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with red paper hearts, a broad collar, made of three heart-shaped pieces, and a red cap, also made of three hearts-their points meeting at the top. A band of gilt paper encircling the forehead serves for a crown.

Next on the programme

might be given.

A HEART-CONTEST

Out of compliment to the little God of Love, the ten questions should be presented very daintily, that they may form a souvenir of the occasion. Heart-shaped booklets, the covers artistically decorated with cupids, roses, lovers'-knots, etc., may be used, or as a substitute the pretty, old-style, lace-edged valentines. Pencils are attached by narrow satin ribbons, preferably pink, love's colour, as the rose is its flower. It should be stated to the guests in distributing the questions that every answer begins with the word "heart."

QUESTIONS

1. What she takes from us?

2. How we greet her?

3. Where we sit?

4. What disease threatens?

5. What oftentimes her conduct?

6. What then comes to us?

7. How do we feel?

8. Describe the catastrophy?

9. What flower consoles us?

10. Under its influence, what do we become?

The answers are written opposite the questions, the guests often guessing in pairs, as being more sociable than singly. The cards are taken up, and the prizewinners determined by the greatest number of correct answers. The prizes selected should be appropriate to

the occasion-a silver chain and heart, a "Friendship" bracelet, two hearts united as a brooch, a heart-shaped box of "sweets," a silver paper-cutter with arrow handle,

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After these diversions, if one's guests are well acquainted, the hostess may venture to tie by the wrists each man and maiden in pairs, as they may be found together.

The noose is made by taking two pieces of string a yard long, crossing them like the letter X, and attaching an end around the wrists of each of the pair. A wedding ring, or brass curtain ring, may be slipped upon the string.

The problem before them is how to separate. Their devices and contortions are very amusing until they discern the simple trick of getting their freedom. To do this, one of the fettered pair takes the under string at its point of intersection with the upper and careful not to twist it-makes a loop,, which is then passed through the ring, over his companion's hand, and slipped under the string that is binding that person's wrist. This done, the bound are free.

A cynic might make some invidious remarks-not at all appropriate to the day--but salutary if the influences of the season have induced ephemeral emotions.

The refreshments should carry out as far as possible

the features peculiar to the occasion; the sandwiches cut heart-shaped, the cakes iced in rose colour, pink peppermints, or other bonbons in the form of hearts.

The caterers have moulds for ices in the shape of cupids, wedding-bells, hearts, and doves in pairs kissing each other. A dish of the little meringues called "kisses" would not be forgotten.

After supper the fun is apt to flag a little, and to prevent this it may be intimated that something very interesting is to follow.

FATE

When all have returned to the drawing-room, the hostess may appear dressed all in black, a bandage over her eyes, a black veil over her head-which should fall over her forehead. She makes the announcement that she is fate, blind, as they see, and therefore "no respecter of persons.' She claims that with unerring certainty she can give to every man present the name of his future wife-admitting that she is not yet sufficiently proficient to tell the names of the future husbands, with precision. The men are then asked to come forward and receive at the hands of the King of Hearts a card for each man present, inscribed with the name of the wife whom Fate assigns him. She then draws from some receptacle under her veil an envelope, which she hands to St. Valentine, who passes it to the man to whom it is addressed-with the injunction that it is not to be opened until a signal is given for all to read their fate. When every one has received his card, the hostess raises her hands solemnly to her head, palms down, elbows extended, then stretching her arms outward as if in blessing, with bent head, mutters the incantation said to have been used by the great Cagliostro:

"Eludor Mirpan Gulith

Harcon Dibo."

Read

She then says in unison with St. Valentine: your fate!" Whereupon every man opens the envelope in his hand and finds therein one of his own visiting-cards with the word "Mrs." written before it!

"A Proposal Party" and "Progressive Courtship" are other appropriate entertainments for St. Valentine's evening-directions for which are given below.

THE PROPOSAL PARTY

This function is conducted according to immemorial precedent-that is, by lottery-which is said to govern Dan Cupid's manipulation of the marriage market.

Men and maidens, therefore, are invited to draw at random from separate baskets tiny gilt bows and arrows. each pair of which is tied by a different shade of narrow ribbon.

The bows naturally belong to the men, as the active ones in the chase-who fasten them to a vest buttonand the arrows are worn by the "victims" in their hair, or otherwise conspicuously placed.

The man discovering a girl wearing a ribbon matching his own in colour understands that he has met his fate, and during the evening must contrive to offer for her acceptance his hand, heart, and worldly goods without reservation.

She meanwhile must do everything in her power to avoid the important climax.

Not alone in words, but by note or flower, expressing sentiments of affection, may the sweet message be conveyed. A prize is offered to each man who succeeds in placing his proposal so that a definite answer must be

given; and one to each girl who is so watchful and adroit as to prevent an avowal.

One bright young woman managed to drop the note in the most natural way possible before reading it, when her swain had grown so desperate by her clever fencing as to resort to writing his proposal.

The men's prizes were heart-shaped key-rings; the women's, bonbonnières of the same interesting form.

In Leap-Year, the maids may be the ones to carry the bows, and follow with ardent attentions the holders of the arrows, who must on their side defend themselves with armour of nimble wit.

WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

The average American of middle age hardly knows what to do with a holiday when he has one. An exhaustive perusal of the morning papers, a walk, or a drive in the park, or possibly a horse-back ride, is in the large cities his usual programme. He has almost forgotten how to have a good time, and, like his English cousins, "takes his pleasures sadly." In the evening, perhaps, he may attend a fine dinner or go to the playbut why might it not be a pleasant change to invite him to a luncheon?

It would be a novelty to most business men to meet a few choice spirits of both sexes at that pleasant and informal meal, and Washington's Birthday might furnish such an occasion.

Every one is on the alert to provide entertainment for the young people, but the good husbands and fathers are usually counted out of most of the pleasures of life.

Leaving St. Valentine's day to the young folk, let us claim the fête day of the greatest American for the men

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