Going To Jerusalem

Source: Games For The Playground, Home, School And Gymnasium
Category: MISCELLANEOUS ACTIVE GAMES



_10 to 60 or more players._

_Parlor; gymnasium; schoolroom._

A row of chairs is placed in the center of the room, so that they face
alternately in opposite directions, one chair to one side, the next to
the opposite side, etc. There should be one chair less than the number
of players. The game is most interesting when played with musical
accompaniment.

The game starts with all the players seated in the row of chairs
except one. This odd one is the leader, and his first object is to
recruit the players for his trip to "Jerusalem." He carries a cane and
walks around the row repeating, "I'm going to Jerusalem! I'm going to
Jerusalem!" in singsong. Every few moments he stops at his discretion
and knocks with his cane on the floor behind the chair of some player.
Immediately the player thus summoned rises from his chair and follows
the leader, sometimes having a lively scramble to encircle the row of
chairs and catch up with him. The next player knocked for follows this
one, and so on, until all are moving around in single file. The leader
may reverse his direction at pleasure. This general hurry and
confusion for the start may, with a resourceful leader, add much to
the sport of the game.

When the players are all recruited, they continue to march around the
row of chairs, the main object of the game being the scramble for
seats when the music stops, or upon some other signal to sit if there
be no music.

The musician will add to the interest of the game by varying the time
of the march from slow and stately time to "double quick." At any
moment, after all the players are marching, the music may stop
suddenly. Whenever this happens, the players all scramble for seats.
There will be one odd player left without a seat. This player is
thenceforth out of the game and retires to one end of the room,
taking with him one of the chairs. This continues until there are only
two players encircling one chair, and the one who secures it wins.

Where two players reach a chair at nearly the same time, the chair
belongs to the one who first reached it, or who is sitting more fully
on it. Sitting on the arm of a chair does not count, nor touching it
with the hands or knees.

FOR THE GYMNASIUM
When played in a gymnasium, a row of gymnasium
stools may be used instead of chairs, and the gathering up of the
players omitted, the game starting with the stools empty.

FOR THE SCHOOLROOM
When played in the schoolroom, the game starts
with all of the players ready to march, the first part of the game, in
which they are recruited, being omitted. The class should march in
serpentine form up one aisle and down the next, etc., instead of
encircling a row of seats. There should be for a large class from one
to six less seats than the number of players. For instance, one seat
should be counted out in each row or each alternate row. The seat that
is not in play may be designated by turning it up, if of that variety,
and by placing a book on the desk belonging to it.

Wherever played, the game may be carried on without music, simply by
the leader or teacher beating time and stopping when players are to
sit; or he may give a signal or a command to "Sit!"


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