SPELLING BEE.
Not long ago the excitement about Spelling Bees was very great. Both publicly and privately these entertainments were held for a very considerable period; indeed, none of us felt sure on leaving our homes whether we should not be called upon before our return to spell no end of hard-sounding words that, hitherto, we had scarcely heard of or seen. Consequently, the dictionaries were all in demand, and young people, instead of giving all their time to light literature, might have been seen privately hunting up such words as Phthisical, Æsthetics, Dithyrambic, Isosceles, and others equally difficult, in order that they might not be disgraced as bad spellers. Now the rage has subsided, though no doubt the good produced by the Spelling Bees is still to be felt. As a Round Game, the Spelling Bee is conducted much the same as "The Schoolmaster," elsewhere described. The company take their places as if in class, going up or down as they acquit themselves creditably in the estimation of their master. The words must of course be made difficult or easy, to suit the capacities of the spellers. There would be no fun in exposing to general ridicule the ignorance of a boy or girl whom illness may have made more backward in knowledge than his or her schoolfellows.
SPOON MUSIC.
A very good effect may be produced in the following manner:—The performers who are to assist in the entertainment must each be provided with a wine-glass and a spoon. The accompanying air (or other) is then played over, and when the pianist arrives at the passages marked spoons, each glass is to be touched lightly on the edge with the spoon. By way of variety, the second time the air is played clapping of hands may take the place of the spoons; and the third time whistling may be adopted. The fourth time a good hearty laugh from every one will sound well, after which the game may begin again with the spoons.
The idea suggested may of course be carried out still further. Any air may be selected, the playing of which may be interspersed, at suitable intervals, by the jingling of spoons, laughing, and whistling.
If done with delicacy it is astonishing what a pleasing effect may be produced, especially if the wine-glasses provided be of thin glass. In the hands of adepts at the game the glass will be in no danger of being broken, because the more gentle the touch the greater will be the success achieved; nothing is needed but clear, gentle ringing notes, sounded in harmony.
[[Listen]]
THE STAGE COACH.
Now for a really stirring game, provided that in the party a few energetic lively young people are to be found. Many a hearty laugh has been heard from big people, as well as little ones, while the stage coach has rattled along through the rain and snow and sunshine round the drawing-room table. The leader tells every one to assume a name connected in some way with a stage coach. Any of the four wheels, the horses, the bridles, the whip, the windows, the cushions, any of the passengers, or numerous other things, may be chosen. The objects selected are generally written down on paper, linked with the name of each owner, unless it be that the leader can trust to his memory without any such assistance. He then begins his narrative, which must be as lively and ridiculous as possible, telling how the stage coach started, where from, where it was going, how many passengers there were, what they were like, and so on. The narrator will find that one thing suggests others to his mind; the difficulty will probably be to narrate every incident that occurred as the conveyance rolled along. We must not forget to say that the greatest part of the fun consists in the jumping up, twirling round, and changing seats, that have to be done while the narrative is proceeding. The names assumed by the company are mentioned as frequently as possible, each of whom must recognise the call by rising from his seat, turning round, and then sitting down again. When the stage coach itself is mentioned by any one all must change places, the person left without a seat being called upon for a forfeit.