The Portland daily press., 1890-01-11
The Came Of Progressive spelling.

Games that are brisk. played without cards
or other material aid, and suited 10 groups
Of a dozen or more, are so constantly and
urgently In demand, that need make no
apology for presenting to you an account OF
game which is played, l think, In few To-
calities. and should be more widely known.
AS the game has no name to my knowledge,
have ventured to christen 1t Progressive
Spelling" met with it at very pleasant
title party up In Canada at the Cardington's
where was visiting. You may learn II as
did, by watching sharply while game Is
being played.
Young DR.. CardIngton, tall youth with
Speetacles, took his stand before the party.
about dozen 10 all, W no were arranged Ia
"ng row. This was the order in which they
stood: &
The Minister.
Mis- WIlloughby.
Willy Cardington.
The SchOOlmistress.
The Pr,d ssor.
Master john FsilOws,
Miss Simp on.
The OrgauiSt.
Miss Lucy.
Miss wilson.
The minister began by saying 49," think
Ing; possibly, of the word soap" Miss
Willoughby at once said IT." having In
mind the word stay" Next, young Willy
Cardington snapped out ar" adding aloud.
With chuckle, the word he was thinking Of
-"strap,"
Thank YOU" said the Schoolmistress.
though il Is against the rules Of the game to
think out loud" Aud she added the letter
"a" The Professor did not dare to add
"P, because that would have finished the
word, and have sent him to the foot Of the
class. So he said IL" thinking luckily Of
strain"
But Miss Cardington was thus placed In
trouble. IS t-r- al" she murmured. per-
picked, and fell to thinking. Thereupon
count deliberately. He counted ten, and
Miss Cardingt0n had TO go to the foot, being
unable to add Letter without finishing the
word.
Master John Fallows then made all sorts
of faces. while the doctor counted
81"
Miss Simpson was astonished str. ALL"
she cried ~ amazsment John. challenge
II don't believe you have any word" And
John was obllgei To confess, with much gig
Cling. that he had none. and to take his place
at the foot of the class. IF john had really
had word. Miss Simpson, the challenger
would have had to go to the foot" explained
the doctor to me.
But Miss Simpson herself failed to add
letter in the allotted time, and followed
John to the foot. The 0rganist, however,
promptly said &C." having improved this
''st aight."
~" said Miss Lucy. whose bright wits
saw the word at once and she clapped her
hands as she turned to Miss Wilson. who
was compelled, OF course, to put on q final
TT and 60 TO the foot. because she had
finished the word.
BY this time had seen enough to warrant
me In joining, and the Doctor. too, was added
TO the row, still resuming the duty Of count
i'm hat.r II fAs.E FxIu -
to Miss Wilson, and the Doctor next TO me.
at the foot.
1t was my turn, Of course, to introduce
new word, so i started with -" az"
quickly added the Doctor. crying at the same
time to the Minister at the head Of the row,
You are caughtl Come down here" 1T"
said tile Minister, innocently, and was sent
I" the foot, having completed q word, In
spite Of his protestations that he was think
ing of ''jetsam."
"Y," began Miss Willoughby. 10" said
Willy Cardingt0n. Then the SchOol-mistress
unable to think Of anything but ~, went
silently to the foot, after the Doctor had
counted ten. The luck'ess Professor think
ing Of young" added the fatal ~" and
went down amidst much merrment. "He
should have added IL for yolk," said the
orgnist quietly.
Here there was great amusement at the
discovery of the Professor and the School
mistress together at the foot. and. by taclt
agreement, the Doctor and L entered into
conspiracy TO keep them there. The interest
Of the game was greatly increased by the
struggles CT these two couples to bring each
other to grief by the introduction Of words
which must terminate with an opponent.
It was found necessary to rule out proper
nouns, slang words. and confraetions, and to
ordain that In case player. when a CON-
bination of letters like 'y-a-e-h-" came to
him, in preference to adding the obvious 81"
went silently to the foot, thus forcing his
neighbor to go To the foot as well, that trick
should be played only twice. The third
player should end the word.
1t must further be added that any one may
challenge" words who suspects that the
person who made the last addition Ia under
misa apprehension as to the correct spelling
OF the word IL the word thought of Is right
~ spelled. the challenger goes TO the foot.
II the person challenged has made amistake.
he himself goes to the foot, and his place Is
taken by the challenger. or course, person
at the foot, having mo- position To lose, may
venture to challenge freely, In hope Of an adj
vance; but person at the head must De eau
tious. and only challenge when he sees an
| Impossible combination Of letters coming
dangerously near himself.
found this game developed on acquain-
| tancs Into very BRIGHT and Instructive
| amusement TRY II yourself the next time
| the nrighbnr comes In for an evenings fun
| Amos b Wells In Christian Union