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Title: Bright Ideas for Entertaining

Author: Mrs. Herbert B. Linscott

Release Date: June 2, 2013 [EBook #42863]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1

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BRIGHT IDEAS

FOR

ENTERTAINING

Two hundred forms of amusement or entertainment for social gatherings of all kinds: large or small parties, clubs, sociables, church entertainments, etc.; with special suggestions for birthdays, wedding anniversaries, Hallowe'en, All Fools' Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and other holidays.

By
MRS. HERBERT B. LINSCOTT

PHILADELPHIA
GEORGE W. JACOBS & CO.
PUBLISHERS

Copyright, 1905, by
Mrs. Herbert B. Linscott
Published July, 1905

Thirty articles appearing in this book have been taken from "The Ladies' Home Journal," to which the author gratefully acknowledges permission to reprint them.

Bright Ideas for Entertaining

ACTING PROVERBS

In this game the company may be divided into actors and spectators. The actors are each given a proverb, which they are to act alone in pantomime.

The first player may come into the room where the spectators are waiting, with a sprinkler in one hand and a cup in the other. He begins sprinkling the flowers, then he pours water over them, acting the proverb, "It never rains but it pours."

The second actor also brings a cup of water. He repeatedly attempts to drink from the cup, which keeps slipping from his fingers as he brings it near his mouth. "There's many a slip between the cup and the lip."

The third brings in a purse containing brass buttons, which he takes out and counts over deliberately. Then he looks at them closely, and with seeming distrust, finally flinging them from him in a rage. "All is not gold that glitters."

The fourth actor appears with a stone, which he rolls all about the room. Then he examines it critically and shakes his head dubiously. "A rolling stone gathers no moss."

The next actor brings in a bundle of hay and tosses it about with his fork, which he carries for the purpose, looking up frequently at an imaginary sky. "Make hay while the sun shines."

This game is more interesting if spectators are furnished with slips of paper and pencils, that they may write down their guessing of each proverb when the actor passes from the room, to be followed by another.

ADVERTISEMENT ITEMS

Cut out pictures from advertisements; for instance, from "Quaker Oats," cut out the Quaker, but nothing that will tell what it represents. Have a number of them and paste on plain white paper. Number each ad, and keep a "key" to them yourself. Furnish paper and pencil to each guest and have them guess what each picture represents. The one who guesses the most receives a prize. Also request every one to write an advertisement on some article.

Still another form of the game is for each person to choose his theme for an advertisement, and write it without naming the article. He will read his advertisement, and the company must guess what article he is advertising. A variation of this game is to distribute papers, allowing a few minutes for examining them, and then let each player describe some article as nearly as possible in the language of its printed advertisement, with, of course, such changes as will serve to divert the company, and give the rest an opportunity to guess what advertisement he has been reading. Of course the article should not be named in the course of the description.

ALL ABOUT KATE

This game will furnish amusement at an evening entertainment, but may also be played after a ladies' luncheon. The questions, on sheets of paper with spaces allowed for the answers, are distributed, and fifteen minutes given for answering them. Each answer is composed of one word ending with the letters c-a-t-e; for instance: Kate is a good pleader (advo-cate). When fifteen minutes have elapsed each player signs her name and passes her paper to the person on her right. The answers are then read, and the player having the most correct answers wins a prize.

Questions—

1. Kate is a good pleader.
2. Kate judges judicially.
3. Kate is apt to use other people's money wrongfully.
4. Kate is very frail.
5. Kate sometimes gets out of joint.
6. Kate makes everything double.
7. Kate loves to teach.
8. Kate takes out ink spots.
9. Kate helps people out of difficulties.
10. Kate is good at constructing.
11. Kate gives a pledge of security.
12. Kate sometimes invokes evil.
13. Kate is perplexing; hard to understand.
14. Kate often prays earnestly.
15. Kate makes wheels run easily.
16. Kate uses her teeth.
17. Kate is not always truthful.
18. Kate can foretell events.
19. Kate makes an affirmative.
20. Kate gets smothered.
21. Kate points out clearly.
22. Kate makes business combinations.
23. Kate goes into the country.
24. Kate will now move out.

1. Advocate.
2. Adjudicate.
3. Defalcate.
4. Delicate.
5. Dislocate.
6. Duplicate.
7. Educate.
8. Eradicate.
9. Extricate.
10. Fabricate.
11. Hypothecate.
12. Imprecate.
13. Intricate.
14. Supplicate.
15. Lubricate.
16. Masticate.
17. Prevaricate.
18. Prognosticate.
19. Predicate.
20. Suffocate.
21. Indicate.
22. Syndicate.
23. Rusticate.
24. Vacate.

APPLE SOCIABLE

Cards are sent out with the following:

Come to the Apple Social and see who gets the
B—A—P
L—A—P
N—A—P
Social given under the auspices of the
East End Connett Y. W. C. T. U.,
Monday evening, Sept. 10, 1905

Have cards printed with a letter on each one, forming the names of various apples; for instance, B-A-L-D-W-I-N and G-R-E-E-N-I-N-G. Have as many letters of one color made as there are letters in the name of the apple, and have each group of letters a separate color. These are passed to the guests, after which each one proceeds to find the rest of the letters colored like the one he holds, and when the group is complete, the holders of the letters proceed to spell out the name of their apple. Each group then composes an original poem on its apple. The poems are read to the audience, then the prize of B—A—P (big apple pie) is given to the best poem, L—A—P (little apple pie) to the poorest, and N—A—P (no apple pie) to the group who composes no poem. All kinds of apples are served for refreshments.

APRIL FOOL DINNER

The dinner I shall serve will be plain and substantial, but it may be as elaborate as one chooses. Following is the menu:

When the dinner is all ready to serve the fun will begin. Imagine the surprise of the guests when they sit down to the table, to find the soup served in teacups, the pickles shining forth from the sugar-bowl and the crackers in a covered vegetable dish. The roast beef will be cut in slices and arranged on a silver cake dish, the mashed potatoes in a dainty glass berry dish, and the gravy in small individual sauce dishes. The stewed peas will be served from the water-pitcher in glass tumblers, the celery on the bread-plate, bread in the salad bowl, butter on the celery tray, and the tea in soup bowls. The jelly will be placed on the largest meat platter and served with the carving-knife, the cheese in the gravy dish, and finally the pie on large dinner plates.

The sugar will appear in the cracker jar together with the gravy-ladle, and the cream in the china teapot. The salt will be found in the mustard cup, the pepper alone remaining as it should be. Water must necessarily be served at the dinner, but even this will not be in the usual manner. I shall serve it in the after dinner coffee cups.

The soup must be eaten with teaspoons, as the larger ones will be reserved for the tea.

APRIL FOOL PARTY

Invitations may be copied after a dance card of a "Comus" ball at New Orleans, which represents a large-sized gilt folly bell with ribbons attached. On arriving, each guest is given a favor, which may serve also as a score marker. These are follies' heads, capped and ruffled and fastened to a stick, which has ribbons wrapped around it. The colors of these ribbons, not more than two being alike, determine partners. An attached tiny square of pasteboard, bearing a painted number, directs to the tables. Instead of playing one game only, a variety of games are introduced. At the head, or "Hearts," table is a large-sized tally-ho horn, tied with a profusion of motley colors. At the conclusion of the game, the defeated ones blow the horn and the winners at all the tables are given little brass bells to tie upon the folly sticks or baubles. The prizes, both head and booby, are fools' caps of white crepe paper with huge red rosettes.

The refreshments should be as deceiving as possible. One hostess at an April first dinner went so far as to serve the entire course backwards, beginning with ice cream and ending with soup. Or a very suitable menu may be served in strange and unusual guise: potato salad arranged as cream puffs; English walnut shells as receptacles for olives; sandwiches as slices of cake with nut filling; ice cream as croquettes, cone-shaped and plentifully sprinkled with toasted cake-crumbs; cake as sandwiches, with ice cream between and tied with ribbon; coffee served in bouillon cups; bonbons served in exact size artificial fruit. Among the bona-fide dainties may be "April fool" bonbons—"chocolate creams" stuffed with cotton, button-moulds covered with chocolate, and round, yellow pill-boxes filled with flour, iced to represent small cakes.

After the refreshments the hostess may say that she has a picture to show which she has just received and which has given her much pleasure. A curtain is hung before it, which, when withdrawn with grave ceremony, reveals a mirror reflecting the expectant faces of the guests, while on its surface, written with soap, are the words "April Fool!"

AUTHORS' CONTEST

Questions to be answered by giving in each case the name of a well-known author:

1. A name that means such fiery things, you can't describe their pains and stings. (Burns.)
2. What a rough man said to his son, when he wished him to eat properly. (Chaucer.)
3. Pilgrims and flatterers have knelt low to kiss him. (Pope.)
4. Makes and mends for first-class customers. (Taylor.)
5. Represents the dwellings of civilized men. (Holmes.)
6. Is worn on the head. (Hood.)
7. A chain of hills covering a dark treasure. (Coleridge.)
8. A brighter and smarter than the other. (Whittier.)
9. A worker in precious metals. (Goldsmith.)
10. A vital part of the body. (Hart.)
11. A disagreeable fellow to have on one's foot. (Bunyan.)
12. Meat, what are you doing in the oven? (Browning.)

AUTHORS' GUESSING GAME

1. When we leave here we go to seek our what? (Author of "Elsie Venner.")
2. What dies only with life? (Author of "Phroso.")
3. What does a maid's heart crave? (Author of "Handy Andy.")
4. What does an angry person often raise? (Author of "The Christian.")
5. What should all literary people do? (Author of "Put Yourself in His Place.")
6. If a young man would win, what must he do? (Author of "Wandering Jew.")
7. How do we dislike to grow? (Authors of "Silence of Dean Maitland" and "Dawn.")
8. What would we prefer to be? (Authors of "Book of Golden Deeds," "Man Without a Country," and "Under the Greenwood Tree.")
9. What is a suitable adjective for the national library building? (Author of "The Heavenly Twins.")
10. What would we consider the person who answers correctly all these questions? (Author of "From Post to Finish.")

The answers to the above questions are:

1. Oliver Wendell Holmes. (Homes.)
2. Anthony Hope. (Hope.)
3. Samuel Lover. (Lover.)
4. Hall Caine. (Cain.)
5. Charles Reade. (Read.)
6. Eugene Sue. (Sue.)
7. Maxwell Grey and Rider Haggard. (Gray and haggard.)
8. Charlotte Yonge, E. E. Hale, Thomas Hardy. (Young, hale and hardy.)
9. Sarah Grande. (Grand.)
10. Hawley Smart. (Smart.)

Give the most successful contestant a nicely bound copy of the latest popular book, and the least successful one a gaily colored copy of a child's primer, or a gaudy poster picture.

AUTHORS' VERBAL GAME

This is an interesting and instructive game. The players seat themselves so as to form a ring. An umpire and a score-keeper are appointed, and each player in turn rises and announces the name of a well-known book. The one who first calls out the name of the author of the book scores a point; the one who has the largest score when the game ceases is the victor, and may be given a prize. This game may be varied by the naming of well-known authors, leaving the titles of books, by these authors, to be supplied. And it may be played in yet another way. Give each player a pencil and paper, and instead of calling aloud the title of a book, as each author is announced, ask the players to write on a slip of paper the name of the author, the title of a book by that author, and the name of a character in the book. Thus:

1. Oliver Goldsmith—"She Stoops to Conquer," Miss Hardcastle.
2. Harriet Beecher Stowe—"Uncle Tom's Cabin," Miss Ophelia.
3. William Shakespeare—"Romeo and Juliet," Tybalt.

If the game be played in this way the scores will probably be close.

"B" SOCIABLE

Busy Bees' bill o' fare:

• Bread.
• Baked beans.
• Beef.
• Baked potatoes.
• Boiled pudding.
• Boston's overthrow.
• Butter.
• Beets.
• Batter cake.
• Bologna.
• Bananas.
• Brown bread.

This can be changed to suit any other letter and the invitations may be worded as desired. Have tiny boxes, barrels, bags, and baskets filled with candy, fruit, or nuts, for souvenirs.

If it is desired to make money, a price may be placed upon each article of food, and the souvenirs may be offered for sale.

BARN PARTY

Miss Gertrude S. Derr
requests the pleasure of your company
at a Barn Party,
Monday evening, August 12, 1905,
on Water Road,
Shortsville, New York

Arranging for the Party

To insure the success of such a party, a moonlight night should be selected. The barn chosen should be large, the floor space ample, and the decorations lavish. They may consist of green boughs, vines and goldenrod, and a number of American flags.

The two large opposite doors should be thrown wide open for free circulation of air. The floor should then be cleared, swept and washed. High up over one door a large flag may be draped, and wires stretched across from beam to beam, away from direct draughts, upon which Japanese lanterns may be hung, care being taken that none are allowed to come into contact with the bunting in case of one's taking fire. Chairs should also be provided, and a rope stretched across one side of the open space, on the farther side of which place a table. On this table place a large bowl of soapsuds, into which a spoonful of glycerine has been put, and by its side place half as many pipes as there are to be guests. Prepare half as many cards also as there are to be guests, and write across the full length of each card the name of an agricultural implement, as hay-rake, hay-cutter, pitchfork, hoe, spade, scythe, sickle, mower, plow, reaper, binder, seeder. On the reverse side each card should be numbered at the top, and a question written concerning the implement named on it; besides this the number and another query should be written upon the lower half. Questions like the following will answer:

• No. 1. What is the true mission of a harrow?
• No. 1. Can you tell a harrowing tale?
• No. 2. What is a hoe used for?
• No. 2. What is a good receipt for hoe cake?

The cards should then be cut in halves, and the matching of them will determine partners for the bubble blowing contest. The answering of the questions will also afford much amusement throughout the evening.

BASEBALL PARTY

A novel party was recently given by a mother to celebrate the sixteenth birthday of her only son. She had been rather envious of her friends in their happiness of planning many luncheons and other pretty affairs for their girls, consequently she entered heart and soul into this party for her boy, sparing neither expense nor trouble to make it a success. It was announced as "A Baseball Party," and by enlisting the services of a niece, who was very enthusiastic over the national game, she was able to carry out the idea.

Eight of her son's friends were invited, who, with the boy himself, made the required "nine." Luncheon was first served. Before going into the dining-room each boy was assigned a place on the "team," and found his place at the table accordingly. In place of name-cards were tiny "fans" bearing the words "catcher," "pitcher," etc., and, of course, each guest knew just where to sit.

The menu-cards were booklets with the words "Official Score" written on the covers. The menu consisted of nine courses, or "innings," as they were more appropriately termed. It was written in language unintelligible to the average feminine mind, but the boys guessed what many of the viands were amid much merriment. The reading of the menu, and the conjectures as to what the courses would be, broke up any stiffness that might have resulted from nine boys lunching together. It read as follows—only in the original the interpretations were, of course, left out:

The favors consisted of a ticket for a ball game to be played on the local grounds that afternoon for each boy, and a tin horn with which to "root," as the boys expressed it.

As soon as the luncheon was finished the nine boys departed in great glee for the ball grounds, relieving the hostess of the responsibility of further entertaining them.

BEAN BAGS

Make twelve or fifteen bags, six inches square, of bed-ticking, and loosely fill them with beans which have been washed and dried to remove all dust.

Appoint two leaders, who choose sides, arranging the sides in lines facing each other, with a small table at each end of each line.

The bean bags being equally divided, each leader deposits his share upon the table nearest him. Then, at a given signal, seizing one bag at a time with one hand, with the other he starts it down the line, each player passing it to the next until all the bags reach the last, who drops them upon the table at his end of the line. When all the bags have reached this table, the last player, seizing each in turn, sends them back up the line to the leader, who drops them upon his table. Whichever side first succeeds in passing all the bags down the line and back, wins the round. It takes five rounds to make a game, so that three out of five must be successful for the winning side.

BEAN SOCIABLE

Have you ever "bean" to a "bean" sociable? If not come to the one the Connett Y. W. C. T. U. are having Monday evening, September 1st. If you have never "bean" to one you will enjoy the

Supper should consist of baked beans, cold and hot, bean porridge or soup, brown bread and butter, and pickles, tea and gingerbread.

Bean bags to go with this sociable.

BERRY GUESSING CONTEST

BIBLE CONTEST

The game of Bible Contest cards can be played very profitably and is very instructive. It can be found in any book store in large cities or can be had of the United Society of Christian Endeavor, Boston, Mass. The cost is very little. Or the cards may be written out as follows:

1. Give the first and last words of the Bible.
2. Whose three daughters were the fairest in all the land?
3. How old was Methuselah when he died?
4. Who was called "a ready scribe in the law of Moses"?
5. Give the names of the three persons who were put in the fiery furnace.
6. Who was the author of the expression, "What hath God wrought?"
7. With how many men did Gideon conquer the Midianites?
8. Who was Moses' brother?
9. Who went down into a pit on a snowy day and slew a lion?
10. Who said "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved"?
11. Who was the mother of Samuel?
12. Who commanded the gates of Jerusalem to be closed on the Sabbath?
13. Whose flock was Moses tending when he saw the burning bush?
14. What city was saved from famine by lepers?
15. Who waxed fat and kicked?

Name.No.No.

Have the cards distributed; then on a given signal have the answers written out; as fast as finished have them handed in to be examined by the committee who afterward returns them. The first blank for number is for the order in which the cards are handed in, and the second for the order of correctness of the answers.

BIBLE EVENING

Here is a well-known alphabet of Scripture proper names, which may be utilized at a social by ranking the members on two sides, and reading these lines one at a time, in the same way that a spelling-bee is carried on:

• A was a monarch who reigned in the East (Esth. 1: 1).
• B was a Chaldee who made a great feast (Dan. 5: 1-4).
• C was veracious, when others told lies (Num. 13: 30-33).
• D was a woman, heroic and wise (Judg. 4: 4-14).
• E was a refuge, where David spared Saul (1 Sam. 24: 1-7).
• F was a Roman, accuser of Paul (Acts 26: 24).
• G was a garden, a favorite resort (John 18: 1, 2; Matt. 26: 36).
• H was a city where David held court (2 Sam. 2: 11).
• I was a mocker, a very bad boy (Gen. 16: 16).
• J was a city, preferred as a joy (Ps. 137: 6).
• K was a father, whose son was quite tall (1 Sam. 9: 1, 2).
• L was a proud one, who had a great fall (Isa. 14: 12).
• M was a nephew, whose uncle was good (Col. 4: 10; Acts 11: 24).
• N was a city, long hid where it stood (Zeph. 2: 13).
• O was a servant, acknowledged a brother (Philem. 16).
• P was a Christian greeting another (2 Tim. 1: 1, 2).
• R was a damsel who knew a man's voice (Acts 12: 13, 14).
• S was a sovereign who made a bad choice (1 Kings 11: 4-11).
• T was a seaport, where preaching was long (Acts 20: 6, 7).
• U was a teamster, struck dead for his wrong (2 Sam. 6: 7).
• V was a cast-off, and never restored (Esth. 1: 19).
• Z was a ruin with sorrow deplored (Ps. 137: 1).

BIBLE NAMES

Choose sides as in a spelling match, and let the leader of the first side give the first syllable of the name of some Bible character. The leader of the opposite side will then complete the name, if he can. Failing this, his side loses a member, selected by the leader of the opposite side. And so the contest goes on down the line, first one side and then the other proposing the first syllable of some name.

BIBLE READINGS

A good way to promote study of the Bible is a "Bible oratorical contest," in which four or five contestants recite, or give as readings, selections from the Bible. If well done, it will prove most entertaining, and many people will go home surprised that the Bible is such an interesting book.

BIRD CARNIVAL

The invitations to the carnival had various kinds of birds painted upon them, and each guest was requested to come representing the kind of bird designated on his or her invitation. There were two invitations of each kind, one sent to a lady and one to a gentleman, that there might be a "pair" of each variety of bird. As the guests arrived, each was labeled with the name of the bird he or she represented, and in this way it was easy for them to find their "mates" for refreshments. The house was profusely trimmed with flowers, vines, and leaves (many of them artificial, borrowed from a near-by store); every available space was covered, the banisters, the mantel posts, the door- and window-frames, the archways, etc., and even the walls of the dining-room were hung with the trailing vines, so that the place looked like a veritable woodland dell. All the stuffed birds that could be secured were perched here and there among the vines and branches, some on nests with their mates beside them; a large owl was placed high in one corner, and in a cozy nook in another corner was the nest of a meadow lark, with father and mother birds teaching their young ones to fly. Besides this canaries in cages were distributed throughout the house, lending their music to the general effect. Bird eggs of every description were also used to help decorate. In the centre of the dining table a nest was arranged, containing a mother bird and her little ones, while suspended from the gas jet by gayly colored ribbons and reaching almost to the nest, were many prettily decorated egg shells, the contents having been "blown" from them by means of small holes made in each end. Twenty-five rhymes about birds were pinned about the rooms, the guests being required to answer them. Following are given the rhymes and their answers. The hostess kept the "key" and read the correct list at the close of the contest, when a canary bird in a cage was given as first prize and a stuffed bird as second to the most successful contestants. At the close of the contest, the roll was called and each "bird" present responded by an appropriate quotation, these having been previously distributed by the hostess.

Bird Pie

After refreshments were served, an enormous "bird pie" was placed upon the table and each guest was given a slice. This pie was made of pie crust, and was filled with tiny trifles wrapped in tissue paper, most of them representing birds, eggs, nests, etc. On the top of the pie twenty-four little birds cut out of black paper were perched by means of pins stuck through their feet. Also pinned to the pie was this verse:

BIRD GUESSING CONTEST

BIRTHDAY PARTY

These invitations can be given and sent out beforehand, each accompanied by a tiny silk bag to hold the money. Prepare a nice musical treat and something good to eat. Have each member of the society giving the entertainment bring a picture of himself when a baby or small child, and have a picture gallery. Do not forget to be very social and make every one feel that he is welcome, not only for the money he brings, but for himself also.

BISHOP'S RIDDLE

A most eccentric yet interesting man was Bishop Brooks of Brookville; although not a large or strong man, wherever he went, night or day, he was always either accompanied by or carrying:

Two playful animals—calves.

A number of small animals of a less tame breed—hares (hairs).

A member of the deer family—hart (heart).

A number of whips without handles—lashes (eyelashes).

Some weapons of warfare—arms.

The steps of a hotel—inn steps (insteps).

The House of Representatives when a vote is taken—ayes and noes (eyes and nose).

Some Spanish grandees to wait upon him—ten dons (tendons).

Two places of worship—temples.

Two scholars—pupils.

What Napoleon wished to leave his son—crown.

Two coverings of kettles—lids (eyelids).

Two musical instruments—drums.

Two established measures—feet and hands.

Two coverings for the head—caps (kneecaps).

Several articles that a carpenter cannot do without—nails.

A couple of fish—soles.

A number of shell-fish—mussels (muscles).

Two lofty trees—palms.

Two kinds of flowers—tulips and iris.

BOX PARTY

A box party can be made very enjoyable if every one enters into the contest.

Each lady should pack a box with lunch for two and at the party the boxes can be auctioneered off to the highest bidder.

Or, if there is any objection to that, the ladies' names can be placed on slips of paper and the papers put into a hat and passed to the gentlemen; the slip each draws contains the name of the one with whom he is to eat refreshments.

If this party is to make money for some society the wisest way will be to sell the boxes.

The same plan may also be followed for a Sunday-school or other picnic.

CAKE SALE

Probably the description of a cake sale that was held for the benefit of a library fund may not come amiss to show just how attractive and successful such an affair can be made. The principal feature of this sale was the cake contest—a game, with cake prizes. This game was devised to take the place of raffling, which was voted out of date. It was played by groups of ten, who on paying a fee were given printed lists of questions to be answered. Each list had to be signed with the player's name and put in the "post-office" by a certain time in the evening, and later the names of the prize-winners in each group were announced. To promote sociability and fun, a lady's and a gentleman's first prize, and a lady's and a gentleman's booby were given in each group. The prizes were cakes, iced and fancifully decorated with colored candies, and each cake was put on a wooden plate, covered with a frill of crepe paper. The boobies were ginger and sugar horsecakes. Below is the list of questions and answers used in the contest, which may be lengthened or shortened at will:

Which cake did the society woman buy? Reception. The schoolgirl? Composition. The grocer? Sugar. The artist? Exhibition. The farmer? Harvest. The mean man? Sponge. The tramp? Loaf. The minister? Scripture. The milliner? Feather. The maiden aunt? Tea. The dairyman? Cream. The champion? Cup. The pretty girls? Ribbon. The jockey? Horse. The shoemaker? The last. The sculptor? Marble. The small boys? Snowballs. The gossip? Spice. The Bryan man? Silver. The young man for his sweetheart? Angel. The fond mamma for her daughter? Wedding. The candidate for office? Election. The politician? Plum.

Then there were cakes for sale, whole or cut. Small tables were placed at one end of the hall; and here cake was served with tea, coffee or chocolate. The cake booths were attractively decorated with crepe paper and flags. Posters announced the specialties and prices at each. Watermelon cakes were the novelty at one booth; apple lemon cakes at another; a plentiful supply of cookies, dominoes, horsecakes, gingerbread dolls, and little patty pan cakes, containing a prize to attract the patronage of the children, at another. Little china dolls, marbles, china dogs, cats, vases, etc., were put in the dough when the little pans were filled. These china toys were not injured by the baking and delighted the children beyond measure.

At a cake sale recently held for the benefit of a church, a novel feature was introduced in the sale of "Scripture cake."

The cakes were baked in several different sizes, and sold for from twenty-five cents to one dollar. With each cake sold was given a copy of the recipe by which it was made, which was as follows:

Scripture Cake

Follow Solomon's advice for making good boys, and you will have a good cake. Proverbs 23:14.

CAKE WALK (Novel kind)

I hope this will not shock any of my readers, and I don't think it will after it is read. It can be held in a church or Sunday school room without any qualms of conscience on any one's part. Have each one come to represent a cake. For instance, sponge cake can be represented by having sponges all over the body; batter cake, by young man wearing baseball suit of clothes and carrying bat; cup cake, by wearing cups around the neck and waist; fruit cake, by carrying baskets of different kinds of small fruits; angel cake, by wearing pictures of angels on the dress and hair; one, two, three, four cake, by wearing the figures 1, 2, 3, 4 pinned on dress or coat; cooky, by wearing chef's cap and apron and a large letter E making that person cook-e; plain cake, by dressing very plainly; orange cake, by carrying orange in each hand; nut cake, by carrying nuts. Any other cake can be represented by carrying out the same idea. All should keep moving around so that the people can see what each one represents. A prize of a cake can be given to the one guessing the greatest number of cakes correctly. Refreshments should consist of every variety of cake served with cocoa or coffee.

CALICO CARNIVAL

The society who gave it had the oddly written announcement given below published in the local papers a week in advance. They also used it as a handbill:

Of course, everybody came. The fines and admissions alone would have paid the ladies for the trouble of getting up the carnival.

The "conspicuous courses" consisted of cake; coffee, tea, or buttermilk; pickles; and ice water.

Among the "calico conveniences" which sold readily were the following articles: Dusting caps, button bags and bags of every description, chair cushions, aprons with bibs and aprons without, and, in fact, everything that could possibly be manufactured from calico.

The carpet rags were given to the gentlemen to sew. An inexpensive prize was given to the one who first finished his task.

CAN FACTORY

The words to be guessed all begin with CAN—the definitions of the whole words being here given. Booklets with tiny pencils attached, and containing the verses, may be distributed among the guests and, after the contest is decided, returned as souvenirs of the occasion.

KEY

1. Canister.
2. Canal.
3. Candle.
4. Candid.
5. Canvas.
6. Cannibal.
7. Cannon.
8. Candy.
9. Cantata.
10. Canopy.
11. Canny.
12. Canter.
13. Canto.
14. Canoe.
15. Cantaloup.

CAT GUESSING CONTEST

1. I wonder what Tabby the —— to now? (Catsup)
2. We will buy some —— for puss. (Catnip)
3. We all should learn our ——. (Catechism)
4. Both are in the same ——. (Category)
5. See the —— grazing on the hillside. (Cattle)
6. The artist's name is not in the ——. (Catalogue)
7. It is very distressing to have the ——. (Catarrh)
8. Be sure to visit the —— in Rome. (Catacombs)
9. See the —— crawling on the ground. (Caterpillar)
10. What does the —— to? (Catamount)

CHESTNUT SOCIABLE

First procure a good quantity of chestnuts. Plain and roasted chestnuts may be sold at one table. They should be measured into pint and half-pint paper bags, ready for customers.

A second table will be needed for bonbons. An excellent taffy is made by stirring chopped chestnuts into plain molasses candy when ready to take from the fire. Caramels are improved by adding chopped chestnuts. Chopped chestnuts and figs added to crisp sugar candy make a good sweet-meat. Shelled chestnuts are glazed by dipping in hot sugar candy. A variety of candies can be made from this receipt: One pound of confectioners' sugar, well beaten white of one egg, one tablespoonful of cold water, one teaspoonful of vanilla. Mix well together and mould on a board. Mix it with chopped chestnuts and cut into cubes. Small balls of the cream can be rolled between the hands, and a whole chestnut (shelled) pressed on one side. The cream can be colored with fruit coloring and different shapes can be made from this. Shelled chestnuts dipped in melted sweet chocolate are delicious.

Old "chestnuts" are prepared by putting old jokes in chestnut shells and glueing them together. These will cause much fun and merriment for the young. Have a large bowl of water with three chestnuts in it and let each guest be given two toothpicks to try to get the chestnuts out of the water with the toothpicks, without getting the fingers wet.

PROGRAM FOR CHESTNUT SOCIABLE

Have some one recite "Curfew Shall Not Ring To-night" and "Over the Hills to the Poor House." Let some one sing "The Old Oaken Bucket" and "Annie Laurie." Have some one read "The Sword of Bunker Hill" and "Bingen on the Rhine." Any variety of entertainment can be gotten up with a little forethought.

CHILDREN'S BIRTHDAY FLOWERS

Each month has a flower or plant appropriated to it, and to each a meaning is attached. The list is as follows:

• January—Snowdrop.
• February—Primrose.
• March—Violet.
• April—Daisy.
• May—Hawthorn.
• June—Wild rose.
• July—Lily.
• August—Poppy.
• September—Morning-glory.
• October—Hop.
• November—Chrysanthemum.
• December—Holly.

The snowdrop means consolation; the primrose, the freshness of early youth; the violet, modesty; the daisy, innocence; the hawthorn, hope; the wild rose, simplicity; the lily, purity; the poppy, the consolation of sleep; the morning-glory, contentment; hops, joy; the chrysanthemum, cheerfulness; the holly, foresight and protection.

The morning-glory is such a perishable flower that it is almost useless for the purpose of decoration, consequently it will be wise to substitute goldenrod, symbolizing stateliness, in its stead.

CHILDREN'S BIRTHDAY PARTIES

A birthday is an important event in a child's life, and should not pass unnoticed.

A small party for little children is usually more enjoyable and more easily managed than a large one. With many mothers it is the custom to invite as many little guests as correspond to the number of years of the child whose birthday is celebrated.

Make the table look as attractive as possible with flowers. A pretty arrangement for a fifth birthday is to have a round table, with vines, or a rope of wild flowers or leaves, arranged over it to represent a five-pointed star. The sandwiches, confectionery, etc., may be placed within the star, the birthday cake in the centre, and the five guests seated between the points of decoration.

For a sixth birthday, a pretty arrangement would be a six-pointed star, the points to be made with the long fronds of the sword fern. So many people have pots of these ferns growing in their houses, and the foliage is so abundant, that some of the older fronds of the plant may well be spared. The money myrtle is also effective for this decoration, and, in summer, the little partridge vine with its red berries, to be found in every woods, makes very pretty trimming. The cake should be in the centre, and the other viands placed within the star, the children's plates between the points. Either a round or square table may be used as preferred.

For an eighth birthday, a square table may be used with walls of Troy decoration arranged for two children at a side. If the birthday comes in December, a rope of evergreen is appropriate and very effective for this decoration, with branches of holly or other red berries at the corners, the "goodies" to be placed in the centre.

For a tenth birthday, quite a long table is needed, and a pretty arrangement of vines in scallops, with a small bunch of flowers at each point may be carried out, the viands being placed in the centre, and a child's plate in each one of the scallops.

In all these arrangements due prominence must be given to the birthday cake, the principal feature of the feast. It is placed usually in the centre, is round, decorated with frosting, and as many tiny candles as the child is years old. These are placed in toy candlesticks, made so that they can easily be thrust into the frosting, and the candles are lighted just before the children go to the table. The candlesticks may be purchased at a toy store. It is an excellent idea to place some little souvenir in the cake for each child, tiny china dogs, cats and goats being desirable for this purpose.

A candy house will also make a novel and attractive centrepiece for a children's party table. Build a log house of red and white sticks of candy, and form the roof of cocoanut strips. For a rail fence use sticks of chocolate candy or straws and make the grass of spun candy.

CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS PARTY

There in the library stood the most perfect snow-man. He wore a fur cap and long white whiskers, and on the floor behind him lay his pack, which had just slipped off his back. He held a doll on one arm, and over the other was hung a line of tiny sleigh-bells. This snow Santa Claus was made of cotton batting, but he looked exactly like the snow-man in the yard, and the children greeted him with cries of delight. Two sticks, wrapped in many thicknesses of cotton to form the legs, had been nailed to a block of wood to make a foundation for this snow-man; the other parts of the body were made like snowballs and sewed in their proper places.

Each child was allowed to throw a soft rubber ball twice in attempting to hit the string of bells which Santa held. Those who were successful were told to take some article out of the pack as a reward. Fancy cornucopias and small boxes filled with nuts and candy were found by the lucky contestants.

The children were then asked to guess the number of berries on a large piece of mistletoe which hung from one of the chandeliers. The one guessing nearest the correct number received a stick-pin bearing a tiny enameled spray of mistletoe.

Then came old-fashioned romping games, after which a Christmas carol was sung and the children marched in to supper. A star-shaped table had been arranged for the occasion. In its centre was a small but handsomely decorated tree. The refreshments consisted of turkey sandwiches, cocoa, lemon jelly with whipped cream, sponge cake, bonbons and nuts. The sponge cake was baked in small star-shaped pans, and ornamented with red and white icing.

In the parlor an immense snowball was hung from the chandelier. This had been made by fastening four barrel-hoops together so as to form a round frame, over which was sewed white cambric. Then the ball was covered with batting and sprinkled with diamond dust. A slit was made in one side, and each child put in his hand and drew out some article wrapped in tissue paper. These proved to be dolls, balls, and toys of all sorts. Some drew out tiny boxes inside of which were slips of paper with directions like these: "Look under the divan and you will find a steam-engine," "Look beside the radiator and you will find a doll's kitchen," etc.

In the dressing-room they were softly pelted with a mysterious shower of snowballs, which they endeavored to catch. The balls were packages of marshmallows wound loosely with white crepe paper.

CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS TABLEAUX

Build a cave-shaped box on a raised platform, drape inside and out with white muslin, fasten evergreen boughs about the entrance and at the back, draping all of these with loose tufts of cotton like new-fallen snow, and sprinkling them with mica. Sprays of red berries can be introduced with splendid effect. White covered steps must lead up to the cave, about the mouth of which may be spread white fur rugs. Let the candles be fastened plentifully around the cave, but have the rest of the room very dimly lighted. In the cave arrange the gifts, wrapped and properly marked, being careful to have one for each person present. Dress a pretty, golden-haired little girl as a fairy, with wings and spangles to enter the cave and bring out the gifts, and a couple of little boys as imps or brownies to deliver them. Low music should be played in some concealed corner, with now and again a song or chorus by a band of children dressed as fairies. The presentation of the tableaux may either precede or follow the distribution of the gifts.

Boy Blue.—A little boy in a blue suit stands on a pile of hay, side to the audience, with a tin trumpet to his lips. Piano music, "Little Boy Blue." If the song is sung softly, it is an addition.

Bo Peep.—A little girl in a white gown, with a shepherd's crook, in pursuit of a woolly lamb on rollers, being drawn across the stage by an invisible string. She stands as if she were running, with one foot out behind her, while the lamb disappears and some one reads the rhyme:

Miss Muffet.—A little girl sits on Boy Blue's pile of hay, eating something from a saucer. A small boy steals up behind her, with an artificial spider on a string attached to a pole, which he slowly lowers into her plate. Appropriate music is played, and Miss Muffet screams as the curtain is drawn.

Cinderella.—A little girl, with torn calico dress and unkempt hair, stands at the right of the stage, her hands clasped and uplifted, smiling in wonder. Before her stands a very small boy in a smart military suit, with a white cotton wig on his head, indicating the coach in which she is to go to the ball. The coach may be a pumpkin hollowed into the proper shape, and drawn by a small dog harnessed to it with ribbons, or a go-cart, or baby carriage, drawn by a larger dog. Some one behind the scenes plays a waltz very softly. Plenty of red fire.

Little Jack Horner.—For this a boy with a mischievous face should be chosen. He sits on the floor in the centre of the stage, with a huge pan covered with white paper between his feet. Some one behind the scenes reads the nursery rhyme:

Little Jack Horner, of course, suits the action to the words, pulling a prune, date or raisin out of a hole in the paper pasted over the pan. He puts it in his mouth as the curtain is drawn.

Following the Flag.—In one corner of the stage a tent is erected—a white sheet over a centre pole. All the small boys who have military suits, drums, trumpets and muskets, stand about, and one in the very front holds the flag. In front of the tent, on a pile of hay, lies another small boy, in a military suit, with his eyes closed, and behind him stands a little girl in a big white apron, with the symbol of the red cross on her left arm. Music behind the scenes is either "Tenting on the Old Camp Ground," or "The Star Spangled Banner," and all the rest of the red fire is ignited. When it dies down, the curtain is drawn, the lights are turned up, and the pianist plays "Home, Sweet Home."

CHILDREN'S EASTER PARTY

The little guests when they arrive will be made happy by giving them small baskets to hunt for the eggs which the mother has a few days before blown and colored and hidden all over the house.

In a room where there is a hardwood floor have little yellow chicks arranged as tenpins at one end and give the children each an egg and let them roll the eggs and see how many chicks they can knock down. While they are doing this take some of the eggs they have found, run ribbon through them and suspend in different lengths from a chandelier.

Among these suspended "eggshells" have Easter eggs filled with good things. You can buy the eggs, and fill some of them with candy and some with peanuts; put tiny dolls in some and small toys in others, so that no two eggs will be filled alike. Then blindfold one child at a time; give him a small cane and let him make one strike and see what he can bring down. It is a good idea to spread a sheet under the chandelier on the floor, so that the shells can be gathered up quickly. Then announce refreshments.

In the centre of the supper-table upon a mound of smilax place a large rabbit on his haunches, and in his front paws an Easter egg. From this mound to each plate run a different-colored piece of ribbon, with a card attached. Upon the card have the child's name who sits at that place.

At one end of the table have an Easter cake with lily decorations, and at the other end place something that looks like a large white frosted cake, with one little downy chick in the centre, and five or six in a row around the edge. This is not a cake but a baking-pan turned upside down, covered with white paper and frosted white.

Have all the refreshments upon the table—thin slices of bread and butter, sandwiches, nuts, tiny cups of chocolate, cake and ice cream.

After all have finished eating and are ready to leave the table the little ones may be told that at the count of three they are to pull their ribbons, first removing Bunny from his nest to avoid breaking any dishes. Then every child will find attached to the ribbon an egg, the color of his or her ribbon, filled with candy or a small gift of some sort.

These eggs, a little yellow chick, and the baskets may be given to the children to carry home.

Easter Salad

A delicious and most attractive salad for Easter may be made by building a nest of narrow strips of cold boiled potatoes upon a few very crisp lettuce leaves. Fill the nest with eggs made of cream cheese rolled in grated yellow cheese. Serve on individual plates with a well-made mayonnaise dressing, and plain crackers, or thin slices of brown bread and butter.

Easter Gelatine

Pour gelatine flavored with unfermented grape juice into egg shells and set them upon the ice. When the jelly seems to be firm remove the shells, and you will have as many pretty clear violet eggs as you have had shells. Arrange them around a mould of Bavarian cream, and serve. Gelatine flavored with chocolate, orange or cranberry juice would make equally pretty eggs, and probably please the children better than the violet ones.

Easter Baskets of Dessert

Little baskets of puff paste were filled with yellow "eggs" made from a rich custard which had been thickened with cornstarch, cooked until stiff and poured into egg-shaped moulds. When cold the custard "eggs" were removed from the moulds, placed in the pastry baskets and surrounded with whipped cream, which was dotted with white grapes cut in half and the seeds removed. The effect was very pretty and the dessert delighted the eyes of the guests as well as their palates.

This dessert might be utilized for any other occasion by pouring the custard into different-shaped moulds and dotting the whipped cream with candied cherries or fresh berries.

CHILDREN'S SOUVENIRS

Souvenirs at a children's party should be very inexpensive. Candy put up in some pretty form is the most suitable thing that can be given. The dainty Japanese confections that may be purchased at any large store where Oriental goods are sold are novelties, and always please the little people.

It is always a great pleasure to children to have something to take home with them from a party, and very inexpensive souvenirs will give happiness quite out of proportion to their value. Japanese trifles make pretty gifts, little boxes, bags or baskets filled with candy. Tiny kites are appropriate for boys, and fans for girls. Japanese dolls may be dressed with the lower part of the skirt prolonged into a bag and filled with candy. Only candy of the simplest kind should be used.

Candy boxes in various fanciful forms, as banjos, drums, tambourines, watering-pots, pails, caps, helmets, fish, etc., may be purchased from any dealer in such wares. They are also made in the shape of birds and animals, as peacocks, canaries, turtles, alligators and elephants. Hollow oranges and apples, fruit baskets, with realistic cherries, grapes, etc., on top, and room for candy underneath, are very pretty. If these are thought too expensive ornamented cornucopias to hold bonbons may be procured at various prices, beginning at fifteen cents a dozen. Mottoes containing paper hats and caps may be procured as cheaply as ten cents a dozen, and a package of these, holding as many as the child is years old, tied with the birthday color, makes a dainty souvenir. Little cradles filled with candy and ornamented with bows are also appropriate gifts.

A Souvenir Pudding.—A common wash-tub, filled with bran or sawdust, will make a nice pudding for a child's party by putting the souvenirs in a layer in the bottom of the tub, then a layer of sawdust, then more presents, and so on until the tub is filled. Have a large wooden spoon and let each child make a dive with the spoon until he gets one souvenir. This will please the little ones.

CHILDREN'S SWEET PEA TEA

The invitations to this tea read like this:

In one corner of the card a sweet pea was painted in water colors. These cards were sent by mail. Of course, the recipients of these invitations had no idea where the party was to be, and waited in great expectation for the appointed day. Two 'bus men were engaged and furnished with a list of the invited, and at three o'clock, or as nearly that hour as possible, called for the guests, and after a short and misleading drive arrived at last at their destination.

After being received by the hostess, the guests were given cards and pencils and ranged around a long table in the centre of the room, on which were strewn leaves of many kinds of plants. Five minutes were given for guessing the plants to which the leaves belonged. At the expiration of that time, the cards were taken (after names had been signed), and a prize given to the best guesser.

The guests were then seated, and cards on which was the following list of questions passed around: 1. What field flower is something to eat and a dish we drink from? 2. What did the soldier say when he bade his sweetheart good-bye? 3. The name of what flower is used every day in a slang expression? 4. The name of what flower did Johnny's mother use when she told him to rise? 5. What hotel in New York city bears the name of a flower? 6. What flower is most popular in April? 7. The name of what flower means comfort? 8. What is the saddest flower?

The answers are: 1. Buttercup. 2. Forget-me-not. 3. Daisy. 4. Johnny-jump-up. 5. Aster. 6. Easter lily. 7. Heartsease. 8. Bleeding-heart.

The prize for this was a book of flowers and verses.

A basket of sweet peas was then passed to the girls, a different color of flower for each one. A similar basket was passed to the boys, and the search for partners began. The boy with the yellow sweet pea became the partner of the girl with the yellow flower. The boy with the white found the girl with the white, etc. The table was strewn with sweet peas, a cut-glass bowl of sweet peas graced the centre, and on each napkin was pinned a small bunch of the flowers.

CHILDREN'S TOM THUMB ENTERTAINMENT

For a children's party try the following device: Place four chairs in one end of the room and throw over them a large blanket or shawl to cover them completely down to the floor. Have some one double up his hands into fists, and on the back of the hands, with a piece of charcoal, paint eyes, nose and mouth, and on one of them paint a moustache. Put dolls' dresses on the arms, reaching down to the elbows. Put hoods or caps on the hands. Let the person thus prepared crawl in between the chairs, and resting the elbows on the floor, hold his forearms perpendicular, so that the backs of the hands will be facing the audience. All the rest of the person's body should be concealed, of course, under the shawl. Call these two little people Tom Thumb and his wife. Have some one for their manager, who should stand in front of the chairs and tell them what to do. The manager should explain why Tom has a dress on. He can have them perform a number of clever tricks, such as bowing to the audience, kissing each other, pushing each other, etc. They can answer questions in a little, fine voice, or say, "How do you do?"

It will be found that this entertainment will please the little folks immensely.

CHILDREN'S VALENTINE PARTY

From sheets of pink and creamy tinted paper, cut the requisite number of hearts—two for each invitation—and form into envelopes by pasting a pink heart and a creamy tinted one together along the edges, except at the large end, which must be left open to hold the written invitation. On a slightly smaller heart of thinner paper, write the following doggerel:

Slip this in the envelope formed by the two hearts, having first glued to the indentation at the larger end of the small heart a loop of baby ribbon by which to pull it out. On the white side of the envelope write the name and address; on the pink side, an older sister may draw cunning little Cupids, or hearts transfixed with little arrows.

Cut from pink paper as many hearts as there are to be boys, but no two of these hearts must be of the same size; cut from gilt paper the same number of hearts, one for each girl, matching in size those cut from the pink paper.

When the guests arrive, give each boy a pink and each girl a gilt heart. When a boy finds the girl who holds a gilt heart matching in size his pink one, they are partners for the evening. In this search all formality will have worn off.

Cupid's Darts will pass a jolly half hour. Make a large heart of several layers of pink tissue paper, and fill it loosely with bonbons; encase this in a slightly larger heart of open-meshed bobinet; hang on the wall on one side of the room by two loops sewed to the large, upper part of the heart. Provide a toy bow and arrow, and let each child in turn shoot at the heart. The arrows will remain sticking in the lace and paper, and the one whose arrow comes nearest the centre receives the first prize—a heart-shaped box of candy.

Also provide small heart-shaped boxes filled with candies for each child to take home.

For refreshments, make sandwiches from heart-shaped pieces of bread cut with a cake cutter; bake the cakes in heart-shaped tins, and have the ices frozen in the same design.

As red and pink are the proper colors for decoration on this day, it will be a pretty idea to have the lemonade colored pink with fruit juice.

Pretty favors can be made from crepe tissue-paper. Flowers, bonbon boxes, handkerchief-cases, and many another trifle, will please the young folks, more especially if they are the work of their little hostess's own hands.

CHINESE PARTY

Invitations should read as follows:

Come to the Chinese Tea Party
and help eat
Rice and Rats
Prepared and Served by Chinese Girls
at —— Church
Monday Evening, Jan. 4th.

You can stimulate interest in the heathen wonderfully by inviting them to come, with all their bag and baggage, and pay your society a visit. Have booths in the room representing the countries in which the church is doing missionary work. Let the attendants be costumed like the natives, and all the appointments of the booths suggest the life of the countries represented. When curiosity is thus piqued, information about these mission lands may be circulated by the help of questions on cards to be passed around. Write the questions in black ink, and underneath, in red ink, the answer to one of the other questions. It will require a pretty lively interchange of cards for each one to find the answer to his question.

The committee should try to make this evening as attractive as possible, and if it can be arranged all the members should appear in Chinese costume. In the centre of the church room, fit up a booth, covered with a large Chinese umbrella, and around it place small tables on which to serve refreshments. This can be made to look like a Chinese garden. Rice and rats can be served as follows: Boil rice until rather stiff and turn it into cups to cool. After ready to serve turn upside down in dishes and serve each dish with a candy rat on top. The rice should be served with cream and sugar. Also have tea and wafers. A small fee can be charged for refreshments to go to missionary purposes. Of course no one but the committee should know what the "rice and rats" is to be, as it would spoil the fun. A nice idea would be to give chopsticks as souvenirs.

CHRISTMAS COSTUME PARTY

The invitations for a Christmas party of this sort should be enclosed in white envelopes decorated with holly and should read as follows:

Master ——, as "Winter,"
and Miss ——, as "Christmas,"
will be glad to receive the "Months"
on Thursday evening,
December the twenty-fourth.

In the lower left-hand corner of each, above the address, should be indicated the character which the little guest is to represent, as, for instance: "Please represent July." Have the little host and hostess represent "Winter" and "Christmas."

When the children arrive let them find a throne built of dry-goods boxes, covered with Canton flannel with the fuzzy side out, well sprinkled with diamond dust and tufts of cotton, and above the throne a canopy made of evergreen boughs. Dip some of the boughs first in a weak solution of gum-arabic and then in flour, and sprinkle them with diamond dust; hang others in alum water until crystals form over the foliage.

Dress the little host in a suit of white cambric well bespangled with crystal beads and glass pendants. Let him wear white slippers and stockings, and over one shoulder a white shawl covered with artificial frost. On his head place a jaunty white beaver hat decorated with a long white plume.

The little hostess should wear a white dress of soft, fluffy material, trimmed with holly and mistletoe, and red stockings and slippers.

Seated upon the throne, beside one another, they should receive their guests, who should appear in the characters indicated upon their invitations. After all the children have been welcomed let them form in line, with "Winter" and "Christmas" leading, and march up-stairs and down to the music of piano and violin.

The children might then be shown some views of Bethlehem and the Christ-Child and told or read a Christmas story. Just before going-home time some "grown-up" person, dressed to represent Santa Claus, might come in and deposit his pack in the dining-room and distribute some little gifts. Then some simple refreshments should be served before the children go home.

CHRISTMAS MENU AND TABLE DECORATIONS

Select for your color scheme red and green. Set the dining-table in the centre of the room directly under the chandelier. To the latter fasten a large bunch of holly with plenty of red berries, and make garlands of evergreen to reach from the chandelier to the four corners of the table, fastening each one to the tablecloth with a bow of red ribbon. Have plenty of holly berries in the garlands of evergreen. If holly is dipped in a strong solution of alum water and dried in the sun, it will have the effect of being frosted. Have a red carnation with a sprig of green laid at each plate. Red and green paper napkins should be used. Have pretty side dishes of red and green things, such as red apples, red and green grapes, and all kinds of red and green bonbons. The first column of the menu as given should be printed or written and laid at each plate, for the guests to study while the courses are being served.

CHRISTMAS UMBRELLA GAME

Take a large umbrella—an old one will do—wind the handle with bright yellow ribbon and line the body with red percaline as near the color of holly berries as possible. Be sure to shape the lining so that it will not sag. Cover the outside with green percaline and finish the top with sprigs of holly and a bow of red and green ribbon. Trim the edge of the umbrella with a row of tiny bells and wind the ribs with crepe or tissue paper the same color as the lining; do this the last thing so that it will not come undone.

Select small appropriate gifts for the young guests; conceal them within dainty wrappings and tie them with ribbon to the ribs of the umbrella. When ready for the game let the children form a circle and choose one of their number to stand in the centre and hold the umbrella. The children may then dance around singing:

When singing "hippetty-hop" let the children hop around instead of dancing, and when the hostess calls out "stop" the child with the umbrella raises it over his head and the present which sways longest belongs to him. He unties it, and as he does so he hands the umbrella to another child, whose place he takes in the circle, and so on until all the children have had a chance to hold the umbrella and receive one of the gifts which hang from it.

After the game the umbrella may be given to the child who receives the largest number of votes as a souvenir of the evening.

If one does not wish the trouble of trimming an umbrella as described above, a Japanese umbrella may be purchased for a small sum, and will be equally appropriate.

CHURCH BAZAAR SUGGESTIONS

For an Orange Grove.—Evergreen trees should be procured and placed about the hall to make it resemble a grove. The oranges may be made of a wad of cotton, inclosing a trinket, covered with orange-colored tissue paper. Hang them on the trees and let each purchaser select the one he wants, paying a nominal sum for it.

Other attractions may be a booth where real oranges may be bought; a well from which orangeade is dispensed; a booth for articles of fancy-work made in shades of orange, and one for orange-flavored cakes and candies.

The booths should, of course, be draped in orange color, relieved by touches of white, the attendants' costumes being of the same shade. Orange blossoms, made of tissue paper, will add daintiness to the decorations.

An unoccupied house is a most convenient place to hold a fair. Each room may be devoted to some special attraction; one for the supper, one for the evening's entertainment, one for the fortune-teller, and so on. This idea is admirable for an affair of the nations, devoting one room to each country and its characteristics.

Seats should be provided in the grove where the visitors may be refreshed with orange ice, or orange gelatine and cake at a moderate price.

If there is a small room adjoining the hall in which the fair is held it may be fitted up to represent a tropical scene. This would be the place to sell rubber plants, palms, ferns, etc. Long clusters of bananas hung amid the foliage will make the scene more realistic.

A tulip bed is one of the prettiest ways of hiding surprise packages. A portion of the floor should be marked off in a square and enclosed with boards one foot high, painted green. Fill this bed with sawdust and plant paper tulips in all colors. Have a package tied to the end of each tulip, making the flower stand firm when planted. Each purchaser pulls up any flower he chooses.

Although brown seems a sombre color for a fair booth, it may really be used most effectively. Have the booth made oblong with a counter across the front and have each end covered with brown crepe paper with frilled edges; have also a brown curtain below the counter hanging to the floor. Have the roof, and the posts supporting it, covered with the russet leaves of the chestnut-tree, while around the roof a fringe of chestnut burrs is hung. At one end of the booth serve hot chocolate with whipped cream; at the other have all kinds of nuts on sale; and in front have a display of chocolate and nut cakes and candies. In arranging for any sort of church entertainment remember that elaborate accessories are not of so much importance as the display of cleverness in the carrying out of the ideas which form the basis of the entertainment.

COBWEB SOCIABLE

First, wind strings all over the house before the arrival of the company. Suspend a rope diagonally across one corner of the room, over which the ends of the strings can hang, each one numbered: Numbers are to be given each one of the guests, and each is to hunt the string that has his number on it. A sheet can be hung across this end of the room hiding everything from view until time for winding. Have some games ready to play for the amusement of guests until all have arrived. As soon as all the company gathers, the sheet can be removed and all commence hunting their numbers at once. They are told to go wherever the string leads, but they may not succeed as the strings should be through keyholes, under beds, out of doors, around the house, in at the windows, and every place where they can be put.

Plenty of fun can be had if every one enters into the game and keeps it up until finished. Bananas and cake can be served at this sociable or any other light refreshments desired.

CONUNDRUM TEA

• 1. A survivor of the flood (Ham).
• 2. Woman of grit (sandwich).
• 3. Cattle in a railroad disaster (dried beef).
• 4. Impertinence (apple "sass").
• 5. Spring's offering (water).
• 6. For old maids and bachelors (pickles).
• 7. Tabby's party (cat sup).
• 8. Boston's overthrow (tea).
• 9. What all people need (bread and butter).
• 10. New England brains (baked beans).
• 11. Young man's sweetheart (honey).
• 12. An unruly member (tongue).
• 13. Sahara (dessert).
• 14. Tree cake (cocoanut cake).

Extras

• 15. Love's symbol (doughnuts).
• 16. What I do when I mash my finger (ice cream).
• 17. A mass of types (pie).

Note.—Each society can use their own judgment about the price to be charged. A certain amount may be charged for the entire supper, or each article may have a price affixed, such as two cents, four cents, three cents, and so forth.

COOK BOOK SALE

Every lady in the church was asked to make, from sheets of brown wrapping paper, ten paper books of uniform size, four and one-half by six inches, sewing them to confine the leaves. The paper was two cents a sheet, and five sheets would make the ten books.

In each book, clear and explicit written directions for ten of the best miscellaneous recipes that she used in cooking were to be contributed by each one, the same recipes to be in the ten books furnished, and signed by the one contributing them.

The ten recipes included one soup, one salad, one made-over dish, one cake recipe, one cooky recipe, two muffin or gem recipes, and three dessert recipes.

One week was allowed for this work, then the books were sent where the sale was to take place. There were five hundred books in all, fifty ladies having responded to the request.

In the meantime, invitations had been sent to the members of the other two churches in the town, and to the summer visitors, and the vestry-rooms were crowded the evening of the sale.

The books were offered for sale at five cents each, and in less than an hour all were sold, those contributed by housekeepers famous for their cooking being in great demand, while all were of more or less interest in a town where every one is well known.

After the sale of the recipes, the real sport of the entertainment began. Each lady who contributed recipes also brought a sample of cake made from the cake recipe she had given. These samples were of all sizes, wrapped in waxed paper and tagged with the maker's name. They were auctioned off without being undone, the name attached to the tag being read by the auctioneer, and much merriment was occasioned by the witty, bright way in which he drew attention not only to the cake, but to the one who made it.

If desired, such an auction sale may be held without the cook book sale preceding, whole and cut cakes, cookies, doughnuts, etc, being used. As the cakes are wrapped and no one knows what he is buying, much amusement results.

COOKY SOCIABLE

Cut paper into pieces the shape and size of a cooky. Write a proverb on each one, then cut each paper cooky into two parts, each in a different manner, so that no two cookies will be cut alike. One set of halves is to be given to the ladies, and the other to the gentlemen. Each person present then proceeds to match the half cooky he has; when found, the proverb should read correctly. The couple who match halves eat refreshments together. It is very nice to have some one play a march on the piano while the matched partners form in line two by two and march to the supper-room. For refreshments serve all kinds, shapes, and sizes of cookies with coffee or lemonade.

CORN-HUSKING BEE

Late in October, when the corn has matured and been stacked in the barn, the following informal invitations may be sent out to all the neighboring young people:

You are cordially invited
to a Corn Husking to be held in
Martin Mattice's Barn
On the evening of October the thirty-first
at eight o'clock.

Previous to the evening mentioned the ears of corn are stripped from the stalks and formed into two huge piles upon the barn floor. Lanterns should be hung here and there upon the beams to give the necessary light, and stools provided for the workers. The company, on arrival, is divided equally, one half being assigned to one pile, the other half to pile number two, and the contest begins, each division striving to finish its pile first. The husks must be entirely removed from each ear, and whoever first discloses to view a red ear is considered especially fortunate, as the first red ear shown is supposed to bring good luck to its possessor.

After all the ears have been husked the winner of the red ear is escorted in state to the house, where a warm fire (always an open one, if possible) and a supper are waiting.

Corn Supper

Decorate the walls of the room in which the supper is to be served with as much green as can be procured at this season of the year. Procure a dozen pumpkins, remove the pulp, cutting a hole at the top of the shell; cut also four stars in the sides of each pumpkin, cover with light yellow paper and place candles inside. These lanterns, being set in various convenient spots about the room and lighted just before the supper is served, shed a corn-colored glow over the room. In the centre of the table arrange a vase filled with any late autumn yellow flowers—dahlias, chrysanthemums or marigolds; place candles at each end of the table screened by yellow crepe paper shades. The refreshments may consist of egg and lemon-butter sandwiches, cornbread, chicken salad, sponge cake, gold cake, lemon ice cream and lemon water ice, cup custards, honey in the comb, lemonade and coffee.

DUTCH PARTY

For decorations: Holland's national colors, blue and red; Dutch flags; tulips; crepe paper in Delft designs, etc. Instead of tally cards each guest may be furnished a little wooden shoe on a Delft-blue ribbon. Tiny pretzels are slipped on the ribbon for games won, the shoe keeping them from slipping off at the other end. Large wooden shoes may be used for bonbons and nuts at the tables. For prizes: handsome steins and pipes, a pair of burnt wood Holland shoes, Delft plaques, Dutch pictures, novelties decorated with quaint Dutch figures, a poster of Queen Wilhelmina, etc.

The supper table may have for its centrepiece a large blue stein with red tulips tumbling out of it. Delft china and paper napkins are appropriate, and a menu of Dutch dishes:

EASTER EGG HUNT

An Easter egg hunt will furnish plenty of amusement for an Easter party.

The nests are made of paper moss. In them are placed eggs of different varieties, some genuine hard boiled eggs, some of china or wood and some of candy. The wooden eggs should contain tiny ducks or chickens. The nests are hidden in every nook and corner of the house. The guests are then bidden to go nest hunting, and a half hour is given for the hunt. Each guest is given a little fancy basket in which to gather his eggs. The one securing the greatest number of eggs is given a prize of a large fancy egg.

The baskets and eggs may be retained as souvenirs.

EASTER LUNCHEON

Of course, silver and glassware must be sparkling, and the white cloth spotless, or, if one wishes, luncheon scarfs and mats or doilies are equally popular, and a highly polished table is a bit less formal than the regular dinner cloth. A centrepiece of gold cloth or of any yellow silken material is effective—the edges may be quickly overcast by heavy rope silk in long and short stitch. A bunch of Easter lily sprays in a bowl or gold and white vase crown the whole. If one can arrange to have the china gold and white it is very pretty; but every hostess must consult her own china store and plan accordingly.

Napkins stiffly folded at each place can hold an artificial lily, which carries in its heart a tiny candy box. These lilies can be bought at some caterer's or made at home very easily. Stiff wire—yet not so stiff as not to bend in any desired shape—can form the skeleton. The stem is made of five wires woven together, green paper being twisted over them and at the top; each separate wire is bent out to form a foundation for each white petal, made of white crepe paper, easily shaped and pasted in place. A little practice will show the amateur that this is not at all difficult. A pill box covered with gold paper can be pressed down in the heart of the lily, the top being covered with stamens made of gold paper shredded and twisted.

Lilies of the same type, only larger with larger boxes having no covers, can form the bonbon boxes. These must be even more conventional, as they have no stems, resting directly on the table. The menu should be simple.

When the luncheon is over and the guests have left the dining-room for the drawing-room, a new edition of the old cobweb game makes merry fun and is arranged as follows: A huge flower-pot is placed on the centre of the table, in which are planted some artificial lilies to carry out the idea, and under the flower-pot are gathered the ends of many strings, each one of which must be appropriated by a guest. These strings cross and intercross about furniture and corners of course, and give opportunities for many tête-à-têtes. Here and there some little verses may be tied if it is wished to add fun to the quest.

And many another nonsense couplet to suit the company and occasion.

At the end of each string must be found a candy Easter egg, or a hollow egg containing some little trinket.

EASTER SOCIABLE

Have printed programs sent out with the following announcement (any name can be substituted for the East End Connett Y):

An eggs-ellent plan has been adopted by
the East End Connett Y, to eggs-haust the
eggs-pence of sending a delegate to the State Convention.
We shall hold an Egg Social.
The eggs-pence of admission is eggs-actly ten cents.
We mean to have an eggs-ellent time.
You are urged to eggs-ert yourself to come and
eggs-amine for yourself.
You can eggs-pect to have lots of fun at small eggs-pence.
An eggs-ellent committee will wait upon you.
Plenty of eggs will be served.
Eggs-it at your pleasure.
N. B.—Plenty of Easter Egg novelties will be sold.

A fruit-stand covered with moss and twigs, and arranged to represent a nest filled with eggs and placed upon a bed of moss should form the central decoration for the table. Around the nest four large rabbit bonbonnières should be placed, with pieces of baby ribbon of all colors fastened to their forepaws and running out to or below the edge of the table, each ribbon being strung with eggs. Between the four large rabbits four smaller ones should peer out from under the nest between the ribbons.

Provide each person present with a dime, lead-pencil, and sheet of paper, upon which the following list is printed.

Find upon the dime the following articles:

1. Fruit of a tropical tree. (date)
2. What the Siamese twins were. (United)
3. What a lazy man seldom gets. (ahead)
4. The division of a country. (states)
5. The cradle of liberty. (America)
6. Something a schoolboy makes. (figures)
7. An instrument to catch sound. (ear)
8. The number a miser takes care of. (one)
9. What makes the forest green. (foliage)
10. Something a bootblack likes to give. (shine)

Of course the answers are not printed, but are kept by the committee for reference. A prize of one dime can be given the one with the most correct answers. Any kind of Easter novelties can be sold for a dime. For refreshments serve eggs in every form, with bread and butter and coffee, for one dime.

FAIRIES' GARDEN

A clever scheme for a church fair is the "Fairies' Garden," which is nothing more than the old grab-bag in a new dress. One seen recently was set up near a booth trimmed with evergreens, with a fence made of "cat-tails," planted about four inches apart, enclosing it in front. To this the people who were present flocked, and were free, on the payment of a small sum, to pull a flower or vegetable as they should see fit. Within and at the back of the inclosure was a trellis made of wire netting with the largest holes procurable, covered with vines, among which nestled pink paper roses. In each rose a small present was hidden from view.

Then there was a "pond," made of a tin boiler banked with stones and moss, and filled with water, on which floated water lilies and leaves. To each lily was tied a weighted present, such as the water could not injure.

A bed of real goldenrod planted in a box of sawdust, with the presents tied to the stems of the flowers and buried in the sawdust, completed the flower garden.

The vegetable bed fully repaid for all the time and trouble spent upon it. It was an enclosure of four boards, filled with sawdust, the vegetables being made of paper and filled with cotton and the presents. After the vegetables and flowers were planted the beds were covered with moss.

A few signs added to the effect, such as "Great South-Sea Bubble" for the cabbage bed, and "Please do not pull the cats' tails. By order of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals," for the cat-tail fence.

Carrots, beets, onions and cabbages answered the purpose well, being of convenient shapes and very easily made. The carrots were made on a cornucopia of stiff brown paper, in which the present was put, and then the cornucopia was covered with plain carrot-colored tissue paper, closed at the top, painted to imitate the creases in a carrot, and ornamented with a small tuft of leaves cut from green tissue paper. The beets were stuffed with cotton, in which the present was concealed, and then covered with the proper colored tissue paper. The onion bulbs were covered with crinkled cream-white tissue paper, and the tops were made of stiff white paper spills, or lamp-lighters, covered with dark green tissue paper. The cabbages were of pale green and yellow—almost cream color—crinkled tissue paper, wound around the central ball of cotton; the paper was cut and pulled out in the shape of leaves, or twisted to form the stalk.

There were four little girls dressed as "flower fairies," who kept the garden in order, and helped in many ways, looking very effective in their costumes of a "morning-glory," a "daffy-down-dilly," a yellow and white "daisy," and a "wild rose."

FEAST OF SEVEN TABLES

This feast if well planned and carried out is most pleasing in its results. There are seven tables. These tables are set in white, with centrepieces and other decorations to carry out the color scheme. Have first table near the door, and others arranged according to the menu, which can be changed to suit the seasons. It is necessary to have two sets of waiters, the first to clear away, and the second to furnish fresh supplies. All must dress to harmonize with the colors of their tables. Serve food in small quantities and in small dishes. At the ringing of a bell seven guests are seated at the first table. At the expiration of seven minutes, the bell again rings, and those at the first table pass to the second table, and seven other guests are permitted to enter the room, and to be seated at the first table. Here is where the waiters will have to hurry and reset the tables. At the close of every seven minutes the bell rings, signaling all to pass up one table. Seven persons pass out every seven minutes, and forty-nine are fed in as many minutes. A novel idea is to charge seven cents on entering the dining-room, seven cents when through at the last table, and seven cents as they pass out the door, making twenty-one cents for each guest. They will not object after they are through with the menu at the seven tables.

Winifred M. Simonds.

Decorations and Menu for Seven Tables

FEAST OF NATIONS

The following is a description of a church supper which was recently given with great success:

The Japanese table was decorated with chrysanthemums. At each place was a Japanese tray on which a Japanese napkin was folded in a fanciful manner. Little dishes of rice, hard-boiled eggs, cabbage chopped fine, and small cups of tea comprised the first course. The second course was a turkey dinner. The waiters were in Japanese costume. The favors were small Japanese umbrellas tied with the Japanese colors, red and white.

At the Chinese table the first course was rice prepared with curry, followed by chicken pie with the usual accompaniments. Chopsticks were in evidence, though the guests were not compelled to use them. The waiters were in Chinese dress. The table was adorned with curios, and the favors were ancestral tablets in tiny boxes, tied with yellow, the national color of China.

The Hindustani table was resplendent with red and yellow tulips, the colors of India. Handsome bowls of beaten brass loaned by a returned missionary ornamented the table. Four young men in the costume peculiar to India waited upon this table. The special dish was chicken with curry, and the favors were genuine Indian bracelets.

Some rare old Welsh china was used on the Welsh table, and the menu cards, written in Welsh, were in the shape of Welsh hats. A Welsh flag was given as a souvenir to each guest.

The Irish table was served by lassies gowned in green. The menu cards were in the form of shamrocks. "Potatoes with their jackets on" and buttermilk were the dishes characteristic of this country. The tablecloth was of bright green denim and the decorations were all of green leaves.

The table representing bonnie Scotland had menu cards decorated with the thistle. Jam tarts were among the delicacies.

The English table was decorated in the English colors, with the English standard as a centrepiece. Roast beef, of course, was an essential part of the dinner, supplemented by plum pudding, caraway cakes and tea. The favors were red and white roses.

White-capped waitresses served at the French table which was bright with candelabra, asparagus ferns and pink ribbons. The menu cards bore the fleur-de-lis. Peas, olives and candied walnuts were distinctive dishes. The color scheme was pink and green.

At the table representing Holland the girls wore Dutch peasant costumes and served coffee and chocolate, carrots with cream sauce, so commonly used among the Hollanders, sausage, rye bread and pickles, cake and gingerbread baked in fancy shapes.

The German table was gay with flowers. Noodle soup, German cheese and anise cakes were added to a generous dinner. The menu cards were in the form of corn-flowers and were written in German text. The favors were pretzels.

At the Italian table macaroni and fruit were the dishes. The favors were menu cards with the Italian flag painted on each.

The Mexican table was decorated with palms, and a dinner very similar to one a traveler would get in that country was served. The favors were menu cards written in Spanish, to which tiny Mexican tamales were attached by red and green ribbons, the Mexican colors.

Dainty arbutus graced the New England table and menu cards. The repast was a bounteous Thanksgiving dinner such as New Englanders know how to provide. Baked beans and brown bread were on the menu, as were also several kinds of pie and apple-sauce.

The Western table was waited upon by a boy and girl dressed as Indians with the ornaments they admire. The table was ornamented with flowers. The dinner cards showed paintings of Indian heads and the favors were little paper canoes. The cakes, fruit, etc., were served in Indian baskets.

The Southern table had a menu different from all the others. Among the good things were a whole roast pig, corn bread, warm biscuit and sweet potatoes. There were colored waiters in conventional white linen suits. The favors that stood by each plate were little Dinah dolls.

FISH MARKET

A rustic bridge was built out from one side of the platform forming a square space in one corner of the room that was used for a fish pond. Rocks and ferns were grouped along the edge of the platform, the floor was covered with green carpet, and a pretty meadow scene painted on coarse cotton was hung at the back, making a very picturesque setting for the pond. Steps led up to the bridge, and at the foot was a rustic lodge where, on payment of a fee, the prospective fisher was given a pole and a circle of cardboard, upon which was marked the number of times he was entitled to fish. Thus equipped, he went up on the bridge and fished in the pond. Additional fishing tickets were sold by the bridgekeepers. Articles of all description and varying values were fished forth from the pond, which made it all the more exciting. Refreshments were served in the hall and there were a candy and cake table and two stalls where fancy articles were sold. One of these stalls bore the sign, Fish Market. Here fish of many brilliant colors and quaint shapes were for sale; they were blotters, shaving cases, pincushions, sachet bags, needle-books, housewives, pen-wipers, spool and veil cases, emeries, court-plaster cases and kites. They were made of inexpensive materials, but their novelty caused them to sell rapidly. The fish market was well patronized. At the other stall, pillows and lamp-shades were sold. Red linen pillows shaped like Japanese fish and worked with black attracted a great deal of attention; other pillows had poster fish swimming across them, and still others were adorned with borders of fishes and anglers' maxims. Fish lamp-shades—scarlet, yellow and delicately tinted—found a ready sale among the young people, and caused much mirth. On the cake and candy table there were many toothsome fishes—chocolate and clear candy fish, boxes of candy decorated with fishing scenes in water-color and pen and ink, sandwiches cut out with fish-shaped tin cutters, also fish-shaped cookies and small iced cakes. The tops of the large cakes were ornamented with fish designs done with contrasting colors of icing.

FLAGS OF NATIONS

Secure as many cards as there are to be guests, and paint or paste on each of them some five or six small flags of different nations, numbering each flag. Sometimes one can obtain small buttons with these flags on them, and these answer quite as well. It is better to have each card different, and to assort the flags, so that every card may contain some not very generally known. The United States flag might be omitted, as every one would be familiar with that; but the flag of Liberia could be used on several cards, as its resemblance to our flag would be apt to deceive many. Plates showing the various national flags in colors may be found in the front of almost any unabridged dictionary.

Hand a card and a pencil to each guest. The pencil may be made quite attractive by covering it with a strip of crepe paper in some bright color. This can be easily accomplished by cutting the paper into lengths a little longer than the pencil, pasting one side, and rolling the pencil in the paper, then tying with a bow of narrow ribbon. After the guests are supplied with cards and pencils let each one write opposite the flags the names of the countries whose emblems they are. This will be found no easy matter, unless the guest should be a sailor or a globe-trotter, and many amusing guesses will be recorded.

The one who succeeds in guessing the countries correctly, or in guessing nearest, might be rewarded with a United States flag pin or a pretty silk flag. For making awards the hostess should have a list of the flags that are on each card, which should be numbered, and compare the list with the guesses handed in by the company.

FLORAL LOVE STORY

1. The girl's name and the color of her hair (Marigold).
2. The color of her eyes (violet).
3. Her brother's name and an adjective that just describes her (Sweet William).
4. Her brother's favorite musical instrument (trumpet).
5. At what time did he awaken his father with it (four o'clock).
6. With what did his father punish him (goldenrod).
7. What did the boy do (balsam).
8. What office in the Presbyterian Church did her father fill (elder).
9. Being a farmer, what was his occupation in spring (plantain).
10. Her lover's name and what he wrote it with (jonquil).
11. What, being single, he often lost (bachelor's buttons).
12. What confectionery he took to her (peppermint).
13. What he did when he proposed (aster).
14. What ghastly trophy did he lay at her feet (bleeding heart).
15. What did she give him in return (heartsease).
16. What did she say to him (Johnny-jump-up).
17. What flower did he cultivate (tulips).
18. To whom did she refer him (poppy).
19. What minister married them (Jack-in-the-pulpit).
20. What was wished with regard to their happiness (live-forever).
21. When he went away, what did she say to him (forget-me-not).
22. With what did she punish her children (lady's-slipper).
23. What hallowed their last years (sweet peas).

FLOWER BAZAAR

Six booths, if properly planned, will mean a small but picturesque bazaar. Five of these booths may represent flowers, and many of the articles sold from them may be made at home by members of the society which the sale is designed to aid.

Drape the Lily booth in white, decorate it with Easter lilies and light it with fairy lamps with white shades. Little novelties for Easter gifts may be sold here—the pretty trifles which are easily made.

The Violet booth may be almost self-decorative if Easter cards and dainty booklets bearing the flower are displayed. Many choice bits of verse and short paragraphs of uplifting thought may be found in the religious publications of to-day, and if these are carefully mounted on white cards and tied with violet ribbon to a bunch of the fresh flowers they will make the most cheering of Easter messages. Provision should be made at the booth for the cards to be autographed with the names of the senders.

The Tulip booth may be the gayest of the gay, and there the children should find Easter eggs in all colors of the rainbow. The booth should be lighted with gay lanterns. Those in charge should appear in Oriental costumes.

The choice of decorations for the Pansy booth is a wide one. Light green would make a good background to set off the bowls of different colored blossoms adorning the table. At this booth flower seeds, bulbs and plants of all kinds might be on sale. Seedlings are always ready sellers.

A booth which would prove very popular with housewives would be the one where Daffodils are in evidence, and there the egg delicacies for Easter menus might be on sale: stuffed eggs, pickled eggs, egg salad, custards, and angel and sponge cakes. Over this booth place a large yellow umbrella, fringed with daffodils. On a card fastened to the handle have the familiar quotation:

Butterflies fluttering over the Candy booth, as if attracted by the sweets there, will induce others to come for the same sweets. The butterflies may be made of crepe paper and suspended above the booth by invisible wires; the vibration of the air will make them appear very real. The little maid who presides should be gowned to represent a butterfly.

Care should be taken that the attendants at the different booths are dressed in colors to harmonize with the decorative scheme.

FLOWER GUESSING CONTEST

1. My first wears my second on her foot. (Lady's slipper)
2. A Roman numeral. (IV-Ivy)
3. The hour before my English cousin's tea. (Four-o'clock)
4. Good marketing. (Butter and eggs)
5. A gay young man and a ferocious animal. (Dandelion)
6. My first is often sought for my second. (Marigold)
7. A young man's farewell to his sweetheart. (Forget-me-not)
8. Her reply to him. (Sweet William)
9. The gentler sex of the Friend persuasion. (Quaker ladies)
10. Its own doctor. (Self-heal)
11. My first is as sharp as needles, my second is as soft as down. (Thistledown)
12. My first is a country in Asia, my second is the name of a prominent New York family. (China Aster)
13. My first is the name of a bird, my second is worn by cavalrymen. (Larkspur)
14. A church official. (Elder)
15. A very precise lady. (Primrose)
16. A tattered songster. (Ragged Robin)
17. My first is sly but cannot wear my second. (Foxglove)
18. The color of a horse. (Sorrel)
19. A craze in Holland in the seventeenth century. (Tulip)
20. My first is an implement of war, my second is a place where money is coined. (Spearmint)
21. A disrespectful name for a physician. (Dock)
22. Fragrant letters. (Sweet peas)
23. My first is a white wood, my second is the name of a yellow Rhenish wine. (Hollyhock)
24. What the father said to the son in the morning. (Johnny-jump-up)
25. My first is a facial expression of pleasure, my second a woodsman's means of livelihood. (Smilax)
26. An animal of the jungle is my first, my second is the name of a tall, fair lady. (Tiger Lily)
27. My first is made in a dairy but is seldom served in my second. (Buttercup)
28. My first wears my second on his head. (Coxcomb)
29. A close companion. (Stick-tight)
30. A fashionable shade for evening dresses. (Heliotrope)

FLOWER LUNCHEONS

Daisy Luncheon.—Just before luncheon the hostess may crown each guest with a wreath, which she has prepared by tying the blossoms on circles of fine wire.

In the centre of the luncheon-table have a large bunch of blossoms and also a few scattered carelessly over the table. Trim the edge of the table with a chain of daisies, looped up here and there. At each corner have a large bow of ribbon, either white or of three colors, yellow, green and white.

Serve only light refreshments. Yellow and white ices served together would be pretty. By all means have your cakes cooked in patty-pans. Ice the little cakes with chocolate, and on top of each have a life-size daisy. Any amateur can make this decoration successfully. Boil your icing thick and squeeze it through a small funnel made of thick writing-paper in order to make the long, narrow, white petals of a daisy. Reserve a small portion of the icing and tint it bright yellow for the centres. The effect will be quite pretty.

After refreshments are served supply each guest with a sheet of paper and a tiny pencil with a ribbon bow at the end (these pencils can be purchased for a cent apiece). Announce that the guest who draws the most natural daisy will be awarded a prize. Distribute the blossoms for models. Pin all of the papers upon the wall and let the guests decide which is the most lifelike flower. Award a pretty book to the one who succeeds best and a booklet of pressed flowers to the second best.

Buttercup Luncheon.—A very effective arrangement of buttercups for a luncheon is here suggested. It must be remembered that this flower closes at night and therefore is not suitable for an evening decoration. In the centre of the table arrange a circle of large rock ferns, and in the circle thus made place an inverted round pudding-dish, surrounding it with a large wreath of buttercups. Place the wreath so that half of each fern leaf will project beyond the buttercups. On the pudding-dish, the sides of which are hidden by the wreath, place a fern-dish full of growing ferns, and almost hidden among them a green glass vase filled with buttercups and grasses. This same idea may be carried out with daisies.

Ox-Eyed Daisies may be used for a luncheon-table decoration very effectively. In the centre of a round table, arranged to seat eight people, place a mound of daisies and mountain ferns and have a rope of daisies running from each plate to the centre. The ends of the ropes may be hidden in the mound.

Violet Luncheon.—In the centre of a table stand a large cut-glass bowl on a violet embroidered centrepiece. Fill this bowl with smilax and pink carnations. In the centre of the bowl place a tall green glass vase and make it secure by passing four lengths of ribbon crossed over the top of it, fastening the ends on the edge of the centrepiece with little bows. In the green vase place eight bunches of violets. From each bouquet run violet baby-ribbons ending in a little bow at each place. This will make a number of ribbons resembling a May-pole. After the luncheon each guest may unfasten the little bow at her place, give the ribbon a jerk, and draw a bunch of violets. The ribbons passing over the top of the vase will hold the vase firmly in place.

Apple-Blossom Luncheon.—For this use blossoms which are but half blown. Place branches of them in glass bottles full of water and fasten with wires to the backs of the pictures in the dining-room. The sideboard should be covered with great branches put in tall cut-glass vases and low silver bowls; the mantel banked, and in the corners of the room tall Japanese jars filled with great spraying branches. In the centre of the table may be placed a vase filled with pure white cherry blossoms. The candlesticks should be shaded with white and silver. Back of a screen at each end of the room a lamp may be set to give a brilliant light to the flowers on the wall, without the glare of the lamp being visible.

Pansy Luncheon.—A pretty and an original way to decorate a table with pansies when one has quantities of these flowers is to place in the centre of the table upon a glass salver an old-fashioned glass fruit-bowl on a pedestal. Fill the fruit-bowl and salver with white cornmeal which has been well soaked in cold water, and in this insert the pansy stems. They should be placed as thickly as possible. Around the outer edge of the salver have a border of maidenhair fern. An oblong glass dish arranged in a similar manner may be placed at each end of the table. If desired little dishes arranged in the same way may also be used.

"Rainy-Day Luncheon."—This is certainly an original idea. Place an old umbrella frame vertically in a fernery and twist smilax around the frame and down each spoke. At the base of the fernery make a bed of violets as large around in circumference as the umbrella. At the luncheon hour hide a small lump of ice in the smilax at the end of each spoke, allowing it to melt and drip on the violets. This makes a pretty decoration for a luncheon, particularly if wild violets can be procured.

FLOWER PARTY

When the guests have assembled, each one is given a tiny flower-pot. These are easily made out of red paper—a long strip and a round, with the aid of the mucilage pot. In these tiny pots the following list of flowers to be guessed is tucked away:

Make These Hidden Flowers Sprout

1. An amiable man. (Sweet William)
2. The pulse of the business world. (Stocks)
3. A title for the sun. (Morning-glory)
4. A bird and a riding accessory. (Larkspur)
5. A pillar of a building and a syllable that rhymes with dine. (Columbine)
6. A flower between mountains. (Lily of the valley)
7. A farewell sentiment. (Forget-me-not)
8. A dude and an animal. (Dandelion)
9. A part of the day. (Four-o'clock)
10. The result of Cupid's arrows. (Bleeding heart)
11. The place for a kiss. (Tulips)
12. A yellow stick. (Goldenrod)
13. A product of the dairy and a drinking utensil. (Buttercup)
14. One of the Four Hundred. (Aster)
15. What Cinderella should have advertised for. (Lady's slipper)
16. A wild animal and a bit of outdoor wearing apparel. (Foxglove)

The list of answers is of course kept in hand by the hostess. When the first part of the game has been played and the answers verified, a continuation of the fun is a contest of all as to who can write the best verse containing in any way whatever all the above flowers. Judges must be appointed, and, of course, prizes awarded for the verse contest as well as for the guessing game. This last contest may be omitted, if wished, but it adds fun and calls forth much ingenuity and cleverness. The prizes might be little potted plants, so many of which grace the florists' windows at this time of year; these for the women, and scarf-pins in the shape of flowers for the men.

To select partners for refreshments, give to each lady a flower of a different variety; if it is impossible to secure a sufficient quantity of natural blossoms, paper ones will do quite as well, and these may be made at home. To the gentlemen hand cards bearing quotations referring to some flower, but inserting a blank where the name occurs. Each gentleman may claim his partner when he finds the flower that fits his verse.

The following are a few suggestive quotations:

For the supper have a salad served in little paper boxes decorated with strips of pink tissue paper cut either in narrow slashes like the chrysanthemum petals, or in broader ones to represent the rose. Ices can be obtained in many flower forms, and if to these be added real stems and leaves, the service will be as dainty and attractive as possible.

FLOWERS ILLUSTRATED

1. Buttercup.
2. Daisy.
3. Sunflower.
4. Trumpet vine.
5. Lily of the valley.
6. Morning-glory.
7. Violet.
8. Dandelion.
9. Lady's-slipper.
10. Bachelor's-button.
11. Aster.
12. Tulip.
13. Goldenrod.
14. Cat-tail.
15. Sweet William.
16. Sweet peas.
17. Ragged sailor.
18. Bleeding heart.
19. Poppy.
20. Black-eyed Susan.
21. Foxglove.
22. Queen's lace handkerchief.
23. Bluebell.
24. Everlasting.
25. Marshmallow.
26. Solomon's-seal.

They are illustrated in this way: 1. A cup of butter. 2. The picture of a book, cut from a magazine, having the title blotted out, and showing only the words, "by Charlotte M. Yonge" (the author of "The Daisy Chain"). 3. A colored illustration of the solar spectrum. 4. A tin trumpet. 5. A picture of a valley. 6. A card upon which is printed "6 A. M." 7. A picture of a book upon which is written, "by Julia Magruder" (author of "The Violet"). 8. The picture of a lion, to which has been added, with pen and ink, a silk hat, collar and cane. 9. A pair of slippers. 10. A variety of buttons, poorly sewed upon a piece of cloth. 11. A card upon which is written, "A well-known hotel and library." 12. Photograph of a part of a face. 13. A slender stick, gilded. 14. A picture of cats. 15. A card with the words "Dear Will." 16. A few peas in a saucer of sugar. 17. A Brownie sailor, torn and dilapidated. 18. A red paper heart. 19. The written words, "Sleep, sweet sleep." 20. A picture of a girl, the eyes having been painted black. 21. A pair of gloves. 22. A dainty handkerchief. 23. A small bell, painted blue. 24. A leather advertisement under which are the words, "Never wear out." 25. A box of marshmallows. 26. A large seal with the letter S.

To the one who succeeds in finding the greatest number of flowers can be given a beautiful basket of roses.

FOURTH OF JULY MUSEUM

The invitations, gay with the national colors, stated that Miss Blank, in order to encourage patriotism in her native town, had made a museum collection of curios connected with noted Americans, and bade a choice selection of her fellow-townsmen to meet and view the rare objects.

The booklets passed around among the guests upon their arrival were attractive enough, a tiny flag being painted in one corner of the cover, which also contained the legend:

The Fourth of July Museum
At Miss Blank's
July the Fourth
Nineteen hundred and blank.

A red, white and blue ribbon held the booklet together, and at the end of this was a small white pencil.

We found it best to pair off the players, for two heads are so much better than one, and it is a great satisfaction to give help to one's neighbor without fear and without reproach. Each of the booklets contained a date or an event in United States history, and the man who drew the booklet containing "1492" became the partner of the girl who held "Discovery of America."

The museum specimens were arranged on tables or mounted on cards, and each one was numbered conspicuously. The following list of twenty-two names was used. It can be lengthened, or the celebrities may be otherwise represented, according to the resources of the hostess. Magazine pictures of the articles may be substituted for the real thing, to simplify preparations. Here is the list, which may be greatly extended:

• Paul Revere—a toy horse with rider, labeled "The Horse Travels Best by Night."
• Abraham Lincoln—two small darkies, labeled "All Free."
• Washington—a bunch of cherries, labeled "Our National Fruit."
• Carrie Nation—a toy hatchet, labeled "You Think You Know. Guess Again."
• General Grant—a chocolate cigar.
• Theodore Roosevelt—a doll's Rough Rider hat.
• Richmond Hobson—a confectioner's "kiss."
• Barbara Frietchie—the national flag.
• Theodore Thomas—a bar of music and a street-car conductor's cap.
• Benjamin Harrison—his grandfather's hat.
• Mark Twain—Two pencil-marks.
• P. T. Barnum—a hippopotamus, labeled "The Greatest Show on Earth."
• Harriet Beecher Stowe—"Uncle Tom's Cabin," represented by a toy negro cabin.
• Priscilla Alden—a picture of a Puritan at a spinning-wheel.
• Jefferson Davis—a Confederate dollar bill.
• William J. Bryan—a silver dollar (number sixteen in the collection).
• Miss Stone—the stone figure of a woman, labeled "Kidnapped," or a copy of Stevenson's "Kidnapped."
• Joseph Jefferson—a little dog, labeled "My Dog Schneider."
• Nathaniel Hawthorne—"The Scarlet Letter," represented by a medium-size red envelope.
• Eli Whitney—a cotton-gin, represented by a branch of cotton, and a bottle, labeled "Pure Holland Gin."
• Robert Fulton—a toy steamboat.
• Benjamin Franklin—a kite and a key.

The national colors may be used effectively in the decorations of the rooms or of the table, and the prizes for the winners may be silk flags, photographs of historic places or other souvenirs suggestive of the day.

Appropriate place-cards for a Fourth of July luncheon or dinner may be made by covering small glass bottles about the size of a firecracker with red tissue paper, and filling them with little candies. By cutting the corks even with the bottles and drawing a small piece of twine through for a fuse, a clever imitation of a cracker is made. The names of the guests may be put vertically on the bottles.

GAME OF NATIONS

Provide each guest with a list of questions, with spaces left for the answers. The answers consist of words ending in "N-A-T-I-O-N." Here are the questions and the answers:

The prizes should then be awarded. A pretty silk banner will be acceptable to a man, while a big bunch of red and white carnations tied with a blue ribbon, or a pound of confectionery in a box decorated with flags and other patriotic emblems will make a pretty gift for a lady.

GEOGRAPHICAL GAME

Seat the players in a ring. Let the first one say aloud the name of a city, mountain, river, lake, etc., located in any part of the world; the next player give a name beginning with the final letter of the previously said name, and the third supply one beginning with the final letter of the second, and so on around the ring. Thus: America, Athens, Santiago, Ohio. Each player is allowed thirty seconds in which to think. If, by the end of that time, he has failed to supply a name, he must drop out of the game. The one who keeps up longest is the champion. Any player, at any time, may be challenged to give the geographical location of the place he has named. If, on demand, he cannot do so he must pay a forfeit.

GEORGE AND MARTHA TEA

The walls should be hung with red, white and blue bunting, relieved at regular intervals with shields and small hatchets made of flowers in the national colors.

Have George and Martha receive the guests, and there may be also a number of men and women attired in colonial costumes to introduce strangers and see that all have a good time.

Behind a bower of foliage an orchestra might play the national airs, and as the object of the evening should be to promote sociability, it would be well to have a number of interesting games in which all can join.

One of these might be a list of the presidents in anagram form, written on a large blackboard; the names in parentheses, of course, are not written out, thus:

At the end of half an hour present to the most successful guesser a George Washington hat of violet candy, filled with red and white bonbons.

But let the main feature of the evening be a small room fashioned into a portrait-drawing studio, the lads and lassies in charge and everything about the room having an old-time look.

Above the door have printed in the quaint spelling of long ago that all who wish can have a silhouette picture of themselves for only five cents, and doubtless a goodly sum will be realized, as people are always interested, not only in their own, but in their friends' physiognomy, and much fun will follow in exchanging shadow pictures.

Have ready a quantity of large sheets of paper, black on one side and white on the other, also white cardboard; a sheet of paper is to be fastened to the wall, white side out, and a lighted candle placed about three feet from the paper. Then the one having his picture taken is seated between the candle and wall, so that a strongly defined profile falls upon the paper; the shadow is to be traced with a steady hand, cut out, and then pasted on the cardboard, with the black side of the paper out.

An old-fashioned candelabrum, surrounded by a wreath of blue violets and red and white carnations, might grace the centre of the dining-table, and at either end tall silver candlesticks with candles burning under shades of a rosy hue might be placed.

Let the bonbons be held in boxes imitating the cocked hat of the Continental Army; have sandwiches of different kinds and sorts, with tiny silk flags bearing the name of the sandwich. Besides these the eatables might consist of good old-fashioned gingerbread, crullers, doughnuts, and coffee, followed by apples and nuts.

GIRLS' NAMES CONTEST

1. What an army would do if it found a river too deep to ford. (Bridget)
2. An admirable quality in a young woman. (Grace)
3. The most prominent of Easter flowers. (Lily)
4. The time for violets. (May)
5. A gem. (Pearl)
6. What papa does with the baby. (Carrie)
7. How to write a postscript. (Adaline)
8. The flower of June. (Rose)
9. What a scissors-grinder and a locomotive have in common. (Belle)
10. A virtue. (Patience)
11. An article. (Ann)
12. First steps in music. (Dora [do-re])
13. Two consecutive letters of the alphabet in transposed order. (Effie [F-E])
14. The night before. (Eve)
15. A little valley. (Adelle)

The slips are to be collected and the one having the greatest number of correct answers may be rewarded with some inexpensive souvenir.

GOLF LUNCHEON

When our golfing enthusiast desires to entertain her golfing friends, she cannot do better than bid them to a luncheon set to the keynote of their favorite sport.

Naturally, the table decorations will be red and green—deep red roses or scarlet geraniums laid in flat bunches upon the "fair field" of snowy cloth and encircling the dishes, caught together by "links" of smilax. Perhaps, too, pale green candles, beneath ruby-hued shades, might still further carry out the scheme of color.

The table may be arranged with a "putting green" in the centre made of a square of sponge cake frosted with pistachio. A little hole should be cut in the centre. Miniature caddy bags made of red satin and filled with red geraniums and ferns are pretty decorations. A little golf ball for the "putting green" can be made by covering a preserved cherry with white icing. "Bunkers" can be made across the corners of the table by using fine wire netting. At each place a small caddy bag can hold the knives, forks, and spoons of the service, and in the bottom of the bag can be placed a "Jackson ball"—one of those hard, striped red and white, old-fashioned candies.

The bread sticks and cheese straws should be fashioned like golfing sticks, and the ices be in the form of balls, small and white. Lastly, with the coffee and bonbons, are passed souvenir cards on which are daintily painted bags of golfing implements, heads of pretty girls in outing hats, or bits of rural landscape.

GOLF PLAYERS' GUESSING CONTEST

1. A coachman. (Driver)
2. An oriental herb. (Tee)
3. A receptacle for the herb. (Caddie)
4. What an impudent fellow is apt to be. (Brassie)
5. A rustic expression for aimless working. (Putter)
6. A bazaar, and a color. (Fair-green)
7. The point of a pen and a lap of the tongue. (Niblic)
8. To crush and two letters. (Mashie)
9. A chance. (Hazard)
10. A large social function. (Ball)
11. A definite and an indefinite number. (Foursome)
12. Parts of a chain. (Links)
13. A bed and to mistake. (Bunker)
14. Number twenty. (Score)
15. Little pits. (Holes)

The two who, within a given time, answer the most of these fifteen questions should be rewarded with appropriate prizes, as one of the handy little score books to be slipped upon the belt, containing the official score; a picture of the typical golf girl; or some volume on the popular and fascinating game.

GOOD LUCK PARTY

This was given by a clever maiden to a departing girl friend, but the idea could be utilized in various ways.

Each invitation took the form of a cordial note which was written on white note-paper bordered with pen-and-ink sketches of horseshoes, wishbones and four-leaf clovers.

Enclosed with each invitation was a guest card with the name of the person receiving it written in gilt at the top. Below this was a row of horseshoes, also done in gilt. Each guest was requested to write on this card a toast, in rhyme, to the departing friend, and to bring it to the party on the appointed evening.

The decorations of the rooms upon the evening of the party were appropriate to the occasion. Horseshoes gilded or covered with tin-foil hung over the folding doors and window-curtains, and depended from the chandeliers, which were draped with festoons of ribbon ornamented with wishbones and horseshoes of all sizes cut from gilt paper.

A large screen standing in front of the dining-room doors was decorated with artificial clover blossoms. In the dining-room similar decorations prevailed. In the centre of the dining-table, upon a centrepiece embroidered with the emblems of good luck, stood a candelabra bearing green and white candles. Encircling the centrepiece was a large horseshoe of cardboard covered with green paper. Outside the horseshoe outlining it were small glasses resting on green paper clover leaves.

At each corner of the table was placed a plate of delicious sugar cookies baked in the shape of four-leaf clovers; each one was topped with a gilded wish-bone.

The chairs were arranged around the room in the form of a horseshoe.

The main feature of the evening was the hunt for four-leaf clovers. These leaves, which were cut out of green glacé paper, had been hidden by the hostess in every nook and corner of the down-stairs rooms, and much amusement was afforded the young people as they eagerly sought them. At the conclusion of a given time the signal to stop hunting was given and each guest counted the leaves he or she had found. The one having the greatest number was presented with a dainty stick-pin in the shape of a four-leaf clover.

The refreshments consisted only of ginger ale and cookies, and as her guests partook of them the hostess read aloud the toasts which had been handed to her. She presented them at the conclusion of the evening to the guest of honor.

Each guest was next asked to tell "the biggest piece of good luck which ever came to you." The numerous recitals given created no end of fun.

When the party broke up and the good-nights were said each guest carried away as a souvenir of the occasion a bright new penny for a "luck piece."

GYPSY FORTUNE-TELLING

Added to the charm and mystery of having one's fortune told is the great pleasure which may be derived from having it told by a gypsy, even though she may be an amateur.

An hour of amusement may be passed very delightfully in this way, provided the hostess can make the necessary arrangements with some quick-witted, bright young girl, who will be willing to take the part of the gypsy. Several days before the evening's entertainment the hostess should give her friend a list of the expected guests, with a few notes concerning their traits of character, environment, etc., and these suggestions, in addition to the knowledge of the persons which she possesses, and her own inventiveness, will give her an excellent opportunity apparently to look back in the past, and forward to the future—especially if she happen to discover that any engaged couples are to be present. The gypsy should arrive at the house of the hostess a little early on the evening of the entertainment, and be shown to an up-stairs room to don her gypsy attire. She should then descend to the dimly-lighted parlor and seat herself in readiness for the guests when they shall arrive.

As the guests arrive and remove their wraps they should be received and greeted in the library or reception-room, and the hostess should then announce that a gypsy is in the parlor. Having learned in some way that there was to be a large party there, she has begged the privilege of coming in to tell fortunes for the pretty ladies, so that she might earn a few pennies. The guests repair to the dimly-lighted parlor, where the gypsy is seated. As each guest advances and seats himself, the gypsy takes the extended right hand and reads the lines—improvising as she does so in broken English.

HALLOWE'EN BOX CAKE

The newest fashion in Hallowe'en supper-table decoration is a cake made of white pasteboard boxes, in shape like pieces of pie, which fit together and give the appearance of a large cake. Each one of the boxes is covered with a white paper which resembles frosting. At the close of the feast the pieces are distributed, each box containing some little souvenir suitable to Hallowe'en. One box, of course, contains a ring, another a thimble, a third a piece of silver, a fourth a mitten, a fifth a fool's cap, and so on. Much fun is created as the boxes are opened, and the person who secures the ring is heartily congratulated. The unlucky individual who gets the fool's cap must wear it for the evening.

HALLOWE'EN GAMES

Have a card and a candle for each guest, the candles in as many different colors as possible, and one corner of each card turned down and tied with baby ribbon—one color for ladies, and another for gentlemen. On the cards have couplets written foretelling future events, such as:

Let each guest take a card and a candle (if the base of the candle is warmed it will stick to the card), read the couplet aloud, then light the candle, and holding it at arm's length blow it out. If it is blown out upon the first trial the person will be married within a year; if upon the second trial, within two years, etc.

Write rhymes of four or six lines on thin paper, and place in chestnut shells. Tie together with ribbon, the ladies' in one color, the gentlemen's in another. If there are personal hits in the rhymes, tie the name of the person for whom each one is intended on the outside of the shell.

Hide a ring, a thimble and a penny in the room. To the one who finds the ring speedy marriage is assured; the thimble denotes a life of single blessedness; the penny promises wealth.

Have one of the young ladies who knows a little palmistry be the witch of the evening. A short, bright-hued skirt, a gay plaid shawl crossed over her shoulders, a scarf bound about her head, will make a very striking costume, and, with the aid of a little paint and powder, quite an effective disguise. If she is enough acquainted with the guests to give some personal history she can produce some very "telling" fortunes.

After the witch has exhausted her ingenuity as palmist, let her offer to disclose the name of the future bride or groom of each one present, by means of the fairy mirror. The room she uses should be dimly lighted. She writes the name on a mirror with French chalk, rubs it off lightly with a silk handkerchief, and calls in the person for whom the name is written.

Prepare a basket of rosy cheeked apples, each with the initials of a name pricked in the skin, which names must be used in counting the apple seeds.

After the supper table has been cleared of all except the decorations and candles, have a large dish filled with burning alcohol and salt brought in and placed in the centre. Seated around this ghostly fire, all other lights except the candles having been extinguished, let the guests tell stirring stories rigmarole fashion; that is, some one starting the story and stopping short at its most exciting point and letting his neighbor continue it, etc., each one trying to make it as interesting as possible.

HALLOWE'EN PARTY

All formality must be dispensed with on Hallowe'en. Not only will quaint customs and mystic tricks be in order, but the decorations and refreshments, and even the place of meeting, must be as strange and mystifying as possible.

For the country or suburban home a roomy barn is decidedly the best accommodation that can be provided. If this is not practicable, a large attic, running the entire length of the house, is the next choice; but if this also is denied the ambitious hostess, let the kitchen be the place of meeting and of mystery, with the dining-room, cleared of its usual furniture and decorated suitably for the occasion, reserved for the refreshments.

The light should be supplied only by Jack-o'-lanterns hung here and there about the kitchen, with candles in the dining-room.

The decorations need not be expensive to be charming, no matter how large the room. Large vases of ferns and chrysanthemums and umbrella stands of fluffy grasses will be desirable; but if these cannot be readily obtained, quantities of gayly tinted autumn leaves will be quite as appropriate. Festoons of nuts, bunches of wheat or oats, and strings of cranberries may also help to brighten the wall decorations, and the nuts and cranberries will be useful in many odd arrangements for ornamenting the refreshment table.

Have the table long enough (even if it must be extended with boards the whole length of the barn or attic) to accommodate all the guests at once. Arrange huge platters of gingerbread at each corner, with dishes of plain candies and nuts here and there, and pyramids of fruit that will be quickly demolished when the guests are grouped about the table. No formal waiting will be desirable.

HALLOWE'EN SUGGESTIONS

Have mirrors everywhere: big mirrors, medium-sized mirrors, and little, wee mirrors, all reflecting and multiplying countless candles that burn in candlesticks of every description (most novel are those made from long-necked gourds and tiny squashes).

Across the top and down the sides of each doorway hang festoons of yellow and white corn and turn the husks back to show the firm, glistening kernels. Each window can be garlanded in like manner as well as the tops of mantels and picture frames. Clusters of red ears may depend from the chandeliers. Here and there, in the most unexpected corners, can be placed Jack-o'-lanterns, smiling or gnashing their teeth, amid great shocks of corn. The great hall and stairway can be draped with fish-nets through the meshes of which are thrust many ears of corn. A stately Jack must point the guests up the stairs where two other individuals will usher them to the dressing-rooms.

Drape one doorway with a portière of apples—apples strung on strings of varying lengths. As the guests pass through, the tallest stoop for those suspended on the longest strings and the shortest reach for those on the short strings. Those who succeed in throwing three tiny apples through the horseshoe, which is hung in the midst of these apples, are assured of phenomenal luck for the ensuing year.

In another doorway hang a big pear-shaped pumpkin, on whose shining surface all the letters of the alphabet have been burned with a hot poker. Keep this rapidly twirling while the guests, in turn, try to stab some letter with long meat-skewers. The letter that is hit will establish beyond question the initial letter of one's fate.

Place in a tub of water red, yellow and green apples. Provide each guest with a toy bow and arrow. The young man or maiden who succeeds in firing an arrow into a red apple will be assured of good health; plenty of money is in store for those shooting arrows into yellow ones; and good luck is in store for those hitting the green ones.

Blindfold each girl present and, presenting her with a wand, lead her to a table on which have been placed flags of the different men's colleges. The flag her wand happens to touch will indicate the college of her future husband.

Browning nuts, popping corn, roasting apples, and toasting marshmallows will add a great deal to the pleasure of the evening.

The dining-table should be draped in pale green crepe paper, the lights above being shrouded in gorgeous orange. Pumpkins of various sizes should be scooped and scraped to a hollow shell and, lined with waxed paper and filled with good things to eat, should be placed in the centre of the table. Lighted candles and quaint oriental lanterns will add greatly to the decorations.

The menu should include bannocks, scones, and other Scotch dainties. If desired, droning bagpipes might accompany the feast.

After listening to ghostly tales related by white-draped figures, the guests may receive all sorts of amusing souvenirs from a large pumpkin placed on a table at the door.

HANDKERCHIEF BAZAAR

The above invitation, which should be printed on a neat card, explains itself. The details of the bazaar may be arranged as desired.

HATCHET PARTY

If the Hatchet Party is given at home appropriate invitations can be issued in the form of a hatchet, bearing the words in quaint letters:

The decorations should conform to the spirit of the evening. A large hatchet covered with white curled tissue paper may be hung in the hall. Plaques of little red, white and blue hatchets may take the place of flowers, and in the hall or reception room there should be a little table of "Souvenirs." These should be little bronze hatchets with the letters Y. W. C. T. U. on one side. Their handles should be tied with narrow ribbon—red, white and blue—and each guest should be allowed to select his color. Thus everybody has the opportunity offered to him of becoming a member by selecting the white ribbon, and in this way everybody is compelled to "show his colors."

If simple refreshments are served, let the Japanese napkins have a big hatchet gilded on them, and let there be some plates of hatchet cookies, formed by the cutter that any tinsmith will make from a pattern.

Have old-fashioned candy—peppermint, wintergreen, sassafras and molasses—instead of bonbons. Play the old games—hunt the slipper, blind man's buff, hide and seek.

Names for the members of the Hatchet Family who are to receive the guests:

• Johanna Adams Hatchet,
• Tomazine Jefferson Hatchet,
• Jamesina Madison Hatchet,
• Jemima Monroe Hatchet,
• J. Quinciana Adams Hatchet,
• Andrewsia Jackson Hatchet,
• Wilhemina Henrietta Harrison Hatchet,
• Johnesetta Tyler Hatchet,
• Marty Van Buren Hatchet,
• Jinny Keturah Polk Hatchet,
• Zacherina Taylor Hatchet,
• Millarella Fillmore Hatchet.

Ask the girls who impersonate these characters to come in Martha Washington dress, a flowered chintz or silk overdress, opening in front to show a silk or sateen skirt of a plain color, which may be quilted if desired. The waist is made to open over a white neckerchief and has elbow sleeves. A little round mob cap of muslin or lace, with a frill, a band of ribbon around it, and a coquettish bow complete the costume.

ICE FESTIVAL

To step from midsummer into winter was a surprise, when the admission ticket was dropped in the box at the door on the night of the festival and its erstwhile owner passed into the hall. Small tables stood by pine and cedar trees that were covered with alum icicles and sifted over with diamond dust. Here groups of friends ate their cream and cake together, served by snow spirits in white tarletan gowns that sparkled with diamond dust, or ice fays whose white costumes glittered with glass beads. On the stage, white canton flannel and diamond dust, heavy gray wrapping paper folded into rocks, trees and a rustic bridge made a realistic representation of a snowclad landscape. The pleasing program consisted of dainty dances by children dressed as snowflakes, a pretty ball game played with snowballs, recitations and songs appropriate to the winter season. Another novelty was a tree covered with raw cotton snowballs, with numbers attached. These were sold for twenty-five cents—each purchaser choosing a number—and contained the small fancy articles usually sold at fairs—pincushions, needle-books, cups and saucers, etc. The windows were all screened and electric fans hidden by evergreens kept the hall from getting overheated. In one corner was a large pond, made of a shallow wooden tank surrounded by more gray paper rocks and white cotton snow, in which real cakes of ice were floating, and from which any one was at liberty to dip as much ice water as he cared to drink. This festival was a great success.

INAUGURATION DAY LUNCH

The guests at this luncheon are to represent the Vice-President and the eight members of the Cabinet, but if the hostess wishes to entertain a larger number, she can introduce one or two of the foreign Ambassadors. Give to each guest, as she arrives, a card bearing the title of one of the Cabinet, as the Secretary of State, the Attorney-General, and, if necessary, the English Ambassador. While waiting for luncheon, each one must guess the name of the man she represents, in order to know her place at the table, where only the proper names, not the titles, will be used. It will be surprising to discover how few of the members of the Cabinet are known by name to the majority of persons.

Pink carnations will be appropriate for all decorations. Have a large bowl of these in the centre of the table, and at each corner lay on the cloth as a doily a spread eagle cut from gilt paper, the pattern for which can be taken from a revenue flag or a ten dollar gold piece. Make the distance from tip to tip of the wings about twelve inches, and from the head to the tail seven inches. Place upon the eagles dishes of olives, nuts, and pink candies.

From the chandelier to the corners of the table have sound money festoons, which are made by cutting out of gilt paper a number of disks the size of a twenty-five cent piece. Paste these together in pairs, first laying between them a long thread which connects them through the middle and forms a chain.

For favors have cards of water-color paper painted around the edges with a festoon of pink ribbon, in which, at intervals, are knotted scrolls and documentary envelopes upon which are printed some of the principles of the Republican party, such as "The Monroe doctrine reaffirmed," "Reduction of war taxes," "Allegiance to the gold standard," etc. At the top of each card write the name of the person whom each guest is to represent.

In the centre of the card will be the menu, which is as follows:

A clear soup, with noodles for letters, fills the requirements of the Post Office. The second course is creamed sweetbreads served in small paper boxes, which stand upon large pilot crackers, or, in army language, "hard tack." A sheet of paper folded double, like an army tent, rests upon the crackers, covering the box; wooden toothpicks stuck through the sides of the tent into the paper box will prevent the former from slipping out of place, and can easily be removed after serving. On the outside of the tents paint in large, clear letters U. S. A. The crackers are to be eaten with the sweetbreads.

The navy is represented by having the chicken croquettes formed in the shape of a ship, flat, and having one end pointed, the other somewhat rounding. From a druggist get two or three straws, such as are used for soda water, cut them into short lengths, and just before serving, stand two or three in each croquette to represent smokestacks. If these straws cannot be obtained, toothpick masts with paper sails will be quite as effective. The croquettes should be served with green peas—small shot—and scalloped potatoes.

Agricultural or vegetable salad, served in beets, makes a most attractive looking dish. Beets of medium and uniform size are first boiled until tender, then peeled and placed on the ice. When cold cut off a slice at the bottom, so they will stand firm, scoop out the insides, leaving only thin walls. For the filling use peas and apples, celery and beets, cut into small pieces, and mixed well with mayonnaise; fill the beets, serving them on lettuce leaves. The cabinet pudding is that which is to be found in any cook book, baked in individual forms, and served with foamy sauce.

The ices are in the form of horseshoes for good luck, and with them are the Philippine cakes. These are small cakes having in the centre of each a tiny black china doll, two of which can be purchased for a cent at any toy shop. These are put in after the cake is baked and before icing, leaving them just far enough out to show the arms.

The "coffee which makes the politician wise," may be served at the table or after returning to the parlor.

INDEPENDENCE DAY NECESSITIES

1. A powerful submarine weapon of offense.
2. A destroying element, and an accompaniment to an oyster-stew.
3. An ancient civilization, and a feeble means of light.
4. A woman's toilet necessity, and part of a wagon.
5. A color, and the means of warmth.
6. The chief implement of warfare.
7. A two-wheeled vehicle, and the peak of a house.
8. Where Nature's wealth is stored.
9. A kind of stone used in paving.
10. Bardolph's companion in King Henry IV.
11. One kind of headgear.
12. What a wise mother does not do to her baby.
13. A carnation with u instead of i.
14. A musical organization, and a long lapse of time.
15. An Irishman's name, a disorderly uprising, and an intellectual fad.

The answers are held by the hostess, of course, and are only divulged after all the guesses are in. They are as follows:

Answers

1. Torpedoes.
2. Fire-crackers.
3. Roman candles.
4. Pinwheels.
5. Red fire.
6. Guns.
7. Cart-ridge.
8. Mines.
9. Flag.
10. Pistol.
11. Caps.
12. Rock it (Rocket).
13. Pink P(u)nk.
14. Band-ages.
15. Pat-riot-ism.

Independence Day Menu

INDIAN DINNER PARTY

Invitations may be printed or written on birch bark or paper imitations of same, or on paper cut into the shape of tomahawks, tepees, etc., and may be hand-painted if desired. Decorations should be Indian blankets (as portières, couch covers, and mantel draperies), Indian rugs, baskets, tomahawks, bows and arrows, war clubs, chromos, colored photographs, clay or papier-mâché Indian heads, plaques and busts, etc., any of which would make suitable favors. A miniature wigwam made of blankets in an out-of-the-way corner, adds effectiveness. Footman and maids may be dressed in Indian costumes made of burlap with bright colored trimmings and fringes; or the guests may be invited en costume.

For table decoration a skin should be placed over table cloth through the centre of the table and upon it an Indian basket filled with any red or yellow common flowers, such as marigolds or nasturtiums (red and yellow), or better still with wild flowers, red or yellow.

The menu cards and name cards, of stiff ecru paper, have Indian decorations in brilliant red, green and orange; the candles are also striped in the same vivid colors and the candle holders are made of corn husks. The canoe, designed for the entree, which is the chicken, is made of heavy brown paper.

Menu for Indian Dinner

INDOOR LAWN PARTY

Our social committee, of which I was then chairman, wanted very much to have a lawn party; but the season for such things was quite over, as the evenings were too cool. However, a bright idea occurred to one of our number, and we decided to have an indoor lawn party.

The Saturday afternoon before it was to take place, four of the committee took a team, went out into the woods, and secured a lot of pine boughs, autumn leaves, etc., and Monday evening, which was the evening before it occurred, we increased our force of workers, and went to the vestry to turn it, as far as possible, into an outdoor scene. We trimmed the chandeliers, posts, and every available spot with boughs, strung Japanese lanterns all across the room, made a beautiful bower in one corner for the orchestra, for which we had three pieces, a piano, a violin, and a cornet. In the opposite corner of the room we had a canvas tent where fortunes were told at five cents each (by palmistry) by one of our young lady gypsies. Hammocks were swung from the large stone posts, and a standing double swing was placed on one side of the room, where the younger people enjoyed themselves hugely.

Small tables were put into odd corners of the room, where ice cream and cake were served by ten young ladies in pretty summer costumes. Lemonade was served from an old well, which was a large square box or packing case, covered with canvas, painted to represent a stone wall. To this we attached a well-sweep made from a branch of a tree, tied on a large new tin pail, and served the lemonade in small glasses at two cents a glass. During the evening we had a male quartette gather around the well and sing "The Old Oaken Bucket," and other selections. The orchestra played the whole evening with very short intermissions. On one side of the room was arranged an artistic corner where peanuts were sold at the usual price of five cents a bag.

INITIAL CHARACTERISTICS

JACK-O'-LANTERN PARTY

The little guests at this particular party were invited from three o'clock until seven, and when they arrived they found the rooms were darkened. The lamps had yellow shades, and as such an occasion would not be complete without pumpkin Jack-o'-lanterns, there were

They hung in every nook and corner. Even the jardinières filled with flowers were made of them. Wood was crackling and blazing in the large fireplace, as if anxious to do its part to make every one happy, and hanging from the chandelier was a branch of evergreen, with nuts suspended in such a fashion that they readily fell to the floor when given a slight shake. Before this was done, however, each child was given a paper bag to hold the nuts, which tumbled in all directions. Then a huge pasteboard pumpkin covered with yellow crinkled paper was brought in. I do not know what else it was made of; I only know that it looked like a real pumpkin. Bright-colored ribbons hung over the sides, and when the small boys and girls took turns in pulling them, out came all sorts of comical little toys and pretty knickknacks.

Before supper was announced the children were given French snappers in fringed paper, in which they found either a gay cap or apron. After putting them on they marched around the parlors, out into the hall and into the dining-room, while the mother of the little girl who had planned this delightful Hallowe'en party played a marching tune for them.

The greatest surprise of all awaited them in the dining-room, for the walls were covered with large branches of evergreens, making it seem like "real woods"; not a chair was in the room; the little ones were invited to seat themselves on soft cushions placed on the floor, in true picnic style, and they had the jolliest time eating their picnic supper from the yellowest of yellow gourds, which had been hollowed out, lined with Japanese napkins, and filled with just the things children like best. On top of each one was an apple—or at least they thought it was, until taking it in their hands, when it proved to be a bonbon box filled with delicious nut candy. Then there were dainty sandwiches, pop corn balls and salad in orange baskets. But better than these were the gingerbread animals; these were so natural looking that the little ones knew right away which animals were represented.

After supper they played games until seven, when they went home, laden with their bags of nuts and toys and souvenir lanterns.

JAPANESE CARD PARTY

Invitations may be written as the natives write—up and down, instead of across, on rice paper or paper napkins; or little Japanese dolls may be sent, each clasping a note of invitation.

For decorations, use Japanese draperies, cushions, bead curtains, rugs, baskets, swords, scrolls, umbrellas, vases, fans, lanterns, screens, bamboo tables and chairs, Japanese fern balls, with tiny Japanese flags and fans stuck in here and there, red, or red and white Japanese lilies, ferns combined with red and yellow ribbons, etc.; or the walls of the rooms may be entirely covered with branches of trees profusely decorated with cherry blossoms made of pink paper, representing the beautiful gardens of Tokio. Burning Japanese incense will add to the effectiveness. The playing cards used should be lacquered designs in red and yellow—Starlight, Sunlight, Storm, Japanese Lady (Congress brand), and Japanese Garden, Japanese Scenery, and Sunset (Lenox brand). For the signals a Japanese gong should be used in place of a bell. The favors may be Japanese fans, toys and novelties. For keeping score, Japanese paper fans may be had in pairs (for finding partners), and punched with a conductor's punch for games won. Or Japanese dolls may be used, punching their paper kimonos. For prizes, select Japanese incense burners, vases, cloisonné, tablewares, white metal and bronze novelties, lacquer goods, handsome fans, or embroidered kimonos.

The refreshments may be served from a buffet—the guests seated Japanese fashion on floor cushions—and may include rice cakes; tea punch; tea as a beverage; "Japanese" salad, made of all kinds of vegetables, served in inverted Japanese umbrellas; cherry sherbet; Japanese nuts, etc.

JAPANESE SOCIABLE

The invitations to a Japanese sociable should be written as the natives write, up and down, instead of across, and have a cherry blossom or a Japanese lady in water-colors in one corner of each.

The guests should be informed beforehand that each one is to tell something or read something about Japan, any little item of interest that may have been heard or read, a pretty poem or a little story. The hostess and whoever assists her in receiving should wear kimonos and have tiny fans in their hair.

Seats in a Japanese corner may easily be arranged of boxes with portières thrown over them. Numerous cushions may be piled on these improvised couches and on the floor. A Japanese parasol may be hung in the corner, tilting forward to form a canopy, and the walls be hung with bead curtains. The odor from burning joss sticks will contribute to the realness of the affair. Japanese lanterns should hang about the room.

After the stories have been told tiny bits of paper and pencils may be passed and each one present should write down the name of the one who did best according to her opinion. A Japanese cup and saucer are presented to the one who receives the most votes.

A pretty decorative idea for a Japanese sociable is to cover entirely the walls of the room with branches of trees, with cherry blossoms made of pink paper—their color in Japan—scattered profusely over them, the scene representing the beautiful gardens of Tokio. If musicians are to be present they may be screened by a lattice covered with gold paper, and vines intertwined, while tiny incandescent lights shine through. Souvenirs may be distributed from a jinrikisha covered with the cherry blossoms.

The dining-room may be readily transformed into Oriental style with very little trouble. In place of the usual tea-table have several tabourettes, each holding a teapot, cups and saucers, lemon and sugar wafers, and Japanese napkins. A cushion made of matting should be placed on the floor before each tabourette. Those who serve should be in Japanese costume. Paper cherry blossoms, fastened to tree branches, and lanterns would make effective decorations.

If it is desired to have a more elaborate menu, it may be served on Japanese plates, and should consist of sandwiches folded in Japanese napkins, vegetable salad, and rice in some form. For dessert serve sherbet, calling it "cherry blossom ice," and with it have wafers. Tea and Japanese nuts may be served last to complete the Japanese idea.

LITERARY CONTEST

Have small tables numbered and arranged to seat four or six persons. Select for each table a judge, who will distribute the cards and blanks. These judges hold the keys to the contests, so that they may be able to mark the players correctly.

Give each player a card attached to a piece of baby ribbon that may be fastened in the buttonhole. Upon these cards the number of points gained may be written, punched with a ticket punch, or marked with fancy wafers of different colors. The cards must be numbered to correspond with the tables, and as many number one cards provided as there are players at table number one, and so on.

When the players are seated at the tables which correspond in number with the number upon their cards, let the judges distribute blank paper and pencils, also copies of the questions comprised in the several contests, among the players at their respective tables.

A different contest must be prepared for each one of the tables.

When everything is ready the hostess of the evening should tap a bell for "silence," and announce that ten minutes will be given for each contest; that at the first tap of the bell all must begin to write their answers out, numbering them according to the numbers on the questions; at the second tap the judges are to collect the answers at their respective tables and mark on each player's card the number of points made. The system of marking is as follows: Each player is given as many marks as he has answered questions correctly, and the totals are summed up at the end of the game.

During the progress of the game there must be no talking nor any questions asked. At the third tap of the bell the players at table number one go to table number two, and so on, those at the last table moving up to table number one. This progression continues until all the players have had their opportunity to answer all the questions in the contests. At each change blank paper is distributed, and a bell rung as in the first instance. When the round has been completed the points are counted and the prizes awarded. A popular book makes an excellent first prize; a box of candy in the shape of a book, a second; and a "Primer," a third.

The following are the various contests:

Contest No. 1

• The charming heroine, my friends,
• Was known as —— ("Alice of Old Vincennes").
• She lived when Indians were a power,
• And not —— ("When Knighthood was in Flower").
• And in those past times, quaint and olden,
• She fell in love with —— ("Eben Holden").
• Then, while her friends began to marvel
• A rival came, named —— ("Richard Carvel").
• Each rival his keen sword did draw,
• And heeded not —— ("The Reign of Law").
• They slew each other, alas! and then
• She married a man named —— ("Crittenden").
• The merry bells rang loud in the steeple
• And loudly cheered —— ("The Voice of the People").
• The two rode away on a double bike
• And lived in —— ("Stringtown on the Pike").
• They did not gossip with each neighbor,
• But each one did —— ("The Portion of Labor").

Contest No. 2

Write out the following quotations correctly:

1. Beauty is always a thing of joy.
2. Let us therefore get up and go to work.
3. The man who steals my pocketbook gets very little.
4. Every one who knows you, loves you.
5. Do pretty and you'll be pretty.
6. God keeps the shorn lamb from the wind.

KEY

1. A thing of beauty is a joy forever.
2. Let us then be up and doing.
3. Who steals my purse steals trash.
4. None knew thee but to love thee.
5. Handsome is that handsome does.
6. God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb.

Contest No. 3

Heroes and heroines—in what books do they figure?

Contest No. 4

Fill blank spaces with titles of popular novels

In the little village of S—— o— t— P——, F—— f— t—— M—— C——, lived the H——. P—— S——. With him resided his lovely ward, J—— M——. She was A—— O—— F—— G——, and knew little of T—— W——, W—— W——. She had, however, A P—— o—— B—— E—— and G—— E——. Among her admirers were R—— C——, J—— H——, and T—— L—— M——.

KEY

In the little village of "Stringtown on the Pike," "Far from the Madding Crowd," lived the "Hon. Peter Sterling." With him resided his lovely ward, "Janice Meredith." She was "An Old-Fashioned Girl," and knew little of "The Wide, Wide World." She had, however, "A Pair of Blue Eyes" and "Great Expectations." Among her admirers were "Richard Carvel," "John Halifax," and "The Little Minister."

Contest No. 5

Synonyms for names of literary men

Contest No. 6

The answers to these questions are the names of authors

Contest No. 7

Give the name of—

Again, the hostess may prepare a certain number of blank cards, with the heading on each one "Who and What?" On a second lot of cards she can have pasted the pictures of some noted writers—Thackeray, Dickens, Scott, Dumas, Balzac, Tolstoi, Browning, George Eliot, Carlyle, Longfellow, Cooper, Emerson, Bryant, Holmes. The pictures of more recent writers will answer her purpose just as well. These pictures can be obtained from illustrated catalogues of books. Of these cards there should be as many as there are guests if the company be a small one, or as many cards as the hostess may desire; a dozen is a very good number.

Supply each guest with one of the blank cards and a pencil and then start into circulation the cards on which are pasted the pictures of the authors. Let the guests pass the cards from one to another, and write down, according to the number on the picture-card, and opposite the corresponding number on their own, the name of each author and some book he has written. This will be found a more difficult task than one imagines, and numerous guesses will doubtless go wide of the mark. The one whose card is filled out correctly, or the nearest to it, may be presented with a copy of some late popular book, and a toy book might be used as a booby prize.

LITERARY EVENING

In the note of invitation each one should be requested to wear something suggestive of a book title.

Upon arrival, each guest should be furnished with a card bearing the names of the entire company. When one fancies he has discovered a title, he should say nothing about it, but write the title opposite the name of the impersonator. When as much time has been given to this part of the program as has been thought desirable, the hostess calls the company to order and reads aloud a correct list of names and titles, and each corrects his card accordingly; or, still better, let the cards be exchanged, so that each must correct that of his neighbor, which will relieve the victor of the necessity of announcing his own success.

The guests may represent their titles in as inexpensive or as elaborate a way as they choose. She who represents "Rose in Bloom" need only wear a full-blown rose. "Sentimental Tommy" wears a Scotch cap bearing the words "From Thrums" on the front, and, when talking, finds many opportunities of informing his questioners, "I'll find a w'y!" "The Hidden Hand" may be represented by a gentleman who carries his hand in a sling concealed from view. "A Penniless Girl" is easily represented by a girl carrying an empty purse open and suspended at her belt. "The Woman in White," "Little Red Riding Hood," and "The Scarlet Letter" are all easily represented. Three small white wings tied together with a ribbon represents very well "White Wings" by William Black.

It is not desirable that the costume speak too plainly of the title selected, for the guests are expected to question one another regarding their peculiarities, and so they must be well informed as to the books they represent.

An appropriate menu for a literary evening follows:

Menu

LITERARY PEOPLE

Write the questions on red cards and the answers on white. Have each question and answer numbered in succession. Let the gentlemen select the red and the ladies the white cards, and when the gentlemen read the questions, let the ladies read the answers. This is also a good way to match partners for refreshments.

1. What flower did Alice Cary?
   Pansy.
2. What did Eugene Fitch Ware?
   John Godfrey Saxe.
3. What does Anthony Hope?
   To Marietta Holley.
4. What happens when John Kendrick Bangs?
   Samuel Smiles.
5. Why did Helen Hunt Jackson?
   Because she wanted him to Dr. O. W. Holmes.
6. What did Charles Dudley Warner?
   Not to go into a boat and let E. P. Roe.
7. Why was Rider Haggard?
   Because he let Rose Terry Cooke.
8. Why is Sarah Grand?
   To make Ik Marvel.
9. Why is George Canning?
   To teach Julia Ward Howe.
10. What ailed Harriet Beecher Stowe?
    Bunyan.
11. What is it William Macy?
    How Thomas Knox.
12. When did Mary Mapes Dodge?
    When George W. Cutter.
13. What will turn John Locke?
    Francis S. Key.
14. When is Marian Evans Cross?
    When William Dean Howells.
15. When did Thomas Buchanan Read?
    Just after Winthrop Mackworth Praed.
16. What did Julia McNair Wright?
    Judge Joseph Story.
17. What did Eugene J. Hall?
    Charles Carleton Coffin.
18. What is James Warden Owen?
    What ten pounds of Hezekiah Butterworth.
19. Where did Henry Cabot Lodge?
    In Mungo Park, on Thomas Hill.
20. How long will Samuel Lover?
    Until Justin Windsor.
21. What gives John Howard Payne?
    When Robert Burns Augustus Hare.

MEASURING PARTY

The giving of such a party is a pleasing way of raising money for some charitable object.

The invitations should read somewhat like the following:

Below, this verse should be printed:

With each invitation should be sent a tiny bag made of a bit of silk or ribbon. On the night of the entertainment, these bags with the money that has been placed in them are brought by the guests and deposited in a large bowl at the door. The party then proceeds in the usual manner. Care should be taken to carry out the program suggested in the last two lines of the above verse. Much amusement may be created by having some one appointed to take various measurements of the guests attending, such as the length of the nose, size of the head, size of the hand, etc.

MEDICAL SOCIABLE

Procure the small glass vials used by homœopathic physicians. On the outside of each one paste a narrow slip, on which is written the name of some trouble for which the Bible offers a remedy. On another slip write the Bible verse which gives the cure. Roll it up, and run a thread through it which is fastened to the cork. Here are some suggestions: Discouragement, Ps. 42: 5; Sadness, Ps. 16: 11; Pain, Rev. 21: 4; Doubt, Despair, Anger, Impatience, Laziness, Unruly tongue, Loneliness, Sleeplessness, Weakness, Pride, Bitterness, Covetousness. The corresponding Bible references will easily be found by using a concordance. Have one corner of the room arranged for a drug-store. Each person will receive from the "store" one bottle and the cork belonging to a different bottle. He must hunt till he has discovered the "medicine" (cork and paper) belonging to his own bottle, and has delivered the cork he holds to the proper bottle. Have papers read on the care of the body and the care of the soul, and also Bible-readings on miracles of healing. Later have some one, who has looked up the subject beforehand, read a list of some of the most interesting Scripture references to various parts of the body. These can readily be hunted out with the help of a concordance. Some of the Old Testament references will be found to be very quaint indeed. Decorate the room with mottoes, such as: "Is there no balm in Israel, is there no physician there?"

MEDICAL TRUNK

"In my wonderful trunk I have two very tall tropical trees (palms); something used by an artist (palette [palate]); weapons of war (arms); many wild animals, and two domestic ones (hares [hairs], calves); something worn by a king (crown); a bright garden flower (tulips [two lips]); a musical instrument (drum); two fish and many shell fish (soles, muscles); branches of trees (limbs); a student (pupil); something used in ship-building (ribs); whips without handles (lashes). a product of a spruce-tree (gum); something used by carpenters (nails); a part of a clock (hands); a large wooden box (chest); part of a wagon (tongue); something grown on a cornstalk (ears); a part of a shoe (heel); ten Spanish gentlemen (ten dons [tendons]); part of a nail (head); weather cocks (vanes [veins]); two kitchen utensils (pans [knee]); part of a knife (blade [shoulder]); edge of a saw (teeth); terms used in voting (ayes and noes [eyes and nose]); covering of an apple (skin); a certain measure (feet); something seen in accidents (blood); a part of a house (roof [of the mouth]); covers to pails (lids); something used in upholstering (tow [toe]); part of a stove-pipe (elbow); a part of a table (legs); something served with ice cream (lady fingers); a kind of deer (hart [heart]); part of a river (mouth); something used by negro minstrels (bones); best part of a goose (back); part of a ship (side); a narrow strip of land (neck); hotel steps (inn steps [insteps])."

MILITARY SOCIABLE

This is a form of entertainment suitable for Independence Day. "Military Checkers," played at small tables, may furnish appropriate amusement.

Each table is named for some fort: "Fort Ticonderoga," "Fort Duquesne," etc. Though the players "progress" from one table to another, all their honors are counted as belonging to the fort of their first allegiance, to which table they return each time they win.

The prizes may be in any form suggestive of Independence Day. An enameled pencil in the shape of a firecracker, or flag-shaped cuff-links, would do for the man's prize, and a cracker-jar for the lady's prize.

The piazza should be strung with colored lanterns, which can be lighted when the guests are in the dining-room at supper. The dining-room may be simply decorated with red roses and vines, and the dining-room table in the same way, a big blue-and-white bowl in the centre of the table holding the roses. These roses should be bright red in color. Small flags serve as doilies, and the china used should be blue-and-white. The candlesticks upon the table hold white candles; the shades should be red, and streamers of blue ribbons are tied about the base of the candles, falling with graceful effect over the brightly polished candlesticks. The bonbons are placed upon the table in two small raffia baskets. Each bonbon is tied about with a band of baby-ribbon.

When the supper is nearly over the baskets of bonbons are passed, one to the men and the other to the ladies. Each guest takes one candy, and it is found that no two in one basket have the same colored ribbon. Each confection in the men's basket, however, has a mate in the ladies' basket, and in this way partners are found for the old-time Virginia reel, which is danced on the piazza. As a jolly ending to the fun the men of the party set off some fireworks.

MORNING GLORY FAIR

At a recent church fair the flower-booth attracted special notice. It was decorated with morning glories made of crepe paper, in different colors. The flowers were profusely twined among the spruce boughs that formed the top of the booth, and were extremely effective and very natural. The flower-girls wore large hats with morning glory trimming, and were in light summer dresses. All the other tables were similarly decorated, and those in charge wore morning glories in profusion, twined in the hair and falling in graceful festoons from skirt and bodice. Morning glory tea was served from a small table, over which stood a large Japanese umbrella covered with the flowers; the cups carried out the color scheme of the flowers. Each person purchasing a cup of tea was presented with a flower as a souvenir of the occasion.

MOTHER GOOSE GAME

During the evening a slip of paper is handed to each guest with the name of one of the Mother Goose characters upon it. The hostess retains a list of these, and calls each in turn to repeat within the space of one minute the familiar verse relative to this character. Failing to do this a forfeit must be paid. The one who is most prompt in responding correctly may receive as a prize a goose-quill pen; and the one who fails, a copy of "Mother Goose." Just before refreshments are served the "Goose Drill" may be participated in to the time of a march, and the couples proceed to the refreshment room, where they are served with the following:

The numbered list of refreshments should be printed upon small cards, which may be retained as souvenirs of the occasion. The guests order what they choose. The key is retained by the hostess.

MUSICAL CARD PARTY

A good color scheme for this affair is brown and yellow. Invitations may be in the form of a scroll, engraved with a selection from some favorite opera, or may represent the "G" clef in brown and yellow water colors. For decorations use yellow flowers, yellow shaded lights and yellow and brown hangings. Tally cards may be painted to represent different musical instruments, such as violins, guitars, mandolins, etc.; or miniature tambourines and banjos may be used for scoring, hung by long loops of ribbon over the shoulders, and becoming before the close of the evening gayly decked with ribbons—yellow for the winners and brown for the losers. Musical quotations in halves may designate partners. For prizes, musical pictures in brown coloring, burnt wood plaques of famous musicians, a Flemish musical stein in brown and yellow, a brown leather music roll tied for the occasion with yellow streamers, musical novels, an upright piano candy box with the key board movable to show the candy inside, etc., may be used. Toy music boxes and grotesque musical instruments make amusing booby prizes. A triangle, like those for orchestral playing, may indicate progressions, instead of a bell.

For a brown and yellow menu:

MUSICAL EVENING

The invitations should be sent in small imitation music rolls, and headed with a line of appropriate music. As each guest enters he receives a long, narrow strip of pasteboard, bearing a portion of some familiar song, both words and music. Each card bears a number, and the eight whose cards are numbered alike are instructed to get together and practice to sing a verse formed by the union of their eight cards. A bell calls them to order, judges are appointed, and each group sings its song, a pianist accompanying them. While the judges are preparing their verdict, a short musical program may be rendered. A bouquet of flowers may be presented to the group whose musical effort is considered the best. The bouquet may consist of eight small buttonhole bouquets, one for each member of the group. Make a list, numbering from one to twenty, of tunes that are perfectly familiar to every one. "Yankee Doodle," "America," "Annie Rooney," or any of the later popular songs, are some of the airs that are known everywhere. Number as many cards as there are guests, with twenty numbers on consecutive lines. These, with pencils, are distributed to the people as they arrive. An accomplished pianist then plays snatches of each tune, in the order that the list calls for. Just enough of the piece is played to let the melody be indicated. Each person, as the air is played, puts down against the number on the card what he thinks the tune is. At the end the cards are collected, and prizes given to the most successful.

To match partners, write the notes of a bar or two of some well-known melody on the lady's card, and the balance on the gentleman's card.

MUSICAL GUESSING CONTEST

MUSICAL ROMANCE

The young hostess announced that a love story of the Civil War would be related in musical numbers, and to the one who should best interpret them a prize would be awarded. All were provided with cards and pencils and a young woman seated herself at the piano. The hostess then asked "What was the heroine called?" Whereupon the familiar notes of "Sweet Marie" were heard, and it began to be understood that the names of popular airs—given with much spirit by the pianist—would furnish the answers to the questions propounded, to be recorded upon the cards. The story progressed thus:

The music was a new feature, and the fact that the airs were so well known made it the more enjoyable. The advantage of the winner being so slight, the pleasure of success was the more general.

After supper the hostess said that if they were not tired of guessing she had another game to propose—a sort of fortune-telling game which would give each man present the name that his future wife should bear. It was for him to discover it. The first name was told to make the subject clear—which was that a chemist's wife should be named "Ann Eliza." Then they were told to guess the name of a civil engineer's wife (Bridget); a gambler's (Betty); a humorist's (Sally); a clergyman's (Marie); a shoemaker's (Peggy); a sexton's (Belle); a porter's (Carrie); a dancing-master's (Grace); a milliner's (Hattie); a gardener's (Flora); a judge's (Justine); a pugilist's (Mamie); a pianist's (Octavia); a life-saver's (Caroline); an upholsterer's (Sophy); an astronomer's (Stella); a doctor's (Patience); a fisherman's (Netty); a gasman's (Meta); a marksman's (Amy). Each man could judge, from his occupation, the name of his future wife.

MUSICAL TERMS ILLUSTRATED

Have some one play these songs:

"Star Spangled Banner," "Marching through Georgia," "Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean," "Battle Hymn of the Republic," "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp," "Hail Columbia," "Home, Sweet Home," "Yankee Doodle," "When Johnnie Comes Marching Home Again," "Auld Lang Syne," "America." No titles are announced, but the guests are asked to guess the names and write them in order upon slips of paper.

Following each piece of music some musical term is illustrated. These terms, with the means employed to illustrate them, are as follows: "time," some one hold up a small clock; "measure," a yardstick; "key," a door-key; "flats," two flatirons; "lines," a pair of nursery lines; "sharps," a carving set; "tie," a gentleman's tie; "bars," small clothes-bars; "staff," a cane; "a whole note," a dollar; "a half note," a half dollar; "a quarter note," a silver quarter.

MUSICIANS BURIED

1. There were verd isles and tender blue of summer skies.
2. Maud Muller raked the hay, deny it not, O Judge.
3. The bell in ivy tower rings knell of passing day.
4. I arrive, King, most gracious sovereign.
5. She still wears her old smile—the sweet, modest maiden.
6. The mother of Charlie Ross in idle dreams still clasps him.
7. We berate our neighbors soundly, but excuse ourselves.
8. How famous the cherub in ideal art.
9. There will be no confab to-night.
10. If he asks your hand, Eliza, do not say nay.
11. Be brief; lo, toward life's setting sun, man hastens.
12. You've dropped a beet—ho, vender, heigh.
13. The dog spies a cat, and it makes his tail wag nervously.
14. A beau, berrying, needs a basket and a sweetheart.
15. My chop I never eat with peas.
16. You have found an egg, lucky boy.
17. Liz still improves from day to day.
18. Whoever else leaves, the Co. stays in most firms.
19. Cattle enjoy herbal feeding grounds.
20. I do not care a sou, Sarah, whether you will, or not.

Key to Musicians Buried

1. Verdi.
2. Hayden.
3. Bellini.
4. Rive King.
5. Herold.
6. Rossini.
7. Weber.
8. Cherubini.
9. Abt.
10. Handel.
11. Flotow.
12. Beethoven.
13. Wagner.
14. Auber.
15. Chopin.
16. Gluck.
17. Lizst.
18. Costa.
19. Balfe.
20. Sousa.

Note:—The letters composing the names of the sought-for musicians come successively together but the name may begin and end in different words.

MYSTICAL DINNER MENU

MYSTICAL PARTY

All those who take part in this should arrive early and have everything in shape when the guests appear. First, each one should wrap a white sheet over her and wear a small white mask. Have all the lights turned low or have candles, and on the gas jets or candles have red paper shades to cast a red, gloomy light over everything. Have each one who takes part stand like a statue, and dispose these statues about the house in corners and in dark places. As the guests arrive have one of the white clothed figures meet them at the door, and without a word, motion them to take off their wraps, and then to enter the next room. If possible get some bones from a medical college and have skulls and cross bones all about the room. In one dark room should be skulls and pumpkins with faces cut in them and candles inside. Do not have any other light in this room. When the guests go into this room have some small pieces of ice wrapped in muslin presented to them to be felt of in the dark. All this time the statues should be quiet and remain so until all the company has arrived. Then seat all the statues at a large table with a small candle or a dish of burning alcohol in the centre and have each one tell a weird story. Have a witch in a dark room with a dish of burning alcohol and have the guests, one at a time, go in to have their fortunes told. Tricks of different kinds can be played upon the guests.

The program for the mysterious company consists of a number of contests in which eyesight gives place to the sense of touch.

First of all the hostess produces a book printed in the raised lettering for the blind and suggests that each guest read ten lines from it. This is no easy matter. To the contestant reading the ten lines correctly in the shortest time a prize is awarded.

For the second trial of skill the guests may gather around a circular table. Beneath the table place a covered box or basket containing the most variously assorted small articles that it is possible to secure upon the spur of the moment, the more unexpected the better. No player must see the articles placed in the basket. When all is in readiness the objects are taken from the basket and passed rapidly from hand to hand below the table, ending in the hands of the hostess, and by her are placed in an empty bag provided for the purpose.

Distribute pencils and ask the guests to write down as many of the objects passed under the table as they can remember. A prize should be provided for the person who hands in the fullest list of the objects.

Next blindfold each guest in turn and place in his hands, one at a time, various objects, the names of which are to be guessed aloud. If curious and unfamiliar objects are selected, this will prove very amusing.

NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY

This is a favorite occasion for a party among young people. It should be a small party, not over twenty-four guests, and it will be the more enjoyable if informal and among those who are well acquainted with each other.

There are as varied entertainments for such parties as for those at other seasons. A pretty idea is to confine the list to twelve young gentlemen and twelve young ladies. The hostess requests each couple to dress so as to represent a particular month, which she assigns them.

Duck trousers, cotton neckties, and white vests are as distinctive of summer for the young men, as shirt-waists, duck skirts, and lawn are for young women, but it will take some ingenuity to devise an effect that will mark a particular month.

The guests should not assemble until nine o'clock. There should be a large clock conspicuously placed in the room, and if possible an open fireplace, with a bright fire on the hearth.

The first part of the time should be taken up in guessing the months, the company gathering before the open fire in a circle. As fast as one month is decided upon, the one who impersonates it rises, makes his or her bow to the company, and recites at least four original lines pertaining to that month. The more ridiculous or witty they are, the better they will be appreciated.

After this comes the supper, which may be as elaborate or as simple as desired, and then a promiscuous mixing of the months will cause some merriment.

Just as the clock is striking twelve, there is a knock at the door. Upon opening it, there is revealed a young man dressed as a baby, in a long white dress tied about with a sash on which is printed January 1, 19—. If properly planned, the appearance of this New Year baby will cause shouts of merriment.

Hand shakings and New Year's greetings follow, and the party is over.

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

This game is played by providing each guest a paper and pencil, and having ten letters of the alphabet read to the company. These are to be copied, the guests are told to write a New Year's resolution of ten words, each beginning with one of the letters used, in the order in which they are given out. These importuned resolutions, when read, will afford much amusement.

NEW YEAR'S SOCIABLE

As the guests come in, each one is requested to sign his name in a note-book, and to write underneath it a New Year's resolution. An entire page should be allowed for each one, so that no one may know what his neighbor has written. Each guest should be given a card inscribed with an appropriate quotation, such as "Time and tide wait for no man." These cards are numbered. These are passed around among the company, with the explanation that each guest is to amuse the company for the length of time it takes for the sand to run in a minute glass from one end to the other (have a minute glass in room), using for the purpose of entertainment some thought suggested by the quotation on his card. One can recite a poem, another tell a story, another sing a song, and so on until every one has done his share for the amusement of the others, following in order according to the numbers on the cards. After each one has done his part the hostess announces that she will now do hers and proceeds to read each resolution that has been written in the book. The names of the writers being given, it will cause much merriment. Nut shells set sailing two by two in a basin of water may be named, one for a man, the other for a girl. If they keep together, it is an indication that the pair will be married before the year dies, but if they separate, the fate of the twain is sealed for one year.

NINETEENTH CENTURY GAME

In this game of guess the contestants are told that each question can be replied to with the name of a celebrity who has lived in, or whose life has extended into, the nineteenth century. Each guest is given a little tablet with his name written on every one of the pages. Two minutes are allowed to each question. The questioner sits with a big bowl before her, into which, when she calls time, each player drops a slip upon which he has written his answer. This is the list that the questioner reads, omitting, of course, the answers:

• Why did England so often lose her way in South Africa? (Mr. Rhodes)
• What did the Emperor of China do when the Empress usurped the throne? (Custer)
• What did Isaac watch while his father was forging a chain? (Abraham Lincoln)
• What is Li Hung Chang credited with being? (Schley)
• The lane that has no turning is a what? (Longstreet)
• What does a Chinese lover say when he proposes? (Dewey)
• What does Aguinaldo keep between himself and the Americans? (Miles)
• What happens when the wind blows in spiders' houses? (Webster)
• What did Buller unfortunately do? (Bragg)
• What do the waves do to a vessel wrecked near shore? (Beecher)
• What does a ship do to a seasick man? (Rockefeller)
• What did Uncle Sam do when he wanted to know whether England would let him mediate? (Astor)
• What is the chair-boy likely to do to the old lady he has to push on a hot day? (Wheeler)
• What is a novel military name for a cook? (Kitchener)
• What do you do when you drive a slow horse? (Polk)
• When do you get up to see a sunrise? (Early)
• When Max O'Rell gets on a platform what does he do? (Speaker Reed)
• What does a waiter do after he has filled half of the glasses at a table? (Fillmore)
• In the settlement of disputes, do the European nations quarrel? (General Lee)
• The towns taken by the British generally lacked the what? (Garrison)
• What did the Jews say when the mother of Samuel passed? (Mark Hanna)
• In Cairo purchases are made at a what? (Booth)

NOSE AND GOGGLE PARTY

To fun-loving people who enjoy the grotesque, great sport will be found in giving a Nose and Goggle Party. Here two objects will be gained: merriment and disguise.

As the guests arrive, disguised as explained below, each is given a card, perforated, with ribbon run through, in order to wear the card around the neck, so that everybody can see it.

The cards must have, on one side, a number by which each guest is known; on the other side, a list of figures, 1, 2, 3, etc. (as many figures as there are guests), leaving space opposite each figure for a name. In social conversation each guest is to guess who his or her entertainer is. With intimate friends, this may be done readily by familiarity with the voice; but in most cases the identification will not be easy.

Each guest wears a false nose and goggles. The nose may be purchased, or made by clever fingers, of heavy cardboard covered with chamois.

The noses and goggles must not be removed till after refreshments, which may be simple or elaborate as the hostess may wish. As you make your guess, place the name opposite the number on your card corresponding to the number of the person with whom you are talking; for instance, if you think you know No. 4, turn your card and write the name opposite No. 4, etc.

NOTED PEOPLE

Cut out pictures of noted men and women from newspapers and magazines, paste on white paper, and number each one. Provide each guest with paper and pencil, having the paper contain a list of numbers corresponding to those on the pictures. The guests are then requested to write opposite the correct number the name of the person whom each picture represents. A good idea is to have pictures pinned upon the wall, curtains, and in every convenient place about the rooms, as the guests will then be obliged to move about, and there will be no danger of wallflowers. After each one has been given plenty of time for guessing, the correct list can be read aloud by one person, each guest passing his paper to his neighbor for correction. A prize may be given to the one who has the most correct answers. In connection with this, the game of noted people can be played. Have small slips of paper with the names of noted people written upon them, and pin one of these on back of each guest; he is to guess whom he represents by means of questions put to him by other guests. This is great fun, and causes much merriment among the young people. As soon as a player guesses whom he represents a new slip can be put on his back. A prize may be given the one who guesses the most names.

NUT CONUNDRUMS

Before the guests arrive hide nuts all over the rooms in every nook and corner. At a given signal have the guests search for them and the one finding the most can be given a small prize.

Take English walnuts, split and take out the kernel; write quotations on small slips of paper, cut in half, put one-half paper in one nut shell, the other half in another shell, gluing each shell together. During the evening give one set of half quotations to the girls, the other set to the boys and then have them hunt for their partners; when found, each pair have refreshments together. Have the following nut conundrums guessed, after which serve all kinds of mixed nuts.

Conundrums

1. What nut grows nearest the sea? (Beechnut)
2. What nut grows the lowest? (Groundnut)
3. What nut is the color of a pretty girl's eyes? (Hazelnut)
4. What nut is good for naughty boys? (Hickory)
5. What nut is like an oft told tale? (Chestnut)
6. What nut grows on the Amazon? (Brazil nut)
7. What nut is like a naughty boy when sister has a beau? (Pecan)
8. What nut is like a Chinaman's eyes? (Almond)
9. What is the favorite nut in Ohio? (Buckeye)
10. What nut is like a good Jersey cow? (Butternut)
11. What is the mason's favorite nut? (Walnut)
12. What nut cannot the farmer go to town without? (Wagon nut)

NUT PARTY

Invitations may be slipped inside peanut or English walnut shells, glued together, and sent in a small box. The shops are showing big English walnuts, Parisian almonds and Spanish peanuts, filled with confections in imitation of the genuine nut meats, which make attractive prizes or favors. A novelty in silver represents an English walnut (exact size), "All in a nutshell," which contains powder, puff, mirror, miniature scent bottle, and pincushion; a silver peanut contains a "magic" pencil or small vinaigrette; thimble cases, bangles, tape measures, etc., come in nut designs; a small lace-trimmed handkerchief may be folded and slipped inside an English walnut shell. The diminutiveness of the prizes is emphasized if they are wrapped in a series of boxes, each one larger than the next. For finding partners, English walnuts painted and dressed in crimped tissue paper to represent different nationalities may be used, a lady and gentleman being given the same nationality. The menu served may be made up of nuts: chicken and nut salad, peanut sandwiches, salted nuts, nut candies, bisque of almonds, pecan cake, walnut wafers, coffee.

OBSERVATION PARTY

Place these objects tastefully on the dining-room table, each guest on entering the room being furnished with a catalogue of the subjects, supposed to be different paintings, made out so that blank spaces will be left to the right for the answers. From fifteen to twenty minutes are allowed to guess and write down the answers as fast as they are discovered. Comparing notes is hardly fair. At the end of the stated time the guests leave the room. Some one then calls out the correct answers, and the persons whose lists are the nearest correct, receive the first, second, third, and fourth prizes, the number of prizes varying according to the number of guests present. A booby prize for the one who was the least successful adds to the fun.

Below is given the list of forty subjects, and also the answers. From the latter you will know what objects to collect and place upon the table. It is better not to arrange them in exact order.

OLD-FASHIONED DINNER

OLD-TIME COUNTRY SCHOOL

(Can be used as a play.)

The coming of school-days, usually so much dreaded by young folks, was hailed with much delight by recipients of the above notice. On the appointed evening not only were there present the members of the society, but each one, heeding the injunction regarding the highways and byways, brought with him a friend. As the teacher had also found an extra pupil, there were just twenty-four in the party. The boys wore knee-trousers and the girls short skirts and pinafores, with their hair hanging down their backs in long braids or curls. All brought with them their dinners, packed in tin pails, in imitation of their country cousins.

The schoolhouse was a large new barn, the schoolroom being up-stairs in the hay-loft. Here were arranged two rows of benches, one for the girls and one for the boys; blackboards hung on the walls, and there was a plain wooden table in front for the teacher's desk. Standing behind this, the schoolmaster, birch rod in hand, and looking very wise in a pair of huge spectacles, received his pupils and registered their names in a large book before him. Among those enrolled were Alvira Sophronia Simmons, Malvina Jane Leggett, Serena Ann Wilkins, Patience Charity Gray, Nathan Bartholomew Brown, Ichabod Thompson and Abijah Larkins.

Each pupil before being assigned a seat was interrogated by the teacher somewhat as follows: In what state and country were you born? Do you know your letters? How far can you count? Who was the first man? Who built the ark? And so on until the teacher had acquainted himself with the limits of his pupils' ignorance.

When all were seated Teacher Wiseacres announced that school would open with singing. The pupils were thereupon thoroughly drilled in the scales and other exercises, the master severely reprimanding any who sang out of tune. The lesson concluded with songs usually sung at the club gatherings, after which a knot of blue ribbon was given the one who had sung best, and a red bow to the pupil considered second best.

During the course of this lesson, and also of those that followed, there were frequent interruptions caused by the refractory behavior of some of the pupils. Serena Ann Wilkins was caught eating an apple, and was made to stand up in front with a book on her head. Malvina Jane Leggett had to stand in the corner facing the wall for giggling; while, direst disgrace of all, Abijah Larkins was obliged to sit on the girls' side for drawing a caricature of the master on the blackboard.

After the singing-lesson small wooden slates (the old-fashioned kind bound in red cloth) were passed around and the following exercise in orthography given out: "It is an agreeable sight to witness the unparalleled embarrassment of a harassed peddler attempting to gauge the symmetry of a peeled onion which a sibyl has stabbed with a poniard." This task was accomplished with much puckering of eyebrows, and no one, it may be said, succeeded in writing all the words correctly.

The next lesson announced was reading, for which primers were distributed. These were small books with brown-paper covers, the lessons being tongue-twisters, beginning with such familiar ones as "She sells sea-shells," "Peter Piper," etc., and ending with this one of more recent date, taken from the Youth's Companion:

The class stood up in front and were made to toe the line drawn in chalk on the floor. The pupil at the head was called upon first, and read until a mistake sent him to the foot, when the one next to him took his place. The master not only continually urged his pupils to greater speed, but at the same time kept a sharp lookout, and gave many words of warning to any whose feet were out of order; and the frantic efforts of the pupils to obey instructions made the lesson one of the most laughable contests of the evening. It was continued until recess, the hour for refreshments.

The dinner-pails had been given for safekeeping into the hands of the teacher. Now, when they were returned, it was discovered that the boys had received those belonging to the girls and the girls those of the boys. There was a happy correspondence in this exchange; Ichabod Thompson receiving the pail of Patience Charity Gray and she receiving his, and so on. The pupils thus paired off were to share their dinners with each other. The master, who also brought his dinner, reserved for himself the pail of the girl pupil supposed to be his favorite.

There was great fun and laughter over the opening of the pails, for the aim had been not so much to bring a dainty luncheon as one that should be typical of the old-time district school. The following may be taken as a sample of the contents of one of the buckets: Bread and butter, doughnuts, apple turnover, spice-cake, cheese and one very large cucumber pickle. Apples were contributed by the teacher. Dinner over, the remainder of recess was spent in playing games. Skipping the rope was one of the pastimes, and hop-scotch, tag, and hide-and-go-seek were others.

School was resumed with a geography lesson, really a game played as follows: The teacher requested one of the pupils to give a geographical name, that of a country, city, river, etc. Others were then called upon at random to give names, each of which had to begin with the last letter of the one preceding it. Thus, if the first name given were Egypt, the next one must begin with the letter T, as Texas, while the one following this would begin with S, as St. Louis. Any one who failed to respond in the time allowed—half a minute—was dropped out of the class and the question passed on. The lesson was continued until there was but one left, who received the usual decoration.

The session closed with an old-fashioned spell-down, but before the class was dismissed the wearers of the ribbons were presented with prizes, these being small, daintily bound books. The others, that all might have a suitable reminder of the occasion, received book-shaped boxes of candy. This done, the bell was rung and school was closed.

This school party can be played in hall or church.

OLD-TIME SPELLING BEE

The fact that a spelling bee is to form a part of the evening's entertainment need not be indicated upon the invitation, it being a part of the fun to catch people unawares.

After the arrival of the guests the choice of a "teacher" and two leaders is effected by ballot. The two leaders then stand out at the end of the room opposite each other, and each chooses alternately one of the company at a time, to represent his side, until all have been chosen and stand in their places in two lines.

The teacher, who is supplied with a book, then gives out a word to the person at the end of the line to her right. If the word is correctly spelled the next word is given out to the person at the end of the opposite side at her left. If this person fails to spell this word correctly she must immediately leave the line, and the same word is put to number two on the opposite side. If the word is correctly spelled she is privileged to choose one person from the opposite line to step over to the foot of her own line. Another word is then given to the opposite opponent, and so on down the lines. It often happens that two equally proficient spellers are pitted against each other for some time, when the contest becomes very exciting.

Limit the Time of the Best Speller

It is a good plan, lest the contest become wearisome, to limit the time for the last participant. If at the end of six minutes the winner has not failed on any word given, he or she becomes director of the revels that follow, and must be implicitly obeyed for the rest of the evening. The first duty is to announce a "recess," and having been previously instructed he or she leads the way to an adjoining room, where upon a table is a pile of boxes of various shapes and kinds, neatly tied, which are distributed among the young women. After which it is announced that each box contains a small school luncheon, and that a young man accompanies each. She then proceeds to distribute the young men as she has the boxes. Each young woman then shares her luncheon with her partner. Should the box contain an apple, a sandwich and a cake these must be halved.

After "recess" follow games, or music, or recitations, as the winner of the contest wills.

ORANGE PARTY

To emphasize the color scheme, the young hostess wore a becoming empire gown of orange-colored silk, and on her left shoulder was fastened a large rosette of orange-colored chiffon. Each guest, upon arriving, was presented with a similar rosette to wear as a compliment to the occasion.

The dining-room was decorated with potted plants. Although it was an afternoon party, the blinds were drawn and the room lighted artificially. The electric lights were muffled in orange-colored cheese cloth, and produced a very charming effect.

Over the centre of the table was spread a large square of orange satin overlaid with a Battenberg lunch cloth. On this stood the birthday cake, which had been baked in a fluted mold, then covered thickly with yellow icing, and was a very clever imitation of the luscious fruit it was intended to represent. The cake was surrounded by twelve small brass candlesticks, in which burned orange-colored tapers. At each end of the table was a smaller Battenberg square over satin. On each of these, resting in a bed of green leaves, was an orange of abnormal size, fashioned of papier-mâché, made in two sections, though so exactly united that the orange seemed intact. In these were the favors—small yellow bonbon boxes filled with orange conserves and tied with baby ribbon. Small glass dishes, standing on yellow tissue paper doilies that were fringed on the edges, and filled with orange puffs, orange kisses and other home-made sweets, were placed here and there on the table, and gave it a very festive air.

The refreshments proper consisted of:

The birthday cake was cut by the hostess, and each maiden served to a slice. In the cake had been baked an orange seed. She who was so fortunate as to find this seed in her slice was presented with an orange spoon on which was graven the hostess's monogram, the date and year.

Before leaving the table each guest was shown a small glass filled with orange seeds, and was allowed one guess as to the number it contained. The lucky guesser received a papier-mâché jewel box fashioned to represent an orange. The "booby" prize was the tiniest orange to be found in the market.

ORANGE SOCIABLE

In planning for an Orange Sociable use plenty of orange colored paper, and make the decorations very attractive. Make orange colored shades for gas or lamp globes, use orange colored paper napkins, make orange butterflies, and let those who serve on committee wear orange paper caps and orange colored ties. If possible use orange crepe paper for doilies and mats. Refreshments should consist of oranges, wafers tied with orange ribbon, and orangeade.

For entertainment the old nursery rhymes should be used. Have slips of paper containing one line each of a rhyme such as "There was an old woman who lived in a shoe." Pass these slips to the guests and have each hunt up the ones whose rhymes match that he holds. There will be four for each group, and they will then proceed to draw a picture of what their rhyme represents. A prize may be given the group drawing the best picture, consisting of four very small colored babies lying on a bed of cotton in an orange shell, the orange shell cut in half and tied with orange ribbon. As there will be four persons in the group, one baby can be given to each of the four.

PATRIOTIC PARTY

Drape the room for the occasion with red, white and blue bunting. Fill tall vases with red and white carnations and deep blue larkspur.

Decorate the room with banners, streamers, red, white, and blue lamp shades, large copies of the State seals, and the like.

Uncle Sam and Miss Columbia should stand in the centre of the room and receive the guests as they arrive. Members of the social committee, representing in some way Cuba, Porto Rico, the Philippines, and Hawaii, should act as ushers to present each newcomer to Uncle Sam and Miss Columbia.

Ask each guest to come bearing upon his garments somewhere a symbol that will hint at the name of one of the Presidents. For instance, the picture of a canoe out of which persons are tumbling may suggest "Tippecanoe" Harrison; a link of sausage or of a chain, strung on a string and hung from the neck, will hint at Lincoln. To indicate Washington a washing-board may be borne in front, while on the back is a piece of pasteboard painted to resemble a weight and marked "1 Ton." A "G. A. R." pin fastened to the picture of a meadow may represent Garfield.

Give to each guest as he arrives a list of all the guests invited, and let him bestir himself to meet everybody, so as to ascertain if possible the various presidents represented, whose names when discovered he writes opposite the proper names on the list given him. These lists will be handed to an examining board, and, later in the evening, the one whose list is most complete and accurate will be adorned with a laurel wreath placed upon his head by some comic orator. This laurel wreath may be made of green paper, if you lack the real article.

Questions about past ladies of the White House may also prove interesting and enjoyable. A few such follow, but many others may be formulated.

• What first lady of the land fled from Washington to escape the British? (Dolly Madison)
• What was Mrs. Lincoln's name before marriage? (Miss Mary Todd)
• Name three early Presidents who married widows? (Washington, Jefferson, and Madison)
• What early President married a New York girl? (Monroe)
• Whom did John Q. Adams marry? (Louisa K. Johnson, of Maryland)
• What President had a troubled love affair and marriage? (Jackson)
• What early President besides Washington married a widow called Martha? (Jefferson)

PEDDLERS' PARADE

One recently given by the young people of a church to raise funds for charity work was extremely well managed. Invitations were issued to members of the congregation to attend a Peddlers' Parade at eight o'clock on a certain evening, a small sum being asked for admission. The movable seats in the chapel were placed so that a wide space was left between them down the centre of the hall.

At eight o'clock a march was played, and through the door at the rear came a motley procession, greeted with peals of laughter, as one after another of the figures seen on the streets and in the market, selling their wares, was recognized. A little boy, seven or eight years old, with a red felt hat, a calico shirt, and gray overalls, carried under his arm a number of newspapers; a youth, wearing on his head a cook's white paper cap, had a tray filled with crisp brown doughnuts; two little girls held baskets filled with bags of candy, and a third a tray, on which lay small bunches of flowers. A young lady dressed as a market woman wore a calico gown and a plaid woolen shawl pinned over her head; on her arm was a basket filled with bunches of celery. A young man stalked up the aisle behind her, whose costume aroused a great deal of amusement. Huge pasteboard placards hung over his shoulders, one in front and one behind; the former bore the inscription:

each word occupying a line; the back:

His head was covered by a silk hat, the crown of which was hidden under a piece of pasteboard like the placards. Then came a lad drawing a cart in which was an ice cream freezer, labeled:

An Indian woman, whose wares were Indian baskets, now appeared, and a lady selling druggists' specialties came next. She held a tray containing brushes, combs, tooth brushes, sponges, hand mirrors, and various toilet accessories, and her dress was trimmed with a border of sponges. A slender girl of seventeen years impersonated a jewelry peddler and gold watches, chains, bracelets, rings and jewels of all descriptions were fastened securely to her dress and on the edge silver teaspoons were crossed as a trimming. Much amusement was created by a necktie vender, whose costume consisted of a black shirt, black cutaway coat and a gorgeous tie. On a hardware merchant's tray plebeian tin girdles shone with as undaunted a lustre as silver, while brass, steel, copper and wire kitchen utensils made a brave display. Then followed a young girl wearing round her neck a broad band of ribbon, which hung nearly to her waist, and on which, fastened so closely that they looked like a garland, were bows for the hair made of ribbons of various colors. A gypsy in brilliant apparel, and a French seller of perfumes, also gayly attired, were conspicuous in the procession, and venders of popcorn balls and peanuts lent variety to the scene.

Marching through the lane left between the seats to the other end of the long room, they grouped themselves in a semicircle, and then one after another, stepping forward, offered for sale the various articles, naming their prices.

PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS

Find the following on a penny:

PHOTOGRAPH PARTY

This is especially adapted for the opening or closing party of the season given by a club or society. Souvenir booklets, containing small circular snapshot photos of each member of the club,—each one mounted in the centre of a page—are given the club members. A title page, with name, date and history of the club may be added, leaving blank pages for various memoranda. The cover may be of cardboard, paper, silk or satin, in the club colors, with the club name in gold. The place cards may be miniature photographs showing pretty bits of scenery, etc., or a corner of the room in which the club meetings are usually held. A flashlight photograph of the club may be taken, which will make a pleasing memento of the occasion.

PICTORIAL GEOGRAPHY

You can help make an hour at a social fly so quickly that the most bashful person present will say it was only ten minutes long, by the help of cards bearing small pictures which have been cut from newspaper advertisements. For instance, Arkansas may be formed by a capital R, a sprinkling-can, and a saw; Iowa, a large I, and a picture of a grocer's scales—I-weigh; Sacramento, by a sack, "ra," a group of men, and the toe of a slipper; Belgium, by a bell and a stick-pin (Bell-gem); and so on with a host of such names as Ohio, Red Sea, Arizona, Orange, Wheeling, Waterbury, Catskill, Delaware, Montana, Potomac, Charleston, etc.

PICTURE READING

Picture reading is a novel amusement which is adapted to a small party only.

Provide as many envelopes and short pencils as there are guests. On the outside of each envelope write the name of a guest. Place a lead-pencil and a folded sheet of unruled paper inside of each envelope.

When the guests are seated, present each one with the envelope bearing his or her name. The hostess, or some other person appointed by her, then explains to the company that each one is expected to draw a picture upon the paper found within the envelope.

No matter how crudely executed, each person must at least attempt to draw a picture of something, and then replace the sheet of paper in the envelope.

A prophet or prophetess must be appointed, also an assistant, care being taken, however, that the former is pretty well acquainted with the different guests.

The assistant collects the envelopes, keeping the names thereon carefully concealed from the prophet. He then takes from an envelope the drawing and presents it to the prophet.

The latter proceeds to foretell the future life of the maker of the picture in his hand, revealing as much or as little as he pleases of the details of the picture.

When he has exhausted the resources of the picture, he returns it to the assistant, who reads aloud the name on the envelope and restores both it and the picture to their owner.

If properly carried out, this is a most entertaining form of amusement.

PICTURES OF PROMINENT MEN

If the company be musical, the pictures of celebrated musicians could be appropriately used, and in writing down the names of these it could also be required of the guests to cite some noted composition of each; or should the company be general, the pictures of men prominent in different professions—divines, orators, actors, statesmen—could be utilized in almost exactly the same manner.

Should the entertainment be given in July or in March, it would be quite appropriate to have on the cards pictures of the different presidents, to be named by the guests, the dates of their respective terms in offices to be given by them. While almost any one could readily recognize a picture of Washington, Lincoln or Grant, there are other presidents whose portraits are not so familiar, and it would take a pretty good student in United States history to correctly recognize likenesses of them all, or even a dozen of the less familiar pictures of the group, much less to give the dates of their terms of office. A framed picture of one of the greatest of the presidents might be given as first prize to the person whose card is filled out correctly with all the names and dates, or comes nearest to being correctly filled.

PIE PARTY

The invitation to this party should be written on three-cornered papers, shaped and painted to look like pieces of pie.

Have each lady bring a different kind of pie, thus securing great variety. The refreshments should consist entirely of pies and hot coffee.

Have each gentleman present write a recipe for the kind of pie eaten by him, also telling how long it takes to bake it. A suitable prize can be given for the best recipe.

A large pie filled with bran may contain a favor for each guest, any little articles that will not be injured in the baking being suitable.

PILGRIM LUNCHEON

A Pilgrim luncheon is a most delightful affair when properly carried out.

The guests should be requested to dress in quaint old costumes suitable to the occasion. If the floors are scrubbed and sanded in keeping with the old-time Pilgrim interiors, so much the better.

Candles in old-fashioned brass sticks will furnish sufficient light. A cheerful fire in the grate, with a kettle hanging on a crane, will add to the festivities.

All the old heirlooms—spinning wheels of various sizes, andirons, candlesticks, etc.—that can be resurrected or borrowed, will be needed.

Decorations consisting of strings of dried apples and bunches of field corn, can be used with good effect. Old blue and white coverlids can be used as hangings or couch covers.

Homespun tablecloths and old-fashioned china will be needed in the dining-room. Only old-time dishes should enter into the menu. Below is given one:

PING-PONG LUNCHEON

This ping-pong luncheon deserves mention for the novelty of the idea as well as for the cleverness of the hostess in planning her menu. The table decorations consisted of two ping-pong nets stretched diagonally across the table. In the centre where the nets crossed, four racquets of white parchment with scarlet edges were placed. From these rose a bunch of asparagus ferns, and stuck amid the ferns, like big roses, were a dozen rosettes of taffeta ribbon of six different shades of red and pink. The name cards were of white cardboard cut in the shape of racquets with red edges.

The menu included creamed white fish made into balls, each laid on a miniature racquet cut from thin slices of buttered bread; French chops trimmed into circular shape with the bone of each twisted with white frilled paper (forming little racquets) served with potatoes cut into little balls; balls of cream cheese served on racquets of toasted bread, with lettuce leaves; and vanilla ice-cream balls served on racquets of drop cake.

At the close of the luncheon each girl took one of the rosettes and found in it a tiny silver pin in the shape of a racquet to pin upon her gown. The two who chose the same color had to meet each other in the tournament which occupied the rest of the afternoon.

PING-PONG PARTY

The invitations, which were written on pink paper, ran as follows:

The tournament began with mixed doubles. A pretty boutonnière was given to each guest. The men selected for their partners the girls who had flowers corresponding to theirs. After doubles were played off the singles were on, and the prizes were given at the supper-table. A charming Japanese fan, labeled "Pretty present to prevent prickly heat," was the ladies' prize; a potted plant, the men's; while some slight consolation was given the fortunate being who almost won by a wriggly paper snake, bearing on its harmless fangs the legend, "The perilous python pitilessly puts a period to pleasure."

A rather unusual supper of sandwiches of thin pumpernickel, potato salad, pumpkin pie, fruit punch and popcorn was enjoyed.

PIN PARTY

The invitations to this were written on large sheets of paper, and the sheet was then folded up small, and pinned with a large black pin. Each guest was requested to bring a fancy stick-pin which he or she was willing to have disposed of as the hostess saw fit.

On entering, these were given to the hostess, who thrust each into a small card bearing the name of the person bringing it. While her guests were removing wraps in the guest-chamber, she put these by twos (one brought by a girl and one by a man) into small jeweler's boxes. The name of the girl who brought the one pin was put into the box, but no man's name was enclosed. When the time came for supper these boxes were passed to the gentlemen, who each selected one. The name inside indicated which lady he was to take out to supper. One stick-pin went to each of the pair, and these served as souvenirs.

It so happened that no man had the pin that he had brought to the entertainment, and of course no girl had hers, for she would insist that the man take the pin she had provided. As many of these pins were the quaintest ones to be found by the persons bringing them, they created not a little amusement.

But we are getting ahead of our story, for before supper the time was filled in with various games.

The first of these was an entertainment in which all the guests took part. A fancy tray contained as many slips of cardboard as there were guests. This was placed on the centre-table, and the hostess called upon one of the men to pick up one of these slips at random, and read what it contained. He did so and read: "The tale of a pin." The hostess then informed him that he must tell the story of a pin, and do it in two minutes. The surprise was so great that he scarcely recovered enough to begin his story before his time was up. Then he had to call on some girl, and she must take a slip, and do whatever it bade her, for the period of two minutes. And so on until all had taken part. Some of the slips read thus:

• Speak a piece with something in it about a pin.
• Name twenty-five kinds of pins.
• Tell a story about a girl and a pin.
• Give an oration on points.
• Give a talk on pinfeathers.
• Improvise a poem on "The boy and the pin."
• Point out the various pins you can see in this room.
• Tell twenty uses for a hairpin.
• Sew with a pin. With this was given a piece of cheese-cloth and a pin with a long thread tied to the head.
• Count the pins in a heap. (All sizes and kinds.)
• Make a pin stand on its head.
• Draw a picture of a pin. (Breastpin of huge pattern.)

Play a game of "ring pins." This was a variation of the game of quoits or ring toss. Into a foot square piece of soft pine had been stuck twenty pins about an inch apart. The victim was given ten small brass rings, and made to stand two feet from the edge of the table, and see how many rings he could make catch over a pin.

P.O.D. DINNER PARTY

On the twenty-second day of February the guests were bidden to a P.O.D. (Post-Office Department) dinner party, but none guessed the meaning of the mysterious letters till they were seated at the table and found that the place-cards were unsealed envelopes stamped and directed, each one containing a tin label similar to the ones upon the sacks used in the Railway Mail Service. These had been made by a tinsmith and were only strips of tin three inches long and an inch and a half wide. The sides had been bent over slightly to form a slot to hold a narrow piece of cardboard, and a blue or a pink ribbon was drawn through a small hole punched in one end.

The ladies' slips bore the names of small towns near by, while those of the gentlemen had the titles of the railroads on which the towns were situated.

The table was decorated with toy trains and stagecoaches and men on horseback, all loaded with tiny mail-sacks filled with salted nuts, candies, and even little cakes. The guests had great fun guiding the various conveyances around the table and peering into the small sacks.

After dinner the host stood in the dining-room door and would allow no couple to pass who were not able to show perfectly matched slides.

In the parlor cards on which were written names and addresses were passed around and two minutes allowed to decipher and write them on tablets provided for the purpose, and numbered from one to twenty-five. At the tap of a bell each person passed his or her card to the one on the right, and in this way the cards made the circuit of the room in the given time. There were enough difficult ones to give an idea of the troubles which beset Uncle Sam's faithful servants when handling the mails.

The first prize was a silver stamp-box, and the consolation one a small United States atlas.

A boy with a mail-sack distributed packages of bonbons, the old-fashioned game of "post office" was played.

POP-CORN PARTY

I was much surprised and amused at a little corn-colored envelope which came with my morning mail the other day. It contained, written upon corn-colored paper, an invitation from Mr. and Mrs. Blank to be present at "A Pop-corn Party" on the following Thursday evening at eight o'clock. In the lower left-hand corner was written, "To meet Mr. C. Cobb very informally."

In the dressing-room each girl was presented with an addition to her toilet in the shape of a necklace of popcorn sewed upon satin ribbon, each necklace having a distinct color. Upon entering the parlors we found all the men adorned with watch-chains to correspond. We were speedily invited into the dining-room, where a bright open fire was burning, and were told that this time the girls were to do "the popping." And they did, while ghost stories were told, songs were sung and conundrums given and guessed. As the corn was popped it was given to the hostess, who, in a corn-colored crepon gown, presently invited all the men to take partners. This they did by selecting the girls whose necklaces matched their watch-chains in color.

Then we sat down to a veritable feast of popcorn at a table which had been entirely arranged in corn color, and upon which were served salted, sugared and buttered popcorn, popcorn balls, lemon jelly-cake, lemon sponge-cake, lemonade, hot and cold, lemon ice cream, lemon water ice and lemon jelly. After our delicious supper we returned to the parlor and were handed cards with pencils attached. Our hostess then rang a bell and called for order, and when order reigned she requested us to write eight nouns beginning with corn, and the name of a general beginning in the same way. In ten minutes she rang the bell again and collected the lists. The best one read, "Cornflower, cornstarch, cornice, cornet, cornea, corner, corncake, cornucopia, General Cornwallis."

The maker of this list received a pretty corn-colored paper lamp shade as a prize, and the girl who only had two words on her list received the booby prize—a corn-colored paper dunce cap, which she was compelled to wear the rest of the evening.

PORTRAIT GAME

In this new and clever game a name card, with the numbers from one to six written upon it, a small pad of paper, and a pencil, are handed to each guest. The gentlemen are then asked to select partners for each number upon their cards, and when this is done the hostess may give the signal for the game to begin, and announce that "partners" may proceed to draw each other's faces upon the pads of paper, each gentleman depicting the charms of his vis-à-vis, and each lady doing likewise.

At the end of five minutes a bell gives the signal for the gentlemen to seek their next partners, and again the portraiture goes on. When all the partners have been taken and all the portraits drawn, each portrait being marked with the artist's initials and a number corresponding to the number the model occupies on each card, the collection is pinned to a sheet or portière, and the guests are invited to guess whose likeness each drawing is meant to represent.

The one guessing the largest number of portraits correctly is given a prize of a photograph, and the one who has made the best portrait also receives one.

POVERTY PARTY

The committee should take especial pains to have every one enter into this party to make it a success. When it was held at the home of the writer, the house was all torn up ready to move out the next day, so the floors were bare, the curtains were all down and everything looked very much poverty stricken. All the good furniture was moved out of the rooms, and store boxes with long boards across made the seats. Mush and milk was served in tin cups with tin spoons (borrowed for the party). A flashlight photograph was taken and every one had a thoroughly good time.

POVERTY SOCIABLE

PRESIDENTIAL COUPLETS

1. Thomas Jefferson. 2. James Buchanan. 3. Martin Van Buren. 4. Andrew Jackson. 5. Chester A. Arthur. 6. Thomas Jefferson. 7. John Tyler. 8. Abraham Lincoln. 9. James Monroe. 10. Grover Cleveland, 11. William Henry Harrison. 12. John Quincy Adams. 13. James Monroe, Rutherford B. Hayes, Zachary Taylor. 14. Martin Van Buren. 15. James A. Garfield. 16. U. S. (Unconditional Surrender) Grant. 17. John Adams, George Washington. 18. George Washington. 19. John Adams. 20. Abraham Lincoln.

PRESIDENTIAL QUESTIONS

• What President had a son who became President? John Adams.
• What President died with the now famous words: "This is the last of earth. I am content"? John Q. Adams.
• Who was the fifteenth President of the United States? Buchanan.
• What Vice-President became President by the death of Taylor? Fillmore.
• By the death of Garfield? Arthur.
• What President fought the last battle of the War of 1812? Jackson.
• During the administration of what President did the Louisiana purchase and Burr's treason occur? Jefferson's.
• Under what President was the War of 1812 begun? Madison.
• What President outlined a famous foreign policy? Monroe.
• What two Presidents died the same day? Adams and Jefferson.
• What three Presidents were assassinated? Lincoln, Garfield, and McKinley.
• What Presidents served as generals in the Mexican war? Taylor and Pierce.
• During what administration did the annexation of Texas and the Mexican war take place? Polk's.

PRESIDENTS' NICKNAMES

Let the nicknames of our Presidents form the subject of a guessing contest. These should be written one at a time upon a blackboard and numbered. One minute is allowed in which to guess and write down the name of the Executive to whom the title was applied. The list of nicknames is as follows:

• Rail-splitter of the West? (Lincoln)
• Hero of New Orleans? (Jackson)
• Old Man Eloquent? (J. Q. Adams)
• Canal Boy? (Garfield)
• Northern Man with Southern Principles? (Buchanan)
• Tippecanoe? (W. H. Harrison)
• Honest Abe? (Lincoln)
• Rough and Ready? (Taylor)

Let the best list of answers be awarded a prize.

PUSSY WILLOW PARTY

Especially appropriate ideas for an evening's entertainment to be given the last of March or the first of April are suggested by the pussy willow. The invitations sent out to the invited friends can be written on cards brown-tinted like the bark of the trees, and can be very artistically decorated with the furry blooms, or with paintings of them. Trim the parlor with pussy willows by filling vases, pitchers, and bowls. Place the catkins about the room and suspend branches of them from gas jets and about the windows. The hostess can adorn herself very prettily with these blooms by making wreaths for the neck and hair, and by pinning branches of them on the skirt in some design.

For entertainment, pin against the wall at one end of the room a sheet upon which is sketched a large pussy willow stalk. Distribute paper catkins among the guests, who, blindfolded, try in turn, to pin them on the stalk. This affords a great deal of amusement. Those who succeed in pinning their catkins upon the stalk receive prizes, given according to the success of the contestants. These prizes are in the shape of favors appropriately fashioned from the fluffy little pussies. For further amusement, have cards distributed on which each person is asked to write favorite quotations or original rhymes beginning with each letter contained in the compound word "pussy-willow." These are read in turn, and many gems are brought fresh to each one's mind. One could also introduce a pussy willow hunt, as another pastime. For the dining-room decoration use more pussy willows. A pussy willow centrepiece would carry out the idea nicely, and add to the attractiveness of the table. Brown and silvery green are suggestive colors for further decorations, and may be used on the menu cards, making them simple but appropriate souvenirs.

RED, WHITE AND BLUE LUNCHEON

The entire color scheme of this Fourth of July luncheon must be worked out in the national colors; as far as possible the doilies used should be designed in star-shaped patterns, with a border in wash silks of interwoven red carnations and blue corn-flowers. Suspended directly over the centre of the table, a huge liberty bell should be hung, composed of red and white carnations and blue corn-flowers. Depending therefrom should be ropes of red, white and blue ribbon, terminating at the four corners of the table. The luncheon to be served should be as far as possible in the prevailing colors, the ices might be in firecracker form, and the starry banner should appear wherever it can be introduced. Draperies and pictures indicative of the occasion should be placed in conspicuous places, and do not forget a goodly supply of pyrotechnics to conclude the day. Such a luncheon will certainly commend itself to all, and most particularly to the younger element.

Write the following verses on cards and pass around among the guests after they have left the table. Have each verse read aloud previous to the performance:

"RILEY" ENTERTAINMENT

A "Riley" party was recently held by one of our church charity organizations. It proved a decidedly unique affair and quite a profitable one also. The decorations of the church parlors consisted mainly of paper, which was most artistically entwined about pillar, post and picture. A large picture of James Whitcomb Riley was placed upon the wall facing the entrance, and over it in pasteboard letters,

Almost all the young people who had gotten up the entertainment were dressed to represent Riley's characters, and several of the most important presided over the booths. At one, which was literally covered with paper flowers, "'Lizabeth Ann, she can cook best things to eat," sold cakes and pies. At another Riley's poems and photographs were sold, and at still another "The raggedy man! He works for pa," knocked down apples from an improvised apple-tree as fast as he could sell them. And among the purchasers were "Little Orphant Annie," "Max and Jim," "Pa and ma and me, all three," and many others.

While all were busy buying and tasting the good things, "the old band" marched in.

And the impromptu band played them. Later in the evening some of the Riley poems were recited.

SELF-PORTRAITS

"Actions speak louder than words." So runs the old saw; nevertheless, a single phrase has often served to make a man famous, and many well-known personages are readily remembered through especially striking or appropriate utterances.

How many readers will be able to credit the following to the proper sources?

1. "I am the greatest historian that ever lived."
2. "All that I am, or ever hope to be, I owe to my mother."
3. "I would rather men should ask why my statue is not set up than why it is."
4. "My infant son rules his mother; his mother rules me; I rule the Athenians; the Athenians rule the Greeks; the Greeks rule Europe, and Europe rules the world."
5. "Though I have the arm of a woman, I have the heart of a King, and am ready to pour out my blood."
6. "Here lies one whose name is writ in water."
7. "Where liberty is not, there is my country."
8. "Circumstances! I make circumstances!"
9. "As yet a child, not yet a fool to fame, I lisp'd in numbers, for the numbers came."
10. "The world is my parish."
11. "With my sword by my side and Homer in my pocket, I hope to carve my way through the world."
12. "My country is the world: my countrymen are mankind."
13. "I am called the richest monarch in the Christian world; the sun in my dominion never sets."
14. "I am the State."
15. "Life is a jest, and all things show it; I thought so once, but now I know it."
16. "If I were an American, as I am an Englishman, while a foreign troop landed in my country, I never would lay down my arms—never! never! never!"
17. "I came, I saw, I conquered."
18. "I could lie down like a tired child and weep away the life of care which I have borne, and yet must bear."
19. "I awoke one morning and found myself famous."
20. "Tell your master that if there were as many devils at Worms as tiles on its roofs, I would enter."

1. Edward Gibbon.
2. Abraham Lincoln.
3. Cato.
4. Themistocles.
5. Queen Elizabeth.
6. John Keats.
7. Thomas Paine.
8. Napoleon Bonaparte.
9. Alexander Pope.
10. Wesley.
11. Napoleon Bonaparte.
12. Wm. Lloyd Garrison.
13. Charles V.
14. Louis XIV.
15. John Gay.
16. Wm. Pitt, Earl of Chatham.
17. Julius Cæsar.
18. Percy B. Shelley.
19. Lord Byron.
20. Martin Luther.

SEVEN DAYS IN ONE

This fair can be planned by any society that wishes to raise money and is willing to work to earn it.

Monday

Have a booth with everything pertaining to wash-day—wash aprons, clothes-pin aprons, clothes-pin bags, wash-tubs, boilers, wash-boards, clothes-lines, clothes-pins, soaps, washing-powder, bluing, clothes-baskets, etc.

Tuesday

Have everything a housewife wants for ironing day—ironing-boards, irons, stands, holders, home-made holders, fine starch, bees' wax, ironing-board slips, polishing irons, etc.

Wednesday

Wednesday's booth should have everything for mending day, such as needle-books, stocking-bags, buttons, button-bags, pincushions, papers of pins, needles, thread, darning needles, darning-cotton, darning-balls, etc.

Thursday

Make Thursday the reception day, arranging this booth as a reception hall, with a good, live committee in attendance. Have a book for the guests to register their names and addresses (for future use). Serve ice cream, cake, lemonade and candy. Introduce strangers and appoint a special committee to look after the backward ones.

Friday

Let this booth be suggestive of sweeping day. Have plenty of dust caps, dust bags, dusting cloths, brushes, brooms, dust-pans, dusters, large colored aprons (which sell readily), etc.

Saturday

Let this booth be a regular bakery. Have your friends bake various things for you to sell, and have on sale all such articles as will sell readily, such as pies, cakes, cookies, doughnuts, bread, baked beans, etc.

Sunday

Have Sunday the crowning day of all. Arrange to have a piano or organ at this booth, and secure a full choir or quartet to sing the sacred songs; have solos, duets, instrumental music and an orchestra if possible. Have sacred readings and make the time spent here an hour of sacred enjoyment.

If something extra is wanted let the singers dress in old time costumes and sing the old sacred songs with an organ accompaniment.

SHAMROCK LUNCHEON

An Idea for St. Patrick's Day

The invitations were written upon pale green note-paper, with a shamrock leaf painted in water-color in one corner. The exquisitely blended shades of this leaf make it an easy and effective decoration. In truth, we encountered some difficulty in finding a leaf to copy; but a volume of Moore's poems, incased by a considerate binder in a shamrock-sprinkled cover, solved the problem!

The event was called a "Shamrock Luncheon," the hours were from two until six, and the word "whist" explained our intentions.

The score-cards were cut from green cardboard, in the shape of a large shamrock; and across the back of each was written a line of a humorous St. Patrick's Day poem, which we had discovered in a newspaper. The verses will be found complete at the end of this article. It is adapted to twenty-four guests, but it is easy to insert more lines if more guests are invited.

Each lady selected her partner for the game by finding the holder of the line which rhymed with her own. The score-cards were tied with streamers of narrow white or green ribbon, which served both to attach the cards to the gown and to indicate partners in "changing tables"—the green always playing with a white ribbon. (Care must be taken to tie rhyming cards, one with green and one with white.)

When partners had been found, the entire poem, sufficiently humorous to break up all formality, was read. As each line was read, the owner of the card bearing that line took her seat as indicated, until all the guests were easily and laughingly seated.

The six small luncheon tables were set with green and white china, and had for centrepieces pots of blossoming shamrock. Any florist will sell or rent these.

The menu was as follows:

This repast, served by three pretty waitresses in white gowns and green ribbons, was eminently satisfactory. Green and white bonbons are easy to obtain. Care must be taken, however, not to carry the color scheme too far into the menu, as green is not an appetizing color in all kinds of food.

St. Patrick's Birthday

SNOWDRIFT PARTY

An ingenious hostess provided no little amusement for her guests by what she called her "snowdrift party." This is how it is arranged:

First of all select from a good book of quotations or proverbs twenty sentences applicable to snow. Write these twenty verses on twenty cards, one verse to each card, and number them with the numbers from one to twenty. Now get together a half dozen pasteboard or wooden boxes, and fill these with flakes of cotton, wool or white paper torn into small pieces. Hide the quotation cards away in the snow thus formed. Each guest receives a wooden teaspoon, tied with ribbon, a note-book and pencil. The boxes are distinguished by letters or numbers painted upon them, and lots are drawn to determine in which "snowdrift" each guest shall dig. The digging is, of course, done with the spoons. Each player digs in the snow, turning it up spoonful by spoonful, until he discovers a card. When a card is found the quotation upon it must be read and the name of the author, if recognized, written down. Each author's name should be placed in the note-book opposite the proper number of the card, in order to facilitate the work of the person who reads the lists to decide the prize. The cards, whether the author is known or not, are always returned to the box and hidden away in the snow. At the end of fifteen minutes, work ceases and the diggers begin on new drifts. This changing is done every fifteen minutes, a player digging always in a new snow bank until the number of boxes is exhausted. When the game reaches this stage all note-books or tablets are collected by the mistress of the ceremonies. She compares the answers in the note-books with her own list, previously prepared. Incorrect guesses are pruned away with a blue pencil and the correct ones counted. It is, of course, the player who has most of these last who carries off the trophy. The prize should be in some way suggestive of the occasion.

SOCK SOCIABLE

This little verse should be sent with every invitation to the sociable, accompanied by a tiny sock made of silk or lawn. On the night of the entertainment, these socks with the money that has been placed in them are brought by the guests and deposited in a large bowl at the door. The sociable then proceeds in the usual manner. This is an excellent way of raising money for some charitable object.

SPINNING PARTY

"Will you walk into my parlor?"

On the upper left-hand corner there was a picture of a spider spinning his web, and a fly struggling to escape from its meshes.

When the guests arrived they saw an old-fashioned spinning wheel in the centre of the room, with flax near by, all ready for spinning. They were told that all must try for the prizes that were to be awarded to the lady and gentleman who spun the best thread, after five minutes' trial. The mother of the hostess, who had done such work when a girl, stood near to give instruction, and to time the contestants. Those who have no knowledge of spinning can have no idea how much fun there is in trying to make an even thread, more especially when surrounded by interested young people of no greater experience. As the different threads were finished they were fastened to a tag bearing the name of the worker and then pinned to a square of black cloth that had been pinned to the wall for that purpose. When all had tried, a committee was appointed to help the hostess decide to whom prizes should be awarded.

While the spinning was going on the guests whose turn at the wheel had not arrived and those who had already tried were set to following the threads of what looked like an immense spider web wound around the rooms. It was composed of black and white threads, the black threads being intended for gentlemen and the white ones for ladies. They were instructed that when they found an end of one of these threads they were to begin winding it into a ball; but that they must do so very gently, or the whole web would be knotted so badly that it could not be undone. When they came to a knot it must be untied. These threads were so ingeniously twisted together and wound around pictures, bric-à brac, table legs, etc., that it took some time to reach the farther end, and every one had plenty of opportunity to talk with every one else. A card was fastened to the farther end of each thread, and all the cards had been so well concealed from view that some time elapsed before the guests knew what they were to find.

On each card were written the words, "You will take supper with the one who holds the mate to your card." Then the cards must be compared. Each contained a spider web, some with four circles, some with more; some with eight divisions, others with more or less; but there were always two of each kind, and through the peculiarities of these webs the partners discovered each other. The difference in webs was sometimes so slight as not to be detected without close observation; but it was always plain after having once been pointed out. It is surprising how many different designs can be worked out in these webs. The work is really quite fascinating when once begun, so the thought of it must not frighten any one from giving a spinning party.

When the prizes had been awarded to the best spinners, several tables were brought in and set about the room.

On the top of each there was fastened a heavy sheet of drawing paper, upon which five circles had been drawn. The outside circle was as large as the table would allow. The inner one was only two inches in diameter. The other three circles were drawn at equal distances between these two. In the inner space on one table were the figures 25; the next 20; then came 15, 10 and 5. On the next table the inner space was marked 30, and each of the other spaces 5 less. On the third and last table the inner circle was marked 50, and each of the others 5 less.

Each player was given a top, made from a spool, and all the guests took turns spinning the tops on the table having the lowest figures. When the top ceased spinning the player was credited with the number on which the point of the top rested. As soon as a player had twenty-five to his credit he advanced to the next higher table. There he must win fifty points before he could pass on to the highest table. When he had won a hundred points at the third table he was obliged to begin again at the foot table. The top must not be touched while spinning. Should it drop to the floor the player must make ten before he could begin to count again. Should he make 25 at the next trial he only counted 15; but he had a second trial when his top had dropped to the floor, before the next player spun his top.

Each player had a credit card tied in his buttonhole upon which numbers something like the meal tickets issued at restaurants were closely written. When added these numbers should make 500. The hostess had a punch with which she cut out the numbers to correspond with those won by the player. When any player had no more numbers on his card he was declared winner and the game was ended.

SPINSTER TEA

Where a party of girls wish to have an evening all to themselves the "Spinster Tea" will furnish them with much merriment.

As this sort of tea should be quite informal the invitations may be written on plain white note-paper, as follows:

When the evening of the tea comes, and the guests have all been introduced one to another, they may be ushered into the dining-room and the supper be served. The dining-table should be arranged in as old-fashioned a style as possible. At the four corners place candlesticks with wax candles, and for a centrepiece have a large bouquet of artificial bachelors' buttons. Use old-fashioned china and silver if you happen to have any. At each place put a few bachelors' buttons, to which attach a menu card by a narrow white taffeta ribbon.

The refreshments should be numbered upon the menu cards, and each guest be allowed to choose one number each time the waitress passes around. The key to the menu given should be held by the hostess and the waitress.

The following menu was recently used at a "Spinster Tea" and created much merriment:

After all have partaken of refreshments the guests should adjourn to the parlor where a circle may be formed, and, beginning at the left, each spinster in turn may exhibit the picture of her wooer, and relate her story. Two judges may be chosen by lot to decide which is the prize story, and a large frosted gingerbread heart may constitute the prize.

STATE ABBREVIATIONS

1. Which is the most religious state? (Mass.)
2. The most egotistical? (Me.)
3. Not a state for the untidy? (Wash.)
4. The most Asiatic? (Ind.)
5. The father of states? (Pa.)
6. The most maidenly? (Miss.)
7. The most useful in haying time? (Mo.)
8. The best state in time of flood? (Ark.)
9. Decimal state? (Tenn.)
10. State of astonishment? (La.)
11. State of exclamation? (O.)
12. State to cure the sick? (Md.)
13. Where there is no such word as fail? (Kan.)
14. The most unhealthy state? (Ill.)

STATE FLOWERS

In case it is desired to represent the various states of the Union by floral decorations, the following list is given:

• Alabama—Goldenrod.
• Arkansas—Aster.
• California—Columbine.
• Delaware—Peach blossom.
• Idaho—Syringa.
• Iowa—Wild rose.
• Maine—[1]Pine cone and tassel.
• Michigan—[1]Apple blossom.
• Minnesota—Moccasin flower.
• Missouri—Goldenrod.
• Montana—Bitter root.
• Nebraska—Goldenrod.
• New Jersey—State tree, sugar maple.
• New York—Rose; State tree, maple.
• Oklahoma Territory—[1]Mistletoe.
• Oregon—Oregon grape.
• Rhode Island—Violet; State tree, maple.
• Vermont—Red clover.
• Washington—Rhododendron.

[1] Adopted by State Legislature.

STATE NICKNAMES

• Which is the Hoosier State? (Indiana)
• The Nutmeg State? (Connecticut)
• The Keystone State? (Pennsylvania)
• The Buckeye State? (Ohio)
• The Palmetto State? (South Carolina)
• The Pine Tree State? (Maine)
• The Prairie State? (Illinois)
• The Sucker State? (Illinois)
• The Lone Star State? (Texas)
• The Lumber State? (Maine)
• The Mother of States? (Virginia)
• The Mother of Presidents? (Virginia)
• The Old Dominion? (Virginia)
• The Old North State? (North Carolina)
• The Hawkeye State? (Iowa)
• The Green Mountain State? (Vermont)
• The Granite State? (Vermont)
• The Freestone State? (Connecticut)
• The Empire State? (New York)
• The Diamond State? (Delaware)
• The Creole State? (Louisiana)
• The Corn Cracker State? (Kentucky)
• The Blue Hen State? (Delaware)
• The Bay State? (Massachusetts)

STATE SOCIABLE

Each guest on arriving should be presented with a white card on which has been pasted a picture of General Washington. These need not all be alike—in fact, it will increase the interest in the cards if they are not; any picture of our first President may be used. Small ones cut from magazines will answer the purpose admirably. Beneath the picture have the date, and through perforations at the top of the cards run red, white and blue ribbon hangers. On the reverse of each of the first thirteen cards given out write the name of one of the thirteen original States; on the next thirteen the capital of each of these States, and on the next thirteen one of the principal cities in the States. If the company is to be a large one the forty-five States of the Union may be used instead of the original thirteen.

The company then forms into State groups—those holding cards bearing the name of the State itself, its capital and principal city—and each group agrees which product of its State is most beneficial to the greatest number of people. When a report is called for, a vote is taken from all present as to which product is most essential to the welfare of the nation as a whole. Three small bouquets of red and white carnations tied with blue ribbon will make appropriate rewards for the three supporters of the State which wins distinction.

ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARTY

Invitations to be sent out as follows:

When the guests arrive their assumed names are written on cards and pinned on each one, and they are introduced to the company under these names; for instance, Mr. and Mrs. Dennis McFadden, or Mr. Martin Dooly and Miss Maggie Murphy. Michael O'Toole might go as a bricklayer. There can be an old apple woman with a basket of apples (which could be sold for a penny a piece for the treasury). Mike McGinnis of the police force might go as an Irish policeman. Widdy Malony and her daughter Nora, the priest, Father McCrary, and several sisters of charity could also be represented. Let every one enter into the fun with spirit. Have the decorations of the house all green and have each one wear as much green as possible. Tin spoons tied with green ribbon can be given as souvenirs. Have an Irish potato race. Prizes of stick pins in Shamrock designs can be given the winners, or potato pincushions tied with green ribbons. Have green paper napkins which can be made from green tissue paper. Animals can be made from potatoes, using toothpicks for legs and tails. Have each guest help in the entertainment of the evening by an Irish song, story or recitation.

Refreshments for Irish Party

ST. PATRICK'S GUESSING CONTEST

(Something green.)

1. Name of a celebrated poet. (John Greenleaf Whittier)
2. Name of a celebrated authoress. (Grace Greenwood)
3. Child's artist. (Kate Greenaway)
4. Revolutionary officer. (General Greene)
5. Pennsylvania city. (Greensburg)
6. Cold country. (Greenland)
7. Western bay. (Green Bay)
8. Emigrant. (Green horn)
9. Domestic fruit. (Green gage plum)
10. Large burial place. (Greenwood cemetery)
11. Legal tender. (Greenback)
12. A variety of apples. (Greening)
13. A place for growing plants. (Green house)
14. A part of a theatre. (Green room)
15. A harmless stimulant. (Green tea)
16. A famous town in Kentucky. (Bowling Green)
17. Children's game. (Green gravel)
18. Another name for jealousy. (Green eyed monster)
19. A country place near Pittsburg. (Green Tree)
20. A nourishing tree in the Bible. (Green bay)
21. Title of an Irish song. (Wearing of the Green)
22. Another name for verdure. (Greenery)
23. An article of dessert. (Grenoble walnuts)
24. A beautiful hamlet near Allegheny. (Evergreen)

TELEGRAM PARTY

To interest guests who have a sense of humor and thoroughly enjoy a little quick thinking you can easily invent new games or adapt and add novel accessories to some older idea, such as, for instance, "A Telegram Party."

For this party write your invitations on telegram blanks, and let your refreshments be served not by a maid (who never enjoys extra work), but by one or more boys dressed as telegraph messengers. They will delight in their responsibility and will help you in many ways.

Let the boys also pass to each person a pencil and a telegram blank, on which are to be written ten letters, dictated at random by ten guests in turn. These letters each player must manage to use as the initials of ten words following in such order as to form an intelligible telegram. None of these initials can be used for address or signature, but otherwise no limit is placed upon the ingenuity of the writer.

Then let the messengers collect the blanks, and after the hostess has read all the amusing results let a vote be taken for the cleverest message and a prize be awarded to the sender.

Of course, the entertainment can be extended by writing any number of telegrams or varied by requiring that each set of telegrams refer to some assigned subject.

TENNIS SOCIABLE

Write invitations on small white cardboard racquets. Decorate the walls with tennis racquets and nets. Have tennis racquets hung from each chandelier, and stretch a large net across the room. Place in this net red and white racquets of pasteboard, each tied to several yards of red and white ribbon, and have them all tangled up. The object is to wind up the string on the racquets, and secure as many as possible without breaking the ribbon. The committee should wear red belts with seven red streamers, each containing a letter, and spelling the word "welcome." Place welcome mottoes about the room and pinned upon the racquets and nets. Red and white flowers of all kinds can be used for decorations. Take small pasteboard racquets, write quotations on, cut in half and give one-half to the ladies and the other half to the gentlemen, and have them match the quotations.

Refreshments can be passed in regular tennis racquets; in summer, lemonade and wafers, or in winter, hot coffee and cake.

Red and white decorated racquets can be given the guests as they leave, for souvenirs.

TEN VIRGINS (SACRED PLAY)

Select ten young ladies who are good singers—six sopranos and four altos. Divide into two groups, three sopranos and two altos in each group. Have all dress in long white robes and each carry a candle. Five should have lighted candles and five not lighted. Have all behind a curtain and before they appear have the whole ten sing the hymn, "Be robed and ready when the bridegroom comes." This can be found in any sacred song book. Have a small room curtained off on one end of platform. While singing the last verse, "We'll all go forth to meet Him when He comes," the five with candles lighted will march forth from behind the curtain and pass across the platform into the small room. They go in and the door is shut. The other five virgins come forth with no light and pass across the platform silently, and knock at the door, but they cannot get in. The five foolish virgins then sing, "Oh, let us in, the night is dark and chill," and the five wise virgins who have passed in will answer, using the chorus of the same hymn, "Too late, too late, ye cannot enter now." This is found in Methodist Hymnal, No. 375. The five foolish virgins ask the questions contained in each verse and the five wise ones answer with the "Too late."

THANKSGIVING DAY DECORATIONS

Great cornstalks, with the husk merely turned back to show the yellow ear, are extremely effective. A huge bunch of these on either side of the drawing-room door will take the place of palms. They may also be placed at the entrance to the dining-room, their sentinel-like appearance making them charming as a doorway decoration. Here and there great pumpkins, hollowed out to admit of the flower-pot with its growing green, make unique jardinières. A bunch of corn, where the ear is red, tied by means of a bow of yellow ribbon to the chandelier, admits of the same suggestion as the mistletoe of Christmas time, and makes a pretty spot of color, besides being the cause of much quiet fun.

A pretty feature is to have a pumpkin table brought in during the refreshments and hold a guessing contest, which gives an opportunity for much merriment and for the giving of prizes to the lucky guessers.

This table should be arranged as follows: Upon a small, highly polished table (mahogany is perhaps the richest in effect), place a dainty, embroidered centrepiece, and set upon this a large pumpkin, either on a silver dish or resting directly on the white linen. This pumpkin should be hollowed out, as the others, leaving only its yellow shell, the pumpkin holding an assortment of fruit, luscious and beautiful—highly polished red-cheeked apples, oranges, bananas and grapes; trailing here and there among them a few red leaves, or if they can be obtained, a spray of wild clematis, of bitter-sweet, or of smilax.

The guests are told that underneath the fruit lies something suggestive of nature's ways, and therefore of the occasion and that they are to guess what it may be and how much of it there may be.

The guesses will be many and varied. The fruit-dish may be passed, the fruit disposed of, and underneath will be found the pumpkin's seeds, which have been gathered together. The prize for the guest that guesses the nearest can be a little horn-of-plenty drinking glass. If one wishes to give souvenirs of the occasion, charming little pencils can be obtained that have the lead appearing from a miniature ear of corn. This feature, however, is quite unnecessary.

THANKSGIVING FOOTBALL DINNER

The following is a description of a novel dinner recently given a party of twelve football enthusiasts on Thanksgiving Day.

While the ladies were up-stairs removing their wraps, a maid came in with a tray on which were six wishbones, each having tied to it a knot of ribbon of one of the different college colors. Of these they were to take their choice, according to the college or university they preferred. Meanwhile the gentlemen down-stairs had been presented with ribbon rosettes, and as these matched the ribbons on the wishbones they easily found the ladies whom they were to take in to dinner.

When the company entered the dining-room they found that the decorations were in perfect harmony with the character of the game which they had just witnessed. Chrysanthemums, which are considered a necessary accompaniment of a football game, were everywhere. A yellow jardinière filled with ragged beauties in red and bronze stood in the centre of the table, while a single long-stemmed flower was laid beside each plate. There were also chrysanthemums in vases on the mantel and sideboard. The favors, or "mascots," of the dinner were small turkey-gobblers of papier-mâché containing the bonbons.

A feature of the dinner enjoyed almost as much as the feast itself was the novel form of the menus. These were written on two opposite pages of dainty booklets, the outside covers of which were decorated with characteristic football sketches accompanied by appropriate quotations. These were so unique and apropos to the occasion that each guest carried his home as a souvenir when he left at the end of the evening's entertainment. Instead of being separated into the usual courses, the menu was divided, like a football game, into a first and second half, with an intermission between, and was arranged to read somewhat like a football program, giving in outline the particulars of a game, the various terms and expressions in which described the names of the viands. The following is an illustration, except that in the original the names of the different articles were omitted, a word in parenthesis giving a hint where the meaning seemed doubtful:

Although the above may seem a little far-fetched to an authority on football, the guests were not over-critical, and the novel menu proved a great source of entertainment, keeping them wondering and speculating between the courses as to what was coming next. Some of the guests supposed the "bruised heads" to be those of the cabbage, it having apparently escaped their minds that there was such a thing as head-lettuce. Others failed to see the connection between squash and "runner" until reminded of the fact that squash grows on a vine running along the ground, while a smile went around the table as one by one, after concluding that coffee was referred to in "The cup is presented," discovered, also, the double meaning in the final words of the menu, "Everybody leaves the grounds."

A number of things served on the table, such as cranberries, jellies, olives, etc., were not named in the menu, owing to the difficulty of expressing them in football language.

After dinner there was much fun and merriment over pulling the wishbones, the ladies having offered to break theirs with the gentlemen attending them at dinner. Later the guests gathered around the open fireplace, cracking nuts, telling stories, and having a good time generally. When the time came for them to depart they voted the Thanksgiving dinner of which they had just partaken the most unique to which they had ever sat down.

THANKSGIVING SOCIABLE

How surprised every one was at the changed appearance of the Sunday-school room! All the chairs had been removed and at various places stood great shocks of corn. Upon the wall were hung red berries and bright-hued autumn leaves, garlands of which may be easily made if the leaves are gathered as they fall, waxed, pressed, and strung on strong threads. In the centre of the room was arranged a large semicircular divan made of pew-cushions covered with dark, richly-colored draperies. There were a number of sofa-pillows heaped upon the divan. The room was dark save for the light which glimmered from hideous-faced pumpkin lanterns.

The committee in charge welcomed the guests and invited them to be seated in the charmed circle. The first thing that met their gaze was an immense pile of corn on the cob. Over this, standing on three legs, was a goblin pumpkin with three pairs of glaring eyes, three noses and three large mouths. A hush fell upon the company, while here and there could be heard a suppressed giggle. Suddenly a chorus of girls' voices broke out in a bright autumn song to enliven the drooping spirits of the guests.

No sooner had their fears been somewhat allayed than a spectral figure approached from behind a curtain and sat down by the heap of corn. All held their breath as it slowly reached out its hand and pulled an ear of corn from the pile, gazed at a tag which was fastened to it by a ribbon, read the name of some one who was present, and threw that person the ear of corn, demanding in a deep, thrilling voice, "A ghost story." It is needless to describe the quaking and shivering while the story was being told. The dashing piano solo which followed was fully appreciated.

A second ghost story was demanded in like manner as the first, after which came singing, more stories, and music. Then one of the girls, who could recite well, stood facing the company, with a background of curtains, and gave Whittier's poem, "The Pumpkin" When she reached the last stanza the curtains back of her were drawn, as if by spirits, disclosing a long table covered with a snowy cloth, upon which were piles of doughnuts, pumpkin pies, cheese and cups of steaming coffee. Every one gave an exclamation of surprise at the sight, and refreshments were served amidst much fun and laughter.

The sociable closed with gifts of a pie apiece to each person contributing to the entertainment, and an ear of corn, tied with bright ribbon, to each guest.

In order to have the ghost stories a success the committee arranging the program had selected them beforehand.

A great deal of the success of the entertainment was due to the fact that its nature had been kept secret, and, curiosity having been aroused, an unusually large number of people attended.

TRANSPLANTING TREES

Pass slips of paper around with the names of different trees, all in capital letters, but not spelled in order; for instance, Y-H-O-K-R-I-C, which when transplanted will spell the name Hickory. A suitable prize can be given the one who succeeds in transplanting the greatest number of trees.

TREE GUESSING CONTEST

1. A solid, tenacious, easily-moulded substance, and a part of the hand.
2. A ruminant quadruped of the feminine gender.
3. To show grief, and a machine in which cotton, wool, or flax is opened and cleansed.
4. Neat, without elegance or dignity.
5. Ill, ill, ill.
6. A nickname, a vowel and an external covering.
7. Used for puddings and a part of the hand.
8. A near and dear relative.
9. A vegetable and a Scottish word denoting possession.
10. A partner, came together, and a part of the human body.
11. A green muskmelon pickled.
12. A drink, and a lineal measure.
13. A coat or covering.

1. Wax palm.
2. Yew.
3. Weeping willow.
4. Spruce.
5. Sycamore.
6. Tamarind.
7. Sago palm.
8. Paw-paw.
9. Plantain.
10. Palmetto.
11. Mango.
12. Cocoa palm.
13. Fir.

TREE PARTY

For a June entertainment nothing could be more suitable than a tree party, for at this season the new leaves are all out and everything looks fresh and green. Trim the house with branches and blossoms, having as many varieties of trees represented as possible. When all the guests have arrived, give to each one a strip of cardboard (having a pencil tied to it with a bit of green ribbon) upon which are written the following questions for them to answer:

Then the following game may be played:

Pin a slip, containing the name of some tree, on the back of each person present.

Questions may be asked concerning it, which will give a clue to the wearer, who is to guess the tree he is supposed to represent.

As fast as each one is guessed, the slip is taken off the back and pinned on the breast. Allow fifteen minutes for each person to write an original poem on the tree he represents. Judges are appointed to select the best poem, and a suitable prize can be awarded.

TREE POOL

That the guests may choose partners, give out cards of red, green, yellow, and brown cardboard cut in the shape of leaves,—maple, elm, oak, etc. There should, of course, be but two leaves of the same shape and color, one of each being passed to the ladies, the corresponding ones to the men. The game is played in the usual way where there is a pool of letters, except that the words made must be only the names of trees or shrubs. For those who may not be altogether familiar with the game, the rules are that each one in turn draws a letter from the pool, then tries by transposing one of his opponent's words to use this letter, and so make a new word for himself. Plurals are not considered new words. If one cannot use the letter to draw from his opponent's, or in his own list, it is thrown back, and the turn passes to the next. If, however, the letter is used, the player has another turn. When either couple at the head table have made ten words, the bell is rung and the guests score and progress as in any other game.

When supper is served, have the table decorated with a plant standing in the centre, and from this to each corner of the table have a row of Noah's Ark trees, which can be purchased at any toy shop. Stand one of these on each of the plates as they are passed to the guests. They will make very attractive souvenirs of the occasion.

TROLLEY PARTY

The guests invited to our trolley party were twenty in number. When all had assembled, cards with pencils attached were given them, after which the hostess announced that the trip would take half an hour, that the conductor would ring his bell for start and finish, but that the guests must prove their familiarity with the names of the streets, which were represented on cards scattered through the rooms—pinned to curtains, table-covers, pincushions, etc. Carnations were given to the one guessing correctly the greatest number of streets, a tiny bank and a new penny to the one having the least.

The cards were as follows:

A Trolley Ride—St. Louis to Kirkwood

1. Abraham's wife.
2. What idols' feet are often made of.
3. Stop here when hungry.
4. Always owns a goose.
5. Dear to our hearts though sometimes a "Rip."
6. Brought lightning from the clouds.
7. A part of a door and what doors are usually made of.
8. A sombre color.
9. Of cherry-tree fame.
10. A direction of the compass and a preacher.
11. The side of a tiny stream.
12. One of the discoverers of Pike's Peak.
13. A great turn.
14. Associated with the lower regions.
15. The highest point.
16. What most housewives do on Monday.
17. A famous summer resort.
18. What the preacher who lisped said to the sinner.
19. Green, and dear to girlish hearts.
20. Makes a quick fire.

The names of the streets represented were:

1. Sarah.
2. Clay.
3. Berry Road.
4. Taylor.
5. Jefferson.
6. Franklin.
7. Lockwood.
8. Gray.
9. Washington.
10. Westminster.
11. Edgebrook.
12. Clark.
13. Big Bend.
14. Sulphur.
15. Summit.
16. Wash.
17. Newport.
18. Prather.
19. Olive.
20. Pine.

This same idea could be carried out in connection with the streets of any other town.

UNIQUE VALENTINE PARTY

The invitations requested that each guest appear in costume and masked. This was the keynote of the affair. An early lunch was planned, as they were to choose partners while still masked, and naturally they would wish to remove their masks after that form of the entertainment had flagged a little.

The rooms were decorated with valentines which had accumulated in the household through fourteen years and others prepared for the purpose.

After the choice of partners, masks were removed, and all marched to the dining-room, keeping time to a pretty march.

It being a birthday party, the ever new feature, the birthday cake, with its candles, graced the centre of the table, the cake being white decorated with red hearts and red candles. Three kinds of small cakes and wafers (all heart-shaped), a plate of each at either end of the table, made up that part of the refreshments. Cocoa in small cups and ice cream in heart-shaped molds completed the repast. Confectionery in the predominating color and shape was also on the table.

The table decorations consisted of red carnations, ferns and smilax, and were added to by the souvenirs which were laid at the left of each plate. These were prepared by our family artist for the occasion, and were red, heart-shaped affairs with gold borders, in the centre a small sketch in oil, below a line of poetry, and each one numbered. These were connected by ribbon (running to the centre of the table) to buttonhole bouquets, carnations and smilax, which with ferns formed the flat centrepiece. At the ends as many as were convenient were arranged around the end dishes. Much merriment was created by some reading the lines on their souvenirs.

Upon leaving the table each guest adjusted the ribbon about her neck, which brought the bouquet to its proper place "across the heart." After returning to the parlors the guests were requested to read the lines which they had found upon their souvenirs, and of which some had been wondering the meaning; by beginning with No. 1 and reading in rotation a well-known poem was completed. As you will see, this form of amusement, with the character representations, goes far toward an evening's entertainment. Young people consider a party incomplete without a prize winning contest of some sort. The one I will describe was adopted.

Pencils and slips of paper were distributed, each bearing the name of a book or song, and numbered; then pieces of drawing paper were handed around, the first slips being collected, and each person was requested to make a drawing representing the book or song, and putting his number on it. These were gathered and pinned up for exhibition. The best drawing won a prize. Then the person that, upon inspecting the drawings, could give correctly the names of the most books or songs they represented (more paper being passed for this purpose) received a prize.

The remainder of the evening was filled in by music, singing and games of the guests' own choosing. When the time of departure came, all wished they might enjoy it "all over again."

UNIVERSITY LUNCHEON

A Yale luncheon given last Christmastide was a brilliant success. The ideas may be utilized for the entertainment of students from any college, merely changing the colors.

Our decision was to have no flowers, not even a palm, and to keep the entire house in harmony of coloring. Fortunately for our scheme, every room had a quiet gray or bluish paper, and in carpets, furniture and hangings there was not a touch of color that would clash with the blue of Yale. Our first bit of luck was the loan of a huge bundle of Yale flags and bunting from the College Men's club. A flag, with a great white "Yale" on it, we stretched across one end of the sitting-room, another, as immense as a campaigning banner, draped the west wall of the dining-room. The stairs were garlanded with blue bunting, and all over the house fluttered little class flags bearing dates that ran from '80 to '05. We allowed bunches of mistletoe tucked cunningly under gas fixtures. Holly was out of the question: it would have suggested Harvard.

Serving luncheon at one was an innovation, but an excellent one. When the dishes were cleared away the anxiety was over, and the hostess moved about among her guests without a thought of a meal to be served at the end of the games. We set ten small tables, three in the dining-room, four in the sitting-room, two in the parlor and one in the hall. The tables were snowily linened, there were doilies in blue and white, and the centrepiece on each table was a glass dish filled with small bunches of splendid blue and white grapes. There was nothing blue to be found in the fruit or flower kingdom except these, and the coloring was superb. All the dishes we used were handsome old-fashioned willow ware, solid dark blue, or mottled blue china.

VALENTINE ENTERTAINMENT

Two dozen couples make a very goodly company of young folks for a pleasant little evening; therefore, send out invitations to that number. The cards of invitation might have on them, either in India ink or water-colors, an arrow-pierced heart, a whole heart or a broken one; even a cluster of them, like fishes on a string, according to the pleasure of the hostess. For each of the twelve young ladies invited, select a rôle that she will impersonate; for instance, we will say that the twelve characters to be represented are:

1. Queen of Hearts.
2. Gypsy.
3. Nun.
4. Bicycle Girl.
5. Summer Girl.
6. Colonial Girl.
7. Poster Girl.
8. Widow.
9. Old Maid.
10. Trained Nurse.
11. Columbia.
12. Valentine.

Number twelve can be either a sentimental or a comic character. If the latter, a good deal of amusement may be derived by getting a younger brother or some mischievous boy to represent this character. Have the young ladies gather at the home of the hostess somewhat earlier than the men present themselves, and when the latter have assembled in the parlors pass a tray around to them containing a dozen cards, on each of which is written a couplet. These couplets are suggestive of the rôles the young ladies play, and each gentleman may select such a couplet as he sees fit. When all the cards have been taken, the young men in rotation read aloud the couplet each has chosen, and after the reading of the couplet the one representing it is brought into the parlor by the hostess and introduced to the reader, who has thus chosen her as his valentine.

Among the pleasant features of the supper a "Valentine cake" may be introduced with good effect. A nicely iced cake, decorated with candy hearts having sentimental mottoes on them, should be divided into twenty-four slices before it is brought to the table. In the slices for the young girls to draw make a small slit with the sharp blade of a knife, and insert into the opening a slip of paper on which is written the name of some young man who is present.

In those slices the men are to draw are such small articles as denote the sort of wife Fate has chosen to be each one's partner for life. Thus, a silver coin signifies wealth; a scrap of silk, a fashionable wife; a penny, poverty; a tiny spoon, a good housekeeper; a pen, a literary woman; a small silver heart, a marriage for love; a small brush, an artistic wife; a tiny mirror, a vain woman; a piece of crape, a widow, etc.

First a young lady chooses a slice of cake, then the man whose name she draws selects one and learns the kind of life-partner he is to have. Much merriment may be derived from such a cake.

VALENTINE FUN

This description of a Valentine entertainment will be welcomed by those who desire novel and original ideas.

We were received in a room decorated with wreaths of green, hung in festoons caught up at regular intervals by ribbon streamers. From the centre of each wreath hung hearts of parchment paper, tinted in blue and lettered in gold, each bearing a number and a fate or fortune.

Suspended from a portière rod between the hall and reception room were three hearts formed of heavy wire and carefully entwined with evergreen; above each one was a jingle. The first said:

Above the second was:

And the third had:

On a small table near by was an immense bowl filled with sparkling soapsuds, and also clay pipes decorated with little blue hearts.

We first threw the bubbles off the pipes and then tried to blow them through the hearts with pretty little fans which were presented to us; none of us found this easy to do, but it was lots of fun, even if after all our efforts we saw our bubble float through number three instead of one or two, where we meant it to go.

After this came a still merrier game. A low scrap-basket was placed in the centre of the room, and the company arranged into opposing parties, forming two half circles around the basket. Cardboard hearts in two different colors were given the sides, an equal number to each side. We were then requested to try to throw them in the basket, and all endeavored to do so, but found they had a tantalizing way of landing on the floor.

When we had exhausted our cards those in the basket were counted, and the side having the most of its own color won the game.

After this a small blackboard was placed on an easel at one end of the room, and we were each in turn blindfolded, and handed a piece of chalk with which to draw an outline of a heart, and to write our name in the centre; the one doing the best to have a prize of a large candy heart.

The partners for supper were chosen in a novel manner, the men being numbered, and the names of the girls written on slips of paper, rolled in clay in little pellets, then dropped into a bowl of water; the one to rise first belonged to the young man numbered one, and so on until each had his Valentine.

A "Good Luck" supper was served in an adjoining room. Directly over the table, suspended from the chandelier, hung a floral horseshoe. In the centre of the table and at each end were fairy lamps surrounded by smaller horseshoes. The guest-cards were square envelopes, at one side a painted horseshoe, and below, "When Good Luck knocks at the door let him in and keep him there." The souvenirs were clover-leaf stick pins, and everything connected with the supper bore a symbol of good luck, the bonbons, cakes, and sandwiches taking the forms of either a clover-leaf or a horseshoe.

On opening the envelopes, we found an amusing valentine illustrated by a pen-and-ink sketch, showing the artistic skill of one of the members of the family.

After supper a tray, containing as many numbers as there were guests, was passed, and we each took a heart with a corresponding number from the decorations on the wall and read aloud the fortune found there. These were very clever, and some surprisingly appropriate.

VALENTINE PARTY—DANISH

The "Town Club" was surprised by receiving white cards decorated with cherry-colored ribbon and Danish Flag inviting them to a "Danish Valentine Party." The predominating colors were cherry color and white, being the Danish National Colors. Decorations of the house were of cherry-colored and white hearts and vinter-gjaek (snowdrops), the first Danish flower of the season. The hearts were strung in the parlor, reception-room and dining-room. The archway between parlor and reception-room was draped with the American and Danish Flags. In the centre of each room hung four large-sized hearts, cherry-colored and white, with a gilt arrow thrust through. In the dining-room the hearts were strung in the same way, the lamp shade being of cherry-colored crepe paper. The table was decorated with vinter-gjaek.

The girls wore short skirts and bodices of cherry-colored cambric and white flannel blouses with full sleeves. The hair was worn in two braids, crossed and tucked into the fronts of the bodices with knots of vinter-gjaek fastened into each braid just where it came over the shoulder. The boys wore dark coats and trousers, with white vests.

At the door was placed a box for valentines; as each guest came he dropped his valentine into the box with the name of the person who was to receive it. First for amusement was "Shadow Pictures," the guessing of each boy's and girl's profile. White cards with numbers in cherry ink and small cherry-colored pencils were passed to each. As the shadow was thrown upon the sheet the name was written after the number on the card. Prizes were given for the most correct guesses. The girls' prize was a cherry-colored satin pin cushion in the shape of a heart; the boys', an earthen pig. Then small white cards were passed tied with cherry-colored ribbon and vinter-gjaek, each card containing a verse and below this the initials of a name pricked out with a pin. By guessing the names they stood for, each knew his or her valentine for the evening. It was great fun. Lots were gjaeket (fooled). The verse on the cards read:

Then all were asked to the dining-room, where they found the following supper awaiting them served in Danish style:

Souvenirs—Three white candy hearts containing verses, tied with cherry-colored ribbon.

After supper the valentines brought by the guests were distributed. Music and a flashlight picture of the "Town Club" completed the entertainment. Then all departed with light hearts.

VALENTINE SOCIABLE

Invitations should be sent out for the 14th of February. Each guest is requested to bring a valentine, and as they enter the room, they should drop them into a basket which should be ready to receive them. These can be sent later to some poor school or mission to be given out to poor children, who otherwise would get none. A small room can be fitted up for a studio, and as the guests arrive, they are invited into this room to have their pictures taken.

A committee should be appointed to do this work. This can be done by having the shadow of the head in profile thrown on a sheet of paper tacked to the wall. The artist then sketches it with pencil and cuts it out. After all have arrived and have had their pictures taken, paper and pencil are passed around, and the guests are asked to guess the identity of each picture.

The pictures are then given to the owners as keepsakes. A nice idea is for the gentlemen to write a valentine verse on the portraits of the ladies, or make up some comic poetry. A sale of hearts is also a cute idea.

Buy small hearts with a valentine couplet on each; these being read aloud, each heart is to be sold to the person who first completes its couplet; for instance, "'Tis better to have loved and lost," the person finishing it as "than never to have loved at all."

The one guessing the greatest number of couplets can be given a small box of heart-shaped candies.

Partners can be chosen for supper by having each lady write her name on a slip of paper, and putting all the slips into a hat; each gentleman will take to supper the one whose name he draws from the hat.

A pretty souvenir can be given each guest in the form of a small heart-shaped valentine.

Refreshments can be suggestive of the day also. They can consist of sandwiches cut in heart-shape, tied with red baby ribbon, bright-red apples, cherry ice, lady fingers, kisses and small heart-shaped candies. A card on each dish could carry out the idea in the following manner:

• Sandwiches—"Heart bread."
• Apples—"Love apples."
• Cherry Ice—"Frozen heart's blood."
• Lady Fingers—"Love's caresses."
• Kisses—"Lovers' sweets."
• Candies—"Love's sweet compound."

VARIETY OF LITTLE MISSES

1. What Miss causes in turn amusements and quarrels? (Mis-chief)
2. What Miss is distrustful of human nature? (Mis-anthrope)
3. What Miss undervalues her opportunities? (Mis-appreciate)
4. What Miss is not always honest? (Mis-appropriate)
5. What Miss is provoking and a blunderer? (Mis-take)
6. What Miss can destroy the peace of home, school and nation? (Mis-rule)
7. What Miss is responsible for gross errors? (Mis-doing)
8. What Miss wastes times and money? (Mis-spend)
9. What Miss causes her mother sorrow? (Mis-conduct)
10. What Miss proves an uncertain correspondent? (Mis-direct)
11. What Miss should the traveler shun? (Mis-guide)
12. What Miss is unhappy? (Mis-fortune)
13. What Miss is distinguished as uncivil and ill-bred? (Mis-behave)
14. What Miss gives unreliable information? (Mis-call)
15. What Miss meets with ill-luck and delay? (Mis-adventure)
16. What Miss is untruthful? (Mis-represent)

VEGETABLE PARTY

Over the table was an Italian green-grocer's sign, and the smiling attendants were dressed to represent Italian women. The table was loaded with fruits and vegetables, all made of tissue paper. The stock included pumpkins, squashes, cabbages, cauliflower, curly lettuce, beets, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, radishes, oranges, and grapes. The vegetables sold for five or ten cents, according to size and contents, for each contained a prize. The radishes and grapes were candies covered with the proper shade of paper and tied in bunches.

There was enough mystery about the contents of these artificial vegetables and fruits to make them sell. One person might open a cucumber and find a child's handkerchief rolled within, but if a neighbor bought one, hoping to secure a handkerchief, he would be quite as likely to find a china doll. The proceeds of this sale were donated to charity.

A slip of paper entitled "Vegetables in Disguise" was passed to each guest, and twenty-five minutes allotted for puzzling out the answers. The following is the list the paper contained:

• A pronoun preceded and followed by a preposition. (Onion)
• A painful projection. (Corn)
• Hard to get out of. (Maize [maze])
• What vegetables should see a great deal, and why? (Potatoes. They have so many eyes)
• A basement and a question. (Celery [cellar-why])
• Every good Chinaman has my first. My second is to overload. (Cucumber [queue-cumber])
• A bivalve and a vegetable growth. (Oyster plant)
• Normal, and a very small piece. (Parsnip)
• A small waste. (Leek [leak])
• A letter. (Pea [p])
• A boy, a letter, and a part of the body? (Tomato [Tom-a-toe])
• Yielding water, and connections? (Pumpkin)
• To crush. (Squash)
• A purple part of the year, and sick. (Lentil [Lent-ill])
• A tour on your wheel, and years. (Spinach [spin-age])
• Hot stuff. (Pepper)
• An English dignity, and a platter. (Radish [R. A. dish])
• A hen. (Egg plant)
• Tramps. (Beets)

The supper, as one would expect at a vegetable party, consisted of vegetarian dishes only, but it was surprising to find how attractive and how palatable these were.

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES

In planning for anniversaries there are many and unique ways in which they may be carried out. Everything that accompanies the anniversary being celebrated should be used. Always use a decided color and try to carry out the color scheme in the refreshments, the decorations, and the costumes. There are many suitable suggestions in the book from which to choose, in the way of both decoration and entertainment, besides the following.

First Anniversary—Cotton Wedding

The invitations for the cotton wedding may be written in ink on well-starched cotton cloth. Cut the pieces to fit regular-sized envelopes. You may request the guests to wear cotton costumes, if you wish, to add to the effect. Decorate the rooms with cheese-cloth of several colors gracefully festooned about the walls, and with the Southern cotton-balls if you can get them. The married couple may stand under a canopy made of wire covered with cotton wadding to represent snow, and wear cotton costumes, and the wife may carry a bouquet of cotton flowers. Artificial flowers made of cotton may be used, too, for decoration. Cover the refreshment table with cheese-cloth, and have place-cards written on prettily decorated pieces of starched muslin. You could have a Spider Hunt for an appropriate entertainment. For this, as you probably know, you provide balls of cotton twine, and wind the twine all over the house. The guests have to untangle their respective balls, and wind them up until they come to the end of the string, where a gift is discovered. The gifts should be pretty conceits made of cotton—shoe-bags or work bags of pretty cretonne for the women, and picture frames of cretonne for the men, etc.

Second Anniversary—Paper Wedding

The second year is celebrated as a paper wedding. There are many ways a house can be decorated with paper. Pretty colored paper shades can be made for all the gas jets (or lamp chimneys), flower-pots can be trimmed with fancy crepe paper, butterflies can be made from stiff colored paper, doilies can be designed from fancy paper, and paper napkins can be used in many ways. Whatever is used for refreshments paper napkins can be placed on each dish under the food; tumblers can be wrapped around with paper and tied with a dainty little ribbon. Plenty of paper flowers can be used for decoration. The tablecloth may be of paper, edged with paper lace, the centrepiece of paper roses, the candle-shades composed of their petals, while the ices may be served in boxes held in the hearts of paper roses. For entertainment, large mottoes containing paper caps may be distributed. These should be put on, and with their assumption a character impersonated by each wearer appropriate to the headgear. The guesses are recorded in paper booklets and the person most successful may receive a prize—a book or any paper trifle.

Fourth Anniversary—Leather Wedding

The fourth year is observed as a leather wedding. Invitations sent out for this anniversary can have a small piece of leather enclosed in envelope. A unique idea is to have a leather saddle hung in the centre of the room, with a leather whip and riding gloves. As souvenirs small pieces of leather with the date of the wedding, also the date of the anniversary, stamped or written upon them, and tied with white baby ribbon, may be distributed. Small leather calendars can be made, also heart-shaped leather pen-wipers with small paintings on them. Appropriate presents for the married couple would be leather purses, hand-bags, shoes, satchels, pocketbooks, lunch boxes, traveling cases, etc., and do not forget a leather smoking case for the host.

A burnt-leather box or basket filled with yellow flowers or growing ferns would not be ill-adapted for a centrepiece for the refreshment table, and leatherette receptacles, if made in sections tied together with ribbons matching the flowers, would be pretty for the bonbons, cakes and salted nuts.

The place-cards may be of leather with the names in heavy gilt lettering.

A game or contest is usually enjoyed, and the award of a trifling prize to the victor makes a pleasant climax to the evening's fun. In this case the article should, of course, be of leather.

Fifth Anniversary—Wooden Wedding

A description is given of an actual wooden wedding anniversary celebrated recently. The invitations were printed on paper that looked like wood. In fact it looked so much like it that it could hardly be told from wood. For decorations as much real wood was utilized as possible. In one large archway were hung twelve wooden plates, each with a painting on, and joined with white ribbon. Twelve young ladies served on the reception committee and the twelve plates were given them as souvenirs before they departed. In another archway there was a toothpick curtain which attracted much attention. This was made on silk cord with the toothpicks tied about two inches apart, crossways, with a small loop in the cord. They were draped back and tied with a bunch of silk cord. In the small doorways were clothes-pin curtains. A large wire bell, covered with shavings and goldenrod, hung from a canopy of the same, under which the bride and groom stood to receive their guests.

A large wooden flower-stand was placed in the reception hall and it was banked with goldenrod and cut flowers, with a large palm on top shelf. Several wooden bowls and baskets of goldenrod and cut flowers were scattered about the house. On the mantels, stands, table, sideboard, and piano, were large palms and goldenrod. All the chairs had been moved out of the house, except in the dining-room, where they were arranged around the wall. In the centre of the room was the polished table, with neat doilies, and for a centrepiece was a large yellow cake with the figure "5" in wood. This cake stood on a high cake-stand and around the edge of the stand were a row of clothes-pins, the kind with a spring, and a row of toothpicks sticking all around the edge of the cake. On two corners of the table were little wooden shoes filled with cut flowers, and on the two diagonally opposite corners were large apples stuck full of toothpicks. The guests were seated in the dining-room for refreshments and as soon as it was filled, the reception committee closed it with a large rope of goldenrod across the doorway. For refreshments ice cream and cake were served on wooden plates with wooden spoons. The ice cream was made to look like wood, the caterer using a mixture of vanilla, chocolate, bisque and lemon flavors. The different kinds of cake were also made to look like different kinds of wood, such as walnut, oak, cherry, and so forth. The souvenirs were large wooden butter moulds on which were printed the year of marriage and the year of celebration. An orchestra of eight pieces played all through the evening, under a canopy of white cloth on the porch, the porch being carpeted and curtained like a room.

Seventh Anniversary—Woolen Wedding

The woolen wedding comes with the seventh anniversary. The material is not effective, but the invitations may be worked in crewels on perforated Bristol-board.

The "cobweb party" might be revived, using colored yarns instead of cords, and placing a "fortune" as well as a favor at the end of each. Some unfortunate swain might, perhaps, find a huge worsted mitten, guided in his choice of yarn by one in the secret to insure its selection by a man.

On the refreshment table a large wedding-cake crowned by a "Bo-peep" doll with her flock of toy sheep would suggest the "woolly" idea.

Tenth Anniversary—Tin Wedding

These wedding invitations can be written or printed, and sent out ten days beforehand, either enclosing a piece of tin, or wrapped in tin foil.

The bride and groom should receive their guests, the bride carrying her bouquet in a tin funnel. The groom can wear a small tin horn in his buttonhole with a small bouquet. The author intends to celebrate her tin wedding this fall, and this is what she intends to have.

For refreshments, will serve coffee in tin cups, with tin spoons, and dainty sandwiches on tin plates; will pass water in a tin pail, using a tin dipper. All refreshments will be passed in tin pans, the waiters will use tin coffee pots to refill the coffee cups. For a centrepiece for the table, will use a large tin cake pan, with an opening in the centre, in which a small fish horn can be placed, the cake pan and fish horn both being filled with flowers. Shall decorate the rooms with tin as far as possible. In one archway shall use tin plates tied together with ribbon, a small hole being punched in the plates for the purpose. This will form a curtain for one archway. In another archway shall use tin cups for the same purpose. Tin candlesticks can be used, if one is fortunate enough to have them. Wire toasters tied with ribbon can be hung on the walls to hold photographs. Small tin spoons tied with ribbons can be given as souvenirs, being passed around by the waiters, in a tin dust pan.

Potted plants can be set in tin pails, and tin cans can be used for bouquets. A tin wash basin can be passed for a finger bowl. Tin foil can also be used with which to decorate.

Twelfth Anniversary—Linen Wedding

The invitations are written on squares of linen in indelible ink, and the name cards are also of linen. Linen is used freely about the rooms, linen lace working into decorative schemes most effectively. The flax flower is, of course, conspicuous whenever it can be obtained. The artificial flower may be used in many places, as well as the natural blossoms. The centrepiece, doilies, etc., used on the table should be embroidered with flax flowers in natural colors.

While the guests are at supper an old-fashioned spinning wheel should be brought into the parlors in readiness for a spinning contest, which may be conducted as described in the entertainment, "A Spinning Party."

Fifteenth Anniversary—Crystal Wedding

The invitations may be decorated with drawings of small hand-mirrors, tumblers, etc., and for the ornamentation of the house every conceivable kind of glass vessel and mirror may be used. In the table decorations cut or pressed glass should be prominent. In the centre of the table a small mirror might be placed, with a large glass bowl upon it filled with flowers. Red carnations with red candle-shades make a very effective color scheme for the crystal background. Little cakes with red icing, red bonbons, and red place cards may also be used. The refreshments should be served on glass dishes, the waiters using glass trays if possible. Tiny glass bottles each containing a red carnation and a sprig of smilax make very appropriate souvenirs. Should the bride desire an appropriate gown for the occasion, it may be trimmed with quantities of glass beads or the glass drops from a chandelier. Those who assist in receiving might also be similarly garbed.

Twentieth Anniversary—China Wedding

A good idea for a china wedding would be to have a course dinner and display all one's china. Use china wherever it can be used instead of silver, glass, or other dishes. Have plants and flowers displayed in china. A unique idea would be to give each guest a tiny china cup and saucer as a souvenir.

Any of the parlor entertainments or contests described in this volume may be used to pass the time pleasantly either before or after the dinner.

Twenty-Fifth Anniversary—Silver Wedding

The invitations to a silver wedding should be headed by the two eventful dates printed in silver.

For the decorations, use any flowers which may be in season, surrounding the mirrors and pictures as far as possible with a framework of green spangled with silver. Cover all the lamps and gas shades with white crepe paper flecked here and there with silver, and suspend balls covered with silver paper from the chandeliers.

Let the daughters in the family, and the granddaughters if there be any, wear gowns of simplest white, with draperies of silver tinsel. If there happen to be any grandchildren it would be well to have them distribute the favors, which may be bouquets of flowers tied with white ribbons.

The refreshments should be served shortly after the guests arrive. A suitable way to announce that supper is served will be to have the wedding march played, when the bride and groom of the evening may be requested to lead the way to the dining-room.

The supper-table should be lighted with white candles in silver candelabra, and the snowy tablecloth be crossed diagonally with white satin ribbon edged with silver. Upon a pretty centrepiece of silver-spangled tulle may be placed a silver or glass bowl containing twenty-five white roses. Dishes of white cakes and candies, and old-fashioned mottoes covered with silver paper may be scattered plentifully about the table. The large cake should be decorated in white and silver, and placed upon a silver dish in front of the bride of twenty-five years ago, who alone should be permitted to cut it.

There is no limit to the presents which may be sent in honor of a silver wedding, but no guest need be deterred from appearing because of her inability to send a present; her good wishes will please the host and hostess quite as well as an elaborate gift.

Pretty souvenirs of a silver wedding are bookmarks of white satin ribbon, upon each one of which is printed in silver the name of the guest and the dates of the anniversary he or she has been helping to celebrate.

Fiftieth Anniversary—Golden Wedding

Invitations to a golden wedding should be written or printed on golden hued cards. Let the bride wear a dress of golden hue, or, if she dislikes such bright colors, let her use plenty of yellow flowers in her hair and on her dress. The groom should also wear yellow flowers. Two armchairs decorated with straw might be used for the seats of honor. Have the home decorated with goldenrod if in season, if not, any yellow flower can be used; if the season for sunflowers, they are very pretty for decoration. Let those who help serve wear yellow dresses or plenty of yellow flowers. A large yellow cake could be used for a centrepiece, banked with yellow flowers; use brass candlesticks with yellow candles. Plenty of flowers or yellow paper should be used for the gas jets, lamp shades and picture frames. Refreshments might consist of yellow cake, lemonade, and yellow candy. Pretty souvenirs would be a yellow carnation for each guest.

WEDDING OF THE OPERAS

Each guest was given a double card or booklet with pencil attached, the cover representing a miniature sheet of music. Upon one page was a list of numbered questions, the answers to be written upon the opposite page, suggested by selections from well-known operas and operettas played upon the piano or other instrument. The names of the operas from which the selections were taken answered the questions.

The following were the questions:

1. Who were the bride and groom?
2. What was the bride called—from the circumstances of her wedding?
3. At what sort of party did they meet?
4. He went as a minstrel. What was he called?
5. She went as an Austrian peasant. What was she called?
6. At the wedding what Spanish girl was maid of honor?
7. What noted Swiss was best man?
8. What two ladies (friends of Donizetti's) were bridesmaids?
9. What four Germans were the ushers?
10. What mythological personage presided over the music?
11. Who sang at the ceremony?
12. What noted person from Japan was present?
13. What noted bells were rung in honor of the wedding?
14. What ship did they take for their wedding trip?
15. When on the voyage who captured them?
16. What virtue sustained them in captivity?
17. What gentleman of dark complexion rescued them?
18. What historical people entertained them in France?
19. In Northeast Italy what grand affair did they attend?
20. Who showed them the sights of Venice?

And the music gave answer, as follows:

1. Romeo and Juliet.
2. The Runaway Girl.
3. Masked Ball.
4. Trovatore.
5. The Bohemian Girl.
6. Carmen.
7. William Tell.
8. Lucia di Lammermoor and Linda di Chamouni.
9. Lohengrin, Faust, Tannhäuser and Siegfried.
10. Orpheus.
11. The Meistersinger.
12. The Mikado.
13. The Chimes of Normandy.
14. H. M. S. Pinafore.
15. The Pirates of Penzance.
16. Patience.
17. Othello.
18. The Huguenots.
19. The Carnival of Venice.
20. The Gondoliers.

WHICH IS YOUR AGE

• What is the best age for a girl or boy? (Espionage)
• To what age will people arrive if they live long enough? (Dotage)
• To what age do most women look forward with anxiety? (Marriage)
• What age has the soldier often to find? (Courage)
• What age is required on the high seas? (Tonnage)
• What age are we forbidden to worship? (Image)
• What age is not less or more? (Average)
• What is the age people are stuck on? (Mucilage)
• What age is both profane and destructive? (Damage)
• At what age are vessels to ride safe? (Anchorage)
• What age is necessary to the clergyman? (Parsonage)
• What age is one of communication? (Postage)
• What age is most important to travelers by rail? (Mileage)
• What is the age now popular for charity? (Coinage)
• What age is shared by the doctor and the thief? (Pillage)
• What age do we all wish for? (Homage)
• What age is slavery? (Hostage)
• What age is most enjoyed at the morning meal? (Beverage)
• What is the most indigestible age? (Sausage)

WHICH IS YOUR AUNT (ANT)

1. What is the oldest ant? (Adam-ant)
2. What ant hires his home? (Tenant)
3. What ant is joyful? (Jubilant)
4. What ant is learned? (Savant)
5. What ant is well-informed? (Conversant)
6. What ant is trustworthy? (Confidant)
7. What ant is proud? (Arrogant)
8. What ant sees things? (Observant)
9. What ant is angry? (Indignant)
10. What ant tells things? (Informant)
11. What ant is successful? (Triumphant)
12. What ant is an officer? (Commandant)
13. What ant is a beggar? (Mendicant)
14. What ant is obstinate? (Defiant)
15. What ant is youngest? (Infant)
16. What is the ruling ant? (Dominant)
17. What is the wandering ant? (Errant)
18. What ant lives in a house? (Occupant)
19. What ant points out things? (Significant)
20. What ant is prayerful? (Supplicant)

WHICH IS YOUR CITY

1. What city is for few people? (Scarcity)
2. For happy people? (Felicity)
3. For hypocrites? (Duplicity)
4. For chauffeurs? (Velocity)
5. For truthful people? (Veracity)
6. For athletes? (Elasticity)
7. For greedy people? (Voracity)
8. For wild beasts? (Ferocity)
9. For home lovers? (Domesticity)
10. For actors? (Publicity)
11. For reporters? (Audacity)
12. For wise people? (Sagacity)
13. For hungry people? (Capacity)
14. For telegraph operators? (Electricity)
15. For crowds? (Multiplicity)
16. For nations? (Reciprocity)
17. For odd people? (Eccentricity)
18. For beggars? (Mendicity)
19. For unhappy people? (Infelicity)
20. For office seekers? (Pertinacity)

The names of cities and their nicknames may also be used, thus: Boston, "The Hub"; Philadelphia, "The City of Homes"; Detroit, "City of the Straits"; Cincinnati, "Queen City of the West"; Chicago, "Windy City," or "Garden City"; Buffalo, "Queen City"; Cleveland, "Forest City"; Pittsburg, "Smoky City"; Washington, "City of Magnificent Distances"; Milwaukee, "Cream City"; New York, "Gotham"; Minneapolis, "Falls City"; St. Louis, "Mound City"; San Francisco, "Golden Gate"; New Orleans, "Crescent City."

WHITE RIBBON SOCIABLE

Invitations should be similar to the following:

Have a small white ribbon bow tied on the corner of the card. Of course all members of the society should wear their white ribbons. All who serve on the reception committee should wear a large white ribbon rosette. Also have a white ribbon quartet for the musical part of the program, and have each one wear a large white ribbon bow on the left breast. Have plenty of white flowers for decoration, also use anything white that can be used in any way to help decorate. Have a large bowl or white dish in centre of dining-table with small white baby ribbons hanging over the edge, one for each guest you expect. Tie to the end of each ribbon a small slip of paper bearing instructions as to what each one is to do. Each guest is to pull out a slip, see what he is to do, and then proceed to do it at once. Cover the top of the dish neatly with white tissue paper. Wafers can be served tied with narrow white ribbon, also coffee or cocoa, or if in summer serve lemonade.

The following suggestions may be used for the slips of paper:

1. Act in pantomime a doctor's visit.
2. Make a dunce cap and put on head of dignified person.
3. Deliver an oration on George Washington.
4. Sing "Mary had a little lamb," in operatic style.
5. Draw a correct picture of a cow.
6. Tell a funny story.
7. Sing a lullaby to a sofa cushion.
8. Sing a comic song.
9. Compose a rhyme with four lines.
10. Tell a pathetic story.
11. Make a shadow picture of a man's head on the wall with the hands.
12. Show how a small boy cries when a hornet stings him.
13. Sneeze in five different ways.
14. Shake hands with ten different persons in ten different styles.
15. Recite "The boy stood on the burning deck," in dramatic style.
16. Laugh ten varieties of laugh.
17. Imitate the sounds made by two cats fighting.
18. Show how a man acts when he is lost in Boston.
19. Smile ten different smiles.
20. Tip your hat in ten different ways to ten different people.
21. Show how a dude walks.
22. Auction off an overcoat.
23. Try to sell a book as if you were a book agent.
24. Show how a boy writes his first letter.
25. Name ten things you could do with a million dollars.

WHY WE NEVER MARRIED

An Evening's Entertainment to be Given by Seven Maids and Seven Bachelors

(Copyright, 1899, by the Curtis Publishing Company and republished by courtesy of the Ladies' Home Journal)

Although this entertainment is here planned to include fourteen people, the number of those who take part in it may, of course, be reduced to as few or increased to as many as desired, either by omitting one or more of the couples already provided for, or by including more couples and composing additional verses for them.

The characters appear seated in a semicircle, a young man first, then a young woman, and so on alternately, beginning at the right as one faces the audience. Each one is dressed in a fashion appropriate to the character represented. Starting with the first young man at the right, each advances in turn to the front and recites.

Number one says:

Number two next recites:

Number three now speaks:

Number four advances and says:

Number five recites these lines:

Number six then says:

Number seven speaks thus:

Number eight next advances:

Number nine speaks as follows:

Number ten says:

Number eleven now advances:

Number twelve speaks thus:

Number thirteen and number fourteen advance together, and the former speaks first as follows:

Then number fourteen says:

At the close of number fourteen's recitation, all rise and stand in two rows, facing each other, the ladies in one row and the gentlemen in the other. The gentlemen then recite in concert as follows:

Ladies in chorus:

Each lady takes the arm of the gentleman facing her, and all walk off to the music of the wedding march.

WIFE OF SANTA CLAUS

An Entertainment for the Sunday-School

The Sunday-school, school or club is assembled; the stage is concealed by a curtain, and the Christmas tree, which is near the stage, by another curtain or screen. The tree is decorated in the usual manner, minus the gifts, which are concealed near the stage ready to be delivered when the right time comes. The tree need not be lighted until the closing of any preliminary exercises that have been arranged. After lighting, the tree should be exposed to the view of all. When the children have gazed at it for a few moments, the superintendent or some other suitable person should come forward, as if to distribute the gifts as usual. He should survey the tree attentively and from different standpoints, and finally, with great astonishment, exclaim:

"Why, what in the world does this mean? What strange thing is this? What is the matter with my eyes? [Rubbing his eyes to see better.] I can't see! As true as I live, I cannot see a single Christmas gift upon this tree! Think of it, a Christmas tree with no presents! Am I growing blind? [Rubbing his eyes again.]

"Do you see any? [Turning to any child near.] Well, I thought so! It is too true, children, that although we have a Christmas tree, and a fine one, too, there is not a single gift upon it; no, not even a little one for a little bit of a girl! Now, this is altogether too bad of Santa Claus to forget this Sunday-school—when we've gotten all ready for him, too, lighted the tree and decorated it so beautifully! It isn't a bit like him, either. He never did such a thing before. He can't have forgotten us. The blessed old Saint wouldn't do that! Maybe his reindeer are lame and he is slow in getting here. No! He would have sent Jack Frost on ahead to tell us to wait. Let me think a moment. It can't be that any of you children have been so naughty that he thinks we don't deserve a visit from him, can it? No, no, that cannot be; it is a mistake, somehow. It is very mysterious; I never heard of the like before—no, never——

"Well, what are we going to do about it, anyway? Can't some one speak up and explain this mystery, or at least tell us what to do to celebrate Christmas?"

At this juncture the sound of sleigh-bells is heard at the back or side of the stage, and a loud "Whoa!" and a shrill whistle. There is an instant of bustling, crunching of ice, stamping and pawing of feet, then the door bursts open suddenly, as if by a gust of wind, and a nimble little fellow bounces in, clad all in red and flecked with tufts of cotton on cap and shoulders to look like snow. He wears a high, peaked cap of red with a bobbing tassel on the peak, and carries a long thong whip, which he flourishes in time to the rhyme he chants:

With a flourish he draws back the curtain, announcing "Mrs. Santa Claus!" There, with a mammoth pumpkin standing by her side, is seen a beaming-faced little fat woman. She is dressed in a fur cloak, or fur-lined circular turned wrong side out, an ermine poke bonnet, made of white cotton-wool, with black worsted tails, and an immense muff of the same. She steps forward, and in a dramatic style delivers this address:

Mrs. Santa Claus's Address

The fairy, a little girl dressed in white, with a wand, and wings, if possible, skips out of the pumpkin and sings:

Fairy's Song
(Tune, "Little Buttercup")

The gifts are then distributed by the fairy, who appears to take them from the inside of the pumpkin. Unless the children are too small, and likely to be timid, they should go forward to receive their gifts when their names are called by the fairy, who apparently knows them all by name, but who is prompted by some one reading from a list standing behind the curtain close by her side. Jack Frost whisks about helping the fairy hand out the gifts and assisting the wee ones to get down off the stage with their bundles. During Mrs. Santa's address he might carelessly perch himself upon the pumpkin.

The pumpkin is made with a strong wire frame (can be made at any hardware store), and covered with a deep yellow cambric with an occasional green smutch painted upon it. It is in two hemispheres and is tied together strongly at the bottom and loosely at the top, so that the fairy inside can easily loosen the top string and step out when Mrs. Santa cuts open the pumpkin with a large carving-knife.

In case it is not practicable to have a pumpkin-frame made, substitute for it a gigantic snowball made of cotton-wool, covered with diamond-dust to sparkle like snow-crystals. Two large old-fashioned umbrellas that are dome-shaped will serve very nicely for the frame of a spherical ball, if the tips of the ribs are wired together. It should then be covered inside and outside with white cloth on which the cotton batting can be basted. With such an arrangement it would be necessary to dispense with the fairy, but the little folks might have the surprise of seeing the snowball slowly open at a snap from Jack Frost's whip, disclosing a nest of smaller snowballs. These Jack Frost might toss to the children and, when opened, they might be found to contain candy and nuts.

Index

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