Volume Ii Part 34 (1/2)

Blaw up the bagpyp than, The schamon's dance I mon begin, I trow it sall not pane.

-”Peblis to the Play,” _Chronicles of Scottish Poetry_, i. 135.

Pinkerton defines salmon as ”probably _show-man_, _shaw-man_.”

See ”Shame Reel, or Shamit Dance.”

Salt Eel

This is something like ”Hide and Find.” The name of Salt Eel may have been given it from one of the points of the game, which is to baste the runaway individual, whom you may overtake, all the way home with your handkerchief, twisted hard for that purpose. Salt Eel implies on board s.h.i.+p a rope's ending, and on sh.o.r.e an equivalent process.-Moor's _Suffolk Words and Phrases_.

Save All

Two sides are chosen in this game. An even number of boys, say eight on each side. Half of these run out of the line, and are chased by half of the boys from the other side. If two out of four get ”home” to door or lamp-post, they _save all_ the prisoners which have been made; if two out of four are caught before the others get ”home,” the side catching them beats.-Deptford (Miss Chase).

Say Girl

A game undescribed, recorded by the Rev. S. D. Headlam as played by some Hoxton school children.-_Church Reformer_, 1894.

Scat

A paper-knife, or thin slip of wood, is placed by one player on his open palm. Another takes it up quickly, and tries to ”scat” his opponent's hand before he can draw it away. Sometimes a feint of taking the paper-knife is made three or four times before it is really done. When the ”scat” is given, the ”scatter” in his turn rests the knife on his palm. Scat is the Cornish for ”slap.”-_Folk-lore Journal_, v. 50.

Scop-peril, or Scoperel

Name for teetotum ordinarily manufactured by sticking a pointed peg through a bone b.u.t.ton.-Easther's _Almondbury Glossary_; also in SW.

Lincolns.h.i.+re, Cole's _Glossary_.

See ”Totum.”

Scotch-hoppers

In _Poor Robin's Almanack_ for 1677, in the verses to the reader, on the back of the t.i.tle-page, concerning the chief matters in the volume, among many other articles of intelligence, the author professes to show-

”The time when school boys should play at _Scotch-hoppers_.”

Another allusion occurs in the same periodical for 1707-”Lawyers and Physitians have little to do this month, and therefore they may (if they will) play at _Scotch-hoppers_. Some men put their hands into peoples'

pockets open, and extract it clutch'd, of that beware. But counsel without a cure, is a body without a soul.” And again, in 1740-”The fifth house tells ye whether wh.o.r.es be sound or not; when it is good to eat tripes, bloat herrings, fry'd frogs, rotten eggs, and monkey's tails b.u.t.ter'd, or an ox liver well stuck with fish hooks; when it is the most convenient time for an old man to play at _Scotch-hoppers_ amongst the boys. In it also is found plainly, that the best armour of proof against the fleas, is to go drunk to bed.”

See ”Hopscotch,” ”Tray-Trip.”

Scots and English

Boys first choose sides. The two chosen leaders join both hands, and raising them high enough to let the others pa.s.s through below, cry-