It's been a while since I talked about any book or books from my wall of books. So it's about time. The book I selected this time was not actually on my book shelves, but on one of the side shelves in my desk. I just happened to pick it up recently and was paging through it and as always, I'm delighted just doing so. So here it is.
The rather old and battered ring-bound little black book pictured above is one of my favorite books for a number of reasons - its authenticity, what it is, and what it says about a lost age - America about a hundred years ago. It brings to mind the bygone age of the Gasoline Alley comic strip, the Penrod stories of Booth Tarkington, and even more so those old movies based on the Penrod stories, On Moonlight Bay and By the Light of Silvery Moon, and the songs those movies were titled after. In short, a vision of an idyllic, it mostly imagined past.
Its title is "Handy" and it is "A Manual for Leaders of Social Recreation." Edited by Lynn Rohrbough. The first copyright date is 1924, so it is a hundred years old. My copy is the Ninth Edition, No. 33343, March 1928, originally priced at $2.50. It is published by the Social Recreation Union "Church Centered Recreation." And what it actually is is a collection of a dozen 20 to 40-some page how-to-do brochures on various subjects ranging from Leadership for Social Recreation, to program planning, along with lists and directions for all sorts of activities. It is designed to be used as resources for church social programs and their leaders in planning their programs.
The first short brochure sets out its goals and that of the programs it envisions, the second practical advice on how to prepare these programs and what to offer in the way of food and such. And then there's a guide to leadership - who and how to do it. And finally how to fund and plan a year-long recreational program, before getting into the suggested activities.
On section describes activities to do out-of-doors, such as Mystery Hikes, Progressive Supper Hikes, Hobo Hikes, or at night, a Flashlight Hunt, just to name a few. Other sections have lists of various types of games, Mixing Games, Active Games, Quiet Games, and Mental Games. Plus things like "Dramatic Stunts" and a collection of Group Songs, tunes and lyrics.
I forget where and why I picked it up. I certainly didn't pau $5.00 for it. But I'm glad I did pick it up, if only because reading through it takes you back in time to a simpler, slower paced age - which is probably and illusion - but nevertheless you can't help thinking it was as you read through all the activities and games it describes in detail for all ages, from children to young adults.
The best way to give you the flavor of this book is with a small selection of photos of the pages, which, if you click on, I think it will be large enough for you to be able to read the pages yourself.
Some ideas on different types of outdoor activities, for day and night. Wieners roasted at the end.
Above and below are some games you can use for breaking the ice in social gatherings where everyone doesn't already know each other.
The how to do of races and relays for children and young people, are described above. And below are some ideas for some more quiet games. And some mentally challenging games and puzzles.
And finally we end up with a selections of songs and rounds.
I am far from an expert on church based social activity these days, or even if there is any, but I have a feeling that it, along with the the Model T and penny candy are pretty much the things of history and museums. I certainly can't see my grandchildren participating in the activities described in this book. And to be honest, I couldn't see myself when I was their age eagerly participating as well. Perhaps there were still programs like this in my youth, maybe Scouting comes close. Still, if they ever existed in real life, and I'd like to believe somewhere they did, some young people, a boy and a girl, attending a church social, were hand-cuffed together with two strings and had to figure out how to escape from each other. And that they fell in love, got married and lived happily ever.
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