Chapter II (3)

Post Street is the most common street for Chinese funerals, which consist of but one or two carriages, and sometimes only a hearse. From the vehicles are thrown out slips of paper about an inch and a half by five inches, with slits cut in them. There is a common belief that the devil must go through every hole in every piece of paper before he can reach the soul of the dead.

N. WHEATON, K. T. R.
SAN FRANCISCO.

Want Corner.

Margaret Seymour thinks her hobby such a queer one that no one else is interested in it. She is tracing the Sigurd or Siegfried Myth. She asks if _Elder Edda_, Jordan's _Sigfrid's Saga_, and Geibel's _Tragedy of Brunehild_, have ever been translated into English; also where to find the _Volsunga Saga_. _The Brunehild Tragedy_ can be had in English from French & Sons, publishers, 18 West Twenty-third Street, New York. Can any member tell us about the others? Sidney T. Mirams, lives in Elder Street, Dunedin, New Zealand, and is a member of our Order who collects stamps. Moreover, he says he has some to trade; also wrappers and post cards. Charles F. Hoffman, 16 Whitehall Street, New York has started an eight-page monthly called _The Courier_, and will send a free sample to all who ask. Its price is twenty-five cents a year, but it is to be raised to thirty-five cents. It is a good juvenile amateur.

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 Department is conducted in the interest of the readers of HARPER'S ROUND TABLE--(1) To give the _important_ stamp news of the day; (2) to assist the young collectors to collect _intelligently_ by giving them hints on those subjects which are usually so difficult to understand, such as perforations, water-marks, papers, colors, methods of manufacture, varieties of dies, and the care and management of their philatelic treasures: (3) to answer questions in this column, or by letter, provided a stamped and addressed envelope be enclosed with the inquiry. I hope, however, all collectors will provide themselves with a catalogue, sold by all stamp-dealers, as this will in itself answer such questions as "What is the value of a ---- U. S. stamp?"

MOLLIE DAVIS.--The stamp is catalogued at 2c.

LANTIE V. BLUM.--I advise young collectors always to buy stamps
from well-known, respectable dealers. See our advertising columns
for names.

C. P. MCKILLOPP.--The 10c. green U. S. 1851 unperforated is worth
60 to 75 cents. The same stamp perforated is worth 25 cents. The
10c. 1861 is worth 5 cents; the same stamp grilled is worth 40
cents. The 6c. Lincoln 1870, grilled, is worth $4, but without
grill 2 cents.

F. G. CLAPP.--The Richmond stamp is a fraud. Look a little
sharper, and you will find the 2c. current issue with a white line
inside the frame of the triangle. There is a new issue of U. S.
envelopes. The water-mark has been changed.

L. H.--The gold coin has no premium, owing to the monogram. I
should prefer to see the Blood, Boyd, and Bouton stamps before
making any definite answer, as you do not give the dates of the
letters to which they are affixed.

MURRAY CAMPBELL.--The various Confederate bills are worth very
little. The stamp-dealers sell them very cheaply.

E. P. TRIPP.--The revenue-stamp is worth 2 cents. The 1c. 1851
_without_ the outer line at the bottom, and the same stamp
perforated (1856) _with_ the line are the scarce varieties.

ROY THOMPSON.--There is no premium on the fractional currency used
during the war, unless it is perfectly fresh and has never been
circulated.

C. G. ATHERTON.--Sverige means Sweden. The French stamp is a
revenue, not a postage-stamp. The Brazil is a newspaper-stamp.

E. C. CROSETT.--The scarce variety of the 7c. 1870 U. S. is the
one without the line around the inner circles of the bulb.

J. K.--The Kew-Kiang, Wuhu, etc., are Chinese local stamps, and
were issued primarily to sell to collectors. I would not advise
buying them, as, speaking philatelically, they are simply trash.

A. E. BARROW.--English stamps surcharged I. R.--Official, are
simply official stamps used for governmental mail matter. The
blue, green, and red "Jenkins Camden Despatch" are either reprints
or counterfeits. In either case they are of no value. The New
Zealand and Confederates mentioned by you are all catalogued
regularly.

A. B. JOHNSON.--The 1882 re-engraved of U. S. 1870 have most of
their lines deepened. It is almost impossible to explain by words,
but a single look at the originals and the re-engraved will show
you once for all the difference. The embossing of the U. S. stamps
was made on the supposition that the cancellation of an embossed
stamp would make it impossible to use the stamp a second time.
Possibly it would do so if the embossing were strong enough to
pierce the stamp with numerous holes, but practically the idea was
a failure. Clear embossing may be measured by a millimetre scale.

PHILATUS.

An experienced laundress will tell you that shirts never look as white as when washed with Ivory Soap.

THE PROCTER & GAMBLE CO., CIN'TI.

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

A 25 cent package makes 5 gallons. Sold everywhere.

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

WONDER CABINET =FREE=. Missing Link Puzzle, Devil's Bottle, Pocket Camera, Latest Wire Puzzle, Spook Photos, Book of Sleight of Hand, Total Value 60c. Sent free with immense catalogue of 1000 Bargains for 10c. for postage.

INGERSOLL & BRO., 65 Cortlandt Street N. Y.

BOOKS FOR SUMMER READING

From Harper's Young People Series.

_Illustrated. Post 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.25 each:_

=_The Mystery of Abel Forefinger_.= By WILLIAM DRYSDALE.

=_Raftmates_.--_Canoemates_.--_Campmates_.--_Dorymates_.= By KIRK
MUNROE.

=_Young Lucretia, and Other Stories_.= By MARY E. WILKINS.

=_A Boy's Town_.= By W. D. HOWELLS.

=_Diego Pinzon_.= By J. K. CORYELL.

_Illustrated. Square 16mo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.00 each:_

=_Wakulla_.--_The Flamingo Feather_.--_Derrick
Sterling_.--_Chrystal, Jack & Co., and Delta Bixby_.= By KIRK
MUNROE.

=_The Talking Leaves_.--_Two Arrows_.--_The Red Mustang_.= By W. O.
STODDARD.

=_Prince Lazybones, and Other Stories_.= By Mrs. W. J. HAYS.

=_The Ice Queen_.= By ERNEST INGERSOLL.

=_Uncle Peter's Trust_.= By GEORGE B. PERRY.

=_Toby Tyler_.--_Mr. Stubbs's Brother_.--_Tim and Tip_.--_Left
Behind_.--_Raising the "Pearl_."--_Silent Pete_.= By JAMES OTIS.

=_The Four Macnicols_.= By WILLIAM BLACK.

=_The Lost City_.--_Into Unknown Seas_.= By DAVID KER.

=_The Story of Music and Musicians_.--_Jo's Opportunity_.--_Rolf
House_.--_Mildred's Bargain, and Other Stories_.--_Nan_.--_The
Colonel's Money_.--_The Household of Glen Holly_.= By LUCY C.
LILLIE.

* * * * *

Published by HARPER & BROTHERS, New York.

_For sale by all booksellers, or will be mailed by the publishers, postage prepaid, on receipt of the price._

THE "FOURTH."

FOURTH OF JULY.

"Well," said Aunt Mary, "so the Fourth of July is here again. How many fingers do you expect it to leave you with, Tommy?"

"Ten," answered Tommy, promptly. "I didn't know there was anything about the Fourth of July to make extra fingers sprout out on a boy's hand."

"There isn't anything about it that is apt to increase the number of a boy's fingers; but there is something about it that makes it a good time for a boy to get rid of any extra or superfluous fingers he may have. Bursting cannon and big fire-crackers are very serious things for fingers."

"Well, I haven't any fingers that I want to get rid of," said Tommy.

"Of course you know what the Fourth of July commemorates?" remarked Aunt Mary.

"The signing of the Declaration of Independence," answered Tommy, promptly.

"Yes. Now suppose it had been signed the 15th of January, what sort of a Fourth of July do you suppose that would have made?"

"Too cold--snow would put out the fire-crackers," replied Tommy.

"Just what Thomas Jefferson said," returned Aunt Mary. "Charles Carroll of Carrollton wanted to sign it on the 15th of January, but Jefferson said, 'That's no time for fire-crackers. The snow will make 'em sputter and go out. We owe something to posterity.'"

"Now, Aunt Mary," broke in Tommy, "I believe you--"

"Listen," went on Aunt Mary. "Listen, and learn about history. 'I think it will do well enough,' said Charles Carroll of Carrollton. 'Fire-crackers are dangerous things. Let posterity go sleigh-riding on the glorious 15th of January, and make a noise by cracking the whip. Besides, Thomas A. Edison will soon invent snow-proof fire-crackers.'"

"Aunt Mary--"

"Don't interrupt me, Tommy. 'No,' said Jefferson, 'September is the time. We'll sign it on the 27th of September. Think of the glorious 27th! How the cannon will boom, and the rockets whiz, and--' 'I won't agree to put it off a moment beyond the 22d of February,' said Charles Carroll of Carrollton. 'That won't do,' answered Thomas Jefferson. 'That's the birthday of the father of his country. Two holidays rolled into one wouldn't be the thing. People would celebrate too hard. I'm willing to make it the 13th of August.' 'Let's settle on the 10th of March,' replied Charles Carroll of Carrollton. 'Thirty-first of July,' said Jefferson. 'Fourteenth of April,' answered Carroll. They finally compromised on the 4th of July."

"What history did you study?" asked Tommy, as the best way of exposing his aunt's romancing.

"All of the good ones," she answered. "Smith's, and Brown's, and Thompson's, and Robinson's, and Jones's. Wherever I found a good fact I picked it up. I was always very fond of facts when I went to school. Did you ever hear about the dispute Thomas Jefferson and Charles Carroll of Carrollton had when they came to write and sign the Declaration of Independence?"

"No," said Tommy, wondering what his aunt would say next.

"They had quite a little tiff. Jefferson, you see, wanted to have it written on a typewriter, and--"

"But, Aunt, the typewriter wasn't invented then."

"That's just what Charles Carroll of Carrollton told him. But Jefferson insisted on calling in the janitor, and having it invented while they waited. 'Posterity can never read my handwriting,' said Jefferson. 'Besides, my fountain-pen won't work to-day; you know how it is with these fountain-pens--some days ink will shoot out of them like water out of a garden hose, and other times you can't get it out with a corkscrew.'"

"Why didn't Charles Carroll of Carrollton tell Jefferson that fountain-pens weren't invented either?" asked Tommy.

"I don't think he knew it. A great many people then thought that fountain-pens were invented. And then they talked a long time, and Thomas Jefferson tried to get Benjamin Franklin to set it up in type and print it, but he said he had to go fishing with his kite that afternoon for electricity and so couldn't; and then the others sided in with Charles Carroll of Carrollton, and Jefferson had to write it after all, with a quill pen, and with sand to dry the ink with instead of blotting-paper, because the man who had promised to invent blotting-paper had joined the army and gone off to fight the British. So you see, Tommy, the men that wrote and signed the Declaration of Independence had their troubles. But you ought to be thankful that they did it in July instead of January."

Tommy thought a moment, and then said, "Yes, I am; but if they'd done it about six weeks earlier it would have given us a holiday while there was school, and _I_ think that's a pretty good time for holidays."

A GRAND DISPLAY.

When I witness the destruction of famed cities of the past
Reproduced in pyrotechnics on a scale superb and vast,
How their ineffectual fires pale in potent power to charm
Before that dollar-twelve assortment dad once set off at the farm!

End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Round Table, July 2, 1895, by Various