If the hostess is a girl, she should be costumed as Lady Washington;
if she has a brother, his dress should be a faithful copy of General
Washington’s. The mother of the young people may take the character
of Mary Washington, mother of George. Ask your friends to wear an
appropriate costume excepting that of the Washington household; that
family excluded, they are fancy free. Decorate the house with flags
and bunting; also give an eagle prominent position. For evergreens use
holly, and whatever flowers may be peculiar to the State of Virginia.
Suggest red, white, and blue in the supper-room. Example: Cover the
dining-table with blue silk or bunting, and on it stand cakes frosted
with red and white icing, mottoes in red and white papers, etc.
Serve strawberry and vanilla ice-cream in blue dishes. Have all the
confectionery red and white in color, and served from a blue-covered
stand. Should you not have blue china suitable for the confectionery,
deftly cover white china with blue crinkled paper, and so preserve the
colors.
Open the evening with the flag dance. This is any square dance you may
please. Immediately before it starts, present the dancers with a tiny
American flag, and whenever a bow occurs, let the flags be triumphantly
whirled. They may be retained as souvenirs. After the dance some one
previously selected should come into the parlor. He must be entirely
enveloped in tricolor, which may be done by the use of a large flag,
and if necessary a smaller one may cover the head. The question now is
to guess, Who is this distinguished visitor? whether it is some one
of the Revolutionary period or of the present, of our own country, or
of another. When the domino is removed, across his chest will be his
name. It is George the Third, who did not feel very comfortable at
the time of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. He should
wear a crown, which is easily made from pasteboard, cover it with gold
paper, and for precious stones glue on rounded buttons covered to suit
whichever gem you may please-jasper, sapphire, diamonds, or what not.
Whoever makes a correct guess should receive a gift suggestive of the
occasion. A book about a Revolutionary hero would do, or any article of
jewelry, suggestive of Washington’s time. There are stickpins which may
be used for scarfs also, that have the flag in colored enamel. After
this, another dance would be in place, and follow that with games and
patriotic songs.
“The Star-Spangled Banner,” in march time, would be appropriate to use
as the march to supper.