EVENING GAMES FOR CHILDREN.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XX, Issue XVI, 16 April 1898, Page 495

EVENING GAMES FOR CHILDREN.

FI N AT A SOAP-BUBBLE PARTY. For a ‘ Punch and Judy ’ show an entertainer is usually provided. A ‘ Candy Pull ’ must lie given in a kitchen, and for this treacle, sugar anti butter must lie provided in large quantities. Several bright saucepans, ami a clear fire are necessary, as well as two or three grown people to superintend the actual candy cooking. Plenty of aprons must also lie at hand, and unlimited good nature. For a ‘Soap-Bubble Party' a long, narrow table should lie covered with a trebly-folded blanket, over which should lie placed a sheet. As many small basins—papier mache are liest -must lie supplied as there are children, and several extra clay pipes to allow for breakage. The suds may be prepared the day liefore from Castile soap. If a little glycerine lie added the bubbles will gain in tenacity ami brilliancy. Care must lie taken to keep the fluid tightly corked until it is needed. Prizes may lie awarded for the longest, the shortest, the greatest numlier at one blow, the largest and the smallest bubbles blown. The pipes, of course, which may lie decorated with ribbon, should lie carried home as souvenirs. A * Fish Pond ’ is a large tub or clothesliasket in which are various small packages so tied that a loop is left in each. A fishing-rod with a good sized hook is provided, and each child given a certain numlier of opportunities to capture the gifts. PARTIES AT WHICH FUN IS PLENTY. A * Donkey Party ’ is, of course, well known an ‘Elephant Party’ is of the same kind, where the attempt is made when blindfolded to properly place the trunk, and a ‘ Nose Party ’ is one where theattemptto locate the nose on a huge face is made. These parties afford great merriment. and if prizes are offered for the nearest and furthest attempts special incentives for proficiency and consolation for inaptness are provided. Magic lantern exhibitions are always appreciated, as are the efforts of a prestidigitatenr.

An ‘ Auction Sale' gives great fun to its I>artieii>ants. Each child is provided with a small basket or hag containing fifty dried la-ail-. A large liasket containing jiareel' of every »ha|>e ami size is brought in, and an older person selected as auctioneer. These (uu-kages may contain things of value and of no value, of use and of no use. but in every case their identity must lie hidden by their wrappings. The auctioneer, who has no knowledge of the ism tent' of the |>ar<-el' must pnweeil to descrilie with great imagination the article* for sale, trying to guess from the shape what the articles may be. The children bid their beans for the parcels, each liean representing one penny, each article lieing sold at auction to the highest bidder.