Chapter XVIII: Christmas on the Tananah (2)

It is interesting to note the records made on this occasion, and to place them alongside of the performances of our Eastern scholars. The accompanying table will show that, even with almost a year's advantage in the comparison, the Californians are behind the New-Yorkers in every event. In many events, of course, the records of both leagues are better than the performances made on these two specific occasions; but the comparison goes only to show that in a contest between Eastern and Western schools, could such a one be arranged, there would be but little doubt this year as to the probable winners. Perhaps some day such a meeting may be brought about. What might be called the first step in that direction has already been taken by the California State University team, which is coming East next month to take part in the Intercollegiate games at Mott Haven. In a year or so the Pacific coast schools may get up enthusiasm and enterprise enough to follow the example of the college men and seek new laurels in the East.

It is possible that the universal interest in track and field sports, which has so rapidly developed in the last two years, will prove harmful to baseball and tennis. Already I have heard several complaints from captains of nines that it is difficult to get candidates to come out and try for positions on the team, because almost every boy who has any ambition for athletic honors is running or jumping, or otherwise training his muscles that he may take part in contests which offer material reward for success. In other words, gold, silver, and bronze medals are more tempting than a proprietary interest in a champion pennant. If it is true that an appreciable number of boys go into track athletics not for the sport, but for the medals, the sooner medals are done away with the better. But it does not seem possible that this can be so. It is more probable that baseball and tennis have been superseded, to a certain extent, by track and field sports because of the nature of the latter. A boy can go out and run or jump or put the shot all by himself at almost any time of the day. But he cannot go into an open field and play baseball with himself, nor can he go to a tennis-court and play tennis with himself. In one case he must secure one opponent at least, and in the other he must gather a dozen or more companions. To be sure, these objections are not very valid in New York, but I have no doubt the charm of individuality has tempted a good many boys to indulge in track sports. If baseball and tennis have suffered thereby it is all the more reason why baseball and tennis enthusiasts should strive by every means in their power to organize good nines and train good tennis-players--for it is an unhealthy tree that puts all its vitality into one branch.

There is talk of changing the constitution of the New England I.S.A.A. in order to allow scholars over twenty-one years of age to compete in games held under the rules of that association. The subject will be brought up for discussion and probably decided at the meeting to be held in Boston day after to-morrow, May 2d. The motion should be unconditionally defeated, and the constitution left unaltered. Except for very unusual reasons, a man twenty-one years old has no business being in school. He ought to be at work or in college. If, however, he still lingers about the school-room, there is no reason why special laws should be enacted for his benefit. He deserves to be discriminated against. Besides, there are probably not more than half a dozen men of that age in all the schools of the New England League, and these can certainly spend their time to better advantage in studying than at foot-racing and jumping. It is unfair to allow grown men to enter into competition with younger men, and I earnestly hope that those who control the policy of the N.E.I.S.A.A. will realize this, and unceremoniously shut the men out.

At the annual in-door meeting of the New England I.S.A.A., held in Boston last month, there were 342 entries, representing thirty preparatory schools. This would seem to show that there is even more interest in track athletics in Boston than there is in New York. The result of the meeting was most satisfactory, inasmuch as five records were broken, one was equalled, and a new record was established. The team races were a new feature, and as rival schools were purposely matched against one another the contests proved most interesting and exciting. The Worcester High-School managed to retain the championship of the Association by scoring 19 points; the Worcester Academy took second place with 14-1/2 points. This prowess was not relished or appreciated by the boys of the Boston schools, who are not by any means anxious to see the pennant float over any city but the Hub; yet it has been evident for some time that any one who wants to defeat these Worcester school-boys will have to get up very early in the morning and travel remarkably fast.

THE GRADUATE.

This Department is conducted in the interest of stamp collectors,
and the Editor will be pleased to answer any question on the
subject so far as possible. Correspondents should address Editor
Stamp Department.

Since the discovery of the variety of the twelve-cent United States stamp illustrated last week, many collectors have sought to find other varieties in the same issue, thinking that if a new plate was made for the twelve cents it was likely that other new ones were engraved for different values. Thus far no further discoveries have been made.

The one, two, five, and ten cent values of the new United States newspaper stamps have thus far been issued.

In the three-cent stamp of the 1857 issue, the "Outer Line" variety consists of a fine line running all around the stamp. Each of the stamps has a line on the side, but in the variety an additional fine line appears at both the top and bottom, the perforation sometimes destroying one of them. The outer-line variety is not as scarce as the price given would indicate.

The high values of United States envelopes are now a thing of the past, the department no longer printing any value higher than five cents on the envelopes.

Many stamp papers say that only the one, two, and three cent values of the new postage-stamps have been issued and printed, but the ten has also been sent out.

It would not be surprising to many collectors if the current issue of United States stamps, which were first printed by the Bureau of Engraving, should be catalogued as a separate issue before many years, there being many points of difference between those first put out and what the bureau is now printing. The colors, perforation, and gum are now much superior to the first printings, and smaller things than these have caused stamps to be separately catalogued.

Another question that puzzles many collectors is the difference between wood-engraved and typographed stamps. Typographed means set and printed from type, so the United States officially sealed stamps of this variety are printed with regular type, while the lithographed are printed from stones, the designs being engraved, and thus fancy and very different from the type-set stamp.

A new stamp paper will shortly be issued from Boston. It will have a good financial backing, and it is expected to be one of the leading publications in the philatelic line.

Since the last catalogue added the varieties of United States stamps on ribbed paper, it has caused collectors to hunt for them, but probably with little success, as they are very scarce. Ribbed paper is a variety of wove, having lines running up or down or across, and showing on the back of stamp.

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This department is conducted in the interest of Bicyclers, and the
Editor will be pleased to answer any question on the subject,
besides inquiries regarding the League of American Wheelmen, so
far as possible. Correspondents should address Editor Bicycling
Department.

This department will, so far as possible, publish maps and descriptions of various bicycle routes in the vicinity of different important cities in America.

The map this week is of New York city. It shows at once just what can be done with a bicycle in New York, what are the best ways of getting out of the city, and where the best streets for wheeling are through its whole length. Most of the black roads are of asphalt pavement, but of course the Riverside Drive, West Seventy-second Street, and the long avenues above the Park, as well as those in the Park, are of macadam. It will pay wheelmen, or boys and girls who expect to be wheelmen or wheelwomen soon, to tear out this page and keep it for reference, for by careful study it will show how to avoid pavement, so far as possible, in getting from one part of the city to another.

To begin with the East Side below Fourteenth Street. The wheelman's object must be to get to Second Avenue as directly as possible. He should then go up Second Avenue, which is asphalted to Twenty-second Street, turn east into Lexington, and go up the latter to Thirty-second Street. Here is the beginning of Murray Hill, and the asphalt stops. He has two blocks to ride on Lexington, and then turning west he has half an avenue block uphill to Park Avenue and Thirty-fourth Street. From here he has almost a clear asphalted or macadamized road out of New York. He turns through to Madison Avenue on any street from Thirty-four to Fortieth, goes down the paved hill between Forty-first and Forty-second streets on Madison Avenue, and then keeps on the latter till he turns through Fifty-eighth Street, crosses Fifth Avenue, and if a dry day enters the Park, or if too soon after rain passes west up Fifty-ninth Street.

Suppose it has rained recently. The bicycler keeps to Fifty-ninth Street till he reaches the Boulevard at Eighth Avenue. He should then take the right side of the Boulevard going out till he reaches Ninety-sixth Street, when he must cross to the left side, owing to the fact that the Boulevard is as yet only paved on the west side from here out. At 108th Street the asphalt stops, and he must either go through that street to the Riverside Drive or keep on the Boulevard, which from here to 125th Street is in bad condition, awaiting asphalt pavement. If he takes the drive he should turn east and go down a very steep but short hill on 122d Street, just opposite Grant's Tomb, into the Boulevard, and as soon as he comes to 125th Street a long and pretty steep hill confronts him. It is not difficult, however, if taken slowly, since the macadam is good, and the hill a steady incline. At 154th Street, which is asphalted, he should turn east to St. Nicholas Avenue, which is better here than below, though the macadam is old. Keeping on St. Nicholas Avenue he soon comes into the Boulevard again at 168th Street, which is here called Kingsbridge Road, and is newly macadamized. By making this slight detour at 155th Street the rider avoids going down the hill back of Trinity Cemetery, and up another bad one on the Boulevard. If he is going up the Hudson he should turn east at 181st Street, through a bad two hundred yards of the latter, cross the Harlem on Washington Bridge, (2), and turn north into Featherbed Lane. This is necessary, because the Kingsbridge Road at the foot of the hill, which begins at 181st Street, is in a very bad condition as far as Spuyten Duyvil.

On the west side of the city down-town it is the rider's first object to get to Eighth Avenue as directly as possible. He then has a clear course out. Starting from the Grand Central Station, a good seven-mile ride is to go, as already described, up the Boulevard to 106th Street, then turn east to the Park, and come back to the Plaza. On a dry day one of the most beautiful, perhaps _the_ most beautiful, ten-mile ride in America is from the Grand Central, as described, to the Plaza, thence through the Park to West Seventy-second Street to Riverside Drive, by Grant's Tomb to Claremont, at the end of the Drive, and back, turning east through 108th Street to Boulevard to 106th Street, thence east to the Park, and so down.

This department is conducted in the interest of Girls and Young
Women, and the Editor will be pleased to answer any question on
the subject so far as possible. Correspondents should address
Editor.

While we are discussing our favorite books, I want to tell you something about the treasury of rich and rare literature which you and I and everybody may be free of in opening the covers of our Bibles.

Is it your habit, dear child, to read a few verses or a chapter of the best of books every day, perhaps before you leave your room in the morning, or before you go to bed at night? Have you your very own Bible, and do you keep it in your room, and just where you can easily put your hand upon it? Each of us should have her own Bible, for this is not a book to share with others. If we are studying a foreign language we should have, in addition to our English Bible, a French or German or Italian Bible, a Bible in the language we are trying to learn, and by reading in it every day we will greatly add to our vocabulary, and find ourselves rapidly growing used to the looks and sounds of the most familiar words.

No single book in the world has so many interesting features as the Bible, partly because it is a library or collection of books in itself, written by many different authors, in different periods of the world. The Old Testament, which some people neglect, is full of the most exciting and beautiful stories. There is the story of Job, one of the very oldest in literature, telling how this "man in the land of Uz had seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and a very great household, and was the greatest of all the men of the East." By a series of calamities, robbers, fires, earthquakes, and cyclones, Job lost all his wealth, in the twinkling of an eye; and then follow a wonderful series of chapters in which he and his three friends and the Lord God, "out of a whirlwind," discuss the situation. There are the stories of David and Saul, of David and Goliath, of David and Jonathan, of David and Absalom; indeed the whole history of David is a succession of amazing stories most splendidly told. Coming down from David are the stories of Solomon and the great temple he built, "a mountain of snow and gold"; and then we have the narratives of Nehemiah and Ezra; of Daniel and his wonderful life; of the three friends who were thrown into a fiery furnace, but stepped out unhurt; of many others whom I cannot mention here. Long before David's days we find the beautiful story of Ruth; and we have the story of little Samuel, and of Samuel grown to be a man and a prophet. We have in the old Testament the histories of Elijah and of Elisha, of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

I simply cannot endure the thought that any of my girls are to be ignorant of the charm of the Old Testament. I want them to feel as I do about the "mountains of Gilboa," and the "dew of Hermon," and the fastnesses of Moab; I want them to know Edom and Philistia and Salem and Tyre and Sidon and the cedars of Lebanon. And I _don't_ want them ever to go fumbling and stumbling around through the Bible, not knowing where to find their places, peering about after Second Kings in Deuteronomy, and looking for the Psalms and the Proverbs away over in Malachi. Learn the order of the books, my dears, and fix it in your minds by often reading the Bible, just as you would read any other book, only with the feeling that it will give you an amount of pleasure and profit that no other book can. There are, of course, many books based upon the Bible, and among them are such volumes as _Bible Stories for the Young_, published by Harper & Brothers, a very attractive little book to lie beside your Bible.

* * * * *

A GOOD CHILD

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_PUZZLE PENKNIFE, 10c._

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Postage Stamps, &c.

=STAMPS!= =300= fine mixed Victoria, Cape of G. H., India, Japan, etc., with fine Stamp Album, only =10c.= New 80-p. Price-list =free=. _Agents wanted_ at =50%= commission. STANDARD STAMP CO., 4 Nicholson Place, St. Louis, Mo. Old U.S. and Confederate Stamps bought.

100 all dif. Venezuela, Costa Rica, etc., only 10c.; 200 all dif. Hayti, Hawaii, etc., only 50c. Ag'ts wanted at 50 per ct. com. List FREE!

=C. A. Stegmann=, 2722 Eads Av., St. Louis, Mo.

=50= var., all dif., 5c.; 12 var. Heligoland, 15c.; 6 var. Italy, 1858 to 1862. 5c.; 3 var. Hanover, 5c.; 35 var. C. American, 50c. Agents wanted.

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=100= all different, China, etc., 10c.; 5 Saxony, 10c.; 40 Spain, 40c.; 6 Tunis, 14c.; 10 U. S. Revenues, 10c. Agts. wtd., 50% com.; '95 list free.

CRITTENDEN & BORGMAN CO., Detroit, Mich.

=FREE 15 varieties=; to all sending for approval sheets 50% commission. References required. =FRANK W. ALDEN, Waterville, Me.=

=FREE= 8 Japan and India Stamps, 2c.; 100 all different, 10c.; 6 Sardinia, 5c.; 8 Samoa, 10c.

J. A. WILSON, 1108 Fairmount Ave., Phila., Pa.

=BEST= Approval Sheets at 50% dis.; send at once.

OHIO STAMP CO., Carthage, Ohio.

=POSTAGE DUES.=--50c. brown, 30c. red, 90c. each; the two for $1.75. =Diamond Stamp Co., Germantown, Pa.=

=STAMPS= Catalogue value $5, 30c.; List. 2c.

Old Colony Stamp Co., Plainville, Mass.

=CARDS= Send 2c. stamp for Sample Book of all the FINEST and LATEST Styles in Beveled Edge. Hidden Name, Silk Fringe, Envelope and Calling CARDS FOR 1895. WE SELL GENUINE CARDS, NOT TRASH. =UNION CARD CO., Columbus, Ohio.=

WISER THAN A WIZARD.

A Rare Combination of Natural History, Folk-lore, Charade, and Riddle, with Prizes to those who Unravel Most of the Forty Queer Questions.

Once there lived a very wicked King, a brother of the original Bluebeard. (1) He had an only daughter called Minnehaha. (2) She was a very obedient girl in every respect save one--she would not hearken to the suit of Harry Hotspur, (3) whom her father had determined she must marry. Continuing in her refusal, her father threatened to imprison her in the Plenty Perplexing Puzzle Palace, known as the Four Pi's, (4) the residence of the English Merlin. (5) Finally a compromise was effected--the princess was to marry that man, be he prince or beggar, who should present a query to the King's Wizard which he could not answer. If, however, the Wizard did answer correctly, the propounder of the query was to lose his head.

All the details being fixed, a band of naturalists on their way to the Island of the Moon (6) stopped to try their fortunes. In turn they asked for the edible English philosopher, (7) the species of mollusk that is used in all printing-offices, (8) the bird that is always in evening dress, (9) the bird (10) that sometimes brings corns on your feet, the animal that cannot say no, (11) the insect that fills the new Boston Public Library to the number of many thousands, (12) and the fish (13) that everybody seeks after. As the Wizard replied to all correctly, he chopped off the heads of the questioners. Then Dick the Scholar (14) arrived, and demanded the Story of Molorchos. (15) As soon as the story had been related, Dick's head followed the others into the basket. Next came the Knight of the Lions, (16) singing:

"A hundred and fifty if rightly applied
To a place where the living did once all abide--
Or a consonant joined to a sweet-singing bird--
Will give you a name that you've oftentimes heard.
Which 'mong your friends at least one person owns;
It's a rival of Grey, and as common as Jones." (17)

The Wizard was wise.

A quartet of historians now made their appearance; they asked, respectively, for the statesman (18) who has always been a thorn in the side of Americans; the Colonial general (19) who might have been used to close the Revolution; the American poet (20)whose mouth was larger than his head; and the New England doctor (21) for which the city of Philadelphia is famed.

Once more the King's agent triumphed. Next came the most learned (22) of all the Romans, who asked for Molly Maguires. (23) "You are only fit to wear a steeple-crowned hat," (24) said the wise man when he had given the required explanation, "but I will be lenient with you."

Just now a beautiful song is heard. It is sung by the Prince of the Ode, (25) and it runs as follows:

"My first makes all Nature appear with one face,
At my second are music, beauty, and grace;
And if this charade you cannot e'er guess,--
Throwing my whole at your head,-- I'll take the princess." (26)

But he didn't. The princess remained for another. A poor knight from the Land of Cakes (27) inquired for Tom of Lincoln, (28) but he did not live long enough to use the information when it was given him. An arrogant fellow who imagined the princess was his, said, "Tell me, if you can, to whom did the flying tapestry belong?" (29) That was the last question this man ever propounded. A tall minstrel, who reminded one of the Snow King, (30) presented this:

"My first we oft lend to each other in turn,
To borrow it would be exceedingly droll;
My next near my first you may often discern.
In my first too, alas! you perhaps find my whole." (31)

"Tell me where I can find the Key of Russia?" (32) inquired a bold adventurer. The Wizard told him, and, brave as he was, he lost his head completely.

"I am here to seek the First Gentleman of Europe," (33) said a young gallant. "You are on the road to him," rejoined the Wizard.

A jolly old chap, who resembled the King (34) noted for his penmanship, walking up slowly, shouted:

"What insects (35) does everybody sleep on?"

The princess was yet to be won.

Jack-amend-all (36) then said, "Who was the first Lady Magistrate?" (37) After poor Jack was despatched, there came up the citizen (38) of New Jersey who laid plans to kill King George III., but fired some British naval stores instead. He said this business of trying to get the princess was coming to be so hazardous that, old as he was, he would have to be allowed to ask four questions or none at all. The Wizard agreed readily.

"Who (39) made the first use of steam-power in printing?" he asked, and the Wizard answered promptly.

"In what city (40) was the first republican government in America established?" The Wizard again answered promptly.

The man began to look grave. Half his chances were gone. Summoning courage, he propounded this: "The name of the wife (41) of an English admiral who tried to get state secrets from an American gentleman by arranging some social games of whist." The Wizard related the incident, with names of all parties, without an instant's hesitation. The sweat began to start on the man's face. Only one chance remained. "Name the prince, (42) afterwards king of England," said he, desperately, "whose wife sucked the poison from his arm when he had a narrow escape from assassination while on his way home from a Crusade."

The Wizard named the prince and finished the Jerseyman in the same breath.

After that he was without a job for a time. The princess's conditions seemed so hard that, unless she modified them, she was likely, as the Wizard expressed it, "to die an old maid." He was about to give the princess up to that fate when Queen Dick (43) entered.

"Where do you come from?"

"From Frisco." (44)

"What do you want?"

"To win the Princess Minnehaha. Answer this:

"T U A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A." (45)

"Well, what is it, anyhow?" asked the Wizard.

"Something that you'll find very prominently printed in a book that you and most other people own," replied the suitor.

"Are the letters printed in the book in this form?" inquired the Wizard, getting a bit scared, and trying to gain time.

"In this style and order, yes; but there are other letters and words between them. Come, shall I have the princess?"

The Wizard took five minutes, and gave it up. Dick won the princess, and in the bounteousness of his heart invited all the Knights and Ladies of the Round Table to visit him and see who was wiser than the Wizard.

* * * * *

It is needless to say where you can find answers to the foregoing questions. Of course those that demand animals' names have plays upon either the meaning or pronunciation of those names. The nicknames were once generally applied. Where names of persons are wanted there is, as you scarcely need be told, a double meaning to those names, as, General Wool--were the name used--might be referred to as the soldier that everybody wears in winter, etc. The verses are riddles--and very clever ones. In questions 1, 2, 4, 32, 44, etc., explain briefly the meaning or origin of the numbered word or words. All who have not passed their 18th birthday are asked to send an answer. Grown people may help you find solutions. Make a list of the questions by numbers, giving each a line and writing one below the other. Do _not_ write out the story. Fasten your sheets together. Write your name at the top of the first sheet. Mail answers on May 10, to HARPER'S ROUND TABLE, New York--no other address is needed--and put the words Puzzle Answer in the lower left-hand corner of the envelope. Answers, with prize awards, will be announced as early as possible, and the prizes forwarded at once.

The prizes are: To the best, $10 in money, and $15, also in money, divided among a few other best solvers. Excellence consists in correct answers and correct spelling, but does not refer to penmanship.

Lost Diamond Prize Awards.

The "Lost Diamond" puzzle proved an ideal contest. It was a trifle difficult, to be sure, but it had so much information in it that nobody who failed of a prize had his or her labor for naught. One solver, who lives in Pennsylvania, found all the answers save one, and got the first prize of $10 as his reward. His name is James L. Pequignot. A Minnesota solver secured the second prize, which in this case is made $3. His name is Eugene T. Hawkins. The balance of the prize money is divided among the following eight contestants, $1.50 to each: Saida N. and Frank T. Hallett, of Rhode Island; John Morton Espey and Elizabeth R. McIlvaine, of Pennsylvania; Helen E. Allis, Junius Browne, and Russell M. King, of New York, and J. Lawrence Hyde, of the District of Columbia.

A wide range was allowed in the answers. Indeed, any answer was accepted that could be found in the story, and for which authority was furnished or could be found. All were treated alike in this, and the contest rendered slightly easier for all. Here are answers by numbers:

1. Grammar, logic, rhetoric, arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and music. 2. Charles Farrar Browne (Artemus Ward). 3. School; academy. 4. Edmund March Blunt. 5. Robert Burns. 6. "Do Nothing;" Louis Fifth. 7. Eliza Cook. 8. On the Threshold. 9. George Gale. 10. Peter Bang. 11. Andrew Bell. 12. Red tape. 13. Alice French (Octave Thanet). 14. Adolphus Washington Green. 15. Frank Beard. 16. Elizabeth Barrett Browning. 17. Skin and bone; William Mahone. 18. Cat; _Macbeth_, act i., scene 7. 19. Allan Woodcourt; _Bleak House_. 20. Elias Howe. 21. Balls; from the coat of arms of the Medici family, the money loaners of Florence; origin of the three gilt balls over a pawnbroker's shop. 22. John Knox. 23. The Hermit of Niagara Falls; drowned while bathing, June, 1831. 24. Private theatricals. 25. Harriet Beecher Stowe. 20. Josiah Gilbert Holland. 27. Helen Hunt Jackson; vicinity of Manitou, Col. 28. Basket; _Merry Wives of Windsor_, act iii., scene 3; Sir John Falstaff. 20. Elizabeth. 30. Steppes. 31. Thomas Hood. 32. Cape. 33. Task; William Cowper. 34. Gilbert White. 35. Roger Long. 36. Thomas Day. 37. Francis Scott Key. 38. Lucy Stone. 39. Mary Berry. 40. Joanna Koerton Bloch. 41. William Black. 42. James Rains. 43. _House of Seven Gables_, by Nathaniel Hawthorne. 44. Edward Bird. 45. Captain Robert Gray. 46. William and Mary, Williamsburgh, Va., 1693. 47. Salmon P. Chase. 48. Carpet; apple. 40. Mr. Smuggins; _Sketches by Boz_. 50. A Roundabout Journey; Charles Dudley Warner. 51. Sir Thomas More: _Utopia_; statement made by Erasmus: also said to be _A Tale of a Tub_, by Jonathan Swift. 52. Ridgway Knight. 53. John Bright; Robert Peel.

Writing to the Round Table.

SOMERSET EAST, CAPE COLONY, SOUTH AFRICA.

I am going to tell you about Somerset East, the South African town
in which I live. It is snugly situated at the foot of a large and
pretty mountain called the Bush-berg. There are a good many kloofs
or deep ravines in it which are filled with bushes. The mountain
is a very fine place for picnicking. At the top of each kloof
there is a steep precipice, over which there is a small waterfall.
The town is supplied by the water of one of these kloofs. It is
conducted by pipes to the town. At one time the mountain was
inhabited by leopards, but they have been driven away. There are a
good many bucks and monkeys which live in the kloofs.

I should have told you at first that this mountain lies to the
north of the town. To the south is the Fish River. It is only a
small river, and has hardly any water in it except in the rainy
season. Now that I have told you something about Somerset East, I
will tell you something about myself. I am fourteen years of age.
My chief sports are playing football and cricket. I am also very
fond of shooting, fishing, and swimming. I am also greatly
interested in collecting stamps. I have a good many varieties in
an album, and would be very glad to exchange stamps with any one
who would write to me.

GEORGE D. CHAPLIN.

Please tell us about your fruits, and at what season of the year they are ripe. Also about plants, flowers, and birds common with you.

Round Table Chapters.

Here are records of more Chapters:

No. 679.--The Will Carleton, of Downsville, Wis. John Cassidy, Downsville.

No. 680.--The Captain Charles King Chapter, of St. Louis, Mo. It is an international corresponding Chapter, and would like members from all foreign countries, especially from India, the West Indies, Japan, China, and Africa. The initiation is a coin or stamp that equals five cents in United States money. Dues are five cents for three months, in advance. It would like to enroll Captain Charles King as an honorary member, with his consent. The president is Henrietta B. Walker, of Hendersonville, N. C. Walter Kruckman is vice-president, and Arnold Kruckman is secretary and treasurer, care of Missouri Pacific Telegraph Department; Sixth and Locust streets, St. Louis.

No. 681.--The G. A. Henty Chapter, of Cleveland, O. Officers are F. A. Goodwin, president, and Andrew Neil, secretary. Other members are Louis Falkner, Harry Harding, Robert Matthews. Rear 7 Eagle Street, Cleveland.

No. 682.--The Belvidere Chapter, of Daretown, N. J. Joseph S. Cook, Margaretta E. Paulding, Albert D. Paulding, Charles E. Richman. Other members are Sara C. Clayton, Josephine S. Paulding, and James W. Richman.

No. 683.--The Granite State Literary Society, of Concord, N. H. John Leighton, Margarita Rolins, Edith Freeman, Grace Hood, Morton M. Cheney, president, 81 North State Street.

No. 684.--The "I. H. N." Chapter, of Winchester, Mass. Cassie Sands, Edith Richburg, Marion Simmonds, Pearl Maclaughlin. It meets semi-monthly, at the homes of the members, and its object is to help others and have a good time. Chapter address, 25-1/2 Myrtle Street.

No. 685.--The Phoenix Amusement Chapter, of Appleton, Wis. Officers are Benjamin Barrett, Charles Hattersly, and George Stansburg. Its object is the cultivation of literature and social amusement. It would like to correspond with other Chapters. 791 Lawrence Street.

No. 686.--The Lincoln Chapter, of Toledo, O. R. E. Richardson, 519 Congress Street.

Ivory Soap

It Floats

"Wax Yellow," "Light May Green," "Fashionable Brown," and "Fine Orange" are artificial soap colors, used by manufacturers.

Do you not prefer your soap as you prefer your butter, of good natural color?

THE PROCTER & GAMBLE CO., CIN'TI.

Get a Glass!

Quick!!

There's lots of snap and vim in this HIRES' ROOTBEER. There's lots of pleasure and good health in it, too. A delicious drink, a temperance drink, a home-made drink, a drink that delights the old and young. Be sure and get the genuine

HIRES'

Rootbeer

A 25 cent package makes 5 gallons. Sold everywhere.

The Chas. E. Hires Company, Philadelphia, Pa.

EASILY EARNED.

NO MONEY NEEDED.

Models for Boys, Girls, Ladies, Gentlemen are included

The offer is open to every boy, every girl--to everybody. Cameras. Air Rifles, Shot-Guns, Tents, Stamp Collections, etc, may be obtained by same easy, pleasant method. Full particulars free of

ALPHA PUBLISHING CO., 212 Boylston St., Boston, Mass.

HOOPING-COUGH

CROUP.

Roche's Herbal Embrocation.

The celebrated and effectual English Cure without internal medicine. Proprietors, W. EDWARD & SON, Queen Victoria St., London, England. Wholesale of

E. Fougera & Co., 30 North William St., N. Y.

CARD PRINTER =FREE=

Sets any name in one minute; prints 500 cards an hour. YOU can make money with it. A font of pretty type, also Indelible Ink, Type Holder, Pads and Tweezers. Best Linen Marker; worth $1.00. Sample mailed FREE for 10c. stamps for postage on outfit and large catalogue of 1000 Bargains.

R. H. Ingersoll & Bro. 65 Cortlandt St. N. Y. City

Commit to Memory

the best things in Prose and Poetry, always including good Songs and Hymns. It is surprising how little good work of this kind seems to be done in the Schools, if one must judge from the small number of people who can repeat, without mistake or omission, as many as Three good songs or hymns.

Clear, Sharp, Definite,

and accurate Memory work is a most excellent thing, whether in School or out of it, among all ages and all classes. But let that which is so learned be worth learning and worth retaining. The Franklin Square Song Collection presents a large number of

Old and New Songs

and Hymns, in great variety and very carefully selected, comprising Sixteen Hundred in the Eight Numbers thus far issued, together with much choice and profitable Reading Matter relating to Music and Musicians. In the complete and varied

Table of Contents,

which is sent free on application to the Publishers, there are found dozens of the best things in the World, which are well worth committing to memory; and they who know most of such good things, and appreciate and enjoy them most, are really among the best educated people in any country. They have the best result of Education. For above Contents, with sample pages of Music, address

Harper & Brothers, New York.

UNCLE SILAS'S ENCOUNTER WITH THE EVIL ONE.

Jocko makes a bolt for the woods to escape a cruel master.

Finds a nice box which is just the place to hide in;

But soon discovers his mistake, to the delight of Uncle Silas, who finds his trap sprung,

And bags what he thinks a fine buck rabbit.

Visions of a savory stew present themselves as he takes poor Jocko homewards,

Which are about to be realized, when Jocko

Makes a second bolt for liberty,

And so did Silas and Chloe.

CONSOLATION.

MAMIE (_crying_). "Oh, Tommie, my doll fell in the fire and got all burnt up! The prettiest one I had, too!"

TOMMIE (_just in from school_). "Don't cry, Mamie. Philosophy says matter can't be destroyed. Your doll is here yet, only it's not in the same form."

PAINTED TO MATCH.

"Our library is a lovely room," said Robbie. "It's painted green."

"That's to match your papa, I guess," said Fred. "My papa says he's the greenest man he knows."

A NEW BUSINESS.

"What does your daddy do for a living?" asked Benny, whose father is an author.

"He's a stockbroker," said Johnny. "What's yours?"

"He's a pen-wiggler," said Benny.

MOLLIE'S APPEAL.

"I do wish you'd read to me, grandmamma," said Mollie. "I don't care much for the stories, but your voice is sweeter'n merlasses."

A WISH.

I wish I lived in Topsytown,
Where things are always upside down;
I'd love it much, for then, you see,
Too much mince pie'd be good for me.

WALLIE'S JOKE.

"Just see that baby putting that little iron car in his mouth. What do you suppose he thinks it is?" asked the visitor.

"Guess he's heard it's a chew-chew car," said Wallie.

THE TROUBLE.

"I hate a sore throat," said little Jack. "They're very nice to keep you home from school, but they're horrid when you come to swallow buckwheat cakes."

"Well, Jimmieboy, I see your papa has put you in a book."

"He tried to," returned Jimmieboy, "but I guess he didn't get me all in. I'm too big."

AN EXPLANATION.

"I wonder why it is that most little boys don't want to go to bed when the time comes?" said Mr. Simpkins.

"Guess it's because they don't know enough," said Willie. "Now I like to go to bed because I go right to sleep, and I have heaps of fun dreaming I'm a pirate or a giant killer--and it's safe as a church, because even if you get killed you're alive again in time for breakfast."

GETTING AT THE FIGURES.

Jimmieboy is studying arithmetic, and has done very well so far. The other day his father took him in his lap, and giving him a squeeze, said, "Dear little boy, you don't know how much I love you."

"Yes, I do," said Jimmieboy; "I love you $2,000,000 worth. You weigh three times as much as I do, so you love me three times as much as I do you. That's $6,000,000 worth."

End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Round Table, April 30, 1895, by Various