4.—THE ARMY SOLITAIRE.
ONE PACK.
The army game is a decided favorite with all who like solitaire games; we have never seen any printed directions, yet there may be in some book we have not had access to. We prefer it to any other game of solitaire, and we hope these directions will be sufficiently plain to interest our readers to try it.
Shuffle the cards thoroughly. Then deal off the first card, whatever it may be, and place it on the upper corner of the left hand side of an imaginary square. This is called the foundation card, on which to form a family. For instance, if it were the six of diamonds, the next card to place upon it would be the seven of diamonds, as the family must be formed in regular succession, according to suit. Whenever you come across, in playing the cards, the six of spades, hearts, or clubs, these are the foundation cards (as the first card dealt gives the requisite value of the other three foundation cards, or as some call them, the four towers of the fortress), and can be placed in the other three corners, to form a square. On these build your towers, as we directed in diamonds. If you succeed in forming the four towers or families in suit, and in succession, you have conquered.
When you deal a card that cannot be placed on the corner families in succession, place it on the sides of the square, between the foundation cards, as three of clubs, and nine of spades, eight of diamonds, king of hearts, and one can be placed in the centre of the square, as the ace of diamonds; these five cards are called the reserve forces, and on these you can place any card in downward succession (suits need not be followed), which cannot be used on the towers. For instance, if you deal off the deuce of hearts, or any other deuce, place it on to the three of clubs; or any eight, place it on to the nine of spades; or king, place it on to the ace, so on; but with every card turned, first look at your foundation cards, or towers; never lose an opportunity to build up these. All cards that cannot be played on to the four towers or the five reserve cards, may be placed on one side as stock.
Whenever any one of the five reserve corps cards are vacant from being used to build up the towers, or a vacancy made by being able to place reserve cards on the other reserve corps, replace from the stock, and by taking a card from the stock, a desirable card to use on the towers may be freed.
The great skill of this game consists in the judicious arrangement of the reserve corps; if you have two top cards on different piles, of the same value, you should carefully consider on which pile it is best to place the card dealt of proper value, for future use.
If you can complete your towers in the first play, without shuffling your stock, you have gained a great victory; the stock can only be shuffled and played over once. If the towers cannot then be built, the game can be commenced anew. Sometimes the cards deal out so perversely that even skilful play and patience cannot build the towers.
The Toilet.
There are many boys and girls who pride themselves on their utter disregard of their personal appearance, most fully comprehending the old phrase “that beauty unadorned is adorned the most,” or perhaps think it a mark of genius to appear so occupied with study as to neglect their person. Such boys and girls are repulsive to both God and man. One of the first laws Nature teaches us, is perfect cleanliness. Look at the birds and squirrels; indeed, all wild animals are taught by instinct to take a daily bath, if possible. Tame animals are less cleanly than wild ones in their habits, as far as our observation goes. They look to man to cleanse them. But God teaches the untamed beast and bird laws of cleanliness. Look at the woods! God sends the rain to wash them, and the winds to sweep them, and the sun to brighten them. The Creator of all gives to every boy and girl the mind to know how to take good care of their own persons, and if they neglect the laws of health, just so sure will come bodily suffering. Besides, it is a Christian duty, as well as a social duty, of every boy and girl, to make the most of all their personal attractions, and to preserve every agreeable quality they may have been endowed with, to the latest period of their lives. It is not vanity. It is a duty we all owe to ourselves, and we owe it to others. Habits rightly formed in youth will often prolong life, and add tenfold to any personal attraction.
We trust all boys and girls who read this book, will not pass over this chapter on the toilet. We will try and give them some useful hints and recipes.
In the first place, every boy and girl, no matter how young, should strive to make their sleeping and dressing apartment attractive. Perfect neatness is an essential quality in every room. Never leave any article of clothing on a chair, table, or floor, which can be either neatly folded and placed in a drawer, trunk, or closet shelf, or hung on some nail placed for that purpose. Never leave a draw partly open. We once knew a young girl who was always leaving her drawers open, and articles of dress hanging from them. One Christmas, before a room full of friends, she received from the Christmas tree a little bureau, with every drawer partly open, and things hanging out of each drawer. Of course it was soon known to all why she received such a gift. That lesson she never forgot. We must confess it also cured us of the careless habit of leaving drawers partly open. We hope our young friends will take this lesson to heart, and profit by it.
When you rise in the morning, always (even if you can afford plenty of servants), throw the clothes of your bed carefully over the foot-board, or some chair, to give your bed a sufficient chance to be well aired—a most necessary requisite for health. Before leaving your room, even in midwinter, open your window. Never allow your bed to be made till thoroughly aired. Though you are not blessed with even a competency, you can make a plain room attractive. A few pictures on the walls, and by covering a plain pine toilet table with pretty, cheap chintz, and exercising a little ingenuity in making pretty articles of furniture out of old boxes. But always be a foe to all dust; keep a dusting cloth at hand. After washing, if you cannot have a chambermaid, arrange your washing apparatus neatly, and carefully spread your towels to dry, if clean. There are so few, comparatively, in America, who can afford the constant attendance of servants, we desire all boys and girls to learn how to care for themselves.