Press enter after choosing selection

Ideas Given To Society

Ideas Given To Society image
Parent Issue
Day
23
Month
November
Year
1894
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

"My deiM," sayo Mr. Charlton Jndd, "we really ought to give a carel party , or a reception or sonfething. Wo've j been going and goiiig ever sinee we moved here, aud it's tirue we returned ome of the courtesies we have ' ed." "Yes, of course we must," agrees the feininine dear appealed to. "I feel that we can't pnt it off any longer, but I dread it. There's so mucb to think of and arrange if the eutertaiument is to e an eutire suceess. There are the tale decoratious, the china, tho flowers and the menu. If we have dancing, :her,e are the favors to be arranged, or else we must have somebody to siug or read or do somelhing to entertain the guests. Theu I must have a new gown, aud the girls too. It seems a terrible undertakiug, but I suppose I must go :brough with it, " and the prospective ïostess sighs as she thiuks of her many responsibilities. The time has come when Mis. Charlton Judd or Mrs. Anybody Else who wishes to entertain may do so without ;iving herself the slightest trouble. She jas simply to apply to the "bureau of social requirements, " put the affair in ;he hands of its managers, and the dinner, tea, cotillón or reception will come off without further eft'ort on her part. [n starting this bureau Miss Ella Garrison ontered a .uew field in the range of occupations for womeii. There are ca:erers, of eourse, and scores of florists ready to do their part toward the success of a private entertainment, but never before in New York has a hostess jeen able to residu to a bureau the eu:ire management of a party from the composition of the menu and the design 'or the cardsof invitation to suggestions ,.s to her own toilet. Miss Garrison has at her command a staiï of chefs ready to concoct dainty dishes and butlers whose dignified deportment will add splendor to any entertainment. She proposes to furnish unique designs for the arrangements at vveddiugs and to show blushing brides how to advance gracefully to tho altar. She will devise ideas for children's parties, and she will invent new favors for cotillons. She will furnish artists to sing, play, read or recite for the entertainment of guests and will undertake to think for the lady of the house regarding every detail about which the slightest concern might be feit. In short, she will take all care off the hostess' shoulders and enable her to mingle with her guests with a light beart. There is another branch of the bureau of social requirements which will tend to relieve the mistress of many a handsome home of worry and responsibility. This department is described in the dainty little lavender pamphlet which the bureau sends out as "the dismantling aud rearrangement of houses. " When a family is to be absent from the city during the summer months or wishes to put aside the many articles that make the indoor life of winter so attractive the manager of the bureau will send workwomen and go herself to superintend the swatiiing of the furniture in linen. In the autumn it will be her province to take off the wrappings and restore the various articles to their places. Another department that receives the bureau's attention is "information on all points of social life." Many subtle problems that aro as a sealed book to the uninitiated will be mude plain on appKcation to the manager. These include such questions as "How long a time should or should not elapso before paying a first cali?" and "What should det er mine precedence iu the matter of seats at dinner?" Perhaps even the kinds of forks and spoons to be used f or rertain courses may puzzle one who has never paid much attention to such matlers. The bureau will solve all such problems. "What first suggested such a business to you?" asked a reporter who found Miss Garrison duly installed at her desk. "I have been doing this sort of thing unconsciously all my life, " was the reply. "My friends have always come to me for ideas and suggestions when they wanted to decórate a table prettily, get new haugings for a room, give a card party or anything of the kind. If any one in the family was to be married, my inventionwas taxed to get up something distinctive and new, either for the wedding raiment or the fasbion in which the ceremouy should be conducted. I have often been called on to give a suggestion as to the color, material and style of niaking most likely to snit certain of my friends who were in doubt as to a new dress, and now that the time has come when I want to be self supporting, it seems to mo that I had best make a business of what had always beeu a pleasure. I know more about texture and colors, house decorations, social forms and customs than I know about anything else, so I have determiued to make my capital of that. " Miss Garrison is a sweet faced young woman, with the air and manner of a pcrson accustomed to mingle with the world. The oldest daughter in a home where entertaininents were frequently given, she learned in her father's house the art of conducting social aff airs graceiv.Uy and successfully, and on account of Í uancial difiicnltiesshenow proposes to put her knowledge to practical use. Eveivthiiiir abeut the bureau is in eailhi-- tbat in the "uote" tfaat perrneates the p'ace - anö the youug lady's defk has fresh flowers ou it coustantly, the tribute of friends who appreciate the marmer in which she has met misfortune whicli would make most girls lean upou tlie fivst strong aria that offered. Miss Garrisou is a disciple o: Ruskin aud believes iu the diguity of labor. ' There are thoso in my f amily who would gladly relieve me of care, but . prefer to be iiidependeut, " she Bya simply, and theu she adds that she ím eiiioyiiiK her ne-w and engrössing occu pat i on very mach.

Article

Subjects
Ann Arbor Argus
Old News