Regency Pastimes: Hunt the Slipper

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Title: Hunt The Slippers Artist: Thomas Rowlandson (British, London 1757–1827 London) Date: 1802 Public Domain

I was researching something else entirely and came upon a reference to the game Hunt the Slipper.

HUNT THE SLIPPER This old fashioned pastime is so generally known that it is scarcely necessary to describe it however as it forms one of the merriest in door sports for the long winter evenings it would be absurd to omit it in this work Several boys seat themselves in a circle on the ground and another taking his place inside the ring gives a slipper to one of them by whom it is immediately and secretly handed to one of his neighbours it is now passed round from one sitter to another with as much dexterity as possible so as to completely perplex the hunter or player standing in the middle in his en deavours to chase the slipper by its sound and who must continue his search until successful The player in whose possession it is found must in his turn hunt the slipper whilst the former hunter joins the sitters Every Boy’s Book: A Complete Encyclopaedia of Sports and Amusements. (1868). United Kingdom: Routledge.

From Rowlandson’s picture from the Pic-Nic Society, we can see it was not reserved as a children’s game.  However, its appearance in instructionals is largely targeted at children.  I also read some references to this being a popular Christmas time game.  Rowlandson’s provocative image suggests it may have been played among adults as an opportunity for closeness between the sexes, and even a bit of ribaldry as displayed by the matron guzzling a bottle and another showing off her stockings and undergarments.  I would guess it would be as if a group of drinking adults decided to play spin the bottle–a little naughty, and a hilarity in doing something that is traditionally a child’s game.

There were some variations, including Hunt the Whistle:

HUNT THE WHISTLE A key or something similar is used for this game and is called the whistle The one in the centre of the circle must be ignorant of the game or else the fun is all lost Those who compose the circle keep their hands in motion all the time as if they were passing the whistle in the same manner they do in Hunt the Slipper and frequently some one whis tles to make the hunter think it is passing through their hands at that instant But in fact some one before the game begins manages to fasten the string of the key either with a pin or a button upon the back of the hunter herself It makes a great laugh to see it whirling round her as she turns at every whistle But I don t like this game very well There is de ception in it and even in play all should be fair Child, L. M. (1833). The Girl’s Own Book. Ireland: Clark Austin & Company.

This was not a Regency specific pastime, being popular well before the 19th century, but nonetheless was a game most would be familiar with.

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