CHRISTMAS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 958, 24 December 1881, Page 2 (Supplement)

CHRISTMAS.

' ! '" : ;: ;;! I'GOOD'PU2ZLE.' i ' 1 ' ,:!i,:ii ' i ■The object of this puzzle '' is»to place three articles of a kind on the spaces mareed A,'and three of a kind on, the B.spaces; with a blank spaco betw'eon. ■ Take, for instanco, silver and gold coins, Place the ..silver coins on the A spaces, and tho ; gold'pieces on''thd B. Now change the gold pieces to the A spaces, and vice versa, by adv'iincingdife'cfly'fofwar'd/eithermoving to the next unoccupied space, or jumping a coin-over, one; ( another(and only one:other at a time) 6f the opposite' kind; 1 Continue 1 until the silver and gold coins have, changtd places, and are in regular order one above ,tho .other. There dan to no retreating; the moves must be ill made forward."—2VaWu We niayadd'that'this puwlo is' of exactly the' snmo nature as the celebrated American "Jumping Frog"i;;puKle, which costs Is, Ours must be very cheap.

AUNT KEN'S; CHRISTMAS. PARTY.

Y, dears, I have sent 1 for. you sevoral CkVM a m^T "'' 9 ' n ' ot( ' ei ' ' nat ! HGua B' ra *y help me'in 'rehehrsirig our .Icqflaal' 1 parts * for ( the Christmas -party your ■ mamma intends giviug. ■ I believe she has invited • some. twenty girls: about your own age, and you are to have the dining-room: entirely tojourselves, arid I am to be your chief guide in the suggestions you may.make for promoting amusement,", ~ . " But, aunt, wo must.have you with us, or we shall not get on well, and we want you to tell us any new thing you can devise," : '' /'Well," rep'M Miss Ken, "I.have been thinking of a little project which, if carried but, , will make us appear very conjurers, : Yob know j tho washing-stand in my room, that lias a hole in it for the basin to rest in; well/1 purpose to bring this into the dining-room, cover it with a nice white cloth, taking care that this cloth shall have a holo in it corrcspondiug'witli that of the table; j and as Annio is very sharp and not very stout, 1

propose putting her under Hie. tnblo concealed by the cloth; on the table I shallplace a ship, which Imustgot your papn to purchase: I sawthe very thing that will suit in a toy shop yesterday, Well, I think Helena will bo tho best to act tdo part of Britannia, and the ship being brought in on the sliouldors of you other girls, Iritannia, In characteristic dross, says to the audience assembled : ' Good people, hoar me; 'tis Christmas Day, and Britannia nevor forgets her far-oft colonies, and sho comes to greet you all; she has brought the good ship made with liritish oak and laden with, tlio treasures of. the East, that to every Australian on this day tho may give joy and comfort, and whon this ship is safely anchored, claim the gifts Britannia can bestow upon you, There are phantom sailors whom you see not, who will hand mo out from mysterious recesses the treasures you desire, But, that yon may all havo only what you morit, I shall appoint theso three ladies to bo the disposers of, my wealth, and as each name is called, they award tho prizo which the Christmas ship brings you,' And then some ono roads the names of the guests, the presonts arc arranged under the table, and a molon appears, half a dozen oranges, a bag of nuts, a box of sweets, preserved fruits, &c, according to tho award given; arid great will be the suipriso of all. Do you think'you will like this,girls!" ■ '; • "Oh, it will bo dolightful!" they all' exclaimed, ," But Miss Merrick must havo a nico necklaco, Miss Murray a pair of gloves, and Miss Hislop a brooch, because I havo.been puttinga<idomy money to buy these presonts for them, and they hid better have them out, of tho Christmas ship; it will bo so much bottor fun than making tho presents formally," said H«lena, • ' "Oh,'yes,"oxclaimrdJudith, "and rwanted to raako Miss Hnrtwolland Miss Duke a present, and they can all go in the Christmas ship," ■; ■ Tims it was unanimously agreed that allthe presents which the girls' pocKot-monoy purchased should he given to, extend the value. The washband t'ible was. brought in, a cloth placed over it, anil.tho effect was considered good: and it was found, by raising the table a litllo niirher by means of extra boards, not only sufficient room was found for Annio, but there was plenty of space to stow away the presents which should be arrangod for tho several guests, This idea of tho Christmas slop is quito anew one, and perhaps pome of our readers will avail themselves of tho suggestion, and, instead of a Christmas tree, buy a ship, got a good Britannia to address the audipneo and some nice little sailors to carry the vessel into,the room, and if thi matter is done'well it will add materially to tlio onjoymont of Christmas, ." Conundrums; &CV '''.. Miss Ken' was not, howevery' satisfied''with having' the Christmas ship as the sole amusement; her maxim was thatiJrewty is the soul of ! wit, and she therefore wished her nieces to be . prepared to put puzrlds of a short and simple ■ character to their friends.,, pot long charades, bnt . Httlo puzzles. ■ For instapec, she,?aid that t| conundrum was asked many, years ago'ina scientific paper and an' honorarium offered to ariyone'wlip should answer.it. The conundrum was this:—'. " When from tho ark's tempestuous round The world stepped forth iripairs, '' : Who were thefirst who made the.toiind Ofbootsiiponthestairsl"< .' : All the'girls tried to guoss this; but failed, when Miss Ken said; ."I am not sure that lam rigiit, as I never saw the question answered,',but after puzzling my brains over it for montlis I at length came to the conclusion that it was a fair of soles. Do yduseethe, joke?" arid tho girls did see tho joke, and laughed and ''Tell us:somo mom!" thoyall exclaimed, and Miss Ken gave the following one' after another, the answors to which will be found below:-

: 1, Inchlldhbodrhave read-whohasnot?- : How ho for sport a poor amphibian shot; ;■■ ~ But why against such game he raised his; , , hand; : :' .■ , < . Is what no creature can understand, ;, 2. We call him "'right,' l .though such action proves .■ '',' ';• . . ..... On boards hecannot make straight moves. 3. In making endeavors doprivo me of T, And a vory blamable wre'eh I shall bo. 4. Twostrings may suit a lady's bow; ; ■ And give a double chance, 1 ! trow; ; '■•' Two teads are better far than one, ' > But doublo me and I'm undone, i ■ ... 5. Tho stream whose appellation came. : From.briefly stating David's namo. . . •6. To bo or not to be is not the question,... It is derided that, wq'sliall not much longer, 'suffer a loss of temperland of. twop'enco!.' In another case 'tis theqiiestioh, for to pay o'en by forfeit, is' a pleasure. "-'■■'' '• '■ ( '. r ', :! ' ; ■ 7. Spell blind pig with' two letters, '•'■' ' ! '' 8. What'questwncnn: nevorb'e nnswired in the negative l ?:-.: ;; ~'i <■ . • . .9. The following reply was snid. to'have been sent by a lady to a proposal mado.to her: "Y Y URYYU t BI.C;VRYY.4rue. n , :•;"-.:,: 10; ,Tho following, consonants may be seen in 'RhayadorChurch,.iYorlli Wales:- • ■ h ''PRSVRYPRFCTMN "• ■ . viikpthsprcpt.st'n," ' 11.! Spell brandy'in three letters. ' • '":'' 12,. Write your name in one letter; : • : - - : '' 13. The following' is' considered a very gpod ! puzzio: • Say what is the pronunciation'of the following: word -" bac—pause—kac—p^use— : hes.? This is soon gucssod,when on paper, but people, often puzzle over it for flours, particularly 'children.:.. You assure,them it,is a plural word and applies to many individuals, aud particularly, old people are'subject'tbit. ~,' '.'.,".'■ ! ; : U. . "Phifo pudding hot, : ' [■ ■' 'Plum piiddnto iold," : V'' '■'.-'■ ' Plum puddnginithepot,, :•';''.- " " ■■'• : '- ;; ' Nine days old." ' ■"', :: ' ' I Spall all thntia seven letters. ■■'■'■ : ';. : ■ "xYow these are questions suificient, but I want you to have slates in readiness to give your frlendsan idea of the.ne'w game of ' ■

i ; ■' DOOBLBTS OU CONVEUBI(JNB. This ganio has' latterly become very popular,' It is playea ; by taking.aipairj of i words) sometimes called doublets, and converting one iuto the other by successively changing one letter only,

*7 : ' •usmga word in common use ateach change. The of the gamo is to effect the conversion, of to complete the chain of changes, with tho fewest ' vumber of chains, or links as they nro sometimes quite clear to any ordinary mind, Supposo you tflko your slates, or, in tho absence of slates, .paperand pencils, andnjfprdjs. given out to bo easy inslsncq. t The lady president says, convert cat into do^Ton'rdidufcs'allotted, and those who cannot ilu it in that, time must pay a forfeit Only one letter must ho' changed .at each, pencil* lingj and it is' ctiriiius hoft soon it can bo.lranifortried.^Example:'!'" ''■'" '' ! l' , ! ,"' ! ! .I.m.'-v; .■.-i.r-c-A'T- -■' ■' , "' ; |r ( '; DOT /.Silk ■■■', ;r,x| i\l;.< i D.OG; ,>;■:.; :v>\ '.7 Only changing; a letter each time the transformation incomplete,: Theword may be lengthened as ! you btco'je'inorc perfect in manipulation, bus ! siinplo as it appears it requires the exercise of a ; little brain, andl In a party.of twenty.l fancy you would get'a good many forfeits, Begin with 8 small one, such as I liavo suggested; then extend the wordtofoufjletters.siioh rnhnriifaWfoot", thenfiv«iSuch , aswmaintoMcepi' 1 "" ' 1, Archer, A was an archer wfib shot it a frog, 2, Bishop. In chess moves in cross lines..'. .3. Atterapter. . . ~, '''\y\fc \ :.•',' • 1,- 4: LA negative.'' Two negatives make anatir* - r ■ vmativo.' •'" .:n<:r.: ;■■ v *j .; ■:,.;•'■ :-,s.iTaff-.theßiver Taff. 'TntTy or Davjd fait :.;.,&Welshman...■,■■; ~■ -,/'. .; '' ' i 6. Tolli'. Given before the Londonbridges'were operied'free.—A Kiss, ' >. •. : ':.', ■ ■',-';': 7:' P g-svitliout an : i j tlius It must be a blind , ,:! P igi.:-, •!■■ ■,■',:, ,■ /V -, ; : ••■.-. ;.' ; V .'■. , ; 9. Too wiso, you arc, too wise ybubeji see you ~, are too wise for mo. ...; .■■"''■ : < i ; , 10. Pat in'tlio.vowblE where Wanted.. ' > ,> 11; French for'! brandy, 1 * \ 12; Draw a circleand cailit" ■i: i < .';and write ". your name''>with-i l,t^ u ' I ..... in.it.;..:!,:, • j,..;.:., r.j-My . i?, It simpjy.spells" •■ ■■': ' *'£''• 14. Xou.have.ouly to, spoil all tht/M'lVw

' jdne guesses It the amusement is]gje»(,/.', ; - C'\ 'V . I'MdiipMi'legt to the ekingktho'ut tduehwij anyfour-legged animal. (This ii done by simply holding, up a cliair.) v.'.•■••!• ■• Mi! ! %■ Burn, the, home Mthout: injuring, proi* pcrtt/ or perm.. • (Write ' the house'on apiece, otpnperandthrowitintliefire';) . ',.,'.'...,„■. ; 3. -Ailswe'r 'yen'or 'iu''totix questions'agreed upon ly the 'company, ioiihbut the'' knowledge: of the: perm-questioned! ' (Tho ansivers sometimes sound oddlyif, the questions are nicely; put, «nd theanswerswill.verfoftonbßi'i quito'contrary to the lady's views,).. ' ■...,„,., "t Kiss' every body ' til the. room Spanish fashion. '(This is sometimes' Riven as 1 a gentleman's forfeit; a'udheis conducted round tlw room' by ajady, who hetsejf kisses the othor ladies, and thoiwipes the gen'tloman's mouth with a handkerchief,) •'., ■'■',.■ ~., 6, Say,the following twice in a breath:'-"' "'' Swan'ySwinioverdbrooki •" Swim, swan, swim; : Swan, iwim bach again; ■'< ... Well swum, swan.' : ;, :•■ (This, of course, explains itself,) 0, Hop over all the chairs and sofas in the' rovnonone'leg. (Write 'all tho chairs and sofas' on a pieco of papor and hop over it,) 7. Throw ahundred leaves on the floorand pick them all up in five seconds, (Throw:a. book on tho ground containing a hundred loaves or more, and pick it up.) bYtfffj \ the time «t this minute without' looking at awatchor a cluck: (Repeat the words Uhe time at this minute.') : ' 9. Makea-bm-dance on the table, (Simply put amunberof articles on the table uutil tliey be doomed abundance.)

Christmas Games, &c. Musical CiiAißs.-Mamma may take her placo at the piano, if sheobjects to active emmse', Then, supposing: there arc nine other players, ' eight chairs must bo plawl in: a line, the seats;! alternately facing; right aud. left. The pianist strikes up a'livcly tune, the players run round in . time,when,'in nn instant the music stops,' and' try to secure seats. One must be left out, and ' pays a forfeit for her want of quickness*, Slio is • ; considered. '/.out," a-id becomes a idoker-on.-Another chair is withdrawn, tiie nurab'ir of scats . being always one less than that of the players, and the music recommoncos. The g.t'iiego'sqn till only two players and ono scat are left and ' thisis always tlio funniost part of it, each being determined to win. The player who succeeds in occupying the last chair when the music ceases i is, ol course, tho victor. Some leave out the , forfeits in this game.

Tub Family Coach,—This requires a good :: number: of players, each of wlioin is specially named. There are the special travellers who go ' in the family coach, step, door, handle, cushion,. wheel, shafts, springs, ado, coachmen, whip, window, reins, and so on, If the party is a very numerous ono there may be four whoofs properly distinguished, two horses, two windows, a footman, &C, But if the playerj are fow only tho '. principal parts are taken. Then one sits in the middle and till* a story of an excursion in tho family ciach, of the preparation for the start, tin things forgotten, mishaps to the vehicle on the : road, aud tho m inner in which they woro i>ot over, until at longth ho brings the excursion to a Jiappy termination, and the vo'dclo to the jour. ncy'S; end. When any character is named, tho player so called must' rise and turn round. When tho family coach is mentioned all change places. Jf. the wheel comes into tho story, the axlo, : spokes, andtire, as parts' of it, .must turn with : the wheel. Tho windowing in tho door must : also move when this is named, but not the door. at the mention of the'window', Forfeits are paid for mistakes, and the. game ends with the end of '. itho story'which aonounM tho safe arrival of the ' coach, 1 In this -game the story-toller should be ■ quick-witted, and tell his.tale readily, as the fun deporids on the manner in which heiperforms his : part; aiid tjib rapid succession in which he brings in droll incidents and the 1 names of tho parts, so • thatevoryplayer must be on' the alerttoavoid forfeits. Some havo a writtenstory, and read it,'' but this is nyery cut-andrtLried style of playing 'tho ganio..i '■, .•■, •■ ,■ , : r

'.THE NEW GAME:, "CAMPS." ' ' {FOR'IN-DOOnS OR OOT-DOORS ) ' As it is summer time,-it i« supposed that you wish to } play' it out of doors! -.. It can be played by as few assix, butthe more players the bettor. Yoii must choose,first of all,, tirosites,for tho camps, within site of eachother,' but out of heating. i: V7e wllHi*o one corner of the lawn wlior*. I there Is a rustic bench under an acacia tree, arid' ; the arbpiir to:tlic:opposito corner. There is, therefore,, the, whole width; pf ; tho green lawn between, tho two camps. Nextproyidesonieflag*; •.' you can quickly moke them rtd white. 1 ; 'Rosette badges foij'lhe players' are dew- , ablo also, bufc'inot absolutely'nocr'ssa'ry. 1 Then' ! choose ;two generals, one ifor cither'camp; they must act.as umpires : during,the game, and every.; dispute tliat ai must bo decided by them with-. . out any'objection from the players. Then draw > lots for the chbico of camps arid followers, bach',' genoral choosing the latter in turn until ail the players are tqiially divided! • Each sido then takes : •possession of a;camp, a blue flag being hoisted on i one, a red qno,on; the other.. iTho white flags are ■ , for tho ambassadors' Each camp then sends out an ambassador bearing a flag of truce, Thoy meetbntlio lawn between'the two camps, arid toMthor fix- upon; some object: that maybe ■ definitely described, ;but : in whispers,: so that • ; neither of the camps can hear. The ambassador, : from the.Blue Camp .thencrosses oror to the Red, tod.tho Red Ainbissadbr goes 'to the Blue, ■ and 1 both declare aloud the kingdom 1 to which the"' object fixed upon belongs) either animal, mineral' or vegetable They must then answer as and l 'quickly.„M possible t!ie/question put to ■; theiri by the .followors' of the camp.' The camp whiclr first guesses; the puzzle word correctly , keeps the hostile ambassador as prisoner and receives'its own ambassador back also. Then new '' ambassadors, are, chosen' andi sent' forth iln ; likV' ;l mannqr.,As.spon asa camp captures and 'a prisoner,'it mu«t signal it? ; victory by waving of , .flagf and .clapping of .hands. If the word is guessed simultflheoaslyin both camps, then it.' becomes a-question for thelgenerals to decide: : ' and, thoyimay either, send out the same ambas- '• j .sndore to choose a fresh word or draw lots forthe '>■ victory.' In .'a .very large company it is better to. have a number of camps on each side, ranged in ' lines, with a major-general in command of each'"' linoof camps; then you must play against time," and the game is ; won by'which ever side has tbe : greater iii)mber.of men nt the expiration of an ■> hour.,, When there,are onlytwocamps, the victory rests' with the 1 qne'who, takei all tho : tnon, except the leader, from the other. ; ' •If played in-doors, the sites for the catrips' 1 ' should be two rooms with a hall, or a lobby. bo> tweon, in which the ambassadors meet,