The most dangerous stroke is one from underneath; always maneuver to keep your potato below that of your antagonist.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Handkerchief Tussle; Potato Joust]
Handkerchief Tussle
Study the ill.u.s.tration 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 amus.e.m.e.nt, an amus.e.m.e.nt, say, which is quite as energetic and quite as exciting, the boy of today will certainly adopt it in preference to rough-house.
[Ill.u.s.tration: 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 const.i.tutes 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 b.u.t.ting 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 sh.e.l.l 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. a.s.sociation 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.
[Ill.u.s.tration: "Hiawatha," Presented by the Boys--Camp Becket]
CHAPTER XXI--EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES
RECREATIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE EDUCATION WHITTLERS" CLUB PYROGRAPHY BOAT BUILDING PLAYS LANTERN TALKS LIBRARY TUTORING PHOTOGRAPHY AGRICULTURE FORESTRY SCOUTCRAFT CAMP PAPER RECORD OF PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT KITE MAKING AND FLYING MODEL AEROPLANE PARACHUTE IDEA BOX FURNITURE CAMP CLOCK HOW TO MAKE A MOCCASIN HOW TO MAKE A "ROUGH AND READY" HAMMOCK A HOME-MADE TOBOGGAN HANDY FUNNEL INK FOR SCOUTING GAMES BIBLIOGRAPHY.
"Tis education forms the common mind; Just as the twig is bent the tree"s inclined.
--Pope.
A boy is better unborn than untaught.--Gascoigne
Camping should not be merely a time of loafing or "having fun." The boy who has returned from a camp, having learned some definite thing, whether it be different from the school curriculum or supplementary to his school work, has accomplished something and his outing has been of use to him.
All play and no work makes Jack a dull boy, as well as "all work and no play." Recreative and constructive education forms a combination which appeals strongly to a boy. He would call it, "doing things," and in the doing would have fun galore.
In addition to nature study, woodcraft, first-aid instruction and similar types of educational activities in vogue in boy"s camps, there are many other forms of educational activities which boys can engage in during the camping season.
Whittlers" Club
A "Whittlers" Club," organized to meet one hour several mornings a week, proved attractive to a group of boys in one camp. Under the leadership of a man who understood "Sloyd" [1] work the boys were taught how to handle a knife, and it is surprising how few boys really know how to handle this useful article found in every boy"s pocket. They were also taught to know the different kinds of wood, bark, grain, and method of cutting and sawing wood for building and furniture purposes, etc. A popular model was a paper knife made of wild cherry. The bark was permitted to remain on the handle, while the other end was whittled evenly and smoothly for cutting leaves of books or magazines. With the aid of a pyrography set the name of the camp and that of the owner of the knife was burned on the handle.
[Transcriber"s Footnote 1: Manual training developed in Sweden, using woodworking tools.]
Pyrography
Carved paddles, war clubs, hiking sticks, etc., were used to display the artistic ability of the boys who brought to camp pyrography sets. The camp name, date of hikes, miles travelled, and other interesting information was burned on these souvenirs. Shields containing the athletic records and names of honor boys were made and hung upon the walls of the permanent building.