Calico Carnival"Consider yourself cordially invited to be present at the correctly constructed and considerately combined calico carnival to be held at —— Hall, Friday night, February —, 1905, admission fifteen cents."Conspicuous courses served in confused compactness: One conglomerated compound circle; one cup communicative cordial (containing no chickory), or one cup of Chinese cheer, or one cup of choice churned cream; one cider cured cucumber; and one cup of cold comfort."Rules and regulations: All ladies to wear calico gowns, also requested to bring half a pound of carefully cut carpet rags each. All gentlemen to wear calico ties and requested to bring thimbles."Fines will be imposed for the following: Any lady who fails to wear a calico gown, ten cents; any lady who fails to bring half a pound of carefully cut carpet rags, ten cents; any gentleman who fails to wear a calico tie, twenty-five cents; any gentleman who fails to bring a thimble, five cents."P. S.—There will be for sale, cheap, cunning calico conveniences that will be a constant comfort."N. B.—Any person who sits in a corner and refuses to converse will be fined five cents."The sale of calico conveniences will begin at ——."
Calico Carnival
"Consider yourself cordially invited to be present at the correctly constructed and considerately combined calico carnival to be held at —— Hall, Friday night, February —, 1905, admission fifteen cents.
"Conspicuous courses served in confused compactness: One conglomerated compound circle; one cup communicative cordial (containing no chickory), or one cup of Chinese cheer, or one cup of choice churned cream; one cider cured cucumber; and one cup of cold comfort.
"Rules and regulations: All ladies to wear calico gowns, also requested to bring half a pound of carefully cut carpet rags each. All gentlemen to wear calico ties and requested to bring thimbles.
"Fines will be imposed for the following: Any lady who fails to wear a calico gown, ten cents; any lady who fails to bring half a pound of carefully cut carpet rags, ten cents; any gentleman who fails to wear a calico tie, twenty-five cents; any gentleman who fails to bring a thimble, five cents.
"P. S.—There will be for sale, cheap, cunning calico conveniences that will be a constant comfort.
"N. B.—Any person who sits in a corner and refuses to converse will be fined five cents.
"The sale of calico conveniences will begin at ——."
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.
The words to be guessed all begin withCAN—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.
1.Though this canisa can, you all will agree,The can is termed thus because it holds tea.2.This long, narrow can holds so precious a stock,That oft you will find it has more than one lock.3.The most wick-éd can, tho' safe from police,Should you search for its heart you will find it in grease.4.This can is a can that delights you and me,It always is "open" and likewise is "free."5.Where breezes blow and surges roll,With swelling form and manner proud,This can in triumph rides the waves,The sailor's living and his shroud.6.Here's a can, which, bear in mind,Lives on others of its kind.7.They say empty cans will produce the most noise,But, if properly filled, this will startle the boys.8.Most cans are hardly fit to eat,Yet you'll like this kind, nice and sweet.9.The waltz or the glee or the bold martial strain,Each one, as his favorite, endorses;But for those who prefer oratorio style,This can sweetest music discourses.10. Now who would elect in a can to reside,Yet this as a shelter is known far and wide.11. A can of most sagacious mind,'Tis "frugal, prudent, shrewd," you'll find.12. That a horse should use cans seems indeed strange to say,Yet if pressed to have one he'd not utter a nay.13. To put cans in poems no one is inclined,Yet cans of this sort in some poems you'll find.14. In tubs and in bowls men have ventured from land,And in cans of this kind, so I understand.15. Now, here is a can that is yellow and round,'Twould seem little prized, for it grows on the ground.
1.Though this canisa can, you all will agree,The can is termed thus because it holds tea.2.This long, narrow can holds so precious a stock,That oft you will find it has more than one lock.3.The most wick-éd can, tho' safe from police,Should you search for its heart you will find it in grease.4.This can is a can that delights you and me,It always is "open" and likewise is "free."5.Where breezes blow and surges roll,With swelling form and manner proud,This can in triumph rides the waves,The sailor's living and his shroud.6.Here's a can, which, bear in mind,Lives on others of its kind.7.They say empty cans will produce the most noise,But, if properly filled, this will startle the boys.8.Most cans are hardly fit to eat,Yet you'll like this kind, nice and sweet.9.The waltz or the glee or the bold martial strain,Each one, as his favorite, endorses;But for those who prefer oratorio style,This can sweetest music discourses.10. Now who would elect in a can to reside,Yet this as a shelter is known far and wide.11. A can of most sagacious mind,'Tis "frugal, prudent, shrewd," you'll find.12. That a horse should use cans seems indeed strange to say,Yet if pressed to have one he'd not utter a nay.13. To put cans in poems no one is inclined,Yet cans of this sort in some poems you'll find.14. In tubs and in bowls men have ventured from land,And in cans of this kind, so I understand.15. Now, here is a can that is yellow and round,'Twould seem little prized, for it grows on the ground.
1.Though this canisa can, you all will agree,The can is termed thus because it holds tea.
1.Though this canisa can, you all will agree,
The can is termed thus because it holds tea.
2.This long, narrow can holds so precious a stock,That oft you will find it has more than one lock.
2.This long, narrow can holds so precious a stock,
That oft you will find it has more than one lock.
3.The most wick-éd can, tho' safe from police,Should you search for its heart you will find it in grease.
3.The most wick-éd can, tho' safe from police,
Should you search for its heart you will find it in grease.
4.This can is a can that delights you and me,It always is "open" and likewise is "free."
4.This can is a can that delights you and me,
It always is "open" and likewise is "free."
5.Where breezes blow and surges roll,With swelling form and manner proud,This can in triumph rides the waves,The sailor's living and his shroud.
5.Where breezes blow and surges roll,
With swelling form and manner proud,
This can in triumph rides the waves,
The sailor's living and his shroud.
6.Here's a can, which, bear in mind,Lives on others of its kind.
6.Here's a can, which, bear in mind,
Lives on others of its kind.
7.They say empty cans will produce the most noise,But, if properly filled, this will startle the boys.
7.They say empty cans will produce the most noise,
But, if properly filled, this will startle the boys.
8.Most cans are hardly fit to eat,Yet you'll like this kind, nice and sweet.
8.Most cans are hardly fit to eat,
Yet you'll like this kind, nice and sweet.
9.The waltz or the glee or the bold martial strain,Each one, as his favorite, endorses;But for those who prefer oratorio style,This can sweetest music discourses.
9.The waltz or the glee or the bold martial strain,
Each one, as his favorite, endorses;
But for those who prefer oratorio style,
This can sweetest music discourses.
10. Now who would elect in a can to reside,Yet this as a shelter is known far and wide.
10. Now who would elect in a can to reside,
Yet this as a shelter is known far and wide.
11. A can of most sagacious mind,'Tis "frugal, prudent, shrewd," you'll find.
11. A can of most sagacious mind,
'Tis "frugal, prudent, shrewd," you'll find.
12. That a horse should use cans seems indeed strange to say,Yet if pressed to have one he'd not utter a nay.
12. That a horse should use cans seems indeed strange to say,
Yet if pressed to have one he'd not utter a nay.
13. To put cans in poems no one is inclined,Yet cans of this sort in some poems you'll find.
13. To put cans in poems no one is inclined,
Yet cans of this sort in some poems you'll find.
14. In tubs and in bowls men have ventured from land,And in cans of this kind, so I understand.
14. In tubs and in bowls men have ventured from land,
And in cans of this kind, so I understand.
15. Now, here is a can that is yellow and round,'Twould seem little prized, for it grows on the ground.
15. Now, here is a can that is yellow and round,
'Twould seem little prized, for it grows on the ground.
KEY
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.
Each month has a flower or plant appropriated to it, and to each a meaning is attached. The list is as follows:
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.
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.
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.
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:
"Little Bo Peep has lost her sheepAnd can't tell where to find them;Let them alone and they'll come homeAnd bring their tails behind them."
"Little Bo Peep has lost her sheepAnd can't tell where to find them;Let them alone and they'll come homeAnd bring their tails behind them."
"Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep
And can't tell where to find them;
Let them alone and they'll come home
And bring their tails behind them."
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 HornerSat in a corner,Eating a Christmas pie;He put in his thumbAnd pulled out a plum,And said: "What a great boy am I!"
Little Jack HornerSat in a corner,Eating a Christmas pie;He put in his thumbAnd pulled out a plum,And said: "What a great boy am I!"
Little Jack Horner
Sat in a corner,
Eating a Christmas pie;
He put in his thumb
And pulled out a plum,
And said: "What a great boy am I!"
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."
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.
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.
The invitations to this tea read like this:
Prepare yourself for a Sweet Pea Tea,The 'bus will call for you at three.July 19th.
Prepare yourself for a Sweet Pea Tea,The 'bus will call for you at three.July 19th.
Prepare yourself for a Sweet Pea Tea,
The 'bus will call for you at three.
July 19th.
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.
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.
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:
"From half-past six to half-past nine,I pray you to be guest of mine.With Valentine, their patron Saint,Sure all good lovers are acquaint;So in his honor kindly spendA pleasant evening with a friend."
"From half-past six to half-past nine,I pray you to be guest of mine.With Valentine, their patron Saint,Sure all good lovers are acquaint;So in his honor kindly spendA pleasant evening with a friend."
"From half-past six to half-past nine,
I pray you to be guest of mine.
With Valentine, their patron Saint,
Sure all good lovers are acquaint;
So in his honor kindly spend
A pleasant evening with a friend."
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.
Invitations should read as follows:
Come to the Chinese Tea Partyand help eatRice and RatsPrepared and Served by Chinese Girlsat —— ChurchMonday 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 acandy raton 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.
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.
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.
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:
"Merrily 'round this Christmas ring,Dancing gayly as we sing.What would this umbrella bringIf we changed to hippetty-hopAnd our hostess called out 'stop'?"
"Merrily 'round this Christmas ring,Dancing gayly as we sing.What would this umbrella bringIf we changed to hippetty-hopAnd our hostess called out 'stop'?"
"Merrily 'round this Christmas ring,
Dancing gayly as we sing.
What would this umbrella bring
If we changed to hippetty-hop
And our hostess called out 'stop'?"
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.
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.
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.
Extras
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.
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.
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.
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 invitedto a Corn Husking to be held inMartin Mattice's BarnOn the evening of October the thirty-firstat 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.
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 amenuof Dutch dishes:
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.
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.