Chapter XII (2)

When the electropoin fluid is cool we can go ahead and set up our battery. Place the zincs and carbons in position in their wooden supports, Fig. 3, and suspend them in the tumblers, as shown in Fig. 4; pour the bichromate solution into the tumblers until it reaches within 3/4 inch or 1 inch of the top. The wire connections should be made with the zinc and carbons before the battery is set up, because to attempt to make them after the solution is in the tumblers you cannot help spilling the fluid. And I might caution my young friends right here to be careful not to spill any of the solution on their clothes or on the carpet, as it eats holes in fabrics.

Now for the final touches. If we now connect the lamp to the battery wires it will give a brilliant light the moment we make the last connection, and continue to burn until the current is broken, which may be done by lifting the elements (as the zincs and carbons are called) out of the fluid. After a while, if the current is kept on for some time, the light will begin to diminish in brilliancy. This is due to exhaustion of the liquid in the tumblers, and when the light gets dim the solution should be renewed.

In connecting your lamp with the battery wires simply twist the lamp and battery wires together firmly but gently. All of the connections are shown very clearly in Fig. 2.

When the light is not desired it is best to remove the elements from the tumblers, so as to save the zinc. The acid in the solution dissolves the zinc.

An outfit of this sort costs about as follows: one Leclanche zinc (sawed in two), 8 cents; two plain electric-light carbons, 20 cents; one pound sulphuric acid (about one-half pint), 15 cents; one pound bichromate potash, 25 cents; twenty-five feet No. 18 wire, 15 cents; one-half candle-power lamp, $1; total cost, $1.83.

I have not included in this estimate the cost of the two tumblers or the wooden holders, because tumblers can always be had around the house, and no boy needs to be told where he can find wood. But to be on the safe side we will assume that tumblers and all have to be bought; then $2 will cover the cost easily.

Such an outfit as this is very interesting and instructive to every boy--and girl, too, for that matter--and what can be more fascinating than to be able to produce a beautiful electric light so easily?

Interscholastic Tennis champion 1896.]

The sixth National Interscholastic Tennis Tournament was played last week at Newport, and resulted in a victory for Reginald Fincke, of the Hotchkiss School, winner of the Yale Interscholastic Tournament. His victory was more or less of a foregone conclusion on the form he had displayed in his early spring work; and the opponents he had to meet were none of them very formidable, the strongest, Beggs of Lawrenceville, not being present. This gave Walton of Colombia, the weakest man of the lot, a chance to get into the semi-finals, where he succumbed to the Harvard interscholastic representative in three straight and uninteresting sets.

INTERSCHOLASTIC TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES.

Year. Played at. Winner. School.
1891. Cambridge. R. D. Wrenn. Cambridge Latin.
1892. Cambridge. M. G. Chace. Univ. Grammar, Prov.
1893. Newport. C. R. Budlong. High, Providence.
1894. Newport. W. G. Parker. Tutor, New York,
1895. Newport. L. E. Ware. Roxbury Latin.
1896. Newport. R. Fincke. Hotchkiss.

Fincke drew Turner of Chicago in the preliminaries, and defeated him, 6-4, 6-2, 6-8, 6-3. He then defeated Willing, the U. of P. interscholastic champion, 6-2, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4. His hardest match was with Edwards of English High-School. Edwards made a good brace in the third set, taking it 6-2, but he was unable to maintain this form, and although he did good work in the last set, he was unable to end better than 4-6. This gave the championship for 1896 to Fincke, 6-2, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. A full summary of the play will be found on the next page; and the championship list now stands as shown in the table given above.

SIXTH ANNUAL NATIONAL INTERSCHOLASTIC TENNIS TOURNAMENT, NEWPORT, AUGUST 20, 21, 22, 1896.

Preliminary Round. Semi-Final Round.

J. K. Willing (U. of Pa.),
R. Fincke (Yale), } Fincke, 6-4, 6-2, 6-8, 6-3.
L. H. Turner (Univ. of Chicago). }
C. W. Beggs (Princeton), }
J. McL. Walton (Columbia). } Walton, by default.
Y. M. Edwards (Harvard).

Final Round. Interscholastic Champion.

Fincke, 6-2, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4. } Fincke, 6-2, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. Edwards, 6-1, 6-0, 6-3. }

It is sincerely to be hoped that the unfortunate differences between those stanch old rivals and worthy opponents, Exeter and Andover, will be brought to a friendly close this year. Since 1893 these two schools, who used to meet annually in football, baseball, and tennis, have not had any athletic intercourse whatever with one another, and all because, in their great rivalry and desire to beat one another, one of them certainly (and possibly both) overstepped the bounds of athletic ethics, and was guilty of practices which, by a little consideration and forethought, might have been avoided.

It is improbable that any good can be accomplished by going over the causes which brought about this rupture between the two schools, for stirring up mud and opening old wounds are of small benefit. Those who know what the causes were can do nothing better than to forget, and those who do not know what the trouble was will certainly find that here is a case where ignorance is bliss.

For the past year or more I have been in correspondence more or less actively with Exeter and Andover men, graduates and students and members of the two Faculties, and the general opinion among all seems to be that it would be a good thing to have the games renewed; and while both sides seem willing to meet again, neither side seems anxious to make the first advances. Both schools have, or think they have, grievances; and each thinks the other should lay aside its pride or stubbornness and make the friendly advances.

This situation might remain for an indefinite period if some strong-minded individual or individuals did not step in and say, "Let bygones be bygones, and let us start in on a new basis, wiping out all old scores, and henceforth sticking to the true spirit of amateur sport!" The difficult problem is to find the individual or individuals who may have enough influence in both camps to bring about this greatly to be desired termination. This might possibly be accomplished through the alumni associations of the two schools at Harvard and at Yale.

Andover and Exeter men, after they get to college, usually become great friends, because they feel, as graduates of these large schools, a sort of superiority over their less-fortunate classmates who did not get their schooling in such great and well-known institutions. This gives them a common ground to meet upon, and they soon forget the petty differences they may have had before they became college-men, and their reminiscences become bonds of friendship rather than sources of disturbance. But if the alumni in the colleges are to do anything, they must first find out definitely from the men in the two schools that the body scholastic is willing to wipe away old scores and go into a new era of interscholastic contest, otherwise the same unfortunate comedy will be played that was enacted a year or so ago, when some graduates arranged for a reunion of athletic interests.

These arrangements could not have been very well laid out, for, at the school meetings held the same hour, the same day, at Exeter and Andover, different votes were reached. One school voted to resume friendly relations, and the other school, unfortunately, voted to maintain the same attitude that had caused the unpleasantness for the past two or three years. The school that held out the hand of friendship naturally felt hurt at this, and also naturally vowed that it would never take any steps toward making up again. But that time has passed, and let us hope those who were at the meeting have forgotten how they felt, and let us also hope that the other school has seen by this time that it is not well to refuse to shake the hand that is held out in good-fellowship.

So much is to be gained by both Exeter and Andover from the contests as they used to be ten or fifteen years ago that it would seem that both schools must yearn for the old order of things. Andover now seeks Lawrenceville as its rival, and although Lawrenceville is decidedly a strong opponent, and Andover-Lawrenceville games should never be discontinued, yet Lawrenceville is not Andover's natural rival. Exeter has sought Worcester Academy, and tries to make itself believe that it holds a great interest in the Exeter-Worcester games; but there is no doubt that there is not half the enthusiasm in the school over a Worcester victory as there used to be, and would be now, over an Andover victory. The same might justly be said concerning Andover and Lawrenceville.

It is for this reason that I so sincerely hope that the graduates will take some steps this fall, and open the new era of friendship with a football game. Let each school be willing to make concessions, and in the end they will find that they have gained tenfold in self-respect and self-satisfaction for each concession they made.

The seniors at these schools, and the men who graduated from them last year and are now entering Freshman year at college, can combine in this movement, and I feel sure that if they are careful and thoughtful in their methods, they can heal this breach which has been a painful one for every Exeter and Andover graduate, and an unexplainable one for outsiders who have looked upon these two schools as strong exponents of the healthy spirit of scholastic sport in America.

Bedford.

THE N.Y.I.S.A.A. TEAM AT THE NATIONAL GAMES.]

The new football rules for 1896 have at last appeared in book form. It is pleasant to know that they are a great improvement on anything of the kind we have ever had before in America. The thanks of all sportsmen are due to the University Athletic Club's committee for the work they have performed, and, as the season grows older, every football-player will realize more and more how much the reform of the code was needed.

There probably never was a more critical period in the history of football than last year, when there were three sets of rules, and when a certain number of colleges were playing under one set, an equally large number were playing under another set, and perhaps a larger number still were using the rules of the year before or a compromise between the factional codes.

The principal changes to be observed in the 1896 code are in the rules governing the fair catch and the scrimmage. The committee have thought it wise to bring back the fair catch to the old ruling, which requires that a mark be made with the heel; the old penalty of fifteen yards for holding has been retained. There were those in the committee on revision who thought that there should be a penalty of twenty-five yards for holding a man who had made a fair catch, but the general opinion seemed to be that few umpires would have the courage to enforce this rule, and a compromise on fifteen yards was consequently adopted. Therefore, in so far as the fair catch is concerned, the situation is about the same as it was three years ago, except that the player making the catch is well protected by the severe penalty against interference or being thrown.

As to the scrimmage, the committee felt that there had been too great concentration of men in recent years, and they have attempted to hold in check the momentum plays. They have ruled that no player may take more than a single step before the ball is put in play--except one man, who may be in motion toward his own goal; this will bar out all forms of momentum play, and is a step in the right direction.

There is also a rule forbidding five men to bunch inside of tackles; this will serve to hold back mass plays, although, doubtless, the inventive minds of college football-players will be able to make up plays that can evade the spirit of this law. But the makers of the rules have hoped that the good judgment of captains and coaches may be relied upon to see that there is fully as much to be gained in open play as in the recently developed concentrated push work.

Among the minor changes to be noticed, in a cursory glance through the rules, is that on a fair catch the opponents must retire ten yards from the mark made by the catcher; this is a good ruling, for it places some value upon a fair catch. It is pleasant to note that the rule concerning interference with the centre rushers' snapping back of the ball has been made more stringent, and the officials must see that the ball is fairly put in play, and they must, according to the rule, insist that the opposing team do not interfere either with the ball or the man.

A number of years ago it used to be a favorite trick of the opposing centre to do all he could, by kicking or toeing or fingering the ball, to annoy the man who was snapping back. This was then put a stop to, and the opposing centres and guards began to shove and jostle their opponents, much to the delay of the game. These new rules concerning interference with centre play will prevent all of this nonsense, and will tend toward making scrimmage play more rapid and snappy.

On account of the development of quarter-back kicking, it has been found necessary to establish some rule that would make clear what kind of a kick must be made to give the opponents a fair chance at the ball. The rule has it that the ball when kicked by the quarter-back must pass beyond the line of the scrimmage.

One of the most complete and noticeable changes in the rules, however, although it is one that does not affect the game itself, is the common-sense arrangement of the paragraphs. The code begins by stating that "the game shall be played upon a rectangular field," etc. The old rules began with the statement that "a drop kick is made by letting the ball fall from the hands, and kicking it at the very instant it rises from the ground."

There is nothing in the old rules to show on what kind of a field the game should be played, or what the game was, or what kind of a ball it should be played with. There was nothing in the old rules forbidding a man to play the game with a cocked hat or a rubber boot if he chose; and if a team had come on a field with a baseball, and had insisted on running with that, there was absolutely no provision in the old rules by which the referee could forbid the playing of the game with a baseball.

Now, however, this absurd defect has been entirely done away with, and the new regulations, after describing the field and the teams, state that "the football used shall be of heavy leather, enclosing an inflated rubber bladder, and the ball shall have the shape of a prolate spheroid." Furthermore, no term is used in the new rules which has not first been fully defined. The first part of the code, therefore, is made up largely of definitions, and this is of great assistance, for it will prevent many a discussion and dispute on the field.

A few more remarks in conclusion of what was said in the Department last week concerning preliminary football work: Remember that by practice alone can a team perfect itself; and consequently every manager should try to arrange as many practice games as possible for the eleven under his care. After the school season has fairly begun, and the neighboring schools have their elevens somewhat organized, it is always possible to arrange games with outsiders. Thus when the championship contests come along the players will be accustomed to games with strangers. Too much practice with a scrub team breeds slack play and indifference. If it is possible to schedule practice games with other schools for Wednesdays and Saturdays--playing some teams two or three times, perhaps, in one season--the manager should make such arrangements. In or near large cities this is almost always possible, and perhaps that is why the football elevens of New York and Boston are usually so well trained and developed.

The reason is very clear. When you play a team from a distance, you are bound to learn something of that team's methods, and it usually has some points which had not yet occurred to you. If you play that same team again two or three weeks later, it has learned from others, and puts its newly acquired knowledge in practice against you, and you again have the advantage of the other fellows' work. Of course your opponents are benefited in the same way through playing with you; but that is only right, and is much to be desired.

If it is possible for a school team to have the services of a coach--some graduate or some ex-football-player living in the neighborhood--it should avail itself greedily of the privilege, for it is too much to expect a young captain to handle his men well and do all the coaching besides. And when an older player has been invited to coach, his commands should be obeyed to the letter; for if the players had enough confidence in him in the beginning to desire or accept his services, they can do no less than carry out his instructions if he gives up his time to coach them in their sport.

Furthermore, it should be remembered that the coach has had greater experience than any of the players, and he can also--as an outsider--tell much better what the proper course of action for a team is than any member of that team, who may be influenced by a great many conditions that do not affect the coach, and so do not weaken his judgment.

"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.

I was misled by the telegraphic report of the A.P.A. convention. The annual dues are $1.80, not $1.08, as mentioned in last week's paper.

One of the weaknesses of human nature is a desire to get something for nothing. Many stamp-collectors are constantly on the lookout for a "big bargain" in rare stamps. Now bargains of this kind are never offered by first-class dealers, as they know the real value of their wares, but unprincipled persons take advantage of this weakness of humanity, and many a new collector finds reason to repent of having bought such "bargains."

A French journal, _Le Collectionneur des Timbres-Poste_, in a late number gives an amusing instance. Baron de M---- purchased a collection of rare stamps for 25,000 francs, which would have been a big bargain if appearances had not been deceitful. With the assistance of a well-known collector, the Baron discovered his stamps to be a marvellous collection of counterfeit, fake, and patched-up stamps.

The following are some of the varieties of tricks practised by unscrupulous persons:

1. Ordinary perforated stamps with exceptionally wide margins have their perforations trimmed off, and such stamps are offered as rare unperforated stamps.

2. Ordinary perforated stamps with wide margins are re-perforated with the rare perforations. This is frequently done by means of an ordinary hand punch.

3. Where stamps are printed in the same color with slight changes in lettering, the rare varieties are made by piecing. For instance, the one-franc French Empire is made by taking the 80 centimes, dark carmine, with the bottom label from the one franc of the Republic.

4. Bicolored stamps with the centre reversed, which are extremely rare, are made by cutting out the centre and reversing it on another copy of the same stamp. For instance, the 1869 U.S. 15c., 24c., and 90c. have been made by this process.

5. By chemical means the color is changed. For instance, the 10r. blue of Brazil is changed into the 10r. black.

6. Stamps which have been cancelled by pen and ink have their cancellation marks removed by chemical means, and these stamps are then sold as unused.

7. Counterfeit cancellations are frequently made on genuine stamps which have been surcharged "reprint" or "specimen."

8. Counterfeit surcharges are extremely common. They can be made on an ordinary printing press.

9. False water-marks are sometimes made by printing the stamps with wood-cuts, using a certain kind of oil, or they are made by pressing the design of the water-mark on the stamp, and then removing a portion of the paper by rubbing with pumice stone.

10. Very rare stamps of which a portion has disappeared have had these portions added.

11. Are the ordinary counterfeits. Sometimes these counterfeits are of a higher order of work than the originals. One of the great European houses made fac-simile copies of all the U.S. periodical stamps, and advertised the same as fac-similes. Each stamp bore the word "fac-simile" or "falsch." These copies have frequently had a heavy cancellation applied to them immediately over the word "fac-simile" or "falsch." These stamps were then sold as genuine cancelled stamps.

The moral is a very simple one. Rare stamps should be bought from responsible dealers or responsible persons only.

MISS CECILE G. ROGERS, 118 B Bluff, Yokohama, Japan, wishes to
exchange Japanese stamps for those of other countries.

H. W. K.--No special value.

PHILATUS.

ADVERTISEMENTS.

A cream-of-tartar baking powder. Highest of all in leavening strength.--_Latest United States Government Food Report._

ROYAL BAKING POWDER CO., 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 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.

Several weeks ago we mentioned in this column another way of getting from Chicago to Waukesha. This was by taking steamer from Chicago to Milwaukee, and riding thence to Waukesha. The sail is a beautiful one, and makes one of the most interesting and varied pleasure trips near Chicago. On arrival in Milwaukee you will find yourself near the C. and N. W. Railroad depot, and the start awheel should be made from this point. Ride out Grand Avenue direct, crossing the river. This is a run of two and three-quarter miles, and when you are within about half a mile of the toll-house at the end of Grand Avenue, turn to the right and run up to it, keeping to the left on reaching it, and running thence out over the Watertown Plank-road. It is two and a half miles to Wauwatosa, and on entering the centre of the town turn left and cross the track. Thence run out up a steep hill, leaving Homewood on the south, and running into Elm Grove. On crossing the two tracks at Elm Grove, the road is clear to Brookfield, four and three-quarter miles away, and in good condition, except just as you leave Elm Grove, where there is a bit of hilly country. At Brookfield take the left hand of the three roads, and run thence direct to Waukesha. This three miles or more of road is in parts hilly, though at no point in the whole run is there any very bad hilly road. The road-bed itself is in very good condition for the whole sixteen or seventeen miles.

We have now covered this particular vicinity of Illinois pretty thoroughly. It is by far the best for bicycling on account not only of the good roads, but of the variety of scenery that presents itself to the wheelman. He can either ride by train from Chicago to Waukesha, or by boat and wheel, or by wheel. A very good week's trip would be to make the two days' bicycle trip from Chicago to Waukesha, as already described, stopping the night at Lippencott's. On the third day, or after a day's rest, to make the run to Oconomowoc and return to Waukesha, and then, with another day in the vicinity, to finally ride by wheel to Milwaukee over the road described this week, and return to Chicago from the latter place by boat. Or the trip could be reversed, and begun with the sail to Milwaukee, thence proceeding to Waukesha, and returning by the two days' trip to Chicago.

NOTE.--Map of New York city asphalted streets in No. 809. Map of
route from New York to Tarrytown in No. 810. New York to Stamford,
Connecticut, in No. 811. New York to Staten Island in No. 812. New
Jersey from Hoboken to Pine Brook in No. 813. Brooklyn in No. 814.
Brooklyn to Babylon in No. 815. Brooklyn to Northport in No. 816.
Tarrytown to Poughkeepsie in No. 817. Poughkeepsie to Hudson in No.
818. Hudson to Albany in No. 819. Tottenville to Trenton in No.
820. Trenton to Philadelphia in No. 821. Philadelphia in No. 822.
Philadelphia-Wissahickon Route in No. 823. Philadelphia to West
Chester in No. 824. Philadelphia to Atlantic City--First Stage in
No. 825; Second Stage in No. 826. Philadelphia to Vineland--First
Stage in No. 827; Second Stage in No. 828. New York to
Boston--Second Stage in No. 829; Third Stage in No. 830; Fourth
Stage in No. 831; Fifth Stage in No. 832; Sixth Stage in No. 833.
Boston to Concord in No. 834. Boston in No. 835. Boston to
Gloucester in No. 836. Boston to Newburyport in No. 837. Boston to
New Bedford in No. 838. Boston to South Framingham in No. 839.
Boston to Nahant in No. 840. Boston to Lowell in No. 841. Boston to
Nantasket Beach in No. 842. Boston Circuit Ride in No. 843.
Philadelphia to Washington--First Stage in No. 844; Second Stage in
No. 845; Third Stage in No. 846; Fourth Stage in No. 847; Fifth
Stage in No. 848. City of Washington in No. 849. City of Albany in
No. 854; Albany to Fonda in No 855; Fonda to Utica in No. 856;
Utica to Syracuse in No. 857; Syracuse to Lyons in No. 858; Lyons
to Rochester in No. 859; Rochester to Batavia in No. 860; Batavia
to Buffalo in No. 861; Poughkeepsie to Newtown in No. 864; Newtown
to Hartford in No. 865; New Haven to Hartford in No, 866; Hartford
to Springfield in No. 867; Hartford to Canaan in No. 868; Canaan to
Pittsfield in No. 869; Hudson to Pittsfield in No. 870. City of
Chicago in No. 874. Waukesha to Oconomowoc in No. 875; Chicago to
Wheeling in No. 876; Wheeling to Lippencott's in No. 877;
Lippencott's to Waukeska in No. 878.

* * * * *

The sheriff of the village had been annoyed with complaints from the farmers about the loss of their chickens. He suspected a couple of colored gentlemen, and catching sight of them among the usual congregation at the village store one afternoon, he strolled in.

"Well, boys," he said, "there's a powerful rain-storm brewing in the west. I tell you that when that rain comes it will bring things above ground mighty lively."

In a short time the two colored men left the store. The sheriff chuckled to himself, and going after them, found them both busily burying chicken bones deeper in the earth.

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.

PRINTING ON COTTON, SILK, OR LINEN.

Photographic printing may be done on almost any textile fabric if it is properly sized and sensitized. Linen and silk may be obtained already sensitized, but it may be prepared very easily by the skilful amateur.

To size the fabric make a solution of

Boiling water 8 oz.
Chloride of ammonium 10 grs.
Iceland moss 6 grs.

When nearly cold filter through two thicknesses of blotting-paper, and soak the fabric in it for a quarter of an hour. Tack it at the corners to a smooth board so as to stretch out the wrinkles, and dry in a place free from dust.

Another sizing solution is made as follows:

Ammonium chloride 1 part
Water 125 parts
White of one egg.

After the fabric has been sized and dried it may be sensitized in any good sensitizing silver bath. A bath which is always reliable is made from

Nitrate of silver 60 grs.
Water 1 oz.

Dissolve the silver in the water, and add strong ammonia water drop by drop. A brownish precipitate will be formed, but keep on adding the ammonia till the liquid clears again. The mixture should be stirred all the while during the process, using a glass rod for the purpose. If the solution does not clear after the addition of twenty-five drops of ammonia, clear by filtering.

The fabric may be either immersed in this solution, or it may be stretched on a flat smooth board or sheet of glass, and the solution applied with a brush. The fabric should be stretched while drying, and if one uses the small-sized artist's thumb-tacks, there will be no danger of holes remaining in the fabric after it is taken from the board. It is almost needless to say that the sensitizing must be done in a room lighted by gas or lamp, and the fabric dried in the dark.

For printing one must make a special back for the printing-frame. For this take wood the same thickness of the back, and instead of making the two pieces which are hinged together of the same size, make one of them two inches, and the other six inches across--if the frame is a 5 by 8 printing-frame. A 5 by 8 printing-frame is a good size to use; the 4 by 5 is too small.

In the larger half of the printing-frame cut a round hole of two or three inches in diameter, and fit it with a smooth tapering cork. This cork should be of fine grain, and made to fit snugly into the hole.

To print, draw the fabric over the cork and push it up through the hole in the printing-frame far enough to come in close contact with the negative without pressing too hard against it. Fasten the springs and print as if on sensitive paper. Any boy or girl who is handy with tools can make one of these backs for a printing-frame.

One can make prints on the corners of silk handkerchiefs, on silks for cushion covers, on linen for doilies, or on linen for photograph-frames. The process is simple and inexpensive.

SIR KNIGHT RALPH B. ROOD, Cleveland, Ohio, asks if the radial
energy of light is greater when the snow is on the ground than on
clear days in summer; how dust can be kept from collecting on films
during the drying; what makes the corners of a negative come out in
some pictures with no detail, making heavy shadows when primed. The
light is much stronger in the winter when the sun is shining on the
snow than it is in a clear day in summer, owing to the intense
white glare reflected from the snow. A shorter exposure should be
made for snow pictures, and a small diaphragm used. To keep dust
from films when drying, pin the films by the corners to a flat
board--the editor uses grape-basket covers for this purpose--and
set the board in a slanting position against the wall, with films
on the under side. The reason of the defective corners in the
negative may be either from the film not being evenly coated, or
from a shadow falling across the lens during the exposure. Sir
Ralph has a No. 1 Kodak for sale, which is in good repair, and has
a leather carrying-case. Sir Ralph's address is No. 23 Dunham
Place, Cleveland, Ohio. Any member of the club wishing a Kodak
cheap is requested to correspond with Sir Ralph.

SIR KNIGHT HUGO KRETSCHMAR, N. Y., asks if chloride of ammonia is
the same as sal-ammoniac; if red prussiate of potash can be made of
yellow prussiate potash; and if artists' gold-leaf could be used to
make chloride of gold; and if an amateur could make nitrate of
silver. Sal-ammoniac and chloride of ammonia are the same. Red
prussiate of potash cannot be made from yellow prussiate of potash.
If blue-print paper is made of yellow prussiate of potash
(potassium _ferrocyanide_) instead of red prussiate of potash
(potassium _ferricyanide_), the result will be a negative print,
instead of a positive. The gold used by china-painters may be used
for chloride of gold. Do not put the gold into _muriatic_ acid, but
into _nitro_-muriatic acid, made by mixing one part nitric and two
parts muriatic acid, diluting with an equal quantity of water. This
liquid is known as "aqua-regia." An amateur could make nitrate of
silver, but it would not pay for the trouble, nitrate of silver
being very cheap.

* * * * *

FEED THEM PROPERLY

and carefully; reduce the painfully large percentage of infant mortality. Take no chances and make no experiments in this very important matter. The Gail Borden Eagle Brand Condensed Milk has saved thousands of little lives.--[_Adv._]

ADVERTISEMENTS.

WALTER BAKER & CO., LIMITED.

Established Dorchester, Mass., 1780.

Breakfast Cocoa

Always ask for Walter Baker & Co.'s

Breakfast Cocoa

Made at

DORCHESTER, MASS.

It bears their Trade Mark

"La Belle Chocolatiere" on every can.

Beware of Imitations.

The Standard Single-Tube

Hartford Single-Tube Tires are the Standard tires. They have many imitators, but the Hartford Rubber Works Company has been making Single-tube tires for six years, and experience has taught them how to make the right kind of single-tube tire.

IF IT'S A HARTFORD TIRE

IT'S RIGHT.

THE HARTFORD RUBBER WORKS CO.

HARTFORD, CONN.

New York. Philadelphia. Chicago.

HARPER'S NEW CATALOGUE,

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About Order Chapters.

Here are two letters about Chapters:

I have read of many flourishing Chapters, and often wished I knew
what was done to keep up the interest of the meetings. The Good
Times Chapter, of Bridgeport, Conn., of which I was president,
disbanded from lack of interest. We tried sewing while one read,
entertainments by each member in turn, and a Chapter paper; but we
tired of the first, gave up the second from lack of new ideas, and
the third for the same reason and because the members did not wish
to write for it. There is now some talk of reorganizing the
Chapter, but unless something new is undertaken it will be useless.
If members of Chapters, particularly those like ours, consisting of
about half a dozen girls, would send some hints, I should be much
obliged to them.

JOSEPHINE BELDING.
12 WILLIAM STREET, BRIDGEPORT, CONN.

The Columbian Chapter is in trouble. For many months it had largely
attended meetings and jolly times. Then three members seemed bent
on making trouble. We thought to disband and reorganize without
them, but could not do so very well, because two of those proposed
to be left out were our officers. There are six or seven new
members to come in. What shall we do?

HOMER C. BRIGHT.
314 WEST FOURTH AVENUE, DENVER, COL.

It is to be remembered that societies are aimed to effect improvement in their times, and to afford members a good time. Do not undertake to start a club and then find something to interest it to keep it in existence. Reverse the order. Find something to do, and then organize for the specific purpose of doing it. Pledge each member to a certain task. If there is lack of interest or apparent discussion, disband. When the foregoing conditions can be complied with, reorganize--but not until they can. As for suggestions for tasks, will some who have had success with various lines of work write to these inquirers? Order Chapters have been the sources of much profitable recreation, but always in cases where they set out to do certain things, and stopped when those things were accomplished or when interest flagged. An invaluable adjunct to a Chapter is an intelligent middle-aged lady who can and will make suggestions, settle disputes, etc. Those Chapters have been most successful that have had such help.

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Kinks.

No. 28.--A MUSICAL MELANGE.

One starlit night in the month of roses I attended what was set
forth on my invitation card of bay leaf to be a "Musical Melange."
Though due at the Mountebank Club at nine, I was loath to miss this
assuredly delightful midnight entertainment. A Brownie troop
mounted on dormice hurried me out of the great bustling city to a
grove of lindens and larches. In a cleared space in the centre I
was within an hour introduced to my favorite musical geniuses, whom
I little supposed would ever again appear upon this terrestrial
sphere. As I look back upon the event, I can still see the
glittering eyes of the goblins and ghouls who covered the branches
of the near-by trees, and hear the whir and buzz of myriad crickets
and katydids sweetly blended with the strains of a hundred musical
instruments. Among those seated around a log glowing with fox-fire
were these well-known musicians:

A vegetable, threw, and a consonant^1; to hew, and a preposition^2;
a part of the body, and a French article reversed^3; the English
equivalent of a sign of the Zodiac^4; the outer bark of trees, a
preposition, and a personal pronoun^5; a masculine name meaning "a
twin"^6: a part of a priest's robe, a preposition, and a vowel^7; a
hook^8; a rope for capturing cattle^9; a member of a secret
society^{10}; to trifle^{11}; a murmuring noise, and a small
room.^{12}

These spectral celebrities were each playing some instrument of
soft and mellow tone. I noted with wonder that many of the
instruments were bestudded with flashing stones. Among the
instruments were:

To trifle^{13}; a small wood^{14}; to channel^{15}; a shining bead
of black glass^{16}; to proclaim^{17}; a sack, and large
casks^{18}; an iron pot, and part of the ear^{19}; a city of
Scotland^{20}; a famous cape^{21}; a bird of New Zealand^{22};
dwells upon, a vowel, and harmony^{23}.

CLEMENT RONALDSON.

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No. 29.--A DUODENARY.

In each of the sentences is concealed the name of a celebrated poet.

1. The scarab urns of the Egyptians are at least bizarre.

2. As we gazed, horror-struck, Maguire's cot tottered, then fell.

3. "What a dasher, Bert! Throw the thing away."

4. A strong will is both fortunate and unfortunate.

5. Said the Ash, "The Aspens erred; the Abele was moaning."

6. "Too-whit!" exclaimed the owlets.

7. On the stand were scattered sundry dental appliances.

8. "It will be hard to reach 'em," snarled the guide.

9. While they were fumbling their creeses the trap opened.

10. The snug old smithy stood near the mill-stream.

11. Gleason's unruly red cow perambulated around the dairy.

12. The bearded stranger from the South eyed Charcourt suspiciously.

ZOE D. ACKE.

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Answers to Kinks.

No. 23.

Third column, _Isaac Newton_. 1. Cringe. 2. Tassel. 3. Prance, 4. Stamen. 5. Tocsin. 6. Ponder. 7. Clench. 8. Powwow. 9. Totter. 10. Crower. 11. Tinsel.

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No. 24.--1. Genet. 2. Edile. 3. Nidor. 4. Eloin. 5. Terns.

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No. 25.--Blunderbuss.

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No. 26. Piano-forte.

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No. 27.

A Gay Young Scot set out one day for a Hunt. He was thoughtful enough, Prior to starting, to Stow(e) away a lunch of Lamb and Bacon, and some Porter bought from a Brewer. Being a Lover of fishing, he carried also a Steel(e) Hook tied to a Reed. He wore a Brown Spencer and a Gray Hood.

As he was a Longfellow, he made Swift progress, till he stumbled over some Shell(e)y Knolls, and so got an aching side (Akenside). "How it (Howitt) Burns!" he exclaimed in a Stern, Savage voice. "It is enough to anger a Pope or a Bishop. But what are Wordsworth in curing a Pain?" he asked, with a Grim(m) smile.

He made a fire to Cook his fish, and while they were Browning he went to a coal-ridge (Coleridge) to dig for ore, with the intention of showing it to a Goldsmith to see if Sterling coin (Coyne) could be made of it. He dug until the sound of a Horn and a Campbell recalled him home.

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Questions and Answers.

Charles Wood writes: "Will you kindly let me know what steps to take to become a cabin-boy on one of the ocean steamships? Also please tell me what is the pay of a cabin-boy, and whether there is a chance of advancement." Apply to the agents of the line; also to pursers of ships in port. Such positions are sometimes found on steamers plying to South American ports. A young man went recently on a steamship bound for San Francisco, _viá_ Cape Horn, expecting to be about a year. He was required to furnish his own outfit of mattress, sheets, etc, sea chest, and heavy clothing. His pay was to be $8 a month, and he was promised instruction in the rudiments of seamanship. There are apprentices in the engineer's as well as the sailing-officer's branch of the service, and advancement is promised in both. The work is very difficult, and the places are not easy to secure.

A. D. T. asks the meaning of the astronomical symbols which adorn the numerous calendars about Christmas-time. Each dot and quirk represents some emblem.

the Sun, is a bossed circular shield;

Mercury, represents the winged god's serpentlike _caduceus_, or wand;

aptly imitates the looking-glass of Venus, while Mars's symbol,

brings to mind the war god's helmet and plume;

Jupiter's sign, is an eagle, while

that of Saturn, forms a scythe;

is at once seen to be Neptune's trident. The signs of the ascending and descending nodes,

and

immediately suggest a croquet arch, or an eye of the hook-and-eye combination, but are, in point of fact, the head and tail of a dragon.

"Can you give me any information regarding the 'Daughters of the Revolution?' I would like to know who the founder is, where the headquarters are, and what the requirements are. Is there a society of this character that a child may join?--Eleanor C. Gardner." There are two adult societies of almost identical names. One is "Daughters of American Revolution," and the other, "Daughters of the Revolution." The first-named was organized in Washington in October, 1890. It aims to perpetuate the memory and the spirit of all who helped to achieve American independence, to acquire and protect historical sites, to erect, where possible, monuments thereon, and to preserve records, relics, and the like of early patriots and their acts. The conditions of membership are very liberal, being simply proof of descent from an ancestor (male) who fought loyally for independence. The age requirement is eighteen years. The president of the organization is Mrs. Adlai E. Stevenson, and the secretary Mrs. Donald McLean, 180 Lenox Avenue, New York city.

The other society is an offshoot of the former, organized in 1893, and membership in it is much more restricted. The president is Mrs. Edward P. Steers, 2076 Fifth Avenue, New York. The society for children is "The Society of Children of the American Revolution." This has its headquarters in Boston, but there are State organizations. The local societies are called chapters, and the chapter in New York city has about one hundred members. One of its objects is to form libraries, prominence being given to books on national subjects. Professor John Fiske has prepared a list of books for young students of American history. Applicants for membership must, as in the adult societies, prove their descent from active participators in the war for independence. The president is Mrs. Margaret Lothrop, Concord, Mass., who will, without doubt, have further information mailed if applied to.

Leo Rehbinder writes to say that he enjoyed reading about West Point and Annapolis, and adds: "I do not think they would suit me. Can you name some universities or colleges for a poor boy, the cost, and chances in life after graduating?" All universities and colleges are for poor boys, in the sense that all lend every aid they can to brains and ambition that chance to belong to those in limited financial circumstances. Tuition is $40 to $150, with an average of $75, but in every college there are free scholarships. Apply to the dean for conditions governing them. In not a few colleges there is no tuition at all, as in Michigan and most State universities, to pupils whose parents are citizens of the State. At Lehigh, located at South Bethlehem, Pa., there is no tuition charged any one. Board is $5 per week, but there are students who live on less. In many colleges tutoring is to be had--sometimes enough to pay one's entire college expenses. As for "chances in life after graduating," no special answer can be given to that question. A general answer is that others succeed, and what others do you can try to do.

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One Great Man's Method.

It is interesting to get a peep at the source of power, whether that source be an electric motor, a steam-engine, or a man while gathering material for great popular addresses. Mr. Francis Wayland Glen, who years ago was a partner in a nursery establishment in Rochester, New York, tells of a visit made by Henry Ward Beecher to his nurseries in that city. Having been shown everything, Mr. Glen asked if the great preacher cared to meet an educated Scotch gardener who had had thirty years' experience in the care of greenhouses. Mr. Beecher replied that he did.

Mr. Craig, the Scotchman referred to, was in the potting-house engaged in mixing potting-earth. He was a most retiring man, and as the party came upon him he was much confused at the announcement of the name of the renowned preacher. The latter stepped forward and grasped the gardener's hand, disregarding the fact that it was covered with potting-earth, and shook it so warmly and so unconventionally that Mr. Craig was at his ease in a moment. Then began a remarkable series of questions. Mr. Beecher asking them, and for fully an hour, the Scotchman answering them with the confidence of an expert. Mr. Glen continues:

"I stood by and watched the operation with wonder and admiration. Mr. Beecher was gathering food and storing it away to digest and assimilate and give out to his parishioners. He was so cordial with Mr. Craig that he relieved him from all embarrassment, and he gave forth his answers with freedom and pleasure and great clearness. Plant after plant was taken up in the greenhouses, and its habits discussed, as well as those of the fruits in pots in the orchard-house. The parting was as cordial as the reception, or more so. Mr. Craig realized that he was appreciated by the great preacher, and Mr. Beecher recognized the fact that he had been receiving knowledge from a well-trained horticulturist and florist. It was a lesson to me, then a young man, having just passed my majority, that I have never forgotten, and the picture of one of the greatest teachers of men sitting at the feet of a plain, unpretending, unassuming gardener as a pupil is one I shall never forget."

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Autography.

The omnipresent autograph-hunter has passed through many fortunate and unfortunate experiences. His hobby is somewhat of a lottery, bringing him a cold rebuff, or mayhap a prompt enclosure of the coveted autograph. An English nobleman once requested Talleyrand's autograph. The author promised to send one in a few days, and, true to his word, this note arrived:

"DEAR SIR,--Will you oblige me with your company to dinner on
Wednesday next, at eight o'clock? I have invited a number of
exceedingly clever persons, and do not like to be the only fool
among them."

Daniel O'Connell, on being urged to pen an autograph, sent the following message to the stranger:

"SIR,--Yours requesting my autograph is received. I have been so
bothered with similar impertinences that I'll be blest if I send
it.

"Your ob'd't servant,
"DANIEL O'CONNELL."

The Rev. Dr. Sprague, of Albany, a Presbyterian pastor, was the possessor of a superb collection of autographs. He once requested the autograph of Benjamin Franklin from an eminent professor. "Oh, you have one already," said the professor. "No matter," replied Dr. Sprague, "I want it for exchange. One Benny Franklin in Europe is _worth two kings_!" Miss Alcott was always most patient with the ardent collector. She was once visited by a large club of young men, each one of whom wanted her autograph, and she did not refuse. Longfellow always kept a packet of autographs in his pocket, in case of need. And what malevolent person announced that a certain celebrity kept a rubber stamp of his _fac-simile_ handwriting in his writing desk?

LIONEL R. LANDON.
MONTANA.

"Health is the vital principle of bliss, and exercise, of health."

No health--there is no hope of bliss,
No exercise--and health soon flies,
No bath with Ivory Soap--you miss
The best results of exercise.

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

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A NEW BOOK

By MRS. SANGSTER

=WITH MY NEIGHBORS.= 16mo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.25. (Ready Sept. 4.)

Under the title "With My Neighbors" Mrs. Sangster has gathered a number of plain talks to plain people on familiar and homely subjects. Making no attempt at literary excellence, these chapters are simply intimate and confidential colloquies with women, younger and older, their aim being to uplift and encourage the weary, comfort the sorrowful, and give an impulse towards the better life.

_BY THE SAME AUTHOR:_

_On the Road Home._ Poems. Illustrated. 16mo, Cloth, $1.25.

_Little Knights and Ladies._ Poems. Illustrated. 16mo, Cloth, $1.25.

_Home Fairies and Heart Flowers._ Verses by Mrs. SANGSTER, Engravings by FRANK FRENCH. Illustrated. 4to, Cloth, $6.00.

* * * * *

OTHER RECENT BOOKS

=FOR KING OR COUNTRY.= A Story of the American Revolution. By JAMES BARNES. Illustrated. Post 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.50.

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

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

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

=A LIFE OF CHRIST FOR YOUNG PEOPLE,= In Questions and Answers. By MARY HASTINGS FOOTE. With Map. Post 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.25.

=THE STORY OF BABETTE,= A Little Creole Girl. By RUTH MCENERY STUART. Illustrated. Post 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.50.

* * * * *

HARPER & BROTHERS, Publishers, New York.

* * * * *

* * * * *

A MATTER OF STORIES.

"My uncle Jim," said Hal, "is building a house six stories high."

"That's nothin'," said Frankie. "My uncle George is writing a book ten stories long."

* * * * *

THE FIRST STEP.

"I suppose, Jacky," said the visitor to the little four-year-old, "that you will be going into business soon?"

"I'm going into pants first," said Jacky.

* * * * *

On one of the tram-cars that climb the hills in the streets of the little mountain town of D----, the driver is a quaint old man full of interesting and humorous characteristics. In the course of conversation with a passenger the other day he remarked that he and his mule had been working steadily for the company for ten years, and that's a long time.