Evening star., 1900-02-10
ST. F. VALENTINE PARTY
Bright Suggestions for 0hildrsn's Merry
Making.
Appropriate Costumes and Games
Shooting at the Heart-The
Supper Goodies.
Written for The Evening Star.

|
them it is a mysterious holiday. something
akin to the feast of All Halloween. Those
who wish to afford the boys and girls spe-
cial pleasure can find no better way of
doing so than by treating them to a St.
Valentines party. The possibilities for
| fun in a St Valentines evening fete are
4 almost limitless.
The hostess who wishes to give St.
| Valentines juvenile party when sending
| out invitations will be careful to see that
| the numbers of boys and girls asked to the
| party are equal, The invitations should be
| pretty heart-shaped cards bearing some
| dainty floral device in addition to the re-
| quest for attendance at the party.
| A fancy dress affair may be given If
| Ii is preferred, the children being asked to
| come as valentines. The little guests may
| represent cupids. doves. spring flowers. but
| terf1ies, or anything appropriate to the sea-
| son. Little girls attired to represent cro-
| cuses. snowdrops violets. anemones. hya-
cnths. primroses. trailing arbutus. butter
| cups. dafodils, daisies and pussy willow
| will present charming appearance. and
4 the ingenuity of any household will be
| sufficient to suggest ways of decking out
| its darlings.
| For instance, the little girl who comes
| as snowdrop might wear a white frock
and white ribbons. with her gown strewn
| with artificial snowdrops made of paper.
| In her curls she should wear a wreath of
l
| dered to represent the snow. through which
| the snowdrops come pceping, ii will add
| to the effect. On a broad scarf that passes
| over her shoulder may be a verse relating
| TO the snowdrop printed In very large let
| ters. Something like this adaptation from
| Wordsworth might do:
| Nor will then thy modest grace forget,
sweet snow drop haI binger of spring.
AID Pensiye INT Eitor of feettng years
Butterfly Costumes.
Charming butterfly costumes may be
achieved with the use of Grape paper and
a book containing colored plates repre-
senting butterflies. The ehild's body must
represent the butterfly body and should be
covered with plain. dark clothing the color
| of the real butterfly. A round. fat hood
to entirely cover the head will make the
ngure more true to nature, especially If
| long antennae be added. The wings should
| be cut out of the Grape paper and wired
along the edge. 1t is often best over the
wire to paste a second layer of paper Pho
| tographers paste, which will not spot,
should be used. When the wings have dried
| brush and some water color paints should
| be prepared. Reference to the book will
| tell what colors to buy. The Grape paper
| should always be selected of the prevail
/ ing color of the wings. that little
| painting as possible need be done. The
| wings, when completed. may. when the
| child Is dressed for the party. be strapped
| over the shoulders with ribbons or he'd in
| place by concealed safety pins
The little boys will like to to the
party made up as comic valentines. Small
! harlequins and pierrots will suggest them
selves as favorite characters for the juve
| nile fun lovers Each one should have his
| or her bit of verse pinned across the breast
a piece OF linen. on which the letters will!
l a serviceable material for the purpose. The
children will like to read one another's
notices"
When the FrOIfc Begins.
| When they have all arrived and are ready
| for frolic. the children may be told that
| the selection of valentines will begin.
Across one end of the room should be sus-
pended ribbon, from which are hung or
namental hearts, on the back of each one
| OF which is written the name of some
| little girl present. One by one the little
| boys are allowed to take turns in shooting
| at these hearts with toy bow and arrow
The little chaps are required to stand So
many PAGES away and to send an arrow to
the heart which they prefer. OF course
they should not know t just whose heart
trey are aiming, for some little girls are
more popular than others. and the less
favored ones will feel sighted if they are
not so much sought after the others.
Each little boy is given three shots and
unless he succeeds in hitting one In thai
number of times he should not be per
m!tted to shoot again until all have had
their chances. AS the hearts are hit they
whose arrows have transfixed them and
the little girls whose names are written on
the back are declared to be their valentines
for the evening.
Dancing and Games.
As in these days nearly all children dance,
there should be a little simple dancing
some games, then supper. and home at an
early hour.
For the more quiet children boxes should
h.. IaI iy tol>o
of comic valentines pasted on light card
board and then cut into pieces for putting
together again. These may be placed upon
table in some room reserved for resting
or for the quiet games.
The supper table should he decorated with
flowers, ferns and ribbons. The center
piece may represent heart with couple
OF artificial doves in the center. Beside
each plate should be a souvenir consisting
of candy in a heart-shaped box.
There should be an effort to make the
good things served at supper follow ont
the Valentine day idea. The cakes should
be heart shaped. Candy notices ought TO
be on the table, as they will add much to
the fun.
Cupid and His Arrow.
On a side table may be a wheel of for
tune. with figure of Cupid holding an ar
| row in his hand in the center. When the
wheel revolves the arrow and figure turn
so that when it comes to standstilI eacn
time a different direction may be indicated
All around the table envelopes should be ar
ranged, each one containing a pretty sou-
venir valentine. Each child in turn re-
wolves the wheel and receives the valen-
tine which Cupid indicates.
Early in the evening it will be amusing
to have a grab bag in which comic valen-
tines are placed instead of toys. AS each
child makes its own selection, there can
be no i'll feeling. These comic valentines
should be carefully selected, that there
may be no reason for offense, no matter to
whom they may fall. 1t is not necessary
that all be purchased. Some of them may
to be home made.
He Was No Gentleman.
1.-The last shooting in Kentucky reminds
-nif ted hal