To step from midsummer into winter was a surprise, when the admission ticket was dropped in the box at the door on the night of the festival and its erstwhile owner passed into the hall. Small tables stood by pine and cedar trees that were covered with alum icicles and sifted over with diamond dust. Here groups of friends ate their cream and cake together, served by snow spirits in white tarletan gowns that sparkled with diamond dust, or ice fays whose white costumes glittered with glass beads. On the stage, white canton flannel and diamond dust, heavy gray wrapping paper folded into rocks, trees and a rustic bridge made a realistic representation of a snowclad landscape. The pleasing program consisted of dainty dances by children dressed as snowflakes, a pretty ball game played with snowballs, recitations and songs appropriate to the winter season. Another novelty was a tree covered with raw cotton snowballs, with numbers attached. These were sold for twenty-five cents—each purchaser choosing a number—and contained the small fancy articles usually sold at fairs—pincushions, needle-books, cups and saucers, etc. The windows were all screened and electric fans hidden by evergreens kept the hall from getting overheated. In one corner was a large pond, made of a shallow wooden tank surrounded by more gray paper rocks and white cotton snow, in which real cakes of ice were floating, and from which any one was at liberty to dip as much ice water as he cared to drink. This festival was a great success. |