Promoting Principles
The New Game of Human Life. London: John Wallis, 1790.
The New Game of Human Life encouraged young players to develop proper moral character, learning the exigencies of the seven stages of life, from “Infancy” to “Dotage,” while navigating the paths of vice and virtue. Players advance or forfeit according to the moral nature of the character represented in the square they land on. “The Assiduous Youth” or “Benevolent Man,” for instance, allowed players to advance, while the “Drunkard” or “Negligent Boy” forced players to lose a turn or to move backward. The game illustrates late-eighteenth century social values assigned to various careers. Landing on “The Romance Writer,” for instance, sends the player back to “The Mischievous Boy.” Similarly, the “Dramatist” forces the player to begin the game again. A warning from the manufacturer of the game points out the dangers of introducing dice into the family home and recommends the use of a spinning top called a totum or teetotum rather than a game piece so closely associated with gambling and vice.
Louis, S.L. Decorum: a Practical Treatise on Etiquette and Dress of the Best American Society. New York: Union Publishing House, 1882.
This treatise on etiquette and fashion promotes polite conduct by emphasizing the importance of making all players feel comfortable in social circles. It provides advice on setting up, playing and performing various other games in the home.
Founding Documents Jigsaw
This jigsaw puzzle shows the iconic value of the nation’s founding documents. It depicts two children in a reverential setting, admiring their nation’s most precious manuscripts. Developed in 1739, jigsaw puzzles (or “dissected puzzles” as they were once known) appeal to both children and adults. In 1934, manufacturers began to make puzzles from die-cut cardboard rather than from wood, which lowered the price considerably. During the Great Depression, the low cost of jigsaw puzzles made them particularly appealing.
Richardson, Norman Egbert. The Church at Play, a Manual for Directors of Social and Recreational Life. New York: The Abingdon Press, ca. 1922.
The Puritans of early America extolled the benefits of industry and the inherent evils of idleness. These values became ingrained in mainstream American culture and are communicated in this 1922 church handbook. It describes games and activities designed to educate church members and to attract new members. The book warns of the dangers of idleness, but praises controlled leisure activities as a means of “advancing civilization.”