Evening star., 1936-11-13
Old Games
And Modern
Day Playing
Yesteryear's Fun Too
Rough for Youth
of Today.
BY ANGELO PATRI.


MISS HESTER was young very
AVA enthusiastic about teaching. She
was keenly interested in old folk tales,
songs and games. Anything that was
more than so years old was sure to
set her sparkling with life and interest.
Lately she had discovered old games.
She tried to convey some OF her
interest and enthusiasm to the fifth
grade boys in her class.
PLAY some of the old games. Ask
your grandfathers about the games
they played when they were boys, read
about them in old books. You will
find them much more interesting than
the forms you play"
Hugo asked his grandfather about
o good game for recess, and grand
father, always ready to please and
entertain his grandson. told him about
many he had played about the old log
school that used to stand on White
Hill before the road was cut through.
Some of them were plainly out OF the
question. A bit too rough, and the
penalties for losing were dubious in
the light Of playground rules. But
they were very attractive, neverthe-
less.
Hugo studied one game and con-
suited grandfather's memory about
its varied changes, sequences and
penalties. 1t was played with knife,
and each player did his stunt in his
turn until the whole series was done.
The loser had to pull out peg that
had been driven into the ground by
blows from each successful player in
turn. And when Low Score got down
on his front to pull out that peg"
grandfather said everybody had a
shot at him. They rubbed his face
in the dirt, they pulled his legs and
they smacked him. What they didn't
do to that poor fellow. Great fun, all
great fun" Hugo thought it would
be the greatest fun. And it certainly
ought to make hit with Miss Hester.
Gradually he got the game going, so
that many of the boys could execute
the various stunts without too much
damage to their skins. One recess
they coaxed Arthur, the AA boy, into
the game.
I'm not certain that can play it, "
said he. I've never had much prac-
tice using knife"
20, that's all right. Well show
you" And the game proceeded.
Arthur always missed, and now and
then got a scratch with the knife
blade. At last the peg, hammered
fiat into the earth, was to be pulled
out by the loser. Arthur baked. He
was not going to pull out that peg
with his teeth, not he.
You gotta! You gotta!" they
yelled in chorus. at is the game. If
you don't begin when we count three
we'll push you into it." In the tussle
that ensued Arthur got pretty well
Snussed up, not hurt at all, but so
wrinkled and crumpled as to clothes,
30 rumpled and dishevelled as to hair,
30 grimy wherever he showed above
the mud and grass that covered his
clothes that he had to go home for
repairs.
His mother went back with him.
sI don't understand this. What
games are you playing? Arthur says
some historic game that called for
his pulling out peg from the earth
with his teeth, and much violence
from the other players. Really, I
think that some discretion ought to be
used about such things, don't you?"
Miss Hester did. But she was too
young yet to know that boys play the
old games without even hint from
the teacher.
Mr.. Patri has prepared leaflet en-
titled Spelling" in which he tells
parents how to successfully help chill
dren with their spelling lessons. Send
for it, addressing your request to Mr..
Angelo Patri, this paper, and inclose
@ self-addressed, stamped (3-cent)
envelope.