Breakfasts and teas

want it fully appreciated. Have a sharp knife and cut the melons at the table (for it is such a decorative fruit), and use only white dishes and flowers. Let each guest count the seeds in the piece or pieces and give a souvenir to the one having the largest number. A pretty prize and appropriate is to procure a very small and symmetrical melon, cut off the end, hollow out and line with oiled paper, fill with bonbons and tie the end on with broad pink satin ribbon. If expense is no object, have a quartet of colored singers with banjos concealed and let them sing good old plantation songs for an hour or two, not forgetting "Den, oh, dat watermelon." Grape juice is a good drink to serve this party. Have the tumblers half filled with finely cracked ice. Breakfasts and Teas 89 CHAPTER X. Unique Ideas for Tea. A Chocolatiere. A chocolatiere is a pretty affair. The decoration is an immense mound of bride roses in the center of the dining room table. The refreshments are baskets of chocolate ice cream filled with whipped cream. The cakes are chocolate squares. The candies are all chocolate and cream, and hot chocolate is served. Chocolatieres are very popular entertainments for young girls and for matrons. They are given in the morning or afternoon. As nearly every woman loves chocolate, they are pretty certain to please the guests. A Kaffee Klatch. The kaffee klatsch is an afternoon affair where ladies meet and chat as they sew and are served a luncheon of German dishes — cold meats, salads, coffeecake, pickles, coffee, etc. Each guest is given a bit of needle-work, button-holes to work, or a small doily to embroider and a prize is given for the best work. Have a number of tea towels, cheesecloth dusters, Canton flannel bags for brooms, silverware towels, etc., cut and ready to hem. When the ladies assemble, let them hem these as a gift for the bride (for whom the kaffee klatsch is given) to take home with her. Ask each to tell some of her first experiences in housekeeping, and at the close of the afternoon take a vote on the funniest experience, the cleverest in emergency go Breakfasts and Teas and the best told. To do this successfully, you will have to lead the conversation and not let the ladies know they are talking purposely. Another way is to assign topics as for a conversation party, giving such topics as: "My first attempt at making bread," "My first housecleaning," "Unexpected guests," "My first pie," etc. Or, ask each guest to write her first housekeeping experience (some funny incident) and bring it. Have the papers read aloud, but not the names. Let the guests guess whose the experiences are. Use this contest. What stitch is: Hard to live with? (Cross stitch.) A part of a cough? (Hemstitch.) A part of a window? (Blindstitch.) Is found on a fowl? (Featherstitch.) Is a fish and something everyone has? (Herringbone.) Is made of many links? (Chainstitch.) Is not forward? (Backstitch.) Is useless without a key? (Lockstitch.) Repeats itself? (Over and over stitch.) For a prize for the best answers give a little leather sewing case fitted with needles and thread. A "Rushing" Tea for Sorority.