Chapter VII: Hardships (2)

"The charge was begun with the sabre, of course; but when the enemy broke and fled, a number of us in advance drew our pistols, and enforced our demands for surrender by rapid shots with our revolvers, still riding at a charge, with sabres in hand. I had emptied my revolver, and before returning it, rode at an officer whom, in the dust and smoke, I thought to be refusing to surrender to one of my men. I brought my sabre to a point, with the remark, 'Colonel, you are _my_ prisoner!' His reply was more forcible than courteous, as, after a moment's surprise, he made a cut at my head with his sabre. I partially parried the cut, and at the same time Lieutenant Quirk called to me that we were surrounded and alone. The rebels, who were all around us, then commenced a rapid fire with their pistols, and must have been surprised to see Lieutenant Quirk and myself, in spite of their firing and orders to surrender, ride safely back to the regiment. A kindly Hibernian of the Second made good my only personal loss by giving me the hat off his own head. From a description of the officer who didn't surrender on this occasion, General Buford was of the opinion that it was Colonel (afterwards General) Wade Hampton."

He also related the following episode, which shows how close and upon what _intimate_ relations the conflict had continued:

"As Sergeant-major Delacour was assisting Lieutenant Lennox from under fire, a horseman in gray rode up and fired at the officer, who said, 'Don't shoot; I'm wounded!' With an oath the Confederate emptied another barrel of his revolver within a few feet of Lennox's head, when Delacour, pausing, drew his pistol, fired, and as the unfortunate tumbled off his horse, coolly remarked, 'And now _you_ are wounded.'"

The account of every regiment was a repetition of this, except that the Second engaged more men and suffered a heavier loss. Late in the day it was relieved by the Sixth United States Cavalry--one of the few regular bodies of mounted men in the service which was not separated into small detachments.

But it was a great day for the mounted forces of the Union army. Major-General Henry J. Hunt, Chief of Artillery of the Army of the Potomac, says, in referring to this action: "This was in the main a true cavalry battle, and enabled the Federals to dispute the superiority hitherto claimed and conceded to the Confederate cavalry. Stuart reported his losses at 485, of whom 301 were killed and wounded. Pleasanton reports an aggregate loss of 907, of whom 421 were wounded."

The Second Cavalry alone lost, out of 225 men who were engaged, 68 in killed and wounded, and 73 horses killed or disabled. "From that day," says Merritt, "the prestige of the Confederate cavalry was broken and its superiority gone forever."

In a volume called _A Rebel War-clerk's Diary_ occurs the following entry: "The surprise of Stuart on the Rappahannock has chilled every heart. Notwithstanding it does not appear that we have lost more men in the encounter, the question is on every tongue, 'Have our Generals relaxed in vigilance?' If so, sad is the prospect."

Although the fact of this combat did not check Lee's advance materially, it gave a confidence to our troops that bore fruit afterwards.

The annual Thanksgiving-day game between Berkeley School and St. Paul's, Garden City, resulted in a victory of 24-2 for St. Paul's. The Long-Islanders fairly outclassed the Berkeley players, who have not been quite up to the standard this year. If it had not been for carelessness on the part of Pettit, Berkeley would not have scored. By lack of judgment on the part of this half-back at a critical moment, St. Paul's was forced to make a safety.

The feature of the game was Starr's kicking of goals. He had four chances, and accepted them all, two of them being at good angles. Berkeley had the kick-off, and Bien sent the ball down to St. Paul's twenty-five-yard line, whence Pettit made a run of twenty yards before he was stopped. The ball was kept going by steady advances, until it was carried across the line. S. Starr caught the ball on the next kick-off, and ran thirty-five yards, protected by good interference. When he was downed, the ball was within fifteen yards of the line, and by a couple of plunges through the centre, and Starr around the left end, St. Paul's scored again.

There was no more scoring in the first half, but these figures were duplicated in the early part of the second. It was in the latter part of the second half, too, that Berkeley scored. It was Berkeley's ball on the third down, and a pass was made to Bien for a punt. The leather sailed over into Pettit's territory, and he caught it on St. Paul's ten-yard line, but was so slow in handling it that Berkeley was down on him before he realized what had happened, and they had shoved him across the line for a safety. Apparently the St. Paul's rushers were so anxious to get through and stop the kick that they did not think of protecting their back. It is not fair to place all the responsibility for the misplay upon Pettit.

Another exciting and interesting Thanksgiving-day game was that between Brooklyn High and Poly. Prep., played at Eastern Park, the victory going to the High-School, 6-0. This match developed as good football as has been seen in Brooklyn this fall, and the teams proved to be very evenly matched. In the first half it would have been difficult to decide which was the better eleven, but in the second half the Poly. Prep. line weakened a trifle, and the High-School backs were sent through at centre and tackle for repeated gains. The High-School team was slightly the heavier, and this advantage is accountable for the work of the line-men during the latter part of the game.

The only touch-down of the day was scored almost at the close of the second half. By mass plays the ball had been brought down into Poly. Prep.'s territory, and from the five-yard line Geirasch was shoved over for a touch-down. Some exciting play followed this, Poly. Prep. having secured the ball on the High-School's twenty-five-yard line by a fumble. They took a tremendous brace, and rushed the leather fifteen yards, but the High-School players pulled themselves together at this point, got the ball on downs, and the game closed with neither goal in danger.

The championship of the Long Island League was not affected by the result of this game, inasmuch as St. Paul's had practically secured first place by defeating Brooklyn High, 8-0, on November 12. St. Paul's had no easy time of it with the Brooklyn players, and only managed to score once. This was done in the first half with good centre plays, S. Starr being shoved across the line. The other two points resulted from a safety by the High-School.

The championship of the Cook County High-School Football League has been won by Englewood H.-S., the deciding game being against Hyde Park, 38-6. Both teams played good football, and although Hyde Park was in some respects outclassed, the men nevertheless worked hard, and succeeded in not being shut out altogether.

Most of Englewood's gains were made around the ends, the Hyde Park line being stronger than had been anticipated. Teetzel, as usual, proved the star player of the day, and made one unusually good run. This was in the second half, when he was sent through Hyde Park's tackle, and after clearing his hole and dodging the half-backs, he put down the field for sixty yards, and scored. The team-work of Englewood was better than has been developed by that eleven in any previous game; and as for individual work, Henry and Ferguson deserve mention. Henry followed the interference well, and got through the Hyde Park line whenever he had the ball. Ferguson's strong point was in protecting the runner.

The best work for Hyde Park was done by Captain Linden, who got into every play, and made a gain almost every time he took the ball. He did the scoring for his side. He took the leather on Englewood's twenty-five-yard line three times in succession, making short gains at every plunge, and finally managed to get himself pushed across the line. This is only the second time that Englewood has been scored against in a League football game this year.

The Chicago High-School Football-Players seem to have little pride in making any kind of a showing against out-of-town teams, if we may judge from the performance of Englewood against Elgin, and of Hyde Park against Madison. The Englewood High-School had a game scheduled with Elgin for Thanksgiving day, but as soon as they had won the Cook County championship the eleven disbanded. Manager Knox was at his wits' end to get a team to go to Elgin, and only succeeded in enlisting the services of three of the regular players, filling the other positions as best he could.

Of course this was not a High-School eleven, and had no right to represent itself as such. The Elgin players even claim that one of the men who came along with Manager Knox's patch-work team had played this year with Lake Forest University. The Elgin eleven was the same that has represented that school all season, and which has not been defeated. The game against Englewood, or rather against the eleven that was masquerading in Englewood's colors, ended in a dispute, and was awarded to Elgin. The best element among students at Englewood believe that if the regular team had gone to represent the school the result would have been different. As it is, however, Elgin claims the championship of the Illinois High-Schools.

The Hyde Park H.-S. football-players also went out of training as soon as they had been defeated by Englewood for the Cook County championship. Consequently, when they were called upon to play against Madison High-School, it was impossible to get the regular eleven men together, and a few outsiders were taken in to make up the team. As might have been expected, the influence of these outsiders was of the worst possible kind, and they resorted to methods during the game which would not have been countenanced by the regular players.

This sort of thing brings a bad reputation to the Chicago High-School football-players. Of course this is to be regretted, but it is richly deserved, and unless some of the better element take a hand and introduce rigid reforms in matters athletic, things will go from bad to worse, and the spirit of semi-professionalism, which has proved such a dangerous thing in other quarters, will effect the ruin of sport in Chicago.

The championship of the High-School football teams of Wisconsin and Minnesota was won by the Madison High-School, which defeated the Minneapolis South Side H.-S., 21-0. Both teams played good, hard football, but Madison, although the lighter of the two elevens, had the better system, and plunged through its opponents for repeated gains. Captain Dean of Madison massed his plays on tackles, where he was very successful in gaining ground. The best work for Minneapolis was done in the second half, and their gains were chiefly obtained around the ends. The feature of the game was a goal from the field, kicked by Anderson of Madison H.-S., toward the end of the first half. Madison had forced the ball down to their opponents' 20-yard line, but Minneapolis here took a brace and managed to hold. The ball was then passed back for a kick, and Anderson succeeded in making a beautiful goal. Some of the best work for Madison was done by Wheeler and Curtis at tackle, and by Nelson, who made many fierce plunges through the Minneapolis centre. Davis at centre held well on the defence, and likewise put up a strong offensive game. The best work for Minneapolis was done by Von Schlegell. He did excellent work in the interference, and tackled hard and low; he likewise made a number of gains around the ends. Other good work for Minneapolis was done by Dumas and Shepley.

It is announced that again this year the Knickerbocker Athletic Club will hold a large in-door interscholastic track-athletic meeting. The success of last year's venture will probably help to make the coming occasion one of the biggest interscholastic affairs in any city of the country this winter, and if it is properly conducted it ought certainly to achieve this distinction. I believe it has already been decided that last year's experiment of a dirt track in the Madison Square Garden will not be tried again, and that at the coming meeting the runs will be held on a board flooring. In addition to securing entries from the schools of Boston, Philadelphia, Hartford, New Haven, and other near institutions, an attempt will be made to induce the young athletes of Baltimore, Washington, and possibly Chicago to compete. If this could be done, the meeting would be fully as representative as the National Interscholastic out-door meeting of last June.

When Exeter and Andover determined to renew their athletic relations, they drew up a set of rules to govern their meetings in the future; and as the paragraphs adopted by the two schools seem to be of considerable importance for the welfare of amateur sport, I give them below:

The undersigned, representatives of the Phillips Andover and
Phillips Exeter Athletic Associations, agree on the following
regulations to govern all contests between the two Associations for
the period of one year--from October, 1896, to July, 1897,
inclusive:

1. There shall be annual contests between the two Associations in
football, base-ball, track athletics, and tennis.

2. The dates for these contests shall be arranged from year to year
by the managers of the several Associations, and announced six
weeks before the contest.

3. The officials for each game shall be chosen by joint agreement
of the representatives of the two Associations, and shall be
announced to each school at least two weeks before the date of the
game.

4. No player shall take part for more than four years in these
games.

5. No student shall be allowed to represent Phillips Academy in any
such public contest unless he is regularly enrolled as a member on
the register of the school and is taking at least twelve hours of
work per week. No student shall be allowed to represent Phillips
Academy in any such public contest who either before or since
entering the school shall have engaged in any athletic competition
for money, whether for a stake or a money prize, or a share of the
entrance-fees or admission-money; or who shall have taught or
engaged in any athletic exercise or sport as a means of livelihood;
or who shall have received for his participation in any athletic
sport or contest any pecuniary gain or reward whatever, direct or
indirect, provided, however, that he may have received from the
school organizations, or from any permanent amateur association of
which he was at any time a member, the amount by which the expenses
necessarily incurred by him in representing this organization in
athletic contests exceeded his ordinary expenses.

6. The school manager of each athletic team shall submit to the
manager of the opposing team, at least three weeks before the date
of the contest between the two teams, a list of all players whom he
may use in such contest, together with the home address of each
player, and shall also upon request furnish any other information
which may aid in the enforcement of the previous rules. No player
not so named shall take part in the contest.

7. All protests which may be made concerning eligibility of
players, and all other disputes, shall be decided, without appeal,
by a referee, who shall be chosen by the joint agreement of the
Athletic Committee or Representative of the two Associations.

8. All expenses incurred in the enforcement of these rules and in
payment of officials shall be shared equally by the two
Associations.

If Brookline High had won the game against Hopkinson on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving she would have won the championship of the Senior League in Boston, but her defeat, 16-0, will probably give the championship to Cambridge M. T. S. The Hopkinson-Brookline High game was one of the best-fought battles that have been seen in Boston this year among the schools. During the first half the play was of a high order. Both teams gained ground, and each was strong enough to secure the ball from the other on downs, and it was more because of a misplay by Brookline than by superior work of Hopkinson that the latter made a touch-down toward the close of the first half. Hallowell managed his team splendidly, but the star player of the day was undoubtedly Mann. Further details of the game and of the closing matches of the Boston Leagues must be delayed until next week.

"FOOTBALL FACTS AND FIGURES."--BY WALTER CAMP.--POST 8VO, PAPER, 75 CENTS.

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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. Our
maps and tours contain many valuable data kindly supplied from the
official maps and road-books of the League of American Wheelmen.
Recognizing the value of the work being done by the L.A.W., the
Editor will be pleased to furnish subscribers with membership
blanks and information so far as possible.

The final stage of the run from New York to Newburg is given this week. In the previous three weeks the country between Hoboken and Newburg up the western bank of the Hudson has been published, and, of course, the wheelman, if he chooses, may run on further up the Hudson. Beyond Newburg, however, the country becomes very hilly, and some of the roads are practically unrideable in some cases because the hills are too steep to ride up, and in others because they are too steep to ride down. Some of the roads around Newburg are very bad for the same reason, especially those running southward from the city through Canterbury and Cornwall, and down below West Point. Through this part of the country in the vicinity of the river it is wiser, both for your own good and that of your wheel, to refrain from wheeling at all.

The main road to Newburg is good riding, however--that passing through Tuxedo, Highland Mills, and Woodbury Falls, on last week's map, to Mountainville. Thence turn left, and run to Salisbury Mills, keeping always to the right until you leave the latter place, and run up to Orrs Mills and Vails Gate, thence proceeding direct to Newburg. None of the roads hereabout can be called first-class, and this particular route is by no means the best. If your run is to be as far as Poughkeepsie, it is wiser to keep further westward, and run from Blooming Grove on last week's map, out through Otterkill, Maybrook, and Coldenham. Any bicyclist who wants to reach Poughkeepsie from New York is strongly advised to keep to the east bank of the Hudson all the way up. The wheeling through the country where Tuxedo is situated is good, but except for a few roads outside of this small bit of territory, the riding is pretty hilly. The road-bed, as a rule, is in fair to good condition, but the unevenness of the ground is a constant worry to a bicyclist--the kind of worry that wears him out in short order, unless he is an experienced wheelman.

The only reason for riding through this country is a historic one, for the ground is covered with objects of interest connected with the Revolutionary war, and of course West Point itself is one of the sights of the Hudson, both from the fact of its being the seat of the military academy, and because of the scenery thereabouts.

This closes the particular trip which for several weeks we have been discussing, and for the present, during the winter season, the Department will be discontinued. Questions on bicycling matters, where they can be answered, will be attended to as before, and the Department will be resumed in the early spring. All applications for explanations as to the method to be followed in becoming a member of the L.A.W. will also be answered as heretofore.

NOTE.--Map of New York city asphalted streets in No. 809. Map of
route from New York to Tarrytown in No. 810. New York to Stamford,
Connecticut, in No. 811. New York to Staten Island in No. 812. New
Jersey from Hoboken to Pine Brook in No. 813. Brooklyn in No. 814.
Brooklyn to Babylon in No. 815. Brooklyn to Northport in No. 816.
Tarrytown to Poughkeepsie in No. 817. Poughkeepsie to Hudson in No.
818. Hudson to Albany in No. 819. Tottenville to Trenton in No.
820. Trenton to Philadelphia in No. 821. Philadelphia in No. 822.
Philadelphia-Wissahickon Route in No. 823. Philadelphia to West
Chester in No. 824. Philadelphia to Atlantic City--First Stage in
No. 825; Second Stage in No. 826. Philadelphia to Vineland--First
Stage in No. 827; Second Stage in No. 828. New York to
Boston--Second Stage in No. 829; Third Stage in No. 830; Fourth
Stage in No. 831; Fifth Stage in No. 832; Sixth Stage in No. 833.
Boston to Concord in No. 834. Boston in No. 835. Boston to
Gloucester in No. 836. Boston to Newburyport in No. 837. Boston to
New Bedford in No. 838. Boston to South Framingham in No. 839.
Boston to Nahant in No. 840. Boston to Lowell in No. 841. Boston to
Nantasket Beach in No. 842. Boston Circuit Ride in No. 843.
Philadelphia to Washington--First Stage in No. 844; Second Stage in
No. 845; Third Stage in No. 846; Fourth Stage in No. 847; Fifth
Stage in No. 848. City of Washington in No. 849. City of Albany in
No. 854; Albany to Fonda in No. 855; Fonda to Utica in No. 856;
Utica to Syracuse in No. 857; Syracuse to Lyons in No. 858; Lyons
to Rochester in No. 859; Rochester to Batavia in No. 860; Batavia
to Buffalo in No. 861; Poughkeepsie to Newtown in No. 864; Newtown
to Hartford in No. 865; New Haven to Hartford in No. 866; Hartford
to Springfield in No. 867; Hartford to Canaan in No. 868; Canaan to
Pittsfield in No. 869; Hudson to Pittsfield in No. 870. City of
Chicago in No. 874. Waukesha to Oconomowoc in No. 875; Chicago to
Wheeling in No. 876; Wheeling to Lippencott's in No. 877;
Lippencott's to Waukesha in No. 878; Waukesha to Milwaukee in No.
879; Chicago to Joliet in No. 881; Joliet to Ottawa in No. 882;
Ottawa to La Salle in No. 883; Jersey City to Englewood in No. 890;
Englewood to Nyack in No. 891; Nyack to Washingtonville in No. 892.

Any questions in regard to photograph matters will be willingly
answered by the Editor of this column, and we should be glad to
hear from any of our club who can make helpful suggestions.

PHOTOGRAPHIC-PRINT EXCHANGE.

We have received many letters from members who are interested in the print exchange, and for the benefit of those who did not see the suggestion details will be found in the Camera Club Department for October 13. If any member who desires to exchange prints does not succeed in getting those which he wishes, if he will send word to the editor, the "want" will be printed a second time.

SIR KNIGHT ARTHUR INKERSLEY, 709 Hyde St., San Francisco, Cal.,
wishes to exchange prints of Alaska, Mexico, and the country round
San Francisco, for England, Ireland, and Scotland prints; and of
the forts, guns, navy-yards, and coast defences of the United
States. Sir Arthur's prints may be had in silver, salt, or
aristo-platinotype, and are 5 by 7 in size.

SIR KNIGHT FREDERICK CLAPP, 175 Boston St., South Boston, Mass.,
has prints of Boston and vicinity to exchange for photographs of
State Houses, as he is making a collection of such photographs. Sir
Frederick makes fine pictures, judging from the specimens sent to
the Round Table.

SIR KNIGHT LOUIS A. DYAR, Winona, Minn., wishes to exchange prints
of the bluffs of the Mississippi River, the Maine coast, and
interior or animal studies, for pictures taken near Ogunquit or
Strong, Me.; interesting figure or animal studies; or historical
places in the United States. His pictures are 3-1/2 by 3-1/2 and 4
by 5, clear and well finished.

ERNEST T. SELIG, Lawrence, Kan., wishes to exchange photographs of
the collection of animals in the Kansas State University for
pictures of the government buildings at Washington, D. C. A part of
the collection mentioned was in the Kansas building at the World's
Fair.

SIR KNIGHT JOHN N. PROTHERO asks how to filter solutions. Take a
piece of filtering-paper, which may be bought either at the
druggist's or of the dealer in photographic goods, fold it through
the centre (it comes cut in circles), then fold it back and forth
from the centre like a fan. Crease these folds, open the paper, and
put it inside a glass funnel, and turn in the liquid to be
filtered. The funnel may be set in a bottle, or one can use a
regular filter-holder. The creases in the paper prevent it from
sticking to the glass funnel when it is wet with the solution, and
the liquid runs through faster.

SIR KNIGHT F. ELTON MORSE, 11 and 13 Market St., Lynn, Mass.,
wishes to exchange photographic views with members of the Camera
Club. Sir Knight Elton says that he has a 5-by-8 Rochester Optical
Co. single-view lens which he would like to exchange for a 4-by-5
size of the same make, if any member would like to make the
exchange.

SIR KNIGHT WILLIAM MERRITT, Rhinecliff, N.Y., says that he has a
4-by-5 Manhattan Camera, almost new, carrying three double
plate-holders, and is suitable for instantaneous or time exposures,
which he would like to sell. He also asks when the next contest is
to be held. The contest is now in progress, and will close December
15.

SIR KNIGHT L. P. DODGE asks if films are made for the pocket kodak
for more than twelve exposures, and if there is any contest open to
Knights and Ladies who own pocket kodaks. Twelve exposures is the
regulation length for the pocket kodak. A box of films containing
four spools (forty-eight exposures) may be bought for $1, and as
the camera may be loaded by daylight, the small rolls are more
convenient. There is no contest open for pocket-kodak pictures. A
pocket-kodak picture may be enlarged to a 4-by-5, and sometimes
even larger, if clear and sharp.

Sir Knight S. F. Macquaide writes that he has an Eastman pocket
kodak which he would like to sell, as he wishes to buy a larger
camera. This camera, he says, is in first-class condition, and has
been used but a short time. His address is 46 Mechlin Street,
Germantown, Pa.

SIR KNIGHT VINCENT AULES, New Dorp, Staten Island, asks if plates
on which pictures have been taken can be used again for making
pictures. They cannot be used for making pictures unless the glass
is cleaned, and then coated again with the sensitive solution, and
for an amateur this involves more trouble and expense than to buy
fresh plates. Old plates may be used for making transparencies,
directions for which were given in No. 857, March 31, 1896.

LADY EDNA KNAPP encloses a print with a white streak across one
end, and says that all her negatives have the same defect, and asks
the reason. The camera leaks light and fogs the plate. There is
probably a pin-hole in the bellows, or perhaps the lens is not
fitted tight enough. As Lady Edna is a beginner the editor would
advise taking the camera to an expert and have it examined, or to
return it to the dealer and have it exchanged for a perfect one.
The latter course would be the better of the two.

SIR KNIGHT JOSEPH K. FORNANCE asks why the film of negatives turns
an olive color; if there is any way of burnishing prints without a
burnisher; and if a picture taken with the No. 2 Bullet, pictures
3-1/2 by 3-1/2, is eligible for the contest. The olive color of the
film is due to insufficient fixing, leaving in the film undissolved
silver salts. Pictures may be burnished by squeegeeing them to a
ferrotype-plate, directions for which were given in No. 884,
October 6, answer to Sir Knight Hubbard Marsh. The smallest size
picture admitted to the contest is 4 by 5.

SIR KNIGHT JOSEPH GIBSON, JUN., Ingersoll, Ont., Canada, asks how
the focal length of a lens may be found; what causes a plate to
turn yellow after it is developed and fixed; if warm water will
loosen the film from the glass. Directions for finding the focal
length of a lens will be given in an early number of the ROUND
TABLE. The yellow staining of the negative is caused by its not
being left long enough in the fixing-bath, and portions of the
undissolved silver salts remain in the film. Warm water would
soften the film, and cause it to swell and separate from the glass.
Use cold running water; 70° is a safe temperature.

* * * * *

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POLITICS IN THE LAND OF SHADES.

According to the old Latin idea, people at death take up spiritual abodes across the River Styx, a fabled spot somewhere, and reached somehow. Puzzle stories are required to stick to well-settled facts in chronology and theology no more than was ancient fiction. The following "true" story pretends to stick closely to neither "ology" mentioned. Here is the telegraphic (kite line) report, just to hand:

_TO FOLK STILL ON EARTH:_

Did you know there was an election held recently in the Land of Styx? Your newspapers have been so filled of late with details of your campaign that the contests in a mystical country have been left unnoticed. It is left to me to give to you the first news of both campaign and its results.

It was a three-cornered contest, this late political fight of ours, and here are the tickets in the field:

A.

For President of the Styx Club, the "Father of Chicago" (1).

For Vice-President of same, the great Egyptian who had his pillar ornamented with palm-trees (2).

For Trustees, the President of the United States who first suspended the writ of habeas corpus (3); the man (4) who ordered that Sunday should be made, in his empire, the Christian Sabbath; the discoverer (5) of the Ohio River; and the inventor of binary arithmetic (6).

For Chief Engineer of the Styx Fortifications, the architect (7) of the Great Fire (1666) Monument, London.

For Custodian of Estray Sprites, the founder (8) of the Order of Sisters of Charity.

B.

For President, the author (9) of the Marseillaise Hymn.

For Vice-President, the leader (10) of that company of Icelanders who discovered Greenland.

For Trustees, the king (11) who founded the Order of the Garter; the only United States Senator (12) from California who was ever nominated for President; the discoverer (13) of Cape Horn; and the inventor (14) of the panorama.

For Chief Engineer, the inventor (15) of silver mirrors.

For Custodian, the father (16) of ancient moral philosophy.

C.

For President, the first Roman (17) to wear a crown.

For Vice-President, the author (18) of "Hail Columbia."

For Trustees, the President (19) of the United States famous for his "Kitchen Cabinet"; the queen (20) who said, "We will not have our prerogatives brought into question"; the father (21) of tractarianism; and the discoverer (22) of aluminium.

For Chief Engineer, the architect (23) of Trinity Church, Boston.

For Custodian, the man (24) who ran second on the Presidential ticket with Horatio Seymour in 1868.

The election came off yesterday, and the ticket marked "B" was successful. To-night there is a grand river parade of rejoicing. At the head of the parade is the ship (25), building for a German firm, that has just been launched in Glasgow, and rivals the _Great Eastern_ in size. Following it are all manner of craft and all sorts of people. Of the latter are those ancients (26), described by Cæsar, who burned everything they owned preparatory to migration, not knowing where they should go to. Behind them came the first permanent base-ball club (27).

But the feature of the unique parade was a great company of people (28) who first used parasols. And they carried such queer banners!

Three of the banners bore legends. The people, who have little else to do here, busied themselves all night trying to guess the things described. Maybe you can do better than we have, for up to this hour we have guessed but one of them. Here they are:

I (29) am soft and spongy because I haven't had time to dry. Some people doubt my existence. But that doubt is easily dispelled, for everybody on earth has seen me many times. I always float and have funny marks on me. I live in the cold and travel much. Good to eat? Yes,--and no.

I (30) am thin and thick; a liquid and a solid. I am long--very long, and I am short. I have written epic poems and doggerel rhymes. I have overturned nations, and carried news of deaths and births. I am several colors, but most people prefer me black. Everybody uses me.

Millions of dollars have been spent to find me (31). So have many lives. And yet everybody knows where I am. Fame awaits any man I touch, and yet I don't exist, and wouldn't be a particle of use to anybody if I did.

Above these words were real birds, perched on cross-arms and carried high in air. One was the bird (32) that might be expected always to carry a knife--to stab the candidate, maybe--as the politicians say. Another was the bird (33) that came from the backwoods. A third (34), one that would never do for a campaign torch, and a fourth (35), one that would make a good out-fielder in a base-ball nine if it didn't talk so much.

As I write you this the cannons boom, the adherents of the great Frenchman are jubilant, and the sound of his inspiring hymn is everywhere heard.

* * * * *

In this fanciful story are mentioned some famous people, either persons or classes, some birds and some other things which you may give the names of. All are described by a sufficient clue, it may be an act, or a peculiarity of their names. In sending answers, do not write out the story. Number names as numbered here, write one below another in the proper order, and put your name and address at the top of your first sheet of answers. Mail answers not later than December 27, 1896, to HARPER'S ROUND TABLE, New York--no street number required--and put in the lower left-hand corner of your envelope "Puzzle Answer." Correct answers, with names of winners, will be published in HARPER'S ROUND TABLE as early after the close of the contest as possible, probably within about two weeks.

The prizes, which will be awarded by the Messrs. Harper & Brothers, Publishers, New York, are: $40, divided among the ten best solvers according to merit. If one solver stands conspicuously ahead of the rest he or she will be given from $10 to $25, as the comparative excellence of the answer warrants. Persons of any age may help find the answers, but only those who have not passed their 18th birthday, and who are members of households in which HARPER'S ROUND TABLE is regularly read, may send them in. Merit signifies correctness and neatness, and has no reference to the solution reaching the office of HARPER'S ROUND TABLE first in point of time. Elaborate decoration of answers is not encouraged. Use common stationery, note size, and do not roll. Write on one side of the paper only. Everything comes to those who--try!

* * * * *

Much the Cleverest Yet.

The cleverest amateur journal the TABLE ever saw--and it has seen a great many--is _Ye Jester_. The last issue, a "Bicycle Number," is full of fun and pictures Here is one example:

HIS DEFINITION.

"Say, Denny, phat do thim letters mane, 'L.A.W.', on thot bike-mon's coat?"

"'Long Av Wind,' ye ignoramus."

Here is another:

MOTHER GOOSE UP TO DATE.

"Pussy-cat, pussy-cat, where have you been?"
"Out on my bicycle taking a spin."
"Pussy-cat, pussy-cat, what saw you there?"
"Some stones in the roadway--myself in the air!"

In pictures there is, 1. A scorcher. 2. He meets a bull. 3. "But I didn't learn to break broncos for nothing"--and the bull is throwing the scorcher over its head and over a ravine, in fine style. 4. "Sorry I can't help you, Mr. Bull, over the ravine too. Good-day."

Another very clever picture is of a bicycle-dealer who painted his sign each side of a window. The sign aims to attract customers of course. It happened that when the dealer threw back his window shutters they covered all save a few letters on each outer edge of the sign. And they read,

I AM A FAKIR.

The dealer sits in the window and wonders why no one comes.

What adds greatly to the attractiveness of _Ye Jester_ is the fact that it is not set up in type and printed, but is written on a mimeograph or some similar machine, and then printed in red and blue. The drawings are clever, and the whole publication so far above the usual grade of amateurs that all lovers of play journalism ought to see what a high standard has been attained in this year of N.A.P.A. grace. Its address is 31 New York Avenue, Brooklyn; single copies are five cents. It is published by the Avalonia Chapter, No. 792.

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

Through some misunderstanding I published in this column the name of a gentleman in New Zealand as desiring to exchange stamps. I have just received the following letter from him:

DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND,
_October_ 10, 1896.

Messrs. HARPER BROTHERS, Publishers, New York:

GENTLEMEN,--If you send me a set of Columbian issue, will forgive
you for inserting the fact of my being a stamp fiend; as it is, I
am simply inundated with applications for exchange of stamps. Your
paper must be extensively read, as I am quite unable to answer half
my correspondents--the postage alone would ruin an ordinary mortal.
Please apologize for me, and state post-office cannot supply me
with stamps required to answer so many anxious inquirers.

Yours truly,
C. H. OSMOND.

The collection of Plate Nos. continues to grow, and true values are gradually being ascertained. Some of the Nos. which were formerly quoted at high prices have fallen seventy-five per cent. On the other hand, Nos. formerly low in price have advanced in a corresponding ratio. Three months ago I called attention in this column to the fact that 9000 full sheets having 72,000 Plate Marks of No. 89 had been printed. Several copies of this No. have turned up in small Western post-offices, and the finders obtained $50 each. The last copies to come into the market came from Shanghai, China. The U. S. post-office in that port had a large number of No. 89 sheets, but most of them were used up for postage before their value as Plate Nos. was known. The same thing happened at Shanghai with one of the early 5c. sheets. Almost all the sheets printed in Washington of this No. were sent to Shanghai, and a very few copies only were preserved.

E. R. THOMAS.--The Revenue stamps mentioned are worth from 1c. to
5c. each. The 5c. 1861 is worth 35c. The earlier issues are worth
much more.

CYNTHIA A. HOGE.--Apply to any stamp-dealer for catalogue.

A. LOHRMAN.--I cannot quote values on long list of common stamps.
You can buy 2000 varieties of stamps for $35 or $40, or 1000 stamps
for $10. This last is just 1c. each, and would form the basis of a
very good collection for a beginner.

J. J. PARKER.--The dies for the 1869 issue, as first prepared, had
the numerals of value quite small. Before any of the stamps were
sold, it was determined to make the numerals larger. The complete
set from 1c. to 90c. is known with small numerals, and blocks of
them were comparatively common twenty-five years ago. Strictly
speaking, they are essays, but doubtless would go through the
post-office to-day. A few weeks ago a block of four 2c. small
numerals were shown at the Collectors Club. They were sold for $40,
but have changed hands several times at advanced prices.

F. X. RUSH.--The best way to sell great rarities is by auction. For
good scarce stamps worth from $5 to $25, the exchange sheets of one
of the large city societies is a very good way of selling; but to
avail yourself of that means you would have to join the society, as
none but members have that privilege. For ordinary good stamps the
A.P.A. exchange department is very good. That also is limited to
members, but the cost of membership is only $1.80 per year. At the
last reports the A.P.A. had over 1000 members.

R. STARKE.--From your description I should say you have the
ordinary 1871 issue of Tasmania, as all stamps from 1871 to date
have the water-mark T. A. S.

A. W. DE ROADE.--The $2, $3, $4, and $5 Columbian stamps, unused,
are turning up in great quantities lately, and have been sold at
ten per cent. discount. The $2 stamp is advertised for sale in
single copies at $1.75. The present issue dollar values have no
premium, as they can be bought at any large post-office at face.

PHILATUS.

Her graceful presence, everywhere
Suggests the fragrance, faint and rare
With which the sweetest flowers allure:
To such a dainty gown and face
The touch of soap seems out of place--
Save Ivory, which itself is pure.

Copyright, 1896, by The Procter & Gamble Co., Cin'ti.

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JUST PUBLISHED

THE BOUND VOLUME OF

HARPER'S ROUND TABLE

FOR 1896

Volume XVII. With 1276 Pages and about 1500 Illustrations. 4to, Cloth, Ornamental, $3.50.

This unusually attractive volume contains three long serial stories
for boys, by James Barnes, Kirk Munroe, and Molly Elliot Seawell,
besides many shorter stories by other popular writers.

Modern Outdoor Life is very fully treated, some one hundred and
fifty pages being devoted to subjects of that nature, and in
addition there is an important series of articles illustrated by
instantaneous photographs on the different athletic sports.

A few of the other features of this volume are the interesting
papers by Mrs. Lew. Wallace on The Tower of London, and the twelve
articles by Mrs. Emma J. Grey, on getting up entertainments for
young people. Each article describes amusements suitable for one
month in the year. Cyrus C. Adams contributes a series upon
different interesting subjects connected with recent African
explorations.

* * * * *

Of the previous bound volume of HARPER'S ROUND TABLE, the _N. Y.
Sun_ said: "There is nothing, we imagine, that the young reader
would be likely to prize more."

* * * * *

READY DECEMBER 10

A VIRGINIA CAVALIER

By MOLLY ELLIOT SEAWELL. Illustrated. Post 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.50.

Miss Seawell was born within a few miles of the birthplace of
Washington, and both from her knowledge of Virginia life and from
facilities which have been afforded to her alone she has been able
to gather what little knowledge can be secured concerning the
incidents of his boyhood. The story, however, should not be thought
of as a history, for, while the incidents are founded upon fact,
the book itself is historic fiction, with the Father of his Country
as its hero. The book ends with the early fights with the Indians,
in which Washington took part during his Western trips, and
includes his appointment as Commander-in-Chief of the Virginia
troops at the age of twenty-two years.

* * * * *

HARPER & BROTHERS, Publishers, New York

A DILEMMA.

WHEN TACKLER TRIED TO BLOW THE BALL--PERHAPS 'TWAS BUT A WHIM--
HE DIDN'T DARE LET UP AT ALL, LEST IT SHOULD BLOW UP HIM.

* * * * *

An amusing story comes from India. It concerns a distinguished officer who was constantly embracing some new hobby, much to the disgust of his brother officers, and to the annoyance of the soldiers on whom the hobbies frequently involved extra duty. His latest fad was amateur gardening. One day he was strolling past the officers' quarters, when he saw a couple of soldiers busily raking a lot of gravel-stones over a patch of earth.

"Ah, men, I'm glad to see you taking an interest in gardening. It's a very nice occupation."

One of the men, not knowing him by sight, replied: "Nice, is it? Umph! That's all you know. We wouldn't be hiding this earth with gravel if we didn't have an old fool of a General that's mad on gardening. Here we are scraping these stones about in case he should pass this way and want to grow cabbages on the bit of earth underneath."

* * * * *

Here is an enjoyable little bit of history that has descended to us. It seems that some hundred and fifty years ago the natives of one of the Scilly Islands boasted a library which consisted of but one book. It was the pride and delight of the people, and went from hand to hand until its pages, from perpetual thumbing and handling, grew utterly worthless. This alarmed the proud natives, and a meeting of the dignitaries was held to decide upon the purchase of a new library, this time of more than one book. Long and loud they argued, and the matter was nearly approaching a disastrous crisis when a deputation of townspeople, desiring to have a voice in the matter, waited upon the dignitaries. Again the discussion waxed furious, and the ultimate result was the following resolution:

_Resolved._ On the next fine day, weather permitting communication with the mainland, an order be transmitted to Penzance for another copy of _History of Doctor Faustus_.

Then the meeting joyously broke up.

* * * * *

THE WEATHER.

The snow comes down from the sky in flakes,
The rain comes down in drops,
The sunshine comes in beams, and makes
The earth yield bountiful crops.

* * * * *

A DAINTY SPRING FLOWER.

"The flowers that bloom in the spring," or any other season, for that matter, we find, by an English magazine, are not all suitable for boutonnières. The following is a description of the _Rafflesia arnoldi_, named by the discoverer, Dr. Arnold, found on the island of Sumatra, in 1818. The circumference, we are told, of the full expanded flower is nine feet, its nectarium calculated to hold nine pints; the pistils are as large as a cow's horns, and the entire weight of the flower is computed to be over fifteen pounds.

* * * * *

REASSURING.

"OH, DON'T GO SO FAR OUT, BOYS; I'M AFRAID THE ICE IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD US!"

"WELL, THE WATER IS NOT DEEP, NELL. THIS IS JUST ABOUT WHERE CARRIE FELL THROUGH LAST WINTER, AND SHE ONLY WENT IN UP TO HER CHIN,--AND YOU ARE HALF A FOOT TALLER THAN SHE!"

End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Round Table, December 8, 1896, by Various