Chapter III: Part 3

Event. Time and Place.
100-yard dash N.E.I.S.A.A. games, June 9, 1894.
220-yard run N.E.I.S.A.A. games, June 9, 1894.
440-yard run N.E.I.S.A.A. games, June 9, 1894.
Half-mile run N.Y.I.S.A.A. games, June 5, 1896.
Mile run N.E.I.S.A.A. games, June 9, 1894.
Mile walk Conn. H.-S.A.A. games, June 6, 1896.
120-yard hurdle (3 ft. 6 in.) Conn. H.-S.A.A. games, 1894.
220-yard hurdle (2 ft. 6 in.) Conn. H.-S.A.A. games, June 8, 1895.
Mile bicycle N.Y.I.S.A.A. games, May 11, 1895.
Two-mile bicycle Conn. H.-S.A.A. games, June 8, 1895.
Running high jump N.Y.I.S.A.A. games, May 11, 1895.
Running broad jump A.A.L. field day, Oct. 16, 1894.
Pole vault N.E.I.S.A.A. games, June 5, 1896.
Throwing 12-lb. hammer N.E.I.S.A.A. games, June 9, 1894.
Throwing 16-lb. hammer Conn. H.-S.A.A. games, June 6, 1896.
Putting 12-lb. shot Wis. I.S.A.A. games, May 30, 1896.
Putting 16-lb. shot N.E.I.S.A.A. games, 1894.

The Knickerbocker Athletic Club is a newcomer in athletics, and its officials do not know yet, or did not know at the time of the National Games, that there are, as I have stated, half a dozen gentlemen in this city who almost always hold certain official positions on interscholastic occasions. Of course such ignorance is pardonable, but I do not think that the Knickerbocker managers should be so readily pardoned for inviting certain gentlemen to act as officials without consulting the officers of the National Association. So far as I am able to find out, the Knickerbocker Club did not submit the names of those whom they had chosen to act as officials to any officer of the National Association, and the latter, so I am told, did not know who were to act as referee and judges until shortly before they reached the Columbia Oval on the afternoon of June 20.

It was too late then to make any changes, of course, and all the officers of the National Association could do was to blame themselves for their own carelessness and thoughtlessness in not asking to see a list of the officials a week before the games. There was no fault to be found with the manner in which the gentlemen chosen by the Knickerbocker Club performed their duties, yet there was an indescribable something lacking on the field that day which we have always felt and appreciated at other interscholastic functions.

There was not exactly an air of professionalism about the proceedings, and yet the officials went about their work in such a "professional" way that the gentle, amateur, leisurely atmosphere of other times and seasons was not there. Furthermore, there was a slight inclination toward bossism in some quarters; and young men who are taking part in amateur sports do not care to be bossed, and if they have reason to suspect that they are going to be bossed, it may be put down as a certainty that they will not again compete under similar conditions. I haven't any doubt that next year, no matter under what conditions the National Games are held, the officers of the Association will choose their own officials, and there will be found among them the same gentlemen who for years have helped to make school-boy field days the pleasant affairs they always are.

But it is only just to say to any organization, whether it be in New York or in any other city, which hopes to succeed in the management of school-boy sports, that it must carry out the school-boy idea of the proprieties of things; and school-boys have very distinct ideas of what they want; and if school-boys are pleased to have certain gentlemen, school and college graduates, to act as officials at their sports, these same gentlemen must be asked to hold these same positions, or the organization will very soon lose favor in scholastic eyes. Nevertheless, the schools must remember that the Knickerbocker Athletic Club is the first that ever did anything for interscholastic sport, and for this reason they should be willing to overlook a great deal.

Huntington, r.f. Pell, 1 b. Bien, Jun., p. Fleming, 3 b.

THE BERKELEY SCHOOL BASEBALL NINE.--Champions N.Y.I.S.A.A.]

A number of years ago it was a very common thing for college men and other amateurs to devote a large part of their summer to the playing of baseball. So popular did this playing on "summer nines" become that a number of hotels offered inducements to clever amateur players to come and spend a few weeks at their resort in order that the locality might have a good baseball nine as a sort of summer attraction. The custom went from bad to worse, until summer resorts actually began to bid one against the other for the most capable players.

Many amateurs who would not for a moment have considered any other kind of proposition found that they had easy consciences when it was merely a question of taking a reduction in board and lodging. They seemed to fail to recognize the fact that by accepting such a reduction they were practically accepting the sum of money which the hotel-keeper subtracted from their bills at the end of their stay. In some cases, too, no bills at all were submitted to the baseball boarders. Thus amateurs were rapidly sliding into the path of professionalism, and the colleges found that they must take some steps to interfere with summer baseball playing.

All of the colleges now, I think, with the possible exception of Brown, have rules forbidding the playing of baseball on "summer nines," the penalty being that any member of the college who does this becomes ineligible to any university team. And thus summer playing for college men has been effectively put a stop to.

The colleges, however, cannot legislate against players who are not members of their institutions, and they have found it difficult to prevent sub-Freshmen or school-boy players from accepting the favors of hotel-keepers or others in return for belonging to the hotel's nine. Princeton, however, has seized the bull by the horns, and has issued a decree, which was sent around to all the preparatory schools last spring, stating that no one will be considered eligible to any of the university teams who has at any time played for any sort of compensation.

Howard, 5. Brock, 6. Shiverick; cox. Wheeler, 7. Thomas, stroke.

THE VICTORIOUS HALCYON CREW, ST. PAUL'S SCHOOL, CONCORD.]

This is an excellent rule, and will effectively put a stop to summer ball-playing by young men who are preparing for Princeton, and who hope to achieve the honor of playing on the university nine. It is to be hoped that every other university and college in this country will adopt similar rules.

But aside from the penalties that are to be incurred for playing on "summer nines," there must be a number of other reasons that will prevent school-boys from running the risk of being looked upon as semi-professionals. I say "semi-professionals," although there is really no half-way house between amateurism and professionalism. If a young man accepts reduced board at any time, or a uniform, or a pair of shoes or stockings, or in fact anything that has any commercial value whatever, as a reward for any kind of services rendered in athletics, he is a professional.

NATIONAL INTERSCHOLASTIC RECORDS.

Event. Record.
100-yard dash 10-1/5 sec.
220-yard dash 22-2/5 "
Quarter-mile run 51-2/5 "
Half-mile run 1 m. 59-3/5 "
One-mile run 5 " 10-1/5 "
120-yard hurdles (3 ft. 6 in.) 16-4/5 "
220-yard hurdles (2 ft. 6 in.) 26-2/5 "
One-mile walk 7 " 53-2/5 "
One-mile bicycle 2 " 36 "
Running high jump 5 ft. 8 in.
Running broad jump 21 " 1 "
Pole vault 10 " 5 "
Throwing 12-lb. hammer 129 " 10 "
Putting 12-lb. shot 43 " 4 "

Event. Holder.
100-yard dash W. H. Jones, New England I.S.A.A.
220-yard dash W. H. Jones, New England I.S.A.A.
Quarter-mile run H. L. Washburn, New York I.S.A.A.
Half-mile run W. S. Hipple, New York I.S.A.A.
One-mile run D. T. Sullivan, New England I.S.A.A.
120-yard hurdles (3 ft. 6 in.) A. F. Beers, New York I.S.A.A.
220-yard hurdles (2 ft. 6 in.) J. H. Converse, New England I.S.A.A.
One-mile walk A. L. O'Toole, New England I.S.A.A.
One-mile bicycle O. C. Roehr, Long Island I.S.A.A.
Running high jump { F. R. Sturtevant, Connecticut H.-S.A.A.
{ T. Flourney, Iowa State H.-S.A.A.
Running broad jump H. Brown, Connecticut H.-S.A.A.
Pole vault R. G. Clapp, New England I.S.A.A.
Throwing 12-lb. hammer F. C. Ingalls, Connecticut H.-S.A.A.
Putting 12-lb. shot F. C. Ingalls, Connecticut H.-S.A.A.

The word "professional" means an individual who performs in athletics for the sake of the reward that he is to receive. It does not make any difference whether this reward comes to him in cash, clothing, or pie. And he cannot evade being classed among professionals if he once accepts any kind of remuneration. Of course it seems different to those young men who do not think seriously about the ethics of sport. They think that they are not accepting any remuneration if they allow a hotel-keeper or an athletic club to furnish them with a suit of clothes--a baseball uniform--and pay their expenses.

They argue that it is only just, if they are playing baseball, that their expenses to and from neighboring resorts should be paid, and they do not see why the hotel or the club, if it chooses to, should not present uniforms to the young men who are playing ball. But it seems to me that this very argument is strongest when looked at from the other side. The young men who accept uniforms or expenses do so because they feel that it is worth while for the hotel man or the club to spend that money to have them play baseball.

Therefore, if it is worth anything to the hotel man to pay them this money, their services acquire a commercial value. As soon as services are recognized to have a commercial value, and are paid for, either directly or indirectly, the one who accepts the reward or remuneration, either directly in cash or clothing, or indirectly in railroad fare and hotel bills, becomes a professional, for he has made use of his ability as an athlete to obtain railroad transportation or board at no expense to himself beyond his skill as an athlete.

There is a difference in playing at summer resorts for the sport of the thing and in playing for the advantage of it. Young men who like to play baseball, and who can get up a nine wherever they happen to be this summer, should do so by all means, for there is nothing healthier than sport of this kind. But they should not allow any one to let them derive any kind of financial advantage from the fact that they know how to play baseball, and they should not allow any of their friends or admirers to induce them to go to any certain resort because they know how to play baseball.

Young men usually want to do what they consider the right thing, and what their older brothers and their friends among older men consider the right thing. College men have come to the conclusion that playing on summer nines is a bad thing for amateur sport, and if there are a number of young men, readers of this Department, not yet in college, who have not given sufficient thought to the matter, and who very possibly cannot see the serious side of the question just now, let them, for the present, rest upon the judgment of the college men, and abide by their decision, and when they get to be college men themselves they will appreciate the situation as they cannot now, and they will be very glad that they left playing on "summer nines" to others who were not such thorough sportsmen as they, and who by so doing lose much that they can never regain in after years.

This Department prints again this week a table of the Interscholastic records of the United States, and also a table of the National Interscholastic records, in order that many who have not made a distinction between these two classes of figures may see what this difference is. As was stated last week, a National Interscholastic record is one made at the National Games, whereas an Interscholastic record is one made at any interscholastic field-meeting. We may feel perfectly sure that the figures as printed in the National table are absolutely correct, for there has been only one National Interscholastic meeting, that of June 20 of this year.

The Berkeley School nine, which won the Interscholastic Championship this year, is undoubtedly one of the strongest baseball teams ever developed at any of the New York city schools. This team earned the championship of the Association by 167-10. The team was an unusually hard-hitting one, and in one game alone the Berkeley players pounded out eight home runs. The best individual work of the team was done by Wiley, Pell, and Huntington. Wiley will undoubtedly be known in a few years as one of the best amateur catchers, and if he goes to college he should make a record for himself on the diamond.

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

THE GRADUATE.

HARPER'S NEW CATALOGUE,

Thoroughly revised, classified, and indexed, will be sent by mail to any address on receipt of ten cents.

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 Wheelman.
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.

This week we give a map of the city of Chicago. It will be observed that all the streets of the city are not put down on the map, it being impossible, on a small scale, to include them. A sufficient number of the principal streets and avenues are given, however, to make it a simple matter for a wheelman to place himself anywhere in the city, and find the nearest route to asphalt, macadam, or wood-block pavement. The roads which are suitable for wheeling are so arranged in the city, as will be seen from the map, that it is possible to get to any part of it without having much disagreeable riding.

Starting from the Court-house and going north, the rider should cross the Chicago River and run out Dearborn Street, turning into Lincoln Park, and following the Lake Drive out through Evanston. This is not only the most picturesque ride in the city of Chicago, but it is the best method of getting out of the north of the city if you are on a trip by the Lake shore. By turning to the left off the Lake Drive a little more than half-way through Lincoln Park, crossing the park, and entering Fullerton Avenue, you will find good wood-block pavement. Running out to Milwaukee Avenue, and turning right into the latter, which is also block pavement, you are on the northwest exit from the city. To leave the city on the westward, cross the branch of the Chicago River, and run from the Court-house out Washington Boulevard--which is partly asphalt and partly macadam--pass through Garfield Park, and thence out of the city.

On the south from the Court-house and post-office is one of the famous runs in the vicinity of Chicago, or, as a matter of fact, in the middle West. This is a fifteen-mile run to Pullman City. It is a capital road all the way; it makes a good thirty-mile ride, and is one of the best roads for a road race that can be had. There have been several interesting experiments made on this route, such as military operations, soldiers mounted on bicycles, and carrying of despatches, and there are road races constantly being held. Leaving the Court-house, run to the corner of Jackson Street, and Michigan Avenue Boulevard over granite-block pavement, thence on Michigan Avenue Boulevard to the corner of Thirty-fifth Street, where you may either turn to the left on Thirty-fifth Street and run over to the Grand Boulevard, or keep straight on Michigan Avenue Boulevard to Garfield Boulevard, turning left into this and running into Washington Park. The former route is better on account of the fact that by this route the rider has the opportunity of passing through the entire length of Washington Park. On reaching the Midway in Washington Park, turn to the left, cross the park, and run eastward into Jackson Park, turning right into this, and thence proceed to the south of Stony Island Avenue, which is block pavement, and run by Hog Lake through South Chicago to Ninety-fifth Street. At this point turn sharp to the right into Ninety-fifth Street, turning soon again to the left, and running into Pullman City over a road of good rideable gravel. This is a run of fifteen miles, and for the entire distance the pavement and road-bed are not only good and kept in the best of condition, but some of the road is through parks and the rest through interesting scenery. At Pullman City you can get a good seventy-five-cent dinner, and the ride out and back, with the rest at Pullman, makes a capital wheelman's short tour.

Another possible ride in Chicago is to run north from the Court-house, through Lincoln Park, up the Lake Drive to Evanston; thence running back by the same route, but keeping to the right after passing through half Lincoln Park, running out Fullerton Avenue; thence turning left into Humboldt Boulevard, following this through Humboldt Park and on to Central Boulevard; thence turning left through Garfield Park, down West Jackson Street to Ashland Avenue; turning right into this, proceed to West Twelfth Street; thence by West Twelfth Street to Douglas Park, through the park and southward by California Avenue, crossing the south branch of the Chicago River, turning left into Thirty-first Street and running westward to Western Avenue Boulevard, turning right again into the latter and running to Garfield Boulevard at Tremont Ridge; thence by Garfield Boulevard to Washington Park, and so returning by Grand Avenue Boulevard and Michigan Avenue Boulevard to the Court-house, or running southward to Pullman City, as already described.

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.

We Americans pride ourselves on our new inventions, and economical adaptation of systems and methods originated elsewhere. In postal matters we still have much to learn. For instance, twenty years ago Berlin introduced the pneumatic-tube system for the prompt delivery of local letters. In 1879 Paris adopted the same system, and London, Vienna, and other European cities followed suit. In London 60,000 letters are daily sent through the tubes.

Philadelphia has just been authorized by the P. O. Department to begin the work of constructing such a system at once. It is proposed to have a central pumping station at the new City Hall, from whence lines of pipes will radiate to every part of the city. The diameter of the tubes is to be eight inches, thus enabling packages of some size to be sent by this method. The capacity of the tubes is to be 50,000 letters per hour. When the system is completed Philadelphia will have the quickest local-mail delivery in the world. Probably the New York and Brooklyn post-offices will be connected by pneumatic tube in a few months, and the system is bound to expand rapidly. It would not be surprising to find Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington connected by tubes, enabling letters and parcels to be forwarded in as many hours as it now takes days. The telegraph companies will be seriously affected by the new system.

The operation is very simple. The letters are placed in a leather tube or carrier, which fits snugly into the pneumatic tube. Then a blast of air from behind, or the suction of air from the front, or a combination of the two methods, forces the carrier and its contents forward. As the friction soon wears out the leather carriers, American genius will be called upon to invent a metal carrier on "ball-bearings." With leather tubes about ninety per cent. of the power applied is lost in overcoming the friction and in waste, only ten per cent. of the total force applied being used to propel the carrier.

The charge for sending pneumatic letters in Paris was 15c. each in 1879, and the territory covered was but a small part of the city. To-day every part of Paris is reached by the tubes, and the charge is 10c. per letter, the same as our special delivery. Nine varieties of the Paris pneumatic letters are collected. Probably many of the readers of the ROUND TABLE have one or more of them. They bear a map of the city on the face of the envelope, showing the different sections served by this post. The Berlin and Vienna pneumatic letters are simpler in design. There are no special designs on the London envelopes.

The latest development in Plate No. collecting is the great advance in values of all the lower Nos. (say under No. 50) on _water-marked_ paper, especially of the 1c. stamps. Probably not very many were printed, but the chances are that many of the smaller post-offices still have some on hand. One speculator in New York, who travels a great deal, makes it a point to look over the stock of stamps on hand in every one of the smaller post-offices whenever he gets permission. He has bought a very large number, and the U. S. Post-Office Department is just so much nearer a paying basis, as these stamps never get used in the way of paying postage.

At the last annual dinner of the London Philatelic Society, Mr. Castle in a very humorous speech divided the purchasers of stamps into four classes--bird, beasts, fishes, and reptiles. The birds were those who collected stamps for the gratification of a hobby; the fishes were those who watched the market and picked up bargains to sell them thereafter at an advance; the beasts were, of course, the dealers who preyed on birds and fishes to the best of their ability, and the reptiles were the speculators who cornered everything they could find, and locked them up while awaiting a rise of prices, and thereby prevented many collectors completing their collections.

C. H. OSMOND, St. Clair, Dunedin, New Zealand, wishes to exchange
stamps.

J. O. HALL.--The 1861 pink is so scarce that I have known a dealer
to let his boy look over two million of the 1861-7 3c. stamps
without finding a single copy. The ordinary rose-color comes in a
multitude of shades.

A. ALLEN.--"Silk threads" means a stamp printed on paper in which a
silk thread is embedded. The first stamps printed on this kind of
paper were the Great-Britain 10d. brown and 1s. green of 1847. The
paper is sometimes called "Dickinson" paper, from its maker.
Bavaria 1849-1868, Würtemberg 1857, Switzerland 1854-1862, are also
printed on this paper. Specialists in Switzerland stamps collect
the different sets on green, black, blue, yellow, white, purple,
and red threads. Other advanced collectors usually pay no attention
to the color of the thread. "Silk paper" in U. S. stamps means a
paper in which a lot of short fine filaments of silk have been
embedded when the paper was still in a pulpy condition. Usually
found on some of the U.S. Revenues.

J. COOPER.--Yes. The Cuban stamps now offered in packages at such
low prices are genuine. It seems the Cuban government kept all
remainders for nearly twenty-five years, and have sold out the
entire lot of many millions to stamp-dealers.

JOHN G. SAXE.--The 5-rouble gold piece is worth full face value.
Any money-broker will give you the full value, less a small charge
for exchange.

C. B. N.--The present 5c. U.S. stamp is found in two conditions: 1.
From a new plate, very carefully printed; this shows a faint line
at the edge of the background on which the portrait is engraved;
this line is made by the engraver as a guide. 2. The ordinary
stamp, which does not show the line, or simply traces of it. This
refinement in varieties does not meet with the approval of
philatelists in general.

YREKA.--There are many minor varieties of U. S. Revenues in colors
(shades), papers, etc. They are worth keeping if you are making up
a big collection.

NED C.--The 1803 cent can be bought of dealers at 10c. each; the
1820 dime for 50c. The French coin; no value. The Prussian coin has
no value in this country.

CECIL RAWSON.--Your British Guiana stamp, from your description, is
the ordinary 1c. green, worth 5c.

E. STEBBINS.--The U. S. 24c. 1861 is very common. All the other
U. S. 24c. are comparatively scarce.

W. L. MCKINNON.--Your coin is a 3 skilling Norway. No value in this
country.

G. H. CLARK.--The stamps are the so-called "Dominical" or "Sabbath"
stamps issued in Belgium two years ago. On the Continent of Europe
it is customary to deliver letters on Sunday. Some years ago a
large number of Belgic citizens petitioned the government to forbid
the delivery of letters on Sunday, or at least to make it optional
on the part of the sender. As a result all stamps were issued in
the following form: The lower part of the stamp bears the
instruction, in the French and Flemish languages, "Do not deliver
on Sunday." If the sender wishes the letter delivered on Sunday he
tears off this part of the stamp.

G. H. C.--The word "Julia" in small letters on the bust of portrait
on some of the Spanish stamps is the name of the engraver. Funchal
is the capital of the Island of Madeira, with its special series of
Portuguese colonial stamps. "Continente" is the main land of
Portugal. New Brunswick never issued any stamped envelopes.

PHILATUS.

* * * * *

LAUGHING BABIES

are loved by everybody. Those raised on the Gail Borden Eagle Brand Condensed Milk are comparatively free from sickness. _Infant Health_ is a valuable pamphlet for mothers. Send your address for a copy to New York Condensed Milk Co., N. Y.--[_Adv._]

ADVERTISEMENTS.

Postage Stamps, &c.

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

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STEEL PENS

Nos. 303, 404, 170, 604 E.F., 601 E.F.

And other styles to suit all hands.

THE MOST PERFECT OF PENS.

Midsummer Jaunt by a Bird-lover.

During the last week in June I decided to take a day off and go
trout-fishing. Promptly after breakfast I mounted my bicycle, and
was soon spinning up the "river road." In five minutes I arrived at
the brook, leaned my "bike" against a neighboring barn, and
started. I was at once interested in the swallows which were
skimming around, almost touching the ground in their low sweeping
flight. Once two of them tried to go in a hole at once, and a
lively scrap resulted.

I soon found a willow rod, to which I tied my line, and after
putting a little worm on my flies I commenced fishing. As usual,
"skeeters" were plentiful, and I turned up my coat collar for
protection. Robins were numerous in the pasture, hopping fearlessly
among the cows. After going a mile and a half through pasture and
bits of woodland, I came to the end of the brook without having
caught a fish.

I recollected having been told of another brook about a quarter of
a mile from the one I was fishing in, and I decided to hunt it up.
I easily found the road which ran through the woods. I had not gone
far before I became aware that birds were numerous, for a little
oven-bird ran across the road into a brush-heap, where it was
joined by its mate. I could not get through the underbrush as fast
as they could, so they were soon lost to view. Further on a
blue-jay flew screaming through the woods, starting the little red
squirrels.

The woods were alive with chickadees, an unusual occurrence, and
for some time all I heard was chickadee-dee-dee-chickadee-dee. The
brook was a small one, and the woods were thick, so I rolled on the
end of my pole all but a foot of my line. I fished the brook for
about an eighth of a mile and succeeded in catching a great number
of fingerlings, which of course I threw back, and one 6-1/4-inch
trout. As the law said 6 inches, I kept it.

On the way back I spied a cat-bird on a maple sapling. Near the
place where I saw the oven-bird my eye caught a glimpse of gaudy
colors, and, following them up, I discovered a male Maryland
yellow-throat. He was soon joined by his mate, and both of them
hopped into a brush-heap. I was greatly elated, as yellow-throats
are a rarity about Springfield. Near the barn were two huge
chestnut-trees overhanging the brook, and as I was tired I sat down
on the ground and leaned against the smaller tree. Suddenly a
series of loud knocks and a pick-wick-wick-wick right over my head
caused me to hop to my feet. My movements started the flickers,
which flew up the brook, and, to my surprise, alighted on the
ground.

Several kingbirds were perched on a rail fence near by, and now and
then darted off after some insect. A meadow-lark whistled far up
the pasture, and a solitary sand-piper teetered along the brook.
While crossing the Connecticut River on my way home I noted a
belted kingfisher on a dead limb. I arrived home in time for
dinner, and you may be sure I had soon eaten my trout. While writing
this a bird-note called me out-doors. There I found many
bird-loving neighbors intently watching a pair of red-breasted
grosbeaks. The male was resplendent in his fine colors, but the
poor little brown and white female looked dilapidated.

ALBERT W. ATWATER.
SPRINGFIELD, MASS.

* * * * *

"Where'd I leave That?"

To-day I paid a visit to the room in which are stored the articles
left by passengers on one of the great railways entering New York.
People leave many articles in the cars, and forget to call for all
of them. Indeed, not more than one-third of the things found in the
cars are ever claimed by owners. On the other hand, very few things
that are claimed and accurately described fail to be recovered.
Every railway keeps a store-room for lost articles, and employs are
under strict orders to send all articles to it.

Perhaps you can guess what a lot of odd things I saw in this
store-room! Of course there were such common things as books,
umbrellas, and, rubbers. A few of each? Oh no, not a few only, but
barrel upon barrel of rubbers, a library of books, and enough
umbrellas to fill a twenty-bushel bin. But the queer things
included--what do you think? Well, half a dozen sets of false
teeth, more than one hundred night-robes, a score or more of
eye-glasses, and two razors. Any live-stock? Not in this room, for
the attendant told me such things had to be cared for, and could
not be stored here; but during the past few weeks, he said, there
had been turned in two canaries, three kittens, a lap-dog, and a
parrot!

There are not a few pocket-books found, but these are invariably
called for. Some months ago a man left a book containing $54,000 in
one of the sleeping-cars, and books containing $100 to $1000 are
quite often found. Rather odd, too, is the fact that the people who
leave most of these things in the cars are old travellers.
Excursionists and others unfamiliar with the ways of travel look
after their possessions. It is the confident man or woman who
leaves the car and leaves his or her valise or lap-dog behind.

If your friends are coming to New York soon, tell them that the
value of articles forgotten by passengers entering this city every
year foots up into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and that
they will do well not to contribute anything to this wasteful fund.

JOHN B. HENDERSON, R.T.K.
NEW YORK.

* * * * *

A Rare Bittern.

"In our reading lesson to-day occurred a reference to a tiger-bittern. Our natural history does not mention it. Can you tell me if there is such a bird? Ella F. Loomis, Steubenville, O." The tiger-bittern is found in the West Indies and in South America, but is rare. It is a trifle smaller than the United States blue heron, and has a bill much shorter. The coloring is most beautiful. From the top of the head to the last row of feathers on the legs it is barred precisely like the Bengal tiger, the stripes of bright yellow showing up in striking contrast to the black. The bars are most regular.

If the skin of this bittern were spread out on the floor at some distance from you, you would assert it to be a portion of a tiger-skin. Like many other varieties of crane, heron, and bittern, this bird is sought for its plumes, and is becoming rarer every year.

* * * * *

The Law She Intended to Practise.

In our day women enter occupations which earlier times thought belonged exclusively to men. The wife of one of the men now before the people as a candidate for President of the United States is a lawyer. At the time of her admission to the bar she was the head of a household and mother of two children. Asked her specialty in law practice, she replied, "Home-rule."

* * * * *

Answers to Kinks.

No. 8.

1, Lark--Shakespeare. 2, Cock--Longfellow. 3, Jay--Longfellow. 4, Bluebird--Longfellow. 5, Duck--O. W. Holmes. 6, Turtle-dove--D. Conway. 7, Cuckoo--Shakespeare. 8, Cuckoo--Shakespeare. 9, Pheasant--William Howitt. 10, Gull--O. W. Holmes. 11, White owl--Longfellow. 12, Eagle--Mrs. Barbauld. 13, Nightingale--Coleridge. 14, Nightingale--Coleridge.

* * * * *

Kinks.

No. 9.--CENTRAL ACROSTIC.

If the cross-words--of equal length--are correctly solved, the central letters, reading downward, will spell the name of a Greek hero whose life ended with the burning of a brand.

Cross-words.--1. A weight used in sounding. 2. Cuts into two parts. 3. A large wild-duck; the greenhead. 4. An overseer. 5. Imprisonment. 6. Long gaiters. 7. A plant clinging by tendrils. 8. Bespangled.

* * * * *

No. 10.--A MATHEMATICAL MELANGE.

From the date of the siege of Saragossa subtract that of Valentinian's death: add the number of letters in the name of a common article; divide by the number of Henry VIII.'s wives; multiply by a German word of denial; divide by the number of letters in a whip used for punishing criminals; subtract the age of the "Sage of Monticello"; add the weight of the giant anvil at the Woolwich Arsenal, England, and that of the Braganza diamond (in carats). The square root of the first half of this number multiplied by 1/37 of the second half will give the number of letters in the name of "The Blooming Grace." Who is she?

VINCENT V. M. BEEDE.

* * * * *

No. 11.--A RIDDLE.

I have no substance, and generally no intelligent relation to time or times. Sometimes I am sensible, but oftener I am absurd. Yet I have great influence, and not infrequently change the plans of people. Indeed, I have helped to change the history of the world. What am I?

* * * * *

No. 12.--A RECEIPT.

To decapitate a notion
Of course makes it dead,
But gives what is put
On the murderer's head.
A further beheadment
Will make what you pay
When you purchase an article
At a shop some day.
Again you behead
With a very quick motion,
And at once there's a plant
That is part of the notion.
Behead once more
And the first part you see
Of what our confection
Is going to be.
Take a measure of paper
To form the second.
Prefix one hundred
In proper shape reckoned.
Join this to the first,
And I'm sure you will say
It's a delightful treat
For a hot summer day.

* * * * *

No. 13.--AN ENDLESS CHAIN.

The first syllable of every word is the second of the preceding word. The first syllable of the first word is the second syllable of the last. All words are dissyllables.

An animal--the tonic--a brief communication--a longer one--fear--relating to dew--to assign--a game--a citadel--a disease of rye--obtained--delicate--the true skin--naval--pertaining to the kidneys--to frighten--steel covering--human--grease--a poet--not rare.

SIMON T. STERN.

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.

COPYING PICTURES WITH A CAMERA.

Copying pictures may seem to be a very simple matter, for the subject does not even need to be posed, and will remain motionless for any length of time; but there are several points connected with the copying of pictures which are of importance if one wishes to make a correct copy. For convenience the pictures to be copied might be divided into three classes. I. Black and white pictures, such as engravings, wood-cuts, wash-drawings, etchings, etc. II. Photographs and half-tones. III. Oil-paintings, colored pastels, etc.

The first thing to be considered is the arranging of the camera so that it will be exactly perpendicular with the picture. A copying-stand is a great convenience, but, like many other conveniences, not an actual necessity. A vertical support, with the drawing or picture placed in such a manner that its centre shall come on an exact line with the centre of the lens is all that is required. A board the width of the bed of the camera, and perhaps five feet in length, will answer every purpose of a copying-stand. At one end of this board fasten a small piece of board in such a way that it shall be at exactly right angles with the long board. This small board is the support for the picture. The camera either rests on the board, or is raised a little above it by a small block, the adjustment depending on the size of the picture to be copied. To find whether the centre of the lens corresponds with that of the picture, place the camera quite near the picture, thread a piece of silk through the centre of the lens cap, place the cap on the lens, and carry the string to the centre of the picture. In this way one can readily see whether the two centres correspond with each other.

In copying a black and white picture we want no half-tones or shadows, so that if the paper has a grain it must be placed in a strong front light. An all-round illumination, which can be had by using the apparatus out-of-doors, is the best lighting, as there is no possibility of shadows.

The most suitable plate for copying a black and white picture is the brand called "photo-mechanical." If these plates are not easily obtained, use a very slow plate.

Place the picture on the support upside down, fastening it very securely with thumb-tacks. If the paper is thin, place a piece of red or black paper behind the picture. This should always be done if the picture is being copied from a book, or there is any printed matter on the reverse side of the picture.

In copying pictures from books a thin piece of flat board should be put back of the leaf, and the leaf held in place by two stout rubber straps.

In copying photographs or half-tone prints, a plate of medium rapidity should be used. If there are heavy shadows a more rapid plate is required. A small diaphragm must be used in order to have the picture sharp at the edges.

In copying colored pictures the only plate to use is the orthochromatic plate. This will render the true color values of the different tints in the picture. Oil-paintings require more care in lighting than other colored pictures, in order to avoid the brush marks appearing in the photographs.

The plates are developed in the same way as if made direct from the object, hydroquinon and pyro giving the best results.

If one has been unfortunate enough to break a valuable negative, but has a good print from it, a small negative may be made from the photograph, and from this small negative an enlargement can easily be produced.

SIR KNIGHT CHARLES H. WOODS asks if the "Eureka" camera is a good
camera, as he wishes to buy a 4 by 5 camera and does not wish an
expensive one. The "Eureka" does very good work, but is not as
convenient a camera as one of the hand-cameras at the same price.

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

THE PROCTER & GAMBLE CO., CIN'TI.

THE

BALTIMOREAN PRINTING-PRESS

has earned more money for boys than all other presses in the market. Boys, don't idle away your time when you can buy a self-inking printing-press, type, and complete outfit for $5.00. Write for particulars, there is money in it for you.

THE J. F. W. DORMAN CO.,

Baltimore, Md., U.S.A.

EARN A TRICYCLE.

We wish to Introduce our Teas. Sell 30 lbs. and we will give you a Fairy Tricycle: sell 25 lbs. for a solid Silver Watch and Chain; 50 lbs. for a Gold Watch and Chain; 75 lbs. for a Bicycle; 10 lbs. for a Gold Ring. Write for catalog and order sheet Dept. I

W. G. BAKER,

Springfield, Mass.

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

HARPER'S

PERIODICALS

MAGAZINE, $4.00 a Year
WEEKLY, $4.00 a Year
BAZAR, $4.00 a Year
ROUND TABLE, $2.00 a Year

BOOKS WORTH HAVING

* * * * *

FOR KING OR COUNTRY

A Story of the American Revolution. By JAMES BARNES. Illustrated. Post 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental $1.50.

OAKLEIGH

By ELLEN DOUGLAS DELAND. Illustrated. Post 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.25.

LITTLE KNIGHTS AND LADIES

Verses for Young People. By MARGARET E. SANGSTER, Author of "On the Road Home," etc. Illustrated. 16mo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.25.

THE STORY OF BABETTE

A Little Creole Girl. By RUTH MCENERY STUART. Illustrated. Post 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.50.

TOMMY TODDLES

By ALBERT LEE. Illustrated by PETER S. NEWELL. Square 16mo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.25.

AFLOAT WITH THE FLAG

By W. J. HENDERSON, Author of "Sea Yarns for Boys," etc. Illustrated. Post 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.25.

A LIFE OF CHRIST FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

In Questions and Answers. By MARY HASTINGS FOOTE. With Map. Post 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.25.

BIBLE STORIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

By the Right Rev. HENRY C. POTTER, D.D., and Others. Illustrated. Post 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.00.

* * * * *

Published by HARPER & BROTHERS, New York.

* * * * *

AMBITIOUS.

"Wisht I wuz a cork," said Jack. "They can swim all day and never get drownded."

* * * * *

JIM'S JOKE.

CHARLIE. "Catch any fish down at Beachville?"

JIM. "Yes. Caught a brook-trout yesterday."

CHARLIE. "Brook-trout? At the sea-shore? Whereabouts?"

JIM. "At the dinner table."

* * * * *

A CORRECTION.

"Look at that old sea-dog," said Uncle George, pointing out the old sailor.

"He ain't a sea-dog," said Bob. "He runs a cat-boat."

* * * * *

HOW IT IS DONE.

HARRY (_who is not yet up in bicycular slang_). "I say, Will, how do you do when you scorch?"

WILL. "Pretty well, I thank you. If you wish to scorch, say in the Park, just let your wheel go like forty. The bicycle cop will do the arrest. That's scorching."

* * * * *

A FAMILY RESEMBLANCE.

DR. BALSAM. "Your boy favors you greatly, Mr. Hillside--that is, takes after you."

FARMER HILLSIDE. "He'd favor me more, Doctor, ef he'd only obey me. He don't take after me; but I tell you his mother takes after him when he don't toe the mark she chalks for him."

* * * * *

A BUSINESS SESSION.

RAYMOND. "Papa, you say Congress is in session when it is sitting, don't you?"

PAPA. "Certainly, my boy."

RAYMOND. "Well, then, would it be wrong for me to say that our old Plymouth Rock hen is now in session in the barn?"

* * * * *

A fat old gentleman in a light gray suit got into an elevated train at Thirty-fourth Street, and bustled every one out of his way in order to secure the only vacant seat left on the shady side of the car. As soon as he had thrown himself into the seat, he buried his face in a newspaper in order that he might not see how many women were standing in the car. The train had hardly pulled out of the station when a poorly dressed and undoubtedly Irish woman who sat next to him touched him on the arm, and said,

"I beg your pardon, sorr--"

The old gentleman looked up and frowned, and then turned to his newspaper again.

"Will you be so good, sorr--" began the woman again.

The fat man in the gray suit glared savagely, but gave no reply. Several times the woman tried to make him speak. At last, just after the guard had announced "Ninth Street!" the woman said again, "I really beg your pardon, sorr, but--"

The fat man turned upon her savagely, his face very red, and exclaimed,

"If you don't stop talking to me, woman, I'll call the conductor and have you put off the car!"

"Shure, sorr," exclaimed the woman, "I'm afther gettin' off at Ninth Street, but, conductor or no conductor, I won't get out until you get off my butter that you've been sittin' in since you got on at Thirty-fourth Street!"

* * * * *

A gentleman recently returned from travelling in England brought back the following story, which he tells with such hearty laughter as to make one believe that to have seen the incident were better than to read about it:

The engineer of a train, or rather driver, as they call him in England, not shutting off steam soon enough, ran his train some distance past the station. He backed down again, but either through carelessness or defective machinery his engine ran some distance the other way. The station-master, exceedingly wroth at the first miscalculation, was simply spluttering with wrath at the second, and running down the track he yelled out:

"Hold on there! Stop where you are! We'll just shift the station up to you, being as you can't get up to it."

* * * * *

Freddie was sent down stairs by his uncle to bring up a pair of tan shoes. The youngster returned with two shoes, one of which was laced and the other buttoned.

"That isn't the right pair, Freddie," said his uncle. "I can't wear those. They are not mates. Where are the others?"

The little boy looked somewhat puzzled for a moment, and then said, "I don't think you can wear the other pair, uncle; it isn't alike, either."

End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Round Table, July 28, 1896, by Various