"HE CAN DO LITTLE."
This is another "sell" of almost childish simplicity, but we have seen people desperately puzzled over it, and even "give it up" in despair.
The leader takes a stick (or poker) in his left hand, thence transfers it to his right, and thumps three times on the floor, saying: "He can do little who can't do this." He then hands the stick to another person, who, as he supposes, goes through exactly the same performance; but if he does not know the game, is generally told, to his disgust, that he has incurred a forfeit, his imitation not having been exact.
The secret lies in the fact that the stick, when passed on, is first received in the left hand and thence transferred to the right before going through the performance.
"THROWING LIGHT."
Two of the company agree privately upon a word (which should be one susceptible of two or three meanings), and interchange remarks tending to throw light upon it. The rest of the players do their best to guess the word, but when any of them fancies he has succeeded, he does not publicly announce his guess, but makes such a remark as to indicate to the two initiated that he has discovered their secret. If they have any doubt that he has really guessed the word, they challenge him, i.e., require him to name it in a whisper. If this guess proves to be right, he joins in conversation, and assists in throwing light on the subject; but if, on the other hand, he is wrong, he must submit to have a handkerchief thrown over his head, and so remain until by some more fortunate observation he shall prove that he really possesses the secret.
We will give an example. Mr. A. and Miss B. have agreed on "bed" as the word, and proceed to throw light upon it, alternating upon its various meanings of a place of repose, a part of a garden, or the bed of a river.
Miss B. I don't know what your opinion may be, but I am never tired of it.
Mr. A. Well, for my part, I am never in a hurry, either to get to it or to leave it.
Miss B. How delightful it is after a long, tiring day!