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A KotaI Entertainment By the Ladles ofGrace Episcopal Church—The Celebrated German Feast.A lovelier day than yesterday never dawned,and the ladles In their praiseworthy effort at Avondale Mamed to have won the approval of Providence. The beautiful lawn of Messrs. Redway and Burton, with its mossy greensward, had been utilized by the ladies of Grace Episcopal Church for their kirmess fete. The bright colored booths, with their wares presented In the most tempting manner, presided over by the loveliest of Katrinas, were arranged in a circle, as is the habit in the old country at a similar gathering. There were candy booths, flower stands, a lemonade well, a gypsy tent, where many a lad and lassie took a peep into futurity; booths filled with fancy needlework and useful and ornamental garments. All these tents revelled in 'the brightest of 'colors, yellow 'being ranch favored., perhaps for the reason the darky gave, “You could see It fur in de distance.*’ Pretty little children In ouaint Dutch costumes and wooden shoes carried on a wagon a small organ, and ground out Lauterbach waltzes, wem, weib und gesang. and solicited nickels as remuneration for the entertainment Mr. Kind, bearing the burden of a catch bag by strap, solicited patrons, and boys, to their utter di-gust, invariably drew doll babies and kitchen •to .res.The gypsy camp had a genuine gyp-y wagon near the tent A rug lay stretched on the floor, and seated around were interpreters of fate, gandilv dressed, with the cards of destiny prepared for reading bright futures or presaging a gloomy doom. Shade* of heaven, let it be recorded! there was no dancing, not that the inspiring strains .from. Currier s string orchestra did not m b youth, long to ase the hour* with flying feet” Such symphonies of sound as floated through the air suggested the scene when“Merrily danced the Quaker's wife,And merrily danced the Quaker.Though, there' were many Dutch customs observed, no clay pipes were' sported, nor did. any limberger, by Its fragrance in'* the far distance, give warning of the kirmess. Foaming lager was banished, and the improvised Dutch seemed familiar with fragrant Havanas and Vt-uve CVquot or limonade, as a restaurateur endeavors to disguise plain lemonade. Thoss lovely waltzes, charming racquets, and bril-li rat lancevs. as interpreted by the orchestra, seemed a waste'of sweetness on the desert air,1* and no d ubt many of the youth of Avondale agree in that sentiment. But so long as they only enjoyed the dance by wishing for it, not participating In it, no sin is committed, no damage done. Perhaps few will remember the origin of the name of Avondale. It received its beautiful cognomen from Mrs, Barton some thirty-five years .ago. The lady la from England, and held, with pride and. reverence the memory of 'the immortal Sh -kespeare. In honor to the bard of Avon she christened the suburb Avondale. Betides the testimonial to the great dramatist, its peculiar formation of hill and dale gives to its name a peculiar appropriateness.The object of the kirmess, for whose success the ladies have labored so zealously, is the benefit of the Episcopal Sunday school. It has for many years been the habit of this church to five two fetes or fairs a war, on# for winter Indoors, a fete champetn daring the sultry days of summer. As a novelty, the kirmess iug geated itself this season, and its success was ao-parent. The beauties of the kirmess by day are enhanced by the shades of evening. Myriads of Chinese lanterns, in their bright colored robing*, furnished a beautiful, decoration, and their faint lights coquetted. with, evergreen boughs and twining woodbine. After nightfall the gypsy tent had more patrons, as fate read from the stars always carries with it a peculiar significance. A feature, too, was the roving minstrels as from tent to tent and booth to booth they wandered, warbling their German airs, “Warht am. Rhein. '‘Lei Hie/’ and others. The minstrels were Miss Mary Andrews, soprano; M'lsa Robinson, alto, Mr. Burt 'Redway. with, accordion, and Mr. Robert Burton aud Harry Wynne. The flower booth was under the char e of Mrs. Maury, whose husband is a son of Lieutenant Maury, United States Navy, of deep sea sounding and coast survey fame, and Mrs. Henry Burton. The cigar booth, where fragrant Havanas were temptingly displayed to' entice all lovers, of the weed, was presided over by Mm. Ellis, Mrs. Mitchell. Miss Worthington and Miss Hartshorne. The dairy, redolent with fresh buttermilk, smearkase. and bright with gilt edged batter, was one of the mo t attra«'tive booths. Wiener wurst, bretzels. wnd Bweitzer kase were among the Teutonic attractions. The dairy was thatched with straw, and 'bore the names of Alsace and Lorraine', two unhappy provinces that the Iran hand of Germany wrenched from unfortunate France. Anchored to this booth was a feature dear to every schoolgirl's heart—the waffle man. This booth was presided over by Mrs. D. W. Strickland. wife of the mayor of Avondale, Mrs. Frank Alter, Mrs. Chas. Hofer, Mrs. Geo. P. Bassett, Mrs. Greer, and Mrs. Jackson. These ladies were all dressed In appropriate costumes, with tall Alpine bate.The quarters of the reception committee were clote at hand, and composed of the following ladies: Mrs. Burton, Mrs. Redway, Mrs. Hartshorne, and Mrs. Van Antwerp. The domestic booth contained many articles of use. such as housekeeper's aprons, children’s bibs, baby’s slips, cans, and ornamental neckwear.. Over the entrance 'was the wort “Bugen.” Urn Charles Williams and Mrs. Derby had this .attraction In charge. The fruit and vegetable 'booth groaned, with its epicurean luxuries—rosy cheeked apples nestled near bunches of cherries, ripe, plethoric plums snrronnded bright berries, and tomatoes in their plump red jackets, lay close to bright green encumber*. Mrs. Samuel Mc-Keehan and Mrs. Wm. Andrews gave this table their undivided, attentionThe Icecream table wag presided over by Mr*. Hooker and Mm. Wllshire. The charming gypsy maidens, with raven tresaes disheveled, were Miss Florence Van Antwerp, Miss Johnson, Miss Flora Williams, Miss Mamie Cleneay, Mias Minnie Hipp. The gypsy tent was near the centennial oaks, which were planted and dedicated by Mr. Burton. The features that must not be 'Overlooked were the Kaffee-'klatch, where they substituted rich chocolate for coffee,, and served it at4 o'clock; the other the little ponies from the Zoo. about the size of Newfoundland dogs, and their offspring, a Llliputlan specimen of horseflesh. His partiality for his maternal parent gave some considerable alarm to young lady riders as on sidesaddles they distinguished them-elVe- a- eq- str nnea.Among the guesta were Bishop Jagger ,Rev. Duritey Rhodes, Hen. Rufus King ana lady, W. H. 'Dominick and lady. H. M. McGill and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Mi- .hell. J. Bennett Resor snd wife, of Clifton: Mr. and Mrs. Holton, Mr. and Mrs. L. Van Antwerp. Mr. Cleneay and wife, Mr. C. F. Aflac and wife. S. H. Burton and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Tullldge. Miss Emma Cochran. Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Wayne, Miss Burton, Miss Sterritt, of Glendale; General Dana and wife, Mr, Buglier, of Clifton; Mr. E. W. Kit-tredge and wife, Mr.. and Mrs.. C. F. Bragg'. Mrs. H. W. Derby, Miss Derby. Mm A. L. Tyler, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Field. Mr. Wm. F. Webb and wife, Mr. John Swasey. jr., and wife, Mr. and Mm Sherlock, of Clifton; Mr. and Mrs. John Dixon. Mr. and Mrs. Howard Eckert. Mr. and Mm George Bowen, Mr.. Will Dickson, Colonel Strickland. Mr. O. O. Hall, Mr. Frank Alter, and. Rev. A. F. Blake, pastor of Onet Episcopal Church, Avondale.,
Newspaper Details
The Cincinnati News Journal
Cincinnati, Ohio, US
Sat, Jun 23, 1883
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Daniel M.
USA 16 Apr 2025
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