Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 156, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 June 1912 — "Sarp and Sane" Frolics for the Fourth [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

"Sarp and Sane" Frolics for the Fourth

MARY DAWSON

Avt HE moat excitement lovIng youngster will nev- ■ er miss the noisy and 'fl dangerous explosives Z<dßk. (which this year be- / v 7” A come a thing of the J past in thousands of homes owing to newly 2/ awakened convictions on the part of parents)

if the proper substitutes are planned Cor them instead. One excellent substitute for the dangerous sports of former years is a which may begin early in the forenoon and continue until sundown /without having so much as a moment hang heavily. • . To impress the national character of the day once again on the minds of young America, the patriotic suggestion could commence with the notes of invitation. . ' - . / .2 Let these be cut from cardboard or heavy paper in the shape of a flag or of a map of the thirteen original states and on them write the invitation, written in a general way like the one given below: \ “You are cordially Invited to attend Uncle Sam’s house party, to occur at the Willows, 529 West street, July the WSh, ftom 10:30 fc 8 p. m. R. S. V. P.” - .-/<;/ J/ Children love search games and when all the little folk expected are on the scene a flag search could lead off the fun. For it inexpensive flags of all kinds are hidden around the porch, shrubbery and lawn. Most of these will be the tiny stars and stripes which sell at a cent apiece or less, but a certain number of wee flags of other nations should be included. The search begins on a signal given by a tin horn and lasts fifteen minutes. The greatest number of flags found by any one person counts game, each ensign For the second good time, a version

of a favorite old game, the flags are retained that were discovered In the preceding sport, each youngster holding if possible one of a different nation. The hostess’ mother or some other grown person then tells a story in which all the different countries are mentioned, without any geographical sequence, however, and as the nation is mentioned whose flag he or she holds the child rises and waves the ensign In question. When “All the World” Is brought in, all rise and a merry scramble for new seats ensues. Between romps a patriotic recitation or national song In which all Join would make an agreeable change. Another flag game, different from those described but equally amusing, is also well worth jotting in the entertainer's notebook for future reference. For It American flags of a rather larger size are % stuck upright In the turf so as to form the words July Fourth, or for a longer line, The Fourth of July- Blindfold each player, take him a short distance away, turn him around twice and then send him to collect as many of the flags as possible. Many, completely confused, will Tgatk away from the goal and even those who succeed in reaching the flag line will cut an amusing figure groping about for trophies. For each flag overthrown or stepped on counts one point off, or a forfeit may be paid for It according to the regulation previously agreed upon. A silk flag would make an attractive prize gift. Young children always enjoy some version of the donkey game, the idea of which is easier for the little minds to grasp than others of more complicated order. A diverting variation for a patriotic occasion is one where Uncle Sam is drawn on a sheet and the fun lies in endeavoring to pin on his beardless chin the familiar goatee. The latter, by the way, can be fashioned from raveled manllla rope. The child who comes nearest to the correct spot might receive a bonbonniere representing Uncle Sam, filled with goodies. Children of any age would enjoy the game of Ring Toss rendered appropriate to the day by having the stand decorated with tri color ribbon or tape, and the rings covered with the same, wound over and under. A candy torpedo hunt, too, is fascinating. For this the requirements are a quantity of small bonbons or caramels and several sheets of red, white and blue tissue paper. The latter are cut into tiny squares, of the size of eld-fashioned caramel papers. In these the little candies are Individually wrapped, each paper wrapper having a value-according to its color. The candy torpedoes are hidden here, thereand everywhere through the grass, around the porch, and under bushes, some are even poised in among the green leaves. When the bell rings all

the children begin a search for the torpedoes, which lasts twenty minutes’ Each white candy found counts one point, each red wrapper, two points, And each blue three points, the youngster whose score is highest winning the game. In the way of good things to eat have sandwiches of different wholesome kinds wrapped in squares of tricolor tissue paper. Have the oldfashioned red and white candy sticks tied in pretty “hay stacks" with blue ribbon, towards the four comers of the table. Ice cream in red, white and blue combination is pretty, but most confectioners are now prepared to serve it In the form of flags or of stars for small extra charge. Jelly roll on a blue china plate also presents the proper color combination. Salads, croquettes, etc., may be served in the conventional way. In the way of souvenirs, which may be buried in the patriotic pie, as above described, have chocolate firecrackers, flag pins, tissue paper liberty bells, star-shaped pincushions, flag blotters and so forth.

In proceeding to the table let the children form in line for—a grand march to the inspiring melody of Yankee Doodle or the Star Spangled Banner.

A soap bubble tournament is always fun and if the little white “dudeens" are decorated with red, white and blue streamers, and the prizes are Fourth of July novelties, such as the stores carry at this season of the year, the contest will take on quite a festive air. Give a prize for the bubble that floats furthest (a line must be indicated across the room for this competition), another trifle for the fairy ships which show most beautiful colors, one for the largest bubble and yet another lor that which lives the longest of all. Boap bubble outfits, which are inexpensive toys, would make splendid prizes.

Some time In advance of the frolics secure a large flower pot, or failing this, a tin pail, and fill with sand. In the latter place a flag upright To play the game planned each child in turn takes a tin spoon and removes a spoonful of the sand, taking care not to overthrow the flag in doing so. The person who finally causes the ensign to fall must pay a forfeit Or this simple but most hilarious blackboard game might be introduced if the necessary schoolroom adjunct can be secured and transplanted to the lawn. For it each player is blindfolded and conducted to the board and is asked to draw Old Glory. The flag adjudged best in all the blindfold art wins a box of candy with a flag displayed on the cover. The feast that marks the occasion whether offered at midday as a lunch, or later on as a supper, should be full of patriotic suggestion. For the centerpiece have a toy drum with the head removed and the inside filled with red, white and blue tissue paper shaved to fine strips. In this are buried little patriotic gifts, the ribbon attached to them hanging over the sides of the drum and the whole forming an effective and nnusual horner pie. This may be placed upon

a silk flag. stretched taut Get little Continental hats of cardboard to hold the hors d’oeuvre. Towards one end of the board have a cake made to suggest a fort, from which float a number of tiny flags, and at the opposite end red and white flowers In a blue bowl or the like.

For place cards the names of the children can be written on penny flags. Or If a little trouble Is not objected to, cut them out of heavy art paper in the form of “Minute Men,” for use either without any color as silhouettes, or to be tinted. If there is talent In the household.

For beach parties and. picnics many of the garden frolics are available, with others specially designed for playing on the sand. The seashore Klondike, where gifts wrapped in tiny bundles are burled in the sand, guests digging for them as prizes, is familiar, but always good and exciting. This requires a special inclosure which is easily arranged by means of four posts and a rope or tape to mark the boundaries. Newer and equally good fun is a clam digging contest. Here clam shells, washed and matched In pair& are glued together to Inclosed gifts wrapped in tissue paper. Or “fortunes” can be substituted in case for any reason gifts are not desired. These are burled in the sand. When the signal for beginning the game is given all commence to dig simultaneously. The picnickers are armed with band shovels for the purpose and each retains the first gift or fortune or other treasure that is captured. In the case of written fortunes, have these either in prose or rhyme, and purporting to come from Father Neptune or the Mermaids. Nowhere is the game of ringing the cane more quickly arranged than on the beach. To adjust from four to six walking sticks or dowel rods in the sand is the work of a moment The rings can be rope ends, spliced together to form them, or embroidery hoops or circles of wire will do. Another game on the same general order is where each cane is surmounted with a rag doll’s head, representing Aunt Hanna, Sambo or Topsy, according to the fancy of the designer and players endeavor to hit the canes (which are very lightly embedded) with a rubber ball. Each cane dislodged counts one point lor the person hitting It They are readjusted over and over until a game of the desired length has been played.