historical subject may be chosen, and so on. Questions. In playing the game the questions should be asked according to some system, and the same system should be followed throughout. If one idea is followed out for two or three questions, and then abandoned and another taken up, twenty questions may easily be asked without getting much information. The more general questions should be asked at the beginning, the object being to divide the field of conjecture. This may be made evident by a diagram (shown on the previous page) supposed to contain all the things in the world. These are divided by the vertical black line into Real and Imaginary, and these again by the horizontal dotted line into Thoughts and Things. The space within the inner circle is supposed to be the Past, that between the two circles the Present, and that outside the Future. So if the question be asked, "Is it real or imaginary?" and the answer be "Real," everything in the right or imaginary side is left out of consideration. If the questioner next finds out that it exists now, he may confine himself to the space inside the inner circle, and so on. The diagram can be made much more elaborate, or divided according to a different plan. The one given will serve as an illustration, and the reader can amuse himself by trying to construct others. One system of questioning that may be followed with a real object is to locate it exactly, which may often be done by a few skillful questions. The object, though real, may be one of a class, as "a shoe," in which case it cannot be located, but the nearest or most prominent one of the class may be inquired about. Or, instead of locating the object, its form, size and color may be found out exactly, or its use may be investigated; but whatever line of questions is begun should be continued. In some cases, however, a skillful player will see, after one or two questions, that the kind of queries he is making will be of no use, and he then often prefers to change his tactics, even at a loss. For instance, if the first few questions as to form, color, and size show that the object is one whose appearance is totally unfamiliar, so that a full description would not help the questioner, that kind of questions should be abandoned. If the object is real but not now existing, it is a good plan to find out whether it is of historical interest. If the first question shows that the subject is imaginary, it should at once be asked whether it is mentioned in a book; and if so, where. Most imaginary subjects can be reached thus. Ifthe object is immaterial, it may be ascertained first whether it is an event, a thought, a quality, a sound, etc. Such subjects are generally hard to guess, but experience will suggest various lines of questioning that may be followed. As material objects are easiest to guess, a quality of character, or a thought is often best connected with some person. The question may be asked, "Name some person who possessed this quality of character in a high degree.' On what occasion did he show it?" etc. Often while the questioner is following out his plan, an answer will give him a hint of some “ short-cut" to the desired end. In general, the questioner should not be afraid to ask questions in the beginning, but should never ask particular questions before general ones. Usually he can cut off a large part of the field of possibility left him, at each stroke, and this should be his general object. He should never alter his plan of attack except for some special reason. particular question be asked first, If a it is often wasted. For instance, suppose the subject be" The sound of Patrick Henry's voice in the Virginia House of Burgesses," the question, "What is its shape?' would be useless, and would not have been asked had the questioner first found out that the subject was immaterial. Beginners often waste many questions in this and similar ways. When the questioners are allowed more than one guess, one or two may be made in the midst of the game to test a theory; but when only one is allowed it should not be made until the guessers are sure they are right, unless all their questions have been asked. When the questioners think they know the subject, they had better test their knowledge by a particular question rather than by a guess; but this should never be done unless there is very good reason, for if the suspicion is unfounded, a question has been wasted. Answers. The answering side should be careful to tell everything the question calls for, but no more. For instance, if the subject be "The blue Union of the American Flag," and the question is asked, What is its color?" The answer "Blue" would not be correct. Blue and white" would be the proper answer. "Blue with white spots" would tell also the arrangement of the colors, which is more than the question called for. The following classified examples of subjects may be valuable to the beginner in showing him how they can be varied, and also in indicating the best order of questioning MATERIAL REAL SUBJECTS. General. A book; a man; a ring. Particular. The blue book on the table; Mr. S.; Mrs. B.'s ring, Complex.-The third book from the left on the upper shelf of alcove 202 in the Blank library, etc. Historical-Martin Luther's Bible; Charles II.; the ring with which Prince Albert wedded Queen MATERIAL IMAGINARY SUBJECTS. dreamed about the other night. Mythological.-The Sibyl's book; the Cyclops; the ring of the Nibelungs. Fictitious. Arthur Pendennis; IMMATERIAL REAL SUBJECTS. General.-Courage; a sound; a thought; an event. Particular.-Mr. B.'s courage; the ticking of the clock; Mr. B.'s thought about this subject; the party yesterday. Complex.-The first note Madame X. sang to day, in her first solo at the opera. Historical.-Gen. Custer's courage at the Big Horn; the cheers that greeted Sheridan on his ride from Winchester; the thoughts of Napoleon after Waterloo; the signing of the Declaration of Independence. IMMATERIAL IMAGINARY SUB 6. What are its component parts?-Vegetable matter. 7. What is its shape ?-An elongated oval. 8. What is its size? About three-eighths of an inch in length, by about one-sixteenth of an inch in breadth and thickness. 9. What is its color?--Yellowish. 10. What is its use?-A means of preserving life. Game II. 1. Does it belong to the animal, or the vegetable kingdom?—To the vegetable. 2. Is it manufactured or unmanufactured ?-Manufactured. 3. Is it a solid, or liquid?—A solid. 4. Is it a thing entire in itself, or in parts?-In parts. 5. Is it for private use, or public? -Public. 6. Does it exist in England, or out of it?-In England. 7. Is it single, or are there others of the same kind?-Single. 8. Is it historical, or only existent at present?-Both. 9. For ornament, or use ?-Both. 10. Has it any connection with the person of the king?-No. II. Is it carried, or does it support itself? The former. 12. Does it pass by succession?— [Not answered, on account of uncertainty; but, by agreement, the question was counted one in the game.] 13. Was it used at the coronation?—Yes. 14. In the Hall, or Abbey?— Probably in both; certainly in the Abbey. 15. Does it belong specially to 1. In what way? Various the coronation, or is it used at other ways. times? It is used at other times. 12. On the especial occasion you have in mind, in what way? By being thrown away. 13. Whose life was it the means of preserving?-The lives of St. Paul and his companions. 14. Who threw it away?-St. Paul and his companions. 15. Where were they when they threw it away?-On the Mediter ranean. 16. From what did it preserve their lives?-From death. 17. Death in what form?-Death by drowning. Correctly guessed. "A grain of wheat of the cargo of the ship which carried St. Paul to Malta." 16. Is it exclusively of a vegetable nature, or is it not in some parts a compound of a vegetable and mineral?-Exclusively of a vegetable nature. 17. What is its shape? [Objected to as too particular, though it would now be considered perfectly proper. It was withdrawn, and not counted.] 17. Is it decorated, or simple? [Objected to, but the objection not sustained.]-Simple. 18. Is it used at the ordinary ceremonial of the House of Commons or House of Lords?-No. 19. Is it ever used by either House?-No. 20. Is it generally stationary, or movable?-Movable. Guessed correctly by Mr. Canning. "The wand of the Lord High Steward." (The Lord High Steward of England was in ancient times the first officer of state in the English court, but now, as at the time of this game, there is no regular holder of the office. A temporary Lord High Steward is appointed to take part in coronations and the trials of peers. He has a wooden wand of office, which he breaks when his duties are over.) Variations. Several variations are sometimes made in the game. One player may select a subject and allow the others to question him, either through a captain or in rotation. When two parties play one against the other, the captains may be dispensed with, and the questions and answers given by the players in order. Learners may begin with a large number of questions, and gradually diminish it as they become more expert. Skilled players think that it is possible, if the questions are asked properly, to guess any subject in twenty questions, and that most subjects can be found out in from fifteen to eighteen. The Three Kingdoms, or Animal, Vegetable, and Mineral. A kind of Twenty Questions in which the first question is "To which of the three kingdoms does it belong?" or "Is it Animal, Vegetable, or Mineral?" It was formerly considered that everything in nature belongs to the Animal kingdom, the Vegetable kingdom, or the Mineral kingdom; but there are many things hard to classify thus, and as subjects are now taken that are not material-such as thoughts, words, or ideas—it is rarely asked. In the old game of Animal, Vegetable, and Mineral the number of questions was often unlimited, while the answers were required to be merely "Yes" and "No," as in CLUMPS. RULES OF THE GAME. 1. The umpire is elected by majority vote before the game. There is no appeal from his decisions. 2. The captains, if any, shall be chosen by vote of each side. The game may be played for points, in which case each side questions during a given number of games, and answers during the same number, the players on the sides remaining the same. The number of questions asked in each game is scored to the askers, whether the subject be guessed or not, and the side having the less number of points wins. In this way of scoring, to guess the subject in twenty questions counts no more than to fail altogether. This may be remedied by agreeing that a failure to guess shall count more than twenty against the askers. It may be agreed that the answerers 5. The subject must have, or shall be limited in their choice of a must have had, an actual existence subject, the others undertaking to either in fact, fiction, or imaginaguess it in less than twenty question. It may be material or immations. Thus the subject may be an event in American History, and ten questions may be allowed. When the game is played by young children, more than twenty questions may be allowed, or the number may not be limited at all. 3. The parties shall determine by lot which shall question first, and afterwards they shall do so alternately. 4. The umpire shall take down in writing the subject and each question and answer. terial. [This rule bars subjects like "The sound of a hammer that was not heard at the building of Solomon's temple," which we are told was once actually chosen.] 6. Any question may be asked whose answer is not part of the subject. For instance, if the subject be" A button on Mr. Smith's coat," and the guessing party have found that it is a button on some one's coat, it is not allowable to ask "On whose coat is it?" The question | "With what person is it most nearly connected? is often objected to for a like reason. The legality of this question and others in doubt must be decided by the umpire. 7. It is not allowable to ask two or more questions at once; thus, "What is its shape and size?" must count as two questions. 8. If there are captains, they must in all cases give the questions and answers, and no attention need be paid to a question put by any other player. 9. If there are no captains, the questions are put and answered by the players in regular order, and no question asked out of that order need be heeded. the answering side may endorse it if they please, and then it is treated as their regular answer. 13. When the players ask and answer in order, any one may decline to take his turn, and must then wait until the next round. 14. After each question or answer is written down by the umpire he shall call "Time," and the following answer or question must then be given within the timelimit previously agreed upon. 15. If any side fail to give its question or answer within the time-limit, the opposing side gain a question; that is, an extra question is allowed if they are the questioners, and one less if they are the answerers. A question is thus gained for every expiration of the time-limit; thus, if the time-limit be five minutes, and the answering party take sixteen minutes to consult over an answer, the askers are allowed twenty-three questions. 10. If it is impossible to answer a History. Twenty Questions is question exactly, as correct an an- said by some persons to have been swer as possible must be given, and invented by George Canning, the at the same time its defects must be English statesman, who was born pointed out. Thus, if "Napoleon's in 1770, and it is sometimes called in little finger-nail" be the subject, England the Canning Game; but and the question be "What was its it probably existed in some form size?" although of course the ex-long before his time. Not only act answer cannot be given, the Canning but other eminent men, answer should be "Probably about including William Pitt, were fond one-third of an inch in diameter; of the game. Pitt once guessed we do not know exactly." [The the subject" The stone on which simple answer, We do not know," Walworth, Lord Mayor of London, though literally true, is not allow-stood, when he struck Wat Tyler able in such a case, but sometimes down, in Richard II.'s time." no other can be given; in which case the umpire should permit it.] 11. A vague question may be answered vaguely. Thus, "Where is it situated?' "In the United States." The question in this case should be, "In what city or town is it ?" 12. An answer made by a player not a captain, or out of regular order is not counted as an answer, but the questioners may use whatever information they gain from it. But About 1880 the game became very popular in the eastern United States, but it had been played in this country many years before that time. TWIRL THE PLATTER. A game played by any number of persons with a tin or earthenware plate. The players stand in a circle, and one of them, who may be chosen in any way, begins the game by twirling the plate on the floor in the middle of the circle, calling out at |