New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-12
CHILDREN'S GAMES.
ENGLISH SPECIMENS AND AMERICAN AN

ENGLISH SPECIMENS AND AMERICAN AN
ALOGUEs
rH1LpRENs SINGING GAMES with the tunes to to
which they are sung. Collected and edited by
Alice SECOND IN 0 SERIES anf Ondon
David Mutt. New-York. Macmillan Co.
This dainty publication is n companion OF the
little hook published under the same name last year
and reviewed at length in these columns 1t mas the
same merits In the way of pictorial adornment mat
were commended then. and the same defect OF
faulty transcription and poor narmonlZation IN
the music which met with dispraise since MISS
CONNIE does not issue II as contribution 10 Ioh
lore but only for practical use to stimulate inter
est In the games through which the chdren OF TO-
day perpetuate the love of dramatic creation, which
Is as old as humanity ITSELF 1t might seem unfair 10
lay stress upon these faults; but there is growing
interest I'm the subject which demands that the mus
cal element receive the on the part OF
collectors as the verbal. The games which MISS
CONNIE has given in the book are London Bridge
"sally Waters" Three Sailors, LOBBY Loo
r'Round and Round the Village The Jolly Miiier'
"Oats and Beans and Barley" and Here We Come
I'm the Green Grass" All Of these. with the en-
ception of LOBBY Loo have American anaogueS.
and a comparison Of the versions discioses se'c'"'
Interesting features of this fascinating study
The version of London Bridge Is Broken Down
Is from Kent and is more complete In one respect
than the version which be heard In the streets
NJ American cities and sngularly fragmentary IN
another II has. like some of the German versions
a number Of verses suggesting the use OF oinereh'
materials in the repair of the bridge ana theh pro-
ceeds with the capture of the prisoner who stole
my watch and broke my chain An attemp' 10 ran
aon the prisoner is made. but the sum demanded Is
too large and 'off to prison he must go lhis II
In harmony with the game as II has peen sung io'
centuries In nearly all the countries OF rurope'
From Miss Gomme's directions for playing the game.
however 1t appears that in Kent the most essential
al O
war after all the children have been captured ana
have secretly chosen sides. The mythoosiea' sH
ncance Of the game, as was set out i'll s'uuS vi
A. printed in this journal on September 6. 1894 rests
so largely upon the contest of strength Tor whlch
oil the preceding acts are but preparatory, that It's
omission here is most noteworthy. Miss Gonrnes
note betrays no knowledge Of the contest OF d
bridge for the human soul after death whlch pays
40 large a part in ancient religions and nytho.ogieS
ard which is obviously symbolizcd in the ug-of-war
but she in:imates a belief that the widespread
and borbarous rite of foundation sacrifice may be
shown in the capture o. the prisoner IN 'he gam
and she recalls a tradition that the stones OF Lon
don Bridge were despatched with the bood o. niue
children when 1t built In TINS connection II
may be added that Professor Gummere. IN MS Ger
manic Origins" records the fact that in 1885, when
new bridge was to be built at Halle. the good 1oK
vanly insisted that a child ought 10 be walled mo
II in order to insure good luck The statement seeS
to have been made on the authority oil Grimm
familiar of American games. came from London
and it's text Is as follows:
SALLY Sally Waters sprinkle in the pan.
Choose FOR the best and choose for the worst
And choose the very one you love pest
Now you're married 1 wish you JOY.
First girl and then boy; ..
Seven years after son and daughter.
PRAY young couple come KISS together.
Tho SINGULAR feature Of this game is that as noted
BY Mics CONNIE the second verse is sung TO the |
tune of Yankee Doodle" There has never been a
determination Of the origin OF our most popular
National air One story has II that 1t was COM
nosed bv DR. Shackburg. of the British Army |
about the middle Of The eighteenth century, anu
recommended in lest to the Colonial contingent OF
Abercrombe's army 1t is also said to be as oid
ns the time Of Charles l. and 20 have been sung 10
a song written In ridcule OF Cromwell IL mas peen
described as ancient French vintage song an ola
Spanish sword dance. Magyar and Dutch tune
and now the question arises, Where did the London
children find 1t?
.Here Come Three Sailors" Is only variant OF
pIIere Come Three Soldiers" which Mr.. Newell
prints in his Games and Songs OF American Chill
dren " as having been collected In Chariesto"h'
w Va It is near relative OF Here Come
Three Lords Out OF SPAIN and the German ia
Kommen drei Herren Nineveh.' The famiiiar
American game Here Comes Duke A-foVins'
will scarcely be recognized In Miss Gornines Here
We Come Up the Green Grass. but 1t is never
theIess the same game Tread, Tread the Green
Grass" which Mr.. Newell got from Philadelphia |
Is a little akin. especially In Its refrain
s'Dust dust. dust" In the English game THIS IS;
"Dusty, dusty day." which are sure we have
also heard In this country. In Here Comes Duke
A-Roving" the refrain is, with the ransy. tansy |
tea; In the Middle States where as also in the |
far West, the three dukes have been transformed
into three ducks 1t is with a ransom, dansome |
dee" and in New-York City. where the three ducks
have been forty. it is My dilsey dulsey
Sa nothing
frain but Mr. Newell makes no doubt II is corrup-
ton of the old Scotch "adist the opposite OF ayon'
meaning this way. come hither
Concerning the game Round and Round the VII |
LACE" Miss CONNIE remarks 1T is curious that It |
should have escaped notice by previous collectors
AT all events no collection of English nursery |
rhymes or games included 1t before 1t was given at |
the Conversations Of the Folklore Congress in 1sa
The fact is indeed curious. for there is scarcely
game in all the chdrens list which Is 80 much |
played as this In America where IL is generally |
known as Go Round and Round the Valley" Miss |
CONNIE got 1t in Barnes, and congratulates herself
on having perhaps rescued from loss "one OF the |
prettiest singing games belonging to our children.
We do not think that the danger of its extinction ,
was imminent. Following is the English version:
Round and round the village.
Round and round the village.
Round and round the village,
As We have done before
In and out the window.
As We nave done before
Stand and face your lover
AS done before
Follow her London,
AS we have done before
Kiss her before you leave her,
AS we have done before.
Mr. Newers version, as noted in the streets OF
this city with another. ard prettier melody than |
the English. follows:
Go round and round the valley.
&c round and round the valley.
Go round and round the valley,
AS all so gay.
Go In and out the window.
As all so gay
Go back and face your lover.
As all gay
Such love have to show YOU