The c. 1890s game of Jackstraws is similar to today’s game of pick-up-sticks. Wooden “straws” shaped like farming implements are spread onto a table and players try to remove them one-by-one without disturbing the other straws. In addition to the jackstraws there is a “helper” piece with a hooked edge to help move the sticks about. Each stick has a point value (penciled onto it), one stick having faces on it; perhaps the most coveted one, for it indicates a point value of “50.” At game’s end, the player with the highest point tally wins.