My Book of Indoor Games | Page 5

"Hood-man
Blind," as in those days the child that was chosen to be "blind man" had
a hood placed over his head, which was fastened at the back of the
neck.
In the present day the game is called "Blind Man's Buff," and very
popular it is among young folk.
[Illustration]
Before beginning to play, the middle of the room should be cleared, the
chairs placed against the wall, and all toys and footstools put out of the
way. The child having been selected who is to be "Blind Man" or
"Buff," is blindfolded. He is then asked the question, "How many
horses has your father got?" The answer is "Three," and to the question:
"What color are they?" he replies: "Black, white, and gray." All the
players then cry: "Turn round three times and catch whom you may."
Buff accordingly spins round and then the fun commences. He tries to
catch the players, while they in their turn do their utmost to escape
"Buff," all the time making little sounds to attract him. This goes on
until one of the players is caught, when Buff, without having the
bandage removed from his eyes, has to guess the name of the person he
has secured. If the guess is a correct one, the player who has been
caught takes the part of "Buff," and the former "Buff" joins the ranks of
the players.
* * * * *
PUSS IN THE CORNER
This game is really for five players only, but, by a little arrangement,

six or seven children can take part in the fun.
Four players take their places in the different corners of the room, while
the fifth stands in the middle. If a greater number of children wish to
play, other parts of the room must be named "corners," so that there is a
corner for every one.
The fun consists in the players trying to change places without being
caught; but they are bound to call "Puss, puss," first, and to beckon to
the one they wish to change with. Directly they leave their corners, the
player in the center tries to get into one of them.
When the center player succeeds in getting into a corner, the one who
has been displaced has to take his place in the middle of the room.
* * * * *
THE POSTMAN
For this game all the players, except two, seat themselves in a circle.
One of the two left out is blindfolded and is called the "Postman," the
other is called the "Postmaster-General." Each of the players seated in
the circle chooses the name of a town, which the "Post-master-General"
writes down on a slip of paper, so that he may not forget it. He then
calls out the names of two towns, thus: "The post from Aberdeen to
Calcutta." At once, the players who have taken those names must
change places, and while doing so the "Postman" must try to catch one
of them. If he succeeds in doing so he takes his place in the circle,
having chosen a town for his name, and the one caught becomes
"Postman" in place of him. Sometimes "General post" is called, when
all have to change places, and the "Postman" is then almost sure to gain
a seat.
* * * * *
THE DWARF
[Illustration]

This is a most amusing game if well carried out. The two performers
must be hidden behind two curtains in front of which a table has been
placed.
One of the performers slips his hands into a child's socks and little
shoes. He must then disguise his face, by putting on a false mustache,
painting his eyebrows, sticking pieces of black court plaster over one or
two of his teeth, which will make it appear as though he has lost several
teeth. This, with a turban on his head, will prove a very fair disguise.
The second performer must now stand behind the first and pass his
arms round him, so that the second performer's hands may appear like
the hands of the dwarf, while the first performer's hands make his feet.
The figure must, of course, be carefully dressed, and the body of the
second performer hidden behind the curtains.
The front player now puts his slippered hands upon the table and begins
to keep time, while the other performer follows suit with his hands.
The dwarf can be used either to tell fortunes, make jokes, or ask riddles,
and if the performers act their parts well, the guests will laugh very
heartily.
* * * * *
HOW, WHEN, AND WHERE
One of the company goes out of the room, while the others choose a
word to be guessed, one with two or three different meanings being the
best.
[Illustration]
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