The Marble times and Crystal silver lance., 1900-12-21
Games We Used TO Play.

children during the recess hours Inc
games are classified as ball bean bag
lnd nis sl ane tus c1'le and singing
games In all there are siXty-iive varie-
ties.
1t has been said that the teachers are
opposed to teaching and participating in
>hese games. This is apparently not so.
;'he physical director is authority for the
statement that teachers discovered and
introduced many of the games described
In the pamphlet, Besides the teacher often
become so attached to their charges that
tnythng that interests the pupils doubly
interests them. 1t Is also true that taking
part in the games with the children gives
the teachers helpful relaxation from their
official duties.
Included in the educational exhibit of
this city at the Paris exposition were
five moving pictures showing school chill
dren at play. These pictures created
quite a stir among the people at ihe
fair who were interested in educational
wovk. The Russian minister of eduea-
ton thought so much of them that he
asked permission to have the pictures ex-
hibited in Russia after the fair authori-
ties were through with them. This re-
quest was granted.
The games described in the pamphlet
are intended for use at recess As there
is not enough room in many of the
school yards to permit of Il large num-
ber of the children playing at the same
time 1t has been found best to have
two classes of boys and two of girls
go to their respective yards for recess
at one time and play the games for ten
or fifteen minutes. In this way twenty
four classes can have recess of ten
minutes each in an hour, or a recess of
fifteen minutes each in an hour and
half, The games are not limited to any
certain grades but where they have
been found most successful and Interest,"
ing to the children the grades are men
toned In the pamphlet
There are eleven different kinds of ball
games. OF these basketball is probably
the most violent but, as the pamphlet
states, only the children in good physical
condition should be allowed to play it,
and only children who are in their fifth
to eighth school years. The manner of
playing the game Is well known, Drive
ball is another game which is only played
by the older children. court is mapped
out and a big, soft ball is placed between
the captains of he two lined-up teams
of five players each, The ball is driven
back and forth between the teams, but
can only be hit by the fist. A goal counts
two points. Another game is "crcle
catch" ball. A circle is formed with six
or eight feet between each player. The
first player who fails to catch the ball
steps into the center. He tosses the ball
to a player in the circle, who in turn
throws it around the circle the game be-
ing to keep it away from the player in
the center If he catches it the one To-
ward whom it was thrown takes his place
in the center. This makes an interesting
game and keeps the players continually
on the move. A game similar to this is
played by the children forming a circle
and the player in the center throwing
the ball in the air, at the same time call
ng to one of the players n the circle to
,atch it. If he is successful he remains
in his place; If not, he goes 20 the CEN
ter. "Center base" and pass" bail are
played on the same lines Arch ball
Is played with two or more lines, single
fle the PLAYERS about two feet apart
The leader throws the ball backward
overhead to the player behind. If the
ball falls to the ground. the one who
fails to catch it must return to his posi-
ton in the line The last one in the line
runs to the front with his ball, takes his
place at the head of the line and begins
over again. The line wins whose leader
first gets back to the front The other
games where a ball is used are played
on almost the same principle and only
the children of the higher grades take
part in them.
Nearly every one is familiar with the
bean bag games. These are played exclu-
sively by the primary classes. There Is
the bean bag race, bean bags in circle,
where as many bags possible are used,
the object being to keep the bags going
at the one time, the bean bag box and
the bean bag board. "Slng Shot is an
other game where one player stands in
the center and willis a rope with bean
bag attached to the end. Those in the
circle are required to jump it comes to
them. The one who is caught by the
rope has to exchange places with the
PLAYER in the center. 1t is also possible
to play the game previously mentioned by
using a bean bag instead of ball
Then there are what are called circle
games In skip Away the children
stand in a circle, holding hands. The
PLAYER who is ''it runs around the circle
and tags one of the players. The one
tagged runs in the opposite direction to
the player by whom he was tagged and
the PLAYER who first reaches the vacant
place in the circle wins. Slap Jack is
played the same way, except that when
the two who are running meet they must
stop and shake hands. squat Tag in
a Circle" Drop the handkerchief" "
"Slap Catch" and Fox and Farmer" are
very much alike
"Three Deep; or, Third Man" is one of
the most popular games. The players ar
range themselves in two circles, one with
in the other Two ext a players for whom
there is no extra place in the circle stand
on the outside as chaser and runner.
he latter may save himself from the
chaser by standing in front of any two
players q. e., inside the circle, thus MAX
ing q line three deep. He then is safe;
b,,t the outer one of the three is then
third man. and may be tagged. To
I., ,ct rIin tn. q