For one boy who wanted to entertain a few of the fellows who had been
in camp with him, his hospitable sister planned a jolly supper party
which undoubtedly owed its success to its "homeiness." Certainly its
friendly informality accomplished much more than any large outlay in
money could have done. There were to be half a dozen boys, so five
other girls were invited to make an equal number of girls and men.
To begin with, the hostess passed around to the girls slips of paper
and duplicate slips to the men.
Each slip contained the name of some article of food for supper and
the man and girl who drew duplicate slips were thus delegated to
prepare that particular dish together.
When all had matched up partners they repaired to the kitchen, a big
old-fashioned room with plenty of space for all of them. The hostess
and her partner did no cooking, but announced that they would manage
this cafeteria.
While all the others were in the kitchen, they arranged on a side
table in the dining-room stacks of tin trays, knives, forks, spoons,
and paper napkins. Over it they posted a bulletin board in good
imitation of a real cafeteria. There were listed on it the five dishes
which were being prepared and as a joke a number of others--quite
impossible to cook at such a time, as roast beef, mince pie, frozen
pudding--all of which were then heavily crossed off in black ink.
When the cooks had finished their tasks (and the cheerful uproar that
accompanied their occupations may be easily imagined) the food was
arranged on a long kitchen table. Thereupon each person, after
possessing him or herself of a tray and the required silver and
scanning the menu posted, passed on and pretended to select from the
counter. In reality, of course, everyone took everything, and received
a check from the hostess with a punch against some "stunt" written on
it.
The menu as prepared read as follows:
Scalloped salmon
Fruit salad
Lettuce sandwiches
Chocolate pudding with whipped cream
Tea or coffee
Two tables were left bare in the dining-room and the company chose
seats where they wished.
A great deal of additional fun was gained upon finding that someone
had surreptitiously set up a placard on one of the tables reading
"Reserved for Ladies." Over the cold water faucet was a sign reading
"Water" and glasses were grouped near it.
After supper the various stunts registered on the checks and some
rollicking songs filled the remainder of a merry evening in which
there had been absolutely no chance for stiffness from beginning to
end.
These were some of the stunts:
_For the Men_