Fig. 599. Fig. 600.
In the Second Figure
of the dance the girls of the first couples change places, as in Fig. 599, where A and E roll their hoops diagonally across the intervening space according to the dotted lines. This brings A in E's place and E in A's. Next the girls change places on the sides; C and G cross over to opposite sides. Then the leader cries out, “Girls of first couples return to places,” and E and A roll their hoops back to first position. “The sides do the same.” In like manner the boys change, first B and F, then D and H, and return to places, taking great care not to allow their hoops to fall or get beyond their control.
The Third Figure
is “Hoops all around.” At “Attention!” from the leader each player turns, facing the back of the next player. Arrows point the direction players are to take (Fig. 600). A turns toward B; B faces C; C looks at D, and so on. Then, with hoops in position, at the word “Hoops all around” each player follows the companion directly ahead, rolling his hoop as he goes around the circle, stopping only when his original place is reached.
The Fourth Figure
Again the leader calls, “Attention.” This time each player faces his partner, stepping a little to one side to allow the partner to pass (Fig. 597), which brings all the girls A, C, E, and G, facing the left and outside the ring, while B, D, F, and H, the boys, face the right and are inside the ring. At the call from the leader, “Grand right and left,” each player carefully rolls his hoop first to one side, then to the other of those whom he meets on his way around the circle, beginning with his partner (Fig. 597). The girl A passes to the right of her partner B, left of D, right of F and left of H. All the other players weave in and out in the same way, as in the ordinary quadrille, the only difference being that instead of the hands being grasped in passing the hoops are rolled to right and left. This figure concludes the “Hoop Dance.” Should the players be all girls, let four of them tie handkerchiefs on their left arms to show that, for the time being, they represent the sterner sex.
The Game of Tag never loses its charm. Who can resist rushing after a companion at the words “last tag.” No girl with any daring or enterprise can rest content until the compliment be returned. Somewhat differing from the original tag, but none the less attractive, is the game of the same name played with wooden hoops.
Hoop Tag