r, ready to settle disputed points and find missing stage
"properties." An effort should be made to assign, as nearly as
possible, acceptable and suitable parts to all.

Those invited should display willingness to take parts assigned them,
even if not the most important in the cast. All cannot be Romeos or
Juliets. There are minor parts to play on all stages. Learn the part
given you thoroughly, and do your best to make the play a success. If
sickness or unavoidable accident intervene, inform the hostess at once
that she may be able to supply a substitute for the part.

Guests indulge in conversation between the acts, and the music of an
orchestra often fills the pause.

A carpenter is usually called in to build the temporary stage, or a
curtain is fitted to rise and fall in the archway between two parlors;
the first parlor being used for the audience room and the second one
for stage, with dressing-room in the rear. A private billiard-room,
also, can be used to good advantage. At the conclusion of the play,
supper is served, and social conversation and dancing follow.

A Social Evening.

There are many ways of making pleasant entertainments out of these
informal gatherings. Such an evening may last from nine to twelve
o'clock. Where impromptu dancing is resorted to, as it so often is,
another hour is sometimes added. If dancing be excluded, games, music,
cards, or recitations should take its place. If neither card-playing,
nor dancing is permitted, the supper usually becomes the feature of
the evening.

When friends are invited to pass an evening socially with cards and
music, refreshments are always served. They can be placed upon the
dining-room table, and the company invited to partake of them. They
should consist of sandwiches or cold meats and rolls, and cakes and
coffee or chocolate, or only cakes, ices and lemonade can be served.
The best dishes the china closet affords should be used.

Or, the supper can be made an elaborate "sit-down" banquet. If the
long table is not sufficient for all, the guests can be served in
relays. The table should be prettily decorated. There are different
forms of home parties, such as birthday celebrations, where gifts and
toasts are in order, house-warmings, or a church party.

When the supper is served in relays the hostess had better wait until
the last table, and circulate about among those guests who have not
yet been served. Some appointed lady can serve as hostess