For the
balloon race several strings are stretched from one side of the room
to the other, and the same number of toy balloons is supplied. The
object is for the contestants to blow their respective balloons across
the room, following as nearly as possible the courses of string. The
choice of different colored balloons makes for interest and consequent
"rooting."

The arrival of the air mail is heralded by the entrance of someone
dressed in aviator's garments--warm helmet, goggles, gloves and
all--carrying a mail sack (if real, a new one: but an imitation one
suffices).

The aviator then proceeds to take out numerous packets which he hands
to the guests as far as they go. There should be at least half as many
packages as persons present. Each bundle is marked

"_Owner unknown.
Find another to share this_."

The explanation is that each recipient of a parcel must immediately
seek a partner and, upon doing so, open the parcel. Enough sandwiches
for two are revealed. Meanwhile, hot coffee or chocolate is being
passed by pretty waitresses with Japanese fans stuck in their hair
airplane-wise.

The evening may end with a "musical flight," or, in other words, a
rousing "sing."

A MOCK CANTEEN

For one boy who wanted to entertain a few of the fellows who had been
in camp with him, his hospitable sister planned a jolly supper party
which undoubtedly owed its success to its "homeiness." Certainly its
friendly informality accomplished much more than any large outlay in
money could have done. There were to be half a dozen boys, so five
other girls were invited to make an equal number of girls and men.

To begin with, the hostess passed around to the girls slips of paper
and duplicate slips to the men.

Each slip contained the name of some article of food for supper and
the man and girl who drew duplicate slips were thus delegated to
prepare that particular dish together.

When all had matched up partners they repaired to the kitchen, a big
old-fashioned room with plenty of space for all of them. The hostess
and her partner did no cooking, but announced that they would manage
this cafeteria.

While all the others were in the kitchen, they arranged on a side
table in the dining-room stacks of tin trays, knives, forks, spoons,
and paper napkins. Over it they posted a bulletin board in good
imitation of a real cafeteria. There were listed on it the five dishes
which were being prepared and as a joke a numbe