The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-03-14

reflection turned out the table and game
hereafter described. which ~ hopes ant
fully believes vii answer TIE p1rpose IN
tended.
The top Of the table Is so constructed
as 10 b taken ca. having on the Outer
edge an aperture sufficiently large to al.
init the hand. with a ia nicely fitted and
hinged to the same. or the opening may
have slide to be pulled in and out.
Within the table Is a wheel revolving on
a pivot This wheel is turned by placing
the hand under the table behind nolehes
and pushing Il around. In toe wheel AMI
near the outer edge Is placed a number
OF small. movable drawers or boxes
Zach box contains two apartments with
a iid hinged 70 each apartment so as 90
De raised and lowered. win the table
20 number OF checks. different COL
ored. sized or shaped check for each box
The inventor OF the game then goes on
al great length TO describe the WAY in
which the game is played. and how those
members Of the md.e sex who are ue.v-
Gus, backward, and basnful and those Ia
dies who are modest and coy can com
municate 20 one another their mutual
affections with secrecy. safety. AMI dis
patch. through the agency of this pecu-
liar method known as the game OF elugl-
ity. This is done as follows: In each box
some person not playing places a NUN
Der OF checks 81 the same color or de
nomination. as many checks I'm each box
as there are players Then upon 4 sheer
OF paper he writes the names OF the play
ers and assigns 10 each a box. He gives
10 each player one check from his or her
box and retires from the room. The party
stands at some distance from the table.
and the players advance singly and max.
their play. For example let US SAY that
the amorous swain plays first. He goes
10 the table and examines the list for the
name of his amoTiJa. and after turning
the table until the number Of her box
comes to him, he PLACES the check which
he holds iE his hand therein, taking from
the box one OF the checks which he finds
there. He then turns the table 50 that
the next player may not guess the play
ne mas made. In like manner each mem
Der Of the party takes d turn at the orac-
uiar wheel When all the plays have been
made the table IS opened. and each play
er examines the contents Of his or her
box. II can readily br seen that the sady
and gentleman who have played FOR one
another VIZ discover simultaneously that
their affections are mutual, as one check
In the box Of each will correspond with
the one that is being held concealed in
the palm Of the hand. Vice versa .tswill
De impossible Tor bellies an1 beaux of un-
usual popularity to identify the foreign
checks which they discover in their BOXES
as they have had access to. and Conse-
quentIy means Of discovering the checks
of but one other player, and thus the eX-
act scientific properties of the machine
will hide and keep forever the secrets OF
unrequited love.
Did Not Succeed.
This is the history of the oracular
wheel, so far as 1t is contained in the
files Of the Patent Ofiices-of the inven-
ton that was intended TO place the love
making on the part of the awkward aud
diftident upon an absolutely scientific ba-
sis. The most interesting question. per
haps, that presents itself in connection
with its subsequent failure. as regards
peeuniary profit derived from the inyea-
ton to its discoverer, is the reason for
its failure. The inventor had precedent
of a high order for the FIRST grand sue
cess OF the experiment, as delineated In
the newspaper paragraph, which details
the touching story of the three couples
made happy"
That his theme was new and practical
bic is evinced by the fact that letters
patent were issued to him for II. That
IL was feasible and philanthropic I'm a
nigh degree We have the testimony of
his own writings in his application for a
patent. While IL might be urged against
his game that successful couples would
only desire to play once, it might be an
SWered that, in spite OF the matrimonial
results which would come from the uni
versal introduction of the game OF equal
ity, there would still be enough rejected
SWANS 10 create a steady demand for the
Oracular wheel. Nevertheless. the fact
remains that the use of this easy road
TO matrimony did not become widespread
nor did IL last, as the history OF the past
half century will testify. The twentieth
century dawns upon the youth and maid
ems of this and other nations still! en-
plOying, in the delicate matters Of the af-
fections. the primitive and antlquated
Methods Of their forefatbers