Bright Ideas for Entertaining

by Mrs. Herbert B. Linscott

Each guest was given a double card or booklet with pencil attached, the cover representing a miniature sheet of music. Upon one page was a list of numbered questions, the answers to be written upon the opposite page, suggested by selections from well-known operas and operettas played upon the piano or other instrument. The names of the operas from which the selections were taken answered the questions.

The following were the questions:

1. Who were the bride and groom?
2. What was the bride called—from the circumstances of her wedding?
3. At what sort of party did they meet?
4. He went as a minstrel. What was he called?
5. She went as an Austrian peasant. What was she called?
6. At the wedding what Spanish girl was maid of honor?
7. What noted Swiss was best man?
8. What two ladies (friends of Donizetti's) were bridesmaids?
9. What four Germans were the ushers?
10. What mythological personage presided over the music?
11. Who sang at the ceremony?
12. What noted person from Japan was present?
13. What noted bells were rung in honor of the wedding?
14. What ship did they take for their wedding trip?
15. When on the voyage who captured them?
16. What virtue sustained them in captivity?
17. What gentleman of dark complexion rescued them?
18. What historical people entertained them in France?
19. In Northeast Italy what grand affair did they attend?
20. Who showed them the sights of Venice?

And the music gave answer, as follows:

1. Romeo and Juliet.
2. The Runaway Girl.
3. Masked Ball.
4. Trovatore.
5. The Bohemian Girl.
6. Carmen.
7. William Tell.
8. Lucia di Lammermoor and Linda di Chamouni.
9. Lohengrin, Faust, Tannhäuser and Siegfried.
10. Orpheus.
11. The Meistersinger.
12. The Mikado.
13. The Chimes of Normandy.
14. H. M. S. Pinafore.
15. The Pirates of Penzance.
16. Patience.
17. Othello.
18. The Huguenots.
19. The Carnival of Venice.
20. The Gondoliers.

WHICH IS YOUR AGE

• What is the best age for a girl or boy? (Espionage)
• To what age will people arrive if they live long enough? (Dotage)
• To what age do most women look forward with anxiety? (Marriage)
• What age has the soldier often to find? (Courage)
• What age is required on the high seas? (Tonnage)
• What age are we forbidden to worship? (Image)
• What age is not less or more? (Average)
• What is the age people are stuck on? (Mucilage)
• What age is both profane and destructive? (Damage)
• At what age are vessels to ride safe? (Anchorage)
• What age is necessary to the clergyman? (Parsonage)
• What age is one of communication? (Postage)
• What age is most important to travelers by rail? (Mileage)
• What is the age now popular for charity? (Coinage)
• What age is shared by the doctor and the thief? (Pillage)
• What age do we all wish for? (Homage)
• What age is slavery? (Hostage)
• What age is most enjoyed at the morning meal? (Beverage)
• What is the most indigestible age? (Sausage)

WHICH IS YOUR AUNT (ANT)

1. What is the oldest ant? (Adam-ant)
2. What ant hires his home? (Tenant)
3. What ant is joyful? (Jubilant)
4. What ant is learned? (Savant)
5. What ant is well-informed? (Conversant)
6. What ant is trustworthy? (Confidant)
7. What ant is proud? (Arrogant)
8. What ant sees things? (Observant)
9. What ant is angry? (Indignant)
10. What ant tells things? (Informant)
11. What ant is successful? (Triumphant)
12. What ant is an officer? (Commandant)
13. What ant is a beggar? (Mendicant)
14. What ant is obstinate? (Defiant)
15. What ant is youngest? (Infant)
16. What is the ruling ant? (Dominant)
17. What is the wandering ant? (Errant)
18. What ant lives in a house? (Occupant)
19. What ant points out things? (Significant)
20. What ant is prayerful? (Supplicant)

WHICH IS YOUR CITY