The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-07-09
THREE SPRING GAMES.
How Young Children May Amuse The
selves on Pleasant Days.

THREE SPRING GAMES.
How Young Children May Amuss Them
selves on Pleasant Days.
With the very first appearance Of
spring weather and the drying windi
that leave bare, firm ground, the boy
and girl, tired of snowballs and sleds.
and longing for something in the inter.
rcgnum Of sports, turn their thoughts
to the outdoor games and begin to feel
their marbles burn in their pockets; for
although boys are the chief marble
players there is no reason why girls
should not have a finger and thumb,
and some agatcs, in the business. too.
Marbles are universal plaything.
They belong not only to childhood. but
to the childhood Of the race, and the
love of them is almost instructive.
Nevertheless, it is difficult to analyze
the pleasure that they give, and say
just where lies the charm Of their vari-
GUS games, for the skill required is not
remarkable, and one can hardly realize
any vast enjoyment from the accumula-
ton Of a whole poclkctful Of little round
pebbles. except as they become objects
of interchange and desire.
The ancient Ring Taw" and 1.-THE
Conqueror," are among the best games
to be played with marbles; and, al
though simple, are really Of some merit
Ring Taw' is played with circle
marked ont six inches in diamet r, in
side another which is six feet in dame
ter. The school boys plant each mar
bic within the small circle, and then
stationing themselves on the edge of
the larger circle, about three feet away,
they snap consecutivcly at the center
marbles. The boy who, with his own
shot, sends a marble outside of the
line, wins 1t and has another chance.
II taw is struck by another taw not
only is the taw killed but its owner
surrenders to the killer all the marbles
he may have won already.
When all the marbles are shot from
the larger circle the players shoot from
the spot where their marbles stopped
| when struck. II a taw stays in the
small circle its player is 'out," and has
to put into the ring all the marbles he
has won. When no marbles remain in
| the ring, and all the taws are dead, the
game Is over, and some boys pockets
are good deal heavier than they were.
| THE Conqueror' is slightly roughcr
game. One boy in this lays his marble
| on the ground and another tries to
break it by throwing his own marble
at it If he docs break it his marble
counts one, and his antagonist has to
put down another.
| Another sport that comes along with
the first ''good walking" is that of the
hoop, sport that can hardly be young
er than the first little savage who loved
play and had a bough to twist and an
open space In which to spin it along.
All children do not know that there is
= very pretty game Of hoops called the
Tourney" where an equal number Of
hoop-drivers, being posted on opposite
sides, charge upon each other, each try
ing to upset the confronting hoop; those
who are overthrow are counted out of
the game; those who overthrow, range
themselves opposite each other and be-
gin again, until there is left only one
standing hoop as victor.
Another amusement for these verual
months, interesting from tradition, ard
because it is associated with early En-
glish poetry and early English sports.
Is that of 1.-THE Nine Mems Morrice."
This is played by drawing three squares,
one inside the other, at equal distances,
connecting them by lines drawn from
the corners of the outer square to the
corners Of the inner one, and by other
lines from the center of the outer sides
to the center Of the inner sides, making,
beside the lines of the squares them
selves, eight other lines, four straight
and four diagonal. The place for the
men-nine to each captain-arc ut the
twelve corners thus made, and at the
middle point of each of the four lines Of
the three squares, there being six square
places.
The play consists in hindering the
other side from getting three men in a
row. When one does succeed In max
ing q row, he can take any of the men
of the other captain except those al
ready in q row, and one of those can be
taken il there is no other of the enemy
free on the lines. When at last all the
men are placed, then the inlay continue.
in backward and forward moves alone
the lines. one spot only at time, unit
all are taken by one side.-N. Y. Herald