Evening star., 1939-02-21
'Parlor Date
May Present.
A Problem
FamilyCo.operation
Needed by Girl Who
Entertains in Home
BY JOAN FORTUNE and >.
NORTON HUGHES JONATHAN.

BY JOAN FORTUNE and
NORTON HUGHES JONATHAN.
What can poor girl do about
parlor dates? There's more room
in a rumble seat than in some
homes. After the evening meal has
been cleared away, papa sinks COM
fortably into his favorite chair to
smoke and read. Even blasting won't
bulge him until bedtime. Mother
seats herself in the second-best chair
and begins to sew. The small fry
either monopolize the telephone,
read the comics in the middle of the
floor, or cluster around the radio.
This may be touching picture
OF blissful home life, but 1t does
present a problem, as any girl who
must entertain boys in her home can
testify. The burning question is:
What to do If Rollo is coming over
at s|down to his last street car
ticket and clearly expecting a parlor
GATE? Something drastic must be
done to clear at least a few square
feet of space!
A woman woman talk with
your mother is the first big step
toward a happy solution of the
problem. If she's on your side. the
rest may be easy And If she's at all
IKE the mothers we know, she'll
want you to entertain graciously in
your own home-providing good
times for the girls and men who call
on you. She'll understand how i'm
portant parlor dates are. and how
they can be ruined by too much
family"
With mother definitely on your
side, next call a family conference.
Try to clear the living room for at
least two hours of one night a week
then let the news be broadcast that
you are always "at home" on that
night Your friends will quickly get
the right idea. and you can enter
tain small groups informally, hold
ing open house, or make all parlor
dates for that night.
In return for q clear living room
one or two nights a week, you do
everything possible to make life a
pleasure for the rest Of the family
Do more than your usual share of
the work around the house. Listen
with an interested ear to papa's
views on politics and to his stories
even II you know them all by heart
Devote more of your time to the
small fry-helping Clarabelle design
new wardrobe for her dolls, giving
junior a hand with those tough
school assignments.
Strike bargain with the family.
II you become the caretaker of the
living room and the household err
rand girl, mother will have more
time to 60 to the movies with dad.
They'll invite Clarabelle to 20 with
them, and junior will do his civics
assignment in his bedroom. You'll
have clear field.
A game room is another solution.
Convert the attic or part of the base
ment into a cheerful place where
you can entertain friends. Make the
family partners in the venture, and
hoard dimes or dollars until you
can afford ping-pong table and
variety Of games. If there's room
for dancing, add a second hand radio
to the equipment.
Remember. too. that many
smart girl has entertained success
fully in the kitchen. II Rollo ap-
pears on the wrong night, don't fret.
After few minutes spent with the
family in the living room, trans
plant him to the kitchen. Put on an
apron and make your date a chef
by crowning him with big inverted
paper bag. Taf1y or fudge, plus hot
chocolate. will soothe Rollos jittery
nerves. He'll enjoy going domestic"
Arguments, nagging and copious
feminine tears won't solve parlor
date problems. But careful plan
ming and cooperation with the rest
of the family will. Unselfishness
and thoughtfulness will aid your
cause a great deal.
Take the family into your con-
fidence. Make each member q
willing partner for fun at home.