Seats in a Japanese corner may easily be arranged of boxes with portières thrown over them. Numerous cushions may be piled on these improvised couches and on the floor. A Japanese parasol may be hung in the corner, tilting forward to form a canopy, and the walls be hung with bead curtains. The odor from burning joss sticks will contribute to the realness of the affair. Japanese lanterns should hang about the room.
After the stories have been told tiny bits of paper and pencils may be passed and each one present should write down the name of the one who did best according to her opinion. A Japanese cup and saucer are presented to the one who receives the most votes.
A pretty decorative idea for a Japanese sociable is to cover entirely the walls of the room with branches of trees, with cherry blossoms made of pink paper—their color in Japan—scattered profusely over them, the scene representing the beautiful gardens of Tokio. If musicians are to be present they may be screened by a lattice covered with gold paper, and vines intertwined, while tiny incandescent lights shine through. Souvenirs may be distributed from a jinrikisha covered with the cherry blossoms.
The dining-room may be readily transformed into Oriental style with very little trouble. In place of the usual tea-table have several tabourettes, each holding a teapot, cups and saucers, lemon and sugar wafers, and Japanese napkins. A cushion made of matting should be placed on the floor before each tabourette. Those who serve should be in Japanese costume. Paper cherry blossoms, fastened to tree branches, and lanterns would make effective decorations.
If it is desired to have a more elaborate menu, it may be served on Japanese plates, and should consist of sandwiches folded in Japanese napkins, vegetable salad, and rice in some form. For dessert serve sherbet, calling it "cherry blossom ice," and with it have wafers. Tea and Japanese nuts may be served last to complete the Japanese idea.
LITERARY CONTEST
Have small tables numbered and arranged to seat four or six persons. Select for each table a judge, who will distribute the cards and blanks. These judges hold the keys to the contests, so that they may be able to mark the players correctly.
Give each player a card attached to a piece of baby ribbon that may be fastened in the buttonhole. Upon these cards the number of points gained may be written, punched with a ticket punch, or marked with fancy wafers of different colors. The cards must be numbered to correspond with the tables, and as many number one cards provided as there are players at table number one, and so on.
When the players are seated at the tables which correspond in number with the number upon their cards, let the judges distribute blank paper and pencils, also copies of the questions comprised in the several contests, among the players at their respective tables.
A different contest must be prepared for each one of the tables.