Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 February 1880 — THE GAME OF FOREEITS. [ARTICLE]

THE GAME OF FOREEITS.

Kissing the Candlestick. — When ordered to kiss the candlestick, you politely request the lady to hold the candle for you. As soon as she has it in hand, you kiss her under the supposition that she is the candlestick.

Go, if You Can.— Tell one of the company that you will so clasp his hands together that he will be unable to leave the room without unclasping them, undertaking that you will not confine his feet, nor bind his body, nor in any way interfere with his motion. This trick is performed by clasping the person’s hands around one of the legs of a piano, or large table, or other bulky article of furniture, too large for him to carry through the doorway. Tue Rueful Knight. —The player whose forfeit is cried is so called. He must take a lighted candle in his hand, and select some other player to be his squire, who takes hold of his arm, and they then go round to all the ladies in the company. It is the squire’s office to kiss the hand of each lady, and after each kiss to wjpe the knight’s mouth with a handkerchief. The knight mint carry the candle through the penance, and preserve a grave countenance.

The Magician’s Joke.— Take two balls, one in each hand, and stretch them asunder as far as you can; ask any one of the company present to lay a wager that you will not make both of the balls come into which hand they name, without bringing your hands together. Borne one will naturally say you cannot do it, and will take your ofl'er, when you have merely to place one ball on the table, turn yourself round, and take it up again with the other hand.

The Trip to Coomassie. —A gentie man, who holds a silk pocket handkerchief in his hand, passes round the company formed into a circle, extended to its greatest circumference, and led by the person paying the forfeit. The gentleman holding the handkerchief kisses all the ladies in turn, and, with an air of- great deference and politeness, wipes the lips of his guide, as though he had received the kisses, while, in fact, he remains an idle spectator of the scene, amid the merriment of the company.

The Maid-of-all-Wobk. —Go to service, apply to the party who holds the forfeit for a situation, say a general servant. The questions to be asked are innumerable, but should always be connected with some domestic occupation —“How do you wash?” “How do you iron ?” “How do you scrub the room V” “How do you clean the boots and shoes?” “How do you truss a fowl?” The process must be minutely and accurately performed as the questions are put, and, if the replies are satisfactory, the forfeit must be given up. The Beggar. —A penance to be inflicted on gentlemen ODly. The penitent takes a staff, and approaches a lady. T-Ja folio /-n Ulo l„,fArA nothumping Ins staff on the ground, implores “Charity.” The lady, touched by the poor man’s distress, asks him : “Do you want bread?” “Do you want water?” “Do you want a penny?” etc., etc. To all questions such as these the beggar replies by thumping his staff on the ground impatiently. At length the lady says, “Do you want a kiss?” At these words the beggar jumps up and kisses the lady. The Almond Feat.— Get three almonds or any other eatables, and, having placed them upon the table a short distance apart, put a hat over each. Tell the company that you will eat the three almonds, and, having done so, will bring them under whichever hat they please. Whenever you have swallowed each separately, request one of the spectators to point out the hat under which they shall be. When choice has been made of one of the hats, put it upon your head, and ask the company if vou have not fulfilled your promise. This trick generally causes much laughter.

The Shopkeeper. —The person whose forfei tis called must go rouna all the company, and acquaint them with the fact that he is about to set up in business, but, unfortunately, being without capital, it will be necessary, before he can do so, to be supplied with goods on loan by his friends, in order that he make a good show when he opens. He can, if so minded, expatiate in an inflated manner on the bright prospects before him, and tell what an honor it will be to help a friend in misfortune. Every one must lend something to the shopkeeper; the more absurd the article offered the greater will be the amusement created. When he has gathered aJI together he must take them and deposit them in a corner of the room, and thus end his penance.