The Playground Book (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1916 Excerpt: ...is the signal for the third one, or hindmost, to run. The tagger is now obliged to chase the new runner, who may at any point in his progress around the circle change as did the previous runner by stepping in front of some couple. The runner may "cut in," at any point in the circle, either to the right or to the left, but must stop in front of the first team he crosses. If the one who is It succeeds in tagging the runner, their places are reversed, the tagger now becoming the runner and the runner the tagger, without any cessation of play whatever. The chase must always be around the outside of the circle and may be in either direction. The players should be instructed to change places quickly, not running more than half way around the circle. To change with every second or third couple is even more fun. VAEIATIONS. A. For young children or small numbers, form a single circle. The runner steps in front of any of the circle players, who thereupon runs. This is Two Deep. B. Another variation is to form in couples in a double circle, one player facing inward and his partner outward ( facing each other ). The runner, in order to elude his pursuer, steps between a couple, facing either inward or outward. If the runner faces outward, the inside player runs, and vice versa. CAT AND RAT. Players. Boys or girls; any number from ten to thirty; small children. The players clasp hands to form a circle. Two children are chosen, one to be the cat and the other the rat. The cat endeavors to catch the rat as he runs in and out of the circle. Those on the circle favor the rat by raising their hands to allow it to run in or out at will at any place where it chooses to enter or leave the circle, while, on the other hand, they make pursuit difficult for the cat by ba...