Entertainments for Home, Church and School | Page 7

the ringmaster keeps up a running fire of
witty remarks. He stands in the circle of animals--otherwise guests--and,
whip in hand, shows off his animals, and their tricks, singly, and in
groups. The lion roars, as well as performs; the dog barks, and performs
the tricks he is told to show off; the canary warbles its song; the bee
buzzes; the donkey brays, balks and kicks, etc. At the end of the
performance there is a grand circus parade, with music.
PRINCE OF INDIA
The players are numbered from one upward.
The leader stands in front of them and says: "The Prince of India has
lost his pearl. Did you find it, number seven?" Upon this, number 7
replies, jumping to his feet quickly:
"I, sir, I?"
The leader replies, "Yes, you, sir!"
Number 7 says: "Not I, sir!"

Leader: "Who then, sir, if not you?"
Number 7: "Number 4, sir."
Number 4 jumps up, and says: "What, sir? I, I?"
Leader: "Yes, sir; you, you."
Number 4: "Not I, not I, sir."'
Leader: "Who then, sir?"
Number 4: "Number 2, sir."'
Then number 2 jumps to his feet.
This goes on until the leader reaches the last one in the circle. If he can
repeat again "The Prince of India has lost his pearl," before this one can
jump to his feet, they exchange places.
EXCHANGE
A blindfolded player stands in the center; the others are seated about
him in a circle. Each one is numbered. The blindfolded player calls out
two numbers, whereupon the players bearing those numbers exchange
places, the blindfolded player trying meanwhile either to catch one of
the players or to secure one of the chairs. Any player so caught must
yield his chair to the catcher. No player may go outside of the circle
formed by the chairs.
HUNT THE RING
All the players stand in a circle holding a long cord, which forms an
endless band upon which a ring has been slipped before it was joined at
the ends. This ring is passed rapidly from one player to another--always
on the cord and concealed by the hand--while somebody in the center
endeavors to seize the hands of the person who holds it, who, when
actually caught, takes his place within the circle.

If the circle is very large, two rings may be slipped upon the cord, and
two players placed in the center together.
A small key may be used instead of a ring, while still another variation
is to have the concealed object a small whistle with a ring attached.
When this is adopted, an amusing phase of the game is to secretly
attach a string to the whistle and fasten this to the back of the player in
the center by means of a bent pin at the other end of the string. Then
while feigning to pass the whistle from hand to hand, it is occasionally
seized and blown upon by some one in the ring, toward whom the
victim is at that moment turning his back, causing that individual to be
greatly puzzled.
SHADOW BLUFF
A sheet being stretched across one end of the room, one of the players
being seated upon a low stool facing it, and with his eyes fixed upon it.
The only light in the room must be a lamp placed upon a table in the
center of the room. Between this lamp and the person on the stool, the
players pass in succession, their shadows being thrown upon the sheet
in strong relief. The victim of the moment endeavors to identify the
other players by their respective shadows, and if he succeeds the
detected party must take his place.
It is allowable to make detection as difficult as possible by means of
any available disguise that does not conceal the whole person, any
grimacing, contortion of form, etc.
GUESSING EYES AND NOSES
A sheet is fastened up between two doors. Holes are cut in it, and some
of the party go behind the sheet and stand with their eyes at the holes,
while the others must guess to whom the eyes belong. Failing to guess
correctly, they must give a forfeit.
THE TAILLESS DONKEY
An amusing game, at which any size party may play and enjoy it for

hours. Cut a large figure of a donkey, minus a tail, from dark paper or
cloth, and pin it upon a sheet stretched tightly across a door-way. Each
player is given a piece of paper, which would fit the donkey for a tail, if
applied. On each tail is written the name of the person holding it. When
all is ready, the players are blindfolded in turn--placed facing the
donkey a few steps back in the room--then turned around rapidly two or
three times, and told to advance