The army game is a decided favorite with all who like solitaire games;
we have never _seen_ any printed directions, yet there may be in some
book we have not had access to. We prefer it to any other game of
solitaire, and we hope these directions will be sufficiently plain to
interest our readers to try it.
Shuffle the cards thoroughly. Then deal off the first card, whatever
it may be, and place it on the upper corner of the left hand side of
an imaginary square. This is called the foundation card, on which to
form a family. For instance, if it were the six of diamonds, the next
card to place upon it would be the seven of diamonds, as the family
must be formed in regular succession, according to suit. Whenever
you come across, in playing the cards, the six of spades, hearts, or
clubs, these are the foundation cards (as the first card dealt gives
the requisite value of the other three foundation cards, or as some
call them, the four towers of the fortress), and can be placed in the
other three corners, to form a square. On these build your towers, as
we directed in diamonds. If you succeed in forming the four towers or
families in suit, and in succession, you have conquered.
When you deal a card that cannot be placed on the corner families in
succession, place it on the sides of the square, between the foundation
cards, as three of clubs, and nine of spades, eight of diamonds, king
of hearts, and one can be placed in the centre of the square, as the
ace of diamonds; these five cards are called the reserve forces, and
on these you can place any card in downward succession (suits need not
be followed), which cannot be used on the towers. For instance, if you
deal off the deuce of hearts, or any other deuce, place it on to the
three of clubs; or any eight, place it on to the nine of spades; or
king, place it on to the ace, so on; but with every card turned, first
look at your foundation cards, or towers; never lose an opportunity to
build up these. All cards that cannot be played on to the four towers
or the five reserve cards, may be placed on one side as stock.
Whenever any one of the five reserve corps cards are vacant from being
used to build up the towers, or a vacancy made by being able to place
reserve cards on the other reserve corps, replace from the stock, and
by taking a card from the stock, a desirable card to use on the towers
may be freed.
The great skill of this game consists in the judicious arrangement of
the reserve corps; if you have two top cards on different piles, of
the same value, you should carefully consider on which pile it is best
to place the card dealt of proper value, for future use.
If you can complete your towers in the first play, without shuffling
your stock, you have gained a great victory; the stock can only be
shuffled and played over once. If the towers cannot then be built, the
game can be commenced anew. Sometimes the cards deal out so perversely
that even skilful play and patience cannot build the towers.
=THE TOILET.=
There are many boys and girls who pride themselves on their utter
disregard of their personal appearance, most fully comprehending the
old phrase “that beauty unadorned is adorned the most,” or perhaps
think it a mark of genius to appear so occupied with study as to
neglect their person. Such boys and girls are repulsive to both God and
man. One of the first laws Nature teaches us, is perfect cleanliness.
Look at the birds and squirrels; indeed, all wild animals are taught
by instinct to take a daily bath, if possible. Tame animals are less
cleanly than wild ones in their habits, as far as our observation goes.
They look to man to cleanse them. But God teaches the untamed beast and
bird laws of cleanliness. Look at the woods! God sends the rain to wash
them, and the winds to sweep them, and the sun to brighten them. The
Creator of all gives to every boy and girl the mind to know how to take
good care of their own persons, and if they neglect the laws of health,
just so sure will come bodily suffering. Besides, it is a Christian
duty, as well as a social duty, of every boy and girl, to make the most
of all their personal attractions, and to preserve every agreeable
quality they may have been endowed with, to the latest period of their
lives. _It is not vanity_. It is a duty we all owe to ourselves, and
we owe it to others. Habits rightly formed in youth will often prolong
life, and add tenfold to any personal attraction.
We trust all boys and girls who read this book, will not pass over this
chapter on the toilet. We will try and give them some useful hints and
recipes.
In the first place, every boy and girl, no matter how young, should
strive to make their sleeping and dressing apartment attractive.
_Perfect neatness_ is an _essential_ quality in every room. Never leave
any article of clothing on a chair, table, or floor, which can be
either neatly folded and placed in a drawer, trunk, or closet shelf, or
hung on some nail placed for that purpose. Never leave a draw partly
open. We once knew a young girl who was always leaving her drawers
open, and articles of dress hanging from them. One Christmas, before
a room full of friends, she received from the Christmas tree a little
bureau, with every drawer partly open, and things hanging out of each
drawer. Of course it was soon known to all _why_ she received such a
gift. That lesson she _never_ forgot. We must confess it also cured us
of the careless habit of leaving drawers partly open. We hope our young
friends will take this lesson to heart, and profit by it.
When you rise in the morning, always (even if you can afford plenty of
servants), throw the clothes of your bed carefully over the foot-board,
or some chair, to give your bed a sufficient chance to be well aired--a
most necessary requisite for health. Before leaving your room, even
in midwinter, open your window. Never allow your bed to be made till
thoroughly aired. Though you are not blessed with even a competency,
you can make a plain room attractive. A few pictures on the walls, and
by covering a plain pine toilet table with pretty, cheap chintz, and
exercising a little ingenuity in making pretty articles of furniture
out of old boxes. But always be a foe to all dust; keep a dusting cloth
at hand. After washing, if you cannot have a chambermaid, arrange your
washing apparatus neatly, and carefully spread your towels to dry, if
clean. There are so few, comparatively, in America, who can afford the
constant attendance of servants, we desire all boys and girls to learn
how to care for themselves.