Produced by Janet Kegg, Josephine Paolucci and the Online Distributed

Proofreading Team.

Made Easy Series

ENTERTAINING MADE EASY

BY

EMILY ROSE BURT

1919

Acknowledgment is made to Woman's Home Companion, The Ladies' Home Journal, Farm and Fireside, and the Designer for their courteous permission to reprint certain material in this book.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SOCIALS AND PARTIES A SMILES SOCIAL AN AVIATION MEET A MOCK CANTEEN A PROGRESSIVE MARCH PARTY AN AUTUMN LEAF DANCE A HARVEST HOME PARTY A NUTTY PARTY FOR OCTOBER A MAY POLE PARTY FOR CHILDREN

OUTDOOR AFFAIRS A BACON BAT A CHILDREN'S DAISY PARTY A HAWAIIAN PORCH LUNCHEON A WATERMELON FROLIC A JAPANESE GARDEN PARTY A COMMENCEMENT PICNIC A PROGRESSIVE MOTOR PARTY

BIRTHDAYS AND OTHER ANNIVERSARIES A BACHELOR SUPPER MOTHER'S BIRTHDAY TEA A PUSSY CAT PARTY A GIRL'S BIRTHDAY LUNCHEON THE WOODEN WEDDING THE TIN WEDDING A MOCK WEDDING A SILVER WEDDING SHOWER A CAPE COD LUNCHEON

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND SHOWERS "A LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME" LUNCHEON A HAPPINESS TEA A HELLO PARTY AN APPLE SHOWER AN OLD ROSE SHOWER A KITTY SHOWER A CAMP FIRE SHOWER A "ONE I LOVE" SHOWER AN INDIAN SUMMER SHOWER A CHRISTMAS TREE SHOWER

WEDDINGS
SUMMER WEDDING DECORATIONS
THE TABLE DECORATIONS
MENUS FOR THE BUFFET LUNCHEON
THE FAVORS
TWO SUMMER WEDDINGS
A Wild Rose Wedding
A Field Flower Wedding
OUTDOOR WEDDINGS
An Orchard Pageant
A Wedding on the Lawn
FALL WEDDINGS
A Blue and Gold Fall Wedding
Oak Leaves and Cosmos
THREE WINTER WEDDINGS
A Christmas Wedding
A Rainbow Wedding
A Colonial Wedding

INTRODUCTION

It is fun to entertain—if you don't make hard work of it.

And why make hard work of it when there are ways to entertain easily?

Besides you know that the more easily you do it, the more successful you'll be, and there's hardly a woman in the world—is there?—who wouldn't like to be known as a good hostess.

"But," says one of you, "I haven't the knack."

And another says, "I haven't the time or money."

And yet another, "Oh, I never have any ideas."

Nonsense!

It's not a question of knack or money or ideas. All you need is to know the secret, and it's an open secret at that!

First, ask yourself what you mean by a successful hostess. Your answer will be, "One whose guests have so good a time that they want to come again."

Sure enough! The secret is out then—entertaining successfully is giving the guests a good time.

"More easily said than done," you say. "What must I do to give the guests a good time?"

And the answer to that is in a nutshell. "Make your entertainment fit the folks to be entertained."

You wouldn't, for instance, think of inviting your grandmother's friends in of an afternoon in honor of the old lady's birthday and playing stagecoach or blindman's buff.

And if you have your Sunday School class of lively boys in for the evening, you won't expect them to play paper and pencil games from eight to ten.

It's really just a matter of common sense coupled with some imagination and forethought to choose the right kind of entertainment.

Along with choosing the right variety of amusement, remember that folks generally like the simple things best and if there's a touch of originality in addition, you've won their hearts. For you see you've made them feel that you took the trouble to plan something "different" in their honor.

Because it's different, it isn't necessarily hard to prepare—there are lots of novelties in decoration, amusement and "eats" that are perfectly simple and inexpensive. They are what help to make entertaining easy, in fact. And just at this point you see comes in the reason for the writing of this little book.

It aims to make entertaining easy by suggesting plans that are simple and a little out-of-the-ordinary to fit the most frequent occasions when you wish to entertain or perhaps must do so. Special care has been taken to consider time and expense, but at the same time to bring in a touch of the unusual.

Don't miss the fun of entertaining because you've always thought it hard work! This book has been prepared to show you how easily, after all, it can be done. And may you have the reward of joy and satisfaction that comes with successful hospitality!

SOCIALS AND PARTIES

Perhaps you're appointed chairman of the social committee of your young people's church society of or some club. Or maybe you want to entertain for a friend who is visiting you so that she may meet your circle of friends. Anyway it's up to you to plan an evening's amusement for a big crowd of people. If it's a mixed crowd—young and old and in-between (as church socials often are)—you need one kind of plan; if it's a bunch of young folks, or a school class party, or something for the children, you need other plans.

But the secret of all good times for big crowds is to choose entertainment that draws the individuals together in some kind of comradeship, gives them all something in common, and puts them on a friendly footing.

A SMILES SOCIAL

On the door of the parish house as well as in the post-office window appeared a poster adorned with a big smiling face—the kind made by drawing a circle and putting inside of it two eye dots, a nose line, and a cheerful curve for a mouth.

Beneath it the invitation urged everybody to come to a Smiles Social, wearing a smile and bringing an extra one in the pocket. Admission, one smile.

The parish house parlors were decorated with all the laughing or smiling pictures that could be found by the committee in charge. "Mona Lisa" was there with her inscrutable smile, "The Laughing Cavalier," as well as less famous characters, such as smiling girls on calendars and magazine covers. An amusing display of newspaper cartoons also filled one portion of the wall space. Smilax was appropriately enough used for trimming.

At the door was stationed a smiling admission collector, who insisted on an entering smile from everyone. The extra one was not demanded at this point.

With such a beginning and the gallery of smiles about the room to break the ice, the social was assured of the success that followed.

The first stunt tried was called "Throwing Smiles," not a new amusement but always a fun-maker.

One person starts the game by smiling broadly and then pretending to wipe off the smile and throw it to somebody else. As soon as it lands on the next person's face, that person must in turn wipe it off and fling it at a third player. As soon as a smile is supposedly wiped off, the owner of it must maintain a perfectly sober expression.

The company was in screams of laughter before this game had gone very far.

Another amusing game for a large number which goes under various names was called on this occasion "The Smile Factory." The company is divided into two groups which line up opposite each other. Someone is appointed to stand between the two lines with a man's soft hat in hand. If upon being tossed in the air, the hat lands right side up, one group has to laugh while the opposite one remains absolutely sober. When the hat lands upside down, the first group remains solemn and the other group laughs. A member of either side who fails to follow this rule goes over to the opposite side. The side which wins all the members of the other side is announced victorious.

The old-fashioned game of "Poor Pussy" was also played because the point of it is trying not to smile. The younger folk will enjoy it. You may remember that a ring is formed and the person within the ring who is "it," kneels before someone in the circle and mews or purrs appealingly three times successively. Each time the person confronted must answer sternly or calmly "Poor Pussy," never smiling. In case of a smile or a laugh, this person takes the place of "Poor Pussy."

Midway of the evening the extra smiles brought to the social were asked for. Jokes and funny rhymes or sayings were read in turn. If various persons dislike the publicity of such a procedure, all the "smiles" may be collected and presented by two or three clever persons in the form of a minstrel show. This can be called "Smiles in Black and White."

The popular song "Smiles" was in order as well as the older favorite,"
Pack up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag and Smile, Smile, Smile."

The following conundrum was also propounded: What is the longest word in the English language? The answer is "Smiles" because there's a mile between the first and last syllables.

Humorous recitations and others relating to smiles were given by some good readers.

Just before the refreshments came a smile-measuring contest. All stood in line and grinned broadly while a girl with a tape measure took account of each one in turn. The winner received as a prize a grinning little china darky.

The refreshments were enough to make everyone smile—they consisted of pink lemonade and ginger cookies with features marked on them in white icing. The most conspicuous feature was of course the grin.

AN AVIATION MEET

Try this plan for recruiting attendance at your next church social. It would also "fill the bill" for a jolly midwinter school party. The invitations are made to look like tickets of admission; the men's of red pasteboard and the girls' of blue. They read this way:

Admit Two
To an Aviation Meet
In the —— Church parlors
Friday evening
February 21 8 o'clock

Each member who receives a ticket must make a point of inviting somebody else, and should conduct the guest personally to the social.

The hall or assembly rooms may be decorated with American and Allied colors, and it would be appropriate and effective to suspend in each window a trio of toy balloons, red, white, and blue in color, respectively. Miniature airplanes hung overhead at intervals down the length of the room would add realism.

In different places on the walls fasten conspicuously large posters boldly lettered with the program of events, as follows:

1. TESTS:
Ground work
Control
Balance

2. FLIGHTS

3. STUNTS AND TRICKS:
Hands Up
Spiral
Reverse speed
Low speed
Spin
Nose dives
Loop the loop

4. AIR RACES

5. ARRIVAL OF AIR MAIL

To promote fun, put up a few placards featuring certain well-known members in some of the events. For instance:

"See Charlie Hays loop the loop!"

or

"Mildred Brown's control is wonderful!"

A good leader can make this program go off well by calling on volunteers for the various contests. Sometimes people like better to take part in teams.

The first test, which is called "ground work," is a hopping stunt. The contestants hop on one foot to a given goal, and the one who does it most easily and gracefully and holds out best is declared victorious by the judges. Blue ribbon badges are pinned on the successful persons.

Next comes "control," which turns out to be facial control under difficulties. No matter what the funny, teasing, or pseudo-insulting remarks or performances of the onlookers, the contestants must retain calm and unmoved expressions as they stand in line.

"Balance" proves who best can poise an apple on the head and walk across the room. All the "balancers" start at the same moment, and the first successful ones are awarded the blue ribbon. Balancing peanuts on a knife blade and carrying them thus from one end of the room to the other is another way to execute the test.

When it is time for "flights" everybody is handed a paper aviation cap to put on. Then paper and pencils are passed and all are invited to take flights of fancy. These, it may be explained, may be rhymes, romances, or the biggest lies that can be recalled. A flight of oratory may also be offered. A committee of three appointed on the spot promises to report on the winners at the close of the evening. If preferred, a program of poems and short, comic, exaggerated stories may be prepared beforehand, and fill in this space with apparent impromptu.

The stunts and tricks follow in detail:

1. Hands Up. Only one person knows the stunt and she quite mystifies everyone who presents himself and obeys her, till some one guesses the secret or she finally tells it.

She begins by ordering her student on trial to raise one hand and keep the other at his side while her own back is turned. Upon turning around she is able to specify the hand which was raised. The secret is, of course, that the hand which hangs at the side, because of its position, becomes redder than the raised hand. At a glance she notes the difference in color and so knows which hand has been raised.

2. Spiral. This is a good mixer. All are asked to form in line, one behind another, each one's hands on the shoulders of the person ahead. The leader then starts the line winding around and round the room into a spiral and then unwinding it—the well-known gymnasium class stunt which carried through in a sprightly way is bound to make everybody feel better acquainted.

3. Reverse Speed. Any number line up for a backward race. They go as fast as they can backward to an appointed goal.

4. Low Speed. Any number may enter. This is a "slow" race, that is to say, all contestants progress as slowly as possible to a certain goal.

5. Spin. A supply of children's tops is provided and the ability to spin them properly is demonstrated. A few musical tops among them will add to the hilarity.

6. Nose Dives. This is a stunt which will probably appeal most to the boys or the more adventurous girls. It consists of pushing apples or peanuts along given chalk marks on table or floor by means of the nose only.

7. Loop the Loop. To those who know how to tie different kinds of knots, the announcement of this contest gives a chance to show what they can do.

The "air races" are of two sorts: the "hot air" race and the balloon race. In the "hot air" race the contestants are timed as to the number of words each can say in three minutes with the eyes shut. For the balloon race several strings are stretched from one side of the room to the other, and the same number of toy balloons is supplied. The object is for the contestants to blow their respective balloons across the room, following as nearly as possible the courses of string. The choice of different colored balloons makes for interest and consequent "rooting."

The arrival of the air mail is heralded by the entrance of someone dressed in aviator's garments—warm helmet, goggles, gloves and all—carrying a mail sack (if real, a new one: but an imitation one suffices).

The aviator then proceeds to take out numerous packets which he hands to the guests as far as they go. There should be at least half as many packages as persons present. Each bundle is marked

"Owner unknown. Find another to share this."

The explanation is that each recipient of a parcel must immediately seek a partner and, upon doing so, open the parcel. Enough sandwiches for two are revealed. Meanwhile, hot coffee or chocolate is being passed by pretty waitresses with Japanese fans stuck in their hair airplane-wise.

The evening may end with a "musical flight," or, in other words, a rousing "sing."

A MOCK CANTEEN

For one boy who wanted to entertain a few of the fellows who had been in camp with him, his hospitable sister planned a jolly supper party which undoubtedly owed its success to its "homeiness." Certainly its friendly informality accomplished much more than any large outlay in money could have done. There were to be half a dozen boys, so five other girls were invited to make an equal number of girls and men.

To begin with, the hostess passed around to the girls slips of paper and duplicate slips to the men.

Each slip contained the name of some article of food for supper and the man and girl who drew duplicate slips were thus delegated to prepare that particular dish together.

When all had matched up partners they repaired to the kitchen, a big old-fashioned room with plenty of space for all of them. The hostess and her partner did no cooking, but announced that they would manage this cafeteria.

While all the others were in the kitchen, they arranged on a side table in the dining-room stacks of tin trays, knives, forks, spoons, and paper napkins. Over it they posted a bulletin board in good imitation of a real cafeteria. There were listed on it the five dishes which were being prepared and as a joke a number of others—quite impossible to cook at such a time, as roast beef, mince pie, frozen pudding—all of which were then heavily crossed off in black ink.

When the cooks had finished their tasks (and the cheerful uproar that accompanied their occupations may be easily imagined) the food was arranged on a long kitchen table. Thereupon each person, after possessing him or herself of a tray and the required silver and scanning the menu posted, passed on and pretended to select from the counter. In reality, of course, everyone took everything, and received a check from the hostess with a punch against some "stunt" written on it.

The menu as prepared read as follows:

Scalloped salmon
Fruit salad
Lettuce sandwiches
Chocolate pudding with whipped cream
Tea or coffee

Two tables were left bare in the dining-room and the company chose seats where they wished.

A great deal of additional fun was gained upon finding that someone
had surreptitiously set up a placard on one of the tables reading
"Reserved for Ladies." Over the cold water faucet was a sign reading
"Water" and glasses were grouped near it.

After supper the various stunts registered on the checks and some rollicking songs filled the remainder of a merry evening in which there had been absolutely no chance for stiffness from beginning to end.

These were some of the stunts:

For the Men

1. Show in five different ways how reveille affected your friends.

2. Give an imitation of a lady and her pet "Peke."

3. Go around the room without touching your feet to the floor.

4. Do a ballet act.

5. Dig a trench (in pantomime).

6. Sing a Mother Goose rhyme through your nose.

For the Girls

1. Give a military salute to every man in the room in turn.

2. Choose a partner to walk around the "chimney" with you ten times.

3. Count to fifty, substituting the words "Oh, fudge!" for fives and every multiple of five.

4. Pretend to eat a bunch of grapes.

5. Represent your favorite movie actress till the others guess her correctly.

6. Flirt in three different ways.

A PROGRESSIVE MARCH PARTY

A group of high school friends, a social club of boys and girls, or a church society of young people will enjoy giving the following party in March.

Send out invitations written on cards reading as follows:

March is the month of all the year
When lamb and lion do appear,
When pussy willow comes anew
And March hare scampers into view.
If you would meet these creatures four
And maybe several others more,
Then come prepared for work and play
To Grangers' hall, March first, the day.

On the invitation cards, tiny hares, lions, lambs, or sprays of pussy willows can be outlined or traced by means of carbon paper from pictures.

The guests upon arrival draw from a basket containing tiny toy or cracker lions, lambs, rabbits and cats, whichever kind of favor they wish.

According to the favor each one draws, the guests take their places respectively at the March hare table, the lion table, the lamb table, or the pussy willow table. Each table is marked by a distinguishing centerpiece: at the March hare table is a plaster rabbit, at the lion table, a toy lion; the lamb table has a woolly lamb on wheels, and the pussy willow table, a bunch of pussy willows or a stuffed cat.

The fun is now ready to begin, for with the implements and materials provided at each table the guests are required to produce a facsimile of the animal for which the table is named. Different materials are provided at each table, so there is no monotony, as the guests progress from table to table after half an hour's stay at each one in turn.

Modeling clay is the medium in which the March hares are to be done, and no implements except fingers are supposed to be used, though if a boy slyly makes use of his jack-knife, there are no embarrassing questions asked.

The lions are to be carved from potatoes with the aid of little kitchen vegetable knives, and the lambs are to be fashioned from cotton wool, matches, and mucilage.

At the pussy willow table the guests must show how expert they can be at cutting cats, free hand, from flannel. Beads for eyes, and floss and bristles for whiskers, are also furnished.

Prizes are given for the best and the worst specimen at each table.

A rabbit's foot charm, a small reproduction of the Barye lion, or the well-known Perry picture of a lion, a Dresden-china lamb or shepherdess, and a pussy-cat plate, pincushion, or paper weight are suggestions for first prizes, and four little tin horns painted green may be given as booby prizes to the four "greenhorns" who have the worst showing.

AN AUTUMN LEAF DANCE

In the fall, after school has opened, some class often likes to give a reception to the entering class. An autumn leaf dance in October is the prettiest kind of one to have.

Decorate the school hall with branches of scarlet and yellow maple leaves, or deep red and russet oak boughs.

For the dance programs make covers from water-color paper cut and painted to look like oak or maple leaves. The inside pages can be of thin white paper in the same shape. Attach little red pencils.

Plan one autumn leaf dance in which each girl receives a wreath of autumn leaves from her partner. For refreshments have orange or raspberry ice with vanilla ice-cream, and serve it on plates covered with leaf-shaped paper doilies.

A HARVEST HOME PARTY

A "RED EAR" party is what they called it in the invitations. It was the opening party of the year in the high school and the seniors planned it.

The cards they sent out said:

Oh, this time o' the year
You'll recall the red ear
(It will never go out o' date);
So the members of "twenty"
Have planned fun a-plenty
At a regular Harvest Home fête—
You're invited!

The school hall was delightfully decorated emphasizing the autumn colors. Bright tawny leaves banked the platform where the orchestra sat, and along the side walls globes of red and orange balloons glowed among the soft tans and browns of cornstalks. From the ceiling, myriads of red and orange paper lanterns swayed brilliantly.

The dance programs were "red ears" cut from cardboard, and tiny red pencils dangled from them. Some of the names of the dances to excite curiosity were:

The Corn Stalk
The Scarecrow Skitter
Farmerettes Fancy
Popcorn Waltz
Orchard One-step
Pumpkin Pie Walk
Red Ear Dance
Harvest Home Revue

The Corn Stalk was in the nature of a grand march—everybody "stalking stiffly" round and round in time to the music, which ended in a rollicking one-step.

Then followed the Scarecrow Skitter. A dilapidated old cornfield character in all the crudity of flapping black was brought in and established in the center of the floor. In his shabby hat fluttered a handful of rusty crow feathers, and the feature of the dance was for each boy to secure one of them in passing for his partner. The poor old fellow was nearly torn to bits in the process.

The Farmerettes Fancy was another name for "ladies choice." All the girls were given tiny toy rakes, hoes, spades, or other farm implements which they used as favors in choosing partners.

For the Popcorn Waltz, the favors were popcorn chains for the boys to hang around their partners' necks. There was a temptation to devour these adornments as well as to use them for decorative purposes, and on the whole they were a source of much fun.

The orchestra at intervals in this dance made use of some contrivance which sounded like corn popping briskly over the fire.

A shower of snowy white confetti from the balcony still further emphasized the popcorn idea.

In the Orchard One-step the boys were asked to pick peaches. The girls stood behind a high screen and thrust their right hands above it. The boys reached up, touched the "peaches" they chose and thereupon the girls thus designated one-stepped away with their partners.

Instead of a cake walk, a Pumpkin Pie Walk was announced. The contestants could indulge in just as crazy, funny or pretty dance steps as they liked. The reward to the most original, entertaining and clever couple was a big pumpkin pie.

Then came the Red Ear Dance. Everybody was blindfolded and asked to pick an ear of corn from a big basket. When vision was restored the girl holding the red ear (an ordinary ear with a red crepe paper wrapping) was acclaimed queen of the carnival, and was presented with a bouquet of red roses. During the dance a red glow by means of special lighting arrangements filled the hall.

The Harvest Home Dance came just before supper, and lived up to its name, in that paper costume caps designating fruits and vegetables were given out and worn, so that the whole room seemed to be filled with the "harvest."

Tomato, carrot, corn, apple, wheat, squashes, grapes, popcorn, watermelon and blackberry were all represented.

The supper dance occurred midway in the evening, and the other novelty dances described were interspersed before and after it.

The supper consisted merely of peach ice cream with sugared popcorn on top, served on grape leaves, nut macaroons, tiny pumpkin tarts and fruit punch.

COSTUME HATS FOR THE RED EAR PARTY

Tomato: Turkey red crepe paper or cotton skull cap with pointed green paper calyx and green upstanding stem of wire covered over with paper or cloth.

Carrot: Orange crepe paper or cloth conical cap. This may be made on heavy paper or cardboard foundation. Characteristic lines may be marked on the carrot.

Corn: Green paper or cloth toboggan cap falling gracefully to one side With a long green or gold-colored silk tassel.

Apple: Little round bowl-like cap of glossy red paper with a brown stem of paper-covered wire.

Wheat: A wreath of natural or artificial wheat ears.

Squash: Cardboard or stiff paper cut to make a "crook neck" effect, covered with yellow paper.

Grapes: A graceful floppy green hat of straw or paper with a crown entirely made of artificial or real grape bunches—blue or purple as desired.—A filet of green ribbon with a real or artificial bunch of grapes depending on each side to hang over the ears.

Popcorn: A close-fitting little toque covered with tiny pieces of cotton batting to resemble popped corn.

Watermelon: A crescent-shaped hat to be worn broadside suggesting a slice of watermelon from green paper border (fitting on hair) to pink center dotted with tiny bits of black court plaster to suggest seeds.

Blackberry: Close-fitting little black quilted or puffed bonnet to tie under chin.

A NUTTY PARTY FOR OCTOBER

A girl who wanted to give an inexpensive jolly little party in honor of a visiting friend in October issued invitations to a nut gathering.

At the top of each correspondence card which served as an invitation, she glued half an almond shell upon which a face was marked in ink. Below this nut head the rest of the figure was drawn in ink on the card, and the inscription read:

Pretend you're a squirrel for once
And join my nut-gathering stunts,
Friday, October the eleventh
at half-past eight.

The first amusement of the evening was introduced by suspending from the chandelier in the center of the room a cocoanut decorated with a comical face and a pointed paper cap perched on top.

Each person from a distance of ten feet was allowed three throws at this cap with a little light rubber ball, the object being to knock Mr. Cocoanut's cap off. The best marksman won a prize.

This first nut stunt caused so much fun that no one wanted to be lured away to a Nut Exhibit. Ten varieties of nuts were represented by pictures or objects and little slips of paper and pencil were distributed for recording guesses.

The display was as follows:

1. A bit of butter on a plate

2. A stout, old-fashioned stick

3. A can of canned peas with indicating label

4. A single pea

5. A map of South America with the outlines of Brazil especially prominent

6. A picture of typical English stone or brick wall

7. A can or cup of cocoa

8. A photograph of Hazel Dawn, the movie star

9. A beetle specimen (dead or alive)

10. Three ears of corn arranged to form the letter A

Answers

1. Butternut
2. Hickory nut
3. Pecan nut
4. Peanut
5. Brazil nut
6. English walnut
7. Cocoanut
8. Hazel nut
9. Betel nut
10. Acorn

The winner of this contest also had a prize. Of course a nut party would hardly be complete without a peanut hunt and there was also a peanut race in which the object was to transfer the peanuts from one end of the room to another on the blade of a table knife.

In still another peanut contest the object was to pitch ten peanuts into a narrow-necked jar at a distance of about twelve feet.

To choose partners for refreshments a basket of English walnuts was passed, each little nut with a painted face and a paper cap of some sort. Blue sailor caps, soldier caps, Red Cross nurse head-dresses, Scotch Tam o' Shanters, babies' bonnets, girls' gay garden hats, were all represented. There were only two of a kind, and the two individuals who selected them were of course partners.

In addition each nut proved to be only a hollow nut shell; in one was a conundrum, in its mate the answer.

The refreshments were nut-bread sandwiches, peanut butter sandwiches, hot cocoa, cocoanut macaroons, vanilla ice-cream with chocolate nut sauce, and peanut brittle.

A MAY POLE PARTY FOR CHILDREN

One teacher planned a very happy May party for her little boy and girl pupils. There was no chance to set up a big May pole out-of-doors for the children to wind, but her idea turned out to be more original and maybe even more jolly.

There were eighteen children included in the party, which was held in the park. On arriving, each child was given a little peaked paper cap of bright colored tissue paper. The boys liked these as well as the girls did, although they found them harder to keep in place on their heads. As soon as the children had donned their caps, three of the tallest children were appointed to "help teacher." This helping consisted in marching proudly out from behind a screen of bushes, carrying three gay little May poles, decked with flowers and colored paper streamers. They had been made by swinging a barrel hoop from a broomstick handle, by means of a number of ribbon-like strips of cloth. Of course the hoops were wound with the cloth, and besides that were trimmed with apple blossoms and lilacs.

From the rim of each hoop the cloth strips hung straight down for two or three feet. The colors on the May pole matched the colored caps that the children wore.

There proved to be just fifteen streamer, and each child was allowed to pick out a streamer to correspond with the color of the cap worn. Thus a little girl with a pink cap would pick out a pink streamer; a little boy with a green cap, a green streamer, and so on. The children who held the May poles were then asked to stand at some distance apart out in the open space of the park, and each little group of five danced round and round, and back and forth, holding and twisting their colored streamers.

Somehow this amused them almost all the long spring afternoon. Different children took turns holding the May poles and sometimes they would even form a procession and hippity-hop around the park. They paraded down Main Street for a little way, but came back to the park in time to play "Drop the Handkerchief," "Hide and Seek," and "Tag," before refreshments were served.

They were perfectly delighted, of course, with strawberry lemonade, brown bread sandwiches, and little frosted cup cakes, which their teacher's mother had made and on which she had outlined in pink candies the individual initials of the children.

OUTDOOR AFFAIRS

Out-of-door entertaining is perhaps the easiest kind of all—if you live in the country or the near-country. Anything elaborate in the arrangements would be quite out of keeping and there's something about being outdoors that takes away constraint. That's probably why outdoor parties, because they are simple and natural, bring people together in a spirit of good fellowship and are certain of success.

Children especially love them and young people always find an evening garden party entrancing.

One of the jolliest kinds of outdoor parties is a bacon bat. It may be a breakfast or a luncheon or a supper, but there is always bacon and an open fire.

Now that automobiles are so abundant, the possibilities for motor picnics and progressive motor parties are many and various.

A BACON BAT

A girl who lived in the country and had some city friends visiting her gave them the time of their lives at a bacon bat. She telephoned around to some of the young people and invited them to appear about five o'clock in picnic clothes. The hike wouldn't be long, she announced.

At the specified time a jolly bunch assembled to squabble good-naturedly over the various packages and bundles assigned to them to be carried. Under the hostess's direction they betook themselves via footpath and trail to a stone-walled pasture spicy with sweet fern.

Long toasting switches were readily cut by the boys from the trees in the vicinity and wood was collected for two fires. Over one the coffee was set to boil, and over the other the young folks proceeded to toast bacon. Rolls were provided in which to insert the crisp juicy morsels after toasting, and each person ate his or her own bacon sandwiches broiling hot without further ceremony.

Cucumber pickles and mustard proved popular accompaniments and the coffee was appreciated—drunk from tin cups.

There followed some huckleberry turnovers and homemade cookies, but on top of the bacon and rolls they were almost superfluous.

Instead of bacon, chops, steak, or Frankfurters may be roasted, as well as corn in season, but bacon is the least messy to eat.

Following the supper came stories and songs around the bonfire till late in the evening. The city guests enjoyed it all because to them it was so great a novelty. For the hostess it was a much easier way to introduce her guests to her friends than a more formal affair would have been.

A bacon bat is especially fun in spring or fall, but is also very enjoyable on the beach in summer vacation time.

A marshmallow roast in the evening is first cousin to a bacon bat.

A CHILDREN'S DAISY PARTY

Let the children make the invitations they send out for their own daisy party. On heavy water color paper they may draw and cut out simple outlines of daisies—about ten petals around a center which is then colored yellow with crayons. Each petal may hold one or two words of the invitation, thus: Will—you—come—to—our—daisy—party—on—Saturday—at—three?—Betty and John.

Of course there should be some outdoor games, and a good one to play is "Daisy in the Dell." For this the children form in a circle, joining hands, and one is chosen to be daisy-picker. The daisy-picker runs around the outside of the circle, chanting:

"Daisy in the Dell, Daisy in the Dell, I don't pick you, I don't pick you, I do pick you."

The child whom the daisy-picker touches upon reaching, the last word must try to run entirely around the circle and back to his place before the daisy-picker catches him. If he succeeds, he need not be "it"; but if he is caught, he must be the daisy-picker.

"Are You a Daisy?" is another jolly game. The players stand in a line facing one child, who is chosen to be "it." This child asks each one in turn the question, "Are you a daisy?" Each child answers by naming the flower he chooses to be. Thus one may say, "I am a rose"; another, "I am a pansy." If any child chooses to say, "I am a daisy," he is immediately chased by the questioner, and if caught, he must take the place of the questioner. The game then proceeds as before. One rule is that a child must not repeat the name of a flower that another child has given.

A game that is based on the Mother Goose rhyme, "Rich Man, Poor Man, Beggar Man, Thief," etc., is called "Rich Man, Poor Man." One child is chosen to whisper to each of the players some word of the rhyme. The named children then stand in a circle, and another child who is "it" may call for any character in the rhyme that he wishes; the child who has been given that name must respond by saying "Here," and then running away. For instance, the one who is "it" may call for "lawyer," and the child to whom that name has been whispered calls out "Here," and is immediately chased by the leader. If he is caught within a reasonable length of time, he is "it," and the former leader drops out. This should be played until only two are left.

The refreshments carry out the daisy idea, and should be served outdoors, either on the piazza or on the lawn. The centerpiece at the supper-table is a big bunch of daisies, and each child has a place-card on which is painted or drawn a daisy face, the petals forming a cap frill. The sandwiches are bread and butter, and some "good-to-eat" daisies can be made from hard-boiled eggs, by cutting the whites petal-shaped, and by mixing the yellow with salad mayonnaise to form the centers. Marguerites and little cakes frosted in yellow and white may be served with vanilla ice cream.

A HAWAIIAN PORCH LUNCHEON

One woman entertained her club at their last meeting of the year with a little porch luncheon. Hawaii had been one of the subjects of study, so the Hawaiian note was dominant throughout.

Each guest was welcomed with a lei, the Hawaiian paper flower garland which signifies friendship. Hung about the neck, these decorations excited much fun.

The Hawaiian features of the refreshments were Hawaiian pineapple salad and little imitation volcanoes which were in reality cones of vanilla ice-cream in the center of which holes had been scooped and then filled with hot caramel sauce, which of course overflowed the sides in true lava fashion.

The favors were tiny dolls, each dressed in a short bright-fringed paper skirt, orange, green, blue or pink, to match the color of the lei which each lady had already received as a souvenir.

During the luncheon the hostess played several Hawaiian musical selections on her phonograph. If any of her friends had owned or played a ukelele, doubtless the plaintive music would have been a feature.

A WATERMELON FROLIC

When watermelons were ripe and plentiful, big pink posters cut oval with a painted border of green and black lettering on the pink startled the village with the notice of a watermelon frolic.

They read:

Do you like watermelon?
Anyway
Be sure to come to a watermelon party
on the local fairgrounds
next Tuesday evening
Admission 25 cents
This entitles you to see the minstrel show
Proceeds for the Epworth League
of —— Church

Long plank tables on wooden horses were improvised for serving the watermelons which were contributed by the members of the society. Some of the men acted as carvers of the melons, and the girls served the portions, which were sold for ten cents each.

The grounds were lighted with strings of electric lights in pink and green paper lanterns.

Besides the main attraction there were several booths and side shows, arranged country fair fashion, which drew well. One was labeled THE WATERMELON PATCH. For this, real watermelon vines had been obtained from somebody's garden and placed naturally on the ground. To the vines were tied any number of artificial melons made of green paper stuffed with cotton wadding which concealed tiny favors.

On payment of ten cents any person had the privilege of picking a melon. The prize inside was supposed to be worth the fee.

At another booth, "watermelon cake" was served at five cents a slice. The secret of this was that in making a plain cake the batter had been colored with pink sugar and sprinkled with raisins. The cake was then baked in a round tin and when sliced resembled the pink of watermelon filled with black seeds.

As it was sweet corn season, and as corn is also typical of the South, there was a hot corn vender, who sold steaming ears straight from kettle to buyer.

One feature of the evening was a watermelon contest among the boys. Volunteers were called for and lined up at a table. They were then supplied with large wedges of melon and at the sound of the referee's whistle the race began.

The prize was a whole watermelon.

There was also a watermelon hurdle race. The course was laid out with big watermelons and time was kept for each hurdler.

The main attraction of the evening, however, was the minstrel show. On a raised wooden platform sat the performers with blackened hands and faces. They wore grotesque garb and each one fingered a guitar, mandolin, or banjo.

First they gave a number of well-known Southern melodies such as Old Black Joe, Swanee Riber, Dixie, Massa's in de Cold, Cold Ground. Some whistling numbers were much appreciated and My Alabama Coon, with its humming and strumming, proved a great success. As a special item of their musical program they sang a parody of Apple Blossom Time called It's Watermelon Time in Dixie.

The watermelon frolic was a great success and is recommended to any organization in town or country at watermelon time as a fun—and funds—producing social.

Parody

"When It's Watermelon Time in Dixie"[1]

After

"When It's Apple Blossom Time in
Normandie"

(Sing with appropriate motions)

Repeat:

When it's watermelon time in Dixie Land[1]
Ah wants to be
Right dher[2] you see
In dat dear old melon patch
To eat a batch!
When it's watermelon time in Dixie Land
Dat's de time of all de year
When Ah grin[3] with cheer from ear to ear
Watermelon's jes' GRAND!!!

[Footnote 1: Sway heads and bodies]

[Footnote 2: Jerk thumbs backward over shoulder]

[Footnote 3: Grin broadly—stretch hands from corners of mouth to ears.]

A JAPANESE GARDEN PARTY

A girl who wished to entertain for a visiting school friend one evening in midsummer sent out invitations to a Japanese Garden Party. She wrote them on the pretty little hand-decorated place-cards which are to be found in most shops now. The Japanese writing paper which comes in rolls is another possibility for them.

She had a wide porch and a big lawn which she decorated for the occasion with strings of pink, yellow and green Japanese lanterns with electric bulbs inside. Settees and wicker chairs were scattered in cosy groups through the shrubbery, and there was a faint odor of burning incense.

For entertainment there was dancing on the porch to the tune of a phonograph and a program of Japanese music, including some selections from "Butterfly" and "The Mikado."

A clever reader gave one of the Hashimura Togo stories, and also the hostess had arranged some artistic tableaux in Japanese fashion.

When it was refreshment time, cunning little girl friends of the hostess appeared in Japanese kimonos, hair done high and stuck full of tiny fans or flowers. They bore Japanese lacquer trays with tiny sandwiches (filled with preserved ginger), cherry ice and rice wafers. A wee Japanese flag was stuck in each portion of cherry ice.

The favors were wee Japanese doilies which the guests were bidden to hunt for under a certain group of trees. While doing so, a sudden surprise shower of seeming cherry blossoms covered them with pink and white petals. These were really confetti petals obligingly scattered by the nimble little waitresses perched in the branches above.

A COMMENCEMENT PICNIC

Instead of giving the usual banquet and reception to the seniors, the juniors in a small school might well plan an outdoor picnic and supper. It has the possibility of being jollier than the regulation affair, and is certainly less expensive.

Individual invitations may be sent out to the senior class—quite unusual and mysterious invitations—for each one may consist of a colored feather quill with a message written on a slip of paper wrapped about the end. This reads:

Greetings from the Tribe of Twenteequas
To the Tribe of Nyneteenwas:
Will the Tribe of Nyneteenwas
Smoke the pipe of friendship
Round the camp-fire of the Twenteequas
On the sixteenth day of the Moon of Roses
One hour before waysawi (sunset)?
One of the Twenteequas will act as your guide.

As soon as the two classes have gathered at the picnic ground, the juniors, already decked in head bands of ribbon in their own class colors, may present the seniors with similar ribbons. The boys may have feathers stuck in theirs—if they don't object to head bands.

The chief of the Twenteequas may announce the first stunt as a Hunt for Game, and all must hunt in pairs, matching partners by means of selecting, blindfolded, colored beads from a basket. Pasteboard bows and arrows are supplied, and everyone is told to return at the summons of a beaten tom-tom.

The couples then scatter into the surrounding woods, and hunt for animal crackers which have previously been hidden by a committee of juniors.

The prize for the couple getting the most game might be an animal toy.

Next, volunteers to "Run the Gauntlet" may be called for. The others form in two parallel lines facing each other, armed with pieces of chalk. The victims must run down between the lines to a goal at the end, while the cruel Indians on each side reach out to put a chalk mark on them. The victim who gets the least chalk marks is permitted to select five of his tormentors to perform a series of stunts, previously planned by the junior entertainment committee.

Appropriate ones are these: 1. Give an Indian war whoop. 2. Do an Indian war dance. 3. Give Indian names to five people here. 4. Make a speech in sign language. 5. Tell an Indian story.

Supper should be eaten around a big camp-fire, and should consist of coffee cooked over the fire, nut-bread sandwiches, cold chicken and potato chips, and chocolate ice-cream under individual miniature tepees of brown paper.

Paint on each tepee in black some symbol apparently mysterious but in reality characteristic of the owner. Thus, a girl with a beautiful voice and a talent for singing may have a quaint bird on hers; an athlete, a pair of Indian clubs; a domestic science girl, a bowl and spoon or a kettle, and so on.

Redskins and Palefaces complete the menu, Palefaces being cookies with white icing and features marked in candies, and Redskins being apples.

Toasting marshmallows over the fire and singing school ditties and old favorites will end this unique party delightfully.

A PROGRESSIVE MOTOR PARTY

A group of girls who lived in the country gave a delightful farewell party for one of their number who was to move out of town to another part of the world. They called it a Progressive Rainbow.

At four o'clock one Saturday afternoon they all met at one of the homes.

The porch was decorated in a red color scheme. A row of red Japanese lanterns hung from the roof all around. Red cushions were scattered about in the chairs and on the steps, and a jar of crimson rambler roses adorned the table.

Everybody sat about and gossiped for a little while, and then fruit cocktails, to which strawberries gave the touch of red, were served.

A tray of red ribbon streamers was passed, and each girl pinned one on her blouse, as the beginning of her rainbow badge.

The guest of honor found with her favor a package tied with red tulle, which she was requested not to open till the end of the afternoon.

After this, two automobiles, owned by members of the group or their families, whisked the party along two miles of fresh country road to the home of another girl in the group.

Little tables had been set on the lawn with a bouquet of old-fashioned marigolds in the center of each one, and a toy orange balloon tied to the back of each chair by a long string. Here were served jellied orange soup in cups, and saltines.

The girls received orange-colored favor ribbons to pin next to their red ones, and the guest of honor received another prize packet, this time tied with orange tulle.

From there they all jumped again into the waiting cars and were transported to the home of a third girl for the third course.

This time it was served in the dining-room, which was decorated with yellow snapdragons. A basket of them filled the center of the table, and at each place was a scalloped shell containing deviled crab meat garnished with lemon quarters and accompanied by tartar sauce. Cubes of hot yellow cornbread were delicious with the crab.

Again the passing of the yellow ribbons to the girls and the presenting of the yellow-tied package to the guest of honor were the signals for leaving to go to the next house.

The automobiles quickly took them there, where the main course of the dinner was to be eaten. Maidenhair ferns were lovely in a green bowl on the table, and tiny wood ferns were scattered over the white tablecloth.

The menu consisted of broiled chicken, fresh green peas, small boiled potatoes with parsley, and rye rolls.

By this time the girls were getting interested in their rainbow of ribbons, to which the green was now added, and the guest of honor received her fourth package, green-tied.

Motoring to the salad course, the group found the dining-room lighted by blue candles, though the guests were begged not to feel blue. Ragged robins were arranged as a centerpiece, and fluttering blue tissue butterflies marked the places.

The salad was prunes stuffed with peanuts in hearts of lettuce, served with French dressing and Dutch cheese balls.

By the time the sixth stop was reached the sun had set and the moon was coming up, so that the girls sat on the veranda in the moon-light and sipped grape-juice ice to the music of romantic ditties. Lavender streamers were added next to the blue ones, and their badges were complete.

As they finally drove up to the last house, they were greeted by a rainbow of tulle which arched the entrance to the porch.

With their fluttering rainbow ribbon badges and the armful of rainbow packages belonging to the guest of honor, they felt very much at home with the rainbow, and the guest of honor was not even surprised to be asked to seek the pot of gold at the foot.

In the yellow pottery jar which she discovered were as many gold nuggets as there were girls, and each nugget was a little gilt-paper-wrapped joke for the trip.

The real, sure-enough farewell gifts to keep were in the packages progressively received, and there was a jolly time opening them under the rainbow.

BIRTHDAYS AND OTHER ANNIVERSARIES

Birthdays you particularly wish to celebrate happily and successfully. There's your mother's birthday or your brother's or your little son's or daughter's birthday or the birthday of the popular president of your special club.

Then there are the various wedding anniversaries that call for suitable recognition, especially the five, ten, and twenty-five year ones.

Besides these there are countless other events that you want to commemorate pleasantly in some way afterward. These various occasions offer fascinating possibilities for the most delightful of social affairs.