Advertisement Charades
Whilst some people consider the ordinary charades the best fun, there are others equally ready to admit that they prefer the “dumb” representation of words chosen, one of the most popular of these being the “advertisement” charade, wherein some well-known poster is chosen and acted in silence.
A well-known soap advertisement which has been so popular for years serves as an excellent illustration. There are few, if any, who could not recall the picture.
A man, dirty of face and hands, with torn clothing, sits at a table writing a letter.
A faithful representation of this can be easily produced by the aid of soot smeared carefully over the face and hands, and a wig of tousled hair.
Perhaps a dozen advertisements can be “played,” a few moments elapsing between each for the audience to write down their “guesses” on slips of paper, which are afterwards collected, and a prize awarded to the competitor who has the largest number of answers correct.
The two following examples of charades are given so that the players may fit in their own words. If the charades need to be written in dialogue form and committed to memory days before they are played, much more trouble is given, and the game becomes a somewhat irksome one.
Baronetcy
[BARON-ATE(ET)-CY(SEA).]
First Syllable.
BARON.
Enter two boys dressed as highwaymen. For this purpose art muslin scarves tied round the waist, hats and masks as already [described], and toy pistols are enough, with a scenery of trees painted on some stout paper.
First boy addresses his comrade in tones of mystery, glancing to right and left as though he is expecting somebody. At length he holds up a warning finger: “Hist! The Baron comes this way!”
They secrete themselves and wait until the Baron approaches. He looks round, whereupon the two highwaymen jump out, secure him, and make off.
The Baron’s servants arrive on the scene too late, but vow they will track the robbers, and start off in hot pursuit.
End of First Act.
Second Syllable.
ATE-(ET).
Baron asleep in one corner of a tent (made as previously [described]).
The robbers are eating their dinner, and talking in low tones of the ransom they expect to get for their prisoner. Whilst they are talking the Baron awakes. They are so intent upon their conversation that they do not observe him arise, creep up, and steal their food. He eats it, and returns to his corner again.
The ruffians discover their food is gone and are furious, but do not suspect their prisoner, who they suppose is still slumbering.
The Baron is so amused at their efforts to find the thief that he begins to laugh, rocking himself to and fro, and at last shouts, “I ate it, I ate it.”
Just as they are about to flog him a noise of tramping feet is heard, and they hasten to see who is coming.
End of Second Act.
Third Syllable.
SEA-(CY).
Baron and his faithful retainers are sitting by the seashore, and he is telling them how he made his escape from the robbers.
As they are talking an old beggar comes along. The Baron at once recognizes him as one of the robbers, and gives orders that he is to be seized and bound. Presently the other one arrives, and he is treated in the same way.
Finally the Baron promises to forgive them if they will give up highway robbery and go to sea.
End of Third Act.
Baronetcy
Enter several boys in ragged clothes as newsboys. They are shouting papers for sale, and the chief thing that can be heard is “Extry—Capture of a Baron at Sea.”
The boys discuss the news, and at last one of them bursts into a fit of laughter after having opened the paper. The others crowd round to see what is causing the merriment.
Laughingly he explains that it is not an account of an exciting piratical affair, but merely the report of the capture of a Baronetcy in England by a fair cousin from the United States.