You are not likely to realize on your first introduction to a potato joust the amount of skill and practice required to really become expert in handling the fork.  A slight turn of the wrist, a quick push and the practised knight will defeat the novice so deftly, so easily that you are amazed.

Move your fork as little as possible; long sweeping strokes are more likely to throw off your own potato than to interfere with that of your opponent.

The most dangerous stroke is one from underneath; always maneuver to keep your potato below that of your antagonist.

[Illustration:  Handkerchief Tussle; Potato Joust]

Handkerchief Tussle

Study the illustration and see if you can discover a way for the boys to get apart.  To make it really exciting, a number of couples should be set going at once, and a “second” on ice cream offered to the pair who get apart first.  To separate, the boys have only to push the center of one of the handkerchiefs under the loop made by the other handkerchief when it was tied about the wrist, and then carry the loop over the hand.

Rough-house is the expression used by the boy of today when he is describing a general scuffle, and he always smacks his lips over the word.  But rough-house has its disadvantages, as many sprains and bruises can testify, and if the same amount of fun may be had from less trying amusement, an amusement, say, which is quite as energetic and quite as exciting, the boy of today will certainly adopt it in preference to rough-house.

[Illustration:  A Terrier Fight]

Terrier Figh

A terrier fight is exciting, and it is funny—­it is also energetic—­and victory depends quite as much upon the skill of the fighter as upon his strength.  Furthermore a terrier fight is not brutal.  No boy will hurt himself while engaged in this sport.  Two boys are placed facing each other in the center of the room, hands clasped beneath the knees and a stick just under the elbows, as shown.  Each contestant endeavors to push the other over; but as it requires considerable attention to keep the balance at all when in this position, the attack is no easy matter.

To give way suddenly is a maneuver almost sure to upset your adversary, but unfortunately it is very apt to upset you at the same time and only after considerable practice will you be able to overcome a man in this way.  The pivot, a sudden swing to the right or left is safer, though not quite as effective.  Always remember that the best terrier fighter invariably makes his opponent throw himself.  Give way at some unexpected point, and unless he is a skilful man, he is sure to go over.  Never try a hard push except in the last extremity when everything else has failed.

A terrier fight consists of three one-minute rounds, with thirty seconds’ rest between each round.  The one scoring the largest number of falls during the time set is accounted the winner.