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A Bachelor
THE GOLD
By HELLAN
Once upon a lime," sighed the Bach-
c!er Girl, putting down her palette and
Implies, and snuggling the studio kit-
ton against her curly head, "I had a
i;:;;,; friend."
This begins," said the Mere Man
emphatically, as he bit the end cf his
cu-ar, "just like a fairy tale. Where
is lie now? Did the goblins get him
in' is he dead?"
Woise." murmured the Bachelor
Ci.'l sadly.
'He's married!" declared the Mere
Man with dramatic conviction.
The Bachelor Girl shook her head
until the kitten mewed for mercy.
Still woise," she returned tragical-
"ile's-
-in love!"
"But," protested the .Mere Man!
"that ought to knit yoiw friendship
wi;h a bond of sympathy. A man in
iiKit rendition needs ftiendsi. He ought
to v;ui! you ten times more and "
"Thai's the trouble," broke in the
r.ar-helor Girl impetuously ruffling the
kitten's fur. "He does. He is in love
with ME!"
The Mere Man put down the match
he wr.s about to light and stared into
lire without speaking fcr fully three
minutes.
"Hew funny!" he remarked at length
under his breath.
The Bachelor Girl dropped the kitten
into her lap.
"It isn't funny, Mr. Porter!" she ex
claimed warmly. "It's perfectly natu
ral "
"How funny," persisted the Mere
Man. "that he shouldn't have discover
ed it before."
"And I won't have you speaking pat
ronizingly of my friends."
"But he isn't your friend now," re
torieo the Mere Man. "He's only a
i cor devil in neet of advice and kind
ness and and the gold cure."
The what?"
"A course of scientific treatment,
warranted to cure the most violent and
aggravated cases of heart-hunger," ex
plained the Mere Man, "a radical sur
gical operation fcr removing a dis
ease;! imagination and enlarged senti
inev-t. a good old allopathic dose cf
yvhat he wants."
Oi what. Mr. Porter?"
"Of YOU," returned the Mere Man
promptly. "The only way to cure a
nan of wanting anything is to give
it to him, whether it's food, or a drink,
or a woman. And the only way to
cur? him permanently is to give him
ion much of it."
"I I don't understand you." The
Bachelor Girl smoothed the kitten's
bock with a coM-Vit puzzled air.
"Well," explained the Mere Man,
puffing thoughtfully, "do you remember
when you were a very nuie gin now
yen wanted candy brfore Christmas,
f;nd got it and didn't want it after
Christmas? Bo you ever remember
being hungry tight after dinner, cr
thirsty after drinking a ccuple cf cock
tails "
"Mr. Porter!"
"I mean lemon scdr.s; or sleepy af
ter a good night's rest, or lonely when
the house was crowded with people,
or anrcicus for anything on earth that
you hod had too much cf? It's tne
tame way with love or a girl," ?nd
ihe Merc Man leaned back and studied
the Bachelor C-hl through a haze of
smoke.
"You mean," she inquired, nearly
dropping the kitten in her astonish
ment, "that the only way to cure a
man's infatuation is to return it?"
"With inicrest," declared the Mere
:.Ian imperturbably. "And then," he
added, chuckling, "watch him lose
the interest. If the parents cf that
young lady, who was pursued by the
French Marquis, for instance, had only
known enough to turn the tables and
vim after Ihe Marquis and carry the
3 wo off to a country house, where they
couldn't see anybody but one another
rt brPfikfast. or luncheon or dinner ior
-it breaiaast or mncneon u umm;. ,u ,
fcix months. they wouldn t ha ; had
any trouole m breaking ;Up the a;
it would nave ournt ilwu uul
before it reached the candle of matri
mony. If they wanted her to get ri.l of
him "
"Oh, well." broke in tho Bachelor
Cirl cheerfully, "she'll get rid "of him
vet."
"By marrying him?" inquired tne
Mere Alan ironically.
"Of course," retorted tho Bachelor
Girl. "That old saw about a woman
marrying a man to get rid of him isn't
a joke; it's a. hard, cold fact. It hap
pens every day. The best yvay to keen
r, man from wanting to sit by your side
cverv night is to make him feel that
he has to sit there. The best way to
send him away from you is to tie him
to vou. The quickest yvay to stop him
fiom making love is to make love a
duty."
"But that's only a last resort," pro
ipsied the Mere Man contemptuously.
"There are ever so many little stop
ping places along the road to matri
mony where a man would get off if he
,-,av'what yvas coming."
"Then I wish you'd do that now,"
exclaimed the Bachelor Girl, jerking
ihe kitten's tail impatiently.
"Do what?"
"Get off this disagreeable subject.
Frctn what I understand, you want me
to r.ccept this man's attentions and
"I don't want you to accept them,"
broke in the Mere Man hastily; "I
want you to embrace them and clutch
at them "
"What?"
"And angle for them and demand
i.r, T n.ont vnll to Or.P.X hllTl tf Call)
everv evening and to reproach him
yvhen he's ten minutes late, and to flat -
ter him about everything, . from his
nose to his knowledge, and to embroid-
cr his necktie cases, and call on his
sister, and ccok him' fancy luncheons,
and cive him all vour photographs, and
blusii with pleasure at his compliments
Girl Chat.
CURE FOR LOVE.
ROWLAND.
and burst into tears whenever he
Slances at another woman or speaks
L.f hls 1)ast ?r kisses the cat onien-
j uuiis a previous engagement. The girl
j n cnap is always certain to find at
j home and dressed and waiting when
lie cabs, and who always induces him
to stay a little longer than he had in
tended, and who never refuses his in
vitations and who answers his letters
by return post, and reproaches him
for neglect if he happens to forget her
for half an hour, and calls him up over
the 'phone twenty times a day, and
drops in at his office at disconcerting
moments, leaves him feeling like the
little boy who had nothing on earth
to wish for except that he could get
rid of what he already had."
"But I don't want anybody to wish
to get rid of me!" cried the Bachelor
Giri. flushing.
"Oh, 1 thought you did." The Mero
Man turned and gazed at her in as
tonishment. "And 1 wanted to help!
you
You wanted me m fi nf
-of the man," declared the Bachelor j
Girl reproachfully.
"Not at all," retorted the Mere Man.
"I wanted you to make a foci of your
self as every woman dees when she
is the least bit in love or infatuated.
I was merely giving you a recipe for
the gold cure for love. The best way
to keep a man from hanging himself
is to politely hand him the rope and
slip the noose over his head; and thejof
best way to prevent a man from hang
ing yen is to hang onto his words or
his arm or his neck to tie him to you
with a thousand little tendernesses and
petty claims on his attention, until he
is ready , to fight to get away. The
best cure for the candy habit is too
much candy; and the best cure for
love is too much love."
"I know how it feels!" exclaimed
the Bachelor Girl sympathetically, rub
bing the kitten's ear down over its
eyes.
"What!"
"Just like a poor girl does," returned
the Bachelor Girl calmly, "when she
has been thinking of a man as a being
afar-off and unattainable and returns
to find him sUliJ-g waiting for her on
the studio steps "
"I wasn't!" declared the Mere Man.
"Or walking at her elbow, or on
the carpet at her feet, or "
"That's a different thing," protested
the Mere Man stgutly.
"But it's the same feeling," declared
the Bachelor Girl. L "It's it's just like
watching-somebody else eat dinner at-!
ter you vo nnisncd your dessert, it a
man wants to keep a girl's interest,"
she add.e djregarding the Mere, Man.
significantly, "he should keep - her
guessing."
"And if a girl wants to keep a man
infatuated," retorted the Mere Man
"she should keep him at a dis
tance "
"And waiting for her favor."
' Or an answer."
' Or a kiss."
"Or a sign of encouragement. It's a
peculiar thing about love," continued
the Mere Man "that it can't be frozen
cut. The colder the wind you blow
upon it the higher you fan the flames;
but you can choke it down to ashes
with a good, heavy blanket or recipro
cation and extinguish it in a few mo
ments with a bath of sentimental tears.
I've seen chaps who would go on hope
lessly loving a girl in the face of
discouragement for years, who would
have fed from her in terror at the
first sign of encouragement. The femi
nine idea that a man wants a smooth,
;:oi't road to love is a mistaken one;
what he really wants is a steeplechase
cr a gclf course, full of hedges and
hunkers and pitfalls."
"Yes," cried the Bachelor Girl vehem
ently, '"if there were a girl at the top
of Niagara Falls cr the Matterhorn
half the men in the world would be
risking their lives to get her!"
"Of course," said the Mero Man tran-
roge aM reached fcr nis
- are you going to do
About whom?"
That that ex-friend.
"Just yvhat you told me to aouo
out when ho calls and disagreeable
when he stays late, and refuse his in
vitations and tear up his notea
"But vou'll never get rid of him that
yvay'"
"Who said I wanted to get rid of
him?" asked the Bachelor Girl, smiling.
"I liked him as a friend, but I'd rath
er have him in love yvith me than
than "
"Than nothing?"
"Than anything else," corrected the
Bachelor Girl.
"Wh what's he like, Molly?" he
asked sheepishly.
"Like? Like?" repeated the Bache
lor Girl, glancing around the studio
abstractedly. "Oh, he's very much like
other men and particularly like
that!" And she pointed to the Mere
Man's reflection in a mirror across the
room.
It is probable that Osyvego will be in
the Neyv York State, league circuit next
season, taking the place ot tne a. j. &
G. club.
SEVEN YEARS PROOF
"I have had seven years of proof
that Br. King's New Discovery is the
best medicine to take for coughs and
colds and for every diseased condition
of throat, chest or lungs," says W. V.
Henry, of Panama, Mo. The world has
had thirty-eight years of proof that
Dr. King's New Discovery is the best
1 remedy for coughs and colds, la grippe,
, astnma, nay iever, uroucuais, ;
rrhage of the lungs, and tne earij
stages of consumption. Its timely use
always prevents the development of
pneumonia. Sold under guarantee at
Woodall & Shepnard-'s drug store. 50c
and $1.00. Trial bottle free.
MAINTE-
B Don O. Shelton.
As we stand on the threshold of 'the
New Year it will be profitable to con
sider how life at its best (to which
reference was made in this column
last week) can be' maintained. That it
can be preserved and perpetuated the
same high authority that of the Great
est of Teachers gives abundant assur
a nee.
Jesus, in whom the treasures oi wis
dom and knowledge are hidden, came
to call all men to receive life in rich
ness and fullness and has made plain
the processes by which this life is to
be kept rich and full.
His teaching is clear as sunlight, 'in
ithe faithful ones gathered about Him
He said: "My words, they are spirit
and life. Now ye are clean through
the word 1 have spoken unto you."
Again, in the same striking parable,
He said: "If ye abide in me and my
words abide in you, ye shall ask what
ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
fPl. .. . .11 1 - . T : - . . 1
i iiiui-e aio an wurus ui me aim re-
iveal the means by which life is to be
KepT ai -b Desi
The words of Jesus are a cleansing
and an energising force. They have
a perpetual illuminative quality that
makes them pre-eminent among all
words. In their light men are enabled
to see their real self.
In part through His teaching Jesus
revealed Himself to be the light of
(the world. How all codes and creeds
men Pale in the pure glow of His,
wisdom! How the light of His philos
ophy has endured through the ages!
How it has widened and strengthened
in its sway over mankind! The ideals
He set tower far above the highest
! ideals of men. After nineteen centu
ries the eyes of the purest and best
of earth are lifted to the lofty summits
of His character and teaching. He
that came from above is above all in
the quality and perfection of His Mes
sage. His matchless words possess a marv
elous purifying power. No man who
receives them and believes them will
live sordidly or unworthily. How
quickly they cast out unholy ambitions!
When the master the life there begins
the reign of the holy principles, sub
duing and eliminating all that is un
clean. The words of Jesus search us
and try us and discover to us all our
ways. Keceived into tne soil at a gooa
heart, they bring forth the fruit of a
clean and noble life. They lead a
man to think on his ways and turn
his feet into the paths of safety and
purity.
And they' are a living, energizing
force. In the world today there . is
RO -otuer ne&ag-t- so-impels men
to go torwara m tne way ot duty as
does the message of Christ. In His
vivid parables of the sower He shows
how great the issues are that wait on
a proper reception of His teachings.
In His earthly ministry His word
was with power. It is still power when
declared clearly and bravely. He is
still the everlasting and sunlit moun
tain up which our thought must climb
if like Moses yve would see God face
to face."
The words of Jesus have in them the
strength of youth. They are marked
by never-ceasing spontaneity. There is
unending freshness about tbmi. They
are truly spirit and life, to all ages.
Jesus had the words oi eternal life.
To whom else can the nations go?
Never man spake like Him. After nine
teen centuries the light that is in men
is but a ray from the light that is in
Him.
Hence His wrords are character form
ing. As the seed, received by the soil,
springs up and yields a harvest, so
His words, welcomed in human hearts,
expand into a rich harvest of Chris
tian thought and conduct.
The
more we let His words warn
us, counsel us,
1 direct na r-nntrol ns
the more confident yve can be that we
are in the path of wisdom and safety
and that our inner life, out of 'which
issues our destiny, is being maintain
ed at its best.
CW.
- uut lllllL LWWa
Briefly J old
It is said the neyv Union League has
LIFE AT ITS 3EST IT'S
NANCE.
"night riders" on the job signing upjcars obtained during the year, the in-
major and Class A players.
There is not another club in the ma
jor leagues that has let so many good
players go as has the Boston club of
the American league.
Those telephones in the Chicago
grandstands might be connected with
the umpire so the fans could roast
him without disturbing the bleacher
ies. A. C. Crowder, the new president ot'
the Cotton States League, is an al -
derman of Jackson, Miss., and state'
manager of a prominent insurance
company.
The New York National League club
nas aske(l foi
for waivers on Danny Shay
Shay will perhaps stay in California
next season.
Japan is going in for the boxing
game. Not the Chinese wrinkle, but year ended June 30, 1906, showed an injuries to persons. With only $17,
the genuine American punch, duck and ! ncrease cyer the preceding year of j 000,000 grossever $1,000,000 for claims
idestep variety
Frank Gotch declares he is the real
American wrestling champion. If any
j one disputes it he is willing to meet
j "Farmer" Burns once more and prove
Another $10,000 for Tomimy
Burns
when he meets Jim Roche, on St. Pat
nek's Day. That's more money thani
Tommy could get m America on
phony gem.
ID. J. L. Lift I,
SKnbs
Increase Was
$5,000.000
And in The Face Of This
Fact The Great Trunk
Line Sank Into Receivers'
Hands.
The Road 's Record For Se
eral Years Seems to Be of
Making Progress Back
ward Figures That Show
Mismanagement.
(From the Baltimore News.)
Five years ago the Seaboard Air i
I.inp VfnilTs-nv uai-norl n limit ?1 1 fif!f flflrt i
grcssf and' The surplus for the fiscal
year was nearly $1,000,000. During the
fiscal year ended on June 30 last the
gross earnings had increased to
$17,000,000, but instead of a proportion-
ate increase in surplus the latter had
vnri.hT uttoi-iv omi tim f
operating expenses, taxes and fixed
charges left a deficit for the year.
How It Ail Came About.
How can it be, many will ask, that
with an increase of $5,000,000 in gross
earnings since 1901-1902, a steady .and
healthy increase each year, this south
ern trunk line has been brought to a
receivership? Had earnings dwindled
instead cf increasing in the last half
decade, the matter might be clear;
but, in the face cf constant growth,
the matter, on the fact of it, seems
hard to explain. These few figures
or ratios, however, will serve to make
the matter clear. In 1902 the ratio of
expenses to earnings was less than 70 there was an increase in cost of "en
per cent. In the last fiscal year this gineers and firemen, cf over 21.5 per
ratio was about 82 per cent. In 1902 'cent., of "fuel" over 2fi per cent., in
the ratio of the cost of conducting j cost of "switchmen, watchmen and
transportation tc earnings was 40 per j flagmen" of over 32 per cent., in "train
cent. In the nnst. vear this ratio wsai sunnlies and exnenses" 65 iier cent...
,nearlv 47 cen In othei. v-crcls
whereas five years ago only seven -
tenths cf the gross earnings was re
quired to operate the property, last
year over eight-tenths was required.
One-tenth of 10,000,000 is $1,000,000,
and one-tenth of $17,000,000 is $1,700,
000. Therefore, in the last fiscal year
the operation of the road the actual
handlinga&rttfer traffic cost $1,700,000
more, proportionately, than in 1902
Pon to vvno in lors
The Seaboard began to go down hill
about two and a half years ago. In
1304 the sale of the Middendorf-
j Williams holdings eliminated the old
management from the property, and
I the new Ryan-Blair management got
full control.
What John S. William?. Ssid in 1906. ! for July, 190;, to $162,636 tor July,
In the latter nart cf 1008 Mr. 7ohn j 1906, yvhicii substituted a deficit of
Skeltcn Williams in an open letter to ! $103,709 in July, 1906, for the surplus
Judge Legh Watts, general ccunsel of; of $59,692 in July, 1905. I tried to
the Seaboard said: , impress cn you that
On September 1, 1906. I asked your I In July, 1901, five years ago, with
attention to the fact that j gross earnings cf $526,239, the Sea-
(lj The reports of the Seaboard for ' beard yvas operated at the ratio of
June showed an increase ci four ($4) ' 71. 5S per cent., and gave net earnings
dollars in expenses to each dollar of of $235,010 for the month, while, with
increase in earnings, and a decrease j more than $8,700,000 spent in the in
in pet earnings, as compared with 1 terim on permanent improvements and
June, 1905, of $111,385. or 46 per cent.,!
a shrinkage cf $126,091 for the one
month, and that in a "boom" time; and
that
(2) Tho ratio of operating expenses
to earnings had leaped from 70.47 per
cent, to 80.56 per cent. I told ycu, on
the authority -cf the Company's official
report, that
U) While tiie payment 10V "mamte-
nance cf yvay and structures" yvas
$56,609. less than in 1903, the charges
if r "conducting transportation" andi
maintenance or equipment, autting
nothing to the permanent value,' in
creased $193,967, the increase in ex
penses being five times the gain in
gross earnings; that
(4) While train mileage had in
creased 3 per cent., the cost of con
ducting transportation had increased
35 per cent.; that
(5) With more than 1000 new freight
crease in freight earnings yvas but 1
per cent., while the payment fcr use
of cars belonging to other lines yvas
three times as great as the total gain
in freight earnings. I gave ycu the
suspicious fact that.
Figures That Speak Voiurr.es.
(6) New freight cars were being
bought from car companies- in yvhich
the chairman of our executive commit
tee is a side partner, and inquired
what had become cf the business and
earnings yvhich these neyv and rented
cars ought to represent. I gave you fig
, .w'thp nmP npnrde. I shouted to vou as
L.t
(7) The "freieht loss and damage"
payments for June, 1906, exceeded
those of June, IS 05, by 79 per cent.:
that
(8) While the gross receipts per
train mile increased less than one-fifth
of 1 per cent., the cost per train mile
for "conducting transportation" in
creased 31.43 per cent.; that
(9) While the gross receipts for the
$lt497,673, the net surplus actually
shrank $91,970; that
(10) Notwithstanding the general
prosperity of the country and the ex
penditure in five years cf $S,734,000 for
hptt.arTnpnts nnri new enuinment. the
not ramim-s fm- .Time. 1906. wera less
than for June, 1901; that
(11) The net earnings per locomo
- , tive were $155 less, and that
(12) Net earnings per car y ere a ctu
a pily 40 per cent:' more for June, 1901, i
i than for June, 1906, though the average '
capacity of cur cars is now nrobablv
30 per cent, greater than in 1901,
Again considering the Atlanta and Bir
mingham, I showed that
(13) Its net earnings for the entire
fiscal year were 99.4 against Mr. Barr's
prediction of $367,640, its ratio of op
erating expenses to earnings being
99.9 per cent; and that
(14) After payment cf interest charg
es it had an actual deficit for the vear
of $."07,437, exclusive cf $110,027' spent
in the year for imnrovements and
: bettemients on its 228 m,'es.. not
j eluded in operating expenses: that
not in-
A. & B. Operated At 93.9 Per Cent,
I (15) While the Atlanta and Birming-
i ham cost "-9 1 cent, cf ns earnings
to operate, another southern railroad
doing the same kind of business, and
with curves and grades three times
as heavy had been operated the same
year at about CO per cent.; that
(If.) For June, 1906, the A. & B. Line
had a decrease of G per cent, in passen
ger and freight train mileage, while
the cost of "conducting transportation"
increased over 63 per cent. I presented
evidence to prove that
(17) Conditions on the Seaboard sys
tem were becoming worse steadily,
operating expenses and charges against
income having been $530,000, more
from April T to July 1, 190G, than in
the corresponding
while
months of 1905;
(IS) Gross earnings showed
in m-
cr ?203,000.
! . (19) .The shrinkage m surplus earn-
the three montlls- bemg
-,?d'J4'- i
1 cha"?nged dl4sp"t? of these asserta-
) !?GI1S' Yo"r lett me l03
that 'cu studied my letters carefully,
I laboriously, seeking flaws and oppor-
tunities to con tradict. Yet vou do not
answer, explain
above figures.
or deny any of the
Other Evidences of Incompetence.
The reports, to which ycu had even
better access than I had, showed re
duction in freight-trains mileage from
July, 1905, to 2 per cent., but increase
in payments for borrowed cars cf 453
per cent., although 1000 new freight
cars had been added to the equipment
since July, 1905. I asked and urged
you. further, to explain
Why, with an increase in total train
! mileage of a fraction over 2 per cent.,
j in fuel and lights for cars 104 per cent.
1 1 presented these to you directly and
squarely.
I called on you fcr explanation from
Iho facts
you had "in your posses-
sion.
Why, with an increase in freight
earnings cf less than 1 per cent., sta-
, tion labor increased 28 per cent., sta
tion supplies and expenses 30 per cent.,
freight les:
nd damage claims 83 per
cent., cost of operating marine equip
ment 190 per cent., loss and damage
claims for live stcck 110 per cent., the
result cf all this being
An increase in gross earnings of
$61,034, or 5.4 per cent., an increase of
expenses $208,590, or 25.4 per cent.,
net earnings declining from - $304, 23
equipment.
July,1906, gave us net earnings oflcompany be.ing the admiring audience j
$162,035. In fact, " J while he or she performed. Sometimes j
Comparison With 18C1. two or more actors yvere required to j
Net earnings five years ago yvere ac-
i tuaily 44 per cent, greater than for
, July, 1906. I presented to you tne
i figures shoyving that
wnne we gained in gross eaimnp
over Jiay, iivj, vmy o.t ici reui., liic
! Atlantic Coast Lane gained io.t per
cent, the Nashville, Chattanooga and
St. Bonis. IS 6 iper cent , Louisville and
ausuvuh', .i teuu, ouuiucm n.i
per cent., Mobile and Ohio 14.3 per
cent., Georgia, Southern and Florida
15.5 per cent., and the percentage of
increase on the Central of Georgia for
the month was 60 per cent, more than
the Seaboard.
Against the Seaboard's deficiency, as
compared with its competitors, in gain
in gross earnings, I pointed out to yon
its expense ratio of 86.24 per cent., and
called your attention to the scandalous
comparison between the Atlantic Coast
Line's average ratio of 63.5 per cent,
for the six-year period ended June 30,
1906, and the Seaboard's deplorable
record.
I urged on year attention the grimly
significant differences between the cost
of "conducting transportation" and
the appropriations for permanent bet
terment and increase of equipment be
tyveen the Seaboard and its competi
tors operating in the same territory,
handling the same traffic, dealing with
loud lv and strongly as I could in a let-
iter that these differences must mean
j neglect, lnemuiencj ui neauu m
Seaboard management.
The annual report for 1906-1907
shows the following facts in connec
tion with the last fiscal year:
The report shews that there were
so many wrecks during the fiscal year
that considerably over $1,000,000 was
naid for loss and damage claims and
of this kind, had loss and damage
claims been normal, a sufficient amount
wculd have been saved in this item
alone to wipe out the deficit and leave
a surplus.
The cost cf fuel for locomotives m-
creased nearly half a million dollars
j over the preceding year, and this in
- ithe f?ce of the fact, that locomotive
j mileage increased lsss man s pei
- ; cent.
Crr mileage during the fiscal year
Continued on page 2
Novel Entertainments
Edited, by Madame Merri
UNIQUE ANNOUNCEMENT PARTY.
The holiday festivities are being fol -
lowed by a number of interesting en -
gaseient anouncements. The bride -
elect' of this dav and generation is
certainly a most favored mortal. The
account given below is surely a most
novel and pretty way of announcing
to the world the important news of a
young woman's engagement.
This girl had lived in the neighbor
hood all of her short existence, so at
the end of the story no explanations
were necessary.
Her sister, who was a young matron,
invited lo of the girl's most intimate
intuug iu a luuciieon. un arrivul
.i j i -i ;
mere was uounng unusual in me prep
arations to indicate the announcement
forthcoming. When the coffee was
served in the drawing room the hostess
said she had a short original story to
read which she thought would prove of
interest to her guests. Then followed
the cleverly written resume of her
sister's life from babyhood until the
present time. Another name was used,
and the tale was in the form of a
dreamy romance. As the events were
related, light began to dawn, but no
one said a word until the tale was
finished. Then congratulations were
showered upon the blushing maiden
and a silver loving cup was passed
filled vrith rare old wine. This liquor
ihas descended from generation unto
generation in this family and is used
only cn ihe occasion of some mo
mentous event.
Some of it was used when the girl's
mother was married, and the last occa
sion was to celebrate the return of a
beloved son from a six years' journey
in foreign lands. The next time will De
when this girl becomes a bride. Then
the rare old product will be sealed
ana put away to
wait the next im-
portant event.
A TWELFTH NIGHT REVELRY.
The sixth of this month brings
Twelfth Night, or, as it used to be call
ed in olden days, "Old Christmas." In
ancient times it was customary to
continue the Christmas revelry by a
magnificent masked ball. On this day
every vestige of Christmas greenery
yvas taken down and burned with tit
ling ceremonies. I hus evil spirits
were appeased and no harm yvas sup
posed to come to the household yvhere
these ceremonies were observed. .
There yvas always a "mvt-ier or
) containing two beans. The man who
obtained the queer little symbol of
favor yvas proclaimed "king" and to
the woman yvho dreyv the bean be
longed the honor of "queen." Royal
robes were put upon them with all the
insignia of rank, including crowns, and
sceptersi Favors may be put in the
cake besides the beans to make it
more interesting for the other guests.
With this outline the hostess may
build a pretty entertainment to close
the holiday season of celebrating.
FUN IN ACTING PROVERBS.
A coterie of young men and women 'nut' hunt? Carry lemons on a fork,
found much amusement in acting ; Have a nail pudding contest for the
proverbs the other night. It was en-! girls and a button-sewing contest for
tirely impromptu, and each one acted: the boys, iou will have no end of a
in pantomine any proverb that hap-! good time.
penea to come in muiu, me rest oi me ;
nnrtraT u1p narts At the end of the!l
evening the hostess gave a little prize .
to the pcrson wno had thought of and
acted lhe most pr0verbs. This souve-icf
nir woo cf.-nnfliin o- eV li n 1 1 rm Vi n n rl
By the yvay, this same hostess is ; . 1U1A-
wonderful in her resources; she says! Mizpah means "The Lord watch bo
it is all because of her magic box. in ' twe&n me and thee while we are ab-
it she puts all sorts of things, that the
rest of us yvould throw away as use-
less, such as bits of colored cardboard
.... . ......
on wnicn to mount place cards, little
figures that may serve as name cards, j
odds and ends of ribbons, all of her.
dinner and dancing favors. j
dinner and dancing favors, etc., so
that every member of her family, and
even her friends, ask her "to look in
the box and see" whenever anything is
wanted in a great hurry. But this is
a digression. Here are a few of the:
I
proverbs acted:
"There is many a slip 'twixt tne cup
and the lip." .
"Every dog has his day."
"Birds of a feather flock together."
"When the cat's away the mice yvill
play."
"All is not gold that glitters."
"Two's company, three is none."
"A fool and his money are soon
parted:"
NEW BLIND MAN'S BUFF.
For this new game of blind man's
buff form a large circle and number
each person in rotation, as many num
bers as there are players. Count out
, , . . ., .
man, then place him m the center of
the circle. He must then cail tyvo num-
bers quite widely separated, like two
and ten. The ones having these num -
bers must take each other's places, if,
a person is caught in changing he is ; '
"it." If the blind man fails to catch!
'any one ne nas tne privilege
of call-
places, making it easy for some one
to get within his reach. This is a good
jolly game, and children love it.
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.
Entertaining an Embroidery Club.
Please give me a few suggestions
for entertaining an embroidery club. I
want prizes and souvenirs.
, . ; MATTIE.
j At the party you suggest, of course,
all the guests will bring their needles
,and work, so you could arrange a very
1 interesting contest by having some
j initials (it .wil1 be a sood time to get
bU"lt! mai-King none woikou ami see
PYho can ll the letter in the shortest
time. Then for souvenirs there are
the cutest spool and thimble candy
boxes imaginable, all sizes, just tho
thing for the occasion.
Proper Gown to a Box Party.
Will you kindly advise me through
the columns of your paper if it is
proper to yvear a decollete goyvn at a
box party? Can a picture hat be worn
; with same
FAYE.
At the grand opera loyvcut necks
are frequently seen, with handsome
hair ornaments, rarely hats. At the
regulation theatre box parties decolleto
gowns are rarely worn. Very elabor
ate costumes are seen, but the neck
is veiled in tulle or lace. Transpar
encies and picture hats are in evi
dence. Winter Evening Entertainment.
Dear Mme. Merri We are to spend
the winter in the country, but l ave
frequent parties. I, do not like to terve
refreshments if i do not know they aro
coming and do not know yvhat pas
times to have.
PATTY.
In not serving refreshments is just
where you make a mistake, for there
is nothing so hospitable as seting
something to eat and drink before your
guest. My chief aids in entertaining
are a chafing dish, coffe machine and
a teapot. Have candy pulls, popcorn
and roast chestnuts; become an exeprt
at concocting "things," and keep an
emergency shelf so you will never be
taken unawares, and I venture to say
your house will be the most popular
place in the neighborhood. Authors,
musical and geographical games are
all fascinating and the omnipresent
guessing games are always with us.
For a Surprise Party.
I have a sister who will be 11 this
month. I yvant to have a surprise
party. What would you advise us to
do for amusement? Have to have it in
the evening. What hour should it
start, and yvhat yvould you have for
refreshments? I thought 14 would be
the oldest and nine the youngest.
Would that be proper?
Would it be right for mother or me
to write the invitations, and how
yvould you word them?
M. E. G.
It will be perfectly proper for your
mother to extend the invitations by
yvriting informal little notes. I should
have the hours from 7 to 10. Not
. a moment later for young people
of
9-
(that age. Certainly
include the
s year-old. sShe or he will soon be
'leven. I should have a lovely big
birthday cake, yvith ice cream, and if
you like, coca and sandwiches, with
! nuts and rartdv Whv nnt have n nea-
Wh
Meaning of Mizpah.
at does the word Mizpah mean?
want to give a book as a present to
a v?ry dear friend and want to use a
i aun wor(1 or pnrose. uo y
ail-v? f so wil1 yu Pleas
ou know
ease give me
tilt Iil(?lllllii, .
olie -om tne otner. it is iouna
1,1 lue 131 Jie- Que nus. me
trench for '.'Between ourselves," is a
riTwnua t i' t ii . . ,T . 1 1 1. j i
: :
: Eighteenth Vedding Day.
what is the eighteenth anniversary
0f a wedding? And also will you please
give me a tew SUggestions for it, as 1
wjsh to have an informal gathering
of about eight couples? Thanking you
very much in advance,
x. Y. Z.
There is no set form scheduled for
( the eighteenth annivery, but that
j is no reason for not celebrating. You
'can have a musical evening, play c-:id
or do whatever you wish.
Questions in Etiquette.
I am invited to a reception, and as
I have been prevented on account of
I illness and different causes from at
tending such functions for several
I years 1 yvould like to ask a little in
1 formation on etiquette. If I accept the
invitation is it necessary for me to
send an acceptance? If so, how should
it be worded? Also, ara acceptances
and regrets yvritten on the small paper
and envelopes that are used for invita-
vtions and should they be sent by mail
Qr mQSS ?
I S AT
. . . , , ' " ,
L.Cera,n y .sf.nd acceptance worded
e the inviation you receive, lie
'small paper is used, and it is equally
proper to use the post or private mes
senger. In a large city the former me
thod is always used.
Senior Class Party.
My husband and I wish to entertain
the seniors of the high school ah even
ing from 7:30 to 11. The class is
composed of 12 girls and three boys
fronj 15 to 19 years of age. The class
colors are crimson and white. Will
you kindly write me some appropri
ate "pastime" or games for the even
ing, also suitable refreshments and
)