The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-09
Interesting and Instruct
i've AnusementS for
Young People.

OF the continual warfare between the
good and evil powers. There was uni
Versal belief in the Dark Ages that after
death dangerous bridge, beset with
demons, must be crossed 1t is natural
that this idea should be embodied in a,
game, which, doubtless, owes its name
to the superstition cited. These illusions
to religion have been dropped recently
IN America and England, but on the con-
t1pent this game is still played under the
names that show the old meaning. Most
Of what may be called religious games
were first played in Southern Europe
Tag is another old game that shows
an ancient superstition. The original
name seems to have been iron-tag. which
Is still played in sections of our country.
This sport is Very old. Sometimes in
America wood or stone are substituted
for iron, because of the occasional scar
city Of the latter article, but even under
the name of cross-tag, the parent same
is recognized
The early form of the game shows
its meaning. AS in other games of chase
the pursuer represents an evil spirit from
whose attacks, according to ancient SUI
perstition, iron was protection. A
similar idea is shown in the game of
cross-tag, where it is noticed the play
ers make crosses in their flight The
chaser was formally conceived as the
aged dwarf OF malicious character so
common in old fairy tales
It would be difficult to find a bow that
has not cut willow whistles in the spring
This practice has been known for CEN
tur1es in Europe, and once was thought
Of great use. For our ancestors be-
Heved that a pipe cut near water mad
power to cause rain, and even yet the
Swiss children call on the water spirit
while loosening the bark of their whis-
ties.
Perhaps the older boys will be sup
prised when told that the Virginia Reel
and such dances are limitations of work.
The dance in question represents the diff
ferent processes Of weaving The various
movements OF the dance show the shoot
ing of the shuttle from side to side, the
tightening Of the threads and bringing
together of the cloth. 1t has been sug-
gested that the different persons repre-
sent colors. Sometimes in the rural dis
tricts this dance is accompanied with p
song, which ADDS greatly to the fun.
The rounds ard ring games that so
many children delight in are survivaIs
of the old Mayday festivals. In several
cases the words repeated are parts OF
old English ballads. and if any reader
will look through Percy's Reliques he
will find some of his game-rhynes writ
ten in old English. And this brings up
a point about the value of children's
games. For. since games are limitations
of warfare and other customs, or else
preserves of old superstitions and folk
lore, they must be of some value in q
historical way
Hop-scotch, which is chiefly charac-
terized by g waste of shoe leather, is
played from America to India. In Italy
the children call this game Bell" be-
cause Of the figures shape, and for the
same reason, in Austria, it is spoken of
as Temple" This game is another out
growth Of religious ideas. 1t must be
remembered that some American bows
call the last division the "BibIe." which
in Italy is named Paradise