KING SIMPLE.
BY AN OLD BOY.
This game is known by so many names that to give them all would occupy a great deal of unnecessary space, while just as much fun can be had from it if only one is given.
A base is marked off at either end of the play-ground, leaving a space in the middle. One of the players is chosen catcher, or "wolf," and takes up his position in the middle, between the two bases; the others run across from base to base while he endeavors to catch and hold them. If he can hold one while he can count ten, it is considered a fair catch, and the prisoner becomes wolf too, and assists in the capture of more, all of whom, as soon as caught, go to swell the number of wolves. Of course each passage across is more dangerous than the preceding one, since there are more wolves to avoid. At the same time a great part of the fun consists in "dodging." The boy that can change his course the quickest and turn and double has the best chance. Sometimes hats and jackets are left in the hands of the wolves, the owners having expertly wriggled out of them, and arrived safe at the base with these articles missing.
When a player has started from his base, he can not turn back, but must continue to the opposite base. The fun, of course, increases as the wolves become more numerous. Sometimes jackets even suffer in the fray. This, however, should not be allowed. A strict rule should forbid too much strength being used by the wolves or their captives. Anything else only produces mischief, and spoils the fun.
REMARKABLE FEATS BY SPIDERS.
A small-sized spider had made his web on the under side of a table. Early one morning a small grasshopper was noticed on the floor, directly under the web, and on approaching to take it away, it was found that the spider had thrown a line round one of its legs. While the observer was looking at it, the spider came down and lassoed the opposite leg of the grasshopper, and continued for several minutes darting up and down, and fastening lines to different parts of the body of his victim. The struggles of the grasshopper, though a full-grown one, were unavailing to effect his escape.
As his struggles became more and more feeble, the spider threw his lines round him; and when he had become nearly exhausted, his captor proceeded to raise him from the floor. This he did by raising one end at a time. He at first raised the head and part of the body nearly half an inch, then raised the other end, and continued so to work until the grasshopper was elevated five or six inches. Thus hung in chains, the victim was left to die.