GAMES FOR LONG EVENINGS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIV, Issue XV, 14 April 1900, Page 718

GAMES FOR LONG EVENINGS.

The evenings are beginnings to draw in now, are they not? Well, here are some games which will provide rare fun from “after tea” to bedtime. BLIND POSTMAN. In this game you first appoint a postmaster-general and a postman. The postmaster-general goes round to each of the players, and writes down opposite their names the names of any towns they choose to represent, each person, of course, representing one town. Everyone except the postman lis provided with a seat, the postman is blindfolded, and the game begins. The postmaster announces that the post goes from one town to another —say from London to Edinburgh—■ and the two players who represent those towns have to change seats, the blind-folded postman meanwhile trying to catch them. If he succeeds, the one caught has to take his turn at being blind-folded.

THE TRAVELLERS’ ALPHABET. This is a quieter game, and can be played sitting round a fire. The first one says: “I am going on a journey to Amsterdam,” or any other place beginning with A. The person seated next, inquires: “What will you do there?” And in giving the answer all verbs and nouns used must begin with the same letter as the town ehosen. “Something after this style: “I shall articulate ancient anthems.” The next player takes B as his or her letter, and so on through the alphabet. Anyone who keeps a questioner waiting for his answer longer than while he can count twenty must pay a forfeit.

THE STAGE-COACH. For this game everyone takes the name of some part of, or something connected with, a stage-cctach—the windows, wheels, coachman, horses, etc. All are provided with chairs, and then one of the players begins telling a tale, which he makes up as he goes along, and which must be as lively and ridiculous as possible, telling how the coach started, where it was going, how many palssenigers 'th|ere welre, how the windows rattled and the wheels jumped, etc. Every time the storyteller mentions that part of the coach anyone represents that person must get up, turn round and sit down again; and every time the stage-coach as a whole is mentioned, everyone must change places, and anyone who forgets to turn round or change places at the proper time has to pay a forfeit. The oftener the different parts of the coach are mentioned by the one who is telling the story the more fun it is.

SHADOW BUFF. This game, if well played, is great fun. A large white sheet is first hung securely on one side of the room, and on a table some distance behind a very bright lamp must be placed. Then the players take it in turn to sit on a stool facing the sheet, while the rest pass behind, between him and the lamp. As the shadows are thrown on the sheet the sitter has to guess who the shadow represents. This is more difficult than many people imagine, because you may disguise yourself in any way, or make absurd grimaces or gestures, which makes the guessing far harder.

ORIGINAL SKETCHING. For this everyone must be supplied with paper and a pencil. On the paper a sketch representing some very well-known incident, either in history or a. novel, must be drawn, no matter how badly. As soon as the sketches are completed each player passes his to his left-hand neighbour, who examines it and writes his comments on the sketch, and also the scene he thinks it represents, on another piece of paper. Then he turns down the paper to cover his comments, and passes both papers to his left-hand neighbour, and so on round the whole circle. When all have been round, the comments are o]>ened and read aloud. The player who guesses the greatest number correctly is sometimes given a prize. All kinds of games and amusements for dull days will be found in “Cassell’s Book of Indoor Amusements,” from which the above are taken.

Easter is here. I wonder why colonial children let it pass almost unnoticed? When I was your age in England we used to have all sorts of fun at Easter time. All the eggs for breakfast were red and yellow, made by dipping them in boiling cochineal or saffron water after boiling; then we used to make proper Easter eggs for our parents and playmates. Perhaps you would like to do so too. I will tell you how. Easter eggs may be made into many novel and pretty devices, as shown in the following illustrations. No. 1

represents the head of the popular Mikado fashioned from an egg. The egg must first be pierced at both ends, and the contents blown out, leaving the hollow shell. Then a face, as nearly as possible resembling the Mikado, painted on the egg. A narrow

strip of black paper (that encasing needles will answer the purpose) pasted on the back of the head; the egg then painted black, except the face, as seen in the picture. The head must be made to stand in the same manner that Columbus made his egg stand, by levelling off a portion of the end. To make the pincushion, Fig. 2, cut two pieces of satin or silk of any desired colour by pattern Fig. 3; sew the two pieces together, leaving a small opening; fiill the bag thus made with bran, then sew up the opening, and tie around the egg cushion a narrow ribbon matching the colour of the cushion, making a fancy bow at one end, and a bow and loops at the other. Place in pins to form the word “Easter.”

The mandolin, Fig. 4, is made by first dividing the egg lengthwise. To do this, pierce holes with a very fine

needle along the line where the division is to be made; this breaks the shell evenly. Then cut Fig. 5 of stiff paper, and with a pen and ink draw the lines representing the strings; also the keys. Bend down the handle a little. Then fasten the egg shell to the paper by joining the edge of paper and shell with a narrow strip of white

tissue paper pasted over and around the edges. Finish by tying a narrow bright ribbon on the handle.

Fig. 6 is a cradle, manufactured by breaking the egg in the desired shape*, first drawing a line with pencil, so that it may be correct, then piercing

the pencil line with a fine needle. I'he wee cradle thus formed is pasted on rockers made of stiff paper. Fig. 7, and bent down nt the dotted lines. The bird’s nest is simply half of an egg-shell, the outside covered first with a thin coat of glue and then with moss, as seen in illustration 8.

The egg-shell bout will sail very prettily in a basin of water. It is half of an egg, with a tissue paper sail. Fig. 9. the mast cut of stiff paper. Fig. 10, folded at the dotted line, while

the lower part is cut so that it divides it into three pieces, like Fig. 11; these are bent out, and glued to the bottom of the boat. 'l'he pennant is cut of bright-coloured tissue paper, Fig. 12. and fastened on the top of the sail. 'l'he little chicken breaking through its slud I is easily manufactured by first cutting Fig. 13 of yellow flannel.

Figs. 14, 15, and 16 of while paper, and Fig. 17 of black paper. Paste all on i tinted card, as seen in Fig. 18. The bill and eve must be inked.

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