N.B.-The artist has slightly exceeded his duty in drawing this giantess. He was told to represent her as being about eight feet in height, but he has made her at least eighteen feet! However, if a respectable giantess of say about eight or nine feet will satisfy the reader, full information for making the same may be found at p. 271.

THE

MERRY CIRCLE

A BOOK OF

NEW, GRACEFUL, AND INTELLECTUAL
GAMES AND AMUSEMENTS.

DRESSING FOR PRIVATE THEATRICALS.

Terrible Brigand.-" Do I look very daring, Charles?"

Charles.-"Daring, indeed; your moustachios make you look positively fero-
cious; in fact, I am afraid of you already."

EDITED BY

WITH TWO HUNDRED ILLUSTRATIONS.

LONDON:

JOHN CAMDEN HOTTEN, 74 & 75, PICCADILLY.

[All rights reserved.]

268. b. 87.

PREFACE.

THE "Merry Circle" is an attempt to supply an acknowledged social need by presenting, in narrative form, a number of pastimes and intellectual games which persons of culture may enjoy, and which also may serve to bring young people and their seniors together in a common pursuit of pleasure and profit.

Several of the games are entirely new; others, though already known, are too good in their way to be omitted. Some are pleasing alike to the simple and the profound; and some call especially for cultivation and wit: the higher the standard of the players, the more interesting the diversions may become.

The members of the "Merry Circle" are not set up as models of wisdom and brilliancy. They are plain, every-day men and women, with humanity's sunlight and shade about them, one and all willing to enjoy themselves in a simple, rational way.