The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1873-12-25

The popular game Of "Shadow Buff
il an old established favorite in France,
where under the name of COLIN MaiLLard
a Ia Silhouette, it gives occasion for the
players to assume grotesque costume al
ways a pleasing feature in children's
games. In Shadow Buff" large linen
sheet strained over a recess, or pinned on
either side to the ordinary window cur
tains of the apartment. Buff then takes
his place on q low stool in front of the
sheet, having at his back a lamp few
feet behind bis stool The point of the
game consists in the company passing de-
tween Buff and the lamp, by so doing cast
ing a strong shadow on the surface. The
more unlike the players ordinary self the
assumed costume makes the child appear,
the greater the puzzle to Buff to tell the
name. The figure is supposed to pass
three times only behind Buff; at the end
of that time if he cannot guess who it is,
Buff has to pay forfeit.
All the figures playing in the game
pass in the same manner until Buff makes
a right guess. Limping, grimacing and
assuming any fantastic appearance mag
Unable are allowed in this game. Buff
must rot look to the right or left while
.Le ssures are passing; he musE Keep Ills
eyes fixed on the white sheet.
dropping the Handkerchief, or, as the
French phrase it, L AnQuiIe c7a rorsd, is a
much played game in France and Eng
land. A ring formed by children joining
hands, leaving out one child, who car
ries the handkerchief knotted to represent
IAN eel" No one in the circle is al
lowed to look behind until the handkel
chief, or eel is dropped. Then the play
ers behind whom it is laid picks the hand
kerchief up, and pursues the one who
dropped it. In the meanwhile all the COM
pany the circle raise their arms to let pur-
sued evade the pursuer by passing in and
out of the ring. Any piece of furniture or
elevated position which bars the attempt of
the pursuer to touch the pursued is con-
sidered sanctuary, and the pursuer fail
ing to reach the pursued has to begin the
game over again. The player who is
touched has to take the handkerchief his
turn, and the late pursuer joins the circle
in the middle of the room.
Something like the foregoing game, but
not so generally known, is the "WOod-
gatherer aud the Ranger" As many
couples As can be formed in a ring should
stand in the middle of the room, leaving
out one couple to represent the characters
of the wood -gatherer and the ranger.
The latter coup pie stand side by side, apart
from the rest. All the little girls are
wood gatherers, and all the boys are ran
gers. Each couple in the middle of the
room is called fagot The fagots join
hands, and dance round the circle until
they regain their original plaoes. When
they stop, the wood gatheref brakes away
from the ranger, and is followed by him.
In her attempt to escape she may take
shelter in the circle formed by the fagots,
and while there can not be touched by
the ranger. AS, however, it is very tire
some to stand in one place, the wood-gath-
er generally makes a sortie when she has
recovered sufficient breath for fresh exer-
tons, and the pursuit recommends
When at length caught by the ranger,
the fagots loose hands and stand in coup
les. The wood-gatherer then places her
self opposite the little girl she chooses to
take her place, and the woodman opposite
a little boy in the same intent. The coup
lie thus disengaged become in their turn
the principal actors, and the game con,
tinues till all have been rangers and gath
er&