,healthful ,sports for ,boys by ,alfred ,rochefort ,,contents ,,spring ,,chapter ,i ,,marbles--,,how ,,played ,marbles3 ,where and how made2 different games2 terms of game2 how to gain skill4 ,,chapter ,,ii ,,whip ,,tops ,,and ,,top ,,games ,whip tops1 peg tops1 and some other tops2 how they are played2 top games4 ,,chapter ,,iii ,,kites ,,and ,,how ,,made ,about kites2 how made2 their practical uses2 flying contests4 ,,chapter ,,iv ,,hoops1 ,,wheels ,,and ,,buzzers ,hoops1 wheels and buzzers2 stilts1 different kinds2 how used and how procured4 ,,chapter ,v ,,let',s ,,go ,a-,,fishing ,let's go a-fishing2 bait of many kinds and how to get it4 ,fishing outfit2 its care4 ,,summer ,,chapter ,,vi ,,boating ,,and ,,canoeing ,useful hints on boating and canoeing4 ,don'ts to be observed4 ,definitions4 ,,chapter ,,vii ,,small ,,sail ,,boats ,how to make and manage small sail boats4 ,,chapter ,,viii ,,how ,,to ,,swim ,can you swim8 ,how to learn4 ,confidence4 ,,chapter ,,ix ,,styles ,,of ,,swimming ,styles of swimming2 floating1 diving2 water games4 ,,chapter ,x ,,things ,,boys ,,should ,,know ,how sides are chosen in games of contest2 some things all boys should know4 ,,chapter ,,xi ,,curious ,,rhymes ,,for ,,games ,curious rhymes in counting out games4 ,,chapter ,,xii ,,tag ,,and ,,bull ,,in ,,the ,,ring ,all about the good old game of tag1 and bull in the ring4 ,,chapter ,,xiii ,,all ,,about ,,leap ,,frog ,do you know all about leap frog8 ,,chapter ,,xiv ,,duck ,,on ,,the ,,rock--,,cat ,dead ,turtle2 ,duck on ,rock2 ,brick ,skittles2 ,tip ,cat2 ,country ,cat2 ,american ,cat4 ,,chapter ,,xv ,,ball1 ,,bat ,,and ,,racket ,and now for ball6 ,some good games that can be played with ball1 bat and racket4 ,town ball2 two old cats2 hand ball4 ,,chapter ,,xvi ,,american ,,baseball ,the great ,american game of baseball4 ,some things every player should know4 ,rules4 ,,autumn ,,chapter ,,xvii ,,all ,,about ,,football ,the strenuous game of football4 ,how to lay out the ground4 ,pointers for players4 ,,chapter ,,xviii ,,mumbly ,,peg--,,hop ,,scotch ,mumbly peg2 jackstones2 ,hop ,scotch4 ,,chapter ,,xix ,,how ,,to ,,camp ,,out ,how and where to prepare camp4 ,a delightful way in which to spend a vacation1 if you know the way4 ,,chapter ,,xx ,,bicycles ,,and ,,lassoes ,can you ride a bike8 ,information on wheels4 ,how to throw a lariat4 ,,chapter ,,xxi ,,golf1 ,,hockey ,,and ,,shinny ,the old ,scotch game of golf1 hockey and shinny4 ,,winter ,,chapter ,,xxii ,,skating--,,skiing--,,snow ,,shoeing ,on the ice and snow4 ,the royal sport of skating4 ,some hints on skiing and snow shoes4 ,,chapter ,,xxiii ,,coasting--,,tobogganing--,,sleds ,coasting4 ,how to make sleds4 ,the bob sled4 ,the toboggan4 ,snow games4 ,,chapter ,,xxiv ,,general ,,athletics ,walking1 ,running1 ,jumping4 ,,chapter ,,xxv ,,cries--,,shouts--,,college ,,yells ,battle cries1 hailing shouts1 and college yells4 ,,chapter ,,xxvi ,,clever ,,tricks ,vanishing feats4 ,curious illusions4 ,various deceptive amusements4 ,,chapter ,,xxvii ,,sleight-,,of-,,hand ,balancing4 ,juggling4 ,transformations4 ,,introduction ,among the many good and wise things said by the great ,lincoln was this3 ,give me the boy with promise of the man in him1 and give me the man with the memory of the boy in him1 and both can sit at my table1 and if they sit together1 we'll have all the better time6 ,this book of out-door games for boys will make better boys1 and they'll get a lot more joy out of life and be the better men in time1 for having read it and carried out its rules as to wholesome1 honest sport4 ,the boy who plays an honest game will do an honest business1 and he'll win over the sneak4 ,if you are a grown-up1 read this book1 and in doing so live over again the joyous1 gladsome days of your boyhood1 and you will sigh1 as we do while writing this3 ,would ,i were a boy again6 ,we want the mother1 as well as the father1 to read this book1 for it will recall the brothers of far-off days1 and bring her into closer sympathy--we must not say love1 for that is already strong enough --with the exuberance of her boys4 ,and the girls8 ,why1 bless you6 ,they1 too1 should read every scrap of this book1 for they will find in it many of their own games1 and not one that they could not play and enjoy1 if circumstances permitted4 ,and the grand-parents8 ,god bless them6 ,why1 they'll enjoy it quite as much as the young folks4 ,,spring ,,chapter ,i ,,marbles3 ,,where ,,made2 ,,terms ,,of ,,the ,,games2 ,,different ,,games2 ,,how ,,to ,,acquire ,,skill ,each season has its own particular work for the farmer1 and he does his work without direction from or consultation with his neighbors or any one else4 ,each season has its own particular games for the young folks1 and they take to them without any suggestion from outsiders1 just as young ducks take to water1 without any instructions from the mother bird4 ,the seasons in the south temperate zone are just the opposite to those in the north4 ,some years ago ,i spent the months of ,july and ,august in ,new ,zealand1 and great was my surprise to find the boys down at ,dunedin snowballing on the ,fourth of ,july1 while the sleigh-bells made music through the streets4 ,in the following ,october1 which is the spring month in ,victoria1 ,australia1 ,i found the youngsters of ,melbourne playing marbles1 just as the boys in ,new ,york had been doing when ,i left it the previous ,may4 ,,marbles ,we have reason to believe that the first marbles were fashioned from pebbles on the ocean's shore1 or ground into roundness by the action of river currents4 ,we do not know when or where marbles originated1 but of the antiquity of the game we are very sure4 ,egyptian boys played marbles before the days of ,moses1 and marbles are among the treasures found buried in the ruins of ,pompeii1 which you will remember was destroyed by an eruption of lava from ,vesuvius in the first century of the ,christian era4 ,to-day marbles are played in every civilized land under the sun1 and with slight differences1 the method of shooting and the games are practically the same4 ,germans are the greatest toy and game-makers in the world1 and so we should not be surprised to learn that that great country not only produces the most marbles1 but also the very best4 ,from ,germany we get the finest agates1 the beauty and value of which every lover of the game knows4 ,the more common marbles are made in ,saxony1 of a fine kind of white limestone1 which is practically a variety of the building material known as marble1 and from which the name is derived4 ,broken into small pieces1 and the irregular bits placed between two grooved grinders1 the lower one being stone and the upper wood1 power is applied1 and after much rotating the spheres are turned out1 hundreds at a time1 and these are afterwards sorted and polished4 ,glass marbles1 some of which are imitation agates1 are cast in moulds that close so perfectly that the place where they join cannot be seen in the finished product4 ,china marbles are made from pottery-clay1 and after being joined are baked1 and sometimes they are painted4 ,the small gray1 brown or black marbles1 usually called commies1 are little balls of clay1 baked and glazed4 ,these1 being the cheapest1 are the most numerous1 and are usually the objects of attack1 and so change owners the oftenest4 ,,names ,,of ,,marbles ,,and ,,play ,,terms ,while the names of marbles and the terms of the game may vary slightly in different parts of the ,united ,states1 they are in the main so much alike that the following will be understood by all boys throughout the land3 ,the ,taw or ,shooter is the marble used for shooting4 ,the ,taw ,line1 or ,scratch1 is a line drawn for a starting point in the game4 ,ducks are marbles to be shot at4 ,dubs1 an abbreviation of doubles1 means that you get all the marbles knocked out with one shot4 ,fen ,dubs1 an abbreviation of defend doubles1 is shouted by an opponent before the play1 and means that you must put back all but one marble4 ,lofting means shooting through the air1 so that your taw does not touch the earth till it hits the object aimed at or a point near it4 ,knuckling ,down means resting the knuckles on the ground while shooting4 ,histing or ,hoisting is holding some distance above the ground4 ,it is not permitted in ,bull ,ring or in ,meg-on-a-string4 ,roundsters means taking a new position to avoid an obstruction4 ,it is not allowed in ,bull ,ring4 ,sidings means moving your taw from one side to the other in a straight line when about to shoot ,it is barred in ,bull ,ring4 ,burying is when the taw1 if in a good spot1 is forced into the ground with the heel of the shoe4 ,this is seldom allowed2 ,fen buryings being the accepted law of experts4 ,laying means placing the marbles in the ring4 ,clearances means the removal of all obstructions between the players and the ducks4 ,sneaking means shooting for a position4 ,babying is shooting so as not to send the taw too far4 ,good players often do this so as to secure a position from which they can skin the ring4 ,dabsters are little squares of cloth or skin laid under the knuckles when playing to keep them from being cut by constant contact with the hard ground4 ,marble ,bag saves pockets and explains itself4 ,according to quality1 marbles are known as agates1 crystals1 chinas1 alleys1 potteries1 and commies1 or the cheapest and least prized4 ,the three great essentials of the game are the boys1 the marbles1 and suitable ground4 ,the marble is shot from the hollow of the crooked index finger1 and projected by the thumb4 ,good shooting is often done in this way1 but the most expert shots place the marble on the point of the index finger1 and project it with a firmer grip of the thumb4 ,this method is more difficult to acquire1 but it pays as does everything that requires practice and effort4 ,a good player1 as in billiards1 can make his taw carom for position1 or he can make it remain stationary1 while the marble struck shoots away in a straight line4 ,,some ,,good ,,games ,a boy can practice the above1 and ,i would advise him to do so1 but it takes at least two boys to make a game--just as it takes two to make a quarrel1 and you must never be one of the latter4 ,just here let me say that the boy who loses his temper1 or who has not the manhood to accept defeat in the right spirit1 does not make a desirable friend or playmate1 for if he cannot conquer himself he is unfit to contest in the sports of youth or in the business of maturer years4 ,,fat ,fat is one of our oldest and simplest marble games4 ,it is played in this way3 ,make a ring eighteen inches or two feet in diameter2 ten feet back draw or scratch a taw line to shoot from4 ,if four boys are playing1 each places a marble1 as indicated1 or if there are more players the marbles are placed at equal distances about the ring4 ,the order of the play having been decided on1 by shooting or rolling towards the taw line1 the nearness to which decides the question1 number one shoots for the ring1 and if he knocks out a marble1 he shoots again from where his taw rests1 and so keeps on until he has missed4 ,number two knuckles down at the taw line and shoots1 as did number one4 ,if the first taw is within range1 he can shoot at that1 and if he hits it1 then number one must hand number two all the ducks he has knocked from the ring4 ,if number two can hit number one's taw again1 then number one is killed1 and must retire from that game4 ,when number two misses1 the next in order shoots1 either at the ring or at the line taw1 and so the game proceeds till all the marbles are knocked out1 or all but the last player are killed4 ,in the second game1 the first man killed is the last to shoot1 and so they take turns in the order of their defeat ,this game is the more fascinating for its uncertainty1 for often the last player knocks out the taw of one who so far has been getting all the ducks1 and he gets credit for his score4 ,,followings can hardly be called a game4 ,it is played by two boys--usually when they have more important business on hand2 the first boy shoots in the direction both are traveling2 the second follows1 and whenever one chances to be hit it counts one for the shooter4 ,,knucks ,in this game1 one boy1 called ,knucks1 takes a small marble between his knuckles1 then places the clenched hand on the ground4 ,the other player knuckles down at the taw line1 four or five feet away1 and shoots--he must not roll--at the marble held by the other4 ,every time the ,knucks marble is hit1 it counts one for the shooter2 each time he misses in the three shots1 it counts an additional shot for ,knucks when it comes his turn4 ,,the ,,long ,,ring ,about eight or nine feet from the taw line make an elongated ring1 composed of two sections of a circle1 crossing each other4 ,draw a circle down the center of the long ring1 and on this place the marbles4 ,if there are only two players1 then each lays a duck at the intersection of the curves4 ,each additional player adds a duck to the line4 ,where there are only two players1 the first is sure to sneak1 that is1 to roll his taw so that it will rest near one of the marbles in the ring4 ,if number two hits number one1 and so kills him1 he wins the game1 but if there are more than two in the game1 number one is put out4 ,number two has another shot1 from the place where his taw rests1 at the ducks in the ring1 and he keeps on till he misses4 ,so the game is kept up till all the ducks are knocked from the ring4 ,if it is agreed in advance1 each player may lay more than one duck in the ring4 ,in this game the killed are not dead1 if there are more than two players4 ,they can play when the turn comes1 but it must always be from the taw line4 ,,the ,,bull ,,ring ,this is one of the oldest and best games4 ,the ring should be from four to ten feet in diameter4 ,the ducks are placed in the form of a cross1 in the middle of the ring1 the number each is to whack up being agreed upon in advance4 ,the order of play is usually decided on by knuckling down and rolling for the opposite side of the ring4 ,the first player lofts at the ducks4 ,he must drive the marble outside the ring for a win4 ,if his own taw goes outside1 the successful player can come back to the ring edge for his next shot4 ,if it is a miss and the taw goes outside the ring1 it must be replaced inside at the point of exit4 ,when a taw is struck the owner is dead for that game1 and the successful player keeps on shooting till he misses4 ,when two or more ducks are knocked out of the ring1 the player is entitled to raise his score by that number1 provided he shouts ,dubs before the others cry ,fen dubs4 ,if a player is caught hunching1 that is1 pushing his fist beyond the line while shooting1 and makes a hit1 he must replace the marble and shoot over again4 ,histings and the use of bowlers are barred in the bull ring4 ,sneaking1 that is1 shooting the taw so that it will rest near the middle of the ring1 is allowed4 ,if this taw is not hit1 it may be able to skin the ring when its turn comes4 ,a dead man1 when his turn comes1 and there are enough ducks remaining to warrant the risk1 may re-enter the game by placing in the ring twice as many marbles as were at first required1 and an additional duck near the edge of the ring2 on this duck he caroms so as to send it out1 then if his taw is in a good place1 he may come out ahead4 ,,duck-,,in-,a-,,hole ,make three shallow holes1 and about ten feet away draw the taw line4 ,the holes are three feet apart4 ,the object of each player is to shoot his taw so that it will enter and stay in the first hole4 ,if he succeeds1 he is allowed to place his thumb on the far edge of the first hole1 and using his hand as a pair of dinders1 by a twist of the wrist he marks with his longest finger a curved line on the ground4 ,this is called taking a span4 ,from the span line he shoots at the second hole1 and if successful continues on to the third4 ,if this is won1 he takes a span backward for the middle hole4 ,if he reaches the first hole1 he repeats it over1 but this time he is entitled to two spans4 ,the third time1 if there is no miss1 he can take three spans1 and if he succeeds1 he becomes a ,king ,duck1 and takes four spans4 ,if the first player misses1 and the second player rolls into the first hole1 he takes a span and shoots--if it is near--at the first taw1 and if he hits1 he can place his taw in the second hole1 and so on till he misses4 ,when number one's turn comes1 he must shoot from the spot where his taw rests4 ,in this game the first king has a great advantage because of his four spans4 ,each time a player hits another1 he scores one point1 and the hit loses one4 ,by the time all have become ,king ,ducks the game is over1 or it may be decided in advance that when one has made five or ten points1 the game shall end4 ,,meg-,,in-,a-,,hole differs from the foregoing game1 in the fact that there is no taw line4 ,the player shoots from one end at the middle hole4 ,if he succeeds1 he is entitled to a span1 and he keeps on as before till he becomes a king4 ,before this1 he can take but one span in any direction1 but as a king1 he can take one foot measure--his own foot --and a span from the first hole2 two feet and a span from the second hole1 and three feet and a span from the third hole4 ,this gives him a great advantage1 and if there is no rival king he is ,monarch of all he surveys4 ,if there is a second king1 the first one assigns him the first hole to guard1 because from this he can take only one foot and a span4 ,when all become kings1 or the points agreed on are won1 the game is over4 ,,square ,,ring ,a ,square ,ring sounds odd1 but such things go in playing marbles4 ,the square may be of any size1 but four feet is the best4 ,the taw line must be from twenty to thirty feet away4 ,before a player can win the game he must first kill all the others4 ,perhaps that is why it is sometimes called ,injun4 ,the first player is at a great disadvantage1 for if he knocks out a duck he must replace it1 and if his taw stops inside the ring he has killed himself1 and is out of the game4 ,the best way is not to knuckle down but to toss for a good position near the ring4 ,the second player1 for obvious reasons1 must keep away as far as possible from the first1 so he shoots through the ring with force1 hoping to get a duck on the way1 for he does not have to replace it4 ,he can take the duck back to taw and holding it in his left hand shoot at it so as to send his own taw close to number one1 which he can then kill4 ,if number two misses1 number three pitches his marble off to one side1 and so the game goes on1 each player guarding his own taw and trying to kill his rivals4 ,knocking out ducks gives the privilege just described1 after which the duck is replaced4 ,,chapter ,,ii ,,whip ,,tops1 ,,peg ,,tops1 ,,humming ,,tops ,,and ,,some ,,top ,,games ,why it happens1 no one knows1 not even the boys themselves1 but that it does happen we all know4 ,tops come in when the marble game is in full blast1 and gradually it drives out1 till another spring1 its beloved rival4 ,tops are of great antiquity1 and the ,chinese and their neighbors1 the ,japanese1 are famous for the variety of their tops4 ,i have seen adults in those countries enjoying the game with all the zest of ,american boys in springtime4 ,it is a good idea for boys1 where they have any facilities for so doing1 to make their own play tools4 ,in the old days1 they whittled out tops1 but it hardly pays to do so to-day when well-shaped spinners can be had in every toy shop at a very low price4 ,however1 good little tops can be made from the wooden spools on which sewing thread comes4 ,two tops1 that will amuse the younger children1 can be made from each spool1 by whittling down from the rims to the middle of the spool till the parts break at the opening4 ,a peg driven through answers for a spindle4 ,these can be made in a few minutes1 and may afford some fun for a winter evening4 ,,whip ,,tops ,if not the very oldest1 these tops are certainly the most widely distributed4 ,if a good whip top cannot be bought1 a first-rate article can be made from a section of a rounded timber1 either natural or turned4 ,it may be of any size1 but from two to three inches in diameter1 and about a half inch or more in length is the best4 ,whittle this1 with care1 to a blunt point1 into which drive a smooth-headed tack1 and there you are4 ,with colored crayons1 or paint1 the top may be decorated1 so as to add to its effect when spinning4 ,tough rags1 or leather thongs fastened to a handle about a foot in length1 will make an effective lash1 but the best whips are made from pliant leather thongs1 or still better1 from a dried eelskin4 ,to spin the top1 put your whip under your left arm--,i have seen boys grasp it between their teeth--then with the flat of the fingers of both hands on either side of the top1 give a smart twirl4 ,as soon as the top is in motion1 ply your whip along the sides1 drawing the lash quickly away at each stroke4 ,playing whip-top alone soon gets to be monotonous1 but where there are two a fight can be arranged for4 ,at the word go1 two boys spin their tops1 and then lash them till they crash together4 ,the tops must be kept within a described ring1 and the one that knocks the other out is regarded as the ,king top4 ,if a boy strikes his opponent's top1 it is a foul1 and he loses the game4 ,another contest is where1 after the lashing1 one calls stop4 ,the one that dies first1 is naturally out4 ,racing is done by drawing a taw line1 from which the whip tops start for a designated goal1 the first one in winning4 ,this is an exciting game and not so easy as at first appears4 ,the tin or wooden humming top is but an interesting toy4 ,the ,japanese make them with a slit in the point which fits into a string or a thin wire1 and on such supports they can be made to do remarkable feats4 ,,the ,,peg ,,top ,the ,peg ,top is1 after all1 the ,king of the top family1 and the greatest source of joy to the youth with a sure eye and a steady hand4 ,the ,plugger is the top you spin2 the bait is the top you strike with the plugger4 ,a ,giggler is an unsteady top that goes dancing and hopping about4 ,boys love their old reliable taw in marbles1 but their pride in this is never so great as that which they take in a conquering plugger4 ,this should have what is known as a screw peg1 which prevents splitting4 ,it can be made1 but on the whole1 ,i think it better to buy the pegs4 ,a good1 stout1 pliant cord is quite as necessary as a well-balanced top4 ,it should have a button1 never a loop1 to keep it from slipping through the fingers1 and it should be of a thickness to fill1 without overlapping the grooves4 ,the end should be frayed and moistened to insure a firm grip when starting to wind4 ,it requires much practice to become expert in spinning the peg1 but1 as in everything else1 it pays to learn accuracy4 ,as with whip top1 playing alone soon ceases to be good fun1 but the game makes for enjoyment4 ,mark out a bull ring about six feet in diameter4 ,put as many tops inside the small ring as there are players1 then toss up1 or in any other way decide on the order of play4 ,after winding up his peg1 the first player1 with his left foot toeing the outer ring1 strikes for the tops in the center4 ,if he misses and fails to spin1 or if he strikes outside the inner circle1 he must put another top within the circle and await his turn4 ,if he strikes the tops with the big end of his plugger1 it is a miss1 and he must replace any top knocked out2 but if the peg of the plugger hits a top and knocks it out of the center ring1 he pockets it and has another whack4 ,if in spinning in the center ring the plugger jostles out a top or tops1 it counts as a hit1 and the player is entitled to another try4 ,if the plugger spins and dies in the ring without knocking out a top1 it is a miss1 and the player must add another top4 ,sometimes a crack player throws with such force and accuracy as to split a bait top4 ,this is the acme of the game and the crowning glory of the player4 ,often the bait consists of toothless1 battered wrecks1 but this does not lessen the fun of the game4 ,,chapter ,,iii ,,kites3 ,,where ,,found2 ,,how ,,made2 ,,their ,,practical ,,uses2 ,,closely ,,related ,,to ,,aeroplanes--,a ,,great ,,sport ,spring winds favor kite flying4 ,this is another world-wide sport1 and it was popular with old and young in ,china--the land of the kite--at the time when the ,egyptians were cutting stones for the pyramids4 ,everybody knows1 or should know1 what the great ,ben4 ,franklin did by means of a kite1 though the kite through which he learned the nature of lightning was of a model that is not often seen at this time4 ,this was the old bow kite1 the kind that every beginner learns to make1 and which needs no detailed description here4 ,the hexagonal or coffin-shaped kite is more reliable than the old sort1 and is quite as cheap and as easily made4 ,kites of both these kinds have been used to get a line from a stranded vessel to the shore1 and engineers have used them4 ,they did it when the first suspension bridge was built at ,niagara1 to get a line across the chasm1 which gradually grew into the great suspending cables4 ,kites have been used to draw light vehicles over smooth ground1 and they make good sport when made to draw sleds over the ice1 or as top- loftical sails for small boats4 ,i have seen in ,new ,york a tandem team of ten kites used for advertising purposes4 ,the ,star ,kite is easily made and is well worth doing4 ,get three sticks or sections of light string1 both of equal length4 ,these are fastened in the center1 so that1 with the ends of the sticks equal distances apart1 they will form a six-pointed star4 ,the covering should be of thin1 close cotton cloth1 or1 better still1 of light1 strong paper1 which must be pasted so as to present the side of greatest resistance to the wind1 else it will soon be blown off4 ,the tail band is simply a loop fastened to the sticks at the bottom so that it will hang below the kite1 and balance it when it ascends4 ,the belly-bands for support and steering--in the latter case two lines are used--must never be attached below the central cross-piece4 ,boys often find fun in sending messengers up the strings to the kites4 ,after the kite is up a good height1 round pieces of colored paper with a hole in the center and a slit by means of which they are slipped on the string1 are sent up4 ,they travel with the speed of the wind till they reach the kite1 where they stop4 ,if too heavy1 or too many1 the messengers may get the kite out of balance4 ,a messenger has been sent up #f1jjj feet1 or over one mile4 ,that is the height to which ,american scientists have sent kites with thermometers and barometers attached1 so as to record the elevation and the temperature4 ,,the ,,hargrave1 ,,or ,,box ,,kite1 is something new and hitherto unheard of in the kite line4 ,rigidity and strength1 without too much weight1 are the prime essentials of the ,hargrave4 ,it may be made by a boy with a knack for mechanics in the following way3 ,take eight stiff1 slender pieces of bamboo1 eighteen and three-quarter inches in length1 such as are sometimes used for fishing poles4 ,these pieces must be of uniform weight and length1 and as nearly alike as possible4 ,next cut six sticks1 each eleven inches long1 and as nearly alike as possible4 ,these are for the middle uprights and end stretchers4 ,after finding the middle of the longer sticks1 lash them together in pairs by means of stout waxed thread1 or light brass wire4 ,notch the ends of the sticks and make the spread between ,a and ,c just eleven inches4 ,this will give you four pairs of crossed sticks4 ,next take one of your eleven-inch uprights1 and bind it to the two pairs of cross-sticks4 ,take the other eleven-inch upright and fasten the other two pairs of cross-sticks in the same way4 ,this done1 cut two spines1 or connecting rods of bamboo1 each thirty inches long and as nearly alike as possible4 ,next1 with waxed thread1 or light wire1 bind the two spines over the ends of the eleven-inch stretchers4 ,the spine must fit like the top of a letter ,t over the stretchers and be square2 that is1 at right angles with the stretcher4 ,each end of the spine must project beyond the uprights five and one- half inches2 that is1 the ends must each be five and one-half inches long1 which leaves nineteen inches between points named4 ,bind the other four stretchers to the ends of the sticks4 ,now string the frame so that all the sticks1 except the diagonals1 shall be at right angles1 or perfectly square1 as boys say4 ,this done1 paint all the joints with glue4 ,the frame when finished should measure #aa x #aa x #cj4 ,this is the measure for each of the two boxes or cells1 which should have eight inches between4 ,cover the frame with a strong1 light cloth that will not stretch1 and sew it on so as to form two boxes covered at the top1 bottom and ends4 ,the two broadsides of each one are left open to receive the wind4 ,on the bottom boom1 at or near the edge of the cloth cover1 fasten a small brass ring for a belly-band4 ,if the foregoing be well done1 you will have a kite on the principle of a flying machine1 and you will be up with the times4 ,kite ,string must be considered4 ,in a light wind and with an ordinary kite1 good1 strong twine answers all purposes1 but with large kites and a stiff breeze1 the best string is a twisted linen line4 ,learn how to tie knots that won't come undone1 and take care not to cut or blister your hands in letting out or hauling in4 ,,tailless ,,kites are fast superceding the old-time kind1 and they are quite as easy to make and are much easier to manage4 ,here are directions for making it3 ,they can be made in different sizes and flied tandem1 from twenty to hundreds of feet apart4 ,the longitudinal stick should be of strong spruce1 sixty inches in length and about three-eighths or one-half inch in width and thickness4 ,it can be of any size1 if these proportions are maintained4 ,the cross-piece should be a similar stick and of equal length4 ,when in position it is slightly bent1 say four per cent1 of its length4 ,the frame should be of light spruce1 the same size as the cross-pieces4 ,care must be taken to have the angles right4 ,when the frame is finished1 cover loosely with manila paper1 so that there will be some concavity on the face of the kite on each side below the cross-stick1 so that it will belly like a sail2 bind the edges with thin wire which stretches less than string4 ,this kite will fly in a very light breeze4 ,the string1 particularly if you have a tandem1 should be flexible and strong4 ,in a stiff breeze1 and with more than one kite1 it is well to have a reel1 as in a fishing rod1 for hauling in4 ,the best way with tandem kites is not1 as is usually done1 to fasten one kite behind the other on the same string1 but to hitch each kite by means of a separate string to the main cord4 ,the tail kite will do for tandem1 but as the tails are apt to get snarled1 it is not so desirable as the tailless kind4 ,,the ,,barrel ,,kite ,as the bird and the butterfly kites of the ,chinese can be bought at a low price1 ,i shall not attempt a description of them here1 but the barrel kite1 which is distinctly ,american1 cannot be ignored4 ,this kite was tried some years ago by the ,u4 ,s4 ,weather ,bureau officers in ,california4 ,it is cylindrical in form1 about four feet long1 and two feet in diameter4 ,the frame is made up of four light hoops1 braced together by four or more thin strips of wood4 ,the twelve-inch space between the pair of hoops at either end is covered with a collar of paper1 and the string1 by which the kite is held1 is attached to a stick1 which passes diagonally through the inside of the cylinder from end to end4 ,when this kite catches the wind it lifts quickly and gracefully4 ,as it is easily made1 ,i should like some of my young readers to try it4 ,i have not seen a barrel kite in a tandem1 but ,i can't see why it should not work4 ,between kites on a tandem line1 flags of same size1 and of any designs that may be thought of1 may be strung with good effect4 ,,chapter ,,iv ,,some ,,other ,,spring ,,amusements1 ,,not ,,forgetting ,,stilts ,it is said that hoops are loosing their popularity1 but be that as it may1 ,i am very sure they will never go out of fashion with the young folk who delight in a good outdoor run1 while at the same time they find work for the eyes and the hand4 ,neat iron hoops1 with a crooked iron hook to propel1 ,i find much in use1 but--and it may be because ,i am a bit old-fashioned--,i much prefer the well-made1 wooden hoop with a wooden stick4 ,why1 ,i've had no end of fun with a wooden barrel hoop1 but ,i could never make the iron barrel hoop respond to my urging4 ,some makers have attached bells and other jinglers to hoops1 but no boy fit to wear boots cares for these baby contrivances4 ,small light wheels--they can be had from a retired baby carriage--are excellent things to trundle1 and some of them require more skill than does a hoop4 ,even tin-can covers or the top of a blacking box may be made to afford fun and test skill4 ,when ,i was a boy1 and ,i am sure boys do so still1 we used to make buzz wheels out of circular tincan tops4 ,two holes1 about an inch apart1 were cut near the center of the tin4 ,through both openings a string was passed and the ends tied4 ,by trowling1 the strings--its ends were held one in each hand--are made to twist4 ,when tight enough1 the ends are drawn1 and the buzzer starts off with such force that it half winds itself up on the other start4 ,,the ,,sucker is a good philosophical toy1 for it illustrates air pressure and affords some fun4 ,if you don't know how to make one1 this is the way3 ,get a piece of thin sole leather1 about four inches square4 ,trim off the corners till the shape is nearly round2 next lay the leather on a flat substance and bevel off the edges until they are as thin as you can make them4 ,now1 without cutting through to the under side1 cut a hole through the top of the leather1 just large enough to force the end of a strong string through4 ,before using1 soak the leather till it is soft4 ,next find quite a flat stone or brick1 force the sucker to the top with your foot1 taking care that there is no turned edge1 then you can walk off with that stone1 forgetting that it is not the stick of the sucker1 but the air pressure--some fifteen pounds to the square inch-- that holds the two together4 ,,stilts are as old and as world-wide in their use as marbles1 tops and kites4 ,these are the things that set the boy up in the world without making him too proud4 ,the first stilts ,i ever used--,i was brought up on a farm--,i cut with my little hatchet4 ,they were made from two beech saplings1 with the section of a branch retained at the same height on each for foot rests1 and the length sufficient to come under the arms and be easily grasped4 ,these were rude makeshifts1 but they did to start with1 and on them ,i learned to balance4 ,much better stilts can be made from sticks or board strips1 of sufficient length for grasping with the hands1 and with foot rests nailed at any required height from the ground part4 ,in the ,gadabout stilt you will notice that the stilt above the foot rest is strapped to the leg1 just below the knee1 which leaves both hands free4 ,any boy with tools1 timber and leather for straps can make ,gadabouts1 and the arm stilt is still simpler4 ,the natives of the ,marquesas ,islands use very high stilts1 and they become so expert in their use as to dance with them and to wear them in wrestling matches4 ,the shepherds on the flat plains in the south of ,france use stilts to enable them to look over a wide stretch of country1 and they become so expert in their use that they can travel twice as fast as an ordinary walker on foot4 ,they carry a long pole for balancing purposes and to take soundings when wading through bog or water4 ,,spanish ,,stilts differ from the ,gadabouts in that they reach to the hips1 and are strapped securely about the thighs4 ,these can be made at home1 but it requires much practice to become expert4 ,,chapter ,v ,,let',s ,,go ,a-,,fishing--,,something ,,about ,,bait ,do not despise the earth worm4 ,scientists tell us that without this creature's work in preparing the soil1 but little of the earth's surface would be fit for cultivation4 ,to its voluntary efforts we owe our supplies of vegetable food1 but not satisfied with this1 we conscript him that he may help us to catch fish4 ,some boys1 and men too1 make hard work of getting worm bait1 but in this1 as in everything else1 it all depends on how one goes about it4 ,if you are going a-fishing in the morning1 secure your bait to-night4 ,worms are nocturnal1 and they come out of their holes at night1 provided it is not too dry on top4 ,the ideal time for scooping them in is about dusk1 after a long warm rain4 ,get a lantern and with it carry your bait can half filled with wet moss or soft moist earth4 ,you will find1 if the conditions are right1 swarms of worms along the edges of beaten paths1 or in the short grass alongside4 ,usually the worm has one end of its body in a hole1 and as it is very alert1 you must catch it before it has time to think1 perhaps ,i should say1 to act4 ,for this purpose the bait gatherers will do better in pairs4 ,one holds the can and lantern1 while the other seizes the worm4 ,always grab the worm at the place just above the earth4 ,worms1 ,i mean bait worms1 are not all of one family1 nor is each family equally inviting to fish4 ,the red1 fat fellows never come amiss1 but the light1 flabby kind afford no great lure for even the hungriest sort of a fish4 ,the worm that keeps its tail a-wiggling after he is on the hook1 is just the thing4 ,the manure worm1 the marsh worm1 and a worm found at the root of the sweet flag1 all make good bait2 but the best of all is the night-crawling earth-worm4 ,,angle ,,worms are best kept in a tin box in which a number of holes are pierced to admit air1 but they must not be so large as to let the worms out4 ,moist1 but not too wet wood or other moss is better than earth as a nest for worms1 if they are to be kept some time4 ,keep your bait box in a cool1 damp place1 and whenever you want worms1 lift the moss and you will find the worms hanging to it4 ,soap suds or luke-warm water1 if poured over a place where there are worms1 will bring them to the surface4 ,if at the same time you pound on the ground1 it is said their egress will be hastened4 ,,slugs ,,as ,,bait ,the hellgrammite1 a black1 ugly slug to be found under stones in summer streams1 is the most tempting bait you can offer a black bass4 ,after a time the hellgrammite comes to the surface and takes to the air as a beetle1 but in that state he interests the naturalist rather than the fisherman4 ,,grub ,,worms are the larvae of beetles1 and may be found about manure heaps and in rotten logs4 ,they make good bait for trout1 bass1 perch1 cats and other fish1 and they may be kept1 but not for long1 in the manner described for worms4 ,,gentles1 or the grub of the blue-bottle fly1 are an excellent bait for trout1 though they are not good to look at nor pleasant to handle4 ,these can be cultivated by placing offal in a tin can1 and keeping it where it will be safe from rats or mice and inoffensive to the nostrils of passersby4 ,in this the blue-bottles will lay their eggs1 which will soon develop into gentles4 ,they can be kept in a box filled with moist sand or bran4 ,if kept too long they will start off as flies4 ,,the ,,katydids1 which raise such a racket from the trees1 particularly at night and after the middle of ,july1 are rather hard to get1 but they pay for the trouble1 particularly if you want to tempt pike or pickerel4 ,,black ,,crickets are always abundant in pasture fields1 and are tempting to all kinds of fish1 but particularly to bass and trout4 ,they should be kept in a roomy box with chips and stones to hide under at the bottom2 otherwise1 they will kill and eat each other4 ,,the ,,grasshopper is nearly as good as the cricket1 and it is easily captured and kept4 ,they will live for some time in a box filled with green grass4 ,,frogs1 if not too large1 are a standard bait for pike1 salmon1 pickerel1 and bass4 ,frogs are best caught with a net1 but they will take a small hook baited with a bit of red flannel1 or they will bite without the hook4 ,be careful in fastening the frog to your hook not to injure it so that it cannot swim4 ,the hook through the web of the hind feet1 or through the skin of the back1 is1 ,i think1 the best way4 ,,live ,,minnow are easily procured1 and1 on the whole1 they make the most reliable bait4 ,a small1 fine-meshed net1 fashioned like a sieve and handled by two1 is one of the best means of collecting minnows4 ,they should be kept in a bucket and taken out with a scoop made of meshed wire1 and the water should be frequently changed4 ,,crawfish1 to be found under stones in many shallow brooks1 make a good bait4 ,keep them in a box filled with wet moss or aquatic plants4 ,by dead bait is meant bits of pork1 fresh beef1 or even other fish cut up into tempting morsels for skittering2 that is1 where you cast your line with a sinker1 and then haul it in over the water1 usually by lifting the pole1 walking back1 or reeling in2 a dead frog or a dead fish is just as good as a live one4 ,boys1 as a rule1 prefer to fish with bait1 leaving artificial flies to the seniors4 ,any small live creature will answer for bait2 even mice have been used with good effect1 and cheese1 if it can be kept on the hook1 is eagerly swallowed1 in bottom fishing1 by carp and catfish4 ,when ,i was a boy we used to string our catches1 through the gills1 on a cut switch1 but if it can be had1 a fish basket is better4 ,,fishing ,,tackle should be considered4 ,this is of every variety1 from the bent pin fastened to a string1 and the string fastened to a stick1 which most of us began with1 up to the elaborate and costly rods1 reels and flies of the wealthy sportsmen4 ,boys1 who seldom use reels1 will find the bamboo1 which is sold cheap1 the lightest and strongest rod for general use4 ,hooks are of endless size and variety1 as are fishing lines4 ,these must be bought with regard to the kind of fish they are to be used on1 and of these1 boys on the ground are the best judges4 ,but let me urge this3 ,when the fishing season is over do not throw your pole1 line and hooks carelessly to one side1 but clean them1 wrap them1 and put them away in safety for another season4 ,the boy who does not take good care of the tools that give him pleasure is making a bad preparation for the serious business of life4 ,summer ,blank ,page ,,chapter ,,vi ,,hints ,,about ,,boating ,,and ,,canoeing ,the following rhyme was thought to be very funny when ,i was a boy3 ,mother1 dear1 may ,i go in to swim8 ,yes1 my lovely daughter2 ,hang your clothes on a hickory limb1 ,but don't go near the water4 ,i must reserve for ,swimming a good long chapter1 but let me say in all seriousness1 before writing anything about boating1 that every boy should learn to swim before he undertakes to manage a boat1 or even to handle a raft4 ,it is surprising at what an early age this most essential art is acquired1 and once learned1 it is never forgotten4 ,it is better1 if you are going a-boating1 not to wear your ,sunday-go- to-meeting clothes4 ,any old clothes will do1 provided they are not too heavy4 ,shoes are always in the way1 more particularly if you should be sent splashing overboard4 ,a bathing suit1 good for a swim or a row1 can be made from an old undershirt1 with the sleeves cut short4 ,an old pair of drawers1 cut off at the knees and hemmed will do1 and these can be fastened to the shirt by a light belt or buttons4 ,of course1 in such a rig as ,i have described1 you are pretty sure to get sunburned to start off with1 and ,i need not tell you that there is no fun about that4 ,now1 if you stand the exposure for about an hour and then cover up1 and the next day try an hour and a half1 and so on1 the skin will turn at first to a light pink and gradually pass to a brown1 without the slightest pain or inconvenience4 ,or if you begin by covering the exposed parts with sweet oil1 vaseline1 lard1 or mutton tallow1 without salt1 you will not suffer from sunburn4 ,as ,i have said1 learn to swim1 but in the event of a capsize1 even if you can swim1 stick to your boat or canoe till help comes1 unless you should be so close to the shore as to be quite sure of reaching it1 and even then it is best to tow the boat along4 ,every canoe should be provided with cork life preservers4 ,they are cheap and can be used as seats1 if placed in the bottom4 ,every boy1 whether living by an inland stream1 where a boat can be used1 or at the seashore1 should know the names of the different parts of boats4 ,here is a short definition of the terms that may be of use3 ,the ,bow is the front end of the boat4 ,the ,stern is the rear end4 ,fore'ard means toward the bow4 ,aft1 toward the stern4 ,the hull is the part of the boat without masts1 spars1 oars1 or rigging4 ,the keel1 like the runner of a skate1 runs along the center of the bottom of the boat4 ,it keeps a boat under sail from sliding sideways4 ,starboard is the right-hand side of the boat as you face the bow4 ,port is the left-hand side1 looking in the same direction4 ,after dark ships and boats carry a red light at the bow on the port side1 and a green light on the starboard4 ,the ,rudder is a movable piece of board at the stern1 by means of which the craft is steered4 ,it is worked by a lever1 ropes1 or a wheel4 ,the lever is called the tiller4 ,the ,helm is that part of the machinery you grasp when steering4 ,the ,deck is the roof of the hull4 ,the ,center ,board is an adjustable keel that can be lowered or raised at pleasure4 ,the ,masts are upright poles to support the rigging and sails4 ,the ,yards are poles hung on the masts at right angles to them1 from which the sails hang when in use1 and on which they are furled or folded when not in use4 ,the ,boom is the movable spar at the bottom of the sail4 ,the ,gaff is the pole or spar for spreading the top or head of the sail4 ,the ,sail is really a canvas kite fastened to the boat4 ,the ,bowsprit is the stick projecting from the bow4 ,the ,rigging consists of the ropes attached to masts and bowsprit4 ,stays are strong ropes for supporting the masts fore and aft4 ,shrouds are strong supporting ropes reaching from the masts to the sides of the boat4 ,ratlines are little ropes fastened to the shrouds by which sailors may climb up or down4 ,the painter is a rope at the bow1 used to fasten small boats as a halter fastens a horse4 ,windward means the side of the boat against which the wind blows4 ,leeward1 opposite side to windward4 ,ballast weights of stone1 iron or bags of sand used to balance the boat4 ,a good way to learn about the parts of a boat is to whittle out a small working model4 ,this is a help1 but only the actual experience can teach you how to manage a sail and at the same time steer the boat4 ,of course1 you can learn this for yourself1 but the better way is to serve an apprenticeship to some more experienced companion4 ,the first essential to a sail boat is that it should be well made and properly balanced4 ,the second1 that it should be carefully rigged1 and the third that the man in charge should know just how to avail himself of these advantages4 ,sailing before the wind is easy enough4 ,it is in tacking and beating up against the wind that skill and care are required4 ,jibing1 that is changing the boom and sail when tacking1 requires the greatest care1 particularly if the wind is stiff1 and beginners should never be permitted to attempt it4 ,where the water is apt to be rough1 the sail of every boat should be provided with reefing points--that is little ropes4 ,they are on both sides of the sail4 ,the sail is rolled up from the bottom and tied down to the boom4 ,this is called reefing or shortening sail4 ,at nights small boats and canoes should carry lights1 as before indicated4 ,it is a difficult thing to make a sailor through books4 ,the best that can be done is to advise what to do1 and still more1 what not to do4 ,,advice ,don't overload the boat4 ,don't carry too much sail4 ,don't trust yourself alone in strange waters4 ,don't leave your anchor at home4 ,don't forget your oars4 ,don't sit on the gunwale-the edge of the boat4 ,don't alter course too suddenly4 ,don't let go the helm for an instant4 ,don't mistake caution for cowardice4 ,don't be afraid to reef4 ,don't let your gear get snarled4 ,don't jibe in a stiff wind4 ,don't get rattled4 ,don't sail with fool companions4 ,of course1 there are many other don'ts that will suggest themselves to the sensible boy2 among them1 ,don't fail to keep your boat pumped out or bailed1 and don't forget to carry an anchor of some sort1 and not the least important1 don't leave your eatables and drinkables ashore4 ,,chapter ,,vii ,,some ,,small1 ,,sail ,,boats ,,that ,,can ,,be ,,made ,,in ,,the ,,winter1 ,,or ,,that ,,can ,,be ,,bought ,,without ,,much ,,money ,there is no small boat so popular or so generally useful as the ,american catboat4 ,the cat can sail into the very eye of the wind1 while before the wind she is a flier1 and yet she is not the best sail boat for a beginner4 ,let me tell you why3 ,first1 the sail is heavy and so it is hard to hoist and reef4 ,second1 in going before the wind there is constant danger of jibing with serious results4 ,third1 the catboat has a very bad habit of rolling when sailing before the wind1 and each time the boat rolls from side to side she is liable to dip the end of her heavy boom in the water and trip herself up4 ,when a boat trips up she does not necessarily go down1 but she is likely to upset1 placing the young sailors in an unenviable1 if not dangerous1 position4 ,fourth1 when the craft begins to swagger before the wind she is liable to goose neck1 that is throw her boom up against the mast1 which is another accident fraught with the possibilities of serious mischief4 ,mr4 ,dan ,beard1 the famous ,american artist and author1 and an authority in such matters1 thinks the sloop is the most graceful of all the single masters4 ,this is the type of our great yacht racers4 ,next to the sloop1 and very much like it1 is the schooner rig yacht4 ,this is a fine boat1 but beyond the pockets of boys2 however1 smaller sizes can be rigged on the same plan1 with a jib and mainsail1 and they will be found to be both safe and swift4 ,,the ,,construction ,without careful working drawings1 which but few boys could manage without the aid of a skilled workman1 it would be impossible to show just how a good sail boat can be made4 ,it should be said1 however1 that the ordinary rowboat may be easily changed into a sail boat1 provided a keel is attached1 or a lee board provided4 ,the latter1 as you know1 is a broad piece of board that is slipped1 when needed1 into a groove along the side of the boat1 to keep it from drifting when the wind is not full astern4 ,good1 light string timber that is easily worked should always be chosen4 ,see that it is free from knots2 if this cannot be had1 do not try to build a boat4 ,after all1 unless all the conditions are favorable1 and you have great talent for such work1 it will be easier to save your money and then buy such a boat as you need1 or if you cannot do this1 get a carpenter who knows how to build such a craft to make the boat for you4 ,i have known cases where a number of boys1 living near the water1 bought a sail boat which they owned in common4 ,each had the right to its use on a fixed day1 though1 as they were school fellows1 it happened that they usually went out together4 ,the latter is the better way1 provided always that when the crew starts off for a cruise it is distinctly understood that one of the number is to be the captain for the time and is to be obeyed accordingly4 ,it was told when ,i was a boy1 but ,i doubted the story then and ,i don't believe it now1 that when migrating squirrels1 that do not take kindly to the water1 reach a wide stream they secure bits of wood or bark large enough to float them1 then with their tails erect to catch the wind they sail gaily across4 ,the natives of ,north ,australia1 the most primitive people of whom we have any knowledge1 use logs1 singly or lashed together with vines1 to cross rivers and arms of the sea4 ,,canoes ,our own ,american ,indians were more advanced4 ,even the rudest of them had learned before the coming of the white man to hollow out the log by means of fire and to shape it with stone axes into the form of the present canoe4 ,the birch-bark canoe1 made by the ,indians of the northern rivers and lakes1 is really a work of art4 ,it is a model of lightness1 and when we consider its frailty1 and then the way in which it can be managed in the most turbulent currents1 our admiration is divided between the craft of the maker and the surprising skill of the man who handles the paddle4 ,the ancestor of the graceful yacht and of the great ocean steamers1 that carry their thousands with as much comfort as if they were on shore1 is the rude canoe or raft of our own forefathers4 ,it is from these forefathers that we have inherited our love for outdoor life1 for fishing and for water1 and the instinctive desire to hunt which is inborn in every healthy boy4 ,,evolution ,in the evolution of water craft1 the vessel propelled by pole1 paddle or oar must have preceded the use of sails4 ,the former required more strength and the latter more skill4 ,but no matter what science and art may do to make sailing more secure and comfortable1 the boy1 particularly if he be country bred1 and so forced to be more self- reliant1 will have a try at the raft1 dingey or canoe before he aspires to anything more elaborate and expensive4 ,i like work that develops the ingenuity of the boy4 ,on a long mill pond out in ,kentucky--this was some years ago--,i came upon some boys who were managing a raft propelled by a sail made from two bed sheets4 ,the body of this strange craft consisted of four logs1 sharpened at the bow and of varying length1 so as to present a wedge point to the water4 ,across the logs cleats were nailed that kept them together and answered for a deck4 ,a stout pole1 secured in front1 served for a mast and a smaller pole1 with a piece of board nailed to the end1 acted as a rudder4 ,on board this strange craft there were four boys and a dog1 the latter1 judging from his barking1 quite wild with the fun of it4 ,before the wind this sailing raft made good time1 but as the craft refused to tack1 the boys lowered the sail and poled back for another try1 just as boys clamber up hill in winter for the sheer joy of coasting down4 ,,other ,,boats ,we have learned from the ,south ,sea ,islanders how to build and manage a catamaran4 ,this consists of two canoes or long thin boats1 placed parallel and joined together by wooden strips1 which also answer for a deck4 ,this craft can be rowed or driven by a sail1 placed well forward4 ,its great advantage is its stiffness1 for it cannot be upset in an ordinary sea4 ,the dingey1 shaped like the bottom of a flatiron1 with a blunt stern and a sharp nose1 is the boat with which the boy in the country first makes acquaintance4 ,it is propelled by two oars1 usually fastened to the sides by pivot row-locks4 ,this is a handy boat for getting about in1 but it is quite impossible to learn the art of rowing from such a mechanical contrivance4 ,,rowing ,properly done1 there is no single exercise that develops the arms1 chest1 back and leg muscles as does rowing4 ,whether your boat is a dingey or an expensive rowing shell1 always enter it1 if the purpose is pleasure and exercise1 with the determination to get the best out of it4 ,be sure that your oars are of the right length1 so as to avoid the contact of the ends4 ,have the row-locks so arranged that the oars will turn or move in any direction without creaking or strain4 ,the braces for the feet should be movable1 so as to accommodate any length of leg1 and the seat should not be too high4 ,there are many styles of rowing1 none of which may be discussed here4 ,it is well at the start to learn how to feather your oars1 whether you are handling one or two4 ,this consists in bringing the edge of the blade parallel with the water--a splendid exercise for the wrists-- then turning the blade as it reaches the water1 and with all the strength of every muscle drawing the oars steadily1 never jerkily1 till the stroke is finished4 ,the one purpose is to keep up a uniform speed1 and this can be done only by a uniform stroke4 ,endurance1 rather than mere brute strength1 is the thing to be kept in mind in rowing1 as in everything else requiring effort4 ,always have in reserve a stock of endurance to be used should occasion require4 ,never start out with a dash1 even if you are in a hurry1 but strike a gait that you can keep up without making severe demands on that most essential of all the organs--the heart4 ,,the ,,canoe ,the canoe1 as you know1 is managed by a single paddle1 though ,i have seen1 up in some of the ,adirondack lakes1 canoes that were driven by oars4 ,but1 excepting in name and shape1 these were not canoes2 they were long1 narrow boats4 ,the ,indian1 and the white man who would learn the fine art of canoeing1 sits in the bottom of the canoe and close to the stern end1 though in fact a canoe is all stern and all bow1 sailing equally well no matter which end is in front4 ,the ,indian does not paddle on one side and then on the other4 ,he uses1 as a rule1 the left hand side4 ,he grasps the blade right hand at the top1 left hand a foot or more down1 and then reaching the paddle forward1 he digs it into the water with a strong1 firm grip1 keeping it perpendicular and drawing it aft4 ,when the paddle is abreast his erect body1 he suddenly turns the blade so as to bring the flat against the body of the canoe4 ,this acts at once as a lee board and a rudder4 ,with these graceful movements the canoe is managed from one side1 and can be made to go as straight as a bullet to a bull's-eye4 ,unlike the dingey or flat bottom boat1 the canoe is easily upset4 ,therefore the paddler and his passengers1 if he have any1 must sit on the bottom4 ,never rise unless you are alongside a float or dock4 ,the boy or the man who rocks the boat for fun is either idiotic or insane2 in either case he is unfit to care for precious human lives4 ,now1 the ordinary boat will stand a little of such fooling1 but the canoe refuses to be rocked4 ,at the first insult of that kind it very properly dumps out its occupants4 ,,the ,,canvas ,,canoe ,the lightness of the birch bark canoe is not the least of its advantages2 but as birch bark is not available in the settled parts of our country1 a substitute was desired1 a substitute quite as light and of a material that would not be seriously injured by dents4 ,this was found in a canvas cover over a light wicker1 collapsible frame4 ,a frame can be made of bamboo1 rattan1 willow or light strong pieces of pliant wood such as spruce or hickory4 ,the pieces can be joined with screws or wire1 never nails4 ,the length as to breadth to insure safety should be as eight to one1 though many canoes are narrower4 ,with tools and material1 both of which are easily obtained1 any boy1 with patience and some skill1 can construct a frame to his own liking4 ,the frame must be covered with a light1 strong canvas1 cut and sewed to make a good fit4 ,when this is done1 paint the canvas inside and out1 taking care to paint under the frame1 which can be removed if necessary4 ,a second and even a third coat of paint may be needed4 ,canvas covers should be made for the aft and front decks1 under which a small tent or camping appliances can be carried4 ,in a canoe of this kind1 fourteen feet long and eighteen inches wide1 three young ,american students made a voyage from the head-waters of the ,rhine to ,holland and the ,north ,sea4 ,they made the canoe in ,paris1 and carried it in a bundle to ,switzerland4 ,this vessel held a complete camping outfit and provisions4 ,,chapter ,,viii ,,if ,,you ,,can',t ,,swim1 ,,learn ,,at ,,once--,,helps ,,to ,,learners--,,confidence ,,is ,,the ,,thing ,every animal1 except man1 can swim naturally on finding itself in the water for the first time1 for it takes a position nearly the same as if it were on land and walking4 ,the physical structure of man1 the lord of creation1 is not so favorably adapted for his making his way through the water1 his head being much heavier in proportion to its size than his trunk1 while he has to make an entirely new departure1 in abandoning his customary erect position1 and has to adopt movements of the limbs to which he has not previously been accustomed4 ,still1 the specific gravity of the human body1 particularly when the cavity of the chest is filled with air1 is lighter than that of water1 in proportion to the obesity of the individual1 stout people being able to float more easily than those of spare build4 ,there are thousands and thousands of boys in this vast country who have never seen big rivers1 like the ,ohio and ,mississippi1 or beheld the broad ocean1 with its white1 sandy beach and small1 quiet bays1 or the great blue lakes1 and whose only chance to swim is in the deep holes of some small stream1 a mill-pond or small lake4 ,beginners are just as liable to meet with serious accidents in such places as in the large rivers or the salt sea4 ,for it must be remembered it is not the width of the water1 but its depth1 that troubles a beginner4 ,,how ,,to ,,learn ,beyond the practice that makes for perfection1 the only other thing necessary for swimming is confidence4 ,every man1 woman1 and child-- even if never in the water before--could keep afloat if he1 she or it had the required confidence1 but as they have not this confidence1 the question is3 ,how can it be acquired8 ,there is an old saying1 ,familiarity breeds contempt4 ,while1 like many other home-made proverbs1 this is only partly true1 there can be no doubt but that familiarity makes for confidence4 ,the new recruit may be as strong and brave as the veteran soldier1 but the lack of experience makes him nervous and unreliable under a fire which the older soldier faces without a visible tremor of eye or hand4 ,it is difficult to get confidence if you begin by getting awfully scared4 ,every boy1 and every girl too1 should know how to swim1 and both are more than eager to learn4 ,now1 the boy who can swim1 and who is properly proud of the fact1 will1 if he stops to think1 recall a time not very far distant when he lacked confidence and could not keep himself afloat for a second4 ,and he may recall how frightened he was when some foolishly thoughtless friend or heartless bully tried to duck him1 or to push him beyond his depth4 ,,be ,,kind ,the first hard fight ,i ever had was with a big boy--it is the conflict ,i look back at with the most pleasure--who was holding a smaller boy under the water4 ,we fought quite naked1 and--well1 ,i licked the bully1 and never after that did he try to frighten small boys in that swimming hole4 ,boys will be boys1 but even then each should have in him much of the man he hopes one day to be4 ,therefore ,i say1 be a protector1 a guide1 philosopher and friend of the younger boys1 and if you know more than they do of anything1 and they want to learn1 teach them in a cheery1 manly fashion1 if you have the time4 ,avoid conflicts1 but if you must have one1 see to it that the bully will not be eager for another such meeting4 ,,good ,,advice ,before saying more1 let me give you another bit of good advice4 ,never enter into water the depth of which you are not familiar with1 unless you can swim1 and in any event do not venture far into strange water unless you are accompanied by a companion as skillful as yourself4 ,big boys1 as a rule1 are glad to help the smaller ones1 and in this way they teach by assuring confidence and showing by example how the thing can be done4 ,planks1 floats1 bladders and other artificial contrivances are advised by some1 but after swimming for years in nearly all the waters of the world1 ,i cannot endorse such doubtful assistance4 ,as one cannot actually swim when supported in this way1 it is far better to start in without them4 ,there must be a beginning1 and it should be made in the easiest and most sensible way4 ,a ,,good ,,way ,with your back to the shore and the water almost up to the armpits1 bend your knees till the water nearly reaches the chin4 ,then gradually throw your bead back as far as it will go1 until the base of the skull is immersed and the water covers your ears4 ,now stretch your arms backwards behind your head1 at their fullest extent1 the palms uppermost and slightly hollowed4 ,take a full breath1 and swelling out the chest1 give a little push off the bottom with both feet4 ,keep your mouth shut1 as1 perhaps for an instant only1 the water will ripple on your face as the head takes its position1 and then you will find your legs1 which must be stiffened and separated4 ,in this position you will float for a second1 moving the while towards the shore4 ,then the water will dash over your nose and mouth1 but1 before it chokes1 regain your feet and after a good long breath1 try it again4 ,,franklin',s ,,way ,another capital dodge is that recommended by ,dr4 ,franklin1 in which the buoyant power of water is still more strikingly exemplified4 ,procure an egg or lump of chalk of an easily handled shape1 and1 when the water is up to your chest1 face the shore and let the egg drop in front of you4 ,now take breath1 shut your mouth1 but not your eyes1 which you can open and shut as easily in the water as out1 duck under1 and try to pick up the egg4 ,you will find that while your legs rise from the bottom you will have to struggle with your arms to get down far enough to reach the egg1 owing to the great resistance offered by the water1 and two or three attempts may be necessary to accomplish your object4 ,you can come up at any moment by depressing the feet1 and1 as you face the shore1 your struggles are working you into shallower water1 so that the experiment is a safe one enough4 ,you have now gained confidence1 which is half the battle1 and the next thing to be done is to try to move on the surface of that element which you have proved capable of sustaining you when motionless4 ,it is certainly easier to float when the body is moving through the water than when it is stationary1 on much the same principle which sustains the oyster shell that skips along the surface of the sea1 until1 the impetus given it by the thrower being exhausted1 it sinks to the bottom4 ,in like manner the pace acquired in swimming helps to sustain the body4 ,if you can keep afloat while you count five1 or long enough to inhale the breath once1 the battle is won2 and while you may not be qualified to enter for the long distance championship1 you can modestly call yourself a swimmer4 ,books give us valuable information about how to do many things1 but when it comes to swimming1 all the book can do is to advise1 and if the author gives us his own experience1 as ,i am trying to do here1 it must be of great help4 ,,confidence ,i have said that in learning to swim confidence is the great essential1 but while still sticking unchangeably to that1 ,i will add that perseverance is a good second4 ,never get discouraged4 ,stick to it4 ,repeat over and over again either of the two exercises before given4 ,each time you will find them easier4 ,then suddenly1 and before you know it1 you will be keeping yourself afloat4 ,what if it is only for a few seconds and you have not moved a foot8 ,don't give up4 ,if at first you don't succeed1 try1 try again6 ,that's a motto you should heed1 particularly in learning to swim4 ,there are a great many strokes in swimming1 but pay no attention to these at the start4 ,,strokes ,when ,i was a boy1 and ,i presume it is so still1 there was a stroke known as dog fashion4 ,as a matter of fact1 it might as well be called the fashion of any other animal1 for all quadrupeds swim exactly as they walk1 that is by moving the feet alternately forward2 and this is the very way one is inclined to try it at the start4 ,if you can go dog fashion with some confidence1 it will be well to learn the breast stroke1 which1 though not the fastest1 is perhaps the most general1 as it is the most graceful1 among non-professionals4 ,but first a word as to the management of the legs4 ,,the ,,legs ,while the arm movements can be greatly varied1 there can be1 in the nature of things1 no such variation in the action of the legs4 ,it is said1 and truthfully1 that the motion of the legs of a human swimmer are much like the motion of a frog's hind legs when swimming4 ,that is1 the boy draws his legs up simultaneously and kicks them out in the same way1 but in so doing he is not imitating a frog1 for if he works the limbs together there is no other possible way in which he can do it under water4 ,the frog's breast stroke is another story4 ,a man swims very much as does a frog1 though he cannot do so well under water as the amphibian4 ,the legs are kicked in the same way and there is the same motion of the arms of one as of the forelegs of the other4 ,some swimming teachers believe that the main reliance is the legs1 but this has not been my experience1 and ,i have seen many swimmers in many waters4 ,the legs steady the body1 but it is the arms that make for speed as well as for steering1 though on the back it is the legs that do the business4 ,,how ,,to ,,do ,,it ,bring your hands together under your chin1 with the palms down1 fingers straight1 close together1 and pointing in the direction you are about to move4 ,next shove the two hands straight out in front of you1 keeping your thumbs touching4 ,as your hands are pushed forward1 kick backward with your legs1 as previously described4 ,when the knees are straight1 the legs will be spread wide apart4 ,bring them together1 and1 if you time this properly1 your position will now be that of an arrow1 the point being your extended hands4 ,while the arms and legs alike do their share in the propulsion of the body1 the legs perform by far the most important work1 and the importance of a good kick cannot be too strongly urged4 ,though the action of the soles of the feet upon the water helps the drive1 the momentum is also given by the wedge of water embraced and driven backwards by the action of the backs of the thighs and calves1 as they almost come together at the completion of the leg stroke4 ,hence1 the wider the stretch the more powerful the drive1 and the beginner should try to rival as closely as possible that acrobatic performance known as the splits when trying to master the kick4 ,the action of arms and legs is alternate2 that is to say1 when the legs are making their sweep1 the arms are thrown forward to their fullest extent1 thus helping to sustain the upper part of the trunk1 and serving as a prow or cutwater2 then1 during the first part of the arm stroke1 the legs1 almost touching after finishing their work1 remain stiff and extended1 so as to offer as little resistance as possible4 ,these positions are but momentary1 but their rigid observance is necessary to ensure pace with the least expenditure of force4 ,,the ,,arms ,the breast stroke will require some practice1 and this can be helped by out-of-the-water exercise4 ,close your fingers tightly1 but not so as to be very conscious of the effort4 ,in this position1 bring them up till the chin rests on the two thumbs1 which are side by side and parallel4 ,next separate the hands1 fingers still close together1 shoot them edgewise as far in front as you can reach1 then with the flat palms and closed fingers to the resisting water1 draw them smartly back1 like oars4 ,for the second stroke1 draw the arms edgewise to the first position and repeat as often as may be necessary4 ,this exercise will strengthen the arm and shoulder muscles and greatly facilitate the movements when you come to use them in swimming4 ,be careful always to bear in mind the following rules3 ,keep the head thrown back so as to clear the mouth and chin4 ,try to swim as low as possible4 ,the lower and the nearer level the plane in which the body lies in the water1 the less the waste of power and the greater the speed1 so that all rising and falling must be avoided1 and nothing seen below the chin4 ,always keep the trunk steady and the spine hollowed1 avoiding all squirming1 wriggling and bending1 while the motions must be made steadily1 avoiding all hurry4 ,exhale your breath when the hands are extended in front supporting the head1 and inhale as they are brought back--an action which expands the chest and gives you almost instinctively the signal for taking breath1 which should be inhaled through the nose as much as possible4 ,,chapter ,,ix ,,methods ,,of ,,swimming1 ,,floating1 ,,diving1 ,,and ,,some ,,good ,,water ,,games ,some girls1 after they have learned the alphabet of music1 and are able to play elementary scales on the piano1 are eager to surprise themselves and annoy their listeners by starting in to play tunes1 if indeed they are not ambitious to tackle grand opera4 ,but the wise learner is satisfied to take one step at a time1 and before going on he is sure that he can do the previous steps reasonably well4 ,i am old enough to have boys of my own1 still ,i hope ,i shall never be so old as to forget my own boyhood1 nor to feel that much of the boy nature does not still keep with me2 and this is why ,i advise my boy friends who read this to learn surely whatever they undertake2 in this case it is swimming4 ,after you can manage the breast stroke well1 try the side stroke1 which you will find more speedy1 but it has its disadvantages in a long swim1 by reason of the tension thrown on the muscles of the neck in keeping the head thrown so far back from its normal position1 while the chest and shoulders1 square to the front1 offer considerable resistance to the water4 ,history has not handed down the name of the founder of the side stroke1 but he deserves canonization equally with the man who ate the first oyster4 ,nature evidently intended man to swim on his side1 as in this position the body moves more easily in the water1 to which it offers less resistance1 while the action of the arms is not so fatiguing1 and the head is supported by the water at its proper angle to the trunk4 ,there is no arbitrary rule as to which side you shall swim on1 left or right being a pure matter of choice2 but while ,i think the left is preferable1 as it gives greater play to the right arm1 the right is the usual side put on by the majority4 ,the great thing is to be able to swim equally well on either1 as this enables you to keep your face to the breakers in a rough sea on whichever tack you lay your course4 ,when you have mastered this stroke you will seem to move forward continuously1 and not in a succession of jerks1 as with the breast stroke4 ,the natives of the ,south ,sea ,islands1 who are1 to my thinking1 the best swimmers in the world1 use this stroke for a long1 steady swim1 and ,i have been surprised at the speed they make and the length of time with which they can keep it up without a sign of fatigue4 ,,racing ,the racing stroke is effective for speed1 but it soon wears out all but the strong1 expert swimmer4 ,in acquiring it you must remember that pace is the great desideratum1 and1 consequently1 rapidity of action is requisite4 ,to gain this you must combine two movements in one1 by striking with the propeller on whichever side you swim at the same time as the feet1 the sustainer acting in the same manner as before4 ,as the legs are brought up for the kick the propeller is lifted clear of the water1 the arm being slightly bent in a graceful curve1 and thrown forward in an arc to its fullest extent1 the hand being held in the scoop-like position it maintains in the water4 ,now kick1 and bring the propeller simultaneously downwards and backwards1 with a bold and vigorous sweep1 until it reaches the thigh when the elbow is bent1 drawing the hand upwards to be thrown forward again4 ,as this stroke is being made1 shoot out the sustainer quickly forwards1 and while this arm is pulled in towards the body the legs and propeller are quickly brought into action for the next stroke4 ,the learner will have to count one1 two1 only in effecting this movement1 as1 when the propeller and legs are striking1 the sustainer is shot out1 and vice versa4 ,,other ,,ways ,swimming on the back is very easy1 once the confidence is assured4 ,in this method the hands are folded on the breast1 or still better1 kept under the water and close to the sides4 ,this done1 the feet are drawn up together1 as in breast swimming1 and then kicked out together4 ,as the arms are the chief driving power1 swimming on the back is at best but a slow1 jerky method of proceeding1 but if one has not learned to float1 it is a good way to rest for a bit in a long swim4 ,some swimmers1 particularly those that are narrow chested or lank and lean1 can never learn to float1 though once you know how1 it is easier and far more comfortable than falling off a log4 ,at first1 when learning to float on your back1 and by the way that is the only way to do it properly1 you will find yourself sinking slowly1 feet foremost1 until you seem to be standing up1 and must use some exercise to keep afloat2 but you can learn4 ,before lying flat on your back1 inflate your lungs fully2 as you do so you will be surprised to see how you seem to lift out of the water4 ,now1 before your lungs are exhausted1 for you will sink as they empty1 breathe deeply again and exhaust slowly as before1 keeping your arms by your sides and your legs close together and extended4 ,don't expect to float like a life boat at the first try1 for you are not built along life boat lines2 but if you stick at it1 and make the experiment at least once every time you go in swimming1 you will float well before the summer is over4 ,,going ,,in ,if you know the water1 the best way to enter it is by a quick plunge or a straight dive4 ,to walk into the water and duck is rather an ignominious proceeding1 only to be excused in the novice or the lady bather we see at our watering-places bobbing up and down at the end of a rope4 ,the swimmer should not rest content until he is able to plunge in like a workman2 but first1 a word of caution6 ,never attempt to dive unless you know that the water is deep enough for the purpose4 ,many serious accidents have occurred from this mistake1 notably when bathing at sea4 ,an incautious plunge from the ship's side into the sail bath extemporized overboard to ward off any danger from sharks has resulted fatally to the rash swimmer1 and at all times danger attends rash plunging4 ,it is1 nevertheless1 astonishing into what shallow water an expert can fearlessly dive from a height1 his arms and head emerging almost before the feet have disappeared beneath the surface4 ,the diver needs to be very quick of hand and eye1 and many accidents attest the fact of the game not being worth the candle4 ,i have seen bathers extend the arms over their heads and fall forward1 which generally entails a smart tingling of the chest and stomach1 as the body is almost certain to drop flat on the surface4 ,a very neat plunge1 which requires practice and a little pluck1 is made by standing erect on the brink edge or board and1 instead of springing from the board1 allowing the body1 kept rigid1 to fall forward until it attains the proper distance1 then suddenly throw up the feet and plunge in like an arrow and without a splash4 ,,under ,,water ,it requires some practice to swim under water1 but you can soon do it4 ,it is well to learn how to keep the eyes open under water4 ,this is no more difficult nor painful than it is to keep them open in the air4 ,this skill may be of great use in locating a body that has sunk for the last time4 ,many such cases have been brought up and restored to consciousness1 under proper treatment4 ,,water ,,games are not as many as land games1 but some of them afford good sport4 ,one of these is ,water ,bladder1 which requires good swimmers1 at least they must not be afraid of the water4 ,to play this game place two places1 for goals1 at proper distances where the water is overhead1 and mark each with crossed rods1 the tops about a foot out of water4 ,divide the party into two sides and take your positions as in an old-fashioned game of football4 ,at the word ,ready1 the umpire1 who is on the shore or at some convenient point1 throws an inflated bladder between the opposite sides4 ,the object of the players is to send the bladder over the enemy's goal1 and the rules are very simple4 ,it is foul to interfere with an opponent by putting your hands on him1 it is foul to use more than one hand in handling the bladder1 but you may swim in front of a man1 dive under him1 in fact interfere in every way you can4 ,each goal counts one point1 and five points make a game4 ,,tub ,,races ,one might suppose that this would come under the head of boating1 but one would be mistaken1 for it properly belongs to swimming1 as any one who has witnessed or taken part in such a race will tell you4 ,each contestant supplies himself with an ordinary washtub4 ,at the word ,go6 he places it in the water1 climbs in as best he can1 and paddles with his hands for the taw line4 ,this is great fun1 and if one out of ten gets through he may count himself fortunate4 ,he may not succeed a second time and will not if the others can help it4 ,when ,i was a boy we had no end of sport in running and diving from a springboard4 ,this1 as you know1 is a long1 strong board--the longer the better--one end of which is firmly fixed in the bank and weighted with logs or stones2 but no matter how weighted you must see to it that it does not get out of balance4 ,the free end projects over the water at any desired angle1 and care must be taken at the start to see that there are no stones or snags from which harm may come below the surface4 ,it would be difficult to find anything more graceful than a lot of slender boys speeding up this spring-board and shooting out1 feet first or head first1 into the river1 pond or swimming pool4 ,when a boy can turn a somersault from the end of the board1 and come down feet foremost in a clean-cut way1 he may be said to be an expert4 ,contrary to the belief of those who have not tried it1 it is much easier to turn a back than a forward somersault1 though neither can be achieved without some practice4 ,in the back somersault great care should be taken that the diver leaps far1 so as to be free and clear of the board when he turns2 otherwise his head may strike with bad results4 ,as ,i have said before1 diving may be useful in saving life1 or in finding objects that have been lost in the water4 ,in such cases it will be necessary to keep the eyes open1 otherwise you will be much like one groping in the dark4 ,the tendency in diving is to keep the eyes closed4 ,there is a feeling that if they are opened the water will hurt them1 or that its touch will be painful2 but this is a great mistake4 ,if the water is clear1 and clear water is the best to swim in1 one can see under water nearly as well as on top and the eyes are in no way affected4 ,pearl divers in the ,persian ,gulf sometimes stay under water for minutes at a time1 and if they could not keep their eyes open while searching for the pearl shells1 their descent would not profit much4 ,the eyes of these people are never injured4 ,in the ,bay of ,apia1 in the ,samoan ,islands1 ,i have seen native boys diving from a canoe under the bottom of a great ocean steamer4 ,on one occasion a boy brought up from a depth of fifty feet a silver coin that had been tossed overboard to test his skill4 ,,closing ,,advice ,never go into the water when at all warm4 ,the best way to enter is to plunge or dive in4 ,never go in more than twice a day1 even if a fresh lot of boys come down to dare you4 ,learn to laugh at dares4 ,never stay in the water more than half an hour at a time1 unless there is an absolute need for your so doing4 ,you cannot learn too early that good health is easily lost and hard to regain4 ,,chapter ,x ,,how ,,sides ,,are ,,chosen ,,in ,,games ,when teams from different clubs1 or schools1 or places meet to try their skill in some game requiring skill and endurance1 there is no occasion to choose sides for that has been done in advance4 ,but when boys of the same school or association meet for a game1 it is necessary that the leaders should be decided on in advance1 as also the means by which the respective sides must be chosen4 ,when two boys are contesting1 one may pick up a pebble and ask1 ,which hand is it8 ,if the guess is right1 the boy making it is ,it4 ,drawing straws is another method of choosing sides1 and it is often used as a game in itself4 ,from a handful of grass1 one of the boys selects as many pieces as there are to be players4 ,one of the blades is cut off so that it will be much shorter than the other pieces4 ,straw holder arranges the straws so that the top ends protrude from his closed fist1 either perfectly even or irregular in their height above the hand1 according to his fancy4 ,it may happen that the first boy to choose a straw will select the short one4 ,this in a measure spoils the fun1 and to guard against it the lads are often made to stand up in a line and each one in turn pulls a straw from the fist of ,straw-holder4 ,each one is expected and required to put it behind his back immediately and keep it there until all the boys in the line have straws behind their backs4 ,then ,straw-holder1 holding up the straw left in his own hand1 cries1 ,who is short straw8 ,at that each boy produces his straw and compares it with the others4 ,another method is to place a button1 pebble or other small object that can be easily concealed in one hand4 ,then1 with both fists closed1 place one above the other and ask1 ,which is it1 ,joe2 high or low8 ,if the empty hand is chosen the boy goes free4 ,so it goes on1 the last holder of the stone being it1 for the one making the unlucky guess has to hold the object4 ,odd or ,even is often the method by which the one having the first choice in choosing shall be selected4 ,the method is as follows3 ,one boy selects at random a handful of pebbles1 marbles or other small objects1 and closing his hand1 asks1 as he holds it out3 ,odd or even8 ,if the other boy should say odd1 and on count the objects prove to be even in number1 he has lost1 and the other boy has first choice2 or if it is a counting-out game1 the one who guesses right goes free and the last is ,it4 ,a very old way is to toss up two coins1 sometimes boys carry such things1 though never for long4 ,heads or tails6 cries the tosser4 ,if the other guesses he is free4 ,sometimes a stone or a chip1 moistened on one side is used1 and the boy who tosses it up shouts1 ,wet or dry8 ,this is simply a variation of heads or tails1 or odd or even4 ,each section and each crowd of boys has its own way of choosing or counting out1 and in this case the best known is best4 ,,chapter ,,xi ,,some ,,interesting ,,facts ,,about ,,counting-,,out ,,games ,,and ,,the ,,rhymes ,,used ,,by ,,players ,when children indulge in counting-out games they are quite indifferent to the fact that since the infancy of history and in every land1 civilized1 barbarous and savage1 other children have played the same game1 in much the same way1 and have used rhymes that are curiously alike4 ,some learned men use this fact to prove the unity of all races4 ,mr4 ,beard1 to whom ,i am indebted for much1 has collected many of these rhymes4 ,it will interest boys to compare some of them with those he already knows4 ,sometimes it happens that there are more boys than words in the counting rhyme1 or the counter foresees that he himself will be it4 ,in both cases he adds to the verse something like this3 ,one1 two1 three1 ,out goes he6 ,often he will add a whole verse and dialogue as follows3 ,one1 two1 three1 ,out goes he1 ,into the middle ,of the deep blue sea6 ,are you willing to be ,,it8 ,here is a rhyme that has in it a distinctly ,american twang3 ,ena1 mena1 mina1 mo1 ,catch a niga by the toe1 ,when he hollers1 let him go1 ,ena1 mena1 mina1 mo4 ,here is another familiar jingle3 ,anna1 mana1 mona1 ,mike1 ,barcelona bona1 strike2 ,care1 ware1 frow1 frack1 ,hallico1 ballico1 we1 wo1 wack6 ,huddy1 goody1 goo1 ,out goes you6 ,eatum1 peatum1 penny pie1 ,babyloni1 stickum stie1 ,stand you out there by6 ,this is ,irish3 ,a lirripeg1 a larrapeg1 ,a bee1 a nail1 a stone1 a stack1 ,a bonny ,billie ,gelpie1 ,a ,belia-bug1 a warum rock1 ,crib-i-stery1 ,hick6 ,the little ,turks and ,armenians use this count3 ,allem1 ,bellem1 chirozi1 ,chirmirozi1 fotozi1 ,fotoz1 gider magara1 ,magarada tilki bash1 ,pilki beni korkootdi1 ,aallede shooullede ,edirnede1 ,divid bashi ,ben ,ilayen kehad bashi1 ,french youngsters use this rhyme3 ,un1 deux1 trois1 ,tu ne l'est pas2 ,quatre1 cinq1 six1 ,va-t'en d'ici6 ,one1 two1 three1 ,thou art not it2 ,four1 five1 six1 ,go away from here6 ,here is how ,dutch boys do it3 ,een1 twee1 sen kopje thee2 ,een1 klotje er bij1 ,af ben jij6 ,along the ,rhine this is popular3 ,ene1 tene1 mone1 mei1 ,paster1 lone1 bone1 strei1 ,ene1 fune1 herke1 berke1 ,wer8 ,wie8 ,wo8 ,was8 ,,chapter ,,xii ,,do ,,you ,,know ,,all ,,about ,,the ,,game ,,of ,,tag8 ,the poet ,pope says1 ,the proper study of mankind is man4 ,if he did not mean this to include boys1 then ,i don't quite agree with him1 for ,i have found boys and girls1 too1 be it said1 as a rule1 far more interesting as objects of study than the average grown-up4 ,i have always liked these stanzas from ,hood's fine poem1 ,the ,dream of ,eugene ,aram3 ',twas in the prime of summer time1 ,an ev'ning calm and cool1 ,when four and twenty happy boys ,came bounding out of school2 ,there were some that ran1 ,and some that leapt1 ,like troutlets in a pool4 ,like sportive deer1 they cours'd about1 ,and shouted as they ran1 ,turning to mirth all things of earth1 ,as only boyhood can4 ,if the boys had not already decided on a game1 it would be safe to wager that the first thing they started off with was the old and ever- popular game of tag4 ,i have seen boys1 and girls1 too1 playing tag among the ,indian tribes of ,arizona4 ,the young and ever lightly-clad ,mexicans delight in it1 and the ,chinese and ,japanese youngsters never grow weary of a game needing so little in the way of equipment1 and which is so easily started1 but not so easy to give up1 when the spirit of the game has taken full possession of the players4 ,although so simple1 there is never monotony in tag4 ,if you don't like one form you can try another1 and there are certainly a lot to choose from4 ,one can have brick1 wood1 iron1 tree or any other kind of object tag1 the principle being that so long as the pursued has his hand on the object decided on in advance1 he cannot be touched4 ,in what is known as ,cross ,tag1 the boy who starts the game tags another1 who at once starts in pursuit4 ,now1 if another boy darts across its path this second boy becomes the object of pursuit1 and so he continues until he has made a capture and is free to join the field4 ,,prisoner',s ,,base ,one of the oldest1 and ,i think the most general and popular of tag games1 is called now1 as when ,i was a boy1 ,prisoner's ,base4 ,in this game the two leaders choose sides4 ,this done1 two objects-- they may be walls1 trees or posts that stand some distance opposite each other--are used as goals4 ,before these goals1 the two armies are drawn up in opposing lines4 ,then the captains1 or it may be others1 lead off4 ,one of these defies the other to meet him4 ,after this the armies charge1 but the purpose of each is to avoid being tagged by the other side1 while it tries to tag or touch as many of the opponents as it can4 ,every boy touched is regarded as a prisoner and must go to the base provided for the purpose1 which is usually the goal of the other side1 where he must remain till the game ends or he is released4 ,the prisoner is guarded1 but if he can escape and reach his own side1 without being touched1 he is free1 or if one of his own side succeeds in touching him1 he gains his liberty4 ,when all of one side are prisoners the game is over1 and the winners deserve their success1 for they have had to fight hard for it4 ,,the ,,wolf ,another variation of tag is called ,the ,wolf in some places1 and in others1 ,when do you eat8 ,but no matter the name1 it is good sport4 ,this is how to do it4 ,a good sized piece of paper--any paper that shows a pencil mark will do--is torn into as many bits as there are boys4 ,each bit is marked with a number1 showing some hour of the day4 ,after every player has his marked paper1 there must be one piece left4 ,the last piece is marked with a number the same as that on one of those already given out4 ,there are only twelve hour marks on the clock1 but if there are more than twelve players1 the extras can be given by half hours1 like half- past one4 ,now1 under one of the hour or duplicate numbers1 mark a cross like ,x4 ,no one but the marker knows the numbers4 ,each boy1 as he draws1 looks at his own number1 but he must keep it a secret4 ,the numbers must be drawn from a hat1 without looking4 ,the undrawn paper belongs to the marker1 and he is the boy who holds the hat4 ,the boy who has drawn the paper marked with the ,x is it1 and so is regarded as the wolf4 ,he goes off some distance1 while the huddled sheep1 as the other players are called1 decide what time of day they shall each represent4 ,when all is ready the wolf calls out in chilling1 hungry voice3 ,i eat no meat but woolly sheep1 ,my appetite is good2 ,i thirst1 ,i think1 their blood to drink1 ,if caught within my wood6 ,on hearing this1 the sheep set up cries of fear and run to form a circle about the wolf4 ,if the ring is not complete before he gets through the rhyme1 he is free to seize any boy who is not holding the hands1 on either side1 of two other boys4 ,if the ring is formed and no sheep captured1 the sheep circle about the wolf1 chanting this song3 ,wolf6 ,wolf6 ,wolf6 with the brown ear1 ,tell us what hour you dine ,on one of the sheep assembled here6 ,the wolf selects his own hour4 ,if he answers ,one o'clock1 the sheep bearing that number darts out of the ring with the wolf after him4 ,if this sheep circles the ring three times without being caught1 he is safe and takes his old place4 ,the same hour cannot be selected again until all the others have been called4 ,when the wolf guesses the number corresponding to his own1 he does not have to pursue1 for his double becomes the wolf1 and he is changed into a sheep4 ,after the game has gone on so far that the number of each is pretty well known1 the boys can change numbers without the knowledge of the wolf1 and this adds greatly to the sport4 ,,bull ,,in ,,the ,,ring ,another variation of tag is popularly known as ,bull in the ,ring4 ,the bull or it is a position to be sought after in this game4 ,the bull can be selected in any one of the ways ,i have suggested1 or in any other way that may be decided on4 ,when all is ready1 the boys form a ring by joining hands1 with the bull penned in the center4 ,this done1 the bull seizes a pair of the grasped hands1 and asks3 ,what is this lock made of8 ,one of the boys replies1 ,steel4 ,steel is strong4 ,what is this lock made of8 asks the bull1 as he grasps another pair of hands4 ,bronze1 may be the answer4 ,and this8 ,copper4 ,the next reply1 ,i can break copper6 shouts the bull4 ,he then makes a feeble effort to break through1 or it may be that he is doing his best1 but he knows he cannot get out in that way4 ,suddenly he wheels and makes a dash for a part of the ring which he thinks is weakest4 ,if he gets through he dashes away1 with the others at his heels1 and the first boy that tags him is it for the next game4 ,,chapter ,,xiii ,i ,,spy ,,and ,,leap ,,frog1 ,,the ,,ever-,,popular ,,games ,like tag1 ,i ,spy needs no apparatus and no great study4 ,any boy with keen eyes and nimble legs can play the game better than a man four times his age4 ,of course1 ,i spy is not a game of solitaire4 ,it needs at least two boys1 but it will be more exciting if there are five or six times that number2 the more the better4 ,you know how to select who is to be it4 ,this done1 and a goal or home selected1 it remains at the goal and counts up to one hundred as fast as he can1 and this is usually so fast as to eclipse the lightning calculator whom ,barnum charged an admission to see and hear4 ,while it is counting1 with his eyes closed and his head bent1 his companions start off and conceal themselves in the neighborhood as best they can4 ,when the count is up1 and it is all too soon for the half hidden boys1 it goes out to find them4 ,any hider who can run and touch the goal before it shouts3 ,in free1 and he is free4 ,but if it spies a boy1 then shouts the boy's name and reaches home first1 that boy is caught4 ,the game continues till all are free or caught4 ,if it fails to catch any1 then he must be it again for the next game4 ,if he is successful1 then the first boy caught is it4 ,the best time to play ,i spy is in the evening1 for the dusk is the best time to hide1 and in the dim light it is harder to recognize the boys4 ,if it calls a boy by another's name1 then he is free for that game4 ,to deceive it the other boys often change hats or turn their coats--an act usually frowned down on1 but quite permissible in this game4 ,if the last hider gets in undetected and shouts ,freeings6 all go out for another hide1 and it stays in his old position4 ,there are some varieties in this game1 but they are not so different from the one given as to make them worth describing4 ,,leap ,,frog is distinctly an athletic game1 but it nevertheless requires that quality of brains called judgment4 ,the boy who does not know leap frog has something good to learn1 and it is for him ,i am writing this4 ,one boy turns his back to the player and1 bending his head low1 rests his hands on his knees4 ,this is called ,giving a back4 ,the other boy places his hands on the first boy's back and leaps over him1 by straddling his legs wide apart on each side like a frog4 ,the second boy then assumes the stooping posture1 and the third boy leaps over the first and second1 and the fourth over all three1 one at a time1 of course4 ,this goes on until there is no boy left who is not stooping4 ,then the first boy's back straightens up and he goes leaping over his fellows and again gives a back1 while the second follows1 and so on until they are all tired and the game ceases4 ,,foot-,,an'-,,half ,the foot mentioned in this title is not the foot marked on a ,united ,states standard rule1 but a boyish foot enclosed in a rusty shoe and owned by the leader in the game4 ,the boy who is it is known as ,first ,back4 ,he stands in the proper position at a taw4 ,the leader tells the ,first ,back how and where to stand1 then lays his hands on the stooping shoulders and straddles over ,when the leader strikes1 he makes a mark to show the place1 and the ,first ,back takes his place on this line4 ,all the other boys must clear ,first ,back from the taw line1 not always an easy task if the leader is a good jumper4 ,when the leader's turn comes around again he marks a new taw line about a foot and a half--he uses his own foot for a measure--about eighteen inches or foot-an'-half in advance of the old one4 ,on the second jump he marks where his heels strike1 and the ,first ,back moves to that place1 and the others make the leap4 ,so the game goes on till a player fails to clear ,first ,back1 a failure that usually results in tumbling both over4 ,the player who fails is it for the next game1 which begins at once4 ,a variation of this game is known as ,foot-an'-half1 with a ,leader and a ,foot-an'-half4 ,in this game the ,first ,back1 who must always select the leader1 picks out1 instead of the best1 as in the former case1 the very poorest jumper4 ,he chooses for ,foot-an'-half a better player4 ,his object in doing this is to have ,foot-an'-half1 who is his ally1 set tasks that are beyond the ability of the boy chosen as leader4 ,when all is ready ,first ,back takes a position1 with one foot on either side of the taw line and his side toward the players4 ,foot-an'-half is the last to jump1 and knowing what is expected of him1 he leaps as far as he can4 ,where his heels come down another line is drawn4 ,to this line ,first ,back moves1 placing a foot on either side4 ,now comes the test of the leader4 ,he can now take a foot and a half1 using his own foot for a rule1 and jump from that point1 but if any other boy can make the leap from the old taw line1 the leader becomes it and a new game is started4 ,,spanish ,,fly ,i have been unable to learn where the boys got this name4 ,it is started just like the preceding game4 ,some player1 usually one who has confidence in himself1 shouts as he makes the leap1 and just before his feet touch the ground3 ,spanish ,fly6 ,at once the fun begins in wild earnest4 ,the boy who just shouts is regarded as leader4 ,the second time he makes the leap he cries3 ,torchlight and makes the jump with only one hand on ,first ,back's shoulders1 while he waves his hat in the other4 ,the player that fails to follow the leader's example becomes it4 ,on the third turn the leader shouts3 ,hats on deck1 and he places his cap on ,first ,back's shoulders and goes over without knocking it off4 ,the next player places his cap on top of the leader's and goes over4 ,if there are many boys the hats pile up and the last jumper has a hard proposition to face1 but if he succeeds he has a second try when he removes his own hat or cap without knocking the others off2 and so it goes on till all the hats are removed4 ,if this trick is successfully completed1 and it rarely ever is1 the leader goes over again1 this time shouting3 ,hats full of water4 ,as he leaps1 he turns his hat so that it rests upside down on his head4 ,if all the players succeed in doing this without losing their hats1 the next cry is ,hats in the water4 ,as the leader goes over he shakes his hat off and all the others must follow his example4 ,when the hats are all in the water the leader must jump over ,first ,back and alight on one foot without touching the hats4 ,then1 without touching his raised foot to the ground1 he must hop to his own hat1 and kneeling down1 pick it up with his teeth1 turn his back to taw and1 with a head toss1 throw the hat over ,first ,back4 ,if any error should be made1 the one making it becomes it4 ,each player must take his turn at every change made by the leader4 ,there is good sport in this game1 if it is played in the right spirit4 ,sometimes boys with the rowdy element in them make it rough1 boisterous and even dangerous4 ,let me advise3 ,never play any game with any boy who tries to boss and bully weaker boys4 ,,chapter ,,xiv ,,the ,,game ,,of ,,cat1 ,,with ,a ,,glance ,,at ,,some ,,other ,,games ,,all ,,should ,,know ,the game of tip-cat1 although very old in ,ireland1 where it is said to have originated1 and in all the ,british ,islands1 where it is very popular1 is comparatively new in this country4 ,up to twenty years ago ,cat1 as it is generally called1 was unknown to the boys of this country4 ,now it is played from the ,atlantic to the ,pacific and from the ,lakes to the ,gulf4 ,the cat is a piece of wood from four to six inches in length1 and from one to two inches in diameter in the middle4 ,from the middle to both ends it is whittled into blunt points4 ,as it must stand a lot of pounding1 it will be better if the wood is hard and tough4 ,the bat or driver should be from one to two feet in length1 an inch to an inch and a half in diameter1 and of uniform thickness4 ,when the cat is placed flat on the ground1 or in a slight depression made with the heel1 it will1 when smartly struck1 fly into the air4 ,as soon as it rises it is struck again and sent in the direction desired4 ,in the game of ,english ,cat there are from four to eight bases1 depending on the number of players4 ,the bases may be small stones1 or even holes in the ground4 ,the bases are marked on the circumference of a circle1 at equal distances apart4 ,after sides are chosen and it is decided which shall have first innings1 the ,outs take to the field and the ,ins post themselves at the bases1 one base for each4 ,one of the ,outs throws the cat to the nearest man at base4 ,if he makes a strike then all the boys on base change places1 for safety's sake taking the nearest4 ,if the cat has been sent far they keep on changing so long as they think it prudent4 ,each base gained scores one point4 ,if the cat is caught the striker is out1 or if the cat is thrown in front of an ,in who is changing bases1 he is out4 ,when the ,ins are made ,outs1 the positions are reversed and the game goes on as before4 ,when a striker fails to hit1 he tosses the cat back to the fielder and tries again4 ,,country ,,cat ,for this game a ring twenty or more feet in diameter must be made1 in the center of which the striker stands4 ,the fielder--any boy not a striker is now a fielder--tosses the cat1 and if it is missed there is no count4 ,if he hits and fails to send the cat outside the circle1 he is out1 or if the cat is caught1 he is out4 ,if the cat is sent beyond the circle1 the striker calls out ,twenty1 ,thirty or ,fifty1 depending on the estimated distance the cat has gone4 ,if his claim is allowed1 the number called out is placed to the striker's credit4 ,if it is disputed the bat is used for a measuring rod and the distance is measured from the striker's place to where the cat has fallen4 ,if the striker claimed too much he resigns his stick to the one who has the next turn4 ,if it is found that the striker did not claim too much1 the number is placed to his credit and the game proceeds4 ,the number of points that is to count for the game is decided on in advance1 and when a player has served the full amount1 he is declared victor1 and another game is in order4 ,,american ,,cat ,the ,american cat is smaller than the ,country or ,english cat1 being over four or five inches long4 ,if the game is played on the sidewalk1 a small circle is drawn on the paving stones1 where the striker stands2 but if the game is played on the bare earth1 a hole is made1 where the striker stands4 ,it is the duty of the batsman to defend the hole or ring with the stick he uses for a bat1 and it is the object of the giver or pitcher to toss the cat in the circle or hole4 ,if he is successful1 the striker is out4 ,if1 on the other hand1 it falls outside the circle1 the striker places the cat inside the ring1 strikes it on one end1 which causes the little piece of wood to fly up in the air1 and before it reaches the ground the striker endeavors to hit it again and send the cat as far as possible4 ,if he misses he throws the cat back to the fielder1 who again attempts to toss it into the circle1 but if he succeeds in sending it a good distance he does not call his score1 as described in ,country ,cat1 but the pitcher offers him five points or ten1 as the case may be4 ,the striker1 however1 is not compelled to accept the offer1 and may keep the pitcher bidding for some time1 and if his last bid is refused the pitcher proceeds to measure the distance from the circle to the cat in jumps4 ,if he can make the distance in fewer jumps than he has bid1 the striker1 or the striker's side1 loses the number of points named in the last bid of the pitcher1 and the striker is out4 ,,duck ,,on ,a ,,rock does not require an it to start with4 ,as soon as it is decided to try the game1 each player hurries to secure a good sized stone1 or where this cannot be had1 a club or a half brick will do4 ,as each grasps his weapon he shouts1 ,my ,duck4 ,the last boy to find a stone is ,it and must call out1 ,my drake4 ,the drake places his stone on a rock1 stump1 or other prominence and stands guard4 ,a taw line is drawn and from this the ducks are thrown at the drake1 each trying to knock him off his perch4 ,when a player has failed1 he must recover his own duck1 and in doing so he runs the risk of being tagged by the boy guarding the drake4 ,the drake guardian cannot touch the other until he has put his hand on his duck4 ,the best way is for the ducks to make a rush for their weapons at once when most of them are sure to escape1 whereas one has but little chance4 ,whenever a boy is tagged he must assume the place of guardian4 ,if the drake is knocked off1 all the boys make a rush for their ducks4 ,the drake cannot tag till he has placed the stone in position4 ,,stone ,,throw ,this game may be played with from six to twenty players4 ,when the game is played outdoors1 a large stone is placed on a boulder1 and a player stands to guard it4 ,a line is drawn twenty or thirty feet from the boulder4 ,here each of the other players stands in turn and throws a stone at the stone on the boulder1 which he tries to knock off the rock4 ,if he does not succeed he goes and stands by the place where some stone has fallen1 and waits until some one does succeed4 ,if he prefers1 he may pick up his stone and try to run back to the goal before the guard of the stone can tag him4 ,if he reaches it in safety he has a chance to throw again4 ,when some one succeeds in knocking off the stone all who have thrown may pick up stones and run back to the goal line1 while the guard replaces the stone on the rock and tries to tag any one who has his stone in his hand1 and who has not crossed the goal line4 ,whoever is tagged becomes guard4 ,,chapter ,,xv ,,and ,,now ,,for ,,ball--,,some ,,of ,,the ,,many ,,good ,,games ,,that ,,can ,,be ,,played ,,with ,a ,,ball1 ,,bat1 ,,or ,,racket ,ball in some form is played all the world over4 ,before ,columbus came across1 the ,indians of the ,st4 ,lawrence valley played a ball game with rackets1 which the ,french adopted and named ,lacrosse4 ,no game requires more dexterity of foot1 hand1 and eye4 ,certain games seem to be favored in certain lands2 ,cricket in ,england1 hand ball in ,ireland1 and baseball in the ,united ,states4 ,but1 then1 as we adopt and absorb peoples of all nationalities so we take all the good things they have to offer in the way of games and1 modifying them to suit our own tastes1 we make them ,american4 ,in addition to these imported games1 we have1 with characteristic originality1 invented a lot of games of our own1 and in these the boy takes endless delight1 without bothering about their origin4 ,on cricket1 baseball1 hand ball and other great games1 many books have been written telling how to play scientifically4 ,now1 ,i am not trying to teach scientific games4 ,my purpose is to add something to the knowledge of games which my readers already have1 and so to increase their interests in those healthful sports that add to the joys of boy life4 ,,town ,,ball ,this game1 before being imported from ,england1 long1 long ago1 was called ,rounders4 ,in this game the bat and ball are both different from those used in baseball4 ,there are corners instead of bases1 and there is a giver instead of a pitcher4 ,the fielders may be of any number1 but they are not known by distinctive names4 ,the greatest freedom is permitted in the choice of ball4 ,it may be of hollow rubber1 or it may be of the good1 old-fashioned1 home-made sort4 ,did you ever make a ball1 but of course you have1 by unravelling a heelless worsted stocking and then winding the thread about a core of cork or rubber till the whole is quite round1 the end being sewed to keep it from unravelling4 ,this ball is finished by a cover of thin leather1 cut in the form of a three-leaved clover and neatly sewed on with a waxed thread4 ,the bat is like that used in baseball but lighter and shorter4 ,the corners are usually three in number1 with a home- base1 making four1 but this varies according to the whim of the players or the locality where the game is played4 ,ordinarily with three corners the distances are about the same as between the bases in baseball4 ,in place of home-base there is a rectangle marked on the ground where the striker and catcher stand4 ,the giver stands in the same position that the pitcher occupies in a game of baseball2 but in place of pitching or making the underhand throw1 he throws overhand and gives the ball to the catcher over the right shoulder of the batter4 ,the batter stands at the front line of the home-base and holds his bat above his shoulder and strikes from that position1 with both hands grasping the handle of the bat1 if he is using a flat bat4 ,but if he is using a delill he holds it with one hand and allows the swiftly thrown ball to strike his club and glance off at an angle to a part of the grounds where no fielders are on the outlook for it4 ,every time the ball touches the bat it is considered a fair hit1 and the batter must run for his first corner and reach it1 if possible1 before some fielder1 the catcher1 or giver secures the ball and burns or stings him1 as they call it when they hit a player with the ball4 ,no one stands on guard at the bases to catch the batter out1 and the ball1 in place of being thrown to the base1 is thrown at the man running the corners4 ,when one batter makes a hit or is put out the next batter takes his place as in baseball4 ,the catcher stands behind the bat and without gloves1 and with no protection for his face or body he catches the hot balls the giver sends to him4 ,the balls are not heavy enough to be dangerous4 ,the fielders scatter themselves over the field1 according to the directions of the captain1 and try to catch or stop all balls from the bat1 or those that are thrown at and miss the runners between corners4 ,when a man is out he is out until the next inning1 and the game proceeds without him4 ,if a striker sends a ball in the air and it is caught before it touches the ground by the giver1 the catcher1 or any one of the fielders1 the batter is out4 ,if the ball touches his bat it is counted a hit1 and if it is caught by any one of the opposite side he is out4 ,if any one of the fielders1 the catcher1 or giver makes a successive throw at a man running the corners and strikes him with the ball when he is not touching his corner1 he is out4 ,if the batter misses a ball that he strikes at1 and the catcher catches the ball before it strikes the ground1 the batter is out4 ,when a man is put out1 he is out for that inning1 and cannot strike again until the next inning for his side4 ,when all are out but one1 that one has a very difficult task to make a score1 unless he can make a home-run strike4 ,there are no other batters to help him by sending a skyscraper over the fielders' heads2 but he must run his corners while the giver and catcher1 standing in their regular position1 pass the ball between them4 ,this always produces a great deal of excitement and sport1 as all the batter's side coach him1 and if he succeeds in stealing a corner or successfully dodges the ball thrown at him1 he is greeted by wild cheers from his side4 ,should he at last succeed in reaching home-base untouched1 he has the privilege of putting in the best batter on his side1 and there are then two men in and a better chance to score4 ,,one ,,or ,,two ,,old ,,cat is a modification of town-ball1 and was played by our great grandfathers while in camp during the ,revolution4 ,it is a good game for three or four boys1 not less than three1 as there must be a pitcher1 a catcher1 and a batter4 ,any goal can be decided on in advance1 but usually the striker1 after making a hit1 runs and touches the pitcher's base4 ,if he gets back without being it1 or stung by the thrown ball1 he can keep on1 each run counting one4 ,if the ball is struck at and caught1 the striker is out1 and the catcher goes to the bat4 ,this is one old cat4 ,with two strikers1 there are sides and it is called two old cat4 ,,hand ,,ball is another game that has grown into popularity in the ,united ,states4 ,it is said to have originated in ,ireland1 where regular courts are built for it1 but it can be played in any place where there is a high brick wall with a smooth open space in front4 ,this game can be played by two1 or sides may be chosen with any number of players on each4 ,a medium ball1 with good bounding qualities is the best for this game4 ,the player throws the ball on the ground and in the bound he strikes it with the palm of his hand1 sending it against the wall1 above the three foot line4 ,the force must be enough to cause the ball to drop outside the taw line4 ,the next player uses his hand as a bat1 and sends the ball back against the wall in the same manner4 ,he must hit the ball on the first bound or before it has touched the earth4 ,the next player is ready to take his turn and strikes the ball on the rebound1 and so the game proceeds1 until some one misses1 or sends the ball below the three foot mark or outside the boundaries4 ,if it is the first striker who misses or sends the ball out of the boundaries on the ground or side of the wall1 then he loses his inning1 and the boy on the other side drops the ball and strikes it as already described4 ,if it is a player on outs that makes a miss1 then the inners count one for each miss or foul4 ,a foul is when the ball goes below the three foot line on the wall or rebounds outside the boundaries4 ,the ,outs cannot count when the ,ins miss1 but they take the place of the ,ins and the ,ins are out4 ,after the first hand up or play it is unnecessary that the ball should rebound beyond the taw line4 ,fifteen points make a game4 ,in ,england the boys have the same game under the name of ,fives4 ,,anthony ,,over or ,house ,over4 ,this game was very popular out ,west when ,i was a boy4 ,we called the game ,anthony ,over2 in the ,east ,i find it is called ,house ,over4 ,but no matter the name1 it affords a lot of exciting sport4 ,it is best played in the country for there can be found a house or a barn standing alone and with lots of space on either side for running4 ,after sides are chosen and all are ready1 divide into two groups1 each out of sight on opposite sides of the building4 ,the ball may be that used in ,town ,ball4 ,the boy who has it throws it over the building at the same time shouting as a warning to the boys on the other side3 ,anthony ,over1 or ,house ,over4 ,one of those on the opposite side must try to catch the ball before it reaches the ground and if he succeeds1 he shouts1 ,over6 ,over6 ,over6 at the same time rushing around one end of the building4 ,those on the side from which the ball was thrown at once make a rush for the opposite side1 and all whom he reaches by touching or by striking with the ball are his captives and are counted out4 ,if there is no catch1 there is no count and the sides remain as they were1 each throwing the ball alternately1 and shouting as before to give warning4 ,in some places the boy hit1 instead of being a captive1 joins the opposite ranks4 ,it is always very hard1 sometimes impossible1 to capture the last boy1 but it can be done through strategy4 ,,corner ,,ball ,in this game the corners depend on the number of players4 ,with six boys there are three corners1 which make the limits of a triangle4 ,with eight boys there are four corners1 the limits forming a square4 ,you should have more than four players because with this number you would have only two bases and the boundaries would be a straight line4 ,the ,ins take the bases and the ,outs group themselves inside the triangle1 square or whatever figure may be formed by the corners4 ,the ,ins pass the ball around the corners1 throwing and catching until they see a good chance to hit one of the ,outs grouped inside the boundaries4 ,the ball is then thrown at the ,outs1 and if it hits one he is out of the game2 and if it misses1 the thrower is out of the game4 ,but1 if one of those in the center catch the ball1 there is a laugh and the ball is thrown back to a corner man with no scorce either way4 ,when all of the one side are put out of the game the opposite side has won1 and all are entitled to a throw with the ball at the boy on the losing side who was first put out4 ,the victim stands with head down and back arched facing the wall1 while the victors line themselves at thirty feet distant and take turns burning the captive--that is1 hitting him with the ball--if they can4 ,it must be remembered that the dangerous baseball is never used in these games1 and the other ball does no injury to the lad struck4 ,,chapter ,,xvi ,,baseball1 ,,the ,,great ,,american ,,game4 ,a ,,few ,,pointers ,,that ,,may ,,help ,,you ,the best baseball field is level and smooth4 ,it is best1 if it can be had1 to start with the right kind of a layout4 ,the catcher1 or back stop1 as he is called by professionals1 is usually in front of the observation stand1 or a board wall or other obstruction4 ,this is usually ninety feet from the home plate4 ,if you fasten a cord one hundred and twenty-seven feet four inches long straight out in the field1 the place for second base is found4 ,this done1 take a rope or line one hundred and eighty feet long1 fasten one end to the home plate and the other to second base2 then draw the middle of the line at first to the right and then to the left1 till it is tight4 ,this will mark the places of first and third base4 ,the place of the pitcher's box is fixed by measuring a line of fifty feet from home to second base4 ,the pitcher's box should be five feet six inches long by four feet wide4 ,for batsman there are two positions1 one for the left and the other for the right handed4 ,the batsman's stand is two rectangular spaces1 each six feet long and four feet wide4 ,the nearest line should be six inches from the home plate1 and should extend three feet in front and three feet behind the center of the home plate4 ,having thus laid out the field1 we proceed to further mark the various points4 ,in doing this1 if the field is to be a permanent one1 it is best to make use of the most improved apparatus2 but if the field is only a temporary one1 there are various devices which save expense1 and which answer the purpose quite satisfactorily4 ,the home plate is1 by the rules1 a whitened piece of rubber a foot square1 sunk flush with the ground1 its outer edges being within the lines to first and third bases4 ,an excellent substitute for rubber is a piece of board painted white1 or a bit of marble such as can be readily obtained at any marble yard4 ,the first1 second and third bases are canvas bags1 #ae inches square1 stuffed with any soft material1 and so fastened as to have their centers at the corners of the diamond which we have already marked out4 ,they will thus extend several inches outside the diamond4 ,the customary method of fastening the bag is by means of a leather strap passing through loops upon the bag and directly around the center4 ,this strap is slipped through an iron staple in the top of a post driven firmly into the ground at the corner of the diamond1 and the strap is then buckled on the under side of the bag4 ,the wooden post and the iron staples can easily be had4 ,it is better to have them to keep the base fixed4 ,a stone is apt to work injury4 ,the bags can be homemade1 from old carpets1 or old mattresses1 or even from shavings or hay1 stuffed into little calico or canvas pillows4 ,a piece of stout clothes line will answer for more expensive straps4 ,the pitcher's box must be permanently marked4 ,this is done by sinking into the ground an iron plate1 stone or a wooden post1 four or six inches square4 ,if there is thick grass in the infield it must be cut from the pitcher's box to the back-stop1 nine feet in width1 or better still remove the sod and fill in the space with hard-packed earth4 ,the players will soon make the batting-crease and base lines marked on the field4 ,to make a fair division of labor in laying out a field1 let three boys agree to furnish the iron staples1 and posts for the bases and pitcher's position1 seven in all4 ,the four for the pitcher's box may be anywhere from three to six inches square at the top1 and two feet long2 those for the bases being three inches in diameter2 and all of these sharpened to drive in like stakes4 ,the staples1 three in number1 should be two inches wide4 ,let three others agree to furnish the bases2 one boy to provide the six pieces of stuff--about sixteen inches square1 another boy to furnish three two inch straps with buckles1 or else sufficient rope4 ,the straps must not be less than a yard long4 ,the third boy can see that the bags are looped for the straps1 stuffed and properly sewn4 ,three other boys can agree to furnish the home plate1 and to bring to the ground implements for marking and laying out1 viz43 a tape line two hundred feet long1 a supply of cord1 a sharp spade1 a sledge hammer to drive stakes1 a small hammer to drive in staples1 some lime to mark out the lines1 and a pail to wet it in4 ,a tennis marker will save much work4 ,the best ball to purchase is the regular league ball4 ,these balls are the most uniform in manufacture and quality1 and give the best satisfaction in the long run4 ,it is worth while to purchase more than one1 because it often happens that wet grass ruins the cover of the ball4 ,when a base ball has been used in wet weather it should be put aside1 and the next time the nine wish to practice on a wet day this ball1 which will be very hard1 should be used4 ,as soon as it is wet it softens again1 and it is just as useful as a new one would be after wetting4 ,constant wetting rots the covers1 but a harness-maker will re-cover the balls1 and they can be used for practice4 ,in bats there is more variety4 ,a special bat is said to be made of wagon-tongue1 but the more commonly favored is of ash1 second growth1 thoroughly seasoned4 ,these can be bought for from twenty-five cents to one dollar each1 according to quality4 ,lighter bats are made of willow2 and the cheapest of basswood4 ,these do not last so well as ash1 however4 ,the rules specify that the bat shall not be over two and a half inches in diameter1 nor more than forty-two inches in length4 ,in selecting a bat1 individual taste is the best guide as to matters of weight and balance1 but the grain should be examined carefully4 ,if a bat is varnished1 the handle should be scraped1 so that it will not turn easily in the hands4 ,the first baseman and catcher should each wear gloves to protect the hands from the pounding which playing these positions involves4 ,you can make a pair of baseball gloves out of a stout pair of buckskins4 ,the fingers and thumbs should be cut off at the first joint for the baseman1 and if any extra padding is needed1 pieces of felt can be sewn on4 ,the catcher's gloves can be made in a similar way1 except that the left-hand glove is kept whole and the ends of the fingers reinforced by heavy leather tips4 ,a shoemaker can put on these tips which should be about an inch and a half long4 ,both gloves should have padding in the palm and over the ball of the thumb4 ,this padding can be made of as many layers of felt as are desired1 sewn in when the glove is turned wrong side out4 ,the pads should be so cut that they run up into the finger a little way1 and thus form a protection for the base of the fingers4 ,every man who catches should wear a mask4 ,a body protector will also save many a bruise4 ,individual uniforms should be considered where clubs are formed1 and let me say it is better to start with a club4 ,uniforms for boys need not be expensive2 shirts of one color will do with the addition of a home cap4 ,pads on the knees and along the thighs1 as well as rough mitts are of use in sliding4 ,any number of players may belong to a club1 but only nine can play on a side4 ,each side must have a captain1 who must be a good leader as well as a good player4 ,the umpire is chosen by both sides to decide questions in dispute4 ,there is no appeal from his decision1 even where both sides think him in error4 ,it would take a whole book properly to go into the details of baseball1 but no instructions can take the place of practice1 and it will be better if this can be done under the direction of an expert4 ,,rules ,here are a few baseball rules that it will be well to remember3 #a4 ,the infield must be thirty yards square4 #b4 ,the bases must be four in number4 #c4 ,the ball must weigh not less than five nor more than five and a quarter ounces4 ,it must be not less than nine nor more than nine and a quarter inches in circumference4 #d4 ,the bat must be wholly of wood1 except that the handle may be wound with cord or wire4 ,the length must not exceed forty-two inches nor the diameter1 at the thickest1 more than two and a half inches4 #e4 ,the players on each side shall be nine4 ,the captain assigns them their places4 #f4 ,the pitcher must keep both feet on the ground1 except when throwing the ball4 #g4 ,players' benches1 out of the way1 must be furnished by the home club4 #h4 ,each game must consist of nine innings4 ,if the side first at bat scores less in nine innings than the other did in eight1 the game is ended4 #i4 ,if after nine innings the score is a tie1 the game shall continue unless called off by the umpire4 #aj4 ,the game shall be forfeited if a player comes too late1 or does not take the bat after five minutes when game is called4 #aa4 ,every club shall be required to have one or more substitutes1 in the event of an accident to a regular player4 #ab4 ,men on the bases cannot have substitutes run for them4 #ac4 ,the choice of innings shall be given to the captain of the home club4 #ad4 ,a dead ball is one that strikes the bat without being struck at4 #ae4 ,a score shall be counted every time a base run is made4 #af4 ,a ball that goes over the fence1 outside the two hundred and thirty feet line1 wins two bases4 #ag4 ,a foul strike is when the batsman hits1 when he is not in position4 #ah4 ,the runner must touch each base in its order4 #ai4 ,no umpire shall be changed during the game4 #bj4 ,a coach is restricted to instructing the base runners only4 ,,autumn ,,chapter ,,xvii ,,some ,,details ,,about ,,football ,the mere act of kicking a football is a good exercise in itself1 but very few who do so1 particularly among boys1 know anything about the game4 ,in ,england and her colonies there are innumerable football clubs in every town and village1 but in this country the game is largely confined to colleges1 and even in these not all the students play2 indeed1 so many are the physical requirements and so strenuous is the work that only those with extraordinary strength and activity are selected in the making up of teams4 ,yet1 as it is1 when properly played1 one of our best out-door games1 ,i think it well that my boy readers should know something about it4 ,at one time there were fifteen players on a side2 now eleven is the legal number4 ,the ground has much the same appearance of a gridiron1 and the name gridiron is often applied to it1 just as diamond is applied to the space marked off for that game4 ,along the field the ball is urged1 in ways presently to be explained1 and which only the strong and active would care to carry out if pleasure in the strenuous sport were not its own great reward4 ,the ball used in this game is shaped somewhat like a lemon1 or two cones joined at their bases4 ,from the middle the angle of slope must be the same to the two ends4 ,the cover is of leather1 and enclosed in this is an inflated bladder or an inflated rubber ball of the same shape4 ,the work of inflating is done through a nozzle or opening as in a rubber tire and it is closed in much the same way4 ,this is done before the cover is put on4 ,the football field is not hard to mark out2 as in baseball1 the flatter and smoother the better4 ,the field is rectangular1 one hundred and sixty feet wide by three hundred and thirty feet long4 ,for convenience in telling the position of the ball1 lines1 indicated by whitewash as in tennis1 are drawn across the field1 fifteen feet apart4 ,in laying out1 measure eighty feet from one corner along the line and mark the point4 ,on the opposite end mark in the same way4 ,the end lines being one hundred and sixty feet long1 the points indicated will mark the center of the lines4 ,next measure nine feet three inches to the right1 and the same to the left of the center points on the end lines1 and place four goal posts1 two at each end of the field4 ,this will leave the proper space1 eighteen feet1 six inches between the posts4 ,on these posts1 and ten feet from the ground1 the cross bars should be placed4 ,the uprights should extend above the cross bar just ten feet4 ,,the ,,team ,the teams in football consist of eleven men each1 but where boys are out for practice1 they need not be bound by the regular rules4 ,the eleven men are classified into rushes and backs4 ,there is a quarter back1 two half backs and a full back4 ,the first seven are line men1 further known as center1 right guard1 right tackle1 right end1 left guard1 left tackle and left end4 ,each player is given a number to designate him and this number is known to the captain only4 ,the kicks have special names4 ,drop-kick1 when the ball is dropped from the hand and kicked the instant it touches the ground2 the ,place-kick1 made by kicking the ball after it has been placed on the ground2 the ,punt1 made by kicking the ball as it falls from the hands and before it reaches the ground2 the ,kick-off is a place-kick made from the center of the field4 ,the kick- off cannot score a goal4 ,the ,kick-out1 when one of the players on the side which has touched the ball down in its own goal makes a punt1 drop-kick or place-kick4 ,a ,free-kick1 any kick where the rules forbid the opponents from advancing beyond a certain point4 ,in-touch is out of bounds4 ,a ,touch-down is when the ball is kicked or carried across the goal line and held there4 ,a ,touch-back is when the player touches the ball to the ground behind his own goal1 the ball having been propelled over the line by an opponent4 ,a ,safety ,touch-down is when either by a kick1 pass1 or a snap-back1 the player guarding his goal receives the ball from one of his own side and touches it down behind his goal line1 or when he carries the ball across his own goal line and touches it down1 or when he puts the ball in his own touch-in-goal1 or if the ball1 being kicked by one of his own side1 bounds back from an enemy across the goal line and the player guarding the goal then touches it down4 ,,some ,,rules ,when a kicked ball is caught on the fly by one of the opposite side1 the catcher marks with his heel on the ground the spot where the catch was made4 ,the catcher then shouts1 ,fair ,catch1 or he may hold up one hand4 ,beyond the heel mark the opponents of the catcher cannot advance till the ball is again put in play4 ,the catcher is entitled to the privilege of falling back towards his own goal1 as far as he chooses2 from the point selected he may take a place-kick1 a drop-kick1 or a punt4 ,instead of this1 he may choose to give the ball to one of his own side for a scrimmage4 ,the scrimmage is governed by special rules4 ,if the catcher chooses to kick1 he must drive the ball at least ten yards1 unless stopped by one of the other side4 ,a player is said to be on side when he is not between the ball and the opponent's goal1 or is where the ball touches an opponent4 ,when a ball goes out of bounds1 it is called going into touch4 ,in such case1 a player is sent to bring it back to the place where it crossed the line4 ,a member of the side that sent the ball out of bounds puts it again into play4 ,when a player carriers the ball across one of the end lines he obtains what is called a touch-down4 ,any player on this side may now take out the ball2 he makes a mark as he walks by twisting his heel4 ,when he has reached a point that suits1 he places the ball for one of his own side to kick4 ,the other side meanwhile retires to its own goal line4 ,when the ball has been carried to within kicking distance of the goal1 the question of the kind of kick needed is often a question for deliberation4 ,at any time a player may carry the ball across his own goal line1 and touch it down there for safety4 ,this counts two points for the other side1 or instead the side may take the ball out twenty-five yards for a kick-out4 ,the moment the ball touches the ground it is in play1 and the enemy lines up on their goal line will block the kick1 if possible4 ,the formation is to a great extent governed by the plays to be made1 but as a general rule the seven rushers stand in line of battle facing their opponents4 ,just behind the rushers stands the quarter-back1 and a few yards in the rear of him the two half-backs are placed2 while a dozen yards further back1 alone in his glory1 the full-back guards his precious goal4 ,if a strong wind is blowing1 the winner of the toss-up takes the side favored by the wind1 and the other team have the kick-off4 ,if there is no wind to speak of1 and no great advantage in either goal1 the winner of the toss-up chooses the kick-off1 and the other side have the choice of goals4 ,the two teams now line up in their respective positions1 and the ball is placed upon the exact center of the field by the side having the kick-off4 ,,the ,,full-,,back ,as a rule the full-back is a good kicker and is selected to open the game4 ,to the right of the ball on the line stands right-guard1 alongside of him is right-tackle1 next to him is right-end1 then comes right half- back and quarter-back1 while stretched out on the line to the left of the ball are the center1 left-guard1 left-tackle1 left-end and left half-back4 ,all these sturdy men are ready to rush upon their opponents the moment full-back's toe touches the ball4 ,as the rules require the opposite side to stand at least ten yards back of the middle line1 they form themselves in a sort of rough triangle so as to be able to guard the field and stop the ball with the least possible waste of time4 ,at the required ten yards back of the center line1 center of the opposing side is posted1 back of center stand the two guards1 back of them the two tackles with the quarter- back between them1 behind them the two half-backs are stationed with full-back in front of his goal4 ,as there are no rules for placing the men on the field1 this formation is altered to suit the captains4 ,the player selected to kick the ball must send it at least ten yards into the opponent's camp1 and it is usually sent as much farther as the judgment of the kicker directs4 ,when the ball comes sailing over into their ranks the enemy catch it and either return it by a kick or one of them runs with the ball4 ,when the player made the kick-off he calculated that the rushers on his side could reach the ball in time to prevent the enemy making much headway with it1 and the enemy calculated to interfere in all lawful ways with the kick-off's rushers4 ,if the enemy who holds the ball starts for a run1 the men on the other side tackle him4 ,as soon as the player and ball are brought to a standstill the runner cries down4 ,then some one on the runner's side places the ball on the ground at the spot where it stopped1 and it is put in play by the snap-back kicking it or snapping it back1 usually with his hand1 but sometimes with his foot1 to the quarter-back of his own side1 who has taken a position just behind snap-back4 ,up to this time the men of each team have kept their positions upon their own side1 but as soon as the ball is put in motion both sides may press forward and the scrimmage begins4 ,when a snap-back is to be made they arrange themselves in this way3 ,center holds the ball1 behind him stands quarterback2 more to the rear is full-back1 with left half-back and right half-back a little to the front4 ,flanking these and slightly in advance are the two ends4 ,each of these is ready to receive the ball1 at a signal from quarter- back4 ,on either side of center are two guards1 and two tackles1 and the rival fives face each other4 ,when the ball is put in play there is a grand rush4 ,the runner with the ball is surrounded by friends who try to force their way through the opposing line4 ,it is impossible in a general article to go into all the details of this popular game4 ,many authors have tried to make the rules and the methods plain1 but they have not succeeded very well4 ,the best way to learn is from an old player or to watch old players at the game4 ,the points of the game are counted as follows3 ,goal by touch-down #b ,touch-down without goal #d ,safety by opponent #b ,,chapter ,,xviii ,a ,,hint ,,at ,,some ,,well-,,known ,,games1 ,,including ,,hop-,,scotch ,during a good deal of world-travelling ,i cannot recall ever having seen a game of ,mumbly ,peg played outside of the ,united ,states and ,canada4 ,i have placed it among the autumn games1 but we all know that1 except in winter when the conditions are unfavorable1 it can be played at any time1 where two boys and a jackknife can be assembled1 with reasonably soft1 smooth ground on which to play4 ,this game has so many variations locally and even among individual players that ,i shall not attempt a detailed description of the many ways in which the blade of the knife is made to enter the ground4 ,the feats1 known to every boy1 can be performed alone1 and1 when a boy1 ,i know ,i did practice a lot by myself in order to avoid the consequences of defeat4 ,the rule is for the first boy to take the knife and go through as many feats as he can1 but at the first failure the second boy takes the knife and does the same4 ,and when all but one have succeeded1 the penalty for failure is as follows3 ,a wooden peg two inches long is driven into the ground4 ,a little must be left above the earth4 ,the defeated boy has then to seize this with his teeth and draw it out4 ,if he has difficulty in getting hold1 the other boys are the more delighted and set up the cry1 ,root6 ,root6 but this is not fair1 and he should not be discouraged4 ,,jack ,,stones is a much older and a more widespread game than mumbly peg4 ,the knuckle bones of sheep and pigs1 marbles1 pebbles or any other small1 heavy objects that can be thrown and grasped1 are used4 ,the best are made of iron and are sold cheaply4 ,five stones or jacks are necessary for the game1 a description of which ,i shall not attempt1 for the feats vary1 and the ingenious boy can add to them4 ,there may be a penalty decided on in the game of jack stones1 but it is not usual1 and so may be placed among those contests of skill in which success is its own reward4 ,,hop ,,scotch is a far more strenuous game than the two just mentioned1 nor1 when properly played1 is it behind them in the skill required4 ,of course1 the best place for all games is out in the open country1 but the children in towns and cities do not cease from the play for want of space4 ,except when covered with snow and ice1 ,hop ,scotch courts can be seen chalked out on the sidewalks of all our city blocks4 ,a bit of brick1 a flat stone1 a shell1 the lid of a blacking box1 indeed any small object that can be moved by the foot can be used as what is known as the ,potsherd4 ,after choosing who shall be first1 second1 etc41 the player stands at taw and tosses the potsherd into division number one4 ,hopping on one foot over the line into number one1 and still keeping one foot raised1 he makes a hop-kick with the other and sends the potsherd out of the number to that in the right or left section1 as may be decided on in advance4 ,there are many local variations of the rules1 just as there are variations of the plan of the ground1 and perhaps the one you know best is the best4 ,hop ,scotch may seem simple to those who have never tried it4 ,in truth it is a game which1 even in its simplest form1 requires much skill and activity4 ,but it is excellent for the muscles of the leg and it cultivates patience and persistency4 ,,rules ,when a player touches his hand or foot to the ground it is called grounds1 and he is out4 ,when a player pitches the potsherd into the wrong division or on a line1 he is out4 ,when a player kicks into the wrong division or on a line1 he is out4 ,in the next turn he must play from taw4 ,when the turns of the others come they must begin at the division in which they failed4 ,,chapter ,,xix ,,how ,,to ,,camp ,,out--,,things ,,every ,,camper ,,should ,,know ,camping out is not in itself a game1 but it would be hard to imagine a more delightful way for the boy or the man who has still something of the boy in him to spend a vacation4 ,of course1 boys in the country have more opportunities to learn about camping than boys living in the city4 ,one thing is that they are more familiar with tools1 but city boys are perhaps more eager for the life1 as it is so primitive and in such striking contrast to their usual way of living4 ,before going into camp there are many things for the camper to learn if he does not know how1 and one of these things is how to make a fire4 ,if one has matches1 kindling and wood there is no trick in making a camp fire1 but there is a good trick in making a fire where there are no matches and the wood is green or wet4 ,of course1 you know that men built fires in houses and camps many1 many hundreds of years ago1 but you may not know that up to one hundred years ago matches1 which are now so cheap and so abundant1 were practically unknown4 ,how1 then1 did they start fires8 ,our own ,indians get fire--,i have seen them do it--by rotating a hard upright stick in a cup-shaped hollow of lighter wood1 in which dry charcoal or the fungus-like shavings of punk were placed4 ,cotton or any other substance that ignites easily would answer as well4 ,this is getting fire by friction4 ,every hunter in the ,west and among the ,indians and ,mexicans of two continents now carries a flint and steel1 and a dry substance to catch and retain the spark4 ,this substance with a full outfit can now be had in most stores that supply sporting goods1 and every camper should have a supply4 ,the back of a jackknife1 a bit of flint-like rock1 such as quartz1 and some very dry cotton lint--kept for protection in a close box--will do just as well as the manufactured outfit1 and it can nearly always be had4 ,if you carry half-charred cotton rags in a box or bottle you will find them of use in making fire4 ,,shelter ,camps are either temporary1 that is changed from day to day1 or they are permanent and may be visited year after year1 or they may be used for a few weeks at a time4 ,temporary camps are the ones we are considering1 and these can be elaborate or very1 very simple4 ,i prefer the latter1 and ,i am sure the boys will agree with me4 ,during the autumn and when the weather is dry and the nights not too cool1 the best way to camp is in the open1 sleeping on beds of boughs1 about a roaring fire1 and with one blanket under and another over4 ,small dog tents1 such as our soldiers carried in the ,civil ,war1 are cheap and very convenient4 ,each man carried a section1 and two made a tent1 into which two men crawled when it rained1 but in dry weather they preferred to sleep in the open1 even when it was freezing4 ,shelters of boughs1 arranged ,a fashion from a ridge pole make good temporary shelters and are first rate as wind brakes at night4 ,if you have to sleep on the ground1 you should have a poncho1 that is a blanket faced with rubber on one side1 to keep the body from too close a contact with the wet earth4 ,the ideal camping place is near a good spring or beside a stream of pure water1 in a natural grove with plenty of dry dead wood in the vicinity4 ,the dry wood should be protected from rain if you are camping in the same place for some time4 ,the camp fire should be made of two thick green sticks or legs to be used as andirons4 ,these should be placed about eighteen inches apart1 so as to keep the lighter1 dryer fuel off the ground4 ,they will also serve to support the cooking pots4 ,where stones can be had1 they serve well for andirons4 ,a shack built of crossed logs requires some time to build and some skill to make1 but it is not beyond the reach of any boy who has seen --and who has not--an old-fashioned log shanty4 ,be sure to select a dry place for your camp1 and if you are to stay for any time take care to keep it scrupulously clean1 burning every scrap that might attract flies or the smaller wild animals1 or might make a stench4 ,mr4 ,beard1 an authority in such matters1 writes3 ,never pitch your tent in a hollow or depression1 or you may find yourself in the middle of a pond4 ,soldiers always dig a ditch around their tents4 ,the floor1 which is often your bed1 can be covered with straw1 if straw is obtainable2 if not1 fir boughs2 these lie flatter than spruce4 ,it is best to lay the foundation of good-sized branches1 cover them with smaller ones1 and over all place a deep layer of fir twigs broken off the length of your hand and laid shingle-fashion1 commencing at the foot of your bed1 or the doorway of your shack or tent1 each succeeding row of boughs covering the thick ends of the previous row4 ,a properly made bough bed is as comfortable as a mattress1 but one in which the ends of the sticks prod your ribs all night is not a couch that tends to make a comfortable night's rest4 ,candles1 lamps and lanterns add to the luggage of a camper and may be dispensed with1 yet it often happens that you will need a light at night4 ,if you do1 remember that almost any sort of fat or grease will burn with a wick4 ,boys from our cities have even a greater desire to get back to the heart of ,mother ,nature than have country boys1 perhaps because they find a greater novelty in the forests1 the streams and the untrammelled conditions of our primitive ancestors4 ,but even the boy brought up on the farm heartily enjoys the freedom of the camp1 and he takes naturally to all its requirements4 ,,if ,,lost ,but all boys1 even trained foresters1 are apt to get lost in strange woods2 but no matter the person1 it is well to know what to do under such circumstances4 ,as a rule the denser growth of moss on trees is on the north side4 ,this knowledge may help find the direction2 but it is better to carry a small pocket compass4 ,when the sky is clear1 the sun and the stars help to guide the course1 and if followed one is saved from travelling in a circle1 as the lost are pretty sure to do in a dense forest4 ,if twigs are broken from bushes they will serve to show the course to those out searching4 ,a good plan is to follow down the course of a stream1 which always flows into a larger body of water and will lead to some abode4 ,if a hill is accessible1 the lay of the land may be had from its summit4 ,in any event1 should you be lost1 do not get rattled4 ,you will be missed in camp and a search will be made by your friends4 ,if you have to stay in the woods all night1 make the best of it4 ,others have made the best of it by sleeping near the foot of a tree or beside a log4 ,it will be more cheery if you can make a fire without danger to the woods4 ,,the ,,outfit ,now the camping outfit1 including enough provisions for the proposed stay1 must be carried1 and unless the stay is to be short1 a wagon or pack animals should be provided for this purpose4 ,in the army and out ,west mules are used for this purpose1 but any quiet horse will do just as well4 ,the old sawbuck saddle1 shaped like the letter ,x1 answers very well1 but the ,mexican pack1 known as the aparcho1 is much better4 ,it is made of a plated straw matting1 on which is fastened a strong wicker-work saddle1 and a properly folded blanket1 for you must be careful that the animal's back does not get sore4 ,the saddle is fastened by pliant ropes1 or broad belts of leather1 called in the ,west cinches1 to fasten which securely requires some skill1 as they pass through a circular ring and are secured by a hitch or peculiar knot that holds well and can be unfastened with a quick jerk4 ,for a journey of ten miles or more ,i would not advise you to make the pack load more than two hundred pounds1 though ,i have known mules to carry three hundred pounds at a pace of twenty miles a day over rough trails4 ,if the pack is heavy1 it may be lightened by having each camper carry his own blankets1 in a roll1 the case resting on the right shoulder4 ,i would advise each to carry a canteen if there is danger of your being long away from good water4 ,you should have the following articles3 ,a long-handled frying pan1 a bunch of a half dozen pieces of telegraph wire1 each two feet long1 with which to make a spider or broiler2 by simply laying them across the fire or over the hot coals you have a gridiron2 you may bundle it up when its work is done2 three or four assorted tin buckets for cooking purposes and for water2 a tin coffee pot2 a long iron fork2 a long iron spoon2 some cheap tin cups1 plates and spoons1 and some forks and knives4 ,do not depend upon the fish and game for food supply1 but take along some boneless bacon and fat pork4 ,with the latter1 you can cook your fish1 and the former is good for a relish with whatever fresh meat you may secure4 ,then you should have some good ground coffee in a tightly closed box4 ,some tea in a screw-top glass preserve jar1 sugar1 salt1 prepared flour1 corn meal1 rice1 beans1 oatmeal1 condensed milk1 evaporated cream1 crackers1 and as much canned or dried fruits as you can transport without overloading--these are not necessaries1 but all of them will come handy4 ,worth ,remembering4 ,it is not well for a lot of boys1 no matter how strong and intelligent1 to go off camping unless one of their number has had practical experience in that kind of life4 ,it would be better to have a man in the party and to follow his instructions1 as a soldier obeys his superior4 ,before starting off it will be well to learn just what each member of the party can do best1 and assign him to that work for the time4 ,afterwards it might be advisable to take turns at the work thought to be least agreeable4 ,cooking1 washing dishes1 gathering fuel and keeping the camp in order are just as essential as hunting or fishing1 more so1 indeed2 for cooking1 etc41 are necessary1 while fishing and hunting are pleasures4 ,keep your own person clean and carry along needles and thread so that you may be able to repair the rents in your own clothes4 ,before going into camp every boy should know how to wash1 dry and fold his own flannel shirt1 stockings and handkerchiefs4 ,the captain of the camp should write out his orders and post them so that they can be read by all2 nothing should be left to chance4 ,under all circumstances keep your temper and remember your companions are entitled to a good time as well as yourself4 ,don't be selfish1 and don't go camping with boys who have that vulgar characteristic4 ,,chapter ,,xx ,,can ,,you ,,ride ,a ,,bike8 ,,some ,,things ,,worth ,,knowing ,,about ,,the ,,wheel1 ,,and ,,something ,,about ,,other ,,things ,to begin with1 ,i am not going to tell you how to ride a bicycle4 ,the only way to learn that is to get a wheel1 and if it bucks you off1 mount again and keep on trying until you master the machine4 ,i have heard folks say that the bicycle is going out of fashion4 ,that is sheer nonsense6 ,what have boys1 or sturdy young men1 or sturdy old ones for that matter1 to do with fashion8 ,the bike is here1 and it has come to stay1 and to go on revolving as long as folks live on a revolving world4 ,bike parties that make explorations lasting for days1 or even for weeks1 are now not unusual1 and if they travel prepared to make camp wherever night overtakes them1 the more healthful the sport and the more novel and independent the tour4 ,you should know how to carry the necessary baggage on your wheel4 ,it is customary in ordinary wheeling to strip a machine of every ounce of weight not necessary4 ,many riders travel without even a tool bag1 pump or wrench4 ,the additional weight of a few tools cannot be sufficient to make much difference to a rider4 ,if you are a scorcher and are out to pass everything you meet1 the less weight you carry the better time you can make4 ,but the wheel is used by most boys for other purposes4 ,the pathway of the biker is not always straight and smooth1 as every boy who has ridden a wheel knows4 ,the collision can always be avoided by good eyes and reasonable speed1 but no eyes are keen enough to note1 and no skill alert enough to avoid the broken glass1 or the bits of scrap iron that beset the path and puncture the tire4 ,,repairs ,a friend assures me that he has mended a punctured tire with chewing gum4 ,now ,i do not think well of the chewing gum habit1 but if the stuff can be found to have better uses1 ,i am not the one to discourage it4 ,so it might be well to carry a supply to fill punctured tires4 ,this is said to be the way to use it4 ,let all the air out of the tire1 then with a flat piece of wood force the gum into the hole--of course the gum must be chewed first to make it soft4 ,plaster some over the hole1 then bind the place with a strip of rag on your handkerchief4 ,this done1 pump in the air and ride with care4 ,a broken handle bar is bad1 but a substitute that will work can be made if you have some strong string and a stout pocket knife4 ,cut two sections of a springy sapling1 and bind them securely to the front fork1 one on either side1 and sufficiently long to reach just above the broken bar4 ,next tie securely a stout stick of proper length to the broken bar1 and tie to this the end of the uprights4 ,if properly done1 this will enable you to finish your journey1 which for a long distance is much pleasanter than walking and leading your wheel4 ,a rope tire will often enable the rider to reach home4 ,a few yards of clothesline1 borrowed1 begged1 or bought from some wayside house1 will enable you to make a solid tire4 ,remove the rubber tire1 tie it to your handle-bar1 and take the rope and bend one end diagonally across the hollow in the rim of the wheel4 ,wind the rope carefully around1 over the bent end of the rope1 around again alongside of the first length until the rim is covered4 ,keep the line tight1 and wind it until it fills up the hollow and is considerably higher in the middle than at the sides4 ,the neater this work is done1 the more comfortable will be your ride home4 ,when the rope tire is complete1 pry up the side lap and force the free end of the rope diagonally under it until it comes out on the other side4 ,draw it taut and cut off the end flush with the outer wrapping4 ,now pour water all over the rope until it is thoroughly wet2 this will cause it to shrink and become firm and hard4 ,have a stand for your bicycle when not in use1 and keep the wheel clean and well oiled4 ,no boy is worthy to own a tool or a toy1 or anything else that is perishable1 if he is too lazy or too careless to have a pride in it1 and to keep it in the highest state of efficiency4 ,the very best time to make needed repairs is when the need is discovered4 ,never wait until the time comes to use the thing again4 ,the boy who gets into that habit is disqualifying himself for the battle of life1 in which promptness1 accuracy and energy are the prime requisites to success4 ,if you cannot take care of your things1 or prefer to resign that duty to others1 then resign your ownership too1 and let some more deserving comrades own them4 ,i have often wondered why the rope--as our western cowboys call the lariat1 and the ,mexican lariata--has not become a national sport1 for its proper use requires great skill1 and it is distinctly an ,american institution4 ,children of the ,mexican herders begin practicing with the lariat as soon as they can coil a rope4 ,i have seen them catching cats and chickens with their little lariats1 and their dexterity surprised me4 ,the lariat may be of any length from twenty to eighty feet4 ,it consists of a long1 strong1 flexible rope1 with a running noose at the end thrown4 ,i have seen them made of hemp1 horse hair and raw hide-- the latter are by far the best1 provided they are flexible and soft enough4 ,the raw hide is cut and specially tanned1 but for practice an ordinary thin rope will do4 ,the noose is made by fastening a small iron eyelet to an end of the rope1 and through this the other end is drawn4 ,the greater part of the rope is held coiled in the left hand1 while the noose is circled above the head with the right1 and thrown when the proper swing has been reached4 ,a post makes a good target4 ,it should be1 to start with1 not more than ten feet away4 ,after a time the distance can be increased1 and the nature of the target changed4 ,you will be surprised1 if you try this1 at the skill you will gain1 and the pleasure the lariat will afford to yourself and companions4 ,,chapter ,,xxi ,,the ,,old ,,scotch ,,game ,,of ,,golf-,,something ,,about ,,hockey ,,and ,,shinny ,in ,scotland1 where the game comes from1 golf has been pronounced goff for more than five hundred years4 ,now that our ,president and other great men have taken to golf1 everybody reads about the popular game1 but very few know anything about it but the name4 ,to such1 the following facts may be of use4 ,the game is interesting1 and its rules can be soon learned1 but like everything else we do for pleasure or profit1 it takes a good deal of practice before one can pose as an expert4 ,boys take to golf and soon excel their seniors4 ,the equipment for golf consists of a large field1 called the links1 to play in1 a set of sticks or clubs with which to make the strokes1 and a ball to be hit at4 ,the start is made from a point called the tee4 ,the player's purpose is to send the ball1 which may be rubber or gutta percha1 and is about one and three-quarter inches in diameter1 into a small hole4 ,this hole may be from twenty to a hundred or more yards away1 and the skill consists in doing the trick with the fewest possible number of strokes4 ,the player who makes the most holes with the fewest strokes wins the game4 ,this sounds very simple1 and it is simple to understand1 but not so easy to do4 ,,the ,,links ,many of the best links are laid out where the soil is sandy and the grass sparse and stiff4 ,such links dry quickly after a rain1 and the ball is easily played and seen4 ,the course in this country for the regulation game is sometimes three miles long2 shorter courses can be laid out for informal work and practice4 ,the links do not extend in a straight line4 ,it is much better to have them wind about and end near the start4 ,by carefully planning the curves1 a golf course may be made to occupy limited grounds4 ,it has become a rule to make eighteen holes constitute a full course4 ,in the ,united ,states1 however1 comparatively few courses have more than nine holes1 and good practice can be had upon a course with even a fewer number4 ,the starting-point is called the teeing-ground1 and is marked by two whitewash lines at right angles to the course1 forming a parallelogram with the side lines of the course five or six yards in length by two or three in breadth4 ,within the parallelogram the player places his ball upon a tee or small hill of sand or earth from a half to three-quarters of an inch high4 ,the holes are about four inches in diameter1 and are lined with iron-- condensed milk cans or similar vessels may be used--and the ground for seven or eight feet on all sides is more level than the rest of the course and is known as the putting green4 ,the holes are placed at distances varying from three hundred to twelve hundred feet apart1 and are marked by little red flags1 which are removed when the player approaches4 ,as a match game consists of thirty-six holes1 eighteen holes gone twice over give the required number2 so will nine holes gone over four times1 or six holes six times1 or four holes nine times1 or three holes twelve times4 ,so you see that if your ground is limited you need have but three1 four1 six or nine holes1 and the fewer the holes the fairer becomes the game for strangers1 because in going over them so often they learn the ground1 and that puts them on an even footing with the home players4 ,,the ,,clubs ,the golf clubs are something like shinny sticks in shape1 but modified and better made1 as the ball must be driven more accurately and much farther4 ,the heads are made of wood or iron4 ,there are a great variety of them1 but the beginner does not need more than four or five4 ,the driver1 a large club with a long shaft2 the head is wood4 ,it is used to start and when the ball is on the tee4 ,let me add here that when the luxury can be afforded1 it is usual to employ a boy1 known as a caddy to carry the bag or receptacle in which the different clubs are kept4 ,the brassie is much like the driver1 except that it has a brass head or plate on the hitting part4 ,it is used for a good send when the ball is in a favorable place4 ,the cleek and lofter are iron-headed clubs1 and are used to drive the ball far and low4 ,a hundred and twenty yard stroke is good1 but not unusual4 ,the golf ball1 as ,i have said1 is made of hard rubber1 but in learning the game any hard ball of medium size will do1 and one club will be enough with which to practice4 ,hazards are obstructions in the way of the ball4 ,a bunker is a hazard1 such as a fence1 wall1 hedge1 depression1 or trees4 ,the ground between the holes should be cleared as far as possible of all obstructions4 ,hazards are not objected to by good players1 as they add to the sport4 ,the game called singles is where two players1 each with his own ball1 play against each other4 ,a foursomes is when two players play against another two1 each side having a ball and the partners playing alternately4 ,often a skilled player will match himself against a number of inferiors2 this is called a three or four ball match4 ,,shinny ,of course every boy who can wield a stick has played at this fine1 simple old game4 ,one does not need many tools for this sport4 ,a stout shinny stick1 curved at the business end1 like the best walking sticks1 and a ball1 or even a chunk of wood1 if not too heavy1 and large1 will do4 ,the game is played between chosen sides under the lead of properly selected captains4 ,two goals1 from ten to a hundred yards apart1 are marked out1 and between these the ball is placed4 ,this done1 the captains display their skill by stationing their men in such a way that they may guard their respective goals if their opponents are driving that way4 ,the captains start the ball a-rolling2 all are free to dash in and strike1 taking care to guard their own heads and not to hurt the heads of the enemy1 for this is a contest1 not a battle4 ,each party must keep on its own side1 and each goal gained is a game4 ,,hockey does not differ much from shinny4 ,in this game the ball is called a hockey1 and it does not matter what you call the curved sticks4 ,the goals are selected1 and the sides chosen as in shinny1 but in this game the captains toss up for first strike4 ,when the ball is struck1 the opposite side tries to stop it1 and the contest is on4 ,when the ball is sent over the opponent's goal line1 the game is won4 ,,winter ,,chapter ,,xxii ,,on ,,the ,,ice ,,and ,,snow--,,the ,,royal ,,sport ,,of ,,skating1 ,,with ,,some ,,hints ,,on ,,skiing1 ,,and ,,snowshoes ,outdoor sports in winter are necessarily restricted to the thing that can be done in the snow or on the ice4 ,but what glorious1 health- giving1 strength-making things they are6 ,it is from the land of the stern winter that the world's greatest men have come4 ,usually the frost comes before the snow1 and with what joy the boys and the girls hear the news1 brought by a rosy1 eager comrade3 ,the ice is strong enough to bear4 ,of course1 our first experience on the ice was when we tried our first slide guided by the hand of a stronger and more expert companion4 ,how soon we learned to do the trick1 and what fun there was in keep the pot a-boiling1 while strings of youngsters took the slide4 ,what if some did topple over8 ,no bones were broken1 and the incident always caused a lot of good-natured laughter4 ,roller skating indoors or on smooth roads is certainly a good preparation for ice skating1 but it is not at all necessary to begin that way1 any more than it is to practice swimming with a support about the body4 ,it is said the children in ,holland learn to skate as soon as they leave the cradle4 ,certainly the young ,south ,sea ,islanders learn to swim at an equally early age4 ,my advice is3 ,begin skating as soon as ,santa ,claus1 or some other good fairy gives you skates of the right size4 ,some more advice3 ,never1 from first to last1 skate with your hands in your pockets4 ,leaves1 sticks1 bits of paper1 or similar obstructions may check and stop1 perhaps throw you1 and at such times the hands should be free to ease the fall4 ,in the old days1 with the help of the blacksmith1 the harness maker1 and the carpenter1 boys had to put their own skates together4 ,those were certainly clumsy affairs1 but there was no end of good sport in them4 ,to-day1 the patent1 clamp skate1 fitting snug and securely and without any tight straps or tiresome screws1 can be bought cheaply and fastened on in a jiffy4 ,but can you use them when on8 ,that is the question4 ,if you can't1 be assured you will soon learn1 with patience1 practice and the advice of a more experienced companion4 ,,wrong ,,help ,i note that some books on skating advise the beginner to take a chair to the ice and learn on this till confidence is gained4 ,now confidence is never gained by leaning on anything or depending on any person4 ,start in to win by having confidence in yourself4 ,this applies to your life work as well as to skating4 ,when you have mastered your legs somewhat1 and can move fairly well forward1 it will be quite time for you to learn some other way of getting experience and fun from the sport4 ,begin the variation by trying to cut a forward circle4 ,to begin1 you strike out on the left foot1 with the body leaning toward the left1 the center of the proposed circle4 ,when the weight of the body is on the outside edge1 the line described by the skate runner will be a curve directed outward4 ,as soon as you find that you can continue on that stroke no longer bring the right foot quickly forward and down4 ,this last must be a short stroke of only sufficient duration to give you time for another outer-edge stroke with your left foot4 ,at first you will make a very large circle1 but gradually you will be able to contract the dimensions4 ,when you have mastered the left-foot circle1 try it on the right foot1 and practice until you are able to go either way with equal speed4 ,the backward circle1 when learned1 is easier than the forward ring1 for the push stroke is made with the toe4 ,when going backward great force can be given to the toe-push stroke by slightly lifting the heel4 ,to cut the circle backward1 you must simply reverse your forward movement4 ,to skate backward1 work or scull yourself along any way1 until you are able to detect the proper movement and proper manner of giving the strokes4 ,this accomplished1 you may call yourself a good plain skater4 ,the spread eagle is one of the first steps in the advance from plain to fancy skating4 ,even when well done1 it lacks the elements of grace1 but it is most excellent practice to render the limbs supple1 and make other more graceful tricks possible2 and it is a favorite performance of boy skaters4 ,you must skate straightaway until you have gained sufficient headway1 then at the end of the last stroke turn the toes out so that the runners of your skates make a straight line1 heel to heel1 one skate following the other4 ,in this position you will glide over the ice until the momentum first gained is exhausted4 ,at first the beginner will be only partially successful1 but gradually he will be able to describe a wide circle forward1 and in a little while gain sufficient control of his feet to slide across the skating pond in a straight line4 ,the spread eagle backward will be found more difficult1 for it necessitates turning the toes out until they point backward4 ,in performing this last feat1 it is no easy matter to keep your balance1 but perfection comes with practice1 and soon the boy who devotes time to practice will excite the admiration of his comrades by the ease with which he turns either forward or backward4 ,during his practice the beginner will undoubtedly bend his knees1 but after he has reached that point of excellence where his whole mind need not be centered on his feet1 he may learn gradually to straighten his legs until at last he can do the spread eagle forward and backward without looking like a straddle bug4 ,a ring can be made without lifting your skates from the ice4 ,this is called a spread-eagle circle1 and it is cut by spreading the feet4 ,the skater must learn to keep his feet moving1 first the right foot forward and the left foot back1 then the left foot forward and right foot back1 always with toes turned out spread-eagle fashion4 ,when properly done1 this motion will cause the skater to glide around in a circle1 his feet moving in a most bewildering manner1 while they weave a pretty grape-vine pattern on the ice4 ,it would take a volume properly to tell all the possibilities of skating1 and the ice games1 like shinny1 and curling4 ,but the boy who can manage the movements already indicated will be sure to learn by himself the more advanced art of this fine sport4 ,,snow ,,shoes are not so well known in the ,united ,states as in ,canada and throughout the ,st4 ,lawrence valley4 ,snow shoes are shaped very much like tennis rackets1 and are made in much the same way and of much the same material4 ,they are from thirty to thirty-six inches in length1 and about one-third that in width4 ,the broad point is to the front1 and some eight inches back of this the foot is fastened by means of straps to the front and sides4 ,the framework can be of light willow or strong rattan4 ,the meshes should be closer than in a racket1 and the best are made of water-proofed rawhide4 ,it requires much practice to become expert in the use of the snow shoe2 but once the skill is acquired1 twice the distance1 over soft snow1 can be made in the day1 as compared with the average foot man on ordinary ground4 ,without snow shoes1 winter travel would be well nigh impossible over large areas of ,british ,north ,america4 ,we are indebted to the ,indians for this valuable aid to locomotion4 ,,skiing pronounced in ,norwegian sheeting--is the great winter sport of the ,norwegians and ,swedes4 ,the sport is fast being introduced into this country and is gaining in popularity in every place where the two requisites--snow and a long1 steep hill--can be had4 ,the ski is a strip of ash or spruce wood1 turned up in front like a sled runner1 and smooth and straight grained4 ,the length varies from six to ten feet1 the width from three to four inches1 and the thickness from4 a third to three-fourths of an inch4 ,the strap1 attached by screws to the middle of the ski1 is fastened over the toe part of the foot1 leaving the heel free to rise and fall4 ,skies are hard to manage going up hill1 but on a level of soft snow a great pace can be kept up4 ,but it is in going down hill1 and leaping from a jounce that the skier is at his best4 ,it is not unusual for experts to jump one hundred and twenty feet from rise to fall4 ,,chapter ,,xxiii ,,coasting2 ,,sleds ,,of ,,many ,,kinds--,,the ,,toboggan ,long before the strong1 light1 machine-made sled was put on the market or even thought of1 the ,american boy was his own sled-maker1 and if this sled was not so sightly1 it certainly got there as effectively as does its modern rival4 ,the best of the old-time sleds were made by cutting down a small oak1 beech1 or maple tree that had a promising curve at the root4 ,this was dressed1 then sawed down the middle1 so as to make the two runners4 ,through each runner six holes were bored from the top1 each pair of holes about two inches apart4 ,into the holes were driven wooden pegs to hold the three benches4 ,the pegs were long enough to go through the two stringers that ran in line with the runners4 ,over this the frame was laid4 ,the bottoms of the runners1 when the material could be had1 were shod with thick hoop iron1 the nails being counter-sunk4 ,in the center curve of the runners1 holes were bored for the drawing rope1 and all was ready for the snow4 ,a quicker way was to saw out the proper length for runners from an inch1 hardwood board1 curve the fronts by means of a draw-knife1 then connect the runners by braces1 and cover with a frame of lighter material4 ,these sleds1 when shod at the blacksmith shop with half- curved iron shoes1 were things to delight in1 and two of them1 properly hitched1 made a fine bob4 ,the bob sled is superior in every way to the old long sled which delighted the grandfathers of the present boys4 ,the old-fashioned sleds were steered by the boy in front kicking with his heels on the frozen snow1 or the boy at the stern by dragging one foot behind as a rudder4 ,this answers very well for the common sled1 but when the sled is seven1 eight1 or ten feet long1 and loaded underneath with pig iron to give it weight1 the boy in front who steers has a difficult and exceedingly dangerous task1 especially if the hill is steep and icy2 and it is next to impossible to steer such a craft from the stern by dragging one foot behind4 ,the double-runner is much lighter and very much easier to steer on account of the front sled being arranged so that it can be moved independently of the rear sled1 for a turn to the right or the left causes the bob to take the direction indicated by the front runners2 but double-runners steered with a wheel1 lever or yoke in front1 are very dangerous1 as the steersman1 in case of an accident1 is thrown against the steering apparatus1 usually with serious results4 ,the safety double-runner does away with serious results1 having a bridle with which it is steered4 ,it also does away with the danger of collision by having an automatic brake that will stop it1 in times of danger1 within the distance of its own length4 ,these are qualities which will be appreciated by all who slide down hill1 as we called it when ,i was a lad1 or who are fond of coasting1 as our school- readers called it then1 and as every one calls it now4 ,double-runners1 or bob sleds1 can be made at home1 but the work requires so much varied material1 so many tools1 and so much skill that ,i shall not tell how the thing is done4 ,a number of boys1 who desire to own a bob sled in partnership1 can have the work done by a wagon-maker1 who knows just how1 and has all the material to hand4 ,such sleds1 and they are usually well made1 can be purchased at reasonable prices and of any size from establishments that deal in such articles4 ,these can be found in any of our large cities4 ,the safe and sane sled1 for the ordinary youngster1 and the average hill1 is that which has a capacity for two--one is still better--and which is steered by sitting astern and keeping one leg back to act as a runner4 ,,tobogganing ,the toboggan is much used in ,canada1 where the ,indians taught the first whites how to make and use it1 and has become popular in the northern states1 particularly along the ,great ,lakes4 ,it is made of smooth1 closely joined1 flexible boards1 turned up in front by being steam heated4 ,the toboggan lies flat on the ground and may be of any length from six to twelve or even more feet4 ,the passengers squat on furs or other coverings laid flat on the toboggan4 ,the steerer sits behind and controls the direction by a trailing pole and sometimes with one foot4 ,many ,canadian cities have constructed toboggan slides for the use of the people4 ,the most famous of these is at ,montreal4 ,this slide has a joust or obstruction at the bottom1 which causes the toboggan and its occupants to leap into the air in a way that delights the experts and brings alarm to those who are taking their first ride4 ,but the healthy boy does not limit his winter sports to skates and sleds4 ,without either of these appliances no end of fun can be had in the snow itself4 ,it would be a waste of time to describe snowballing1 which may be made to afford pleasure1 but which as too often done brings discomfort to the ones unexpectedly attacked4 ,a ,,snow ,,battle ,now1 a snow battle1 if properly managed1 is a different matter1 and calls for that endurance and tact that distinguishes the true soldier4 ,the two selected captains toss up in the usual manner for first choice of men4 ,then alternately1 as in a spelling bee1 each chooses a soldier until all are taken4 ,the taw lines are then drawn1 about thirty feet apart1 and two flag staffs with colored handkerchiefs for flags are erected in each camp4 ,to bear the enemy's flag to your own camp1 that is1 over the taw line1 wins the victory for your side4 ,tackling is allowed1 as in football1 and is limited by the same rules4 ,no boy bearing the mark of a snowball on chest or back is allowed to take further part in the game1 as he is considered to be a dead soldier1 but the dead soldiers may coach their comrades as often as they please4 ,no tripping1 no striking1 no ice balls1 and no soakers 7wet snowballs7 are allowed4 ,snow tag is another good game4 ,count out for ,it4 ,while ,it takes his place at the hub of the wheel1 the other players scatter around the circumference or rim1 and the word ready is given4 ,it then darts out one of the spoke paths and endeavors to tag some one of the other boys1 and the fun begins4 ,two cannot pass each other on the narrow paths1 and the fleeing boys often step on each others' heels1 trip and tumble head first into the deep snow1 forming an easy prey for ,it2 but again the lads will dance around in a most provoking manner1 and as ,it darts up one spoke toward the rim1 the players dart down the other toward the hub1 and show great skill in eluding ,it4 ,,chapter ,,xxiv ,,some ,,hints ,,on ,,general ,,athletics1 ,,including ,,walking1 ,,running ,,and ,,jumping ,i do not think the advice ,i have given1 as to the games appropriate for each season would be at all complete1 if ,i did not give some advice that will be useful for all seasons and every day in the year4 ,to the boy the enjoyment of the sport is the first thing to be considered1 but it is not the only thing4 ,our lives are often affected for good or ill by very little things4 ,injuries have been received by boys in sport that marred all their after lives4 ,it is natural for the young to delight in exercise4 ,it is by taking it that they develop1 but the development1 to be of value1 must be along sensible lines4 ,every healthy boy wants to be an athlete2 wants to excel in some line1 and as this ambition is reasonable1 it should not be discouraged4 ,the youth eager to win in his sports is not apt to be found lagging when he takes up the more serious business of life4 ,competition is said to be the life of trade1 and it certainly adds greatly to our interest in sports1 but the boy who starts in to learn by trying to compete is doomed to failure4 ,there would be more success in the end if we learned to go slower and so became more thorough in the beginning4 ,there are certain exercises that every athlete must take to have a good physique1 and the very first1 and by far the most useful of these1 is walking4 ,,walking ,can you walk8 ,i hear you laughing at the question2 but let me change it slightly and ask1 ,can you walk properly8 ,of course ,i can1 you reply4 ,i walk just like other folks who are not lame4 ,now very few people walk properly1 and no two people1 unless it be soldiers or others who have been drilled to the exercise1 walk alike4 ,just watch and see for yourself4 ,the good walker is always the graceful1 easy walker4 ,he stands erect1 but not stiffly4 ,his shoulders are well thrown back4 ,he keeps his mouth closed1 except when talking1 and he breathes and exhales through his nostrils as the wise ,god meant him to do4 ,his clothes fit him loosely and comfortably4 ,he steps naturally1 and without a trying stride1 or a short step mincing gait1 as if he wore hobbles4 ,he walks by lifting his feet and not by raising his shoulders4 ,and he wears shoes or other foot gear that do not breed corns or bunions4 ,unless in a great hurry the walk1 even the brisk walk1 should never exceed three miles an hour2 good heel and toe walkers have made forty miles without fatigue in ten hours1 but this power comes only after long practice4 ,walking is the very best1 as it is the very cheapest1 form of exercise1 and it is best enjoyed on a country road with a cheerful companion4 ,remember in all your exercising that good health is the one great object4 ,suppress all ambition to be merely strong4 ,many brutes are stronger than many of the strongest men1 and many strong men have gone to pieces where lighter but more enduring men have come through the ordeal fresh and unharmed4 ,this ,i have often noted in war times1 when soldiers were called on to make a forced march over trying roads and in a downpour of rain4 ,endurance is the great thing to strive for4 ,the man who lasts is the man who wins4 ,therefore1 in your walks1 particularly when you are learning to walk well1 like an ,indian or a soldier1 never try to do more than can be done without making too great a demand on your bodily strength4 ,,running ,running is a fine exercise1 provided always that it be done in season and in reason4 ,to do it in reason you must start in by acquiring the skill to run and the endurance to keep it up4 ,there is one organ which if it stopped for a minute1 the owner would be dead2 that is the heart4 ,yet many young athletes act as if they were not aware that they had hearts4 ,no exercise that requires sudden violent effort1 like fast rowing1 or a hundred-yard dash in running1 can be undertaken without serious effect to the heart4 ,the ,andean ,indians will run1 lightly and easily1 at the rate of ten miles an hour1 and keep it up for ten hours without rest1 but you cannot induce them to make a short dash at high speed2 they do not want to feel the warning thump of the heart4 ,in learning to run1 breathe as in walking1 keeping the body slightly bent forward1 and the elbows gripped close to the sides4 ,under no circumstances start out by competing with any one1 or by trying to run against time4 ,such a course will result in final failure1 and may bring on a serious injury4 ,the jog trot is the thing to start in with4 ,try it for a week or two1 and you will be surprised at the ease with which you can do it4 ,at first a mile is long enough for a run4 ,after a month you can do two miles without as much fatigue4 ,finally1 if the gait be not too fast1 you can keep it up for hours4 ,after you have mastered the jog1 it will be time enough to quicken the pace into a run1 not your swiftest run1 mark you1 but a run that you can keep up for a mile1 with as little exhaustion as you did your first mile trot4 ,it is only by this slow1 pleasant training1 that you can ever learn to walk and run well1 but when you have learned you will be paid for the effort1 and then if the time comes to test your speed you will be ready to respond4 ,jumping is closely related to running4 ,it is an exercise in which boys delight1 but which they seldom practice so as to achieve any skill4 ,we divide this exercise into standing and running jumps1 and each of these can be subdivided into high and broad jumps4 ,in running contests1 hurdles or other obstructions are placed in the path of the runner4 ,these hurdles vary in height1 but if you want to learn1 start in with one or two about as high as your knee4 ,of course1 you could take them standing1 and it is not a bad exercise1 but learn to take them at a moderate run4 ,when you can do this with ease1 increase the number or the closeness of the hurdles and add to the length of the run4 ,after a time you can take more and higher hurdles and lengthen the run1 but never do either if you find your heart beating1 or that the effort brings fatigue4 ,i do not think the running high jump pays for the effort4 ,it is spectacular1 that is all2 not so the running broad jump4 ,this may be of use4 ,it is safe and sane1 and with practice it is surprising the distance that can be covered4 ,after violent exercise of any kind1 be sure to take a bath and a brisk rub down4 ,if this cannot be had1 a towel well soaked in cold water will make a good substitute1 if you dry down with another towel4 ,if your clothes are wet and you are exercising1 they may be allowed to dry on you with safety1 but if you cannot do this1 get dry clothes if possible4 ,i have known sturdy boys to contract rheumatism from wet clothes2 and they never got over it4 ,in conclusion1 let me advise common sense4 ,think before you act1 even when you are out for sport4 ,,chapter ,,xxv ,,battle ,,cries1 ,,hailing ,,shouts1 ,,and ,,college ,,yells ,the ,american ,indians1 like the uncivilized of all lands1 had their own peculiar battle cry or war-whoop1 which it is impossible to reproduce by letters4 ,during our ,civil ,war the ,confederates gave a thrilling imitation of it in their famous ,rebel ,yell1 which every old soldier recalls with more or less admiration4 ,the ancient ,greeks joined in battle with shouts of ,eleleu6 ,the ,welsh cry was ,ubub6 from whence comes our word hubbub1 meaning a confusion4 ,the ,irish war shout was nearly like that of the ,greek1 being ,ullulu6 ,the ,scotch clans had each its own shout or slogan2 the pibroch being the chant of the march to battle4 ,of old1 the ,hungarian horseman1 when charging shouted ,huzza6 and so the name ,hussar is given to the light cavalry regiments of many of the ,european armies4 ,the ,australian herders have a hailing cry1 learned from the natives1 which1 properly done1 carries a great distance4 ,it sounds like ,coo-ee6 the first syllable being made deep in the chest1 and the other a shrill head note4 ,the ,yaqui ,indians of northern ,mexico take their name from their peculiar war cry1 ,ya-kee1 which is produced like the ,australian coo- ee4 ,i have heard this thrilling cry for a distance of over one mile in the ,sierra ,madre mountains4 ,all boys1 whether bound for college or not1 are always interested in what are known as ,college ,yells4 ,each college has its own yell1 and in some of them great pains1 if not great originality1 is shown in the construction of the words4 ,here are a few3 ,princeton--,hurrah6 ,hurrah6 ,hurrah6 ,tiger-siss-boom-ah6 ,,princeton6 ,and the sturdy sons of ,yale--,rah6 ,rah6 ,rah6 ,rah6 ,rah6 ,rah6 ,rah6 ,rah6 ,rah6 ,,yale6 quickly and sharply enunciated4 ,harvard boys cry1 with long-drawn deep notes1 ,rah6 rah6 rah6 ,rah6 rah6 rah6 ,rah6 rah6 rah6 ,,harvard6 ,cornell--,cornell ,i yell6 yell6 yell6 ,,cornell6 ,williams ,college--,rah6 rah6 rah6 yums6 yams6 yums6 ,,willyums6 ,trinity ,college--,rah6 rah6 rah6 ,trinity6 ,boom-rah6 ,boom-rah6 ,,trin- ,,eye-,,tee6 ,wesleyan ,college--,rah6 rah6 rah6 rah6 ,wesleyan6 ,rah6 rah6 rah6 rah6 ,brown ,college--,rah1 rah1 rah1 rah6 ,,brown6 ,colorado ,college--,rah6 rah6 rah6 ,pike's ,peak or bust6 ,colorado ,college6 ,yell we ,,must6 ,the ,leland ,stanford1 ,jr4--,wah hoo6 ,ya hoo6 ,l4 ,s4 ,j4 ,u46 ,,stanford6 ,dartmouth ,college--,hi6 hi6 hi6 ,rah6 rah6 rah6 ,d-d-d-d-,dartmouth1 wah1 who1 wah6 or1 ,wah1 who1 wah6 ,wah1 who1 wah6 ,da1 di1 di1 ,dartmouth6 ,wah1 who wah6 ,union ,college--,rah1 rah1 rah6 ,u-,n-,i-,o-,n4 ,hikah6 hikah6 hikah6 ,university of ,illinois--,rah1 hoo1 rah6 ,zipp1 boom1 ah6 ,hip-zoo6 ,rah-zoo4 ,jimmy blow your bazoo6 ,ip-sidi-iki ,u4 off ,i4 campaign6 ,hanover--,han1 ,han6 ,,hanover6 ,westminster-,rah1 rah1 rah6 ,oh1 yes1 sir6 ,vive-la1 ,vive-la6 ,,westminster6 ,cornell1 of ,iowa-,zip-siss-boom6 ,cor-cor-nell6 ,c-,c4 tiger-la6 ,zipp- siss-hur-rah6 ,amherst--,rah6 rah6 rah6 etc41 and terminating with the name of their institution4 ,boston ,university--,boston1 ,b-,b-,,boston6 ,varsity6 ,varsity6 ,varsity6 ,rah6 rah6 rah6 ,rutgers--,rah1 rah1 rah6 ,bow-wow-wow6 ,,rutgers6 ,rochester ,university--,waxico1 waxico1 waxico1 wax6 ,waxico1 waxico1 waxico1 wax6 ,brek-k-ks--,brek-k-ks1 ah-h-ah6 ,,rochester6 ,university of ,washington--,u4 of ,w46 ,hiah6 ,hiah6 ,u4 of ,w46 ,u4 of ,w46 ,siah6 ,siah6 ,shooken' ,shookem6 ,,washington6 ,hobart ,college--,hip-ho-bart6 ,hip-ho-bart6 ,hip-ho1 hip-ho1 ,,hip-,,ho- ,,bart6 ,syracuse ,university--,srah--,srah--,srah ,sy-ra-cuse6 ,this list by no means comprises all the college cries1 but it will serve to illustrate the most striking of them4 ,even the women's colleges have their own distinctive cries1 and for oddness they quite equal those of the men4 ,and now the high schools1 and even the separate classes and school societies are indulging in original cries4 ,but so long as these things keep up the class spirit and make for sound lungs and high spirits1 why should old fogies object8 ,,chapter ,,xxvi ,,clever ,,tricks ,,worth ,,knowing ,,the ,,vanishing ,,knots ,for this trick you must use a silk handkerchief4 ,twisting it1 rope- fashion1 and grasping it by the middle with both hands4 ,you must request one of the spectators to tie the two ends together4 ,he does so1 but you tell him he has not tied them half tight enough1 and you yourself pull them still tighter4 ,a second and a third knot are made in the same manner1 the handkerchief being drawn tighter by yourself after each knot is made4 ,finally1 take the handkerchief1 and covering the knots with the loose part1 you hand it to some one to hold4 ,breathing on it1 you request him to shake out the handkerchief1 when all the knots are found to have disappeared4 ,when the performer apparently tightens the knot1 he in reality only strains one end of the handkerchief1 grasping it above and below the knot4 ,this pulls that end of the handkerchief out of its twisted condition and into a straight line1 round which the other end of the handkerchief remains twisted2 in other words1 converts the knot into a slip-knot4 ,after each successive knot he still straightens this same end of the handkerchief4 ,this end1 being thus made straight1 would naturally be left longer than the other1 which is twisted round and round it4 ,this tendency the performer counteracts by drawing it partially back through the slip-knot at each pretended tightening4 ,when he finally covers over the knots1 which he does with the left hand1 he holds the straightened portion of the handkerchief1 immediately behind the knots1 between the first finger and thumb of the right hand1 and therewith1 in the act of covering over the knots1 draws this straightened portion completely out of the slipknot4 ,,the ,,dancing ,,sailor ,the ,dancing ,sailor is a figure cut out of cardboard1 eight or nine inches in height1 and with its arms and legs cut out separately1 and attached to the trunk with thread in such a manner as to hang perfectly free4 ,the mode of exhibiting it is as follows3 ,the performer1 taking a seat facing the company1 with his legs slightly apart1 places the figure on the ground between them4 ,as might be expected1 it falls flat and lifeless1 but after a few mesmeric passes it is induced to stand upright1 though without visible support1 and1 on a lively piece of music being played1 dances to it1 keeping time1 and ceasing as soon as the music ceases4 ,the secret lies in the fact that1 from leg to leg of the performer1 at about the height of the figure from the ground1 is fixed 7generally by means of a couple of bent pins71 a fine black silk thread1 of eighteen or twenty inches in length4 ,this allows him to move about without any hindrance4 ,on each side of the head of the figure is a little slanting cut1 tending in a perpendicular direction1 and about half an inch in length4 ,the divided portions of the cardboard are bent back a little1 thus forming two hooks1 so to speak1 at the sides of the head4 ,when the performer takes his seat1 as before mentioned1 the separation of his legs draws the silk comparatively taut1 though1 against a moderately dark background1 it remains wholly invisible4 ,when he first places the figure on the ground1 he does so simply1 and the figure naturally falls4 ,he makes a few sham mesmeric passes over it1 but still it falls4 ,at the third and fourth attempt1 however1 he places it so that the little hooks already mentioned just catch the thread1 and the figure is thus kept upright4 ,when the music commences1 the smallest motion1 or pretence of keeping time with the feet is enough to start the sailor in a vigorous hornpipe4 ,,conjuring ,,with ,,coins ,coin-conjuring has its own peculiar sleights1 which it will be necessary for the student to practice diligently before he can hope to attain much success in this direction4 ,the first faculty which the novice must seek to acquire is that of palming--i4e41 secretly holding an object in the open hand by the contraction of the palm4 ,to acquire this power1 take a half-crown1 florin1 or quarter 7these being the most convenient in point of size71 and lay it on the palm of the open hand4 ,now close the hand very slightly1 and if you have placed the coin on the right spot 7which a few trials will quickly indicate71 the contraction of the palm around its edges will hold it securely1 and you may move the hand and arm in any direction without fear of dropping it4 ,you should next accustom yourself to use the hand and fingers easily and naturally1 while still holding the coin as described4 ,a very little practice will enable you to do this4 ,you must bear in mind while practicing always to keep the inside of the palm either downward or toward your own body1 as any reverse movement would expose the concealed coin4 ,,passes ,being thoroughly master of this first lesson1 you may proceed to the study of the various passes4 ,all of the passes have the same object --viz41 the apparent transfer of an article from one hand to the other1 though such article really remains in the hand which it has apparently just quitted4 ,as the same movement frequently repeated would cause suspicion1 and possibly detection1 it is desirable to acquire different ways of effecting this object4 ,it should be here mentioned that the term palming which we have so far used as meaning simply the act of holding any article1 is also employed to signify the act of placing any article in the palm by one or the other of various passes4 ,the context will readily indicate in which of the two senses the term is used in any given passage4 ,pass ,i4--,take the coin in the right hand1 between the second and third fingers and the thumb1 letting it1 however1 really be supported by the fingers1 and only steadied by the thumb4 ,now move the thumb out of the way1 and close the second and third fingers1 with the coin balanced on them1 into the palm4 ,if the coin was rightly placed in the first instance1 you will find that this motion puts it precisely in the position above described as the proper one for palming2 and on again extending the fingers the coin is left palmed4 ,when you can do this easily with the hand at rest1 you must practice doing the same thing with the right hand in motion toward the left1 which should meet it open1 but should close the moment that the fingers of the right hand touch its palm1 as though upon the coin which you have by this movement feigned to transfer to it4 ,the left hand must thenceforward remain closed1 as if holding the coin1 and the right hand hang loosely open1 as if empty4 ,,palming ,in the motion of palming1 the two hands must work in harmony1 as in the genuine act of passing an article from the one hand to the other4 ,the left hand must therefore rise to meet the right1 but should not begin its journey until the right hand begins its own4 ,nothing looks more awkward or unnatural than to see the left hand extended1 with open palm1 before the right hand has begun to move toward it4 ,pass #b4--,this is somewhat easier than ,pass #a1 and may sometimes be usefully substituted for it4 ,take the coin edgeways between the first and third fingers of the right hand1 the sides of those fingers pressing against the edges of the coin1 and the middle finger steadying it from behind4 ,carry the right hand toward the left1 and at the same time move the thumb swiftly over the face of the coin till the top joint passes its outer edge1 then bend the thumb1 and the coin will be found to be securely nipped between that joint and the junction of the thumb with the hand4 ,as in the last case1 the left hand must be closed the moment the right hand touches it2 and the right must thenceforth be held with the thumb bent slightly inward toward the palm1 so that the coin may be shielded from the view of the spectators4 ,this is an especially quick mode of palming1 and if properly executed the illusion is perfect4 ,pass #c4--;,hold the left hand palm upward1 with the coin in position4 ,move the right hand toward the left1 and let the fingers simulate the motion of picking up the coin1 and instantly close4 ,at the same moment slightly close the left hand1 so as to contract the palm around the coin1 and drop the hand1 letting it hang loosely by your side4 ,,the ,,vanishing ,,trick ,a word of caution may here be desirable4 ,these passes must by no means be regarded as being themselves tricks1 but only as processes to be used in the performance of tricks4 ,if the operator1 after pretending to pass the coin1 say from the right hand to the left1 and showing that it had vanished from the left hand1 were to allow his audience to discover that it had all along remained in his right hand1 they might admire the dexterity with which he had in this instance deceived their eyes1 but they would henceforth guess half the secret of any trick in which palming was employed4 ,if it is necessary immediately to reproduce the coin1 the performer should do so by appearing to find it in the hair or whiskers of a spectator1 or in any other place that may suit his purpose1 remembering always to indicate beforehand that it has passed to such a place1 thereby diverting the general attention from himself4 ,as the coin is already in his hand1 he has only to drop it to his finger-tips as the hand reaches the place he has named1 in order1 to all appearance1 to take it from thence4 ,the various passes may be employed not only to cause the disappearance of an article1 as above described1 but to secretly change it for a substitute of similar appearance4 ,these exchanges are of continual use in conjuring2 indeed1 we may almost say that three parts of its marvels depends on them4 ,such an exchange having been made1 the substitute is left in sight of the audience1 while the performer1 having thus secretly gained possession of the original1 disposes of it as may be necessary for the purpose of the trick4 ,with this brief practical production1 we proceed to describe a few of the simpler tricks with coins4 ,,heads ,,or ,,tails ,you borrow a quarter1 and spin it1 or invite some other person to spin it1 on the table 7which must be without a cloth74 ,you allow it to spin itself out1 and immediately announce1 without seeing it1 whether it has fallen head or tail upward4 ,this may be repeated any number of times with the same result1 though you may be blindfolded1 and placed at the further end of the apartment4 ,the secret lies in the use of a quarter of your own1 on one face of which 7say on the tail side7 you have cut at the extreme edge a little notch1 thereby causing a minute point or tooth of metal to project from that side of the coin4 ,if a coin so prepared be spun on the table1 and should chance to go down with the notched side upward1 it will run down like an ordinary coin1 with a long continuous whirr1 the sound growing fainter and fainter till it finally ceases2 but if it should run down with the notched side downward1 the friction of the point against the table will reduce this final whirr to half its ordinary length1 and the coin will finally go down with a sort of flop4 ,the difference of sound is not sufficiently marked to attract the notice of the spectators1 but is perfectly distinguishable by an attentive ear4 ,if1 therefore1 you have notched the coin on the tail side1 and it runs down slowly1 you will cry tail2 if quickly1 head4 ,if you professedly use a borrowed coin1 you must adroitly change it for your own1 tinder pretence of showing how to spin it1 or the like4 ,,odd ,,or ,,even2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,mysterious ,,addition ,you take a handful of coins1 and invite another person to do the same1 and to ascertain privately whether the number he has taken is odd or even4 ,you request the company to observe that you have not asked him a single question1 but that you are able1 notwithstanding1 to divine and counteract his most secret intentions1 and that you will1 in proof of this1 yourself take a number of coins and add them to those he has taken1 when1 if his number was odd1 the total shall be even2 if his number was even1 the total shall be odd4 ,requesting him to drop the coins he holds into a hat1 held on high by one of the company1 you drop in a certain number on your own account4 ,he is now asked whether his number was odd or even2 and1 the coins being counted1 the total number proves to be as you stated1 exactly the reverse4 ,the experiment is tried again1 with different numbers1 but the result is the same4 ,the secret lies in the simple arithmetical fact1 that if you add an odd number to an even number1 the result will be odd2 if you add an odd number to an odd number1 the result will be even4 ,you have only to take care1 therefore1 that the number you yourself add1 whether large or small1 shall always be odd4 ,,to ,,rub ,,one ,,dime ,,into ,,three ,this is a simple little parlor trick1 but will sometimes occasion a good deal of wonderment4 ,procure three dimes of the same issue1 and privately stick two of them with wax to the under side of a table1 at about half an inch from the edge1 and eight or ten inches apart4 ,announce to the company that you are about to teach them how to make money4 ,turn up your sleeves1 and take the third dime in your right hand1 drawing particular attention to its date and general appearance1 and indirectly to the fact that you have no other coin concealed in your hands4 ,turning back the table cover1 rub the dime with the ball of the thumb backward and forward on the edge of the table4 ,in this position your fingers will naturally be below the edge4 ,after rubbing for a few seconds1 say3 ,it is nearly done1 for the dime is getting hot1 and1 after rubbing a moment or two longer with increased rapidity1 draw the hand away sharply1 bringing away with it one of the concealed dimes1 which you exhibit as produced by the friction4 ,leaving the waxed dime on the table1 and again showing that you have but one coin in your hands1 repeat the operation with the remaining dime4 ,,the ,,capital ,q ,take a number of coins1 say from five-and-twenty to thirty1 and arrange them in the form of the letter ,q1 making the tail consist of some six or seven coins4 ,then invite some person 7during your absence from the room7 to count any number he pleases1 beginning at the tip of the tail and travelling up the left side of the circle1 touching each coin as he does so2 then to work back again from the coin at which he stops 7calling such coin one71 this time1 however1 not returning down the tail1 but continuing round the opposite side of the circle to the same number4 ,during this process you retire1 but on your return you indicate with unerring accuracy the coin at which he left off4 ,in order to show 7apparently7 that the trick does not depend on any arithmetical principle1 you reconstruct the ,q1 or invite the spectators to do so1 with a different number of coins1 but the result is the same4 ,the solution lies in the fact that the coin at which the spectator ends will necessarily be at the same distance from the root of the tail as there are coins in the tail itself4 ,thus1 suppose that there are five coins in the tail1 and that the spectator makes up his mind to count eleven4 ,he commences from the tip of the tail1 and counts up the left side of the circle4 ,this brings him to the sixth coin beyond the tail4 ,he then retrogrades1 and calling that coin one1 counts eleven in the opposite direction4 ,this necessarily brings him to the fifth coin from the tail on the opposite side1 being the length of the tail over and above those coins which are common to both processes4 ,if he chooses ten1 twelve1 or any other number1 he will still1 in counting back again1 end at the same point4 ,the rearrangement of the coins which is apparently intended to make the trick more surprising1 is really designed1 by altering the length of the tail1 to shift the position of the terminating coin4 ,if the trick were performed two or three times in succession1 with the same number of coins in the tail1 the spectators could hardly fail to observe that the same final coin was always indicated1 and thereby to gain a clue to the secret4 ,the number of coins in the circle itself is quite immaterial4 ,,the ,,wandering ,,dime ,have ready two dimes1 each slightly waxed on one side4 ,borrow a dime1 and secretly exchange it for one of the waxed ones1 laying the latter waxed side uppermost on the table4 ,let any one draw two squares of ordinary card-board4 ,take them in the left hand1 and1 transferring them to the right1 press the second waxed dime against the center of the undermost1 to which it will adhere4 ,lay this card 7which we will call a7 on the table1 about eighteen inches from the dime which is already there1 and cover such dime with the other card1 b4 ,lift both cards a little way from the table1 to show that the dime is under card a1 and that there is 7apparently7 nothing under card b4 ,as you replace them1 press lightly on the center of card a4 ,you may now make the dime appear under whichever card you like1 remembering that1 if if you wish the dime not to adhere1 you must bend the card slightly upward in taking it from the table2 if otherwise1 take it up without bending4 ,,the ,,magic ,,cover ,,and ,,vanishing ,,pennies ,for the purpose of this trick1 you require half a dozen cents1 of which the center portion has been cut out1 leaving each a mere rim of metal4 ,upon these is placed a complete cent1 and the whole are connected together by a rivet1 running through the whole thickness of the pile4 ,when placed upon the table1 with the complete coin upward1 they have all the appearance of a pile of ordinary pennies1 the slight lateral play allowed by the rivet aiding the illusion4 ,a little leather cap 7shaped something like a fez1 with a little button on the top1 and of such size as to fit loosely over the pile of cents7 with an ordinary die1 such as backgammon is played with1 complete the necessary apparatus4 ,you begin by drawing attention to your magic cap and die1 and in order to exhibit their mystic powers1 you request the loan of half a dozen cents 7the number must1 of course1 correspond with that of your own pile74 ,while they are being collected1 you take the opportunity to slip the little cap over your prepared pile1 which should be placed ready to hand behind some small object on the table1 so as to be unseen by the spectators4 ,pressing the side of the cap1 you lift the pile with it1 and place the whole together in full view1 in close proximity to the die4 ,the required cents having been now collected1 you beg all to observe that you place the leather cap 7which the spectators suppose to be empty7 fairly over the die4 ,taking the genuine coins in either hand1 you pretend1 by one or the other of the passes1 to transfer them to the other4 ,holding the hand which is now supposed to contain the coins immediately above the cap1 you announce that they will at your command pass under the cap1 from which the die will disappear to make room for them4 ,saying1 ,one1 two1 three6 ,pass6 you open your hand1 and show that the coins have vanished2 and then1 lifting up the cap by the button1 you show the hollow pile1 covering the die and appearing to be the genuine coins4 ,once more covering the pile with the cap1 you announce that you will again extract the coins1 and replace the die2 and to make the trick still more extraordinary1 you will this time pass the coins right through the table4 ,placing the hand which holds the genuine coins beneath the table1 and once more saying1 ,one1 two1 three6 ,pass6 you chink the coins1 and1 bringing them up1 place them on the table4 ,again picking up the cap1 but this time pressing its sides1 you lift up the hollow pile with it and disclose the die4 ,quickly transferring the cap1 without the pile1 to the other hand1 you place it on the table1 to bear the brunt of examination1 while you get rid of the prepared coins4 ,,the ,,pepper-,,box1 ,,for ,,vanishing ,,money ,this is a small tin box1 of the pepper-box or flour-dredger shape1 standing three to four inches high4 ,the box portion 7as distinguished from the lid7 is made double1 consisting of two tin tubes sliding the one within the other1 the bottom being soldered to the inner one only4 ,by pulling the bottom downward1 therefore1 you draw down with it the inner tube1 telescope fashion4 ,by so doing you bring into view a slit or opening at one side of the inner tube1 level with the bottom1 and of such a size as to let a half-dollar pass through it easily4 ,the lid is also specially prepared4 ,it has an inner or false top1 and between the true and false top a loose bit of tin is introduced which rattles when the box is shaken1 unless you at the same time press a little point of wire projecting from one of the holes at the top1 and so render it1 for the time being silent4 ,the box is first exhibited with the inner tube pushed up into its place1 and the opening thereby concealed4 ,a marked coin is borrowed1 but either before or after the coin is placed therein1 as may best suit his purpose1 the performer secretly draws out the inner tube a quarter of an inch or so1 thus allowing the coin to slip through into his hand4 ,as he places the box on the table1 a very slight pressure suffices to force the tube up again into its original position1 and close the opening4 ,having made the necessary disposition of the coin1 the performer takes up the box and shakes it1 to show 7apparently7 that the coin is still there1 pressing on the little point above mentioned when he desires it to appear that it has departed1 and immediately opening the box to show that it is empty4 ,the pepper-box will not bear minute inspection1 and is in this particular inferior to the rattle box4 ,a ,,nest ,,of ,,boxes ,this consists of half a dozen circular wooden boxes1 one within the other1 the outer box having much the appearance1 but being nearly double the size1 of an ordinary tooth-powder box1 and the smallest being just large enough to contain a quarter4 ,the series is so accurately made that1 by arranging the boxes in due order one within the other1 and the lids in like manner1 you may1 by simply putting on all the lids together1 close all the boxes at once1 though they can only be opened one by one4 ,these are placed1 the boxes together and the lids together1 anywhere so as to be just out of sight of the audience4 ,if on your table1 they may be hidden by any more bulky article4 ,having secretly obtained possession1 by either of the means before described1 of a coin which is ostensibly deposited in some other piece of apparatus1 you seize your opportunity to drop it into the innermost box1 and to put on the united lids4 ,you then bring forward the nest of boxes 7which the spectators naturally take to be one box only71 and announce that the twenty-five cent piece will at your command pass from the place in which it has been deposited into the box which you hold in your hand1 and which you forthwith deliver to one of the audience for safe keeping4 ,touching both articles with the mystic wand1 you invite inspection of the first to show that the money has departed1 and then of the box wherein it is to be found4 ,the holder opens the box1 and finds another1 and then another1 and in the innermost of all1 the marked coin4 ,seeing how long the several boxes have taken to open1 the spectators naturally infer that they must take as long to close1 and 7apart from the other mysteries of the trick7 are utterly at a loss to imagine how1 with the mere moment of time at your command1 you could have managed to insert the coin1 and close so many boxes4 ,if you desire to use the nest for a coin larger than a quarter1 you can make it available for that purpose by removing beforehand the smallest box4 ,,the ,,ball ,,of ,,berlin ,,wool ,an easy and effective mode of terminating a money trick is to pass the marked coin into the center of a large ball of ,berlin wool or worsted1 the whole of which has to be unwound before the coin can be reached4 ,the modus operandi1 though perplexing to the uninitiated1 is absurdly simple when the secret is revealed4 ,the only apparatus necessary over and above the wool 7of which you must have enough for a good-sized ball71 is a flat tin tube1 three to four inches in length1 and just large enough to allow a quarter or half-dollar 7whichever you intend to use for the trick7 to slip through it easily4 ,you prepare for the trick by winding the wool on one end of the tube1 in such manner that when the whole is wound in a ball1 an inch or so of the tube may project from it4 ,this you place in your pocket1 or anywhere out of sight of the audience4 ,you commence the trick by requesting some one to mark a coin1 which you forthwith exchange by one or the other of the means already described1 for a substitute of your own1 and leave the latter in the possession or in view of the spectators1 while you retire to fetch the ball of wool1 or simply take it from your pocket4 ,before producing it1 you drop the genuine coin down the tube into the center of the ball1 and withdraw the tube giving the ball a squeeze to remove all trace of an opening4 ,you then bring it forward1 and place it in a glass goblet or tumbler1 which you hand to a spectator to hold4 ,taking the substitute coin1 you announce that you will make it pass invisibly into the very center of the ball of wool1 which you accordingly pretend to do1 getting rid of it by means of one or other of the passes already described4 ,you then request a second spectator to take the loose end of the wool1 and to unwind the ball1 which1 when he has done1 the coin falls out into the goblet4 ,the only drawback to the trick is the tediousness of unwinding4 ,to obviate this1 some performers use a wheel made for the purpose1 which materially shortens the length of the operation4 ,,chapter ,,xxvii ,,sleight ,,of ,,hand ,,to ,,balance ,,an ,,egg ,lay a looking glass upon an even table2 take a fresh egg1 and shake it for some time1 so that the yolk may be broken and mixed up with the white4 ,you may then balance it on its point1 and make it stand on the glass4 ,this it would be impossible to do if the egg was in its natural state4 ,,the ,,juggler',s ,,lunch ,pare some large apples that are rather of a yellow tint2 cut several pieces out of them1 in the shape of a candle-end1 round1 of course1 at the bottom1 and square at the top2 in fact1 as much as possible like a candle that has burnt down within an inch or so4 ,then1 cut some slips out of the insides of sweet almonds1 fashion them as much in the shape of spermaceti wicks as you can1 stick them into your mock candles1 light them for an instant1 so as to make their tops black1 blow them out again1 and they are ready for use4 ,when you produce them1 light them 7the almond will readily take fire1 and flame for a few moments71 put them into your mouth1 chew and swallow them one after another4 ,,ring ,,and ,,ribbon ,select two pieces of ribbon1 alike in length1 breadth1 and color2 double each separately1 so that the ends meet2 then tie them together neatly1 with a bit of silk of their own color1 by the middle1 or crease made in doubling them4 ,this must all be done in advance4 ,when you are going to exhibit this trick1 pass some rings on the doubled ribbons1 and give the two ends of one ribbon to one person to hold1 and the two ends of the other to another4 ,do not let them pull hard1 or the silk will break1 and your trick be discovered by the rings falling on the ground on account of the separation of the ribbons4 ,request the two persons to approach each other1 and take one end from each of them1 and without their perceiving it1 return to each of them the end which the other had previously held4 ,by now giving the rings1 which appeared strung on the ribbon1 a slight pull1 you may break the silk1 and they will fall into your hand4 ,,the ,,changing ,,ball ,,trick ,take a ball in each hand1 and stretch your hands as far as you can1 one from the other2 then state that you will contrive to make both the balls come into either hand1 without bringing the hands near each other4 ,if any one dispute your power of doing this1 you have no more to do than to lay one ball down upon the table1 turn yourself1 and take it up with your other hand4 ,thus both the balls will be in one of your hands1 without their approaching each other4 ,,the ,,sensitive ,,goblet ,to fill a glass with water1 so that no one may touch it without spilling all the water4 ,fill a common glass or goblet with water1 and place upon it a bit of paper1 so as to cover the water and edge of the glass2 put the palm of your hand on the paper1 and taking hold of the glass with the other1 suddenly invert it on a very smooth table1 and gently draw out the paper2 the water will remain suspended in the glass1 and it will be impossible to move the glass without spilling all the water4 ,,to ,,light ,a ,,candle ,,by ,,smoke ,when a candle is burnt so long as to leave a tolerably large wick1 blow it out2 a dense smoke1 which is composed of hydrogen and carbon1 will immediately rise4 ,then1 if another candle1 or lighted taper1 be applied to the utmost verge of this smoke1 a very strange phenomenon will take place4 ,the flame of the lighted candle will be conveyed to that just blown out1 as if it were borne on a cloud1 or1 rather1 it will seem like a mimic flash of lightning proceeding at a slow rate4 ,,the ,,magic ,,re-,,illumination ,after having exhibited the trick of lighting a candle by smoke1 privately put a bit of paper between your fingers1 and retire to one corner of the room with a single candle1 and pass the hand in which you hold the paper several times slowly over the candle until the paper takes fire2 then immediately blow the candle out1 and presently pass your hand over the snuff and relight it with the paper4 ,you may then crumple the paper1 at the same time extinguishing the flame1 by squeezing it suddenly1 without burning yourself4 ,if this trick be performed dextrously1 it is a very good one4 ,it is not necessary for the performance of this trick that all the other lights in the room should be extinguished2 in fact the trick is more liable to discovery in a dark room1 than in one where the candles are burning1 on account of the light thrown out by the paper while it is burning1 previous to the re-illumination4 ,,the ,,moving ,,ball ,roll up a piece of paper1 or other light substance1 and privately put into it any small insect1 such as a lady-bird1 or beetle2 then1 as the creature will naturally endeavor to free itself from captivity1 it will move its covering toward the edge of the table1 and when it comes there1 will immediately return1 for fear of falling2 and thus1 by moving backward and forward1 will excite much diversion to those who are ignorant of the cause4 ,,the ,,paper ,,furnace ,enclose a bullet in paper1 as smoothly as possible1 and suspend it above the flame of a lamp or candle2 you will soon see it melt and fall1 drop by drop1 through a hole which it will make in the paper2 but the paper1 except the hole mentioned1 will not be burnt4 ,the art of performing this trick consists in using a smooth round bullet1 and enclosing it in the paper with but few folds or uneven places4 ,,storm ,,and ,,calm ,pour water into a glass until it is nearly three parts full2 then almost fill it up with oil2 but be sure to leave a little space between the oil and the top of the glass4 ,tie a bit of string round the glass1 and fasten the two ends of another piece of string to it1 one on each side1 so that1 when you take hold of the middle of it to lift up the glass it may be about a foot from your hand ,now swing the glass to and fro1 and the oil will be smooth and unruffled1 while the surface of the water beneath it will be violently agitated4 ,,the ,,end4