Evening star., 1926-10-22
Planning for Halloween
Ways Are Suggested for Making Success of
Chldrens Parties, With Special Ref
erence to This Observance

1t is the way we go at the business
OF having a party that makes all the
difference between a gay time and
disappointing one. There are two
wistakes to avoid. First. some of us
are afrPA that certain guests will not
enjoy this or that game or contest
or this or that way of serving refresh
ments, yet it isn't hard to get children
to have a good time. Even If you
start something that some do not
care for at first. they will finish by
enjoying 1t because every one else
does
Do not hesitate to play new kind
OF game or contest. Your friends will
enjoy something new or different In
your house as much as you would in
theirs
Some parties are failures because
no plans are made beforehand. Some
times a party isn't as much fun as
you thought il would be because you
haven't made any of the plans or
done any of the work of preparation
yourself That is great mistake.
You can ask your friends personally
to come to your party, you can tele-
phone, or you can write the invita-
tions. Writing is the best way be-
cause 1t seems so much more like a
party. Invitations can be mailed or
delivered by hand. but they must he
sent early, so that there Will be time
to receive an answer.
The informal invitation. written in
the first lerson. is best for children.
II is also better ~ omit the words
"please answer" sometimes placed in
the lower r;ghthand corner of the
invitation. unless there is reason 10
believe that the prospective guests
will otherwise neglect to accept or
decline an invitation. If YOU are al
ways careful to accept or decline an
invitation very promptly, it is prob
able that your guests will do go when
YOU invite them Here is sample
of nice informal letter:
Dear Sadie: l am going to have
a Halloween party with lots Of fun,
and | am writing to ask you to be
sure to come.
Your affectionate friend.
JANE BLANK"
Halloween Frolics.
A garage, big attic or roomy cellar
makes an ideal gathering place for
Halloween festivities. If neither place
is available, and the party must be
held in the living roms of the home,
remove all rugs, ornaments and un-
necessary furniture. The party may
be a fancy dress affair. in which case
the guests should come dressed AS
witches ghosts. hobgoblins or brown
les. If ii is a ghost party, all should
be dressed in sheets and pillow cases.
In this case, the guests should be met
at the door by a ella mmy ila nded ghost ;,
who will conduct them to the rear of
the house, down the cellarway.
through dimly-!ighted furnace room
and laundry and then require each
guest to walk backward up the cellar
stairs Another plan would he to
have witch meet the guests at the
door and introduce them TO a ghost
who will direct them up the dark
stairway. at the head of which another
ghost will he WAITING t. conduct them
to dressing rooms.
General Decorations.
Corn husks and branches Of Autumn
leaves should decorate the walls and
ceiling. In the midst of these de"o"a
tions should appear the grinning <ace
Of a Jack O.. "a ntern or solemn-faced
owl. Pumpkin shells filed with
punches Of wheat or grasses. or pink
and gold chrysa nthemums. will give
CAV touch. Bats and owls. black cats
and witches. cut from paper. may be
suspended in odd corners or festooned
across the ceiling. Electric light bulbs
bulbs may be shaded by small pump
kin shells or yellow paper. and yellow
cheesecloth will make good window
curtains
Pumpkins are not the only things
YOU can use for Jack Lanterns.
Gourds. turnips or large carrots also
make good lanterns. Faces can he
cut in these the same as in pump
kin. Instead of cutting a face in tho
In,
can he made and the nnening covered
from the inside with Il face cut out "f
colored paper. The lights through
these are very effective.
Table Decorations.
For the supper table CandleStickS
may he made from ears of corn and
one placed at each guests place. Pa
per napkins. decorated in all the mys-
tic symbols of the day. should he
placed in carrot rings. and place cards
should correspond With the general
plan of the table. For a centerpiece.
cover lamp with a big pumpkin
she'll having two or three groteSqne
faces cut in the sides. or a pumpkin
she'll may be used 70 hold grapes and
apples serving for a cen;erpiece.
If wooden plates and tin coffee
cups are used. the effect will he bet
Ter TOR the occasion than II the table
Is set with fine rhinaware. Dough
nuts. popcorn. apples. sweet cider
and nuts are time -hnnnred refresh
ments for Halloween. hu.. Of course.
more ella horate menu MAY he
served Ice cream may he served
In paper cases With an impish face
represented with dried currants.
Cats and bats cut from black card
hoard. with fortune or quotation
written on one side in white India
ink. make interesting favors. and so
do clothespin dolls dressed as
witches in black crepe paper
t'se strictly Halloween games as