Under this odd title a new and excellent game is described which is very
popular in Germany, and will be equally so in America when it becomes
known.
When first read it may not seem to amount to much, but it needs only to
be tried to become a favorite with old and young.
Any number can play, as no skill nor practice is required, and it is
adapted as well to the parlor as to the picnic. The writer has joined in
it on two successive days, once in a pleasant drawing-room, with a large
round table in the centre, by the cheery light of a flashing wood fire,
and again under the radiant maples by the side of a beautiful lake. On
the latter occasion a large shawl was spread on the ground, and a merry
group of bright-eyed children, with their parents and older friends, sat
around on the grass.
One of the mammas poured out from a paper package of assorted candy and
small toys about as many pieces as the number of players, making the
tempting heap, as nearly as possible, in the middle of the shawl within
easy reach of all. After one of the children had been blindfolded, one
of the ladies touched an article in the pile in the shawl, in order to
point it out plainly to all excepting the one whose eyes were closed.
The player then opened her eyes, and was allowed to select one at a
time, and keep for her own all she could obtain without taking the
"tip," or the piece that had been touched.
Often a great many pieces can be taken, and in some cases the "tip" is
the last one to be pitched upon; but sometimes an unlucky player selects
the "tip" first, in which case she gains nothing, for the moment she
takes the "tip" she must give it up, and the turn passes to the next
player on her right.
Of course all the children scream when the tip is touched, and the
unlucky ones are laughed at a little, but are soon comforted by presents
of candy from the stores of the more fortunate.
All who do not believe in the interest of the game are cordially advised
to secure a group of children and a paper of candy, or of little
presents nicely wrapped in papers, and to try it for themselves.