Games For All Occasions Part 19

The person having the correct answers first or the one having the most correct answers in a given time wins a prize. A candy box in the form of a pie full of candied cherries would be appropriate or something in a patriotic line such as a portrait or bust of Was.h.i.+ngton--a small cannon on a solid base intended for a paper weight--a drum pincus.h.i.+on--a miniature sword paper knife, etc., etc.

CROSSING THE DELAWARE

A s.p.a.ce about four or five feet wide is marked off on the floor by stretching two strings from one side of the room to the other or with chalk which represents the "Delaware River." Or an imaginary line will answer. Half of the players stand on one side of the s.p.a.ce and half on the opposite side.

Each company has a captain who gives each of his soldiers a name that denotes action and can be demonstrated--beginning with the letter "A"

such as appealingly, angrily, etc. The second soldier's name begins with "B"--blindly, bashfully, boisterously. The third soldier's name begins with "C"--cautiously, carelessly, curiously, and so on through the alphabet until all are named.

Then the captain of company A announces, "Was.h.i.+ngton is crossing the Delaware." The captain of the opposite company "B" replies, "How?" The first captain responds "A" whereupon the soldier of his company whose name begins with "A" walks across the s.p.a.ce and back "awkwardly,"

"angrily" or acting whatever name has been given to him (or her.) The opposite side try to guess the name from the actions or manner of the soldier. If the soldier crosses to the opposite side and back before his name is guessed he remains with his own company, but if the soldiers of the opposite side guess his name before he reaches camp he must join their ranks.

Then the captain of company B announces, "Was.h.i.+ngton is crossing the Delaware." Captain of company A asks, "How?" Captain of company B responds "A" and his soldier "A" crosses over "anxiously," "actively"

or whatever the name may be. If he succeeds in reaching camp before his name is guessed he remains there but joins the opposite company if they guess his name before he reaches camp.

Now it is company A's turn to send soldier "B" across with the same preliminaries as before. Then company B sends soldier "B" across the Delaware. Then Company A sends soldier "C" followed by soldier "C" of company B and so on, a soldier from each company alternately until all have had a chance to cross.

The company having the most soldiers is victorious, as they have either crossed successfully or been captured. They may be rewarded by some appropriate trifle such as a tiny flag or paper hatchet, or some of the small bra.s.s or metal stick pins representing s.h.i.+elds, flags, eagles, colonial hats, rosettes, muskets, drums, etc., etc.

=APRIL FOOL'S DAY=

April first would be an occasion for a fancy dress party en masque.

Invitations may be written on a large sheet of paper and folded or rolled into a small parcel and tied up in wrapping paper like a package.

Decorate the rooms with paper or artificial flowers and plants. April Fool the guests when time for them to arrive by having the lights as low as possible. The maid or person admitting the guests informs them the hostess is "not at home," but immediately adds "please come in and wait," and they are then directed to lighted rooms where they may remove their wraps.

An invitation to a "Folly Party" may be adorned with a picture of a fools cap and bells or a Jester. One form reads thus:--

On ye night of April first at stroke of eight Ye Fooles and Jesters will congregate At ---- St; Prithee come, likewise Bedecked in frivolous garb, Thy face disguise So unquestioned you may see "What fools these mortals be."

If there is any question as to which member or members of the family is giving the party, enclose a visiting card or write the name of the host or hostess on the reverse side of invitation or back of envelope.

One may choose from the following menu, foolish food for refreshment.

Turtle Soup--au natural (Soup plates or bouillon cups of water with tiny toy turtle in each one)

Radishes (Toy or paper red dishes)

Piccalilli (A dish of artificial or natural lilies to pick from)

Blue Points (Short pointed ends of blue crayon or lead pencils)

Crackers (Tiny fire crackers)

FISH

Baked Sole (An old sole of a shoe)

Fried Perch (A wooden perch--the kind used in bird cages)

ROAST

Spring Lamb (A toy lamb in place of a jack-in-the-box)

Wild Duck (Throw at the guests a large handful of small rubber or paper b.a.l.l.s attached to rubber strings, so they will return and hit no one--the guests will "duck" to escape being hit.)

ENTREES

Rabbit en ca.s.serole (Hair (hare) in covered dish)

DESSERT

Strawberry Ice (Strawberry buried in ice)

Cake--Devil's Food (Sulphur matches)

Black Coffee (Have the colored man step in and cough)

Mixed Nuts (Iron nuts such as used on bolts and machinery)

Raisins (Yeast cakes)

The hostess should have a bell at her place and ring it before each course, when the butler (or a gentleman who will act as butler for the occasion) will repeat in a loud voice the order of the hostess which, of course, will be simply the name of the food about to be served. Or have at each plate a small card with the menu written on it.

For a centerpiece a dish of artificial fruit or a vase of daffodils (daffy-dills) may be used, placed on a cloth centerpiece, circular and cut in points, a bell on each point. Two colors should be used for the points.

A few dishes of April Fool bon bons may be distributed on the table.

After this foolish feast is ended genuine refreshments should be served.

One might reverse the order of serving; begin with the dessert and end with what should have been first.

Many viands may be served "in disguise" and yet be very palatable. For instance creamed chicken, sweet breads, etc., may be encased in mashed potato or boiled rice.

Line tin moulds with the potato or rice, fill the center with the creamed fowl, sweet breads or oysters and heat in pan of hot water. When inverted on serving plate there will be, apparently, a mound of potatoes or rice.

Large baked potato skins may be used to enclose the meat, also grape fruit or orange rinds cut in half and contents removed, then filled with the hot chicken, etc., and the other half replaced, or cover the top with a lettuce leaf or sprigs of water cress or parsley.

Lift one section of a banana skin, remove fruit, fill with any desired salad and replace section of skin. Use a toothpick to keep in place if necessary.

Olives may be served, each covered with the half of an English walnut sh.e.l.l. A corn husk may hold a sandwich, etc., etc.