Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-27

~ NE of the secrets of a successful
birthday entert ainment for chill
- dren is to specify the hours in the
invit ton say from to =. 6 to g. I to 10.
according to the ages of the little ones.
f! If children arrive early at party and stay
| on indefinitely not only the guests but the
tertainers are worn out. so 1t Is better
! for al. concerned that festivities end while
every one is having the best time ever
than to wait until amusement begins to
pail.
| Another point in party giving is to have
| some simple form of play" to fill up ev-
| cry minute.
The presence of young girl friend or
| some jolly young man to start things Is
often of great assistance to the mother
| AS soon as two or three children assem-
| BILE begin playing games. for it Is usually
| the first half-hour or hour that makes or
| mars the success of the party. especially
| where the children are of mixed ages.
Let some one stay In the dressing room
| to help the children take off their wraps
and make introductions If necessary.
| AS to the kind of games. if one lives in
| an apartment where the rooms are small
| and the other dwellers have to be taken
to be limited to quiet sports.
Soap Bubble Contest.
A soap bubble contest makes excellent
| fun For this have clay pipes enough for
all (and it is wiser to lay in a few extras
in case of accident). small bowls of soap
suds and fans made of stiff paper with
which to propel the bubbles from the
starting point. Lay long stick on the
floor to serve as a goal. At given sig
nal the bubbles are blown and the fans
brought into use to drive them to the
goal If bubble bursts before any of
the players have reached the goal the
player may return to blow and start
second one. a simple prize may be given
the successful contestant. while the others
may be allowed to keep their pipes as
consolation and souvenirs.
A Pig Drawing Contest.
For each drawing pin on the wall
large fresh sheet of white paper. Blind
fold each of the would-be artists. then
lead them in turn to try their luck at
drawing a pig with charcoal pencil \
china pig box of candy may go to the
most successful artist and "a pig bank to
the one who makes the most unsuccessful
attempt.
Silhouettes.
Put a large sheet of white paper against
the wall. Turn out all the lights but one,
then let each child in turn have his pic
ture drawn with a pencil Remove from
the wall and cut out the silhouette.
Shadow Pictures.
| Hang up a sheet between two rooms,
leaving the front room where the audi
ence is seated in darkness. Have but one
| light in the rear room and place 1t so
that the shadows Of the performers will
fall directly on the sheet. Now let the
performers. divided into sets. each take
their turn in providing fun for the others.
illustrate, If you like, the different nurs-
cry rhymes and stories. for instance:
Old Mother Hubbard
Went to her cupboard
To get her poor dog bone.
If you have real dog in the house or
Teddy bear this is specially fetching. let
ting Mother Hubbard limp in on her
staff, followed by her dog and reaching
up into an imaginary cupboard.
Jack be nImble. Jack be quick.
Jack jump over the candlestick
Peep" Little Red Riding Hood. The
Three Bears" Robinson Crusoe," Tom,
Tom, the Pipers Son and so on. After
one set of guests has furnished entertain
ment let the other try, While the first
party guesses the story being illustrated.
The supper or refreshments always de-
light youngsters. and a few menus appro-
pirate for a childrenS party are suggest
ed
Menu No. l.
Hot Tea Biscuit.
Cold Chicken. Nut Sandwiches
Lemon Jelly in Lemon Pigs.
Eclairs. BOnhons. Fruit Lemonade.
Birthday Cake.
Menu No. 2.
Beef and Ham Sandw iches.
Parker House Rolls Orange Marmalade.
|. Vanilla Ice Cream with Hot Maple Sauce.
Afternoon Teas with MeriDgue.
Cocoa. Birthday Cake
Menu No. 3.
| Tiny Baking Powder Biscuit spread lightly with
|. Jam.
Sandwiches Of White and Brown Bread put
together with Nut and Fig Filling.
| Sailed Popcorn. Bonbons.
Chocolate Ice Cream. Little Cakes.
Fruit Lemonade. Birthday Cake.