DEFINITIONS.
The proposition to define "Definitions" becomes in itself almost a play upon words, but we may explain that though "Definitions" cannot properly be classed under riddles or word puzzles, yet they are so much akin to them that they claim a place here, with "Fireside Fun," and will be found useful as a means of providing amusement. This game will necessitate the use of a table, paper, and pencil or pen and ink. One of the company proposes a word for definition, and it is for the rest of the company to write down their idea of the same in a terse, epigrammatic, poetic, or humorous manner.
A few specimens will illustrate our meaning. Let us suppose the word Hypocrite to have been chosen, and the following definitions of the word to have been given in: the definitions should then be read aloud by some one of the company selected for the purpose.
"He who strives to seem and not to be; to whom reputation is everything, character nothing."
"A social spoon of polished gilt, in whom it is only possible to discern distorted reflections of the truth."
"One who wears virtue's livery for the sake of her wages, without any intention of doing her work."
"One who assumes what he has not; a showman who by a startling outside picture screens the barrenness of the entertainment within."
"Like a sugar-coated pill, he seeks to hide his true character under an artificial coating."
Again, as a contrast, take Hero as the selected word to be defined—
"One whose law is love; whose master, duty; whose armour, courage, faith, and hope; and who seeks not glory."
"A victor over Self—the hardest and the noblest conquest of all, but one for which the world has no laurel wreath."
"A nobleman of Nature, who has seized his opportunities and displayed the attributes of his race."
"The true hero is the champion of truth, the servant of right, the ruler of himself, and the sworn foe of all that is ignoble."
"He who for others sacrifices Self."
"He who fears nothing but his own disgrace."
"He who is stronger than his fellows, and makes his fellows stronger by his strength."
A Coward.
"One who does both good and evil at the bidding of fear."
"He who puts honour in peril, to take himself out of peril."
"One who has stopped the ear of manliness with the cotton-wool of Self."
Pleasure.
"The emotion we feel after doing a great and noble action."
"The jollification overnight, leaving a headache for the morrow."
"A Will o' the wisp, ever pursued but never overtaken."
"A false coin, passed off as happiness."
"The leader of folly."
"The sure accompaniment of wisdom."
Many of the above definitions will be recognised as well-known quotations.
Other subjects may be started, such as:—Progress—Rivalry—Nonsense—Nothing—Thanks—Regards—Vanity—Ridiculous, and the game may be varied by combining several of these, and forming sentences in which each word shall have its due place, as "Vanity is a disease which preys upon all the good qualities in the human system, reduces them to an aspect ridiculous in the extreme, and precludes all ideas of mental progress," or, "Nothing gives pleasure in successful rivalry, if the victory is not honestly won."