A novel way of selecting partners for a New Year's party is to paint upon water color paper such objects as may illustrate the different months of the year. A candle for January, to represent Twelfth Night, or "The Feast of Candles." February, a heart for St. Valentine. March, the shamrock, as complimentary to St. Patrick. For April, an umbrella, the sign of rain. May, the month for moving, is represented by a sign upon which are the words, "House to Let." June, of course, is the month of roses, while a fire-cracker is always symbolical of July. A fan for the hot month of August, and a pile of school books for the first days of September. Hallow-e'en, the gala day of October, has a Jack-o'lantern, while the year closes with a turkey for Thanksgiving and a stocking for Christmas.
Cut these out and fasten a loop of ribbon to each one, except the fire-cracker, where a bit of cord will answer both for the fuse and the loop by which to hang it. These are for the ladies, while the men will receive plain cards upon each one of which is written a month of the year. If there be more than twenty-four guests there are many other available days, as Arbor Day, represented by a tree; a hatchet for Washington's Birthday; a flag for Flag Day; a saw, trowel or spade for Labor Day, and a ballot box for Election Day. If it be necessary to use these extra days the plain cards must be numbered to designate the different days of the same month. For instance, the card that corresponds with St. Valentine's Day will be February No. 1, while the bearer of February No. 2 will be the partner for the holder of the Washington's birthday illustration.
The same idea may be carried out for dinner favors, painting the various objects on cards about four by six inches in size, and pasting on one corner a small calendar. When the guests arrive they will be given the plain slips upon which are written the months of the year, and must then find at the table the calendars that correspond with their cards.
Lincoln's Birthday
At dinners, parties and entertainments given on February 12th, the anniversary of the birth of our immortal Lincoln, one aim of the host or hostess should be to imbue the affair with the spirit of patriotism; so use the good old red, white and blue for the color scheme in decorating. Busts and pictures of Lincoln, national emblems, such as the flag, shield, American Eagle, etc., and military accouterments would make appropriate decorations.
Dinner favors should be candy boxes representing either miniature log cabins or a log of wood with a tiny paper or metal ax imbedded in it; small busts of Lincoln would make ideal favors for such an occasion. Place cards may have on the reverse side a quotation from Lincoln which the guests may read in turn to furnish food for thought and conversation. The following sayings of Lincoln are suggested:—
"I do not think much of a man who is not wiser to-day than he was yesterday."
"Gold is good in its place, but living, brave, and patriotic men are better than gold."
"Let none falter who thinks he is right."