The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-10-08
HOW TO BUDGET
 FOR YOUR PARTY
Elsa Maxwell Noted, for Her Parties, Gives a
 Few Hints

MOneyt 4I1e peSC party ever gave cost me less than five dollars the dullest ever went to cost over fifty thousand" says Elsa Maxwell, internationally famous for her par ties. Knowing how to run a party is 'most important, she tells Toni Taylor in McCall's for November:
 1T do not mean to say each and every five dollar affair is bound to be a success. Nor do mean to say that 8 fifty thousand dollar feast is destined to be an ignominious fail ure. What mean is this-and I know it's the truth-it's you and only you that can make your party success.
 "'Away with the idea that the succses of party depends upon the size of the house or the money spent on food or floral decorations. Any day of the week, I'll take the hostess who serves coffee and sand wiches but knows how to run her parties, in preference to the one who serves an eight-course supper but lets her party die on its feet.
 "'Most of the pitfalls of party giving can be avoided if you know about them. In the first place, don't be afraid that your guests won't like your party. Wear an air of cheer fitness and gaiety. Never say, even to your best friend, "Jane you've got to help me. know it's going to be terrible" You know nothing of the sort. But if you must dramatize, put on a merry act. Out-Sparkle the very gayest Of your guests. Say nothing of the sort. But if you must dramatize, put on merry act. Out sparkle the very gayest of your guests. Say anything you like no matter how silly or superficial, but don't be afraid
 "Who should know better than Elsa Maxwell, whose own parties are at once the despair and the hope of aspiring hostesses the world over. Having tried her hand at giving every conceivable kind of party in every country under the sun, she still favors the old stand-by-the Party of your Opposites. Ask guests to wear clothes suggesting the pro- feSSion they most abhor. If Mary Jones hates fishing, she should come with hip boots and a fishing rod; if Jim loathes the sound of fire siren he must get fire chiefs hat and an aX. If your husband hits the cell ing every time you start spring cleaning, dress him in an apron: and If you despise baseball, then by all means wear an umpire's mask and carry a bat. .....
 "Then there's another favorite-a Barnyard Party. No one can wear anything more formal than overalls (And let me say right here that as a rule Miss Maxwell objects to any one wearing formal clothes at her parties. They preclude fun, she feels, and breed lf-conSciousness; they encourage jealousy and rivalries; so if you take her advice you'll never ask guests to dress formallyO Give the Barnyard Party outdoors if pos Sible. Do your cooking right in your back yard or garden. Organize a milking and hog-calling contest. And above all, don't be afraid of ridicule-encourage 1t, for there is nothing more truly ridiculous than a so-called 'high-class' party.
 Here is another inexpensive party idea-a variation of the Favorite Star Party, perennially successful, for every human being conceals a secret longing to act. You may think 1t takes too much time and trouble to assume the personality and mannerisms of a. Garbo, Rob- ert Taylor or Shirley Temple; but once you get guests into amusing, make-believe costumes, give them a setting to excite their imaginationS. and 8 central idea, you won't need to worry. Your party is under way and your guests will provide their own fun.
 CT tell you,' Miss Maxwell sums 1t up, a successful hostess is a Wo- man who actually and truly likes meeting and entertaining people. It's possible that you won't find this definition in your Webster but you will eventually find 1t in the Cokaa1 af