The following appeared in The Rock County Herald on February 3, 1905.
In Social Circles
Record of a Typical Mid-Winter Week
Serial Life In Luverne Characterized by One Continuous Round of Pleasure—Dancing, Card, Dinner, Birthday Parties, Etc.—Wedding next Wednesday
The social record of the past week, which has maintained about the usual average in such matters, includes eleven parties of various kinds with at least three more to be added to the list before the week closes.
One of the first and also one of the most unique and delightful affairs was the character card party given Friday night by Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Gerber at their beautiful home on West Main Street, to which the following invitation printed in flaring poster style had been issued:
EXCURSION! The Go Slow and Never Arrive R. R. Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Gerber invite you to take a trip with them in their special car, Colonial, on Friday, January 27. Train leaves on the Progressive Clinch route promptly at 8 p.m., stopping 20 minutes for lunch, returning home at 12 o’clock. This is an emigrant train—dress accordingly. Please answer promptly so seats can be reserved for you.
The emigrants “dressed accordingly” and their appearance caused endless amusement. On their arrival at the “depot” their baggage was checked and the passengers passed on to the waiting rooms on the second floor which had been appropriately fitted up and decorated for the purpose. Two adjoining parlors on the first floor, with tables designated by the names of towns, represented the cars, and after obtaining their tickets at the ingeniously improvised ticket office the “emigrants,” as the name of the town on their respective tickets was called, entered the “cars” and found their destinations. Refresh-ments were served at a lunch counter in the dining room in true, railroad lunch counter style, though it must be admitted that the lunch itself was far different.
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The “violet” luncheon” given at the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Harroun by the Misses Ella Harroun and Alice Burleigh, with Miss Laura Hinkly the guest of honor, was a rarely pretty and pleasing event. As indicated by its name, violets and violet colors predominated everywhere. Covers were laid for eighteen and luncheon was served on small tables, which were fairly strewn with cut violets and held large center pieces of these flowers of “love and faithfulness,” happily symbolic of the approaching marriage of the guest of honor. In the room where the luncheon was served violet colored strands extended from the ceiling to the corner of the tables, joining them in a perfect mesh. The rooms were darkened and candles used for illumination, their soft light adding materially in the pleasing color effect.
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A delightful little dinner party with Mr. John M. Connell and Miss Laura Hinkly as guest of honor was one of the happy evens of last evening. The dinner was given by Mr. Wm. Jacobsen, Jr., at the home of his parents on North Estey street, and was commemorative of the approaching nuptials of the two popular young people who were the guests of honor. The house was tastefully arranged and the table beautifully decorated with white carnations and smilax, while bouquets of carnations were given as favors. The dinner was elaborate in all its appointments and as properly befitted an event of this character was a very happy one to the guests who included only the more intimate friends of the guests of honor. Covers were laid for twelve.
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The annual dance of the A. O. U. W. Lodge, the second event of its kind in the history of the local organization, was a pleasing success in every way and a credit not only to the organization but to the committee having the affair in charge. The company in attendance was very large, but the music of the Ainsworth orchestra, which is always in every sense perfect dance music, obviated much of the difficulty incident to the crowded condition of the dance hall. The Workman hall in the Drew block was used for the accommodation of the guests who preferred not to dance and at this place cards and other games were played. Supper was also served in this hall and the “spread” prepared was the most elaborate ever given by a local lodge.
Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
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