Made Easy Series

ENTERTAINING MADE EASY

BY

EMILY ROSE BURT

1919

_Acknowledgment is made to Woman's Home Companion, The Ladies' HomeJournal, Farm and Fireside, and the Designer for their courteouspermission to reprint certain material in this book_. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SOCIALS AND PARTIES A SMILES SOCIAL AN AVIATION MEET A MOCK CANTEEN A PROGRESSIVE MARCH PARTY AN AUTUMN LEAF DANCE A HARVEST HOME PARTY A NUTTY PARTY FOR OCTOBER A MAY POLE PARTY FOR CHILDREN

OUTDOOR AFFAIRS A BACON BAT A CHILDREN'S DAISY PARTY A HAWAIIAN PORCH LUNCHEON A WATERMELON FROLIC A JAPANESE GARDEN PARTY A COMMENCEMENT PICNIC A PROGRESSIVE MOTOR PARTY

BIRTHDAYS AND OTHER ANNIVERSARIES A BACHELOR SUPPER MOTHER'S BIRTHDAY TEA A PUSSY CAT PARTY A GIRL'S BIRTHDAY LUNCHEON THE WOODEN WEDDING THE TIN WEDDING A MOCK WEDDING A SILVER WEDDING SHOWER A CAPE COD LUNCHEON

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND SHOWERS "A LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME" LUNCHEON A HAPPINESS TEA A HELLO PARTY AN APPLE SHOWER AN OLD ROSE SHOWER A KITTY SHOWER A CAMP FIRE SHOWER A "ONE I LOVE" SHOWER AN INDIAN SUMMER SHOWER A CHRISTMAS TREE SHOWER

WEDDINGS SUMMER WEDDING DECORATIONS THE TABLE DECORATIONS MENUS FOR THE BUFFET LUNCHEON THE FAVORS TWO SUMMER WEDDINGS A Wild Rose Wedding A Field Flower Wedding OUTDOOR WEDDINGS An Orchard Pageant A Wedding on the Lawn FALL WEDDINGS A Blue and Gold Fall Wedding Oak Leaves and Cosmos THREE WINTER WEDDINGS A Christmas Wedding A Rainbow Wedding A Colonial Wedding

_INTRODUCTION_

It is fun to entertain--if you don't make hard work of it. 

And why make hard work of it when there are ways to entertain easily?

Besides you know that the more easily you do it, the more successfulyou'll be, and there's hardly a woman in the world--is there?--whowouldn't like to be known as a good hostess. 

"But, " says one of you, "I haven't the knack. "

And another says, "I haven't the time or money. "

And yet another, "Oh, I never have any ideas. "

Nonsense!

It's not a question of knack or money or ideas. All you need is toknow the secret, and it's an open secret at that!

First, ask yourself what you mean by a successful hostess. Your answerwill be, "One whose guests have so good a time that they want to comeagain. "

Sure enough! The secret is out then--entertaining successfully isgiving the guests a good time. 

"More easily said than done, " you say. "What must I _do_ to give theguests a good time?"

And the answer to that is in a nutshell. "Make your entertainment fitthe folks to be entertained. "

You wouldn't, for instance, think of inviting your grandmother'sfriends in of an afternoon in honor of the old lady's birthday andplaying stagecoach or blindman's buff. 

And if you have your Sunday School class of lively boys in for theevening, you won't expect them to play paper and pencil games fromeight to ten. 

It's really just a matter of common sense coupled with someimagination and forethought to choose the right kind of entertainment. 

Along with choosing the right variety of amusement, remember thatfolks generally like the simple things best and if there's a touch oforiginality in addition, you've won their hearts. For you see you'vemade them feel that you took the trouble to plan something "different"in their honor. 

Because it's different, it isn't necessarily hard to prepare--thereare lots of novelties in decoration, amusement and "eats" thatare perfectly simple and inexpensive. They are what help to makeentertaining easy, in fact. And just at this point you see comes inthe reason for the writing of this little book. 

It aims to make entertaining easy by suggesting plans that are simpleand a little out-of-the-ordinary to fit the most frequent occasionswhen you wish to entertain or perhaps _must_ do so. Special care hasbeen taken to consider time and expense, but at the same time to bringin a touch of the unusual. 

Don't miss the fun of entertaining because you've always thought ithard work! This book has been prepared to show you how easily, after all, it can be done. And may you have the reward of joy andsatisfaction that comes with successful hospitality!

SOCIALS AND PARTIES

Perhaps you're appointed chairman of the social committee of youryoung people's church society of or some club. Or maybe you want toentertain for a friend who is visiting you so that she may meetyour circle of friends. Anyway it's up to you to plan an evening'samusement for a big crowd of people. If it's a mixed crowd--young andold and in-between (as church socials often are)--you need one kindof plan; if it's a bunch of young folks, or a school class party, orsomething for the children, you need other plans. 

But the secret of all good times for big crowds is to chooseentertainment that draws the individuals together in some kind ofcomradeship, gives them all something in common, and puts them on afriendly footing. 

A SMILES SOCIAL

On the door of the parish house as well as in the post-office windowappeared a poster adorned with a big smiling face--the kind made bydrawing a circle and putting inside of it two eye dots, a nose line, and a cheerful curve for a mouth. 

Beneath it the invitation urged everybody to come to a Smiles Social, wearing a smile and bringing an extra one in the pocket. Admission, one smile. 

The parish house parlors were decorated with all the laughing orsmiling pictures that could be found by the committee in charge. "MonaLisa" was there with her inscrutable smile, "The Laughing Cavalier, "as well as less famous characters, such as smiling girls on calendarsand magazine covers. An amusing display of newspaper cartoons alsofilled one portion of the wall space. Smilax was appropriately enoughused for trimming. 

At the door was stationed a smiling admission collector, who insistedon an entering smile from everyone. The extra one was not demanded atthis point. 

With such a beginning and the gallery of smiles about the room tobreak the ice, the social was assured of the success that followed. 

The first stunt tried was called "Throwing Smiles, " not a newamusement but always a fun-maker. 

One person starts the game by smiling broadly and then pretending towipe off the smile and throw it to somebody else. As soon as it landson the next person's face, that person must in turn wipe it off andfling it at a third player. As soon as a smile is supposedly wipedoff, the owner of it must maintain a perfectly sober expression. 

The company was in screams of laughter before this game had gone veryfar. 

Another amusing game for a large number which goes under variousnames was called on this occasion "The Smile Factory. " The company isdivided into two groups which line up opposite each other. Someoneis appointed to stand between the two lines with a man's soft hat inhand. If upon being tossed in the air, the hat lands right side up, one group has to laugh while the opposite one remains absolutelysober. When the hat lands upside down, the first group remains solemnand the other group laughs. A member of either side who fails tofollow this rule goes over to the opposite side. The side which winsall the members of the other side is announced victorious. 

The old-fashioned game of "Poor Pussy" was also played because thepoint of it is trying not to smile. The younger folk will enjoy it. You may remember that a ring is formed and the person within the ringwho is "it, " kneels before someone in the circle and mews or purrsappealingly three times successively. Each time the person confrontedmust answer sternly or calmly "Poor Pussy, " never smiling. In case ofa smile or a laugh, this person takes the place of "Poor Pussy. "

Midway of the evening the extra smiles brought to the social wereasked for. Jokes and funny rhymes or sayings were read in turn. Ifvarious persons dislike the publicity of such a procedure, all the"smiles" may be collected and presented by two or three clever personsin the form of a minstrel show. This can be called "Smiles in Blackand White. "

The popular song "Smiles" was in order as well as the older favorite, "Pack up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag and Smile, Smile, Smile. "

The following conundrum was also propounded: What is the longest wordin the English language? The answer is "Smiles" because there's a milebetween the first and last syllables. 

Humorous recitations and others relating to smiles were given by somegood readers. 

Just before the refreshments came a smile-measuring contest. All stoodin line and grinned broadly while a girl with a tape measure tookaccount of each one in turn. The winner received as a prize a grinninglittle china darky. 

The refreshments were enough to make everyone smile--they consisted ofpink lemonade and ginger cookies with features marked on them in whiteicing. The most conspicuous feature was of course the grin. 

AN AVIATION MEET

Try this plan for recruiting attendance at your next church social. It would also "fill the bill" for a jolly midwinter school party. Theinvitations are made to look like tickets of admission; the men's ofred pasteboard and the girls' of blue. They read this way:

 _Admit Two To an Aviation Meet In the ---- Church parlors Friday evening February 21 8 o'clock_

Each member who receives a ticket must make a point of invitingsomebody else, and should conduct the guest personally to the social. 

The hall or assembly rooms may be decorated with American and Alliedcolors, and it would be appropriate and effective to suspend ineach window a trio of toy balloons, red, white, and blue in color, respectively. Miniature airplanes hung overhead at intervals down thelength of the room would add realism. 

In different places on the walls fasten conspicuously large postersboldly lettered with the program of events, as follows:

1. TESTS: Ground work Control Balance

2. FLIGHTS

3. STUNTS AND TRICKS: Hands Up Spiral Reverse speed Low speed Spin Nose dives Loop the loop

4. AIR RACES

5. ARRIVAL OF AIR MAIL

To promote fun, put up a few placards featuring certain well-knownmembers in some of the events. For instance:

 "_See Charlie Hays loop the loop_!"

or

 "_Mildred Brown's control is wonderful_!"

A good leader can make this program go off well by calling onvolunteers for the various contests. Sometimes people like better totake part in teams. 

The first test, which is called "ground work, " is a hopping stunt. Thecontestants hop on one foot to a given goal, and the one who does itmost easily and gracefully and holds out best is declared victoriousby the judges. Blue ribbon badges are pinned on the successfulpersons. 

Next comes "control, " which turns out to be facial control underdifficulties. No matter what the funny, teasing, or pseudo-insultingremarks or performances of the onlookers, the contestants must retaincalm and unmoved expressions as they stand in line. 

"Balance" proves who best can poise an apple on the head and walkacross the room. All the "balancers" start at the same moment, and thefirst successful ones are awarded the blue ribbon. Balancing peanutson a knife blade and carrying them thus from one end of the room tothe other is another way to execute the test. 

When it is time for "flights" everybody is handed a paper aviation capto put on. Then paper and pencils are passed and all are invited totake flights of fancy. These, it may be explained, may be rhymes, romances, or the biggest lies that can be recalled. A flight oforatory may also be offered. A committee of three appointed on thespot promises to report on the winners at the close of the evening. Ifpreferred, a program of poems and short, comic, exaggerated storiesmay be prepared beforehand, and fill in this space with apparentimpromptu. 

The stunts and tricks follow in detail:

1. _Hands Up_. Only one person knows the stunt and she quite mystifieseveryone who presents himself and obeys her, till some one guesses thesecret or she finally tells it. 

She begins by ordering her student on trial to raise one hand andkeep the other at his side while her own back is turned. Upon turningaround she is able to specify the hand which was raised. The secretis, of course, that the hand which hangs at the side, because of itsposition, becomes redder than the raised hand. At a glance she notesthe difference in color and so knows which hand has been raised. 

2. _Spiral_. This is a good mixer. All are asked to form in line, onebehind another, each one's hands on the shoulders of the person ahead. The leader then starts the line winding around and round the room intoa spiral and then unwinding it--the well-known gymnasium class stuntwhich carried through in a sprightly way is bound to make everybodyfeel better acquainted. 

3. _Reverse Speed_. Any number line up for a backward race. They go asfast as they can backward to an appointed goal. 

4. _Low Speed_. Any number may enter. This is a "slow" race, that isto say, all contestants progress as slowly as possible to a certaingoal. 

5. _Spin_. A supply of children's tops is provided and the ability tospin them properly is demonstrated. A few musical tops among them willadd to the hilarity. 

6. _Nose Dives_. This is a stunt which will probably appeal most tothe boys or the more adventurous girls. It consists of pushing applesor peanuts along given chalk marks on table or floor by means of thenose only. 

7. _Loop the Loop_. To those who know how to tie different kinds ofknots, the announcement of this contest gives a chance to show whatthey can do. 

The "air races" are of two sorts: the "hot air" race and the balloonrace. In the "hot air" race the contestants are timed as to the numberof words each can say in three minutes with the eyes shut. For theballoon race several strings are stretched from one side of the roomto the other, and the same number of toy balloons is supplied. Theobject is for the contestants to blow their respective balloons acrossthe room, following as nearly as possible the courses of string. Thechoice of different colored balloons makes for interest and consequent"rooting. "

The arrival of the air mail is heralded by the entrance of someonedressed in aviator's garments--warm helmet, goggles, gloves andall--carrying a mail sack (if real, a new one: but an imitation onesuffices). 

The aviator then proceeds to take out numerous packets which he handsto the guests as far as they go. There should be at least half as manypackages as persons present. Each bundle is marked

 "_Owner unknown. Find another to share this_. "

The explanation is that each recipient of a parcel must immediatelyseek a partner and, upon doing so, open the parcel. Enough sandwichesfor two are revealed. Meanwhile, hot coffee or chocolate is beingpassed by pretty waitresses with Japanese fans stuck in their hairairplane-wise. 

The evening may end with a "musical flight, " or, in other words, arousing "sing. "

A MOCK CANTEEN

For one boy who wanted to entertain a few of the fellows who had beenin camp with him, his hospitable sister planned a jolly supper partywhich undoubtedly owed its success to its "homeiness. " Certainly itsfriendly informality accomplished much more than any large outlay inmoney could have done. There were to be half a dozen boys, so fiveother girls were invited to make an equal number of girls and men. 

To begin with, the hostess passed around to the girls slips of paperand duplicate slips to the men. 

Each slip contained the name of some article of food for supper andthe man and girl who drew duplicate slips were thus delegated toprepare that particular dish together. 

When all had matched up partners they repaired to the kitchen, a bigold-fashioned room with plenty of space for all of them. The hostessand her partner did no cooking, but announced that they would managethis cafeteria. 

While all the others were in the kitchen, they arranged on a sidetable in the dining-room stacks of tin trays, knives, forks, spoons, and paper napkins. Over it they posted a bulletin board in goodimitation of a real cafeteria. There were listed on it the five disheswhich were being prepared and as a joke a number of others--quiteimpossible to cook at such a time, as roast beef, mince pie, frozenpudding--all of which were then heavily crossed off in black ink. 

When the cooks had finished their tasks (and the cheerful uproar thataccompanied their occupations may be easily imagined) the food wasarranged on a long kitchen table. Thereupon each person, afterpossessing him or herself of a tray and the required silver andscanning the menu posted, passed on and pretended to select from thecounter. In reality, of course, everyone took everything, and receiveda check from the hostess with a punch against some "stunt" written onit. 

The menu as prepared read as follows:

 Scalloped salmon Fruit salad Lettuce sandwiches Chocolate pudding with whipped cream Tea or coffee

Two tables were left bare in the dining-room and the company choseseats where they wished. 

A great deal of additional fun was gained upon finding that someonehad surreptitiously set up a placard on one of the tables reading"Reserved for Ladies. " Over the cold water faucet was a sign reading"Water" and glasses were grouped near it. 

After supper the various stunts registered on the checks and somerollicking songs filled the remainder of a merry evening in whichthere had been absolutely no chance for stiffness from beginning toend. 

These were some of the stunts:

_For the Men_

1. Show in five different ways how reveille affected your friends. 

2. Give an imitation of a lady and her pet "Peke. "

3. Go around the room without touching your feet to the floor. 

4. Do a ballet act. 

5. Dig a trench (in pantomime). 

6. Sing a Mother Goose rhyme through your nose. 

_For the Girls_

1. Give a military salute to every man in the room in turn. 

2. Choose a partner to walk around the "chimney" with you ten times. 

3. Count to fifty, substituting the words "Oh, fudge!" for fives andevery multiple of five. 

4. Pretend to eat a bunch of grapes. 

5. Represent your favorite movie actress till the others guess hercorrectly. 

6. Flirt in three different ways. 

A PROGRESSIVE MARCH PARTY

A group of high school friends, a social club of boys and girls, or achurch society of young people will enjoy giving the following partyin March. 

Send out invitations written on cards reading as follows:

 _March is the month of all the year When lamb and lion do appear, When pussy willow comes anew And March hare scampers into view. If you would meet these creatures four And maybe several others more, Then come prepared for work and play To Grangers' hall, March first, the day_. 

On the invitation cards, tiny hares, lions, lambs, or sprays of pussywillows can be outlined or traced by means of carbon paper frompictures. 

The guests upon arrival draw from a basket containing tiny toy orcracker lions, lambs, rabbits and cats, whichever kind of favor theywish. 

According to the favor each one draws, the guests take their placesrespectively at the March hare table, the lion table, the lamb table, or the pussy willow table. Each table is marked by a distinguishingcenterpiece: at the March hare table is a plaster rabbit, at the liontable, a toy lion; the lamb table has a woolly lamb on wheels, and thepussy willow table, a bunch of pussy willows or a stuffed cat. 

The fun is now ready to begin, for with the implements and materialsprovided at each table the guests are required to produce a facsimileof the animal for which the table is named. Different materialsare provided at each table, so there is no monotony, as the guestsprogress from table to table after half an hour's stay at each one inturn. 

Modeling clay is the medium in which the March hares are to be done, and no implements except fingers are supposed to be used, though ifa boy slyly makes use of his jack-knife, there are no embarrassingquestions asked. 

The lions are to be carved from potatoes with the aid of littlekitchen vegetable knives, and the lambs are to be fashioned fromcotton wool, matches, and mucilage. 

At the pussy willow table the guests must show how expert they can beat cutting cats, free hand, from flannel. Beads for eyes, and flossand bristles for whiskers, are also furnished. 

Prizes are given for the best and the worst specimen at each table. 

A rabbit's foot charm, a small reproduction of the Barye lion, orthe well-known Perry picture of a lion, a Dresden-china lamb orshepherdess, and a pussy-cat plate, pincushion, or paper weight aresuggestions for first prizes, and four little tin horns painted greenmay be given as booby prizes to the four "greenhorns" who have theworst showing. 

AN AUTUMN LEAF DANCE

In the fall, after school has opened, some class often likes to givea reception to the entering class. An autumn leaf dance in October isthe prettiest kind of one to have. 

Decorate the school hall with branches of scarlet and yellow mapleleaves, or deep red and russet oak boughs. 

For the dance programs make covers from water-color paper cut andpainted to look like oak or maple leaves. The inside pages can be ofthin white paper in the same shape. Attach little red pencils. 

Plan one autumn leaf dance in which each girl receives a wreath ofautumn leaves from her partner. For refreshments have orange orraspberry ice with vanilla ice-cream, and serve it on plates coveredwith leaf-shaped paper doilies. 

A HARVEST HOME PARTY

A "RED EAR" party is what they called it in the invitations. It wasthe opening party of the year in the high school and the seniorsplanned it. 

The cards they sent out said:

 _Oh, this time o' the year You'll recall the red ear (It will never go out o' date); So the members of "twenty" Have planned fun a-plenty At a regular Harvest Home fête-- You're invited_!

The school hall was delightfully decorated emphasizing the autumncolors. Bright tawny leaves banked the platform where the orchestrasat, and along the side walls globes of red and orange balloons glowedamong the soft tans and browns of cornstalks. From the ceiling, myriads of red and orange paper lanterns swayed brilliantly. 

The dance programs were "red ears" cut from cardboard, and tiny redpencils dangled from them. Some of the names of the dances to excitecuriosity were:

 The Corn Stalk The Scarecrow Skitter Farmerettes Fancy Popcorn Waltz Orchard One-step Pumpkin Pie Walk Red Ear Dance Harvest Home Revue

The Corn Stalk was in the nature of a grand march--everybody "stalkingstiffly" round and round in time to the music, which ended in arollicking one-step. 

Then followed the Scarecrow Skitter. A dilapidated old cornfieldcharacter in all the crudity of flapping black was brought in andestablished in the center of the floor. In his shabby hat fluttered ahandful of rusty crow feathers, and the feature of the dance was foreach boy to secure one of them in passing for his partner. The poorold fellow was nearly torn to bits in the process. 

The Farmerettes Fancy was another name for "ladies choice. " Allthe girls were given tiny toy rakes, hoes, spades, or other farmimplements which they used as favors in choosing partners. 

For the Popcorn Waltz, the favors were popcorn chains for the boys tohang around their partners' necks. There was a temptation to devourthese adornments as well as to use them for decorative purposes, andon the whole they were a source of much fun. 

The orchestra at intervals in this dance made use of some contrivancewhich sounded like corn popping briskly over the fire. 

A shower of snowy white confetti from the balcony still furtheremphasized the popcorn idea. 

In the Orchard One-step the boys were asked to pick peaches. The girlsstood behind a high screen and thrust their right hands above it. Theboys reached up, touched the "peaches" they chose and thereupon thegirls thus designated one-stepped away with their partners. 

Instead of a cake walk, a Pumpkin Pie Walk was announced. Thecontestants could indulge in just as crazy, funny or pretty dancesteps as they liked. The reward to the most original, entertaining andclever couple was a big pumpkin pie. 

Then came the Red Ear Dance. Everybody was blindfolded and asked topick an ear of corn from a big basket. When vision was restored thegirl holding the red ear (an ordinary ear with a red crepe paperwrapping) was acclaimed queen of the carnival, and was presentedwith a bouquet of red roses. During the dance a red glow by means ofspecial lighting arrangements filled the hall. 

The Harvest Home Dance came just before supper, and lived up to itsname, in that paper costume caps designating fruits and vegetableswere given out and worn, so that the whole room seemed to be filledwith the "harvest. "

Tomato, carrot, corn, apple, wheat, squashes, grapes, popcorn, watermelon and blackberry were all represented. 

The supper dance occurred midway in the evening, and the other noveltydances described were interspersed before and after it. 

The supper consisted merely of peach ice cream with sugared popcornon top, served on grape leaves, nut macaroons, tiny pumpkin tarts andfruit punch. 

COSTUME HATS FOR THE RED EAR PARTY

_Tomato_: Turkey red crepe paper or cotton skull cap with pointedgreen paper calyx and green upstanding stem of wire covered over withpaper or cloth. 

_Carrot_: Orange crepe paper or cloth conical cap. This may be madeon heavy paper or cardboard foundation. Characteristic lines may bemarked on the carrot. 

_Corn_: Green paper or cloth toboggan cap falling gracefully to oneside With a long green or gold-colored silk tassel. 

_Apple_: Little round bowl-like cap of glossy red paper with a brownstem of paper-covered wire. 

_Wheat_: A wreath of natural or artificial wheat ears. 

_Squash_: Cardboard or stiff paper cut to make a "crook neck" effect, covered with yellow paper. 

_Grapes_: A graceful floppy green hat of straw or paper with a crownentirely made of artificial or real grape bunches--blue or purple asdesired. --A filet of green ribbon with a real or artificial bunch ofgrapes depending on each side to hang over the ears. 

_Popcorn_: A close-fitting little toque covered with tiny pieces ofcotton batting to resemble popped corn. 

_Watermelon_: A crescent-shaped hat to be worn broadside suggesting aslice of watermelon from green paper border (fitting on hair) to pinkcenter dotted with tiny bits of black court plaster to suggest seeds. 

_Blackberry_: Close-fitting little black quilted or puffed bonnet totie under chin. 

A NUTTY PARTY FOR OCTOBER

A girl who wanted to give an inexpensive jolly little party in honorof a visiting friend in October issued invitations to a nut gathering. 

At the top of each correspondence card which served as an invitation, she glued half an almond shell upon which a face was marked in ink. Below this nut head the rest of the figure was drawn in ink on thecard, and the inscription read:

 _Pretend you're a squirrel for once And join my nut-gathering stunts, Friday, October the eleventh at half-past eight_. 

The first amusement of the evening was introduced by suspending fromthe chandelier in the center of the room a cocoanut decorated with acomical face and a pointed paper cap perched on top. 

Each person from a distance of ten feet was allowed three throws atthis cap with a little light rubber ball, the object being to knockMr. Cocoanut's cap off. The best marksman won a prize. 

This first nut stunt caused so much fun that no one wanted to be luredaway to a Nut Exhibit. Ten varieties of nuts were represented bypictures or objects and little slips of paper and pencil weredistributed for recording guesses. 

The display was as follows:

1. A bit of butter on a plate

2. A stout, old-fashioned stick

3. A can of canned peas with indicating label

4. A single pea

5. A map of South America with the outlines of Brazil especiallyprominent

6. A picture of typical English stone or brick wall

7. A can or cup of cocoa

8. A photograph of Hazel Dawn, the movie star

9. A beetle specimen (dead or alive)

10. Three ears of corn arranged to form the letter A

 _Answers_

 1. Butternut 2. Hickory nut 3. Pecan nut 4. Peanut 5. Brazil nut 6. English walnut 7. Cocoanut 8. Hazel nut 9. Betel nut 10. Acorn

The winner of this contest also had a prize. Of course a nut partywould hardly be complete without a peanut hunt and there was also apeanut race in which the object was to transfer the peanuts from oneend of the room to another on the blade of a table knife. 

In still another peanut contest the object was to pitch ten peanutsinto a narrow-necked jar at a distance of about twelve feet. 

To choose partners for refreshments a basket of English walnuts waspassed, each little nut with a painted face and a paper cap of somesort. Blue sailor caps, soldier caps, Red Cross nurse head-dresses, Scotch Tam o' Shanters, babies' bonnets, girls' gay garden hats, were all represented. There were only two of a kind, and the twoindividuals who selected them were of course partners. 

In addition each nut proved to be only a hollow nut shell; in one wasa conundrum, in its mate the answer. 

The refreshments were nut-bread sandwiches, peanut butter sandwiches, hot cocoa, cocoanut macaroons, vanilla ice-cream with chocolate nutsauce, and peanut brittle. 

A MAY POLE PARTY FOR CHILDREN

One teacher planned a very happy May party for her little boy and girlpupils. There was no chance to set up a big May pole out-of-doors forthe children to wind, but her idea turned out to be more original andmaybe even more jolly. 

There were eighteen children included in the party, which was held inthe park. On arriving, each child was given a little peaked paper capof bright colored tissue paper. The boys liked these as well as thegirls did, although they found them harder to keep in place on theirheads. As soon as the children had donned their caps, three of thetallest children were appointed to "help teacher. " This helpingconsisted in marching proudly out from behind a screen of bushes, carrying three gay little May poles, decked with flowers and coloredpaper streamers. They had been made by swinging a barrel hoop froma broomstick handle, by means of a number of ribbon-like strips ofcloth. Of course the hoops were wound with the cloth, and besides thatwere trimmed with apple blossoms and lilacs. 

From the rim of each hoop the cloth strips hung straight down for twoor three feet. The colors on the May pole matched the colored capsthat the children wore. 

There proved to be just fifteen streamer, and each child was allowedto pick out a streamer to correspond with the color of the cap worn. Thus a little girl with a pink cap would pick out a pink streamer; alittle boy with a green cap, a green streamer, and so on. The childrenwho held the May poles were then asked to stand at some distance apartout in the open space of the park, and each little group of fivedanced round and round, and back and forth, holding and twisting theircolored streamers. 

Somehow this amused them almost all the long spring afternoon. Different children took turns holding the May poles and sometimes theywould even form a procession and hippity-hop around the park. Theyparaded down Main Street for a little way, but came back to the parkin time to play "Drop the Handkerchief, " "Hide and Seek, " and "Tag, "before refreshments were served. 

They were perfectly delighted, of course, with strawberry lemonade, brown bread sandwiches, and little frosted cup cakes, which theirteacher's mother had made and on which she had outlined in pinkcandies the individual initials of the children. 

OUTDOOR AFFAIRS

Out-of-door entertaining is perhaps the easiest kind of all--if youlive in the country or the near-country. Anything elaborate in thearrangements would be quite out of keeping and there's something aboutbeing outdoors that takes away constraint. That's probably why outdoorparties, because they are simple and natural, bring people together ina spirit of good fellowship and are certain of success. 

Children especially love them and young people always find an eveninggarden party entrancing. 

One of the jolliest kinds of outdoor parties is a bacon bat. It may bea breakfast or a luncheon or a supper, but there is always bacon andan open fire. 

Now that automobiles are so abundant, the possibilities for motorpicnics and progressive motor parties are many and various. 

A BACON BAT

A girl who lived in the country and had some city friends visitingher gave them the time of their lives at a bacon bat. She telephonedaround to some of the young people and invited them to appear aboutfive o'clock in picnic clothes. The hike wouldn't be long, sheannounced. 

At the specified time a jolly bunch assembled to squabblegood-naturedly over the various packages and bundles assigned to themto be carried. Under the hostess's direction they betook themselvesvia footpath and trail to a stone-walled pasture spicy with sweetfern. 

Long toasting switches were readily cut by the boys from the trees inthe vicinity and wood was collected for two fires. Over one the coffeewas set to boil, and over the other the young folks proceeded to toastbacon. Rolls were provided in which to insert the crisp juicy morselsafter toasting, and each person ate his or her own bacon sandwichesbroiling hot without further ceremony. 

Cucumber pickles and mustard proved popular accompaniments and thecoffee was appreciated--drunk from tin cups. 

There followed some huckleberry turnovers and homemade cookies, but ontop of the bacon and rolls they were almost superfluous. 

Instead of bacon, chops, steak, or Frankfurters may be roasted, aswell as corn in season, but bacon is the least messy to eat. 

Following the supper came stories and songs around the bonfire tilllate in the evening. The city guests enjoyed it all because to them itwas so great a novelty. For the hostess it was a much easier way tointroduce her guests to her friends than a more formal affair wouldhave been. 

A bacon bat is especially fun in spring or fall, but is also veryenjoyable on the beach in summer vacation time. 

A marshmallow roast in the evening is first cousin to a bacon bat. 

A CHILDREN'S DAISY PARTY

Let the children make the invitations they send out for their owndaisy party. On heavy water color paper they may draw and cut outsimple outlines of daisies--about ten petals around a center which isthen colored yellow with crayons. Each petal may hold one or twowords of the invitation, thus:Will--you--come--to--our--daisy--party--on--Saturday--at--three?--Bettyand John. 

Of course there should be some outdoor games, and a good one to playis "Daisy in the Dell. " For this the children form in a circle, joining hands, and one is chosen to be daisy-picker. The daisy-pickerruns around the outside of the circle, chanting:

"Daisy in the Dell, Daisy in the Dell, I don't pick you, I don't pickyou, I _do_ pick you. "

The child whom the daisy-picker touches upon reaching, the last wordmust try to run entirely around the circle and back to his placebefore the daisy-picker catches him. If he succeeds, he need not be"it"; but if he is caught, he must be the daisy-picker. 

"Are You a Daisy?" is another jolly game. The players stand in a linefacing one child, who is chosen to be "it. " This child asks each onein turn the question, "Are you a daisy?" Each child answers by namingthe flower he chooses to be. Thus one may say, "I am a rose"; another, "I am a pansy. " If any child chooses to say, "I am a daisy, " he isimmediately chased by the questioner, and if caught, he must take theplace of the questioner. The game then proceeds as before. One rule isthat a child must not repeat the name of a flower that another childhas given. 

A game that is based on the Mother Goose rhyme, "Rich Man, Poor Man, Beggar Man, Thief, " etc. , is called "Rich Man, Poor Man. " One child ischosen to whisper to each of the players some word of the rhyme. Thenamed children then stand in a circle, and another child who is "it"may call for any character in the rhyme that he wishes; the childwho has been given that name must respond by saying "Here, " and thenrunning away. For instance, the one who is "it" may call for "lawyer, "and the child to whom that name has been whispered calls out "Here, "and is immediately chased by the leader. If he is caught within areasonable length of time, he is "it, " and the former leader dropsout. This should be played until only two are left. 

The refreshments carry out the daisy idea, and should be servedoutdoors, either on the piazza or on the lawn. The centerpiece atthe supper-table is a big bunch of daisies, and each child has aplace-card on which is painted or drawn a daisy face, the petalsforming a cap frill. The sandwiches are bread and butter, and some"good-to-eat" daisies can be made from hard-boiled eggs, by cuttingthe whites petal-shaped, and by mixing the yellow with saladmayonnaise to form the centers. Marguerites and little cakes frostedin yellow and white may be served with vanilla ice cream. 

A HAWAIIAN PORCH LUNCHEON

One woman entertained her club at their last meeting of the year witha little porch luncheon. Hawaii had been one of the subjects of study, so the Hawaiian note was dominant throughout. 

Each guest was welcomed with a _lei_, the Hawaiian paper flowergarland which signifies friendship. Hung about the neck, thesedecorations excited much fun. 

The Hawaiian features of the refreshments were Hawaiian pineapplesalad and little imitation volcanoes which were in reality cones ofvanilla ice-cream in the center of which holes had been scooped andthen filled with hot caramel sauce, which of course overflowed thesides in true lava fashion. 

The favors were tiny dolls, each dressed in a short bright-fringedpaper skirt, orange, green, blue or pink, to match the color of the_lei_ which each lady had already received as a souvenir. 

During the luncheon the hostess played several Hawaiian musicalselections on her phonograph. If any of her friends had owned orplayed a ukelele, doubtless the plaintive music would have been afeature. 

A WATERMELON FROLIC

When watermelons were ripe and plentiful, big pink posters cut ovalwith a painted border of green and black lettering on the pinkstartled the village with the notice of a watermelon frolic. 

They read:

 _Do you like watermelon? Anyway Be sure to come to a watermelon party on the local fairgrounds next Tuesday evening Admission 25 cents This entitles you to see the minstrel show Proceeds for the Epworth League of ---- Church_

Long plank tables on wooden horses were improvised for serving thewatermelons which were contributed by the members of the society. Someof the men acted as carvers of the melons, and the girls served theportions, which were sold for ten cents each. 

The grounds were lighted with strings of electric lights in pink andgreen paper lanterns. 

Besides the main attraction there were several booths and side shows, arranged country fair fashion, which drew well. One was labeled THEWATERMELON PATCH. For this, real watermelon vines had been obtainedfrom somebody's garden and placed naturally on the ground. To thevines were tied any number of artificial melons made of green paperstuffed with cotton wadding which concealed tiny favors. 

On payment of ten cents any person had the privilege of picking amelon. The prize inside was supposed to be worth the fee. 

At another booth, "watermelon cake" was served at five cents a slice. The secret of this was that in making a plain cake the batter had beencolored with pink sugar and sprinkled with raisins. The cake was thenbaked in a round tin and when sliced resembled the pink of watermelonfilled with black seeds. 

As it was sweet corn season, and as corn is also typical of the South, there was a hot corn vender, who sold steaming ears straight fromkettle to buyer. 

One feature of the evening was a watermelon contest among the boys. Volunteers were called for and lined up at a table. They were thensupplied with large wedges of melon and at the sound of the referee'swhistle the race began. 

The prize was a whole watermelon. 

There was also a watermelon hurdle race. The course was laid out withbig watermelons and time was kept for each hurdler. 

The main attraction of the evening, however, was the minstrel show. Ona raised wooden platform sat the performers with blackened handsand faces. They wore grotesque garb and each one fingered a guitar, mandolin, or banjo. 

First they gave a number of well-known Southern melodies such as _OldBlack Joe, Swanee Riber, Dixie, Massa's in de Cold, Cold Ground_. Somewhistling numbers were much appreciated and _My Alabama Coon_, withits humming and strumming, proved a great success. As a special itemof their musical program they sang a parody of _Apple Blossom Time_called _It's Watermelon Time in Dixie_. 

The watermelon frolic was a great success and is recommended to anyorganization in town or country at watermelon time as a fun--andfunds--producing social. 

 _Parody_

 "When It's Watermelon Time in Dixie"[1]

 After

 "When It's Apple Blossom Time in Normandie"

 (_Sing with appropriate motions_)

 _Repeat_:

 When it's watermelon time in Dixie Land[1] Ah wants to be Right dher[2] you see In dat dear old melon patch To eat a batch! When it's watermelon time in Dixie Land Dat's de time of all de year When Ah grin[3] with cheer from ear to ear Watermelon's jes' GRAND!!!

[Footnote 1: Sway heads and bodies]

[Footnote 2: Jerk thumbs backward over shoulder]

[Footnote 3: Grin broadly--stretch hands from corners of mouth toears. ]

A JAPANESE GARDEN PARTY

A girl who wished to entertain for a visiting school friend oneevening in midsummer sent out invitations to a Japanese Garden Party. She wrote them on the pretty little hand-decorated place-cards whichare to be found in most shops now. The Japanese writing paper whichcomes in rolls is another possibility for them. 

She had a wide porch and a big lawn which she decorated for theoccasion with strings of pink, yellow and green Japanese lanterns withelectric bulbs inside. Settees and wicker chairs were scattered incosy groups through the shrubbery, and there was a faint odor ofburning incense. 

For entertainment there was dancing on the porch to the tune of aphonograph and a program of Japanese music, including some selectionsfrom "Butterfly" and "The Mikado. "

A clever reader gave one of the Hashimura Togo stories, and also thehostess had arranged some artistic tableaux in Japanese fashion. 

When it was refreshment time, cunning little girl friends of thehostess appeared in Japanese kimonos, hair done high and stuck fullof tiny fans or flowers. They bore Japanese lacquer trays with tinysandwiches (filled with preserved ginger), cherry ice and rice wafers. A wee Japanese flag was stuck in each portion of cherry ice. 

The favors were wee Japanese doilies which the guests were bidden tohunt for under a certain group of trees. While doing so, a suddensurprise shower of seeming cherry blossoms covered them with pink andwhite petals. These were really confetti petals obligingly scatteredby the nimble little waitresses perched in the branches above. 

A COMMENCEMENT PICNIC

Instead of giving the usual banquet and reception to the seniors, the juniors in a small school might well plan an outdoor picnic andsupper. It has the possibility of being jollier than the regulationaffair, and is certainly less expensive. 

Individual invitations may be sent out to the senior class--quiteunusual and mysterious invitations--for each one may consist of acolored feather quill with a message written on a slip of paperwrapped about the end. This reads:

 _Greetings from the Tribe of Twenteequas To the Tribe of Nyneteenwas: Will the Tribe of Nyneteenwas Smoke the pipe of friendship Round the camp-fire of the Twenteequas On the sixteenth day of the Moon of Roses One hour before waysawi (sunset)? One of the Twenteequas will act as your guide_. 

As soon as the two classes have gathered at the picnic ground, thejuniors, already decked in head bands of ribbon in their own classcolors, may present the seniors with similar ribbons. The boys mayhave feathers stuck in theirs--if they don't object to head bands. 

The chief of the Twenteequas may announce the first stunt as a Huntfor Game, and all must hunt in pairs, matching partners by means ofselecting, blindfolded, colored beads from a basket. Pasteboard bowsand arrows are supplied, and everyone is told to return at the summonsof a beaten tom-tom. 

The couples then scatter into the surrounding woods, and hunt foranimal crackers which have previously been hidden by a committee ofjuniors. 

The prize for the couple getting the most game might be an animal toy. 

Next, volunteers to "Run the Gauntlet" may be called for. The othersform in two parallel lines facing each other, armed with pieces ofchalk. The victims must run down between the lines to a goal at theend, while the cruel Indians on each side reach out to put a chalkmark on them. The victim who gets the least chalk marks is permittedto select five of his tormentors to perform a series of stunts, previously planned by the junior entertainment committee. 

Appropriate ones are these: 1. Give an Indian war whoop. 2. Do anIndian war dance. 3. Give Indian names to five people here. 4. Make aspeech in sign language. 5. Tell an Indian story. 

Supper should be eaten around a big camp-fire, and should consist ofcoffee cooked over the fire, nut-bread sandwiches, cold chicken andpotato chips, and chocolate ice-cream under individual miniaturetepees of brown paper. 

Paint on each tepee in black some symbol apparently mysterious but inreality characteristic of the owner. Thus, a girl with a beautifulvoice and a talent for singing may have a quaint bird on hers; anathlete, a pair of Indian clubs; a domestic science girl, a bowl andspoon or a kettle, and so on. 

Redskins and Palefaces complete the menu, Palefaces being cookies withwhite icing and features marked in candies, and Redskins being apples. 

Toasting marshmallows over the fire and singing school ditties and oldfavorites will end this unique party delightfully. 

A PROGRESSIVE MOTOR PARTY

A group of girls who lived in the country gave a delightful farewellparty for one of their number who was to move out of town to anotherpart of the world. They called it a Progressive Rainbow. 

At four o'clock one Saturday afternoon they all met at one of thehomes. 

The porch was decorated in a red color scheme. A row of red Japaneselanterns hung from the roof all around. Red cushions were scatteredabout in the chairs and on the steps, and a jar of crimson ramblerroses adorned the table. 

Everybody sat about and gossiped for a little while, and then fruitcocktails, to which strawberries gave the touch of red, were served. 

A tray of red ribbon streamers was passed, and each girl pinned one onher blouse, as the beginning of her rainbow badge. 

The guest of honor found with her favor a package tied with red tulle, which she was requested not to open till the end of the afternoon. 

After this, two automobiles, owned by members of the group or theirfamilies, whisked the party along two miles of fresh country road tothe home of another girl in the group. 

Little tables had been set on the lawn with a bouquet of old-fashionedmarigolds in the center of each one, and a toy orange balloon tiedto the back of each chair by a long string. Here were served jelliedorange soup in cups, and saltines. 

The girls received orange-colored favor ribbons to pin next to theirred ones, and the guest of honor received another prize packet, thistime tied with orange tulle. 

From there they all jumped again into the waiting cars and weretransported to the home of a third girl for the third course. 

This time it was served in the dining-room, which was decorated withyellow snapdragons. A basket of them filled the center of the table, and at each place was a scalloped shell containing deviled crab meatgarnished with lemon quarters and accompanied by tartar sauce. Cubesof hot yellow cornbread were delicious with the crab. 

Again the passing of the yellow ribbons to the girls and thepresenting of the yellow-tied package to the guest of honor were thesignals for leaving to go to the next house. 

The automobiles quickly took them there, where the main course of thedinner was to be eaten. Maidenhair ferns were lovely in a green bowlon the table, and tiny wood ferns were scattered over the whitetablecloth. 

The menu consisted of broiled chicken, fresh green peas, small boiledpotatoes with parsley, and rye rolls. 

By this time the girls were getting interested in their rainbow ofribbons, to which the green was now added, and the guest of honorreceived her fourth package, green-tied. 

Motoring to the salad course, the group found the dining-room lightedby blue candles, though the guests were begged not to feel blue. Ragged robins were arranged as a centerpiece, and fluttering bluetissue butterflies marked the places. 

The salad was prunes stuffed with peanuts in hearts of lettuce, servedwith French dressing and Dutch cheese balls. 

By the time the sixth stop was reached the sun had set and the moonwas coming up, so that the girls sat on the veranda in the moon-lightand sipped grape-juice ice to the music of romantic ditties. Lavenderstreamers were added next to the blue ones, and their badges werecomplete. 

As they finally drove up to the last house, they were greeted by arainbow of tulle which arched the entrance to the porch. 

With their fluttering rainbow ribbon badges and the armful of rainbowpackages belonging to the guest of honor, they felt very much at homewith the rainbow, and the guest of honor was not even surprised to beasked to seek the pot of gold at the foot. 

In the yellow pottery jar which she discovered were as manygold nuggets as there were girls, and each nugget was a littlegilt-paper-wrapped joke for the trip. 

The real, sure-enough farewell gifts to keep were in the packagesprogressively received, and there was a jolly time opening them underthe rainbow. 

BIRTHDAYS AND OTHER ANNIVERSARIES

Birthdays you particularly wish to celebrate happily and successfully. There's your mother's birthday or your brother's or your little son'sor daughter's birthday or the birthday of the popular president ofyour special club. 

Then there are the various wedding anniversaries that call forsuitable recognition, especially the five, ten, and twenty-five yearones. 

Besides these there are countless other events that you want tocommemorate pleasantly in some way afterward. These various occasionsoffer fascinating possibilities for the most delightful of socialaffairs. 

A BACHELOR SUPPER

 "_When I was a bachelor I lived by myself And all the bread and cheese I got, I put upon the shelf; The rats and the mice, they made such a strife I was forced to go to London to buy me a wife. The streets were so broad and the lanes were so narrow I was forced to bring my wife home in a wheelbarrow_. "

This old Mother Goose rhyme was the keynote of a bachelor supperwhich one girl gave for her brother and a few of his friends on hisbirthday. 

The centerpiece on the table was an arrangement of bachelors' buttonsand at every place was a tiny toy wheelbarrow filled with candies, awee dressed-up dolly dame perched atop of each load. 

The rhyme also furnished the reason for the first course, which wasmost suitably bread and cheese, only the bread was in the form ofbuttered rounds of toast and the cheese was a delicious Welsh rarebit, accompanied by coffee or gingerale. 

Ice-cream in cantaloupes with a chocolate mouse nibbling at therind followed, to be eaten with those most delicious of allcookies--home-made "hermits. "

MOTHER'S BIRTHDAY TEA

A pleasant way for a daughter to entertain for her mother is to give alittle informal afternoon tea, asking the mother's friends and theirdaughters and thus making it a kind of mother and daughter affair. 

Send out the invitations on your calling card, writing your mother'sname at the top. If your mother likes surprises, arrange the party tobe one if possible, but if she is like most mothers she will prefer toknow what's going on and so be prepared. 

The rooms should be decorated with flowers of the season. The countrygirl will find it easy in spring, summer, or fall. 

During the afternoon a little program of previously arranged "mother"songs, lullabies and readings by some of the guests may agreeablyinterrupt the chat. 

Tea, sandwiches and little cakes may be served in the dining-roomfrom a festive birthday table. The centerpiece may be a bowl of pinkroses--to match in number the years of the guest of honor. Candlesfrom under rose-colored paper or silk shades may light the room, andif desired each guest may be presented with a miniature band-boxcovered with rose-sprigged paper or chintz--filled with wee pink andwhite candies. 

A PUSSY CAT PARTY

When Billy's mother decided to give him a birthday party, she pouncedupon the pussy cat plan, partly because pussy-willows are stillflourishing in April, but mostly because she knew that kittens andcats are favorites with nine and ten year olds. 

The invitations were folded kitty-cornered and inside of each appeareda fat fuzzy little gray puss taken from a real pussy-willow branch. "Puss" had pen and ink ears, whiskers and tail, and likewise a tinyred-painted fence post upon which to sit. 

The first game was a good romp at "Puss-in-the-Corner. " That wasfollowed by the foolish but funny "Poor Pussy. "

While the children were still in a circle for that, Billy's motherexplained a new game. It was called "Kitty Kitty" and was carriedout on the lines of "Spin the Platter. " In every child's ear Billywhispered the name of some sort of cat, as for instance, tiger, "yaller, " green-eyes, double-toes, maltese, Angora, black and white, gray. 

He then occupied the center of the circle and spun a tin pieplate. Ashe did so he called out one of the names he had assigned and countedrapidly out loud up to ten. Thus, "Green-eyes, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. "

The child who had been given the name "green-eyes" was supposed tojump up and snatch the pie tin before Billy had finished counting toten. If "green-eyes" failed, then he had to take Billy's place. Billy, too, of course, had a pussy cat label. 

Another circle game that was fun was called "Pussy's Prowlings. " Itwas on the order of stage-coach. Billy's mother told the story of akitty's wanderings and before she started to tell it, she whispered toeach child the name of something which was to appear in the story. Forinstance, she gave out "haymow, " "milk dish, " "mouse hole, " "catnip. "

Every time she mentioned any such name in the process of telling thestory, the child who had it was expected to rise from his chair, turn around three times and sit down again. When the words "pussy'sprowlings" were mentioned, all the players jumped up and exchangedseats. The story teller also tried to get a seat, and if she succeededthe child who was finally left without one had to continue the story. 

PUSSY'S PROWLINGS

Once there was a PUSSYCAT named BLINKY who said to herself one day, "I'm tired of MILK to drink and I'm oh, so hungry for MOUSE. I must goon a MOUSE hunt. "

So BLINKY stole out of the red BRICK HOUSE where she lived veryhappily with the JONES FAMILY. She pattered down the back DOORSTEPSwhere her MILK SAUCER was set and she scampered along the winding PATHto the BARN. 

(That's the way PUSSY'S PROWLINGS began. )

Up the LADDER to the HAYMOW she crept and through the heaps of sweetclover HAY to a HOLE IN THE WALL. There BLINKY knew lived a MOUSE. Soshe crouched close to the MOUSE HOLE, as still as still could be andwatched, and she watched and she watched and she watched. 

But that MOUSE must have been away from home or else very busy down inits HOLE, for it never once stuck its little NOSE out. And when BLINKYhad watched there in the HAYMOW for three long, long hours, she was sohungry that she couldn't watch for that MOUSE a single minute more. 

She thought of the MILK SAUCER by the back DOORSTEPS and she said toherself, "If I can't have MOUSE, MILK won't taste so bad after all. "

So BLINKY made her way back through the heaps of HAY and scrambleddown the LADDER to the HAYMOW and ran along the winding PATH to theback DOORSTEPS. And there, sure enough, was a SAUCER full of MILK allready for her to drink. So BLINKY lapped it up very hungrily and wasperfectly happy!

(And that's the way PUSSY'S PROWLINGS ended. )

The next game was called "Hunt the Mouse. " Billy had hidden achocolate mouse somewhere in the room and the children were asked tobe kitties and try to find it. Whenever anyone came very near thehiding place, Billy miaowed loudly, or if everyone was very far fromit, Billy would mew only faintly. The "kitty" who found the mouse keptit for a reward. 

In another room the children had a chance to hunt for those mittenswhich the "naughty kittens" once lost. Many tiny red paper mittenswere scattered throughout the room and were much more easily foundthan the mouse. 

The supper table delighted the children. In the center of it sat abig stuffed toy cat surrounded by chocolate mice, and at each child'splace a tiny white plush cat with the child's name on a paper tied tothe neck had been placed. Such toys can usually be bought in five andten cent stores. 

Pussy-willow sprays laid flat on the tablecloth decorated the tablegracefully. The napkins were the paper ones which feature black catsat Hallowe'en. 

Little ramekins of creamed chicken pleased the children. With thechicken, Billy's mother served "kitty-cornered" sandwiches of brownbread filled with cream cheese and chopped nuts. There was hot cocoatoo, and for the last course individual molds of chocolate blanc mangewith whipped cream and a candied cherry on top. Needless to say therewas a birthday cake which was brought in ablaze with candles and setbefore Billy to cut. 

Each guest received a souvenir chocolate mouse and was ready todeclare upon departure at six that the pussy cat party had been, oh, so jolly!

A GIRL'S BIRTHDAY LUNCHEON

Once a mother gave a little birthday luncheon for her daughter who wasa freshman in high school. It pleased the fourteen-year-old and herfriends because of the novelty in decorations and menu. 

The class colors were green and white, so that scheme was usedthroughout. In the center of the table was a green bowl with a fewpaper narcissi arranged in a flower holder, Japanese fashion. 

Around each plate was a wreath of smilax--any small green vine woulddo perfectly well--and above each plate a tiny green candle burning ina wee holder. The place-cards were tied to the handles of the holders. 

Glass dishes of lime drops and wintergreen candies added to thegeneral green and white effect. 

The menu consisted of fruit cocktail with a sprig of mint atop of eachportion, followed by a second course of chicken à la King generouslysprinkled with capers, and accompanied by hot rolls and olives. Then came hot chocolate with a marshmallow floating in each cup andmilestone salad, which consisted of oblongs of cream cheese into whichnumerals cut out of green peppers were pressed. The milestones stooderect on fresh lettuce leaves and were served with French dressing. 

After that a birthday cake was borne in ablaze with fourteen greentapers and set before the little hostess to cut. Great was the funwhen the fortune favors, baked in the cake, were found by the guests. 

Pistachio ice-cream accompanied the cake, but vanilla ice-cream or agreen gelatine dessert would be equally fitting. 

The favors were little green vanity bags made from ribbon by thefourteen-year-old's mother. 

THE WOODEN WEDDING

An informal evening party is perhaps the jolliest way to celebrate thefifth wedding anniversary. 

After everybody has arrived, try a wooden smile contest. There willbe any number of humorous attempts, but few will be wooden. Thecontestant who smiles most woodenly may receive as a prize a gailypainted wooden jumping jack or any other wooden toy. 

The next amusement can be a progressive one, consisting of puttingtogether at tables wooden puzzles of all sorts, including jig-sawpuzzles. 

Puzzles make good prizes for this contest. One of the carefully packedwooden boxes of candy is another possibility. 

Another occupation that is appropriate and fun-making is a pea andtooth-pick contest. Wooden tooth-picks and dried peas soaked up areprovided. Each person is then assigned to construct one member ofa tooth-pick wedding party properly. The tooth-pick persons whenfinished should form in a parade down the center of the library table. 

A light buffet supper or simply ice-cream and coffee may be servedin the dining-room. Decorate the table with a central wooden bowlcontaining some simple flowers such as daisies, honeysuckles, snapdragons, nasturtiums, or whatever flowers are in season. 

There may be wooden candlesticks with candles to match the colorscheme and small wooden plates and bowls for candies and nuts. 

Serve the ice-cream on wooden plates covered with lace paper doilies, and give as favors tiny wooden household articles such as dolls'rolling-pins, clothespins, barrels, washtubs, spinning wheels, and thelike. 

THE TIN WEDDING

The tenth wedding anniversary has many possibilities for fun. Aninformal social evening or a dinner followed by some jolly stunts arein order. 

In any case, arrange for the dining table a centerpiece of a shiny tinfunnel filled with bright garden or wild flowers surrounded by a frillof lace paper to represent an old-fashioned, formal bouquet. Use tincandlesticks with bayberry candles for illumination and scatter tinynew patty pans with crinkly edges over the table to hold candies andnuts. 

The salad may be served on shiny tin plates covered with lace paperdoilies, the ice-cream in individual patty pans, and the coffee orpunch in tin cups. 

At each place put a tiny funnel bouquet, a miniature of the centralone or else some tiny tin toy. 

Tin whistles for everybody would promote the hilarity. 

The old-fashioned game of "Spin the Platter" would be good to startthe entertainment of the evening. Then may come a "tin" minute paperand pencil contest to see who can write the most words beginning orending with TIN in the allotted ten minutes. 

Ten "reel" years of married life may next be shown. This feature issimply a series of movie-like pantomimes showing humorous events, realor imaginary, in the life of the host and hostess--given, of course, by their friends. 

A tin band concert will also provide a good time. Those who are in theband perform on instruments contrived from kitchen utensils or the tinnoise-making novelties which can be obtained in the shops. 

A MOCK WEDDING

A mock wedding is a funny way to celebrate one of the numerous earlywedding anniversaries, especially if a group of young married womenfriends want to join in a surprise. 

The bride may be invited to a chum's house and presently theprocession may appear before her. 

The bride should have a cheesecloth or mosquito netting veil withdried orange peel to hold the folds in place, and she should carry abouquet of white chicken feathers tied with white tape--the showerpart can be little bows of rags. 

The bridesmaids might all wear the cheapest of farmers' hats, withhuge bunches of goldenrod or asters on them or else such things aslittle kitchen utensils sewed on the front in place of flowers. Bouquets of burdock tied with colored cretonne would be attractivefor them, or possibly as a substitute for the conventional shepherds'crooks they could carry umbrellas with big bows on the handles. Athird suggestion for the bridesmaids is that they carry grape basketsfilled with none too choice outdoor flowers and weeds. 

There should be a flower girl, of course, who can wear an abbreviatedcostume. Her hair should be in ringlets with a big ribbon tied aroundher head, and she may carry a market basket filled with scraps ofpaper, or flowers if you prefer, to scatter in front of the bride. 

The ring bearer may carry a curtain ring on a sofa cushion. 

At the ceremony, of course, you must omit all the really solemn parts, but you may let someone make up some questions for the minister touse. For instance, he may say to the mock bridegroom, "Do you promiseto obey this woman?" Instead of saying, "I will" and "I do, " they maysay, "I wilt" and "I doth. "

For a wedding breakfast, you might serve creamed codfish in heavycrockery, and follow it with helpings of cream of wheat either cold orhot, which can be served to resemble ice cream in little paper cases. There should be a wedding cake which may be only ginger-bread, andsome kind of grotesque motto may be inscribed in the frosting. 

A SILVER WEDDING SHOWER

A little group, girlhood friends of more than twenty-five yearsstanding, recently planned a pleasant shower for a popular friend, thepresident, as it happened, of their fortnightly sewing club, on hersilver wedding anniversary. 

None of the ladies was rich and the gifts were planned to cost notover fifty cents each. Many of them were less than that. 

Silver fittings for a work basket were chosen and included a silverneedle case, a silver thimble case, a silver hem gauge, a uniquetatting shuttle, a little silver ripping knife, a cunning strawberryemery with a silver hull and a wee wax cherry with a silver stem. 

The gifts were wrapped in white tissue paper, tied with silver cordwith a tiny shining bell inserted in the center of each knot. Theywere presented in a lovely sweet grass sewing basket, which in turnwas wrapped and tied with silver ribbon. 

This was not given, however, till the close of the afternoon'ssewing, which had gone on as usual, though there was an atmosphere ofill-concealed expectation. 

Simple refreshments were brought in and served in buffet style. Home-made ice-cream was passed in little ice cups which had asdecorations around the rim a circlet of glittering silvery tinsel. "Silver Cake" and bonbons in silver wrappings accompanied the icecream. 

Last of all, the "shower" was borne in on a silver tray and set beforethe surprised guest of honor. A little rhyme explained this turn ofevents to the delightfully mystified recipient:

 _Because of many a happy hour With you, well spent, we give this shower, Just to remember in a way With love, your silver wedding day_. 

As an amusing little contest each lady was asked to write down tenthings she had learned in the last twenty-five years. The replies madegood reading and furnished plenty of conversation till home-goingtime. 

A CAPE COD LUNCHEON

In remembrance of a happy two weeks spent in a little bungalow on CapeCod, one of the girls of the "bunch" gave a quaint luncheon for theothers during the year following. 

The invitations bore a tiny spray of bayberry sketched in one cornerand read like this:

 _May the bayberry dip and the odor of pine At this little reunion luncheon of mine, Bring back all our fun in the house by the sea, Where we were as jolly as jolly could be_. 

On the luncheon table homespun runners were used, crossed in thecenter where a brown wicker basket filled with the gray green ofbayberry branches, brightened by the orange of bittersweet, stood on amat of fragrant pine. 

Green bayberry dips in the simplest of low tin candlesticks lightedthe table and at each cover the place-card was a little outline map ofCape Cod with the situation of the summer camp conspicuously marked. 

The menu consisted of clam cocktails, codfish cakes and tiny potsof baked beans, hot steamed brown bread cut in small round slices, blueberry tarts, and coffee. 

The favors were wee bayberry "waxes" for the sewing basket, each witha bit of a bayberry twig peeping from its top. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND SHOWERS

"How shall I announce my engagement?" The engaged girl we have alwayswith us, and the next step after the engagement is the announcementof it. Most girls like to have some kind of little social function tobreak the news to their special circle of friends. Usually a mother ora sister or a chum does the entertaining, though a girl herself mayperfectly well plan and carry out such a party. 

There are several sorts of affairs which may serve as a setting foran announcement. A favorite kind is a luncheon for a group of girlfriends. Even less work is an afternoon tea and to that a girl's menfriends may be asked also, though it's really easier to have girlsonly. Another kind of announcement party is the evening affairto which both men and girl friends are invited and at which theannouncement should be "sprung" as a total surprise as in all otherannouncement affairs. 

After the engagement is known, immediately the friends of thebride-to-be begin to think of showers for her. One friend or a groupof friends or her club may be hostesses and give such an affair. 

There are different ways of planning them. For instance, they may beappropriate to the month, like a Christmas Tree Shower in December oran Indian Summer Shower in November or a Rainy Day Shower in April. Orthey may take as keynotes the engaged girl's special likes, as in thecase of an apple shower, a kitty shower or an old rose shower. Andthen again, they may be just plain, ordinary, handkerchief showers, orlinen showers, or kitchen showers, with an original touch somewhere. 

"A LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME" LUNCHEON

At a recent engagement luncheon the announcement was made in a uniqueway. 

A large wooden embroidery hoop was hung from the ceiling over thetable and in the ring perched a gaily painted wooden parrot, the kindthat rocks back and forth when touched. 

From the parrot streamers of colored baby ribbon led to the differentplaces, and tied to the ends of the ribbons were tiny notes inenvelopes. These on being opened showed the names of the engagedcouple and a short rhyme reading thus:

 _A little bird told me A very nice thing, That Randolph gave Sally A diamond ring_. 

The refreshments followed somewhat the parrot color scheme, withhalves of grapefruit garnished with cherries, chicken à la King, pimento, walnut and cream cheese salad, orange ice, and little cakeswith colored frosting. 

Small celluloid parrots perched on the rims of the glasses wereappropriate souvenirs. 

A HAPPINESS TEA

 _Sing a song of sixpence, A pocket full o' rye, Four and twenty bluebirds Baked in a pie;

 When the pie was opened The birds began to sing, About a certain couple here Who have some news to spring_. 

Thus did one girl announce her engagement in the month of May. She hadasked twenty-four of her best friends to come to a bluebird tea oneSaturday afternoon, and nobody suspected her secret, although they didremember that the bluebird stands for happiness. 

The party was held out on the hostess's big porch, which was decoratedwith jars of pink and white apple blossoms. Everybody had a very goodtime dancing to the music of the phonograph until it was time for thetea to be served. The waitresses were Betty's two little sisters, whowore as insignia big blue bows on their hair and cunning little apronsmade of bluebird cretonne. 

The tea was iced and served with lemon and mint in tall glasses. Thesandwiches were tiny and round and filled with pink strawberry jamwhich made them seem like delectable apple-blossom petals. Bettyhappened to have bluebird plates and she used paper napkins with abluebird motif. 

After the sandwiches came little pink and green and white frostedcakes and last of all the surprise. It appeared to be a great pie withbluebird heads peeking through the crust. In reality the crust wasjust brown paper touched up with a bit of water color paint and pastedacross the top of a big open pan. The bluebirds soon showed what theywere when the guests in turn pulled them out of the pie by means ofthe narrow white ribbon attached to each one. They were really flatpasteboard bluebirds and served as the excuse for the rhyme announcingBetty's engagement. 

As a souvenir each guest had a tiny bluebird May basket filledwith pink and white Jordan almonds. Small square boxes formed thefoundations of the May baskets, the sides were then covered withbluebird crepe paper and the corners tied with wee blue bows. Littlecut-out bluebirds hung from the slender handles and bore the names ofthe individual guests. 

When they said good-by, the guests all declared that they had had abluebirdy time, which in other words meant that Betty had planned veryhappily. 

A HELLO PARTY

The invitations to this party read as follows:

 _Hello! hello! hello! A party's on the wire; And you must surely go Or else arouse my ire! Friday evening Eight o'clock_

The affair was planned by one girl to announce the engagement of achum, and of course the object of the party was not revealed in theinvitations. 

All kinds of jolly games were played to pass the evening, and onepleasant feature was "A Telephonic Conversation" by Mark Twainrendered by a good reader. 

The telephone was the keynote of the evening and played a prominentpart in the table decorations. A big blue paper bell such as onesees in front of telephone booths hung over the center of the table. Beneath it was a low bowl of forget-me-nots of which the guests didnot see the significance till later. 

The candles were white with blue bell-shaped shades, and at eachperson's plate as a favor stood one of the tiny glass telephones seenin candy stores, full of candies. 

The place-cards each bore a mock telephone number, such as Sing 1236, Circle 6320, Joke 5156, Shiver 9315, Groan 231. 

The menu was mostly white and served on blue dishes. It consisted ofchicken patties, hot rolls, cream cheese and white grape salad, andvanilla ice-cream in blue frilled paper cases. 

Toward the end of the ice-cream course the hostess asked the guests toannounce their telephone numbers, in turn. Whereupon, each person wasrequested to rise from the table and act out his number. This wascomparatively simple and made everyone quite hilarious. 

When it came the turn of the hostess, she said that her number wasSpringit 42. The two (2), she said, were Elizabeth and John, andthis was the time she had chosen to spring the announcement of theirengagement. 

Another way in which the announcement could be made is to preparetelephone messages of the news and tie them to the ends of blueribbons hanging from the tongue of the bell. The hostess may announcethat the "bell tolled" when the guests are allowed to open and readtheir messages. 

AN APPLE SHOWER

A girl who was very fond of apples in every form, so much so that allher friends knew about it, was given a clever shower after she becameengaged. 

The invitations were cut in apple shape and tinted a little with redand green water colors. The following verses voiced the plan of theparty and notified the guests:

 _Invitation to a Shower_

 _Apples, apples everywhere Will doubtless make up half the fare On Elsie's future menu pad, As they are Elsie's greatest fad. So if you'd keep that fact in mind In shower presents--'twould be kind; Send it to me the day before And come on Saturday at four_. 

 _January the twentieth At Mary's house_. 

The first amusement of the afternoon was an apple-guessing contest, the names of different varieties of apples to be guessed from literaldefinitions, thus: The Royal Apple--. King. After that there was anapple-peeling contest in Hallowe'en fashion and each girl threw thepeeling over her left shoulder to discover the initial of her futurehusband. 

Immediately following this, the hostess, with the help of one of theother girls, brought in a big bushel basket apparently filled withhuge rosy apples, and set it down before the guest of honor. 

When the green ribbon around the stem of each make-believe apple wasuntied, the red crepe paper opened out, disclosing, in wrappings ofsoft cotton, a variety of gifts for the apple-loving girl. 

There was an up-to-date corer and a plate for baking apples, a fatplush apple pincushion for the kitchen, a red apple "bank" with a slitfor savings, one of the beautiful Wallace Nutting photographs of a NewEngland apple tree in full pink and white bloom, an artistic brownbasket for apples to be kept on the buffet or used for the breakfasttable, and a delightful fruit bowl with an apple border. 

One girl had contributed a little booklet of choice apple recipes, ajar of apple butter and another of home-made apple sauce. One artisticmember of the group had stenciled a crash table runner for the porchtable with a conventional apple design in yellow and orange and green, and another girl put the same design very decoratively on a round boxof painted tin. 

Two of the prettiest gifts were a cunning sports handkerchief with acluster of apples stamped in one corner, and a smart flat silk hatornament in the shape of three apples. 

Before the happy bride-to-be had finished exclaiming over her gifts, the hostess served buffet refreshments that were as pretty as theywere delicious. There were little individual molds of pink appletapioca, topped with whipped cream and accompanied by small home-madecakes, frosted uniquely. Each one had in the center of its white icinga miniature apple bough as a decoration, made from two red maraschinocherries, two leaf-shaped pieces of green angelica and a bit ofcitron. 

As a surprise for each girl, the hostess had provided a tiny bunch ofapple sachets, easily made from scraps of apple-colored silks. 

"I like apples more than ever now that I've begun to see theirpossibilities, " the guest of honor declared. 

AN OLD ROSE SHOWER

For a girl who was very fond of everything rose-colored, her friendsplanned an "old-rose" shower on Valentine's Day. 

As a result, among the gifts were rose-colored silk stockings, arose-flowered silk party bag, an old-rose boudoir cap, slippers tomatch, and towels with old-rose initials. Each gift was wrapped inwhite tissue paper and tied with old-rose ribbon, and they wereall presented on a big tray, the bottom of which was rose-floweredcretonne under glass. 

The refreshments were raspberry ice and tiny cakes frosted in rose andwhite, and each guest carried away as a favor a wee glove handkerchiefwith an old-rose border. 

A KITTY SHOWER

It sounds odd, but the engaged girl for whom it was given was so veryfond of pussy cats that her chum knew that a kitty shower would justexactly suit her. 

The invitations, written on cats cut from heavy paper, read this way:

 _Since Elizabeth Ann is so fond of the kitty Don't you agree that 'twould be a great pity If we missed a good chance now for making a hit By each bringing her some kind of a kit_?

The bride-to-be suspected nothing when she was asked to a kittyluncheon at her chum's house. 

The table had as decorations a centerpiece of pussy willows and yellowtulips, and the candle shades were made of yellow parchment paper withblack silhouettes of cats running around them. 

At each girl's place was a tiny china cat with a yellow ribbon bow onits neck to which was tied the place-card. 

There was no attempt to carry out the kitty idea in the menu, but itwas yellow throughout. The first course was grapefruit, then followedscalloped oysters garnished with lemon slices, chicken and mayonnaisesalad, individual baked custards, and sunshine cake. 

Upon withdrawing from the table, it was announced that "Pussy was inthe well, " and forthwith a deep cylindrical waste-basket trimmed withpussy willows was brought in and set before the guest of honor, whowas requested to be the one to "pull pussy out. "

With a dawning understanding of the meaning of this, the bride-to-bereached in and drew one by one from the waste-basket the "kits" whichhad been placed there for her. Each one was tied with yellow ribbonand had a black cat pasted on it. 

The gifts were all very clever. There was a traveler's sewing kit, a small blacking kit, a wee laundry kit for motoring, a handy kitcontaining baggage tags, rubber bands, and the like, an emergency kitwith safety pins and threaded needle for her handbag, a guest towelwith a cross-stitch kitty on one end, a cream pitcher and sugar bowlwith a kitten border, a quaint kitten door stop, a painted woodenkitten twine holder, a pair of Angora skating gloves, an odd littlesewing apron with linen cats appliqued on the corners, and a knittingbag of cretonne which pictured Puss-in-Boots prominently among otherMother Goose People. 

When the excitement of the shower was over, a guessing contest wasplayed, each answer being a word in which the syllable "cat" figured. This very jolly afternoon ended with a really hilarious game ofPuss-in-the-corner. 

A CAMP FIRE SHOWER

A jolly crowd of young people who had been camping together a greatdeal gave a lively shower to two of their number who were announcingtheir engagement. 

The affair took place in the city in the winter time and was veryinformal. 

After the "bunch" had gathered, someone suggested that they playcharades, one of their favorite diversions. 

The engaged persons were chosen to sit with the hostess before theopen fire and pretend they were in camp. The word selected was notmade known to them, however. 

The others all retired into the next room and came back shortly, wrapped in raincoats and sou'westers, each one carrying a knobbypackage. 

"Shower!" they shouted in chorus, throwing their bundles at the groupby the fire. The parcels contained all kinds of camp conveniences. There was a camp kit containing knives and forks and spoons, acollapsible drinking cup, a thermos bottle, a pocket compass, anelectric flashlight, a folding mirror, a pocket corkscrew, a foldingcamp grate, a folding camp stool, a folding alcohol stove with a pot, and a pocket camera. 

The engaged couple were taken entirely by surprise, for they hadsupposed the party to be only one of many sociable evenings which thecrowd were in the habit of having. 

The refreshments were reminiscent of camp and were served on woodenplates around the fire in picnic fashion. The menu consisted of hotbacon and roll sandwiches, dill pickles, coffee, and marshmallowstoasted over the flames. 

A "ONE I LOVE" SHOWER

The invitations were made of white water color paper cut in the shapeof daisies, with centers tinted yellow. Scattered over the petals werethe following lines:

 "_One I love, two I love, Three I love I say, Come and see if this is true On St. Valentine's Day. " (or "Friday next, I pray_")

On all the invitations but the guest of honor's was added: "In honorof Marion's engagement. Please send your remembrance to me the daybefore. "

This direction was put on so that the gifts could all be wrapped inadvance by the hostess in white tissue paper, tied with yellow babyribbon and a big artificial daisy tucked into the knot. Piled on atray they were brought to the surprised little bride-to-be on theafternoon of the party. The entertainment fulfilled the promise of theinvitation in this way: A large paper daisy with many petals was hungagainst the wall and each guest was given a pointer and asked toselect a petal at random. On the back of each petal was written alittle fortune rhyme somewhat on the order of this one:

 "_Five! he loves--good pumpkin pie, So learn to cook it--thus say I_. "

The refreshments were served in buffet style in the dining room. Inthe center of the table was a blossoming pot of marguerites. Therewere individual daisy salads, formed by little mounds of chicken saladcovered with yellow mayonnaise and surrounded by a fringe of petalscut from the whites of hard-boiled eggs. With the salad simple breadand butter sandwiches were eaten. 

As a second course, frozen custard in paper cups with borders of whitepaper petals was served with squares of angel cake, frosted in yellow, and squares of sunshine cake, frosted in white. 

The principal feature, however, and the final one, was the favor pie. A big imitation daisy was made from a round basket, by covering thetop with yellow paper and surrounding the edge with as many petalsas there were guests. Each guest was asked to pull a petal from thedaisy, and in so doing drew from the basket a tiny doll dressed likea "rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief, doctor, lawyer, merchant orchief. " The girl whose fate was already assured had been guided tochoose a particular petal and her favor doll proved to be dressed inthe garb of her fiancé's profession. 

FORTUNE RHYMES FOR A "ONE I LOVE" SHOWER

 1. If you'll only wait a while Some one nice will make you smile. 

 2. You will have to choose between Walking or a limousine. 

 3. If you only ONLY knew Who was thinking much of you. 

 4. At a motion picture show From the screen your fate you'll know. 

 5. Something nice you'll sure know In about a week or so. 

 6. Don't despise Hazel eyes. 

 7. Far across the briny sea Comes thy lover now to thee. 

 8. Your career you'll surely ship And substitute a wedding trip. 

 9. A dance, a ride, a moonlit lawn, Your heart will be completely gone. 

 10. One--two--three-- The third it will be. 

 11. Beware, beware the eyes of blue Or they'll surely capture you. 

 12. Your intellect will meet its equal, Happy though will be the sequel. 

 13. A word, a smile, a bow, Married in a year from now. 

 14. Try a smile For a while To beguile. 

 15. You will travel far away Sixteen years from yesterday. 

AN INDIAN SUMMER SHOWER

For the girl who is to be married in the winter, an Indian SummerShower might be given some November evening. The cards of invitationcan have a little brown Indian wigwam painted in one corner, or cutout of brown paper and pasted on; or the invitations can be written onpieces of white birch bark, if you happened to have gathered and savedany from the summer vacation. Paper imitation of birch bark might alsobe used. 

Put all the gifts, wrapped in brown tissue paper and tied with gayribbons, in a toy wigwam which you can make with three sticks and apiece of brown burlap. When the right time comes, the engaged girl isled up to the wigwam and asked to receive the gifts. If there is asmall brother or cousin who can be dressed up in an Indian suit tohand out the presents, so much the better. 

The hostess may make this any kind of shower she wishes. 

After the wigwam has been sacked, it would be fun if you could sitaround the open fire to pop corn or toast marshmallows and play theIndian Summer game of "Pipe Dreams. " Each girl writes out an imaginarydream of the bride's future. The dreams are read by the hostess, andthen each dream paper is consigned to the fire. 

The refreshments ought to be very simple, and may consist of hotchocolate and little chocolate cakes, cone-shaped to simulate wigwams, or they may be merely apples, nuts, popcorn, and sweet cider. Servethe nuts and apples in Indian baskets. 

A CHRISTMAS TREE SHOWER

For the bride who announces her engagement in December, a Christmastree shower might be given Christmas week. Send out cards ofinvitation in the shape of small Christmas trees, or else paste orpaint little evergreen trees on white cards. Ask the guests to bringsomething small enough to be hung on a little Christmas tree. Thebride should be asked to come a little later than the others, so thatthey may have time to hang their gifts on the tree. 

The tree may be as elaborate as you wish to make it. Where treesare hard to procure, a cunning little one on a table is quite largeenough. It can be decked with gold and silver hearts and candy kisses, and on its branches should hang the shower gifts, prettily wrapped andtied. 

When the bride arrives, she must strip the tree. Among its treasuresmay be English walnut shells, gilded and tied together, with fortuneverses inside. --The hostess provides one of these for each guest. 

The refreshments may consist of sandwiches cut in the shape ofChristmas trees and filled with green pepper and cream cheese; carawaycookies cut in the shape of Christmas trees; and hot chocolate, with asprig of evergreen tied by a tiny bow of red to each cup-handle. 

This affair could be planned specifically as a handkerchief, hosieryor kitchen shower. 

WEDDINGS

Following naturally on the engagement announcement and bridal showerscome the wedding plans. 

If the bride's house is small, a church wedding may be the solutionfor her, or else she may plan a house wedding with just a few chosenfriends and relatives present. 

Very often, if a church wedding is planned, there is a receptionafterward at the bride's home. If only a few guests are invited to it, a wedding breakfast or dinner may be served, but if a large number ofpeople are asked, buffet refreshments are sufficient. 

According to the different seasons of the year, the weddings may takeon varying characters. Spring, summer, fall and winter weddings, indoor and outdoor weddings, all have their own special charms. 

SUMMER WEDDING DECORATIONS

Every girl can have a pretty wedding--especially if she lives withinreach of the free woods and fields or in a place of gardens andshrubbery. 

Wild roses and wild clematis vines with ferns from the woods arelovely in a country church where festoons and garlands are oftenneeded to adorn the bare walls. 

Banks of black-eyed Susans with outdoor ferns, bowers of snowy dogwoodin season and the fluffy wild pink azalea are very decorative, and soare the spring and early summer shrubs: syringa, deutzia, floweringalmond and Japanese snowball. 

Mountain laurel, with its exquisite pink flowers and glossy greenleaves, lends itself particularly to church decoration. Ropes of theleaves may be looped from the roof to the side walls; and the blossomsmassed in the front of the church make a fitting background for abride and her pink-clad attendants. 

In the South, Cape jasmine, in the Far West, the golden Californiapoppies and carnations, are beautiful to use. Of course, nothing islovelier than roses--pink and white--and should they prove scarcethey can be successfully supplemented with pink and white peonies, especially for church decoration purposes. 

Meadow rue in great misty clumps as it grows, arranged with tawnyfield lilies and dark green wood ferns, is remarkably striking in achurch. 

At one home wedding, big loose bunches of feathery grass, buttercups, daisies, and clover in brown earthern jars filled the corners of theliving-room, and in the bay window, where the ceremony took place, tall graceful sprays of Queen Anne's lace arranged with plenty ofgreen, made an artistic background. Glass vases filled with it stoodon the window sills and on the floor, the tops of the floor bouquetshiding the window receptacles. 

In the dining-room a bowl of pink and white clover occupied the centerof the table and there were window boxes of the same sweet flower. 

THE TABLE DECORATIONS

Whatever color scheme is used in the other parts of the house, anentirely different one may be carried out in the dining-room. Somesuggestions for simple table decorations in various colors follow:

1. Large low bowl of blue and pink forget-me-nots in the center of thetable, with candle shades of white, painted with forget-me-not sprays. 

2. Garden basket or glass basket of yellow roses and honeysuckle withgraceful sprays of honeysuckle vines trailing to the corners of thetable, yellow candle shades. 

3. Old-fashioned bouquet of garden flowers in old-fashionedvase--snapdragons, lark-spur, coreopsis, babies' breath, mignonette--old-fashioned stiff little artificial bouquets in whitelace paper for favors. 

4. Hanging basket of pink and lavender sweet peas and smilax over thetable, with smilax reaching to the corners of the table and caughtwith pink and lavender tulle bows. 

5. Wood maidenhair ferns and pink garden roses, tiny ferns scatteredover the tablecloth, and rose-colored candle shades. 

6. Wild clematis vines from ceiling over table to four corners, andlow bowl of wild roses in center beneath sprays. 

7. Bachelors' buttons and mignonette in the center of the tableconnected with small baskets of mignonette at the corners of the tableby ribbon matching the blue bachelors' buttons, tied on the handle ofeach basket. 

8. Scarlet poppies in silver vase, silver candlesticks and shades. 

9. Large bowl of "Jack" roses in the center on a table mirror, with asingle large Jack rose in a slim flower holder at each corner of thetable. 

10. Wicker basket of June garden pinks (white and pink) with showerof tiny bells hung on pink ribbons above them from the chandelier orceiling. 

MENUS FOR THE BUFFET LUNCHEON

Many dining-rooms are too small to have a wedding breakfast served atthe table, and for that reason buffet luncheons are most popular. 

The dining table is decorated with flowers and often lighted withcandles under colored shades, and on it are placed extra supplies ofsilver and small dishes of olives, nuts and bonbons. 

As the guests leave the receiving line, they move informally towardthe dining-room, where they stand to be served. If the weddingreception takes place directly after a ceremony in the morning, or athigh noon, the refreshments are more elaborate than at an afternoonaffair and the guests may be seated to be served in the differentrooms. 

When a caterer is not employed, and the serving of the refreshments ismanaged by the hostess herself, it is a pretty and practical plan toask several young girls to help in the dining-room. They should seethat the guests are promptly supplied, and can relieve them of theirplates when they have finished. 

Below are half a dozen good menus for buffet wedding breakfasts andreceptions, varying in degree of formality to suit individual needs. 

 I

 BOUILLON SALTED CRACKERS CHICKEN PATTIES OLIVES PINEAPPLE SALAD SMALL LETTUCE SANDWICHES NEAPOLITAN ICE CREAM WITH FRESH STRAWBERRIES COFFEE CAKE

 II

 CREAMED SWEETBREADS CHERRY SALAD WATERCRESS SANDWICHES RASPBERRY ICE MACAROONS

 III

 CHICKEN SALAD FINGER ROLLS FROZEN CUSTARD SUNSHINE CAKE

 IV

 SCALLOPED CRAB MEAT BREAD AND BUTTER SANDWICHES STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM ANGEL CAKE

 V

 ICED CLAM BROTH WITH WHIPPED CREAM SALTED CRACKERS COLD VEAL LOAF SARATOGA CHIPS OLIVES PINEAPPLE ICE SMALL CAKES

 VI

 ICED CONSOMMÉ SALTED CRACKERS CHICKEN CROQUETTES ROLLS FRUIT SALAD UNSWEETENED CRACKERS LEMON CREAM SHERBET SMALL HOME-MADE COOKIES

THE FAVORS

For wedding favors at a wedding breakfast or reception a number ofinteresting little souvenirs can be inexpensively prepared. Forinstance, there are wee fans (bought at the doll department) with thedate lettered on each; tiny straw baskets that look like the onethe flower girl carries and are filled with very small artificialforget-me-nots and rose-buds; airy butterflies of white and paleyellow silk, to be fastened to fine threads above the table in thedining-room, where they flutter realistically over the flowersbeneath. 

More frivolous are very diminutive bridesmaid's hats, and at thewedding of a bride who is going to travel far away there may be smallboats, either real or of cardboard, with a flying flag of matrimony atthe masthead. 

The old-fashioned posy gift cards with clasped hands are quaint; soare the little nosegays in white paper frills, and every guest willlike a box of bride's cake. 

TWO SUMMER WEDDINGS

A WILD ROSE WEDDING

A wild-rose wedding which one bride planned was wonderfullyattractive. In one corner of the living-room an arch of woven wire waserected, and covered with graceful wild clematis vines and wild roses. On each window-sill stood a jar of wild roses, and the mantel wasbanked with them. 

The two bridesmaids wore pale green dresses, and carried basketsoverflowing with wild roses; the maid of honor wore a gown ofwild-rose pink, and carried an arm bouquet of wood maidenhair fernsand wild clematis. 

The dining-table was decorated effectively. A crystal bowl filled withwild-rose sprays which trailed over the sides and along the table wasplaced in the center on a mat of hardy sword ferns. From above themiddle of the table four garlands of wild clematis were looped down tothe edge of the round table and held with bows of green tulle. 

Glass dishes of olives and pink, green, and white candies on the tablestill further carried out the color scheme. 

The menu, which was served in buffet style, was pink and white. Itconsisted of strawberry and pineapple cocktail, with a sprig of greenmint in each glass, sliced ham and pressed chicken, potato chips, hotrolls, raspberry ice, white-frosted cakes cut in the shape of bells, pink-frosted cakes in the shape of hearts. 

Fruit punch, pink with strawberry juice and green with mint, wasserved on the rose-bowered porch by a pretty girl in a rose-floweredfrock. 

A FIELD FLOWER WEDDING

Another country bride used the field flowers for decorating. 

Big jars of daisies, buttercups, wild carrot, red clover, and tasseledgrasses stood in the corners of all the rooms and filled the emptyfireplace. 

Four little girls, dressed in white with yellow sashes and hairfillets, carried a daisy chain to form an aisle for the bride and herattendants, and the ceremony took place under a big bell of fielddaisies. 

The bridesmaids wore pale yellow georgette gowns, and carried bouquetsof black-eyed Susans, the maid of honor wore old-gold georgette, lightened with white, and carried a loose bunch of daisies andbuttercups. 

In the center of the dining table a high-handled white-enameled basketheld a natural arrangement of sweet white clovers, grasses, and yellowbuttercups, and was linked by several streamers of yellow baby ribbon, with four smaller white baskets at the corners which held smallerbouquets of the same flowers. A fluffy yellow bow was tied to thehandle of each basket. 

The menu was also yellow and white and consisted of hot bouillon, sprinkled with grated hard-boiled egg yolks; chicken jelly salad withmayonnaise; tiny bread and butter sandwiches; frozen custard in icecups trimmed with white paper petals, so that each individual servinglooked like a daisy; small squares of sponge cake, and angel food icedin yellow; yellow and white candies. 

The boxes of wedding cake were piled on the hall table, and each onehad a wee daisy blossom tied into the knot of white ribbon on top. 

OUTDOOR WEDDINGS

AN ORCHARD PAGEANT

There's no wedding quite so picturesque as the outdoor one. Famous isthe orchard wedding beneath a blossoming apple tree, where the air isfilled with fragrance and the bridal party comes winding throughthe trees to the trysting place. It needn't be only a poetic fancy, either--it's entirely practical, and if you have a comparatively smallhouse, why not give your guests the beautiful freedom of outdoorsinstead of cooping them up in the house?

Mark out the path beforehand by mowing the grass in the chosendirection. Select plenty of ushers to conduct the guests to the spotand provide benches and settees for the older folk, who may find ittiring to stand till the wedding party arrives. 

There need be no decorations except the natural ones of the orchard;preparations may consist of raking out dead leaves and branches. 

A victrola may be arranged in the proper place to furnish the weddingprocessional--or perhaps some musical friend may be found to play theviolin. 

The simpler the pageant, the more effective it will be. First may comea tiny flower girl in a white frock, swinging a cretonne floweredsunbonnet from which she tosses apple blossom sprays. 

If there are bridesmaids, they should wear the simplest of pinkdresses with pink fillets on their hair or else wide straw hatstrimmed only with a tiny wreath of flowers. 

Possibly the maid of honor may add a note of contrast by wearingforget-me-not blue. 

Last of all appear the bride and bridegroom, together, for in anold-fashioned orchard wedding that is less awkward than for thebridegroom to come from some other direction. The bride should wear asimple white gown--formal satin would be out of place. 

The wedding breakfast may be served picnic fashion on a long table ofboards decked with apple blossoms. Toasts in strawberry punch are inorder while an orchestra of robins and bluebirds sing in the appletrees round about--unless the noise drives them away. The littlewaiting maids should wear white aprons and white caps with an appleblossom sprig stuck in the top. 

Following them came a flock of flower children, tiny girls and boysscattering flower petals from the high-handled baskets swinging intheir chubby little hands. 

Last of all, four abreast, came the bride and bridegroom, with thebride's mother, who gave her away, on the right of the bride, andthe best man on the left of the bridegroom. The ribbon girls hadaccompanied the procession at the proper intervals holding the aisleribbon, and the last two brought up the rear, winding up the ribbon asthey came. 

The reception took place immediately afterward on the lawn, and theguests were served with ice-cream and cake wherever they chanced to beby the attentive ribbon girls. 

In the back yard at a long table a colored caterer superintended theservice. 

Altogether it was a most successful wedding and at the same time afairly easy one to plan since there was no question of overcrowding inthe house, although in case of rain it could have been managed there. 

A WEDDING ON THE LAWN

A girl who lived in a small town and had a big lawn chose to bemarried outdoors in August. The blossoming hydrangea hedge in front ofthe house was made thicker with small evergreen branches stuck downinto the ground. One corner of the yard where there was a naturalalcove curving in among the shrubs, she picked out for the weddingitself. 

The porch was decorated with Japanese lanterns and flowers, andbeforehand the guests gathered in groups there or on the lawn. 

When it was time for the ceremony, some girl friends of the bridemarshalled the guests to the chosen place and then returned to thehouse to act as ribbon girls. There were about a dozen of them inlight summer dresses, and the first couple, holding the ends of longwhite ribbons, preceded the bridal groups, roping off an aisle acrossthe lawn and among the spectators. 

A chorus of young musical friends came first, singing the words andmusic of Lohengrin. 

FALL WEDDINGS

A BLUE AND GOLD WEDDING

September and October weddings are always popular, partly perhapsbecause of the decorating possibilities of the autumn season. 

Goldenrod and wild asters one thinks of for early fall. At one eveninghome wedding where this blue and gold color scheme was used, thestalks of plumey golden rod seemed to be growing naturally along thestair rail; they were held in place at the uprights. 

The rooms were hung with blue and golden globes of lights--in realitypaper lanterns--sheltering electric bulbs. The fireplace held massesof goldenrod, and blue jars holding wild asters crowned the mantel, the tables, the piano, and the wide window sills. 

The bridesmaids wore gowns of yellow organdy and the maid of honor anaster blue costume. 

In the dining-room a dull gilt basket of blue asters occupied thecenter of the table set for a buffet repast, and a bow of blue andgolden tulle fluttered from the handle of the basket. 

The favors were tiny kewpie dolls, wearing frilly skirts and caps, some of blue and others of yellow. The blue were for the men, theyellow for the girls. 

OAK LEAVES AND COSMOS

When oak leaves begin to glow with tawny splendor, another girlcelebrated her wedding. The house was a bower of rich, deep red andbrown foliage, and the "bridey" touch came in with the pale pinkgarden cosmos that was used. 

Cosmos made the background for the wedding group, and was arranged infeathery masses wherever it might contrast with the dark oak leaves. 

The wedding was in the late afternoon, and after the sunset light hadfaded the pink candles began to glow rosily under soft pink shades. 

The dining-room table was lovely with pink candle-light and pinkcosmos as a centerpiece on a mat of oak leaves. There were pink andwhite candies and raspberry ice was served with the tiniest of pinkand white and green _petites fours_. 

THREE WINTER WEDDINGS

A CHRISTMAS WEDDING

The first girl lived in a country town and evergreens in the woodsnear by were plentiful. The wedding was a Christmas one, and tookplace in the late afternoon. Garlands of graceful ground pine werewound over the banisters in the hall, and draped over the doorways tohang down halfway on each side against the ivory white wood-work. Inthe living-room, two little Christmas trees, lighted with tiny whitecandles, formed an alcove where the bridal group could stand. 

The table in the dining-room was decorated for a buffet luncheon inholiday red and green. There was a centerpiece of red roses, red silkcandle shades shading white candles in clear glass candlesticks, andtiny green Christmas ferns scattered on the white cloth. 

The menu had the same color harmony, and consisted of consommé, saltedcrackers, oyster patties, chicken jelly salad with green mayonnaise, salad rolls, olives, pistachio ice-cream in holly-decked cases, littlecakes with green icing and silver bonbons stuck on top, and coffee, with green mints. 

A RAINBOW WEDDING

The second bride lived in the city and had a rainbow wedding. Theusual green of potted ferns and palms formed the background ofdecorations, but over the rounded archway which opened into a smallalcove a "rainbow" of tulle--rose, pale pink, yellow, green, blue, andlavender--was arranged. Pink and yellow roses with green foliage weresupplemented in the living-room by blue and lavender tulle on thevases. The six bridesmaids wore gowns which matched the tulle rainbowand they carried pink roses. 

On the table in the dining-room was a bowl of pink roses, and from thetable dome a myriad of baby ribbon streamers in the same varied colorscame down at six points, and were held in place by six fluffy favordolls, dressed in tulle to match the six bridesmaids, to whom theywere afterward given as souvenirs. 

The menu consisted of chicken à la King, small sandwiches, olives, Neapolitan ice-cream, fancy frosted cakes, and coffee. 

A COLONIAL WEDDING

The third girl, with a delight for old-fashioned ways, was followed bysix maids in quaint Colonial gowns of plain or flowered silk, notwo costumes alike, save for soft white lace fichus. Black velvetneckbands, powdered curls, and "nosegays" of small pink carnations inlace paper holders quite carried out the lovely effect. 

The old-fashioned rooms were hung with smilax and asparagus fern, andin every window stood a pot of flowering fuchsias.