Games for Everybody

ANIMAL SHOW.
An amusing game for children is one in which each child is to make some sort of animal out of vegetables or fruit, and toothpicks. When all the children have arrived, pass around slips of paper containing a n...

CHASE THE RABBIT.
All the children kneel on the floor in a ring with hands on each other's shoulders. One is chosen to be the "rabbit" and runs around outside the ring and touches one of the players, who is to chase him to his "...

SOAPBUBBLE CONTEST.
Provide each child with a clay pipe and prepare two basins of soap suds for the game. If a little glycerine is put in the water, the bubbles will last longer. Divide the company into two sides, an even number ...

ROSE GUESS.
Any child can play this simple game. Take a full blown rose and hold it up where all can see it, then let them write on a slip of paper how many petals they think are in the rose. The petals are then counted by...

NEW BLIND MAN'S BUFF.
The one who is chosen for the "blind man" does not have his eyes bandaged as in the old game. Stretch a sheet between two doors and place a light, candle or lamp, on a table some distance from the sheet. The "b...

FINDING FLOWERS.
A very simple game for children is one played like the old-fashioned "London Bridge." Two children with joined hands stand opposite each other, and the rest form a ring and pass under the raised hands, while th...

BEANBAG CONTEST.
Prepare an even number of bean bags of moderate size, half of one color and half of another. Appoint leaders, who choose the children for their respective sides. There should be an even number on each side. The...

BLOWING THE FEATHERS.
The children are seated on the floor, around a sheet or tablecloth. This is held tight by the players about 1 1/2 ft. from the floor, and a feather is placed in the middle. One is chosen to be out, and at a giv...

SCHOOL.
The players sit in a circle, and each takes the name of some article found in the schoolroom, such as desk, rubber, blackboard, etc. One of the players stands in the center and spins a plate on end; as he does ...

HIDE THE THIMBLE.
All the players but one, leave the room. This one hides a thimble in a place not too conspicuous, but yet in plain sight. Then the others come in, and hunt for the thimble; the first one seeing it, sits down an...

FAN BALL.
Make two balls, one red and one blue, out of paper thus-- [Illustration: A drawing of three identical circles of paper. No. 1 should have slits on the top, bottom, left, and right. No. 2 should have slits on ...

SPOOL FLOWER HUNT.
Gather together as many spools as possible, marking each with a separate letter, which, when put together, will form the name of some flower, such as: rose, violet, daisy, pansy, etc. Stand all the spools in a r...

MARBLE CONTEST.
Cut five holes of different sizes in the lid of a pasteboard box. Number the largest hole 5; the next largest 10; the next, 20; the next, 50; and the smallest, 100. Place the box on the floor and give each chil...

PASSING BY.
An amusement for children on a train, or at home when it is raining, is the following, and it will help to while away the time. If there are several children, choose sides and appoint one to keep the count for ...

THE SERPENT'S TAIL.
This is a Japanese game, and is played this way. All the children form a line, each resting his hands on the shoulders of the player in front of him. One child is chosen out, and is called the "catcher." The firs...

LITTLE BOPEEP.
Dress the little girl in whose honor the party is given as little Bo-peep, with a little crook. Hide small toy sheep all over the room in every nook and corner. As each child comes, give her a little stick fi...

SPOOL ARMIES.
Children may derive a lot of fun from a large supply of empty spools of all shapes and sizes. Pieces of cotton batting stuck in the opening at the top may serve as heads. For the "army" gather together as many...

SPINNING FOR 20.
On a board or piece of cardboard, mark with pencil or ink, the design illustrated, the size of the circles varying with the size of the board. [Illustration: 4 concentric circles, numbered 20, 15, 10, and 5.] ...

SHOE HUNT.
Shoes, four inches long, are cut out of cardboard, from patterns found in catalogues. The pairs are mixed and hidden all over the room, high and low, behind pictures, under mats, etc. The girl or boy finding th...

HOPOVER.
Fun for the children is in store when they play this game. All stand in a circle, not too near each other. One player stands in the center, holding a rope, or stout cord, at the end of which is attached a weight ...

BOUQUET.
This is played similarly to "Stage-coach." Any number of children can play it. One is chosen out and is called the "gardener." All the children sit in a circle and the "gardener" gives each one in turn the nam...

SIMPLE SIMON'S SILLY SMILE.
All the players sit in a circle and one who is bright and witty is chosen as leader. He stands in the center of the circle and asks the most ridiculous questions he can think of. The players when asked any ques...

TEAPOT.
One player leaves the room, and while he is gone the rest decide upon some word which has several meanings, which he must guess when he comes in. The rest of the players converse about the word, but instead of ...

BLIND MAN'S BUFF.
It is hardly necessary to describe this game as almost everybody knows how to play it. There may be some who do not know, however, so it is included here. Clear the room as much as possible, pushing all the ch...

CAT AND MOUSE.
The children sit in two rows facing each other, with a space between. Blindfold two children, one being the "cat" and the other the "mouse." The "cat" stands at one end of the row and the "mouse" at the other....

MUSICAL CHAIRS.
Musical Chairs, or Going to Jerusalem, is a favorite game of the children. Someone who plays the piano well starts up a lively tune and the children march around a row of chairs which have been arranged facing al...

BUTTON, BUTTON.
All the children sit in a circle with hands placed palm to palm in their laps. One child is given a button and she goes to each in turn, slipping her hands between the palms of the children. As she goes around th...

STATUES.
Arrange all the children except one on chairs or a bench. This one is the leader and she stands on the floor in front of the children. Beginning at one end of the row, she pulls each child from the bench, letting...

OUR COOK DOESN'T LIKE PEAS.
All the players except one sit in a row. This one sits in front of them and says to each one in turn: "Our cook doesn't like P's; what can you give her instead?" The first one may answer "sugar" and that will s...

HOLD FAST, LET GO.
A simple game for small children is the following. Each child takes hold of a small sheet or tablecloth, the leader holding it with his left hand, while he pretends to write with his right hand. The leader say...

SIMON SAYS.
One child is selected to be Simon. The rest of the children sit around in a circle. Simon stands in the middle and gives all sorts of orders for the children to follow. Every order which begins with "Simon says" ...

OLD SOLDIER.
One child, who represents the old soldier, goes around to each child in turn and begs for something, saying that he is poor, hungry, blind, etc., and asks what they will do for him. In answering the old soldier...

HIDE AND SEEK.
One child is chosen out. This one stands by a post or in a corner which is called "base," and hides his eyes. The children decide among themselves how much he shall count while they are hiding. Suppose they choos...

HANGMAN.
Two children may derive a great deal of amusement from this simple pastime. At the top of a piece of paper write all the letters of the alphabet. Underneath, the child who has thought of a word or short sentence ...

BIRD, BEAST, OR FISH.
A simple little game for amusing two children is the following. Write on the top of a slate or paper the words "Bird, beast, and fish." One child thinks of the name of some animal and puts down the first and la...

PETER PIPER.
This is an amusing game for children. A blackboard is needed upon which the verse, "Peter Piper," etc., is illustrated or written so that the words are mixed up and it will be difficult to point out. Some older p...

LOOK OUT FOR THE BEAR!
Any number of children can play this game. One is chosen to be the "bear," and he hides in some part of the room or garden, while the rest, with their backs turned, are standing at their goal. As soon as the c...

HOOP RACE.
All children love to roll hoops. For a little folks party, plan to have as many hoops as children, so each can have one. Bind these around with tape or ribbon. The children contest one at a time. The child who ...

BUTTON FUN.
An amusement for small children, is to gather together as many buttons of all shapes and sizes, plain and fancy, as can be obtained. The largest button is the father, the next size is the mother, several childr...

STEPS.
One child is chosen out. This one stands by a post or door with his back to the other players. The rest of the children stand in a row at the other end of the room or porch, as the case may be. The one by the d...

HE CAN DO LITTLE.
All the players sit in a circle. One, knowing the catch, begins by saying: "Ahem, he can do little who cannot do this." While saying this, he taps a stick on the floor several times. This stick passes from one ...

WINK.
All the girls sit in a circle, and the boys stand outside, one boy behind each girl's chair. One chair is left vacant, but a boy stands behind it, and by winking at the girls one at a time, tries to get one for h...

DOUBLE TAG.
The children stand in pairs, one behind the other, in the form of a circle, all facing the center. Two of them are out, one who runs away, and the other who tries to catch him. The one who is running away may p...

PUSS IN THE CORNER.
All the children except one stand in corners, or in any fixed stations if there are not enough corners to go around. The one who is out stands in the middle to represent "Puss." The players then beckon to each ot...

I HAVE A BASKET.
One child begins by saying: "I have a basket." The one to his left says: "What is in it?" The first one replies with the name of some article beginning with "a," as "apples." No. 2 says: "I have a basket," and ...

STILL POND, NO MORE MOVING.
All the children form a circle, joining hands. One is blindfolded, given a cane, and stands in the middle of the circle. The children march around her, going fast or slowly until she taps on the floor three ti...

RING ON A STRING.
Slip a ring on a long piece of string having the ends knotted together. The players stand in a circle and the string passes through their closed hands. Each makes the motions of passing something. The ring circ...

HUNT THE SLIPPER.
All the children except one sit on the floor in a circle, with their knees raised. The one left out brings a slipper, and handing it to one child says: "Cobbler, cobbler, mend my shoe, Get it done by quart...

WHAT IS MY THOUGHT LIKE?
All the children except one sit in a circle. This one thinks of something and, standing in the middle of the circle, asks each one in turn: "What is my thought like?" Each one names some object, and when all h...

ORANGES AND LEMONS.
The two tallest children, one named "Orange," the other "Lemon," join hands and form an arch for the other children to pass under. The children, holding on to each other's dresses, march in single file and sing:...

REDHOT POTATO.
The "potato" in this game is a knotted handkerchief. One player is chosen for the center, and the others sit around in a circle. The one in the center throws the "potato" to anyone in the circle. This one must t...

JUDGE AND JURY.
Arrange the children in two rows, facing each other. The judge sits at one end in the aisle. He asks one of the jury a question (anything he happens to think of). The one who is questioned must not answer, but th...

REUBEN AND RACHEL.
Blindfold one of the players. All the rest form a ring and dance around him until he points at some one. That one enters the ring and the blindman calls out: "Rachel;" she answers: "Here, Reuben," and moves about...

FROG IN THE MIDDLE.
The children form a ring. One, the frog, is chosen out, and he stands in the middle of the circle. The children, holding hands, dance around him, saying: "Frog in the middle, jump in, jump out, take a stick and...

HORSEMEN.
This is a rough-and-tumble game for the boys, and must be played either outside, or in a large bare room. Sides are chosen, the big boys taking the small boys on their back, carrying them "pick-a-back." The on...

MY HOUSE, YOUR HOUSE.
Attach a string to the end of a small stick. At the end of the string make a loop that will slip very easily. On a table make a circle with chalk. The leader, or fisherman, arranges the loop around the circle ...

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...

HUNTING FOR BOOKTITLES.
The hostess must prepare beforehand pictures, cut from magazine advertisements and miscellaneous articles, suggestive of the titles of books. These are arranged around the room, some on tables, some on the wall...

JACK FROST.
Around Christmas and New Year's the children will enjoy playing this. All form a circle; one, Jack Frost, stands in the middle. Jack Frost runs around inside the circle and touches one child on her right hand, ...

MAGIC CANDLES.
Arrange twelve candles, one for each month, in a row about two feet apart. Have the candles different colors suggestive of the months they represent, such as, green for March and red for December. The children ...

THE LUCKY OR UNLUCKY SLIPPER.
A slipper is waved three times over the head and then thrown on the floor. If the toe be toward the player, good luck is coming. If the heel, bad luck is in store, and if it rests on its side, there is hope for...

CAKES.
On the sixth of January, Twelfth Night was celebrated in the olden times. Then all the pastry cooks did their finest baking and decked their windows with marvelous productions of cakes. If a party is being plan...

VALENTINES.
When inviting the guests for a valentine party, request each one to bring an original valentine addressed to one of the guests. As the guests arrive, the hostess collects the valentines, being careful to keep tho...

INITIAL COMPLIMENTS.
Each gentleman is handed a slip of paper with the name of a lady guest on it. The gentlemen are then requested, one at a time, to go to their respective ladies, giving each a compliment, every word of which begin...

HEART HUNT.
Cut out of red, white, blue, yellow and green paper hearts of all shapes and sizes, then cut each heart into four pieces and scatter these all over the room, on the floor, chairs, tables, behind pictures, etc. ...

HEART PRICKS.
A large heart made of some red material, (flannel or cheesecloth) is pinned securely to a sheet, which may be stretched on the wall or door. In the center of the large red heart is a small white heart, either sew...

VALENTINE PUZZLE.
Select five good paper valentines. Paste each on a piece of cardboard and cut into small pieces. Have five small tables in the room and place a puzzle on each. If the company is small, assign five persons to a ta...

HEARTS AND MITTENS.
Cut out of red cardboard half as many hearts and mittens as you expect in your company. Out of blue cardboard cut hearts and mittens for the rest of the company. Number them so every heart has its corresponding ...

RIVEN HEARTS.
Another way of securing partners for the evening is as follows: Suspend two large hearts made of either white or red paper from the ceiling, several feet apart. Make a hole in each, through which are hung the end...

PROPOSALS.
As the guests assemble for the Valentine party, give each gentleman a slip of paper bearing the name of a woman, and the ladies, the name of some man, noted in fiction as lovers. Thus the one who has Romeo hunts...

WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY.
For a party on this day, the room should be decorated with flags, hatchets, etc., and red, white, and blue bunting, so as to add a patriotic air to everything. A picture of Washington may be cut in many pieces ...

APRIL FIRST.
For an April Fool's Day gathering, ask each guest to come prepared to do some sleight of hand trick. When all are assembled, each one in turn performs his trick. A vote is taken for the most clever and a prize is...

EASTER EGG RACE.
Color an even number of eggs, half the number one color, the other half, another. Place all the eggs of one color on the floor in a line at intervals of one foot. At the end of the line put a basket. Form a simil...

SUSPENDED EGGS.
After an egg hunt, several eggs may be gathered together and a string or ribbon run through each and hung in different lengths from a chandelier. Candy eggs and little baskets of eggs may be suspended, too. Place...

EGG RACE.
Give each child a tablespoon and a hard-boiled egg. The children form in line and one is the leader. Each one holds the spoon with the egg in its bowl at arm's length and hops on one foot, following wherever the ...

ROLLING EGGS.
Mark on the table, or on the floor, if preferred, with chalk, four parallel lines, eight or ten feet long, and four or five inches apart. Thus there are three narrow spaces. At the end of each space make a circle...

BUNNY'S EGG.
On a sheet draw a rough-sketch of a good-sized rabbit, the regular Easter bunny, standing on its hind legs, and holding its paws as if it were carrying an egg. Stretch the sheet on the wall and tack it firmly i...

JULY FOURTH.
Aside from the enjoyment of firecrackers, etc., there are a few games to amuse the children on this day. If a party has been planned for the Fourth, the rooms should be appropriately decorated for the occasion. ...

FLAGS OF ALL NATIONS.
Flags of all nations are collected and displayed around the room. Each one is numbered. The guests are given pencil and paper with numbers down the left hand side. Opposite each number the guest writes the name...

OUR FLAG.
Other games for the Fourth are as follows: Each child is given a piece of white paper or cardboard 6-1/2 by 3-1/2 inches in size. All sit around a table on which are red and blue paper and a pile of stars by each...

HALLOWE'EN.
A Hallowe'en party is probably the only gathering where the stiffness and formality entirely disappear. Every one is in for a good time, and should be dressed in old clothes ready to try all sorts of experiments....

HALLOWE'EN STORIES.
There are several ways of telling ghastly stories on Hallowe'en. Have a large ball of different colored yarn handy and before the midnight hour, turn out the lights, and ask all the players to sit in a circle. Th...

HALLOWE'EN FATES.
For obtaining partners, fill a pumpkin rind with nuts, which have been opened, had the meat taken out, some token of the fate placed inside, and glued together again with a ribbon attached to each. Those drawing ...

SOME MORE FATES.
In addition to the regulation "bobbing for apples," "floating needles," and throwing the apple peel over the head, there are many other amusements of prophecy. In a doorway a portière of apples may be hung. App...

WATER CHARM.
Place three bowls on a table, one containing clear water, another soapy or muddy water, and the third one empty. Blindfold the players one at a time, and lead them to the bowls, (whose positions are changed eac...

OVER THE CIDER MUGS.
By each place at the table place a mug of sweet cider, a small bunch of matches, two candles, and a slip of paper with a pencil. Before the refreshments are served, when all are seated, the hostess announces th...

SHIPS OF FATE.
Prepare as many half shells of walnuts as there are guests. In each fasten a small candle with a drop of the wax. Fill a tub with water, and before sailing the boats, the water should be agitated so as to have ...

CAKE WITH CANDLES.
A large cake with as many different colored candles on it as there are guests, is passed around, and each one takes a piece of it, with the candle too, choosing whatever color they wish. As the cake passes from...

HUNT THE SQUIRREL.
To amuse the children after the Thanksgiving dinner, ask them all to join hands and form a ring. One is chosen out and is given a nut which he is to drop behind some child. As he walks around the outside of the r...

CHRISTMAS TREE.
A novel amusement for children at Christmas time is to trim a Christmas tree when blindfolded. Stand a small tree at one end of the room, ready to be trimmed. Have all the ornaments on a table near at hand, ready...

CHRISTMAS GUESSES.
Suspend a large bunch of mistletoe from one of the chandeliers. The children, one at a time, stand under the mistletoe, and guess how many berries there are on it. The berries are counted when all have guessed. T...

CHRISTMAS WREATH.
Suspend a large Christmas wreath in a doorway at a convenient height from the floor. Prepare in advance "snowballs," made of cotton batting covered with white tissue paper. The players stand about eight feet fr...

CHRISTMAS CANDLES.
A small tree is placed on a table. The candles are lighted. Blindfold the players, one at a time, turn around three times, and allow each to take five steps toward the tree. Then he must blow as hard as he can, e...

A GAME WITHIN A GAME.
While the children are waiting on Christmas for their presents, or dinner, or whenever the time seems to drag, suggest that each one think up the best game he knows. Give each child a pencil and a card on which...

TOSS THE GOODIES.
The children form a square, each one holding the sides of an old tablecloth or piece of sheeting. In the center of this is placed a pile of nuts, candies, raisins, fruits, and all sorts of goodies. When a signal ...

SNOWBALLS.
A pretty idea for concealing Christmas presents for the children is to make a lot of snowballs out of white tissue paper and cotton batting, and concerting the gifts inside. Pile all these snowballs under the t...