Floor Games | Page 9

pieces of wood belonging to

the game of Matador--that splendid and very educational construction
game, hailing, I believe, from Hungary. There is also, I regret to say, a
blatant advertisement of Jab's "Hair Color," showing the hair. (In the
photograph the hair does not come out very plainly.) This is by G. P.
W., who seems marked out by destiny to be the advertisement-writer of
the next generation. He spends much of his scanty leisure inventing and
drawing advertisements of imaginary commodities. Oblivious to many
happy, beautiful, and noble things in life, he goes about studying and
imitating the literature of the billboards. He and his brother write
newspapers almost entirely devoted to these annoying appeals. You
will note, too, the placard at the mouth of the railway tunnel urging the
existence of Jinks' Soap upon the passing traveller. The oblong object
on the placard represents, no doubt, a cake of this offensive and
aggressive commodity. The zoological garden flaunts a placard, "Zoo,
two cents pay," and the grocer's picture of a cabbage with "Get Them"
is not to be ignored. F. R. W. is more like the London County Council
in this respect, and prefers bare walls.
"Returning from the station," as the guide-books say, and "giving one
more glance" at the passengers who are waiting for the privilege of
going round the circle in open cars and returning in a prostrated
condition to the station again, and "observing" what admirable
platforms are made by our 9 x 4-1/2 pieces, we pass out to the left into
the village street. A motor omnibus (a one-horse hospital cart in less
progressive days) stands waiting for passengers; and, on our way to the
Cherry Tree Inn, we remark two nurses, one in charge of a child with a
plasticine head. The landlord of the inn is a small grotesque figure of
plaster; his sign is fastened on by a pin. No doubt the refreshment
supplied here has an enviable reputation, to judge by the alacrity with
which a number of riflemen move to-wards the door. The inn, by the by,
like the station and some private houses, is roofed with stiff paper.
These stiff-paper roofs are one of our great inventions. We get After the
game is over, we put these roofs inside one another and stick them into
the bookshelves. The roof one folds and puts away will live to roof
another day.
Proceeding on our way past the Cherry Tree, and resisting cosy
invitation of its portals, we come to the shopping quarter of the town.
The stock in windows is made by hand out of plasticine. We note the

meat and hams of "Mr. Woddy," the cabbages and carrots of "Tod &
Brothers," the general activities of the "Jokil Co." shopmen. It is de
rigueur with our shop assistants that they should wear white helmets. In
the street, boy scouts go to and fro, a wagon clatters by; most of the
adult population is about its business, and a red-coated band plays
along the roadway. Contrast this animated scene with the mysteries of
sea and forest, rock and whirlpool, in our previous game. Further on is
the big church or cathedral. It is built in an extremely debased Gothic
style; it reminds us most of a church we once surveyed during a brief
visit to Rotterdam on our way up the Rhine. A solitary boy scout,
mindful of the views of Lord Haldane, enters its high portal. Passing
the cathedral, we continue to the museum. This museum is no empty
boast; it contains mineral specimens, shells--such great shells as were
found on the beaches of our previous game--the Titanic skulls of
extinct rabbits and cats, and other such wonders. The slender curious
may lie down on the floor and peep in at the windows.
"We now," says the guide-book, "retrace our steps to the shops, and
then, turning to the left, ascend under the trees up the terraced hill on
which stands the Town Hall. This magnificent building is surmounted
by a colossal statue of a chamois, the work of a Wengen artist; it is in
two stories, with a battlemented roof, and a crypt (entrance to right of
steps) used for the incarceration of offenders. It is occupied by the town
guard, who wear 'beefeater' costumes of ancient origin."
Note the red parrot perched on the battlements; it lives tame in the
zoological gardens, and is of the same species as one we formerly
observed in our archipelago. Note, too, the brisk cat-and-dog encounter
below. Steps descend in wide flights down the hillside into Blue End.
The two couchant lions on either side of the steps are in plasticine, and
were executed by that versatile artist, who is also mayor of Red End, G.
P. W. He is present.