Write invitations on cards cut out and painted to represent peanuts.
Have them read, "Won't you come next Tuesday night at 7 o'clock and help me gather my peanut crop? Cordially yours,"
When the guests assemble the night of the party, give each one a gay calico bag and a large wooden spoon. Then explain that they are to hunt for the peanuts on the lower floor of the house, and that the peanuts can only be taken up with the aid of the spoons. Half an hour is allowed to gather the peanut crop, and then the bags are marked with the gatherer's name and dropped into a large straw basket—the bag containing the largest number of peanuts receives a prize. This hunt causes much merriment.
When the time has expired and the bags are all in the basket, a large bowl of peanuts is put on a table and each guest given a needle and thread and told to make a necklace and pair of bracelets,—the best made set of peanut jewelry to be awarded a prize. The next feature of the evening's fun is making and dressing quaint little Chinese figures of peanuts. Crepe paper of various hues is provided for the costumes, andblack thread for the queues. First the peanuts are strung to form the little manikins, then eyes, nose and mouth are marked on with ink. Jackets and trousers are next cut and made, and the little Ching-Changs are dressed. Pigtails are plaited and sewed on to the tops of the heads, then the hats go on and the little celestials are ready to be inspected by the judges. These dolls the guests keep as souvenirs of their skill.
In the dining room have a small evergreen tree planted in a china jardiniere in the center of the supper table with little peanut owls perched on the branches of the tree. These owls have wings of light manila paper and are marked with ink to represent feathers. Big, staring eyes add a touch of realism. The owls are attached to the branches, singly and in groups, with glue.
For supper serve creamed chicken patties, tiny hot rolls, brandied peaches or sweet watermelon pickle; salad of cucumbers and mayonnaise served on lettuce leaves or cress, peanut butter, and chopped smoked tongue sandwiches, ice cream served in sherbet glasses, assorted cakes, coffee or chocolate.
Engage real colored singers to give a program of songs of the Southland, the old-time plantation melodies. Arrange the stage with a log cabin surrounded by sunflowers in the background and a cotton field in foreground, and have the singers costumed as field hands. Some of thebest known and best liked songs include "Old Black Joe," "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," "Nobody Knows the Trouble I Am Seeing," "Nellie Gray," "Suawanee River," "Way Over Jordan," "Ride up in the Chariot," "Massa's in the Cold, Cold Ground," "Dixie." Serve a fried chicken supper with rice, hot biscuits, syrup, cornpone, ice cream and cake and coffee. The program can end with buck and wing dancing, jigs and cakewalks.
At this cake walk there is no walking for the cake. The cakes themselves walk for prizes.
Ask each guest to dress representing a certain variety of cake, but concealing the name of the particular cake represented.
Give a prize to the person who discovers the largest number of names.
One girl representing Wedding Cake can come with bridal veil, orange blossom wreath and shower bouquet.
Fruit Cake may be suggested by a girl carrying a graceful basket of fruit which she distributes to the company. In her hair she may wear a crown of artificial grapes and grape leaves.
A woman of very diminutive size who might be thought to be almost ineligible for the gathering because she came without insignia of any kind might represent short cake.
And these are but a few of the ingenuities. The entire list is too long to give here, but each repetition is sure to call forth new ideas.
The winner of the first prize receives a pretty china cake dish, whilethe second prize is a dainty cake knife in silver. There is a booby, too—a small cook book giving twenty-five choice recipes for cakes.
The guessing of the cakes is followed by an informal supper. Serve
Chicken Mousse with Lettuce and Nut SaladBrown Bread and Butter SandwichesOlives, Salted AlmondsPeach Bavarian Cream, Fancy CakesCoffee
If one wishes a dainty and appetizing menu for a card supper serve sweetbread and celery salad, stuffed olives and tiny pickles, assorted sandwiches and plain vanilla ice cream with hot chocolate sauce, fruit cake, white cake and coffee.
While the judges are counting the points for game, have the maid lay a lunch cloth on each table. Serve the sweetbread salad either in cucumbers hollowed out or in red or green pepper shells, resting on a wreath of watercress. A pretty effect is secured by using alternate green and red peppers and leaving the tops with the stem for covers. Tie the tiniest of red peppers to the stems with narrow green ribbon for decoration. The sweetbread salad is made of cold cooked sweetbreads and celery cut into dice and covered with mayonnaise. If one adds a few sliced almond meats and mushrooms the flavor is improved. Serve ham sandwiches cut in shape of playing cards and decorated with bits of pickled beets to simulate card spots, heart shaped sandwiches ofchopped green peppers and mayonnaise, cucumbers and watercress mixed with mayonnaise, plain bread and butter sandwiches, using brown and white bread. If one wishes a hot course, serve oyster or cream chicken patties and tiny hot rolls. The fork is brought on the plate with the salad or hot course.
Serve ice cream in the sherbet glasses with stems. Place a lace paper doily on the plate, stand the glass on this and lay a pink rose on the plate. Pass the hot chocolate sauce in a silver or pretty china pitcher, or have it poured over the ice cream before it is brought in. Pass the coffee in after dinner coffee cups, the maid bringing in a tray full of the cups followed by an assistant with sugar, cream and after dinner coffee spoons.
Cut the cake into squares and pass in silver basket or handsome plate with doily.
Cold Chicken in Cranberry Jelly CupsCelery and Oyster PattiesBread and Butter SandwichesLemon Jelly with Whipped CreamIce Cream, Lady Fingers, CocoanutMacaroonsBonbons, Coffee
Mushroom PattiesTurkey and Celery Salad in Lettuce CupsCheese and Nut SandwichesPineapple Jelly with Whipped CreamVanilla Ice CreamSmall Sponge CakesCoffee with Whipped Cream
Since dealers do not sell oyster crabs at reasonable rates where they know their value or have a fashionable trade, if economical, one has to find a modest oyster house where they do not bring a cent and more apiece, but are for sale in bulk. A few dozen at least are needed for the steak. Oyster crabs are tiny things and they shrink in cooking.
The pan must be hot with plenty of butter in it Throw in the crabs whole of course, for they are wee things, clean as an oyster, and let them cook to a turn. Salt and pepper them and turn them over the steak which has been broiled exactly right. The oyster crabs must be cooked so as to be ready when the steak is done.
Iced ConsommeCelery, Salted WafersLobster en Mayonnaise, Brown Bread SandwichesCold Filet of BeefSaratoga Potatoes, Jelly, Brandied CherriesTomatoes Stuffed with Celery, Green Peppers and CucumbersChicken SaladRoquefort Cheese, Toasted CrackersIce Cream in CanteloupesFruits, Crystallized Candies
Here's to man, God's first thought,Here's to woman, God's second thought;As second thoughts are best, "Here's to woman."—Detroit Free Press.
A health to the man on trail this night; may his grub hold out; may his dogs keep their legs; may his matches never miss fire.
A health to the man on trail this night; may his grub hold out; may his dogs keep their legs; may his matches never miss fire.
Here's to a jolly fellow,Who is one of the boys,And stays till he gets mellow,Sharing the drinks and joys.His glass he'll fill to the rim,And dash it out of sight,We can all tie to him,You bet, "he's all right!"
Here's to you, as good as you are,And here's to me, as bad as I am;But as good as you are, and as bad as I am,I'm as good as you are as bad as I am!—An Old Scotch Toast
Here's to the maiden of bashful fifteenHere's to the widow of fifty;Here's to the flaunting, extravagant queen,And here's to the housewife that's thrifty!Let the toast pass;Drink to the lass;I'll warrant she'll prove an excuse for the glass.—Sheridan.
"The women, God bless them, we toast them alway,Lest the women, God bless them, roast us every day."
While there's life on the lip, while there's warmth in the wine,One deep health I'll pledge, and that health shall be thine.Lucille—Owen Meredith.
Crown high the goblets with a cheerful draught;Enjoy the present hour; adjourn the future thought.—Dryden's Virgil.
Here's to Love, a thing so divine,Description makes it but the less;'Tis what we feel but cannot define,'Tis what we know but cannot express.
"With its laughter and tears, its blessings and joys,Its mixture of peace and of strife.And may it be seasoned to each man's taste,With plenty of love for its dressing,And when we have eaten the last on the dish,Let us hope it has proven a blessing."
"Clink, clink your glasses and drink!Why should we trouble borrow?Care not for sorrow,A fig for the morrow!Tonight let's be merry and drink!"
Here's to the prettiest,Here's to the wittiest,Here's to the truest of all who are true.Here's to the neatest one,Here's to the sweetest one,Here's to them all in one—here's to you.
"Laugh at all things,Great and small things,Sick or well, at sea or shore;While we're quaffing,Let's have laughing—Who the devil cares for more."—Lord Byron.
A toast to your hair, my loved one,A toast to your beautiful hair!It rests like a crownOf unmatchable brownOn your brow so pure and fair.There's a charm in its lightness,An air in its brightness,That tangled my heart in its snare.Then pledge me, my fair one,My loved one, my rare one,A toast to your beautiful hair!—Bayard Bacon.
Woman. The fairest work of the great Author. The edition is large and no man can afford to be without a copy.
Woman. The fairest work of the great Author. The edition is large and no man can afford to be without a copy.
He is the half part of a blessed man,Left to be finished by such as she.—Shakespeare.
To Friendship—it improves happiness and abates misery, by the doubling of our joy and the dividing of our grief.—Cicero.
To Friendship—it improves happiness and abates misery, by the doubling of our joy and the dividing of our grief.—Cicero.
Ho gentlemen! lift your glasses up—Each gallant, each swain and lover—A kiss to the beads that brim in the cupA laugh for the foam spilt over!For the soul is a-lift and the heart beats high,And care has unloosened its tether;"Now drink," said the sage, "for tomorrow we die!"So let's have a toast together.
Swing the goblet aloft; to the lips let it fall;Then bend you the knee to address her;And to drink gentle sirs, to the queen of us all—To the Woman that's Good—God bless her!—And I pledge my last toast, ere I go to my rest—O fortunate earth to possess her!—To the dear tender heart in the little white breastOf the Woman that's Good—God bless her!
Here's to the girl that's good and sweetHere's to the girl that's true,Here's to the girl that rules my heart—In other words, Here's to you.
Here's to the land of the shamrock so green,Here's to each lad and his darling coleenHere's to the ones we love dearest and mostAnd may God save old Ireland,—that's an Irishman's toast.
A toast to Thanksgiving,A Pæan of Praise,A health to our forefathers brave;May we honor the deedsThey have done in the past,Hold sacred all that they gave.—Estelle Foreman.
In cosmopolitan Los Angeles there are five gentlemen companions, each representing a different nationality, who from frequent association have become intimate friends. One is a Russian, one a Turk, one a Frenchman, one an American and one an Englishman. These five frequently assemble together and tell of the comparative merits of the respective countries they represented and thus their companionship is a source of instruction as well as entertainment. Recently they gave a champagne supper to whicha few friends were invited. During the course of this dinner it was proposed that each of the five give a toast to his native country, the one giving the best toast to be at no expense for the feast. The result was these toasts:
The Russian—"Here's to the stars and bars of Russia, that were never pulled down."
The Turk—"Here's to the moons of Turkey whose wings were never clipped."
The Frenchman—"Here's to the cock of France, whose feathers were never picked."
The American—"Here's to the Stars and Stripes of America, never trailed in defeat."
The Englishman—"Here's to the rampin' roarin' lion of Great Britain, that tore down the stars and bars of Russia, clipped the wings of Turkey, picked the feathers off the cock of France, and ran like h—l from the Stars and Stripes of the United States of America."
The Englishman was at no expense for the feast.
"Why, Patrick, you seem to be in great pain—you have taken something that disagrees with you." "Yes, doctor, I swallowed a potato bug be accident, and although I took some Paris green a minute after it don't quiet the disgraceful little baste. He's racing up and down and all round inside of me."
"If you would refuse occasionally when those hateful men ask you to drink," said Mrs. Booce, "you would not be coming home in this condition. You lack firmness of character."
"Don't you b'leeve nossin' of the sort," said Mr. Booce, with much dignity. "The fellers tried to start me home more'n two hours ago."
Guest—"Am I the unlucky thirteener?"
Host—"No, you're the lucky fourteener. You're to fill up the gap."
Guest—"All right; I've brought it with me."
"Suppose you come and dine with us tomorrow?"
"Wouldn't the day after do just as well?" inquired the poor relation.
"Certainly; but where are you going to dine tomorrow?"
"Oh, here. You see, your wife was kind enough to ask me for that occasion."
At a dinner given in a home that was marked for the literary acquirements of its members the conversation naturally turned to books and their authors. This was not much to the liking of one young woman, who was more noted for her skill at golf and kindred sports than for her knowledge of romance and history. From time to time she attempted to start a discussion of outdoor games, but to no avail. At last her companion at the table turned to her with the inquiry:
"And do you not like Kipling?"
The fair young thing knitted her brows in thought for a moment, then answered blithely:
"Kipling? I don't believe it has been introduced in our set yet. How do you kipple, anyway?"
Book Agent—"Is the lady of the house in?"
Cook—"We'reallladies here, yez moonkey-faced divil! If yez mane themishtress, say so!"
A Sunday-school teacher recently told her class about the cruelty of docking horses, says Our Dumb Animals. "Can any little girl tell me," she said, "of an appropriate verse of Scripture referring to such treatment?" A small girl rose and said solemnly, "What God hath joined together, let no man put asunder."
I am reminded of a sick man who had a talking wife. A doctor was sent for to prescribe for the husband. When he left he said to the wife: "Your husband is not dangerously ill. All he needs is rest, so I have prescribed this opiate."
"How often shall I give it to him?" she asked.
"Oh, don't give it to him at all. Take it yourself."
Scene: The bar parlour of the Prince George, Brighton. Pipes and beer all round. An old salt saying:—
"I've got a riddle to ask you chaps. If a 'erring and a 'alf cost three farthings 'ow many could you buy for sixpence?"
Profound silence, and much puffing of pipes. Presently a voice from the corner:—
"I say, Bill, did you say 'errings?"
"Yes, I said 'errings."
"Drat it, I've been a-reckoning of mackerel all this 'ere time!"
"An' phwat are yez a-doin' wid that pig in the sea?"
"Shure, an' I'm a makin' salt pork av him afore I kill him."
A story is told of a man who, having submitted himself to the manipulation of a venerable barber was told: "Do you know, sah, you remind me so much of Dan'l Webster?"
"Indeed," he said, "shape of my head, I suppose?"
This staggered the aged colored man somewhat. He had not expected that there would be a call for an explanatory superstructure. "No, sah," he stammered in reply; "not yo' head, sah, it's yo' breff."
"Speaking of mushrooms and toadstools, gentlemen," chimed in Dumley, "a friend of mine not long ago gathered a quantity of what he supposed were mushrooms, and took 'em home. His wife cooked 'em and the whole family ate heartily of 'em."
"And did they all die?" inquired the crowd, very much shocked.
"No, they happened to be mushrooms, you see," replied Dumley with a far-a-away look in his eye, "but it was a narrow escape."
He was enjoying an ear of corn in the good, old-fashioned way. "You look as if you were playing the flute," his hostess remarked, smiling. "Oh, no," was the amiable retort; "It's a cornet I'm playing, by ear."
London Landlady (to shivering lodger).—No, sir, I don't object to your dining at a restorong, nor to taking an 'apenny paper, but I must resent your constant 'abit of locking up your whiskey, thereby himplying that me, a clergyman's daughter, is prone to larceny.
"Pat," said his young wife, "I wish you wouldn't put your knife in your mouth when you eat." "An' phwere would yez hev me put it," said Pat, in astonishment, "in me eyes?"
First Lady—"What birthday presents are you going to give to your husband?"
Second Lady—"A hundred cigars."
First Lady—"And what did you pay for them?"
Second Lady—"Oh, nothing! For the last few months I have taken one or two out of his box every day. He hasn't noticed it, and will be pleased with my little present and the fine quality of the cigars."
Arabella (scared)—"Oh, mammy! Miss Smiff say her ole man gits fits eb'ry time he come home drunk an' I's 'fraid I done cotch 'um."
Mammy—"G'wan, chile; fits ain' ketchin'."
Arabella—"Dey mus' be, kase Miss Smiff says she give 'em to him herse'f."
Mistress (greatly scandalized)—"Is it possible, Hannah, you are making bread without having washed your hands?"
New Kitchen Girl—"Lor', what's the difference, mum? It's brown bread."
Family Physician—"I'm afraid you have been eating too much cake and candy. Let me see your tongue."
Little Girl—"Oh, you can look at it, but it won't tell."
"Patrick, you told me you needed the alcohol to clean the mirrors with, and here I find you drinking it."
"Faix, mum, it's drinkin' it and brathin' on the glass oi'm a-doin'."
A clergyman was being shaved by a barber who had evidently become unnerved by the previous night's dissipation. Finally he cut the clergyman's chin. The latter looked up at the artist reproachfully and said, "You see, my man, what comes of hard drinking." "Yes, sir," replied the barber, consolingly, "it makes the skin tender."
They began by making much of his office, and the great qualities necessary to properly fill it. They laid stress upon the decay of the standard of fitness, and congratulated themselves that they had at last met with an instance where the man did honor to the office.
The mayor stood it for some time, and then in the blandest manner remarked:
"You make me more worthy, gentlemen, than I really am. I am not a genius, nor yet am I a sot or a simpleton, but rather, if you will permit such self measurement, something between the two."
First Quick Lunch Waitress—"Say, but that dude is gone on Molly!"
Second Quick Lunch Waitress (enviously)—"Ain't he? When he orders 'beans and draw one and sinkers' from her he puts such love in it that it sounds like 'Paddy defoy grass, coffee o'lay and Parker House rolls.'"
"Will you have a piece of the pie, Mr. Goodman?" asked Bobby's mother of the minister.
"Thanks, no," he replied.
"Will you, Bobby," she inquired.
"No, I think not," said Bobby, rather hesitating.
The minister looked at Bobby in surprise.
"I thought all little boys were fond of pie," he said.
"They are," replied Bobby. "I could eat that hull pie, but ma said if you didn't take any I mustn't, and she'd save it for tomorrow."