THIS is a party which your friends will be sure to enjoy. Write your
invitations on paper decorated with Delft scenes, or else upon cards
cut in the shape of a Dutch shoe. Ask mother to please make you a Dutch
cap of lawn, and then with a red or blue dress and a kerchief you’ll
be a young Hollander. Have ready as many Dutch post cards as you have
invited guests, also scissors, and a wooden shoe apiece.
First play “Going to Amsterdam,” which is the same as your old friend
“Going to Jerusalem.” Then while your guests catch their breath after
this very exciting trip, bring out your Dutch post cards and give one
to each child, with a pair of scissors and an envelope. The post cards
must all be cut into irregular pieces for puzzles, and then the pieces
put in the envelope, being careful not to lose a single piece. When all
the puzzles are cut, let each child pass to his right-hand neighbor.
Then allow five minutes to put the puzzles together, after which you
pass puzzles again. If you have not invited many guests, you can keep
on passing puzzles till you have solved them all.
Now for the game of “Wise Men,” which is really a German game, but will
do very well for a Dutch party. Choose three children for the wise
men. These three enter the room, and are asked, “Who are you?” They
answer, “Three men traveling hither from the East.” Then comes the
question, “What kind of men are you?”
“We are good, honest men.”
“What is your trade?”
The “wise men” must then go through the motions of some trade, such as
baking, ploughing, building, etc. The others must guess the occupation
meant, and as soon as they have guessed three other wise men are chosen.
A more restful game is Dutch Housewife.
One child is chosen for “Housewife” and she must ask contributions for
her kitchen. So each in turn offers to give some article used in the
kitchen, such as a stove, dishpan, plate, etc. Then the “Housewife”
must ask each player ten questions, and to each question, the article
contributed must be given as the reply. Whoever laughs must pay a
forfeit. If you have promised a dishpan, and the housewife asks, “In
what do you ride?” you must of course answer, “A dishpan.” It’s hard
not to laugh, and almost everyone has to pay a forfeit.
The supper table can be set in Delft blue with a small windmill for
a centerpiece, and at each place have a wooden shoe, filled with
chocolates. Mother would be sure to say that a regular “Dutch lunch”
would mean a visit from the doctor some hours later. So instead of
pickles and cheese, and all the other indigestibles that the grown
folks enjoy, serve chocolate with whipped cream, sandwiches, chocolate
bonbons, and honey cakes. (These latter you can buy at any German
bakery.)
I’m sure your friends will all vote this “Afternoon in Holland” a great
success.