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A girl swinging

Swing

A girl swinging

"Sling the Monkey is a capital game, and can be played anywhere where there are trees. One player who is chosen by lot, takes the part of Monkey, and is fastened to a tolerably high branch of a tree by a strong cord knotted in a 'bowline' loop and passed round his waist. the other players now baste the monkey with knotted handkerchiefs, and he armed in like manner, endeavors to realiate. If he succeeds in striking one of them, he is at once released, and the other takes his place as monkey. He must make haste in doing it, or he may be basted until he is fairly in the loop. With players who don't mind a little buffeting this game becomes exceedingly lively: and active monkey is very different to approach with safety, and, of course, gives much more life to the game. The cord should be just long enough to enable the monkey to reach the ground comfortably under the branch. Half the fun of the game lies in actual slinging of the monkey, one of whose most effective ruses is to throw himself forward on the rope, preend to start off in one direction, and then come back with a swing in the other. The branch to which the cord is attached should be of some considerable height from the ground, or there will not be play enough in the rope; and it need scarcely be impressed upon the reader tha both rope and branch must be strong enough to bear the strain put upon them by the weight and movements of the monkey." — Thomas Sheppard Meek

Sling the Monkey

"Sling the Monkey is a capital game, and can be played anywhere where there are trees. One player who…

"Two players are made to sit on the ground draw their legs up, and clasp their hands together over their shins. A stout stick is then passed through under their knees, and over their arms at the bend of the elbows, as in the cut, and there they sit trussed like a couple of fowls. Thus prepared, the two cobatants are placed face to face, their toes touching, and are left to fight it out. This they do by striving to knock each other down, each to overbalance the other without loosing his own equilibrium. Two falls out of three decide the game; if both fall it is no 'round,' and does not count. As the player may not unclasp his hands even when down, he is quite helpless, and must be assisted by his friends." — Thomas Sheppard Meek

Cock-Fighting

"Two players are made to sit on the ground draw their legs up, and clasp their hands together over their…

A sling shot

Sling Shot

A sling shot

A cross-bow is in effect nothing more nor less than an ordinary bow set crosswise in a butt in shape like an ordinary gunstock.

Cross-Bow

A cross-bow is in effect nothing more nor less than an ordinary bow set crosswise in a butt in shape…

Two boys playing handball

Handball

Two boys playing handball

Men playing aerial archery.

Archery

Men playing aerial archery.

Two boys playing puff and dart.

Puff and Dart

Two boys playing puff and dart.

Darts used in the game, Puff and Dart.

Darts

Darts used in the game, Puff and Dart.

"This amusing game requires more care and delicacy of touch than at first seems to be the case. The apparatus of the game is very simple, consisting of a bull's head painted on a board, with a hook in its nose and another on each horn. In the top of the board is fixed a horizontal rod, to the end of which is suspended a ring by a piece of string. The players stand in succession in front of the bull, take the ring and try to fling it so that it shall be caught on the nook in the bull's nose. Each player has nine throws, and he who succeeds the greatest number of times wins the game. It is tolerably easy to throw the ring on the hook, but not easy to throw it so that it shall stay there, and the 'knack' of the game consists in throwing it with just sufficient force to reach the hook. In another modification of the game the string is lengthened to twelve or fifteen feet, and has a slip-noose at the end. The other end of the string is not fastened to the end of the horizontal rod, but held in the left hand, while with the right the player tries to throw the loop over the two hooks in the bull's horns. If he can catch them both he scores two, and if he catches only one of them, he scores one. Each player has six throws." — Thomas Sheppard Meek

Ring the Bull

"This amusing game requires more care and delicacy of touch than at first seems to be the case. The…

A game which consits of figure of a sailor cast in metal and a number of colored balls, and three drawing-pins.

Jack's Alive

A game which consits of figure of a sailor cast in metal and a number of colored balls, and three drawing-pins.

"This game is played something like lawn billiards, except that there are six revolving rings instead of one, and that the ball is thrown and not pushed with a cue. The rings and balls are painted of corresponding colors. The object of the game is to throw the six balls through the rings, each successful throw counting as three; but when a ball passes through a ring of its own color the player scores six. The game is best played by having a pool, as mentioned in the royal star."— Thomas Sheppard Meek

Revolving Ring

"This game is played something like lawn billiards, except that there are six revolving rings instead…

A game with a cup and ball

Cup and Ball

A game with a cup and ball

"Get a circular piece of tin, three inches or more in diameter, and cut it round the edges in the form of a star. Bore two holes through it about an inch and a half apart; pass the two ends of a string through the holes; tie them, and the toy is complete. When the tin star cannot be procured, a big button will serve the purpose admirably. Hold an end of the double string in each hand, as seen in the illustration, and spin the tin star, or 'whizzer' as we shall call it, until the string is twisted as far as it will bear. Now separate the hands, and the whizzer will revolve rapidly, and, when the hands are stretched wide, will come to rest as shown in the illustration. But if, instead of allowing the hands to reach their fullest extent and to remain there, they are brought gradually together again, the cutter will revolve in the opposite direction, and wind itself up again. Thus it may be made to wind and unwind itself as long as the player likes."— Thomas Sheppard Meek

Whizzer

"Get a circular piece of tin, three inches or more in diameter, and cut it round the edges in the form…

"This game is played by means of seven pins, made so that they may either be driven into the ground or fixed on a board. Each pin is numbered, from one to seven. There is a slight cup at the top of the pins. In each cup is placed a small ball or marble. To play the game, six of the pins are fixed in a circle, with the seventh in the middle; and the players, standing at a given distance, take the wooden quoits with which they try to knock the balls out of the cups. Before playing, they must name the pin at which they aim, and if they strike off the ball belonging to any other pin, the score goes to the adversary. If, however, he knocks off the ball at which he aims, and by the same throw strikes off one or more besides, he may score them all. in another version of the game, if the player can strike off the seven balls and have one or more quoits to spare, he may try to throw the quoits so as to fall upon the pins, and for every case in which he succeeds he adds the number of the pin to his score."— Thomas Sheppard Meek

Lawn Cupolette

"This game is played by means of seven pins, made so that they may either be driven into the ground…

"This game, as seen from the illustration, is played with pegs which can be fastened firmly into a bard, and with a corresponding number of wooden rings or quoits. When the pegs are set in their places, the first player takes the quoits and, standing at a specified distance, endeavors to throw the rings over the pegs. for every ring that fairly encircles a peg the thrower scores the number which is attached to the peg; but should more than one ring fall on the same peg, the score goes to the opponent. In this, as in all games where a ring has to be thrown, the ring should be held just like a quoit, so that a spin may be communicated to it and make it fly steadily to its mark. Rules: 1) The game of Ringolette is adapted for two or more players. 2) The first player being decided upon, he places the board in the centre of the table, and standing about three feet or more from the board, commences his play. 3) Each player takes the eight rings, and plays by pitching the rings on the pegs. 4) Each ring that is fairly on the pegs counts according to the number indicated on the board. 5) Should a player place more than one ring on each peg, it scores to the opposition. 6) Three-score and one is a medium game; five-score and one a long game. These rules may be modified by agreement among the players, but not otherwise."— Thomas Sheppard Meek

Parlor Ringolette

"This game, as seen from the illustration, is played with pegs which can be fastened firmly into a bard,…

"Here is a new game, which is causing a great deal of amusement at social gatherings in Europe. Two boys, or young men, are blindfolded, and in the right hand of each is placed a stout roll of paper in the form of a club or cudgel. The players then have to lie down on the carpet and to grasp each other by the left hand. Thereupon the fun begins. One of the players asks the other, 'Are you there?' When the answer, 'Yes' comes he raises his right hand and strives to hit with his cudgel the spot where, from the sound of the voice, he supposes the other player's head to be. The other player, however, is at perfect liberty to move his head after he has answered 'Yes,' and the result is that in nine cases out of ten the blow misses his head and falls on his shoulders or some other part of his body. In that case it is his turn to retaliate, and so the game goes on indefinitely, the sole object of the player who asks the question being to strike the other player's head, and that of the player who answers to save his head from being struck."— Thomas Sheppard Meek

Cudgel Game

"Here is a new game, which is causing a great deal of amusement at social gatherings in Europe. Two…

"This is a game of pure manual dexterity, and is rare practice for cultivating steadiness of hand and delicacy of touch. Its worst fault is that in the very nature of the game a constant series of deadlocks are inevitable, only to be overcome by the self-sacrifice of one or other of the players. Jackstraws are a number of thing narrow slips of wood, bone or ivory, each more or less notched, sometimes cut into fantastic shapes, and numbered. These being held together in a bundle, are allowed to fall on the table, and the players, two or more in number, each in turn pull them out one by one with a small hook. As long as a player can go on abstracting from the heap, without in any way shaking or disturbing more than one jackstraw at the time, his turn continues, and all he thus secures he keeps; at the least shake his turn ceases, and the next player goes on. When all the jackstraws have been thus abstracted, each player counts his heap, each jackstraw being valued at the number inscribed on it, and he who has most wins."— Thomas Sheppard Meek

Jackstraws

"This is a game of pure manual dexterity, and is rare practice for cultivating steadiness of hand and…

"The Olympic games were of greater efficacy than the Amphictyonic Council in promoting the spirit of union among the various branches of the Greek race, and in keeping alive a feeling of their common origin. They were open to all persons who could prove their Hellenic blood, and were frequented by spectators from all parts of the Grecian world. They were celebrated at Olympia, on the banks of the alpheus, in the territory of Elis." — Smith, 1882

Foot-race

"The Olympic games were of greater efficacy than the Amphictyonic Council in promoting the spirit of…

"This may be done in two ways: first and most difficult, by one boy standing on another's shoulders, and then putting over both a long loose garment, long enough to reach to the knees of the lower one. This method, however, may be made much more easy by the upper player putting his feet in a kind of stirrup fastened to straps passing over the under one's shoulder's, and hanging just down to the hips. Height, of course, is sacrificed, but greater safety is secured; the giant, too, can exhibit thus for a longer time, as the attitude is not so fatiguing. The other and simpler method is to place a huge mask, which should represent a head and neck, on the top of a pole about five feet long, with a cross-piece to represent arms, and then tying a long cloak- it should be made for the purpose: any common material will do- round the neck of the mask and get bodily inside. Now, by raising or depressing the pole, the giant may be made to attain an extra ordinary stature or to shrink down again to ordinary dimensions as well. The lower end of the cloak, about two feet from the bottom, must be fastened to the performer's waist, so that when the head is depressed the cloak may fall in folds, and not sweep the ground as it otherwise would. There is a very entertaining illusion of this sort exhibited under the name of 'The Nondescripts.' Two figures with enormous heads, alternately giants and dwarfs, run about the circus and indulge in the most surprising vagaries, being able apparently to contort themselves in every imaginable direction. Their final coup is to put their heads deliberately through their legs, and make their exit with their eyes thus looking over their own shoulders."— Thomas Sheppard Meek

The Giant

"This may be done in two ways: first and most difficult, by one boy standing on another's shoulders,…

"The Olympic games were of greater efficacy than the Amphictyonic Council in promoting the spirit of union among the various branches of the Greek race, and in keeping alive a feeling of their common origin. They were open to all persons who could prove their Hellenic blood, and were frequented by spectators from all parts of the Grecian world. They were celebrated at Olympia, on the banks of the alpheus, in the territory of Elis." — Smith, 1882

Wrestling

"The Olympic games were of greater efficacy than the Amphictyonic Council in promoting the spirit of…

"The Olympic games were of greater efficacy than the Amphictyonic Council in promoting the spirit of union among the various branches of the Greek race, and in keeping alive a feeling of their common origin. They were open to all persons who could prove their Hellenic blood, and were frequented by spectators from all parts of the Grecian world. They were celebrated at Olympia, on the banks of the alpheus, in the territory of Elis." — Smith, 1882

Hurling the javelin

"The Olympic games were of greater efficacy than the Amphictyonic Council in promoting the spirit of…

"The Olympic games were of greater efficacy than the Amphictyonic Council in promoting the spirit of union among the various branches of the Greek race, and in keeping alive a feeling of their common origin. They were open to all persons who could prove their Hellenic blood, and were frequented by spectators from all parts of the Grecian world. They were celebrated at Olympia, on the banks of the alpheus, in the territory of Elis." — Smith, 1882

Boxing

"The Olympic games were of greater efficacy than the Amphictyonic Council in promoting the spirit of…

"The Nemian and Isthmian games occurred more frequently than the Olympic and Pythian. They were celebrated once in two years, the Nemian in the valley of Nemea between Phlius and Cleonae, and the Isthmian by the Corinthians, on their isthmus, in honour of Poseidon (Neptune)." — Smith, 1882

Isthmian crowns

"The Nemian and Isthmian games occurred more frequently than the Olympic and Pythian. They were celebrated…

"An athletic game, in which all the powers of the fighter were called into action. The pancratium was one of the games or gymnastic contests which were exhibited at all the great festivals of Greece; it consisted of boxing and wrestling, and was reckoned to be one of the heavy or hard exercises, on account of the violent exertions it required, and for this reason it was not much practised in the gymnasia. In Homer we find neither the game nor the name of the pancratium mentioned, and as it was not introduced at the Olympic games until Ol. 33, we may presume that the game, though it may have existed long before in a rude state, was not brought to any degree of perfection until a short time before that event. The name of the combatants was Pancratiastae, or Pammachi. They fought naked, and had their bodies anointed and covered with sand, by which they were enabled to take hold of one another. When the contest began, each of the fighters might commence by boxing or by wrestling, accordingly as he thought he should be more successful in the one than in the other. The victory was not decided until one of the parties was killed, or lifted up a finger, thereby declaring that he was unable to continue the contest either from pain or fatigue." — Smith, 1873

Pancratium

"An athletic game, in which all the powers of the fighter were called into action. The pancratium was…

Children playing London bridge

London Bridge

Children playing London bridge

Children playing with a ball and hoop.

Children Playing

Children playing with a ball and hoop.

Children playing with a jump rope.

Children Playing

Children playing with a jump rope.

Children playing on a see-saw.

See-Saw

Children playing on a see-saw.

A boy playing with his hoop.

Hoops

A boy playing with his hoop.

Sisters playing "This piggy went to the market."

Sisters

Sisters playing "This piggy went to the market."

Fiddler playing to a fairy, from a nursery rhyme.

Fiddler Playing

Fiddler playing to a fairy, from a nursery rhyme.

Children playing instruments.

Children Playing

Children playing instruments.

A baby playing with his food.

Baby

A baby playing with his food.

Children marching together.

Marching

Children marching together.

A boy playing with his toys and blocks.

Boy Playing

A boy playing with his toys and blocks.

"A Greek measure of length, and the chief one used for itinerary distances. It was equal to 600 Greek or 625 Roman feet, or to 125 Roman paces; and the roman mile contained 8 stadia. Hence the stadiura contained 600 feet 9 inches English. This standard prvailed throughout Greece, under the name of the Olympic stadium, so called because it was the exact length of the stadium or footrace course at Olympia, measured between the pillars at the two extremities of the course. The first use of the measure seems to be contemporaneous with the formation of the stadium at Olympia when the Olympic games were revived by Iphitus." — Smith, 1873

Stadium

"A Greek measure of length, and the chief one used for itinerary distances. It was equal to 600 Greek…

A monkey playing with a cat

Monkey and Cat

A monkey playing with a cat

A child and dog playing fetch

Fetch

A child and dog playing fetch

A child and dog playing fetch

Fetch

A child and dog playing fetch

A child and dog playing fetch

Fetch

A child and dog playing fetch

Girls playing dress up

Dress Up

Girls playing dress up

A girl playing dress up

Dress Up

A girl playing dress up

Kittens playing with a mouse under the fence.

Kittens

Kittens playing with a mouse under the fence.

A boy playing

Boy

A boy playing

A girl playing with her kitten.

Girl

A girl playing with her kitten.

A boy playing a horn

Horn

A boy playing a horn

Children playing golf

Golf

Children playing golf

A boy playing baseball

Baseball

A boy playing baseball

A man playing chess.

Chess

A man playing chess.

"The cestus used in later times, in the public games, was a most formidable weapon. It was frequently covered with knobs and nails, and loaded with lead and iron. Figures with the cestus frequently occur on ancient remains. They appear to have been of various forms as appears in the fololowing specimens taken from ancient monuments." — Anthon, 1891

Cestus

"The cestus used in later times, in the public games, was a most formidable weapon. It was frequently…

"Toga, a gown, the name of the principal outer garment worn by the romans, seems to have been received by them from the Etruscans. The toga was the peculiar distinction of the Romans, who were thence called togats or gens togata. It was originally worn only in Rome itself, and the use of it was forbidden alike to exiles and to foreigners. Gradually, however, it went out of common use, and was supplanted by the pallium and lacerna, or else it was worn in public under the lacerna. But it was still used by the upper classes, who regarded it as an honourable distinction, in the courts of justice, by clients when they received the Sportula, and in the theatre or at the games, at least when the emperor was present." &mdash Smith; 1873

Toga

"Toga, a gown, the name of the principal outer garment worn by the romans, seems to have been received…

"Tuba, a bronze trumpet, distinguished from the cornu by being straight, while the latter was curved. The tuba was employed in war for signals of every description, at the games and public festivals, and also at the last rites to the dead; those who sounded the trumpet at funerals were termed siticines, and used an instrument of a peculiar form. The tones of the tuba are represented as of a harsh and fear-inspiring character." &mdash Smith; 1873

Tuba

"Tuba, a bronze trumpet, distinguished from the cornu by being straight, while the latter was curved.…

"Venatio, hunting was the name given among the Romans to an exhibition of wild beasts, which fought with one another and with men. These exhibitions origionally formed part of the games of the circus. Julius Caesar first build a wooden ampitheatre for the exhibition of wild beasts, and others were subsequently erected; but we frequently read of venationes in the circus in subsequent times. The persons who fought with the beasts were either condemned criminals or captives, or individuals who did so for the sake of pay, and were trained for the purpose." &mdash Smith; 1873

Venatio

"Venatio, hunting was the name given among the Romans to an exhibition of wild beasts, which fought…

"Venatio, hunting was the name given among the Romans to an exhibition of wild beasts, which fought with one another and with men. These exhibitions origionally formed part of the games of the circus. Julius Caesar first build a wooden ampitheatre for the exhibition of wild beasts, and others were subsequently erected; but we frequently read of venationes in the circus in subsequent times. The persons who fought with the beasts were either condemned criminals or captives, or individuals who did so for the sake of pay, and were trained for the purpose." &mdash Smith; 1873

Venatio

"Venatio, hunting was the name given among the Romans to an exhibition of wild beasts, which fought…

"Venatio, hunting was the name given among the Romans to an exhibition of wild beasts, which fought with one another and with men. These exhibitions origionally formed part of the games of the circus. Julius Caesar first build a wooden ampitheatre for the exhibition of wild beasts, and others were subsequently erected; but we frequently read of venationes in the circus in subsequent times. The persons who fought with the beasts were either condemned criminals or captives, or individuals who did so for the sake of pay, and were trained for the purpose." &mdash Smith; 1873

Venatio

"Venatio, hunting was the name given among the Romans to an exhibition of wild beasts, which fought…

A heavy club, used in playing ball.

Bat

A heavy club, used in playing ball.

The straight rod used in playing billiards.

Cue

The straight rod used in playing billiards.

A small cube, marked on its faces with spots from one to six.

Die

A small cube, marked on its faces with spots from one to six.

Small cubes, used in gaming, by being thrown from a box.

Dice

Small cubes, used in gaming, by being thrown from a box.