HOME ENTERTAINMENT.

Northern Advocate, 17 December 1932, Page 4

HOME ENTERTAINMENT.

HINTS FOR THE HOSTESS,

At this festive season, young folk, middle-age folk and doubtful age folk gather together iu their home circles,

and many a pleasant hour is passed in simple emjoyment, But many people can only remember the last funny story they have heard, and, as a result, they appear dull when in company hut some of the following games, in which all can join, will help to make everybody feel thoroughly at home. HOT POTATOES.

All the players sit round the room in a circle, with the exception of the one who stands in the centre., A serviette or handkerchief is then, thrown to one of the players, who must immediately throw it to someone else, not waiting even to make it into a better and tighter bundle. The one in the centre tries to catch the serviette as it passes from one to another, and if he succeeds the one from whom it is sent or through whose fault it is secured must take his place in the centre.

COCKFIGHTING-,

This is gentlemen only, though the ladies will enjoy looked on. Two men sit on the floor, hugging their knees with their arms and clasping their hands round their shins. (If necessary the hands should be tied w r ith a handkerchief; at any rate, they must not unclasp them). Under the knees and above the arms of each man is placed a walking stick. The men are then placed side by side, and told to try and push each other over; the one first succeeding in this attempt wins, and another pair takes their place.

FLICKING THE CORK,

Flicking the cork, off a bottle is n novel and most exciting competition. A large wine bottle, with the cork just balanced on top of it—not .pushed in—is placed on a pedestal at such a height that the cork is from 4 feet to 4 feet —ins. from the ground. The competitors range up in a row one behind the other, a couple of yards apart, with their right arms straight out before them at right angles to their bodies, and walking as fast as possible round the room, try to turn, with a flick of the finger and thumb, to send the, cork flying as they pass. For some impenetrable reason, players almost always flick high, and it is no uncommon sight to see half a dozen people tear four or five times round and round a room or along a corridor before any one of them succeeds in judging the distance correctly and flicking off the cork. , An umpire should be provided to stand opposite the bottle during this competition, for any player slackening his or her pace just before reaching the bottle in order to take aim is discpialified, and competitors must quicken their pace to almost a run whilst actually passing by. After tit is running about most folk will want to sit down awhile, so here is a cpiiet game to bo getting on with. CO-OPEKATIVE STOItY TELLING.

This is quite simple, though not so easy to do as it seems at first sight. The players sit round the room, and one begins to tell a tale. At the end of one minute his left hand neighbour takes it up where he left it, continuing the story for another'minute, and so on, each being allowed one minute only. The story can last any length of time, but it should be the object of each succeeding raconteur to make the plot more complicated for those who follow, till it comes to the last round, when everyone tries to account successfully for and put out of the story at least one of the characters. .Much fun can be got by introducing references to events of the day. Follow this -by some puzzles with a story or two:— What is the difference between twice twenty-five and twice five and twenty? There is a difference of twenty; twice twenty-five being fifty, and twice five and twenty makes thirty onlv.

THE TOWED OE THE EVE

Coming home from school along a country road, a little hoy and girl found themselves confronted by a herd of cows. The small girl was for instant flight. “Oh, conic on,” said the boy bravely, “cows’ll never hurt, you.”

The little maid hesitated, anxiously regarding the foremost cow, which surveyed her placidly. Then, edging farther away, she said: “Yet, but. when a cow looks at yon like tlint, it’s a, hull!’’

A GOOD TIE A SON,

“Why did you lose your last place? ’ ’ inquired a lady of a prospective servant.

‘ ‘ Because of the master, ma’am. ’E used to want to kiss me.” “That certainly was reason enough. I’m glad your principles could not permit such a thing.” ‘ ‘ Ycs’m. ’E ’acl an ’orrid mous-

tache.” Then have some competition games, such as:—

HOLE IN THE SHEET,

A sheet is hung in the doorway of the room, and in it a hole about the size of halfa-crpwn is cut. The players are divided' into sides, one side staying in the room, the other going out. The members of the retiring side in turn place one of their eyes at the hole, and it is the duty of the members inside 'the room to guess to whom the eye belongs. The eye remains at the hole for only a very short time, and then, after holding a consultation (which to the outsiders is often very amusing), the captain calls out the name of the alleged owner of the eye. If it is right, one point is counted to them; if-wrong, to the other side. It is better, if possible, for the inside of the room to be well lighted, and the outside to semi darkness, or the shadows of those outside may betray them.