Chapter 17

The one who is It tries to slap the hands of any of the players, who may evade him by bending the hands downward, upward, or sideways, at the wrist, but may not withdraw the arm or change the position of the elbow. Any player who receives three slaps, whether on one or both hands, immediately upon receiving the third slap, chases the one who is It toward the goal. Should the slapper be caught before he reaches the goal, he must continue as before, but if he succeeds in reaching the goal in safety, he changes places with his pursuer, who becomes It, or slapper, for the next round.

This game may have much sport in it if the one who is taking the part of slapper be very alert and agile in his movements, dodging quickly from one player to another, and making many false moves to throw the players off their guard as to where he is going to strike next. This game is very popular with children, and is an amusing diversion for young people for house parties.

THREE DEEP

(See also _Third Man_ and _Last Man_.)

_15 to 60 players._

_Playground; gymnasium._

This game is one of the standard favorites for both children and adults.

All of the players but two form in a double ring, facing inward; that is, in two concentric circles, with one player directly behind another.

There are several methods of getting players into this formation. One method is to have the players march in column two abreast, form in a circle, and all face inward. Another method is to have the players form in a circle in single file; one player steps in front of his neighbor on the right, and each alternate player in quick succession around the circle does the same, thus accomplishing the end of bringing all of the players in couples one behind another.

The two odd players, one of whom is runner and the other chaser, start outside of the circle, generally one of them being on one side of the circle and the other opposite. The object of the game is for the chaser to tag the runner. The runner may save himself by stopping in front of any couple standing in the circle, whereupon, that file having been made "three deep," the outer player or third man becomes at once liable to tagging, and in his turn becomes runner and tries to evade the chaser. He may seek refuge in the same way in front of a couple.

Should the chaser tag the runner, they exchange places, the runner immediately becoming chaser, and the chaser being liable instantly to tagging.

It will thus be seen that great alertness is necessary on the part of any one standing on the outside of the circle, as at any moment the runner may take refuge in front of his file or couple, making him the third man and liable to be tagged. It is not permissible for any third man to take refuge in front of the couple standing immediately on his right or left when he becomes third man.

Both runner and chaser may dash through the circle, but may not pause for a moment within the circle, except when the runner claims refuge in front of some couple. When players are inclined to confuse the play by hesitating while running through the circle, this privilege of running through is sometimes forbidden, all the chasing being confined to the outside of the circle.

VARIATION.--This game may be varied by having the players who form the circle stand face to face, with a distance of one long step between each two, instead of all facing toward the center of the circle. In this form of the game the runner takes refuge between the two forming the couple, the one toward whom his back is turned being the third man. Both runner and chaser may run between the two circles of players.

This may be made one of the jolliest games possible, and also one of the best for making slow and dull players alert and active. The author has seen many a class of slow-minded children waken to much quicker mental action as well as greater physical agility by this game. For adult players it may be thoroughly delightful. The writer recalls a class of adult business men in a Y. M. C. A. gymnasium who resorted even to leapfrog tactics in the strenuous sport they put into this game.

TOMMY TIDDLER'S GROUND

_5 to 30 or more players._

_Playground; gymnasium._

The ground is divided by a line into two equal parts. One of these belongs to Tommy Tiddler, who stands on his side of the line and may not cross it. All of the other players are on the other side of the line, and venture across the line into Tommy Tiddler's ground, taunting him with the remark,--

"I'm on Tommy Tiddler's ground, Picking up gold and silver!"

Tommy may tag any one on his ground, and any one so tagged changes places with him. The players will learn to add to the interest of the game by venturing as near Tommy Tiddler as possible and being very tantalizing in inducing him to run after them. Tommy Tiddler, on his part, will find opportunity for considerable finesse, such as in appearing to give his attention entirely to one player, then suddenly turning and dashing for another.

TOSSING WANDS

_10 to 60 or more players._

_Gymnasium; playground; schoolroom._

This game is played in two forms, line form and circle form.

LINE FORM.--The players stand in two lines or ranks facing each other, all those in one line being provided with gymnasium wands about three feet in length. A leader is appointed who either counts or commands as a signal for tossing the wands back and forth from one line to the other: as, "One, two, three--toss!" This is even more effective if gymnastic movements be taken on the three counts, as bending the trunk forward with the wand downward, stretching the arms upward with the wand overhead, extending it forward at shoulder height, and then tossing backward over the head. The signals for this would be "Bend! Stretch! Out! Toss!"

The wands should first be held in the hand with the palms upward, and caught with the hands in the same position. Later, the hand position should be reversed, the wand being grasped with the downward-turned palms.

CIRCLE FORM.--When players are proficient in catching in opposite lines or ranks, they should form a circle, facing around in single file, each player being provided with a wand which is tossed backward over the head and caught by the player behind. This may be done best rhythmically with the exercises and commands mentioned above, "Bend! Stretch! Out! Toss!" The wand should be caught with the palms outward.

Any player failing to catch a wand drops out of the game. With a little practice, however, this usually resolves itself into a quick drill rather than a game; but it is a most interesting, skillful, and diverting play.

TRADES

_10 to 60 or more players._

_Indoors; out of doors._

This game is the boys' form of the game played by girls as "Old Woman from the Woods." The players divide into two equal parties. One party retires and decides on some trade or occupation, whereupon they advance toward the second party, saying:--

"Here are some men from Botany Bay. Got any work to give us to-day?"

The second party asks, "What can you do?" The first party answers, "Anything." The second party says, "Set to work, then!" whereupon they go through pantomimic motions descriptive of the occupation chosen, such as planing, sawing, or hammering, for the carpenter; the motions of the bricklayer, tailor, cobbler, motor-man, etc. The second party guesses what this pantomime indicates. Should they guess correctly, they have a turn at representing a trade. Should they fail, the first party has another trial.

When played in a playground or gymnasium, where there is a good running space, a successful guess should be followed by a chase of the actors by the guessing party, any players caught before a designated goal line is reached having to join the party of their captors. The party wins which secures all of the players.

The following activities and occupations were shown by one class of city boys: milking cows, grinding coffee, hanging wall paper, traveling salesmen (displaying and measuring goods), rooting a baseball team, Marathon race, picking cherries, basket-ball game, oiling sewing machine, blowing up bicycle tires, running a lawn mower, bricklaying.

TREE PARTY

_5 to 60 players._

_Out of doors._

In these days of nature study this game is especially appropriate. It may be used on any ground or strip of woodland where there is a variety of trees, the game consisting in identifying the trees.

A tag or card is fastened on one or more trees of each variety within certain prescribed limits. These cards may be made as fanciful or as rustic as desired. Birch bark is very appropriate for them, and for either birch bark or a conventional card a pretty element may be added by writing some appropriate quotation or verse, after the Japanese custom. The main object of each card, however, is to bear a number. Each player is provided with a card or slip of paper containing a list of numbers corresponding to those on the trees. Thus, if fifteen trees be numbered, there should be fifteen numbers on each player's card.

The players, having been provided each with a card and pencil, wander at will over the designated territory. Whenever a number is discovered on a tree, the player, if he knows the name of the tree, writes it on his own card opposite the corresponding number. For most companies, popular rather than botanical names of the trees are permissible. At a signal--a bell, whistle, horn, or call--the players all assemble. The host or hostess then reads a correct list, each player checking the card that he holds. The player wins who has the largest number of names correct.

The writer has known this game to be a most beautiful diversion for a lawn party on a large estate, and has a feeling appreciation of how many trees most people will find it hard to name in even a familiar strip of woodland.

TRIPLE CHANGE

_10 to 60 or more players._

_Playground; gymnasium; parlor._

The players form a circle, with the exception of three who stand in the center. Those forming the circle and those in the center number off in threes. The players in the center take turns in calling each his number, as "One!" "Two!" or "Three!" whereupon all of the players in the circle who hold that number quickly change places with each other, the one who called the number trying to catch one as he runs to a new place. Any player so caught changes places with the caller. For instance, the center player may call "Three!" whereupon all of the Numbers Three in the circle must change places. They may do this by changing with a near neighbor, or tantalize the one who called by running across the circle.

The center players take turns in calling numbers. For instance, if the first one fails to secure a place, then the second of the center group calls. Should the first succeed in catching one of the other players, the player so caught will await his turn in the center until Numbers Two and Three have each had a turn at calling before he calls a number.

TUG OF WAR

(See _Catch and Pull Tug of War_ and _Wand Tug of War_; also _Contests for Two_, under "Feats and Forfeits.")

UNDER THE CUCKOO'S NEST

_5 to 30 players._

_House party; out of doors._

One player is chosen as leader, and stands up, generally with his back against a wall or post, while a second player, who is the cuckoo, bends down, as for leapfrog, with his head against the leader. The other players stand around in a circle, each placing a finger on the back of the cuckoo. The leader then "counts off" the fingers of the players with the following rhyme, indicating a finger for each accent of the rhyme:--

"The wind blows east, the wind blows west, The wind blows under the cuckoo's nest. Where shall this or that one go? Shall he go east or shall he go west? Or shall he go under the cuckoo's nest?"

The player whose finger is indicated by the last word of the rhyme must then go to any place directed by the cuckoo, who, if he has any intimation of the identity of the player, may use considerable tact in choosing a difficult or interesting place; as on some high point to which it is difficult to climb, or under some low object under which it is hard to crawl, some distant place, etc. One player, however, must be directed to hide under the cuckoo's nest, and this player takes a position at the feet of the cuckoo. This is a favored position. When all of the players have been thus disposed, the leader calls, "Pom, pom, cooketty coo!" As soon as this call is heard, the players run back and pound the cuckoo on the back until the last one is in. This last one becomes the cuckoo for the next repetition of the game.

VAULTING SEATS

_10 to 60 players._

_Schoolroom._

This game is played the same as Changing Seats, except that the pupils vault over the seats instead of sitting in them. The game may be played anywhere above the third year.

The teacher gives the order "Right, jump!" whereupon all of the pupils jump over their seats toward the right-hand side of the room. The row that is displaced, now standing in the right-hand aisle, runs at once around the room to the left-hand aisle. The teacher then repeats her command. The directions for the vaulting should be varied and unexpected, several being given to the right, then several to the left, etc.

The method of vaulting is to place one hand on the edge of the desk at the back of the seat to be vaulted over, and one hand on the desk that goes with the seat to be vaulted over. The hand should preferably be placed halfway between the two aisles, to assist both the jump and the landing. While placing the hands, pupils should crouch in a position ready to spring, with the heels raised, knees spread outward, and back straight and erect. They should land in the same position, as the bend of the ankle, knee, and hip joints breaks the jar of landing.

WAND RACE

_10 to 30 or more players._

_Gymnasium; playground; schoolroom._

An objective line, fence, or wall is chosen, and from ten to twenty feet from it and parallel with it a starting line is drawn. The players stand behind this line and toe it. If there be a large number, they form in competitive files as for a relay race, the leaders of each division toeing the line. Each leader balances on the forefinger a gymnasium wand, the other hand being placed on the hip, and walks forward to the objective line, all starting at a given signal. Should the wand be dropped, it must be picked up and the effort resumed from the place where this happened.

The first one to reach the objective line wins; or, if a relay, scores for his division. The division wins that gets the largest score. If desired, the winners, _i.e._ those scoring for the different lines, may "play off" against each other, after all of the other players have had their turn.

WAND TUG OF WAR

_10 to 100 players._

_Playground; gymnasium._

This game is played with wooden gymnastic wands, from three to five feet in length, and not less then one inch in diameter. There should be half as many wands as there are players. A line is drawn across the center of the floor or playground. The players are divided into two divisions, one standing on each side of the dividing line, so that each player faces an opponent. These grasp each the end of a wand, held horizontally between them. At a signal a tug of war begins, each player trying to pull his opponent across the line. Any one who puts a foot on the ground of the opponent's territory ceases the struggle and must come across the line. The division wins which has the greatest number of players on its side of the line at the end.

The game is best played in two or three five-minute intervals, with rests between.

WATER SPRITE

_10 to 30 or more players._

_Playground; gymnasium._

The players stand in two lines facing each other, with a large open space representing a river between. One player, representing the water sprite, stands in the middle of the river and beckons to one on the bank to cross. This one signals to a third player on the opposite bank or side of the river. The two from the banks then run across to exchange places, the water sprite trying to tag one of them. If the water sprite be successful, he changes places with the one tagged.

This is a Chinese game, reported by Miss Adèle M. Fielde, and is based upon the superstition that a water sprite waits in the middle of a stream to entice people into it, probably an outgrowth of spring freshets.

WEATHER COCK

_10 to 60 players._

_Schoolroom._

This game, besides offering much sport, may be made to serve a useful purpose in familiarizing children with the points of the compass.

The class having learned which directions are north, east, south, and west, one player, who represents the weather bureau, stands in front of the others (or the teacher may take this part), and calls out which way the wind blows. For instance, when he says, "The wind blows north" the players turn quickly toward the north; if he says "west," the players turn to the west; whenever he says "whirlwind," the players all spin around quickly three times on the right heel.

The interest will depend very largely on the rapidity and variety with which the leader calls the various points of the compass. For older children, halfway points may be named, as northwest, southeast, etc.

WEE BOLOGNA MAN

_2 to 60 or more players._

_Parlor; playground; schoolroom._

"I'm the wee Bologna Man. Always do the best you can, To follow the wee Bologna Man."

A leader who can be very brisk in movement and resourceful in ideas stands in front of the other players and repeats this verse rapidly, imitating each time he repeats the verse some one action characteristic of the members of a band. For instance, the first time he may go through the pantomime of playing a fife; the next time, without any pause between, he may imitate the beating of a drum; the next, playing a fiddle, trombone, flute, cymbals, triangle, imitate the drum major, etc. All of the other players follow his movements.

The sport will depend largely upon the rapidity of the time and the vivacity that is put into the movements.

FOR THE SCHOOLROOM.--The head players in the different lines of seats should take turns in being the Bologna Man, and the movements should be such as will afford effective exercise. For instance, the first player will stand and repeat the verse while hopping on one foot, the entire class joining in the hopping. The moment he is through, the leader of the next row should jump up, face the class, and repeat the verse, going through some other motion, such as hopping on the other foot; he, in turn, to be succeeded by the next leader, etc. Many gymnastic movements will suggest themselves, such as jumping on both feet, jumping forward down the aisle frog fashion, jumping high in place, running in place, stretching the arms out sideways and bending sideways like a walking beam, whirling both arms around like a windmill, taking a dance step, etc.

This is one of the Scotch plays, and like most Scotch things of the sort, should be done in brisk time.

WHIP TAG

(Light the Candle; Beetle-goes-Round)

_10 to 30 or more players._

_Playground; gymnasium._

This game may be played with a knotted towel, though it is perhaps more skillful and interesting when played with a "beetle," a small cylindrical sack about twenty inches long, stuffed with cotton, and resembling in general proportions a policeman's club.

All but one of the players stand in a circle with hands behind their backs. The odd player runs around the outside carrying the beetle, which he drops in the hands of any player in the circle. That player immediately turns to chase his right-hand neighbor, beating him as much as he can find opportunity for while he chases him around the circle and back to his place. It is obviously to the interest of this neighbor to outrun the beetle and escape a buffeting.

The one holding the beetle then takes the place of the first outside player, that one joining the ring. The new beetle man, in turn, runs around on the outside and drops the beetle in any hands which he chooses.

The sport of this game depends on the alertness of the players, as not only the one who receives the beetle but his right-hand neighbor must know when and where the beetle lands, and turn quickly for the chase. The player running around the outside will add to the zest of the game by trying to deceive the ring players as to where he is going to place the beetle, quickening or slowing his pace, or resorting to other devices to keep them on the alert.

WHO GOES ROUND MY STONE WALL?

_10 to 30 or more players._

_Indoors; out of doors._

There are two ways of playing this game. The one first described is better suited to schools and general playground conditions; the second is quite distinct, and may have better sport for parlor use.

The players stand in a circle, numbering preferably twenty or less, with a little space between each two players, and not holding hands. They represent a sheepfold, but later, as each is chosen from the circle, he takes the part of a sheep. One player is chosen to be Jacky Lingo, who walks around outside of the circle. Another, who is the shepherd or owner of the sheep, stands in the center of the circle.

The owner says, "Who goes round my stone wall?" The outside player answers, "Nobody; only little Jacky Lingo."

"Pray don't steal any of my fat sheep."

Jacky Lingo answers: "Unless I take one-by-one, two-by-two, three-by-three! Follow me!"

As Jacky Lingo says his last line, he taps three different players on the back, one for "one-by-one," another for "two-by-two," and a third for "three-by-three." If a large number be playing, he may tap two for each count instead of one, making six in all. As the players are tapped, they step out from the sheepfold and line up back of Jacky Lingo, each one in the line placing his hands on the shoulders of the one next in front. This is continued until all the players are taken by Jacky Lingo, who then runs off around the ground with them. The owner goes after them, faces Jacky Lingo, and says, "Have you seen anything of my black sheep?"

"Yes; I gave them a lot of bread and butter and sent them up there" (pointing to left or right).

"Then what have you got behind you?"

"Only a few poor black sheep."

"Well, let me see! Here's my black sheep!"

The owner then tries to catch the sheep, and this Jacky Lingo tries to prevent. Any sheep in the line may be touched by the owner, and when so touched he steps out of the line and stands aside until all are caught.

VARIATION.--When played indoors or on the turf, the game may be played by the owner being blindfolded and taking a position on hands and knees--"all fours." The dialogue is the same as given above, and the gathering in of the sheep by Jacky Lingo the same, except that the players do not line up behind him. They simply stray over the ground when he takes them from the fold. When all are scattered in this way, they begin to cry, "Baa-a! baa-a!" and the owner, still on all fours and blinded, tries to catch them. The first one caught becomes shepherd the next time.

WINK

_9 to 25 players._

_House party._