Entertainments for Home, Church and School | Page 2

soon be enjoying themselves better than if they were watching a
three-ring circus. And then the volleys of wholesome laughter that will
roll out--why, they will be better for the digestion than all the
medicines of all the doctors.
It will be noticed that some of the outdoor games, and others devised
for indoors, require some apparatus, like tennis and croquet, or
back-gammon boards and magic lanterns, but the majority need only
the company, and--let it be added--the disposition to have a good time.
Within the covers of "Entertainments for Home, Church, and School,"
you will find condensed and clearly set forth the best of a library of
books on amusements.

ENTERTAINMENTS FOR HOME, CHURCH AND SCHOOL

CHAPTER I
HOUSEHOLD GAMES AND AMUSEMENTS
GOING SHOPPING--HIT OR MISS--GAME OF RHYMES--MOST
IMPROBABLE STORY-- ANIMATED ART--GUESSING
CHARACTERS--TONGUE TWISTERS
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 the game is discovered by all.
Whoever mentions an object without touching it, or names one that has
already been given, pays a forfeit.
LIGHTING THE CANDLE
This feat is a very amusing one, and is performed as follows: Two
persons kneel on the ground, facing each other. Each holds in his left
hand a candle in a candlestick, at the same time grasping his right foot
in his right hand. This position compels him to balance himself on his
left knee. One of the candles is lighted; the other is not. The holders are
required to light the unlighted candle from the lighted one. The
conditions are simple enough, but one would hardly believe how often
the performers will roll over on the floor before they succeed in
lighting the candle. It will be found desirable to spread a newspaper on
the floor between the combatants. Many spots of candle-grease will
thus be intercepted, and the peace of mind of the lady of the house
proportionately spared.
HIT OR MISS
Great amusement is excited by this game when played in the presence
of a company of guests. Spread a sheet upon the floor and place two
chairs upon it. Seat two of the party in the chairs within reach of each
other and blindfold them. Give each a saucer of cracker or bread
crumbs and a spoon, then request them to feed each other. The frantic
efforts of each victim to reach his fellow sufferer's mouth is truly
absurd--the crumbs finding lodgment in the hair, ears and neck much
oftener than the mouth. Sometimes bibs are fastened around the necks
of the victims for protection.
CROSS QUESTIONS
The company is divided into two equal parts and blank cards and
pencils are distributed. One side writes questions on any subject desired,
while the other prepares in like manner a set of haphazard answers. The

question cards are then collected and distributed to the players on the
other side, while their answer are divided among the questioners. The
leader holding a question then reads it aloud, the first player on the
other side reading the answer he holds. Some of the answers are highly
amusing.
THE GAME OF RHYMES
A variation of the former game. The game is begun by a young lady or
gentleman speaking a single line, to which the next nearest on the left
must respond with another line to rhyme with the first. The next player
gives a new line, of the same length, and the fourth supplies a rhyme in
turn, and so on. The game is provocative of any amount of fun and
nonsense. A sample may be given:
1st Player.--I think I see a brindle cow. 2d Player.--It's nothing but your
dad's bow-wow. 3rd. Player.--He is chasing our black Tommy cat. 4th
Player.--Poor puss had best get out of that, etc.
Any amount of nonsense may be indulged in a game of this sort, within
proper limits. Clever players can easily give the game a most
interesting turn and provoke rhymes that are original and witty. Thus, a
subject once started, every phase of it may be touched upon before the
round closes.
THE MOST IMPROBABLE STORY
The players are seated in a circle and are provided with pencils and
paper. It is then announced that this is a competition, and that the one
who writes the most improbable story in fifteen minutes wins a prize.
The allotted time being up,