Chapter III: Part 3

"Cap'n Mahoney told him, an' then sez he, 'You're not bound fur nowhere now.' But Cap'n Mahoney sez he to he, sez he, 'We wuz comin' to see you.' An' sez I to he, sez I, 'How d'ye git hove so fur in?'

"'Oh, that are easy explained,' sez he to me, sez he; 'we got in four year ago, an' the bloomin' stuff are growed furder out since then.'

"'You bin here four years?' sez I.

"'Them's it,' sez he. 'Come along over an' see our farm.'

"'Your farm!'

"'Yep. We're farmers now, an' we raises crops as 'd make an Ohio farmer's eyes fall out o' his head. Come along.'

"Cap'n Peleg Mahoney he looks at me an' I looks at he, an' then we starts ahead fur to see this 'ere farm on top o' a crust o' wegetables with two thousan' fathom o' water underneath.

"'Wot started ye to farmin'?' sez I.

"'Want o' grub,' sez he. 'I are the Cap'n o' the farm; cos w'y, I used to be Cap'n o' the ship. W'en the grub commenced fur to run low, sez I, we'd better see how we kin raise some more. Werry good. An' so I plants a few seeds, an' there you are.'

"'An' they come up all right on this 'ere floatin' perairie?'

"'Come up! Wait till you see our farm.'

"So we walked on an' on, an' putty soon we see some stuff like grass a-growin', only it were about six feet high, an' each blade as thick as a six-inch hawser.

"'Wot are that?' sez I.

"'That are wheat,' sez the Cap'n o' the farm.

"'Fender Saint Grease!' sez Cap'n Peleg Mahoney, jess like that, the same bein' French fur 'I sart'nly are supprised.'

"'How'd ye like to pluck some o' 't an' see the grain?' axes the other Cap'n.

"'Goot!' sez Willum Smitzer, sez he.

"So the other Cap'n he pulls off a stalk an' han's it to Cap'n Peleg Mahoney, w'ich the same he husks out a grain, an' we all stood a-starin' at it as ef we see a ghost."

"Why?" demanded George.

"W'y, cos it weren't nothin' more or less nor a hard clam."

"A hard clam in wheat!" exclaimed both boys.

"That are wot," replied the Old Sailor, solemnly. "Every grain o' that 'ere wheat were a hard clam. The other Cap'n sez he to Cap'n Peleg Mahoney, sez he, 'That are the way wheat comes up out here. We grinds them grains up into flour an' makes reg'lar ginuwine sea-biscuit out o' them. They tastes o' the sea fur sure. Come over this way an' I'll show you our rye.' He tuk us along to a field o' rye, an w'en we opened one o' them stalks wot d'ye s'pose were in 'em?"

"Oysters?" inquired George.

"Not so werry good," answered the Old Sailor; "sardines--bloomin' little oily sardines. It were the ryest rye I ever see. Then the other Cap'n he tuk us over to his orchard. He sez, sez he, 'I set out here some young peach-tree slips wot I had aboard, an' the trees growed right up sixty feet high in two days. The third day they was in blossom, an' in two weeks they commenced fur to bear, an' they bin bearin' ever since. Have a peach?' An' with that he reached up an' picked--wot d'ye s'pose?"

"What?" asked the boys, eagerly.

"A bluefish--a big fat six-pound bluefish. 'Name of grace!' sez Cap'n Peleg Mahoney, sez he; an' Willum Smitzer he sez, sez he, 'Donner und blitzen,' w'ich the same it are Dutch fur, 'Squalls to leeward.' Waal, them sailor-farmers they tuk us all over the farm an' showed us the mos' picooliar crops wot any one ever seed in this 'ere world, an' ye can see a good many queer things 'ere ef ye jess keep your weather eye a-liftin'. They had strawberry bushes wot gave boiled red snapper, an' potato beds w'ere they dug up mussels. The tomatter vines riz young lobsters, an' the cucumbers was eels. The cherry-trees gave shrimps, an' scollops growed onto gooseberry bushes. Then the other Cap'n axed us fur to go an' eat dinner with 'em aboard their ship farm-house. O' course we accepted. But afore we got half-way through the dinner we was all sick; cos w'y, everythin' tasted so all-fired fishy. Then the farmer Cap'n he got mad, an' sez he to we, sez he,

"'Ef ye don't like our grub ye can go back to yer own ship.'

"'Three beans,' sez Cap'n Peleg Mahoney, that bein' French fur 'Werry good.'

"'An' don't ye ever come here again,' sez the other Cap'n.

"'Nicht an sein leben,' sez Willum Smitzer, that bein' Dutch fur 'Not ef we knows ourselves.' An' with that we went over the side an' started fur home. An' them fellers throwed overripe strawberries an' termatters at us till we looked like cod-fishermen. We went back to our ship an' told our men about it, an' they sez that nex' day they was a-goin' over an' break up that farm. But 'twarn't so to be. In the night it came on to blow from the opposite quarter, an' the anchor watch called all han's, sayin', the ice--the land--the wotever ye call 't are a-breakin' up.' We all turned out an' found the ship in the water an' drivin' clear o' the stuff. We got sail on her an' hove her to, but she jess blowed away to leeward. In the mornin' we could make out the Saragossa Sea away up to windward, an' could see the tops o' them bluefish-trees a-wavin' in the gale; but we couldn't never git back there. An', my sons," added the Old Sailor, very solemnly, "I don't b'lieve that no other ships 'ceptin' the _Ham Bone_ an' that farm-house ship are ever bin there."

Our discussion of National I.S.A.A.A.A. affairs last week was closed over the question of suitable grounds. As I said at the time, there are so many factors which enter into this that we should be careful about coming to a hasty conclusion, and whatever is said here on the subject should be understood as coming without prejudice. The grounds of the Columbia Oval do not seem to be so good, either from the point of view of the athlete or from that of the spectator, as those of the Berkeley Oval or Manhattan Field. I think that if the National games had been held at either of the latter places the crowd would have been three or four times as large. New-Yorkers are familiar with, and know how to reach, both Manhattan Field and the Berkeley Oval; but there are very few occasions that call them to the Columbia Oval. Many persons who are more or less interested in athletics might have gone to the Columbia Oval if they had known just where it was and just how to get there; but they did not go because so few athletic events are conducted at Williams Bridge that this class of spectators did not take the trouble to find out where the Columbia Oval is.

It is important to have as large a crowd as possible at a National Interscholastic meeting, and every effort should be made, therefore, to secure such a crowd. If we believe that a larger crowd would go to Manhattan Field or to the Berkeley Oval than to the Columbia Oval, we ought to have the National games at one of these two places, unless the expense of hiring the grounds puts them out of the question. It has become a sort of tradition in and around New York that the Berkeley Oval is the place to hold school and college sports. School and college sports have been held on the Oval almost exclusively for the past ten years, until this last spring, when the Intercollegiates went to Manhattan Field. The latter place, however, would not be the best one for interscholastic matches of any kind, for many reasons. No crowd that an interscholastic event could draw would ever fill those stands, and the expense of hiring Manhattan Field would doubtless be much greater than any interscholastic association could afford.

Sturtevant. Condon. Brown.

CONNECTICUT TEAM AT THE N.I.S.A.A. GAMES, 1896.]

The Berkeley Oval, however, can be secured for less money for school games, because Dr. White is usually willing to meet school-boys half-way. Furthermore, the Berkeley Oval, although within the limits of New York city, is more or less in the country, and the atmosphere of the place savors less of professional baseball and horse-fairs. There is more of a lawn-party air about the Berkeley Oval than could be obtained under any conditions beneath the elevated railroad station at 155th Street, and there are lots of green trees and plenty of grass, and many other advantages which one associates with field days and similar events.

It may justly be said that for rural advantages the Columbia Oval can hardly be placed second to the Berkeley Oval; but there is a line to be drawn somewhere, even in rural advantages, and I think it is well to draw that line at climbing over stone walls in Williams Bridge. But this question of choice of grounds is so much entangled with the other question--that of having the games conducted by a club--that it is difficult, when discussing one, not to take the other into account. The school-boys ought not to criticise the convenience of the Columbia Oval when they consider that they were there by the courtesy of the Knickerbocker Athletic Club (which, by-the-way, is the name by which the New Manhattan Athletic Club is henceforth to be known).

It may be well to state, therefore, that whatever has been said in this Department about grounds for next year's National meeting has been said without any intention of reflecting in any way whatever upon the Knickerbocker Athletic Club's position at this year's meeting, and without any consideration whatever for what either Dr. White or Mr. Freedman may think of the advisability of leasing their grounds next season to the N.I.S.A.A. The question of advertising or of personal interest does not come into this discussion at all.

As to whether it is a good plan for the National games to be again conducted by a club, or by any organization other than the National Association itself, is a question that cannot be decided without the most careful thought and serious discussion. It was undoubtedly well to have the first meeting of the N.I.S.A.A.A.A. managed by a club, for if this had not been done, it is very probable that there would have been no field day at all, or, at best, an unsuccessful one.

There was considerable opposition among the school-boys of New York against having the Knickerbocker Athletic Club take charge of the event, and I know that there is considerable dissatisfaction now over the way the meet was conducted. The complaints, however, all come from those who took no part whatever in the contests, and who had no further interest in the games beyond being spectators; and their complaints, therefore, deserve but little attention. The question is not so much to find where the club fell short in its efforts, as to point out where matters may be mended on future occasions. If the Knickerbocker A.C. did not carry out the school-boys' ideas in the way the school-boys think this should have been done, or if they believe that they themselves can do better, they should attempt the entire management of the games next year.

It would be very much better, of course, not to have the games managed by a club, if the officers of the National Association could spare the time to look after the preliminary details of the meet. But there are so many other things that must take up the attention of school-boys in the spring months that it is difficult for them to spare the time necessary for the successful management of so great an undertaking as a National meet. We all of us recognize the fact that studies should come first. But after the studies there is always plenty of time, and there always should be plenty of time, for young men to indulge in other enterprises. It is good that they should have divers interests. It is excellent that they should go into the management of athletic organizations, and that they should indulge in sports of all kinds, for in both these pastimes they are gaining valuable experience,--experience which some people rank equal in importance with book knowledge.

It is usually the case, however, that the young men who are officers of the National Association are also officers of their own local athletic associations. This gives them double work. They have plenty of time to manage their own meets and field days, without being overburdened and without taking time from necessary work. But when they add to these responsibilities the management of a National Association, they are taking on considerable extra responsibility, and unless the particular young men have strong business capability, they are undertaking more than they can accomplish. It might be well, for this reason, that the officers of the National Association be chosen from men who hold no offices in their own associations. From a practical standpoint, however, this might not be a good plan, because the best workers and the men with the greatest executive ability are chosen as officials of the local associations, and it is most important that these men with the greatest executive ability should also be at the head of the National Association.

But there is another plan by which the National games might be managed without the assistance of a club, and if this plan could be successfully carried out, it would undoubtedly be better than any that I have as yet heard mentioned. It is the old idea of graduate assistance. In every city there are a number of college and school graduates who take a lively interest in the sports of the schools and the colleges, and who are always willing to give more or less of their time to the management of athletics. Up to the present time, in school athletics, this interest and assistance has largely been shown by the graduates acting as officials, because the management of the games has not been complicated enough to require their aid in the preliminary work. But in National matters it is different.

If the schools of New York, and the schools of Boston and Hartford and Philadelphia could get one or two graduates who would be willing to assist the Executive Committee of the National Association in the organization of the annual spring games, it is more than probable that the event could be made a greater athletic and social success than in any other manner. The graduates would have more experience in business affairs than the school-boys, and business men would probably be more willing to enter into contracts with the graduates than with the school committee--and I am sure, from my own experience when I was at school, that every scholar would much prefer to have the contracts undertaken by others who would be willing to assume all responsibilities.

By dividing the preliminary executive work between the Executive Committee from the schools and the graduate committee, no one would be overworked, and everything necessary to the success of the day would be done. This would be an ideal plan. The only trouble is to get the graduates. This is an obstacle that can be easily overcome if the search is begun at once. Mr. Evert Wendell, of this city, is a very good man to go to first. He has had wide experience in interscholastic matters, and there is no one who has better judgment than he in these affairs; and we all know that no graduate has given more time and more valuable assistance to school athletes than he has. He would undoubtedly be able to suggest the names of other gentlemen in other cities who would be willing to undertake to aid the Executive Committee of the National Association.

If it should be found that this plan could not be carried out, then it will be time to discuss the questions of club management and purely school-boy management, but until the other scheme has been found impossible, I think it would be well to keep it in mind. There is one more subject that this Department wishes to touch upon in connection with the National games, and that is the officials. But so much space has already been taken up this week with N.I.S.A.A.A.A. matters that the discussion of this question of officials will have to be postponed until next time.

The athletes of the Berkeley School may justly feel proud of the record they have made this year. They have taken every championship in the New York I.S.A.A.--football, track athletics, tennis, and baseball. In baseball the Berkeley nine was not defeated in any of the championship games; and in addition to this, the team secured a number of important victories over strong teams not in the League.

The result of the championship series is as follows:

First Section. Games Won. Games Lost.
De La Salle 3 0
Barnard 2 1
Cutler 1 2
Condon 0 3

Second Section.

Berkeley 3 0
Columbia Grammar 2 1
Trinity 1 2
Hamilton 0 3

The championship game between Berkeley School and De La Salle was won by the former.

Thackara. Fuller. Morris (Capt.). Seymour. Henry.

DE LANCEY SCHOOL, PHILADELPHIA, BASEBALL TEAM.]

The Berkeley nine was very strong in batting, its record being 107 base hits out of 214 times at bat, or a base hit every other time. The best individual batting average of the League, however, is held by Markell of Trinity--1000. His nearest rival is Hetzel of Barnard, whose average is 778, and the nearest Berkeley man to the top of the list is Wiley, who earned an average of 667. A number of players on the several teams secured an average of 1000 in fielding, but the best showing made by any individual was that of Gilchrist of De La Salle, who had 33 put-outs, 2 assists, and no errors. Berkeley's field-work was also very high, the average for the season being 924.

The Long Island championship went to St. Paul's again this year, although Brooklyn High-School and Adelphi both put up a strong fight--much stronger than they did last year. Brooklyn High finished second, and Poly. Prep., by making a strong brace, jumped into third place, the result being as follows:

Games Won. Games Lost.
St. Paul's 5 0
Brooklyn High-School 4 1
Poly. Prep. 2 2
Pratt Institute 2 2
Adelphi Academy 1 4
Brooklyn Latin School 0 5

The batting averages of the Long-Islanders are not so high as those made on this side of the river, the best being Griswold's of Pratt Institute--600. Higgins, also of Pratt, was a close second, his figures being 579. A Brooklyn High-School player, Mulvey, stands first on the list of fielding averages with 1000, his chances having been 54 put-outs and 1 assist, with, of course, no errors. Starr of St. Paul's comes very near to Mulvey, with 47 put-outs and 2 assists. The batting average of 500, made by Berkeley in the N.Y.I.S.B.B.A., is approached only as close as 301 by Pratt Institute, whose team made the best batting average in Brooklyn. Pratt made 50 base hits out of 166 times at bat; the winning team of St. Paul's made only 41 hits with 141 times at bat. St. Paul's, however, took first place in fielding average with 925, making only 12 errors out of 159 chances.

Englewood High-School took the championship of the Cook County (Illinois) High-School League at the annual field day held June 26. Out of a possible 141 points the winners scored 44, and the scores of the other contesting teams were as follows:

1sts.--5. 2ds.--3. 3ds.--1. Total.
Englewood 5 6 1 44
English High 2 3 5 24
Hyde Park 2 3 0 19
Lake View 1 2 0 11
South Division 2 0 1 11
Manual Training 2 0 2 12
Winnetka 1 0 1 6
Austin 1 0 0 5
Oak Park 0 1 1 4
La Grange 0 1 1 4
West Division 0 0 1 1
John Marshall 0 0 0 0
Jefferson 0 0 0 0

The feature of the occasion was the colossal mismanagement of everything. In the first place, the gentlemen who had been selected to act as officials were not notified of the day and hour of the games, and were consequently not on hand when the contestants and the crowd gathered at the grounds. It was some time before it was discovered that this was the reason why the officials did not appear. Then a professional sprinter, who happened to be training on the track, was called upon to act as starter, and a miscellaneous lot of men and boys were chosen from among the spectators to fill the remaining positions.

The result was, of course, to be anticipated. Few of the ready-made officials knew anything about the duties required of them, and so the professional became referee, judge, inspector, time-keeper, measurer, and marshal. The events dragged and dragged, and it was dark before the last one was finished. Under such conditions the performance credited to the young athletes cannot be looked upon with much confidence, although the published figures show a fairly good standard of attainment.

Several of the Association records were lowered. Bascom of South Division and Pingree of Hyde Park made the best individual showing of the day, each taking two firsts. Bascom won both the mile and the half-mile runs, and Pingree took the mile and five-mile bicycle events. Culver of Winnetka was responsible for all that went to his school. He won first place in the pole vault and third in the running broad jump.

Another interscholastic meet of considerable interest was that of the Washington High-Schools, which came off on the Georgetown College grounds a few weeks ago. The schools which sent teams were the Central, Eastern, Western, and Business High-Schools. Central won with 73 points out of a possible 88, having everything practically its own way. The Central representatives took first place in every event, and more than half the seconds. The best showing was made by Curtis, who took the low hurdles and the high jump; Stuart, who took the half and the mile; and Ruff, who got first in the 220 and the quarter. These Central High-School athletes of Washington are a promising lot.

In the table of performances made at the Pittsburgh Interscholastic A.A., published in HARPER'S ROUND TABLE No. 869, Bell, S.S.A., is credited with winning the half-mile run. This is an error; that event was taken by Atkinson of Park Institute. Atkinson was the only man entered from his school, and certainly ought to get the credit due him for his win.

"TRACK ATHLETICS IN DETAIL."--ILLUSTRATED.--8VO, CLOTH, ORNAMENTAL, $1.25.

THE GRADUATE.

A BOY'S BRAVE ACT.

In one of the largest cities of the United States there is a trolley-car line that crosses the tracks of a steam railroad. The usual rail gates guard the crossing when trains are passing, but accidents have happened there in spite of such precautions. Not long ago what would have been a fearful catastrophe was narrowly averted by the presence of mind of a little newsboy who sold papers at the station near the crossing. A witness of the scene related the story to me. As in all cases of such nature the facts are suppressed by the railroad companies, and it is hard to obtain even the meagre details.

It was early in the morning, and a car with about twenty passengers on board rolled up to the crossing, and proceeded to pass over the tracks slowly, as they invariably do. The conducting-pole that extends from the roof of the car to the charged wire overhead slipped from the wire when the car was immediately over the tracks, causing it to come to a stop. The conductor, who has charge of the rope that moves the pole, and hangs down back of the car, vainly pulled it, trying to make the pole connect with the wire. But the rope had caught in the roof of the car and jammed itself in such a way that he was unable to see the cause of the trouble. The passengers were growing nervous, and when the alarm-bell at the crossing began ringing, announcing the approach of a train, they made a wild stampede for the doors. They all tried to get out at once, but only jammed themselves into a worse predicament.

A short distance down the track, and coming around the curve at full speed, was a fast express, and it seemed but a question of a few moments when the crash would come, and instantaneous death follow. The conductor stuck bravely to his post, and the motorman, pale but firm, stood with his hand on the key waiting for the electric current to start the car. When the express was but a few yards distant, and amid the wild hoarse screams of the frantic, struggling passengers, the car gave a sudden bound forward over the crossing, and cleared the train by a foot or so.

The newsboy saw the danger of the car, saw the caught rope, and saw the remedy. Close to the crossing was a pile of lumber, and climbing that he leaped onto the roof of the car and released the rope guiding the pole onto the wire. He took his life in his hands, for his brave act was all enacted in the face of a fast approaching express, and the sudden start nearly threw him from the roof. In the general excitement that followed the little fellow slipped away, and for some time the impression remained that the rope had loosened itself just in time. But the railroad company knew of the boy's brave act, and he did not lose by his courage.

ADVERTISEMENTS.

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.

Again it is necessary to give up the Department to answering questions. There are many inquiries which can be and are answered by letter, and as they are special requests on certain particular points not of any great general interest, we do not mention them here. Some points are brought, however, which are of such general interest that when it is possible we mean to answer them in the ROUND TABLE. Many requests have come during the last week or two asking how to keep a bicycle bright, what to put on it, how to take it apart, and so on. In HARPER'S ROUND TABLE dated March 24, 1896, No. 856, there is a carefully prepared article, entitled "The Care of a Wheel," answering most of these questions, and a copy of this issue can be obtained from the publishers by sending five cents in stamps. One or two correspondents mention one, two, and three week trips which they are planning, and they ask what they should carry in the way of luggage and hammock. Another article, published in the same issue of the ROUND TABLE, entitled "Bicycle-touring During Summer Vacations," will be found to cover most of these points. Of course there are many points which a wheelman most surely can learn for himself by experience. At the same time the general suggestions made in these two articles will be found useful to anyone who has either touring or the best care of his bicycle in mind.

YOUR CONSTANT READER asks about the expense of touring. He is about starting with his brother on a tandem to run from New York to Washington and return, spending about two weeks on the trip. He asks if the Road Book of the L.A.W. gives the best route. It certainly does. One may find, however, a somewhat more detailed description, with map, in the ROUND TABLE, Nos. 812, 820, 821, 844, 845, 846, 847, 848, 849, which can be procured at the regular price from the publishers. Our correspondent then asks about the price of such a trip. This is always a difficult question to answer, since the amount of money spent depends more on the man than on the trip. A trip from New York to Washington and return, occupying two weeks, or any other similar trip occupying that extent of time, may be done for $30 apiece, that is to say, about $2 per day for each man. There is no question about it. Such trips have been made at such rates. Of course that means a care in expenditures that is totally beyond the capacity of some people. It would mean that meals should be procured at farm-houses along the way, and that wherever possible nights should be spent either in farm-houses or under the sky in the fields. The last plan is often not the least interesting part of such a trip, and if the bicyclists--if "Your Constant Reader," for example, who is going on a tandem, and can thus carry a good deal of baggage--can procure a bicycle camping outfit, such as is used in some of the military bicycle companies, there will be few more comfortable beds along the route. When it rains, the farm-house or inn can be resorted to, but as a rule the out-door nights will be quite as pleasant. In making such a fort-night's journey, however, the average young man will do well to make an appropriation of about four or even five dollars a day, and then he will not have much left when he gets home. Fifty dollars would be a reasonably small amount. And that takes no account of a bad fall and consequent fracture to the wheel.

L. E. BARNET asks how to join the L.A.W., what are its advantages, and what its purposes. We have announced from time to time at the head of this column that we would give information so far as possible concerning the L.A.W., and this has been done in a great many cases. Mr. Barnet's questions give an opportunity for us to say a word regarding the purposes of the League. This organization is composed of men interested in bicycling in all its many branches, in the construction of good roads, and in the protection of the rights of all others who are riding wheels. If you join the League you become a member of the division which is composed of all the members residing in your State. This division issues road-books of one kind or another, some containing maps, others only description. By becoming a member and paying two dollars you receive a copy of this book free and a ticket or member's card which gives you somewhat reduced rates at hotels of standing all through your State, and all through the United States for that matter to-day. In the many League meets you may take part in racing and so on, and most important of all, you become an influence for improving the roads of the United States in a way that would be totally beyond your power as an individual.

THE HUNTER.

BY EMMA J. GRAY.

This very lively game is played by both boys and girls, and the more, of course, the merrier. The hunter must be a boy, and to decide which boy it is best to count out. Use for counting the old rhyme,

"Ana, mana, mona, mike,
Bassa, lona, bona, strike,
Hare, ware, frown, stack,
Halloka, balloka, wee, woe, why, whack."

Whoever is fortunate enough to have the word "whack" counted to him is out, and then the rhyme must be repeated over and over, and finally the hunter is left. It now becomes his duty to name the rest of the company as his equipments as sportsman, and also as his game--for example, pointer, setter, two species of hunting-dogs, and shot, belt, powder, gun, powder-flask, rifle, cartridge, rabbit, squirrel, partridge, kingfisher, etc., etc.

Put two rows of chairs back to back. There should be one chair less than there are players. This done, each one of the company except the hunter takes a chair. The hunter, standing before the rest of the players, then sings, to the tune "I love a sixpence,"

"I am a hunter, a jolly, jolly hunter;
I love hunting as I love my life."

This he may sing over as many times as he likes, but finally stops short in the middle or anywhere, and immediately calls out a name--for instance, "Shot." The person bearing this name must at once rise, and hurrying towards the hunter, must take hold of the back of his coat or jacket. Then the hunter continues his song, and calls for each one, until all are behind him, each holding firmly to the one in front. When all are in place, the hunter starts running, all of the party following and holding tightly together. He may run around the chairs or wherever he pleases, provided he keeps in the room. For fully two minutes this must keep up, when suddenly he will call "Bang!" and instantly sit on one of the chairs. Of course there is a great scramble for every one to do likewise, but as one chair is short, some one is necessarily left out, and this person now becomes the hunter.

The game now continues as before, or it may be varied by the hunter having to find something hidden.

Any object may be placed out of sight in the room, and when the hunter nears it, the company may aid him by the usual words, "warm, warmer, hot," or "cool, very cold, freezing, zero, below zero," etc. If he finds it within five minutes, he may choose another hunter, but if not he must pay a forfeit, to be determined by the rest of the players.

Or the game may be played in a similar way by the use of nautical instead of hunting terms. Should this be preferred, the hunter becomes the captain, and instead of singing to his company he may blow a few blasts on a horn. He is supposed to be on shipboard, so he must have ship equipment, crew, officers, passengers, cargo. Again the players must be named, only this time call them life-boat, rope, anchor, sailor, steward, captain's boy, purser, first mate, doctor, etc., etc.

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.

THE KALLITYPE PRINTING PROCESS.

The kallitype printing process was invented and patented by Dr. Nichol of England, professor of chemistry in Mason College. The name "kallitype" is often confounded with "calotype," the name which Talbot gave to his paper negative process, patented in 1841. Both names are derived from the same Greek words meaning "beautiful picture." Kallitype paper is coated with two iron salts--ferric oxalate and ferric nitrate--and with silver oxalate and silver nitrate. The action of light on the ferric oxalate is to reduce it to ferrous oxalate. This paper is not a printing-out paper, but must be developed. A developing solution is prepared as follows:

Rochelle-salt 1 oz.
Borax 3/4 oz.
Water (filtered) 10 oz.

Make up a solution of 20 grains of bichromate of potash and 1 oz. of water, and another solution of four drachms of ammonia to 1 quart of water. When ready to develop the prints, add ten drops of the bichromate of potash to the developer. Place the prints in the developer face down, taking care that no air-bubbles form on the surface of the paper. When the paper is thoroughly saturated it can be turned face up. Leave the prints in the developing bath for at least twenty minutes, then, without washing, place them in the dish containing some of the ammonia and water. This is the fixing bath. Leave them in this bath for about ten minutes, then turn out and cover with fresh ammonia and water. Let them remain ten minutes in this second fixing bath, wash and dry.

The prints made on this paper closely resemble platinotype prints, but the process is much cheaper. If purplish tones are desired, make up a developing bath with a quarter-ounce of borax instead of three-quarters. The developer containing the three-quarter ounce of borax gives black tones. The bichromate of potash added to the developing solution keeps the prints clean and increases contrast.

SIR KNIGHT BERT A. PORTER, Strong, Me., asks if directions have
ever been given for copying pictures and mailing interior views; if
a brass plate can be prepared so that a picture may be printed on
it; and the best kind of paper to use to obtain clear lights.
Directions for making interior views will be found in Nos. 805,
806. If one has not a copying-stand, the best substitute will be a
board the width of the camera bed, and about five feet in length.
At one end fasten a piece of board large enough to allow the
picture being tacked to it, having it at exactly right angles with
the long board. The camera is then attached to the board at the
best point for making the picture. This simple method of arranging
the picture and camera does away with the trouble of adjusting the
camera and picture so that the lines will be parallel. Use
orthochromatic plates if the picture is colored, but any good plate
will do if the picture is black and white. Use a slow plate.
Pictures may be made on wood, leather, porcelain, and textile
fabrics, but pictures on metal are not successful by the ordinary
process. Any good aristo-paper will give clear whites if properly
toned and washed. Sir Knight Bert would like to correspond with any
one who wishes to purchase a 5 by 8 camera.

A SOLDIER OF NAPOLEON.

Most of us nowadays, when thinking of the Napoleonic wars, consider them as a part of the remote past, and it is difficult to realize that there may be people still living who took part in the battles of Marengo, Jena, and Waterloo. But all of Napoleon's soldiers are not yet dead, and one man who fought under the great French general is said to be living now near Cleveland, Ohio. Whether that is true or not, it is a fact that only recently one of Napoleon's old warriors died at the Soldiers' Home, Kearny, New Jersey.

His name was Henry Mueller, and a picture of the old gentleman is given herewith. He was born in Germany in 1794, and when the French armies invaded Prussia Mueller was fifteen years old. With many of his compatriots, he was drafted into the Grand Army, and marched off to Russia to fight the Cossacks and the cold. He was at Moscow, and tramped all the way back in the disastrous retreat, suffering untold tortures, and seeing his fellow-soldiers falling in the snow almost at every step. But Mueller kept up, and lived to get back into Germany, and to fight at the battles of Bautzen, Leipsic, and finally in the great battle of Waterloo.

After Napoleon had been captured by the British and sent to the lonely island of St. Helena, and the great armies of Europe had been disbanded, Mueller took ship and came to the United States. Not long after his arrival in this country the Seminole and Mexican wars broke out, and the old spirit of the soldier was reawakened in Mueller, and he went again to the front, this time wearing the American uniform and fighting for the American flag. So much warfare had now made a confirmed soldier of the German, and so when the war of the rebellion broke out in 1861 he again took up his musket and fought through the entire war.

One of the most wonderful things of all these experiences is that Mueller was never seriously wounded, and managed to keep himself in such good health that he lived to be over one hundred years old, and spent his last days in peace and comfort in the Soldiers' Home, smoking his long German pipe on the lawn under the trees, and telling of his own personal experiences, which, to most of us, are part of a very remote history.

* * * * *

A POUND OF FACTS

is worth oceans of theories. More infants are successfully raised on the Gail Borden Eagle Brand Condensed Milk than upon any other food. _Infant Health_ is a valuable pamphlet for mothers. Send your address to N. Y. Condensed Milk Co., N. Y.--[_Adv._]

ADVERTISEMENTS.

Postage Stamps, &c.

$117.50 WORTH OF STAMPS FREE

to agents selling stamps from my 50% approval sheets. Send at once for circular and price-list giving full information.

C. W. Grevning, Morristown, N. J.

100 all dif. Venezuela, Bolivia, etc., only 10c., 200 all dif. Hayti, Hawaii, etc., only 50c. Ag'ts w't'd at 50% com. List FREE! C. A. STEGMANN, 5941 Cote Brilliante Ave., St. Louis, Mo

STAMPS

=10= stamps and large list =FREE=!

L. DOVER & CO., 1469 Hodiamont, St. Louis, Mo.

HARPER'S

PERIODICALS

Hold their place in the front rank of the publications to which they belong.--_Boston Journal_, Feb. 19, 1896.

MAGAZINE, $4.00 A YEAR
WEEKLY, $4.00 A YEAR
BAZAR, $4.00 A YEAR
ROUND TABLE, $2.00 A YEAR

A Good Story about Mr. Blaine.

It often happens that men in public life find themselves in possession of sources of power--or it may be of weakness--of which they did not dream, and which, in not a few cases, they themselves maintain they do not possess. Sometimes they are at a loss to know why the public insists upon attributing the peculiarities to them.

During the political campaign of 1884 some gentlemen, serving on a reception committee, met Mr. Blaine on a railway train journeying toward the city at which a great meeting was to be held. Mr. Blaine was the Republican candidate for President, and, of course, the centre of interest. Always one of the most charming of conversationalists, he sat in the centre of a group of admirers who, as the train sped on, asked him questions of the campaign and of himself.

"May I ask you," interposed one young man, "if you know why people insist upon cheering so wildly whenever you come in sight? Or, not to be too blunt, do you know the secret of your magnetic power? This power you possess more than almost any other man in our history, unless it might have been Henry Clay."

"Now, frankly," said Mr. Blaine, "I do not. All I know about it is that ever since, as a young man, I began speaking in public, people insisted upon 'cheering wildly,' as you say, 'almost insanely,' I say. They did it, too, before I had said or done anything, so it could not have been my record in public life. I cannot explain it, though I have often been asked to do so."

"Then you found it one of your assets as a public man, just as some other men in public life have found a reputation for coldness a deficit, so to speak," observed the chairman of the reception committee, an older and a more experienced man than the first questioner.

"Exactly," responded Mr. Blaine. Then, thinking of his pending candidacy, a cloud of trouble flitted over his face, long of a peculiar whiteness, and he added, "I am trying to realize on that asset now."

Great as the "asset" was, he failed to realize his greatest hope upon it.

* * * * *

A Hammock Convenience.

These summer nights I camp out often. The other night we told
riddles, and I told this one. It was not guessed. The answer is
"Hatteras."

My first is an article of dress,
One, two, is the man who will make it.
My last is as-- But if I tell more
You'll have no chance to mistake it.
My whole is a point that can't be disputed;
That its position's a sound one was never refuted.

J. G. BATTERSON.
ASBURY PARK, N. J.

* * * * *

A Wonderful Look Ahead.

My uncle is an electrical engineer, and he told me to-day something
of the future, so wonderful that I send it to the Table. May I call
it a prophecy?

"The young person of to-day," said my relative, "who reaches the
age of forty-three years--just my present age--will see, in that
year of grace which will be 1925, a very different state of things
from what I see at the same age. We talk of our own wonderful
progress, but you, my young man, are destined to see changes in the
next twenty-eight years that bring you from fifteen to forty-three
beside which past changes are modest indeed.

"To begin with, you will see people flying through the air--that
is, there will be mechanical flying-machines, under perfect
control, that will carry passengers and packages through from place
to place by the 'air route.' There is no doubt of this. Flying is
solved.

"In the second place, you will see light not the expensive thing it
now is, but as cheap as water, and turned on in every house at
will, as water now is in towns and cities. It will be vacuum light.

"In the third place, you will witness the passing away of the
steam-boiler, the furnace, and the coal-dealer. In your city of
1925 there will be no trolley poles, and, more startling still, no
horses--or at least very few horses. The horse is doomed. Neither
will there be screeching locomotives on the railways. Compressed
air and electricity will take the place of steam and horses. People
will not order coal delivered at their houses, nor will any ash man
come around to make his morning litter. Your city of 1925, and your
country, too, will be rather more desirable places to live in than
they are to-day. I envy you your youth. I shall be, if alive, past
eighty, and too old to enjoy such novelties."

What does the Table think of this wonderful look ahead?

ASHBEL P. JOHNSON.
BUFFALO. N. Y.

* * * * *

Kinks.

NO. 7.--POETICAL PICTURES.--BIRDS.

Fill the blanks with the names of birds answering to the description, and find out the author's name. Answers will be published soon.

"O *****, that dost wing
Thy flight from the far away!
Thou hast brought us the signs of the spring,
Thou hast made our sad hearts gay." (1)

"From post to thicket
Hops the ******* blithe, sedate;
Who, with meekly folded wing,
Comes to sun himself and sing." (2)

"The ***** and the ******** piping loud,
Filled all the blossoming orchards with their glee. (3-4)
The ******** chirped, as if they still were proud
Their race in Holy Writ should mentioned be, (5)
And hungry ***** assembled in a crowd,
Clamored their piteous prayers incessantly." (6)

"The noisy ******** twitter 'neath the eaves." (7)

"The ********* beats his throbbing drum: (8)
The ********** pecks and flits: (9)
The ****** flashes by." (10)

"The *** red-breast
Peeps o'er her nest
In the midst of the crab-blossoms blushing." (11)

"From morn to morn a merry ******
Sings hymns to sunrise." (12)

"Yonder gaudy ******* harshly cries,
As red and gold flash all the eastern skies." (13)

* * * * *

Answers to Kinks.

No. 6.

1. Drum. 2. Assassin. 3. Bat. 4. Sole, soul.

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

"How shall I perform an introduction?" inquires a girl who likes to do things gracefully, and who is entirely right in her notion that for most things there is a right way and also a wrong one.

Introducing people is neither difficult nor occult, and it requires no special training. There are a few very simple rules to be observed. You present a gentleman to a lady, and a younger to an older person. You are careful to speak clearly and distinctly, for nothing is more embarrassing than to have a stranger's name mumbled so that it remains unknown, thus defeating the end of the introduction. You do not say, "Mamma, let me present my classmate," leaving your mother to guess at the part of your speech which was really the most important; you say, "My classmate, Miss Leonard." And, equally, when you are introducing Miss Leonard to your friend you do not say, "Alice, may I introduce my cousin Sophie," in which case neither young woman would have the least idea of more than the other's Christian name. If a person is a personage--a professor, or doctor, or clergyman, or in any way noted or famous--the tactful young girl makes the title a part of her introduction, so that the people presented to him are aware that they are honored by the new acquaintance.

When you ask your friends to a little informal tea, at which a visiting friend in town, or an author, or artist, or distinguished stranger is the guest of distinction, you simply write on your own ordinary visiting-card: "Tuesday [or whatever day you select], July --, from four to seven. To meet Madame Thus-and-so." No formally engraved invitation is required for what is a purely spontaneous affair in which informality is part of the attraction. The day and hour arrived, one stands near the door of the drawing-room with her guest, and with any other lady who is receiving with her. As they enter, friends who call are presented to the guest; the guest is not presented to them; and here the rule about age is waived, for the company are gathered for the express purpose of doing the guest honor and giving her pleasure. Only light refreshments are needed in summer--iced tea, coffee frappé, small cakes, and very thin biscuits, with possibly an ice, are admissible at such a gathering.

To the girls of fourteen who anxiously inquire concerning the length of their frocks I can only say that custom just now indicates common-sense in this matter. Have your frocks to the tops of your boots, and enjoy the freedom of walking, and playing games, bicycling, etc., which this length gives. A girl of fourteen needs very simple frocks. She is not out in society, and nothing in the way of costliness or great elegance is expected of her, nor would it be appropriate.

The prettiest fashion in hair-dressing for very young girls is either to wear the hair in lovely loose curls or else in long braids. One thick braid is apt to be less comfortable than two braids, and as a girl can seldom do her hair nicely herself, she should get her mother or sister to help her, unless there is a maid who has time to give the hair the careful brushing it needs. I do not advise shingled hair for girls of any age. Sometimes, if the hair is very thin and dry, a little vaseline may be rubbed into the scalp at night, but usually regular brushing will be sufficient to keep it in nice order. Do not have a frowzy and untidy appearance in any part of your dress. A little pains is well worth the taking, for your friends' sake as well as your own.

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.

Interest in U.S. Revenues is growing rapidly. The great rarities, 6c., 50c., $1, and $5 Proprietary, the $200 and $500, second issue, now readily bring two or three times catalogue prices. Many millions of these revenue stamps are on legal documents, agreements, contracts, leases, insurance policies, conveyances, mortgages, wills, etc., which are now out of date and of no legal value. All the U.S. Revenues were used throughout the United States for about twenty years, consequently a valuable lot may turn up any day in any part of the Union. During the past week several new minor varieties have been found, notably an unsevered pair of 10c. Power of Attorney, a stamp hitherto believed to exist in this condition, but no pair had ever been seen.

The philatelists of New York contemplate a club-house, and the committee is now asking for one hundred subscriptions of $25 each. They hope to have the club-house ready this autumn.

A few years ago most collectors in Europe preferred cancelled stamps, and several Americans exchanged many of their cancelled for unused copies. Now the demand all over the world for unused specimens has resulted in advancing the price of scarce stamps in this condition to a prohibitive degree. Most of the stamps in the following list of English could have been bought five or six years ago for one tenth the present price or less: