Page:How and Why Library 525.jpg

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SOCIAL LIFE FOR CHILDREN
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rich indigestibles. Cocoa and chicken sandwiches, plain ice-cream and a simple cake are sufficient. Souvenirs of a party are treasured by children, even the decorated paper napkins, a place card and a flower.

An older person should oversee the games and quell disturbers, for alas, all the little guests will not be well-behaved, and see that shy children are not neglected. The old, old games, such as puss-in-the-corner, drop-the-handkerchief, blind-man's bluff, forfeits, charades Supervision By an Older Person and pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey, are always popular. Kissing games are no longer permitted, as promiscuous kissing by young or old children is in bad taste, and epidemics are started that way. There may be fish-pond, a grab-bag or a May-pole. If papa's purse is long enough, a story-lady may be engaged for an hour, a sleight-of-hand-man, a man to show lantern slides, or a lady who plays the banjo and sings funny darkey songs. Such a party is nothing less than a fairy story come true to a child. It is vividly remembered, and the laws of hospitality involved are impressed upon the mind.


Courtesy is a science of the highest importance. It is like grace and beauty in the body, which charm at first sight, and lead on to further intimacy and friendship.
Montaigne.