Skipping-rope rhyme

[2] In the United States, domination of the activity by girls occurred when their families moved into the cities in the late 19th century.

[3][4] Another source suggests that, prior to 1833, the invention of pantalettes enabled girls to jump rope without displaying ankles.

[3][4] An Australian version of the Charlie Chaplin Skipping Song, as sung at Salisbury Primary School in Brisbane, Australia in the mid 1950s, is as follows: There's also "Betty Grable went to France,/To teach the soldiers how to dance."

)[citation needed] Another variation: In Dublin, Ireland, the visits of inspectors known as "Glimmer men" to private houses to enforce regulations to prevent the use of coal gas in restricted hours during the Emergency gave rise to:[citation needed] Most rhymes are intended to count the number of jumps the skipper takes without stumbling.

[10] In another skipping rhyme, once the alphabet finishes, participants continue with numbers until skipper catches rope.

It is natural for participants to use the letter that the skipper lost on and to use it to find someone's name following the rule of either best friend or boyfriend, depending on what is chosen in the beginning.

The key word to start turning fast is often "pepper" to indicate speed, such as: "Pretty Little Dutch Girl" was a lengthy song, much too long for a simple chant, but often excerpted for jumping rope.

Or alphabetical, "My husband's name is Alfred, He comes from Atlanta, He works in the attic.." All made up on the spur of the moment.

The jumper may be obliged to jump out upon finishing a letter, or be allowed to continue until either failing to invent new lyrics, or faulting.

Other rhymes are highly topical, and sometimes survive long after the events that inspired them have disappeared from the headlines.

Despite Borden's desire to stay out of the public eye - and despite the fact that she was found not guilty - children would follow her around and chant the rhyme.