Entertaining Made Easy Part 3

Then followed the Scarecrow Skitter. A dilapidated old cornfield character in all the crudity of flapping black was brought in and established in the center of the floor. In his shabby hat fluttered a handful of rusty crow feathers, and the feature of the dance was for each boy to secure one of them in pa.s.sing for his partner. The poor old fellow was nearly torn to bits in the process.

The Farmerettes Fancy was another name for "ladies choice." All the girls were given tiny toy rakes, hoes, spades, or other farm implements which they used as favors in choosing partners.

For the Popcorn Waltz, the favors were popcorn chains for the boys to hang around their partners' necks. There was a temptation to devour these adornments as well as to use them for decorative purposes, and on the whole they were a source of much fun.

The orchestra at intervals in this dance made use of some contrivance which sounded like corn popping briskly over the fire.

A shower of snowy white confetti from the balcony still further emphasized the popcorn idea.

In the Orchard One-step the boys were asked to pick peaches. The girls stood behind a high screen and thrust their right hands above it. The boys reached up, touched the "peaches" they chose and thereupon the girls thus designated one-stepped away with their partners.

Instead of a cake walk, a Pumpkin Pie Walk was announced. The contestants could indulge in just as crazy, funny or pretty dance steps as they liked. The reward to the most original, entertaining and clever couple was a big pumpkin pie.

Then came the Red Ear Dance. Everybody was blindfolded and asked to pick an ear of corn from a big basket. When vision was restored the girl holding the red ear (an ordinary ear with a red crepe paper wrapping) was acclaimed queen of the carnival, and was presented with a bouquet of red roses. During the dance a red glow by means of special lighting arrangements filled the hall.

The Harvest Home Dance came just before supper, and lived up to its name, in that paper costume caps designating fruits and vegetables were given out and worn, so that the whole room seemed to be filled with the "harvest."

Tomato, carrot, corn, apple, wheat, squashes, grapes, popcorn, watermelon and blackberry were all represented.

The supper dance occurred midway in the evening, and the other novelty dances described were interspersed before and after it.

The supper consisted merely of peach ice cream with sugared popcorn on top, served on grape leaves, nut macaroons, tiny pumpkin tarts and fruit punch.

COSTUME HATS FOR THE RED EAR PARTY

_Tomato_: Turkey red crepe paper or cotton skull cap with pointed green paper calyx and green upstanding stem of wire covered over with paper or cloth.

_Carrot_: Orange crepe paper or cloth conical cap. This may be made on heavy paper or cardboard foundation. Characteristic lines may be marked on the carrot.

_Corn_: Green paper or cloth toboggan cap falling gracefully to one side With a long green or gold-colored silk ta.s.sel.

_Apple_: Little round bowl-like cap of glossy red paper with a brown stem of paper-covered wire.

_Wheat_: A wreath of natural or artificial wheat ears.

_Squash_: Cardboard or stiff paper cut to make a "crook neck" effect, covered with yellow paper.

_Grapes_: A graceful floppy green hat of straw or paper with a crown entirely made of artificial or real grape bunches--blue or purple as desired.--A filet of green ribbon with a real or artificial bunch of grapes depending on each side to hang over the ears.

_Popcorn_: A close-fitting little toque covered with tiny pieces of cotton batting to resemble popped corn.

_Watermelon_: A crescent-shaped hat to be worn broadside suggesting a slice of watermelon from green paper border (fitting on hair) to pink center dotted with tiny bits of black court plaster to suggest seeds.

_Blackberry_: Close-fitting little black quilted or puffed bonnet to tie under chin.

A NUTTY PARTY FOR OCTOBER

A girl who wanted to give an inexpensive jolly little party in honor of a visiting friend in October issued invitations to a nut gathering.

At the top of each correspondence card which served as an invitation, she glued half an almond sh.e.l.l upon which a face was marked in ink.

Below this nut head the rest of the figure was drawn in ink on the card, and the inscription read:

_Pretend you're a squirrel for once And join my nut-gathering stunts, Friday, October the eleventh at half-past eight_.

The first amus.e.m.e.nt of the evening was introduced by suspending from the chandelier in the center of the room a cocoanut decorated with a comical face and a pointed paper cap perched on top.

Each person from a distance of ten feet was allowed three throws at this cap with a little light rubber ball, the object being to knock Mr. Cocoanut's cap off. The best marksman won a prize.

This first nut stunt caused so much fun that no one wanted to be lured away to a Nut Exhibit. Ten varieties of nuts were represented by pictures or objects and little slips of paper and pencil were distributed for recording guesses.

The display was as follows:

1. A bit of b.u.t.ter on a plate

2. A stout, old-fas.h.i.+oned stick

3. A can of canned peas with indicating label

4. A single pea

5. A map of South America with the outlines of Brazil especially prominent

6. A picture of typical English stone or brick wall

7. A can or cup of cocoa

8. A photograph of Hazel Dawn, the movie star

9. A beetle specimen (dead or alive)

10. Three ears of corn arranged to form the letter A

_Answers_

1. b.u.t.ternut 2. Hickory nut 3. Pecan nut 4. Peanut 5. Brazil nut 6. English walnut 7. Cocoanut 8. Hazel nut 9. Betel nut 10. Acorn

The winner of this contest also had a prize. Of course a nut party would hardly be complete without a peanut hunt and there was also a peanut race in which the object was to transfer the peanuts from one end of the room to another on the blade of a table knife.

In still another peanut contest the object was to pitch ten peanuts into a narrow-necked jar at a distance of about twelve feet.

To choose partners for refreshments a basket of English walnuts was pa.s.sed, each little nut with a painted face and a paper cap of some sort. Blue sailor caps, soldier caps, Red Cross nurse head-dresses, Scotch Tam o' Shanters, babies' bonnets, girls' gay garden hats, were all represented. There were only two of a kind, and the two individuals who selected them were of course partners.