The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-04-05
AMUSING CHILDREN ATA PARTY
Games Are Better Liked Than Dancing BY
Most Small Folk.

Games Are Better Liked Than Dancing BY
Most Small Folk.
Those who have studied the philoso-
ply Of children's parties say that chill
dren find greater entertainment in
games than in dancing. Dancing usu-
ally requires too much intervention of
grown up people, while the more chill
dren appear to depend on themselves
in carrying out the details of 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 invi-
tations and address the envelopes,
which they do with the largest sense of
Importance, and which proves to be the
most successful of their lessons in pen
manship. 1t is mistake to make too
great preparations for the entertain
ment of the children. Elaborate prepa-
rations anticipate enlarged expecta-
tions, and with small folks, as great,
these are difficult to realize. 1t is
equally mistake to provide friendly
or hired entertainer. Magic lantern
slides are pleasant relief after games,
but children feel more quickly tired
sitting still than when in motion, and
even for short time the magic lantern
needs lively spokesman. The presti-
digitateur and Punch and Judy are
most popularity in demand, but neither
of these is as satisfying as that small
Importance which every child feels in
helping to make the fun A mother
lox fa1l hO
mind making themselves ridiculous are
better than any ventriloquist or master
of legerdemain.
A new game introduced is played
with feather. The party is arranged
in several groups of seven or eight
each, seated in ring and as close to-
gether as possible. For each group is a
feather. This is tossed in the air in
the center of the ring. 1t is the busi-
ness 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 merriest child. In this case she
has 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 left,
who of course, is the winner. There
are few games SO unpretentious and
few that can give as much fun to =
lively lot of children.
Another new game is Hunt the
Whistle" But when this exhausts an
area it cannot be played, as it requires
a certain number who are ignorant of
the game Those who know it make
large ring. The others leave the room
and are admitted one at time. At
signal one enters She is told to enter
the ring, kneel down, and confess to
the mother confessor. She kneels and
buries her face in the confessor's lap
She is then asked some question that
bears on her likes, dislikes, her friend
ship, 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 attached
to string. She has, Of course, denied
the charges; she is then asked to 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 en-
deavors TO trace the sound are funny
enough AS soon as the trick is discov-
cred fresh victim is ushered into the
ring.-N Y. Sun