The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-02-20

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Age cannot willer the device 81
amusement. and whosoever amUses tha
world deserves the gratitude OF al
mankind.
You may have engaged the greatest
comedians. the most noted society jest
nrs whom money can procure. TO amuse
your guests. yei lve minutes Of the
Blind Mans Sleeplechase7 win do
more te put every one IN good hui
NOR than any number 81 comic songs.
says the writer of the article % ques-
iion.
a drawing room steepiechase is done
II this way a narrow course IS ar
ranged down the length Of the room,
iaid out with jumps varying in
height. and at different distances from
each ether The jumps are made with
piles Of books. of cushions. fnot etools,
email chairs laid On their sides. or in
any other way that Ingenuity can sug-
gest. bur an must be small enough TO
be easily stepped over.
Some one-p preferably an athletic
young man who prides himself on his
skin fl hurdle jumping now be
blindf0lded. and q IS required that be
shan journey from end to end Of the
course. stepping over all. without
touching any Of the obstacles. This Is
carefully explained % him beforehand,
and be is allowed 70 study tbe various
obstacles and 70 estimate their heights
and distances before his eyes are
bandaged. II. fact he may make a trial
"Trip over the course. so that the dis
tance between the jumps may be frm-
u fixed "a his memory Then he ls
started on his sleeplechase.
No sooner is be of than an the OBJ
stacIes. quietly and stealthily are re-
moved from his path Tie advances a
step Or two gingeriy raises a ioot,
throws Il OUT and makes a giant
stride over an imaginary jump-and
as he goes along. so indescribably lu
dicrous are his careful efforts to clear
the obstacles when not one IS in his
path, that long before he has reached
the winning post he viii be the only
who is not feeling tired from excess Of
laughter. The misguided steepiecbas-
er thinks. of course. that Tie Is per-
forming splendidly when De finds that
he Is clearing everything 10 his path
without q touch nothing funuicT can
be imagined than the way m which
bis complacent conceit at his own sue
cess gives way to the bitferest cha
grin when his eyes arc uncovered, and
ne finds out the hoax.
As difficult as the feat OF climbing a
greasy pole IS the drawing room sport
Of sitting on a bottle and with a can
dlestick In either hand. lighting the
wick Of one candle from the dame Of
the other
An ordinary wine bottle is laid on
the floor. On either side Is nlaced q
canuIe nndf ae of the wicks is lighted !
Then the competitor sits on the bottle
$50 that its neck points toward his
feet Putting his legs straight out be
now places the heel Of the right foot
on the toe Of the left. and. taking n
candle in either hand llghts-or, rath-
er, attempts 10 light-the unlit wick.
The fun Is soon la evidence. for at
every attempt TO raise both candles
from the floor over rolls the bottle and
man. and down pours the grease But
after few falls and a little practice
there comes a moment Of sieadiness, |
and then both candles are safely light
ed and are placed on the door IN their
position.
Unfailingly popular as a drawing /
room sport is very pretty game
played with a chair and a pin The
pin Is inserted IN the side Of the chair
on the seats edge. in front OF one Of
the hind legs Some one then takes
his seat on the chair, sitting sideways, |
with his feet on the same side as the
pin. Suppose that the pin is stuck into
the edge Of the seat just in front on
the right hind leg. The performer sits
with his feet to the right side Of the
chair. Leaning far back and raising
his feet from the ground, be bends
himself round the back Of the chair
and grasps the bottom Of the right
hind leg with his right hand and the
top with his lcft hand.
This Is a highly critical position. At
the slightest shifting Of balance the
chair IS liable to upset and to send Its
occupier rolling on the floor Shifting
his position very carefully, by degrees,
therefore, the performer works him
self so far round the back CT the chair
that at length he Is able to withdraw
the pin ID his teeth He must then
work himself hack again to his origi-
nal position. his feet all the time to be
on the ground and his legs resting on
the seat Of the chair
II IS delightful to see a man trying
10 preserve his balance while be cranes
his head forward to grip the pin ID
his teeth: then. just when victory
seems assured. and be Is cautiously
returning with the prize in his mouth.
be fails TO negotiate the corner. and
over be rolls. The pin should be grad
ually shifted further round The side
Of the chair as the conpetitor's skin
grows in the arf Of Withdrawing it