WHAT SHALL WE DO?

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20703, 29 April 1929, Page 11

WHAT SHALL WE DO?

The season of parties is upon us, and delightful as they may be when we are guests at other people’s, it is an anxious time for hostesses. It is so difficult to think of something new, and, even if you do it docs not always work out satisfactorily, for the surprise and impromptu party is often more exciting and more readily appreciated than the well-planned and catcfully-thought-out affair. • Indeed, I think it is safe to say that the' hostess should avoid anything in the way of wholesale organisation. If she organises thoroughly the refreshment side. she can safely leave much of the entertainment in the hands of her guests. How much will depend, of course, on the guests themselves. . A few plans may be made and a few ideas kept in the background in case of necessity, but the hostess should not be hurt if there seems no opening for the game she has, perhaps, so carefully prepared. For if there is no opening it usually means that her guests are too busy enjoying themselves. The childish delight in dressing up obtains in grown-ups as well as in children, and most people like games which involve dressing up. A fancy dress party pure and simple is difficult, however, and it is wise not to impose this restriction on your guests. Let them dress up when they arrive or some time during the evening if you have accommodation and facilities, but do not say they must come in fancy dress. A good game which involves dressing up is one recently born and christened: Nationalities. Prepare a slip of paper for all your guests by writing on three of each the name of some nationality— Italian, Russian, Spanish, Chinese, anything that enters your head. There must bo three of each, remember. Then mix them up well and hand one to each of your guests as they, arrive. Later in the evening when they have forgotten all about it—and probably lost their slip!—they must be called upon to find their fellow-countrymen. Having found them, each trio in turn must give an impromptu rendering of some charade. This game, like all other forms of charades, needs a few people with comic and dramatic sense. At a children's party the little slips of paper may be marked with numbers and the children told to hunt for presents with identical numbers. A treasure hunt need not be an expensive matter. Very, often small presents work out at little more than an expensive box of crackers. Team games, if possible, are generally popular, especially if the captain of the side has a turn for eloquence; and here the old-fashioned games of “ Rings’” and “Darts” and similar games come into their own again. If possible, dancers should always be provided for, although dancing docs not seem so popular at parties as it was once. But the gramophone played softly or the wireless turned on in another room always forms a happy background and adds to the sound of revelry. A word of warning, however: Remember any difficult neighbours and don't lot the revel run riot!—Answers,