A New or Improved Game.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Sept., 1893-Accepted, 28th Oct., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Game.
A communication by VICTOR GORGIAS, of Pettau-on-the-Drave, in the Empire
of Austria, Gentleman.
I, WILLIAM PHillips THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object a parlour game, which may be played by
several persons that is to say in a company, and by its humorous arrangement also
considerably assists to amuse the players.
The game is characterised; 1st. By the use of balls, counters or dice, say for
instance 100 to each game, 52 of which each bear a letter of the alphabet, so that
the alphabet is twice used for the 52 balls or the like, whilst the remaining 48
remain unmarked and form blanks.
2nd. By the use of tables say for instance 12-15 for each game, each of which
tables has a comic sentence printed on it such for instance, as "Jack would teach
his grandam." The various letters of this sentence are then further arranged in
the form of a U in order to make the double meaning at once apparent,
thus:-
The joke in these sentences consists more particularly in that an everyday
sentence is spoken and without altering it in the slightest an entirely different
word is formed in the bend of the U formation (it almost always being in striking
contrast to the sentence) producing a very humorous turn of the sentence. The
result in the case of the above sentence is the word "each."
The game is played in the following manner. Each player selects a table, and
the balls or the like which are placed in a bag, are alternately drawn by the
players, and each one endeavours to form a word of four, five, or more letters
according to the length agreed on beforehand, with the letters marked on the balls,
or counters utilizing the letters on the tables.
If for instance a word of 5 letters is to be made, the player who has drawn the
letters O. R. A. may form with the fourth letter on the left of the table and the
letter directly opposite it on the right of the table viz. :-N-the word "Koran,'
or if he draws the letters W. Ñ. E. he can form with the letters of the
'owner." The player who first fills up a word has won.
6th row 66
If the company desires to accelerate the progress of the game, it may be further
simplified by removing the blanks.

page_text: 3
A modification of the game may consist in causing a child or any person who
is not taking part in the game, to draw the ball from time to time from the bag
and to call out the letters when the players must endeavour to make a word with
the letters which are called out.
This mode of playing the game requires of.course increased attention.
After one or two games the tables, may be changed so that the forming of words
does not become too easy for the players.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A parlour or company game characterised by the use of balls, dice, or counters
which each bear a letter of the alphabet, or are left vacant, these latter balls, dice,
or counters, forming the blanks, and by the use of tables having a sentence printed
thereon, the separate letters of the sentence being arranged in a U shape.
2. The mode of playing this game consisting in the players forming words of
.4, 5, or more letters with the letters of the balls, dice or counters, utilizing also
the letters on the tables.
Dated this 22nd day of September 1893.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.