THE BOOK OF INDOOR AND OUTDOOR GAMES CHAPTER I-GAMES OF THOUGHT, WIT AND MEMORY T With Pen and Pencil THE GAME OF DEFINITIONS HIS game was played at the Court of Charle magne, and it is said that even the learned Alcuin did not disdain to take part in it. It is not therefore claimed to be new, but, though popular in France, it is little known elsewhere. In its modern form, pads and pencils are distributed to the players and each is asked to write a question or ask for a definition. The papers are folded and thrown into a basket, from which they are withdrawn at haphazard, and each person must write an answer to the question that has fallen to his or to her lot. The privilege of taking refuge behind a pseudonym is accorded to the writers. When, at each round of the game, the questions and answers are read aloud by the leader or hostess and voted upon, the incognito is not unwelcome. The one whom popular acclaim marks out as the cleverest in definition "stands confessed"-and is awarded a prize. The following examples-chosen from answers written by persons of average wit-will make the explanation clearer: What is love? Heart-disease. What is the heart? A pendulum. What is luck? Other people's success. What is pluck? Fighting with the scabbard when the sword is broken. What is a good intention? A ladder that is too short. What is the difference between tweedledum and tweedledee? Just the difference between u and mee. Are you always of your own opinion? Yes, when I begin to talk. How can one best keep a secret? Forget it. What is a hobby? A horse that often rides his rider. What are ancestors? Somebodies that make nobodies somebodies. Sometimes one person only will write the question, and each of the others writes an answer. For instance: What is life? A sentence of death. Purgatory. Opportunity. What is a honeymoon? The dessert that begins the meal. A trip to Paradise-with a return ticket. What is ennui? The trouble of those who have no troubles. Idleness, punished by itself. The child of wealth and the mother of mischief. What is a nose? A trumpeter. Our National mouth. Why is there "nothing half so sweet in life as love's young dream"? Because it has not yet become an old nightmare. Signed MR. CAUDLE. The fun is increased if the company try to guess the writers of the definitions, since personality is often unconsciously revealed. BLIND ILLUSTRATION The players may "match for partners," drawing from two bowls filled with bits of paper, or cards, inscribed with the names of ladies and gentlemen. Or the hostess may pair her guests with a view to their congeniality by giving to each man upon arrival a card bearing a lady's name and a number. Chairs are set about the room in couples, back to back or side by side, facing in opposite directions, and upon one of each pair is placed pad, pencil and India-rubber. The players take their seats and it is then explained to them that one of the partners must think of some simple object which he or she shall describe in such fashion as to enable the other to draw it. No hint or help is to be given, except the bald but accurate description of its outlines. On no account must the sketch be seen by the coadjutor until, upon its completion, the name of the object thought of is written at the foot of the paper and the number added which shall identify the artist. The question as to which one shall make the drawing and which describe the object to be represented must be a matter for the partners themselves to decide. At the end of fifteen minutes, the hostess rings a bell as a signal for all to hand in their sketches. They are then placed on exhibition, and cards with numbered lines are distributed upon which each person writes his or her vote as to which drawing best depicts the object, the name of which is written beneath it. When the votes are counted, the first prize is awarded to the most successful artist, the second, to his or her partner, in recognition of that person's powers of description. ALLITERATIVE HISTORY To play this game, provide the company with pads and pencils and request that each one shall write an account of some historical event, familiarly known, every word of which shall begin with the same letter. It will be found an easier task if the letter chosen be the initial letter of the subject. A time-limit is set, and at its expiration the essays are read aloud. A secret ballot is taken to determine which narrative is thought to be the most clever. The votes are printed to avoid the recognition of handwriting. These are collected and counted and the writer of the most successful essay is pronounced victor or awarded a prize. The following examples will explain the modus operandi: Pocahontas and Captain John Smith: Popular pioneer prostrate, pallid, palpitating. Penalty pending Powhatan's pleasure. Perilous position! Powerful pagan prince, pugnacious, pig-headed, prejudiced, promptly pronounces "Peeled poll!" Pathetic plight! Pocahontas-peerless princess-pale, panting, perturbed, parts populace, prays piteously proud parent— "Please, papa, pardon poor pilgrim!” "Pooh," protests Powhatan. Paltry plunderer! plague! poltroon! Perish pernicious pirates!" Pocahontas, prone, persists persuasively, plucky partisan! "Promise, papa, please pronounce par don!" Powhatan profoundly perplexed. Praise Providence! pity prevails! The Discovery of America: Christopher Columbus commanding caravels, continues course-cleverly, courgeously, conducting cruise. Crew, chiefly Catalonian criminals-corrupt cravenschallenge Captain's competence, chafe, complain clamorously cowardly credulous concerning compass, curiously changed.* Columbus consults chart carefully, critically consults compass. Consternation concerning compass, curiously changed! Constantly contemplates constellations. Cantankerous crew congregate cautiously, call Captain "charlatan!" conspire craftily Columbus's capture. Columbus, chagrined, chapfallen, convenes crew, concealing choler. Calmly courteous, counsels courage, claims consideration, cleverly counterfeits cheerful confidence. "Comrades, cowardice creates calamity!" cries Columbus. Contumacious crew churlishly concede compliance. Caravels continue course. ditions. Columbus controlling con Competent Captain's calculations completely confirmed! Courage crowned! Continental coast clearly conspicuous! Columbus calls clarion-clear, "Cathay. Cathay! Comrades, come contemplate Cathay!" Crew crowds, clamorously crying, "Caramba! Caramba!" Contrite crew cheers Columbus! NOTE.-Be it explained to any who may not have heard of the circumstance, that John Fiske and others mention that Columbus, having sailed into "the region of no variation," the sailors, and he as well, were dismayed at the action of the compass. |