Star Social.
If you wish decorative features, the following are attractive, though not necessary to the success of the social.
Cut from gilt paper as many stars about an inch in diameter as there are Juniors. Then take a large star-shaped wire frame, one of those supplied by florists for Christmas decorations, fill it with evergreen or holly, if the social is to be held near Christmas time, and suspend it from the ceiling or chandelier by ribbons, extending from each point upward and meeting at the centre. From each point of this large star hang a group of the little stars, by strings or baby ribbon of different lengths, so that from each point the gilt stars will be hanging in a cluster, some higher, some lower. Number all the stars, those in each group having a number of their own. Thus the cluster of stars from one point will all be numbered 1, those from another point 2, and so on.
Some of the Juniors are probably taking piano lessons, and making good progress; or learning to play on other instruments; and of course a number can sing well. Ask several of the musical ones to come prepared to play or sing. A few others should have recitations; and two or three who like to write can each write an original story not more than five hundred words long.
As the Juniors come in, give to each of them a pencil and a star-shaped white card with the words written from the centre towards each point, “Pictures,” “Music,” “Stories,” “Speaking,” and “Museum.” Ask them to write their names on the reverse side of their cards; and then to read what is written on the star-points, and to make a check or cross very plainly in that point having the name of the thing they like best. The cards are then collected, and will be, by the way, no slight help to a new Junior superintendent in learning to understand the tastes of the children with whom she is to work, even after this particular good time is over.
While the cards, after being collected, are examined and sorted, some game may be played. The “flying star” is a good one. Each player is supplied with a small empty spool, with a colored paper star pasted over one end. Half the stars are red, the other half blue, to distinguish which side the player is on. Arrange twelve berry-boxes, quart size, on the floor in a hollow square. Mark four of them on the bottom with the figure 5; four of them 10, and leave four blank. Place a tin cup in the centre. Let the players stand a few feet away, and they may test their skill in throwing. Each spool, or “flying star,” landing in the cup, counts 20; when landing in one of the boxes, it counts whatever that box is marked. Each side keeps tally, and when all the stars have flown, the scores are compared to see which side has the larger.
Next, divide the Juniors into groups for the game “constellations,” which is really several games in one. The division is made according to choice as already marked on the cards given out on arrival. Those who chose “Pictures” are put in Constellation No. 1, and to them belongs the cluster of little hanging gilt stars marked with that number. Those who chose “Music” are in Constellation No. 2, and so on. The gilt stars are taken down and given to the Juniors thus by number, pinned to the dress of each; and thereby every Junior becomes a “star,” and must prepare to shine accordingly. As before stated, however, the star decorations are not absolutely necessary; the Juniors can shine even without being thus labelled.
The constellation of “star artists” sit together, and for half an hour engage in some drawing contest. Perhaps the game of “accidental high art” is as good as any. Spread a newspaper over a table; let each player be furnished with two pieces of paper and a pen; and on the table place a bottle of India ink and a fountain-pen-filler. With the filler let one drop of ink fall upon one of the pieces of paper belonging to each, and tell him to press upon it his other sheet of paper. This gives each player the foundation for two pictures, so that if his first attempt is not an entire success he can try again. The aim is to make of the grotesque and shapeless blot, by the help of the pen and imagination, a picture of some object—animal, tree, landscape, or whatever turns out to be most feasible. As blots are never twice alike, there is every opportunity for the fancy and skill of the artist.
While Constellation No. 1 is thus engaged, No. 2 is in the next room preparing its musical programme with the help of those who have brought something to sing or play; Constellation No. 3 is selecting recitations; No. 4, if this is the authors’ group, is deciding on the order of reading and perhaps the titles, or any other unfinished part, of its original stories; and No. 5 is arranging a museum of natural curiosities in the form of interesting hats, paper-cutters, and other small articles whose origin and method of manufacture and use they think they can at least partially describe.
At the end of the half-hour all the stars gather to listen to the entertainment provided by each constellation. The “star artists” exhibit their works of art; the star musicians play and sing; the star authors read their effusions; the star orators declaim or recite; and the star museum-directors give their exhibition. A vote of thanks, or some more substantial reward, may be given to the constellation furnishing the best entertainment.
Close the evening with refreshments consisting of cheese sandwiches cut star-shaped and filled, presumably, with green cheese from the moon; and glasses of creamy milk fresh from the Milky Way. What star or constellation could fail to be satisfied with such fare?
On leaving, each Junior might be given a star-shaped Christmas card as a memento.
This plan is capable, of course, like most of those given in this book, of endless variation. A “surprise constellation,” or some other preferred, might take the place of any one of those suggested. The stories, recitations, and music might be given without any previous arrangement outside, if a thoroughly impromptu programme is desired; but in most cases a little inkling of what will be expected of them, in the case of those likely to be called upon, makes the result more interesting. Some of the musical numbers and recitations could be humorous, others more serious; but most of them will naturally pertain to Christmas or stars. The following, once contributed by the writer to The New Voice, might be given by one of the more thoughtful Juniors as a recitation:
Star-jewelled was the Night’s dark brow,
As, with a light caress,
Smiling, she saw the wondering Earth
Her promised King confess,
While Hate and Greed shrank back before
God’s Love-thought, born to bless
As the angel choir was singing.
O glorious Christmas yet to dawn,
When men shall understand,
The lowly manger of the heart
Become a temple grand,
Each cruel wrong and strife depart,
Quelled by an infant’s hand,
While the Christmas bells are ringing!
Then, Fear-thought, flee! and Hate-thought, die!
As gleams the Star’s clear ray,
Join, World, the wise men’s holy quest;
Put evil far away;
And give till all the earth is blest;
Let Love-thought rule to-day,
Every heart its incense bringing.
Holly and Mistletoe Drill.
By Imogen A. Storey.
An even number of small boys of uniform height must be used for this drill. Usually it will be found necessary for the Juniors to call in the aid of children outside the society, which will furnish a fine opportunity to win new members.
At the rear of the stage a small hut should be constructed of light framework, and covered with heavy brown paper. The roof and window-sills of this must be spread with cotton to represent snow.
On the floor of the stage a heavy white cloth should be stretched, and in the rear and at the sides boughs of evergreens covered with cotton should be arranged to represent the woods.
The floor of the stage must be laid off as shown by diagrams to prevent mistakes. Half of the children must be dressed in fairylike suits of white, carrying a half-hoop trimmed with mistletoe and white satin ribbons, the ribbons tied at each end of the hoop. The others must be costumed in like manner, only in red, having hoops trimmed in holly and red ribbons. All must wear green gauze wings.
When the drill begins, old Santa and his wife should be seen busy in their little house, fixing toys. If presents are to be distributed, they must be placed in the hut previous to the beginning of the exercise. The children enter skipping to music, following the lines shown in [Diagram A], mistletoes on the right and hollies on the left, or the reverse.
Diagram A.
They skip, following lines as indicated by arrows in A, with arms in upward bend position and hoops arched overhead. When the leaders reach lines R and L, the skip step is changed to a march, and they join hoops with partners so as to make a complete hoop with bows at each side. This is a very easy movement, though it may seem the contrary. Those on the right extend the inside arm straight to the side, shoulder-high, holding the end of hoop with the arch down. Those on the left extend their arms in the same way with the arch up. Each child grasps the end of the partner’s hoop with his own in the inside hand.
On the leader’s reaching the front line the first position of the hoops is resumed by all with skip step. When the side lines are reached, they turn on the diagonal lines and begin a fancy step, dropping the hoop down around the neck like a boa. On a change of music drop the hoop, and advance the inside foot diagonally to inside (towards partner), and place it on the floor, first count; hop on the advance foot, and swing the outside leg across in front, bending the knee so that the foot which is crossed over comes almost as high as the knee of the inside leg, second count; swing the same foot diagonally forward to the outside again, and place it on the floor, third count; hop on it, and swing the inside leg across in front of the outside, fourth count. This step is called “swing-cross step,” which somewhat explains the movement. On the leaders’ reaching the front line the skip step with first position of hoop is resumed by all. On reaching the side lines again, instead of coming down diagonal lines as before, they turn on the rear lines as shown in [B], and come down the lines R and L in [C], with the following fancy step:
Diagram B.
Diagram C.
Advance the inside foot, and touch the toe to the floor, and the inside arm straight to the side and the outside hand on the chest, the arch of the hoop up, first count; change the weight to the forward foot, the hoop arched overhead the same as in skipping, second count; repeat the same to the opposite side, third and fourth counts. Continue this until the front line is reached. Then resume the skip step, and follow lines as before in [A].
When they reach the side lines, old Santa steps to the front door of his hut, and blows a whistle or horn, and the skip step is changed to a run on the toes. The players run down the side lines, and turn on the lines shown in C leading to the hut. When the leaders reach the cross marks on these lines, a signal from the piano or another blast from old Santa’s horn is given for them to halt, which should be executed by them together. After they have halted, old Santa steps down from his door, and gives another blast, and all should turn facing inside; that is, towards lines R and L. Old Santa should walk up and down inspecting them.
Old Santa, in deep tones: “I have decided to engage you, Mistletoe and Holly Berry fairies, to do some work for me this beautiful Christmas night, for I am getting old and lame. Can I depend on you?”
Fairies all together: “Yes, sir.”
Old Santa: “I want you to take each child in this audience a gift from me and my wife. Will you do it?”
“Yes, sir; indeed we will,” should come in loud, emphatic tones from the little fairies. Santa should go back to the door of his little hut and receive the gifts from Mrs. Santa Claus, who hands them out to him. Santa must call out the names as he gives them to the fairies, as they file past on lines shown in C, turning on lines R and L, thence down the steps in the centre. After distributing the gifts they return for more by side steps as shown in C. In this way the presents, even for a large audience, can be easily disposed of.