Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 59, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 December 1908 — FOR THE CHILDREN [ARTICLE]

FOR THE CHILDREN

A Mu.teal Crawd. If you have company make them for the time imagine themselves to be a band of musicians, though without the instruments. The leader of the band is supposed to furnish each of the performers with a different musical Instrument. Consequently a violin, a harp, a flute, an accordion, a piano, a jewsharp and. anything else that would add to the noise are all to be performed at the same time. Provided with an instrument of some description himself, the leader begins playing a tune on his imaginary violoncello, or whatever else it may be, imitating the real sound as well as he can both in action and voice. The others all do the same, the sight presented being, as may well be imagined, exceedingly ludicrous and the noise almost deafening. In the midst of it the leader quite unexpectedly stops playing and makes an entire change in his attitude and tone of voice, substituting for his own instrument one belonging to some one else. As soon as he does this the performer who has been thus unceremoniously deprived of his Instrument takes that of his leader and performs on it Instead. Thus the game is continued, every one being expected to carefully watch the leader’s actions and to be prepared at any time for making a sudden change. The one who falls to make the change promptly pays a forfeit.

The Huntsman. One player Is the huntsman. While all the others sit in a circle he gives each one a name, calling one his coat, others his hat, shot, gun, flask, dog, etc. The huntsman then walks round outside the circle and calls, for instance, for lifs gun. The player who represents the gun at once gets up, takes hold of the huntsman’s belt and walks round after him. The huntsman calls for other accouterments till all the players are going round, each having hold of the player in front of him. When all are running fast by order of the huntsman he suddenly shouts “Bang!” when all, including the huntsman, must let go and rush for seats. One player will necessarily be left out and must pay a forfeit for his failure or he may be counted out of the game and a chair removed, or if so arranged beforehand the one left out may become huntsman and the game go on as before.

The Ocean’s Volume. If we desired to measure the water in the Pacific ocean the figures that we should have to use are almost unreadable It has been said that with the falls of Niagara running at their present stupendous volume it would take the water of the Pacific more than a million years to pass over them. If it were possible to put the water of the Pacific into a-jiollow sphere it .would be necessary to provide one with a diameter of 720 miles. The Atlantic ocean, as all doubtless know, is much smaller than the Pacific, having about 73,000,000,000,000 gallons, so that the Atlantic might be contained in the Pacific three times. If it were put into a sphere the diameter of the sphere would have to be about 533 miles.— Chicago News. A Busy Little Chap. It has been ascertained that the mouse when he is free to range about sleeps only two hours in the twentyfour, or less than any other animal known. During the rest of the time he is on the hustle and probably covers five miles in bis runnings. The honeybee sleeps from dark to dawn, and that old saying “as busy as a bee” should be changed to “as busy as a mouse.” In four days and nights a mouse will either eat or convey away a pound of cheese. He has always got his appetite with him. Conundrums. Why is a dirty child like flannel? Because he shrinks from washing. What is the difference between a girl of seven and a woman of seventy? One is careless and happy. The other is hairless and cappy.* Why are pianos noble characters? Because they are grand, square and upright. When is a chicken’s neck like a bell? When it is wrung for dinner. Why is a crow a brave bird? Because It never shows the white feather.

Puzzles With Letters. What word containing three letters can be expressed by one? For instance: 1. A river? Answer—Dee (D). 2. An insect? 3. A bird? 4. A garden vegetable? 5. A Chinese beverage? 6. A tree? Answers—2. Bee (B); 3, jay (J); 4, pea (F); 5, tea (T); fl, yew (U). Ths Remainder. Six-year-old Ray’s teacher was endeavoring to give some very simple Instractions in fractions. She added, “If Jane has six eggs and uses half of them to bake a cake, what part will ahe have left?” Quickly came the answer. “The shells!” A Christmas Dilemma. I have two new dollies, and what shall X do? 1 am like the old woman who lived In a shoe. With my eight dear children, four on each knee. My lap to as full as ever It can be. And now these new ones, their hearts will break! Yet an inch more sitting room how can 1 make? (sympathize truly-lndeed, I do— With the famous old woman who lived in a shoe!