Part 11

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:

Fried Chicken Hot Rolls Boston Baked Beans Brown Bread Coffee Cucumber Pickles Plum Preserves Pumpkin Pie Cheese Doughnuts Banbury Tarts

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:

_Ping-Pong Party!_

_Polite and pretty people pressed to pleasantly play ping-pong for prizes: pens, pictures, purses or pencils._

_Patent leather pumps and pinafores positively prohibited._

_Party puts in at 8 P. M.--pulls out at pleasure._

_Program_

_1. Ping-pong partners. 2. Playing ping-pong. 3. Partaking of prepared provender. 4. Presentation of prizes. R. s. v. p. pretty promptly to Miss Ethel Thompson,_

_179 Chestnut Street._

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.

YEW AIR AST TO A POVERTY PARTTY!

that us fokes of thee Trinity C. E. air a-goin tu hav at the hous whare Mr. Linscott livs with his wife. It is on Alanson Strete. If yer cante finde it go to No. 36.

_MONDAY NITE, MARTCH THEE TWENTY ATE_ RULS AND REGELASHUNS.

Chap. One. Evry womman who kums must ware a kaliko dres and apern, ore somethin ekally apropriate.

Chap. Tew. All men must ware there ole close and flannill shurts. Biled shurts and stanup dickys air prohibbitted onles there ole and rinkled.

_These Ruls Will Bee Inforced to thee Leter._

ONE--A kompetunt core uf mannagers and ades will be in attendance.

TEW--The hull sasiety wil interduce strangirs and luk after bashfil fellers.

THREE--There is a-goin to bee lots of phun fore every boddy.

FORE--Phun wil begin tu commance at haf pas seven.

FIVE--Tu git into thee house yew wil have tew pay tu (2) cents.

SIX--Tu git anny thing tu ete yew will haf tu pay thre (3) cents.

SEVEN--Yew beter bring lots uv pennies tu pay phines with.

_Kum Irly and Git a Gude Sete._

POVERTY SOCIABLE

YOU ARE ASKED TO THE PARLORS OF GEN. & MRS. SILAS T. JONES

_Wednesday Evening, April Twelfth._

"Come in your rags, come in your tags," but not in velvet gowns, or you will be fined the usual some, 25 sents. Read the program and all kum.

REWLS AND REGERLASHUNS

First. Every womin what kums must ware a Poverty dres and apern, er somethin ekelly erpropriate, an leave her poodle dorg to hum.

Second. Know gent with biled shirt and dood koller will be aloud to kum onless he pays a fine of 5 sents.

Third. A kompitent komitty will intruduse strangers an look after bashful fellers.

VITTLES

Koffy, 5 sents Ginger Kake, 5 sents

KUM AT KANDLE LIGHTIN AN STAY TIL BEDTIME NO OBSTREPROUS ER BAD BOYS PERMITTED

PRESIDENTIAL COUPLETS

1. Who first at Washington did pledge The nation's weal to guard and hedge?

2. Which President, most grave and wary, Was called "Old Public Functionary"?

3. Whose phaeton, made from ship of state, Conveyed him to inaugural fête?

4. What President, renowned for spleen, Joined the Continentals when fourteen?

5. Who in his New York home did take The oath which doth a President make?

6. Who to his inaugural hied His good and faithful horse astride?

7. When death first made vacant a President's chair, What Vice-President succeeded there?

8. Who to his inaugural came disguised, For fear of mischief ill-advised?

9. Who was wounded in Trenton town When Washington put the Hessians down?

10. Who President again became Just four year after resigning the name?

11. What President served but thirty days Ere death dissolved his term of praise?

12. What President, son of a President, Was known as "The Old Man Eloquent"?

13. Because March fourth on Sunday came, Who, for one day, deferred their claim?

14. Who, when his oath of office he took, Was known as "The Wizard of Kinderhook"?

15. Who, after his inaugural vow, Turned round to kiss his mother's brow?

16. The initials of what President's name Stand for a phrase which made his fame?

17. Who in the Quaker City neat Their oaths of office did repeat?

18. Which Chief Magistrate was styled "The American Fabius" of the wild?

19. "Novanglus" was the pen-name signed By what President of cultured mind?

20. Who only as President and Commander-in-Chief Has stood on the battle-field planning relief?

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