Chapter XXVIII: On the Edge of Paradise Valley (2)

An Evening with Battle Heroes.

Now that the summer gayeties will soon be on us in full force, and
entertainments of every conceivable character, old and new, are in
demand, worthy Knights and Ladies of Chapters far and near are
doubtless ready to arrange an evening for charity or pleasure, and
I can safely recommend "An Evening with Battles and Battle Heroes"
as a very acceptable entertainment.

Some explanation of the last number is necessary. The scene is
enacted by a quartet of young men in Zouave uniform. An artificial
camp-fire is constructed with the aid of handsome logs, crimson
paper, and, if possible, electric light, though kerosene or candles
will serve. It is needless to go into particulars; a member with
mechanical ability will find no difficulty in making a very
realistic camp-fire. The room is darkened while the logs are being
set. The quartet recline about the fire, and two of them tell
short, pithy war-stories. Then follow some war-songs; Root's
"Tenting on the Old Camp Ground" is a beautiful selection.

PROGRAMME.

1. Piano Solo.--"Le Trot du Cavalier," Spindler.

2. The Death of Hamlet and Laertes; "Hamlet": Act V., Scene II.,
(all but these two parts may be omitted if preferable.)

3. Cornet Solo.--"La Marseillaise," Rouget de Lisle.

4. Discussion.--"Who was the Greater General, Hannibal or Cæsar?"
(Delivered by two members.)

5. A Recollection of '63.

This programme will not occupy so much time that there will not be
a half-hour or so of conversation, with opportunity for serving
refreshments. Plenty of ideas concerning decoration, costuming,
etc., will come to the members once they are given this outline.

VINCENT V. M. BEEDE, R.T.F.

ADVERTISEMENTS.

Flying

Along

You'll never know all the delightful spring and action of the perfect bicycle tire unless your wheel is fitted with

THE STANDARD SINGLE-TUBES

Easy to have Hartford Tires on any bicycle. All you need do is insist, and the bicycle dealer will furnish them.

The Original Single-Tubes.

Cost Most. Worth Most.

* * * * *

THE HARTFORD RUBBER WORKS CO.

HARTFORD, CONN.

NEW YORK. CHICAGO.

TO THE VACATION ARMY.

The quality of the food served at the hotel table or on board ship has almost more to do with the comfort and enjoyment of the traveller than any other one thing. When through unwholesome food indigestion seizes hold of the traveller's stomach, he may as well make up his mind to renounce a large part of his anticipated pleasure. There is much more in this than would appear at first thought. When we go to a hotel we look at the beds to see if they are clean, and feel of the cups to know if they are sticky or ill-washed. But we eat what is set before us, thankful if it doesn't taste bad. Would it not be well when you stop at a hotel to ask what baking powder they use, and if it is not Royal to go to the next? If going abroad, why not resolve to take no steamer unless the agent assures you that Royal Baking Powder is used exclusively in its galleys? At some hotels, and on board some ships, also, a false economy has induced the employment of alum baking powders. It would be well to inquire closely and avoid all such. Your pleasure may be spoiled by an attack of indigestion, or by seasickness induced by a roll, a biscuit, dumpling, or griddle-cake made with poisonous alum baking powder. Good health and good food add zest to your vacation pleasures. The best and most wholesome pastry cannot be made without the Royal Baking Powder, and the hotels and steamers noted for the excellence of their cuisine we have found use it to the exclusion of every other.--_The Traveller._

Arnold

Constable & Co

* * * * *

Children's Wear.

Wash Dresses,

_Dimity, Piqué, Lawn._

Misses' Outing Suits,

_Serge and Homespun._

Misses' Shirt Waists,

Children's Reefers.

* * * * *

Broadway & 19th st.

NEW YORK.

EARN A BICYCLE!

We wish to introduce our Teas, Spices, and Baking powder. Sell 75 lbs. to earn a BICYCLE; 50 lbs. for a WALTHAM GOLD WATCH AND CHAIN; 25 lbs. for a SOLID SILVER WATCH AND CHAIN; 10 lbs. for a beautiful GOLD RING; 50 lbs. for a DECORATED DINNER SET. Express prepaid if cash is sent with order. Send your full address on postal for Catalogue and Order Blank.

W. G. BAKER, Springfield, Mass.

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.

Continuing the run from Poughkeepsie to Waterbury, leave Newtown and proceed to Southbury over a fairly good road, with a few hills. Leaving Southbury, keep to the right; but before getting beyond the town limits a sharp turn to the left is made, and at the fork beyond turn again to the right and run out to Strongtown. From Strongtown to Naugatuck the road improves slightly, and is in good condition. There is no difficulty in finding the way except at a point a mile or more before reaching Longmeadow Pond. Here a sharp turn to the right, another to the left, and a third to the right again are made, and it may be necessary to make inquiries in order to keep to the proper road. Passing Longmeadow Pond, continue to Naugatuck, and here cross the railroad, turn to the left, run up through Union City by Great Hill, to Waterbury, following on the eastern side of the railroad and Naugatuck River.

Leaving Waterbury, proceed direct to Waterville, running alongside the New York and New Haven Railroad, keeping to the left of Waterville by a somewhat steep hill, and then bearing to the right again into Pequabuck. Crossing the railroad, follow it to Terryville, and keeping sharp to the right on running out of Terryville, run to a junction of the roads about a mile out of Bristol. It will be wise to follow the map here, carefully turning to the left, and on entering Bristol keeping to the right again rather than running straight through the side streets of the town. Passing Forestville, cross the railroad at Plainville, and follow the railroad into New Britain. The run from New Britain to West Hartford is not difficult to find, except at about four miles out from the centre of the city the rider must keep to the right at the fork, and a little less than three miles farther on, instead of running into Elmwood, he should bear to the left and make straight for West Hartford. At West Hartford take Farmington Avenue and run into Broad Street, Hartford; thence proceed to Capital Avenue, Trinity Street, and Pearl Street to the City Hall.

The roads along this route are in reasonably good condition, but they are not very level. After reaching the Connecticut line, and especially after leaving Newtown, the wheelman will find that he has a good many very short but somewhat steep grades, and the danger is, if he is not an experienced rider, realizing that they are not very long hills, and not appreciating the strain that a succession of short hills gives to a rider, he may try to do them all. It should be borne in mind, therefore, that it is wiser occasionally to dismount and walk up several of these hills, or to dismount and rest on the top of one or two of them. Otherwise a run of this length, which is not over thirty miles, would tire the average rider and take away the pleasure of his run.

NOTE.--Map of New York city asphalted streets in No. 809. Map of
route from New York to Tarrytown in No. 810. New York to Stamford,
Connecticut in No. 811. New York to Staten Island in No. 812. New
Jersey from Hoboken to Pine Brook in No. 813. Brooklyn in No. 814.
Brooklyn to Babylon in No. 815. Brooklyn to Northport in No. 816.
Tarrytown to Poughkeepsie in No. 817. Poughkeepsie to Hudson in No.
818. Hudson to Albany in No. 819. Tottenville to Trenton in No.
820. Trenton to Philadelphia in No. 821. Philadelphia in No. 822.
Philadelphia-Wissahickon Route in No. 823. Philadelphia to West
Chester in No. 824. Philadelphia to Atlantic City--First Stage in
No. 825; Second Stage in No. 826. Philadelphia to Vineland--First
Stage in No. 827; Second Stage in No. 828. New York to
Boston--Second Stage in No. 829; Third Stage in No. 830; Fourth
Stage in No. 831; Fifth Stage in No. 832; Sixth Stage in No. 833.
Boston to Concord in No. 834. Boston in No. 835. Boston to
Gloucester in No. 836. Boston to Newburyport in No. 837. Boston to
New Bedford in No. 838. Boston to South Framingham in No. 839.
Boston to Nahant in No. 840. Boston to Lowell in No. 841. Boston to
Nantasket Beach in No. 842. Boston Circuit Ride in No. 843.
Philadelphia to Washington--First Stage in No. 844; Second Stage in
No. 845; Third Stage in No. 846; Fourth stage in No. 847; Fifth
Stage in No. 848. City of Washington in No. 849. City of Albany in
No. 854; Albany to Fonda in No 855; Fonda to Utica in No. 856;
Utica to Syracuse in No. 857; Syracuse to Lyons in No. 858; Lyons
to Rochester in No. 859; Rochester to Batavia in No. 860; Batavia
to Buffalo in No. 861; Poughkeepsie to Newtown in No. 864.

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.

Some of the most advanced collectors are now mounting the stamps in their albums by affixing the hinge at the left side. First quality of hinges are used, and as small a portion of the stamp covered by the hinge as possible. This method has many advantages over the old plan of hinging at the top.

A philatelic button has been put on the market, and is finding quite a large sale. It is circular in form, bearing a suggestion of the common 2c. red stamp in the centre, with the motto in a circle, "Philatelia's Followers." The price is fifteen cents.

A gentleman has just disposed of his collection as a whole for $11,000. This collection was made during the fifteen years 1860-1875, when stamps were low in price, owing to the fact that study and observation had not yet determined the relative scarcity of the stamps then known. The collector kept a record of what his stamps cost, which was about $350 in all. The gem of the collection was an unused Cape of Good Hope, black 4d, error in red, which has since been sold for $2500. Many other rarities are in the collection, and the purchaser has already sold enough to pay the first cost, and has many valuable stamps left as a profit.

One of the leading philatelists of England has published an article claiming to have discovered the secret mark on the 30c. 1873 U. S. It turns out to be the regular faint centring mark, which shows on almost every U. S. stamp until the plate has been worn down by printing.

Nearly two years ago the Boston post-master had a cancelling die made in the form of the U. S. flag. His example has been widely followed throughout the Union, and now other countries are using a similar device. In Canada they use the "union-jack," and it makes a very neat cancellation. This is a very commendable practice from the point of view of philatelists. How often have we not been obliged to put a stamp in our albums which was cancelled with a dauber. The most advanced philatelists make it a point to get cancelled stamps bearing a date-mark wherever possible. Of course, in the case of very rare stamps they are glad to take whatever they can get.

The stock of sixpenny Bahamas, mauve, is entirely exhausted. Probably a new stamp in another color will be issued. This stamp is much scarcer than the catalogue price would indicate (25c., either used or unused).

Collectors of revenue stamps will be interested to know that Western Australia has issued one stamp of value £2625 (about $13,000). The Black Flag Mining Company purchased forty leases of mining lands for £525,000. The stamp duty was £2625. The government took a one-penny stamp and surcharged it with the amount, and the lessees affixed it to the lease. When that lease expires the collectors of Australia will bid against each other for the unique stamp.

J. V. COOPER.--Stamps bearing "Ultramar" with date are Cuban stamps
issued between 1868 and 1876. The Congo 50c. green can be bought,
used or unused, for 20c.

P. B. SHEE.--The 2-1/2d. English surcharged 40 paras is used, for
prepaying letters sent through the British Post-office at
Constantinople. Germany, France, and Russia also have post-offices
in Constantinople, as the Turkish P. O. is very inefficient.

J. N. FRAZIER.--No premium on your coins.

A. O. HALL.--"Speculative" stamps are those issued by governments
primarily for the revenue to be raised by the purchase of the
unused stamps by stamp-dealers and stamp-collectors. The stamps
themselves are good for postage. Instances: the various "Seebeck"
issues, the St. Anthony stamps of Portugal, etc. "Fraudulent"
stamps are those not issued by a government for postal or revenue
purposes, but are issued by unauthorized parties. Instances: the
Principality of Trinidad, Clipperton Island, Nyassaland, etc.

JACQUES COMBES, Lycée, 106 Rue de la Pompe, Paris, wishes to
exchange European stamps for United States stamps.

W. K. DART.--There is no 2c. green Straits Settlement 1892. The
12-1/2c. Canada is worth 30c.; the 10c. pink, 4c.; the 5c. beaver,
5c. U. S. revenues are very well worth keeping, with the exception
of the 2c. Bank Check, etc.

A. CUENOD.--The 5r. Switzerland unperforated is worth 15c., the
15r. unperforated 6c., the perforated 5r. and 10r., 2c. each.

G. H. CLARK.--The surcharge "O.S." on New South Wales stamps and
others means "Official Service." Your Canadian piece is a token,
not a coin. Stamp-dealers, as a rule, are not collectors.

HAROLD C. DAY, 420 Madison Avenue, New York city, wishes to
exchange stamps.

PHILATUS.

ADVERTISEMENTS.

The Columbia Catalogue is not a mere price-list. It gives convincing reasons why all who love pleasure and comfort in bicycling should select

STANDARD OF THE WORLD

$100 to all alike

Your knowledge of bicycle making will grow by reading this interesting book.

Free from the Columbia agent or by mail from us for two 2-cent stamps.

POPE Mfg. Co., Hartford, Conn.

WALTER BAKER & CO., LIMITED.

Established Dorchester, Mass., 1780.

Breakfast Cocoa

Always ask for Walter Baker & Co.'s

Breakfast Cocoa

Made at

DORCHESTER, MASS.

It bears their Trade Mark

"La Belle Chocolatiere" on every can.

Beware of Imitations.

Easy to hook,

easy to unhook

--If you do the hooking and unhooking--never separates by itself.

The DELONG

Hook and Eye

See that

hump?

Richardson &

DeLong Bros.,

Philadelphia.

Makers of the CUPID Hairpin.

It will not slip out of the hair.

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

1000 Mixed Foreign Stamps, San Marino, etc., 25c.; 101 all dif., China, etc., 10c.; 10 U.S. Revenues, 10c.; 20 U. S. Revenues, 25c. Ag'ts w'td at 50% com. _Monthly Bulletin_ free. Shaw Stamp & Coin Co., Jackson, Mich.

=STAMPS!= 100 all dif. Bermuda, etc. Only 10c. Ag'ts w'td at 50% com. List free. L. DOVER & CO., 1469 Hodiamont, St. Louis, Mo.

Cryptography Again.

Members with musical tastes will enjoy corresponding by means of a
musical cryptogram. Though this is more difficult of construction
than the Dial or Stencil cryptogram, it will be a novel and
interesting variation of the "Model Letter-writer," and such helps.
If, perchance, a member becomes involved in State politics, and
desires to inform his friend in office of an important plan, he can
send a few bars of music and no one will be the wiser.

On a 10-inch square of card-board draw a circle divided into 30
parts. These should be separated by lines into three rows or sets.
In each of the outer spaces place a figure of musical time, in each
of the next row the capital letters of the alphabet, and in each of
the inner spaces a note or group of notes on ruled lines. The blank
space within is to be filled by a movable disk. On the edge of the
disk, at regular intervals, place the three musical signatures, and
through the centre drive a pin. Your correspondent must be supplied
with a similar dial. Provide yourself with the regulation ruled
music paper. Turn the disk so that one of the signatures will
correspond with a note on the square, with a letter and figure of
time above it. This will give the clew to your correspondent. You
are now prepared to write your message by using the various notes
which correspond to the letters above.

VINCENT V. M. BEEDE.

* * * * *

South African Fruits and Facts.

Perhaps your scientific readers can make an astronomical puzzle
plain to me. A gentleman with whom I am well acquainted, has often
said he could always tell whether we would have rain by the
appearance of the new moon. If on her first appearance she was "on
her point" we would have rain, if she lay on her back we would have
dry weather. I confess I was rather sceptical when I first heard
this, but it has been proved to me so often that I am fain to
believe it.

During our recent severe drought this gentleman used to look at the
new moon every month. "No rain this month." At last, "The moon is
on her point! we'll have rain!" and _we did have rain_. Can you
explain this? His predictions concerning the weather have never
been known to fail. An old Kafir used to say, "The moon's dam is
open; we'll have rain." It was no use explaining to him that there
was no water in the moon. The question is, Does the moon really
affect the atmosphere? That is to say, "Why is it that in rainy
seasons the moon is on her point?" I should be much obliged if some
of your clever readers would kindly solve this problem for me.

I like Brenda Neville's suggestion of a temperance club. I am a
teetotaler, and would like to correspond with Lady Brenda. One has
only to live among the Kafirs to see what an awful power brandy has
over men. In one of our newspapers I saw that total abstinence is
steadily on the increase in Cape Colony. I am glad of it. I hope
the Founders of our splendid Order will take up this idea of a
temperance club. Our object--as far as I understand it--is to do as
much good as we can in the world, and to make the best and most of
our lives.

In the Park at East London (South Africa) grows a rather peculiar
plant. It bears a fruit which so exactly resembles a hen's egg that
many people have been deceived by it. In fact, one lady took
several to an old Dutch woman, and asked her if she would kindly
set them under one of her fowls. The simple old woman was
delighted, being under the impression that these were a
particularly precious setting of eggs. It was not until some time
after that the lady explained her practical joke.

The wild coffee grows about the mountains and kopjes here. It is an
exceedingly pretty shrub, the leaves being of a bright glossy
green, and the flowers of a waxy cream-color. It bears berries
which, after a while, turn red. After they are dry, if you open
one, you will find two seeds very much resembling bought coffee.
One of my uncles had a number of these seeds gathered, burnt, and
ground. Then he had it prepared in the ordinary way, and said it
tasted very good indeed.

The wild-tobacco-tree grows about here too, but it is not of much
use. It is said to be poisonous, but I am told that this is
incorrect. We used to make chains out of the flowers years ago.

In the kloofs we have several varieties of the wild geranium. My
favorite is the "Ivy." It looks so pretty growing over the rocks or
around some old stumps. The aloes grow all up the sides of the
mountain. When it is time for them to flower, a tall stalk shoots
up from the middle of the aloe which, in course of time, becomes
covered with red blossoms. There is another aloe which is
extensively used for making fences. I do not know whether it grows
wild. When it flowers it sends up a stalk to a very great height,
the top of which is crowned with yellow flowers. It has long
tapering leaves, the sides of which are covered with thorns. It
makes an excellent hedge.

At the agricultural show, which was held on the 26th and 27th
February, in Queenstown, I saw a pair of snow-white ferrets. I
thought at first they were white mice. Among the rocks we often see
dassies sunning themselves. These are said to be the conies of the
Bible. The spring hare, or jerboa, is a great nuisance to the
farmers. Its front feet are used for making burrows. Its hind legs
are four times the length of the front ones, and it is with these
that it makes its prodigious leaps. It is said that the jerboa uses
its tail as a lever. It comes out at night-time and works great
havoc among the farmers' crops. By the time this reaches you autumn
will have set in properly. At present there seems no abating of the
summer heat. If anything it is worse.

ISMA FINCHAM, R.T.L.
ROYDON, QUEENSTOWN, CAPE COLONY,
SOUTH AFRICA, _March_ 2, 1896.

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.

HOW TO MAKE A NEGATIVE FROM A PRINT.

It sometimes happens that one is so unfortunate as to break a valuable negative. If the glass is broken, but the film uninjured, the film may be removed, and transferred to another glass with very little trouble. (Directions for this process were given in No. 856 of the ROUND TABLE.) If the film as well as the glass is broken, there is no way of restoring the negative, but a new negative may be made from an unmounted print.

The printing-frame must be fitted with a plain glass, free from defects. Lay the print on the glass face up, and place over it a slow plate--a plate about the sensitomer of the Carbutt "B" gives the best results. If the print is of average density, expose to an ordinary gas-flame or lamp-light for five seconds. A little longer time must be given to a strong print, and a little less to a weak print. Develop the same as any negative properly timed, starting with a slow developer.

In case one has only mounted prints, remove the print from the card by soaking in warm water till it can be easily stripped off from the mount. Lay the print face down on a sheet of glass, and sponge carefully to remove all particles of paste. Sometimes the print requires soaking after it has been removed from the mount if the paste used was very adhesive. After the print is cleaned, dry on a ferrotype plate free from scratches. Old albumen prints make fine negatives, as the paper gives deeper prints. It is always a good plan to make a paper negative from fine plates, so that if a negative is accidentally destroyed one has still a good substitute.

Sir Knight Russell Senior, who is much interested in the formulas for tinted papers and transparencies, sends the following process for changing blue prints to brown:

"After washing and drying as usual, immerse the print in a solution made of strong ammonia water, 1 oz., water, 8 oz. Leave the print in this solution till it has lost its blue color, which will take from three to five minutes; then rinse and place in a solution of water, 6 oz., tannic acid, 1 dram. (This must be filtered before using.) The print must remain in this solution till the required sharpness and tone are obtained, which will take from ten to fifteen minutes. If the color is not dark enough at the end of fifteen minutes, add a few drops of ammonia; leave in two minutes longer, and wash."

Our members will probably like to try this formula, and very soft tones of brown may be obtained if the directions are carefully followed.

SIR KNIGHT FRANK F. SMITH, P.O. Box 236, Cumberland, Md., one of
the prize-winners in our recent contest, says that any of the other
prize-winners who wish a copy of his prize picture may have it by
sending a copy of his or her own picture that also took a prize,
and that any members of the Camera Club who would like a
photo-etching of the picture may have it by sending two-cent stamp
for postage. Sir Knight Frank would like to exchange photographs
with each of the prize winners.

SIR KNIGHT J. M. COREY asks how to transfer the film on a
photograph to glass, and how a drop-shutter is made. The best way
of transferring film to glass is to use the transferrotype paper
for prints, and then transfer according to directions given in No.
840 of the ROUND TABLE. Directions for a drop-shutter could not be
given without illustrating with diagrams, and our space does not
allow of illustrations.

"NEW PATRON," Nova Scotia, asks for a formula for a flash-light
powder. Why not use the pure magnesia? It makes a strong actinic
light, and if burned on metal is comparatively harmless, but when
combined with other compounds is sometimes dangerously explosive,
and requires great care in handling. In regard to mixing the
solutions without hydrometer, the simplest way would be to use the
rule for ten-per-cent. solutions--one ounce of the chemical and
nine ounces of water. A twenty-per-cent. solution would be two
ounces, Troy measure, and eight ounces of water. A thirty-per-cent.
solution would be three ounces, Troy measure, and seven ounces of
water.

SIR KNIGHT F. T. WATSON asks how to make solio and aristo paper;
what is litmus paper, filtering paper, and distilled water; how
many sheets 4 by 5 blue prints can be made with formula given in
No. 797; if the formula given for glycin developer is good for
pocket Kodak; wishes a formula for combined toning and fixing bath;
and what is a ferrotype plate, and for what it is used. Do not
attempt to make either solio or aristo paper; it is much more
expensive than to buy the ready-prepared paper. Formulas for toning
both in one and two solutions are enclosed in each package. Litmus
paper is unsized white paper steeped in a solution of litmus and
dried in the air. It is used to test solutions, the red litmus
paper for alkalies, and blue litmus paper for acids. Filtering
paper is unsized porous paper, and is used to filter or strain
solutions to remove any impurities which they may hold. Distilled
water is water evaporated by boiling, and again collected and
condensed by means of a still. In making up solutions where one
cannot get distilled water, water which has been filtered will
often serve as well as distilled water. A ferrotype plate is a thin
iron plate highly varnished. It is used by amateurs to dry aristo
prints. The prints are squeegeed to the plate, and when dry have a
high polish. The glycin developer works well for films, but is
rather slow. Metol-quinol is better, and more easily managed. Three
or four dozen sheets of paper may be sensitized with the blue-print
formula.

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 to make a cup of tea? Is that what Agnes and Amy wish me to tell them? Nothing is easier. The odd thing is that so many girls fancy tea-making a difficult art, when it is really a very simple process, which needs only attention and care to produce excellent results.

One thing you must if possible have, and that is a good brand of tea. English breakfast, if excellent, is a very satisfactory kind, and there are blends of Oolong, Souchong, and just a dash of orange pekoe which any good grocer will put up for you, and which are very satisfactory. By this I mean that the taste is refined and agreeable, and the tea rests and refreshes the one who drinks it. I myself prefer a sort of tea which comes from Ceylon, and has a fragrance like flowers, and is so clean and sweet and smooth that no tea compares with it in the opinion of those who have given it a trial. Whatever tea you use, it should be bought in small quantities, unless you have an air-tight box, lined with tin-foil, in which to keep it from the air. Tea loses its flavor if carelessly kept in a loosely fastened caddy.

Having good tea to begin with, next be sure that you have freshly drawn pure and filtered water of which to make the beverage. The water must not have been standing for hours exposed to the weather nor simmering on the range, and growing flat. It must be fresh, and then if you have a brisk fire, or the hot flame of an alcohol-lamp, bring it quickly to the boil. A flat-bottomed kettle is to be preferred, as it has a broad surface to expose to the heat, and the boiling is soon accomplished. Water is boiling when it bubbles and jumps merrily about, and the steam comes in white puffs from the spout of the kettle. It does not boil when it begins to simmer and to sing. That is only the sign that it is near to boiling. You must make your tea when the water has just boiled, not when it has been boiling a long time. A kettle which has been standing on the back of a stove all day, filled up now and then by a dipper or two more of water added when some has been taken out, will not make good tea. You must boil the water on purpose.

An earthen pot is better for tea than a metal one. Pour a little boiling water in the pot to heat it, and after a minute or two pour it out. Now put a teaspoonful of tea for every cup of hot water--an even, not a heaping spoonful--and add an extra one for the pot. Pour on as much water as will fill the number of cups you wish to make. Let it stand two minutes, then with a long-handled spoon stir the leaves once through the water, and instantly cover the pot again. Three minutes more and your tea is done. Never let tea steep or boil, or stand a long time. It is a quick, neat, nice process from beginning to end.

MARGARET E. SANGSTER.

Physicians lay the greatest stress,
On perfect, spotless cleanliness;
And where this law is recognized,
There Ivory is most highly prized.

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

Over the hills
and far away,
The whizzing wheels speed on to-day.
As they fly along the glad shouts ring
"Ride MONARCH, the wheel that's best and king."

MONARCH

KING OF BICYCLES

Beloved by his subjects because he does right by them. There's goodness and merit in every inch of his kingly fame.

4 models. $80 and $100, fully guaranteed. For children and adults who want a lower price wheel the =Defiance= is made in 8 models, $40 to $75.

Send for Monarch book.

Monarch Cycle Mfg. Co.

Lake, Halsted and Fulton Sts., CHICAGO.

88 Reade St., NEW YORK.

If you accept a substitute, you must not fuss because it's not as good as HIRES Rootbeer.

Made only by The Charles E. Hires Co., Philadelphia.

A 25c. package makes 5 gallons. Sold everywhere.

HOOPING

COUGH

CROUP

_Can be cured_

by using

ROCHE'S HERBAL

EMBROCATION

The celebrated and effectual English cure, without internal medicine. W. EDWARD & SON, Props., London, Eng. Wholesale, E. FOUGERA & CO., New York

Commit to

Memory.

In Germany the children in the schools Commit to Memory the words they are accustomed to sing, and they are seldom at a loss for Music anywhere; especially when great numbers are assembled do they sing together, in mighty chorus, the songs and hymns of the Fatherland without reference to a book "for the words." This is a grand result coming out of the Schools. In America too much time is occupied in teaching, not enough in learning, and, as a result, when we want to sing--perhaps only the National Hymn--"nobody knows the words." Let it be regarded an essential part of School work, daily or weekly, for Teacher and pupil to Commit to Memory some good thing in Prose or Verse.

The Franklin Square Song Collection comprises Eight Numbers, which may be had bound separately or in different styles. These numbers may also be had in two volumes at $3.00 each. For full list of contents, sixteen hundred songs and hymns, alphabetically arranged, address

Harper & Brothers, New York.

_NOW READY:_

TRACK ATHLETICS IN DETAIL

Compiled by the Editor of "Interscholastic Sport" in HARPER'S ROUND
TABLE. Illustrated by Instantaneous Photographs. 8vo, Cloth,
Ornamental, $1.25. In "HARPER'S ROUND TABLE Library."

Each chapter of this book treats of a different event of track and field athletics, and is illustrated by instantaneous photographs of the leading athletes of America. These pictures show the detail of the work for each event, and the text gives instruction and advice which will prove most valuable not only to athletes who cannot avail themselves of the services of a trainer, but to more experienced performers as well. In an appendix are given the A. A. U. rules and tables of amateur, inter-collegiate, and interscholastic records.

* * * * *

HARPER & BROTHERS, Publishers, New York.

A CLOSE CALL.

* * * * *

An American who was travelling in the hills of Scotland paid ten dollars for a first-class ticket for a stage-coach ride over the mountains. Soon after the start he noticed that a man who had a second-class ticket, which cost five dollars, and several who had third-class tickets, price two dollars and a half, were enjoying as good seats and apparently as many privileges as he was. The American concluded that the canny Scotsmen had gotten the better of him, but decided to hold his peace and pay for the experience. When the end of the journey was reached, at evening, however, the traveller had changed his mind; he felt he had had his money's worth. For every time that day when the coach came to the foot of a steep hill the horses were stopped, and the driver called out, "First-class passengers, keep your seats; second-class passengers, get out and walk; third-class passengers, get out and push!" And they all did every time.

* * * * *

There had been a lack of men joining the ranks, and the Colonel was visiting a recruiting-station, inspecting the workings of his recruiting sergeants. Suddenly a terrific noise of shouting and shuffling of feet came through the open window. Now it came from the stairway, intermingled with sundry loud bumps and knocks, and the door burst open, showing a red-faced perspiring little sergeant pushing, hauling, and tugging at a big country lad. The latter was doing his best to escape the firm grip of the soldier.

"Halt!" cried the Colonel. "How is this, sir?" he said to the sergeant. "Is this the way you secure recruits--by force, sir!"

The red-faced sergeant looked up and down, then at the Colonel, and blurted out, "Sure, sir, the only way to get them _volunteers_ is by force, sir."

* * * * *

Pat was an Irishman, and he was trying to ride a bicycle. "The pesky wheel," as he put it, wouldn't stay straight, but wriggled this way and that, every now and then landing him in a heap on the road. A number of people gathered around to see the fun. At last, however, he got started fairly well, and was moving along smoothly, when the wheel gave a lurch, and in attempting to recover himself he made a desperate lunge, and over he went, hitting the curb-stone in his downfall. A policeman ran up, and after straightening him out, demanded that he give an account of himself.

"Faith!" said Pat, "I'd loike to see any man give an account when he has once lost his balance."

* * * * *

It was a battered, war-scarred veteran that ambled into the pension-office one day last week, and slowly approaching the clerk of the office, asked, in a quavering voice, where he could get a pension.

"In what company did you serve?" asked the clerk.

"Company G, of the Sixth Volunteers."

"Ever injured in battle?"

The veteran drew himself up to his full height, which was distressingly little, and exclaimed, in as loud a voice as he could muster,

"Yes, sir; I was hit by a shell in the battle of Bull Run, and knocked all to pieces."

"Dear me!" said the clerk, smiling. "You're a wonderful veteran. Where do you live, and how do you manage to keep alive your many pieces?"

"That's the trouble, sir, and the very reason I want a pension, 'cause I've had trouble ever since taking up my quarters wherever I could find them."

* * * * *

Mary and Martha, two little sisters, had been promoted to the dignity of a big bed, where they slept together. "I sleep on the front side," announced Mary, with an air of importance.

"And where do you sleep, Martha?" inquired the visitor.

"I sleep where Mary doesn't," replied Martha, with a rueful glance at her restless little sister.

* * * * *

"Sam, I find you are an incorrigible story-teller. Did you ever in your life tell the truth?"

"Massa, de truth am a virtue, am it not?"

"Yes Sam, it is; but I'm afraid you lack that virtue."

"No, sah, dat am not so. It am such a powerful good virtue, sah, an' I's got so much ob it, sah, dat I's am not goin' to let any of it escape, so's I's done waste any of it, sah."

* * * * *

Two little girls were out walking, when they passed the big brick building of an orphan asylum. "That, Martha," said Mary, anxious to impart her knowledge to her younger sister, "is where the little orphans live. Mr. and Mrs. Orphan are both dead."

End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Round Table, May 26, 1896, by Various