Boys Clothing Worn for Tinker, Taylor


Figure 1.--This German post card shows the children playing a ball game with the rhyme, "Kaiser, König; Edelmann; Bürger, Bauer; Bettelmann." The rules of the game are explained here. The post card is undated, but we would guess about 1910.

A ryming game popular with children was "Tinker, Taylor". Actually "Tinker, Taylor" was onlu one of many rymes that the children used. We have some details on the rules used. We believe the game, with many vaiations, ws played throughout Europe, although at this tome we only have specific inormation on England and Germany. The gameis very old. One confirmned report indicate that it was being played in 1695, but almost certainly has even older origins.

Popular Game

A rhyming game popular with children was "Tinker, Taylor". Children used the rhymes infortune-telling rhyme counting . Here varioys devices were used. Daisy petals are perhaps the best known. Other items were also used including cherry pits and buttons. Some childrn skipped to the rhymes. Ball games were developed using the rhymes.

Rhymes

Actually "Tinker, Taylor" was onlu one of many rhymes that the children used. These English rhymes are best knon to Americans, but there were rhymes in many different countrie. Some of these rhymes included:

Tinker, tailor; Soldier, sailor; Rich man, poor man; Beggar-man, thief.

Tinker, Tailor; Soldier, Sailor; Gentleman, Apothecary; Plough-boy, Thief.

A laird, a lord; A richman, a thief; tailor, a drummer; A stealer o' beef.

Lady, lady on the sea-shore; She has children one to four; The eldest one is twenty-four; Then she shall marry a Tinker, tailor.

Kaiser, König; Edelmann; Bürger, Bauer; Bettelmann.

Rules

We have some details on the rules used. A German reader explains on version of the game. "All children playing along gets the title of a rank/grade: Kaiser (emperor), Koenig (king), Edelmann (nobleman), Buerger (citizen), Bauer (farmer), Bettelmann (beggar). Those ranks are given via counting. The children form a circle. Each child draws with chalk a circle on the ground and writes down the rank in it. All children stand in their own circles and the "emperor" throws the ball to another child. The ball should be caught without leaving the circle. Otherwise a child with a lower level rank can jump quickly into the circle and gets the better rank. So ranks change during the game. The game ends when the emperor has lost the throne. The child who firstreplaces him by reaching the emperor's circle wins the game." This is the game illustrated here on this post card.

Countries

We believe the game, with many vaiations, was played throughout Europe, although at this tome we only have specific inormation on England and Germany.

Chronology

The game is very old. One confirmned report indicate that it was being played in 1695, but almost certainly has even older origins.







Christopher Wagner






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Created: February 10, 2003
Last updated: February 10, 2003