\ u. »^ '^ J 1^ ^aii Hate (flallcgc of ^Agriculture At (dorncU IniUErBttB Jtliara, K. |. ffiihracg The original of tiiis bool< is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924085711418 DEPARTMENT CF RURAL ORGANIZAT'CN N. Y. STATE COLLEGE OF AGriCULTUftE CORNELL UNIVERSITY, ITHACA, N. Y. FAIRS AND FETES DEPARTMENT OF RURAL ORGANIZATION N. Y. STATE COLLEGE OF AGnCULTURE CORNELL UNIVERSITY, ITHACA, N. Y. ROBIN HOOD AXD HIS MERRIE MEN. Frontispiece ■3! f? h >■ aitfiiautijfetee! n )ii^ F7 BY CAROLINE FRENCH BENTON Author of " A Little Cook Book for a Little Girl," " Mor^aret's Saturday Mornings," " Living on a Little." " Easy Entertaining," etc. BOSTON DANA E5TE5 & COMPANY PUBLISHERS Q O m Copyright, 1912, By Dana Estes & CoMPAire. AU rights reserved THE COLONIAL PRESS C. H. 8IM0NDS & CO., BOSTON, V. 8. A. Thanks are due the Editors of the Woman's Home Com- panion for permission to use the articles in book form which first appeared in that Magazine. A LITTLE BOOK OF FAIRS The old-fashioned fair is a thing of the past. It is no longer worth while to put a row of tables around a large bare room, pile some of them with crocheted afghans and sofa pillows, and others with cut flowers or candy, and then ex- pect a crowd to come in and buy. Such a plan may have succeeded with our unsophisticated forebears, but to-day the public wants its medi- cine doubly sugar-coated. If men and women — especially men — are to attend a fair at all, they must be offered some inducement beyond the mere suggestion that by doing so they are aiding a worthy cause with presence and money. One of the things that every woman knows who has engaged in raising money for a hos- pital, a church, an asylum or any other institu- tion which has a treasury perennially depleted, is that nothing is as eff^ectual in bringing in money as some sort of fair or bazaar, provided it is unique and well advertised. To inform the public by means of huge picture posters, well drawn and colored, that on a certain day some- thing quite novel and dehghtful is to happen, and then to leave them guessing as to exactly A BOOK OF FAIRS what that is, is to insure their presence at the appointed time and place; then if they are amused and interested their pocketbooks will open as if by magic ; and presto ! there is the needed money. But to find something new, something divert- ing, and to give it without too much trouble and expense — that is the problem ; and the solution is offered in a modest way in this little book. For convenience these fairs have been ar- ranged according to the seasons of the year, but there is no reason why most of them should not be given as well at one time as another. In addition, a number of ways of raising money in simple ways have been added. For the inexperienced it may be well to add that one cannot have something for nothing. To advertise a fair one must put care and thought into the posters or other advertise- ments; to make a room attractive it is neces- sary to spend money on its decoration. In other words, a committee would do well to in- vest a certain amount in preparing for any bazaar, realizing that it will return with in- terest added to the principal. CONTENTS PART I FAIE8 AND ENTBBTAINMENT8 FOR AUTtTMN PAGE) The Festival of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men 3 The Festival of the Trees 7 A County Fair 14 A School Bazaar 20 The Seven Ages of Woman 21 A Forefathers' Festival 29 A Military Fair 35 Tableaux: The Soldier Boy 40 A Leaf Party . 43 A Ghost Party 44 PART II FAIRS AND ENTERTAINMENTS FOB WINTER The House of Seven Gables Tableaux: The American Girl . A Christmas Bazaar and Pageant The Fair of the Christmas Shops Christmas Pictures The Festival of the Year The Festival of Dolls . A Dickens F6te A Peddler's Fair . 49 55 60 67 73 75 79 86 91 CONTENTS PART III FAXES AND ENTERTAINMENTS FOR SPRING FAOB The Festival of Windmills 101 The Festival of Books 106 A Colonial F6te 110 Tableaux: The Mistletoe Bough . . . .111 An Indoor Garden Party 113 " Her Busy Day " 117 A Fair for Easter-tide 119 PART IV FAIRS AND ENTERTAINMENTS FOR SUMMER A Festival of Travel A Venetian F6te A Poppy and Snowflake Fair A Gipsy Encampment . A Hidden Supper A Strawberry Festival . Market Day Among All Nations 129 133 136 139 142 144 145 PART V LITTLE FAIRS FOR EVERT DAT A Rose Auction A Rose, Cake, and Candy Sale A Queen Anne Party . A Chafing-Dish Supper A Package Auction A Cup and Saucer Sale A Photographic Idea An Evening with Our Favorite Authors 151 152 153 154 156 157 169 159 CONTENTS PAOB A Children's Sale 160 A Penny Party 162 A Favorite Recipe Club 162 A Story Chain 163 Living Pictures 164 Patchwork Quilta 166 A BuSet Luncheon 167 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Robin Hood and His Merrie Men Frontispiece The Lemon-Tree 13 The Bride 25 The Antique Sale 32 The Colonial Girl 57 The House of Jack Frost ... 63 The Book Shop 71 The Chocolate Table .... 104 PART I FAIRS AND ENTERTAINMENTS FOR AUTUMN THE FESTIVAL OF ROBIN HOOD AND HIS MERRIE MEN This fair is to be held in an oak grove, or a park, or on a large lawn. Have some tables put up, not near together, but each one under a tree ; cover the sides with oak boughs, spread the tops with dull green paper or cheese-cloth, and scatter more leaves on that, to give the same effect all over. Or, put tall poles at each corner of the tables and put boughs across and tack leaves down the poles, to make rustic booths. Get an illustrated " Robin Hood " or " Ivan- hoe," and copy the costumes carefully out of that. Use Lincoln-green denim for the men's dress, and brown denim to look like leather, for jerkins, aprons and shoes. Make close-fitting caps with points over the forehead and single long feathers in them. Have Robin Hood, Alan-a-Dale, the Sheriff, the Palmer, Eric o'Lincoln, Friar Tuck dressed as a fat monk, and other such well-known characters. The women should dress in Maid Marian costumes — flowing skirts, close, long sleeves, a cord raising the dress in front, and loose hair. 3 FAIRS AND FETES Greens, russet brown and grays should pre- dominate in the colors. About six men and as many women will be needed at the booths, but there should be at least a dozen more to wander about and relieve those serving, to give the effect of the real For- est of Sherwood and its band. Robin himself should be prominent everywhere, and Friar Tuck with a basket of fish and a pole should walk about and talk in character. There should be a tennis tournament at one side of the grove or lawn, with e small entrance fee for players, and an archery contest, at which Robin Hood should preside; there might be a prize for the best shooting, perhaps a child's bow and arrows. One attraction of the day should be the liquid refreshments. Posters should hang over the various booths where these are sold. One over a small booth bearing either a little barrel or a great earthen crock might read : " Come Try the Genuine Brown October Ale Brewed in the Forest by Robin Hood and His Merrie Men ! " The beverage should be ginger-ale, well iced, served in earthen mugs or steins. At another booth have a similar sign an- nouncing the sale of mead. The mead might be fruit-punch or grape- juice. At the other booths sell only such things as might, by a little stretch of the imagination, 4 FAIRS AND FETES have been used in the forest. At the first have fishing goods — creels, fish-baskets lined with tin, poles, lines and flies, and luncheon-baskets. A fish-pond might be constructed near by, and Friar Tuck could assist the children to pull out packages with a pole and line ; or, if a large tub could be sunk in the ground and filled with water, there could be metal fish floating in it, for the children to catch. Devote one booth to the sale of sporting goods — tennis rackets and balls ; golf sticks and balls ; bows and arrows ; knives of all sorts ; air-rifles; toy guns; boxing-gloves; base-ball bats and balls, and hammocks. A booth presided over by women should offer the goods supposed to be made by them- selves in spare moments — sweaters, knit shoulder-capes, caps, mittens, bedroom shppers, aprons and socks. Another booth may have cakes made by Maid Marian — spice-cakes, cookies, crullers, ginger- bread, and pies. Candy made of nuts and mo- lasses may also be sold here, and all sorts of nuts. But the main feature of the evening should be the supper. Scatter through the grounds many large posters, all painted with oak-leaves and acorns, setting out the menu. The tables may be laid under the trees or under a pergola covered with boughs. The menu would read like this : 5 FAIRS AND FETES Hawnch of Venison (^King's Deer, Killed hy Robin Hood). Manchets of Bread. Mulled Cider. Game Pasty {From Partridges, Trapped in Sherwood Forest). Salmon {Freshly Caught by Friar Tuck). Honey and Cream. Cakes Baked by Maid Marian. The haunch of venison is cold meat served with buttered rolls ; with sweet cider, heated to the boiling-point, with cinnamon and cloves, served steaming in glass cups. The game pasty is chicken pie. This may be made in large pans, and served in portions, or baked in small indi- vidual dishes. The salmon is made into salad with lettuce and mayonnaise. The final course is the new, delicious comb-honey cut in squares and served with a spoonful of whipped cream on each piece, and some simple cake — sponge- cake, perhaps, or newly-made sugar cookies. If possible, hold this festival when there will be a full moon in the evening; that will make the effect of the " forest " much more attractive. If rain spoils the original plan, try to have it in a large barn, and cover the walls as far as may be with oak boughs; prepare the booths with boughs, also, as was arranged for the out-of- door affair. In the evening lanterns may be lit among the rafters. 6 FAIRS AND FETES THE FESTIVAL OF THE TREES Eight trees will be needed for this affair, but living ones need not be cut down for the pur- pose. Some of them may be the small dead trees to be found in orchards, covered with arti- ficial green ; some might be large rubber-plants or oleanders in tubs ; one might be a spruce or other evergreen tree. Stand these about the room at regular intervals and decorate the space between them with autumn foliage. Under the bough of the larger trees put tables, and stand the small trees on corresponding tables. Cover the sides of all with leaves, either natural ones or those cut from crepe paper, pinning them on a cheese-cloth background. Across the back of the room, several feet from the wall, build a grape-arbor. Have the carpenter put up tall poles with supports like those used on Christmas trees, and stand them in pairs, four, five or six of them ; paint them dull green. Across the top stretch heavy cord back and forth, lengthwise and across. Have the space between the supports as wide as the room will allow, the wider the better; if pos- sible, six feet at the very least, and ten or more preferably. On the strings across the top lay any sort of vines obtainable, grapes or Virginia creeper, or make vines by sewing paper leaves 7 FAIRS AND FETES on other strings and put these across ; tack more leaves on the supports, till you make the entire place into a leafy arbor. Last of all, tie bunches of real purple and white grapes under- neath, so they will hang down as though grow- ing from the vines on top. If the room is lighted with electricity it may be possible to have tiny lights concealed among the foliage with charming effect, or bunches of glass grapes, lighted within, might be used here and there. In making paper leaves, use several shades of green, and intersperse these with brown ones and a few of pale silver color like the under side of grape-leaves. With a paper pattern cut from a real grape-leaf it is quite simple to make dozens at one time, using several layers of paper, so that the whole need not be a very serious undertaking. Under this grape-arbor have small tables set, and sell grape-juice punch, grape sherbet, fruit-cake and little tart shells filled with white grapes, covered with stiff sugar- and-water syrup and baked, so that the fruit is glazed. On one table at the end of the arbor have grape jelly, grape conserve and jam to sell, in glasses and little brown pots. On either side of the room arrange the trees, four on a side. On those which are bare of leaves fasten small green paper leaves and little flowers with invisible wire. Prepare posters to 8 FAIRS AND FETES hang above all conspicuously, painting them in green letters with leaves about them, with their names. The first is : THE PAIR - TREE Hang the branches of this with all the small things in pairs which can be found. Scissors tied up with ribbons ; little pink and blue slip- pers for babies ; tiny bottles of perfume, in twos ; salts and peppers ; cups and saucers ; mittens ; baby socks ; bedroom slippers, and small brushes and combs. On the table be- neath the tree sell canned pears, spiced pears and pear consei-ve in glasses. There are also boxes of fancy dried pears, to be had at a good grocery, which are sure to sell well. THE PEACH - TREE Decorate this with real peaches, tying silk cords or embroidery-silk around them so that the skin is just Hghtly cut; this will hold them in place when they are tied to the branches. Cut from colored posters and advertisements pictures of pretty girls ; mount them on stiff paper and hang them on the tree ; tie each one up in pink paper and label it A Perfect Peach. Have a good-sized table under this tree and sell peach ice-cream, peach shortcake, canned, pre- served and spiced peaches and glasses of peach marmalade. FAIRS AND FETES THE PALM - TREE Use the large spruce tree for this ; cat out one or two branches directly in front, making a sort of alcove, and on the branch directly overhead hang a striped Italian or other gay blanket, making a little tent. Under this put a low stool and let a girl dressed as a gipsy sit here telling fortunes by reading palms. It is not necessary to find some one who knows how to do this in any scientific way ; it will be quite as much fun for those present if she makes clever guesses and hits. Charge a small fee for each palm read, either a ten-cent piece or a quarter, since it is necessary to " cross the gipsy's hand with silver." THE OEAN6E - TEEE This is the fourth tree on this side of the room, and, while it needs a good deal of work to make it a success, it well repays the time spent in filling its branches. For it, select articles which are small, of much the same size and worth about twenty-five cents each. Roll each up in cotton first, then in orange crepe paper, and tie it so that it shall be round and the size of an orange. Fasten two or three leaves to each one, and put a small piece of wire bent like an inverted letter T inside the cotton for a stem. 10 FAIRS AND FETES Tie the oranges on the tree, the more the better, and let each person choose one for himself and pick it. Little pincushions go well on this tree, and small round sachets, pin-trays, powder- puffs, purses for change, bunches of safety-pins tied on ribbon, and all fancy articles. The table beneath the orange-tree holds pots of orange marmalade, dishes of candied orange peel, orange-colored bonbons and orange cakes. Orange ice may be served in small cups, and orangeade be ready in glass pitchers. Next this tree comes the grape-arbor at the back of the room; passing that comes the first tree on the opposite wall. THE BANANA - TREE Try to get a large rubber-plant for this, be- cause the foliage looks somewhat tropical. Select from the articles contributed for the sale all the long ones ; roll these in cotton, fasten in a thin, soft wire like the T inverted as before, and when two dozen and more are ready, roll the wires around a slender stick and the result will be a bunch of bananas, which can be fastened to the branches ; have at least two bunches if possible. The prices should vary in this case, however, for variety. Use plenty of pencils and penholders, and mark these only five cents, while such things as hatpin holders or 11 FAIRS AND FETES hatpins with really good heads should be more; tall glass bottles for tooth-brushes and silver covers are excellent for bananas, and so are the flexible tubes of tooth-paste. Real bananas are to be sold under the tree. THE DATE - TKEE Hang a small tree with all sorts of calendars, note-books, pencils, engagement pads, diaries, and everything which can be used to " make a date." Sell stuffed and plain dates in as large variety as possible under the tree, and layer- cake made with a filling of dates. THE SUGAR - PLUM TREE This should be one of the larger trees, as its branches are to be hung full of candy boxes tied up with ribbons. There may be also candy canes hanging here and there and little stock- ings of gauze filled with small hard candies. On the table below may be open dishes of fudge, a pair of scales to weigh it, empty boxes, paper and cord. THE GRAB - APPLE TREE This takes the place of the usual grab-bag, and should be especially attractive to children. 12 THE LEMON - TREE. FAIRS AND FETES Get all sorts of toys, small dolls, whistles, balls and articles to be used in dolls' houses ; tie them all up in red or yellow crepe paper the color of crab-apples, fasten them to the tree with green embroidery-silk and let the children pick off the apples they prefer. One or two branches might be reserved for grown people, and these could have spools of thread, packages of needles, thimbles and other trifles. Crab-apple jelly in glasses and pickled crab-apples might be sold. THE LEMON - TREE This may be the most delightful of all the trees, if well managed. Make lemons of cotton and crepe paper, but have nothing but the cot- ton inside ; around the stems roll narrow slips of paper, each one with a bit of verse or a jingle written on it in the nature of what is popularly known as a " grind." The person in charge of the tree can easily hang a few, so placed that she will recognize them, and these may go to well-known people — the doctor, the minister, and so on, creating any amount of fun as they are read. Under this tree sell lemon bonbons, lemon ice, lemon layer-cake and lemonade. In order to make the room for this bazaar attractive, do not light it too brightly, but use subdued lights. 13 FAIRS AND FETES A COUNTY FAIR A bazaar which will prove both amusing and profitable is a burlesque County Fair. The first step will be to appoint committees; one on place, a second on advertising, a third on decorations, a fourth on the building of booths, a fifth on entertainment ; besides these, the number of the booths must be decided on and a chairman appointed for each, with two or more assistants. Last, severar judges must be invited to assist, preferably prominent men and women in the community. The place selected should be one which is very large and bare, perhaps a hall or a school- house ; in a small village there may be some one's empty bam, which would be just the thing. The committee on decorations will put in the comers of the room stacks of tall corn or sheaves of wheat, with pumpkins and squashes at the base ; the walls may have more corn put up to make them attractive, or goldenrod may be used ; for the evening have some lighted Jack-o'-lanterns here and there ; hang from the ceiling yellow paper Japanese lanterns, and light these at night, with other lights, also, so that the room will not be gloomy. The booths should be long, table-like affairs, made by putting boards across trestles; up- 14 FAIRS AND FETES rights must be nailed to the comers, and narrow strips of wood put across, and these supports all covered with oats and wheat, tacked securely in place. In front, from the table-top to the floor, should be yellow crepe paper or cheese- cloth either tacked or pasted. The saleswomen should wear white gbwns and fancy little sunbonnets. Their goods are to be displayed as attractively as possible, and after the prizes are awarded, which should be done when the fair is at its height and before any goods are permitted to be removed from the booths, those which win must be put conspicu- ously forward, each bearing its blue or red rib- bon. Prize goods, of course, should be sold at a much higher figure than the others of the same kind. A number of boys with little push-carts can go about selling ice-cream sandwiches, pop- corn, pink lemonade, ginger-ale and perhaps hot waffles. There may also be side shows, for these bring in a good deal of money in small sums. In addition, an entrance fee to the hall may be charged. Of course, all the booths should have old- fashioned things to sell, rather than the or- dinary, up-to-date articles usually offered at a fair. Everything should seem deHghtfully sug- gestive of the real county fair. 15 FAIRS AND FETES FANCY WORK Booth I. Decorate the walls about this booth with borrowed patch-work quilts of the rising sun, log cabin and other patterns ; the old woven blue and white spreads should also be in evidence if possible. Have a small sum charged for the privilege of voting for the finest one and give a ribbon prize at the close of the fair to the owner. Sell pincushions, sofa-pillows, crocheted afghans, knitted shawls, shoulder capes, baby blankets, all sorts of fancy bags and pretty sewing-boxes of simple design. RUGS Booth II. This may be a very important booth if it is well managed. To prepare for it, have an all-day sewing meeting of its com- mittee and make carpet rags; send these to a weaver and have made up in rag rugs of all sizes ; some of the new ones are made of all- green rags, white ones dyed that color; others are in shades of blue with white borders ; others still in pinks or reds; the old-fashioned hit-or- miss patterns are also used. These sell for good sums because they are beautiful as well as artis- tic. There might also be some " fluff " rugs, woven out of old ingrain carpets ; braided rugs 16 FAIRS AND FETES for kitchen floors will also sell, and those which are known as " pulled " rugs. rooD Booth III. This is for all kinds of home- maele good things. There should be large, handsome loaves of bread, pans of biscuits and rolls, whole-wheat bread, muffins, gingerbread, doughnuts, pies, small cakes, fruit-cake and all sorts of fancy layer-cake, with ribbon prizes for each variety of food, put on by the judges be- fore anything is sold. Here, too, may be candy, from the old-fashioned molasses sticks to fudge. Salted nuts, stuffed dates and anything else good to eat belongs at this booth. FRUITS AND VEGETABLES Booth IV. This is where the real County Fair may be imitated most successfully. Get the largest pumpkins and squashes, the biggest apples, pears, peaches and plums, and spread them out individually ; have baskets of fruit and nuts, and groups of ears of com ; every- thing, in short, which can possibly come under this head is to be in evidence, and ribbon prizes are to be generously bestowed ; where melons are to be had, they might be sold in slices, and other fruits, such as peaches, served; fruit- 17 FAIRS AND FETES juice and fruit -punch might also have a place on one corner of the table. FLOWERS Booth V. Get some large sunflowers, dah- lias, chrysanthemums and asters, and put indi- vidual specimens in glasses in a row in front; sell also all kinds of cut flowers and small potted plants ; decorate this booth with artificial red poppies, as well as the yellow wheat or oats used. ANIMALS Booth VI. This is, of course, the toy booth for children, but it may be attractive to grown people as well if the large top of the table is divided off into little pens and all the papier- mache animals are put together; little pens of pigs of all sizes and varieties are delight- ful, and so are pens of cows, calves, horses and dogs ; there may even be flocks of sheep and little turkeys, geese and fowls ; all these may be found at a good toy-shop and bought for small sums and sold at an advance. Ribbon prizes, of course, will be given here for the finest ones. CANNED GOODS Booth VII. Here are to be found all pos- sible kinds of preserves, jams, jellies, pickles, 18 FAIRS AND FETES spiced fruits and conserves ; they should be sold as far as possible in dozens and half-dozens, except the finest jars of each sort, which must be auctioned separately after the prizes have been awarded. Side shows are one of the best features of this fair ; portions of the room should be curtained off or small rooms near by used, and great posters must hang out advertising the shows in extravagant terms ; a small admission, five or ten cents, is to be charged for each show. THE CAT - SHOOTING GALLERY This is one excellent money-maker of the kind. Choose a long, narrow space against a wall, and at the end put up part of a fence or boards built to represent one; on top tack lightly half a dozen stuifed cotton cats; have several boys in charge of the show and let them sell tickets at the rate of four shots at the cats for ten cents ; the shots are taken with tennis or other soft balls from a point twenty feet away, and any one who knocks over three cats in succession gets two more shots ; a prize is given of a small china cat to the one who hits six cats ; as hitting even one is rather difficult, the fun is great. 19 FAIRS AND FETES THE SILHOUETTE GALLERY Have a clear strong white light thrown on a sheet; put up sheets of paper, white on one side and black on the other, and let each sitter turn the side face against the light ; trace the outline carefully on the white side of the sheet, take it down and cut it out ; paste lightly on a plain white sheet and there is a perfect likeness. Charge at least twenty-five cents for each pic- ture. In addition to these two side shows have a Snake Charmer in oriental costume, handling long woolen snakes, and a Two-Headed Boy, made by dressing two small boys in one large gown or coat; and, of course, a Fat Woman and other conventional shows. A country supper might be served in the evening for fifty cents or more. A SCHOOL BAZAAR Another little way of raising money in the autumn is to have something for the mothers of the children who are going to school and for the children themselves; this may be held in the church parlors and be called The School 20 FAIRS AND FETES Bazaar. Have a few tables only, and decorate the room all in one variety of flower; nastur- tiums would be quite in season now. Let young girls in high school act as saleswomen, and offer at different booths those things which must be purchased at this time ; these may be donated by different members of the society and sold for a slight advance of their cost at the shops. Slates, pencils, pens, pads, paper, note-books, rulers, book-straps, lunch-boxes and all such things will find a ready sale. Have, also, some pretty little aprons for small children and plenty of hair-ribbons ; marbles, hoops, tops and balls may also be sold. The refreshments are quite the feature of the day, however, and, if desired, this little bazaar might be held in the morning, and they would serve as lunch. Have quantities of sandwiches made, and little cakes, with olives, hard-boiled eggs and ginger-snaps ; do up in- dividual lunches daintily in paraffin paper, and tie them up in boxes and sell these for twenty- five cents each, and provide coffee and tea and lemonade to accompany them, free of charge. THE SEVEN AGES OF WOMAN For this bazaar arrange the booths in a wide semicircle, using three sides of the room. Drape them in the seven colors of the rainbow, using 21 FAIRS AND FETES wide streamers of crepe paper from ceiling to booth and then repeat the color on the booth itself. Or, over each booth put one rainbow, made by opening barrel-hoops and fastening them to the top of the uprights at the front corners of the booths. This gives a charming effect and may be done with little trouble. The paper may be bought in quantity, and after the hoops are in place it is simply drawn smoothly over each one in a rather wide, plain strip. Palms or huge branches of fresh leaves in Autumn colors should be banked in the comers of the room, and the chandeliers wreathed with autumn leaves. The saleswomen will dress to match the color of the booths, or in white with pretty crepe paper sashes drawn diagonally from one shoulder to the waist and smart little bows of crepe paper in their hair. THE BABY Booth I. Some weeks in advance collect as many pictures of babies as possible, from the covers of magazines and advertisements; fasten these all around the booth, either as they are or mounted, to make them more attractive; at the end of the fair these may be sold. In the center of the booth, toward the back, place a bassinet, or large clothes-basket, draped in pink and covered with white muslin, with or 22 FAIRS AND FETES without a top; this should stand on a small bench or box, to bring it to the level of the booth. Sell baby dolls, a large one in a high chair and many others in all sorts of cunning positions ; get a number of very small ones, also, to sell for a few cents each. Have toys which babies love — rattles, tiny crocheted balls, rub- ber animals and all the things suitable for a baby to play with. In addition have everything babies need, such as little gold pins, hair-brushes and combs, powder-puffs, powder, quantities of safety-pins, little caps of different materials, bibs of all kinds, sacques, dresses, baby baskets in pink and blue, little clothes-horses and clothes-trees — these last painted in white enamel and tied with ribbons — little pitchers and bowls, and soaps, and little sachets of violet and orris; wicker hampers draped with blue and pink and white muslin might find a place, and carriage wraps and afghans and little pillows. Sell, also, the things used by a baby's nurse, such as aprons, caps, print dresses, hot-water bags, medicine-glasses and food-warmers. THE CHILD Booth II. The wants of kindergarten chil- dren and children from babyhood up to ten or twelve are to be met in this booth. In 23 FAIRS AND FETES front on the table-top arrange a doll kinder- garten. The dolls should be dressed in cunning four-year-old styles, and are placed, as naturally as possible, around a low table, with little paper mats before them. A tall doll dressed to repre- sent a kindergarten teacher may stand near by. The little table and the dolls' chairs may be had at any toy-shop. A large dolls' house made of boxes, papered inside and outside and carpeted, should also stand in or near the booth, and this should be furnished complete. Orange-boxes make excellent dolls' houses, either one with two compartments alone, or one box placed on an- other, the compartments thus making four good-sized rooms. Sell here hair-ribbons, slates, pads and pen- cils, rulers, beads, toys, balls for boys, neckties and simple candy, especially molasses-sticks, and pop-corn. Make a specialty at this booth of unusual toys which may be bought and laid away for the holiday season. THE SCHOOL GIEL Booth III. Girls of high-school age should wait at this booth, and they can be largely trusted to suggest the things that will sell best to girls of their own set. Supply college pen- nants, handkerchiefs, collars, jabots, hair-rib- bons, narrow ribbon, simple lingerie, shirt- 24 THE BRIDE. FAIRS AND FETES waists, fudge and all sorts of candy, inexpen- sive books, straw suit-cases, bedroom slippers, kimonos and fancy articles for the dressing- table. THE DEBUTANTE Booth rV. The saleswomen here are pretty young women, dressed in fluffy lingerie frocks, with attractively-dressed hair. The scope of salable things for this table is very large, in- cluding everything a young lady needs. Fans, bureau silver, perfumes, small gold pins, hat- pins, bits of embroidery, silver picture-frames, hand mirrors, fancy bags, jabots, lingerie, ma- terials for fancy work, bolts of ribbon, hand- kerchiefs, powder, puffs, cold cream and mani- cure materials. THE BRIDE Booth V. The saleswomen should be all in white, with little tulle veils on the hair, reach- ing to the shoulders. They will sell everything suggestive of wedding presents, with linen spe- cially in evidence ; towels, wash-cloths, napkins, doilies, centerpieces, dresser-scarfs, sideboard- covers, and linen sheets and pillow-cases. Some one who embroiders well can take orders for putting on initials and monograms. Other 25 FAIRS AND FETES salable novelties are pretty glass vases and bowls, little gilt clocks, odd pieces of china, pictures, photograph-frames, bits of lace, bric-a- brac and pretty underwear. A delightful little plan for making money at this booth is to have rich black fruit-cakes, baked in rather small tins, iced prettily, with small white flowers arranged on top of each for decoration. Sell these for fifty cents or more apiece as " wedding cakes " and advertise them as a feature of the fair. Orders for larger cakes should be taken. THE HOTTSEKEEPEK Booth VI. Middle-aged women serve at this booth and sell all utility articles, things for the kitchen, canned fruits, tins of vegetables by the dozen, aprons, caps, bags, soaps, extracts, gro- ceries of all kinds, cakes, pies, doughnuts, crul- lers, jams and jellies, home-made specialties, such as Indian brown bread or fancy rolls, nuts and fruit; rolls of shelf paper, egg- beaters, little tins, glazed brown earthenware, little individual brown dishes for baked cus- tards and any novelties to be found in a large hardware-shop. A good supper should be served at night by those who superintend this booth. 26 FAIRS AND FETES THE GRANDMOTHER Booth VII. The saleswomen should be made up to represent gray-haired, charming elderly women, wearing pretty gray or black gowns, with little shoulder capes and dainty white caps ; they will sell foot-stools, hot-water bags, sofa- cushions, knitted goods, bed-slippers, work- bags, medicine-glasses, knitting and crochet needles and yarns and pretty little lace caps with bows. A charming little entertainment might be arranged for this fair, consisting of a tableau for each age of women represented, with music played or sung while it is shown. I. A slightly darkened stage with a mother rocking her baby to sleep in her arms and softly singing a lullaby would be the first picture. II. The second should be a kindergarten at work, and the children should sing several of their songs about birds and flowers. III. The third picture should be a roomful of chattering school girls, eating fudge, waving pennants, all talking together and finally sing- ing their class song. IV. The fourth should be the debutante re- ceiving at a tea; she and a matron would be at one side of the stage, both prettily dressed and holding flowers, and a procession of women 27 FAIRS AND FETES and girls with hats on and reception gowns would pass in and out, shaking hands impress- ively, apparently offering good wishes and chat- ting together over cups of tea poured at a table at one side. Piano and violin music. V. The fifth picture should be the bride ; she should simply stand, draped in her veil, in the center of the stage while the wedding march is played. VI. The sixth should be the housekeeper; she should sit darning stockings rapidly and dropping them into a huge basket, while a servant dusts, drops bric-a-brac and pushes a carpet-sweeper all about her; children run in and out, laying down books, hunting for hats and occasionally stopping to hug the mother ; finally, after much confusion, the father comes home, takes off his hat and coat, and lays them down on the table or chairs and drops into an easy chair; all hurry to bring his slippers, paper, house coat and anything to make him comfortable. " Home, Sweet Home," played softly. Vn. The last picture is the prettiest of all; on a slightly darkened stage as at first, by a hearth with a light behind piled up wood, sits the grandmother in a rocking-chair, with her knitting in her lap; she looks at the fire in a reverie while old-fashioned melodies are softly played or sung. 28 FAIRS AND FETES A FOREFATHERS' FESTIVAL To carry this out it will be necessary to have a large room, such as a town hall. Along one side of the room build wigwams by fastening three poles together, leaving the ends sticking up well, and around them fastening brown burlap. Boys can be asked to build these, and later on, to occupj- them. In front of these hang up every thing an Indian would be likely to have near his home, tall stalks of corn, strings of dried pumpkin, skins of animals, kettles, per- haps a small dog or two, and of course baskets of all sizes. The boys should not be too large to look well with the wigwams, dressed up in denim, feathers, beads and the like, browned on their faces and hands a trifle, and with a few streaks of paint they will make an imposing ap- pearance. With them should be some squaws, part of them dressed in denim, also, and part with blankets over their heads ; their faces and hands should also be colored, and their hair braided. Several might have doll papooses strapped to their backs, a head-band passing around the forehead holding them in place. The Indians should sell everything made of leather, birch-bark and beads, as well as bas- kets, and anything appropriate in the way of fishing or hunting goods. Leather purses, 29 FAIRS AND FETES bags, belts, picture-frames, table-covers, boxes for cuffs and collars ; bead purses, strings, necklaces; birch-bark canoes, napkin-rings, picture-frames, boxes; Indian baskets made of sweet grass ; work-baskets, small string-baskets, scrap-baskets, market and luncheon baskets. In feathers there might be the head-dresses boys like to wear, feather boas, dusters and turkey- wings for hearths. There should be fishing- rods, reels, hooks and creels, dried fish, such as Finnan haddie in boxes, and nice dried codfish attractively put up, bows and arrows, corn-cob pipes and knives. The squaws must also sell moccasins, supposed to be made by themselves, and papoose dolls, and the larger dolls dressed as Indians which may be bought at any large department-store. For a grab-bag, have two small, cunning children dressed as little Indians sitting on the floor with an immense kettle between them full of wrapped parcels ; any one paying five cents is entitled to put in a large spoon or ladle and get one. These wigwams and the goods about them should completely line the wall on one side of the room. Opposite, on the other side, should be the colonists. The women who are to serve here should be dressed in grays and browns, with kerchiefs, and little caps fitted close to the head. A good picture of the Puritans in New England 30 FAIRS AND FETES should be found and the costumes carefully copied. There should also be a number of men dressed in gray or brown, their clothes like those to be seen in the pictures of John Alden and other men of the time. All of them should wear hats, tall and rather small at the top; some should wear hunting-clothes, and carry guns for the protection of their wives and children in case of an Indian uprising and also because game is probably near at hand. To carry out the latter illusion there might be a few spruce trees near the end of the room or in the corners, and if there is a bronze or terra-cotta deer in town, it might stand among the branches ; some small stuffed animals could be placed in and out among them. The tables where the goods for sale are to be spread should be divided in two groups, and large posters should describe them. One group should be goods supposed to be brought from England in the " Mayflower," and the poster might read: GREAT SALE OF HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS! FURNITURE, CHINA, BRASSES! ALL GOODS GUARANTEED TO BE BROUGHT FROM HOME IN THE GOOD SHIP THE " MAYFLOWER! " 31 FAIRS AND FETES On these tables have brass and copper kettles for tea, candlesticks of brass and glass ; snuffers and trays ; carved wooden bread-trenchers, or round pieces of wood with a carved border ; any quaint glassware of suitable shape ; that variety called colonial is cheap, and most appropriate, and pitchers, finger-bowls and large berry-bowls would sell well. Have also plenty of the mod- em blue china which copies the old ; this and the inexpensive and effective willow-ware can be had in any china-shop, and may be supplemented with any other deep blue ware which is at- tractive. The second group of tables should have for sale the articles supposably made by the settlers' wives. This, too, should have a poster, saying that each article was spun, woven or otherwise made by the colonial women. Here should be home-made rag rugs, blue and white embroidery, hemstitched linen sheets, pil- low-cases and towels ; everything made of crash ; aprons, caps, dust-cloths and iron-holders ; pieced quOts, braided mats and all sorts of knit goods. One table should be full of home-made eat- ables, especially pies, some of chicken, some of mince-meat and others of pumpkin and cran- berry ; fruit-cake should be sold, also, and gin- gerbread, ginger-snaps, sugar cookies and drop cakes. Honey in the comb would also be appro- 32 THE AN'TIQUE SALE FAIRS AND FETES priate, and popped corn, maple sugar, maple syrup in cans, apples, nuts, jams, jellies and preserves. A large table might also have a charming group of dolls. On one end have an ingenious boy build a little log house, using small, evenly- shaped sticks with the bark left on, with open- ings for doors and windows ; pasteboard, painted green, might be made into shutters and a door cut in two parts. Coming in and going out of this house might be dolls in twos and threes, all dressed as Puritans, but not all alike. Some might wear cloaks of gray, some the red cloaks used at the time, some might be in the indoor dress. Some might be small dolls representing children, but dressed exactly like grown people, with long dresses and buckled shoes. Some might be men dolls, part in hunting-dress and part in indoor costume. The Indian dolls in- stead of being sold across the room could all be on this one table, the squaws, braves and papooses mixed with the colonists. The dolls can easily be made to stand in any position on the table if long hatpins with small heads are put through their backs and pressed down firmly into the table-top. But the feature of the evening, the one which will bring in most money, will be the New Eng- land supper. Long tables may be spread, or small ones for 33 FAIRS AND FETES groups of four or six; they should be lighted with candles, and blue and white china used if possible. The waitresses should wear the same colonial dress as those wear who sell the goods at the booths. The menu should consist of the dishes which are said to have been served at the first Thanksgiving dinner, and posters to this effect will interest those present ; large turkeys might be painted on some of these, or settlers with guns, or sketches of the " Mayflower," or Indians. The first course should be clam-chowder, made preferably of fresh clams, but canned ones will do where fresh are not to be had. The next dishes should be turkey, with succotash, baked beans, Indian bread and cranberry-sauce. Fried oysters might also be served, since they were used at the first meal, or oyster-soup could be substituted for the chowder. After this should be the dessert: baked Indian pudding, pumpkin, apple, mince and cranberry pie and sweet cider. Coffee, of course, was unknown at that time in America, but perhaps this might be added to the menu or off^ered in place of the cider. One of the most effective ways of decorating a hall for this affair is to borrow all the old furniture to be had in town and put it here and there between the tables on the Colonists' side of the room. There might be a wooden cradle, perhaps ; if so, label it " Cradle of Peregrine 34 FAIRS AND FETES White ; Warranted Genuine ! " Put rush-bot- tomed, mahogany-framed chairs about, also, labeling them with the names of the supposed owners : " Governor Bradford's Arm-Chair ! " or " John Alden's Desk-Chair ! " and the like. Cord should be tied across to prevent their use, and also to make them look as exhibition chairs do. The walls could have samplers, silhouettes, blue plates, miniatures, warming-pans, and anything which would seem appropriate. They should all be labeled, either as were the chairs, in bur- lesque, or if they have a well-known history, with the real facts. When the sale and supper are both over, some one with a good voice might close the evening by reading the story of John Alden and Pris- cilla, or other parts of Miles Standish. A MILITARY FAIR This unusual and attractive military fair is very adaptable. It may be given on a small scale or enlarged to elaborate proportions; in either case it will be found to be attractive and money-making if only it is well advertised in advance. A large hall is the best place in which to give this fair, and no matter how bare it may be, it 35 FAIRS AND FETES may be made beautiful with flags ; these should be placed in even rows along the ceiling, hang- ing from the rafters, and arranged in groups on the walls. Flags of all nations may be used or the American flag only. At the entrance door a boy in military cos- tume should sell a small flag to each person who comes in, for a few cents, and this should be fastened on the shoulder. Or, if an admission is charged, a flag should be given in return, as a sort of ticket. In the corners of the room should be stacks of muskets with a soldier guarding each. He may wear any appropriate uniform, the quainter the better, from a Revolutionary uni- form to the khaki of to-day. Or, each of our four wars could be represented. For booths, put up long tables and over each, reaching from a rather high point to the floor, pitch a tent ; if real tents can not be rented for the occasion, put up poles over the tables and cover them with unbleached cotton in tent shape. The tables themselves should be covered with flags or with strips of red, white and blue cheese- cloth. Instead of having these booths served by saleswomen, let young men in soldier dress serve, two or three to each tent. If this is impossible, the saleswomen should wear a uniform, consist- ing of a very simple dress with a large blue mili- tary cape and a soldiers' hat. 36 FAIRS AND FETES On two sides of the room arrange four large booths with huge posters over them. THE SUTLER In this tent are f ood-supphes ; canned goods, cakes, fruit, preserves, jellies, groceries, soaps, cereals and any home-made delicacies. THE CANTEEN is the second booth. Here are all the books, papers, magazines, stationery, games, puzzles and other things for the soldiers' leisure-hour; in addition sell candy, in boxes and loose, pop- corn, lemonade and grape-juice, ice-cream and small glasses of ices, and, if it is to be had, have a soda-fountain. QUARTEEMASTER Here is sold practically everything which a man could use and, in addition, everything his family could need in a military post. Anything sold at an ordinary fair finds a place here, from fancy work to useful household articles. THE HOSPITAL is the fourth tent. This one is served by pretty young women in the dress of Red Cross nurses. They sell rolls of bandages, medicine glasses and 37 FAIRS AND FETES droppers, medicine-cases of small empty bottles, spoons and measuring glasses, hot-water bot- tles, trays for the sick, thermometers and ice- bags. There may also be a little tent for the sol- diers' children, managed by small boys in uni- form, and on their table may be dolls, tin sol- diers, little cannon, guns and drums, musical in- struments, soldier-caps and tin swords. If the fair is to be a small one, a supper might be served which would appeal to the popu- lar fancy ; there should be baked beans on tin plates, coffee in tin cups, hard-tack and bacon ; also pies, cakes, cold meats or salad. If the fair is a large one, in addition to the four booths planned already, there may be a fifth at the end of the hall, between these, with the poster SANITARY COMMISSION! During the Civil War great fairs were held in both the North and South, where everything possible was sold, and this may be a large booth copying that plan. The attractiveness of the spot and its success largely depend upon the saleswomen following the dress of the sixties and wearing silks with drooping shoulders and open sleeves, large embroidered collars and 38 FAIRS AND FETES cameo pins. They should wear hoop-skirts, which can always be found put away in attics or old trunks. Their hair should be dressed as old photographs will show it, with smooth bands and single curls. The real military part of the affair should be emphasized. In one room or on a large plat- form behind a curtain there should be arranged an entertainment, to which admission should Lc charged, unless that has been done already at the general entrance door. There should be a program of music and tableaux, or music and readings, following in a general way on the lines suggested, but altering them to suit any especial conditions or parts of the country where one set of songs or readings will prove more appro- priate than another. 1 — Music : By fife and drum corps ; "Yankee Doodle," etc. 2 — Military drill of small boys in costume. 3 — Picture : A group of soldiers sitting around a camp-fire. (Have a brazier of burning charcoal, with sticks so piled around it as to conceal it; put asbestos on the floor under it.) Have them sing two or three war songs : " When Johnny Comes March- ing Home ; " " Maryland, My Maryland," etc. For a background use dark hangings against the wall and several small cedar trees in front ; 39 FAIRS AND FETES keep the stage nearly dark and, of course, darken the room. 4 — Reading : The Blue and the Gray. 5 — Music by a band, military airs. 6 — Picture: Barbara Frietchie. (Make a screen of gray cambric and cut a window in the upper part; paint a door below and draw lines for the boards of the house ; stand the cedar trees closely around. ) Barbara stands on a con- cealed ladder behind, leaning out of the window and waving a flag, while part of the poem is read. 7 — Solo : " Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the Boys are Marching," with a chorus from behind the scenes, or " Dixie." 8 — Music by the band ; military airs. In place of this entertainment, a series of tableaux of a character which will appeal to every one might be arranged. Advertise it un- der the name THE SOLDIER BOY Arrange the stage carefully, with footlights ; cover the wall at the back with dark, full dra- pery, green or black, and have plenty of small trees nailed on crossed boards so they will stand firmly and can be easily moved ; put these about irregularly in those tableaux where they are used at all and spread dead leaves all over the 40 FAIRS AND FETES floor. The stage should be as deep as possible, to give room for a number of persons upon it at a time. Have soft music play during all the pictures and let it be louder in the intervals between the tableaux. THE BIVOUAC A darkened stage and a small fire burning low; soldiers wrapped in blankets lie sleeping under the trees and in groups ; a sentry softly pacing up and doMm. WRITING HOME A soldier sits in the foreground on a log writing on his knee, using a pencil ; in the back- ground soldiers are moving about, passing in and out, talking in pantomime ; a horse or two may be led across the stage ; a general air of confusion and hurry, but everything done with- out words. The stage is lit for this picture. THE PICKET A darkened stage, with trees ; a solitary sol- dier pacing slowly back and forth and listening ; he stops, seems to hear a noise and brings his gun to his shoulder. 41 FAIRS AND FETES THE HOSPITAL A very large tent, the flaps fastened back; rows of cots on either side with men in the beds ; bandaged heads, arms, etc. ; table with medi- cines ; army nurse in costume passing back and forth. Trees arranged at the ends of the plat- form. THE LEISUEE - HOUE Trees scattered irregularly; leaves on the ground. In the background and at the sides of the tableau men sitting in pairs or alone ; one mending his coat, one polishing his gun, one rubbing up a horse's bridle, one writing, a couple playing cards, in front two men playing checkers on a large drum. A cottage (made of gray cambric tacked on frames, window and door open, vines, flowers and trees all about). In the door stands a gray- haired woman in simple gingham dress with apron, looking as though down a road ; pres- ently a soldier appears, lame, ragged, very tired, and as he approaches the door his mother, who has gone in, comes out and catches him in her arms as he falls on the threshold. 42 FAIRS AND FETES A series of historic tableaux, men dressed in costume representing famous soldiers, could be arranged in place of these pictures ; some of these might be Richard Coeur de Lion, in Cru- sader's dress, Cromwell, Frederick the Great, Napoleon, Washington, Grant or Lee, Roose- velt. If there is an army post near by the place where the fair is given, its band might be hired or uniforms borrowed; a veteran post will also be a help in getting up the camp-fires and train- ing the boys' drills or giving the fife and drum music. A bugler should announce every number on the program of the entertainment with the usual flourish. A LEAF PARTY is one of the little ways to make money in October. Decorate the large room where it is to be held with autumn leaves, as lavishly used as possible, and arrange long tables for a supper. Each table should have a wreath of leaves all along the edge above the plates, and a centerpiece of leaves and flowers. At the advance all-day meeting, suggested as help- ful for any entertainment, have the ladies cut from brown crepe paper or paper in soft orange, red and shades of brown, quantities of 43 FAIRS AND FETES leaves, following the outlines of maple and oak leaves, but making them large enough to hide the shape of a plate. In serving the supper lay one of these leaves on each plate and put the portion on that. There might be one hot course, such as creamed oysters, served in the little brown glazed baking-dishes, which cost but a few cents each, and later on in the evening these may be sold in dozens or half dozens at double the regular price. Everything for this supper must, of course, be donated. For an afternoon Leaf Party charge a small admission to some one's house and serve simple refreshments on leaf-covered plates as before, but use the natural leaves instead of imitation ones, if they are to be had ; select those with the brightest colors and wash each one. A GHOST PARTY The young people may give an entertain- ment on the thirty-first of October which will make a good sum of money. For this advertise A Ghost Party and let all who are invited come in sheets and pillow-cases in the good old-fash- ioned way. After being received in silence at the door and given a hand-shake with a wet glove filled with sand, all may talk for a short 44 FAIRS AND FETES time and then unmask. Afterward an entertain- ment of recitations, ghost stories and a few good songs should be given. The supper should follow the usual lines of a Hallowe'en spread, with a chafing-dish of Welsh rarebit and other indigestibles. Charge for admission and supper. 45 PART II FAIRS AND ENTERTAINMENTS FOR WINTER THE HOUSE OF SEVEN GABLES This fair needs two more or less expert aids, one who can sketch fairly well, and the other a carpenter. Select from a book on rural Eng- land a picture of some half-timbered house, such as the Shakespeare House at Stratford on Avon ; draw copies of this in charcoal on rough sheets of brown paper and put them up in con- spicuous places about town. Choose a large room for the fair and put seven tables about it, three on each side and one at the end. Make these by using wooden horses with rough boards laid across them. Each table must have four slender sticks at the corners with string pieces across them from front to back ; from this base will rise a pointed roof, made of brown pasteboard held in place by another strip of wood at the top supported by slanting slats. In front a triangular piece of pasteboard is fitted into the roof, making a gable; this roof should project over the front of the table, giving the effect of an old-fash- ioned English house. On the pasteboard front sketch beams roughly in charcoal and draw a window-casing, suggesting with chalk a white 49 FAIRS AND FETES curtain inside. Just below this window-sill tack a row of artificial greenery and some bright flowers in such a way as to make it look as though a shallow window-box were there; this gives a really charming effect to the whole. THE PARLOE The first house or room to the left as one enters, is to be the Parlor. Behind the table here arrange a parlor, as prettily as possible. Have a sofa filled with silk pillows, some at- tractive chairs, a potted palm and small tables with ornaments or a lamp. Hang a few pic- tures on the wall. Have the saleswomen dress as though for an informal evening party, in pretty pinks and blues, with hair carefully dressed and a general air of elaboration in the whole costume. For sale offer anything suit- able for use in a parlor: Small palms in pretty jardinieres, little clocks, vases, statu- ettes, pictures, gilt and silver picture-frames, pottery bowls in soft greens, growing plants, brocaded pillows, lamps, and candlesticks, and shades for them, and everything in the way of bric-a-brac. THE I-rBRAET The second booth, or gabled room, is the Library. The space behind should be arranged 50 FAIRS AND FETES to give the effect of a quiet, cozy room; have a lighted lamp with a green shade on a table; put up a bookcase with drawn curtains ; have a leather chair or two; light two candles and put them on a shelf, or mantel ; have a writing- table, with paper, pads and calendar. The young women here should have simple house dresses on, and one or two might wear college caps and gowns. For sale have exactly what one would find in a library: Reading- lamps and shades, ink-stands, pens, paper and envelopes, pencils, paper-cutters, magazines of the month, pen-trays, brass candlesticks, seal- ing-wax, leather photograph-frames, pads, dia- ries, calendars, boxes of paper clips and rubber bands. Orders might be taken for anything in stock, rather than to sell out everything at once ; ar- rangements could easily be made to have the supplies furnished by a local stationer, paying him his full price and adding a small commission for the bazaar ; then unsold goods could be re- turned. A few new books such as would be likely to sell, might also be offered. THE BEDROOM The next room is the Bedroom. Have at the back of this a narrow brass or white bed, with a fancy spread and roll or pillows ; hang a few 51 FAIRS AND FETES pictures up ; put a pretty dressing-table at one side and cover its top with dainty silver and picture-frames; have some little pincushions, powder-jars and the like, also. At the opposite side put a chintz sofa if there is room, with some pillows ; or use a good-sized lounging-chair, also covered with chintz if possible. The sales- women here will dress in pretty light ginghams or anything suitable for morning wear. For sale show small down pillows with lace- trimmed covers, hemstitched sheets and pil- low-cases, embroidered towels, bureau-scarfs, lace sets for the dressing-table, cold cream, per- fumes of all sorts, sachets, pincushions, pins of all kinds, pin-trays, hatpin-holders, silver vases, picture-frames, manicure sets, brushes, combs, knit wash-cloths, powder-puffs, scissors, hand- mirrors, match-safes, and glass candlesticks with pink candles and pink shades. THE DINING - ROOM As refreshments must be served in plenty of space, put the next booth in the middle of the wall at the back of the room with a large open place at either side between it and the booths adjoining. Tie cords from the eaves of the gables of the middle booth to the gable nearest on either side, and fasten to this cord some green vines and artificial wistaria or other pend- 52 FAIRS AND FETES ent flowers to break the space and suggest the idea of a rustic porch. On one side of the space left between the booths set small tables, and put tall lamps here and there and potted ferns on high stools or small tables, to make the corner look pretty. Here serve ice-cream, cakes, lemonade and other refreshments. On the opposite side sell candy, cakes, pies and pop-corn at several tables, also lighted especially and made attractive. The booth in the center of this side is the Dining-Room. At the back put up shelves and stand plates on edge upon them. Or, make an impromptu glass-closet. Or, use a narrow table which will not take up much room, putting on it a cloth, china, glass and silver, a fern-dish and candles with shades. Arrange a row of dining-room chairs all along the sides of the room. Have the saleswomen dress either in white pique or else in plain black gowns ; in either case they must wear white aprons with bibs and small lace-trimmed caps. For sale there should be lunch-cloths, nap- kins, carving and tray cloths, table and finger- bowl doilies, souvenir spoons, sets of sugar- bowls and cream-pitchers, cereal-sets, pepper- shakers, individual salts, trays, berry-bowls, cups and saucers, cake-plates, tea-strainers, tea-balls, lemon-dishes, tea-kettles, fern-dishes, candlesticks and shades and breakfast sets. 53 FAIRS AND FETES THE KITCHEN The first booth on the next wall adjoining this is the Kitchen. Have a man in this dressed like a chef, with large white apron enveloping him, and a white paper cap on his head ; for assistants have cooks in dark gingham dresses and checked aprons, with large spoons tied to their waists. For sale here have aprons, caps, dust-cloths, dish-towels, soap, washing-powders, iron- holders, rolls of shelf paper, wooden ware, whisk-brooms, sweeping-caps, enameled ware, and fancy molds. THE STORE - EOOM The next booth is the Store-Room. Here have shelves at the back with paper on them, set out with canned goods ; sell all sorts of cereals, chocolates, baking-powders, dried fruits, pickles, jellies, jams, canned fruits, spices, mince-meat, cakes, candies, pies and popped corn. Saleswomen may be dressed in gingham. THE NURSERY This brings the last booth, the seventh, next the entrance wall opposite the first one, the 54 FAIRS AND FETES parlor ; and this is almost the most attractive of all, the Nursery. The saleswomen are dressed as trained nurses, in blue and white, or all white, with caps and deep cuffs. At the back is a crib with a canopy, and at one side a bath-tub hold- ing a large doll, undressed and sitting upright in it ; this might stand on a low table to bring it in view. Here is sold everything a child would want: Books, kindergarten supplies, dolls, toys of all sorts, small pillows, afghans, hot-water bags, baby dresses, shoes and socks, bibs, caps and so on. To add interest to a bazaar or to use as a special entertainment, have some charming and novel tableaux, called THE AMERICAN GIRL To arrange them, drape the back and sides of the stage in deep red or dark green cambric, hung rather full. In the center front of the stage put up securely a very large frame made of boards, about eight feet long and ten feet high; cover this with gilt paper, tacked smoothly. After it is finished put on the back a covering of thin black tarlatan, tacking this to the frame; last of all, put up the curtain 55 FAIRS AND FETES which runs the whole length of the stage, divi- ding in the middle and drawing back just far enough to let the frame show fully. Have an acetylene light arranged behind the scenes in such a way as to throw a strong beam directly on each picture ; if no lantern is obtainable, use any large carriage or automobile lamp. Pre- pare some sheets of thin transparent paper, of red and pale yellow, tacked on a frame a foot square, and hold one of these before the strong light to soften it on each tableau. Have every one well " made up " with powder and a little rouge, and the eyes slightly blackened. Have two poses for each tableau. The idea of the pictures is to show the de- velopment of the American girl from the earli- est point in our history to the present time. THE INDIAN MAIDEN The first pose shows a rather large, vigorous girl of dark coloring, dressed in Indian costume — short khaki skirt beaded and fringed, loose blouse, fringed sleeves, long dark hair with a red ribbon twisted in its clubbed end, and a straight red feather stuck in the back. She stands with her side to the footlights, leaning forward, her hand shading her eyes as though looking intently ahead. The second pose shows her sitting on the ground before a stolid Indian 56 1 -4f ^K"~ I- V /:^ % i^J^^ ^&^ THE COLONIAL GIRL. FAIRS AND FETES man who is smoking a long pipe, holding up a bowl of food. Use brown grease paint on both faces. Have a wigwam in the background. THE COLONIAL GIRL This is a pretty, fair-haired Priscilla, dressed in Quakerish gray, with a little cap and ker- chief, sitting whirling a spinning-wheel. The second pose shows her reading a large open book on a table while John Alden stands just inside the door. The room is to be very bare and plain with a large simulated fireplace with candles burning on it and a few straight chairs about. THE GIRL OF 1776 Two girls dressed in dainty cretonne, draped in short panniers, with a Watteau plait down the back, hair high and powdered, and one or two little patches on the face ; they stand clasp- ing hands high, one with her back to the audi- ence looking over her shoulder ; the pose copies, of course, the positions of the minuet, and the second pose shows one more graceful position, bowing, or the like. THE GIRL OF 1830 This picture should be copied from one in a book of the time; she wears a very straight, 67 FAIRS AND FETES short-waisted white dress, reaching to her an- kles, short puffed sleeves, low neck, with huge muff and black beaver hat with plumes and a little scarf; Jane Austen's books will suggest the costume. THE BLUE AND THE GRAY The first picture is of a girl dressed in the costume of the South in '61. A very full ruf- fled white muslin over a hoop, low neck, short sleeves, a sash, hair parted and curled, with a wreath, short gloves to the wrist, bracelets and a fan. The second pose shows her in a high- necked plain silk, over a hoop, perfectly plain waist with drooping shoulders ; a large scoop bonnet with ribbon strings, and a scarf drop- ping from her shoulders or a large shawl pinned about her. THE BELLE OF SAEATOGA This picture is to be of about 1871. A girl with dress to her ankles in front, and draped overskirt pulled back over a large bustle and a slight train at the back; open at the neck in a wedge shape, with a sort of small ruff ; her hair is done in a large chignon with a long curl and she wears a small, flat hat perched slopingly on it, down to her eyebrows; she carries a small parasol in her hand, open, and stands mincingly 5S FAIRS AND FETES with the " Grecian bend." Her second pose might be without the parasol, and she could stand looking despairingly at a huge Saratoga trunk, open, with piles of gowns laid beside it. THE GIRLS OF TO - DAY I. THE YACHTING GIEL Girl in sailor costume leaning on an oar. n. THE SEASHOKE GIRL Girl in bathing dress, long stockings and cap, standing on a covered box, hands upraised ready to dive ; this is well carried out in red. m. THE GOLF GIRL Girl in short skirt, sweater, heavy gloves, plain hat, with bag of golf -sticks. IV. THE RIDING GIRL Girl in short riding dress, three-cornered hat, hunting crop. THE LAST TABLEAU is of the prettiest girl obtainable, in a charming evening dress, standing in the center of the stage on a high stool, with a group of men kneeling before her, one in golf clothes, one in riding clothes, one in evening dress, etc., each 69 FAIRS AND FETES holding up a hand ready to help her down ; she smiles and cannot decide which to choose. Look over papers and magazines and get ideas from them of modem dress, and consult old fashion books for the costumes of the past. Have soft piano music played with each tableau and louder music between each two ; many ap- propriate selections may be found. A CHRISTMAS BAZAAR AND PAGEANT Early in December there should be a bazaar especially intended to give every one the oppor- tunity of buying presents to give later on. Have an all-day meeting of the committee with an informal luncheon of sandwiches, cake and coffee, and let the time be spent in making up quantities of scarlet poinsettias. By cutting out a dozen leaves at a time from red crepe paper a great number may be made in a few hours. Have tables put up for booths as usual about the room, not too near together, and in the four comers have Christmas trees, and pin poin- settias to these ; put green cheese-cloth around the tables and fasten greens on this, or use wire netting and stick it full of sprigs; then put a 60 FAIRS AND FETES great bowl or vase of poinsettias on each table. Tie cords across the ceiling, from corner to comer and across, and from these suspend the scarlet paper bells which can be bought cheaply ; put them on red ribbons or tapes of unequal length, and let some hang lower than others. Have some red-shaded lamps on the sides of the room. Get a quantity of paper napkins with holly stamped on the edges and tie up all the parcels sold in these, using red cord to fasten them. Have all the articles suitable for gifts. I. — On one table have silver for the bureau, brushes and combs, manicure-sets, perfume bot- tles, pin-trays, hatpin-holders, slender silver vases and picture-frames. II. — On a second table have books, Christ- mas cards, pens, stationery, pencils, candles of brass and glass, leather goods of all kinds, ink- stands, pads with silver or brass comers, and calendars. III. — On a third table have linen ; embroid- ered centerpieces and towels, lace-trimmed doi- lies, and sets of table-napkins and bureau-scarfs, prettily-worked neckwear and initialed hand- kerchiefs. IV. — On a fourth table have Christmas wreaths, pots of holly, pepper-plants, little Yule-logs of birch wood, bells, and a number of glass globes of different size filled with grow- ing green vines and red berries, each with a 61 FAIRS AND FETES piece of glass to go over the top. Orders might be taken here for greens of any kind, to be delivered later. V. — On a fifth table have Christmas cakes decorated with a wreath or a sprig of green leaves cut from angelica and tiny red berries made of scarlet candies. Have also plum-pud- dings and mince-pies with holly sprigs stuck in them. VI. — On the sixth table have Christmas candy. Sell ice-cream here, also. It will be found a good investment to serve hot tea or chocolate free of charge for this particular bazaar. THE HOUSE OF JACK FKOST In the center of the room, or at the back if the room is not large, will stand the great at- traction of the affair, the House of Jack Frost. Have a carpenter or some clever boy build an outline of a house of the conventional shape, putting up four corner-posts and fastening these together, and then putting on a roof. Do not have a real door, but in front, by the side of a simulated door, build a window that has a casement which opens outward. Cover the whole house with white pasteboard, box covers and the like, tacking it securely on sides and roof, and over all lay sheets of cotton batting with the smooth, shiny surface. Put a step in 62 h H rf} O tl ^ > y ■f: -J 1 '" H K t^ FAIRS AND FETES front of the door, and overhead put a piece of pasteboard bent to form an angle ; cover this and the chimney with loose cotton to represent snow. Fasten some glass icicles to the eaves here and there and let some of the loose cotton lie on the floor around the house. On the door put a sign, THE HOUSE OF JACK FROST, and have a scarlet cord hang- ing down attached to a bell within ; make a slit near it, like one for letters, with a card clearly printed : SNOWBALLS FOR SALE! LARGE ONES TEN CENTS ; SMALL ONES FIVE; DROP IN THE MONEY AND RING THE BELL ! Within is to be a boy dressed as Jack Frost, in white cotton-flannel blouse, white cap and white mittens. He is to have a great basket of snowballs, made in advance to save trouble; each one is a five or ten cent gift wrapped up in cotton woimd tightly with white thread, so as to keep it in shape. When any one rings his bell Jack Frost thrusts his head out of the window and cries, "Who is ringing my bell? Want a snowball ? " The visitor drops the money into the slit in the door and Jack selects a snowball and carefully aims it at the one on the steps so as to hit him, instantly ducking down out of sight. 63 FAIRS AND FETES THE PAGEANT The really beautiful and artistic entertain- ment of the evening justifies an entrance fee of possibly fifty cents. The end of the room used must look as much as possible like the haU or main room of a medieval castle. There should be a raised dais with two tall chairs, either carved or covered with drapery ; a deep red carpet on the floor, and if the roof is high enough to permit it, flags or banners fastened there in opposite lines. An illustrated His- tory of England in the Middle Ages will sug- gest feasible ideas. A curtain will hide all this till the moment comes for beginning the pageant. On the dais sit the lord and lady of the manor, dressed in medieval costume, made of cheese-cloth. The lord might have something of the dress of the time of Henry the Eighth, and the lady a scarlet flowing dress, long sleeves, a ruff like that of Queen Elizabeth, and a tiara with a veil over her loose hair. At one side stands the Lord of Misrule, in a cos- tume suggestive of Henry's Beef -Eaters, carry- ing a fool's bauble; he introduces the per- formers with a sweep of the bauble and the an- nouncement in very loud tones and pompous manner, " Enter the Yule-log Bearers ! " or whoever it may be. 64 FAIRS AND FETES Grouped around on the dais are twelve ladies of honor dressed in cheese-cloth costumes of soft colors, greens, pinks and blues ; these are very simply prepared much after the manner of the principal lady. There should be soft music playing at a distance, and sitting on the step of the dais may be boys dressed as pages, with zithers, strumming chords. There should be four trumpeters, boys in long stockings reach- ing nearly to the waist, and low slippers, with tunics of pink and blue Canton flannel falling over them; these tunics are cut out like paper- doll dresses, or short plain aprons, reaching not quite to the knees, with short sleeves cut square at the elbow and rounded, collarless necks. They have long, slender tin trumpets, or cones of pasteboard covered with gilt paper, and be- fore each set of performers enter they come in, stop in front of the dais facing at right angles, and blow on the trumpet. Have some one be- hind a screen with a comet to give the actual flourish. A group of Yule-log bearers enter first. They are dressed as yeomen, in brown smocks, or tunics of denim and brown pointed caps, the points pinned down in the middle. They bear an imitation log of pasteboard, covered with brown crepe paper, decked with greens and red ribbons ; there should be four or six of the bearers. As they pause in front of the dais, the 65 FAIRS AND FETES Lord of Misrule advances and repeats the well- known words from Herrick's " Hesperides, Ceremonies for Christmas " beginning : "Come bring with a noise, my merrie, merrie boys," etc. The bearers advance and lay the log on a simulated hearth and then stand at one side. The bearer of the Boar's Head comes next, dressed as a cook ; he carries on a great metal tray a pasteboard boar's head, covered with brown paper and holly, and the Lord of Misrule recites the well-known carol written in 1522, beginning : "The boar's head in hand brynge I," etc. The bearer of the wassail bowl comes in next, dressed as a sort of steward of the household, in denim, brown and green, bearing a great bowl decked with holly wreaths. He chants: " Wassail, wassail, all over the town; Our toast it is white, our ale it is brown; Our bowl is made of a maplin tree. We be good fellows — I drink to thee! " Besides these characters one may enter bear- ing branches of holly and reciting " Oh, the Holly Tree!" But the crowning feature of the evening will 66 FAIRS AND FETES be a real little medieval play, though a brief one, given by mummers. This will be found in Chambers' Book of Days, Chapter II. Father Christmas, St. George, a Turkish Knight, a Doctor and Oliver Cromwell will take part. To conclude the entertainment there may be a pause, and outside the hall of the lord of the castle may be heard the voices of Christmas Waifs, softly singing old ballads, such as " God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen, Let Nothing You Dismay," and others as quaint. THE FAIR OF THE CHRISTMAS SHOPS In order to make a great financial success of this bazaar, canvass the town and secure the promise of every one to patronize the festival before making Christmas purchases. Then ad- vertise well with huge painted posters deco- rated in green and scarlet, putting these up in all conspicuous places about town. Charge a small admission fee to the bazaar as well as to the entertainment given in connection with it. Select a large hall for the affair, and decorate it with red and green streamers from the ceiling, Christmas trees in pots, holly and ground-pine 67 FAIRS AND FETES wreaths and scarlet bows. Erect the booths down two sides of the room, giving the effect of a city street; each booth should represent a small, pretty shop with an open window in front, and a gabled roof; this is simply and inexpen- sively done by putting up tables of long boards, covering them with brown cheese-cloth, and put- ting upright sticks on the ends of the tables; on top is a bent roof of pasteboard ; fill in the triangular space in front with a plain fitted piece of paper. Tack more pasteboard on the supports to outline the window; some windows may be merely large plain openings and others may have folded-back casements. The saleswomen should dress in plain black or white, but they may each wear holly in their hair, and the booths may be made brilliant with small lights and holly. Over the front of each shop hang out a conspicuous swinging sign from an arm ; make these of wood or of paste- board, but be sure and have all of them pretty and clearly painted in green and scarlet letters with the proper title ; an edge of holly or other green might be fastened on some of the signs. Use only green or scarlet wrapping-paper, and as far as possible keep everything in the hall in these colors, relieved, of course, with white. Or, some of the shops might use white paper and scarlet cord, and some white paper and green cord. 68 FAIRS AND FETES The goods to be sold should be of three kinds : Home-made, donated and sold on commission. This last plan is not so good as the other two, but in a few of the shops it may be found neces- sary to follow it. The best plan of all is to get the goods together and then use money, which has been given by those who prefer to contrib- ute this rather than fancy work or cakes or other articles, and buy outright certain goods, selling them at an advance. The shop may be selected to suit each society giving the bazaar ; some may find_ one set easier to manage and some another. Those on the first side of the hall may be these : THE LITTLE LINEN - SHOP Display here handkerchiefs, doilies, center- pieces, towels, stocks, collars, jabots, knitted wash-cloths, lingerie, shirt-waists, patterns of cotton dresses, aprons and small articles of table- linen of all sorts. Orders for embroidery may be taken. THE CHINA - SHOP Here is one of the shops where some articles at least must be bought in advance. Try to find pretty cups and saucers, little teapots, in- dividual blue plates and dishes, candlesticks, bowls, ash-trays, pin-trays and all sorts of 69 FAIRS AND FETES trifles, either at the ten-cent shops or at a Jap- anese bazaar; these can be sold for a third or more in addition to their regular price; beside these, many women will gladly contribute small china articles from home, often things of real value and beauty. THE RIBBON - SHOP Buy the ribbons at wholesale for this booth and sell at regular retail prices ; make a spe- cialty of certain things, such as narrow scarlet ribbon for Christmas bundles, and hair-ribbons in sets for girls, and sash-ribbons, and the baby ribbon which every one needs; have the latter in bolts, with tape needles fastened to each one. THE CANDY - SHOP Buy the candy at wholesale and divide the pounds up in smaller quantities and arrange the shop-window attractively with pretty boxes and colored ribbons and crepe paper. Have plenty of home-made candy and fudge, and make a specialty of an unusual kind of candy, which some one can furnish from a new recipe. THE TEA - SHOP This booth should be Oriental in appearance, with a straw-covered top, lanterns and gaudy 70 .A-well coveralnewiisteiKl u^\ lmngwttnaIl.sorts ofmaga- ziues and newspapers. >£P THE BOOK SHOP. FAIRS AND FETES Chinese panels of paper on the sides. Within have little tables and have girls in kimonos serve tea, rice-wafers or small cakes, fancy crackers and preserved ginger. Have tea in bulk for sale, also, and make a profit by selling small quantities attractively tied up or put in pretty little boxes. THE BOOK - SHOP SeU here all the inexpensive little Christmas books obtainable, leaflets, Christmas cards, cal- endars decorated in holly, a few new novels, magazines, subscriptions to papers and maga- zines, writing-paper in holly-stamped boxes, ink- wells, pens, pen-holders and paper-cutters and dinner-cards decorated in red and green. When the end of the hall is reached, the " street " becomes an open place suitable for a market; here may be a good place for a pop-corn wagon and a roast-peanut machine ; ice-cream, hot chocolate, cakes of different sorts, waffles or any other eatables may also be sold at small tables. On the opposite side of the room put the other shops. THE TOY - SHOP This is especially remunerative if a great many dolls are given ready dressed. Baby dolls, boy dolls, Indian dolls, brides, kindergarten dolls and anything unusual will be readily dis- 71 FAIRS AND FETES posed of. In addition, of course, there must be all sorts of toys for boys as well as girls, and perhaps a few playhouses, made carefully at home and fitted out with little furniture. THE FLOWEE - SHOP Here have some of the odd, pretty things which do not cost much, rather than quantities of expensive flowers. The little glass bowls planted with growing partridge berries and moss, tied with scarlet cord around the top of the bowl, always sell well; tiny Christmas trees for the dinner-table ; filled f em-dishes ; potted plants bearing red berries ; individual little rub- ber plants ; all these will be suitable for gifts. THE FANCY - WORK SHOP The knitted and embroidered goods find a place here, and everything in the way of hand work which does not go elsewhere. Wools, knit- ting-needles, patterns and embroidery are also to be put on sale. THE BAKE - SHOP This window should display all sorts of un- usual Christmas cakes ; large ones, iced with an edge of holly made of candied cherries and bits of citron, small ones with single cherries and 72 FAIRS AND FETES stems made in the same way, fancy cookies of all kinds, and especially gingerbread men made to represent Santa Claus, decorated in icing — tracery of features, buttons and bag of pres- ents on his back. THE GIFT - SHOP is last of all and in many ways most important. Here have bits of soft green pottery to sell and brass bowls and jardinieres, large and small, candlesticks, fans, bits of odd colored china, picture-frames, photographs and prints, boxes covered with silks and tapestry and trays, strings of beads, tiles, inexpensive vases and anything which will help those who cannot find suitable presents elsewhere. CHRISTMAS PICTURES To add to the success of the evening, give an entertainment in some near-by room and charge a small admission fee. This may take the form of a Christmas cantata given by children — something always successful. Or, there may be a series of pictures dealing with the Christmas idea. One such set might be given after this plan: A darkened stage is set, soft music and voices 73 FAIRS AND FETES singing out ^ sight a carol, either the old familiar one, "' " God rest you merrie gentlemen," or the beautiful Noel, beginning " Awake, good people all, A merrie Christmas Day." The first picture might be a nursery, slightly darkened and a draped crib in the center of the stage; a young mother tip-toes softly about and finally hangs a small sock to the foot of the crib, while some verses are read from the well- known poem, " Hang up the baby's stocking." The next picture is again a nursery, but dif- ferently arranged and brightly lighted. Half a dozen very small children are seen hanging up their stockings on the mantel over a fireplace; they should all talk at once and laugh as they do so. The third picture is the same room, but some- what darkened ; the children are all in small beds asleep; after a moment's pause one wakes, sits up in bed and listens, turning toward the mantel ; presently he reaches over and touches the next child and they wake the rest; all sit up in bed, while part of " The Night Before Christmas " is read. A noise representing the scrambling of feet in the chimney or the sound of hoofs on 74 FAIRS AND FETES the roof might be the signal to wake the first child. The fourth scene may be the simulated front of a house, made with gray cambric tacked evenly on a large screen or frame. In front is a window with a shade drawn partly down ; the back of the stage is brilHantly lighted and through the window children are seen about a lighted tree; singing and laughter sounds; presently a small ragged child creeps across the stage and looks silently in, crouching down at the sill. The inside of the room need only be suggested, and no elaborate tree prepared. An old-fashioned selection may be found called the " Match Girl," which has a verse or two describ- ing a scene such as that mentioned above, and a part of it may be read if desired. The last picture might be a gay Christmas dinner-party of children and grown people, or a dance of children around a lovely lighted tree, with a carol sung. THE FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR is an interesting fair for January. Have twelve booths arranged regularly around the sides of the room, and if possible have an illuminated date in electric lights put up opposite the main 75 FAIRS AND FETES entrance in the most conspicuous place in the room. Posters and other advertising done in advance should ask every one to a New Year's Party. JANUAET This booth is decorated in scarlet, and sales- women dress in white with scarlet ribbons; here are sold calendars, diaries, account-books, pens and pencils. New Year cards, all sorts of stationery; decorated and illuminated cards bearing all sorts of good resolutions for the New Year should be the especial feature. FEBRUAKY Decorate the booth in flags; have the sales- women wear Colonial dress with powdered hair; sell cheap blue china, small brass candlesticks, crullers and tea ; make the special feature here a cake made by an old-fashioned recipe; this is to be disposed of in slices at a good price, and copies of the recipe sold. MAECH Decorate in green, and let the saleswomen wear Irish peasant dress. Sell pots of sham- rock, little pigs, pipes, sketches and little books on Ireland; have cards with drawings of shamrocks and Irish quotations suitable for 76 FAIRS AND FETES dinner-cards. Sell all sorts of green candies, and use green paper and cord for the packages. AFEIL Cover this booth with one huge umbrella, bought at a Japanese shop. Sell Easter goods, rabbits, eggs, cards, nests of candy filled with tiny eggs of sugar. Saleswomen should dress in pretty light colors. MAT Make a sort of summer-house by tacking either green or white tapes diagonally up the sides and back. Sell potted plants, cut flowers, flower-seeds, rakes, hoes, books on gardening and tiny buttonhole bouquets. Fern-dishes may be the specialty. JUNE This booth may either emphasize the close of school, and sell goods suitable for Commence- ment gifts — fans, handkerchiefs, gloves, books, small pins, and the like, or it may take "che suggestion of going away for the summer for its leading idea. In the latter case the arti- cles to be sold should be hand-bags, rubber cushions, bottles of perfumery and smelling- salts, books and pictures of travel, picture 77 FAIRS AND FETES postals, pincushions, pocket-books, boxes of candy and home-made bags of all kinds. Deco- rate in either case with roses, using the big pink paper ones easily made at home. JULY Decorate the booth with paper pond-lilies and have the saleswomen in white. Sell lemonade and cakes, broad-brimmed paper or cheap straw hats ; fans, paper covered and other novels and magazines. AUGUST Decorate in artificial poppies and wheat ; the saleswomen wear white. Sell all goods suitable for summer use — dolls in ginghams and mus- lins, toy hammocks, toy boats and similar play- things; this should really be the children's booth; serve ice-cream and cake in connection with it at small tables. SEPTEMBER Decorate in paper grape-leaves ; sell fruits of all kinds, nuts and home-made candy; sales- women in ginghams, with grape-leaves in their hair. OCTOBEK Have this booth in colored autumn leaves made of paper. As this is the housekeepers' 78 FAIRS AND FETES special month, sell utility goods and canned vegetables and fruits. NOVEMBER Decorate in artificial corn-stalks and leaves; use sticks rolled in yellow paper for the stalks and fasten long leaves of paper on them. Sales- women in tans and browns ; sell grape-juice, food, cakes and pies, nuts, mince-meat in jars, crullers and doughnuts. DECEMBER This booth is in white, saleswomen in white with holly in their hair. Sell all the fancy work here and everything suitable for gifts. Also candy. The grab-bag for this fair may be especially money-making; have a tall, thin man dress as Father Time, and carry over his shoulder a scythe and have under one arm a huge bag of small, cheap gifts. THE FESTIVAL OF DOLLS Advertise this fair with large colored posters of dolls of all sizes. Especially call the atten- 79 FAIRS AND FETES tion of the children to it. Plan out all the tables in advance, and when dolls are promised, ask that they be dressed in this or that costume, describing it accurately. The committee who have this sale in charge should try to keep the details as secret as possible, since when it is all done it will be quite interesting enough to warrant asking an admission fee. Do not have any high-priced dolls, except perhaps one, the bride. They sell better if all are about fifty or seventy-five cents, or even less for the small doUs. Decorate the room by cutting out long, wide streamers of pink crepe paper; fasten these along the sides of the room at the ceiling line, six or eight on a side, and gather them all up in the center and fasten them, making a tent effect of the whole. Cover the gas-globes with pink paper, also, or use pink-shaded lamps and can- dles. Arrange the tables with pink cheese-cloth if the style of dolls used warrants this, and most of them will. Put a row of tables down each side of the room, and at the end erect a dolls' house of four large rooms. This may be eco- nomically built by piling up four packing-boxes of equal size, two on top of the other two, or, if this will bring the second floor of the house too high up for the children who come to the bazaar to see easily into the upper rooms, put the four in a row on a low table or on boards laid across 80 FAIRS AND FETES wooden horses covered with pink cheese-cloth in front. Paper the rooms of this doll's house with ordinary wall-paper, using a small flowered pat- tern. Put curtains up where windows would be, and use plain gray paper for glass, outlining imaginary panes ; the curtains will hide the windows sufficiently, so that it will not be neces- sary to cut the windows out. On the floors of three rooms put carpet or stain them brown and lay down small rugs of carpet. Furnish the whole house completely, and sell everything in it, but do not deliver anything till the close of the bazaar ; merely mark each article with a tiny tag as sold, with the address. In the parlor have a regular set of furniture, with a chandelier, a piano, a sofa with small pillows, a standing lamp, little books and a clock. Do not fill the room with dolls ; it is not necessary to have any in it, and it will probably show to better advantage if without them. In the bedroom put a good-sized bed and a crib, a dressing-table, candles, chairs, a sofa and a wardrobe; by putting up a thin pasteboard partition on one side and papering it, one end of the room can be made into a cunning bath- room, with a tub, a wash-stand, towels, soap, wash-cloths and tiny hot-water bags. The floor of this room should be covered with oil-cloth. The dining-room should have table, chairs and 81 FAIRS AND FETES sideboard, the table to be spread with the at- tractive dishes of colored papier-mache food which looks so real as to almost deceive a child. In the kitchen have a stained floor, a stove, a sink, a dresser set out with tins of all sorts and a table with a kneading-board and rolling-pin. There may be eight tables or more on the sides of the room; it should depend somewhat upon the estimate of the number of people who will attend the bazaar. Do not allow the dolls to be taken away before the sale is over. THE NURSEKY Begin with the smallest and lowest-priced dolls at the first table, and call it The Nursery. Arrange the table-top like a room, put three dolls' cribs or small beds about, with bedclothes, canopies and pillows, have a high chair with a baby doll in it and one small-child doll in paja- mas on the floor playing with a tiny cat. A trained-nurse doll can be bathing a baby doll in a small tub of real water with a tiny sponge. Sell baby dolls, hair-brushes, milk-bottles, tow- els, bibs, and baby clothes. THE DOLLS AT SCHOOL The second table would be The Dolls at School. Dress rather small bisque dolls like kindergarten children, in ginghams, and have 82 FAIRS AND FETES a few with white aprons ; cut the hair of some dolls, to make it straight across the neck, and dress these as boys in Russian blouses. Tie the hair of the girl dolls up with very large bows on top of their heads and braid the hair of sev- eral. Make a long table, and arrange the dolls behind this, seating them in chairs, and on the table put little blocks or other kindergarten materials. Have a large teacher doll at one end of the table. Sell the dolls, chairs and table, and have, also, for sale, at one side other school belongings, slates, little books and satchels. THE SUMMER DOLLS The next table is for The Summer Dolls. This table-top should be bare, with a heap of sand or sawdust piled up in the center. Dress dolls of small or medium size in ginghams, with sun- bonnets and large flat hats. Turn and pin up their dresses around their bare legs, give them little pails and shovels and group them around the sand in twos and threes. Smaller dolls in rompers and overalls and sailor suits can be standing about a good-sized sailboat or sitting in a circle around the picnic-baskets. THE TRAVELING DOLLS have the fourth table. Dress the girl dolls in coats and skirts, with quiet hats, and the boys 83 FAIRS AND FETES in little Norfolk jackets and knickerbockers. The children should be accompanied by grown-up father and mother dolls, and several nurses, black and white, carrying babies. Pile some trunks on a truck, give each doll a suit- case, traveling-bag, a rolled-up steamer rug or a basket of some sort. THE dolls' party would come next in order. The dollies will look very festive in dainty little white summer dresses, with colored sashes and hair-ribbons. In the center of the table put up a good-sized Maypole, made of the handle of a broom, cut to the proper length and wound with ribbons. At the top tack a dozen or more narrow ribbons of alternating colors — pink and white is a pretty combination — and arrange the dolls in a large circle, fastening the end of a ribbon to one hand of each, and face them sidewise, as though they were actually circling the pole. At one end of the table a group of dolls might be sitting on the floor or on cushions eating refreshments ; a party table decorated with flowers and little candles and cakes could stand in the middle. THE WINTER DOLLS The sixth table would be for The Winter Dolls. Cover the table with white cheese-cloth 84 FAIRS AND FETES and draw it up at one end and fasten it over some piled-up boxes, to make a hill ; lay cotton over the whole and scatter generously with mica, which may be bought at a paint-shop in bulk. Make some cardboard sleds and fasten to these boy and girl dolls, and pin them securely with hatpins to the hill in several places. Dress the girls in red and navy blue, with tam-o'-shanter caps and furs; brush their hair out so it will seem to be blowing back in the wind. Dress the boy dolls in thick woolen, with leggings, mittens and knit caps. Groups of dolls stand at the foot of the hill to watch the fun. At one side have some boy dolls building a snow fort ; at the other have a number throwing small snow-balls made of cotton and sewed into shape ; scatter mica on the shoulders of these dolls. THE dolls' wedding The last table of all would be the one most interesting to the little girls ; it is, of course. The Dolls' Wedding. Lay a strip of red cloth down the length of the table, which is to stand with its end turned toward the room, to repre- sent a church aisle. Put down each side tall wooden knitting-needles stuck into large spools and trim these with small artificial leaves and flowers ; let them hang across the aisle in gar- lands. Coming toward the on-looker should be, 85 FAIRS AND FETES first, two very small dolls in pink, carrying baskets of flowers and wearing large hats ; be- hind these should be the four bridesmaids in white, with pink hats, carrying bunches of pink flowers. Last, should be the bride, alone, in conventional dress and veil, with a huge white bouquet. To make all the dolls on the different tables stand up, put hatpins with small heads down their backs and press them firmly into the table- top. Refreshments of ice-cream, cake and lemonade may be served at this bazaar, and candy sold. A DICKENS FETE Recently there has been such a revival of in- terest in Dickens that on his birthday, Febru- ary 7th, there might be a delightful fete in his honor. Select a chairman for each booth to be repre- sented, and let her read the book which is to serve as a basis of the booth, and choose the characters to assist at it. All, of course, must come in costume, and all, too, must read over the parts they are to take so that they may act and speak appropriately. Any illustrated copy will suggest the proper dress, and the Cruik- 86 FAIRS AND FETES shank pictures are best. Advertise with posters of Mr. Pickwick. Decorate the room in which the fair is to be held with all sorts of English flags. A boy should sell admission tickets at the door; the Fat Boy would do, or Oliver Twist, or the Art- ful Dodger. Just inside the room should stand the hostess of the evening, representing Mrs. Leo Hunter as Minerva at the garden party in " Pickwick Papers." During the evening she should recite several times her Ode to an Ex- piring Frog, and Mr. Pickwick, accompanied by Mr. Tupman as a Brigand, and Mr. Snod- grass as a Troubadour, should lead the applause. Follow the description given in Chapter V. of " Our Mutual Friend." A large fireplace, which can be simulated by boards and paper representing bricks, stands at the back with two wooden settles and a table by each ; one holds books in a row, the other refreshments. At one side is a carpet on the floor, upholstered sofa and chairs, and on the sofa sits Mrs. Boffin in low black satin dress, velvet hat and feathers; she is short and stout. Mr. Boffin, also short and stout, dressed in rather shabby clothes, sells meat-pies and cold 87 FAIRS AND FETES sliced meat, with bottled grape- juice, and Mrs. Boffin serves tea. A specialty of this booth might be small in- dividual chicken-pies, baked in little brown earthen dishes, which Mr. Boffin could sell profitably. In front of the booth sits Silas Wegg, with a collection of rag-time music to sell and a coun- ter of gingerbread. Betty Higden, an old woman with a basket, sells all sorts of small wares, shoe-strings, buttons, handkerchiefs and the like ; she may move around among the peo- ple all the evening. Next this booth might be Mrs. Wilfer's par- lor, the hostess with her face tied up, of course ; and pretty Bella could serve chocolate and cakes. Select for this booth some rather small girl of twenty who has quantities of golden hair, and let her sit in the middle of the booth on a low bench with another bench before her covered with dolls and materials for dressing them. She may not only sell dolls, but take orders for clothes, and sell ready-made clothes, sets of dolls' furs, little rubbers, dolls' furniture and similar toys. She should be assisted in her sales by Lizzie, Miss Peecher and Pleasant Riderhood, the last perpetually winding up her hair. 88 FAIRS AND FETES THE OLD CUaiOSITY SHOP Choose a good-sized part of the room for this, and put up a framework simulating a shop door and sides ; these may be made of heavy sheets of pasteboard, gray or brown, tacked on screens or strips of wood. Hang out a large sign in front with the shop name. Fill the inside of the booth with all sorts of antiquities, old mahogany, old mirrors, armor, china, brass and whatever can be borrowed for decoration. Sell simple brass candlesticks, and- irons, imitation blue china, colonial glass, little mirrors, odd chairs and any curiosities to be had. Let the booth be served by Little Nell and her grandfather. Dick Swiveller, the Marchion- ess, Kit, Quilp and Brass and his sister may also assist during the evening. peggotty's home Arrange this booth like half of a huge boat turned on its side, by having rough timbers piled up and nailed in place ; light the interior with lanterns, and hang up life-preservers, fish- nets, lobster-pots, tarpaulins, ropes and baskets. Make this the place where supper is served, and provide small tables waited on by Peggotty, little David Copperfield, Little Emily, Mr. Peg- gotty and Ham. Sell lobster or shrimp salad, 89 FAIRS AND FETES with bread and butter, hot salmon with rolls and coffee, crab-meat, sardines, codfish-cakes done up in paraflln paper to take home, boxes of dried codfish, tins of fish of any sort and similar suit- able food. An oyster-supper might be served of oyster-soup, scalloped oysters, fried oysters, rolls and coffee. MR. PICKWICK AT THE BOOK - STALL Have a simulated shop, closed, and Mr. Pick- wick in front looking over counters of maga- zines, books old and new, and posters, cards, valentines and the like. There may be regular clerks to sell or he may be the attendant. THE WHITE HAKT INN Have an open space with green excelsior on the ground; cover the wall at the back with sheets of gray paper and sketch on them the outlines of windows and doors. Put up some- thing suggestive of a fence around the " yard." In the middle have a real shoe-blacking chair and have Sam Weller shine everybody's shoes, telling his stories all the time. Choose some one tall, thin and voluble for the part and let him learn in substance a quantity of the best- known stories and repeat them over and over as he has new customers. Any of the characters 90 FAIRS AND FETES in " Pickwick Papers " not placed elsewhere could come in and out of the yard, and stand under the great swinging sign over the en- trance: Mr. Weller, senior; the Shepherd; Mrs. Weller; Mrs. Bardell; Jingle, and others, all, of course, in costume. If the characters and costumes in the books are carefully studied and the parts well taken, this fair may be most successful and at the same time very entertaining. There may be music if desired, and some good reader may give well- known scenes during the evening from the best of Dickens' books. A PEDDLER'S FAIR This is a delightful little fair which can be arranged with slight trouble and expense. For the occasion all the furnishings should be re- moved from a large room or hall, and no decora- tions will be needed. In place of the usual booths, large screens may be drawn across the comers of the room with tables concealed behind them. On the tables should be arranged in or- derly fashion all the goods which will be required to replenish the stocks of the peddlers during the evening. Each peddler should know where to find his own goods and some one should have 91 FAIRS AND FETES charge of each table to avoid confusion. The peddlers have different methods of displaying their wares, and the push-carts, wheelbarrows and small wagons needed can be rented or per- haps borrowed for the occasion. From the neighborhood groceries the push-carts can be obtained, the two or three wheelbarrows and several light suit-cases used will not be difficult to get. If possible have a pop-corn wagon and a roaster for peanuts. An ice-cream wagon would also be excellent, but if it cannot be ob- tained, the cream can be sold from a freezer in a push-cart. Careful costuming for the peddlers is im- portant, but it will be inexpensive and require little time and thought. The various nationali- ties can be easily followed out by means of false noses, beards and hair, darkened complexions and suitable clothes. It will be necessary to buy but a few things for costumes, as the old soft felt hats, bright colored handkerchiefs for the heads of certain peddlers and the clothes needed will usually be found among the discarded things in the family wardrobe. A GREEK PEDDLER A young man of very dark complexion should be dressed in knee-breeches, short coat, with bright waistcoat and a large felt hat. He 92 FAIRS AND FETES is to sell candy, preferably the kind that is broken off a large piece carried in his cart. THE NEGRO PEDDLEE is dressed as a plantation darky. His face is blackened and he wears a high collar with long points, a handkerchief necktie and a rakish hat such as is worn by minstrels. He sells peanuts, and as he walks among the people he sings rag- time and old Southern melodies. If he is clever at dialect, he might tell a story or two. Inci- dentally, he should drive a good trade in pea- nuts ; if the machine for roasting them cannot be had, a cart or wheelbarrow piled with the nuts in small bags will be quite satisfactory. HEBEEW PEDDLERS There may be three or more Hebrew peddlers and they may sell a variety of goods. Their costumes are readily prepared: frock coats, much too long and too large in every way ; worn derby hats several sizes too large, and old shoes so long that they turn up at the toes, with the characteristic false noses, flowing beards and wigs of long black hair. The wares each sells are displayed in an open suit-case hung around his neck. One might sell all sorts of notions — thread, needles, cards of buttons, shoe-strings, tin thimbles, collar-buttons, and 93 FAIRS AND FETES the like. These articles can be bought for a few cents at wholesale or a five-and-ten-cent store and sold at twice their cost. Another might have laces to sell, either by the yard or piece. These should not be too expensive and may be bought at wholesale and sold at a profit just as in the case of the notions. A third might have ribbons ; others fancy work, small toys, souvenir post-cards, or any of the things sold on the streets in large cities by men of this nationality. THE ITALIAN PEDDLER should be a tall, dark and handsome young man. He should be dressed as a peasant in short knee-breeches with rough woolen stockings, bright waistcoat, large felt hat, flannel shirt open at the throat and a bright red silk tie. He is to sell plaster casts and images, the kind that cost little, but are really artistic and good. He may also sell silk goods, ties, stockings, bags and embroidery needles and silks. Beads might also form part of his stock, both made up in necklaces and in bulk. THE CAKE PEDDLEE should dress as a cook, with a big white apron and a flat white cap. In his push-cart, which may stand at one end of the room and not be 94 FAIRS AND FETES moved about, he can have a small oil-stove with a griddle on it and make pancakes to order, pouring the batter out of a can. He should have an assistant, dressed in similar fashion, to sugar the cakes and serve them on plates. Waffles could also be made, or any other hot cake or bread quickly baked. If this cooking seems too difficult for an amateur, the cake ped- dler might have a wheelbarrow filled with crul- lers, cookies and small cakes of all kinds and go about with a bell, selling them like the his- toric " muffin man." Anything hot made in full view of the buyer, however, will be found a great drawing-card, and it is worth while to try and follow out this plan if possible. THE FLOWER PEDDLEE A pretty young girl dressed in a Dolly Var- den costume, or any attractive short summer gown, with a cap or little sunbonnet, has a push-cart full of small potted plants, ferns and bright-colored geraniums and little bouquets. She may also have flower and vegetable seeds, bulbs, little garden implements, rubber bulbs for sprinkling house plants, and florists' cata- logues. THE GIPSIES These can be one of the most picturesque features of the evening. Young girls of dark 95 FAIRS AND FETES complexion and hair, dressed in short, full red or yellow gowns, with bright handkerchiefs twisted around their heads, move about the room, asking to read the palms of visitors at the fair for a silver piece, either ten cents, a quarter or half dollar, depending on the length of time given to a reading. For the larger sums quite an elaborate fortune may be told and all sorts of good luck predicted. If the fair is a small one, instead of the girls going about, there may be a tent at one side of the room and those who wish may go in for readings. The first way brings much more money and contributes to the gaiety and fun of the affair. THE INDIAN SftUAWS These are also an attractive part of this motley crowd. They wear short coarse skirts over which are hung heavy shawls or blan- kets. Navajo blankets are prettiest, but if they cannot be obtained, scarlet or gray ordi- nary blankets will answer. Of course, the squaws must have black hair, which should be plaited with red ribbons worked into the braids. All sorts of showy jewelry, in the way of rings and bracelets and quantities of beads around their necks, will make the costumes attractive. One or two might have doll papooses wrapped so as to conceal the face, strapped on their backs. 96 FAIRS AND FETES The others carry large loads of light baskets on their shoulders. The squaws sell bows and arrows, birch-bark boxes, picture-frames and small canoes, Indian dolls, moccasins, beads, maple sugar, all sorts of small and cheap baskets and other characteristic articles. If a small admission fee is charged for the fair and a supper is served in an adjoining room, there will be no trouble in realizing a good sum on the sale, since there is practically no expense in getting it up. 97 PART m FAIRS AND ENTERTAINMENTS FOR SPRING THE FESTIVAL OF WINDMILLS By way of a bazaar, nothing could be more appropriate for March than A Festival of Windmills. By looking up an illustrated book on Holland it will be seen that an imitation windmill is exceedingly simple to make, and the number required for this affair need not frighten any one. Two straight pieces of card- board, three feet long and one wide, crossed in the middle at right angles, will do for the sail; and the house, or support, may be made by folding a large sheet of cardboard into a cone, only slightly smaller at the top than at the bot- tom. The sail is to be fastened to this on one side, and then, with a paint-brush and a little dark brown or black paint, windows and doors may be added, following the pictures in the book. Some windmills might be white, some brown, some gray, with sails to match. In the center of the room there should be one huge windmill, if possible; this could have a framework put up by a carpenter, and the out- side could then be covered with gray paper cam- bric and the sails made of laths tacked into shape and covered with gray paper; or, they 101 FAIRS AND FETES could be made of pasteboard. If there is elec- tricity in the hall a small motor attached to the sails within the windmill proper would make them go around, and this would be a most de- lightfully realistic touch. A small boy inside could serve as motor if there happened to be no electricity at hand. There are advertisements bearing Dutch pic- tures which may be used to decorate the walls of the room ; large posters can often be had by writing to the manufacturers and asking for them. These serve the double purpose of carry- ing out the Dutch effect on the walls and also suggesting the proper costumes for the sales- women to wear. Books on Holland, however, will probably give different head-dresses which it is well to copy for variety. " The Gate of the Netherlands " or Penfield's book on Holland are both excellent. Everything in the rooms should be in blue, white and yellow. The table-covers might be white, the sides draped in blue. On top, edging each table, must be long narrow boxes, such as envelopes come in, filled with sawdust, and in these are to be planted artificial yellow tulips made of paper, with green leaves. These are so easy to make that the saleswoman at each table may be responsible for her own. On some or all of these tables the tulips may be made with " bulbs " at the end of the stalks. These are 102 FAIRS AND FETES small articles for sale, tied up in brown crepe paper; any one paying a small sum may pull up his tulip and secure its bulb. These are to be of different value and appropriate to each table. Behind the edge of tulips on each table, either in the middle or at one end, will stand the wind- mill belonging to the table ; by a little thought, some one may keep touching the sails now and then, so that they will revolve; the effect of a whole roomful of revolving sails is extremely amusing. AU the articles for sale must be suggest- ive of Holland, the land of the windmill and the tulip. The first table might have on it utility goods, and under its large poster, bear- ing the girl in costume, could be its title : DUTCH WOODEN WARE, SAUCEPANS AND SHOES Sell at this table small copper saucepans, ramekins and chafing-dishes ; wooden bowls, roll- ing-pins, clothes-pins, brooms, iron-holders, and the like. By sending to a city shop which makes a specialty of fancy articles, or inquiring in any large department-store it will be possible to get wooden things to decorate — placques, bread- 103 FAIRS AND FETES trays, small tables and similar things. Wooden shoes of small size can also be bought, and these are decidedly interesting and salable. THE CHINA TABLE This may be filled with the imitation Delft which comes now in all sorts of table-ware, plates, cups and saucers, dishes of all sizes and bowls; it is cheap and, as it is decorated with windmills and Holland scenes, it is just the thing to offer at this bazaar. THE CHOCOLATE TABLE Chocolate is one of the Dutch staples, and it may be sold here in all possible variety. Have cooking-chocolate in packages, cocoa in tins, sweet-chocolate for eating, mice and other small animals in chocolate; let this be the real candy table, also, and sell all sorts of caramels, fudge and bonbons made with chocolate. Of course there must be an nm of hot chocolate to sell by the cup, to be served with whipped cream. THE DUTCH CAKE TABLE Have a screen drawn across a comer of the room at the side of this table and behind it have a small gas or kerosene stove with a griddle; here let some one fry small light cakes, roll them up after buttering them and cover them with 104 " Chocolacte ma^ Idc sold here in all possible varieties' r5) THE CHOCOLATE TABLE. FAIRS AND FETES powdered sugar mixed with cinnamon ; serve on small hot plates at an outside table. These are the cakes sold at all fairs in Holland, and will prove a welcome novelty. Sell spice-cakes, also, and all sorts and sizes of crullers and doughnuts, and small cakes covered with choco- late-icing. DUTCH CAPS AND APEONS are to be on the next table. Have over this a picture of the Queen of Holland in her national dress and little cap. Sell aprons with cross- stitch borders of blue and white, gingham and maid's aprons, nurse's and waitress' caps, baby's caps for winter and summer, and small knit shoulder shawls. DUTCH PLOWEE TABLE The last table of all will be the one most at- tractive. It is the Dutch Flower Table. Here are to be sold potted plants raised from bulbs, such as grow in Holland. Tulips, narcissi of all kinds, hyacinths and jonquils; Chinese lihes may also be offered, growing in pebbles and water in shallow bowls. Bulbs might also be sold ; window-boxes filled with growing pansies or daisies would be charming. The poster over this table should be merely a picture of great tvdips in a long box. 105 FAIRS AND FETES THE FESTIVAL OF BOOKS This fair may be carried out with other booths besides those suggested, or it may be a simple affair, with only half a dozen. The pos- sibilities for developing a fair of this sort are wide, for there are many books which will sug- gest quaint costuming for those in charge of the booths as well as appropriate articles to be sold. The fair should be given in a good-sized room, made attractive with bunting, tall lamps and posters. Over the cashier's desk, near the main entrance, may hang the title of Charles Reade's novel, "Hard Cash." Booth I., " Romola," should be suggestive of Italy, and especially Florence, where the scene of George Eliot's delightful story is laid. Use bright-colored silks and Italian ilags in con- structing the booth, and let Romola, a fair blonde in white classic dress, Tessa, short, dark and plump, in peasant costume, and the monk, Savonarola, in monastic costume and cowl, sell small plaster casts, silk scarfs, strings of beads, embroidery, sofa-pillows of bright silk and small fancy articles. Prints will also sell well here, copies of the old masters especially, and colored views of Venice, and the like. They 106 FAIRS AND FETES may be mounted on cardboard or have home- made passe-partout frames. Booth n., " Vanity Fair," is arranged as an old-fashioned parlor of about the year 1815, the time of Waterloo. Amelia Sedley, Becky Sharp, old Miss Crawley and other characters from Thackeray's novel, dressed as they are de- scribed in the book, sell handkerchiefs, fans, per- fumery, picture-frames, bric-a-brac, candle- sticks and fancy work. Booth III., " The Dutch Republic," is deco- rated in yellow, blue and white, and the sales- women wear Dutch peasant costumes with little caps and large ear-rings. They may sell blue and white embroidery, dolls in Dutch costumes, all sorts of caps and aprons, inexpensive articles in brass and cheap blue china. In a comer near the booth a number of pretty girls in the well- known costume of La Chocolatiere may serve chocolate and little crullers at small tables. Booth rV., " Robinson Crusoe," will interest some of the older boys of the church, who will be glad to assist in preparing the booth, making 107 FAIRS AND FETES a house either of small logs, or of bark and branches on a foundation of bean poles. Rob- inson Crusoe himself, in a fur cap and pioneer dress, assisted by Friday, well tattooed and lightly dressed in skins, sells fish-poles, hooks and lines, and all kinds of sporting goods. " UNLEAVENED BREAD " Booth v., " Unleavened Bread," is arranged as a modem parlor presided over by Selma and the woman's club, with which she was identified in the novel by Robert Grant. Cakes are to be sold here, and pies, cookies, preserves, and the like. Afternoon tea also should be served. Booth VI., " Ramona," should be suggestive, as far as possible, of the missions of southern California and Mexico. The wares offered for sale may be considered sufficient decoration. The saleswomen may dress as Indians and offer inexpensive pottery, pretty baskets, beads, blankets and small Navajo rugs, if these can be obtained on commission. " LITTLE WOMEN " AN] Booth VII., "Little Women" and "Little Men," is served by the four March sisters 108 FAIRS AND FETES with Laurie to assist. They will sell toys, school-supplies, dolls and everything suitable for boys and girls. If possible, have the booth suggest the little brown cottage in which the Marches lived. Booth VIII., " The Earthly Paradise," is to serve the double purpose of selling flowers and candy. Make it a sort of bower of palms, vines and ferns, and sell potted hyacinths, violets, narcissi and lilies-of-the-valley. Arrange these on the table and between the plants have candy in boxes and in bulk. In attendance at this booth may be pretty girls in attractive summer costumes. Booth IX., " Treasure Island," is the grab- bag. The boys of the church may manage this booth as well as the one already assigned to them. They can easily put up a stockade of old boards, and Silver may hand out " treasures " over the top from a pile of small articles heaped out of sight. Booth X., " Reveries of a Bachelor," is given to the charge of the young men of the church 109 FAIRS AND FETES or the men's club. Neck-ties, scarf-pins, small purses, handkerchiefs, pipes, boxes for collars and cuffs, and shaving mirrors find a place here. Have the booth suggestive of a den, such as college men and bachelors appreciate. A COLONIAL FETE A charming little colonial fete may be given ( in this month, on the order of a progressive sup- per, accompanied by an entertainment. No ordinary articles sold at a bazaar are to be, offered, but refreshments served at the booths are so arranged as to form a bill of fare which may be purchased in more or less elaborate meals. Small tables are placed at the booths, and the courses served at each in turn. The room is divided into thirteen parts, and those in attendance are dressed in costumes ap- propriate to the colony in which they serve. The girls of the southern colonies, for instance, should be in gowns of thin material with mob caps ; those of Pennsylvania in Quaker dress ; those of New England in Puritan costume, while Dutch maidens may serve in the New York booth. Decorate the booths with flags made of cheese-cloth, following the original designs of 110 FAIRS AND FETES the colonies, copies of which may be found in an illustrated United States history. At the first booth, which is Maryland, either oysters, clams or crabs might be served with bread and butter. In place of this, as May is rather late for shell fish, creamed chicken may be served, as Maryland is famous for its poultry. Following this in the order of the meal will be II., Rhode Island, cranberries; III., Virginia, sliced ham ; IV., North Carolina, rice-cakes ; v., South Carolina, sweet potatoes; VI., Penn- sylvania, Indian corn-bread; VII., New York, doughnuts and cheese ; VIII., Connecticut, pie ; IX., Massachusetts (Boston), tea; X., New Jersey, cider; XI., Delaware, grape-juice; XII., New Hampshire, maple sugar (or maple candy) ; XIII., Georgia, is to furnish the eve- ning's entertainment, an informal minstrel show, with guitars and banjos. "THE MISTLETOE BOUGH" A delightful entertainment may be given in the evening, by presenting " The Mistletoe Bough," by Thomas Haynes Bayly, in tableaux vivants, with the verses of the poem read aloud to accompany the scenes. (The poem, which is well known, may be found in any cyclopedia of 111 FAIRS AND FETES English literature.) A large stage will be nec- essary, with footlights. I. — Christmas decorations of holly and ever- green are hung about the walls of the ban- quet-hall, which forms the setting of the first act. " The baron's retainers were blithe and gay. And keeping their Christmas hoUday." A minuet is danced to music, the bride, in wedding dress and veil, and the bridegroom being the principal figures. II. — The second scene presents the same setting as the first. The bride, leaving the as- sembly, runs away. '"I am weary of dancing now, ' she cried; ' Here tarry a moment — I'll hide— I'll hide.' " III. — A brief scene follows, not given in the poem, but necessary to fill out its story. There is a darkened attic, full of old boxes, furniture; spinning-wheels, and the like ; in the middle a large chest. The bride comes softly in with a lighted candle in her hand. She tries various hiding-places and finally opens the chest, steps slowly in, blows out the candle and gradually lets down the lid upon herself. rV. — The fourth scene is the banquet-hall as before. While the music, which continues 112 FAIRS AND FETES throughout the whole production, plays quietly, the guests pass in and out, consulting in pan- tomime and expressing their inability to find the missing bride. V. — In the next act the bridegroom appears as an old man, surrounded with children who watch him and seem to say in the words of the poem, "See! the old man weeps for his fairy bride." VI. — The last act shows the attic again. A group of young people, in comparatively mod- em dress, are searching through the attic, pull- ing out old-fashioned bonnets and hats, old gowns and books, and laughing at their quaint appearance. One of the young men finally raises the lid of the chest, and while the others start in terror, he lifts out a skull, its lines par- tially concealed by the ragged remnants of a lace wedding veil. AN INDOOR GARDEN PARTY A novel fair for April which will bring in good financial returns, is an indoor garden party. To arouse interest in the affair, put up large posters about the town with a colored sketch of a pretty girl in a summer frock and a broad shade hat, raking in a little garden 113 FAIRS AND FETES fringed with hollyhocks. The party should be held in a large room decorated with green paper streamers and artificial flowers. All the sales- women are dressed like the girl on the poster with hats made of crepe paper. Everything for sale is to be suggestive in some way of flowers, gardens and summer-time. Although this fair comes so early in the season, it will be found perfectly simple and practical to carry out the ideas. Each booth is to be decorated with a different kind of paper flower, and the saleswomen are to be dressed in colors which correspond. THE ROSE BOOTH is the fancy-work table, and may be made very attractive. The articles for sale should be made principally of flowered ribbon, dimity and cre- tonne. Sachets, boxes for handkerchiefs, babies' quilts, calendars, rose-painted dinner-cards, sofa- pillows, scrap-baskets, bags of all kinds, pin- cushions, cretonne desk-sets and tea-trays, and aprons made of rosebud dimity may be sold. Perfumery also will find a place here. Those in charge wear roses in all shades from pink to deep crimson. THE DAISY AND BUTTERCUP BOOTH Cake and candy are sold here. All the cakes should be novelties. A beautiful daisy cake is 114 FAIRS AND FETES made by icing lady-fingers and arranging them like petals around a small cake iced in yellow. Several of these might decorate the table. Numbers of small cakes baked in scalloped patty-pans may be made easily to resemble but- tercups, by covering them with yellow icing and marking off the top to suggest petals. Large cakes iced in white may have decorations of little yellow candies arranged like wreaths of buttercups around the edge. Orange and lemon layer cakes and yellow sunshine and sponge cakes may also be in evidence, and cookies cut out with flower-shaped cutters. Candy in flowered boxes is a feature of this booth. Very pretty boxes can be easily made by covering plain one and two pound boxes with wall-paper. All sorts of candy may be sold, but yellow and white should be most conspicuous on the table. THE SUNFLOWER BOOTH Decorate this booth with artificial sunflow- ers on stalks about three feet high. These may be made by wrapping sticks with green crepe paper, and as this is rolled on, green paper sunflower leaves are slipped in. Put the plants, when finished, in flower-pots and make a row of them, simulating a hedge, across the front of a large booth. Sell watering-cans, rakes, hoes, trowels, all kinds of vegetable and flower seeds, 115 FAIRS AND FETES and give to every purchaser a catalogue, which will be donated by any seed-house on request. Those in charge should wear practical gingham dresses and pretty little sunbonnets. THE POPPY BOOTH has flowers for sale. In April there is excellent opportunity for selling individual pots of spring flowers. Tulips, hyacinths and narcissi may be bought for a small sum, the pots deco- rated with paper and ribbon, the colors match- ing the flower, and these will sell readily at double their original cost. Potted ferns, china, glass and brass jardinieres, vases, bowls and green pottery dishes for the dining-table will all be found salable. This booth may be arranged like a large latticed summer-house by erecting supports at the corners of a table shaped like a hollow square, with a strip of wood running around the top. Tack broad white tapes across the sides, from the supports. THE LETTUCE - BED Make large heads of lettuce of green tissue paper, twisting them into shape. Fasten to the root of each one a little prize package. Ar- range the lettuce in rows as though growing in a bed. Presiding over it should be Mistress Mary Quite Contrary, with a watering-pot in 116 FAIRS AND FETES her hand. Each purchaser has the privilege of selecting a head of lettuce from the bed. In addition to these booths there may be one where garden hats are trimmed to order. Cheap broad-brimmed straws can be bought at whole- sale for a very small sum and also boxes of milliners' flowers. Some clever girl can fasten on quickly sprays of roses or daisies, using large pins for the purpose. These hats will be found effective and salable, and the customer can put in the required stitches easily at home. One side of the room may be arranged to represent or suggest a broad piazza, with rock- ing-chairs, tea-tables, hammocks and Japanese lanterns. Refreshments might be served here — lemonade, tea, cakes and ice-cream. If an entertainment is desired for the evening, a flower cantata can be obtained from any good music-store. Write to the music-store for cata- logues and descriptions. HER BUSY DAY A simple little bazaar which can be used in the afternoon as well as the evening is called " Her Busy Day." It requires five booths or tables; or, the room may merely be divided into five parts without putting up booths. 117 FAIRS AND FETES THE MORNING TOILET Booth I. — Those in charge are dressed in shirt-waists, negligees or pretty morning frocks. They should sell brushes and combs, wash-cloths, soap, embroidered towels, tooth- powder, sponges, sponge-bags, toilet silver, hair-pins and perfumery ; also inexpensive breakfast sets of china on little trays, and morning jackets. Booth II. — The saleswomen should wear working dresses of gingham, with sleeves rolled up, and large aprons and sweeping-caps. They sell brooms, broom-bags, brushes, dust-pans, dust-cloths, bags, aprons and iron-holders. School-supplies also may find a place here — slates and pencils, pads, pens, stationery, pen- cil-boxes and rulers. Choose these in attractive but inexpensive sorts. THE NOON - HOTJK. Booth III. — A large comer of the room should be reserved for this, and a hot luncheon served at small tables, or ice-cream, chocolate, coffee, tea and cake may be sold. 118 FAIRS AND FETES THE AFTERNOON Booth rV. — Pretty girls in afternoon cos- tumes are to sell books, magazines, sofa-pillows, card-cases and fancy work, embroidery-silks and patterns. An attractive plan would be to have them serve tea without charge, and put the salable goods on small tables here and there so that they can be easily looked over. One variety of goods on each table would be the best arrangement. EVENING Booth V. — Arrange this booth like a par- lor with sofas and easy chairs, and have it lighted with attractive shaded lamps and can- dles. Young women dressed in light and pretty evening dresses act as hostesses and sell lamps, candlesticks and shades, candy, lemonade, cakes, popular music, games and flowers. A FAIR FOR EASTER -TIDE Usually the ceiling of an assembly room is supported here and there by pillars ; these, for this affair, are to be transformed into trees. A quantity of light, slender boughs are to be ob- tained, such as grow on willow-trees or birches. 119 FAIRS AND FETES Four of these are to be fastened to each column with wire, the lower part being wound tightly against the pillar and the branch then bent in place. The trunk of the imitation tree is to be wound with brown crepe paper put on rather roughly, to resemble bark, and fastened at the bottom securely with more wire. On the boughs are to be fastened numbers of small paper flowers, giving the effect of apple-blossoms. Small circles of paper may be cut out by the dozen by folding the paper; when these are drawn through the hand they make very good blossoms with no further preparation. These blossoms may be pinned on the boughs and in- terspersed here and there with bits of green foliage. If there are no pillars to be used, plant small dead trees in tubs covered with paper, and fasten the flowers on the boughs as before. Or, if there are columns, but rather too far apart to make an effective orchard, use both the tubs and the columns, and fasten the branches rather high up on the latter. On each side of the room have three or four booths or good-sized tables with uprights at each of the four ends and narrow strips of wood connecting them. On the sides of these booths and extending on each side in a narrow strip, make a lattice, either of green or white tape, tacked on the strip of wood at the top, 120 FAIRS AND FETES and from there down to the table; this may be put on in diagonals or in squares, the lat- ter being perhaps the prettier fashion. On this lattice fasten lightly here and there a few delicate vines and flowers made of paper, and cross others over the top of each booth. The back will, of course, be open, but it is a good plan to have a green-covered screen drawn across. From the front row of vines drawn across the top of each booth hang some artificial butter- flies on black thread. Embossed, highly-colored ones can be bought in sheets at a stationer's or they may be made of paper and painted on both sides. Have the strings of different lengths, so the butterflies will seem to be hovering in the air at varying heights. Have larger butterflies fastened to the sides of the gas-globes, and let a few drop on threads from the boughs of the trees. Use the butterflies wherever it can be managed in the room and around the booths. I. — At one booth sell only little ferns or small palms in pots and fern-dishes for the table, ready filled. On each of these fasten a colored butterfly with a bit of wire so that it will seem to have just alighted there. n. — At a second booth sell potted plants in blossom: small rose-bushes, pansies in little 121 FAIRS AND FETES wicker baskets, pots of growing violets, tulips and hyacinths, and little earthen jars of Eng- lish daisies. Do not have expensive plants, but small ones of color and perfume which sell easily. On each plant have two or more butter- flies fastened to the blossoms. III. — At a third booth sell candy in baskets with butterfly bows tied to each one; have, also, some boxes covered with white paper, with butterflies sketched on in colors or pasted on. IV. — At a fourth booth sell shades for lamps and candles made of white paper, with butter- flies painted or pasted on; light this table with shaded candles of this sort. Have dinner-cards, also, painted with butterflies, and get all the fancy articles possible with the same device. Sell butterfly bows of ribbon, to be used in fancy work or on hats, and butterfly holders for tea-pots, screens for gas-globes and fancy china decorated with butterflies. V. — At the fifth booth sell hat-boxes. Some time before the bazaar call a meeting of those who are to have charge of this booth and let them bring from home all the old pasteboard hat-boxes they have, and with large flowered wall-paper and some paste let these be covered alike. If they are firm and neatly covered they will meet with a ready sale. 122 FAIRS AND FETES VI. — At the sixth booth sell Easter cards and Easter eggs. The latter may be of paste- board decorated with butterflies and made to open ; these are useful to hold little Easter gifts. Some eggs may be more elaborate, cov- ered with silk or satin ; some may be of candy and chocolate; some may be arranged in nests, others in baskets, or in little crates filled with excelsior. There might be a few baskets of real new-laid eggs packed daintily in moss for invalids. Sell also bunnies and little downy chickens. VII. — At the back of the room build a real English dairy. Have four strong supports put up for the corners, and nail laths across here and there to hold them in place. Make a pointed roof of lath, also. In front cut out a couple of windows and a door. When the outline of the house is finished tack large sheets of gray paste- board all over it, except, of course, the door and window space. The roof should be covered with a thatch. This is easily done, as the effect is all that is necessary, and clean bright straw laid on thickly in even rows and tied with cord drawn underneath the roof is quite sufficient. Any one who has ever seen a thatched roof, or even the picture of one, can make it. Inside the windows put white curtains and a few pots of red geranium. For a door, use one 123 FAIRS AND FETES meant for a netting, tack pasteboard on the frame and hang it with hinges to a post inside. When the house is all done, draw strings up from floor to roof here and there, and on them fasten little vines and flowers. Inside the house have abundant supplies of English refreshments. Waitresses, dressed as dairy-maids should serve customers at little tables set on the " lawn " near the door. Ap- propriate refreshments will include milk, orange-marmalade, toast, sandwiches, English muffins, cream cheese, honey, raspberry-jam, cream, cake, brown bread and butter, and buns. The dairy-maids should dress with short full skirts of print, some turned up and some with aprons ; their sleeves should be rolled up and they should wear mob caps over the hair. Low shoes with large buckles will complete the cos- tume. Near the dairy may be a well, built of stones and moss. In it is to be a shallow tub of lemon- ade which is dipped up by a cup fastened on the end of a long sweep. A man with an English smock frock (which is merely an all-enveloping white apron), and wearing a soft felt hat, should have a real push- cart and bell, and go about the room peddling vanilla or strawberry ice-cream. For a grab-bag for this bazaar have some- thing quite in keeping with the whole idea, an 124 FAIRS AND FETES English goose-girl with a tame goose. The girl is to sit on a low three-legged stool near a cur- tain. The " goose " is merely the arm and hand of another girl behind the curtain, with a long white stocking pulled up smoothly and fastened to the shoulder, making a flexible neck for the goose; its head is her hand; a hole is cut in the toe and sewed so it will not rip, and through this her thumb and forefinger, covered with bright yellow kid, come out in a bill which can snap and pinch and hand packages. The eye is painted in black on the side of the head. There is a hole in the curtain, and the neck and head are put in and out. The goose-girl receives the money paid in, putting it in a basket in her lap ; then she begs the goose for a package, talking to it as though it were an " educated " bird ; the goose re- sponds, sometimes by handing a package out at once through the hole, sometimes at first merely by poking its head out, snapping and hissing. The children will hugely enjoy this bird. 125 PART IV FAIRS AND ENTERTAINMENTS FO SUMMER A FESTIVAL OF TRAVEL Divide the room into two parts. The first, nearer the entrance, is the railway station, and this should have everything characteristic in it. At one side stands a truck piled with trunks and suit-cases ; near this is a well-covered news- stand, a booth with supports in front and a crosspiece hung with all sorts of illustrated newspapers and magazines. On the table be- neath are sold picture postals, pencils, pads, tags and folders of different railways ; the lat- ter wiU be given to any one asking for them at a real railroad office. At another booth should be candy, some in boxes, some in open glass dishes ; soda-water might also be sold here, or lemonade, ginger- ale and pop. There should be also peanuts and popped com. If any one could rent or borrow one of the machines for the hot nuts or corn, this would be decidedly attractive. A weighing- machine must stand at one side, with some one to manage it, and there should also be a machine for gum and chocolate, such as are common everywhere now. A boy with a real stand should black boots at ten cents a pair, and another boy, 129 FAIRS AND FETES with an armful of novels and magazines, should call out that none will be sold on the train, so all should buy immediately. Bells should ring at intervals, and a man with a moderate-sized megaphone should call trains and the number of the tracks on which they are supposed to arrive all the time during the eve- ning. The most attractive thing about this station is the realistic refreshment-counter. Have a long wooden table set out exactly like those in real railroad stations, with plates of cut pies, sandwiches wrapped in paper, glass stands of cake, piles of fruit, hard-boiled eggs, cold meats, sponge-cakes and lady-fingers ; over each plate, except the cake-stands, put wire screens, round and low, for covers ; over the cake put glass covers ; probably these may all be rented at the railroad station for one evening. Have also large urns with hot coffee and tea, and pitchers of milk. Put stools in front of the counter, dress some girls like waitresses and serve the refreshments rapidly, giving all the appear- ances of actual hurry. Use punched checks and pay to a cashier with a cash register. Between this station and the rest of the room have a ticket office and sell round-trip tickets to half a dozen foreign places. Have also a trunk-shop close by, with suit-cases, bags, money purses and bags, luncheon and tea bas- 130 FAIRS AND FETES kets, and everything a traveler will need on a long trip. A good background for this booth is a pile of steamer-trunks and suit-cases, bags and shawl-straps, even a bandbox or two. I. — One booth should have over it the word Paris. Here are to be sold little nicknacks specially associated with that place ; fans, per- fumery, initialed handkerchiefs, a few pairs of gloves, picture-frames, toilet silver, odd pin- cushions, cuff-links, hatpins and small fancy clocks. There might also be a flower market, similar to those seen in Paris, at one side of this booth, where plants in bloom are sold. II. — If the Dutch festival has not been held already, the next stopping-place would be Am- sterdam, and here would be all sorts of Dutch china in blue and white, brass and copper, wooden ware, chocolate, Dutch cheeses, dough- nuts and crullers; and the saleswomen, of course, wear the always attractive Dutch cos- tumes. m. — Next would be Nuremberg. Over this booth put up a sharply-pointed pasteboard roof, cut on the edges in regular steps, sug- gesting the roofs of the real city. Here have the saleswomen In the dress of German peasants, with short full skirts, chemisettes and black bodices, and braided hair coiled flat on the head. Sell all sorts of dolls, carts with wooden horses, engines and cars, doll clothes, furniture for doll 131 FAIRS AND FETES houses, boats, mechanical animals and every sort of toy. rV. — After this would come a side trip to the East — Constantinople. Do not have any table for this, but arrange a sort of cozy cor- ner of draperies and pillows, and let several men in Turkish costume of full trousers and blouses of red and yellow, with fez caps, sell Turkish coffee in tiny cups, and oriental goods. These latter must be bought in the city, but they are all cheap and may be sold at a slight advance on the price paid. There may be em- broideries, cushions, leather trays, striped silk sashes, hangings, yellow and green pottery, strings of beads, brass bowls and leather slip- pers with pointed toes and tassels. V. — Tokio might come next, with sales- women dressed in kimonos and sashes, and hair dressed high with many pins. The booth could have a pointed top, and some gongs and other oriental goods could be suspended. For sale would be, of course, blue and white china cups and saucers, the newer pale green undecorated ware, vases, purses and bags, straw baskets and mats, embroideries, umbrellas, picture-frames and Japanese prints. Tea could be served in Japanese cups, with rice-wafers, crystallized fruits and nuts. All these may be bought at any Japanese shop. In place of this booth, Shanghai could be represented, and Chinese 132 FAIRS AND FETES men and women could sell the goods of their country, which would not be dissimilar to those suggested. VI. — Another booth, which would certainly be novel, might be one with a poster declaring it to be Manila. This should be served by men and boys in khaki, with perhaps a hospital nurse with a red cross on her arm assisting, and a few natives, in white costumes with browned faces and hands and braided hair. Here could be sold oranges and bananas, shells, beads made into strings and bags, little canoes of wood, pictures of the islands, carved picture-frames, miniature rifles, soldier dolls and the little brown dolls representing savages. The nurse might sell hospital supplies: rolls of bandages, absorbent cotton, ice-bags, hot-water bags, caps and aprons. To make it still more effective, her part of the booth might be an open tent, with a narrow bed in the background. A VENETIAN FETE In the vicinity of almost any town there is some sort of water, either a river, a lake, a pond, or some small stream, and any one of these will do to use in this festival. Prepare for it by borrowing all the small boats and canoes to be had and collect these at one spot which 133 FAIRS AND FETES is easy of access. A little pier or landing may have to be constructed and poles driven near by to which the boats may be fastened. One capa- ble man should be engaged to take entire charge of the boats. See that all are clean and prepare a quantity of pillows of hay or excelsior covered with Turkey red; the members of the society might contribute two or more apiece, to save trouble. Put two in each boat. Have two supports six or seven feet high fastened in each boat, one at either end, and between them draw a heavy wire and twist it securely to the poles; from this suspend two Japanese lanterns and fasten them at places which will be symmetrical, either toward the center or at the ends of the boat. Hold the festival on an evening when there is no moon, or at least on one when the moon will not rise till late ; otherwise, the effect of the long line of lighted lanterns will be spoiled. At the place where the boats start, have a shelter or, perhaps, a part of the bank set apart, and while some will rent boats and imme- diately start out, others may remain behind for an hour or more. If this place is hung with plenty of lanterns and some simple refresh- ments are sold, such as strawberries and cream, with cake and lemonade, a sort of lawn-party can be held the entire evening. Ask half a dozen boys or girls who play on banjos, gui- 134 FAIRS AND FETES tars and mandolins to give their services for this affair ; some may play in the shelter, some on the water in a boat, and some on the island or bank at the end of the trip ; music is really essential to the success of the festival. The second landing-place, a quarter of a mile away, is, like the first, to be hung with lan- terns, and more refreshments are to be sold here. Ice-cream and cake or iced coffee with a spoon- ful of ice-cream in each glass and small cakes will be found refreshing on a hot night. From this point the boats return to the original starting place, and here the trip is paid for, as the hour of return is noted by the man in charge of the boats. If a river or small stream is available for this festival or if the pond is small enough to per- mit, the effect of the whole will be greatly im- proved if here and there Japanese lanterns are hung from trees, lighting the whole trip up and back on the water. One man in a small boat of his own should be responsible for all the lanterns, going to each, putting in new candles or putting out any blaze the wind may possibly cause. While this festival is so simple, it will be found that the sum raised will be surprisingly large, because the expenses are so small; the boats, if borrowed, will cost nothing, and the ice-cream, cakes and other refreshments may all 135 FAIRS AND FETES be home-made, each member of the society con- tributing her share. Probably the cost of the lanterns will be the only outlay. A POPPY AND SNOWFLAKE FAIR Where there is no water near a town, and this pretty festival is quite out of the question, try A Poppy and Snowflake Festival. Hold this in some large, airy room ; if necessary, rent a hall somewhere, but do not try to have it in a small, hot place, or it will lose half its charm. Ask every member of the society to contribute something white for this affair, and decorate the hall with white only. Put up long streamers of crepe paper and draw them up lightly from the edges of the ceiling to the center of the room, so that they will blow gently in the breeze from the open windows and give the place a delightfully cool look. Have six booths draped all in white, with sup- ports from the two front corners and a cross- piece; put a frill of white crepe paper across the latter and wind the posts with strips of the same thing. On the front of the top frill of the booth put a large bunch of scarlet artificial poppies, each bunch made by the saleswomen, to avoid trouble. Have two or three girls at 13® FAIRS AND FETES each booth dressed exactly alike, all with short, full gowns of pale, silvery-green paper, the color of poppy leaves, with scarlet aprons made to represent the petals of the poppies them- selves; each one is to wear a large paper hat of scarlet, trimmed with poppies. The combination of the poppy girls and the cool white booths is really lovely, and no particle of any color except the green, red and white must be admitted to the sale. I. — At the first booth have quantities of handkerchiefs of every quality and size, singly and in boxes of half-dozens. Do them up with narrow scarlet or pale green ribbons, and have only white paper to tie up these and all other parcels of the sale. II. — At the second booth sell pretty lin- gerie of all sorts; some may be folded and tied in shallow boxes, some sold loose; none should be very costly, but all very well made and at- tractive. III. — At the third booth sell white flowers ; lilies, snowballs, lilies-of-the-valley, white lilacs and anything obtainable. Have some pretty birch-bark boxes filled with growing ferns, also, and pots of ferns or small palms wrapped in white crepe paper and tied with scarlet or pale green ribbon. Some attractive white painted wicker pots with narrow gilt lines about the tops may also be used for jardinieres. 137 FAIRS AND FETES IV. — At the fourth booth sell table-napkins, towels, doilies, white cheese-cloth dusters, wash- cloths and white paper napkins tied up in doz- ens, for picnics. V. — At the fifth booth sell glassware ; pretty small dishes for bonbons, berry-bowls, glass candlesticks, individual salts, vases of all sizes and shapes, and tumblers in dozens and half- dozens. VI. — At the sixth booth sell white and pale green candy in the greatest variety ; there may be home-made white bonbons, some with nuts and some without, cream candy, nougat, sug- ared almonds and similar things, and, of course, all kinds of pistachio and other green candies. Have pretty white boxes and baskets with large scarlet and pale green bows tied on them, in which the more expensive kinds of candy may be put. Beside these booths have one part of the room set apart for refreshments and serve them at small tables covered with white, with a vase of artificial poppies on each one. The girls who wait here must wear the same poppy dress as at the booths and each table may have a menu-card decorated with poppies. Serve white ice-cream and cakes iced in white, white lemon or pineapple sherbet and lemonade in glass cups or a large punch-bowl. There is a very pretty white china decorated 138 FAIRS AND FETES in poppies which can be bought in large cities and a tableful of that would certainly be ap- propriate for this sale. There might be, also, a booth where nothing but lamp and candle-shades are sold, all made out of white paper decorated with poppies; wall-paper bought by the roll would be excellent for this purpose A booth where cakes only are sold could have any sort of cake iced in white to make its ap- pearance in keeping with everything else. Or, some cakes might have pistachio icing, or an edge of pistachio nuts might relieve the white top. Small cakes might be a specialty of this sale, some in white, some in green, some in white with the green nuts. A GIPSY ENCAMPMENT A unique way of raising money in summer is by holding for several days a Gipsy Encamp- ment. This affair should be held on a spacious lawn, or in a little park; or a field near the town may be used. Put up posters everywhere, for at least two weeks in advance, announcing it, and, if possible, sketch gipsies, tents and caravans on them in colors. As the main ob- ject of these posters is to awaken the interest 139 FAIRS AND FETES of the general public, it is well not to announce that any church or society is behind the en- campment, but leave this to be guessed. Have a girl dressed as the gipsy queen stand at the entrance of the grounds to take the small admission fee, and a swarthy man or two dressed in gay gipsy costume. Have tents here and there, borrowed or rented for the occasion, and on the first one, in letters cut from red cotton and basted on the canvas, should be, "CONSULT MADAME ZAZA, THE WONDERFUL CRYS- TAL GAZER FROM INDLA.." Madame, with her face colored brown and a gipsy dress of scarlet and yellow, with a hand- kerchief tied over her head, and plenty of beads and bangles, should be seen through the open tent door. Any good-sized ball of clear glass will serve for the " crystal," which is to rest on a small cushion on a table. After paying an admission fee the visitor seats himself at one side of the table and madame at the other, and she solemnly reads his future by gazing into the ball, in which pictures are supposed to appear. On another tent a sign may read, " Fortunes told by the famous Zingara, the Seventh 140 FAIRS AND FETES Daughter of a Seventh Daughter ! " A second gipsy, dressed Hke the first, reads palms for a silver coin. Clever girls can easily make money in these two tents by inventing promising fic- tions of great fortunes and political places for the men, and trips around the world, presenta- tions at court and the like for the women, with skilful references to past events in their lives or flattering suggestions as to character and abili- ties. The Romany astrologer, a man in startling oriental costume, may preside over a tent deco- rated with large signs of the zodiac in red and yellow. He should wear a long striped coat with colored sash and a peaked or conical red hat. After inquiring the month of one's birth, he consults a chart, tells the planet which pre- sides over one's nativity and, like the others, reads a brilliant future. In one large tent or booth the gipsy tinker sells tins, brown earthenware, and cooking uten- sils. Several other gipsies should mix with the crowd, selling from packs all small wares, but- tons, thread, shoe-strings, and the like. Pop- corn, peanuts and ice-cream may also be sold, as well as lemonade and candy of all kinds. Bags, aprons, simple fancy work and utility articles can be peddled in the same way. The supper should be served from a central booth, and if it is practicable to do so, have 141 FAIRS AND FETES bouillon in large kettles swung over regular gipsy fires, but do not sacrifice safety or com- fort to effect, for in some cases the fires will be found much more trouble than real use. The supper might consist of bouillon, sandwiches, salad, hot creamed chicken, ice-cream and cake, hot coffee and chocolate. The waitresses will, of course, dress in gipsy costume, wearing white blouses with round neck and short sleeves, dark skirts with bands of bright color around the hem, and a gay-laced bodice of velvet or more inexpensive stuff. They should wear large ear-rings — improvised from gilt curtain rings, perhaps — and head-dresses made of squares of flowered or striped silk draped picturesquely over the hair, which should be loosely put up. Long strings of bright beads are worn about the neck. If this encampment lasts several days, as it may easily be made to do, it will be found to be exceedingly remunerative, as there is such slight expense connected with it. A HIDDEN SUPPER An amusing way of raising money is to have a Hidden Supper. Invite all to attend at six o'clock on a certain day, insisting that those 142 FAIRS AND FETES who accept must send word by postal-card two or three days in advance to some one member of the committee in charge. The managers must prepare as many picnic suppers as are likely to be used, packing each one by itself in a paper box. Some one who has a large lawn, with plenty of shrubbery, flower-beds and trees, will lend it for the occa- sion, and it may be made beautiful with fes- toons of Japanese lanterns strung from tree to tree. On a porch of the house, behind a screen, tea and coffee may be prepared, to be served with the suppers. In the late afternoon have two or more bright girls hide the boxes of supper on the lawn, under the shrubbery, behind clumps of flowers, within the shelter of evergreens and in any other avail- able spot. As the guests arrive, each one pays a small sum on entering the gate, perhaps fifty cents, and proceeds to hunt for his supper. If a large number of people are to be present, it is a good plan to put two suppers in each box, and ask that each person attending shall have a partner to hunt with him. A number of extra suppers should be ready in case any boxes are not found, or if any guests come who have failed to send acceptances. While the suppers are being eaten on the grass, the lanterns may be lighted and a delightful lawn-party enjoyed during the evening. 143 FAIRS AND FETES A STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL In June a novel Strawberry Festival may be held, either in or out of doors. The charm of this affair lies largely in the decorations and in the dress of the pretty girls who serve the re- freshments. The room, or lawn, is hung with red paper festoons or streamers, and lanterns light it. The booths or tables are covered with white and trimmed with green and scarlet, and the girls dress to represent strawberries. They wear short full scarlet gowns, easily made of turkey-red cotton, cut with round necks, finished by points of green paper, turning down toward the waist, to suggest as nearly as possible the hull of a strawberry. On the head should be a little cap of red crepe paper like a berry, with another hull of green on the edge. Almost anything may be sold at the booths, the usual fancy work, utility articles and bric-a- brac, but the main idea of the festival should take precedence of all others. Strawberries, strawberry ice-cream, strawberry-shortcake, and strawberry-lemonade should be served at small tables, and the candy table should overflow with red and white candies. Shortcakes may take the place of the usual varieties offered at the cake table, and a feature of the evening may be a tableful of cunning little emery-bags made to 144 FAIRS AND FETES look like strawberries, which are certain to go at a good price. Giant strawberries made of tissue paper tied over three-inch cones of soft cotton, with a green paper cap and stem, may contain small whistles, penny dolls, strings of beads, anrl miniature toys of all kinds for the children. MARKET DAY AMONG ALL NATIONS This may be an indoor affair, or, with a little trouble, this really beautiful fete may be given out of doors, in any park or common in the center of town, or on a lawn. It is a good plan to hold it all day, preferably on Friday or Saturday, and to offer for sale as many kinds of food as possible, just as is customary in the real markets of Europe, held in the country towns by the peasants. The booths may be large tables, draped in the national colors of the lands represented. The saleswomen are to wear peasant dress, which may be inexpensively made up at home after the well-known models to be found in illustrated histories of the various countries. I. — The Swiss Booth offers honey as its food specialty, but has also cheap carved wooden salad-knives and spoons, embroidered 145 FAIRS AND FETES handkerchiefs, little clocks and pretty Swiss muslin aprons. The dress of the saleswomen has a full gathered skirt and large apron, white chemisette gathered into a round neck, black bodice laced with red, and elbow sleeves. They wear low shoes with buckles, full cap, and hair hanging braided in plaits. II. — The Swedish and Norwegian Booth offers cheap silver bangles, cuff-links, pins and beads ; also any kind of linen, drawn-work and centerpieces. A specialty might be aprons of scrim, embroidered in deep red and navy blue cross-stitch. The national dress is a striped gown reaching to the ground, a long apron, with colored embroidery across the hem, the usual chemisette and bodice, braided hair with a bow and a cap, and heavy low buckled shoes. III. — The German Booth offers pretzels for sale, stuffed sausages, rolls and coffee. This may also be the utility table, with bags, aprons, iron-holders and knitted goods on sale. The saleswomen wear full deep green and red skirts, with the same white chemisette and dark bodice which all, or nearly all, nations use in peasant dress. On the braided and coiled hair is a small flat cap with streamers. IV. — The French Booth has little pies, cakes and candy for sale. This table may be supplemented with one filled with pretty lin- gerie and fancy articles. The saleswomen wear 146 FAIRS AND FETES pink and white striped gowns, quite short, black bodices over chemisettes, coquettish little round frilled aprons and small caps. A Breton cos- tume, which is really also French, may be sub- stituted for this, if preferred. On the full skirt, rows of black ribbon or braid are placed from hem to waist horizontally, with a large white lace-trimmed apron. The chemisette is cut square at the neck, a high white cap with flow- ers is worn and a great many silver ornaments are used about neck and waist. The Breton women are famous knitters and lace-makers, and might off'er their own wares. V. — The English Booth is full of potted plants in bloom, and bunches of roses and lilies, gracefully tied with ribbons. Here, too, are offered for sale tea, cheeses, marmalades, hot muffins and tea-cakes, with milk and cream. The pretty saleswomen in print gowns, with rolled-up sleeves and little caps, may sell these delicacies at small tables at lunch-time. VI. — The Dutch Booth has crullers, cheese, rusks and doughnuts for sale, and serviceable fancy work in blue and white, with inexpensive blue and white plates and cups. The sales- women wear extremely full long skirts and large aprons, huge caps and gilt ear-rings. VII. — One booth may belong to several fish- wives, with bright turned-up skirts, rolled sleeves, colored handkerchief caps and nets 147 FAIRS AND FETES about the waist. They can easily sell fresh and canned fish, chowder, fish-cakes and any available fish food. FOR THE evening's ENTEKTAINMENT If any one can be found who understands something of the national peasant dances, a brilliant evening's entertainment might follow the day's market, with a supper served between. National music, which can be easily obtained, would make an enjoyable concert. Selections like the " Marseillaise," the " Wacht am Rhein," the Russian national hymn, the English " God Save the King," with familiar ballads and songs from the operas would be appropriate. There are so many well-known airs that there would be no difficulty in having a full program. 148 PART V LITTLE FAIRS FOR EVERY DAY A ROSE AUCTION A ROSE auction is a good way to raise money at any time during the winter, and it can be made a very gay and enjoyable occasion. A committee should purchase a quantity of tissue paper, wire, sticks, flower-pots, sawdust and other supplies. The tissue paper is portioned out to the members, each person using the same color: To one rose, another pink, another deep red, American beauty, yellow or white. From the paper are cut large rose petals which are folded into buds and blossoms, merely giving the effect of roses and not attempting to make the perfect flower, which requires an expert hand. Any one who can make a rose might have it ready in advance so that it could be used as a pattern, and thus save time in experi- menting. As the flowers are finished, two or three are fastened to long stiff stems, several green leaves are added and the stem wound with green paper. Then the rose-plant is fixed in an ordinary earthen flower-pot, the kind that can be purchased for a few cents at a florist's shop, sawdust or earth holding it in place. At the base of each plant a little package done up in 151 FAIRS AND FETES pink or green tissue paper is tied. In these packages are little five-cent gifts, a variety of which can be purchased at the Japanese and five-and-ten-cent stores. The auctioneer should read up in seed cata- logues and leam the favorite varieties of roses and their good points. He can then recommend them as hardy, as excellent bloomers, or as nota- ble for the number of blossoms on a single stalk. There will be a great deal of fun over this, and when people are amused they will buy more readily. The gifts tied to the plants should be merely hinted at, not described, to add interest in them and arouse curiosity. It would be a good plan to have some one start the bidding on each plant at the actual cost of paper, pot and gift, so that there will be no money lost on the sale of any of them. A ROSE, CAKE, AND CANDY SALE In connection with this auction a Cake and Candy Sale might be held. The booths for this should be decorated in pink with paper roses, and those in charge should wear pink dresses or white ones trimmed with pink ribbons, and large flower-decked hats. The candy should be pink, as far as possible; if more varieties are pre- ferred, it can be arranged on flat dishes with 152 FAIRS AND FETES fancy pink paper doilies. The candy-boxes should be wrapped in pink paper and tied with pink cord. The cakes will make a very attractive array in their pink rose booth, if all are iced in pink, or in white with candied rose petals laid on for decorations. One or two cakes might be cut to show a pink layer or pink icing between the layers. A few cakes iced in pale green, flavored with pistachio, or with green pistachio nuts on white icing, would be very pretty with the pink. For refreshments have pink and white ice-cream and small cakes with pink and white frosting and pink lemonade. A brief musical program would be enjoyable, or a varied arrangement, with readings, keep- ing to the general theme of flowers. A QUEEN ANNE PARTY A delightful afternoon or evening affair to raise money could be given by any one who has a large house. Cards should be sent out inviting the guests to a Queen Anne Costume Party. The rooms would be most attractive lighted only with candles, and the guests should come in costume, the ladies gowned in silks and satins over hoops, their hair rolled high and powdered, 153 FAIRS AND FETES a black " beauty spot " on their cheeks, repre- senting some character in " The Virginians," " Richard Carvel " or any other novel of the same period. If the party is in the evening, the men may come in knee-breeches, lace ruffles and powdered wigs, representing Garrick, Wal- pole, Sheridan, Fox, Addison, Swift, Burke and the Warringtons. Any illustrated English his- tory will help in suggestions besides the pictures and descriptions given in the novels of the time. For entertainment, cards or salmagundi (a variety of games), are provided, those playing paying a small fee. This latter arrangement is very enjoyable, the players progressing from one table to another. A CHAFING-DISH SUPPER A simple way of raising money is to have a chafing-dish supper. This sounds much more difficult to manage than it really is, for with a menu within the power of the ladies to prepare easily, it will be sure to be a success. Have a printer make some large posters to put up about the town, each with a picture of a smoking chafing-dish on it, and the words, " Chafing-Dish Supper on Monday Night. All Are Invited. Supper at Six. Admission Fifty Cents." 154 FAIRS AND FETES Plan a meal which will not be troublesome; have for the main hot course creamed oysters in the chafing-dish, with hot rolls, coffee, olives and pickles. Then have, perhaps, chicken-salad with sandwiches, and, last, ice-creams and cake. Set tables for eight or ten persons, and have two ladies in charge of each. On one end of each have a lighted um, if possible, holding the coffee, and a small table close by at the side, with cups and saucers. At the opposite end have a chafing-dish filled at the last moment with oysters ready creamed ; do not let any one try and prepare them at the supper-hour at the tables, but have a large quantity made up at once in the kitchen or, if there is no kitchen, in a room near by or behind a screen ; fill the chafing-dishes, and put hot water below in the second pans to keep them hot, and the oysters will be quite as good as though freshly cooked. On the table put the rolls, salad and other things of the kind, and let the ice-cream and other dishes of the last course be brought on as they are needed. Have two young ladies wait at each table. The two hostesses remain seated, one at each end of the table. If this menu seems too simple, or if for any reason oysters are not desired, have creamed chicken in the chafing-dish and let the salad be a fresh tomato or salmon. 155 FAIRS AND FETES A PACKAGE AUCTION After this supper there might be an informal little sale of some sort. A Package Auction is very amusing and little trouble to plan. Merely get all the members of the society each to con- tribute some one article from their homes, choosing anything of slight value. One might give a package of cereal, another an old bonnet, a third a cracked vase, the fourth a doll, and so on. Have all these done up in good-looking bundles, tied with white paper, ribbons or col- ored strings, and put the small things in bundles made large by many wrappings. Some small ones might have wax seals to make them look valuable. Pile all the packages on a table at one end of the room and let some one auction them off for small sums each. A great deal of fun may be occasioned if the auctioneer knows what is in each package. Or, simpler even than this, there could be a sale of home-made candy after the supper. Small tables could stand in one corner of the large room, and the large supper-tables could be quickly removed after the meal and the small ones brought forward. Some candy novelty might be offered, perhaps, especially delicious fudge made of new maple sugar. Or, there 156 FAIRS AND FETES might be maple wax, poured hot on blocks of ice and eaten while fresh. Or, stuffed dates, prunes and figs might have a prominent place. Almost anything, if it is new, will make this little sale a success. A CUP AND SAUCER SALE A little afternoon affair which will prove very pleasant and profitable is A Cup and Saucer Sale. Ask every one to contribute a cup and saucer, bringing it a day in advance of the sale to any home where the sale is to be held. A committee in charge should price them all, having most of them about twenty-five or fifty cents. On the day of the sale there should be a pretty tea-table in the room, with all the cups and saucers displayed near by ; after one is purchased it is taken to the tea-table and the buyer is served with tea in it. An attendant then takes the cup, washes it and wraps it up in tissue paper tied with narrow ribbon and re- turns it to the buyer. As there is no expense connected with the cups sold, the society should furnish cake and perhaps salted nuts or bon- bons with the tea. In place of the cup and saucer sale there might be a pincushion sale and every one might be invited to come for the afternoon and eve- 157 FAIRS AND FETES ning hours, men as well as women. Each woman is expected to contribute in advance one pin- cushion, and then to come and buy one, but, of course, there will not be enough to go around if men come also, so many must contribute two apiece. The cushions are all to be small, and none of them must cost over fifty cents, but they may be very different and attractive. Some may be made of embroidered linen over colored silk, the edges being buttonholed and tied with baby ribbon so the covers will slip on and off easily as they need to be laundered. Some may be of odd shapes, hearts or circles, with narrow lace edges ; some may be made to order, with initials and monograms worked on them. Several kinds of flowers may be success- fully imitated, especially pansies and roses, the cushion hidden under a flower cut from ribbon and sewed on top. Some could be fitted into little china or silver slippers and some into vases for hatpins. Or, this sale need not be confined altogether to pincushions, but sachets may be added, of every pretty sort, with a plentiful supply of the heart-shaped silk bags of delicate colors to be filled with orris and tucked inside the dress. Refreshments may be served at this sale, which will bring in a little sum. There may be ices or ice-cream in glass cups served on the porch at small tables. The cakes should all be 158 FAIRS AND FETES very light to go with these small portions. Little individual ones, called for this particular affair " pincushion cakes," would be popular. They may be made by baking them in little round or oblong tins, and icing each, some in white and some in pink. Tiny candies repre- senting pin-heads may be pressed into some of the " cushions." Lemonade, iced tea and fruit- punch may also be served from bowls in dif- ferent rooms where the tables are placed. A PHOTOGRAPHIC IDEA An easy way of earning money is to get some one to take a quantity of amateur photographs of the houses of some of the prominent citizens and their grounds ; also groups of children, and special features of the town, the park, the hall, the church, etc. These are to be well mounted on gray cardboard and shown from house to house by members of a special committee, who will take orders for them and deliver the finished pictures. AN EVENING WITH OUR FAVORITE AUTHORS This is an entertainment for the general pub- lic, with admission charged. 159 FAIRS AND FETES Begin by having music, vocal or instrumental. Then have a reading from Scott's " Ivanhoe," followed by Scotch ballads, " Over the Water to Charlie," " Annie Laurie," etc. Next might be a reading from Thackeray, perhaps from " Vanity Fair ; " such a selection as the Duchess of Richmond's ball on the eve of Waterloo would be good. Third, a selection from Dickens, perhaps Sam Weller's valentine, or the trial scene of Bardell versus Pickwick, from " Pickwick Papers." Fourth, a scene from George Eliot, such as the home life of the Garths from " Middle- march." Last, selections from Rudyard Kipling, " Soldiers Three " or a chapter from " Kim." Close with his songs, " Mandalay " and the " Recessional." A CHILDREN'S SALE This will prove an interesting novelty, for it is conducted entirely by children. They wear quaint costumes, such as are found in any book illustrated by Kate Greenaway or a modern edi- tion of Mother Goose. The little girls wear flowered muslins with long skirts to their ankles and short-waisted bodices with low neck and 160 FAIRS AND FETES sleeves, picturesque mob caps, or broad-brimmed hats tied down with ribbons under the chin. The boys wear long white trousers with high waist-line, and short dark blue jackets, unless the parts they take require special costumes. Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary is to have the flower booth. Little Boy Blue, calling attention to his wares by blowing a horn, may sell all kinds of toys. The Queen of Hearts, with a gilt paper crown on her head, may sell scalloped jelly-tarts and little cakes. Across one corner of the room is to be strung a low clothes-line on which The Maid will " hang out her clothes " — dusters, bags, and all sorts of utility articles. Jack Horner should have a table full of small pies to sell. Little Bo-Peep, with a crook taller than herself and a large woolly lamb under her arm, may wander about the audience asking every one for her sheep, and incidentally lead- ing the people to the different tables. Jack and Jill, with yokes on their shoulders, also walk about selling lemonade from small pails suspended from the yokes. Mother Goose man- ages the grab-bag. She should wear a large loose cotton frock, in which are cut dozens of slits with pockets underneath, with a toy or little prize in each. She may carry her goose under one arm and a basket on the other. The nickels and dimes she receives are to be dropped into the basket. By reference to a book of 161 FAIRS AND FETES Mother Goose rhymes, many other characters and suggestions may be found. A PENNY PARTY Still another easy way of raising money is by a Penny Party. Charge an admission of two or three pennies and have small tables with tri- fles to sell; cakes of soap, wash-clothes, tiny pin-cushions, iron-holders, dusters, little dolls, toys of all kinds and small portions of candy ; charge five pennies or ten pennies for each arti- cle. Have a table with large cakes cut in slices and small individual cakes, and serve tea with these, for so many pennies a cup. This idea can be carried out to any extent by having quantities of things which are more or less nov- elties to sell, and various kinds of refreshments, but all charges should be made in pennies only, thereby strictly keeping to the plan. A FAVORITE RECIPE CLUB A new way of raising a little money is to form a Favorite Recipe Club. This may be composed of as many members as desired, who meet in turn at different homes. After greet- 162 FAIRS AND FETES ings on arrival, the guests seat themselves about the dining-room table and the hostess concocts in their presence her favorite dish. This may be a chafing-dish creation, a salad, a cake or some- thing even more elaborate. After the cooking demonstration there may be music, a game of some sort or some other entertainment, and then the dish which has been prepared may be served, with other refreshments. Each member of the club is to pay twenty- five cents on joining, and ten cents for every meeting. The various recipes may be type- written and sold at the close of each meeting to the members, for a small sum. At the close of the season, souvenir cook-books might be pre- pared from these recipes and sold to the mem- bers of the club and others, by the hostess who entertains last. These cook-books may be either printed or type-written and a member who is artistically inclined could decorate the covers of these books with some appropriate design. A STORY CHAIN To raise a considerable amount of money with very little trouble, form A Story Chain, for a winter. A group of six women meet at the home of 163 FAIRS AND FETES one of them on an afternoon and one reads aloud a story, something worth listening to, like " The Toy Shop " or " The Man Without a Country " or any of the best short stories ; then tea is served and perhaps there is a little music. Each person present pays an admission fee of twenty-five cents. In turn each of the six guests gives a similar tea at her home and the same program is followed, and each of these guests in turn gives a tea; when this has been done three times, the " chain," which has be- come very large, comes to an end. LIVING PICTURES A really beautiful series of living pictures may serve for an evening's entertainment, and the admission charged should help fill the treas- ury. " Auld Robin Grey " is the poem to be chosen, and well-known Scotch ballads should be played softly between and during the tableaux. Or, before and after the pictures, the ballads might be sung, three or four in succession, and any soft, slow music be played with the pictures. I. The curtain rises on a large, bare room of a Scotch cottage; there should be a fire- place, table and chairs of wood, a spinning- wheel and some wooden stools or a chest. The 164 FAIRS AND FETES room is lit by candles on the mantel. Jeanie sits spinning when Jamie comes in ; she wears a pretty simple peasant dress in gray, and he has a flannel shirt open at the throat, knee breeches, a large felt hat in his hand. He gestures ap- propriately as he tells his story, while some one reads aloud very slowly and distinctly the second verse of the poem ; the scene shows the courting, the acceptance, and last, the final farewell, when Jamie goes to sea. II. The second picture shows the same room, but barer and poorer; the mother lies half raised on a cot bed ; the old father with his arm in a sling sits by the fire; the daughter is dressed more shabbily, and her face, like those of the parents, is pale; dejected, she sits near the wheel, when in comes Auld Robin Grey, made up to look seventy, with long gray hair, thin form, slightly bent. He greets the father and mother and then Jeanie, who half turns away from him. He draws up a chair and tries to talk with her, but she is unwilling to listen. III. The third picture is Jeanie alone; she looks from the window at the back, then wrings her hands and walks about, showing that she fears Jamie is dead. IV. The fourth picture is the same room, the parents urging Jeanie to accept Robin ; she finally gives him her hand, crying softly, and the parents show gratitude. 165 FAIRS AND FETES V. The fifth picture shows another room, handsomely furnished in old-fashioned style, with mahogany, many candles, carved chests or whatever can be procured in keeping with the date ; Jeanie, handsomely dressed in satin, wan- ders about ; presently the door slowly opens and Jamie stands there, thin, pale and distressed; Jeanie flies to him and clings while the last verse but one of the poem is read; then she sends him away. VI. The final scene shows her sitting alone by her wheel, but looking away out of the win- dow, with her hands clasped in her lap; the same room as before. In order not to have the evening a sad one, follow this set of lovely pictures with ballads which are gay, the old Cavalier songs and the Scotch songs of Burns. PATCHWORK QUILTS One delightful fact to be counted upon to-day is the revival of patchwork quilts. People with summer homes, or, indeed, with any kind of homes, are anxious to get the pretty old-fash- ioned spreads for their bedrooms. Those who know the patterns and can teach them, should be able to make and sell large numbers of these 166 FAIRS AND FETES charming things. They must, however, be made not of any sort of cahco, but of attractive sorts, and the patterns must be of the well-known kinds. Besides these, little spreads for children's beds are always in demand, blue with white animals cut out and appliqued on, and a paler blue with scarlet birds ; Mother Goose spreads are charming, too, the figures in colors on a pale background. Creeping rugs are also de- sirable, especially those made of heavy dark blue woolen with scarlet figures of birds or ani- mals appliqued on the border. A BUFFET LUNCHEON Have a committee decide upon what to serve at the luncheon, perhaps clam-broth or bouillon first; then cold meat, salad, rolls and coffee; then ice-cream and cake or pies. They will go to everybody and ask what they will promise to give. A small sum may be advanced to purchase anything that is lacking. If possible, rent from a caterer two large coffee-boilers of plated silver with lights under them, and have these on one long table in the parlors the day of the luncheon, one filled with coffee and the other with the clam-broth. 167 FAIRS AND FETES Arrange plates of sandwiches, bowls of salad, cold meat, buttered rolls and cake on this same table ; behind a screen or in another room have arrangements made for washing the dishes as they are used and bringing them back. Then lay small tables near the large one and ask some one person to take charge of each table, both to lay it prettily and serve it. Have a plainly-written menu-card on each small table, and let the guests seat themselves and order what they wish ; the one in charge goes to the large table and gets what is required and serves it; at the close of the meal she pre- sents the check, to be paid to the treasurer who sits near the door; then the table is rapidly relaid and is used again at once. 168