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Miscellany: Social Pastime--game Of Twenty Questions

Miscellany: Social Pastime--game Of Twenty Questions image
Parent Issue
Day
20
Month
June
Year
1846
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Whatevor serves to make honss i ful, fiad draw the social bond-? closer, and ronder domestio plensurc nnro atiractivo, can liardly bc toohighly prized. In this view we dovolc a passing parngrnph to nn account of a ploasaiM, iutcilectiKtl, social and fnsjruetivè entertainment, ; called "The Game of Twenty Ques tio-is." Whcn Rush was qti.r Minister rft the Couri of St. James, lo ic ihc first limo gol ,in mkling oí' íliis grtme. He tfinedj one day nt tlie li uce ofMV: Phintn, ono of thé C tbiiift ; ihéfp were pn-sent, Count Lieyeu, the Russian Ambnssador ; Mr. Secretary Canning, Mr. Eiilátuásohj Mr. Robinsoii, Chrmcellor of ihe Exchequer, Lord Grnnvilie, Lord Geórge Beutinc't, Lo Iloward i'e Walden, Mr. Charles Ellís, M. P. nnd others. We gain these items froni a published. but very narrowly circuíate.] nan'ative by the American Ambassador bimsölf. Tlie pnrly dined at . IVn o'clock came, and noone seemed disposed to rise lYoui the table. Cinning proposed that "Twenty Queslions" should bo playeJ. The game consiáts n one party fixing upon soino object, to be kept secret by tliein - and the othcr party finding out what it iá by asking tventy qnesiiona about t. The olycct is nol lo be too abstract or secret - such as tlie compiny would not probably be acquaintej with - and the qnostions are put, not direclly as to what the object is, b.it as to its qualities, allribules, circj'.nstances connccled with t. The follawing is an account of the game played by the personages whose names we liavegiven, f rom wliicl) our readers will gain a Letter dca lliun by any description. Mr. Canning and the Chancellor of the Kxchequér were lo interrógate : the American Minister apc Lord Gianville to üx upon the object and answers : First question, by Mr. Canning. Does wliat you thought of belong to the animal or vegetable kinglinu? - An.swer. To the vegetable. Q. Is it solid or liquid? A. Solid. IJow could it be liquid, said one of the company, slily, unless vegeta!)!e sonp} Q. Is t a tiling entire in itself, c-r in paris. Á. Ei.tire. Q. Is it for public use? A. Yes. Q. Does it exi&t in England or outofit? A. In England. Q. Is it single, or are there olliers of the same kind? A. Single. Q. Is it historica!, or only existent at present? A. - Bolh. Q. For ornament or use? A. Both. Q. Has it any connection wiih the person of the King? A. No. Q. Is it carried, or does it support itself? - A. The former. Q. Does it pass by succession Neiiher Lord Granvillc or the Minister being quite certain on this point,the queslion was not answered : bul the very doubt being supposed to tlirow some light on the case, it was agreed ihe question should be counted one. Q. - Was it used at the Coronation? A. - Yes. Q. Where, in the Hall or in tlie Abbey ? A. Probably in both,, eerlainly in the Hal! . Q. What is its shape ? This question was objected to, as too direct, and was withdrawn. Fiften ouestions wero now asked, and the interest had gnneon increasiag until each one of the company feit like looking ai a race, where the horaes are neck to neck. The remaining quetions were asked after a manner similar to those wc have given, until the wholo twenty were exhausted. Mr. Canning, at the conclusión, rolled his huge rieh eyes about; an i was under some doubt whether he had got the thing. - By the rule of the game, however, he was now lo teil, and, i f riglit. was the winner - if not, the loser. ''I think," said he, "t nusi be the xoand of ihe hord High Stavord." He was right! This wand is a long, white stick, not much thicker ihan your middle fiuger - and, as such, tallies wilh all the answers given. It may be as well to say that the questions and answers are not put in tlic rapid nianner above given, but have considerable intervals between some of thetn, enlivcTied by the remarles and suggestions oftho company, and of those asking the questions. "Twenly Questions" has manyadvantngf s as a social game. It can be played by men, women and children, of all and any classes. Two or three gathered togelher of an evening at any qtiiet place can take part in if. To such as suppose it very easy, or ralher chiidish, we recommond a trial - and bey will find it to tax their powers, and make a strong pull upon the intellect. Sometimes the object thoughlof may be an historical character. either or dead - or an event in the past or present ages of the world.