CHRISTMAS GAMES

New Zealand Tablet, 18 December 1913, Page 62

CHRISTMAS GAMES

t TH£ FOUR ELEMENTS. Try playing the game of the four elements next time things become dull at a party. The players are seated in a circle; the one who has been selected to begin the game takes a knotted handkerchief and throws it suddenly into another's lap, calling out at the same time either 'earth,' 'air,' 'fire,' or 'water.' If ' earth' is called out the player into whose lap the handkerchief has Tallen must name some quadruped before the other can count ten; if ' water,' he must name a fish; if air,' a bird; if fire,' he must remain silent. Should the player name a wrong animal or speak when he ought to remain silent, he must pay a forfeit and take a turn at throwing the handkerchief; but should he perform his task properly, he must throw the handkerchief back to the first player. Those who have never joined in "this game can have no idea of the absurd errors into which the different players fall when summoned unawares to name a particular kind of animal.

A GOOD GAME. When your friends come to spend the Christmas afternoon with you, ask them to seat themselves in a circle, and then play the game of the Alphabetical Tour. The idea- is to travel around the world, naming your destination and errands in order of the alphabet. For instance, you ask the first player : s Miss A., where are you going? Answer—To Auckland. Leader—What will you do there? —Apply for Amusing Anecdotes. ' I am going to Blenheim,' says the next. Leader—What will you do there? Answerßake Bacon and Beans. .biach one is asked in turn by the leader, ' Where are you going and "' What will you do there?' C—goes to Constantinople to Call for Citron. D—Dunedin to Dress, Dine, and Dance. E— Europe to Eagerly Enjoy Everything. F—to Flanders to Fish for Flounders. G— Greenpoint to Garden and Groan, H—to the Hutt to Hunt Hares. I—to Ireland to Imitate Irishmen. J — Jersey to Join a Jubilee. K—to Kensigriton to Keep Kittens Kindly. L—to Liacoln to Love Loyally. M—to Maryland to Marry a Musician. N —to Nelson & Nod JNervously. O— Oamaru to Own Outrageous Onions. P— Petone to Patronise Pastry. Qto Queenstown to Quarrel Queerly. R— Rangitikei to Rove and Roam. . '■ S— Siam to Sell Seven Shawls . T— Toronto—to Tell Tedious Tales. U— Uruguay to Upset a Usurper. V—to Vienna to Vex a Vixen. . W— Waterloo to Weep and Wail. Y—to Yarmouth to Yawn. Z—to Zante to Zig-zag Zealously. When the alphabet has been around, you begin over again. 'Anyone who fails to give a correct answer pays a forfeit or drops out of the game.

FAMOUS PENS. Name a pen belonging to Uncle Sam ?—Pennsylvania. A pen belonging to the novelist Thackeray ?—Pendennis. "• An English copper pen ?—Penny. A pen wnich writes involuntary punishment?—■■ Penalty. A pen which subscribes to voluntary punishment?' Penance. ■ A sacred household pen of ancient Rome?—Penates. A pen that writes without ink?—Pencil A pen hanging up? —Pendant. A pen that can go through thick walls?—Penetration. A pen found among the birds? Penguin. v ~ A pen that writes almost entirely in water ?— - Peninsula. A pen that can cancel the supreme sentence?— Penitence. '* A Lenten season pen?—Penitential. A pen that admits to any stronghold ? —Open. 4 A pen found on a flag ?—Pennant. »> An aromatic pen found among weeds ?—Pennyroyal. A pen of weights and measures? Pennyweight. A pen economical in small matters?—Penny wise. An old soldier's pen? —Pension. A pen belonging to a quietly thoughtful person ? Pensive. A pen always shut up ? —Pent.