PASTIME FOR WINTER EVENINGS. For I am brimful of the friendliness 267 Aye, these are the companions for a winter eveningMilton and Petrarch, and Spenser and Shakespeare; in a word, the poets and great historians, and great writers of fiction, and all who have expressed noble thoughts and pure feeling in lofty poetry or eloquent prose. Our Girls should learn to read aloud; to read with taste, expression, and distinctness; and then, in the winter evening, when all are gathered round the cheery fire, one of them can read some masterpiece of the past or present, while the others pursue their various avocations, plying the skilful needle or wielding the creative pencil. I can recommend to them the formation of Shakespeare Clubs for the study of the animated works of the great dramatist: they should meet once a week or once a fortnight, and at each meeting a play, or part of a play, should be read, each member taking a separate character, and all being prepared to do their utmost to explain the meaning of obsolete words or obscure passages. The Girls may also meet, at such times as may be convenient, for the practice of English Composition, reading essays, or tales, or analyses of books, and freely, but courteously, criticising each other's productions. Or they may establish a Walter Scott Club, and go through the ever-fresh Waverley Novels. Again many of them will probably possess some musical taste and knowledge, and in such a case it will be possible to hold weekly meetings for the practice of choice selections from the works of Beethoven, Haydn, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Sterndale Bennett, Brahms, Gounod, and other eminent masters; or for improvement in Part-Singing; or for the study of Harmony. It may be that the neighbourhood boasts an Institute or a Choral Society, at the meetings of which our Girls will not fail to be present. In due time will come the work of preparation for Christmas tide; and then, of a truth, their nimble fingers will be busy, and the decoration of the home will engage and prompt their liveliest fancy; and mince-pies have to be made, and notes of invitation written to welcome guests, and Christmas and New Year Cards chosen and despatched, and carols learned and practised, tableaus invented and prepared, and, crowning triumph of all, a 'drawing-room play' decided upon, 'cast,' learned, rehearsed, 'got up,' and acted! A game at chess or at draughts; or backgammon or parlour billiards; or even a round game at cards, such as 'Speculation' or Matrimony,' is famous fun for a winter evening. I am inclined to say with the Shepherd,' in Professor Wilson's Noctes Ambrosiana-'As for young folk-lads and lasses, like -what's the harm in a ggem at cairds? It's a cheerfu', noisy sicht o' comfort and confusion. Sic luckin' into ane anither's hauns! Sic fause shufflin'! Sic unfair dealin'! Sic winkin' to tell your partner that ye hae the king or the ace! And when that wunna do, sic kickin' o' shins and treadin' on taes aneath the table-aften the wrang anes! Then doon wi' your haun' o' cairds in a clash on the boord, because you've ane ower few, and the coof maun lose his deal! Then what gigglin' amang the lasses, and what amicable, nay, love-quarrels, between pairtners! Jokin', and jeestin', and tauntin', and toozlin' the cawnel blawn out, and the soun' o' a thousand kisses! That's caird-playing in the kintra; and where's the man amang ye that wull daur to say that it's no a pleasant pastime o' a winter's nicht, when the snaw is cumin' doon the lum, or the speat's roarin' amang the mirk mountains.' Do you know Dumb Crambo? This is it: One-half of the company leave the room; the other half, in their absence, fix on a verb, which the outsiders are to guess and perform. As soon as the choice is made, the leader of the outsiders is called in, and to him the leader of the insiders says: 'The verb we have selected rhymes with "thing." The leader withdraws, and she and her companions set to work to guess what verb will rhyme with 'thing.' Bring, cling, fling, wing, ring, sing CHARADE-ACTING. 269 what is the word? They fix, let us say, on 'ring'; whereupon they enter, and in dumb show, make vigorous effort to ring the imaginary church-bells. Yes; 'ring' was the chosen verb, and their sagacity is rewarded by rounds of applause. If a wrong word be' acted,' the actors are hissed; but no speech is allowed on either side. The outsiders are not allowed to take the place of the insiders until they have guessed correctly. This is right pleasant pastime. So is 'The Post,' and the historical game of 'Judge and Jury,' and 'Shadows,' and 'Spillikins,' and 'Dominoes' or 'Cross Questions and Crooked Answers;' or 'Proverbs;' or 'Why, When, and Where;' or 'Russian Scandal; or the old, old romping games of 'Blind Man's Buff' and 'Hunt the Slipper.' Of all winter-evening amusements none is more satisfactory, I think, than Charade-Acting. Like Mercy, it has a double qualification: it contributes to the enjoyment of those who act, and of those who listen-of the audience as well as of the performers. There is a world of fun in the work of preparation : the word which is to form the 'motive' of the Charade has to be chosen; the method of working out to be devised; the various characters introduced have to be apportioned and their dialogues invented; dresses have to be concocted, and, perhaps, some kind of scenery must be arranged. The idiosyncrasies of the performers often furnish material, on these occasions, for grave study. During the rehearsals an unexpected light is frequently thrown upon their failings or good qualities; and we are startled at exhibitions of selfishness, pride, or envy, where we had expected to meet with the very opposite, or of generosity, humility, and goodwill, the existence of which we had never anticipated. Let me advise the Girls to cultivate a tender regard for each other's feelings; to be moderate in their wishes, courteous and gentle in their behaviour, and limited in their ambition. Let them be careful not to stand in each other's light. Let them yield to one another, and let them always be ready to acknowledge the capabilities and excellences of their companions. 270 SUBJECTS FOR CHARADES. An acted charade is, of course, a little drawing-room drama, divided into as many scenes as there are syllables in the word represented, with a final scene for the whole word. The scenes may or may not be connected by a continuous plot; when they are, the effect is greater and more pleasing, but, of course, the demand upon the ingenuity of the inventor is also greater. An acted charade may be impromptu, or carefully got up; the former requires a number of clever performers, quick of wit and ready of tongue-is the more amusing, perhaps, but not so interesting. I subjoin a few words suitable for presentation as Acted Charades: By way of variety, recourse may sometimes be had to the old dramatists, or to the modern playwrights, from Goldsmith to Sheridan, and Sheridan to H. J. Byron. A few of the best scenes of a play may be strung together so as to form a connected whole, which, being brief and condensed, will call for no changes of scenery or costume. Such comedies as 'She Stoops to Conquer,' 'The Road to Ruin,' The Poor Gentleman,' 'The Heir at Law,' and 'The Rivals,' lend themselves easily to such manipulations. Or an historical scene may be taken, and a dialogue or conversation-piece invented, in which suitable discourse is placed in the mouth of each leading character. Or, if there be any musical talent available, nothing can be better than the production of a little operetta or musical interlude. But whatever is done must be well done; after many and careful rehearsals; in a spirit of thorough conscientiousness and goodwill; and with an honest desire to neglect not a |