The first letter of any remark the leader makes tells the confederate what number has been decided upon. In “Fire away,” the first letter was “f,” which is the sixth letter of the alphabet. Therefore, six was the number chosen. In “Do you think” etc., etc., “d,” the fourth letter of the alphabet, gives the number four.
Red, White and Blue.
This is one of the most irritating and fascinating puzzles ever put to an informal group. While the confederate is out of the room the leader asks the guests to decide on any object in the room. The confederate is called in and after naming several wrong articles in the room, asking each time if that is the one chosen, the leader names the right one and instantly the answer is made, “That is the thing you chose.” Immediately someone says, “Oh, it is just like ‘Black Magic’ except that you name a red object just before the right one.”
The leader smiles and answers, “All right. Just watch this next time,” and next time the right object certainly was not preceded by an object that was red, nor was it the next time. As it happened, however, when the leader pointed out wrong objects and finally the right one the next time, the right one was preceded by something red and every last guest noticed it and spoke of it, but they could not say that the trick was that the right object was always preceded by something red, for that was not true.
The system used is indeed very much like “Black Magic” in which the object decided upon is always preceded by an object that is black, but in this case the right object is preceded by objects that are red, white and blue, in turn. The first time it follows a red object, next a white one, and then a blue one. Then the series begins all over again, first a red object to precede it, then a white one, and then a blue one and so on till finally some bright mind recognizes the familiar combination!
CHAPTER V.
PICNICS!
This chapter is headed “Picnics” but a great many of the events included may be used to good advantage in the gymnasium, as well as out-of-doors.
Races.
The Horse Races.
It certainly is fun to play baseball on horseback, but it is a great deal funnier to race on horseback, unless—your horse falls down!