Prizes ought to be chosen for obvious appropriateness, not for obvious extravagance. It's easy to rush into a shop at the last minute, and pick up any old thing which fits your budget. It's more trouble, but worth it, to plan what you need far enough ahead so that you may shop in leisure and give prizes that are fun and useful. Wrap them neatly and prettily and they're sure to be appreciated. Aside from the gift shop type of prize, think about things like these: books, pack­aged herbs, your own homemade jams and jellies, potted plants, bath powder and other toiletries, golf balls (if everybody plays!), socks, neckties, stockings. The possibilities are almost infinite.

"guest" prizes
There was a time when "guest" prizes were given to guests of honor, particularly at ladies' parties. This is, fortunately, a rapidly fading cus­tom. The object given was never a prize, it was a special gift and quite unnecessary. If you want very much to do particular honor to a lady for whom you're giving a party, send her flowers to wear.

We shall speak more about prizes for children's parties when we come to the section on them. Grownups should be reminded here that cost has very little to do with acceptability. The dime store offers won­derful, coveted objects at very low prices. Let the child who's giving the party pick the prizes or even go shopping for them alone, on a budget, and you can be reasonably sure that the winners will like what they win.

favors
Favors are seldom given any more except at very special kinds of parties. Children should always have something to take home from a party. The gifts a bride gives her bridesmaids at their party or the corsages given to the ladies at a dinner party, might be regarded as favors, too. But rarely do any of us return from a party bearing useless trinkets, trifles which were part of the table decoration.

At a New Year's Eve or any holiday party, favors are traditional: paper hats, noise-makers, confetti and such. If they seem to be ap­propriate at other kinds of parties and you think your friends will like them, by all means give favors.