GAMES FOR ADULTS

MALAGA GRAPES.
All the players sit in a circle and one who knows the trick takes a small cane in his right hand; then, taking it in his left hand, he passes it to his neighbor, saying: "Malaga grapes are very good grapes; the b...

SPOON PICTURES.
It will be necessary for two of the players to know how to play the game. One is sent out of the room, and the other remains inside to take a picture of one of the guests. This is done by holding up a spoon or so...

BOOTS, WITHOUT SHOES.
All the players are sent out of the room. The leader remains inside and calls one player in. They both sit down together and the leader says: "Say just what I say. Say boots, without shoes." (With a short pause ...

PROVERBS.
Any number of persons may play this game. One is sent out of the room while the rest choose some proverb. Then he is called in and asks each player in turn a question. In the answer, no matter what the question ...

ANIMAL, VEGETABLE, OR MINERAL.
When the party is large, this game affords much amusement. One player is sent out of the room. While he is gone the players decide upon some object which he is to guess. He is then called in, and asks each one a...

WHAT TIME IS IT?
It requires two players who understand this game, a leader and his accomplice. The accomplice leaves the room, while the leader and the rest remain inside. The leader asks the players what hour they will choose f...

IT.
One of the players who does not know the game is sent out of the room. While he is gone, the others are supposed to be thinking of some person whom he is to guess when he comes in, but it is arranged that each on...

HOW, WHEN, WHERE.
One of the players leaves the room while the others select some word with two or three meanings, which is to be guessed. Suppose the word "trunk" is thought of. When the player is summoned in he asks each one in ...

BUZ.
All the players sit in a circle and begin to count in turn, but whenever seven, or any multiple of seven comes, "Buz" is said in its place. If anyone forgets he may be put out and the game commenced over again, ...

JENKINS UP!
Divide the company into two sides. One division sits around the table on one side, the other on the opposite side. The members of division "A" put their hands under the table and a small coin, dime or quarter, is...

STATE OUTLINES.
This is a splendid game for the beginning of an evening as the guests mingle together and become acquainted while hunting for their partners. The hostess prepares pieces of cardboard on which she has drawn the ...

PREFIXES.
One of the players is sent out of the room. The others then decide upon some word which he is to guess when he returns. He is told what the prefix of the word is, and must guess, by asking questions, what the re...

MY FATHER HAD A ROOSTER!
All the players sit in a circle, the leader begins by saying, "My father had a rooster!" The player to his left says: "A what?" The leader answers: "A rooster!" Each player repeats this in turn to his left-hand...

CROSS QUESTIONS AND CROOKED ANSWERS.
All sit in a circle for this game. The first one begins by whispering some question to his left hand neighbor, such as "Do you like apples?" The second player must remember the question asked him, and he answers ...

MAGIC WRITING.
An assistant is necessary for this game. One gives a little talk about sign-language and says that he can read any sign made with a stick on the floor, and will leave the room while the others decide upon some wo...

FAMOUS NUMBERS.
Provide the players with pencil and paper. Each one writes a number on his slip. The papers are collected, mixed up, and each player draws one. Each in turn must name something or someone suggested by that numbe...

MAGIC ANSWERS.
One is sent from the room and the others decide upon some object which is to be guessed when the player enters. The player outside has an accomplice in with the others who asks the question when he returns. It ...

MODELLING.
Provide each player with a card and a toothpick, also a piece of gum, or paraffine if preferred. The hostess announces that when she says "Ready," the gum is to be chewed until she tells them to stop, and then ...

SCISSORS CROSSED OR UNCROSSED.
A simple catch game is as follows. It is best if two of the company know how to play it. One of the two is the leader and the other helps her out. The leader hands a closed pair of scissors to her accomplice, w...

CAPPING VERSES.
To while away the time before dinner, or while sitting in the twilight, this is a simple amusement for those who love poetry. One begins by giving a line or verse of poetry. The next one continues, but his vers...

RABBIT.
The leader, who knows the game, asks each one in turn: "Do you know how to play rabbit?" When all have answered, he says: "Do just what I do, and I will show you how." 1st. All stand in a row. 2d. All kneel...

GHOST.
Turn down the lights. All the players sit in a circle. The leader has a button which she gives to some player, as in "Button, button, who has the button?" The one who guesses who has the button takes the leader's...

WHAT AM I?
One of the players is sent out of the room. The rest decide upon the name of some animal which he is to guess. When he returns the players question him in turn, imitating the habits of the animal chosen and as...

NEEDLE THREADING.
Procure several large jars. Stand these on their sides. Only men can contest for this, as ladies are supposed to be expert needle-threaders. Four or five men contest at a time. Each sits on a jar with his feet ...

CONFUSIONS.
The players are provided with pencil and paper. Each player selects the name of some animal, fish, or bird, and mixes the letters so as to spell other words. For instance, if one chooses elephant, the words might...

VERBAL AUTHORS.
The players sit in a circle. One is chosen as judge and he keeps tally. Each player in turn, rises, and names some well-known book. The first one to call out the name of the author scores a point. The game contin...

PIN DOLL BABIES.
Any number may play this game. If there are men and women it is more amusing. Divide the company into groups of five or six. Each group sits around a table upon which are pins, needles and thread, scissors, for...

BUILDING SENTENCES.
The hostess begins by saying one word and announces that each word of the sentence must begin with the initial letter of the given word. The player to her right gives the second word, the next player, the third, ...

GEOGRAPHY.
Select two leaders from the company. Each leader chooses players for his side. The sides stand opposite each other. One leader begins by giving the name of some river, mountain, lake, city or town, state or count...

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF?
Predicaments of the worst kind are thought of and written on pieces of paper. These are handed among the guests, who write out an answer, telling the best way out of the difficulty. Each question begins with "Wha...

WATCH TRICK.
It will require two people who know this game to be in the secret. One of them leaves the room while his confederate remains inside with the others. He hides an article which the rest of the players have selected...

FIND YOUR BETTERHALF.
Select a number of pictures of men and women from fashion papers, advertising books, etc. If possible, try to procure them in pairs, that is, a man and woman contained in the same picture, or two having the same ...

WORDS
The players form a line as in a spelling match. Sides may be chosen if preferred. The first one begins by giving the first letter of a word, "A" for instance, thinking of the word "Animal." The next player, think...

LETTERS.
Empty the contents of a box of "anagrams" on a table so all the letters are in a pile face downward. The players sit around the table. The leader begins by turning up one of the letters and says, "Bird." The pl...

SEEING AND REMEMBERING.
Fill a table with all sorts of things, books, gloves, dolls, pins, scissors, food, some large, striking picture, another very small object. Keep the table covered until ready for use. Then remove the cover and...

LIVE TITTATTO.
On a sheet mark a regular tit-tat-to diagram in black point. Stretch the sheet so it will be smooth on the floor. Divide the company into sides, a captain being appointed for each side. Call one side the crosses...

BITS OF ADVICE.
Each person is given a slip of paper and pencil. The leader then tells the players to write a bit of advice, original if possible, on the paper, fold it, and drop it into a basket as it passes by. The papers a...

PICTURES.
Provide the players with pencil and paper. All sit in a circle. The leader announces that pictures are to be drawn in this manner. First, draw a head (either animal or human), fold the paper, pass it to the righ...

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 pape...

TABLE FOOTBALL.
The "football" for this game is an eggshell 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 ...

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 c...

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....

PASSING 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 space is left between them. At the head of each l...

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, ...

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 th...

TRIPS AROUND THE WORLD.
There are several ways of playing this game, here are two. Provide each guest with a little paper book to represent a guide book and a pencil. Articles of all kinds have been scattered around the room to repres...

JACK'S ALIVE.
A piece of kindling wood is held in the fire until it is well lighted. It is then passed from one player to the other, each one saying in turn, "Jack's alive." The instant the stick ceases to burn "Jack" is "dead...

GOING AFISHING.
Cut a number of small fishes about two inches long out of cardboard. Each fish counts five, but two, which may be a little larger, are numbered ten. A loop is made with thread on the back of each fish. Rods (s...

CONSEQUENCES.
Provide each player with pencil and paper. The first thing to write on the paper is an adjective which applies to a man. The paper is then folded over and passed to the right. This time each one writes the name ...

PERSONAL CONUNDRUMS.
The guests are requested to think up some conundrums about some person in the present company. Each one in turn gives his conundrum and the player to his left must answer it if he can; if he fails, any one pres...

HUNTING THE WHISTLE.
The players who know how to play this game stay in one room, while the others go into the hall, or another room. Those knowing the trick sit down in chairs which have been arranged in two rows, with an aisle betw...

THE FIVE SENSES.
All the players sit in a circle. No. 1 begins by naming something he has seen, being careful what his last word is, as it must furnish him with a rhyme for the rest of the game. Each player in turn tells what ...

WIGGLES.
Provide each guest with pencil and paper. Papers four inches square will be large enough. Each player draws a line about an inch and a half long with one or more quirks in it, in the upper left hand corner of t...

TELEGRAM.
Provide the players with pencil and paper. Each one then writes on his piece of paper ten letters of the alphabet in any order, using no letter twice. The papers are then passed to the right and each one is requ...

SPELLING MATCH.
Choose leaders and divide the company into sides. The sides stand opposite each other as in the old-fashioned spelling match. The leader, who may be the hostess, has a spelling book from which she selects the w...

POOR PUSSY.
All the players sit in a circle, one being chosen out. This one kneels before each player in turn and says, in pitiful tones: "Meow!" Each player, when addressed by "pussy," must say, without smiling: "Poor Puss...

GUESSES.
Each player receives a slip of paper and pencil. The leader begins by saying: "Guess how high the door is." "Guess how thick that book is." "Guess how tall Mr. Blank is." "How far does this chair stand from the...

NUT RACE.
Choose two captains from the company, who select sides until all the guests are on one side or the other. Place a pile of mixed nuts on the floor and an empty bowl about three feet from it, at one end of the ro...

TORN FLOWERS.
Prepare a table full of different colored tissue paper, bottles of mucilage and white cards, one for each guest. The players sit around the table, the hostess gives each a card and announces that each one is ...

SPEARING PEANUTS.
Fill a cup with peanuts, two of which are blackened with ink on one end. The guests play one at a time. No. 1 sits down by a table, empties the cup of peanuts in a pile on it and is given a hatpin with which ...

PEANUT HUNT AND SCRAMBLE.
Before the guests enter the room, hide peanuts in every conceivable place, behind pictures, under chairs, on the gas fixtures, among the ornaments, five or six in vases, etc. Give each guest a paper bag as he e...

MUSICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.
A blackboard and different colored chalk will be necessary for this game. Give each guest a slip of paper on which is written the name of some song. The leader announces that each one in turn steps up to the...

AN APPLE HUNT.
The hostess should prepare beforehand cards four inches square and outline on each an apple by dots concealing the outline with other dots. In one corner of the card is stuck a needle containing enough green thre...

SHOUTING PROVERBS.
The more playing this game, the merrier it will be. Send one of the players from the room. The others decide upon a familiar proverb which he is to guess when he returns. Suppose the one chosen is "A rolling ston...

BAKER'S DOZEN.
This game is just for two and is similar to Tit-tat-to. Make a drawing like the illustration and the game is ready. [Illustration: A drawing of a stack of twelve rectangles topped with an half-circle. These ar...

PEANUT CONTEST.
Place two small bowls on a table at one end of the room, at the other end of the room on a table have two bags of peanuts and two knives. The players may choose partners in any way desired. The partners play to...

DEFINITIONS.
Provide each player with pencil and paper. The leader has a dictionary which she opens at any place and selects a word which the rest are to define. The players write the word and their definition of it on the...

ALPHABETICAL ANSWERS.
Prepare cards with one letter of the alphabet on each, omitting V, X, Z. Of course if the company is large, several will have the same letter. The cards are pinned on the guests, and it is announced that no one...

PITCH BASKET.
Select a number of small fruit baskets, all the same size, and have a box of checkers handy. Suppose you have five, on the bottom of one mark 20, on another 15, on two, 5; and on the other, 0. Place the baskets ...

WHO AM I?
As the guests arrive pin a card with a name of some noted author, statesman, or poet written on it, on their backs, so that every one can see it but themselves. Of course, each person wants to know who he is, s...

PROGRESSIVE PUZZLES.
The players are provided with pasteboard cards 2 inches square, and scissors. At a signal, given by the hostess, they must cut their cards in four pieces, the cuts must intersect in some place, but the card can b...

TIT FOR TAT.
Plan to have an even number of guests invited, half ladies and half gentlemen. Provide thick boards for each lady, also a hammer and paper of tacks, and for the men, plain hats (untrimmed) and material for trim...

EYEGUESSING.
Hang a sheet or screen in a doorway between two rooms and cut six holes, the size and shape of eyes, each pair a distance apart, in it, some up high and some down low. Choose groups of four to go behind the she...

THE PRINCE OF WALES.
Any number can play this game. The players stand in a line around the room and number themselves, beginning with one, until each has a number. The leader, who has no number and who has charge of the game, begin...

COMMERCE.
The guests are seated around a table, each one having a pile of fifty beans in front of him. The leader has two packs of playing cards, one of which is used for an auction sale, one card at a time being sold to ...

LAUGH A LITTLE.
The players sit in a circle with one in the middle for leader. The leader must be one who laughs heartily and is very quick. He begins the game by throwing a plain, white handkerchief up in the air, as high as ...

LOCATION.
Choose two leaders who select sides. One begins by calling the name of some town or place and then counts ten. While he is counting, the opposite opponent must answer where the place is. If he fails to answer bef...

FASHION NOTES.
The names of various fashion papers, such as "The Delineator," "The Styles," "Le Bon Ton," "Ladies' Home Journal," are written on cards, which are cut so that it requires the two parts to know what the title is...

STRAY SYLLABLES.
Prepare long strips of paper on which the guests are requested to write several words of three or more syllables, leaving spaces between each syllable. When this is done, cut up the words into the syllables and...

QUAKER MEETING.
All the guests sit in a circle and the leader begins by saying: "This is a very solemn occasion." He then twirls his thumbs and looks very solemn. Commencing with the player to the right of the leader, each one ...

MAGIC MUSIC.
One player is sent from the room and the rest decide upon something he must do when called in. When this has been done he is summoned by magic music which is made by having one of the players strike on somethin...

PATCHWORK ILLUSTRATIONS.
For this game it is necessary for the hostess to collect a large number of pictures from magazines, advertisement pages or papers. These are placed in the center of a table around which the players are seated. ...

BIOGRAPHY.
Provide the players with pencil and paper. The leader then announces that a biography is to be written, and the first thing to write is the name of some person in the room; the paper is folded over so the name c...

ORCHESTRA.
Any number can play this game, the more the merrier. Each player is told to play some imaginary instrument. The leader with an imaginary baton, begins by humming some lively, familiar tune. The players follow wit...

WHO IS MY NEXTDOOR NEIGHBOR?
Half of the company are blindfolded. They are led to a row of chairs arranged in the middle of the room, each sitting so there is a vacant chair behind him. The other half, who are not blindfolded, very quietly...

FIRE.
Choose two leaders from among the players. Each leader chooses his side. The sides sit opposite each other, the leader of one throws a ball to any one in the opposite side. As he does he says either, "Earth," "A...

THE MONTHS.
The leader need be the only one who understands this game. He asks, "What month are you going away in?" One player might answer "September." He then asks, "What will you wear?" "What will you take with you?" and ...

BELL BUFF.
In this game all the players except one are blindfolded. This one is called the guide and has a small bell which he rings during the game. All the blind men are led to one end of the room by the guide. He then ...

POSTMAN.
The players sit in a circle; one is chosen for "postman," is blindfolded, and another is chosen for Postmaster. The Postmaster gives each player the name of some city or town, and stands outside the ring so he ...

SPOONEY FUN.
All the players sit in a circle. One is chosen to be out. He is blindfolded and given a spoon (a large one) with which he is to feel. He stands in the middle of the circle, then is turned around three times and t...

CITIES.
Provide all the guests with pencil and paper. The hostess then requests that each write the name of the city in which he was born, and under that a sentence, descriptive of that city or containing something sugg...

GOING TO CHINA.
This is a catch game for those who have never played it. The leader begins by saying, "I'm going to sail for China next week, I would like to have you go, what will you take?" This question is asked every player ...

A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS.
Provide each player with pencil and paper and a penny. The hostess explains that the answers to the following questions are things which are found on every penny. The questions may either be written on the pape...

MISQUOTED QUOTATIONS.
Choose very familiar quotations from Longfellow, Shakespeare, Tennyson, or any well-known author or poet, and write them on slips of paper. Change some of the words of the original, or even a whole line, and w...

LITERARY SALAD.
Salad leaves are prepared for this game by folding and twisting pieces of green tissue paper until they look like lettuce leaves. Then paste slips of white paper containing a quotation, on each leaf. The partic...

BROKEN QUOTATIONS.
This is a good game to play at the beginning of a social gathering, as the guests have to mingle together and thus become better acquainted, and the stiffness of a formal gathering passes off. The hostess has p...

PARCEL DELIVERY.
Packages of all shapes and sizes and securely wrapped up are prepared by the hostess who has numbered each one. The players are provided with pencil and slips of paper with numbers corresponding to the numbers on...

WHO ARE THEY?
Photographs of noted people, labelled with names that do not belong to them, are hung about the room. Each picture is numbered. The guests, provided with pencil and paper, are given a certain length of time in ...

SWAPS.
The guests are requested to bring something wrapped up in paper, which they wish to get rid of. The hostess prepares a duplicate set of numbers, pinning one number on each parcel, as the guests pass by her. Whe...

TALKING SHOP.
Partners may be chosen for this game by writing names referring to ladies on one set of papers like, "Judy," "Jill," "Juliet," and names referring to men on another set of papers like, "Punch," "Jack," "Romeo." H...

SIGHT UNSEEN.
Partners may be chosen in any way for this game. The host gives each pair a sheet of paper and pencil. The partners decide among themselves which one is the best artist, he or she (as the case may be) takes the p...

A STUDY IN ZOOLOGY.
It will be necessary to have several sheets of silhouette paper (black on one side and white on the other), a large sheet of white cardboard, several pairs of scissors, and as many pencils as there are players, f...

AUCTION SALE
Provide twenty or more bundles, all shapes and sizes, securely wrapped. Each bundle has a name on it suggestive of what is inside. For instance, "A pair of kids," may contain two kid hair curlers, "A bunch of dat...

THE GENTEEL LADY.
The players sit in a circle. The leader begins by saying, "I, a genteel lady (or gentleman, as the case may be) always genteel, come to you, a genteel lady (or gentleman) always genteel (bows to the player on the...

RHYMES.
Provide each player with slips of paper and pencil. The hostess then announces that each one is to write some question at the top of the paper, fold the paper over and pass it to the player at the left, who write...

ART GALLERY.
Select copies of famous paintings, those familiar to every one, and hang them around the room. Neither the name of the painting nor of the artist must be on it, only a number on each picture. Provide the gue...