LADIES' COLUMN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7417, 31 May 1902, Page 3

LADIES' COLUMN.

HOSTS WHO PREPARE SURPRISES FOR THEIR GUESTS. {English Paper.) Ever since, and probably loag before, Heliogabalua provided a poetic- surprise lor Jus guests by smot-hexinji them with roses showeied ironi the ceiiiag of his auunghali, enterprising hosts have striven to ecupse eaon omar in the ingenuity ot tne surprises tney prepare ior tuwx guests. ssoi long ago, wneu a papular and. beautiful actress was entertaining a few friend* at dinner, a waiter entered bearing a Urge tureen, wnich, was placed with mucli ceremony in. tne centi* of the tatue. llieie was suoa a sugg. ,von of mystery in the importation of uiis tureen tflat the guests were full of curiosity and speculation as to tie contents. Tneir amusement, was great wJtien t-he lid was removed and disclosed a dwarf, wihose drollery and antics kept die table 'ia a continued roar of lauj;nter from tiie first course to the last. On. another occasion, a dinner given by a iamuua artist, an enormous pie witn a tempting ciaist was introduced. Wnen the pie was opened there stepped out of the dash a distractingly pretty giu attired* a* (Jupid, wings and aaitl t wno distributed dainty and costiy presents to eacn. guest m. 'turn. in quite prosaio contrast to this beautiiul apparition was the surprise recently prepared, bj a City merchant, wiho some years previously had Deea <tecwxed baafcrupt. xie nad iavit-ed. aail -Ms ci«<iiK>«s <w a sumptuous dinner at one of our great London noceia, and eacn creditor on. opening Dos serviette discovered a cheque ior tne balance oi tne debt due to him, with, compound interest at 0 ,per cent. . A yoxmg American xecenuy invited a few of lus Iriends, twelve at number, to a- very gruesome repast. The wails ot the diniug-ioom were oraped in black and decora-tea, witn. gum mottoes and. devices in human bones. A skeleton presided at tne head of the table and simuar skeletons occupied alternate seatSj so tnat eaon guest was fianked on eitner side by a voiceless companion. M tin© table equipment was similarly suggestive; tne v very sali-celiar* were miniature skulls, a deatli's 'head giinned at the bottom of each .emptied glass, and from a, hidden recess musicians piayed dirges to inspire appetite. it is quite a reiiei to turn Horn, such an example- 04 wily ana bad taste to cue gracetul ia«a oi an Aimerican lady, me centre 01 he* table was occupied by an exquisite bower oi roses wnicn t wnen tne guesia were seated, opened mechanically and. disoiosed one oi tne most beautuui and sweet-voicea of singers. ±*en course oi tne dinner was announced by tne singing 01 appropriate lines in a voice Una* a- mgutingaie migiit weii have envied. Jbleotncai devices offer large scope ior nosts aiKt nosiesses wi«> wu»n to deiigut tneor guests. At a- dinner recently given ujf an American nuiiioiiaiie caen i«<dv blazed xrom iwad to ioot witn gains tax. nioiw dazzling tnun any mua» ever yielded w> tne iigni. On eacn laas iorm, wxeatiiea in wie nair, encircling tae neut, anu. lormuig designs 01 bewildering intricacy on corsage and siurt t iiasiiea nunoireda oi points 01 name 01 ail tne colours oi tne.raAuiDow — an draw.iig their ike irom a concealed) battery, line' uious w«uj spr&ut in the centre 01 v/ii&i appealed to be endless ioiest gwies, wnUe eacn leal 01 every minute tree was punted out in many-nued iii«— the wnoie ioruuug a dazzling picture 01 iairyiaawi wnicn mign& well ha.ye made the most ambitious iairynostess tuin paae witn envy. At anotner dinner given by this same Crffisua, as cacti course wa* concluded, me üble with all its appointments vani&ued irom signt througn tixe iioor, and. before tae guesta nad time co recover' irom tnen Mtonosiunent, presto I *he table was a^aan in position luliy equijpped fox tne succeeding course. Althougn perhaps in questionable taste, it would be aimcult to beat in ingenuity the device w. a. well-known Parisian host foi surprising his guests. Each course was heralded by a magic lantern illustration oi how it was procured. Succeeding pictures on the screen snowed how every individual article of food is procured and prepared, and did not shrink even from painting in realistic colours tne risks of fishewnen caugnt in a tempest or the repulsive details oi tne abattoir. •