The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-07-22
Sports lus; ;.H,nGS

Sports and i.amCS.
HooPs--The proper and legitimate
hoop should be made of a stout ashen
lath, round OH the outside and fiat on
the inside, and should be well fastened
at It's point of iuncture it should be III
height SO as to reach midway between
the youngsters elbow and shoulder, so
that he may not have to stoop while
striking it. The stick should be about
sixteen inches long and made of tough
ash; and IN bowling the hoop the
bowler should strike it vigorously in
the centre, and III a direction horizon
tai with the ground. Such hoop exer-
else is exceedingly good, and Il good
run with such hoop will warm the
youth III the very coolest weather.
Nothing can be more Objectionable
than are modern iron hoops; they are
exceedingly dangerous to by-passers,
and many are the shins that have been
broken, and not "A few old men have
been thrown down and killed by them.
The practice of running them with Il
crooked piece of IRON is also foolish,
for it defeats the end OF the hoop,
which is to give exercise to the arm,
while running gives 1t to the legs The
game called encounters can be well
played with wooden hoops, but not
with iron ones. 1t consists of two
players driving their hoops against
each other from long distances, the
victor being he who beats the other
hoop down. Sometimes Il string is eX-
tended across the diameter of the hoop,
and another at right angles with this,
while some pieces OF tin are tied loose
ly IL the centre, to jingle as the hoop
is driven.
HOOP RACE.-Any number of bcys
can join IN this exciting sport, but they
ought all to be provided with hoops as
nearly equal in size as possible. At Il
given signal, the players all start to-
gether, and each endeavors to reach
the winning post (Which may be any
distant Object before his companions.
He who arrives at the winning-post last
is generally received with groans.
misses and other vocal signs of disap-
probation.
TURNPIKE Five or SIX BOYS can play
at this game, though only one hoop Is
required. Chance decides which OF the
players shall first take the hoop. The
others players become turnpike-k keep
ers. Each turnpike is formed of two
bricks or stones, placed on the ground,
and separated by about three fingers
breadth. These turnplkes are fixed at
regular distances, and their number is
regulated by the number of keepers.
When all Is ready, the first PLAYER
starts his hoop and endeavors to
drive it through all the tumpikes :;
should he succeed in this, he turns tho
hoop, drives 1t back again, and retains
1t until it touches one of the turupikes,
the keeper of which now becomes hoop
driver. When player touches the
hoop with his hand, or allows it to fall,
he must deliver it up to the nearest
turnpike keeper Each keeper must
stand on that side of his turnpike
which is toward the right hand of the
hOop-dr.ver, and it therefore follows
that he must alter his position when
the hoop-driyeT returns. Should a
keeper stand ON his wrong side, the
driver need not send the hoop through
his turnpike. When the players are
numerous, here may be two or more
hoops driven ut once.
THE PoP-GUN The best pop guns
are made of a strong straight piece of
elder, and should be about SIN inches
long. The pith of this should be pierre
ed out by an iron ramrod fitting the
hole; and when the inside IS thorough
ly smooth by rubbing the rod up aud
down, 1t is ready for use. The pellets
are made with moisteued tow-biown
paper is nasty thing to put into the
mouth, aud we shall never advise the
use of it. When the pellet is prepar-
ed, it should be laid over the mouth of
the gun 10 such Il quantity rs to require
squeezing and plugging in. The first
pellet should be driven through the gun
to its other end the second pellet is to
be driven III, in a similar manner to the
first, and then, as 1T Is forced through
the gun, the air between the pellets
being incompressible beyond certain
point, forces out the lower pellet with
loud 'pop;" hence the term pop
gun, which has been applied to them.
Pop-guns are not very healthy eXer-
else; the pressing of the hammer against
the put OF the stomach frequently lead
ing to arrangement of that organ. 70
prevent this, the lad who plays ut pop
gun should have small round board
slung over his neck by string hanging
as low as the pit OF his stomach, against
which he should press the handle of mis-
ramrod when he fires off his pop-gun.
- |OuR0 C'3iSudcr