AUNT SALLY
Cassell's Book of Sports and Pastimes (1890's)
Is it possible that any boy able to play at Aunt Sally does not already fully understand all its mysteries? The wooden negress' head with the clean clay pipe stuck coquettishly in one side of the mouth must surely be a familiar sight to every one. Aunt Sallies by the scores and hundreds are ever travelling over the country for the enjoyment of all who care to be amused by their winsome ways. Yet somehow the game, to some good folk, smacks considerably of vulgarity. On the principle, however, that play of every sort in its proper place is good, and that no game or play is in itself vulgar, whatever the players may or may not be, our good old Aunt Sally is not to be excluded from this book.
The game is essentially one of skill in throwing. The conventional Aunt Sally consists of the wooden head and shoulders of a negress, painted of course, black, with very red lips, the shoulders downwards clothed in bright garments. When a clean short clay pipe is stuck between her lips, she is ready for the onslaught of her foes. The players, provided with sticks of from fifteen to twenty inches in length, and of the stoutness of a broom handle, station themselves in front of the figure at a distance varying according to the reputed skill of the thrower (generally from twelve to twenty yards). The players then alternatively take a shy at the pipe, and he who is successful in shattering that article scores one. Every score made entitles the successful player to another throw. With skilful players a good supply of short pipes will probably be required, but substitutes for pipes may be easily discovered.
It is well that a net of some sort or other should be set up and spread out behind the figure, to save time and trouble in collecting the sticks for further use.
When an Aunt Sally figure is not readily obtainable an ordinary block of wood may be made to do service in her absence. The figure, or its substitute, forms a better object to aim at when raised from the ground on some sort of a pedestal.