When all had matched up partners they repaired to the kitchen, a big old-fashioned room with plenty of space for all of them.  The hostess and her partner did no cooking, but announced that they would manage this cafeteria.

While all the others were in the kitchen, they arranged on a side table in the dining-room stacks of tin trays, knives, forks, spoons, and paper napkins.  Over it they posted a bulletin board in good imitation of a real cafeteria.  There were listed on it the five dishes which were being prepared and as a joke a number of others—­quite impossible to cook at such a time, as roast beef, mince pie, frozen pudding—­all of which were then heavily crossed off in black ink.

When the cooks had finished their tasks (and the cheerful uproar that accompanied their occupations may be easily imagined) the food was arranged on a long kitchen table.  Thereupon each person, after possessing him or herself of a tray and the required silver and scanning the menu posted, passed on and pretended to select from the counter.  In reality, of course, everyone took everything, and received a check from the hostess with a punch against some “stunt” written on it.

The menu as prepared read as follows: 

  Scalloped salmon
  Fruit salad
  Lettuce sandwiches
  Chocolate pudding with whipped cream
  Tea or coffee

Two tables were left bare in the dining-room and the company chose seats where they wished.

A great deal of additional fun was gained upon finding that someone had surreptitiously set up a placard on one of the tables reading “Reserved for Ladies.”  Over the cold water faucet was a sign reading “Water” and glasses were grouped near it.

After supper the various stunts registered on the checks and some rollicking songs filled the remainder of a merry evening in which there had been absolutely no chance for stiffness from beginning to end.

These were some of the stunts: 

For the Men

1.  Show in five different ways how reveille affected your friends.

2.  Give an imitation of a lady and her pet “Peke.”

3.  Go around the room without touching your feet to the floor.

4.  Do a ballet act.

5.  Dig a trench (in pantomime).

6.  Sing a Mother Goose rhyme through your nose.

For the Girls

1.  Give a military salute to every man in the room in turn.

2.  Choose a partner to walk around the “chimney” with you ten times.

3.  Count to fifty, substituting the words “Oh, fudge!” for fives and every multiple of five.

4.  Pretend to eat a bunch of grapes.

5.  Represent your favorite movie actress till the others guess her correctly.

6.  Flirt in three different ways.

A PROGRESSIVE MARCH PARTY

A group of high school friends, a social club of boys and girls, or a church society of young people will enjoy giving the following party in March.