A rectangular board 2 inches broad and 3 inches long has holes bored into it in the design herewith illustrated. Nails are stuck loosely in all of these holes, excepting the centre one. The puzzle is to jump all of the nails off the board so that only one nail is left, and that in the centre-hole on the board. The nails are jumped off in the same manner that men are jumped in the game of checkers. Jumping is allowed either forward, backward, or sideward, but not diagonally.
Spinning for 20
A wooden top is made by sawing off the end of a large spool and sticking a match or small stick through the hole in the centre. Four concentric circles are drawn upon a sheet of paper which should be about twelve inches square. Inside of the smallest circle, which should have a diameter of 2 inches, the number 20 is placed. The next circle outside of this one, having a diameter 2 inches greater, should be numbered 15, the next circle numbered 10, and the next 5.
The players spin the top in turn. Should it cease spinning so that the point of the pin lies within the centre circle, a score of 20 is made. Should it fall outside of the last circle, no score is made. The player first gaining 100 points wins the game.
Red Triangle Ring Toss
[Illustration]
A triangle is drawn upon a board and nails are driven in, as indicated in the accompanying diagram. Six rubber Mason jar rings are used. The triangle is hung on the wall at a height equal to the height of the shoulders of the intended players. The players stand from ten to fifteen feet distant from the triangle and attempt to toss the rings over the projecting nails. Each nail is numbered according to the diagram. Each player tosses six rings at a turn. Any number of players can play. The player first securing a total of 25 points wins the game.
Floor Baseball
(Game invented by T.A. Coates)
A diagram is marked with chalk on the floor, as per accompanying diagram. Round wooden disks six inches in diameter, one inch thick at the centre tapering to a quarter of an inch at the circumference, in the form of a discus, are used. Rubber quoits may be used instead of disks, if available.
A player “up to bat” slides disks from a line thirty feet away from the baseball diamond until he has four balls, three strikes, or has earned one or more bases. If the disk, upon being slid forward, lies so that any part of it lies over any line, it constitutes one ball for the batter. If it should lie in the space marked “Strike”, it constitutes a strike and the batter has one ball and one strike. The next slide, the disk lies in the space marked “1”. This means that he places his disk on first base and the next player on his side comes to bat. The second player continues sliding the disks until he has made a base or is put out. Should he make a base, the player of the first disk is advanced one base. Should he make more than one base hit, the player on the base advances as many bases as the batter has made. The side continues at bat until three men are out. Thereupon, the other team comes to bat.