from the wishbone
creation, Noah's Ark tigers may stand guard over the pates.

A Yale dinner would be the most difficult to arrange as there are no
fruits or vegetables that could rightly be called blue, unless some
varieties of grapes and plums might be considered as coming under that
head. But with a large central bouquet of cornflowers, with blue ribbons
extending from this to each cover, where under the bow or rosette will
be laid the corn-cob pipe or other souvenir, and with blue crepe paper
used to decorate some of the dishes, the table will present quite as
attractive an appearance as either of the other dinners; while the
genial guests will probably enjoy the feast fully as well, and be quite
as loyal, even if the roast and salad do not show the college colors.

CHAPTER IV.

"ICE BREAKERS," SUGGESTIONS FOR DINNER, MENU AND PLACE CARDS, TABLE
STORIES, TOASTS, TABLE DECORATIONS.

ICE BREAKERS.

A dinner always stands a better chance of being a success if there is
some little thing to break the ice at the start. A little verse might be
placed on the card bearing the name of each guest. A particularly lively
and cheerful young woman might have a verse something like this:--

"Fevers are contagious,
But they're not by half
As quickly, surely catching
As Mrs. Thompson's laugh."

A lady who gives much thought and attention to political reforms might
have the following:--

"Dogs have their days, so political parties
Pass through their seasons of sunshine and storm,
While longing eyes see the time that is coming,
When women shall work a more lasting reform."

An attractive young married woman might find this parody at her place:--

"How doth the dainty matron fair
Improve each shining hour,
And work on men both old and young,
Her fascinating power."

The wife of a distinguished landscape painter could get these lines:--

"Why should one desire to travel,
And in distant climes to roam,
When she has the fairest landscapes
Always hanging in her home."

When the oyster plates are removed, a letter might be found under each
one, addressed to the person sitting at the place.

A man who is a well known promoter might receive this:--

"Dear Mr. J.--

"Is it true that you are interested in a project for
connecting New York with the infernal regions by telephone?
If so, as soon as the wires are in operation, I should like
to cal