Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1912-12-19

themselves III the vacant cnalrS. AT
the word "sing" the players who are
not blindfolded should start to sing
either a prearranged tune or anything
that happens to occur to them; but
they should endeavor to disguise their
voices as much as possible. Each
blindfolded player Is expected to guess
from the voice who IS singing at his
right hand. Each may have one guess.
Those whose guesses are correct take
their bandages off and blindfold the
eyes of their singing neighbours. The
unsuccessful guessers must try again
Blind mans buff for young and old
is game that will always be popular.
A different version of it is called "Ani-
mails One player is blindfolded and
the others station themselves around
the room. The blind man feels his way
around until he touches some one and
that person must at once give an imi-
tatfon of some animal sound, horse
neighing, donkey braying, a cat, dog,
fowl, pig, bird, etc. The blind man must
guess the name OF his prisoner by the
voice. II he guesses right the prisoner
becomes the blind man. If not, the
blind man releases the prisoner and be-
gins again.
Another blindfolded game is called
Steps" Here the blind man is told
how many steps he may take in order
to be able to touch a certain PLAYER.
1t Is funny game because the blind
man makes such ridiculous mistakes as
to the length and direction of the
steps he is allowed to take. OF course
the other players must stand perfectly
still when they have taken their first
positions
Still another blind mans game Is
called "spooning." The players take
their position around the room and re-
main perfectly still. The blind man
has large spoon with which he
touches. the players and tries to dis
cover who they are. The players should
try to disguise themselves as much as
possible, tying shaw1s or handkerchiefs
around their necks. standing on tiptoe
or crouching to make themselves
shorter.
Spin the Plate is game that has
been played by generations of children
The children are all seated in row
across the room. One is given a plate
and told to spin 1t in the middle Of the
room calling out the name of another
player as he spins It, The player whose
name is called must run and catch the
plate before 1t stops spinning. If he
fails. he pays forfeit which he must
redeem later by performing some stunt
required Of him.
Mulberry Bush is game always en-
joyed by little children, because they
must initiate the actions suggested In
the song. There are few persons who
do not know the tune of this old Eng
lish song which the children Join hands
and sing:
Here we go round the mulberry bush,
the mulberry bush, the mulberry
bush,
Here we go round the mulberry bush.
On fine and frosty morning.
The other verses ring the changes on
This is the way to wash our clothes
Iron our clothes-comb our hair
wash our face-go to school-learn to
read-learn to sew-on a fine and frosty
morning.
The Smelling Game can be made very
simple for children by having few
flowers only, or quite elaborate for
grownup people by filling small bottles
with different kinds Of perfumes and
other odorous or malodorous sub
stances One person is blindfolded and
the flowers or perfumes are given him
TO smell. If he guesses what they are
he receives flower or favor.
For the Envelope Game there should
| be Christmas cards either with pic-
lures, verses or notices suggestive Of
personal characteristics of the children
| at the party. Each card Is placed in
an envelope and one envelope is handed
TO each of the children. Each Of the
players in turn takes out his card.
reads what is on it or shows the pic
ture. and the other players guess for
whom 1t was intended.
The Donkey,s Tail-A donkey should
be drawn on q large piece of paper and
fastened to the wall. The donkey need
not be artistic In outline or correct In
proportion, but It should be without q
tail The tail is cut separately and q
pin Is stuck in one end. Each player
IN turn advances, with eyes blindfoldel
and pins It AZ near as possible to
where nature intended II to be. with
/ small children It Is better TO blindfold
i them, az the temptation to peep In or
der to see is too great to Be resisted.