Have Sunday the crowning day of all. Arrange to have a piano or organ at this booth, and secure a full choir or quartet to sing the sacred songs; have solos, duets, instrumental music and an orchestra if possible. Have sacred readings and make the time spent here an hour of sacred enjoyment.
If something extra is wanted let the singers dress in old time costumes and sing the old sacred songs with an organ accompaniment.
SHAMROCK LUNCHEON
An Idea for St. Patrick's Day
The invitations were written upon pale green note-paper, with a shamrock leaf painted in water-color in one corner. The exquisitely blended shades of this leaf make it an easy and effective decoration. In truth, we encountered some difficulty in finding a leaf to copy; but a volume of Moore's poems, incased by a considerate binder in a shamrock-sprinkled cover, solved the problem!
The event was called a "Shamrock Luncheon," the hours were from two until six, and the word "whist" explained our intentions.
The score-cards were cut from green cardboard, in the shape of a large shamrock; and across the back of each was written a line of a humorous St. Patrick's Day poem, which we had discovered in a newspaper. The verses will be found complete at the end of this article. It is adapted to twenty-four guests, but it is easy to insert more lines if more guests are invited.
Each lady selected her partner for the game by finding the holder of the line which rhymed with her own. The score-cards were tied with streamers of narrow white or green ribbon, which served both to attach the cards to the gown and to indicate partners in "changing tables"—the green always playing with a white ribbon. (Care must be taken to tie rhyming cards, one with green and one with white.)
When partners had been found, the entire poem, sufficiently humorous to break up all formality, was read. As each line was read, the owner of the card bearing that line took her seat as indicated, until all the guests were easily and laughingly seated.
The six small luncheon tables were set with green and white china, and had for centrepieces pots of blossoming shamrock. Any florist will sell or rent these.