Game of forfeits 1849
Game of forfeits commenced with a large group of people, by spinning a wooden trencher or dish and was called turn-trencher'. People seated round, when one of the party step forward and spins the trencher on the floor, someone is called upon to catch it while spinning, until the name was called by the spinner, which was seldom done until the trencher appeared ready to fall, if not caught before it fell, they would have to pay a forfeit. The women gave up their purses, necklaces and gloves the men give up their watches, pencil-cases, nay and even their hats and coats, everyone's belongings piled high on the table. We knew that some kind of freemasonry existed between the lady who held up the forfeit and the lady knelt down, as if pretending not to know to whom the pledge belonged, while she passed sentence with her face buried in the lap of her laughing companion
