A preacher Talmage

Each player in turn reads his list aloud, strikes off those words that
others also have, and puts a mark against the rest. The specimen list
here given is too simple to be called a good one. Players should
reject the first thing that comes into their thoughts, in favor of
something less natural.

Buried Names

The first thing for the players to do is to decide what kind of name
they will bury. The best way is to call out something in turn. Thus,
if there are four players they may decide to bury the name of an
author, a girl, a town, and a river. Each player writes these down and
a fixed time is given for burial, which consists in writing a sentence
that shall contain the name somewhere spelled rightly but spread over
two words, or three if possible. At the end of the time the sentences
are read aloud in turn, while the others guess. Of course, the whole
game may be given up to burying only one kind of name, but variety is
perhaps better. Examples are given:--

An author: I like to keep the y_ew in g_ood order.
A girl: The boy was cru_el, laz_y and obstinate.
A town: Clothes that are _new have n_o need of brushing.
A river: To see spoil_t ham es_pecially annoys me.

It is permissible to bury the name in the middle of one longer word,
but it is better to spread it over two or three. Perhaps the best
example of a buried English town is this: "The Queen of She_ba sings
to ke_ep her spirits up." This is good, because the sentence is
natural, because of the unusual number of words that are made use of
in the burial, and because in reading it aloud the sound of the buried
town is not suggested.

Letters and Telegrams

In this game you begin with the Letter. The first thing to write is
the address and "My dear ----," choosing whomever you like, but
usually, as in "Consequences," either a public person or some one
known, if possible, to every one present. The paper is then folded
over and passed on. The next thing to write is the letter itself,
which should be limited to two minutes or some short period, and
should be the kind of letter that requires a reply. The paper is
folded and passed on again, and the subscription, "Believe me yours
sincerely," or whatever adverb you choose, and the signature are then
added. (These may be divided into two separate writings if you like.)
The signature should be that of another public person, or friend,
relation or acquaintance of