The Book of Games and Parties for All Occasions
Chapter IX: Maytime Parties

The fresh spring breezes are so full of life that we would all a-Maying go - if we could. But many of us live in big cities, and it is not so easy to hike to the woods and fill May baskets as some of the poets would have us think. But perhaps we can plan a party that will be - as full of spirit as the month of May.
In recognizing May Day we are following a custom that is very old but very picturesque. If you should wish to have all your forms of entertainment in keeping use a number of floral guessing games, but I think your guests might equally enjoy the game of "Old Sayings". Give each guest a copy of the following rimes, with a blank space on each line, as indicated. When all the guests have had time to supply the correct words let the hostess read aloud the rime correctly written, when mistakes should be checked off accordingly. Some little antique novelties or old prints would make appropriate prizes.
Old Sayings
As poor as a ----------As proud as a
As thin as a ----------As sly as a
As fat as a ----------As mad as a
As rough as a ----------As strong as an
As brave as a ----------As fair as a
As spry as a ----------As empty as
As bright as a ---------- As rich as old
As weak as a ----------As cross as a
As pure as an
As neat as a
As smart as a
As ugly as
As dead as a
As white as a
As Hat as a
As red as a
As round as an
As black as your
As brown as a
As blind as a
As mean as a
As full as a
As plump as a
As sharp as a
As clean as a
As dark as a
As hard as
As bitter as
As fine as a
As clear as a
As dry as a
As deep as a
As light as a
As firm as a
As stiff as a
As calm as a
As green as a
As brisk as a
And now let me stop,
Lest you weary of me.
The words to be supplied are, in their proper order: Church mouse, rail, pig, gale, lion, cat, dollar, rat, peacock, fox, March hare, ox, lily, air, Croesus, bear, angel, pin, steel trap, sin, door nail, sheet, pancake, beet, orange, hat, nut, bat, miser, tick, partridge, stick, whistle, pall, flint, gall, fiddle, bell, sponge, well, feather, rock, poker, clock, gosling, bee.
For a novelty what do you think of the edible May-basket idea? To invite some friends to a little dinner where these dainties are served would provide almost sufficient entertainment for a whole evening.
To decorate your table in keeping with these dishes it would be pretty to have in the center a huge stick of candy, which may be made to stand erect by placing one end in a cardboard box covered with green paper. From the top of this candy Maypole a narrow steamer of ribbon may be stretched to each guest’s place at the table, and serve to tic a buttonhole or corsage bouquet to which the name is attached. Or floral place cards may be used, with ribbons attached leading to a basket on the top of the pole filled with small bouquets.
It would be a pretty idea to have these floral place cards hung from the top of miniature individual Maypoles represented by sticks of candy of ordinary size.
Edible Baskets
A novel change from the usual sandwich may be found in a bread basket sandwich. Hollow out in the center a thick square piece of bread to form a basket, butter the inside well, and fill with any favorite sandwich mixture. Alternate layers of finely chopped egg and deviled ham, or minced chicken and cucumber mayonnaise are particularly good for this purpose. A garnish of parsley and red radishes adds to its attractiveness.
Macaroni forms an attractive luncheon basket. Line the required number of small oval earthen dishes with well buttered paper; have ready a quantity of boiled macaroni, cooked in as long pieces as possible, and after brushing these over lightly with white of egg coil them around the inside of the dishes to form a basket. Fill the dishes two-thirds full with macaroni, seasoning with salt, pepper and grated cheese, and adding a few cracker crumbs; pour in sufficient milk to moisten well, and bake until firm. Slip the baskets out carefully on to hot serving dishes, remove the papers, and heap with highly seasoned minced beef. Garnish with parsley and radish flowers and serve immediately with tomato sauce.
To make potato baskets a number of large smooth potatoes of uniform size are required. Pare the potatoes carefully and with a very sharp knife fashion a miniature basket from each one, hollowing it out well. Wash and drain on a cloth, then plunge into boiling fat and fry until tender and nicely browned. Have ready some creamed shrimp, fill the baskets with this and serve immediately, garnishing with bits of parsley.
To make an appetizing cucumber basket pare and cut off one end of a crisp cucumber. Cut the top to form the basket handle, scoop out the center and chill well. Just before serving, fill these baskets with a mixture of diced chicken and cucumber well moistened with mayonnaise, garnish with parsley and in the center of each one place a radish cut to resemble a flower.
Neufchatel or cream cheese may be moulded into dainty little baskets to serve with toasted crackers. Filled with tart currant jelly and garnished with a bit of parsley they are most inviting.
Chocolate sticks piled up log-cabin fashion form a novel rustic ice cream basket. Just before serving, it should be garnished with a bit of fern and forget-me-not and filled with ice cream.
Any good cookie mixture may be used as the foundation of May basket cakes. Roll the dough out thin, cut them out by a pattern of cardboard well buttered, and bake carefully. Spread smoothly with coffee icing and when this is firm, paint on clusters of roses and foliage with vegetable coloring.

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The Book of Games and Parties for All Occasions Chapter IX: Maytime Parties

The Book of Games and Parties for All Occasions
Chapter IX: Maytime Parties