THAT GLORIOUS EVENT—THE CHILDREN'S PARTY
The greatest social event of a child's life is a party. Many mothers do not believe in children's parties, thinking them too exciting to the nerves and upsetting to the digestion. But a lawn-party, with simple games and refreshments, may be made a pure delight, do not harm and be a means of social education. The little hostess should do everything possible herself; select the guests, with mother's advice, write the invitations if old enough to do so, have a voice in the refreshments, decorations and games, and stand with mother to receive her guests properly.
The wording of the note should be the child's natural expression, for you know simplicity is good manners. She may write:
- Dear William,
- Please come to my birthday party. I will be eight years old on the seventeenth of May. The party is from three to six.
- Your little friend,
- Marjorie Murray.
- Your little friend,
- Please come to my birthday party. I will be eight years old on the seventeenth of May. The party is from three to six.
For any gala occasion a child should be daintily dressed, but in washable materials. They are not cheap when laundry bills are taken into account. Clothes, once put on, should be forgotten, or the wearer will become self-conscious. A child should wear nothing that he must remember not to spoil. A black velvet suit on a little boy or an embroidered marquisette over pink silk, on a little girl, may come to disaster, and the consequences of its ruin spoil what ought to be a happy memory.
DON'T HURT ANYONE'S FEELINGS
In a small town all the children of a suitable age should be invited; in a larger place the classmates in school and the children of family friends and neighbors. The more there are the merrier, and there should be no distinction of class. As we grow older, we have our duties and interests that compel us to limit our circle of friends to those who are congenial to us. But little people do not need to be so exclusive, and snobbiness in a child is something unnatural and odious. Besides the hurt that is felt by a child who knows of a party and is not invited, is deep and lasting.
Refreshments should be served near some meal hour, and it is an attention that is not appreciated by friends to stuff their children with
