St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-01-23
ENTERTAINING CHILDREN.
They Really Enjoy Games Better
Than DANCING

1ney Ateaily ENJOY GameS bettcf
Than Dancing.
Those who have studied the phil
osophy of children's parties say that
children find greater entertainment in
games than in dancing. Dancing
usually requires too much Intervention
of grown up people. while the more
children appear to depend Oh them
selves in carrying out the details OF a
party the more successful it is. A
mother who has the happiness of her
children at heart, when she gives
her children party permits them TO
write their invitations and address the
envelopes, which they do with the
largest sense of Importance, and which
proves to he the most successful of
their lessons in penmanship. If
/ "a mistake to make too great prepare {
tons Tor the entertainment Of the Chi
dren. Elaborate preparations anticipate
enlarged expectations, and with small
folks, as great. these are difficult to
realize. 1t is equally mistake to pro-
vide friendly or hired entertainer.
Magic lantern slides are pleasant re-
lief after games, but children feel more
quickly tired sitting still than when in
motion. and, even for short time, the
magic lantern needs a lively spokesman,
says the New York Sun. The prestidig-
itateur and Punch and Judy are the
most popularity III demand, but neither
Of these is as satisfying as that small
Importance which every child feels in
helping to make the fun. A mother
says that two young fellows who don't
mind making themselves ridiculous are
better than any YentrilOquist OF master
of legerdemain.
A new game introduced Is played
with a feather. The party is arranged
in several groups of seven or eight each,
seated in ring and as close together as
possible. For each group is feather.
This is tossed i'll the air in the center of
tile ring. 1t is the business of the little
players to keep the feather in the air by
blowing every time it comes near. The
effort is so ridiculous that the children
laugh. When they laugh they cannot
blow and the feather is apt to settle in
the lap OF the merritst child. In this case
she was to retire from the ring. 1t is.of
course, her interest to make the other
children laugh. AS the rings decrease
they are consolidated, and so the game
continues until only one person is lett,
who, of course, is the winner. There
are few games so unpretentlous and
few that can give as much fun to a
lively lot of children.
Another new game is Hunt the
Whistle.' But when this eXhausts an
area it cannot be played, as it requires
certain number who are ignorant of the
game. Those who know it make
large ring. he others leave the room
and ATE admitted one at time. At
signal one enters. She is told to enter
the ring, kneeI down, and confess to
the mother cOnfpssor. She kneelS and
buries Der face in the confessor's lap.
She is then aSleI some question that
bears on her likes, dislikes, her friend
ships, faults, or some of her actions. as
"Who ate the frosted cake?" This
questioning gives time to fasten onto
the back Of her dress whistle at
tached to a string. She has, of course.
denied the charges; she is then asked
10 prove her innocence by discovering
who blew the whistle. AS she goes
around the ring the children steal up
behind her and blow the whistle. The
sound is always behind her, and her
frantic endeaVOrS to trace the sound are
funny enough. AS soon as the trick is
discovered a fresh victim is ushered
into the ring.