Part 14

Then the following game may be played:

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

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

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

TREE POOL

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

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

TROLLEY PARTY

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

The cards were as follows:

A TROLLEY RIDE--ST. LOUIS TO KIRKWOOD

1. Abraham's wife.

2. What idols' feet are often made of.

3. Stop here when hungry.

4. Always owns a goose.

5. Dear to our hearts though sometimes a "Rip."

6. Brought lightning from the clouds.

7. A part of a door and what doors are usually made of.

8. A sombre color.

9. Of cherry-tree fame.

10. A direction of the compass and a preacher.

11. The side of a tiny stream.

12. One of the discoverers of Pike's Peak.

13. A great turn.

14. Associated with the lower regions.

15. The highest point.

16. What most housewives do on Monday.

17. A famous summer resort.

18. What the preacher who lisped said to the sinner.

19. Green, and dear to girlish hearts.

20. Makes a quick fire.

The names of the streets represented were:

1. Sarah.

2. Clay.

3. Berry Road.

4. Taylor.

5. Jefferson.

6. Franklin.

7. Lockwood.

8. Gray.

9. Washington.

10. Westminster.

11. Edgebrook.

12. Clark.

13. Big Bend.

14. Sulphur.

15. Summit.

16. Wash.

17. Newport.

18. Prather.

19. Olive.

20. Pine.

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

UNIQUE VALENTINE PARTY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

UNIVERSITY LUNCHEON

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

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

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

VALENTINE ENTERTAINMENT

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

1. Queen of Hearts.

2. Gypsy.

3. Nun.

4. Bicycle Girl.

5. Summer Girl.

6. Colonial Girl.

7. Poster Girl.

8. Widow.

9. Old Maid.

10. Trained Nurse.

11. Columbia.

12. Valentine.

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

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

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

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

VALENTINE FUN

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

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

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

Blow your bubble right through here And you'll be married before another year.

Above the second was:

To be engaged this very week Number two is the one to take.

And the third had:

A sad, an awful fate awaits the one who seeks me, For he or she will ever a spinster or bachelor be.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

VALENTINE PARTY--DANISH

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

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

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

"Sir Knight, would'st know thy lady's name, These pin pricks tell thee whence I came."

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

Coffee Water

Bummernickle (Black Rye Bread) White Bread With grated cheese, tied with cherry-colored ribbon

Bakte Bomner (Baked Beans) Pickles

Bakte Avola (Baked Apples) Pop-Corn

Avele-Skiever (Doughnuts) Head-Cheese

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

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

VALENTINE SOCIABLE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sandwiches--"Heart bread."

Apples--"Love apples."

Cherry Ice--"Frozen heart's blood."

Lady Fingers--"Love's caresses."

Kisses--"Lovers' sweets."

Candies--"Love's sweet compound."

VARIETY OF LITTLE MISSES

1. What Miss causes in turn amusements and quarrels? (Mis-chief)

2. What Miss is distrustful of human nature? (Mis-anthrope)

3. What Miss undervalues her opportunities? (Mis-appreciate)

4. What Miss is not always honest? (Mis-appropriate)

5. What Miss is provoking and a blunderer? (Mis-take)

6. What Miss can destroy the peace of home, school and nation? (Mis-rule)

7. What Miss is responsible for gross errors? (Mis-doing)

8. What Miss wastes times and money? (Mis-spend)

9. What Miss causes her mother sorrow? (Mis-conduct)

10. What Miss proves an uncertain correspondent? (Mis-direct)

11. What Miss should the traveler shun? (Mis-guide)

12. What Miss is unhappy? (Mis-fortune)

13. What Miss is distinguished as uncivil and ill-bred? (Mis-behave)

14. What Miss gives unreliable information? (Mis-call)

15. What Miss meets with ill-luck and delay? (Mis-adventure)

16. What Miss is untruthful? (Mis-represent)

VEGETABLE PARTY

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

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

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

A pronoun preceded and followed by a preposition. (Onion)

A painful projection. (Corn)

Hard to get out of. (Maize [maze])

What vegetables should see a great deal, and why? (Potatoes. They have so many eyes)

A basement and a question. (Celery [cellar-why])

Every good Chinaman has my first. My second is to overload. (Cucumber [queue-cumber])

A bivalve and a vegetable growth. (Oyster plant)

Normal, and a very small piece. (Parsnip)

A small waste. (Leek [leak])

A letter. (Pea [p])

A boy, a letter, and a part of the body? (Tomato [Tom-a-toe])

Yielding water, and connections? (Pumpkin)

To crush. (Squash)

A purple part of the year, and sick. (Lentil [Lent-ill])

A tour on your wheel, and years. (Spinach [spin-age])

Hot stuff. (Pepper)

An English dignity, and a platter. (Radish [R. A. dish])

A hen. (Egg plant)

Tramps. (Beets)

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

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES

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

FIRST ANNIVERSARY--COTTON WEDDING