The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

STEAL THE BACON

THIS IS A GAME FOR BOYS 10-15 YEARS OLD. IT IS
USUALLY PLAYED IN A ROOM ABOUT 20 FEET ACROSS. THERE
ARE TWO TEAMS, EQUAL IN NUMBER, AND THE MEMBERS OF
EACH TEAM ARE GIVEN NUMBERS. THE TEAMS LINE UP
AGAINST TWO OPPOSITE WALLS OF THE ROOM. IN THE CENTER
IS PLACED AN ARTICLE SUCH AS A HANKERCHIEF
TO SERVE AS "THE BACON." A SUPERVISOR THEN CALLS
OUT A NUMBER, AND THE TWO BOYS HAVING THAT NUMBER
ADVANCE TO THE CENTER TO TRY TO STEAL THE BACON. IF
A BOY CAN GRAB THE BACON AND GET BACK TO HIS TEAM'S
WALL WITHOUT BEING TOUCHED, HIS TEAM GETS A POINT.
BUT IF THE OTHER BOY SUCCEEDS IN TOUCHING HIM, THEN
THE OTHER TEAM GETS A POINT. THE TEAM WITH THE
MOST POINTS, AFTER A DESIGNATED PERIOD OF TIME, WINS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: NOT GIVEN