Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 March 1892 — LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS. [ARTICLE]

LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS.

THIS IS THEIR DEPARTMENT OP THE PAPER. t Qnalnt Sayings and Doings of Little Ones Gathered and Printed Here for Other Little Folks to Bead.

Telling “Head or Tall” Blindfold. One can always entertain his company if he be familiar with a few simple tricks. People, old or young, like to be gulled. Here are half a dozen, tricks with coins on which the young magician may practice so as to astonish his friends next time they drop in to spend the evening. To tell blindfold whether a spun coin falls head or tail upward is simple enough, yet to the spectators not a little puzzling. The coin must be prepared byxutting on the edge of one face a minute notch, causing a. little point of metal tc project. When the coin is spun, if it goes down with the notched side underneath this point will catch on the table, causing the coin to fall suddenly instead of gradually, as it otherwise would. With a little practice the two sounds may be easily distinguished. Another trick is the wandering coin. Have ready two silver pieces, each slightly waxed on one side. Borrow a similar coin and secretly exchange it for one of the waxed ones, which is then laid on the table waxed side uppermost. Draw two cards from a pack and take them in the same hand with the other waxed coin, which will thus stick to the undermost. Lay this card on the table near the coin th;it is already there and cover that piece with the other card, pressing lightly on it so it will stick. A coin may now be made to appear under, whichever card the performer wills, for if he bend the card slightly upward in lifting the coin will not stick to it; otherwise it will. To the company it will appear as if there were but one coin, which the performer caused at will to pass from one card to the other. A third trick is that of the animated coin. Have ready a long piece of black thread, to one end of which is fastened a bit of wax. The waxed end lies on the table in front of the performer; the other is held by an assistant in an adjoining room. On the table stands an ordinary goblet. The young magician borrows a coin, and, contriving to stick the waxed thread to it, throws it into the goblet, calling on the spectators to ask it questions, which it will answer by , ingling in the glass. It may be agreed that one chink shall mean “yes” and two chinks “no.” The assistant must be near enough to hear the questions, and answers them according to his fancy, by pulling the thread and making the coin jump up and down in the glass.

A Good One on Papa. There is a stofy told of veteran night editor who, for some reason, had a couple of days off. For years he had reached his o’clock in the morning, slept until late aip the afternoon and been obliged to rush off to his work. His children naturally saw but little of him. On this occasion he found it necessary to correct his youngest daughter for some flagrant breach of discipline. The child rushed to her mother, flushed with indignation: “Mamma,” she exclaimed, “that man wiv whiskers that sleeps here day-times ’panked me.”—Exchange. Funny Youngsters. “Mamma, I do not like my new phonograph doll at all!” “Why not, dear?” “Oh, it speaks with such ‘an offensive New Yorjc accent.”—Life. SUNDAY-SCHOOL TEACHER (sadly)—“l’m afraid, Johnny, that I will never meet you in heaven.” Johnny —“Why? What have you been doing now?”—Harper’s Bazar. “Charley, I wonder what would be a nice present to give to papa for Christmas?” asked Clara. “Give him a pair of padded slippers,” suggested Charley, gloomily.—Texas Siftings. Uncle Tom—“ Well, Bobby, what do you expect to get in your stocking on Christmas?” Bobby (disconsolately)—“Not much; mom put me into socks last October. ” —Puck. Uncle —“What is your favorite dish, Karlchen?” Karlchen—“Suet dumplings; for they always make me so ill that I can’t go to school the day after.”—Anekdoten Bibliothek. “What are you going to do with your new skates, Johnny?” asked the caller. “I haven’t made up my mind yet,” was the reply, “but I think I’ll get sister to tie ribbons on ’em and fix ’em up with gold paint to hang in the parlor.”—Washington Star. Mother (reprovingly to little giri just ready to go for a walk)— “Dolly, that hole w.as not in your glove this morning." Dolly (promptly)— “Where was it, then?” London Truth. Little Dot—“My kitty is real mean. I gave her some of my. medicine and she wouldn’t touch it” Mamma—“Why did you wißh her to take it?” Little Dot—“l wanted to see how a cat looked when she made a face.”—Good News.