Mrs. Herbert B. Linscott

“ Serving luncheon at one was an innovation, but an excellent one. When the dishes were cleared away the anxiety was over, and the hostess moved about among her guests without a thought of a meal to be served at the end of the games. We set ten small tables, three in the dining-room, four in the sitting-room, two in the parlor and one in the hall. The tables were snowily linened, there were doilies in blue and white, and the centrepiece on each table was a glass dish filled with small bunches of splendid blue and white grapes. ”

“ The booths should, of course, be draped in orange color, relieved by touches of white, the attendants' costumes being of the same shade. Orange blossoms, made of tissue paper, will add daintiness to the decorations.
An unoccupied house is a most convenient place to hold a fair. Each room may be devoted to some special attraction; one for the supper, one for the evening's entertainment, one for the fortune-teller, and so on. This idea is admirable for an affair of the nations, devoting one room to each country and its characteristics. ”

“ I rule the Athenians; the Athenians rule the Greeks; the Greeks rule Europe, and Europe rules the world." "Though I have the arm of a woman, I have the heart of a King, and am ready to pour out my blood." ”

“ When the dinner is all ready to serve the fun will begin. Imagine the surprise of the guests when they sit down to the table, to find the soup served in teacups, the pickles shining forth from the sugar-bowl and the crackers in a covered vegetable dish. The roast beef will be cut in slices and arranged on a silver cake dish, the mashed potatoes in a dainty glass berry dish, and the gravy in small individual sauce dishes. ”

“ A slender girl of seventeen years impersonated a jewelry peddler and gold watches, chains, bracelets, rings and jewels of all descriptions were fastened securely to her dress and on the edge silver teaspoons were crossed as a trimming. Much amusement was created by a necktie vender, whose costume consisted of a black shirt, black cutaway coat and a gorgeous tie. On a hardware merchant's tray plebeian tin girdles shone with as undaunted a lustre as silver, while brass, steel, copper and wire kitchen utensils made a brave display. ”

“ A "Good Luck" supper was served in an adjoining room. Directly over the table, suspended from the chandelier, hung a floral horseshoe. In the centre of the table and at each end were fairy lamps surrounded by smaller horseshoes. The guest-cards were square envelopes, at one side a painted horseshoe, and below, "When Good Luck knocks at the door let him in and keep him there." The souvenirs were clover-leaf stick pins, and everything connected with the supper bore a symbol of good luck, the bonbons, cakes, and sandwiches taking the forms of either a clover-leaf or a horseshoe. ”

“ To the one who finds the ring speedy marriage is assured; the thimble denotes a life of single blessedness; the penny promises wealth.
Have one of the young ladies who knows a little palmistry be the witch of the evening. A short, bright-hued skirt, a gay plaid shawl crossed over her shoulders, a scarf bound about her head, will make a very striking costume, and, with the aid of a little paint and powder, quite an effective disguise. If she is enough acquainted with the guests to give some personal history she can produce some very "telling" fortunes. ”

“ Fish lamp-shades—scarlet, yellow and delicately tinted—found a ready sale among the young people, and caused much mirth. On the cake and candy table there were many toothsome fishes—chocolate and clear candy fish, boxes of candy decorated with fishing scenes in water-color and pen and ink, sandwiches cut out with fish-shaped tin cutters, also fish-shaped cookies and small iced cakes. ”

“ As you come, one and all, to your own Birthday Party.
These invitations can be given and sent out beforehand, each accompanied by a tiny silk bag to hold the money. Prepare a nice musical treat and something good to eat. Have each member of the society giving the entertainment bring a picture of himself when a baby or small child, and have a picture gallery. Do not forget to be very social and make every one feel that he is welcome, not only for the money he brings, but for himself also. ”

“ Thus everybody has the opportunity offered to him of becoming a member by selecting the white ribbon, and in this way everybody is compelled to "show his colors."
If simple refreshments are served, let the Japanese napkins have a big hatchet gilded on them, and let there be some plates of hatchet cookies, formed by the cutter that any tinsmith will make from a pattern.
Have old-fashioned candy—peppermint, wintergreen, sassafras and molasses—instead of bonbons. Play the old games—hunt the slipper, blind man's buff, hide and seek. ”

“ The company then forms into State groups—those holding cards bearing the name of the State itself, its capital and principal city—and each group agrees which product of its State is most beneficial to the greatest number of people. When a report is called for, a vote is taken from all present as to which product is most essential to the welfare of the nation as a whole. Three small bouquets of red and white carnations tied with blue ribbon will make appropriate rewards for the three supporters of the State which wins distinction. ”

“ As the guests arrive and remove their wraps they should be received and greeted in the library or reception-room, and the hostess should then announce that a gypsy is in the parlor. Having learned in some way that there was to be a large party there, she has begged the privilege of coming in to tell fortunes for the pretty ladies, so that she might earn a few pennies. The guests repair to the dimly-lighted parlor, where the gypsy is seated. As each guest advances and seats himself, the gypsy takes the extended right hand and reads the lines—improvising as she does so in broken English. ”

“ While almost any one could readily recognize a picture of Washington, Lincoln or Grant, there are other presidents whose portraits are not so familiar, and it would take a pretty good student in United States history to correctly recognize likenesses of them all, or even a dozen of the less familiar pictures of the group, much less to give the dates of their terms of office. A framed picture of one of the greatest of the presidents might be given as first prize to the person whose card is filled out correctly with all the names and dates, or comes nearest to being correctly filled. ”

“ Picture reading is a novel amusement which is adapted to a small party only.
Provide as many envelopes and short pencils as there are guests. On the outside of each envelope write the name of a guest. Place a lead-pencil and a folded sheet of unruled paper inside of each envelope.
When the guests are seated, present each one with the envelope bearing his or her name. The hostess, or some other person appointed by her, then explains to the company that each one is expected to draw a picture upon the paper found within the envelope. ”

“ The newest fashion in Hallowe'en supper-table decoration is a cake made of white pasteboard boxes, in shape like pieces of pie, which fit together and give the appearance of a large cake. Each one of the boxes is covered with a white paper which resembles frosting. At the close of the feast the pieces are distributed, each box containing some little souvenir suitable to Hallowe'en. One box, of course, contains a ring, another a thimble, a third a piece of silver, a fourth a mitten, a fifth a fool's cap, and so on. ”

“ First a young lady chooses a slice of cake, then the man whose name she draws selects one and learns the kind of life-partner he is to have. Much merriment may be derived from such a cake.
VALENTINE FUN
This description of a Valentine entertainment will be welcomed by those who desire novel and original ideas.
We were received in a room decorated with wreaths of green, hung in festoons caught up at regular intervals by ribbon streamers. From the centre of each wreath hung hearts of parchment paper, tinted in blue and lettered in gold, each bearing a number and a fate or fortune. ”

“ Upon leaving the table each guest adjusted the ribbon about her neck, which brought the bouquet to its proper place "across the heart." After returning to the parlors the guests were requested to read the lines which they had found upon their souvenirs, and of which some had been wondering the meaning; by beginning with No. 1 and reading in rotation a well-known poem was completed. As you will see, this form of amusement, with the character representations, goes far toward an evening's entertainment. Young people consider a party incomplete without a prize winning contest of some sort. ”

“ The young man or maiden who succeeds in firing an arrow into a red apple will be assured of good health; plenty of money is in store for those shooting arrows into yellow ones; and good luck is in store for those hitting the green ones.
Blindfold each girl present and, presenting her with a wand, lead her to a table on which have been placed flags of the different men's colleges. The flag her wand happens to touch will indicate the college of her future husband.
Browning nuts, popping corn, roasting apples, and toasting marshmallows will add a great deal to the pleasure of the evening. ”

“ A prize may be given to the one who has the most correct answers. In connection with this, the game of noted people can be played. Have small slips of paper with the names of noted people written upon them, and pin one of these on back of each guest; he is to guess whom he represents by means of questions put to him by other guests. This is great fun, and causes much merriment among the young people. As soon as a player guesses whom he represents a new slip can be put on his back. A prize may be given the one who guesses the most names. ”

“ Have the home decorated with goldenrod if in season, if not, any yellow flower can be used; if the season for sunflowers, they are very pretty for decoration. Let those who help serve wear yellow dresses or plenty of yellow flowers. A large yellow cake could be used for a centrepiece, banked with yellow flowers; use brass candlesticks with yellow candles. Plenty of flowers or yellow paper should be used for the gas jets, lamp shades and picture frames. Refreshments might consist of yellow cake, lemonade, and yellow candy. Pretty souvenirs would be a yellow carnation for each guest. ”

“ Partners can be chosen for supper by having each lady write her name on a slip of paper, and putting all the slips into a hat; each gentleman will take to supper the one whose name he draws from the hat.
A pretty souvenir can be given each guest in the form of a small heart-shaped valentine.
Refreshments can be suggestive of the day also. They can consist of sandwiches cut in heart-shape, tied with red baby ribbon, bright-red apples, cherry ice, lady fingers, kisses and small heart-shaped candies. ”

“ Let every one enter into the fun with spirit. Have the decorations of the house all green and have each one wear as much green as possible. Tin spoons tied with green ribbon can be given as souvenirs. Have an Irish potato race. Prizes of stick pins in Shamrock designs can be given the winners, or potato pincushions tied with green ribbons. Have green paper napkins which can be made from green tissue paper. Animals can be made from potatoes, using toothpicks for legs and tails. Have each guest help in the entertainment of the evening by an Irish song, story or recitation. ”

“ A birthday is an important event in a child's life, and should not pass unnoticed.
A small party for little children is usually more enjoyable and more easily managed than a large one. With many mothers it is the custom to invite as many little guests as correspond to the number of years of the child whose birthday is celebrated.
Make the table look as attractive as possible with flowers. A pretty arrangement for a fifth birthday is to have a round table, with vines, or a rope of wild flowers or leaves, arranged over it to represent a five-pointed star. ”

“ After refreshments are served supply each guest with a sheet of paper and a tiny pencil with a ribbon bow at the end (these pencils can be purchased for a cent apiece) . Announce that the guest who draws the most natural daisy will be awarded a prize. Distribute the blossoms for models. Pin all of the papers upon the wall and let the guests decide which is the most lifelike flower. Award a pretty book to the one who succeeds best and a booklet of pressed flowers to the second best. ”