Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-12

make them think and decide for themselves.
A little girl says: "I don't know which
dress to put on my dolly, mamma; which
shall I?" The mamma will be wise if she
says: "You must decide; you know dolly
best"
When achild is ill or nervous then the
great hour of despair comes TO the mamma.
A person without nerves, generally good
colored mamma, is the best playmate, and a
dog is invaluable. 1t is touching to see the
smile come to the poor bloodless lips in
hospital ward as great big kindly dog puts
his cold nose out to reach little feverish
hand. There is a sympathy in nature which
intellect loses. Nine Snetchine's fear of the
mummies has another lesson in it. Chill
dren are born with pet aversions as well as
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 too
seriously blamed for their aversions.
Teaching and Entertaining.
While 1t is not well to starve a child over
too good books, much entertainment can be
derived from scientific teaching. The
prestIdigitateur, dear old Signor Blitz, who
used to make rabbit jump out of an
orange and big gobbler 90 up through the
ceiling, was the first of these, even if he did
easily our senses could be deceived.
Perhaps there is no better way of enter
tanning children than by puzzle. the magic
lantern and other well-known scientific ex-
periments. We use the term advisedly.
Jugglery was the Oldest of the sciences.
Aaron and Moses tried it. One OF the most
valuable solaces for an invalid child, we
will say with broken leg or some COM
plant which necessitates bed and quiet, is
an experiment in natural magic.
One OF these simple tricks is called 1.-THE
Balanced Coin." Procure bottle, cork it,
and in the cork place needle. Take an
other cork and cut a slit in it SO that the
edge Of a dollar bill will fit into it; then put
two forks into the upper cork. Place the
edge of the coin (Which holds the upper
cork and forks) on the point of the needle
and it will revolve without falling. This
will amuse an imprisoned boy all the after
noon.
Some Amusing Little Tricks.
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. Give him
pair of long arms shaped like 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
is another nice experiment. Cut figure
out of pasteboard and gum one foot on q
watch glass on the inverted side, then place
the watch glass on a Japan waiter or a
clean plate; hold the plate slanting and
they will slide down, but drop little water
on the waiter or plate and instead Of the
watch glass sliding it will begin to revolve,
and continue to revolve with increased We
locity as the experimentalist chooses. This
is because In consequence of the cohesion of
water to the two surfaces a new force is in
troduced.
These experiments are endless, and will
serve a variety of purposes, the principal
being that of entertaining. To take chill
dren 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. Far.
ents who do not obj ect to this very healthy
amusement can now find matinees every
where, so that the children need not be
kept up late. The real play is better for
children than the burlesque. and it is aston
ishing how soon a child can understand
even "Hamlet."
Don't Make Them Old Too Soon.
When boys and girls get old enough for
dancing parties nothing can be more anus
ing than the sight of the youthful follower
of terpsichore. It issa healthy amusement,
and If kept within proper hours and with
light supper is the most fitting OF all chill!
dren's amusements. Do not, however,
make men and women Of them too soon.
That is lamentable.
As for ruses and catch games like the
slave despoiled, the pigeon flies, the sorcerer
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 it
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 q resemblance to cross
questions; the secretary, the culprit's seat.
ALL these need good m memory and a ready
wit All mistakes to be redeemed by for
felt.
Two Entertaining Games.
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. 1t may be
called "The Fortunate and Unfortunate
Adventures Of Miss Palmer" The words
to be used may be history, reading, railway,
accident, nourishment, pleasures, four-in-
hand, etc. The paper has line written
and folded; is handed thus to the next, each
writer giving Miss Palmer whatever adven-
ture he pleases, only bringing in the desired
word. The result is incoherent, but anus
ing, and Miss Palmer becomes heroine of
romance.
There are some children, as there are some
grown people, who have natural talent for
games. This is great help in entertaining
children, to get hold of born leader. The
game called ''The Language of Animals" is
one for philosophers. Each player takes
his pencil and paper and describes the feel
ings, emotions and passions of an animal;
as. for instance, the dog would say: 81 feel
anger like human being; I am sometimes
vindictive but generally forgiving. suffer
terribly from jealousy. My envy leads me
to eat more than l want because I do not
wish Tray to get it. Gluttony is my easily
besetting sin, but never got drunk in my
life. love my master better than anyone,
and if he dies 1 mourn him to death. NY
worst sorrow is being lost, but my delights
are never chilled bv expectation, so never
lose the edge of enjoyments by over-raised
hopes. want to run 20 miles day, but
like to be with my master in the evening. I
love children dearly and would die for any
boy. 1 will save him from drowning. I
cannot wag my tongue, but l can wag my
tail to express my emotion"
The Pleasures of Hope.
Thus for chlldren's entertaining we have
the same necessities as for grown people.
Someone must begin; someone must sug-
gest someone must tell how. ALI society
needs a leader. Perhaps for that reason our
own grown up society is little chaotic.
Perhaps the story of Nine. Snetchine and
her watch conveys needed moral. Do not
deluge children with costly gifts. Do not