The Washington herald., 1909-08-15

Late July has always found her enjoy
ms mountains OF shore or resting quietly
IN the old homestead. But this summer
New York apartment was a certain
womaus unsatisfactory substitute for
out Of doors.
Six guests sat within window recesses
and looked on the street with its infre-
quent passers-by and group OF children
drifting aimlessly about in something that
seemed TO be a game, but lacked point or
animation. I'm sorry for the youngsters
most. They don't seem to know how TO
have a good time in the few breathing
spaces that do come to them" said the
hostess. appearing with a tray which
held long glasses Of frosted. mint-scented
GOODNESS. said the New York Post.
II so happened that the seven had spent
their childhood IN the same town. and
now. as chance willed It. had drifted to
the same big. all-devouring city. Each Of
them could conjure up a tree-shaded.
brick-paved thoroughfare, rather closely
set. where small corner grocery rubbed
elbows with the manse and the First
Church.
Summer evenings in that halfway
Southern town found the children of the
Eelghborhood gathered before the most
hospitable house, where elders did not OBJ
1ect TO noise and no young lady daugh
tiers invited philandering SWANS.
inconsistent as the street might be IN
the matter of homes. there was no incon-
sistency OF social distinction. line was
drawn hard and fast between the sons
and daughters of well-to-do merchants
and professional men and those of the
small tradesmen and artisans who were
their near neighbors. Under the big ma
pie that shaded the Doctors brick man
sion gathered Dorothy and Alice. Frank
and Norman OF the local aristoCracy, and
across the way. beneath the lamp that
revealed the grocers painted sign. were
small Maggie and Jim and Joe and Sallie,
OF humber origin. But whether leafy
maple or iron post was rendezvous. games
were the same, and laughter and wild
shrieks resoUnded from both sides OF the
street as the fun reached its height. II
was question whether the rich or poor
made more noise. for the repose that
should have marked the born patrician
was sadly lacking In the revels.
Most popular OF all were the games that
involved singing. with the excitement Of
choice and consequent pursuit. The good
old favOrite. Lucy LOcBet Lost Her
Pocket" had both these desirable fea-
lures. Small matter that the inventor. or
possibly the lapse Of years had caused
found it, to be rhymed with drown
dod."
The Demure and others.
Deneire. properly conducted daniels al
ways dropped the handkerchief behind
another girl, unless absolutely certain of
escape. But there were girls. spoken OF
in awed whispers by the decorous, who
chose boys. and sometimes ran so slowly
that-but let us draw veil over the dis
tressing finale.
Go Round and Round the Attic had
the same sort OF exciting sequel. even
more trying for the shy. After the Sc
lected girl or boy had gone round and
round" and through and through the
windows" all with a heart so gay and
free" there followed the embarrassing
command. GO kneeI before your lover"
The very words smacked OF holiness. so
gentle little Alice knelt before Dorothy.
while Norman chose Frank. amid general
giggles. But no such agitation disturbed
the lamp-post party.
One game. more than any other salts
fed the dramatic instinct strong I'm all
children, and that was the old favorite.
Here Come Three Dukes A-riding" Aft
er the twofold announcement of the ar
rival Of the grandees. there came What
are you riding here for?" with the an
swer. We're riding here TO get married"
Then the play grew more exciting. the
action more brisk. for there Is unlimited
opportunity for good acting in the retort.
You look too ragged and dirty" sung
with much tossing OF heads and turning
u up Of small noses. And then the dukes
have their brief minute in the limelight,
for they can sing in tones meant 70 be
naughty. II failing TO reach that stand
ard, We're just as good as you are" be-
fore they retire. each with a partner 10
the cryptic refrain. With ransom. tan
som. termity." Refrains Ike these are
common In childish plays Thew appeal
70 the love OF the mysterious. ana around
them are woven strange interpretations
Of the imaginative child mind never re-
vealed to older folk
NRmeIesS Game Was Popular.
A game which seems TO be nameless.
but which held a firm place in the youth
ful catalogue. centers round a farmer and
his possessions. It is a mere metrical
drone consisting Of a phrase repeated
twice, then a variation, and agalnt repe-
tition OF the first. In each stanza the old
phrase consists OF the words. "Heigh, oh,
Victoria" with no apparent reason for
its appearance. but Il group Of ten-year-
olds will content themselves by the hour
singing on three notes the unoxciting mar
rative concerning the farmer, his wife.
and child. and dog, and other common
household appurtenances.
Green Gravel and Here We Go
Round the Mulberry Bush" also appeal
10 the dramatic. But only the very youth
ful INDUCED in the latter 1t savored Of
the kindergarten and boys felt masculine
dignity departing when washing and IRON
ing, baking and sweeping The only place
where they could follow without loss of
prestige was when. arm in arm. they
chanted:
This is the way 90 10 church.
Go 20 church. go TO church;
This is the way 90 church
So early Sunday morning.
Boys came out strong, however when
the good old standby. London Bridge"
was chosen. for - the final tusse their
strength was a valuable asset. and no
Olympian tug-Of-war ever aroused great
er rivalry.
MOmentOus Question.
Even after the lapse OF more years than