Entertaining Made Easy | Page 3

next church social. It would also "fill the bill" for a jolly midwinter school party. The invitations are made to look like tickets of admission; the men's of red pasteboard and the girls' of blue. They read this way:
_Admit Two To an Aviation Meet In the ---- Church parlors Friday evening February 21 8 o'clock_
Each member who receives a ticket must make a point of inviting somebody else, and should conduct the guest personally to the social.
The hall or assembly rooms may be decorated with American and Allied colors, and it would be appropriate and effective to suspend in each window a trio of toy balloons, red, white, and blue in color, respectively. Miniature airplanes hung overhead at intervals down the length of the room would add realism.
In different places on the walls fasten conspicuously large posters boldly lettered with the program of events, as follows:
1. TESTS: Ground work Control Balance
2. FLIGHTS
3. STUNTS AND TRICKS: Hands Up Spiral Reverse speed Low speed Spin Nose dives Loop the loop
4. AIR RACES
5. ARRIVAL OF AIR MAIL
To promote fun, put up a few placards featuring certain well-known members in some of the events. For instance:
"See Charlie Hays loop the loop!"
or
"_Mildred Brown's control is wonderful_!"
A good leader can make this program go off well by calling on volunteers for the various contests. Sometimes people like better to take part in teams.
The first test, which is called "ground work," is a hopping stunt. The contestants hop on one foot to a given goal, and the one who does it most easily and gracefully and holds out best is declared victorious by the judges. Blue ribbon badges are pinned on the successful persons.
Next comes "control," which turns out to be facial control under difficulties. No matter what the funny, teasing, or pseudo-insulting remarks or performances of the onlookers, the contestants must retain calm and unmoved expressions as they stand in line.
"Balance" proves who best can poise an apple on the head and walk across the room. All the "balancers" start at the same moment, and the first successful ones are awarded the blue ribbon. Balancing peanuts on a knife blade and carrying them thus from one end of the room to the other is another way to execute the test.
When it is time for "flights" everybody is handed a paper aviation cap to put on. Then paper and pencils are passed and all are invited to take flights of fancy. These, it may be explained, may be rhymes, romances, or the biggest lies that can be recalled. A flight of oratory may also be offered. A committee of three appointed on the spot promises to report on the winners at the close of the evening. If preferred, a program of poems and short, comic, exaggerated stories may be prepared beforehand, and fill in this space with apparent impromptu.
The stunts and tricks follow in detail:
1. Hands Up. Only one person knows the stunt and she quite mystifies everyone who presents himself and obeys her, till some one guesses the secret or she finally tells it.
She begins by ordering her student on trial to raise one hand and keep the other at his side while her own back is turned. Upon turning around she is able to specify the hand which was raised. The secret is, of course, that the hand which hangs at the side, because of its position, becomes redder than the raised hand. At a glance she notes the difference in color and so knows which hand has been raised.
2. Spiral. This is a good mixer. All are asked to form in line, one behind another, each one's hands on the shoulders of the person ahead. The leader then starts the line winding around and round the room into a spiral and then unwinding it--the well-known gymnasium class stunt which carried through in a sprightly way is bound to make everybody feel better acquainted.
3. Reverse Speed. Any number line up for a backward race. They go as fast as they can backward to an appointed goal.
4. Low Speed. Any number may enter. This is a "slow" race, that is to say, all contestants progress as slowly as possible to a certain goal.
5. Spin. A supply of children's tops is provided and the ability to spin them properly is demonstrated. A few musical tops among them will add to the hilarity.
6. Nose Dives. This is a stunt which will probably appeal most to the boys or the more adventurous girls. It consists of pushing apples or peanuts along given chalk marks on table or floor by means of the nose only.
7. Loop the Loop. To those who know how to tie different kinds of knots, the announcement of this contest gives a chance to show what they can do.
The "air races" are of two sorts: the