  An Idea for St. Patrick's Day The invitations were written upon pale green note-paper, with a shamrock leaf painted in water-color in one corner. The exquisitely blended shades of this leaf make it an easy and effective decoration. In truth, we encountered some difficulty in finding a leaf to copy; but a volume of Moore's poems, incased by a considerate binder in a shamrock-sprinkled cover, solved the problem! The event was called a "Shamrock Luncheon," the hours were from two until six, and the word "whist" explained our intentions. The score-cards were cut from green cardboard, in the shape of a large shamrock; and across the back of each was written a line of a humorous St. Patrick's Day poem, which we had discovered in a newspaper. The verses will be found complete at the end of this article. It is adapted to twenty-four guests, but it is easy to insert more lines if more guests are invited. Each lady selected her partner for the game by finding the holder of the line which rhymed with her own. The score-cards were tied with streamers of narrow white or green ribbon, which served both to attach the cards to the gown and to indicate partners in "changing tables"—the green always playing with a white ribbon. (Care must be taken to tie rhyming cards, one with green and one with white.) When partners had been found, the entire poem, sufficiently humorous to break up all formality, was read. As each line was read, the owner of the card bearing that line took her seat as indicated, until all the guests were easily and laughingly seated. The six small luncheon tables were set with green and white china, and had for centrepieces pots of blossoming shamrock. Any florist will sell or rent these. The menu was as follows:
This repast, served by three pretty waitresses in white gowns and green ribbons, was eminently satisfactory. Green and white bonbons are easy to obtain. Care must be taken, however, not to carry the color scheme too far into the menu, as green is not an appetizing color in all kinds of food. St. Patrick's Birthday "'Twas the eighth day of March, so some people say, St. Patrick at midnight, he first saw the day! While others contend 'twas the ninth he was born, An' 'twas all a mistake between midnight and morn. But mistakes will occur in a hurry and shock, And some blamed the baby, and some blamed the clock. So that with all the talk there was, no one could know If the child was too fast, or the clock was too slow! "Now the first faction fight in owld Ireland, they say, Was all on account of St. Patrick's birthday. Some fought for the eighth, for the ninth more would die; And who wouldn't see right, why, they blackened his eye. "At last each faction so positive grew That each kept a birthday, and Patrick had two! Until good Father Mulcahy, who showed them their sins, Said no one could have two birthdays, but twins! Said he: 'Bhoys, don't be fightin' fur eight or fur nine; Don't be always dividin', but sometimes combine. Unite eight and nine—seventeen is the mark. Let that be his birthday.' 'Amen,' said the clark. "'If he wasn't a twin, sure his histhory will show That he's worth at least any two saints that we know.' Then they all 'tuk a dhrop,' which completed their bliss; And they keep up the practice from that day to this." | ||||||||||||||||
|
