diagram: LondonLondon
This is a quiet game in which the players are all seated. A diagram is drawn on a slate or piece of paper of oblong shape, about six by ten inches in outside dimensions, if the surface admits of one so large. This is divided by a horizontal line every two inches. It is an advantage if the players have different colored pencils, but this is not necessary. A piece of paper is placed at the bottom of the diagram and blown over the diagram toward the top; or a small piece of glass or china called a "chipper" is used, the latter being nicked or snapped with the fingers. The first player snaps his chipper, and in whichever place it stops marks with a pencil a small round "o" to represent a man's head. The chipper is then returned to its starting place and the play is repeated. This is continued until the player has marked a head in each of the horizontal spaces; or should his chipper land a second time in a space in which he has already marked such a head, he makes a larger round under the head to represent the body of a man. The third time it lands in this place he makes a downward stroke for a leg, and the fourth time one for a second leg, which completes the man. Should three complete men be so drawn in onespace, the player, without shooting again, draws what are called "arms," that is, a horizontal line from the figures across the space to the outside limits. This occupies the space completely and keeps the other player out of that space; that is, the other cannot put any men in it or add to any which he may already have started there.
The first player continues to play until the chipper lands on a line; a player whose chipper lands on a line or outside of the diagram loses his turn. The other player then takes his turn, and may start, continue, or complete men in any spaces which the first player has not occupied with three armed men, even though the latter may have started men in the space or have completed two of them. Each player may build only on his own men.
The player wins who succeeds in occupying the largest number of spaces with three armed men of his own drawing.
The space at the top of the diagram, called "London," is especially advantageous. No men are marked in it, but should the chipper land there at any time, the player may draw a head in every other space on the diagram, or add one mark to any one drawing he may have already in each space.
This game may be played on theseashoreor playground or wherever the diagram may be drawn in hard earth.
For theschoolroomit is an interesting diversion for pupils who assemble early before the opening of the school session.
Any number of players.
Parlor; schoolroom.
The first player says, "The minister's cat is an avaricious cat," using an adjective which begins with "a" to describe the cat.
The next player makes a remark about the cat, using the same initial letter for the adjective; for instance, that it is an "aggressive" cat. This is continued, each player using a different adjective beginning with the letter "a," until the game has gone entirely around the circle. The first player then makes a similar remark about the cat, using an adjective beginning with "b." This goesaround, and so on through the alphabet. Any player who is slow to respond, or who fails, must either drop out of the game or pay a forfeit, as may be decided at the start.
3 to 60 players.
House party; schoolroom; playground.
Each player is given a slip of paper and pencil. Some one who has a good repertoire of popular airs sits at the piano—or lacking a piano, may sing without words—and goes briefly through snatches of one air after another, each of the players writing on his slip of paper the name of the air, or leaving a blank if he be unable to name it. The one wins who names the largest number of airs correctly.
This is an admirable game to use for old ballads, such as "Annie Laurie," "Suwanee River," "My Old Kentucky Home," "Blue Bells of Scotland," etc., or for national airs, or for both together. In a company that is well up on current music, airs from current songs and popular operas may be used successfully.
5 to 30 of more players.
Parlor.
My lady's lapdog.Two plump partridges and my lady's lapdog.Three great elephants, two plump partridges, and my lady's lapdog.Four Persian cherry trees, three great elephants, etc.Five Limerick oysters, four Persian cherry trees, etc.Six bottles of Frontignac, five Limerick oysters, etc.Seven swans a swimming, six bottles of Frontignac, etc.Eight flip flap floating fly boats, seven swans, etc.Nine merchants going to Bagdad, eight flip flap, etc.Ten Italian dancing masters going to teach ten Arabian magpies how to dance, nine merchants going to Bagdad, etc.Eleven guests going to celebrate the marriage of the Princess Baldroubadour with the Prince of Terra del Fuego, ten Italian dancing masters going to teach ten Arabian magpies, etc.Twelve triumphant trumpeters triumphantly trumpeting the tragical tradition of Telemachus, eleven guests going to celebrate the marriage, etc.
My lady's lapdog.
Two plump partridges and my lady's lapdog.
Three great elephants, two plump partridges, and my lady's lapdog.
Four Persian cherry trees, three great elephants, etc.
Five Limerick oysters, four Persian cherry trees, etc.
Six bottles of Frontignac, five Limerick oysters, etc.
Seven swans a swimming, six bottles of Frontignac, etc.
Eight flip flap floating fly boats, seven swans, etc.
Nine merchants going to Bagdad, eight flip flap, etc.
Ten Italian dancing masters going to teach ten Arabian magpies how to dance, nine merchants going to Bagdad, etc.
Eleven guests going to celebrate the marriage of the Princess Baldroubadour with the Prince of Terra del Fuego, ten Italian dancing masters going to teach ten Arabian magpies, etc.
Twelve triumphant trumpeters triumphantly trumpeting the tragical tradition of Telemachus, eleven guests going to celebrate the marriage, etc.
The players sit in a circle; the one who is leader turns to the next player and says, "My lady's lapdog." This player turns to the one next him and repeats the phrase, which is thus handed around the circle. When it gets back to the leader, the leader turns to his neighbor and adds an item to that previously mentioned, saying, "Two plump partridges and my lady's lapdog." This goes around the circle, when the leader says, "Three great elephants, two plump partridges, and my lady's lapdog," and so on, adding each time different items according to the formula given above. Any player failing to repeat the list correctly pays a forfeit.
VARIATION.—For younger players, the following list may be found better:—
A big fat hen.Two ducks and a big fat hen.Three wild geese, two ducks, and a big fat hen.Four plump partridges, three wild geese, two ducks, etc.Five pouting pigeons, four plump partridges, three, etc.Six long-legged cranes, five pouting pigeons, etc.Seven green parrots, six long-legged cranes, etc.Eight screeching owls, seven green parrots, six long-legged, etc.Nine ugly black turkey buzzards, eight screeching owls, etc.Ten thousand domesticated chimney swallows, nine ugly black turkey buzzards, eight screeching owls, etc.
A big fat hen.
Two ducks and a big fat hen.
Three wild geese, two ducks, and a big fat hen.
Four plump partridges, three wild geese, two ducks, etc.
Five pouting pigeons, four plump partridges, three, etc.
Six long-legged cranes, five pouting pigeons, etc.
Seven green parrots, six long-legged cranes, etc.
Eight screeching owls, seven green parrots, six long-legged, etc.
Nine ugly black turkey buzzards, eight screeching owls, etc.
Ten thousand domesticated chimney swallows, nine ugly black turkey buzzards, eight screeching owls, etc.
2 players.
Indoors; out of doors.
diagram: Naughts and CrossesNaughts and Crosses
A diagram is drawn on a slate, paper, or the ground, and consists of two vertical lines, crossed by two horizontal lines. One player chooses to write "naughts" (o) and the other "crosses" (x). The players take turns in marking a naught or a cross in one of the nine places provided by the diagram, the object being to get three naughts or three crosses in a row. This row may be either vertical, horizontal, or diagonal.
A score is kept of the games won by each player, and a third score is kept of the games played in which neither player wins.
This game may be played at theseashore, on theplayground, or wherever the diagram may be traced on the earth.
Forschooluse it is an interesting diversion for pupils who assemble early before a session opens, or who remain in over a rainy noontime.
Any number of players.
Schoolroom; parlor; playground.
This is a device for mental arithmetic. It is one of which children are very fond. As the play element may enter very largely into the fanciful suggestions used by the teacher, it seems in place in a book of games.
This is a device for mental arithmetic. It is one of which children are very fond. As the play element may enter very largely into the fanciful suggestions used by the teacher, it seems in place in a book of games.
The teacher states her problem in a manner similar to the following:—
"There was a tree with fifty branches. A squirrel started on the first branch, jumped up three branches [to the fourth], came halfway down [to the second], went three times as high [sixth branch], fell halfway down [third branch], saw a dog, and ran to the top of the tree; fell to the ground and started over again; went up eight branches, jumped past three branches," etc., finishing up with, "How many branches from the top was he?"
This game has been found intensely interesting for children through the upper grades of the elementary schools.
5 to 30 players.
House party.
Each player is provided with a bright new penny (of design prior to 1909), a piece of paper, and a pencil. On the paper are written beforehand, or to dictation, the following requirements, of course without the answers. The player wins who has the largest number of correct answers.
Find on the penny the following:—
The name of a song.—America.A privilege.—Liberty.A part of Indian corn.—Ear.A part of a hill.—Brow.Something denoting self.—Eye (I).Part of a door.—Lock (of hair).A weapon of war.—Arrow.An act of protection.—Shield.A gallant.—Beau (bow).A punishment.—Stripes.Part of a plant.—Leaf.A piece of jewelry.—Ring.A nut.—Acorn.A musical term.—Bar.An occupation.—Milling.A foreign fruit.—Date.Trimming for a hat.—Feather.What ships sail on.—Sea (C).A perfume.—Scent (cent).A religious edifice.—Temple.A messenger.—One sent (cent).A method of voting.—Ayes and Noes (eyes and nose).A Chinese beverage.—Tea (T).A gaudy flower.—Tulips (two lips).Comfort.—Ease (E. E.).A small animal.—Hare (hair).A term of marriage.—United state.An ancient honor.—Wreath.One of the first families.—Indian.
5 to 30 or more players.
House party.
Each player is provided with a sheet of paper and a pencil. The game consists in one player writing down something that he has planted and the next player stating what came up. Anything may be planted, though the questioner must have in mind something that could come up from what he writes. He must sign his initials. The names of the plants that come upmust bear some direct relation, punning or otherwise, to the things planted.
For example, a player writes, "I planted a kitten; what came up?" The paper is handed to the next player, who writes, "Pussy willows."
After the questions are written, the papers are collected and redistributed, and each writes an answer to the question he has drawn. They are then collected again, and the hostess reads the questions and answers. Any question not answered must be replied to by the player who wrote it. Examples follow:—
10 to 30 players.
Parlor; schoolroom.
A player is chosen as leader; the others are numbered consecutively from one up, and are all seated.
The leader, standing in front, says, "The Prince of Paris has lost his hat. Did you find it, Number Four, sir?" whereupon Number Four jumps to his feet and says:—
"What, sir! I, sir?"
Leader."Yes, sir! You, sir!"
No. Four."Not I, sir!"
Leader."Who, then, sir?"
No. Four."Number Seven, sir."
Number Seven, as soon as his number is called, must jump at once to his feet and say:—
"What, sir! I, sir?"
Leader."Yes, sir! You, sir."
No. Seven."Not I, sir!"
Leader."Who then, sir?"
No. Seven."Number Three, sir!"
Number Three immediately jumps to his feet, and the same dialogue is repeated. The object of the game is for the leader to try to repeat the statement, "The Prince of Paris has lost his hat," before the last player named can jump to his feet and say, "What, sir! I, sir?" If he succeeds in doing this, he changes places with the player who failed in promptness, that player becoming leader.
Should any player fail to say "Sir" in the proper place, this also is a mistake, and the leader may change places with such player.
This game has much sport in it for house parties or other uses.
This game has much sport in it for house parties or other uses.
Any number of players.
Parlor; schoolroom.
Each player is given a card or slip prepared with the following questions, or the list may be dictated at the time.
What famous persons, historical or mythical, do these objects suggest?
2 players.
Indoors; out of doors; schoolroom.
One player holds on his upturned palm a ruler, a paper knife, or a small thin strip of wood. The other player takes this quickly and tries to "scat" or hit the opponent's palm with the ruler before he can withdraw his hand. The game will be made more interesting by feints on the part of the player who has to take the ruler, he giving several appearances of taking it before really doing so. When a player succeeds in hitting his opponent's hand with the ruler they change parts in the game. Count is kept of the unsuccessful hits, the player winning who has the smallest score when the play ends.
This is one of the diversions useful for rainy day recesses in school, or for pupils who congregate before a session opens.
5 to 15 players.
Out of doors; seashore.
A handful of small pebbles is collected, and the players sit on the ground in a circle. One of the players scatters the pebbles on the ground in the center of the circle, as jackstones are scattered. This player then draws a line with his finger between any two of the pebbles, and tries to snap one of these two so that it will hit the other, as marbles are snapped at one another. If successful in hitting the pebble, the same player has a second turn, keeping each time the two pebbles hit. Should this player miss, anothergathers up the pebbles, scatters them, draws a line between any two of them, snaps them, etc.
The one wins who at the close of the game has the largest number of pebbles. It will be seen that a small number of players is better for this game than a large group. Nuts may be used instead of pebbles.
This game is played by children in China.
This game is played by children in China.
Any number of players.
House party; schoolroom.
Each player is provided with a sheet of paper prepared with the following questions, or the questions may be dictated at the time. Each question is to be answered with the title of one of Shakespeare's plays. The player wins who has the largest number correct at the end of the time allotted for the game.
Other questions may be devised.
2 to 60 players.
Parlor; schoolroom.
The players sit around a table, or if played in the schoolroom, sit at their respective desks. Each player makes a fist of eachhand with the thumb extended. One is chosen for leader, whom the others follow.
The leader says, "Simon says, 'Thumbs up!'" whereupon he places his own fists on the table before him with the thumbs upward. The players must all do likewise. The leader then says, "Simon says, 'Thumbs down!'" whereupon he turns his own hands over so that the tips of the thumbs touch the table, the others imitating him. He may then say, "Simon says, 'Thumbs wiggle waggle!'" whereupon he places his fist on the table with the thumbs upward and moves the thumbs sideways, the players imitating him.
If at any time the leader omits the words "Simon says," and goes through the movements simply with the words "Thumbs up!" "Thumbs down!" or "'Wiggle waggle!" the players must keep their hands still and not imitate his movements. Any player imitating him under these circumstances must either pay a forfeit or become leader, or both, as may be decided on beforehand.
3 to 60 players.
Schoolroom; parlor.
The game here described for use with history may be used simply as a diversion in describing animals or any inanimate objects; or it may be used to correlate with English (authors), picture study, etc.
The game here described for use with history may be used simply as a diversion in describing animals or any inanimate objects; or it may be used to correlate with English (authors), picture study, etc.
Each player is provided with a sheet of paper and pencil and writes a description of some historical character; the object being to give a description that shall be perfectly truthful and yet puzzling or misleading for the other players who are to guess the identity of the character in the writer's mind.
One player is called on to read his description. The other players may have the privilege of asking questions that may be answered by "Yes" or "No" only; but it is considered much more of an honor to guess correctly without this assistance. The one guessing the character correctly reads his description next. A description for instance might read:—
"The person whom I would describe was a very tall man; very vigorous; used an ax on occasion; had much to do with legislators; was widely known outside of his native country, and has been the subject of many biographies."
"The person whom I would describe was a very tall man; very vigorous; used an ax on occasion; had much to do with legislators; was widely known outside of his native country, and has been the subject of many biographies."
As this description would apply equally to Washington, Lincoln, Gladstone, and several others who might be mentioned, there is opportunity for considerable guessing before the right character be found.
5 to 30 players.
House party.
Each player should be given a card or slip of paper on which the following verses are written, the last of each line being left blank. The game consists in filling in the blank spaces each with a double letter of the alphabet, as indicated in parentheses. The player wins who has the largest number correct.
There is a farmer who is(YY)Enough to take his(EE)And study nature with his(II)And think on what he(CC)He hears the chatter of the(JJ)As they each other(TT)And sees that when a tree de(KK)It makes a home for(BB)A yoke of oxen will he(UU)With many haws and(GG)And their mistakes he will ex(QQ)When plowing for his(PP)He little buys but much he se(LL)And therefore little(OO)And when he hoes his soil spe(LL)He also soils his h(OO)
2 to 8 players.
Indoors; out of doors.
INDOORS.—A circle is drawn on a slate or paper, the size of it varying with the number of players, a larger circle being desirablefor a large number of players. This circle is intersected with straight lines, so that it is divided into a series of wedge-shaped spaces, the number of lines and spaces being also at the discretion of the players, the larger the number of players the larger the number of spaces desirable and the greater the variation in scoring. In each of these spaces numbers are written in consecutive order, one for each space, 1, 2, 3, 4, etc., or the numbers may be done in multiples of five,—5, 10, 15, 20, etc. The players take turns in rotation. The one whose turn it is shuts his eyes, takes a pencil, circles it around over the diagram while he says the following verse:—
"Tip, tap, toe, here we go,Three jolly sailor boys all in a row."
"Tip, tap, toe, here we go,Three jolly sailor boys all in a row."
At the close of the verse the player places the point of the pencil on the diagram, still with his eyes closed. He then opens his eyes, and should the pencil have touched one of the numbered spaces, he marks down to his score the number written in that space, and crosses out that figure on the diagram. Thereafter that space does not count in playing. Should the pencil touch a dividing line or the line forming the circumference of the circle, or fall outside of the circle, or fall in a space in which the number has been crossed out, the player scores nothing, and loses his turn, the next one taking up the play.
diagram: Tip Tap ToeTip Tap Toe
When all of the spaces have been crossed out, the player wins who has the largest score, but should any player at any time touch his pencil to the center of the circle, he wins the game.
OUT OF DOORS.—This game may be played out of doors bydrawing the diagram on the earth with a sharpened stick, which is used afterwards as a pointer as a pencil is used on the paper diagram. If on hard earth the figures may be marked in the spaces as on a paper diagram, but the diagram should be drawn considerably larger than when on paper.
This is an admirable game for playing on the hard sand of theseashore. In that case little pebbles or shells are placed in the different spaces instead of numerals; one in the first space, two in the second, three in the third, etc. When a player places his stick or pointer in a space he removes the pebbles from that place to a little pile, and the score is counted at the end by counting this pile of pebbles. Any space from which the pebbles have been removed is thereafter out of the game, as when the figures are crossed out on the paper diagram.
This game is supposed to have originated in early methods of allotting land.
This game is supposed to have originated in early methods of allotting land.
6 to 20 or more players.
Parlor; schoolroom.
This is one of the most popular current games among young people, being usually played to the accompaniment of much laughter and intense interest. It consists in the guessing by opposing parties of the hand under which a coin is hidden.
The players are divided into two parties. Each party has a captain, each player being captain in turn during successive rounds of the game. The players gather around a table, one party on one side and the others opposite. A coin, usually a quarter, is passed from hand to hand under the table by one of the parties in an endeavor to conceal from the opponents which individual holds it. The leader of the opposite party then calls, "Up, Jenkins!" when all of the hands of his opponents are brought from under the table and held up with palms outward toward the guessing party, fingers closed down tightly over the palms, the quarter being hidden in one of the hands. The opponents may look at the hands from their side of the table in this way as long as they choose. The leader then commands "Down, Jenkins!" when the hands areslammed down simultaneously flat on the table, palms downward. This is done with enough noise to disguise the clink of the coin striking the table. The object of the game is for the opponents (those not having the coin) to guess under which hand the coin is laid, each hand supposed not to have it being ordered off the table. The captain of the guessing party, who alone may give these orders (though his players may assist him with suggestions), calls for the lifting of one specified hand at a time. The player named must lift the hand indicated, and that hand is thereafter to be taken from the table.
If the guessing party can be successful in thus eliminating all of the empty hands so that the coin is left under the last hand, they are considered to have won, and the coin passes to them for the next round. If the coin be disclosed before the last hand be reached, the side holding it adds to its score the hands remaining on the table that were not ordered off. The side wins which has the highest score when the play stops, the time limits being indefinite.
For the schoolroomsee also an adaptation calledHands up—Hands down.
5 to 30 players.
Children's party; house party; playground.
The players are seated in a circle or any convenient group. One of the number decides upon a "thought"; that is, he thinks of some person, object, or abstraction, without telling the others what it is. He then asks of each in turn, "What is my thought like?" Each answers anything he chooses. The first player then declares what his thought was, and asks of each, "Why is—(naming the object he thought of) like—(whatever such player answered)?" Each must find some likeness, however absurd, or pay a forfeit. For instance, the answers around the circle might be, "Your thought is like an umbrella," "like Napoleon," "Pinafore," "sadness," "my necktie," "a rose," etc. The questioner then says, "I thought of a lead pencil. Why is a pencil like an umbrella?" "Because it is oftenest black." The pencil may be like Napoleonbecause it can make a mark; like a rose because it is sometimes cut, etc. If any one happens to answer to the first question, "a pencil" (or whatever was thought of), he also must pay a forfeit.
5 to 30 or more players.
House party.
Each player is given a paper on which the following is written or dictated, the words in parentheses being omitted and a blank space left. The game consists in each player filling in these blank spaces with the name of some tree. The host or hostess at the end reads this list of words in order, the player winning who has the largest number correct. The same tree may be mentioned more than once.
He took her little hand in his own big (palm). "I love (yew), dear," he said simply. She did not (sago) away, for it had been a case of love at first sight. She murmured something in (aloe) voice. They had met one day upon a sandy (beech), and from that (date) onward, they cared not a (fig) for the outside world. Her name was (May Ple). She was a charming girl. Rosy as a (peach); (chestnut) colored hair; (tulips) like a (cherry); skin a pale (olive). In fact, she was as beautiful (as pen) or brush ever portrayed. The day he met her she wore a jacket of handsome (fir). He was of Irish descent, his name being (Willow) 'Flaherty. He was a (spruce) looking young fellow. Together they made a congenial (pear). But when did the course of true love ever run smooth? There was a third person to be considered. This was (paw paw). Both felt that, counting (paw paw) in, they might not be able to (orange) it. What if he should refuse to (cedar)! Suppose he should (sago) to her lover? And if he should be angry, to what point won't a (mango)? Well, in that case she must submit, with a (cypress) her lover in her arms for the last time, and (pine) away. But happily her parent did not constitute (ebony) skeleton at their feast. He was guilty of no tyranny to reduce their hopes to (ashes). They found him in his garden busily (plantain). He was chewing (gum). "Well," he said thoughtfully, in answer to the question: "Since (yew) love her I must (cedar) to (yew). You make a fine young (pear). Don't cut any (capers) after you're married, young man! Don't (pine) and complain if he is sometimes cross, young woman! I hope to see (upas) many happy days together!"
He took her little hand in his own big (palm). "I love (yew), dear," he said simply. She did not (sago) away, for it had been a case of love at first sight. She murmured something in (aloe) voice. They had met one day upon a sandy (beech), and from that (date) onward, they cared not a (fig) for the outside world. Her name was (May Ple). She was a charming girl. Rosy as a (peach); (chestnut) colored hair; (tulips) like a (cherry); skin a pale (olive). In fact, she was as beautiful (as pen) or brush ever portrayed. The day he met her she wore a jacket of handsome (fir). He was of Irish descent, his name being (Willow) 'Flaherty. He was a (spruce) looking young fellow. Together they made a congenial (pear). But when did the course of true love ever run smooth? There was a third person to be considered. This was (paw paw). Both felt that, counting (paw paw) in, they might not be able to (orange) it. What if he should refuse to (cedar)! Suppose he should (sago) to her lover? And if he should be angry, to what point won't a (mango)? Well, in that case she must submit, with a (cypress) her lover in her arms for the last time, and (pine) away. But happily her parent did not constitute (ebony) skeleton at their feast. He was guilty of no tyranny to reduce their hopes to (ashes). They found him in his garden busily (plantain). He was chewing (gum). "Well," he said thoughtfully, in answer to the question: "Since (yew) love her I must (cedar) to (yew). You make a fine young (pear). Don't cut any (capers) after you're married, young man! Don't (pine) and complain if he is sometimes cross, young woman! I hope to see (upas) many happy days together!"
5 to 10 players.
Parlor; schoolroom.
Each player is provided with ten slips of paper, numbered conspicuously from one to ten, but arranged irregularly in a pile. The players gather around a table or sit in a circle, each one being given the name of an animal; the sport of the game will consist largely in choosing unusual or difficult names, such as yak, gnu, camelopard, hippopotamus, rhinoceros, Brazilian ant-eater, kangaroo, etc.
Each player holds his slips with the numbers turned downward. The first player turns up his upper slip so that the number is visible and lays it down in front of him. In doing this he must turn it away from himself, so that the other players see it first; the next player then does the same. Should the two slips happen to coincide in number, for instance, should the first player have turned up number three and the second player turn up number three, they must each at once call each other's names, as "Yak!" "Hippopotamus!" or whatever name was assigned to them. The one who first calls the other's name gives away his slip to that other, the object being to get rid of one's slips as fast as possible.
Should the slip turned up by the second player not correspond in number to that turned by the first, he also lays it down in front of him; the third player then turns his up, and this is continued around the circle until a slip is turned that corresponds in number with any that has already been turned up, when those two players must immediately call each other's names, as before explained. The player wins who first gets rid of all of his slips.
Forschools, a class should divide into small groups for this game, which may be made to correlate with geography or history, by using proper names from those subjects instead of names of animals.
Forolder playersthe game may be made very funny also by assigning to each player the name of a patent medicine instead of the name of an animal, and playing cards may be used instead of the numbered slips.
Athletic feats requiring skill, strength, or agility are a very interesting and amusing feature for gymnasiums and many other conditions, and contain possibilities for some excellent and vigorous physical development. As some of these may be used for forfeits (although some kinds of forfeits cannot take the place of athletic feats), these two classes of amusements are included here in one chapter. The searcher for forfeits will do well, however, to look through the section on feats.
Athletic feats requiring skill, strength, or agility are a very interesting and amusing feature for gymnasiums and many other conditions, and contain possibilities for some excellent and vigorous physical development. As some of these may be used for forfeits (although some kinds of forfeits cannot take the place of athletic feats), these two classes of amusements are included here in one chapter. The searcher for forfeits will do well, however, to look through the section on feats.
The following group of wrestling matches and races make a very interesting and vigorous form of game with which to close a lesson in formal gymnastics. For instance, if pupils are in a formation that admits of immediately turning toward partners without change of formation, this may be done and any of these games then used without further rearrangement of a class. When used in this way the wrestling matches are generally determined by the winning of the best two out of three trials.
These wrestling matches and races may of course be used also for forfeits.
BALANCE WRESTLE.—Two contestants stand each in a forward stride position, the right foot being lengthwise on a line (the same line for both contestants) and the left foot back of it, turned at right angles to the right foot with the heel touching the same line. The toes of the right feet should touch. In this position players grasp right hands. The objects of the game are to make the opponent (1) move one or both feet, or (2) touch the floor with any part of the body. A point is scored for the opponent whenever a player fails in one of these ways. After a trial has been made with the right hand and foot, the wrestle should be repeated with the left hand and foot extended, and so on alternately.
BOUNDARY TUG.—Two lines are drawn on the floor, five feet apart. Within this space two contestants face each other, the right toes touching and each stepping backward in a strong stride position with the left foot. Both players grasp a cane or wand, and each tries to pull the other across one of the boundary lines.
HARLEQUIN WRESTLE.—This is a one-sided wrestle between two persons. Each stands on one leg; they then grasp right hands and each tries to make the other lower his upraised foot to the ground, or touch the floor with his free hand. The opponent may not be touched with the free hand.
INDIAN WRESTLE.—Two players lie on their backs side by side, with adjacent arms locked. The feet should be in opposite directions. At a signal the adjacent legs are brought to an upright position and interlocked at the knees. The wrestle consists in trying to force the opponent to roll over from his position.
INTERFERING.—This is one of the hopping relays, but the shoulders may not be used in it. Two contestants fold arms, and each, while hopping on one foot, tries to make his opponent put the other foot to the floor. As neither arms nor shoulders may be used, this is done entirely by a side movement of the free leg.
KNEE AND TOE WRESTLE.—Two players sit on a mat, facing each other. The knees should be drawn up closely and the players should be near enough together to have the toes of each touch those of the opponent. Each player passes a stick under his knees, and then passes his arms under it and clasps his hands in front of his own knees. The wrestling begins at a signal and consists in each player trying to get his toes under those of his opponent and throw him backward.
LUNGE AND HOP FIGHT.—A circle six feet in diameter is drawn on the ground. One player takes a lunge position forward, so that his forward foot rests two feet within the circle. The second player stands in the circle on one foot with arms folded across the chest. The hopper tries to make the lunger move one of his feet. The lunger in turn tries to make the hopper put down his second foot or unfold arms. Either player is defeated also if he moves out of the circle. The lunger may use his hands and arms.
PUSH AND PULL.—Two lines are drawn on the floor at an intervalof five feet. Within these lines two players take their places with two stout sticks, canes, or wands between them, each player grasping one end of each cane. The object of the feat is to push the opponent across the boundary line behind him, or to pull him over the nearer boundary line.
The relative positions of the opponents may be reversed and the same struggle gone through back to back, still holding the canes.
This differs fromBoundary Tugin the way the wands are held and the fact of there being two wands.
This differs fromBoundary Tugin the way the wands are held and the fact of there being two wands.
ROOSTER FIGHT.—This is an old Greek amusement. A ring six feet in diameter is drawn on the ground. Two players are placed in this, who stoop and grasp each his own ankles. In this position they try to displace each other by shouldering. The player loses who is overthrown or who loosens his grasp on his ankles.
SHOULDER SHOVE.—For this, the players are divided into groups of five; each group marks on the ground a circle about eight feet in diameter. All five players stand within the circle. Four of them must fold their arms across the chest and hop on one foot. The object of the game is for these four players to push the fifth one, who is It, out of the circle with their shoulders. They may not use their hands. The fifth one may stand on both feet and use his arms. Should one of the hoppers place both feet on the ground or unfold his arms, he must leave the circle. The player who is It may avoid the hoppers by running and dodging. Should he be pushed out of the circle, the four hoppers are considered to have won the game.
WAND AND TOE WRESTLE.—Two players sit on the floor with knees bent and toes touching those of the opponent. One wand is held between them, which both grasp so that the hands are placed alternately; there should be a short space in the center between the hands. The object of the tug is to pull the opponent up and over the dividing line. This is an excellent form of wand wrestle and will hold the interest of a class for months, especially if a continuous score be kept for the same contestants.
WAND TWIST.—Two players stand and grasp at or near shoulder height a wand or cane held in a horizontal position. The object ofone player is to raise or twist the wand out of the horizontal position, and of the other player to prevent this. The one who is trying to hold the wand in the horizontal position should have his hands next to each other in the center of the wand. The one who tries to twist the wand should place his hands outside of and touching those of the player who is resisting.
WAND WRESTLE.—One player holds a wand or cane at full arm's length above his head, the hands being at about shoulder width distant on the wand, which should be held horizontally. The other player tries to pull the wand down to shoulder height. He may pull it forward at the same time, as it may be almost impossible in some cases to lower it without this forward movement.
ESKIMO RACE ON ALL FOURS.—The performers stand with hands and feet on the floor, the knees stiff, the hands clinched and resting on the knuckles. The elbows should be stiff. In this position a race is run, or rather "hitched," over a course that will not easily be too short for the performers.