To those who are fond of charades, and indeed to all those good people who love to be merry, we commend what the French call charades en action, or pantomime charades. These charades, as the name indicates, are acted, not spoken. The great rule to be observed is silence, nothing more than an exclamation being allowed. In extreme cases, where it is utterly impossible to convey the idea by actions, a placard may be introduced bearing some helpful inscription, as in the case of Mr. Cuffy (in the charade on carpet which we shall presently give), who draws from his bosom a monster letter from Mr. Swab, which he displays to the audience. In addition to the information it conveys, the production of this preposterously large note is calculated to create a laugh.
The chief merit in a charade actor is inventive ingenuity in so, adapting the domestic adjuncts of an ordinary household as to supply the place of necessary theatrical properties and wardrobe. We have seen a very respectable Richard Coeur de Lion made up of the tinware of an ordinary cooking-range; and Queen Elizabeth, frill, hair and all, out of a few copies of the Daily Tribune. We have known a steam fire-engine to be manufactured out of a baby's crib and a tea-kettle; and Bunker Hill monument from two chairs, a fishing-rod, and a sheet. Those who have followed us so far through these pages, have gone through a good course of study, and will start with great advantages in the pursuit of charade-acting.
For the convenience of our clients we add a list of words which may be acted as charades.
| LIST OF CHARADE WORDS. |
| Accent | Axe—cent. |
| Accident | Axe—sigh—dent. |
| Altar | Awl—tar. |
| Artful | Art—full. |
| Apex | Ape—X. |
| Bagpipe | Bag—pipe. |
| Bandage | Band—age. |
| Bedlam | Bed—lamb. |
| Bustard | Bust—tarred. |
| Behead | Bee—head. |
| Blacksmith | Black—smith. |
| Bulrush | Bull—rush. |
| Buttress | Butt—tress. |
| Catsup | Cat—sup. |
| Carboy | Car—boy. |
| Corselet | Course—let. |
| Cribbage | Crib—age. |
| Crossbow | Cross—beau. |
| Cutlass | Cut—lass. |
| Cartel | Car—Tell (William). |
| Cartoon | Cart—tune! |
| Cashier | Cash—ear. |
| Dolphin | Doll—fin. |
| Donkey | Don—key. |
| Ductile | Duck—tile. |
| Definite | Deaf—inn—night |
| Footpad | Foot—pad. |
| Flatten | Flat—ten. |
| Gastric | Gas—trick. |
| Gallic | Gall—lick. |
| Hamlet | Ham—let. |
| Handcuff | Hand—cuff. |
| Hartshorn | Hearts—horn. |
| Hemlock | Hem—lock. |
| Henpeck | Hen—peck. |
| Humbug | Hum—bug. |
| Humdrum | Hum—drum. |
| Idol | Eye—doll. |
| Ill-bred | Ill—bread. |
| Instep | Inn—step. |
| Implore | Imp—lore. |
| Invest | Inn—vest. |
| Incite | Inn—sight. |
| Jackal | Jack—awl. |
| Jury | Jew—rye. |
| Sappet | Sap—pet. |
| Linch-pin | Linch—pin. |
| Loadstone | Load—stone. |
| Mastiff | Ma—stiff. |
| Messmate | Mess—mate. |
| Mistake | Miss—take. |
| Muffin | Muff—fin. |
| Nightmare | Night—mare. |
| Nightshade | Night—shade. |
| Outfit | Out—fit. |
| Pardon | Pa—don. |
| Payday | Pay—dey. |
| Phantom | Fan—tom. |
| Picnic | Pick—nick. |
| Pilot | Pie—lot. |
| Pollute | Poll—lute. |
| Puppet | Pup—pet. |
| Prior | Pry—oar. |
| Ringlet | Wring—let. |
| Sauce-box | Sauce—box. |
| Seesaw | Sea—sore. |
| Shamrock | Sham—rock. |
| Spinster | Spin—stir. |
| Surtout | Sir—tout, or Sir—two. |
| Toilet | Toy—let. |
| Waistcoat | Waste—coat. |
| Welcome | Well—come. |
| Wilful | Will—full. |
| Yellow | Yell—low. |
