The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-04-12


= good colored mamma. Is the best play
mate, and . dog Is invaluable 1t IS
touching to see the smile come to the
poor bioodless lips IN hospital ward as .
great big kindly dog puts his cold nose out
to reach little, feverish hand There IS
= sympathy in nature which intellect
loses.
Nine. Snetchine's fear OF the mummies
has another lesson in Il. Children are
born with pet aversi0ns as well IS with
that terrible passion of fear which is so
much bigger than they are. And the first
Of their rights to be respected is that they
shall not be frightened and shall not be
Buffalo Bill, who knows more about horses
than most people, says that no horse is
born bad, that he is made . bucking horse,
. skittish horse or . stumbling horse by
being badly trained or misunderstood
when he was young. How true is this
of human naturei How many villains
are developed by an unhappy childhood !!
turn outl We must try to ind these skele-
tons in the closets. tins imprisoned specter
which haunts the imaginative child and
lay the ghost by sympathy and by COM
mon sense. Cuitivating the Imagination
NOT overlooking il or starving it-that
would seem to be the right way.
While It is not we'll to starye child over
too good books much entertainment may
be derived from scientific teaching. The
prestidigitateur, dear old Signor Blitz, who
used to make q rabbit Jump out Of an or
ange and a big gobbler 60 up through the
ceiling, was the first Of these, even if he
did not do anything more than. to tell US
Perhaps there Is no better way Of enter
tanning children than by puzzle. the
magic lantern and other scienfinc exper-
iments. We use the term advISediy.
Jugglery was the oldest of the sciences.
Aaron and Moses tried it. One of the most
valuable soiaces Tor an invalid child, we
viii say with broken leg or some CON-
paint which necessitates bed and quiet, is
an experiment IN natural magic.
One of these simple tricks is called s'The
Balanced Coin" Procure bottle, cork it.
and in the cork place q needle Take
another cork and cut slit in it so that the
edge of dollar will fit into it; then put
two forks into the upper cork Place the
edge of the coin (which holds the upper
and it will revolve without falling. This
will amuse an imprisoned boy all the after
noon.
The revolving image is another most
amusing gentleman. Let poor Harry
make this himself. Cut little man out
OF thin bit of wood, only he must end in
one leg like peg-top instead Of in two.
oars. Then place him ON the tip OF your
finger and blow; he will stand there and
rotate like an undecided politician.
The Spanish dancer 10 another nice ex-
pertinent. Cut figure ont of pasteboard
and gum one foot on watch glass on the
inverted side, then place the watch glass
on Japan waiter or clean plate; hold
but drop little water on the waiter or
plate and instead of the watch glass slid
ing it will begin to revolve, and continue
TO reyolye with increased velocity, as the
experimentalistc chooses. This is because,
in consequence of the cohesion of water to
the two surfaces, 4 new force is introduced.
These experiments are endless, and will
serve variety of purposes. the principal
being that of entertaining.
To take children TO the pantomime at
Christmas Is the universal Law in England.
We have not the pantomime here
very much. We have the circus, the
menagerie and the play. Parents who do
not object to this very healthy amusement
can now lind matinees everywhere, 50 that
the children need not be kept up late.
The real play is better for children than
the burlesqUe, and it is astonishing how
soon child can understand even Hamlet.
To allow children to play themselves in
. fairy tale Of Cinderella is doubtful
practice. The exposure, the excitement,
for young nerves; but they can play at
home if it is in the daytime.
When boys and girls get old enough for
dancing parties nothing can be more
amusing than the sight of the youthful fol-
lower of Terpsichore. It is q healthy
amusement. and if kept within proper
hours and with light supper is the most
hitting of all children's amusements
Do not. however, make little men and
women OF them too soon. That is la
naentabie.
As for ruses and catch games like the
slave despoiled, the pigeon dies, the sor-
cerer behind the screen, the knight Of the
whistle, the witch, the Tombola, one
should buy one of the cheap manuals of
games found at any bookstore, and clever
boy should read up and put himself in
touch With this very easy way of passing
an evening.
The games requiring wit and intelligence
are many. as the bouquet, the fools dis
course. which has resemblance to cross
questions. the secretary. the culpries seat.
All these need good memory and = ready
wit. All mistakes to be redeemed by for
felt.
OF the games to be played by pencil and
paper. none is funnier than the narrative,
in which the leader decides on the title and
gives it out to the company: It may be
Adventures of Miss Palmer" The words
to be used may be history, reading, rail-
way, accident, nourishment, pleasures,
four-in-halfd, etc. The paper has line
written and folded; is handed thus to the
next, each writer giving Miss Palmer
whatever adventure he pieases, only bring
in the desired word. The result is in
coherent, but amusing. and Miss Palmer
becomes Q heroine of romance.
There are some children, as there are
some grown people, who have q natural
talent for games This is q great help in
entertaining children, to get hold of q born
leader.
The game called 1.-The Language Of AMI
mails" is one for philosophers. Each player
takes his pencil and paper and describes
the feelings, emotions and passions of an
animal; as, for instance. the dog would
say: II feel anger like . human being:
am sometimes yindictive, but generally
forgiving. suffer terribly from jealousy.
Ny envy leads me TO eat more than want
because do not wish Tray to get it. Glut-
tony Is my easily besetting sin, but never
got drunk in my life. I love my master
better than anyone, and If he dies mourn
him to death. Ny worst sorrow ia being
lost. but my delights are never chilled by
expectation, so / never lose the edge of nv
enjoyments by overraised hopes I want
to run twenty miles day, but like to be
with my master IN the evening. love
children dearly and would die for any boy.
/ will save him from drowning. / cannot
wag my tongue, but can wag my tail to
express my emotion" 2f.
The cat says: II am a natural diplo-
matist and carry on great secret SER
vice that nobody knows anything about.
/ do not care for my master or mistress
bat for the house and the hearthrug. am
very frugal and have very little appetite.