Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 June 1906 — FOR THE CHILDREN [ARTICLE]

FOR THE CHILDREN

Witch la the Jar. One of the boys and girls acts as witch or wizard. Each of the other players chooses a tree or anything else for a “home.” The witch then traces out ou the ground with a stick as many circles as there are players and calls these circles “jars." The players all run out from their “homes,” and the witch runs after them. Every one that she catches she puts In one of her Jars. The captives must remain In their Jars unless they are released by a touch from some uncaptured player. If released he cannot be recaptured until after be has reached his “home” and started out from It once again. But his rescuer runs great risk of being captured, as the witch naturally keeps close guard over the prisoners and stands ready to pounce down upon any would be rescuer. When every player has been caught a new witch or wizard is chosen and the game goes merrily on again. Mr Mauler Benda Me to You. Sitting in order round the ro#m, the first player begins by saying to bis neighbor, "My master sends me ta you,” at the same time working away with tbe right hand as if hammering on his knee. The one to whom this remark is made answers, “What to clo?” In reply to which the first player says, “To work with one as I do.” The second player, then working in the same way. must turn to his neighbor on the left and carry on tbe same conversation with him, and so on until every one in the room is working with one hand. The next time of going round the order is given to work with two hands, after that with one foot also, then with two feet, and last of all with the head. Should any one be discovered not to be keeping both feet, hands and head in constant motion while the game is going on a forfeit may be demanded. Breathing Fire. Did you ever see a juggler blow a stream of sparks from his mouth? Of course you wondered how he could possibly keep fire In his mouth without getting burned, for he must have fire there In order to blow out the sparks. It is a ueat trick. He rolls some flax or hemp into a ball about the size of a walnut and then sets fire to it and lets it burn until It is nearly consumed. Then, while it is still burning, he rolls more (lax or hemp around it and thus confines the fire, in which condition It will live for a long time. When he Is ready to perform the trick he slips the ball into his mouth and by breathing through it makes sparks fly out, with an effect that is quite startling to those who do not know how It is done. Of course while he Is performing the trick he has to breathe in air through his nostrils only. Did you ever hear of the custom among the colored people of the south of carrying a rabbit’s foot In the pocket for good luck ? That little animal Is regarded by them with superstitiems admiration, and they tell many stories of its cleverness in outwitting its natural enemies, the dog, the fox and the wolf, and In circumventing every Bcheme Intended for its punishment. This belief In the sagacity of tbe living rabbit gave rise to a belief that a dead rabbit has certain magic powers, and one of the evidences of the superstition is the custom of carrying the foot, not only for good luck, but as a charm against disease. It is tbe left hind foot that is preferred, and if it be taken from a rabbit that was in the habit of running through a graveyard its efficacy Is largely increased. Strength of Plant*. Strength is not a thing usually connected with maidenhair fern, yet if its roots have not sufficient room they will break the pot In which the plant grows. Blades of grass will force the curbstones between which they may spring up out of their plara, aud in a single night a crop of small mushrooms have lifted a large stone. Indeed, plants have been known to break the hardest rocks. The island of Aldabra, to the northwest of Madagascar, Is becoming smaller and smaller through tbe action of the mangroves that grow along the foot of the cliffs. They eat their way Into the rock in all directions, and into the gaps thus formed the waves force their way. In time they will probably reduce the island to pieces.

Hidden Names. In each of the following sentences a girl's name is concealed: 1. She gave an Impatient jerk at her Inelegant old bonnet. 2. In France sewing is regarded as a fine art. 8. On Christmas eve Lynmouth was reached. 4. I went to my berth at 10 o’clock and was soon asleep. 5. The doctor gave me powders, also phials of I know not what. 6w I .dare not go alone. Answers: 1, Katherine; 2, Frances; 8, Evelyn; 4, Bertha; 5, Sophia; 6, Ida. What Am IT That I’m the center of gravity I’m sure you'll avow, Invaluable, being first In every victory, all will allow; A capital position In Vienna I hold; Always In voice, though ever oi* of tune, behold! Invisible, though In the midst of a river seen. Oh, happily there are three In love with me, I ween. Although I’ve three associates In vice, sad to say. It Is vainly you seek me, for let me tall you, pray, That since I’ve been In heaven a long time has gone by, And embalmed In the grave even now I do lie. (Answer—The letter V.)