WORKING PARTIES.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2700, 2 December 1882, Page 3

WORKING PARTIES.

[“The Queen.”]

In former days Dorcas meetings were much approved, and many of us are old enough to remember such gatherings, which had for their object making garments for the poor. A very excellent object indeed, but O the dulness! The promoters of the party always seemed to consider its success to be in exact proportion to its tedium. Twenty ladies in a room, by no means large, spending several hours in some coarse work which could have been done in no time with the sewing machine (had they been in general use), or better still, sent to a national school for children to learn, upon, a cup of tea handed to each guest, which she takes without discontinuing her work, some morsels of cake, which she dare not venture upon lost her fingers become sticky—the climax being reached when a very dull book was read aloud.

Under such adverse circumstances we can scarcely wonder that Dorcas meetings arc things of the past, that they have " gone out of fashion.” The only thing of the kind which obtains any favor at the present day is the “ Mothers’ meeting”— a most excellent institution. Yet working parties are most useful, especially in country places, and I propose to devote this chapter to that subject.

Working parties have two sidesft-the workers and the work. In former days, the latter was the only consideration, the workers were treated almost as machines; the very minimum of comfort was accorded to them, and any idea of pleasure would have been regarded as Utopian. A long and varied experience has taught me that this is all wrong, and that, if we would have our working party a success, the guests must be the first consideration, and the work will prosper accordingly. Another important matter is, not to have them too often, and never unless there is something definite to be done. Now as to the work. In former days nothing was permitted but the coarsest garments, nothing in which we could take pleasure; and we might almost suppose that penance was intended, for everything was made as dull and uninviting as possible. Here again is great room for improvement. I would on no account restrict the workers to plain sewing ; of course it must be done sometimes, but then all the plain parts should be completed beforehand with the sewing machine. Moreover, plain work is generally wanted at the school, and it is a good plan to have all seams and hems done there, and invite a working party to finish.

Sometimes a bazaar is to be held in a neighboring' parish, and we should like to do something to help: so we have two or three working parties, and are able to send a box of saleable articles, useful and ornamental—a practical token of goodwill from one parish to another. We have perhaps a quantity of pictures left from the screen which we finished last winter, and we make some scrap-books for a children’s hospital, or for the infirmary of a workhouse. There is much scope for taste and skill in these, and work for everybody. They cost little, and are an unfailing delight to the recipients.

Working parties should, as a rule, be held in the summer, daylight being a necessity, and the garden an advantage which must not be overlooked.

No place is so suitable for working parties as the rectory. It is a sort of neutral ground, whore the Lady Bountiful can meet the farmer’s wife, where the squire’s daughters can chat with their humble neighbors, and if the clergyman’s wife and daughters enter into the spirit of it, a pleasant parish gathering is the result, beneficial to all concerned.

We will new suppose that wo are anxious to send something to a children's hospital near, in the benefits of which our own parish participates. A lady on the committee, who is interested in the institution, will provide all materials for three dozen flannel jackets for the little patients to wear in bed, but she has no time to make so many, even if she knew how; so we decide to have a working party, and we sent out invitations —“ Mrs Brown requests the pleasure of the Misses Black’s company at a working party, on Tuesday, the 27th, from three till seven, to mate flannel jackets for the children’s hospital.”

We are care careful to state what work is to be done, and we give at least a week’s notice ; in that week we carefully prepare the work, cut out the three dozen jackets, aud do every possible part with the machine.

The day having arrived, one or two rooms are prepared, and the work placed upon the table. Be sure that there is a good supply of needles, cottons, pins, &c. ; each worker will bring her own thimble and scissors, hut a few extra pins are always useful, and be careful that the requisite buttons and twist for buttonholes ho at hand.

At a first meeting, there is often difficulty as to each worker’s powers, but the superintendent will soon learn who is to be trusted with really difficult work, and who can undertake only a simple task. Underany circumstances, excellence is a sine qua non , and no fault must bo passed over ; she mn-'* herself be a first-rate needlewoman, able, if necessary, to instruct everybody—she must have great patience and tact, and be prepared for considerable trouble. At five o’clock the party should adjourn to the drawing room for tea—nothing very elaborate, but everything should be of the best, and daintily prepared. If it could be taken in the garden, so much the better. Whilst the work room is empty, the housemaid should open the windows, and under responsible supervision tidy it a little ; when the ladies return, the room is fresh, and fairly neat, and they resume their work with renewed interest. The last hour and a half pass all too quickly, and when seven o’clock comes everyone is sorry. Those who have not finished their work will volunteer to take it home, or arrangements are made for another meeting, in which ease everything is put away iu an orderly manner. One word as to the reading aloud; I believe it was adopted in former days to present the gossip which was supposed to be inevitable in a company of women. I cannot find one single argument in favor of the reading, but there are plenty against it; no book could be found to please everybody, nor short enough for one afternoon ; the reader would have to be taken from her work; there would be constant interruptions, for instruction and supervision is always needed by one or other ; and lastly, the friendly chat between neighbors is a pleasant feature of the party, and I am a loss to conceive why talking should bo prevented at these gatherings any mere than at a garden party.