THE PLAY-PARTY IN INDIANA - online book

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	The Play-Party in Indiana. 65 melodies and wide variations in the words. The game in England has no "tug of war" ending. c.-d. Mrs. Gomme (Trad. Games, vol. i, pp. 333-340) gives nine variants and three melodies. Mr. Newell gives five (Games and Songs, pp. 206-210) and in many of the children's books of rhymes, games, or songs, this is to be found.⁴² The tune of a country dance called "London Bridge" is given in Playford's Dancing Master, 1728 edition. The game is undoubtedly very old but what it represents is a question of some dispute. Mr. Newell, though connecting it with the ancient superstitions regarding bridges and the stories of human sacrifices which were connected with bridge building, gives the tug of war a mythological interpretation. Mrs. Gomme points out that this tug of war is not a feature of the game in England and therefore is probably an American addition. Marching to Quebec.

	42 This is printed as a children's song in the Ideal Home Music Library, vol. X, p. 225 and in Little Songs of Long Ago, collected by Alfred Moffat. Marion B. Newton also includes this game in Graded Games and Rhythmic Exercises, p. 24.