various objects, the names of which are to be guessed aloud. If curious
and unfamiliar objects are selected, this will prove very amusing.
NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY
This is a favorite occasion for a party among young people. It should be
a small party, not over twenty-four guests, and it will be the more
enjoyable if informal and among those who are well acquainted with each
other.
There are as varied entertainments for such parties as for those at
other seasons. A pretty idea is to confine the list to twelve young
gentlemen and twelve young ladies. The hostess requests each couple to
dress so as to represent a particular month, which she assigns them.
Duck trousers, cotton neckties, and white vests are as distinctive of
summer for the young men, as shirt-waists, duck skirts, and lawn are for
young women, but it will take some ingenuity to devise an effect that
will mark a particular month.
The guests should not assemble until nine o'clock. There should be a
large clock conspicuously placed in the room, and if possible an open
fireplace, with a bright fire on the hearth.
The first part of the time should be taken up in guessing the months,
the company gathering before the open fire in a circle. As fast as one
month is decided upon, the one who impersonates it rises, makes his or
her bow to the company, and recites at least four original lines
pertaining to that month. The more ridiculous or witty they are, the
better they will be appreciated.
After this comes the supper, which may be as elaborate or as simple as
desired, and then a promiscuous mixing of the months will cause some
merriment.
Just as the clock is striking twelve, there is a knock at the door. Upon
opening it, there is revealed a young man dressed as a baby, in a long
white dress tied about with a sash on which is printed January 1, 19--.
If properly planned, the appearance of this New Year baby will cause
shouts of merriment.
Hand shakings and New Year's greetings follow, and the party is over.
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS
This game is played by providing each guest a paper and pencil, and
having ten letters of the alphabet read to the company. These are to be
copied, the guests are told to write a New Year's resolution of ten
words, each beginning with one of the letters used, in the order in
which they are given out. These importuned resolutions, when read, will
afford much amusement.
NEW YEAR'S SOCIABLE
As the guests come in, each one is requested to sign his name in a
note-book, and to write underneath it a New Year's resolution. An entire
page should be allowed for each one, so that no one may know what his
neighbor has written. Each guest should be given a card inscribed with
an appropriate quotation, such as "Time and tide wait for no man." These
cards are numbered. These are passed around among the company, with the
explanation that each guest is to amuse the company for the length of
time it takes for the sand to run in a minute glass from one end to the
other (have a minute glass in room), using for the purpose of
entertainment some thought suggested by the quotation on his card. One
can recite a poem, another tell a story, another sing a song, and so on
until every one has done his share for the amusement of the others,
following in order according to the numbers on the cards. After each one
has done his part the hostess announces that she will now do hers and
proceeds to read each resolution that has been written in the book. The
names of the writers being given, it will cause much merriment. Nut
shells set sailing two by two in a basin of water may be named, one for
a man, the other for a girl. If they keep together, it is an indication
that the pair will be married before the year dies, but if they
separate, the fate of the twain is sealed for one year.
NINETEENTH CENTURY GAME
In this game of guess the contestants are told that each question can be
replied to with the name of a celebrity who has lived in, or whose life
has extended into, the nineteenth century. Each guest is given a little
tablet with his name written on every one of the pages. Two minutes are
allowed to each question. The questioner sits with a big bowl before
her, into which, when she calls time, each player drops a slip upon
which he has written his answer. This is the list that the questioner
reads, omitting, of course, the answers:
Why did England so often lose her way in South
Africa? (Mr. Rhodes)
What did the Emperor of China do when the Empress
usurped the throne? (Custer)
What did Isaac watch while his father was forging a
chain? (Abraham Lincoln)
What is Li Hung Chang credited with being? (Schley)
The lane that has no turning is a what? (Longstreet)
What does a Chinese lover say when he proposes?
(Dewey)
What does Aguinaldo keep between himself and the
Americans? (Miles)
What happens when the wind blows in spiders' houses?
(Webster)
What did Buller unfortunately do? (Bragg)
What do the waves do to a vessel wrecked near shore?
(Beecher)
What does a ship do to a seasick man? (Rockefeller)
What did Uncle Sam do when he wanted to know
whether England would let him mediate? (Astor)
What is the chair-boy likely to do to the old lady he
has to push on a hot day? (Wheeler)
What is a novel military name for a cook? (Kitchener)
What do you do when you drive a slow horse? (Polk)
When do you get up to see a sunrise? (Early)
When Max O'Rell gets on a platform what does he do?
(Speaker Reed)
What does a waiter do after he has filled half of the
glasses at a table? (Fillmore)
In the settlement of disputes, do the European nations
quarrel? (General Lee)
The towns taken by the British generally lacked the
what? (Garrison)
What did the Jews say when the mother of Samuel
passed? (Mark Hanna)
In Cairo purchases are made at a what? (Booth)
NOSE AND GOGGLE PARTY
To fun-loving people who enjoy the grotesque, great sport will be found
in giving a Nose and Goggle Party. Here two objects will be gained:
merriment and disguise.
As the guests arrive, disguised as explained below, each is given a
card, perforated, with ribbon run through, in order to wear the card
around the neck, so that everybody can see it.
The cards must have, on one side, a number by which each guest is known;
on the other side, a list of figures, 1, 2, 3, etc. (as many figures as
there are guests), leaving space opposite each figure for a name. In
social conversation each guest is to guess who his or her entertainer
is. With intimate friends, this may be done readily by familiarity with
the voice; but in most cases the identification will not be easy.
Each guest wears a false nose and goggles. The nose may be purchased, or
made by clever fingers, of heavy cardboard covered with chamois.
The noses and goggles must not be removed till after refreshments, which
may be simple or elaborate as the hostess may wish. As you make your
guess, place the name opposite the number on your card corresponding to
the number of the person with whom you are talking; for instance, if
you think you know No. 4, turn your card and write the name opposite No.
4, etc.
NOTED PEOPLE
Cut out pictures of noted men and women from newspapers and magazines,
paste on white paper, and number each one. Provide each guest with paper
and pencil, having the paper contain a list of numbers corresponding to
those on the pictures. The guests are then requested to write opposite
the correct number the name of the person whom each picture represents.
A good idea is to have pictures pinned upon the wall, curtains, and in
every convenient place about the rooms, as the guests will then be
obliged to move about, and there will be no danger of wallflowers. After
each one has been given plenty of time for guessing, the correct list
can be read aloud by one person, each guest passing his paper to his
neighbor for correction. 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.
NUT CONUNDRUMS
Before the guests arrive hide nuts all over the rooms in every nook and
corner. At a given signal have the guests search for them and the one
finding the most can be given a small prize.
Take English walnuts, split and take out the kernel; write quotations
on small slips of paper, cut in half, put one-half paper in one nut
shell, the other half in another shell, gluing each shell together.
During the evening give one set of half quotations to the girls, the
other set to the boys and then have them hunt for their partners; when
found, each pair have refreshments together. Have the following nut
conundrums guessed, after which serve all kinds of mixed nuts.
CONUNDRUMS
1. What nut grows nearest the sea? (Beechnut)
2. What nut grows the lowest? (Groundnut)
3. What nut is the color of a pretty girl's eyes? (Hazelnut)
4. What nut is good for naughty boys? (Hickory)
5. What nut is like an oft told tale? (Chestnut)
6. What nut grows on the Amazon? (Brazil nut)
7. What nut is like a naughty boy when sister has a beau? (Pecan)
8. What nut is like a Chinaman's eyes? (Almond)
9. What is the favorite nut in Ohio? (Buckeye)
10. What nut is like a good Jersey cow? (Butternut)
11. What is the mason's favorite nut? (Walnut)
12. What nut cannot the farmer go to town without? (Wagon nut)
NUT PARTY
Invitations may be slipped inside peanut or English walnut shells, glued
together, and sent in a small box. The shops are showing big English
walnuts, Parisian almonds and Spanish peanuts, filled with confections
in imitation of the genuine nut meats, which make attractive prizes or
favors. A novelty in silver represents an English walnut (exact size),
"All in a nutshell," which contains powder, puff, mirror, miniature
scent bottle, and pincushion; a silver peanut contains a "magic" pencil
or small vinaigrette; thimble cases, bangles, tape measures, etc., come
in nut designs; a small lace-trimmed handkerchief may be folded and
slipped inside an English walnut shell. The diminutiveness of the prizes
is emphasized if they are wrapped in a series of boxes, each one larger
than the next. For finding partners, English walnuts painted and dressed
in crimped tissue paper to represent different nationalities may be
used, a lady and gentleman being given the same nationality. The menu
served may be made up of nuts: chicken and nut salad, peanut sandwiches,
salted nuts, nut candies, bisque of almonds, pecan cake, walnut wafers,
coffee.
OBSERVATION PARTY
Place these objects tastefully on the dining-room table, each guest on
entering the room being furnished with a catalogue of the subjects,
supposed to be different paintings, made out so that blank spaces will
be left to the right for the answers. From fifteen to twenty minutes are
allowed to guess and write down the answers as fast as they are
discovered. Comparing notes is hardly fair. At the end of the stated
time the guests leave the room. Some one then calls out the correct
answers, and the persons whose lists are the nearest correct, receive
the first, second, third, and fourth prizes, the number of prizes
varying according to the number of guests present. A booby prize for the
one who was the least successful adds to the fun.
Below is given the list of forty subjects, and also the answers. From
the latter you will know what objects to collect and place upon the
table. It is better not to arrange them in exact order.
SUBJECTS ANSWERS
Out for the Night Candle in Candlestick
Departed Days Last Year's Calendar
Scene in Bermuda Onions
We Part to Meet Again Scissors
The Reigning Favorite Umbrella
Home of Burns Flatiron
The Greatest Bet Ever Made Alphabet
A Line from Home Clothes Line
The House the Colonel Lived in Corn Cob without the Corn
Cause of the American Revolution Tacks on a Letter T
A Heavenly Body Dipper
The Little Peacemaker Chopping-knife
Spring Offering Glass of Water
Bound to Rise Yeast Cake
Family Jars Two Glass Jars
Things that End in Smoke Cigars
A Place for Reflection Hand Mirror
Deer in Winter Eggs
Scene in a Base Ball Game Pitcher
A Drive Through the Wood Block of Wood with Nail
Driven Through
A Mute Choir Quire of Paper
A Trophy of the Chase Brush
A Rejected Beau Old Ribbon Bow
A Skylight A Star
Our Colored Waiter Black Tray
Sweet Sixteen Sixteen Lumps of Sugar
Consolation Pipe
Common Sense Pennies
The Black Friar Black Frying Pan
Cole's Memorials of the Great Cinders
The Four Seasons Mustard, Vinegar, Salt
and Pepper
A Morning Caller A Bell
Assorted Liquors Whip, Switch and Slipper
The Skipper's Home Cheese
An Absorbing Subject Blotting Pad
A Dancing Entertainment A Ball
Bound to Shine Bottle of Shoe Blacking
The Spoony Couple Two Spoons
Old Fashioned Flowers Lady's Slippers
Nothing But Leaves Block of Blank Writing Paper
OLD-FASHIONED DINNER
1. A country in Asia Turkey
2. A color and a letter Gravy
3. Cape Cod fruit and impudence Cranberry Sauce
4. A river in Italy, an Irish woman's beverage,
and "the five little pigs that went to
market" Potatoes
5. A parent and cuttings Parsnips
6. Reverse and small bites Turnips
7. Time measures Beets
8. An Indian's wife and an interjection of
silence Squash
9. Well or badly brought up Bread
10. A goat Butter
11. A letter Tea
12. A crowd of people in a small place Jam
13. Mixed-up type Pie
14. Two of a kind Pears
15. A receptacle for fluids and a letter Candy
16. A crow's call and a doctor's payment Coffee
17. Ancient tales Chestnuts
18. What I do to be heard Ice cream
OLD-TIME COUNTRY SCHOOL
(Can be used as a play.)
"_The Red Schoolhouse will open for the fall term on
September fifteenth. As a goodly number of pupils is
desired, all receiving this are urged to search the highways
and byways for others who may wish to attend. School will
begin promptly at eight. As there will be a recess, all
pupils should bring their dinners._
"_SOLOMON WISEACRES, Pedagogue._"
The coming of school-days, usually so much dreaded by young folks, was
hailed with much delight by recipients of the above notice. On the
appointed evening not only were there present the members of the
society, but each one, heeding the injunction regarding the highways and
byways, brought with him a friend. As the teacher had also found an
extra pupil, there were just twenty-four in the party. The boys wore
knee-trousers and the girls short skirts and pinafores, with their hair
hanging down their backs in long braids or curls. All brought with them
their dinners, packed in tin pails, in imitation of their country
cousins.
The schoolhouse was a large new barn, the schoolroom being up-stairs in
the hay-loft. Here were arranged two rows of benches, one for the girls
and one for the boys; blackboards hung on the walls, and there was a
plain wooden table in front for the teacher's desk. Standing behind
this, the schoolmaster, birch rod in hand, and looking very wise in a
pair of huge spectacles, received his pupils and registered their names
in a large book before him. Among those enrolled were Alvira Sophronia
Simmons, Malvina Jane Leggett, Serena Ann Wilkins, Patience Charity
Gray, Nathan Bartholomew Brown, Ichabod Thompson and Abijah Larkins.
Each pupil before being assigned a seat was interrogated by the teacher
somewhat as follows: In what state and country were you born? Do you
know your letters? How far can you count? Who was the first man? Who
built the ark? And so on until the teacher had acquainted himself with
the limits of his pupils' ignorance.
When all were seated Teacher Wiseacres announced that school would open
with singing. The pupils were thereupon thoroughly drilled in the scales
and other exercises, the master severely reprimanding any who sang out
of tune. The lesson concluded with songs usually sung at the club
gatherings, after which a knot of blue ribbon was given the one who had
sung best, and a red bow to the pupil considered second best.
During the course of this lesson, and also of those that followed, there
were frequent interruptions caused by the refractory behavior of some of
the pupils. Serena Ann Wilkins was caught eating an apple, and was made
to stand up in front with a book on her head. Malvina Jane Leggett had
to stand in the corner facing the wall for giggling; while, direst
disgrace of all, Abijah Larkins was obliged to sit on the girls' side
for drawing a caricature of the master on the blackboard.
After the singing-lesson small wooden slates (the old-fashioned kind
bound in red cloth) were passed around and the following exercise in
orthography given out: "It is an agreeable sight to witness the
unparalleled embarrassment of a harassed peddler attempting to gauge the
symmetry of a peeled onion which a sibyl has stabbed with a poniard."
This task was accomplished with much puckering of eyebrows, and no one,
it may be said, succeeded in writing all the words correctly.
The next lesson announced was reading, for which primers were
distributed. These were small books with brown-paper covers, the lessons
being tongue-twisters, beginning with such familiar ones as "She sells
sea-shells," "Peter Piper," etc., and ending with this one of more
recent date, taken from the _Youth's Companion_:
A bitter biting bittern
Bit a better brother-bittern;
And the bitten better bittern bit the bitter biter back.
And the bitter bittern, bitten
By the better bitten bittern,
Said, "I'm a bitter bittern-biter bit, alack!"
The class stood up in front and were made to toe the line drawn in
chalk on the floor. The pupil at the head was called upon first, and
read until a mistake sent him to the foot, when the one next to him took
his place. The master not only continually urged his pupils to greater
speed, but at the same time kept a sharp lookout, and gave many words of
warning to any whose feet were out of order; and the frantic efforts of
the pupils to obey instructions made the lesson one of the most
laughable contests of the evening. It was continued until recess, the
hour for refreshments.
The dinner-pails had been given for safekeeping into the hands of the
teacher. Now, when they were returned, it was discovered that the boys
had received those belonging to the girls and the girls those of the
boys. There was a happy correspondence in this exchange; Ichabod
Thompson receiving the pail of Patience Charity Gray and she receiving
his, and so on. The pupils thus paired off were to share their dinners
with each other. The master, who also brought his dinner, reserved for
himself the pail of the girl pupil supposed to be his favorite.
There was great fun and laughter over the opening of the pails, for the
aim had been not so much to bring a dainty luncheon as one that should
be typical of the old-time district school. The following may be taken
as a sample of the contents of one of the buckets: Bread and butter,
doughnuts, apple turnover, spice-cake, cheese and one very large
cucumber pickle. Apples were contributed by the teacher. Dinner over,
the remainder of recess was spent in playing games. Skipping the rope
was one of the pastimes, and hop-scotch, tag, and hide-and-go-seek were
others.
School was resumed with a geography lesson, really a game played as
follows: The teacher requested one of the pupils to give a geographical
name, that of a country, city, river, etc. Others were then called upon
at random to give names, each of which had to begin with the last letter
of the one preceding it. Thus, if the first name given were Egypt, the
next one must begin with the letter T, as Texas, while the one following
this would begin with S, as St. Louis. Any one who failed to respond in
the time allowed--half a minute--was dropped out of the class and the
question passed on. The lesson was continued until there was but one
left, who received the usual decoration.
The session closed with an old-fashioned spell-down, but before the
class was dismissed the wearers of the ribbons were presented with
prizes, these being small, daintily bound books. The others, that all
might have a suitable reminder of the occasion, received book-shaped
boxes of candy. This done, the bell was rung and school was closed.
This school party can be played in hall or church.
OLD-TIME SPELLING BEE
The fact that a spelling bee is to form a part of the evening's
entertainment need not be indicated upon the invitation, it being a part
of the fun to catch people unawares.
After the arrival of the guests the choice of a "teacher" and two
leaders is effected by ballot. The two leaders then stand out at the end
of the room opposite each other, and each chooses alternately one of the
company at a time, to represent his side, until all have been chosen and
stand in their places in two lines.
The teacher, who is supplied with a book, then gives out a word to the
person at the end of the line to her right. If the word is correctly
spelled the next word is given out to the person at the end of the
opposite side at her left. If this person fails to spell this word
correctly she must immediately leave the line, and the same word is put
to number two on the opposite side. If the word is correctly spelled she
is privileged to choose one person from the opposite line to step over
to the foot of her own line. Another word is then given to the opposite
opponent, and so on down the lines. It often happens that two equally
proficient spellers are pitted against each other for some time, when
the contest becomes very exciting.
LIMIT THE TIME OF THE BEST SPELLER
It is a good plan, lest the contest become wearisome, to limit the time
for the last participant. If at the end of six minutes the winner has
not failed on any word given, he or she becomes director of the revels
that follow, and must be implicitly obeyed for the rest of the evening.
The first duty is to announce a "recess," and having been previously
instructed he or she leads the way to an adjoining room, where upon a
table is a pile of boxes of various shapes and kinds, neatly tied, which
are distributed among the young women. After which it is announced that
each box contains a small school luncheon, and that a young man
accompanies each. She then proceeds to distribute the young men as she
has the boxes. Each young woman then shares her luncheon with her
partner. Should the box contain an apple, a sandwich and a cake these
must be halved.
After "recess" follow games, or music, or recitations, as the winner of
the contest wills.
ORANGE PARTY
To emphasize the color scheme, the young hostess wore a becoming empire
gown of orange-colored silk, and on her left shoulder was fastened a
large rosette of orange-colored chiffon. Each guest, upon arriving, was
presented with a similar rosette to wear as a compliment to the
occasion.
The dining-room was decorated with potted plants. Although it was an
afternoon party, the blinds were drawn and the room lighted
artificially. The electric lights were muffled in orange-colored cheese
cloth, and produced a very charming effect.
Over the centre of the table was spread a large square of orange satin
overlaid with a Battenberg lunch cloth. On this stood the birthday cake,
which had been baked in a fluted mold, then covered thickly with yellow
icing, and was a very clever imitation of the luscious fruit it was
intended to represent. The cake was surrounded by twelve small brass
candlesticks, in which burned orange-colored tapers. At each end of the
table was a smaller Battenberg square over satin. On each of these,
resting in a bed of green leaves, was an orange of abnormal size,
fashioned of papier-mâché, made in two sections, though so exactly
united that the orange seemed intact. In these were the favors--small
yellow bonbon boxes filled with orange conserves and tied with baby
ribbon. Small glass dishes, standing on yellow tissue paper doilies that
were fringed on the edges, and filled with orange puffs, orange kisses
and other home-made sweets, were placed here and there on the table, and
gave it a very festive air.
The refreshments proper consisted of:
Frozen Custard in Orange Cups
Orange Jelly Whipped Cream
Small Cakes Orange Icing
Orangeade