The Art of Playing by Gelett Burgess
The Art of Playing is a collection of humorous essays written by Gelett Burgess in the early 20th century. The book explores various aspects of play and humor, including the importance of laughter in life, the art of practical jokes, and the role of imagination in creativity. It also includes several short stories that showcase Burgess's unique writing style and sense of humor.
By Gelett Burgess · First published 1906 · Genre: Children's Literature, Essay, Philosophy · 2,291 words
First lines
Time was when we made our own toys; when a piece of twine, a spool, a few nails and a bit of imagination could keep us busy and happy all day long. There were no new-fangled iron toys "made in Germany," so tiresome in their inevitable little routine of performance, so easily got out of order, and so hard, metallic and realistic as to be hardly worth the purchase. A penny would, indeed, buy some funny carved wooden thing that aroused a half-hour's excitement, but it was never quite so alluring as when in the front window of the toy-shop. Such queer animals never became thoroughly acclimated to the nursery, and they lost their lustre in a half-holiday. The things that gave permanent satisfaction were home-made, crude and capable of transformation. A railway train might, with a small effort of the fancy, become a ship or a dragon. Are there such amateur toy-builders now, in this age when everything is perfect and literal, when even a box of building-blocks contains a book of plans to supply imaginative design to the modern child? Indeed, many children are nowayears too lazy even to do their own playing. I have heard of one who was used to sit on a chair and order his nurse to align his ninepins and bowl them down for him!
What this Textopian page supports
The Art of Playing is listed on Textopian as a short story by Gelett Burgess, dated 1906 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Gelett Burgess
- Date: 1906 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Essay, Philosophy, Social Commentary, Humor
- Length: 2,291 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Art of Playing by Gelett Burgess
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Art of Playing?
- How does this short story by Gelett Burgess fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Children's Literature first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- A Good Play by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Curiosity by Gelett Burgess
- The Toy Theatre by G. K. Chesterton
- The Poet In The Nursery by Robert Graves
- The Terror Of A Toy by G. K. Chesterton
- The Gardener And The Guinea by G. K. Chesterton
Genres
- Children's Literature — The book explores themes of play, imagination, and creativity, which are central to children's literature.
- Essay — The writing style is reflective and discursive, analyzing the concept of play and its implications.
- Philosophy — The text delves into philosophical musings on the nature of play and its role in human life.
- Social Commentary — The book critiques modern society's impact on creativity and play, offering insights into cultural changes.
Tags
play · creativity · imagination · art · childhood · games · fun · exploration · learning · expression · humor · adventure