ed with feathers from the duster. Or she can
dress as "Folly" with pointed black velvet bodice, white blouse, red and
yellow striped skirts, pointed cap and wear a small black masque
covering the upper part of the face, and carry a stick wound with red
and yellow ribbon with tiny bells fastened by ribbons. If you care to
take the trouble and the expense (though it need not be very great), you
can construct a maze or labyrinth by which the guests approach your
door. Make this of frames of wood covered with sheeting, newspapers or
heavy cartridge paper, and make as many turns in it as you choose. When
the front door is reached have it fly back and display the sign: "April
Fool. Try the back door." If you have a side entrance you can have a
similar sign and prolong the agony. Have a dummy hostess at the back
door and direct the guests to one or two wrong rooms before they reach
the right dressing room.
Have a masked person standing at the door of the parlor as hostess. When
the guest starts to shake hands, display the sign "April Fool, I am not
the hostess." Have two or three hostesses before the right one is
reached.
Have the room full of surprises in the way of decorations, cabbage heads
and vegetables for bouquets, tin lanterns for lights, a den for stuffed
animals and similar fakes.
No talking of any kind will be permitted for the first hour, though two
or three notebooks and pencils can be displayed for those who feel they
must express their thoughts. The examination of the "fool" costumes will
take place in deaf and dumb show. Give a bunch of onions tied with green
calico for the worst costume.
Ring a big dinner bell at six o'clock and arrange one or two childish
games to be played to fill in the time before tea or ask the guests to
represent some noted character in pantomime, the others to guess which
character is portrayed.
For the tea pass cards numbered from one to ten and have the guests call
for their supper by indicating four numbers--1, fork; 2, sandwich; 3,
plate; 4, pickle; 5, napkin; 6, glass of water; 7, cup of coffee; 8,
cake; 9, spoon; 10, ice cream.
For instance, a guest writing on his card 1, 3, 5, 6, would receive a
fork, plate, napkin and glass of water for his supper. Have several
waiters and put names on the lists so that all the articles may be
brought in at once. After waiting until those who get articles of food
try to eat them, for of course, the sandwiches, cake, pickles and ice
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