By "Madge" (Mrs. Humphry). Giving a "Cinderella " - Inexpensive Suggestions - The Need for an Awning

A Cinderella dance can be given very inexpensively if buffet refreshments only are provided and no sit-down supper. This is not an unusual arrangement in suburban society or in large towns, where many families understand each other and realise the necessity of providing amusement for their young people at a moderate outlay. Much of the fare can be prepared at home, such as sandwiches of several kinds, large supplies of bread-and-butter, rolled round so that it can be grasped without injury to white gloves, and small cakes. A good way of securing variety is to buy a large tin of mixed cakes and biscuits, such as are supplied to grocers by the great biscuit-making firms. This is a very cheap way of purchasing them. Young people have a pronounced taste for sweet biscuits and small cakes.

Home-made Preparations

Creams and jellies can also be prepared at home, the latter with especial ease, owing to the prepared tablets of jelly to be bought of any grocer, so easily made and in such tempting colours and flavours. Lemonade can also be made at home, but there is always a small chance of a brew of it turning out bitter. However, a good supply of syphon beverages can be procured, with syrups, wherewith to mix an agreeable drink. Raspberry is a favourite, on account of its thirst-quenching acid. Cherry is a particularly delicious syrup, almost as good as the French "grenadine" made from gooseberry, and obtainable at some large grocery establishments in London.

For a party of fifty such arrangements as these may answer very well. For one hundred or more it would be better to employ a caterer, but the price per head need not amount to more than 2s. or 2s. 6d., if a little diplomacy be exercised. Ices are not expected at quiet Cinderellas, and hot soup is not so necessary as for dances that are kept up till the small hours of the morning. A Satisfactory Menu

A very satisfactory menu for a Cinderella buffet can be prepared at home as follows:

Tea. Coffee.

Sandwiches Chicken, Ham, Egg, Shrimp,

Cucumber, Cress, Tongue, Sardine.

Potted Beef, or Lobster, or Game.

Rolled Bread-and-butter (brown and white).

Small Cakes and Biscuits.

Petits Fours. Fondants.

Meringues. Marzipan.

Various Large Cakes (ready sliced).

Jellies. Creams.

Fruit Patties. Fruit Salads.

Lemonade. Orangeade. Mineral Waters.

Sometimes at a dance the host has a table in his study or library on which are placed whisky, soda and cigarettes for the benefit of the men guests. This is very much better than having these things on the buffet table, since, in the first place, this latter is not an attractive idea, and, in the second place, men naturally like to have some place to which they can retire when not dancing,

The Question of an Awning

An awning is a necessity, whether the dance be a large or a small one. The cost of awning and carpet is usually a guinea, if the distance from hall door to kerb is about fourteen feet.

The door arrangements must be thought of and settled in good time. A man of good character must be engaged to call up cabs or carriages, to help ladies out of their cars or carriages or cabs, and ring or knock for them. He must be instructed to drive away all touts who may come upon the scene with the idea of earning a few coppers, and very possibly with the intention of picking pockets.

When the dance is a large one, a constable can be placed on duty outside by arrangement with the nearest police-station and on payment of a trifling fee. It is always well worth while. Any disturbance outside one's house on such occasions is to be avoided if possible.