Two in each team, one of them provided with a glass of water, the glass full to the brim, and balanced on his head. At a signal from the leader, No. 1 of each team, with the water on his head, walks as rapidly as he dares to the goal, about fifteen feet away, and returns to give the glass to No. 2 of his team who does the same thing, trying of course to be the first one to return to the starting point.
His glass however must still be at least half full of water if he hopes to win the prize. Some water spills. We hope for that! But no one is allowed to spill more than half of it without going back for a fresh supply. Anyone who drops a glass and spills all his water, goes back to the starting point, is loaned a towel, given another glassful of water, and is started out again on his perilous journey!
Wheelbarrow Race.
Four on each team, two drivers and two passengers. Wheelbarrows are all set at the starting point with passengers No. 1 sitting in them and drivers No. 1 all ready to go. At the signal they are off to the goal and return, the drivers dumping their passengers without ceremony, and turning their wheelbarrows over to drivers No. 2, who hustle their passengers into the wheelbarrows and repeat the performance. It is always surprising to note how many men have forgotten how to propel a wheelbarrow, and even more surprising to see how few people can ride in one easily and comfortably!
Note.—Many of the events under “Races” may be used as Picnic Races.
Picnic Games.
Couple Baseball.
There are eighteen on a team, nine men and nine boys. The diamond is very small, not more than eighteen feet across, and preferably very grassy. The game is played exactly like Indoor Baseball except that every player is riding a “horse.” The boys are the riders and the men the horses. Horses are down on all fours with riders astride their backs.
The pitcher, who is perched on his horse, begins pitching and the boy up to bat, who is sitting with difficulty on a fat horse, makes a hit out toward center field. Immediately his horse starts for first base, while center field on his horse goes on a mad chase after the ball. No player is allowed to leave his horse voluntarily. There are times, however, when it is involuntary. For some unknown reason, horses hurrying from one base to another or chasing a ball, find humor in the situation and a prone position for both rider and horse is the inevitable result!