When the Frost is on the Pumpkin.
The hostess who wants to provide a simple, and at the same time a novel entertainment for her friends should call to her aid the glossy, orange coated pumpkins. With pumpkins for the motif, so to speak, an evening full of fun may be enjoyed. Decorate square white cards with a huge pumpkin; one who cannot draw can cut a very presentable looking pumpkin from orange paper and paste it on the cards. Then write on each: The Mighty Mammoth Pumpkin will be on exhibition at Mrs. Blanks, from 7 to 11 p. m., next Thursday night. You are cordially invited to come and guess its weight. Get the largest pumpkin you can find and a goodly collection of shapely, medium-sized ones. Make a record of the weight, the length, and the girth of the big pumpkin, then carefully cut open lengthwise and scoop out, and if trouble is no object count the seeds. Fill the pumpkin with sawdust and bury in it the souvenirs, simple little trifles, orange hued penwipers, needlebooks, pincushions, etc. Wrap them up in paper and bury them deep. Set the pumpkin on a mat of leaves on a small table and label "Hands Off." Each guest is given a card with a pencil attached to record his guesses. Little leather covered inkstands, the exact counterpart of tiny pumpkins, and pumpkin paper weights equally as natural in appearance are appropriate for the head prizes, while pumpkin emery bags and pumpkin-shaped blotters will please the winners of the boobies. The rest of the evening may be spent in carving Jack o' Lanterns from, small pumpkins. The guests may be required to write a recipe for pumpkin pie which will bring forth some wonderful flights of fancy. Decorate the rooms with pumpkin vases filled with chrysanthemums and have a bowl of orange fruit cup set inside of a large pumpkin for the guests' refreshment during the evening. In setting the table have a pumpkin vase of ferns and yellow and white chrysanthemums for the centerpiece. The supper is served from pumpkin dishes. Select round, deep pumpkins with a stem, choosing those of a pretty color and shape. Saw off the tops even, so they may be put back on the pumpkins as lids, scoop out and line with parchment paper. As this supper is very informal, sandwiches with various fillings, a rich chicken salad made with walnut meats and chopped celery, cheese and bread sticks and coffee may form the substantial part. Stuffed figs and dates, bonbons and macaroons are served for the sweet course and an orange ice or snow pudding in little pumpkin paper cases.