It is to laugh

by Edna Geister

This game must be played within an inclosure. If no rope is available, certain trees may be pointed out as forming the boundary line and anyone going outside the boundaries is out. The game is a great deal of fun when the players number from twenty to forty, and four or five balls are used. The balls should be either very soft Indoor baseballs which have been considerably battered, or the larger Playground ball.

The leader tosses these balls into the center, which is the signal for the game to begin. Those nearest the balls pick them up and throw them at someone. If the people at whom the balls are thrown catch them, all is well, but if they do not, and are hit by the ball, they are out, and must go outside the boundaries. The game continues in this way until all but one have been hit. You can be sure he has had to be pretty agile!

Sad experience will prompt any leader to issue the warning that no one is allowed to aim above the shoulder, and in any case, no swift balls are allowed.

It makes for real humor when Mr. Black sees Miss Carnes aiming a ball at him and he either dodges or catches it, and is crowing in triumph, when along comes a well aimed ball from the rear and hits him smack between the shoulders, and he is out!

Duck on the Rock.

Each of the players, of whom there are from twelve to fifteen, provides himself with a small rock. Players stand in a line about twenty feet back of the duck, the rock belonging to “It.” This duck is placed on a large flat stone. When they are all ready, the signal to throw is given. They take turns throwing at the duck, each one trying to knock it off. No one succeeds however. This means that they must take a stand near their own rocks, and whenever they see the opportunity, snatch up their rocks and run home, home being the line from which they threw. If “It” is able to tag someone who has his rock in his hand, that person becomes the new “It” and his rock becomes the duck.

Immediately they begin throwing at the duck again, and while the first four fail to knock it off and are obliged to stand next to their rocks until they see a chance to run home, the fifth thrower is successful in knocking off the duck, and all those waiting to run home snatch up their rocks and run, for “It” cannot tag anyone while the duck is off the rock, and they may all go home in safety. As soon as he gets his duck back on again, however, he may tag anyone who is touching his rock, or running home with it in his hand.

One rule of this game invariably brings about the funniest and most awkward situations! If a person once touches his rock, thinking he sees a chance to run home, and “It” turns around unexpectedly, thereby making the safe run home a doubtful thing, the player is not allowed to drop his rock but must pick it up and run for all he is worth, even though his chances of getting past “It” are as nothing!

Triple Dodge Ball.

For a group of men and boys at a picnic, there is no game any livelier or more exciting than Triple Dodge Ball. It is played just like the more familiar “Dodge Ball” except that three balls instead of one are used. A large circle is made, players numbering from twenty to sixty. They count off by twos, numbering “1,” “2,” “1,” “2,” all around the circle. All the 1’s go into the center while the 2’s make a rather large circle around them. Three soft basketballs are distributed among the 2’s and at a signal from the leader they start to throw the balls at those in the center, no one being allowed to aim higher than the knees. Anyone who is hit must leave the center and join the circle made by the 2’s. When all of the 1’s have been hit they change places with the 2’s, the 2’s going into the center and the 1’s making the circle.