BIRDS, FRUITS AND FLOWERS

In this game every one in the company has to describe in a riddle, first a bird, then a fruit, and finally a flower. The others must guess.

Whoever guesses the most is the winner of the game.

Here are examples of the riddles:

BIRD. Although a bird I am part of a plant. STORK. (Stalk).

FRUIT. Although a single specimen, I am really two. PEAR.

FLOWERS. Although usually white, I am always described as rose colored in hue. PINK.

CITIES

Materials required.--As many sheets of paper and pencils as there are players.

The players seat themselves round a table, and each one is provided with a sheet of paper and a pencil. The hostess then asks them to write at the head of the paper the name of the town in which they were born. A time limit of fifteen minutes is then given them in which to make up a sentence, each word of which must begin with the letters composing the name of the town. The sentence must be either suggestive, or descriptive of the town which each has written on his or her paper. For example:--

Town--Chicago.

Sentence--Came home in carriage after going out.

THE COOK WHO DOESN'T LIKE PEAS

One of the players commences the game by saying to his neighbor, "I have a cook who doesn't like peas (p's); what will you give her for dinner?"

The person addressed must avoid the letter P in his answer. For instance, he may answer, "Artichokes," "Onions," "Cabbage," and "Carrots," but he must not say "Spinach," "Asparagus," "Potatoes." The question is then asked of the second player, and so on until all have replied. If a player mentions a word containing the letter P he has to pay a forfeit.

CONSEQUENCES

One of the most popular games at a party is certainly "Consequences"; it is a very old favorite, but has lost none of its charms with age. The players sit in a circle; each person is provided with a half sheet of notepaper and a pencil, and is asked to write on the top--(1) one or more adjectives, then to fold the paper over, so that what has been written cannot be seen. Every player has to pa.s.s his or her paper on to the right-hand neighbor, and all have then to write on the top of the paper which has been pa.s.sed by the left-hand neighbor (2) "the name of the gentleman"; after having done this the paper must again be folded and pa.s.sed on as before; this time must be written (3) one or more adjectives; then (4) a lady's name; next (5), where they met; next (6), what he gave her; next (7), what he said to her; next (8), what she said to him; next (9), the consequence; and lastly (10), what the world said about it.

Be careful that every time anything has been written the paper is folded down and pa.s.sed on to the player on your right.

When every one has written what the world says, the papers are collected and one of the company proceeds to read out the various papers, and the result may be somewhat like this:--

(1) The horrifying and delightful (2) Mr. Brown (3) met the charming (4) Miss Philips (5) in Westminster Abbey; (6) he gave her a flower (7) and said to her: "How's your mother?" (8) She said to him: "Not for Joseph;"

(9) the consequence was they danced the hornpipe, and the world said: (10) "Just what we expected."

CROSS QUESTIONS AND CROOKED ANSWERS

To play this game it is best to sit in a circle, and until the end of the game no one must speak above a whisper.

The first player whispers a question to his neighbor, such as: "Do you like roses?"

This question now belongs to the second player, and he must remember it.

The second player answers: "Yes, they smell so sweetly," and this answer belongs to the first player. The second player now asks his neighbor a question, taking care to remember the answer, as it will belong to him.

Perhaps he has asked his neighbor, "Are you fond of potatoes?" And the answer may have been, "Yes, when they are fried!"

So that the second player has now a question and an answer belonging to him, which he must remember.

The game goes on until everyone has been asked a question and given an answer, and each player must be sure and bear in mind that it is the question he is asked, and the answer his neighbor gives, which belongs to him.

At the end of the game each gives his question and answer aloud, in the following manner.

"I was asked: 'Do you like roses?' and the answer was 'Yes, when they are fried!'"

The next player says: "I was asked: 'Are you fond of potatoes?' and the answer was: 'Yes, they are very pretty, but they don't wear well.'"

THE CURATE

A player is chosen to represent "The Curate." The other players are a.s.signed such names as printer, plumber, jeweler, butcher, druggist, shoemaker, etc. "The Curate" starts the game by saying,

"Mr. Butcher (or any other name) I called to see you this morning but you were not at home."

The Butcher: "I had just gone over to the jeweler's."

Curate: "And what business had you at the jeweler's?"

(The jeweler is the next to speak but he must not do so until the question is answered.)

"I went to get a bracelet for Mrs. Butcher."

The Jeweler: "I was not at home for I had gone to the printer's."

The Curate: "And what was your business at the printer's?"

(The printer is the next to speak but he must not do so until the question is answered.)

The game may be made very interesting by bringing into it little personal references and bits of innocent scandal, as

"I was at the jeweler's to help Mr. ---- select a ring for Miss ----."

DEFINITIONS

A subject is given to the company by the "teacher" and those joining in the game are each to define the subject in as terse a manner as possible, in epigram or verse, written on a slip of paper. The cards are then signed, turned in and the "teacher" reads the definitions. Then the company are to decide which one of the definitions has the greatest merit. For instance, the word "Friendship" is given and the answers might run like these:

"A feather from love's wing."

"The greatest of boons."

"Something akin to glue," etc.