own ears are boxed, and a real bodkin from a workbasket is produced at the suggestion of making his "quietus." This is merely a suggestion, but the fun is usually very spontaneous.

A FAGOT PARTY

This name has been given to an entertainment to which every person invited must come prepared to tell a story, sing a song, propose some game, or make other contribution to the pleasure of the company. The time consumed in the burning of a single small fagot is the allotment of each entertainer in return. The efforts to prolong the story-holding the dénouement at bay or hastening it to its close as the fagot burns for a longer or a shorter time-tax one's ingenuity, to the amusement of the friendly critics.

WHO WAS HE?

This game has the advantage of requiring no preparation, and can be played by any number of persons, in almost any surroundings-in the dark on a summer's evening on the veranda, or by a little company in a lighted room; at a picnic with the grass for a seat, or by the fireside. There is no rule of the game which forbids studying up for it; indeed, if the players be forewarned such preparation adds much to the interest, particularly perhaps to those who contribute their bits of information. This should be done in a sketchy manner, briefly touching on the most salient points of autobiography, so as to leave a picture in the mind to be pigeon-holed in the memory. A character is described by each player in turn, suppressing the name, which is guessed by the company only at the conclusion of the narrative. The one who guesses it first has a mark to his or her credit,

and the person who has guessed the most characters. wins the game and may perhaps be awarded a prize.

Sometimes votes are cast for the one who has described the character of his selection in the most interesting manner, and another prize is given.

The following example is given: "I see before me a Breton peasant, a gentle soul, brought up on the Bible and taught Latin by the parish priest. Ready at duty's call on the death of his father to turn farmer, he is prevented by his old grandmother, who believes in his talent for painting. He goes to Paris and is laughed at as a rustic setting up for originality. The romantic school, then at its height, disgusts him.

"He is robbed and bullied, becomes self-conscious and awkward; the pictures of the old masters are his only friends. For years he paints pictures at five or ten francs apiece. At length some artists of note begin to hold out their hands to him and help him to his best by their sympathy. He even now sells his drawings for a pair of shoes, and lives with his wife on thirty francs for a fortnight. He finally goes to a little village in a beautiful forest, breaks from the slavery of conventional art, and draws people as he sees them. He lives there twenty-seven years. Still, his greatest picture is rejected by the Salon. Finally glimpses of prosperity come, and just before his death from consumption comes the great news from Paris, 'The world recognises your genius; your pictures are selling for high prices!' He lives only long enough to know it."

Perhaps the indication of Millet's career is too clearly given in this instance, but one is at liberty to be as mysterious as he pleases-consistent with correctness.

COMPLIMENTS

If both are present, the ladies and gentlemen should be seated alternately. One then begins by saying, “I should like to be such and such an object or animalwhat do you think is the reason for my choice?" looking for an answer at haphazard from any gentleman present, who must at once give some complimentary explanation why the resemblance would be appropriate. The one who has answered then, in his turn, says what he should like to be-and calls upon a lady, who must find some flattering reason for the similitude. The more unpleasant or disagreeable the object or animal, the more difficult will it be to find a compliment. One lady may say, for instance, "I should like to resemble a mosquito. "Why, Mr. ?" and he may reply: Because you are musical, and when you are present it is impossible to think of anything else. Now, I should like to be a snail. Why, Miss?" "Because you are slow and sure, and of so domestic a taste that you would gladly carry your home with you wherever you are."

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MUSICAL NEIGHBOURS

This is one of the games that has been preserved through many generations of merrymakers, and so must be allowed the claim to merit given to the "survival of the fittest."

One-half the company must submit to be blindfolded, the victims to be determined by lot or choice. These are seated around the room in a wide circle, leaving a vacant chair at the right hand of each one. The rest of the company assemble in the middle of the room, keeping absolutely silent while some one plays a familiar air on the piano. The unblindfolded then creep very stealthily,

seat themselves in the vacant chairs, and instantly begin to sing, disguising the voice as much as possible to conceal their identity. The more absurd the musical (?) result, the better. The blindfolded persons must listen intently to try to discover who their tuneful neighbours are. The piano accompaniment suddenly stops, whereupon all are silent and the leader gives the order, "Blind folk will please name their right-hand neighbours!" If unable to do so, they must not remove the bandage, though people usually do so, impulsively, in their triumphant confidence in having guessed rightly-but are obliged to try again.

The successful guessers then transfer their bandages to their right-hand neighbours whose failure to mislead concerning their identity subjects them to this penalty.

A CULINARY COURTSHIP

The answers may be given viva voce or in writingwhen the following questions are proposed;

SOUPS

1. The groom was a Frenchman. What was his name? 2. What was the weather on the wedding-day?

FISH

3. With what was the bride's gown trimmed? 4. How was it sent to her?

5. Who was the bride's favourite author?

MEATS, WITH SAUCES

The groom

was a Government official.

Where was he employed?

6. What did his future mother-in-law give him? In what did his small brother-in-law indulge?

7. Who was the groom's favourite essayist?

BREADS

8. In what manner did the bride dress her hair?
9. What were her wedding-gifts from the groom?

SALAD

10. When asked to marry, what did the bride say?

ENTRÉE

11. They received congratulations from the groom's friend, who was a conspicuous figure in the Dreyfus What was his name?

case.

RELISHES

12. The best man was an official of the Chinese embassy. What was his name?

13. What did the bride do in the conservatory?

SWEETS

14. The bride was a brunette. By what nickname was she called?

15. With what did the groom salute her?

16. The wedding invitations met with an accident at the printer's. What did they become?

DRINKS

17. In the excitement of the wedding feast, what did the groom call his father-in-law ?

18. What did the best man have when asked to respond to a toast?