DELIGHTS OF A RAINY DAY
ACCUMULATED ENERGY
HANDKERCHIEF TUSSLE
POTATO JOUST
TERRIER FIGHT
CIRCLE BALL
LEG WRESTLE
HAND WRESTLING
ROOSTER FIGHT
SHOE AND SWEATER RACE
PEANUT RELAY RACE
INTERESTING TESTS
BIBLIOGRAPHY
We knew it would rain for the poplars showed
The white of their leaves, and amber grain
Shrunk in the wind and the lightning now
Is tangled in tremulous skeins of rain.
--Aldrich.
Rainy days break the monotony of continuous sunshiny days. There is
nothing that is so fascinating to a boy in camp as listening to the patter
of the rain drops upon the roof of his canvas house, especially at night,
if he is snug and warm in his blankets and the tent is waterproof. A rainy
day is the kind of a day when the chess and checker enthusiasts get
together. Games are rescued from the bottom of the trunk or box. Ponchos
and rubber boots are now in popular favor. Thunder and lightning but add
to the boys' enjoyment. What indescribable excitement there is in the
shivers and shudders caused by an extra flash of lightning or a double
fortissimo roll of thunder! There is also the delight, of playing in the
puddles of water and wearing a bathing suit and enjoying a real shower
bath.
To some boys it is repair day, rips are sewed up, buttons sewed on
clothing, and for the initiated, the darning of socks. In camps with
permanent buildings a big log fire roars in the fireplace, the boys sprawl
on the floor with their faces toward the fire, and while the rain plays a
tattoo[1] upon the roof some one reads aloud an interesting story, such as
"Treasure Island," "The Shadowless Man," "The Bishop's Shadow," or the
chapters on "The Beneficent Rain" and "When the Dew Falls," from Jean M.
Thompson's book, "Water Wonders." It all depends upon one's viewpoint
whether rainy days are delightful or disagreeable.
[Transcriber's Footnote 1: Signal on a drum or bugle to summon soldiers to
their quarters at night. Continuous, even drumming or rapping.]
Surplus Energy
Boys are barometers. Restlessness is usually a sign of an approaching
storm. The wise leader senses the situation and begins preparing his
plans. If the rain is from the east and comes drizzling down, better plan
a several day program, for after the excitement of the first few hours'
rain, the boys begin to loll around, lie on the cots, or hang around the
kitchen and develop a disease known as "Grouchitis." During the first
stages of the disease the boys are inactive and accumulate an over-supply
of energy, which must find an outlet. Here is where the leader plays an
important part in handling the case; he provides an outlet for the
expenditure of this surplus energy by planning games demanding use of
muscle and the expenditure of energy and noise. The big mess tent, or
dining hall, is cleared and romping games are organized.
The games suggested are adapted for rainy days and selected from a
catalogue of several hundred games.
RAINY DAY GAMES
Few sports are better calculated than a potato joust to amuse boys on
rainy days. It has all the joys of a combat, and yet, try as he will,
there is no possibility for any boy to become rough.
Potato Joust
In the potato joust each warrior is armed with a fork, on the end of which
is a potato. The combatants take their position in the center of the
playroom, facing each other. They should be separated by not less than
three feet. Each must lift a leg from the floor (see illustration, next
page). The fighters may use their own discretion as to which leg shall be
lifted from the floor and may hold it up with either hand they prefer. A
small cushion placed under the knee will add materially to the comfort of
the contestants.
The battle is decided by one of the warriors knocking the potato from his
opponent's fork. Toppling over three times is also counted as defeat. If
one of the knights is obliged to let go of his foot in order to keep his
balance it is counted as a fall. Every time the battle is interrupted in
this way, either of the contestants is at liberty to change the foot he is
resting upon. If one of the warriors falls against the other and upsets
him, it is counted against the one who is responsible for the tumble.
You are not likely to realize on your first introduction to a potato joust
the amount of skill and practice required to really become expert in
handling the fork. A slight turn of the wrist, a quick push and the
practised knight will defeat the novice so deftly, so easily that you are
amazed.
Move your fork as little as possible; long sweeping strokes are more
likely to throw off your own potato than to interfere with that of your
opponent.
The most dangerous stroke is one from underneath; always maneuver to keep
your potato below that of your antagonist.
[Illustration: Handkerchief Tussle; Potato Joust]
Handkerchief Tussle
Study the illustration and see if you can discover a way for the boys to
get apart. To make it really exciting, a number of couples should be set
going at once, and a "second" on ice cream offered to the pair who get
apart first. To separate, the boys have only to push the center of one of
the handkerchiefs under the loop made by the other handkerchief when it
was tied about the wrist, and then carry the loop over the hand.
Rough-house is the expression used by the boy of today when he is
describing a general scuffle, and he always smacks his lips over the word.
But rough-house has its disadvantages, as many sprains and bruises can
testify, and if the same amount of fun may be had from less trying
amusement, an amusement, say, which is quite as energetic and quite as
exciting, the boy of today will certainly adopt it in preference to
rough-house.
[Illustration: A Terrier Fight]
Terrier Figh
A terrier fight is exciting, and it is funny--it is also energetic--and
victory depends quite as much upon the skill of the fighter as upon his
strength. Furthermore a terrier fight is not brutal. No boy will hurt
himself while engaged in this sport. Two boys are placed facing each other
in the center of the room, hands clasped beneath the knees and a stick
just under the elbows, as shown. Each contestant endeavors to push the
other over; but as it requires considerable attention to keep the balance
at all when in this position, the attack is no easy matter.
To give way suddenly is a maneuver almost sure to upset your adversary,
but unfortunately it is very apt to upset you at the same time and only
after considerable practice will you be able to overcome a man in this
way. The pivot, a sudden swing to the right or left is safer, though not
quite as effective. Always remember that the best terrier fighter
invariably makes his opponent throw himself. Give way at some unexpected
point, and unless he is a skilful man, he is sure to go over. Never try a
hard push except in the last extremity when everything else has failed.
A terrier fight consists of three one-minute rounds, with thirty seconds'
rest between each round. The one scoring the largest number of falls
during the time set is accounted the winner.
Circle Ball
A large circle of players throw a lawn tennis ball at one in the center.
The object of the player in the center is to remain "in" as long as
possible without being hit. If he catches the ball in his hands it does
not count as a hit. Whoever hits him with the ball takes his place. The
player who remains "in" longest wins.
Leg Wrestle
Lie down on the back, side by side, by twos, the feet of each boy of a two
being beside the other boy's head. At the word "Go!" each brings the leg
nearest his opponent at right angles with his body and then lowers it.
This may be done twice or three times, but the last time the leg is raised
he should catch his opponent's and endeavor to roll him over, which is a
defeat.
Hand Wrestling
Take hold of each other's right or left hand and spread the feet so as to
get a good base. At the word "Go!" each one endeavors to force his
opponent to lose his balance, so as to move one of his feet. This
constitutes a throw. The opponent's arm is forced quickly down or
backward and then drawn out to the side directly away from him, thus
making him lose his balance. The one moving his foot or touching his hand
or any part of his body to the floor, so as to get a better base, is
thrown. The throw must be made with the hand. It is thus not rulable to
push with the head, shoulder or elbow.
Rooster Fight
The combatants are arranged facing each other in two front, open ranks.
The first two "opposites" at either or both ends, or if the floor is large
enough all the opposites, may combat at the same time. The boys should
fold their arms forward, and hop toward each other on one leg. The butting
is done with the shoulder and upper arm, and never with the elbow, and the
arm must remain folded throughout the combat. When the two adversaries
meet, each attempts to push the other over, or make him touch to the floor
the foot that is raised. When all have fought, the winners arrange
themselves in two opposing ranks and renew the combat. This is done, until
but one remains, and he is declared the victor.
Shoe and Sweater Race
The sweaters are placed at the opposite ends of the room. The boys start
with their shoes (or sneakers) on (laces out). A line is drawn in the
middle of the room; here the contestants sit down and pull off their shoes
(or sneakers), run to the sweaters and put them on. On the return trip
they put their shoes on and finish with both shoes and sweaters on.
Peanut Relay Race
Boys are lined up in two columns, as in ordinary relay races. For each
column two chairs are placed a convenient distance apart, facing one
another, with a knife and a bowl half full of peanuts on one, and an empty
bowl on the other. At the proper word of command the first boy on each
side takes the knife, picks up a peanut with it, and carries the peanut on
the knife to the farther bowl; upon his return the second boy does the
same and so on. The second boy cannot leave until the first has deposited
his peanut in the empty bowl, and has returned with the knife. Peanuts
dropped must be picked up with the knife. Fingers must not be used either
in putting the peanut on the knife or holding it there. The side, every
member of which first makes the round, wins.
A FEW INTERESTING TESTS
You can't stand for five minutes without moving, if you are blindfolded.
You can't stand at the side of a room with both of your feet touching the
wainscoting lengthwise.
You can't get out of a chair without bending your body forward or putting
your feet under it, that is, if you are sitting squarely on the chair and
not on the edge of it.
You can't crush an egg when placed lengthwise between your hands, that is,
if the egg is sound and has the ordinary shell of a hen's egg.
You can't break a match if the match is laid across the nail of the middle
finger of either hand and pressed upon by the first and third fingers of
that hand, despite its seeming so easy at first sight.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Social Activities for Men and Boys--A. M. Chesley. Association Press,
$1.00. 295 ideas, games, socials and helpful suggestions. A gold mine for
one dollar.
Games for Everybody--May C. Hofman. Dodge Publishing Co., 50 cents. 200
pages of rare fun.
Education by Play and Games--G. E. Johnson. Ginn and Company, 90 cents. A
discussion of the meaning of play. Contains also a number of good games,
graded according to ages or periods of child life.
Play--Emmett D. Angell. Little, Brown and Company, $1.50 net. A very
practical book, containing instruction for planning more than one hundred
games, including eight games in the water.
[Illustration: "Hiawatha," Presented by the Boys--Camp Becket]