Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/358

 CHILnREN 336 A ^^DRESSSMG-UF'^ TEA^^^ PARTY Children Delight in Dressing'up— A Fancy'dress Tea'party^ with a Prize for the Best Costume — An Ideal Frolic — Some Simple Suggestions for Dresses (Children love nothing better ^ than to be allowed to fancy-dress tea-party is an ideal should be asked to arrive early, in order to allow time to think out good characters to portray, and to prepare themselves before tea. The contents of the piece- box, rag-bag, and toy-cup- board should be put at the masqueraders' disposal, and definite directions given as to what may and may not be borrowed to carry out some sudden brilliant idea for a novel fancy-dress ! A few old muslin curtains and narrow cotton sheets always prove invaluable, and paste, gum, safety-pins, a pair of big cutting-out scissors, some sheets of gold and silver paper, and a few penny rolls of both plain S^SSl in it with a touch of paste, and the whole head-gear be put on together. A few picture books, a big ball, a frolic for a winter afternoon. Hall a dozen little guests will make a large enough addition to the home nursery or schoolroom party. They and crinkled coloured tissue paper should be put in readiness on the nursery or schoolroom table. Santa Glaus is easily impersonated with the aid of a red flannel dressing-gown, and a beard, and long flowing locks made of white wadding. If he wears a red paper cap, his hair can be fastened A pirate king. The red sash is indispensable wooden horse from the toy cupboard, and a long black stocking stuffed with all sorts of odds and ends com- plete the disguise. A Witch must have a high pointed cap, and this is easily made from a sheet of shiny black paper and a little paste. A big cambric pocket-handkerchief with the ends folded in, put on under the cap, makes a white snood, and a small shawl is folded crosswise and pinned in crossover fashion over her bodice. A garden broom as a horse completes a most hag-like figure. If a black velvet cat is amongst the nursery posses- sions, it can be pinned on one shoulder, or if the household cat happens to be black and friendly, he can be carried in to tea. To make a schoolboy into a fine Scarecrow all that is required is a man's coat and breeches, a straw bottle-cover or two, a long walking stick, and a very
 * dress up," and an impromptu