
ing OF a new rowboat for the club
whose members were giving the gay
II everybody knows everybody else
pretty well the invitations could be
called over the telephone or else given
by direct word of mouth. If easy
going dress is to the rule put the
words shirt waists and flannels" or
outing clothes" in the lower left-hand
corner of the written invitation, and
ne sure also to give the cue as to dress
in all spoken Invitations. Then the
committee of arrangements should get
together and decide on the pastimes.
the refreshments, etc.
A very delightful novelty could be
had with a gypsy campfire at which
molasseS candy could be made corn
popped and chestnuts roasted There
could be little tent nearby for hold
ing the tools of the various cookeries
the materials required. etc. AS to the
other fun. some of the athletic games
of the old English fetes could be en-
J. Joyed, running for prizes, quoits etc.
Lawn tennis and croquet always have
their adherents, SO if there is room for
these games be sure to add them to
ithe days program
concerning smart garments for girls
Tor these Informal lawn parties. white
linen shirt waists, white pique skirts,
. a straw or canvas hat and white cam
I. vas or buckskin shoes would be Just
the thing. with gay silk sweater
worn or carried over the arm. For
more elaborate and formal garden
parties elaborate afternoon frocks are
worn. with hats and parasols
\ character lawn party would be
round even more amusing to many
Young people. and these are now con-
sidered very smart even if the costumes
are in the cheapest materials. Wat
teau party arranged for late in July
will be celebrated in the lovely pan.
niered gowns of ye olden days, the
men wearing knee breeches and pow.
dered hair. Why could not this splen-
did raiment-for it will be splendid
silk. satin and lace-be copied in the
cheap cotton fabrics of the hour, plair
and Powered calico, ten-cent lace anG
so on? Many books in the public libra
ries will give the cuts for the proper
would be most effective together. Ii
with this arrangement dancing plat
form is put up, the older Dances the
Virginia reel. the minuet. the quadrille
etc. would be appropriate and vastl.
entertaining, although there is no rea
son why the modern dances should no
be enjoyed.
A little deviation from the cut-and
dried rule of the usual elaborate gar
Iav ,artr- u
ing in the invitations that the CIR
guests wear one-piece dollar frocks
This would call for some ingenuity ant
taste, whether the dresses are made a
home or are bought ready made, ant
there would doubtless be some yer,
clever home-trimmed hats to match
and suitably pretty parasols and othe
hyings.
Still another novelty, and one will
: most picturesque possibilities, could b.