Chapter XV: A Gentleman Valet (2)

The passengers poured into the station; there was a great chorus of thanksgiving, and they made what Phin called a great fuss over him and Mary Jane. There was an old gentleman with a fur collar turned up to his ears, who made friends with Mary Jane. He seemed to feel deeply what a narrow escape the train had had, and he sharply rebuked the conductor when he said that the night was so light that they might have seen that the bridge was broken; he "did keep an eye on that bridge as soon as the frost came, because it was old." (It proved to have been a gang of discharged workmen who had wrecked the bridge.) The old man declared it a providential mistake that had stopped the wrong train and let the message arrive in time.

When they were relieved, in the early morning, after all the Ganges passengers had gone on by such conveyances as they could find, Phin and Mary Jane walked homeward together.

"You needn't say a word to Sam," warned Phin. "It would only worry him. I mean about stopping the wrong train, and all that. I've just heard that the old gentleman who talked to you was the president of the road. I hope you didn't tell him anything!"

The president of the road! Phin turned and looked with severe suspicion at Mary Jane, and Mary Jane turned so pale that the freckles stood out like little mud spatters on her face.

"I only told him how anxious Sam was," she faltered, "and what you did to keep awake--all about the zinc and poker and things, and how your wrist was cut."

"You've told the president of the road that I'm a sleepy-head! Now I hope you're satisfied!"

That was, I fear, an unhappy day for Mary Jane; but the next night, when Phin went down to help Sam, who would go, although he was not much better, Tom Woolley reported that he had received a message from that Cowaree fellow, the same one who was so uncomplimentary, that orders had been received from headquarters that a place was to be found, the very first desirable vacancy, for "a plucky, wide-awake fellow" who had substituted the night before in the Orinoco office. And a free pass had been ordered for Miss Mary Jane Dusenberry, with the compliments of her friend the president of the road.

As there has been occasion more or less of late to deprecate the holding of so-called "junior" events in track-athletic meetings, it is perhaps an appropriate time to devote some space to the subject of athletics for younger sportsmen, and to try to impress them, if possible, with the fact that any kind of training for boys under sixteen years of age is not only inadvisable but absolutely injurious. If boys of that age wish to take regular exercise--and they all should--there are better things for them to do than to train for contests of speed and endurance. They will do better for themselves if they will restrict their endeavors to a milder form of athletics, to simple body motions or calisthenics. This, of course, is not so interesting, and I know these words will fall upon many deaf ears, but their truth will be recognized none the less by those who have the slightest experience in such matters.

It is perhaps natural that young boys who see their older companions constantly at some kind of preparation, or training, for some branch of sport, should wish to imitate their elders, and go in to some similar kind of regular work. The older athletes, and those who look after their development, ought to use all their power to prevent the youngsters from trying to train, instead of encouraging them, as they do, by offering medals as prizes in "junior" events.

The last thing that growing boys should try to accomplish is to get hardened muscles. This sort of thing retards growth and development, thereby defeating the very end that the boys think they are attaining. The best kind of training for the younger lads is to keep regular hours, both for meals and sleep. They will find this more beneficial than to keep a regular hour each day for running or jumping or putting up heavy dumbbells. The boy who gets his breakfast, luncheon, and dinner at a regular hour each day, and who sleeps eight or nine hours each night, and who bathes every morning, will make a much stronger man than the boy who trains for "junior" events.

But, as exercise should form a part of each day's occupation, the sixteen-year-old boy should take his exercise in a way that will do him the most good. He will probably not find it so interesting at first, but he will soon discover that he is becoming a better specimen physically than his fellows who can run a hundred yards or a mile under a certain figure, that really does not mean very much.

There are a number of body motions that can be performed at home alone, or in the gymnasium with others, that develop the chest and the arms, the back and the legs, so that when the time comes when it can do no harm for a young man to enter into regular athletic training, his muscles are supple, his skin is clear, his chest is deep, his back is straight, and his legs are firm enough to allow of the natural strain which comes from any kind of training.

One of the simplest methods of developing the strength of the legs is to stand erect with the hands on the hips (Fig. 1), and to perform what is called the frog motion. That is to bend the knees and to squat down, rising at the same time on the toes, and keeping the body erect, from the waist up (Fig. 2). This motion should be continued up and down until you feel tired. Stop at once when the slightest sensation of fatigue is felt. At first a boy will not be able to perform this motion more than ten or a dozen times, but if he keeps it up every morning he will soon find that he does not become tired until he has dropped and risen again some seventy-five or a hundred times. The important point, however, that must be kept in mind all the time is not to overdo.

Having gone through the exercise just described, for a few minutes, it is well to try something else that will exercise a different set of muscles. For instance, stand erect and lift the arms high overhead, the palms turned outward, and then bring them rapidly down to the level of the shoulders and up again (Fig. 3). Do this a few times, and then try another arm motion. Stretch the arms forward, the finger-tips touching, and then swing them horizontally back as far as possible, rising on the toes at the same time (Fig. 4). As in the case of any other kind of work, this practice will tire the novice, but at the end of a few weeks it will be surprising to note how long the exercise can be kept up without fatigue.

These three exercises will be found sufficient for the first few weeks, but thereafter a greater variety may be adopted. An excellent exercise is to stand erect, with the hands lifted above the head, thumb to thumb, and then to bow over forward, keeping the knees stiff (Fig. 5). At first the hands will not come within eight or ten inches of the floor, but within a week or so it will be an easy matter to touch the carpet with the ends of the fingers.

Another movement that will develop the muscles of the waist and back is shown in Fig. 6. Stand erect, with the heels together and the arms akimbo, the hands firmly settled upon the hips. Then move the body about so that the head will describe a circle, the waist forming a pivot about which the upper portion of the body will move. At the start the circle described by the head will be very small, but as the muscles become limbered and the waist becomes supple the body will swing easily about through a much broader area.

There is no use denying that all these things are at the start uninteresting, and I know from experience that even with the best intentions there will be a strong temptation at the end of a week to give up the whole business. But here is where the sand and determination of the American boy must prove itself, and the lad who sticks to the monotonous exercise in his own bedroom will be the one in after-years to stand the best chance for a position on his college crew or eleven.

There was a man in my class in college who as a boy lived in a small town where there were no athletic contests. Some one told him that if he wanted to get strong he ought to start in in the morning and dip between two chairs, lacking parallel bars. His adviser told him to dip once the first morning, twice the second morning, three times the third morning, and so on. It is evident that on the last day of the year he would dip 365 times, if he could only keep up this regular increase. He soon found that he was unable to do this, but he was surprised at the end of the year to notice how easily he could dip a number of times between two chairs, whereas his playfellows could barely perform the act three or four times.

When that boy came to college he was the strongest in our class about the chest and arms and back, and could perform wonderful feats of lifting himself and of dipping on the parallel bars in the gymnasium. But, unfortunately, the man who had suggested to him to dip each morning between two chairs had not thought of telling him that he ought likewise in some manner to develop the muscles of his legs, and so he was consequently overdeveloped from the waist up and under-developed from the waist down. This goes to show that when exercising it is imperative that all the muscles of the body should be given an equal chance, otherwise some parts of the anatomy must suffer at the expense of others.

A very little exercise performed regularly and for a long period will do much more for any boy or man than vigorous exercise performed for one or two hours a day for only a few weeks during the year. It is the little drop of water falling constantly that wears away the stone.

The accompanying illustration will give a better idea of the proportions of a hockey-stick, and the manner of holding it, than any description can do, better even than the photograph published in the last issue of the ROUND TABLE with a brief description of the game.

The members of the Arbitration Committee of the New York I.S.A.A. at a recent meeting voted to ask the University Athletic Club to accept the responsibility of acting as arbitrators in any future disputes between the schools. It is to be hoped that the University A.C. will undertake this, for a committee of college graduates can, beyond question, be more serviceable to the interests of amateur sport in this matter than any committee made up of individuals whose interests are closely related to scholastic athletics.

It is pleasant to note that the officials of the N.Y.I.S.A.A. refused to allow the tie between Berkeley and De La Salle for the skating honors of the League to be settled by the unsportsmanlike expedient of gambling. One of the schools wanted to toss a coin to settle the matter, but this was very properly overruled. There is only one step from this sort of thing to the settling of all contests by the arbiter of a coin without taking the trouble to go to the field. That is not sport. When it is proved (as in a jumping contest) that two contestants can do no better, after repeated attempts, one than the other, it is just and proper that some method be adopted to determine who shall have the medal--although the points _must be split_. If both contestants agree to toss for the medal, well and good; for the medal is merely an evidence of success, and does not in any way affect the merit of the contest which has already been settled and recorded, before the owners of half a medal each determined to take the chance of possessing two halves of a medal or no medal at all.

The renewal of athletic relations between Exeter and Andover seems to have put new life and energy into every branch of sport at the New Hampshire school. An enthusiastic meeting of the entire school was held a few days ago in order to collect money for the management of a track-athletic team, and a very respectable sum was realized. More men have turned out for practice than for many years at Exeter, and the Captain of the team feels greatly encouraged over the prospects for the winter and spring season. A team of Exonians will go down to the big in-door meeting of the B.A.A., and a still stronger team will probably be gathered to represent the school at the New England I.S.A.A. games in June. Dual games with Worcester and Andover will probably also be arranged. It is pleasing to note this renewed activity at Exeter, for there was a time--just about ten years ago--when the P.E.A. accepted second place to nobody in athletics. The decadence which the school has just passed through, and from which she is now making a vigorous endeavor to arise, may prove to have been a blessing in disguise. The fact that all this was the result of questionable methods in sport should stand as a glaring proof that straightforwardness, after all, is the only path to success in athletics as well as in any other work. Exeter now stands as a champion of purity in sport, and for that reason we may very well look forward to her brilliant success within the next few years.

In connection with the news of activity in northern New England comes the report from New Haven that the Hillhouse High-School will not put a track-athletic team into the field this spring. At a recent school meeting this action was definitely determined, and it was voted that the school would support a baseball team only. If it was found that the school could only support one of these two branches of sport, the choice to keep up baseball was a wise one, but at the same time it is regrettable to see so strong a member of the Connecticut Inter-scholastic League as H.H.-S. fall out of the ranks. So far as I am able to ascertain at the present writing, the reason for dropping track athletics was purely financial, but as the Connecticut Association seems to be rich just now, perhaps this obstacle may be removed.

The comment upon the dispute over the football "championship" going on between the Southbridge High-School and the North Brookfield High-School, printed in a recent issue of this Department, has called forth a number of letters from partisans of both sides. The actual standing of the affair seems, however, to be very clearly settled by Mr. T. E. Halpin, Vice-President of the Worcester County South A.A., who assures me that there existed no league for football in the Worcester County South A.A. this fall, and that therefore there was no possibility of there being any "championship" of football in that association, since the W.C.S.A.A. claims no jurisdiction over football affairs. It would seem that Southbridge and North Brookfield have been wasting a great deal of valuable breath and writing-paper over nothing, and if the two schools are uncertain as to which is the better in athletics, they might preferably wait until next spring and settle the question on the baseball-field.

At the Skating-races held recently in Stamford, W. S. McClave, of Trinity, proved himself one of the cleverest of the skaters present, and won several important races. The illustration on another page represents McClave winning the novice race.

It has been decided that the race between the crews of the Milwaukee East Side High-School and the St. John's Military Academy shall take place on the last Saturday in June.

It seems necessary to repeat every few months that the editor of this Department can pay no attention to anonymous communications. Correspondents who desire to have their questions answered, whether by mail or through these columns, must give their names.

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QUESTIONS FOR YOUNG MEN.

ON EXAMPLE.

There is a famous statement of the average preparatory-school boy, which has been so often made that it is historic, to the effect that he can do whatever he pleases because nobody will be fool enough to follow his example. He feels that men older than himself--men in college, or graduates of college, or grown-up men--may be setting example to others, but that he has not sufficient influence with any one to induce him to follow his example in anything. Sometime after the preparatory-school boy has grown up he will find that from year to year the same feeling sticks by him, and that he never considers himself a person worthy to set example to any one else.

If he only realized it, he would discover that even as a preparatory-school boy he is looked up to by the younger boys in the lower classes and by those who have not yet arrived at the point where they can enter a school at all. In other words, you, as a schoolboy, are setting an example to somebody else just as certainly as is your father or your grandfather is setting an example to others; and the feeling you have, that you are responsible to no one as an example for what you do, is wrong. It is very simple to understand this if you think it over a moment. For instance, a member of a college 'varsity team is a great man to the members of school teams. If they see a member of the 'varsity team drinking and smoking, they believe that it is proper for them to do so, and yet if you were to ask this man if he realized what an example he was setting, he would maintain that nobody was fool enough to think of looking to him for guidance. And this influence not only spreads over younger men in the school, but has a strong power in the college itself; for the fact that an athletic man is looked up to at the university and that the athletic man lives a normal life induces a great many other members of the university to take him as an example; and as a matter of record the strict training and the loyalty and thoroughness required by captains from members of their teams have done much to raise the standard in our big colleges to-day.

Every boy, therefore, should always bear in mind that he has a name to keep up and a record to keep clean, not alone because it is right to do so, but because he can never tell when some one else may not be looking to him as an example and may not be tempted to do things unworthy of boys because he does them. There is perhaps just as much evil on the other side of the question--that is, where a young man (or an old one, for that matter) feels that he is continually an example to others, and lives two different lives, one for the benefit of his friends and the other for himself. The example is of no value itself. It is merely that you, living your daily life, entering into sports and into studies at school, can never tell when your school-mates or persons whom perhaps you may never know may not be unconsciously observing your actions, and be accepting them as standards for themselves.

Thus every man and boy and girl is at some time or other, and often frequently, a guide or example for others, and it behooves him or her to bear this in mind from day to day. It should not cause worry; the responsibility of it ought not to weigh any one down; but the idea that you can do whatever enters your head, provided that in your mind you are satisfied that it is right for you, is not always correct.

* * * * *

TRYING HER IN A SQUALL.

A good story is told of the late Captain R. B. Forbes, who was interested in some seventy sail of fine vessels, and who built many clippers for the India and China trade before the general application of steam. It seems that while testing the sailing qualities of a clipper-schooner, she was struck by a squall in Boston Harbor, fell on her side, filled with water, and went down. Fortunately she had a boat in tow, which saved all hands. He would not start a sheet nor luff her into the wind to prevent her being capsized; he was determined to know what she could do in a squall, even at the risk of his life and the lives of a select party of nautical friends he had with him; and although this experiment may have been of intense interest to Captain Forbes, it is doubtful whether his invited guests relished their position. Later she was raised without much trouble and had her spars reduced. For years afterwards she was famous along the coast of China for her speed.

Captain Forbes's brother, Hon. John M. Forbes, now in the eighty-fourth year of his age, has an original steel clipper of the following dimensions: Length on the water-line, 125 feet, 154 feet 6 inches over all; has 27 feet 6 inches extreme breadth of beam; is 12 feet 6 inches deep; has engines of 400-horse power; is fully rigged as a two-masted schooner, and has a steel centreboard 21 feet long by 6 and 7-3/4 feet wide; is a complete sailing-clipper as well as a steamer, and is the only vessel of the kind in the world. She is also unsinkable; if full of water she will still float, having air-tight compartments along her sides like a life-boat.

Under sail, with a working breeze, she will stay within nine points in three minutes; by the wind, sail eight knots; and going free, twelve knots. She is named the _Wild Duck_, has been in service about two years, and has been quite successful under steam and sails.

* * * * *

THE CAT.

The cat's a happy animal
When blows the winter bluff,
Because she purrs and dreams all day
Within her downy muff.

But I am sure when summer comes
And roasts us with its glare,
She'd like to be the Chinese dog,
That hasn't any hair.

R. K. M.

* * * * *

SAILORS AND THE SMALL BOAT.

It is a curious fact that few seamen can handle a small boat with facility. This applies chiefly to the crews of sailing craft, as the large steamship corporations long ago realized this failing among sailors, and instituted a series of boat drills on their steamships that have been productive of excellent results. Knowledge of the workings of small boats is a requisite that every seaman should possess, and young men intending to follow the sea for a livelihood should acquire it before they tread the decks of a vessel, as they will have but little opportunity afterwards.

The wise forethought of steamship corporations on having their crews drilled saved many lives at the wreck of the steamer _Denmark_, as something like 734 persons were transferred from her to the _Missouri_ without a single accident in mid-ocean during a heavy swell. It follows, therefore, that those who seek recreation on the water would do well not to go in any boat, unless it is in charge of an experienced boatman, and is amply supplied with life-preservers. Boats ought to be ballasted with fresh water in small casks, instead of stones or iron, so that, in the event of being capsized, the ballast may help to keep them afloat. A young man who may have been only a very few times in a boat, under favorable circumstances, assumes he can manage one. He makes up a party, the wind freshens or a squall ensues, he loses his head, a capsize takes place, the boat sinks, and the chances are that he and his companions will be drowned. Those who go boat-sailing ought to leave as little to chance as possible.

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.

This is the height of the auction season. One auction a day is a fair average, and several lists with reserved prices have been sent out to prospective buyers, who are asked to compete against each other by mail. The straight auction where no stamp is held at a reserve will always commend itself to collectors. In the few instances where it was suspected that "a string was attached to the valuable stamps," such dissatisfaction was aroused that no self-respecting or far-sighted dealer will countenance any thing which savors of unfair bidding.

In the issue of January 5 I referred to a rumor that the Bureau of Engraving contemplated a new issue of U.S. stamps. Although no official notice has been given, it is believed the government intends to issue the new set during the International Postal Union Convention which meets in Washington this spring. I advise young collectors to look up the blank spaces especially in the current issue. For instance, the guide-lines now used make eight varieties of the 1c. and 2c. stamps, viz., guide-line at the top, bottom, left, or right, and the lines at top and left, top and right, bottom and left, and bottom and right. Then there are the three varieties of triangles in the 2c. stamps, and also the marked varieties in the color of the early compared with later printings.

BALTIMORE.--The Nova Scotia 1c. black is worth 30c.; the 5c. blue
about 10c.

E. C. WOOD.--U.S. stamps issued before 1861 are not available for
postage, but all issues from 1861 are valid to-day.

J. E. KINTER.--The "Army and Navy" is not a coin, but is one of the
many war tokens issued in 1861.

J. MANN.--The early Portugal have been reprinted. The Argentine
1892 2 centavos and 5 centavos were formerly high-priced, but of
late they can be bought for 75c to $1 for the two.

A. DANBY.--The Cape of Good Hope first issue were triangular. They
are slowly advancing in value.

J. JOYNER and J. RASMUSSEN.--We do not sell albums or stamps or
coins, nor supply catalogues. Refer to advertisements of dealers.

J. R. AVERY.--You can buy a very good 1834 half-dollar from a
coin-dealer for 75c.

H. L. UNDERHILL.--Your stamp is a Swiss revenue stamp.

H. LEK. DEMAREST.--An unused U.S. stamp which has been creased
cannot have the crease removed without taking off the original gum.
Trondhjem stamps are Norway locals. A revenue stamp with one side
unperforated is worth a little less than one with all four sides
perforated.

D. D. WARDWELL.--Apply to any dealer for list of S.S.S.S. stamps.
Confederate bills are worthless, as there are millions of them in
existence. The San Francisco find of $20,000 U.S. Revenues will not
affect the value of the stamps.

G. H. C. and E. D. BEALS.--No value.

C. W. WALKER.--The half-penny is worthless. U.S. half-cent, 1809,
is worth 10c.

J. SMYTHE.--I know very few collectors of postal cards, and
personally never collected them. I think it would pay you to join
the Postal-Card Society if you are going to collect cards on
anything like a fair scale. At auctions postal cards bring very
small prices, but probably there are no rarities in the lots
offered in this way.

A. A. FISCHER.--The water-marks on the Tuscany stamps, first issue,
are in four horizontal rows of three crowns in each row. It
requires quite a block to see an entire crown. The second issue is
on a paper bearing interlacing lines, with an inscription running
diagonally from the lower left to the upper right corner.

PHILATUS.

IMPORTANT BOOKS

_PUBLISHED RECENTLY_

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George Washington

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A familiar and delightful study of Washington.... We do not recall
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"Harper's Round Table" for 1896

Volume XVII. With 1276 Pages and about 1200 Illustrations. 4to, Cloth, Ornamental, $3.50.

The book is one which is sure to delight all the
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One of the best periodicals for children ever
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Naval Actions of the War of 1812

By JAMES BARNES. With 21 Full-page Illustrations by CARLTON T. CHAPMAN, printed in color, and 12 Reproductions of Medals. 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, Deckel Edges and Gilt Top, $4.50.

Unquestionably both the most lifelike and the most artistic
renderings of these encounters ever attempted.--_Boston Journal._

Brimful of adventure, hardihood, and patriotism.--_Philadelphia
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The Dwarfs' Tailor

And Other Fairy Tales. Collected by ZOE DANA UNDERHILL. With 12 Illustrations. Post 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.75.

The twenty-two tales form a cosmopolitan array that cannot fail to
delight young readers.--_Chicago Tribune._

Fascinating for old and young.--_Boston Traveller._

A Virginia Cavalier

A Story of the Youth of George Washington. By MOLLY ELLIOT SEAWELL. Illustrated. Post 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.50.

Warmly commended to all young American readers.--_Chicago
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An absorbing tale.--_Philadelphia Bulletin._

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Lively and exciting, and has, incidentally, much first-hand
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Capital story of adventure.--_Philadelphia Evening Bulletin._

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HARPER & BROTHERS, Publishers, New York

THAT MYSTERY TRIP.

Answers and Money Awards in that Exciting Contest about a Queer Journey.

The Mystery Trip story proved a mystery indeed to many, for while the puzzle was rather easy, it scared out not a few contestants by its looks--like the famous animal in the Bunyan narrative. And the questions thought by most solvers to be the hardest proved to the successful ones the easiest. For example, the great majority could not find "Tidbottom's spectacles," nor guess the riddles. The first-prize winner failed on one of the easy questions--What was the sea of darkness?--but answered everything else. His name is Herbert Wiswell, and he lives in Melrose, Mass.; and since he did so much better than any one else he is awarded a big prize--$25 in cash. The next two winners are girls. One is Anna Whitall James, of Riverton, N. J., and the other Bessie Steele, of Chicago. They did almost equally well, but not quite the same. So to the former is given $5 and the latter $3. To the other eight of the best ten--in addition to the first big prize--the offer was to divide $40 among the best ten--$1 each is awarded. Their names follow in order: De F. Porter Rudd, of Connecticut; Franklin A. Johnston, New York; Bryant K. Hussey, of Illinois; J. Lawrence Hyde, of Washington; W. Putnam, of New York; Fred P. Moore, of Massachusetts; J. Lurie, of New York; and G. Edwin Taylor, of Pennsylvania.

The following are placed on the honor list. All found at least 33 of the 37 questions: Freida G. Vroom, of New Jersey; Nannie R. Nevins, of New York; Maud G. Corcoran, of Maryland; Robert Meiklejohn, Jr., of Ohio; Ernest Haines, of New York; Frank J. and S. N. Hallett, of Rhode Island; Robert C. Hatfield and William J. Culp, of Pennsylvania; Margaret A. Bulkley and Rose G. Wood, of Michigan; and Claude S. Smith, of New York.

Here are the answers to the questions: 1. A travelling-rug that would transport its owner anywhere he wished to go. 2. A golden arrow given him by the gods which rendered him invisible as he rode through the air. 3. Vulcan. 4. Spectacles that enabled their wearers to see real character beneath an assumed one. (See George Wm. Curtis's _Prue and I_.) 5. A broom which he put at his ship's mast-head to indicate he intended to sweep all before him. 6. A Druid monument near Aylesford, in England. 7. Don Quixote. 8. Rosinante. 9. Dean Swift. 10. John Brown's dog "Rab." 11. One that could cover an army and yet be carried, when desired, in one's pocket. 12. An offering given to the priest at Whitsuntide according to the number of chimneys in his parish. 13. Roman coins dug up at Silchester, in England. 14. Old German coins made to unscrew; inscriptions were placed inside. 15. The Gate of Dreams. 16. An old name for the Atlantic Ocean. 17. A ship made by the dwarfs, large enough to hold all the gods, which always commanded a prosperous gale; it could be folded up like a sheet of paper and put into a purse when not in use. 18. The flying island, inhabited by scientific quacks, visited by Gulliver in his travels. 19. A mountain which drew all of the nails out of any ship which came within reach of its magnetic influence. 20. Scotland. 21. Roger Bacon. 22. Charles II. 23. Garibaldi. 24. Robert Southey. 25. Should have been "budge," not "bridge." The question is therefore ruled out--that is, none who missed it had the error counted against them. The answer is: a company of men dressed in long gowns, lined with budge or lamb's wool, who used to accompany the Lord Mayor of London on his inauguration. 26. Something made of all the scraps in the larder. (See _Merry Wives of Windsor_.) 27. An imaginary land of plenty, where roast pigs ran about squealing "Who'll eat me?" 28. The Escurial. 29. Caverns in the chalk cliffs of Essex, England. 30. An old jail in Edinburgh, Scotland. 31. A curious stone in Mexico cut with figures denoting time. 32. Corea. 33. December 13, 1688. 34. Simple people in the time of King John who danced about a thorn-bush to keep captive a cuckoo. 35. A badge worn by those who received parish relief in the reign of William III.; it consisted of the letter P, with the initial of the parish where the owner belonged in red or blue cloth, on the shoulder of the right sleeve. 36. The paper that enclosed the cartridges which were used in the Civil War. 37. A bookworm.

* * * * *

Boys will be Boys.

In the _Life and Letters of Dr. Samuel Butler_ recently published, it is shown that the saying "boys will be boys" was as true many years ago as it is to-day.

"There was a certain Exciseman in Shrewsbury who was very trim and neat in his attire, but who had a nose of more than usual size. As he passed through the school-lane the boys used to call him 'Nosey,' and this made him so angry that he complained to Dr. Butler, who sympathized, and sent for the head boy, to whom he gave strict injunctions that the boys should not say 'Nosey' any more.

"Next day, however, the Exciseman reappeared, even more angry than before. It seems that not a boy had said 'Nosey,' but that as soon as he was seen the boys ranged themselves in two lines, through which he must pass, and all fixed their eyes intently upon his nose. Again Dr. Butler summoned the head boy, and spoke more sharply. 'You have no business,' said he, 'to annoy a man who is passing through the school on his lawful occasions; don't look at him.' But again the Exciseman returned to Dr. Butler, furious with indignation, for this time, as soon as he was seen, every boy had covered his face with his hand until he had gone by."

* * * * *

Signs of Coming Events.

Burning ears indicate, you know, that we are being talked about.
When the right ear burns, something to our advantage is being said;
when the left ear is troubled, something detrimental is being said.
An old darky I knew of had a spell to stop this kind of gossip. She
spat on her finger, made the sign of a cross on her ear, and said,

"If yer talkin' good, good betide ye;
Talkin' bad, hope de debil ride ye."

"Mother Goose" is responsible for the following:

"If you sneeze on Monday, you sneeze for danger.
Sneeze on a Tuesday, kiss a stranger.
Sneeze on a Wednesday, sneeze for a letter.
Sneeze on a Thursday, something better.
Sneeze on a Friday, sneeze for sorrow.
Sneeze on a Saturday, see your sweetheart to-morrow."

EUGENE ASHFORD.
PORTLAND, OREGON.

A cat eating grass is a sign of rain.

"Evening red and morning gray
Lets the traveller on his way.
Evening gray and morning red
Brings down rain on the traveller's head."

Snow lingering on the ground is a sign that the winter will be
severe.

Stumbling up stairs is a sign of your marriage within the year.

ROSA ELIZABETH HUTCHINSON, R.T.F.
MONTCLAIR.

* * * * *

Knew Himself Best.

The Rev. John Watson, who has written several successful books under the _nom de plume_ of "Ian Maclaren," recently visited this country--his home is in Liverpool, England--where he met with wonderful success on a lecture tour. Just before departing for his home he met a New York editor who was a class-mate of his at school years ago in Edinburgh, Scotland. Calling him familiarly by his first name, as of old, Dr. Watson, in response to congratulations, said: "I am glad this success did not come to me when I was young. Why, Dave, if this had happened when I was twenty-one, it would have turned my head, and I should have thought myself a very great man! But now I know better."

* * * * *

Funny Incidents with Unfamiliar Languages.

The late George du Maurier, an account of whose early student days has recently been published by Messrs. Harper & Brothers, was once much put out by an Englishman who took him for a Frenchman. The two conversed for a while in French, the Englishman stumbling through the conversation, thinking it necessary to bring into service all the French he knew in order to make himself understood by this greatest of English satirists.

But Du Maurier was not the only man to have this experience. Some years ago a party of four American gentlemen met, in the park at Versailles, four American ladies whose acquaintance they had made some months before in Germany. Desiring to treat them to a carriage ride, one of the gentlemen motioned to a cab that stood near. Supposing cabby to be French because he was in France, the eight summoned their best French, and, after a great deal of difficulty, in which cabby seemed dull and the Americans unable to give a French pronunciation to their French, succeeded in fixing upon a price for a two-hour ride. As four of the party were about to enter the carriage, one lady objected to the small seat. The cabby desired, so it afterward developed, to tell the lady she could sit on the front seat with him. Thinking of an inducement for so doing, he undertook to express it by bending over, shaking his trousers, then his coat tails, next his coat collar, and lastly his mustaches, which he pulled to their greatest length, having first inflated his cheeks to their fullest extent. His performance was so ludicrous that the whole party laughed, and some lady, in true American vernacular, shouted,

"Well, I never!"

The man straightened up instantly. "Are you folks English?" he ejaculated. Assured that they were next thing to English, and that they could not speak French, cabby said, "Neither can I."

"But what were you trying to say by those antics just now?"

"That it would be cooler on the high front seat," said cabby.

Of course the objection to the seat was waived, and the party, not put out as was Du Maurier, enjoyed a hearty laugh over their half-hour wasted in trying to make a bargain with cabby in a language that neither they nor he understood.

* * * * *

Societies Active in Good Deeds.

I write to tell you of the success of the Iris Club, of which I
told you in the fall. After I wrote, we decided not to give our
dues to a "home," but to give a church fair instead. It was a big
undertaking for five schoolgirls, busy with lessons and music, but
would bravely, making as many articles as possible. I made about
one hundred. We got tickets printed free, and the fair was held at
our house. Several ladies furnished music, and tickets, including
ice-cream, were fifteen cents. We sold plants, embroidery, and
other things on commission. So, although we took in $65, when
everything was paid for we had $53.60 to give to the church. At the
fair we had five tables, and then one large cake-table, besides a
Wheel of Fortune and a fortune-teller. We asked all our friends for
cakes and articles for sale, and the girls acted as waitresses. It
was a great success, and the club justly feels proud of it.

Besides the Iris, another club, the Drumtochty, has been started
here, also a benevolent institution, for making clothes for poor
children. We meet every week, and we sew our garments. After they
are finished we keep them until a poor family is found. Instead of
reading books, the Iris reads "A Loyal Traitor," in HARPER'S ROUND
TABLE, and enjoys it very much. We wish success to any other young
society trying to do good.

ADELAIDE L. W. ERMENTROUT, Secretary.
"GRANSTEIN."

* * * * *

National Amateur Press Association.

Undoubtedly one of the most interesting and beneficial hobbies of
young people is amateur journalism. The chief promoter of this
cause in the United States is the National Amateur Press
Association, an organization consisting of upward of three hundred
members scattered all over the country. Conventions are held every
year, when new officers are elected and other business transacted.
The last one was held at Washington, D. C., and was a success in
every way. The next convention will be held in San Francisco,
California. For the nominal sum of $1 any one interested to that
amount is admitted to membership. A large number of papers are
issued by different amateurs of the association, which are sent to
all members, free of charge. Mr. Allison Brocaw, Litchfield,
Minnesota, is at present recruiting chairman, and will supply any
one interested with further information.

ELMER B. BOYD.

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.

A NEW PROCESS FOR SENSITIZING PAPER.

In the _American Annual of Photography for 1896_, Mr. E. W. Newcomb tells how to make vignettes with an atomizer by spraying the paper with a sensitive solution. This seemed such a clever idea that the editor made a trial of the method, and found that many artistic effects could be produced in this way which could not be made by any other process either of printing or sensitizing the paper.

The sensitizing solution can be applied so as to obtain any form desired, and paper thus prepared may be used in many different ways not possible with a paper which is coated all over evenly.

The atomizer must be of hard rubber--both tube and stopper--as metal either corrodes or injures the sensitive solution. The spray must be so fine that it is almost a mist, and the atomizer should be tried before purchasing. Clear water will do to test the fineness of the spray.

The first experiments should be made with the blue-print solution, as this is not only cheaper, but easier to prepare and handle, and when dry it shows just where the solution has been applied. Pin the paper by the corners to a smooth board, set it in an upright position, and holding the atomizer perhaps a foot away from the paper, direct the spray to the place on the paper where the heaviest printing is intended. Squeeze the bulb gently, so that the solution will not soak into the paper, and at the edges, where the solution must be applied lightly in order to produce vignetted effects, hold the spray farther away from the paper. By a little practice one can soon make any shaped vignette desired.

If any member of our Camera Club is looking for some new way of making prints for gifts, here is a suggestion: Cut plain salted paper in sheets 8 by 10 in. in size. Take an 8 by 10 in. card-mount, and cut out a square from the centre, leaving a margin 1 in. wide on one side and at the top and bottom, and on the other side a margin 1-1/2 in. wide. Over the corners of this mat paste triangles of paper in the way that corners are made for desk-blotters, pasting the edges down on one side, and on the other leaving the paper free from the card-board, so that a sheet of paper may be slipped under the corners. Take a piece of plain paper, slip it into the mat--the corners holding it in place--turn it over, and hanging or fastening it against the wall, spray it with the sensitive solution in the places where you wish to print pictures. The mat made of card-board protects the edges of the sensitive paper, and makes a nice wide margin. Half a dozen sheets sensitized, printed, and bound together with an attractive cover, either made of rough paper or some fancy card-board, will make a pretty gift for a friend, and something that will not be duplicated. To make a more elaborate present, select some familiar poem, easily illustrated, choose negatives which will make appropriate pictures for it, print, wash, and dry the pictures, then with French blue water-color letter the verses of the poem in the clear spaces left on the paper. If a little taste is used in arranging and printing the pictures, putting them in different places on the sheet, one can make a very artistic little booklet. The side of the paper with the 1-1/2 in. margin is the edge for binding. If a touch of gold is given to the lettering the effect is more striking. Small cakes of what is called water-color gold may be bought for 10c. or 15c., and is the kind used for lettering on paper.

This way of sensitizing paper will suggest many ideas for decorative work, such as menu-cards, letter-heads, calendars, mats for pictures, etc. The blue-print solution is the simplest to use in preparing paper in this manner, but the same result may be obtained with other solutions. The formulas given for tinted sensitive solutions in previous numbers of the ROUND TABLE could be used, and many delicate and attractive tones be obtained. Prints made on paper sensitized with a spray instead of being applied with a brush have the appearance of wash drawings.

SIR KNIGHT HUGO KRETSCHMAR sends a number of negatives and asks
what is the matter with them. He explains that they were taken with
a No. 1 kodak on a day when the ground was covered with snow,
making an exposure of ten seconds. The trouble with the negatives
is that they are much over-exposed. Ten seconds is a long time to
expose a plate even on a dark day, and when the snow is on the
ground the exposure should be instantaneous, unless plate and lens
are both very slow. The best time to make snow pictures is early in
the morning or late in the afternoon, when the shadows are long. If
a slow plate is used, make an exposure of two seconds, and develop
as for a time picture. The camera which Sir Hugh asks about is a
good camera for a cheap camera.

SIR KNIGHT W. D. CAMPBELL, 420 Fifth St., Brooklyn, N. Y., asks if
some member of the club living in St. Louis, Mo., will send him a
view of the part of the city which was destroyed by the tornado. In
return he will send a good picture of the ocean greyhound
_Campania_.

SIR KNIGHT WILLIAM MERRITT, Rhinecliff, N. Y., wishes to exchange
some interesting views taken at Rhinecliff, N. Y., for some views
taken in Central Park, New York city. Will some of our New York
members write to Sir William? He would also like to exchange
scenery photographs with any of the members of the club.

Any member who does not receive a response to his request for
prints may have the same printed again, after a reasonable length
of time.

ADVERTISEMENTS.

Postage Stamps, &c.

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can earn money by working half an hour daily distributing free samples of Headache Powders. For full particulars address,

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PLAYS

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* * * * *

RULES FOR BOBBING.