THE PLAY-PARTY IN INDIANA - online book

Folk-Songs and Games with Descriptive Introduction, Notes, Sheeet music & Lyrics

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	The Play-Party in Indiana.                            63
	is entirely unlike this simple marriage game. Mr. Newell does not describe the "Kissing Round" of the Middle and Southern States but it is probably this same game that he knew.40 Mrs. Gomme gives three variants (Trad. Games, vol. I, pp. 302-4) but the point to these games lies in the ability of the lover to recognize his sweetheart in disguise, a well-known ballad theme. Mr. Newell thinks of the game as representing a test of affection. c.-d. Variants. Jour. Am. Folk-lore, vol. XIV, p. 298; Miss Goldy Hamilton, (words alone) Jour. Am. Folk-lore, vol.VXXVII, p. 295; Mrs. Ames, Jour. Am. Folk-lore, vol. XXIV, p. 313. Miss Amma Frank Johnson of Mississippi contributes the following variant, both words and music.
	on his breast he wore a star, Like a dia-mond in the sky. King William was King George's son, He the royal race, he run, Upon his breast he wore a star, Like a diamond in the sky. Go choose to the east, go choose to the west, Go choose the one that you love best; If she's not there to take her part, Choose another with all your heart. Upon this carpet you must kneel, As sure as the grass grows in the field, Salute your bride and kiss her sweet. Now you rise upon your feet. Mr. Newell (Games and Songs, p. 75) thinks this game bears more than an accidental resemblance to a certain version of the popular ballads which were attached to the Folke Algotson story.41 In the Journal of American Folk-lore (vol. XIV, p. 298) a variant is given which ends with the following lines:
	40  Newell. Games and Songs, pp. 73-75. 41   A Swedish youth carried off to Norway a daughter of the judge of East Gothland, who was betrothed to a Danish noble.