The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-02-16

dren, and there is some
 thing in the story of his life that appeals to every childs heart
 To make the day red letter one for them have some sort Of celebration for the little folks you knows even ii there are no children in your own familys
 In these days, when instruction is so carefully sugar coated. Washingtonss birthday affords the ambitious mother an opportunity to ground even the ftniest Of her little ones in the elements of American history. Z
 When sending out the invitations for the party look about the shops where appropriate cards for the purpose may be found If you are an artist you can paint each with a small hatchet. cIus- z ter of cherries or couple of American flags crossed, with a cooked hat neatly filling in the space between them
 Some fancifuI formula may be used i'm wording the invitation. You can use little verse for the purpose or it may be simple prose announcement. It is a fine idea to use the quaint phrase- o1ogy Of Washington sssffme-
 The decorations may be artificial cherry blossoms with draped American flags Bunting with streamers of blue and buff may be used if you prefer A feature of these decorations should be large portrait Of the Father of His Country hung in the most conspicuous place in the room
 A substitute for the cherry blossoms may be made by taking the dead branches of trees and trimming them with artificial leaves cut out of green paper and with cherries made by cow erfne bits of cotton with red tissue pa- per. These may be suspended over the doors or in other prominent places.
 Am artificial cherry tree may be planted in a little tub, filled with sand. The outside of the tub may be given a handsome. appearance by covering it with crape paper. The cherries may be fashioned large enough to hold 9 small gift for the children, and the picking of these cherries may be made one of the entertaining features of the party.
 Many delightful games and contests may be devised for the little ones Prizes should be given. but care should be taken that every child eventually gets a tiny gift
 F,irst Of all. the little ones on their arrival should be told little about the great and good man whose birthday they are celebrating. Then several of the children should be chosen to formally decorate the portrait of Washington, which hangs in the place of honor. Tts fin1asr boy and girl and the oldest boy and girl may be chosen for this purpose. The little folks may vote for the two whom they wish to do this by writing a name on a card and dropping ft into a colonial hat of paper. which ia passed around
 The ceremony may consist of hang ing garland or wreath of green, pref erabIy laurel. over the portrait and placing flag or flags with it Then some one should sit down at the piano and play .shGy Country. Iris of Thee,'r or some other patriotic air which the children can join in singing. The chill dren may tnen file past the portrait, each little girl making courtesy and each little boy saIutfng the pictured representative of the Father of His Country
 The little boy or girl who can tell anything about Washington should be asked to stand up in front of the por- trait and relate 1t to the others.