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Breakfasts and teas

1907

Page 24 · 2 recipe records on this page

Presented as published in 1907. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
Three rough poles are made to form a tripod and the kettle is suspended from the vertex of the angles or the crossing point of the poles. Music, in which string in- struments figure most conspicuously, should be selected, as this lends itself best to the wierd effect which should be sought. Three or four pieces will generally be suffi- cient and they may consist of a violin, guitar, banjo Breakfasts and Teas 61 and snare drum or the drum may be omitted if not con- venient. The committee appointed to gather the re- freshments must have the assistance of all the other women of the club, for its work is very arduous and necessitates great care and precaution and good judg- ment. Each girl must subscribe something to eat, and care should be taken that all the girls do not contribute cakes, pies and pickles. Get plenty of cold meats, sand- wiches and you might have some nuts of some kind or sweet potatoes or raw eggs or something to roast in the campfire. In a Gypsy tea the young women must all go to the grounds by themselves, unattended by the men and the men are to arrive in a body later; they have previously been informed of the exact location and hour when they will be expected. The young women should all wear Gypsy costumes and one must be a fortune teller or good at pretending that she can tell fortunes. If suitable arrangements can be made for their reaching the grounds without appearing too conspicuous they may wear the Gypsy costumes as outer garments en route. Otherwise each girl can slip on something easily divested, over the Gypsy dress and remove it at the picnic grounds before the young men arrive, donning it again before time to start home. Arrangements should be made for a vehicleGypsy Tea to make the round of all the girl's homes on the day of the Gypsy tea to gather up the refreshments and take them to the picnic ground previously selected. On the day of the outing all the girls gather at an appointed place and go together to the grounds by such 62 Breakfasts and Teas means of transportation as they deem best suited to the conditions. The vehicle containing the refresh- ments and other needful appendages may follow. On reaching the grounds the girls all get busy mak- ing the preparations and getting everything in excellent condition for the arrival of the boys. The tripods are arranged, the kettle is hung, the campfire is built, and the grounds are made to look artistic. When the men arrive just at the hour of sundown, everything is in readiness. The fire is burning brightly, the fortune teller is at her post, the kettle is steaming and the refreshments are spread on tablecloths laid on the grass. Then the tea is made and each man enjoys a dainty but toothsome repast. After tea the baskets and equipments are replaced in the wagon and the grounds cleared. The remainder of the evening may be spent in dancing, fortune telling and the like. Breakfasts and Teas 63 CHAPTER VII. A Japanese Tea. i. Japanese Tea