the ordinary game of "Tag," or impugn one's own, but there are varieties of the game less known, and their origin is interesting.

The original form of the game seems to have been "Iron-Tag" or "Tag on Iron." In the game, the pursued party was safe whenever touching iron in any shape, as the ring of a post, a horseshoe, grille, or fence. This reveals its original meaning.

As in other old-time games of chase, the pursuer represents an evil spirit, from whose attack, according to ancient superstition, iron was a protection. There are many forms of the game.

In Cross Tag, the pursuer must follow whoever comes between him and the pursued.

In Squat Tag, the fugitive is safe while in that position. Tag and Flag.-The players are divided into sides, each of which chooses a captain. A chalk-line is marked between the antagonists, and twenty feet on either side of it a flag is planted in the ground.

Each group tries to defend the flag of its allegiance, while skirmishers go out from each party to try to seize that of the enemy's. The leaders only may prevent this by "tagging" any one who comes near-who if thus caught must drop out of the game.

If the pursuit can be eluded by dodging, and another of the opponent's side perhaps engage the attention of the Captain, and lead him by stratagem far afield, leaving the flag unguarded, the opportunity comes of seizing the colours and bearing them off in triumph.

The conquered then become prisoners to the victors, and after walking in their train once around the field, while the captured flag is borne proudly aloft at the head of the procession, the flag is restored and the battle renewed.

Blind Tag is so called because the pursuer, commonly known as "It," is known only to the person who "tagged" him, and who keeps up a feint of trying to catch others, to mislead the rest. A sense of mystery is the attraction of this form of the game, and the additional excitement of seeing a possible enemy player who approaches near enough to touch one.

Stag-tag is a merry variety of the game that is popular with girls and little children. The "It" is called the "Stag," who, when successful in touching another player, appropriates him or her as an ally, and hand in hand they pursue the others, until a third joins them and then a fourth, forming a line, until all the players have joined the chain.

CHAPTER VIII

Active and Outdoor Games

JAPANESE FAN-BALL

HIS game is adapted for a lawn-party, when active young muscles feel energetic.

TH

It is played with the ordinary Japanese paper fans with handles, or with palm-leaf ones, and pretty paper balls of different colours, six or eight inches in diameter, which are inflated by the breath through a tiny hole. This closes with a paper valve from the inside, which prevents the slightest escape of air.

A goal-post-two uprights, six feet apart, and a crosspiece is set up at each end of a field the size of a tenniscourt, and a smaller one in the centre, mid-way between the end goals.

Two captains are chosen, who each makes his or her selection of a team, so that the players are equally divided. Two antagonists play at once, standing in front of their respective goals, advancing at a signal from the captains, fan in hand. As the umpire claps her hands-for it is preeminently a woman's game—the captains on both sides toss their balls high in air. The two players then try to keep the balls aloft, each by fanning and guiding them towards her opponent's goal. The balls should be made to go over or under the middle barrier and then through the goal of the opposite side. If the ball falls to the ground, the player may pick it

up on her fan, as tennis balls on the racket-without touching it with the hand-and toss it anew, if it may be done before her opponent has finished playing.

The more adroit of the pair scores a success for her side, and then two more try their skill, until all have played.

The honours are counted, and the winning team may be presented with prizes in the form of pretty Japanese fans, which may be had at all prices and in endless variety. The paper balls may be had at the Japanese shops in kaleidoscopic colours or in plain colours.

The effect of the game is exceedingly picturesque to those looking on, and to the participants far less fatiguing than tennis-a matter for consideration in warm weather.

PASS IT

A lively game that makes a pleasant diversion after some contest of wits-when young muscles are tired from inactivity-is the following:

At each end of the room have an empty clothesbasket and one filled with articles of all sorts and of varied sizes-books, balls, pencils, clothes-pins, pint measures, thimbles, sofa-pillows, spools of thread, pincushions, papers of needles, clothes-brushes, nailpolishers, old hats, skeins of worsted, walking-sticks, postage-stamps, powder-puffs, etc. Two captains are chosen, who select their teams, and an equal number of players stand in line facing each other. A full basket is at the right hand of each of the captains, and an empty one at the left of the player at the end of each line. At a signal each captain selects an article from his basket and hands it to his neighbour, who passes it down the line as rapidly as possible. One object after

another is passed on in feverish haste and dropped into the empty baskets at the end of the lines. If any object be dropped in its transit, it has to be given to the captain and started over again. The side which has first landed all the articles safely in the basket wins, and it adds much to the excitement if some non-combatant stands by and reports which side is ahead every time there is a change; or two persons may fill this rôle, taking sides and shouting lustily for the cause they have espoused, like the sympathisers at a ball game.

The prizes should be something divisible among the players of the winning side-tiny boxes of bonbons, packages of chocolate cigarettes for the boys, and the same confection in other pretty forms for the girls; or pencils of silver or nickel that may be had resembling matches, screws, keys, nails, etc.

This game could as well be played out of doors.

HOP-OVER

This is a game that children under thirty all seem to find vastly enjoyable.

All the players stand in a ring, about two feet apart from each other, except one, who takes the place in the middle, holding a long, stout string, to the other end of which is firmly tied a small book wrapped in paper.

The person in the centre then whirls the book around the circle, on the floor, holding by the string each time coming nearer the feet of the players forming the ring, who, as it nears them, must jump over it. As the book is whirled very rapidly the jumping is most lively, for if it touches the foot of any one that person must take his or her turn in the middle and try to hit the feet of some one else whose owner is not sufficiently alert.

Sometimes one throws the line so deftly that it winds