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114 The Book of Indoor and Outdoor Games |
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must be passed from hand to hand very quickly, so as to give no time for examination: a raw potato, one stuck full of wooden toothpicks porcupine-wise, a powder-puff, a bit of ice, a wet sponge, a handful of gelatine, or a flower, a toy spider, a kid glove filled with moist sand. These, taken into the hand without any premonition of their character, produce very uncanny sensations, and, following in quick succession, are puzzling to name. It is usually the occasion of some excitement, and makes a merry ending to the game, always to be desired, as it leaves in people's minds an impression of having had a pleasant time.
A single prize may be awarded to the one whose lists are longest and most correct, or a variety of trifling ones may be divided among those whose senses best stood the various tests, not forgetting booby prizes to those who failed, since they are usually mirth-provoking.
Any object the enjoyment of which depends upon the sight—book, picture, photograph frame, sym-metroscope, or ornament—may be given to the one who best used his eyes. The booby should have a huge pair of burlesque spectacles, or lorgnon made of oiled paper and wire, a pen-wiper in the shape of a bat— proverbial for its blindness, or an owl, pictured, stuffed, made of wood, or otherwise represented.
For the one whose olfactories were the most sensitive, a bunch of violets or a bouquet of flowers, a pretty sachet, a salts-bottle, a vinaigrette, a bottle of cologne or a pine-balsam pillow may be given.
A baby doll with an onion in lieu of a head was once given as a booby prize. Also a bottle of assafcetida and one of sulphur tricked out with crepe-paper petticoats.
A small silver bell, a sheet of music, a pretty shell that "sings of the sea," or a tiny musical box would |
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