The Washington times., 1907-12-28

Kindly publish some writing games
to play when friends come In uneX-
pectedly. A READER
There are so many OF these and the
need for something OF the kind so often
arises that her question will be an
swered in full.
A good game requiring some intel
lectual effort. which VIII assist in re-
freshing the memory concerning words.
phrases. celebrated names and the like
is called Reduction. This IS capable Of
almost endless variety, since any sub
ject can be chosen as basis, say, fow-
ers, great men. book titles. etc.
II, for example, the subject Is the
synonyms Of the word beautiful, each
player is called on TO write down on a
sheet OF paper all the words he or she
can recall which suggest the same
thing, as fine, superb, gorgeous, and so
on. Ten minutes is allowed for making
the lists.
At the expiration Of that time each
player reads aloud his attempt The
others cross from their lists any terms
which are repeated. When all the lists
have been reduced in this way the re-
naming words are counted. The great
est number of these wins the prize, or.
in the case Of an impromptu contest, the
honors Of the game or course, simpler
subjects, such as animals or birds. can
be chosen If the adjectives, etc, are
too taxing.
Blanks.
Another pastime is called blanks.
Each player receives a pad Of paper and
a pencil. being asked 10 write a short
story (about 800 words in length). ANY
will do for this. Nouns and
adjectives which the player wishes 20
leave blank are represented in the text
by dashes.
Rhetoric.
Then there is rhetoric, where all re-
ceive a sentence 20 be written IN ev5--
possible arrangement Of the words.
Take for Illustration the line Home
ward the plowman wends his weary
way"
Let each player write the words at
the head Of his or her paper and then
below them as many transpositions OF
the sentence as can be thought up. The
player wins who can show the longest
list OF variations.
Transportation.
Another transposing game can be ar
ranged at a moments notice. Hero each
player transposes the letters in a word
tumble. as Eros-Rose. The anaSram
is spelled aloud after working IT out on
paper as ''ErOs-R Flower
-,ra ,r. F- 70 No
correct answer should receive "A bean
or other counter. OF course. nouns Of
any class Will serve for the transposi-
uons-birds, beasts, trees, men and
women, fish. Most counters. the game.
Doublets.
A most interesting little game which
is we'll worth introducing TO your
friends, II they are not yet familiar
with IT. is Doublets. It consists IN
changing words Of different meanings.
and usually involving some sharp con-
trast, into each other by manipulating
the letters. 4 simple example would be
the charge OF a bear into a deer. This
Is done IN two moves, thus: Bear. Dear.
Deer.
Each move must form a dictionary
word; otherwise 1t is not allowable.
The doublets must have an equal num-
Der Of letters. Devote half an hour TO
seeing who can hit upon the cleverest
contrasts with the shortest means OF
doubleting
Example. A rose may be transformed
into n pink by the following verbal
legerdemain: Rose, Rise, Risk, Rink,
Pink
When all the stories are finished
members Of the company call on each
other 10 supply al random the words
necessary to NIL IN +he blanks, specify
ing, Of course, the kind of word wanted
in each instance. These stories are
aftCrward read aloud, when they can
not fail to create fun
IL rather adds 70 the absurdity II. In
stead Of fictitious story, some little true
incident with which the company is
familiar, or the principal actors in
which are known 20 all, IS detailed in a
few words. With plentiful description
Of place and people the wrong adjec-
tiyes and nouns will render the most
Unreal and laughable-
Poets Crambo.
Most young people are familiar with
the good old favorite crambo, too well
known TO need description But there IS
n form OF this contest which is less
known, and, in q bright group, well
worth while. mean poets crambo.
Here is the method:
Each player receives q sheet Of paper