Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 February 1909 — SOAP BUBBLE PARTIIES. [ARTICLE]

SOAP BUBBLE PARTIIES.

Lay in a supply of new clay plpoa and be liberal In your estimate, for accidents are common. There are regular bubble blowers, If you prefer, but the pipes are cheaper and last as good. Before handling these -to the guests tie half of the pipes, with red ribbons and the other half with blue or gfCen. Have ready also a generous quantity of soap bubble water, made in this way:— Castile soap cut in nne shavings and placed in a clean bottle with 40 parts rain, or distilled water. Let Btand for a day, shaking frequently. •When the soap is efiti/ely dissolved, filter through flannel, then mix In a bottle, shaking violently and persistently and adding, a little at a time, two parts glycerine to three parts of the soap solution. Cover and let stand several days. After one or two days a white precipitate will rise to the top of the liquid, leaving the rest clear. Prom this draw off the clear portion with a syphon or pour off carefully and bottle ready for use. This mixture is called ‘ ‘glycerine liquid,” and bubbles made from it are so strong and durable that they may he blown to extraordinary size and will last for hours. When ready for the party put little bhwls of the liquid at regular Intervals about the dining table, which should be extended its full length; or Bhould you wish to make the game progressive, have small tables arranged in a circle. Pretty paper caps of scarlet for the boys and blue for the girls may he provided for the contestants if desired, and two -couples sent to each table. Among she contests which may he planned for the different tables (an umpire being appointed to Judge) are:—The most beautiful bubble, the largest bubble at one breath, the bubble that lasts longest, etc. If partners play In these competitions a prize can be given for the finest hubbies made by the two pipes forming the same bubbles.

This game makes plenty of fun.. To play it provide each contestant with a Japanese fan or one made from stiff paper, for with these the bubbles are propelled to a goal. At a given signal the bubbles are hlown from a starting point and fanned toward the goal. If a bubble bursts before a player reaches the goal, the player may return to blow a second one. Very similar to this sport is a soap bubble battle, for it consists in dividing the room by a string or screen, organizing the players into parties, the reds and the blues, giving one company places on the right of the line and the others on the left, three feet from the line Itself. Then, all being In readiness, armed with fans to drive the bubbles, the signal Is given and the game begins. The sides blow in turn, the enemy fanning or blowing the bubbles back. The point of the contest is to see on which side of the rope the Grabbles burst, the side that sends over the greatest number of hubbies being the winner. Among the appropriate prizes for the winners of this game are pieces of iridescent glass, glass paper weights, or, indeed, any pretty article of sparkling crystal. Of course, each contestant carries home the pipe with which he or she Has done valiant servica As to ornamentation for the room, jpretty table decorations would be opened milk weed pods, fluffy thistles or clusters of ths wild clematis now bo abundant along country roadsides.