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534 The Book of Indoor and Outdoor Games |
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bination with the pale yellow-greens of the early days of that lovely season—the centrepiece of Roman hyacinths bordered with maiden-hair fern, though lilies of the valley might replace them, if preferred. The dish was tied about with a wide, green satin ribbon tied at one side.
Two glass candlesticks held white candles, with pale-green paper shades—of the colour of young foliage, which is by no means unbecoming—to temper the light. The bonbons, little cakes, etc., were green and white; the salt-nuts were pistache. Pretty bon-bonnieres were at each place. These were simple, square green boxes, upon which were tied with narrow ribbons of the same shade bunches of spring violets, their stems encased in tin foil.
The name-cards had each a tiny bunch of violets painted in one corner, which was more novel in effect than a spray or single flowers. The stems were apparently tied together with a lilac ribbon caught by a passing breeze and waving in artistic carelessness over the card, while the names were written in violet ink. Every one was different in some slight particular, if only in the direction of the painted ribbon or the position of the flowers. On the reverse side was written upon each a different quotation appropriate to or descriptive of spring. For instance:
"Come, gentle spring, ethereal mildness come!"
"Then came the lovely spring, with a rush of blossoms and music; Filling the earth with flowers and the air with melodies vernal."
"Storm the earth with odours sweet, All ye blossoms bright." |
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