October, 1896

N this age of serious thought and work and sense of responsibility, any excuse for sport should be laid hold of.  For this reason, if for no other, the observance of Hallowe’en on the last night of this month should be encouraged.

Ghost parties are appropriate for All-Saints eve, and below will be found some new suggestions on an old theme.

In the invitations each guest should be informed that he will be expected to be able to relate some ghost story.  When the company has assembled, and the lights have been turned down low, two persons – the tallest boy and girl present – enter the room appropriately dressed.

From a long narrow scroll, they read that they have been sent from Ghostland to assist the party in its revelries.  They then exact a pledge from each and every one that they will perform the tasks laid upon them.

They forthwith proceed to read from their scroll tasks for each one of the company.  These may consist of the narration of their stories, recitations, ghost songs, or anything else that their ingenuity may suggest.

After this, the two ghosts sit down and the programme is rendered.  If they desire to have anything especially difficult or appropriate, it would be well to give notice beforehand to the one whom they wish to perform that task.  Suitable ways of celebrating Hallowe’en may be brought in at this place.

The following chant was used at a ghost party not long ago:

Click for larger image

Predicaments.

This is an old German game which has been found successful in this country, also.

The players should arrange themselves in a circle, and each one tells his right-hand neighbor some predicament, and his left-hand neighbor some solution.

It should be understood that this solution need not necessarily solve the predicament given to the other neighbor – any solution to a predicament of any sort will suffice.

When all have done this, some one should ask another, “What would you do, Miss So-and-so, if such a thing happened to you?” mentioning the predicament which was given him; the other uses in reply the solution which she received from her neighbor; then, she asks some one else what he would do in her predicament, and so on until all have been questioned.

These questions and answers do not always bear logical connection, and this makes it the more amusing.  For instance, it once happened that a person was asked what he should do if he lost his head, and he was forced to answer that he would pick up a cabbage.  Other combinations equally ludicrous sometimes arise.

Whirlwind.

This games is especially good to arouse companies that are inclined to be formal and stiff.  Arrange as many dining-room chairs in a circle as there are players.  All the players but one should seat themselves.  Then there is a vacant chair for the one standing to occupy.

This he now attempts to do; and, if he should succeed, the one on his left must stand and take his place in the centre.  The only way to avoid this, is for the one to the left of the vacant chair to move from his chair to the vacant one.  In this way, the entire circle is soon in motion.

Laughing Cap.

This game is a good one to excite merriment.  The company should choose sides, and arrange themselves in two ranks facing each other.  One, who should not otherwise participate in the game, stands at one end of the rows and tosses up a cap.  If this falls face downward, one row should laugh as heartily as possible, and strive to make the other laugh also.  If they succeed in this, all in the second file who laughed must cross over to the first file.

Then the cap is tossed up again.  If it falls face upward, the other file should laugh in like manner.

The game is ended when one row has won over all in the other.

Any of our readers who have the October issue of 1894 will find an interesting article in regard to All Saints Eve.

Reference:
[NO AUTHOR] (1896, October). Games for Hallowe’en. The Household, XXIX(10), 9. Retrieved from http://victoriantimes.us/parlor-games/games-for-halloween.^

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