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viii A Foreword
The collection in this little volume is the harvest of the years—from the nursery-days when I learned to depend upon games and plays to teach valuable lessons— sugar-coating the pill—to the present, when I claim to be a veteran hostess of house-parties; and I offer it with the sincere wish that it may carry the same pleasure to others that it has so often given to us.
I apologise for the personalities, but thus only can I explain the circumstances under which I learned of some of these games, which were the suggestions of our guests, and I am ignorant otherwise of their source. Some came to me as foundlings and I was obliged to give them names. I hope that I have not trespassed on the preserves of others. Many of the games are original. Some are old ones made over, and others, the heritage of the ages, are too good to be omitted. The entertainments, with very few exceptions, are personal experiences, and are therefore known to be practical.
The wisest of mankind has said that "there is nothing new under the sun"; but, despite this discouraging statement, we may take heart, for he made the remark a long time ago. |
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