Under the name of a •• Boston baked bean party," a novel "sociable" furnished a deal of amusement to a party of young people during the present winter. Those receiving invitations were notified that old-fashioned costumes would be the order of the evening, and great were the routing and rummaging, begging and borrowing that ensued. As is usually the case, a good many "imitation" costumes had to be donned as a last resort, some surprisingly good ones being evolved by a few clever young ladies, who merely arranged lovely old-fashioned lace collars over their decidedly modern gowns with velvet "leg o' mutton" sleeves, while snowy aprons of sheer India linen gave the quaint finishing touch.

The Virginia reel was the favorite dance and the supper table was graced with huge bowls of Boston baked beans, loaves of brown bread, golden pumpkin pies, rosy pyramids of apples and great jugs of sweet cider. A bean bag contest was one of the interesting features of the evening - of course for the inevitable prizes. The first prize in this case was a pretty set of bean bags and board, while the winner of the booby prize rejoiced in a mammoth dish of pork and beans.

A "white dinner" given recently by one of the leaders of New York society, had Puritan roses for the leading decorations, while at the corners of the table were little split yellow egg baskets carelessly filled with convallarias. Here and there upon the cloth were mats of mistletoe, thickly dotted with its waxen white berries. The effect of all this delicate green and white bloom, with the exquisite white porcelain and satin-finished silver, was chaste and beautiful. The above mentioned willow baskets are also very pretty when filled with narcissuses, daisies or any spring flower. Partridge berries and vines, ferns and wild flowers could be utilized in them by out of town hostesses in a charming manner. A dainty device adaptable to ladies', luncheon parties is to put at the plate of each guest her favorite flower.

Fig. 4. Mummied Plums. (See page 165).