22 chapters
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22 chapters
INTRODUCTION.
INTRODUCTION.
Games are meant to amuse, but in addition to amusing, a good game, played in the right spirit, may have great educational value. Now, this is distinctly a book of games and amusements . There are games for indoors, scores of them, while there are other scores that can be enjoyed only in the open. When young folks, and older folks, too, for that matter, meet for a pleasant evening, it is rather depressing to have them sit solemnly on stiff chairs in the company room and stare helplessly at one an
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GOING SHOPPING
GOING SHOPPING
A lively game of "talk and touch." The company is seated in a circle, and one who understands the game commences by saying to his neighbor at the right: "I have been shopping." "What did you buy?" is the required response. "A dress," "a book," "some flowers," "a pencil"—whatever the first speaker wishes, provided always that he can, in pronouncing the word, touch the object mentioned. Then the second player addresses his neighbor in similar manner, and so on around the circle until the secret of
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BUTTON, BUTTON
BUTTON, BUTTON
The players sit around the room in a circle. The leader then holds a button between his hands, with the palms pressed together, so as to hide it. He goes around the circle, passing his hand between those of the players. As he does this, he says: "Hold fast to what I give you." He is careful not to let the players see into whose hands he passed the button. The circuit having been made, the leader says to the first player: "Button, button, who has the button?" The one questioned must answer, namin
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CHAPTER III
CHAPTER III
You can learn the colors of the flags of all nations by referring to a large dictionary, or to a book on flags. The flags are drawn with colored crayons, or painted in water colors, on a large water-color card, or a sheet of water-color paper. Large cards with numbers down the sides are given to each player, with a pencil. The card of flags is then hung where all can see it, and half an hour is allowed for all to guess the countries to which the flags belong. The answers are written on the indiv
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MAGIC MUSIC
MAGIC MUSIC
A beautiful game, which amuses even the mere spectator as much as it does the players. One of the company sits at the piano while another leaves the room. The rest of the party then hide some article, previously agreed upon, and recall the absent player. At his entrance the pianist begins playing some lively air, very softly, keeping up a sort of musical commentary upon his search, playing louder as he approaches the goal, and softer when he wanders away from it. In this way he is guided to at l
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THE RAISIN TORTOISE
THE RAISIN TORTOISE
This noble animal is constructed as follows: A muscatel raisin forms the body, and small portions of the stalk of the same fruit the head and legs. With a little judgment in the selection of the pieces of stalk and the mode in which they are thrust into the body, it is surprising what a life-like tortoise may be thus produced. While the work of art in question is being handed round on a plate for admiration, the artist may further distinguish himself, if the wherewithal is obtainable, by constru
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"THE WHAT-DO-YOU-THINK?"
"THE WHAT-DO-YOU-THINK?"
The exhibitor begins, in proper showman style: "Ladies and gentlemen, I have the pleasure of exhibiting to your notice the celebrated 'What-do-you-think?' or Giant Uncle-Eater. You have all probably heard of the Ant-Eater. This is, as you will readily perceive, a member of the same family, but more so! He measures seven feet from the tip of his snout to the end of his tail, eight feet back again, five feet around the small of his waist, and has four feet of his own, making twenty-four in all. In
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ACTING CHARADES
ACTING CHARADES
In some form or other the game of charades is played in almost every country under the sun. In acting charades the characters and situation are made to represent a play upon a word or words by portraying some feature which vividly brings such word or words to the mind. Here is a popular one: Send one-half the company out of the room, into another which may be separated by double doors; portieres are best for the purpose. The party in the inner room think of some word which can be represented ent
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LIVING PICTURES
LIVING PICTURES
There are few better amusements for a large party in the same house, with plenty of time on their hands, than the organization of tableaux vivants, or living representations. Tableaux, to be successfully represented, demand quite as much attention to detail as a theatrical performance, and scarcely less careful rehearsal. The first element of success is a competent stage manager. His artistic taste should be beyond all question, and his will should be law among the members of his corps. The esse
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CHAPTER IX.
CHAPTER IX.
The idea is that of a waxwork exhibition, the characters being personated, after a burlesque fashion, by living performers. Each "figure" is first duly described by the exhibitor, and then "wound up" and made to go through certain characteristic movements. The collection is supposed to be that of the far-famed Mrs. Jarley, of "Old Curiosity Shop" celebrity. She may be assisted, if thought desirable, by "Little Nell" and a couple of manservants, John and Peter. The costume of Mrs. Jarley is a bla
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"ART" EXHIBITION
"ART" EXHIBITION
The elaborate "sell" which goes by this name used to be a regular institution in church bazaars and might well be rejuvenated as a novelty. A regular printed catalogue is got up, containing apparently the names of a collection of pictures or sculptures, each object duly numbered and with the name of the artist appended. In some instances the name of a (supposed) picture is followed by an appropriate quotation in poetry or prose, after the orthodox fashion of art galleries. We append, by way of i
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RAISING A GHOST
RAISING A GHOST
Place a small magic lantern in a box large enough to contain a small swing dressing-glass, which will reflect the light thrown on it by the lantern in such a way that it will pass out at the aperture made at the top of the box, which aperture should be oval and of a size adapted to the cone of light to pass through it. There should be a flap with hinges, to cover the opening, that the inside of the box may not be seen. There must be holes in that part of the box which is over the lantern, to let
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DOMINOES
DOMINOES
At the beginning of the game the dominoes are thoroughly shuffled by being turned face down and stirred round and round. The players then draw at random as many bones as the game requires. These dominoes with which the hand is to be played may stand on their edges in front of the players or may be held in the hand, or both. It is usual to sort them into suits as far as possible. The one who has drawn the highest doublet usually plays or sets first. The object in dominoes is either to block the g
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LAWN TENNIS
LAWN TENNIS
A lawn tennis court is a plot of level ground about 26 yards by 9 yards, divided into sections. A net standing 3 1/2 feet high is drawn across the middle and attached to two posts outside the court on each side about three feet. The players stand on opposite sides of the net; the one who first delivers the ball is called the server and the other the striker-out. At the end of each game they reverse places. The server wins a stroke if the striker out "volley" the service, that is, he strike the b
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NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY
NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY
The decorations for the room are holly and mistletoe. The guests are attired in white to represent snow, or they may appear in fur-trimmed garments. At midnight all sing "Auld Lang Syne," and shake hands. Calendars are appropriate souvenirs for the occasion. At midnight all wish each other "A Happy New Year." Give the children pencils and paper. Let them write out their resolutions for the New Year. These may be grave or funny as desired. Give calendars as souvenirs. Recite poems about Lincoln.
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BASKET BALL FOR GIRLS
BASKET BALL FOR GIRLS
Basket Ball is a good form of exercise for women. Draw a circle on the ground six feet in diameter. A line is drawn across the center. This is the throwing line. A player stands in the circle and throws the basket ball from her line to other lines, the ball scoring according to its landing place. The lines drawn across the throwing space must be parallel with the throwing line in the circle. For younger girls the lines should be ten, fourteen or twenty feet, according to the age, from the forwar
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SUN DIAL
SUN DIAL
Draw a large circle; intersect this with lines like the spokes of a wheel, dividing it into twelve sections, and number them. Put a blindfolded player in the center for a hub, and turn him about a number of times, as is done in "Blindman's Buff." He then walks about. The number of the space he stops upon, after repeating a silly verse to the end, is put upon his score card. If he goes outside the circle, even with one foot, he receives no points. The player who gets the greatest number of points
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PATCHWORK
PATCHWORK
The hostess cuts pictures into four parts and mixes them in a box, or loosely places them in the center of a table. Then each guest takes four and puts them together as a picture. The effect is very funny at times. Some of the children's picture blocks may be used for this game, using four sets at a time. The girl or boy host gives each guest, on a slip of paper, the beginning of a quotation. All go about the room looking for the end of the quotations, which are hidden in different places in the
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TARGET BEAN BAG
TARGET BEAN BAG
The bags are thrown at targets. A score is made out. A prize is given the one getting the best score. Throwing the bean bag over the head is another form of Bean Bag Game. It must be caught by one standing back of the tosser. The one who catches it becomes the tosser. This game consists of tosses of the bean bag into boxes. The player stands at a distance. The one being successful in his throws the most times is the winner. An equal number of players out of doors. Two parties are formed, divided
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ORCHESTRA
ORCHESTRA
This is a very noisy game. The conductor names his players for instruments, and tells them in pantomime how to play. He then orders them to tune up. They do so, producing a terrible discord. Then the baton is waved by the conductor, and the musicians imitate the sounds of their instruments, while also imitating the movements assigned them by the conductor. The result is very funny. A player becomes "Charlie." He stands in the center; the others form a circle about him, and dance, repeating the r
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HOW TO TELL ANY NUMBER THOUGHT OF
HOW TO TELL ANY NUMBER THOUGHT OF
Ask any person to think of a number, say a certain number of dollars; tell him to borrow that sum of some one in the company, and add the number borrowed to the amount thought of. It will here be proper to name the person who lends him the money, and to beg the one who makes the calculation to do it with great care, as he may readily fall into an error, especially the first time. Then say to the person: "I do not lend you, but give you $10; add them to the former sum." Continue in this manner: "
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ONE HUNDRED CONUNDRUMS
ONE HUNDRED CONUNDRUMS
He loved her. She hated him, but womanlike, she would have him, and she was the death of him. Who was he? Answer: A flea. Why is life the greatest of riddles? Because we must all give it up. If a church be on fire, why has the organ the smallest chance of escape? Because the organ cannot play on it. Why should a sailor be the best authority as to what goes on in the moon? Because he has been to see (sea). What does a cat have that no other animal has? Kittens. When is a man behind the times? Whe
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