Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 May 1904 — FOR THE CHILDREN [ARTICLE]

FOR THE CHILDREN

Japanese Game*. The passion for toys and games of all kinds is remarkably developed among Japanese children, and they are encouraged to play games in much the same way that children of other countries are urged to learn. One of the most curious features about Japanese child life to that each season of the year has its own particular guinea. In fact the games are distributed, as it were, and apportioned to different months—battledoor and shuttlecock being played at certain seasons of tbe year, ball at another and so on. -Vs for the dolls, they have a special fete day devoted to them, and in Japan dails are os much a boy’s plaything as a girts. The dolto of the Japanese boys are generally dressed to represent historical heroes; others are attired as the emperor and empress, or os heroic.or legendary figures. Japanese children, too, on the “feast of dolls,” give their dolls presents nod put them on shelves or seats in the best room In the house. They also play at funny little cards, bat these, instead at being like English cards, each bear quotations representing tbe gems of Japanese poetical literature. The game consists of drawing a card with one half of the quotation and finding the other which bears its context There to also the “game of scents.” This oonstots in burning various perfumes and guessing the scent in question by the smell of the smoke it created—sometimes a very diffkml* matter, it to said.

Tbe Maxima School.

One player must be blindfolded to take the part of teacher. The rest of the party compose the class and sit in a tine facing her. She then informs her class that they will begin the lesson by singing tbe scales. The head girl, or the one at tike end of the line, immediately sings “Ah," and the next “Ah,” a little higher or lower, just as she chooses, and so it goes all the way down the line, each singing a note in any way that she may wish. The teacher must listen attentively, and any time she thinks she recognizes a voice she stops the class and calls the singer by name. If she guesses correctly She changes places with the pupil, who in turn becomes teacher; but if not she must keep ,on guessing. Every time a new teacher is selected tbe whole class most change seats, so that the voices may not be recognized by tbe direction from which they come. A little variety may be introduced into the game by singing a well known song instead of scales, each pupil singing the word which comes to her to supply. It is the privilege of each teacher to direct her class to sing whatever she may choose, either song or exercise.

Am Eleyhut HotorUi.

Elephants are among the cleverest performing animate and after a little training can be made to understand commands given in three different languages. That seems wonderful, doesn’t it? They are very musical In their tastes, to Judge by their trumpeting at all events, and yet an elephant has been known to act as the leader of a band, marking time perfectly with his baton, while another elephant placed the big drum. One of these big animals now being shown in London drives a motor car, wearing a regular motorist's cap and pair of goggle*. He maneges the steering gear with his trank and the brake with bis right foot, and be doesn’t seem to have a btt of trouble with the big machine, which is, of oourse, specially constructed so that he has a seat in the hack. In fact, he uses more discretion to running his than do some human beings.

A Startling Test.

To save a life, Dr. T. G. Merritt, of No Mehoopany, Pa., made a startling teat resulting in a wonderful cure. He writes: “a patient was attacked with violent hemorrhages, caused by ulceration of the stomach. I had ■often found Electric Bitters excellent for acute stomach and liver troubles so I prescribed them. The patient gained from the first, and has not had an attack in 14 months.” Electric Bitters are positively guaranteed for Dyspepsia, Indigestion, Constipation and Kidney troubles. Try them. Only 60c at A. F. Long’s.