Chapter VIII (2)

Colonel Gadsden, one of the Marine Committee, presented to Congress, on the 8th of February, 1776, "an elegant standard, such as is to be used by the commander-in-chief of the American navy; being a yellow flag with a representation of a rattlesnake in the middle in the attitude of going to strike." Another was a white flag with a pine-tree in the centre under which was a snake. Above was "An Appeal to God," and below "Don't Tread on Me!" The Culpepper Minute-Men adopted a similar device, with the name of their company and the motto "Liberty or Death." Another use of the rattlesnake was upon a ground of thirteen horizontal alternate red and white stripes, the snake extending diagonally across the stripes, and the lower white stripe bearing the motto "Don't tread on me." The snake was always represented as having thirteen rattles--and the number thirteen seems constantly to have been kept in mind: thus, thirteen vessels are ordered to be built; thirteen stripes are placed upon the flag; in one design thirteen arrows are grasped in a mailed hand; and in a later one thirteen arrows are in the talons of an eagle.

The red stripes seemed for a time to be used as often on a blue ground as on a white. A water-color drawing found among the papers of Major-General Philip Schuyler represents the _Royal Savage_, one of the little fleet on Lake Champlain in the summer and winter of 1776, commanded by Benedict Arnold, as flying a flag which Bancroft, in his _History of the United States_, describes as "the tricolored American banner not yet spangled with stars, but showing thirteen stripes, alternate red and white, in the field, and the united crosses of St. George and St. Andrew on a blue ground in the corner."

One of the most interesting flags of the Revolution is the banner or flag of Count Pulaski, presented to him by the Moravian Sisters of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Count Pulaski, a Polish volunteer, who had been appointed a brigadier in the Continental army just after the battle of Brandywine and placed in command of the cavalry, had resigned his commission, and had received the consent of Congress to raise and command an independent corps of 68 horse and 200 foot, which was chiefly raised and fully organized in Baltimore in 1778. He visited Lafayette while wounded, and was taken care of by the Moravian Sisters, who gave him a crimson silk banner with designs beautifully wrought with the needle by their own hands. Pulaski bore this flag through many a battle, until he fell at Savannah in 1779. It is now in the possession of the Maryland Historical Society.

The flag of Washington's Lifeguard, which is preserved in the museum of Alexandria, Virginia, is of white silk, on which the device is neatly painted. One of the guard is holding a horse, and in the act of receiving a flag from the Genius of Liberty, represented as a woman leaning on the Union shield, near which is an American eagle. The motto of the corps, "Conquer or Die," is on a ribbon over the device. The flag flown by our victorious frigates during the war of 1812 bore fifteen stripes and fifteen stars. Afterwards it was settled that the number of stripes should be the original thirteen; and now the field bears forty-five stars, to which others will be added as new States are admitted.

The Oak Park High-School, of the Cook County League, starts out this season with more men qualified for positions on the football team than any of its rivals, having twenty-seven available players. Evanston has the smallest available amount of material, with but fifteen men. Lake View has twenty-four, Chicago Manual twenty-three, North Division twenty-one, West Division eighteen, and Hyde Park and Englewood seventeen each. These numbers show a considerable increase of candidates over previous years.

There is a very general opinion among those who have been watching the form of the Englewood H.-S. team that they have the pennant won already; and they are beyond doubt very strong. Nevertheless, they cannot hope to overcome some of their hard-working rivals without a continuation of the steady work which has characterized their early practice. In Teetzel they have a strong and sure ground-gainer. He is a fast runner, and knows the game thoroughly. Henry is also certain to make his distance with the ball, although he has been unable to practise the past few days on account of injuries received in the Chicago University match. Talcott, captain and quarter-back, is a quick player, and is the best man on the eleven for heading interference. Fowler at centre is handicapped slightly by his stature, but he is of good strength, learns quickly, and has had experience in playing his position on last year's team.

At right guard Doud is doing steady work. He played on the Chicago Manual team last year. On the other side of centre there is another veteran--Lespinasse. He is a stockily built player, and helps to make the centre a formidable thing to attack. Schoellenberger at right end has been doing excellent work in breaking up interference; and besides this he is a sure tackler and a fast runner, both excellent qualities for an end rusher. Wadsworth is doing fairly well at full-back, having gone back from end, where he played last year. His previous experience in the line makes him a good running back, but as a punter he is not yet up to the mark.

Cook County Interscholastic League.]

The Hyde Park H.-S. Eleven averages heavier than last year's team--130 pounds. Only four of last year's players are back again. The team this fall is not so snappy and quick as the Hyde Park elevens usually have been, but it is very probable that this quality will develop by the time the important games come about. It is improbable, however, that Hyde Park will have as strong an eleven as that which represented the school last year. Captain Linden, who plays left end, is a quick, hard runner, and is thoroughly familiar with the game. Knickerbocker and Miller, right and left tackles, are the heaviest men; of the two, Miller is the better man, being a good tackler. Knickerbocker is somewhat slow in getting down the field. Nash and Crane are pretty light for guards; but Nash has been playing a hard game, and has been doing notably good work in running with the ball. Crane is a new man, but is developing steadily. Mackay, at centre, was considered last year the best man for his position in the Cook County League, and is still maintaining his reputation. Hennessy, at right end, to be valuable should make better use of his head and follow the ball more closely; he is energetic and a hard worker. Of the candidates for right half-back, Higley is the best of the three, being a surer tackler than either Wilson or Pingree. Minnemyer and Welch are trying for left half, the former being the best tackler, the latter the fastest runner. Trude, at full-back, is as fast a runner as there is on the team, and is punting very well this year.

SHADY-SIDE ACADEMY FOOTBALL PLAYERS, PITTSBURG.

In the first practice game, two weeks ago, the Shady-Side Academy eleven of Pittsburg played a fast and snappy game, but a few days later the team showed up very poorly, and the work was exceedingly slow. Arundell's work at full-back is not entirely satisfactory; he is not improving in punting, and his general play is poor. In consequence it is probable that McConnell, who was at Cheltenham last year, will play that position. Dravo, at half-back, is a new man, but has been doing unexpectedly good work. He uses his head and does not fumble the ball. T. McConnell, at quarter, is one of the most promising players on the team; he keeps cool, tackles hard, and gets into the interference well.

It is doubtful at present whether Jennings will play centre or guard; if he goes in at guard, Aley will hold down centre. Hawkins and Brainard are the most promising candidates for the other guard's position. The principal thing in Hawkins's favor is that he is a steady man and maintains a good average style. Captain Schildecker is improving rapidly in his position at right tackle, but the same spot on the other side of the line is not so well taken care of by Flinn. The ends are Kirke and Humbird; the former is putting up a hard, fast game, tackles hard, and gets into the interference well; the latter is a new man, but promises to develop well, especially in tackling.

The Kiskiminetas team of the same League will average about 150 pounds this year. McKelvey at full-back is punting well, and has developed into a strong line-backer. Carrol at left half-back is a good ground-gainer, and maintains a steady average of play. Captain Aiken is playing quarter; his strongest point is tackling, and he is thoroughly familiar with the fine points of the sport, and makes a good commander. Herron and Woodbridge, the ends, run and tackle well, and although they are not brilliant players, they are careful and steady in their work. There is room for improvement in Kelso at right tackle and Fisher at centre. Henry and Shaw, the guards, are heavy men, and interfere well, so likewise does Montgomery at right tackle. Although the eleven is not so heavy this year as the team which Kiskiminetas put into the field last season, it is playing a faster and snappier game.

It does not look very much at present as if the Hartford High-School would come out with any very great honors at the close of the football season. At the present date of writing Hartford has not only lost every game played, but her men have not yet succeeded in scoring a single touch-down. This is a very sad state of affairs for such a reliable old-timer as Hartford. H.P.H.-S. lost the Meriden game, 16-0. The play on that occasion was exceedingly ragged, the interference was loose; in centre plays not more than half the men seemed to get into the game; on the defence the ends could not get at their men at all, and on the whole it was a pretty sorry exhibition of football.

Meriden, on the other hand, played a steady game, and although their performance was not brilliant, it was of the kind that insures victory. The best individual work was done by Lane and Hubbard for Meriden, whereas for Hartford Captain Sturtevant was about the only man who deserves mention. In the game against the Yale Freshmen Hartford played a little better, but they were up against heavier men, and were unable to make any points. In the New Britain game Hartford's play was again ragged, there being not even an attempt at team-work, whereas the New Britain players were especially strong in this feature.

As to individual play, McDonald, Brinley, and Meehan of New Britain were the most conspicuous. Of the Hartford players, Sturtevant, Strong, Allen, and Gillette surpassed in individual work the best performances of their opponents, but this was of little avail where team-work lacked. It seems now very probable that New Britain will win the Connecticut championship this year. The team has already defeated Bridgeport, 14-0, Waterbury having defeated Hillhouse, 4-0, on the same day.

There seems to be more activity in football in the South this year than ever before, and it is probable that a number of interscholastic leagues will be organized. At Richmond, Virginia, the High-School is turning out a pretty good team, which promises to be better in every respect than that of 1895. If a league is formed it will probably include the High-Schools of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Fredericksburg, Suffolk, Danville, Petersburg, and Richmond.

In Washington the Central High-School seems to have the heaviest eleven this year, although all three high-school teams are light. The season is not far enough advanced yet for any detailed criticism of the work done to be justly made, but it is probable that within a few weeks the raw material will have been coached and moulded into fair condition.

It is gratifying to note, in connection with the comments concerning the Milwaukee High-Schools last week, and the rather questionable spirit of sportsmanship which was growing there, that the East Side High-School has taken steps for the purification of athletics that ought to bring up all questionable practices with a sharp turn.

A code of regulations has been adopted by the faculties of the three leading High-Schools of Milwaukee, and although it seems perhaps a little startling to us here in the East to find in it such a paragraph as "No person shall enter a contest under an assumed name," still there may have been very good cause for this sort of severity. One thing about the regulations is certain: If they are lived up to, Milwaukee High-School sports will be of the cleanest, and of a very high grade besides.

Not only must any person who wishes to represent a school in any athletic contest of the Milwaukee High-School League be a _bona fide_ student in regular attendance at his school, but he must obtain a scholastic standing of at least seventy per cent. He must also have obtained seventy per cent. in two full studies during the previous term, or must have obtained credits in three full studies during his last term of attendance. But, of course, pupils who are enrolled for the first time will not be excluded from athletics for lack of percentages and credits which naturally they cannot have, not having been members of the school during the previous term. A further provision allows a student of the Senior class, who is considered by the faculty as a regular candidate for graduation, to participate in any contest even if he has taken less than three full studies at the school, provided, however, he has completed extra work which shall entitle him to a credit in each of the three full studies of the regular curriculum of Senior year.

The rules even go so far as to include managers of teams within these restrictions; so that thus any student who is connected with an athletic team, either in an active or an executive capacity, must have a high standing in his classes and be altogether a reputable person. There are thirteen paragraphs in all to the new code, but those which are not included in the foregoing digest are such as we find in almost all interscholastic leagues, with variations--making provisions for arbitration committees, and filing the names of players a certain given period before contests.

The schedule of the Long Island Football Association has been made out, and the championship games will begin to-morrow, continuing as follows:

Oct. 21.--Brooklyn Latin School _vs._ St. Paul's School, at Garden City.
Oct. 24.--Brooklyn High-School _vs._ Pratt Institute, at Brooklyn.
Oct. 31.--Poly. Prep. _vs._ St. Paul's School, at Garden City;
Brooklyn Latin School _vs._ Brooklyn High-School, at Brooklyn.
Nov. 7.--Brooklyn Latin School _vs._ Pratt Institute, at Brooklyn.
Nov. 11.--Brooklyn High School _vs._ St. Paul's School, at Eastern Park.
Nov. 14.--Poly. Prep. _vs._ Pratt Institute, at Brooklyn.
Nov. 21.--Pratt Institute _vs._ St. Paul's School, at Garden City;
Poly. Prep. _vs._ Brooklyn Latin School, at Brooklyn.
Nov. 26.--Brooklyn High-School _vs._ Poly. Prep., at Eastern Park.

If we may judge from the character of the teams in the Long Island League the championship games this year ought to make pretty fair exhibitions of football playing. St. Paul's, Garden City, is going in even harder than customarily, and will have as strong a team as has ever worn the school colors. It will undoubtedly be the strongest eleven of the Long Island League, and will take the championship there, but St. Paul's chief ambition will be to defeat Lawrenceville, and even Andover, if a game can be arranged with the latter.

The make-up of the team, is about the same as it was last year, except, perhaps, that it is heavier. The rush-line is unusually heavy for a school team and the backs, excepting quarter, are also of good weight. Most of the men are veterans, only two being new to the team. These are Kinney, at right guard, and Blount, at quarter-back. This is Kinney's first year at football, but he is developing well, and has great strength, having cultivated this at shot-putting. He weighs 190 pounds. Blount, the other new man, is a Southerner who has never had much experience at football, but he is showing unusual ability for the game, and is rapidly improving under the coaching system prevalent at Garden City.

As full-back Captain Sidney Starr is doing good work, and is running the eleven in proper style. Starr is one of the most prominent of St. Paul's athletes, having played on the school teams ever since he entered school. He weighs 175 pounds, and besides being an excellent punter, he makes a good running full-back. Last year Starr played at quarter a good part of the time, alternating with Gardiner at full-back; but this year he has preferred to let Blount try for quarter, there being no first-class man among his candidates for the position he has taken himself.

The half-backs are Weller and Goldsborough. The latter is an old-time St. Paul's man, having played on the nine and eleven for several years. He weighs 158 pounds, and is a hard runner, usually sure to gain his distance. Weller, the left half-back, played end on the team last year, and showed such good qualities as a line-backer that he was put back of the line this season. He is a good tackler, too, and he is five pounds heavier than his mate. The line is well protected by two good ends. Lorraine has played two years on the team, and is a sharp tackler, with a great capacity for breaking through the opponents' interference. Lorraine is one of those players, however, who does not keep up to his best work steadily, but is liable to have "on" and "off" days. This is a misfortune which may possibly be overcome by coaching. A team made up of players who have "on" and "off" days will be defeated nine times out of ten by an inferior team of steady players.

At the other end of the line, White is a more steady player and an exceedingly active rusher. Symonds and Brown are the tackles; they weigh 170 and 192 pounds respectively. Brown is a shot-putter and hammer-thrower, and has great strength, which he uses to good effect when his team is on the defensive. The centre is Cluett, who played last year, and is doing good work at present. He is well guarded by Kinney and Everett Starr. The latter has played three years on the team, and knows the position thoroughly.

With so many veterans on the St. Paul's team, more time will be devoted by the coaches to a cultivation of team-work than could otherwise be possible; and so it is probable that when St. Paul's meets Berkeley in their last game a few weeks hence we shall see an interesting exhibition of scholastic football.

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

THE GRADUATE.

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.

On October 3 the subscribers to the Philatelic club-house met in the building which had been leased by the committee, and organized under the title of "The Collectors' Club," adopted a constitution and by-laws, elected governors, and arranged for incorporation. The board of governors consists of William Herrick, president; Charles Gregory, vice-president; J. W. Scott, treasurer; J. M. Andreini, secretary; and Messrs. J. N. Luff, H. L. Calman, F. E. P. Lynde, H. E. Deats, and F. A. Nast. The club-house is No. 351 Fourth Avenue, near Twenty-fifth Street, and contains an auction-room, billiard-room, meeting-rooms for the different societies, bedrooms, and janitor's rooms.

The second instalment of new prices for the U.S. stamps has been issued. The Department stamps have been materially advanced. Newspaper stamps and Postage Due stamps have not been changed radically. The U.S. used stamps of all kinds have not increased in value compared with unused copies.

The London "Philatelist," in an article on the stamps of Cape of Good Hope Colony, states that the rare wood blocks were issued in April, 1861, and that no copies were in the main post-office of the colony in September, 1861. But in 1878 the postmaster of Graaf Reinet found a complete sheet of both the one penny and four pence in stock, and sold most of them in the ordinary course of business.

Had these two sheets been preserved until to-day, probably $20,000 would hardly buy them.

E. PERCY.--As you are a new beginner, I would advise you not to pay
any attention to water-marks, perforations, shades, papers, etc.
You will find enough to study in the stamps themselves
independently of these points. After you have a fair collection you
can then begin the study of these minor points, but to collect such
stamps means the spending of large amounts of money. All the
dealers now recognize the fact that these minor varieties, while
interesting to the advanced collector with a large bank account,
are of no interest to the average collector through his inability
to buy or even to ever see these scarce stamps. Hence the new
albums and new catalogues for ordinary collecting will embrace only
the regular stamps in their ordinary forms.

N. P. P.--The U.S. carrier's stamp, black on yellow (a double
circle), issued in 1849, if a good copy on original letter, is
worth $8 to $10. Cape of Good Hope Revenues are not collected in
the U.S.

G. BEARDSLEY.--Continental money is worth very little. In the
beginning of this century some people papered their rooms with it,
and one man covered a whole barn with the so-called money. You can
buy good copies of the dealers for 5c. or 10c. each.

GEORGE NEWHAM.--Stamps of "Tromsöe," "Stadspost," etc., are locals
of no value to collectors. To distinguish faint water-marks, dip
the stamp in benzine and place it face downward on a piece of
japanned iron. The benzine will not hurt the gum.

G. L. LINDSLEY.--The 5c. nickel without the word "cents" has no
premium value. Dealers sell it at 10c.

L. YUNGST.--The Spanish dollar, 1788, is no longer current. It is
worth so much bullion only.

N. J.--Your English gold coin has no premium value. It is worth its
full coinage value.

E. P. TRIPP.--"Ultramar" stamps are from Cuba. The Porto Rico
stamps of 1873-1876, with paraph also have "Ultramar" at the top.
On H.M.S. means On Her Majesty's Service. Gold quarters were never
coined by the U.S. government. Those now in circulation were made
chiefly by jewellers, and, as a rule, they do not contain more than
10c. worth of gold; the remainder is base alloy. Cut post-cards are
valueless.

J. LOWELL.--Do not remove gum from unused U.S. stamps. It would
lessen the value of the stamps from ten to fifty per cent.

A. DE GRAM.--I cannot identify your stamps by your description.

R. PARLS, P.O. Box 36, Ridley Park, Pa., wishes to exchange stamp.

W. MORROW.--Your stamp is U.S. Revenue 25c. Insurance; worth 10c.

E. C. CROSSETT.--There is no premium on the new silver
certificates, as they have not been recalled.

HIG.--See HARPER'S ROUND TABLE for October 6 for old and new prices
of unused U.S. stamps. Used copies remain about the same, except
Columbian, which have been reduced. The 1861 5c., used, is worth
35c.; the 24c., 25c.; the 1869 1c., 40c.; the others mentioned by
you are less than 10c. each.

GEORGE S. LORD, 815 High Street, Bath, Me., wishes to exchange
stamps. Inverted medallions occur in stamps printed in two colors.
Sometimes the sheet was turned, and one color design was printed
upside down.

CARL HATHAWAY.--The handy-book is now out of print. You can buy a
catalogue of stamps from New York dealers at 10c.

H. MCLOUGHLIN.--The 1824 half-dollar is very common.

G. HULL.--I do not understand your question. The Mexican silver
dollar contains more silver than the U.S. dollar. If you want to
sell Mexican dollars, you can get about 45c. or 50c. each. If you
want to buy, they will cost you 55c. each.

J. CABELL.--Your "Sydney View" is a poor copy. While fine copies,
used and unused, are much higher than two or three years ago, poor
copies are only worth half as much as was asked for the same stamps
two years ago. When collectors pay $50, $100, or more for a stamp,
they want fine copies. Such persons will not touch a poor copy at
any price. By fine copies is meant those with a good margin, clean
print, no tear or skinned back, and, if perforated, that it be
evenly centred, and, if unused, that it have the original gum.
Stamps lacking one or two perforations, or not coming up to the
above standard, are worth from twenty-five per cent. to
seventy-five per cent. less.

PHILATUS.

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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.

A woman on a bicycle, whatever the laws may be, always has the right of way. If you meet her in a small side-path in the country, the path belongs to her. It is your duty to turn out. If this path happens to be on your side of the road--that, is, if the woman is approaching on the left side of the road, facing the direction in which she is moving--it is just as much your duty to turn out.

If in the country you come upon a woman who has in any way broken her bicycle or punctured a tire, it is perfectly proper, and a gentleman's duty, to offer to help her. It would be distinctly impolite to offer similar help in a city. The city is full of repair shops, there are cabs at any corner, and a woman can easily help herself there. In the country the case is very different. In fact, the rules of etiquette between men and women on bicycles are precisely the same as they are between men and women in carriages or in any other ordinary circumstances.

The question of costume is an important one also. Every bicyclist, especially men, should remember that, starting with a perfectly clean suit of clothing, after an hour's ride, no matter how expensive and perfect the costume may have been at the start, he is in no condition to go among other people to any extent. A bicyclist, therefore, should never attempt, especially in the city, to go into the main dining-room of a hotel in bicycle costume. An ordinary bicycle or golf suit--that is, a suit precisely like an ordinary business suit except for knickers and long stockings--may be suitable enough before one goes out bicycling for the day, but even at its best a sweater has no place in the parlor or the dining-room. Except at a regular bicycle resort, a small country inn where there are few people, or some athletic club, the bicyclist should change his costume before dining, or, in fact, entering the parlor or dining-room of any public-house.

Most of the railroads in the United States now have certain regulations regarding the carrying of bicycles. Where a certain fee is charged the bicyclist has nothing to do except to hand his wheel in to the baggage-master on the train, and to take it again when the train stops at the station where he wishes to leave it. Where no charge is made by the railroad, it is only fair and right to give the baggage-master ten cents or so for his trouble, and to be of whatever assistance to him that you can in handing in the bicycle and taking it from him. This of course applies to bicycles that are not crated.

When a machine is crated it comes under the rules of ordinary parcels, and requires no more attention than any other parcel. The average wheelman who has been riding some distance on his wheel belongs in the smoking-car. When men and women riding together enter a train they of course go into the regular cars, but they should carry themselves as they would if they were travelling like other passengers--and, strange as it may seem, that is not always the case.

A History and an Inspiration.

Here is the story of a Round Table Chapter that served well the reason for its existence. It is now "a thing of the past," as the secretary records, but it is past only in the fact that it no longer meets. Its memories and its benefits live after it, and will long continue to do so.

DEAR FRIENDS,--Of course the Knights and Ladies of our Order are
interested in the various Chapters which have been formed, and the
items of news from them are often very good morsels. The Lancelot
Chapter, of Newtonville, Mass., No. 572, has never had very much to
say to the public, but in a quiet way it has prospered. But now the
Lancelot Chapter is a thing of the past. It was composed of nine
girls, who for several years were to be separated. Most of them had
just graduated from high-school and were going to begin a
life-work, and for various reasons it seemed advisable to dissolve
our Chapter.

But on such a sad occasion we did our best to enjoy ourselves and
make our last meeting a memorable one. Perhaps the account of our
meeting may suggest a pleasant evening for the other Chapters. Each
member was given a part, and we allowed plenty of time for
preparation. The Chapter invited all of its former members, and
also its honorary members, and one evening in July we assembled at
our secretary's home. The first thing on the programme was a
welcome from one of the girls, our treasurer. Our president read
the club prophecy, our secretary read the club history, and the
club statistics, poem, and oration were given by three other girls.
Our musical member took charge of the music, which was introduced
between the papers. The club song, in which we all joined, was
written by our president, and sung to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne."

Refreshments, consisting of ice-cream, and cake, made by the girls,
were served in the dining-room. Our editor was toast-mistress, and
she called upon each member to respond to a toast. We drank to the
Round Table, to Good Will Farm, to the Lancelot Chapter, its
officers and honorary members, and to our guests. The meeting was
considered a grand success. The papers read were original and full
of wit and humor. The cake and cream were delicious, and the
Lancelot Chapter passed out of existence amid the roar of the
elements, for a thunder-storm raged out-doors, and amid the
laughter and jollity which prevailed in-doors.

The Chapter is dissolved, but the friendships fostered and
cherished in its circle will never dissolve. The girls have learned
to know each other better, and have become broader by contact. One
and all we say we are glad we have been a club. Now, though we are
separated, we still try to live up to our motto:

"Do all the good you can; by all the means you can; in all the ways
you can; in all the places you can; at all the times you can; to
all the people you can; just as long as you can."--JOHN WESLEY.

Wishing success to all our friends in other Chapters, we sign
ourselves for the last time,

THE LANCELOT CHAPTER, K.L.O.R.T.
MARION DREW BASSETT, Secretary, R.T.F.
NEWTONVILLE, MASS.

* * * * *

Santa Catalina Island.

Santa Catalina, more commonly called "Catalina," lies twenty-five
miles off the coast of southern California. It is twenty miles
long, and between two and three miles wide. It was first inhabited
by Indians, of whom many relics and skulls and bones have been
found. The principal town, called Avalon, is situated near the
southern part of the island in a little cove about a mile wide. The
water is so clear that you can see the rocks and fish one hundred
feet below the surface--the rocks with their green moss waving to
and fro with the tide, while gold and other fish swim lazily about.
There is a marble called Catalina which is of grayish color, and is
used in building some of our finest business blocks in Los Angeles.
This marble is more or less transparent, and is said to be the only
kind of hard stone with that peculiarity. Two years ago Catalina
was hardly heard of, but now there often are, in summer, five
thousand people there.

A. LAZARUS, R.T.K.
LOS ANGELES.

* * * * *

A Young Naturalist's Outing.

Last summer I spent my vacation in Noank, Conn. My chief amusement
was fishing. Noank is a fishing-village, and there are many large
lobster-cars about. Every day the dead lobsters in the cars were
taken out and thrown overboard, forming a great attraction to
multitudes of eels. Almost every night some of the boys went eeling
off the cars, and came home with a bucket half full of the
wriggling things. Every time I came to the house with some eels the
boarders would declare, after a glance into my bucket, that they
would never eat another eel as long as they lived.

While at Groton, Conn., a gentleman said he'd never eat eel. One
morning the landlord asked him if he would have some blue-fish. The
gentleman said he would, and found the fish so good that he asked
for a second plate. Suddenly the landlord exclaimed, "Sakes alive,
man, I have given you eel instead of blue-fish!" The table shouted
with laughter, and the gentleman did not appear again until
supper-time. The worst of eeling is that eels tangle your line, and
when you pick up the eel to get the line off him you have the
pleasure of seeing him slip through your fingers. The Noank boys
have a way of holding eels by simply pinching them behind the eyes
with the thumb and first finger. By taking a boat and anchoring
about five hundred feet from the shore I caught flounders,
sea-bass, porgies, and now and then an eel. Flounders are hard to
catch, because of a bone in their mouth which prevents the hook
from getting a good grip. When I did not feel like fishing from a
boat I gathered a pocketful of periwinkles, and procuring a small
stone to crack them with, went fishing for cunners off some wharf.
The cunner is a fish about the size, shape, and color of a perch.

ALBERT W. ATWATER.
SPRINGFIELD, MASS.

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.

PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS.

The amateur photographer, if he has improved the shining hours of summer by gathering some good negatives, has on hand the material for very acceptable Christmas gifts, and now is the time to set about preparing them.

No amateur has probably been so fortunate as to secure a satisfactory picture with every plate used. The prodigal throws these spoiled plates in the ash-barrel, but the wise amateur uses them for many things. One way is to use them for mounting prints. Carefully mounted and finished, they are very pretty and make handsome ornaments, and for simple gifts are far more satisfactory than the usual Christmas-cards, which eventually find their way into the scrap-basket. Then, too, another thing which commends them to a young person who must make a little money go a long way is that they are very much cheaper.

Soak the spoiled plate in hot water till all the film has been removed, then wash it in hot suds, dry, and polish it with French chalk and a piece of soft chamois. Select the prints to be mounted, choosing those which will have some special attraction to the one for whom you intend the gift. Soak the prints for a few minutes in a weak solution of glycerine, using 1/4 oz. of glycerine to 16 oz. of water. Lay them face up on a piece of glass, and let the water drain off, but do not blot them. Have your glass ready, place the print face down on it, and covering it with a piece of blotting-paper, squeegee it to the glass, using the rubber roller made for this purpose. The picture must adhere to the glass at every point; for if it does not, the air-blisters will show and disfigure the picture. By examining the face of the print from the glass side it can easily be seen whether the optical contact is perfect, and if not, rub it until it is.

Cut a piece of stout Manila-paper half an inch larger all round than the glass. Lay the glass in the centre of the paper, and cut a small square from each corner of the paper. Remove the picture, cover the paper with paste, and paste it on the back of the picture, turning over the edges on to the face of the glass, the squares cut from the corners allowing it to lie smoothly.

If you wish to finish the picture to stand on a desk or table, bind the edges of the glass with a piece of ribbon, or colored or gilt paper; or if you wish to have it more decorative, get a narrow open-work brass strip and bend it round the edges. To make the support, take heavy card-board and mark on it two lines about an inch apart and at equal distances from each edge. Cut through the card-board on these lines, and then cut half-way through the card-board across from one line to the other. Bend the strip back a little way, and paste a strip of stout cloth over the place where the board is cut part way through, fitting it into the cut. This makes a stout hinge, and will not easily break or bend out of shape. Paste this support, which should be the size of the glass, on the back of the picture, using a thick paste, or, what is still better, fish glue.

Pictures may be mounted by optical contact, and framed in silk or linen in the card-board screen frames, using one or two leaves. They may also be finished to hang on the wall by attaching a brass ring by a piece of tape to the back of the picture.

A number of pictures which make a series may be mounted on spoiled plates, then set in a frame, using narrow strips of beading to divide the pictures and cover the edges of the glasses.

The directions here given will suggest to our amateurs many ways of using spoiled plates for picture mounts.

Another use for spoiled plates may be found in No. 857 (March 31, 1896).

S. B. C. wishes to know some place in Brooklyn or New York where
the "Quad" camera may be purchased; and how much it costs to
develop, print, and mount each picture. E. T. Anthony & Co., and
Scovill Adams Co., carry many makes of cameras, and S. B. C. will
probably find the Quad for sale at one of these places. To finish a
picture from the developing and mounting, not including the price
of the plate, will cost, for a picture the size of the Quad, 3-1/2
by 4-1/2, about three cents. When prints are made in large
quantities, the cost is less in proportion than when only a few are
made. Four by five blue-print paper costs ten cents per dozen, and
there is no toning necessary; so if one made blue prints, and used
the cheap cards for mounting, the prints would cost but fifteen
cents per dozen.

SIR KNIGHT FRANK F. SMITH sends a print from a negative which shows
a white line looking something like a piece of string with a knot
or loop in it, and asks the opinion of the editor as to what it is.
He says it was caused in the following manner: He loaded a
Bull's-Eye camera, and left the shutter open, walked about seven
squares with the camera in this condition, then closed the shutter,
and rolled the film up without attempting to take a picture on it.
The editor would be quite at a loss as to the cause if she had not
had a similar experience. Wishing to make a picture showing
moonlight effect--the subject being two young ladies standing at
the edge of a small lake just as the sun was setting--the camera
was pointed directly toward the sun, which was not obscured by
clouds, the lens shielded so that the sun would not strike the
plate, and an exposure made. When the plate was developed there was
no picture on it, but a white line which looked like a bunch of
tangled string, the ends of the line passing off the same side of
the plate as in the print sent by Sir Frank. The only way in which
this phenomena could be accounted for was that a ray of light must
have struck the plate, and, instead of fogging it, left its
likeness, after the manner of a flash of lightning. Have any of our
members had a similar experience?

SIR KNIGHT CHARLES LUSENKAMP, Grand Rapids, Mich., asks how to
mount prints without destroying the gloss made by the ferrotype
plate; how long a plate of medium sensitometer should be printed
for a lantern-slide, and what developing agent should be used for
developing it; where glycin can be purchased, and where 2 by 2-1/2
plates can be bought; which chemical the editor prefers for
developing--pyro, eikonogen, metol, amidol, hydrochinon, or glycin.
To preserve the gloss given by the ferrotype plate, trim the prints
ready for mounting, before toning. Squeegee to the ferrotype plate,
and, when dry, paste the back of the print before removing it from
the plate, and mount directly on the card. By this method the print
does not become moistened, and retains most of the gloss. The plate
should be printed from three to ten seconds, according to the
density of the negative from which the slide is made. A very dense
negative takes several seconds longer. Hydrochinon and eikonogen
mixed make an excellent developer for lantern-slides. The
hydrochinon gives density and the eikonogen detail. See No. 852,
February 25, for a good formula for a developer. Order glycin
through one of the photographic supply houses in your own city. If
they do not have it in stock, they will get it for you. The plate
the size you mention is not made, but you can get films in small
sizes. The editor likes eikonogen and hydrochinon mixed, and also
metol for developing. See No. 825 for a toning solution. Sir
Charles sends a formula for a developer made with eikonogen and
hydrochinon, which he says is fine. No. 1. Water, 64 oz.; sulphite
of sodium crystals, 2-1/2 oz.; eikonogen, 1 oz.; hydrochinon, 1/8
oz. No. 2. Water, 64 oz.; carbonate of potassium, 2-1/2 oz. To use,
take of No. 1, 2 oz., and of No. 2, 1 oz. Sir Charles asks for
correspondents interested in photography. Will Sir Charles send his
street and number?

CALVIN FARRAR, 35 Greenwood Avenue, Cleveland, O.; JAMES MAYNARD,
JUN., Box 282, Knoxville, Tenn.; FOSTER HARTWELL, 629 Third Avenue,
Lansingburg, N. Y.; JOHN MILLS, 308 Ogden Avenue, Milwaukee, Wis.;
MINNIE G. FARWELL, 55 Oak Street, Hyde Park, N. Y.; CHARLES
LUSENKAMP, Grand Rapids, Mich., wish to be enrolled as members of
the Camera Club.

* * * * *

A POUND OF FACTS

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STAMPS

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1c. 2c. & 3c. National Bank Note Co. Print, 20c.

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CURES WHERE ALL ELSE FAILS.

Best Cough Syrup. Tastes Good. Use

in time. Sold by druggists.

GEORGE DU MAURIER.

All the readers of the ROUND TABLE have heard in some way or other of Mr. George du Maurier, the author of _Trilby_. His death a few days ago, at his home in London, closes the life of a man whose career is most interesting and suggestive to the average boy of ambition.

Mr. Du Maurier was born March 6, 1834. For many years after he had taken up the work of illustrating for _Punch_, the leading comic paper of England, he was known as the greatest living humorist and society artist. The work was difficult, and his drawings, although a large number were required in a year by the paper, did not give him a very competent livelihood. In 1888 he had, at the age of fifty-four made what would commonly be called an extraordinary name for himself. He was known in every family in the British Isles, and English-reading people all over the world knew of his work. Such fame acquired in this well-earned way would be quite enough for any one to have for an ambition, and yet had Mr. Du Maurier never made a drawing up to the time he was fifty-four years old the literary work he has done since then--that is, _Peter Ibbetson_, written in 1888; _Trilby_, written in 1893; and _The Martian_, just beginning in HARPER'S MAGAZINE--would have made him a man with a name which is not only known all over the world where people read, but has placed him among the literary men of England--a name so much more famous and widespread than that of the illustrator that there will come a time when people will read his books and never know that he illustrated anything but his own works.

It is very often said to be the case that if a man is ever to make a name for himself he must show very definite signs of it before he is thirty, and that if he has not accomplished great things before he is forty he never will. Mr. Du Maurier's life is an absolute contradiction to this statement or rule, for the work for which he will really remain famous for a long time to come was not begun until eight years before his death, and he died at the age of sixty-two.

The point of great importance, however, is that, although after _Trilby_ had appeared Du Maurier became immediately famous, he did not become suddenly possessed of great ability. He has said himself that these three books are not the only, nor by any means the most difficult, literary works he ever did, for for forty years, week by week, he had to work over the little two-line legends under his illustrations in _Punch_. He used to say that the work required to tell the story by one illustration and fifteen or twenty words required more literary ability in the choosing of the fifteen or twenty words than in the writing of a fifteen or twenty thousand word story. He was constantly having practice, therefore, in telling a great deal in a few well-chosen words. Besides this studying human beings as he did, and making drawings of their peculiarities and strengths and weaknesses year after year, he was all the time learning to know human nature, and laying up a store of material for the characters of his three books.

So that, after all, Mr. Du Maurier was, so to speak, studying for over fifty years to learn how to write and illustrate three books at the very end of his life, which were so well done that they have given him a greater name than most men get in a life-time of books or drawings. Daniel Webster told practically the same story after he had made his famous speech in the United States Senate against Mr. Hayne of South Carolina, when some one asked him how he could make one of the finest speeches ever made in the English language, lasting several hours, without the slightest preparation. His answer was that he had been preparing for it all his life, so that, after all, there is much truth of a certain kind in the statement that a great name must be begun early, for when you hear of a man becoming suddenly famous because of some great work of any kind accomplished late in life, you may be quite sure that the man has really been laboring all his life with the most persistent industry and energy to reach at last the great position which he occupies. And the making of such a name is open to any one who has the capacity for taking such infinite pains.

THE DISCOVERY OF A WIZARD.

One evening, towards the close of the last century, a traveller alighted at a little inn in the town of Würzburg, Germany. He was tall, dark, and rather sombre-looking. His strange ways soon aroused the curiosity of the towns-people to the highest pitch. He would take long rambles, often being absent from early morning till the time of the evening meal. Certain worthies reported having seen him, wrapt in contemplation, walking by the Rhine, occasionally waving his arms, and paying no attention to the passers-by. One person had seen his light burning far into the morning. But the landlady at first said she had no cause for complaint; the stranger was pleased with everything set before him, and seemed to be a perfect gentleman.

One morning one of the maids of the inn told the landlady that, listening at the stranger's key-hole the night before, she had heard him in earnest conversation with some person or thing, and yet no one had been seen to enter the room. The girl was severely reprimanded for her eavesdropping, but nevertheless the landlady took her post at the door the following evening, and had her story to tell. She had fully made up her mind that the stranger was in league with the evil one. She gave the information to the justices of the town, and sundry officers were speedily assembled about the stranger's door. Near at hand, too, was a goodly gathering of the town gossips. The oppressive silence was suddenly broken by the distinct tones of a dialogue going on in the stranger's room. The officers crowded around the door and heard the following conversation:

"Thou misformed offspring of our uncreated power--thou whom I have so long sought--thou shalt escape me no longer. Answer me! Come, my black barbet, change thy costume. How thy black hair rises on end, thy body swells, and thy red eyes sparkle!... If thou indeed hast submitted thyself to me, show thyself, demon, and speak to thy master."

At this moment _a distinct smell of burning brimstone_ caused the stout burghers to draw their noses away from the door and stifle their coughing as best they could.

A sharp shrill voice was now heard to answer,

"Master, what dost thou desire of thy servant?"

The door was broken down, and the stranger dragged before the magistrate, charged with being in league with the devil. The stranger quietly said: