384 INDOOR RECREATION 



metic. Crokinole, carroms, ping pong, and table tennis, 

 or games in which marbles are used, and above all, pool 

 and billiards, are interesting games of skill in which the 

 eye and the hand play important parts. Chess is an in- 

 teresting game, and one that requires so much skill that 

 many volumes have been written on how to play it, and 

 it has been called the royal game. Jig-saw puzzles are 

 fun to use when others wish to read and you have to play 

 alone. They are in addition easily made, for any boy 

 can afford a jig-saw, and a jig-saw puzzle can easily be 

 made by pasting a colored picture on a flat board and 

 then cutting the picture up into various patterns. 



Stamp collecting. Another interesting home amuse- 

 ment is that of stamp collecting. Not only is it good 

 fun to have a collection of stamps, but it also may teach 

 us a great deal about the geography, money, and even 

 the history of the different countries of the world. While 

 no one of us can expect to have a very large collection, yet 

 it is quite easy to begin one, and you will soon discover 

 that many grown-ups who have kept their boyhood col- 

 lections are always glad to start the young collector with 

 a present of a few stamps. Wholesale houses which 

 deal with other countries are sure to receive stamps, and 

 usually they can be had for the asking. One need not 

 spend much money in ,this pastime, for there are always 

 many other boys and girls who will collect with you, 

 and who will exchange duplicate stamps. A good way 

 to enjoy stamp collecting is to form a small club which 

 meets around in the homes of different boys and girls. 

 Invite some older person who is interested to come in to 

 your meetings and show you his collection. He will 

 probably be glad to do it, and will tell you many interest- 



