Among stirring games one that is always a success when played with energy is that called The Schoolmaster. The one of the party who volunteers to be master of the ceremony places himself in front of his class, who are all seated in a row. If agreeable, he can examine his subjects in all the different branches of education in succession, or he may go from one to the other indiscriminately. Supposing, however, he decides to begin with natural history, he will proceed as follows:—Pointing to the pupil at the top of the class, he asks the name of a bird beginning with C. Should the pupil not name a bird beginning with this letter by the time the master has counted ten, it is passed on immediately to the next, who, if successful, and calls out "Cuckoo" or "Crow," &c., in time, goes above the one who has failed.
Authors, singers, actors, or anything else may be chosen, if the schoolmaster should think proper, as subjects for examination; but, whatever may be selected, the questions must follow each other with very great rapidity, or the charm of the game will be wanting.
SHADOW BUFF.
This game, if well played, may be productive of much merriment. A large white sheet is first hung securely on one side of the room, and on a table some distance behind a very bright lamp must be placed. All other lights being extinguished, one of the party takes a seat on a low stool between the lamp and the sheet, but nearer the latter than the former. One after another the company pass behind him, their shadows of course falling upon the sheet as they pass. It is much more difficult than most people would imagine to guess the original from the shadow, especially as in this game it is allowable for the players to disguise themselves to some slight extent. Gestures of any kind may be practised, masks may be worn, false noses, or anything else of the kind, to render the work of the guesser more difficult, for this always tends very considerably to add to the general fun.
SHOUTING PROVERBS.
A game that is much more speedily despatched, and much more boisterous than the ordinary game of Proverbs, is this one called Shouting Proverbs. A proverb having been selected, one word of it is given to each of the company, which he must shout clearly and distinctly when told. The person to whom the proverb is unknown then stands as near the company as they will permit him, while he says the words "Charge! Present! Fire!" As soon as he utters the word "Fire!" the party all shout their words together, and from this confusion of sounds he is expected to guess the proverb. Generally the shouting has to be repeated many times before the proverb can be detected.
"SIMON SAYS."
In this game an imaginary Simon is the presiding genius, and the orders of no one but Simon are to be obeyed. The leader of the company generally begins by saying, "Simon says, 'Thumbs up'" when every one must immediately obey the command of Simon or incur the penalty of paying a forfeit. Simon may then say, "Wink your left eye," "Blow your nose," "Kiss your neighbour," or anything equally absurd. Whatever Simon says must be done. No command, however, not prefaced by the words "Simon says" is to be regarded. With the idea of winning forfeits, the leader will endeavour to induce the company to do certain things not authorised by Simon—indeed, the fun of the game consists in every one doing the wrong thing instead of the right one, and in having a good collection of forfeits.