Year: 1866

Why is it that they have fallen into such


disrepute, that gentlemen anathematiZe


them so fiercely? Time was. a half n cen
| tury ago, when they were standing in


stitutiofl. The society of no country town
or village was considered pleasant or com
plete without them. and although eteh at
that early date, a dish of scanda! frequently


accompanied a dish of tea, it was consid-
cred a necessary evil which must be over
looked for the sake of the associating good.
The days of those old fashioned "tea-


parties" are fast passing away, and We


are sorry for it. There was more real gehu-


inc enjoyment compressed into one such


afternoon, than there is in ten Of the pres


eht fashionable gatherings.
A plain merino or pressed flannel dress
was donned, (ih some instances clean
check apron a1so,) Immediately after dim
ner, and giving directions to daUgh=


ter Susie in regard to the keeping of the
children and the making of fathers tea,
the mother took her knitting and started
forth to spend the afternoon. In many in
stances the baby formed part of the COM


pany, attired for the occasion in d bright
colored flannel and white bib. Itwas too
young to leave, and it was not considered


unfashionable to take it along, the matron
enjoying the comments of the a5seinbla%e
on its ruddy cheeks and sparkling eyes.
There was no waiting till five or six
O'Clock in order to be mot the first there
The afternoon commenced at one and end
ed at dark. or seven O'Clock. A good. sub
stantial tea was served between five and
six. and soon after every matron was seen
vending her way homeward to be met at
her own threshold by a crowd of noisy
urchins, caaaforoos with joy to see .''moth-
err again.


Many receipt for good. bread, cake,
etc., emanated from those tea-parties. and
many a young wife CLEANED a great share
of housekeeping knowledge during the
time spent in visiting. The care of chill
dren was fruitful subject Of discussion.
and the manner of making the dress was
lost sight of in the mode of preparing the
cloth. In those days the mother of the
household felt'a pride in a practical knowl-
edge of all it's details, and servants were
almost ignored.


NoaO how is it in regard to these same
gatherings for tea? Ladies spend the af-
ternoon at home, and when it has become
dark enough to be fashionable. attired in all
the appurtenanccs of fine dress. sally forth
to take tea 1t is seldom thought necessary
to take any work to employ the idle fingers
for the time of absence will be so short
and it is considered rather derogatory for
one in .'our set'' to admit she cannot pass
a few hours from home without work.


housekeeping is almost forbidden sub
iect Of conversation, though the trial and
trouble of keeping servants, is not.


For the hoaor of our sex, we believe
there is less disposition to gossip in these
times than there was in days gone bye, and
from that fact we Gather some faint hope
of the reformation yet to take place i'll So
ciety.


We would like to see combination of old
times with new. Let our parties be con-
vened at an earlier hour, and let It be
distinctly understood that plain and neat
dress always characterizes a lady. Do
away with so much useless show and eX-
pense, which render such parties dread
for days beforehand, and a regret for
weeks afterward.


In addition to the banishment of scam
dad, let the refined manners and cultivated
tastes of the present day be brought to
bear upon the subjects of everyday life
Dispense with all rivalry in dress, in tea
equipage, OF display of any kind, and those
who are not favored by fortune will find
more enjoyment at the Social board, and
will not be tempted to refuse your invita-
tions because they ''canpot entertain in
the same. style .....s