GOOSE (

See also:

• GAME

GAME OF)  , an ancient French game, said to have been derived from the Greeks, very popular at the close of the middle ages . It was played on a piece of card-board upon which was drawn a fantastic scroll, called the jardin de l'Oie (goose-garden), divided into 63 spaces marked with certain emblems, such as dice, an inn, a bridge, a labyrinth, &c . The emblem inscribed on 1 and 63, as well as every ninth space between, was a goose . The object was to land one's counter in number 63, the number of spaces moved through being determined by throwing two dice . The counter was advanced or retired according to the space on which it was placed . For instance if it rested on the inn it must remain there until each adversary, of which there might be several, had played twice; if it rested on the death's head the player must begin over again; if it went beyond 63 it must be retired a certain number of spaces . The game was usually played for a stake, and special fines were exacted for resting on certain spaces . At the end of the 18th century a variation of the game was called the jeu de la Revolution FranQaise .