Proverbs.
This game requires the players to be alert and on the watch for the words that give the clue to the solution. One player (A) having gone from the room, a proverb is selected by the others, of which each person takes a separate word, in order. The absent player then being recalled, proceeds to question the others singly, each introducing in his answer the word of the proverb he has previously received. Suppose the proverb selected to be “Nothing venture nothing have,” the game would proceed thus:
A. “Is the proverb a long one?”
1st Player. “Nothing should be too long for you to guess.”
A. “Have you ever played this game before?”
2d P. “Really I cannot venture to say.”
A. “Are you fond of parlor games?”
3d P. “Nothing pleases me more.”
A. “Are you enjoying yourself this evening?”
4th P. “I have enjoyed myself thus far.”
If A has not by this time guessed the proverb, he continues his questions until enlightened, when the player whose answer has given him the most information goes from the room.
Rather a noisy way of playing the same game is to have all the players at a given signal shout their words in unison, leaving the listener to distinguish in the uproar some word that shall give him a clue to the proverb. The shouting is repeated as often as desired until he is successful.
In either modification of the game the player whose answer or word leads the questioner to discovery becomes the one to go from the room.