sketches and lines

…stones, and you are again ready for action. But first of all, let me give you a diagram (Fig. 1), to enable you to understand precisely the manner in which the ground is prepared for a game at rounders.

You will see that the ground is arranged so as to form a pentagon, each of the five sides constituting one of the five bases, which are numbered with the figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. These bases form the spots or “homes” which the different players have to make for and reach, if they wish to continue participation in the game; so that, when practicable, the stumps used at cricket will obviously be more useful than stones, as more clearly marking the object at which the player has to aim. The distance at which these bases are situate from each other is, of course, a mere matter of choice; but it is usual, and also advisable, to make them about fifteen to twenty yards apart, to prevent the accomplishment of a “rounder,” or entire circuit of the ground, from 1 home again by way of 2, 3, 4, and 5, with anything like ease.

In the centre of the ground, marked by the letter F, is the spot…

Extract from The Popular Recreator, Topic: Games of the Playground, section i, page 3.