at each
table. The elder guests should be seated at the first. Sometimes small
tables are scattered about the rooms to accommodate those who cannot
find place at the large table, thus all are served at once.

Where neither card-playing nor dancing are indulged in, it becomes
necessary to find some other amusement. Impromptu charades are sure to
break the ice. A shadow party also, where any amount of sport can be
had with a darkened room and a tightly stretched sheet illuminated
from the rear, whereon shadows can be cast for guessing. There are
also a great many interesting games of which enough can be furnished
for an entire company.

Authors' Parties

Are also amusing entertainments, but they must be arranged for
beforehand. It is usual to take the works of one author and give out
the characters to be represented to each one, that repetitions may be
prevented. Then the guessing that will follow when the company are all
together, and the conversation that naturally ensues on literary
subjects, ensures the success of the party.

Firelight Parties

Are pleasurable affairs. There is no light furnished except by an open
fire. The guests sit around in a circle and tell stories. Each one is
provided with a bunch of twigs, or fagot to be thrown on the fire, the
guest being expected to sing a song, tell a story, give a recitation,
or otherwise amuse the company while his fagot burns.

Conversaziones.

These gatherings, as the name signifies, are devoted entirely to
conversation, and are supposed to be chiefly gatherings of literary
and scientific people. Where one especially fine conversationalist is
the star of the evening, one or two lesser lights should be invited to
share with him the honors of the occasion.

A Country Dinner.

A summer dinner in the country has many pleasant features peculiar to
itself. Chief among these is its lack of formality, and city guests
are always pleasurably entertained at the country dinner table. A good
cook and a competent waitress are necessities.

The flowers that ornament the table must partake of the field and
forest rather than suggest the city hothouse. Slender, light, glass
vases and rose-bowls are best for the light grasses, field flowers and
garden blossoms. Pretty, modern, inexpensive china is sufficient for a
country dinner, and not too much silverware should be used.

Light, clear soups should form the first course (mock turtle or
ox-tail soup is not in order