Let your Fourth of July
Lawn Party
partake of the patriotic traditions, and as far as possible help to celebrate our Nation’s birthday in an appropriate manner.
Paper fire-works may form part of the entertainment, it being optional with the hostess whether they come before or after the games, or are interspersed between them.
The party opens with the signing of the
Declaration of Independence.
To each guest is given a brown-paper bag, and when all have assembled on the lawn, the hostess steps forward facing the company, and asks all to kindly keep quiet and listen for a few moments while she reads or repeats their Declaration of Independence, she then reads:
We girls are, and of right should be, free and independent of all boys’ sports, having resources and amusements befitting the celebration of the Fourth of July, independent of all those belonging exclusively to boys.
Then follows the signing of the same, by each in turn writing her name beneath the declaration. This accomplished, the hostess gives the signal and each guest fills her bag with air, by holding it close to her mouth, gathering it tightly around, and blowing into it, then grasping it firmly in the right hand, being careful not to let any air escape.
At another signal, all simultaneously bring their hands forcibly and quickly together, striking the paper bags with the left hand, which bursts the bags and causes a report almost equal to that of pistols.