The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-11-30
PORTRAIT WHIST.
A Game That Promises to Be.
come Popular In
Canton.

| There are two new games that are
going to be immensely popular
in Canton-the one is portrait whist
| and the other boomerang Tipping. OF
these the former is true breeder of
| mirth and light-hearted gayety Men
enjoy IL, women are successful at IL,
and, therefore, 1t has become popular.
| In fact, so original Is portrait whist
that it stands as a memorial to the
genius from whose consciousness 1t was
evolved. Happily the requisites for
playing II are simple and not at all ex-
pensive. Those who wish to arrange
such a game have but to hunt among
the family relics for cast-aside photo
graphs, choosing always those Of the
cartede visite size. The more old-fash-
ioned and ludicrous the pictures can be
found to appear to modern eyes the bet
ter will be the fun.
HOW TO PLAY THE GAME.
When fifty-two of them have been
secured, or a similar number to form
packs of cards for each table, they
| should be assorted into four sets of
thirteen each. The pictures Of men cor
| respond to spades. those Of women to
| clubs, children to diamonds and babies
to hearts. The game is then played in
a way similar to whist, the regularity
| in the following Of suits being adhered
to strictly. The card representing the
plainest individual takes the trick.
| Here, indeed, is the telling part Of the
game, for who can say with certainty
| that their card bears the ugliest image
| About the ladies' the same question
arises. The cry becomes, which Is the
plainest? In the long ago these pictures
show that there were many buxom las
| sies, with, however, not-properly-hn-
ished-off expression, and they may be
played as rivals to limp, sylph-like ones
| with corkscrew curls. Even the chill
| dren and babies must vie with each
other in ugliness. Disputes and eM
changes of opinions, accompanied by
| bursts of laughter. invariably follow
| the claiming of the tricks, for as beauty
has been said to be in the eyes of the
| beholder, SO is IT even with ugliness.
Therefore, to keep the game In progress
an umpire is appointed for each table,
one who in all disputed instances de-
cides to whom the trick must be giyel.
The position Is not exactly a sinecurc,
and many umpires. charming though
they may be, have found 1t necessary
to call out for mercy when exercising
the courage of their convictions in ren-
dering these decisions.
FUN IN BOOMERANG FLIPPING.
Boomerangs are now fipped for
amusement in the drawing room, quite
as natural as marshmallows were at
one time toasted before the fire. Fo,
parlor practice, however, the sport has
it's limitations and skill Is expended In
getting the boomerang's curve and re-
curve in rings. For a little sport good
models of the Australian weapon can
be initiated in stiff cardboard and all
sorts of different achievements accom-
plished through the diversity of their
shapes. Crescents and almost circular
ones can be thrown 80 as to curve and
recurve in rings and return finally TO
their owners feet. Long. slender ones
broadened at one end will, OF course,
take longer distances but they do not
return. Trfangles pass through the air
very swiftly and usually take sure
aim. In throwing them they are held
between the thumb and the two first
fingers and let fly in the same way as is
customary In native sport. The card
board should be firm and thick. but
always kept thin on the edges as are
those made of wood, or they will not
slip through the air well.
At a party arranged for this amuse-
ment II Is customary for each guest to
cut out his own weapon that he may get
an individual shape. The hostess SIM
ply provides good shears and vast
amount Of cardboard. 1t IL necessary
to have an objective point to throw at.
and for this purpose there is usually
suspended from the ceiling on a Hight
cord a bird made OF cotton batting.
When the boomerang has been sue
eessful In its aim can always be told
by the swaying Of the bird. Such a.
function most often deyolves into a.
contest of skill, and the one that hits
the bird the oftenest is awarded with a
prize, while to al there is opened a field
for personal investigation and q good
bit Of sport.
a