Chapter XVIII (2)

The Sheik's camp was pitched in the open desert, and the men of science vainly looked about in every direction for the far-famed hill against whose western face lay an immense heap of sand that hummed and sung whenever its surface was disturbed and sent sliding downward. The Sheik was himself troubled with a bad foot, due to his imprudently wearing a pair of razor-toed patent-leather shoes presented to him by the General commanding the department, and Ducardanoy was asked to relieve him before examining the golden-shod horse.

"Where is the Mountain of Singing Sands?" asked Ducardanoy, as he finished tying the last bandage on the Sheik's foot.

"We do not always camp in one place, you know," said the Sheik; "but you will see it shortly."

"How so?" asked Ducardanoy, in surprise. "It is not visible on the horizon, and must be a day's journey. How shall I see it shortly?"

"You will see it as the Evil One flies through the air with your soul on the way to the abode of the lost. Mustapha, bring out Sunlight and his consort, and make ready to drag these infidels asunder."

The chiropodists turned pale as this command was given, and the horses were brought forth, one a dapple gray with gold shoes, the other a dapple gray with silver shoes, and they had not yet uttered a word when the Sheik's retainers advanced to bind them.

"Stop!" cried Ducardanoy. "Why are we to be killed? What is our crime?"

"Do you not remember the time when by your devilish arts you frightened some true believers at the Roman tower and took their property? The Sheik of that tribe was my nephew, and even if he were no kin of mine, you infidel dogs should die for robbing true believers."

"When death is a punishment," said Bouchardy, "it is where the man desires to live and cannot, for if he desires to die, death can be no punishment. Now when you subject us to the slow torture of being pulled apart by these horses, we hail death with delight as a relief to pain, and your punishment has failed."

The Sheik scowled and said nothing.

"Where death comes quickly and without pain," continued Bouchardy, "the desire to live is intense, and death is all that the utmost hate can ask for as a revenge."

"Why do you point out these things to us?" asked the Sheik's vizier. "If what you say is true, why do you point out to us a way to make your punishment more terrible?"

"To show you how much wiser we Frenchmen are than you Arabs. To make you see how hopeless is the design you witless Arabs cherish of driving the wise French from the land. If my sorrow can accomplish anything for the republic, I willingly endure it."

"Let them be shot, and at once," growled the Sheik.

"I crave a boon," said Bouchardy. "We have cured your painful foot, and we have the right to ask a boon."

"If it be nothing that interferes with your death before the edge of the sun touches the horizon it shall be granted."

"It is that we be shot with my revolver, and I be allowed to load it."

The revolver was loaded, and the Sheik himself stepped forth and aimed it at Bouchardy.

Bang!

"Ha! ha!" laughed Bouchardy, and opening his mouth, he dropped out the bullet.

Bang! went a second chamber of the revolver.

"Ha! ha!" laughed Bouchardy again, and again he dropped a bullet from his mouth.

"Ha! ha!" chuckled a big dromedary at the right of the Sheik, and the man turned in startled fright and fired at the animal.

"Ha! ha!" said the dromedary, and Bouchardy stepped up to it, and opening its mouth, produced the bullet.

"Ha! ha!" said the dromedary. "Ha! ha!" said the donkey of the Sheik's favorite wife. "Ha! ha!" said the horse of the vizier.

"Dogs, scoundrels, cowards!" sneered the dromedary.

Bang! But not the bang of the revolver, and the flint-lock of the vizier was smoking, and the dromedary had fallen, and its life blood was pouring out on the sand. Bang! bang! went other flint-locks. Bullets whizzed by Bouchardy'a ears, and he did not take them out of his mouth.

"Hold!" came a voice from the mouth of the dying camel. "The curse of Allah is on the tribe. He has loosed the Singing Sands from their place, and they are sweeping over the desert to overwhelm you. Listen!"

Guns that had been raised to the position of aim were lowered, half-drawn swords dropped back into their scabbards, and all listened as a low hum was heard in the distance, and rapidly began to grow louder and nearer.

"I see it," cried Ducardanoy. "Fly! fly!"

The Arabs rushed wildly to their steeds. Bouchardy and Ducardanoy sprang upon Sunlight and Moonlight and spurred away to the north, and the Arabs rushed away to the west, and the hum of the approaching Singing Sands, if it was still sounding, was drowned in the confusion. It was not until they had ridden half an hour that Bouchardy and Ducardanoy saw the Arabs pause in their flight and finally turn northward.

"They have begun to suspect that we outwitted them, and are after us," said Ducardanoy.

"Let them come," said Bouchardy. "There is not a horse in Africa that can catch us."

W. A. CURTIS.

It is to be regretted that the New York I.S.A.A., at its meeting two weeks ago, failed to take any decisive action in regard to the formation of a National Interscholastic Association, for an enterprise of this nature requires much time and thought to ensure success, and in order to hold a creditable field day next June preparations for the gathering should be begun at once. We may confidently count, however, on definite action being taken at the meeting to be held a fortnight hence, and then the work will be pushed along rapidly, and the plans hitherto merely talked of will be crystallized into permanent form. That the various scholastic associations all over the country are anxious to have the scheme put through there is no doubt. The Maine and the California associations have already given notice, through their secretaries, of their desire to join a National Association, and similar informal notifications have come from the New England, the Pennsylvania, the Connecticut, and the Iowa associations. I would suggest that all other interscholastic associations whose sentiments lean in this direction communicate informally with this Department, giving the name and address of some member with whom the N.Y.I.S.A.A. committee on preliminary organization may correspond as soon as they organize, and these communications will be submitted to the proper officers of the N.Y.I.S.A.A. in due time.

One of the questions that must come up at the outset, and that as a matter of fact has already come up in the informal discussions of the subject, is whether membership in the proposed National Association shall be restricted to State and city I.S.A.A.'s, or open, as well, to individual schools. It were better at first, I think, that membership be restricted to associations; that is, that the larger body be made up of smaller organizations, which in turn are composed of individual institutions. Then the competitors at the national meeting would represent the best and strongest athletic talent of the State and city leagues--men who had earned their right to compete by having won in their event at their own State or city contest.

Some sort of exception could be made in favor of large schools that do not belong to any association, or whose association, should they be members of one, could not for some reason send a team to the national meeting. The question will come up for decision in the case of the Oakland High-School of California. This school belongs to the Academic Athletic League of the Pacific Coast, and is imbued with sufficient sporting spirit to wish to come East, and enter the National Interscholastic lists. The A.A.L. might hesitate at undertaking to send a team to New York on account of the expense; but because the A.A.L. cannot send a representative team is no reason why the O.H.-S. should not be allowed to compete. As a matter of fact any team representative of the A.A.L. would be largely made up of O.H.-S. athletes. It is very probable, however, that the A.A.L. will be perfectly willing, and even anxious, to have the O.H.-S. team come East (at its own expense), as the representative not only of the Oakland School, but of the entire Academic League. It could place its reputation in much worse hands. But whatever the A.A.L.'s inclination may be, the organizers of the National Association must formulate some rule that shall cover this and similar cases, or they will find themselves constantly called upon to solve knotty and complicated questions.

The New York interscholastic football season is more backward this year than ever before. There seems to be almost no interest in the game except here and there, and several schools have announced that they will not even put teams in the field. Harvard School is one of those. The reason given is that the principal considers the game as played now too rough for his pupils. A member of the school, however, asserts that the true reason is that the Harvard scholars are not good enough at the game for the school to stand any chance in the league contests, should it enter. There is a good deal too much of the desire to win "prizes" in most of our local scholastic athletics which ought to be strongly discouraged. It is regrettable to have to admit it, but I am persuaded that if it should be announced that only ribbons would be given as prizes at all future track-athletic games, five-eighths of those who go into the games at present would cease to take any interest in the sports. As a purifier of athletics I think the ribbon system might be a good thing to try.

The Long Island Association, like its cousin on this side of the river, has decided to adopt the Yale-Princeton football rules. This is fortunate, because it will save considerable trouble in view of the Inter-City games, and we should always be glad when we can get rid of an element of dispute. For the Fates only know that there are enough squabbles in athletics already without borrowing any from the colleges or anywhere else. And, besides, the Yale-Princeton rules are the most suitable for the schools in this section. In New England it is different, for the presence and influence of Harvard there enter into the question.

The St. Mark's eleven is making every effort to get into form for the game with its old rival, Groton, and in its preliminary games thus far the men have shown up well. White is a veteran, and is playing again at full-back, where he did good work last year. The previous season he was at quarter-back, but his punting makes him a more desirable man further back. Nash is playing right half-back, and Captain Mills will probably play left half. Nash is a new man on the team, but has improved greatly since the beginning of the season. Hatch is another novice on the first eleven, but had some practice at quarter-back on the second last year which position he will fill on the first this year. In the line, Watson, right tackle, Hare, left tackle, and Davis, right end, filled the same positions last year. The new men, Watson, Egbert, and Humphreys are all improving fast under good coaching, and there is no reason why the team should not develop into a strong one at the end of the season.

The Connecticut League has been reorganized, and now consists of the following schools: Hillhouse H.-S. and Hopkins Grammar, of New Haven; Hartford, Bridgeport, New Britain, and Waterbury high-schools; and Norwich and Suffield academies. The schedule of championship games begins on October 26th, when Hartford meets New Britain, Suffield meets Norwich, Hillhouse meets Bridgeport, and Hopkins Grammar meets Waterbury. The winners of these matches will play on November 2d, and the championship will be decided on the Yale Field a week later.

All the teams of the league have been getting good practice, and have played a number of smaller games. The Hartford H.-S. team seems to offer the greatest promise at present; but since their defeat by the Springfield H.-S. there has been a notable shake-up. Bryant is playing at tackle again, and Smith, last year's centre, is in his old place. Grant, a new man, is playing guard in Lyman's place, while Lyman has moved up one to tackle. Goodell has dropped back of the line, taking Jenkins' place, who is laid off. Morcum is holding down right end, vice Twitchell. This new arrangement will probably be in effect when Hartford lines up against Hillhouse on the 2d of next month.

For some years past there have been rumors, more or less well-founded, that certain players on teams of the Connecticut League had no business playing, and hints of pecuniary recompense were not whispered in low tones, but called out loudly. New Britain came in for a generous share of these aspersions, and from all I am able to learn richly deserved them two or three years ago. I believe, however, that a better appreciation of sportsmanship prevails there at present, and I doubt if the other schools in the league will find it necessary to protest any of the New Britain players this year.

Complaints have been made, to be sure, but upon investigation I find that the trouble arises out of the fact that the New Britain Captain has allowed two or three outsiders to play on his team in practice games (notably in the recent contest at Waterbury), rather than to jeopard his chances of victory by using weak substitutes. I am assured, however, that no such tricks will be played in any championship match. The method ought not to have been adopted even in practice. It is not sportsmanlike, and is cowardly in that the New Britain men are knowingly and unfairly taking advantage of their opponents if they allow players on their eleven who are not in regular attendance at the New Britain High-School.

By doing anything of this kind a captain not only attempts to conquer his opponents by unfair means and false representations, but he stultifies himself. He admits that he has not men good enough, or is incapable to training players who shall be strong enough, to defeat the eleven with whom he has agreed to play. He therefore secures a few good-natured, able-bodied outsiders, who are the means of earning a victory; but it is not the High-School team that has won. It is a team made up of a few High-School players and a few others. All this sounds harsh when put into cold type. The case seems so different when smoothed over with pleasant words. It is good for sport to have facts put in plain English occasionally. So far there has been no great harm done at New Britain this year, and I hope the players there will soon see the justness of restricting membership on their team to _bona fide_ scholars. And, in passing, let me add that there are a number of other captains who may read the foregoing paragraphs to their great advantage, for this criticism is by no means intended to be particular, but general.

Next Saturday the New Britain team will play the Hillhouse High-School eleven on the Yale Field at New Haven. The game should be of interest not only because both teams are good ones, but because these two schools have not met since the championship game played in the fall of 1893, when New Britain succeeded in defeating the New Haven eleven for the championship of the League. At the time a protest was entered against a player named Wheeler, of the New Britain team, who was charged with being a professional athlete. There is little doubt that Wheeler was a professional, but the charges were not sustained at a later meeting, and the trophy went to the New Britain team.

The biggest score at football that the Harvard Varsity ever made against Exeter was 158 to 0. That was in 1886, I believe, and unless I am mistaken it is the record for big scores in a game between two regularly organized and trained elevens. Nevertheless, the P.E.A. team that was vanquished by this enormous score went down to Andover and defeated their rivals 26 to 0. This year Harvard's score against Exeter was 42 to 0, and yet there is little doubt that Andover could easily take Exeter into camp if the two schools should meet. This shows how little teams can be judged by comparing scores. The Exeter eleven this year is not a good one, and yet the figures of the Harvard game would seem to show that it is. When the play is analyzed, however, the truth is apparent. For instance, at no time during the game did Exeter succeed either in advancing the ball the necessary five yards on four downs, nor were her men able to hold Harvard for four downs, or to compel the Harvard back to punt.

The Play between each touch-down was almost identical. Exeter would kick off and the ball would be punted back by one of the 'varsity players. If the crimson forwards got down the field fast enough, as they frequently did, they secured the ball and proceeded with the play until they scored. If a P.E.A. man got the ball then Harvard would force the school-team to lose a few yards, and at the fourth down Williams would punt. Sometimes he would, and sometimes he would not, because the Exeter rush-line was seldom able to hold the college men. As soon as Harvard got the ball on a play of this kind a couple of runs around the end or dives through the centre would net a touch-down. It is surprising that the winning score was not twice as large. Two halves of fifteen minutes only were played. If I remember correctly the 158-0 game lasted two full-time halves, and in those days each half lasted three-quarters of an hour.

New leagues are springing up continually. A few days ago the three most prominent military schools of the West met in Chicago and organized the Northwestern Military School League, which is to consist of the Shattuck Military School, at Faribault, Minnesota; St. John's Military Academy, at Delafield, Wisconsin; and the Michigan Military Academy of Orchard Lake, Michigan. The organization is to cover baseball, football, and track athletics. It is to be a triangular league at present, but other schools may be admitted by unanimous vote. No arrangements have yet been made for baseball or track contests, but a football schedule has been laid out as follows: Shattuck will meet St. John's at Minneapolis or St. Paul the Saturday before Thanksgiving, and the winner will play Orchard Lake at Chicago the week following. This league ought to grow and prosper, for it is just the kind of thing that is needed among the schools of the Northwest to encourage and foster interscholastic sport.

The Inter-Preparatory League and the Cook County High-School F.B. League, of Chicago, are at present the most nourishing scholastic associations of the West. They are both strong in members, and some of the school teams are putting up good football. The Cook County H.-S.F.B. League's schedule is made out as follows:

At Oak Park--Oct. 19, English High and Manual Training; Nov. 2,
West Division; Nov. 16, Hyde Park.

At Chicago Manual--Oct. 12, English High; Oct. 19, North Division;
Nov. 16, Lake View; Nov. 23, Oak Park.

At Lake View--Oct. 12, Oak Park; Oct. 19, Hyde Park; Oct. 26,
North Division; Nov. 2, Englewood.

At Englewood--Oct. 26, Oak Park; Nov. 26, West Division.

At English High--Oct. 5, Chicago Manual; Oct. 9, Lake View; Nov.
23, Englewood.

At West Division--Oct. 5, Lake View; Oct. 12, English High; Oct.
28, Manual Training; Nov. 16, North Division.

At Hyde Park--Oct. 9, Englewood; Oct. 26, English High; Nov. 20,
Manual Training.

At North Division--Oct. 5, Oak Park; Nov. 2, English High; Nov. 9,
Englewood; Nov. 23, Hyde Park.

The season of both the Chicago leagues began Saturday, as the schedules show, the Inter-Preparatory A.L. arrangement of games being in this order:

Oct. 19--Princeton-Yale _vs._ University, at Lincoln Park: Harvard
_vs._ South Side Academy, at Washington Park.

Oct. 26--Princeton-Yale _vs._ Harvard, at Washington Park;
University _vs._ South Side, at Lincoln Park.

Nov. 2--Princeton-Yale _vs._ South Side, at Washington Park;
Harvard _vs._ University, at Lincoln Park.

Nov. 9--Princeton-Yale _vs._ University, at Washington Park;
Harvard _vs._ South Side, at Washington Park.

Nov. 16--University _vs._ South Side, at Washington Park;
Princeton-Yale _vs._ Harvard, at Washington Park.

Nov. 23--Princeton-Yale _vs._ South Side, at Washington Park;
Harvard _vs._ University at Washington Park.

The opening game of the Junior League of Boston proved a walk-over for Newton High, whose eleven defeated Roxbury High, 30-0. The Newton team has greatly improved since Brookline High forced it out of the Senior League, and will be able to give the Brooklinites a hard tussle should they meet again. The team-work, especially, in the Roxbury game was good. Every man knew his place, and played it for all he was worth, and the interference for the backs was excellent. Roxbury, on the other hand, put up a weak game, and their rush-line seemed incapable of shutting off the Newton backs. The Roxbury ends did the best work for the visitors.

THE GRADUATE.

* * * * *

LITTLE MARGARET. "Mamma, I jes b'lieve 'twas Johnny 'at broke my doll."

MAMMA. "Why, dear? What makes you think so?"

LITTLE MARGARET. "'Cause he said he _didn't_ 'thout my askin'."

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.

The prettiest way to arrange your hair? Especially if it is very long, very thick, and a most beautiful color, yet cannot be worn hanging down in braids, because you are too tall for anything so childish, nor fastened up in a graceful Psyche knot at the back of the head, quite near the neck, because it is too heavy, and comes tumbling down at inconvenient seasons. Lovely hair, but an embarrassment of riches, is it not?

If it were my hair, and I were the dear young girl who finds it a bother and a burden, I would coil it on top of my head and wear it like a crown. I wouldn't mind its having the effect of making me look taller, and I would stand up very straight, and look as tall as I could. In my opinion height is a beauty, and I never care about a girl's being tall, except to admire her. Tall girls must mind that they carry themselves well, and do not stoop nor crane their heads forward as if they had lost something and were perpetually looking for it. You remember Tennyson's picture, do you not, a word picture such as only a poet could paint:

"A daughter of the gods,
Divinely tall, and most divinely fair."

If the coronal effect were unbecoming, or gave a feeling of weight on top of my head, then I would braid the hair in several strands, and mass it all over the back of the head. I would simply part it in the middle, and avoid fringes, and bangs, and little curls, crimps, and other attempts at decoration in front. When hair has a natural wave or ripple it is very pretty, and should have its way, but straight hair is pretty too, and girls should be satisfied to wear their hair in the style nature intended for them.

Avoid following a fashion in hair-dressing simply because it is a fashion. Simon says "up," and, presto! a hundred thousand young women alter their way of arranging their hair, and pile it steeple-fashion above their heads; Simon says "down," and in the twinkling of an eye the towers fall. Now any sensible girl can see that the shape of the head, the shape of the face, and the general style of the individual are to be taken into account in her dress, and her hair is an important part of this. Choose a style, and do not change it, except for some reason stronger than a caprice. Do not use oils or liquids of any kind on your head, and never try to change the color of your hair. Whatever its color, it is the one which best suits you, or it would not be yours. Red, golden, brown, black, flaxen, whatever be the tint, be sure it is the one tint that matches your eyes and your complexion better than any other could.

Wash your hair thoroughly and dry it well once a month. Brush it carefully for a long time every night, and braid it on retiring.

The girl with thin hair has a harder problem than the girl whose hair is thick. She must beware of straining it back and of braiding it tightly. Loose coils are best for her. The girl who insists on crimping and waving her hair should know that by wetting her hair with cologne before putting hot irons on it she can insure the waves staying in for a long time, and she must not forget that very great heat often applied will kill the life of her hair at the roots.

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which is sent free on application to the Publishers, there are found dozens of the best things in the World, which are well worth committing to memory; and they who know most of such good things, and appreciate and enjoy them most, are really among the best educated people in any country. They have the best result of Education. For above Contents, with sample pages of Music, address

Harper & Brothers, New York.

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 much 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.

At the junction of Huntington Avenue and Boylston Street is Copley Square, one of the most artistic spots in Boston, and a very convenient and popular starting-point for cycling trips into the suburbs and the outlying country. For the ride to Lexington and Concord one should leave the Library on the left, and, continuing through Dartmouth Street, turn to the left into Commonwealth Avenue. At the statue of Leif Ericson turn to the right onto Massachusetts Avenue and pass over Harvard Bridge, a mile in length. After crossing the river turn to the right at Norfolk Street, and then to the left, onto Harvard Street. You now pass a section of new asphalt road, and, approaching Harvard Square, keep to the right past the College, with the Common on the left. Among the interesting buildings of the University there stands out the commanding form of Memorial Hall, where hundreds of students board. On the left, at the beginning of Brattle Street, is the old elm, and near by it a tablet indicating the spot where Washington took command of the Continental Army. A few minutes' run out Brattle Street will bring one to the home of the poet Longfellow, opposite Longfellow Park. From Cambridge Common the ride to Arlington and Lexington is a direct road via Massachusetts Avenue. The condition of the road is good. The surface for most of the distance has been macadamized, while the other portions are gravelled and well rolled.

At the corner of Beech Street you come upon the line of march of the royal army which was sent out to capture Adams and Hancock at Lexington, and to destroy the stores collected by the patriots at Concord. From this point on almost every old house has some historic association, and occasional tablets by the road-side mark scenes of heroism. In the vicinity of Lexington the country becomes more rolling. The village itself is two hundred feet above the sea-level. Follow the main street, and pass on the left an old-time house shaded in front by two magnificent trees. This is the Monroe Tavern, where the British officers made themselves at home. On the rising ground to the rear of this house were some of Lord Percy's fieldpieces. Shortly after you come to the village green, where the first stand was made for liberty, and where there has been erected a beautiful monument in memory of the first Revolutionary martyrs. To the right, and a short distance from the Common on the road to Bedford, is the old Hancock-Clarke house, in which were Hancock and Adams when the royal troops approached Lexington. From the Common keep to the left on Lincoln Street to the Five Corners. There turn to the right, into Marrett Street, and then turning to the left there is a straight way into Concord by the Lexington road. At Merriam's Corner, not far from Concord, is a stone marking the beginning of the British retreat. Passing this, and entering the village, you come upon the green where stands the old Wright Tavern, a popular place for wheelmen to dine. A run should be made out Monument Street, past the Thoreau House, to the monument which marks the fight at the bridge. It is located on a lane leading from the left of Monument Street, and a sign at its entrance gives you the cue.

In coming back to Boston follow the same route to the Five Corners, and there turn to the right into School Street, and to the right again into Waltham Street. Here the rider has before him a long and gradually descending road with excellent surface and good coasting most of the way to Waltham. Keep on the direct road until Main Street is reached, and there turn to the left, following Main Street into Watertown. Then turn to the right into North Beacon Street. This is practically the continuation of Commonwealth Avenue, and the rider can now follow a direct way to Dartmouth Street, where, turning to the right, he passes into Copley Square.

Distances are: Boston to Arlington, seven miles; to Lexington, five miles; to Concord, six miles; to Waltham, nine miles; to Watertown, three miles; to Boston, seven miles; in all, thirty-seven miles.

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. 811. 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.

NOT ENCOURAGING.

A French paper tells of a discouraging experience an ambitious young tenor once had when trying to show what kind of a voice he had to a manager. After he had sounded three or four notes the manager stopped him.

"There, that will do," he said; "leave me your address. I will bear you in mind in case of emergency."

"What do you call a case of emergency?"

"Well, supposing my theatre got on fire."

"Eh?"

"Yes; I should engage you to sing out, Fire! fire!"

* * * * *

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Timely Warning.

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Consumers should ask for, and be sure that they get, the genuine Walter Baker & Co.'s goods.

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Well--Well--Well!

Oh, Boys,

How long are we to tell you

"Rugby" Watches

are waiting for you? We wouldn't jolly you this way if we hadn't something that we are sure you want. Send for the "Rugby" Catalogue--never mind if you don't want a watch now. You will have a pointer when you are ready.

The Waterbury Watch Co.,

Waterbury, Conn.

We will help bright Boys and Girls in every town to earn some Pocket-Money before Christmas.

It will be an easy matter to Earn from $5 upwards, after School hours and during Holidays and vacations. If you are interested, write At once to

ALPHA PUBLISHING COMPANY,

212 Boylston Street, Boston.

OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT of the award on

=GILLOTT'S PENS= at the CHICAGO EXPOSITION.

=AWARD:= "For excellence of steel used in their manufacture, it being fine grained and elastic; superior workmanship, especially shown by the careful grinding which leaves the pens free from defects. The tempering is excellent and the action of the finished pens perfect."

(Signed) FRANZ VOGT, _Individual Judge_.

Approved: { H. I. KIMBALL, _Pres't Departmental Committee_.
{ JOHN BOYD THACHER, _Chairman Exec. Com. on Awards_.

CARD PRINTER =FREE=

Sets any name in one minute; prints 500 cards an hour. YOU can make money with it. A font of pretty type, also Indelible Ink, Type Holder, Pads and Tweezers. Best Linen Marker; worth $1.00. Sample mailed FREE for 10c. stamps for postage on outfit and large catalogue of 1000 Bargains.

R. H. Ingersoll & Bro. 65 Cortlandt St. N.Y. City

"Napoleon"

Handsome, instructive

One of the new

Parker Games

For Boys and Girls.

* * * * *

"=Innocence Abroad=,"
"=Waterloo=,"
"=Chivalry=,"
"=Yankee Doodle=."

ASK FOR THEM.

SPRUCE GUM.

Miniature Barrel of Pure Spruce Gum, by mail, 10 cents.

Fern and Wild-Flower roots; Birch bark; Tree fungi; Evergreen seedlings; Balsam twigs for pillows, etc.

ADIRONDACK FOREST NOVELTY CO.,

Keene Valley, New York.

Postage Stamps, &c.

=STAMPS!= =300= fine, mixed Victoria, Cape of G. H., India, Japan, etc., with fine Stamp Album, only =10c.= New 80-p. Price-list =free=. _Agents wanted_ at =50%= commission. STANDARD STAMP CO., 4 Nicholson Place, St. Louis, Mo. Old U. S. and Confederate Stamps bought.

100 all dif. Venezuela, Bolivia, etc., only 10c. 200 all dif. Hayti, Hawaii, etc., only 50c. Ag't w't'd at 50 per ct com. List FREE! =C. A. Stegmann=, 5941 Cote Briliante, St. Louis, Mo.

=SEND= 10c. for 250 finely assorted foreign stamps, Cape of Good Hope, etc. Any grade of approval sheets sent for good references.

LAWRENCE TROWBRIDGE, Palmyra, N. Y.

=SEND= for our Approval Sheets at 50% commission. H. STONEBAKER & CO., 1921 Eutaw Place, Balto., Md.

=FREE.= Comic return envelopes. Sleight of Hand exposed. List of 500 gifts. Album of cards. Send 2c. stamp for postage. Address Banner Card Co., Cadiz, Ohio.

HARPER'S NEW CATALOGUE,

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

The Game of the Ring.

This game is well worth trying, even if it was known to France in
the eighteenth century. To play this game there must be no more
than nine in the company. State that while you are absent from the
room one of the company must slip a ring on any joint of any
finger he may choose. Also number each person as 1, 2, 3, etc.; the
right hand 1, the left 2, the thumb 1, index finger 2, second
finger 3, etc.; the first joint of each finger--that is, at the
extremity--1, the second 2, and the third 3.

For example: suppose that the fifth person has the ring concealed
on the first joint of the fourth finger of the left hand. To solve
the problem it is necessary to discover the numbers 5, 2, 4, 1,
which is done as follows. Ask some one to double the first number,
or that of the person (which will give 10), and to subtract 1; ask
him to multiply the remainder (9) by 5 (giving 45); next, to add
the number (2), and then 5 (which will make 52). Ask him to double
this number (giving 104), and to subtract 1 (leaving 103); to
multiply this remainder by 5 (giving 515), and to add to this
product the third number (4) or that standing for the finger
(which will give 519). Next ask him to add 5 (giving 524), and
from the double of the sum (1048) to subtract 1; to multiply this
remainder by 5 (giving 5235), and to add to this 1, standing for
the joint. In the last place, ask him to again add 5, equalling
5241. The figures of this number will indicate, in order, the
number expressing the person who holds the ring, and the hand,
finger, and the joint on which it was placed.

With a little practice you will be able to successfully gull your
audience, having first given each person a pencil and paper
wherewith to make the calculations.

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

A Prize-Puzzle Story.

When I was going to St. Ives, you know about my meeting with that man who had seven wives. Well, the man, wives, sacks, cats, kits, and the rest were coming from St. Ives, and, being interested, I sat down by the road-side and asked the party about their journey thither. And this is what the man told me:

"It's a roundabout journey, this one from St. Ives, and queer things are to be seen on the way. Why, we came through a county in North Carolina (1) where nobody ever slept, and we saw on a sign-board this:

"'Be cordial to all your fellow-beings. Just cordial, and no more. Before counting them as friends, be sure you can trust them, and are certain of their true and generous confidence.'

"Notice.--Take every ninety-ninth word in the foregoing, arrange them in the order in which they are written, and you will have a good maxim (2).

"We crossed a lake in Michigan (3) that belongs to a drum corps; a river of Spain (4) that school-children play on astride a fence; a river of France (5) that ought to be a prison; through a county in Scotland (6) that bald-headed people should go to; and through another county in Illinois (7) that one could use to furnish his house with.

"We saw an island of Greece (8) that would not hold water, and a lake in Minnesota (9) that would not either, but you could play tennis with the latter. Beside a lake in Scotland (10) that is always the latest style, we saw another sign board bearing this:

"'I will not go there. I don't care where it is. If he asks me, I'll say no. He is like a child in regard to wisdom. Why, I never heard of the like! But I'll say no with perfect frankness.'

"Notice--Certain words in this sign form an old adage (11).

"A river in Russia (12) that is always all right was so high we had to be ferried across, and the boatman told us this:

"'A well-known, useful guide am I;
I am both far and near;
I travel fast, slow, up, and down.
To naught do I adhere.
I'm daily sought by rich and poor,
My home's both low and high;
I'm sometimes seen, and yet unseen,
Sometimes in depths I lie' (13).

"Not being an island of Michigan (14) I was not taken in by his tale, and guessed the answer quicker than river in Australia (15) believe I could--with so many wives, and river of Cuba (16) children, not one of whom is an island off the Mexican coast (17). One of my wives indulged in a game of island off the Cuban coast (18). She lost heavily, and when I chided her she was as short as pie crust made with lake in Iowa (19), and she shut me up like a mountain in Utah (20).

"This last happened only yesterday. I tell you, if the road _to_ St. Ives is as bad as that _from_ there, you have no envious journey. My wives have fallen to quarrelling. I see one river of Tennessee (21) another. I must box their ears with the island of Australia (22) of my hand. Good-day, sir."

As I resumed my journey to St. Ives I early found the prediction of the man of seven wives true. Here is a sample of one of the guide-board signs:

"I once was seen in water, but by substituting one verb for another I am now beheld on land." (23).

Do you wonder I never reached St. Ives?

* * * * *

In this story are four riddles and nineteen geographical names. Clews to the former are given, and the latter are described in the text, the catch being in the double meaning of the geographical name. Four prizes are offered for best solutions: $10 to the first, and $15 divided according to merit among the next ten. Put your name, address, and age at the top of the sheet, and write the answers, one below another, numbering each. Post solution not later than December 2, 1895. Address HARPER'S ROUND TABLE, New York. Only persons may send answers who have not passed their eighteenth birthday, but grown persons may help you find answers. Names of prize-winners, with correct answers, will be published in HARPER'S ROUND TABLE for December 31, 1895.

Answers to Kinks.

No. 106

1. Poppy. 2. Mayflower. 3. Boneset. 4. Butter-and-eggs. 5. Cardinal-flower. 6. Milkweed. 7. Sweet-william. 8. Jack-in-the-Pulpit. 9. Deer Grass (dear grass). 10. Marigold (marry gold) 11. Skull-cap. 12. Lady's-tresses. 13. Dandelion (dandy lion). 14. Black-eyed Susan. 15. Ragged-sailor. 16. Wandering-jew. 17 Mint. 18 Dutchman's-breeches. 19 Pennyroyal. 20 Shamrock 21. Bachelor's-buttons. 22 Tulips (two lips). 23. Honeysuckle. 24. Foxglove. 25. Lady's-slipper. 26. Rose (rows). 27. Pickerel-weed. 28 Phlox (flocks). 29. Arrow-head.

GRACE V. BEDINGER.
2 FORRESTER STREET, SALEM, MASS.

Fruits in Old Jamaica.

Wild strawberries, just like those at home, grow on the mountains
in Jamaica, about 6000 feet up, and ripen in June. Apples, small
and green, but making good sauce, are brought from the same
height, and are ready in July and August. Some few peaches are
grown up there also, and ripen in June or July. Grapes vary in
season, according to the elevation at which they are grown; they
begin to be in market in July, coming from the lowlands.

Pineapples begin about the end of April, but June is the best
month for them. They are most delicious here, as they are
thoroughly ripe and soft. Bananas and plantains (a large variety
of banana eaten only when cooked) are ripe all the year round. The
early oranges come in June, but are not really in season until
October, December being the best month for them. They last until
about March. Limes are in season all the year round, some trees
being ready at one time, some at another. Melons are very poor
here, very small, and of poor flavor, as they have no good seed
apparently. They ripen in spring and summer. Bilberries ripen from
June till October; and wild but poor blackberries also. Both these
berries grow on the mountains from 2000 feet up.

Of tropical fruits the variety is endless; some are good, others
we do not care for. Avocado pears or alligator pears are
pear-shaped, but look more like green and brown fresh figs. The
skin is peeled off, and the pulp, which is green next the skin and
custard-color near the seed, is about like baked custard in looks,
and is eaten as a salad. The seed is very large, and confined in a
loose outer husk. These are ripe now, and continue a long time in
season.

Genips or hog plums are round green balls about the size of a
large plum. The skin is hard, but cracks easily and slips off,
leaving the pulp, which is like a grape's, and tastes a little
like one. The flesh sticks fast to the seed, and you can only suck
them, which is very tantalizing--but the tree holds thousands.
Rose apples are very pretty, light yellow, smelling like attar of
roses, and taste the same, and are insipid when raw, but delicious
crystallized. They ripen in June. Granadillas are something like
melons; they grow on a passion-flower vine, and ripen at different
times. The pulp is sweet but rather tasteless, but combined with
the seeds which are enclosed it is good in a tart jelly. Star
apples are so called because when cut in two the seed division
forms a five-pointed star. They are sweet, and ripen in spring.

Naseberries are dark brown inside and out, about the size of a
small peach, and with a rough skin. The flesh is good, but sandy
feeling to the mouth. Gold apples are brilliant yellow; white pulp
and black seeds surrounded with jelly. Seeds and all are eaten.
Water cocoanuts are the green nuts before the meat is formed
inside. They are as large as a man's head with the husk, and you
cut the top off with a machete, and drink the delicious water,
cool and sweet. Sour and sweet sops and custard-apples are all
more or less alike--sweetish and rather flat. Some like them.

FRED L. HAWTHORNE.
GARDEN HOUSE, KINGSTON, JAMAICA.

An excellent morsel. The Table thanks Sir Fred.

A Visit to a Marble-Mill.

Perhaps the Table will be interested in the account of a visit I
made to a large marble-mill. The block of marble, rough but
regular, being in position the cutting begins. The saws, which are
lowered everyday to cut just so much on the block, are held in a
big wooden frame hung above the marble. These saws swing back and
forth across the block, gradually cutting into it. A 2-1/2-inch
pipe above the saws pours a continual stream of sand and water
over the block.

The saws are kept going night and day, yet requiring a week to saw
a block 6 by 6 by 5 feet. The saws are strips of steel about 3
inches wide and 18 feet long, and do not cut more than 15 inches a
day. The blocks usually are sawed into slabs 2 inches by 6 feet by
5, or blocks 1 by 1 by 5 feet. When the sawing has been completed
stone-cutters trim and prepare the marble for shipment. An
interesting thing I saw was the marble for a pavilion in the
Woman's Exhibit at the Atlanta Exposition. Columns, caps, and
bases were being prepared.

The columns are first sawed out in blocks about 1 by 1 by 7 feet.
Then they are turned on a lathe until they are perfect though
rough cylinders. These are polished, first by rubbing sand over
them to take off the saw and lathe scratches, and then with three
different kinds of grit. After this they are rubbed with a hone
perfectly void of grit, and polished with acid. The caps and bases
are prepared in the same way, excepting that the blocks are of a
different size (almost square, in fact), and that they are turned
into their respective shapes. This mill is owned by the Tennessee
Producers' Marble Company. The marble quarries of Tennessee are
the finest in the United States.

JAMES MAYNARD, R.T.K.
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE.

Want Corner.

Harold P. Daniels, 73 East 127th Street, New York, collects beetles, and wants to hear from others in the United States and Canada who do the same. M. S. Newman, 722 East Ninth, New York, wants to receive sample copies of amateur papers. Jessie Loomis and Mabel Moreland, Box 156, Creston, Iowa, publish _Our Own Idea_, an amateur paper of much merit, and they want to exchange with other amateur publishers.

Wallace Gibbs, Galva, Ill., publishes _The Sunbeam_, a neat eight-page monthly. He offers to send us a morsel on the experiences of an amateur publisher, if we want it. We want it, Sir Wallace. Send it along. Tell us the discouragements, the pleasure, and the advantages. R. L. Miller, Jun., asks if an autograph of President Diaz is wanted by the Table. Yes, it is. Can you favor us with one?

THE HALLOWEEN WITCHES

BY MAMIE A. DENTON.

Mildred and Naomi Dean sat at opposite sides of a large room; Naomi with her fingers in her ears, and her elbows resting upon her knees, while Mildred gazed out of the window with dreamy eyes. The two girls were in search of ideas for a Halloween party: they were twin witches, born on witches' night, or Halloween, and had given regulation Halloween parties since their babyhood. Now they wanted a change, and after eagerly reading everything on the subject that came within their reach, they had finally decided to "think something out" themselves.

"It's no use," Mildred exclaimed, suddenly. "I can't think of a single thing except that we must have a party. Aren't you blest with an idea yet, Naomi?" she shouted.

Naomi turned slowly, taking her fingers from her ears. "Yes, I believe I am, but I don't know how you will like it. Why can't we have the girls all come dressed as witches, and then we can give a prize to the most bewitching?"

"The very thing, you dear little conjurer. That idea is worth elaborating, and you know I just exist to elaborate your ideas. Now wait till I finish my part."

Mildred ran to her desk, and was soon deep in its mysteries--wonderful things had been known to come from this desk. When she finally arose she handed Naomi two neat invitations, one of which read:

MISS NINA PRESCOTT,--You are cordially invited to attend a
witches' party on the night of the thirty-first. Each lady is
expected to represent a witch. A prize will be given to the
ugliest, and a "booby" prize to the most attractive witch.

TWO WEIRD SISTERS OF HALLOWEEN.
(Mildred and Naomi Dean.)

_Masks on._

"Oh," said Naomi, when she had read the invitation, "it is too bad not to give the prize to the most attractive witch."

"No," replied Mildred; "witches are supposed to be ugly, and I think the one who wears the finest costume should pay the price of her own vanity. Now read the other invitation."

Naomi read it slowly aloud:

MR. ROY PRESCOTT,--You are requested to act as one of the judges
at a witches' contest on the night of the thirty-first, at the
home of the

TWO WEIRD SISTERS,
(Mildred and Naomi Dean.)

"What do you think of my specimens?" asked Mildred.

"I think they are very brilliant elaborations," Naomi answered; "but I must see Nina, and caution her not to tell her brother what she is going to wear. Yes, I am glad that none of the rest are brothers and sisters."