Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 67, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 December 1909 — FOR THE CHILDREN [ARTICLE]

FOR THE CHILDREN

Which Foot Walks Faster? You may think this a very silly question to ask, but.it isn’t. If you will take a pavement that la dean and walk 'briskly in tbe centet you will find before you have gone fifty yards that you have veered very much to one side. You must not make any effort, of course, to keep In the center, but if you will think of some thing and endeavor to walk naturally you will not be able to keep a correct line. If you lose yourself on an ex pause of bleak moorland and walk or you will describe a complete circle. The explanation of this lies in tb6 propensity of one foot to walk faster than the other or take a longer stride than the other, causing you to walk to one side. To “tyake assurance doable sure” try placing two sticks about eight feet apart; then stand off about sixty feet, blindfold yourself and endeavor to walk between them. It is almost impossible.

To Protect Pussy. /We all know the story of Dick Whit-, tington’s cat and the fortune which it brought to its master, it was valuable because it was the only cat in the country to which Dick carried it. Nowadays cats are anything but scarce. But that they were not always so numerous in tbe British isles is proved by a curious law enacted in Wales in 938 A. D. This iaw fixed the price of cats according to age and quality, beginning with the price of a blind ki£ten. It decreed, moreover, that any one who should dare to steal or slay the cat which guarded the royal granary should be punished by the forfeiture of a milk ewe, its fleece and lamb or as much wheat as when poured on the body suspended by its tail, the head touching the floor, would form a heap bigh enough to cover the tip of tbe tail. American Fla# on the North Polo. Instead of playing the old game of pinning on tbe donkey’s tail, make a new game. Try pinning the American flag on the north pole. The players sbonid each be given one of the little paper or silk flags which-are sold by the yard like ribbon. For the north pole draw on a large sheet of white cotton goods or paper an Irregularly shaped thick pole. The game Is played Just as the old donkey game, each player being blindfolded and placed at the opposite end of the room from the pole and told to pin the flag on at the proper place. To the one who pins his flag on the top of the pole or nearest the top a large flag or flag pin is given. Those who pin anywhere on the pole are rewarded with smaller flags.

Europe, Asia, Africa. This game will provoke many forfeits, but it will require quick thought. One player takes a handkerchief and, unexpectedly throwing it at another, calls out "Europe,” "Asia” or "Africa,” whichever be chooses, then counting ten as rapidly as possible. The person at whom tbe handkerchief is thrown must name some person or thing in or from tbe country called before ten is counted or must pay a forfeit. The players will often find it difficult to get their answers out in time, especially if the person with the handkerchief looks at one and throws at another.

Hawk and Sparrow. All but one of the players stand In a circle clasping each other’s bands, which are held out at arm’s length. The one outside the circle is the sparrow. He touches one of the players in the circle. The one touched becomes tbe bawk and must run after the sparrow until he catches him. The sparrow can only run around the circle and in and out uuder the arms of the players in the ring. The hawk must follow under the arms of the same players. When the sparrow is caught he takes his place in the circle and the hawk becomes the sparrow for the next game.

The Long Serpent. The greatest boast of tbe viking was his ship. The Long Serpent, which was the greatest pride of Norway, was the longest craft that ever sailed from Its waters. The sides, 111. feet long; gave room for sixty-eight rowers’ benches, half of which were placed on each side. The strong oarsmen hung their shining red and white shields on the outside as a warning that they were ready to fight. As with all of the viking ships, a huge carved dragon’s head decorated the prow, but at the back the long tall of a serpent curved over the steersman.

My Novel House Party, I asked some friends to stay with me And said X’d truly try To think up new and pleasant things To make the days go by. I took them in a motorcar Which t had taught to lump. For exercise 1 let them work The handle of my pump. I took them to tho tennis court ' With rackets, net and all ) Except that 1 did not provide The little tennis ball. I taught them how to play as it The ball were really there And every now and then to wave Their rackets In the air. "No trite amusements here!” I '‘l've always something pew. Z pass my time In thinking up These pleasant things for you." I made a pie of pickled pine, * I made a cake of stone. I made a soup of Ink and glue— And now I’m all alone! —Chicago New*.