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.