cabins or a log of wood with a tiny paper or metal ax imbedded in it;
small busts of Lincoln would make ideal favors for such an occasion.
Place cards may have on the reverse side a quotation from Lincoln which
the guests may read in turn to furnish food for thought and
conversation. The following sayings of Lincoln are suggested:--
"I do not think much of a man who is not wiser to-day than he was
yesterday."
"Gold is good in its place, but living, brave, and patriotic men are
better than gold."
"Let none falter who thinks he is right."
"My politics are short and sweet like an old woman's dance."
"I have never studied the art of paying compliments to women; but I must
say that if all that has been said by orators and poets since the
creation of the world in praise of women, were applied to the women of
America, it would not do them justice for their conduct during the war."
"You may fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people
all of the time; but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time."
"The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present."
"The way for a young man to rise is to improve himself every way he can,
never suspecting that anybody wishes to injure him."
"The severest justice may not always be the best policy."
"I always plucked a thorn and planted a rose when in my power."
"Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another."
"Government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not
perish from the earth."
MILITARY EUCHRE.
A most enjoyable afternoon or evening may be furnished ones friends by
giving a military euchre party, as suggested for Washington's Birthday.
GUESSING CONTEST.
Supply pencils and papers to the guests having the following mixed words
written upon them:--
1. Olinnlc
2. Averlys
3. Sidetenpr
4. Lair-sliptter
5. Stohen-Bea
6. Yawrel
7. Roft-Termus
8. Pecanlurib
9. Caniream
10. Yenktuck
Inform the guests that these words pertain to the history of Lincoln. An
appropriate prize may be given to the one having the correct answers, or
having the most correct answers in a limited time. The correct words
are:--
1. Lincoln
2. Slavery
3. President
4. Rail-splitter
5. Honest Abe
6. Lawyer
7. Fort Sumter
8. Republican
9. American
10. Kentucky
SPLITTING RAILS.
Guests are to be supplied with pencils and papers containing the
following letters:--
1. Loadailrrfliar
2. Aliredalrig
3. Ginlatirlairgruad
4. Wilrayalingir
5. Letairrlailerry
Which are the rails to be split or divided into ten words, each rail
containing two words which contain the word "rail" with other letters.
The person splitting the most rails in a given time (having the most
correct words) should be awarded a suitable prize. The split rails
are:--
1. Railroad, frail
2. Derail, grail
3. Trailing, railguard
4. Railway, railing
5. Trailer, raillery.
BREAKING THE CHAIN.
Several children are chosen as slaves and stand in the center of the
room. The other children stand in a circle about them, forming a chain
by linking each arm into the arm of a child on either side and clasping
his own hands in front of him. The chain of children may circle around
or stand in one place while the slaves try to break the chain and gain
their freedom.
LOG CABIN.
The tiny tots would enjoy building a log cabin of tooth-picks by placing
upon the table two wooden tooth-picks about two inches apart in a
horizontal line, then laying two tooth-picks across them in a vertical
position. Place two more directly above the first ones, then two above
the second ones and so on as high as the children can build.
=ST. VALENTINE'S DAY=
Invitations for this party are written on red paper hearts. The
decorations also are red paper hearts strung from the corners of the
rooms to the chandeliers, between arches, draped across windows, etc.,
etc.
For refreshments, cakes and ices may be heart shape, also tiny heart
shape sandwiches and candy hearts with mottoes on them.
For a center piece a wax cupid with bow and arrow in the midst of
flowers and foliage, with various sized red paper hearts scattered
around.
A large heart shaped bag with the words, "There is something in my heart
for you," printed on it, contains a valentine or a favor for each guest.
The young host or hostess holds the bag while the guests march along and
each one in turn reaches into the bag for a prize.
The following games are appropriate:--
ST. VALENTINE'S POST OFFICE
The players sit in a circle around the room except one who is selected
for postman, blind folded and placed in the center of the room. Some
grown person, who acts as Postmaster General giving each child the name
of a city or town and standing in a position to see the players, begins
the game by saying, "I have sent a valentine from Chicago to New York
(or the names of any of the cities or towns given the children.)" The
children representing these cities change places quickly, the postman
trying to catch them or to sit in one of the empty chairs. If he is
successful in either attempt the child who is caught or whose chair he
has taken becomes postman, while the retiring postman receives a small
valentine as his reward. A child who remains seated when his name is
called must take the place of the postman.
CUPID IS COMING
The players seat themselves round the room, and one having announced
"Cupid is coming," another questions, "How is he coming?" Whereupon
everyone must in turn say "Cupid is coming amblingly" or "amiably," or
use some other adverb beginning with "A." When every member of the
company has mentioned an adverb, the game goes on by using adverbs
beginning with "B," then "C," and so on until all the letters are used
up, or the company prefers to change the game. Anyone failing to supply
an adverb must pay a forfeit.
HEART HUNT
Candy or paper hearts are hidden in nooks and corners, behind bric a
brac, curtains, etc. Heart shaped paper baskets, boxes or envelopes are
given to each hunter, to put the hearts in. The one finding the greatest
number of hearts receives a heart shaped prize, such as a box of
bon-bons, pin tray or cushion, photo frame, blotter, pen wiper, needle
book, trinket box, etc. etc.
CUPID'S DART
A large white heart-shaped target having a small red heart for the
bull's eye, a bow and cupid's dart are necessary for this game. Each
person in turn stands a certain distance from the target and shoots at
the red heart. A satin heart with the motto, "Cupid's dart has pierced
my heart" may be awarded the person making the best shot.
A HEART GUESSING CONTEST
The following sentences are written on heart shaped cards and passed
with pencils to the guests who are told to supply the missing word with
a word whose first five letters spell heart.
1. Cupid's symbol--. 1. Hearts
2. Cupid greets you--. 2. Heartily
3. Sitting on the--. 3. Hearth
4. He is never--. 4. Heartless
5. Sometimes he is--. 5. Heart-sick
6. If he has caused a--. 6. Heartache
7. If he were ill with--. 7. Heart-burn
8. It would be--. 8. Heart-rending
9. His favorite flower is--. 9. Heart's-ease
10. Thoughts of love to touch the--. 10. Heart-strings
The first person who guesses correctly receives an appropriate heart
shaped prize.
BROKEN HEARTS
Place two red paper hearts which have been cut into several irregular
pieces into an envelope and distribute to each gentleman guest, who
selects a lady for a partner and at a signal they begin putting the
pieces together to form the heart. The couple first getting the pieces
together in perfect order, forming two hearts, wins the contest and each
receives a prize.
TWO HEARTS THAT BEAT AS ONE
Fasten a large white handkerchief on the wall or door. Paste or sew a
small red paper heart in the center of it.
Let each person in turn be blindfolded and try to pin a heart of
corresponding size over the heart on the handkerchief. The one
accomplishing the feat or coming the nearest to it receives a valentine
or appropriate prize.
=WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY=
To give a patriotic air to the surroundings should be the aim of the
hostess in giving a party or entertaining on Washington's Birthday.
Use the American flag, various sizes, for draping and decorating
pictures, mantels, door-ways, windows etc., and red white and blue
bunting hung from the chandeliers to the corners of the room, over
archways, twined around the banister of stairways, etc., etc.
Red, white and blue paper garlands, paper hatchets and clusters or
branches of artificial cherries are attractive; and pictures and busts
of Washington draped with flags or bunting would be very effective.
A military Euchre Party would be very appropriate for this occasion.
Invitations written on a card with the American flag painted or printed
on may be worded as follows:
+-----------------------------------------------+
| You are respectfully requested to enlist in a |
| Military Skirmish |
| On Friday Evening February twenty-second |
| At the Barrack, seven forty-six First Street. |
| Assembly call By order of |
| Eight o'clock Mrs. John Smith |
| sharp General pro-tem. |
+-----------------------------------------------+
Greet the guests with a military salute, which they should, of course,
return.
Over each table suspend a small wooden ball with tiny holes in, just
large enough to insert the smallest size flag having a wooden staff.
(These flag holders may be purchased. They are usually red and have a
long round stick or handle which may be tied or wired to the chandelier,
or festoons.)
Red, white and blue festoons must be strung upon wire or very heavy cord
to be strong enough to hold the wooden ball for the flags.
A card about three by ten inches bearing the name of a fort should also
be hung over the table. Fort Sumter, Fort Ticonderoga, Fort Moultrie,
Fort Duquesne, Fort Riley, Fort Hamilton, Fort Necessity, Fort Dodge,
Fort McAllister, and Fort Donelson are names which may be used.
Tally cards may represent flags or shields with red strings or ribbons
for the ladies and blue for the men, and on the reverse side write the
name of the fort and company, as "Fort Sumter, Company A" and "Fort
Sumter, Company B" instead of table 1, couple 1, etc., etc.
Six players are at each table--three are Company A and three are Company
B. When all are seated the bugle is sounded and company A of each fort
advances to the next fort in rotation to meet the enemy, company A of
the foot table coming to the first table or fort.
The bugle sounds again as a signal for the players to begin. Company A
are partners sitting alternately with company B, who are partners and,
of course, company A play against company B.
Thirty-three cards are used to play this game, the Joker, Aces, Kings,
Queens, Jacks, Ten, Nine, Eight, and Seven spots. Five cards are dealt
to each player, the three remaining cards, called the widow, are turned
face down. No trump is turned. After the deal the players bid for the
trump in turn, commencing with the eldest hand. When a player bids he
must name the suit he bids on. The highest bid wins and the bidder is
entitled to the widow, selecting any cards he wishes and discarding
others in their place. The side whose bid is successful must win the
number of tricks bid or it is euchred and the opposite side scores the
amount bid. A bid to play alone is higher than a bid of five and if the
bidder takes all the tricks his side scores ten.
At the end of five minutes the bugle is sounded and all must stop
immediately. The company which has scored the most points at that time
is victorious and takes the small flag, which has been placed on the
table while they were playing, and places it in their own fort. (The
flag holder suspended above the table.)
All players return to their original forts and at the first sound of the
bugle company B advances to meet the enemy while company A remains to
protect the fort. At the second bugle call the soldiers begin the
warfare which lasts another five minutes when the bugle announces time
is up. A flag is given to the winning company at each table and furled
above their fort, the players again taking their original seats at their
own fort.
At the bugle's blast company A advances to the second fort while company
B remains to hold the fort, etc. etc.
These maneuvers are kept up until the "soldiers" of each fort have
"fought for the flag" with the "soldiers" of each of the other forts, or
as long as the "General" may see fit.
The home fort must not be deserted by all of its soldiers at the same
time. Either company A or company B remain during each skirmish--nor do
company A and company B of the same fort play against each other.
At the desired time the sound of the bugle is heard and the skirmish is
ended. The fort having captured the most flags gains the victory and
each soldier should be awarded a suitable prize. The fort having the
least number of flags may be given a booby prize in the shape of small
toy drums for the ladies and toy fife or horn for the gentlemen. The
"General" may then order the soldiers of this fort to serenade the
victorious soldiers.
Fruit Punch with a generous supply of Maraschino cherries may be served
during the evening.
Refreshments may consist of sandwiches tied with red, white and blue
ribbon; red, white and blue layer cake (vegetable coloring can be
obtained from the confectioner) or small fancy cakes; red, white and
blue cream patties, salted nuts, coffee, cherry ice or vanilla
ice-cream. Use an ice cream disher which forms the ice cream into a
conical shape. Small flags having a very long pin for a staff are placed
in these forts.
The menu may be enlarged by serving a salad or meat patties of various
kinds.
Cream cheese served with preserved cherries and salted crackers would be
a palatable and appropriate dish. Ice cream and ices may be obtained
from the caterer in various appropriate molds, such as cannon balls,
shields, flags, Geo. Washington hatchets, etc., etc.
A WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY LUNCHEON IN WHITE AND RED
A White cloth covered the table at this luncheon--a white embroidered
linen center piece with lace edge under which showed red crepe tissue
paper--vase of red and white carnations. Place Cards ornamented with
hand painted cherries and hatchets. Favors, miniature artificial cherry
trees (with a tiny paper hatchet at the base) growing in (imitation)
birch-wood candy boxes, which should be filled with candied cherries.
Cream of oyster soup served in bouillon cups--salted crackers.--Celery;
pimentos cut in small pieces; salted peanuts in red paper cups. Serve
on individual plates, chicken chartreuse with cannon ball potatoes.
Chicken Chartreuse,--Butter tin moulds (1/2 pt. tin cups are good ones)
and line with cooked rice. Fill with creamed chicken previously
prepared. Set moulds in pan of hot water and keep hot until wanted. Run
knife around inside of tin to loosen the contents and invert mould upon
serving plate. The result will be apparently a mould of rice. Place a
Maraschino cherry on the top.
Cannon Ball Potatoes,--With a potato scoop cut round balls out of raw
potatoes. Boil them in beet juice or use enough liquid off of pickled
beets to color the water a deep red. Watch carefully that they do not
cook soft enough to break. Serve a couple on each plate with the chicken
chartreuse.
Thin bread and butter sandwiches.
Lady Washington Salad,--Cut the top off and scoop out the inside of
bright red Jonathan apples. Place them on white lace paper doilies on
salad plates and fill with the following mixture:--
Equal portions of apple and celery cut in small cubes, one-eighth the
amount of pimentos cut fine and one-eighth the amount of Maraschino
cherries cut in half. Use a mayonnaise dressing or one of the
manufactured salad dressings mixed with a generous amount of whipped
cream.
Coffee covered with whipped cream. Vanilla ice cream or any fancy cream
that is white, served in champagne glasses topped with a maraschino
cherry. Marshmallow cake dotted with candied cherries. Red and white
cream patties.
GAMES AND PASTIMES FOR WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY
HUNTING THE HATCHET
Small paper hatchets (containing candy if desired) are previously hidden
in every conceivable place in rooms to which guests have access, behind
doors and pictures, in vases, under chairs and tables, on the gas
fixtures, etc., etc. A certain length of time should be allowed for the
hunt and the one finding the most hatchets should be rewarded with a
prize.
CHERRY RIPE
A tooth pick is suspended by a string in the door way or from the
ceiling just out of reach of the children. Stick a ripe cherry or a
candied cherry on the tooth pick. The children in turn jump up and try
to catch the cherry in their mouth. The cherry is the prize and when won
by one of the children another cherry must be put on the toothpick until
each child has had a turn.
WASHINGTON PI
Distribute to each guest a pencil and a slip of paper with the following
letters written upon it:--
1 Higtaswonn 1 Washington
2 Itesrpden 2 President
3 Nutom Nervon 3 Mount Vernon
4 Leyalv Gorfe 4 Valley Forge
5 Serrouvy 5 Surveyor
6 Wealadre 6 Delaware
7 Rechyr Erte 7 Cherry Tree
8 Rebrafuy 8 February
9 Tariopt 9 Patriot
10 Sametastn 10 Statesman
Announce to them that by transposing the letters they will spell a word
which is in some way connected with the history of George Washington.
The person having the correct answers first or the one having the most
correct answers in a given time wins a prize. A candy box in the form of
a pie full of candied cherries would be appropriate or something in a
patriotic line such as a portrait or bust of Washington--a small cannon
on a solid base intended for a paper weight--a drum pincushion--a
miniature sword paper knife, etc., etc.
CROSSING THE DELAWARE
A space about four or five feet wide is marked off on the floor by
stretching two strings from one side of the room to the other or with
chalk which represents the "Delaware River." Or an imaginary line will
answer. Half of the players stand on one side of the space and half on
the opposite side.
Each company has a captain who gives each of his soldiers a name that
denotes action and can be demonstrated--beginning with the letter "A"
such as appealingly, angrily, etc. The second soldier's name begins with
"B"--blindly, bashfully, boisterously. The third soldier's name begins
with "C"--cautiously, carelessly, curiously, and so on through the
alphabet until all are named.
Then the captain of company A announces, "Washington is crossing the
Delaware." The captain of the opposite company "B" replies, "How?" The
first captain responds "A" whereupon the soldier of his company whose
name begins with "A" walks across the space and back "awkwardly,"
"angrily" or acting whatever name has been given to him (or her.) The
opposite side try to guess the name from the actions or manner of the
soldier. If the soldier crosses to the opposite side and back before his
name is guessed he remains with his own company, but if the soldiers of
the opposite side guess his name before he reaches camp he must join
their ranks.
Then the captain of company B announces, "Washington is crossing the
Delaware." Captain of company A asks, "How?" Captain of company B
responds "A" and his soldier "A" crosses over "anxiously," "actively"
or whatever the name may be. If he succeeds in reaching camp before his
name is guessed he remains there but joins the opposite company if they
guess his name before he reaches camp.
Now it is company A's turn to send soldier "B" across with the same
preliminaries as before. Then company B sends soldier "B" across the
Delaware. Then Company A sends soldier "C" followed by soldier "C" of
company B and so on, a soldier from each company alternately until all
have had a chance to cross.
The company having the most soldiers is victorious, as they have either
crossed successfully or been captured. They may be rewarded by some
appropriate trifle such as a tiny flag or paper hatchet, or some of the
small brass or metal stick pins representing shields, flags, eagles,
colonial hats, rosettes, muskets, drums, etc., etc.
=APRIL FOOL'S DAY=
April first would be an occasion for a fancy dress party en masque.
Invitations may be written on a large sheet of paper and folded or
rolled into a small parcel and tied up in wrapping paper like a package.
Decorate the rooms with paper or artificial flowers and plants. April
Fool the guests when time for them to arrive by having the lights as low
as possible. The maid or person admitting the guests informs them the
hostess is "not at home," but immediately adds "please come in and
wait," and they are then directed to lighted rooms where they may remove
their wraps.
An invitation to a "Folly Party" may be adorned with a picture of a
fools cap and bells or a Jester. One form reads thus:--
On ye night of April first at stroke of eight
Ye Fooles and Jesters will congregate
At ---- St; Prithee come, likewise
Bedecked in frivolous garb, Thy face disguise
So unquestioned you may see
"What fools these mortals be."
If there is any question as to which member or members of the family is
giving the party, enclose a visiting card or write the name of the host
or hostess on the reverse side of invitation or back of envelope.
One may choose from the following menu, foolish food for refreshment.
Turtle Soup--au natural
(Soup plates or bouillon cups of water with tiny toy turtle in
each one)
Radishes
(Toy or paper red dishes)
Piccalilli
(A dish of artificial or natural lilies to pick from)
Blue Points
(Short pointed ends of blue crayon or lead pencils)
Crackers
(Tiny fire crackers)
FISH
Baked Sole
(An old sole of a shoe)
Fried Perch
(A wooden perch--the kind used in bird cages)
ROAST
Spring Lamb
(A toy lamb in place of a jack-in-the-box)
Wild Duck
(Throw at the guests a large handful of small rubber or paper balls
attached to rubber strings, so they will return and hit no one--the
guests will "duck" to escape being hit.)
ENTREES
Rabbit en casserole
(Hair (hare) in covered dish)
DESSERT
Strawberry Ice
(Strawberry buried in ice)
Cake--Devil's Food
(Sulphur matches)
Black Coffee
(Have the colored man step in and cough)
Mixed Nuts
(Iron nuts such as used on bolts and machinery)
Raisins
(Yeast cakes)
The hostess should have a bell at her place and ring it before each
course, when the butler (or a gentleman who will act as butler for the
occasion) will repeat in a loud voice the order of the hostess which, of
course, will be simply the name of the food about to be served. Or have
at each plate a small card with the menu written on it.
For a centerpiece a dish of artificial fruit or a vase of daffodils
(daffy-dills) may be used, placed on a cloth centerpiece, circular and
cut in points, a bell on each point. Two colors should be used for the
points.
A few dishes of April Fool bon bons may be distributed on the table.
After this foolish feast is ended genuine refreshments should be served.
One might reverse the order of serving; begin with the dessert and end
with what should have been first.
Many viands may be served "in disguise" and yet be very palatable. For
instance creamed chicken, sweet breads, etc., may be encased in mashed
potato or boiled rice.
Line tin moulds with the potato or rice, fill the center with the
creamed fowl, sweet breads or oysters and heat in pan of hot water. When
inverted on serving plate there will be, apparently, a mound of potatoes
or rice.
Large baked potato skins may be used to enclose the meat, also grape
fruit or orange rinds cut in half and contents removed, then filled with
the hot chicken, etc., and the other half replaced, or cover the top
with a lettuce leaf or sprigs of water cress or parsley.
Lift one section of a banana skin, remove fruit, fill with any desired
salad and replace section of skin. Use a toothpick to keep in place if
necessary.
Olives may be served, each covered with the half of an English walnut
shell. A corn husk may hold a sandwich, etc., etc.
Fruit cups may be made from apples, oranges, lemons, grape fruit,
bananas, etc., and many of the vegetables could be utilized. The large
telephone pea pods may contain a small pickle or relish of some kind.
Mangoes or green pepper pods, tomatoes, cantaloupe, cucumbers, etc., may
be scooped out and filled with food of a different nature.