grace sticks?

[Horace]

I was reading 'A Diary of Battle' by Charles Wainwright when I came across this: "After dinner the General had a game of grace sticks with the pretty one, but though he did manage to get the hoop over his head, his courage failed him. I do not believe she would have been very angry, had he persevered in getting his kiss."
Anyone know what 'grace sticks' is or how it's played? I dug around a fair bit and found nothing. I would have guessed it to be something like pick up sticks until I got to the part about a hoop over your head and kissing. Maybe the kissing is a separate activity.

[KathyBradford]

Re: grace sticks?

http://www.raggedsoldier.com/graces.html

This is a fun game, and I imagine this is the one to which they're referring. I've never read about kissing in association, but...

It's an all-time favorite when we do school or museum programs. No kissing.

[Horace]

Re: grace sticks?

Bam. That was fast. Thanks.
Somehow I envisiond them in a parlor. I actually have their book 'Mid-Nineteenth Century Parlor Games', it wasn't in there and I didn't think to look on the site. This is more of of an outdoor game. I guess one variation is to get the hoop over your head, like the general...

[Virginia Mescher]

Re: grace sticks?

Graces could also a parlour game as well as an outdoor game. While today, we probably would not allow it to be played in our living room, I can envision it being played in a large, high ceiling parlour. It would be very possible to capture the hoop over your head if you were a new player and have the hoop taken off would give a chance for a kiss to be bestowed.

It is also possible that new rules were made up and kissing was involved. Kissing games (among young and older adults) were very popular.

[VMurphy]

Re: grace sticks?

Thank you Virginia. It does seem very probable that a game of graces could be played ina large high ceiling parlor.
I gave a demonstration of the game one day in a classroom. without warning I just picked up the hoop and sticks and sent it flying. It was a large classroom, with high ceilings and the kids loved it!
Best Regards
Vivian Murphy

http://www.themantuamaker.net