The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-09-04
At TIE GREAT FAIR.
The Midway PlaiSanCe Proves that
Mankind Is One Grand Brotherhood.

1t Is Clear That Many Of Our Games
Are Very old-Catty Goes a Long
Way Baok-How the Burmese Play
Ball-Curling Stones Excite a Goo d
Deal of Curiosity Specimens of
Chess, Dice, Tops.
From the Baltimore American
Chicago, Aug. 31.-The fair teaches the
observer many, many instructive lessons,
but probably meme on more frequent oc-
casions or more impressively than that
all human creatures are members Of one
great family. Whilst they may differ in
complexion, customs and manners, Just as
the members of small household, with
a common parentage and she same sur
roundings differ in appearances, intellect,
tastes and other qualities, there is a
family resemblance indicative of the great
brotherhood. This is seen whether study
ing the peoples of the Plaisance, from the
mild and sociable little Javanese to the
barbaric and warlike Dahomeyans, from
the thick-headed Soudanese to the most
intellectual Caucasian, or in tracing the
progress of civilization as presented to
the numerous exhibits, and looked
at from broad view, the differences in
life and its aims between those who in
habited the east centuries ago or the I'M
civilized nations of to-day, and the en-
lightened people of the present time are
not as great as may be supposed. Such
conclusions are forcibly impressed upon
many visitors to the fair repeatedly. The
anthropological exhibits indicate that
such is the case, probably, in a more COM
prehensive way than elsewhere Some
thing has already been said on this sub
ject. In one section, devoted to the dis
play of the exhibits referred to, illustra-
tive of the customs and life of man in va
rious nations and ages, there is a collec-
ton which shows that man from the
earliest times in history found time for
amusement, and not only that, but that
many of the games which serve as pastime
for the sire as well as the child of to-day
were practiced by other people centuries
ago.
In a long line of showcases in the An
thropolOgical building is the collection of
games, including those of all ages and
nations which those in charge were en-
abled to obtain, as well as games of to
day In the classification amusements of
similar tendency or common method
have been grouped together, thus bring
ing those of early days In comparison
with those of modern times. One can
thus note, for instance the origin and
progress of dice or other forms OF gamb-
ling; wonder over the antiquity of some
the collection might offer many sugges-
tious for the introduction of new or for
gotten means of pastime in this country.
oATTY 10 VERY OLD.
The small boy who INDUCES in the
pleasant pastime of tip-cat or catty, as it
is termed in Maryland, as well as he who
played il decades ago, Is no doubt igno-
rant of the fact that the identical game
was played centuries before Christ, and
that what he considers distinctively an
American game is played in several orr
entail countries, from whom it was OBJ
tanned by Caucasians. In the collection
is specimen discovered by Mr.. Finder
Petrie which is said to prove that tip-cat
was played in ancient Egypt, the speci-
mon indicating q period of tweuty-four
hundred years before Christ, the game
being of great antiquity and of very wide
geographical distribution. 1t is played
in Persia, India, China, Japan, Burmah,
so that an American in travelling in these
and some other oriental countries, even
though not understanding a word of any
other language but his own, could most
likely enjoy a little of this pastime with
the natives though he would be unable
to quarrel over the technical points or
other questions in dispute.
THE BURMESE BALL GAME.
If the modern game of football. as
played by professionals of this decade. is
practiced by any other nation, the fact
has not been discovered, but football
without the prize ring' results is played
in other country. The Burmese have a
game which affords physical exercise. de-
uatOnC a paYta in hind of Slrin apd
the same time, pleasant pastime The
ball used is a little larger than the ordi-
nary baseball, and is made of bamboo
wickerwork, consequently being very
light The players form a circle, each
one staQding about Ave or six feet from
his neighbor. One of the players starts the
ball with kick towards one of his neigh
bors, who keeps it dancing up. and down
in the air for some minutes without
touching it with his hands or allowing it
to fall upon the ground. The knees, ell
bows, feet, head and shoulders are all
brought into play After the first player
has "shOwn OFF, for a time, he kicks the
ball to the next man, or sometimes sends
it into space in the middle of the players.
The player at times, catches the ball be-
tween his heels, then throws it up so as
to catch it on some other part of the
body, catching it on the knee, elbow, sole
of foot or shoulders.
CURLING STONES.
Hundreds of visitors unfamiliar with
games, except those most common ip the
localities in which they live, whilst in
speeding exhibits in the British section,
in the galleries of the department Of lib
eral arts, have come across collection
of nicely-rounded granite stones, with a
handle somewhat similar to that which
adorns that useful article known as the
tailor's goose, and have wondered and
guessed as to the uses made Of these
stones. The exhibitor did his share, after
informing the visitor by placards that
the display was made up of "curling
stones, and that he made the best curl
ing stones AS the maker himself had
said that his were the best, and he must
know, the visitor took il for granted that
what he said was undoubtedly true,
cirnnn .n-..,1ll