Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-02-18
Amusing Charades
St. Louis Republican.

The old amusement Of acting cha
rades is revived this winter at little
gatherings, and a great deal of fun
can be made by a little ingenuity
The other evening i'll certain jolly
family, a multitude of these simple
devices were acted, and more ridic-
ulously funny performance | never
witnessed. Unlike the more ancient
charade, which was presented III syl-
lables, one scene represented one
word-otten an entire sentence. An
archway, in which hung damask
curtain, was backed by a couple of
white sheets. High up in the centre
was displayed with each scene a
placard inscribed with the legend the
action beneath was supposed to rep
resent AS the curtain dropped wild
and scattering guesses were made by
the attentive audience, which, failing
to hit the mark, powerfully-spelled
sign was suddenly run out on the red
damask, and as the rcars of laughter
died away, up would 90 the curtain
on another more convulslve in char
acter than the preceding. But two
gentlemen performed on this occa-
sion. As some Of the devices may
be amusing to read, as we'll rs sug-
gestive in getting up, thus | append
few.
The curtain rolled off. The two
gentlemen walked on from the sides,
solemn, tiff and priggish, spectacles
on their noses and cotton umbrellas
under their arms, felt each others
pulses and walked off. As the pla-
card stated, the article to be guessed
was GA learned scientist"
Rash voices suggested "Proctors
"a gas he " Fellows" etc.
But the interview we had just wit
messed meant " Met a Physician" as
the elucidating paragraph untolded
on the curtain told us.
Away went the damask. The
same two came on, just nodded, and
passed each other. The scene was
entitled GA short simiitude," and of
course was "met fore" " (metaphor)
Then the charades got geographic
cal in character. The placard dis
played the place to be guessed was 4
river in Maine.
The gentleman number one walk
ed on and began to examine the sign.
Number two came cautiously up be
hind, stole his handkerchief and Sc
crcted it; first old fellow takes specs
off, and feeling tor handkerchief to
wipe them, discovers his loss. Mum
ber two eXcltedly points off as if to
the thief, and the victim dashes off
in pursuit. while the thiet, walks
laughingly away with his plunder.
This resulted in tearing the atlas
all to pieces, and the answer" Aroos.
took" ia rusc took) was received
with groans. Away went the cur
tain and one of those wonderful
wooden animals, with plug-tails and
regular red spots painted all over
sky skin, stood alone on the carpet,
and the placard this time read: can
island in an Eastern archipeligo."-
This was suggested by a clergyman
to be "Theoss." And certainly this
was 4 triumph, as the animal needed
"Thc oss painted on it as much as
Johnny's four-legged table under
which he writes "a Kow."
The next tableaux there stood the
fiery, untamed steed, beneath the
sign which this time reads: "Anoth-
er island in an Eastern archipelago" )"
This defies everybody, but proves
amid much laughter, to be Samos "
(samc oss).
Here followed a sumner, a scenic
advertisements IN four sections.
The first installment representing
according to the bill of the play, "the
highest form of conventional de
corum."
The second embracing a " famous
exclamation of reproach.
The third the name of "a noted
prizc-fghter;" and the fourth ga
species of large maple tree"
The properties were merely Ia
bic on which sat three sugar CATS
The artist walked on, and with much
grace and histronic ability swallowed
the first and smallest cat.
This was the highest form of con
vcntional decorum, and was, there
fore, Get q cat"
With much solemnity the second
cat was demolished, and the famous
exclamation, "Et two BRUTE" was full
filled.
The masticatlon of this last cat
was accompanied with manifesto
tons of delight, so that we were
prepared to see the noted prizc-fght.
er's name spelled "glad he ate her."
(Giadiator).
Hereupon the third and largest cat
was apparently going to join the
others, but the artist turned with sad
ness away and walked off, leaving
us to understand that the name of u
maple was in his case "Sick o more"
(Sycamore.)