T CHAPTER II.-FEBRUARY Candlemas HE second month in the year is the delight of the hostess, for not only is the gay season at its height, but there are so many special days upon which she can build her entertainment schemes and offer novelties to her guests. Candlemas, on the second day, affords opportunities for unique decorations, and it is always a pleasure to enlighten one's friends upon the delightful significance of this ancient festival. If we go back far enough we find that all our holidays have a religious beginning, and Candlemas was celebrated with the same fervor as Christmas by our remote ancestors. It was the feast of the Purification of the Virgin, the candle being symbolic of the body of the Saviour. In the medieval period burning candles on the second of February was supposed to ward off the visits of evil spirits from the house for a year. The peasants in many portions of Europe believe firmly in the weather forecast made on this day. The Scotch people say: "If Candlemas Day be fair and clear The burning of candles on this day has for centuries been considered prophetic of the future by people given to superstition; so, as the twentieth-century maiden loves mystery, she will doubtless welcome another day on which to pry into the unseen way, as the flames will divulge her fate on Candlemas. A luncheon or dinner is a delightful way to celebrate, with a congenial party of six or eight, ten at the outside. So much depends upon the guests, and the most enjoyable affairs are always small and informal. The table centrepiece should be of dainty white flowers, Roman hyacinths, lilies of the valley, carnations, or lilies; white candles should be arranged around them in a circle (symbol of eternity), with an unshaded candle at each plate, the holders of glass. Maidenhair ferns, smilax, or asparagus vine arranged in delicate tracery over the tablecloth adds greatly to the fairy-like effect. Use white china, and the bonbons and cakes should show no color. The place cards may be done in water colors having a bunch of snowdrops and a lighted candle, in remembrance of the fact that a Franciscan friar said, "I can light a taper to our Virgin Mother on the blowing of the white snowdrop, which opens its flowerets at the time of Candlemas." If this pure, wax-like blossom is obtainable, use it by all means for this function. In Paris on the second day of February, the true Parisian celebrates by eating pancakes. The story is told of Madame Sarah Bernhardt, when a private car was her home while en tour in this country a season or two ago, that Candlemas Day came, and the cook was entirely unenlightened as to this very important adjunct to the breakfast menu. For a short time only did the great actress hesitate, then she sent for the cook, and it was amicably arranged that Madame Bernhardt should build her own pancakes on Candlemas Day. Any jelly or jam may be used. These may be served for dessert, or a vanilla ice cream frozen in the shape of candles, with blanched almonds for wicks, which are lighted just when sent to the table. Pass wax matches with which each guest will light the place candle. If a flame flickers without a visible draft, the weather will be windy; if the candle is slow to light, the weather will be rainy; the first candle to go out foretells an unhappy marriage; the one to burn the longest signifies wedded bliss. Before the candles are entirely burned out let each one rise and walk three steps away, then see if the flame can be extinguished by one puff, for each puff adds one year's delay to a wedding. A Dickens Party On February the seventh, in the year 1812, our good friend Charles Dickens was born, so let us remember this beloved author by celebrating his birthday. Ask the guests to come in a costume representing a character from one of his books, or the title of one of them; if it is too much trouble to wear an entire costume, some article may be worn to indicate the subject. All will rejoice in the reunion of David Copperfield, Little Nell, Mrs. Gamp, and Mr. Micawber. For refreshments have things as English as possible. Use only candlelight, and place all the eatables on the table at once. There should be several cold joints, such as a leg of mutton, roast beef, and a cold fowl. Individual meat pies or chops would be appropriate; and do not forget orange marmalade with seed cakes, also rye bread, and ale served in tankards. As each guest arrives, take the name of the character; when all have assembled pass cards and pencils. Allow a half-hour for guessing the characters represented; award a framed photograph of Dickens for the first prize, and a copy of one of his books for the second. There is a charming new book called "Stories from Dickens" that is meant primarily for young readers, but it is thoroughly enjoyable by any devotee of this matchless writer. Illustrated works of Dickens will give an idea how to dress the characters, also old English prints, which may be seen at a public library. Decorate with the British flag, use English china, Sheffield plate, and any pieces of pewter you may possess. An evening with Dickens is always enjoyable and such entertainments are especially good for church societies or clubs. There are many sketches from his writings suitable for reading aloud, and they may be illustrated by living pictures. All know of the ever-pleasing features of "Mrs. Jarley's Wax Works," which have been arranged for production. A masquerade for children could be given by asking each child to come in a Dickens child costume. In Honor of Lincoln's Birthday IN the hearts of American people, our first martyred President holds a place second to none, though the Government was exceedingly tardy in making the day of his birth a national holiday. It is certainly one of the red-letter days of the month, this twelfth of February, and deserves a characteristic celebration. School children observe the day, but it is only recently that the hostess has recognized it as another day on which to add a spice of novelty and interest to her entertainments. Invitations to a Lincoln party may carry the request to appear in the garb of 1860; old fashion plates and histories of that period will afford ample designs for the costumes of both men and women. Extreme simplicity must be the keynote to all the preparations. No lace doilies, fancy shades, or superfluous silver should adorn the table. A plain cloth, candles in brass or pewter holders, and the dinner served in three courses only, the guests doing their own passing as far as possible, the host carving, and the hostess pouring the coffee. For the centrepiece make a log cabin, and surround it with a rail fence. Toy trees may be purchased to plant in the yard. The place cards may be held by little black china dolls, dressed in Turkey red or blue checked gingham pinafores. Each card should bear the name of the guest, the date, and the quotation, "With malice toward none, with charity for all." Cross the glorious Stars and Stripes over the table above the gas jet, and give each guest a little silk flag for button-hole or hair. (They come on wires especially for the hair.) Over the tablecloth lay chains made from black paper (kindergarten method), a break in the links every so often significant of Slavery's broken shackles. Some of the guests might be asked to be prepared to relate Lincoln anecdotes, and it would be exceedingly interesting to have a programme of the songs of that day, including the old war songs which are so rarely heard these days outside of a Grand Army meeting. The music of the period of the War had much to do with the history of the country, and some day these old melodies will be classed where they belong, in a collection of ballads dear to the hearts of the people who lived during the Civil War. While at the table read aloud "Oh, Why Should the Spirit of Mortal be Proud?" which was the favorite poem of Abraham Lincoln. It is by William Knox, and may be found in the "Library of Poetry and Song," edited by William Cullen Bryant. St. Valentine's Day THE origin of St. Valentine, like many of our festivals, seems to be veiled in obscurity. In Shakespeare's time the good old poet Drayton wrote: "Muse, bid the morn awake. Sad winter now declines, Each bird doth choose a mate, It is a saying from time immemorial that the birds choose their mates on the fourteenth of February. Be that as it may, the day has been one of love-making and the giving and receiving of love tokens since the beginning of things. Good old St. Valentine was martyred in the third century, and there is nothing in his life to indicate why his natal day was selected for the fête day of the omnipresent little god Love, but such is the case, and it is a very good day to celebrate. An ancient custom observed on the eve of St. Valentine's was the dropping into a box of an equal number of names of either sex. Then every one drew out a name, which was supposed to be his or her valentine. This was considered to be an omen of felicity in love affairs, and foretold a wedding. |