Frederica Seeger

“ A MAGIC-LANTERN TRICK The light of the magic-lantern and the color of images may not only be painted on a cloth, but also reflected by a cloud of smoke. Provide a box of wood or pasteboard, about four feet high and seven or eight inches square at bottom, but diminishing as it ascends, so that its aperture at the top be but six inches long and half an inch wide. At the bottom of this box there must be a door that shuts quite close, by which you are to place in the box a chafing-dish with hot coals, on which is to be thrown incense, whose smoke goes out in a cloud at the top of the box ”

“ He must have a shifty pony well trained to riding work. He has to defend the goal, and therefore must be an expert "backhander," that is, quick to send back the ball to the opposing rank when it comes in the direction of his goal. It is the place of the back to knock in when the ball goes over the end line. When he is sure of the half-back player on his side he may go up into the game and make a leading attack himself, but it is nearly always well for him to avoid meeting the ball, for if he misses, the goal is left defenceless. ”

“ II. THE FORTUNE-TELLER A pretty girl, in simple outdoor costume, standing sideways to the spectators, with downcast eyes and a half-smiling, half-frightened expression. The fortune-teller faces her and holds the young lady's right hand in her left, while her own right hand holds a coin with which she is apparently tracing the lines of the young lady's palm, at the same time gazing with an arch expression into her face, as though to note the effect of her predictions. ”

“ A player can build only on his own men. The one drawing the largest number of spaces with three armed men is the winner.
CHESS Chess is a game which can only be played by two persons at the same time. The requisites are a board consisting of 64 squares of alternate black and white, and 32 pieces of wood, ivory, bone or other composition, which are technically known as "men." The board is so placed between the players that a white square is on the extreme right of each. The "men" are called black and white, there being an equal number of each. One player takes the white and another the black. ”

“ THE KNIGHT OF THE WHISTLE This is a capital game for everybody but the victim, and produces much fun. Some one who does not know the game is chosen to be Knight of the Whistle, and is commanded to kneel down and receive the honor of knighthood, which the leader (armed with a light cane, the drawing- room poker, or other substitute for a sword) confers by a slight stroke on the back. While placing him in position, opportunity is taken to attach to his back, by means of a bent pin or otherwise, a piece of string about a foot in length, to which is appended a small light whistle. ”

“ Primitive man hurled his stone-pointed arrows at wild beasts, and as he advanced to a higher state of the observances of the laws of force he fashioned bows to give a greater impulse to his missiles. For hundreds of years the bow and arrow constituted the principal weapon of the chase, and finally became the instrument of offence and defence for armored knights, warriors and heroes. Robin Hood, roving the wild woods of Merry England, depended upon it for his prowess, as did Allan a Dale and Little John. ”

“ Once on a time a brooklet drops, With splash and clash, through a shady copse; One day there chanced to pass a man, Who, deeming water better than Cider, down by the brooklet went, To dip some up was his intent. ”

“ When one of the center forwards gets the ball she tries to pass it out to either of her own inside players, who endeavors to "dribble" it up the field until she is encountered by an opposition player, at which juncture, by a quick stroke she passes it out to the wing player. It is in this manner, by keeping a straight course and assisted by their halfbacks that the forwards by passing and "dribbling" get the ball into the "striking circle," and when they get it that length it is not a difficult matter to score a goal. ”

“ Here you behold Little Red Riding-Hood, a model of grand filial devotion, for she was so fond of her granny that she wandered through the forest to take the old lady's luncheon, and was eaten by the wolf for so doing, which is a warning to all children to be careful how they do much for their grandmothers, unless they are rich and can leave them something in their wills. ”

“ Meanwhile the other players gather in a circle round him, making believe to pass an imaginary object from hand to hand. The victim naturally believes that this imaginary object must be the long-lost whistle, and makes a dash for it accordingly, when the player who happens to be behind his back blows the actual whistle and instantly drops it again. Round flies the unhappy knight, and makes a fresh dash to seize the whistle, but in vain. ”

“ MIRTH The leader for this game must have a contagious laugh. He throws a handkerchief into the air; when he does this, all must laugh heartily, until the handkerchief lies upon the ground, then the laughing must stop immediately. The player laughing after the handkerchief touches the ground is "out." This also happens to the one laughing too soon. The one left alone at last is the winner, and may become leader. ”

“ If at any part of the throw, from start to finish, the thrower be out of the circle it is considered a foul and does not score, the number of players in the team being counted as one less when the total or average is figured. For each throw to the first line or any point between it and the next line, a team scores one point. For each throw to the second line or between it and the next line a team scores three points. For each throw to or beyond the third line, a team scores five points. The team averaging or adding the largest score wins first place in the game. ”

“ It is for Number 1 to watch the opposing back, to ride him off and clear the way for his own side when they have the ball going towards the goal. All his energies must be directed to obtaining a clear field for his side. He requires a fast pony to do the work.
The position of Number 2 is the most independent and the player is called the "flying man" of the team. He must be an adept in "dribbling" out the ball so as to get a fair hit at it. As it comes to him from his side players his part is to race with it, hitting as he gallops, and in this way make the goal if he can. ”

“ MAGIC MUSIC—ANY NUMBER OF PLAYERS One player is sent from the room. The others decide upon something for him to do, but he is not told what it is, though he is helped by a noise of some kind on metal, or on a musical instrument. When he is near an object with which he is to perform some feat, the noise is loud. If he touches the wrong object, the music is soft. Any one of the musical instruments commonly used by children may be employed in this game. ”

“ ZOOLOGY—ANY NUMBER OF PLAYERS The leader says: "Of what animal am I thinking?" He tells that the animal has a certain number of legs, and gives other points of a like nature. From this description the guessing is done. When a player guesses the animal correctly, he scores a point. Each player has a turn. The game is played until it loses its interest.
CHAPTER XVIII OUT-DOOR GAMES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN BEAN BAG GAMES—SKIPPING THE ROPE—VARIOUS TAG GAMES—CROSSING THE BROOK TARGET BEAN BAG The bags are thrown at targets. A score is made out. A prize is given the one getting the best score. ”

“ The tradesmen go through the motions of their trade. The master must guess the trade. When he does, he exchanges place with the one whose trade he guessed.
WAND TUG OF WAR Wooden gymnastic wands are used, half as many as there are players. Draw a line across the room or grass; divide the players into two divisions, one on each side of the line, each player facing his opponent. These grasp each other's wand, and at a signal begin to tug, but they must not put foot into the opponent's territory. If they do the struggle ceases. The side wins which secures the greatest number of wands. ”

“ The one who first calls the other's name gives away his slip to that other person, the object being to get rid of one's slips as fast as possible. If the slip turned up by the second player does not correspond in number to that turned up 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 been turned up, when those two players must immediately call each other's names. The winner is the one who first gets rid of his slips. ”

“ The names of the chief sticks and implements employed in the sport are: driver, brassie, spoon, cleek, iron, mashie, niblick and putter. The driver, brassie and spoon are wooden-headed clubs, but the others have always iron heads. The driver is the club used for striking to the greatest distance when the ball is on the "tee," that is, on the little mound of sand on which it is placed at the commencement of each hole, so that more facility may be had in striking it. The putter is used on the putting—green, for short strokes round about the holes. ”

“ The 8 pawns are placed on each side on the squares immediately in front of the pieces.
The player has the privilege of moving his king into any vacant square adjacent to one he is occupying, provided it is not already taken by a piece belonging to his opponent, but he can go no farther. The queen can be moved in any direction up, down, backwards, forwards, as long as there is no piece to block her. The same can be done with the rook or castle, except that it cannot be moved diagonally—The bishop can only be moved diagonally, in a backward or forward direction. ”

“ When the player in the center secures a seat, the one at his left goes into the center. If more than thirty are playing, it is better to have two vacant stools and two players in the center.
PEBBLE CHASE The leader holds a pebble between the palms of his hands. The others are grouped about him, each with hands extended, palm to palm. The leader then passes his hands between those of the players. No one can tell where he leaves the pebble, until some one guesses where it is. Each player has a turn. The one receiving the pebble is chased by the others. ”

“ The scamp can lead the gardener a lively chase, for he can play leap frog, or turn somersaults, if he so desires. The gardener must imitate him.
DO THIS, DO THAT The players face each other in two lines, the leader being in the center. When he says, "Do this," they obey, and when he quickly follows his first order by saying, "Do that," the "that" being another act, they must again obey at once. If any one is slow, he must exchange places with the leader. The fun of the game depends upon the antics of the one in the ring. ”

“ When these objects are named, the players run up to the starter when their names are given, each one putting his hands on the shoulder of the one before him, the first one having put his hands upon the starter in the same way. When all are in line, the train starts, after the signal, which is a bell. The starter may imitate the noises a locomotive makes as it starts out on its journey. He leads up hill and down dale, and the line must remain unbroken. The one who breaks the line pays a forfeit or is out of the game. The line being mended, continues its journey. ”

“ A donkey is given as a booby prize to the one most often fooled. This fooling can be done in any way which suggests itself.
EASTER EGG PARTIES Color hard-boiled eggs and hide them. Give your little guests pretty baskets and let them hunt for the eggs, or give each a large wooden spoon to spoon them up. If you live in the country roll eggs down hill at one place as a target at the foot of it.
Draw a bunny holding an egg. Pin it to the wall. The one who, blindfolded, succeeds in putting a pin in the egg receives eggs as presents. ”

“ The players of one line, at a signal, throw the balls to those opposite them. They then turn and throw against the wall, if the game is played indoors.
BALL DULL The object of this game is to train the perceptions, the muscular sense, and the muscles themselves. The weight of the ball is suited to the players. The two-pound weights are used for girls.
The couples are far enough apart to allow space for full play. One of each couple has a ball for himself and his partner. The throwing of the balls to one of the opposite side is simultaneous, when a leader gives the command. ”

“ FOLLOW OUR LEADER The leader walks before a line of players and performs ridiculous acts which all must imitate. If any player fails to do this, he or she is out of the game. The leader may make the players perform feats like jumping over high places, turning somersaults, climbing, etc., if the players are boys. If among the players there are girls, the feats, of necessity, must not be too hard. ”

“ Each child represents a point of the compass—north, south, east, west. When a leader calls: "Which way does the wind blow?" a child of whom this is asked, points either to the north, south, east or west, according to the name given him.
THE FLOWERS AND THE WIND Two parties play this game. They stand at a distance apart. The players represent flowers. The first one in the line walks to the opposite line, and asks of the first one: "What flower am I?" Saying this, the flower is ready to run for the wind. An odd player stands ready to give chase, if the guesser does not guess correctly. ”

“ The players of each team throw in rapid succession. Each player has but one turn, unless the ball strikes some object before touching the ground, when another trial is allowed. At starting a thrower must stand in the circle and toe the throwing line, drawn across the center of the circle. In completing the throw she must not fall or step forward over the outer line of the circle in front of her. ”

“ JENKINS Any number of players may play this game, which is common to almost every nation, and is very interesting. Sides being formed, the players seat themselves at a table, facing each other. It having been decided who shall first hold the silver piece, the player who receives it holds it in his closed hand under the table, as do all the players on his side, when they receive it, and the piece is passed from hand to hand, the object being to deceive the opposite players as to its whereabouts. ”

“ A player mixes his pieces and passes them to his right-hand neighbor. When the leader gives the signal, all the players put together the four pieces they have. The one who first succeeds calls out "ready." Then all stop and pass the cards on again. The successful player is given a mark on a tally card. The game goes on until a half hour has passed. The person receiving the most marks is entitled to a prize, or may become the leader, as preferred. ”