The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-13
A Testing r


Philadelphia Record.
Something novel. entertaining and quite
out OF the common is now the demand of
the hostess who is planning for an evening
party. One of these ingenious entertainers
has declared that nothing has been tested
b. her in their various entertainments that
has given more genuine pleasure that a
jesting party.
II is a ~well-known fact that nothing is so
dear 10 the American heart as a joke. The
hostess who gives her guests a chance to
laugh good-humoredly is a real benefactor.
II one has aspirations in this direction let
her give a jesting party on these lines:
Send out a humorously- worded invitation
implying that the person hidden is TO come
provided with some bit OF fun. TO be Of
fered in competition for a prize. This fun
may be a story, a picture, song. or so on,
which she or he considers supremacy anus
ing. Perfect originality need not be insist
ed on, but, as entertainment is the thing
sought after, If the witty Offering is famil-
far 70 any member of the assembled COM
pany IL IS ruled out of the competition.
a pretty decoration for the invitation
card Is: At the top of the sheet, in pen and
ink drawing, a procession OF court testers.
each with a plump bag labeled Jokes
over one shoulder. fiocking gaily into the
presence Of an austere Judge AT the bot
tom Of the sheet is their occasional with
the jocks bags hanging limp and empty, the
testers all weeping, save one. who is
CrOwned victor. However,, the invitation
decoration is purely optional.
II the guests asked TO this function are
al all bright they will return witty accent
ances. which may be read with effect upon
the festal occasion. If the hostess has not
sufficient assurance to conduct the affair
herself, she should select among her male
acquaintance some humorous person who
will introduce the evenings fun with a Jolly
address.
After the company have told their stories
which may range from a two-line comic
anecdOte TO a scene from a play in which
several have combined their efforts, per-
haps Jung their songs, displayed their pic
lures or delivered their monologues. prizes
Tor me best must be awarded by a set of
impartial judges.
Or. if preferred. the guests may them
selves decide the victors. If this is TO be
the course of procedure. the men should
each be furnished with a tiny bell. the
women each with a ribbon bow. These
they present to the person Of the opposite
sex who has just entertained them. The
woman receiving the largest collection OF
toy bells becomes the belle of the occasion
and she receives the woman's prize. The
man who is most gaily decorated with rib
bon bows becomes the beau OF the occa-
sion and receives the mems reward.
Then follows the supper. which is q sue
cession of jokes. The fruit consists of
empty orange skins stuck together and
banana SKINS Stu1ed with cotton. The
bon-bOns are the uneatable April fool can
dy, and so on through a series of ingenious
devices for e%ntrapping the unwary, until
the jewellers become so bewildered that
the orthodox dishes-Of which there must
be a gOodly number-when they turn out
10 be palatable. will prove quite as much
of a surprise, and as complete a joke upon
the jester as any OF the others.
The supper may finish the evening. or. If
desired, IL may end with a dance on the
same lines as the supper. Guests forming
Ter the lancers will find themselves. per-
haps, dancing a quadrille. Or. beginning
one figure of any dance, perceive that the
music is slowly changing into something
quite different, with the consequent follow
Ing OF the amazed participators. In the
midst OF some absorbing figure, like "aH
hands around" the music will suddenly
cease, and the dancers will be left staring
a. one another in bewilderment.
In fact, this idea of "A Testing Party NAV
Dc enlarged upon In many novel and enter
taining directions. 1t must, OF course. be
managed with real delicacy i'm order not to
degenerate into bu~ffoOnery; and under no
circumstances should the guests be allowed
10 suffer grave embassassment or annoy-
ance. But. IL managed successfully. this
VIII make a change from the
usual card parties. the dinner giving. or
any OF the stiff. formal affairs usually fol-
.9~ed when planning the social parties in