Throwing Smiles

This game is from 'Games for Children' by Cecily M Rutley, about 1932

'This is one of the merriest of all the laughing games.

'You must sit or stand in a ring. And you must all have quite solemn and grave faces. Then one player begins to smile. After a moment he puts up his hand to his face and "takes off" his smile. When he has "taken it off" he at once becomes grave again. Then he "throws" the smile across to another player.

'As that player "catches" the smile he begins to smile, and he keeps on smiling until he puts up his hand to his face, and "takes off" the smile. He then becomes grave again, and "throws" the smile to another player.

'And so the game goes merrily on for as long as there are any players left in the ring to play it. For the rule of this game is that only the player to whom the smile has been thrown, and who is "holding" it on his face, may smile. If any other player smiles, he - or she - has to leave the ring. It is the funniest thing to watch the comical grimaces the players make as they smile and stop smiling, and you will find it most difficult not to smile when it is not your turn.

'This is an excellent game to start with at a party. It makes everybody become friendly and "at home" at once.'