Parlor Mountain-Climb.
Decorate the room with such mountain flowers and foliage as can be procured, and order in advance of a stationer enough favors for all the Juniors, each favor, when pulled, to reveal some article of travelling-costume in crape paper or tissue-paper that will suggest mountain-climbing. They might all be odd mountain hats of various colors and kinds, the Alpine predominating; or some of them might be long travelling-cloaks.
For the first half or three-quarters of an hour have a stereopticon talk on the people and scenery of the Alps, giving pictures of Swiss peasants and their cottages, and interspersing story and incident to add to the interest. Follow this with a little appropriate music; a “Swiss bells” instrumental selection and one or two pretty mountain songs like “The Herdsman’s Mountain Home” would be good.
Then the Juniors are presented with their “travelling-bags,” as the favors may be called, and are told to open them by pulling, and that they will find something to wear while climbing the mountain. When all are dressed for the climb, the preparations are completed by giving each an alpenstock, and arranging several hassocks, cushions, big books, etc., in the path of the prospective climbers; for the “mountain-climb” proves to be an obstacle race on one foot.
When this part of the fun is over, there may be a written question game, involving more mountains. Here is a list that may prove suggestive:
1. What mountain in Switzerland is a girl’s name?
2. What mountain in North Carolina is a favorite relative of most Juniors?
3. What mountains are full of maps?
4. What mountain in Asia is the atmosphere and a small animal?
5. What mountain in Wales was pelted by a storm?