THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART XI. 691 



strangers want." What do you yourself want when you are away from 

 home among strangers? Is it not the warmth of the fireside and the sight 

 of people who take an interest in you? And had you rather not dine with 

 an old friend on simple cold mutton offered with a warm heart than to 

 go to a splendid ceremonious dinner party where people have no real 

 sympathy for you? Well, set it down in your book that other people are 

 like you and that the art of entertaining is really the art of caring for 

 people. If you have a warm heart, congenial tastes and a real interest 

 in your acquaintances don't hesitate to invite them even though you have 

 no fine dinner set and the plates you have are sadly chipped at the edges. 

 Remember, you can give love, good will and sympathy, in which there is 

 more real enjoyment than in Haviland china and sterling silver. 



An error to be avoided is preparing such a superabundance of eatables 

 for guests that we are so exhausted we cannot display our social qualities, 

 besides endangering the digestion of our company. However, don't go to 

 the other extreme of serving merely cut blass and silverware. There 

 is a medium course to follow. Don't attempt to prepare anything for 

 which you have never tried the recipe but have everything well cooked 

 and well seasoned. 



So many suggestions are given in the papers for parties and recep- 

 tions that it seems hardly worth while for me to give any, though perhaps 

 I should. Have a few simple games in which everyone may take part. 

 Memory tests are an incentive for us to be more studious. One is to ar- 

 range articles to suggest the titles of books. Thus tooth-picks, small pieces 

 of paper and a lampwick suggest "Pickwick Papers." A picture of a soldier 

 placed beneath a couple of small flags suggests "Under Two Flags." 



The conundrum idea never grows stale. At one reception I attended 

 the guests were required to give each a conundrum before being served 

 with refreshments. At another a prize was given to the one giving the 

 best newspaper joke. 



As to refreshments, there is generally plenty of milk and eggs on the 

 farm and there is nothing nicer than ice cream and cake either winter 

 or summer. Peach or pineable sherbet is nice for a change. Just cake 

 and coffee is very suitable and easily prepared. If something more elab- 

 orate is desired a little chicken salad with a sprig of parsley may be served 

 first, or bread and butter sandwiches cut into fancy shapes. 



Children should be entertained in a room where all the bric-a-brac 

 has been removed. Then they will not be under restraint for fear of 

 breaking something and can have a jolly good time playing "Color," "Fruit 

 Basket" or "Magic Music." If any of the family are musicians they can 

 be of great help at a children's party. The refreshments should be very 

 simple and easily prepared. Animal crackers are just the thing to pass 

 around first. Square soda crackers with nut icing or two with butter and 

 jam between are very nice served with iced milk to drink. And don't for- 

 get that children always enjoy apples, even if they have plenty at home. 



The average young lady on the farm has been drilled in the culinary 

 art and she not only helps her mother in the ordinary cooking but is chief 

 cook when her mother has company. When the guests are the daughter's 



