The players sit in a circle; one is chosen for "postman," is blindfolded, and another is chosen for Postmaster.

The Postmaster gives each player the name of some city or town, and stands outside the ring so he can give orders.

The "postman" stands inside the circle and when the Postmaster says, "I have sent a letter from New York to San Francisco," the players having these names must exchange places, and he must try to capture one. If he succeeds he takes that one's place, the one caught then becoming "postman."

The Postmaster must exchange names very rapidly, and if a player should remain seated when his city is called, he has to be "postman."

If the Postmaster says, "general delivery," all exchange places, and the "postman" tries to secure a vacant place.