Games for Everybody Part 12

The papers are folded and pa.s.sed after each drawing and the last time, they are all opened and pa.s.sed around to be inspected and laughed over.

[Ill.u.s.tration: A drawing of man with a cat's head, wearing a dinner jacket, skirt, and clogs. Five folds are indicated at the neck, mid-torso, waist, knees, and feet.]

HOUSEHOLD GOSSIP.

One of the guests is sent out of the room. The hostess asks the remaining players to say something about him. As each one in turn gives his statement, she writes it down with the person's name on a piece of paper which she keeps.

The player is then summoned in and she reads the statements about him one at a time and he must try to guess who said it. As soon as he guesses one correctly, the one who said it must go out of the room and the game goes on as before.

Examples--

You have the family eyes.

Your chin is too small.

The left sleeve of your coat has a spot on it; and so on.

TABLE FOOTBALL.

The "football" for this game is an eggsh.e.l.l which has had the egg blown out of it. The players sit around the table with their captains, who have been previously chosen at each end. There need not be just eleven on each side as in a regular game, but any number. Each captain chooses his side.

Boundaries are marked on the table with, chalk or tape, the two ends being the goals.

When all are ready, the eggsh.e.l.l is placed in the middle of the table, a signal is given, and the members of each team blow the sh.e.l.l towards his goal. No player can leave his place, and the "football" must be moved entirely by blowing.

Regular football rules are used and the count is the same as in football. It will add to the interest, if the two teams stand for rival colleges.

MUSICAL MEDLEY.

Number eight slips of paper with the same number. On each slip write a part, or a line from a verse of a familiar song. Suppose set No. 1 was a verse of "America," this is the way it would be written.

1. My country, 1. 'Tis of thee, 1. Sweet land of liberty, 1. Of thee I sing; 1. Land where my fathers died, 1. Land of the pilgrim's pride, 1. From every mountain side, 1. Let freedom ring.

Prepare as many slips in groups of eight as there are guests. Give each one a slip at random and tell each to find the rest of his set.

When the players of one group have found each other, they stand together in one corner of the room and practise their song. Each group does this until all the groups are formed, and then, commencing with No. 1, each group in turn sings its song aloud for the benefit of the audience.

ANOTHER MUSICAL MEDLEY.

Provide each player with pencil and paper. Before playing this game it must be arranged with someone who plays the piano well to have a list of popular songs ready, which she must play one right after the other.

When the leader gives a signal, the pianist strikes up a tune and continues playing from a part of one song into another until she has reached the end of her list.

The others write down on their papers the names of the songs as fast as they are played, and when the pianist stops, the correct list is read by her, and the rest check off their lists. Prizes may be awarded. It is a strange fact, that after such a medley, there will be very few, if any, who have correct lists.

Pa.s.sING CLOTHESPINS.

Sides are chosen among the players. Each side then takes its position, forming a row on the floor, the leader at the end. The sides face each other, but quite a s.p.a.ce is left between them.

At the head of each line is placed a basket containing twelve clothespins. Each player is instructed to hold his neighbor's right wrist with his left hand, thus leaving one hand (the right one), free.

The leaders begin by pa.s.sing the clothespins, one at a time, down the line, each player being careful not to drop one. When one reaches the end of the line, the last player places it on the floor beside him until all twelve have been pa.s.sed, then he pa.s.ses them, the same as before, up the line to the leader.

The side which succeeds in pa.s.sing all its clothespin back to its leader first is the victorious side. It is best to have a trial game first, so that the players may become used to pa.s.sing with one hand, thus being able to do it rapidly for the regular game.

If a clothespin is dropped, the player who dropped it must pick it up and pa.s.s it on. The rest must wait until it is pa.s.sed before pa.s.sing any of the others.

PANTOMIME.

Give each guest a slip of paper, folded, containing words which can be acted in pantomime. Each one must keep his a secret, as the rest of the company guess what he is acting out.

The players sit in a circle, and the one acting in pantomime his words, stands in the middle where all can see him.

Suppose one had "Dog" on his slip, he would pretend to pet him, call him, and make him perform. Another might have "Blackberries" and make all the imaginary motions of picking and eating them, and being caught on the bushes. If one has "Strawberry shortcake," she can go through the process of making the imaginary cake, and hulling the berries for it.

As soon as it is guessed what the player's word is, the rest call it out.

BIRDS FLY.

The players sit in a circle, one person who is quick and witty is chosen as leader. He stands in the center of the circle.

Whenever he mentions any animal that flies all the players make a flying motion with their hands, but if he names something that doesn't fly, he alone makes the motions; if any player makes the motion when he ought to be still he is out of the game. Suppose the leader begins by saying "Parrots fly," all must move their hands up and down whether the leader does or not, but if he says next time "Horses fly," all must remain still.

It is a good plan to call the names quickly, inserting many that don't fly, when the players are excited, so they will be confused and many will be out.