to "lay a
duck," which in simple language means to enter a marble to be played
for. This is his entrance fee and may be either a "dub," an "alley," a
"crystal," or sometimes a "real," although this is very rare as well
as extravagant. About ten feet from this ring a line is made called a
"taw line." The first player, usually determined as soon as school is
out by his having shouted, "First shot, fat!" stands behind the taw
line and shoots to knock out a marble. If he is successful he
continues shooting; if not he loses his turn and Number 2 shoots.
Number 1 after his first shot from the taw line must then shoot from
wherever his marble lies. If Number 2 can hit Number 1 he has a right
to claim all the marbles that Number 1 has knocked out of the ring. In
this way it is very much to the advantage of each player to leave
himself as far from the taw line as possible.

FEATHER RACE

The contestants endeavour to blow a feather over a certain course in
the shortest time. The rule is that the feather must not be touched
with the hands. Out of doors this game is only possible on a very
still day.

FOOT AND A HALF

This is a game of "Leap Frog" also called "Par" or "Paw." One of the
boys is chosen "down," who leans over and gives a "back" to the rest,
who follow leader, usually the boy who suggests the game. He will
start making an easy jump at first and over "down's" back, then
gradually increase the distance of the point at which he lands, and
each of those following must clear this line or become "it"
themselves. The leader must also surpass his previous jumps each time
or he becomes "down" himself. In this way the smaller or less agile
boys have a more equal chance with the stronger ones.

FOOTBALL

The present game of football as played in American schools and
colleges is a development of the English game of Rugby. There are
twenty-two players, eleven on a side or team. The game is played on a
level field, at each end of which are goal posts through which the
team having the ball in its possession attempts to force or "rush" it,
while their opponents by various means, such as tackling, shoving or
blocking, strive to prevent the ball from being successfully forced
behind the goal line or from being kicked over the crossbar between
the goal-posts. A football field is 330 feet long by 160 feet wide. It
is usually marked out with white lines five yards apart, which gives
the field the name of "gridiron." The vari