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diff --git a/old/52746-8.txt b/old/52746-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 736e9ec..0000000 --- a/old/52746-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3868 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's Harper's Round Table, January 28, 1896, by Various - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Harper's Round Table, January 28, 1896 - -Author: Various - -Release Date: August 7, 2016 [EBook #52746] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HARPER'S ROUND TABLE, JAN 28, 1896 *** - - - - -Produced by Annie R. McGuire - - - - - - - - -[Illustration: HARPER'S ROUND TABLE] - -Copyright, 1896, by HARPER & BROTHERS. All Rights Reserved. - - * * * * * - -PUBLISHED WEEKLY. NEW YORK, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 1896. FIVE CENTS A -COPY. - -VOL. XVII.--NO. 848. TWO DOLLARS A YEAR. - - * * * * * - -[Illustration] - -A BOX OF GOLD IN VENEZUELA. - -BY WILLIAM DRYSDALE. - - -"I'm going to have a shy at that gold when we get up to Potosi, Jack. I -tell you forty thousand dollars in gold is worth looking for these -days." - -Ned Peterson leaned back in one of the great rocking-chairs on the upper -gallery of the Hôtel de France, in Port of Spain, on the island of -Trinidad, and puffed his cigar as complacently as though the gold were -already in his trunk. He was fresh out of the School of Mines of -Columbia College, and so felt at liberty to lay down the law to his -fourteen-year-old brother Jack. They were both on their way into the -heart of Venezuela, to the gold-mines of Naparima, of which their father -was superintendent and part owner. - -"Oh, that's just one of your romantic notions," Jack replied, standing -by his brother and looking through the jalousie-blinds at the coolies -squatting in the park across the street. "You want a chance to write to -your chums in New York that you're searching for lost gold in the bottom -of the Orinoco River. It sounds well, but it won't amount to anything." - -"You don't know what you're talking about," the young man retorted, with -great dignity. "We know the gold is there, and it will be an easy matter -to find out just about where the canoe was when it capsized and dumped -it into the river. Of course there has been a great deal of searching -for it, but never under as favorable circumstances as we shall find. -Last November, when the gold was lost, the water in the Orinoco was -sixty feet higher than it is now. At this time of year, midwinter, it is -so low that the steamers cannot go further up the river than the City of -Bolivar. At Potosi the water is not more than three or four feet deep -just now, and by sounding in the mud we will have an excellent chance of -finding the box. Anyhow, it's worth trying for. Forty-one thousand three -hundred and forty dollars is the exact value of it." - -"You have it down fine!" Jack laughed. "Couldn't you take off a dollar -or two?" - -"Not a cent," Ned answered. "They send the gold down from the mines in -bars, two bars in a box, and each bar weighing exactly 1000 ounces. I -suppose you know that gold is worth $20.67 an ounce, always and in all -countries. That price never varies. So it is easy to calculate the -value of the two bars. It was a great setback to father's management, -the loss of those two bars right at the beginning." - -"I've heard an awful lot about those two bars of gold," Jack said, "but -I never quite understood the thing. How did they come to be lost?" - -Ned was quite willing to show his superior knowledge by telling the -story of the lost gold. "You see, father took charge of the mines at a -very bad time," he began. "It had been a gilt-edged investment for a -long time, and the two-hundred-dollar shares paid ten dollars a month in -dividends. But the veins of ore contracted, and dividends went down to a -dollar a month, and as father stepped in just at that time he got all -the blame for the reduction. Then came the loss of the two bars, and -that made matters worse. - -"The mines, you know," he continued, "are on the Urubu River, a branch -of the Orinoco, forty miles above Potosi. Potosi is a little native -settlement at the junction of the two rivers, a hundred miles above -Bolivar, and Bolivar, as you know, is two hundred and fifty miles up the -Orinoco from here. They run the gold into bars at the mines, pack it two -bars in a box, and send the box in a big canoe down to Potosi, with a -guard of three or four armed men. From Potosi it goes in the steamer to -Bolivar, and from Bolivar it is carried, along with other things, by -great teams of forty and sixty bullocks over the mountains to Caracas, -the capital, where it is coined in the mint. - -"There was where father met his great misfortune," Ned went on, "in the -shipping. The gold was all right, and the guard was all right, but -father didn't know that it was customary to lash the box to two big -timbers, so that if anything happened to the canoe the gold would float. -The men didn't care, and they came down the Urubu all right into the -Orinoco, and in five minutes more they'd have had the box aboard the -steamer. But the swift current or something else struck the canoe; over -she went, and down went the box like a flash, and it's never been seen -since. The question is how far the current would carry it in that swift -water, sixty feet deep, and how far it would sink in the muddy bottom. -They have spent a good many hundred dollars in searching for it, but not -a trace has ever been found, though that was several months ago, and the -water is low enough now. - -"So you see," he concluded, "what a grand thing it would be if we could -find it on our way to join the folks. I wanted to try it sooner, but -they would not let us start till I had finished my course at the School -of Mines." - -"It wouldn't belong to us if we did find it," Jack objected. - -"No, nor to father either," Ned answered. "But they've offered two -thousand dollars reward for its recovery, and if we could find it, it -would smooth everything out. We've got to go past Potosi in a canoe -anyhow. The steamer that starts to-morrow evening goes only to Bolivar, -and there we are to buy a canoe and do the rest of the journey on our -own hook. Then you'll have a chance to show what you're made of, young -fellow, with a hundred and forty miles to paddle in a canoe." - -"Don't brag, Mr. School of Mines," Jack laughed. "I guess when it comes -to paddling you'll find I'm with you." - -The young Americans were surprised to find that it was a good American -steamboat that was to carry them up the Orinoco on Saturday evening--a -boat called the _Bolivar_, of about 600 tons. They knew that it was only -one section of the river they would see, for the Orinoco empties into -the sea through a hundred mouths, some flowing into the Gulf of Paria, -others emptying into the ocean as far down the coast as Point Barrima, -230 miles away. There was not much to be seen on Saturday evening, for -the boat had a long sail across the Gulf of Paria before entering the -river, down past San Fernando and the pitchy shores of La Brea, near the -great pitch lake. When Sunday morning dawned they were in one of the -many channels of the mighty Orinoco, and then there was even less to see -than before. The river was nearly a mile wide, but the shores were low -and covered with mangrove bushes, and there was no sign of life or -habitation. - -"Say, Ned," Jack exclaimed, after they had gone through scores of miles -of this low wet country, "what do you think of Venezuela? It would be a -funny racket if two great nations should go to war over the boundaries -of a country like this." - -"It's a matter of honor with us," Ned replied, still in his dignified -way. - -"A matter of chills, I should say, here along the coast," Jack retorted, -"though it's hot enough to cook eggs in the sand. I don't think the -thermometer went below 90° all last night." - -All the way up to the City of Bolivar the river was much the same, -except that occasionally they passed a bluff; and wherever there was a -bluff there was a little settlement, the houses having no walls but the -posts that supported the thatched roofs. Nowhere was there a sign of -cultivation or any land that looked as if it could be cultivated, and -the only human beings were the Guaranno Indians, who lived in the huts -on shore. The river water was thick with yellow mud, and well spiced -with alligators and giant lizards five or six feet long. - -"It will be different when we reach Bolivar," Ned said, half -apologetically. "You know Bolivar is the fourth city of Venezuela, and -quite a large place." - -At daylight on Monday morning the steamboat lay in front of Bolivar, or, -rather, at the feet of Bolivar, for the city is built on a bluff a -hundred feet high, and half-way up the hill is a strong stone wharf. But -the water was so low that the boat lay fifty feet beneath the wharf, and -it was hard to realize that in flood-time the water is almost up to the -top of the hill. - -"So this is the great City of Bolivar, is it?" Jack exclaimed, after -they had climbed the steep hill and passed the city wall, and stood -among the yellow-walled, flat-roofed houses. "There's too much grass -growing in the streets to suit a New-Yorker." - -There were few wheeled vehicles in the streets, but plenty of donkeys -carrying burdens. The principal buildings were the cathedral, standing -on the summit of a little hill, and the jail, about which some -red-capped soldiers were on guard. - -"I did want to see one of those great teams of sixty bullocks starting -out," Jack said; "but now that we've seen the town, the quicker you can -get a canoe and let us be off, the better." - -Ned was disappointed too in the appearance of Bolivar, about which he -had heard so much, and before the sun was high he had bought a small -dug-out canoe for eight dollars, about double its value, and the boys -were off for their hundred-mile paddle against the current to Potosi, -with canned provisions enough to last them all the way to the mines. - -In the forty-eight hours that this journey consumed they saw just three -men, all half-breed Indians, out in canoes fishing; but they tired of -counting the alligators sunning themselves on mud banks. When at last a -turn of the river brought Potosi into view, they shouted with laughter -at the appearance of the place, though both were tired and disgusted. -The settlement stood on a high bluff, like Bolivar, but it consisted of -four houses or huts, all without walls, and roofed with thatch. - -"No matter," Ned laughed. "If there was nothing here but a cave I should -stop, all the same, and find out where that gold was lost. You see there -is hardly any water in the river. We will go up to the settlement and -make inquiries, and it's a mighty good thing we have both studied -Spanish. Even these half-breeds speak Spanish after a fashion." - -"I guess they'll speak it better than we do," Jack replied. "I can read -it all right, and I could understand them if they wouldn't talk so fast; -they seem to rattle off about two or three hundred words a minute." - -When they climbed the hill they found that, poor as the settlement was, -it commanded a beautiful view of miles of the Orinoco and a long sweep -of the Urubu, a much smaller stream, but more picturesque. - -The occupant of the hut nearest the edge of the bluff professed to know -all about the losing of the gold, and he agreed for a small -consideration to give what information he could. He was willing, too, to -take the young Americanos into his house to live during the two or three -days that they thought they might stay in Potosi. There was plenty of -room, for the cooking-place was a fire under the nearest tree, and the -beds were only hammocks swung from the wattles that answered for -rafters. The custom was to turn into the hammocks "all standing," as -Jack called it, without any change in the toilet, so that a large family -could sleep conveniently under the one small roof. - -The boy's new landlord, who called himself Felipe, lived alone in the -hut with his daughter, a swarthy but handsome girl of about fifteen. -Maria, the daughter, did all the work of the house, even to cutting the -firewood; but the visitors soon had reason to believe that her father -did not treat her very kindly. She was much interested in the newcomers, -and did some little kindnesses for them. Of course Ned considered her -entirely beneath his notice; but Jack saw that she had the soft brown -eyes of her race, with the smooth copper-colored skin of our own -Indians, though with more red in her cheeks, and a profusion of straight -raven-black hair. He thought her a very pretty and intelligent-looking -girl. - -"Now, then, young chap," said Ned, after they had taken a short rest in -the shade of the hut, "we're going to have a hunt for that gold. Felipe -has gone out to cut some poles, and he's going with us in the canoe to -point out the spot. It's a thousand dollars apiece to us, mind you, if -we strike it, and a great help to father. Two thousand ounces of gold is -only 125 pounds, and we can easily handle it if we can find it. Say," he -went on, "I believe you've made a conquest, Jack. I notice that young -Dago girl keeps looking at you and smiling at you half the time. I -suppose she's not used to seeing such handsome kids as you." - -"Get out!" Jack answered, blushing. "She wants to be hospitable to us, -that's all. It makes me mad to see the way her father orders her around, -for she's much more intelligent than he is." - -"Humph!" Ned grunted, "Always keep on the right side of the cook; that's -the advice of an old traveller." - -Felipe was very liberal with his information when they went out in the -canoe. There the steamer lay, here the boat was capsized and the box -went down. The swift current was setting a little off shore at the time, -so he pointed out the likeliest places for sounding the mud. "But think -of sixty feet of water!" he exclaimed. The box might have been carried -half a mile down stream before it touched bottom at all. The only chance -was to make a thorough search over a large space. - -"Say, Ned," Jack asked, in English, while they were prodding the mud -with their poles, "if this fellow knows so well where the box went down, -why didn't he get it himself?" - -"I suppose because he couldn't find it, like the rest of them," Ned -answered. "He seems to be an honest sort of fellow." - -They kept up the search till noon without finding anything more valuable -than a few big stones and water-soaked logs; and when they went up to -the house to dinner the little girl squeezed a lime into a cup of cool -water for each of the strangers, saying that they looked tired and hot. - -"It's all on your account, Jack," Ned said, banteringly. "You're the -attraction." - -Jack made no reply; but after dinner he ran his hands through his -pockets in search of some trifle that he might give the girl for her -attentions to them. He could find nothing more suitable than his silver -match-box; it made the little Indian's eyes sparkle when he handed it to -her. - -The afternoon's search was no more successful than the morning's, and -early in the evening all the occupants of the hut lay down in their -hammocks. Jack found that a small piece of mosquito-netting, large -enough at any rate to cover his face, had been put in his hammock to -help keep off the mosquitoes, and he saw that there was none in any of -the other hammocks; but he made no remarks about it. - -Before sunrise in the morning the others were all astir, but Jack felt -sore and stiff, and he lay still. - -"I'm afraid that hot sun rather knocked me out yesterday," he said to -Ned. "I think I'll stay here a little while, and try to get another -nap." - -Ned anxiously felt his brother's temples and pulse, for such symptoms -have to be watched in tropical countries; but finding no signs of fever, -he went out and down the hill to look after the canoe before breakfast. -Felipe also strolled out, leaving Maria in the hut getting the things -ready for breakfast. In a few minutes, however, Felipe returned, and -said something angrily to the girl. Receiving no reply, he seized her by -the arm and gave her a violent shake, and slapped her on the side of the -head. - -Jack could not help seeing it, and his blood began to boil. He lay still -a moment longer, however, till Felipe reached up into the thatching and -drew out a long heavy switch that he had evidently used before. This was -more than Jack could stand, and he sprang out of the hammock. - -"Hi, you Greaser!" he cried, in English, for he was too mad to bother -with Spanish, "if you hit that girl again I'll spread you all over the -bluff!" - -Felipe did not understand the words, but Jack's attitude was plain -enough to him. The boy stood in front of him with fists clinched, ready -for instant battle. - -Although only fourteen, Jack was several sizes larger and much more -muscular than the half-breed, and in a fist fight would have whipped him -in a minute. Besides, he was an American boy defending a helpless girl, -and his blood was up. But Felipe had no fancy for such an encounter. He -let go his hold and retreated a step, and with the instinct of his race -his right hand went up to his bosom, and he drew out a long knife. - -For an instant Jack did not know what to do. He was entirely unarmed, -for Ned carried the only revolver they had, and Felipe with a knife was -a dangerous customer. But it was only for an instant, for his eye fell -upon a machete sticking in a leather cleat against one of the posts that -supported the roof. - -A machete is a cutlass, a broadsword about two feet long, used by the -South Americans for scratching the ground and felling small trees, and -it makes a terribly effective weapon. - -"That's your game, is it?" Jack exclaimed, snatching up the machete. -"Then come on!" and in his excitement he advanced upon the Venezuelan -without further ceremony. - -Felipe's knife was a trifle compared with the machete; and with the -young Americano boiling over with rage, and the machete cutting circles -in the air dangerously near his head, it was no wonder that the -half-breed turned and fled ignominiously. - -The flight gave the affair a humorous turn that Jack was quick to see, -and he followed the native at a lively pace, more for sport than in -anger, but shouting and waving the cutlass as if he intended to cut him -to pieces. - -Down the hill Felipe ran like a deer, looking neither to the right nor -the left till he was by the side of Ned and under his protection. - -"Never mind, Felipe," Ned said, with a sly look at Jack, after -explanations had been made; "if he should kill you with the cutlass I'd -give him a good trouncing for it, so you'd be avenged anyhow." - -This was quite satisfactory to the Venezuelan, for he knew as little -about a joke as he did about using his fists. But as Jack turned and -went back to the house, Felipe cautiously waited to return with Ned. - -This caution of Felipe's meant a great deal to the young Americans, -though they little suspected it. It gave Jack five minutes alone with -Maria in the hut, and that five minutes was of great importance. She -thanked him with her velvety eyes for rescuing her, but said no word -about it; what she did say was of much more account. - -"It's no use for you to look in the river where you have been looking," -she said, keeping a bright lookout for her father's return. "He is -showing you the wrong places." - -"Is that so?" Jack exclaimed. "Can you show us the right place?" - -"It's no use to look anywhere," she answered, "for the gold is not -there." - -"Not there? Then has it been found?" - -"Yes," she replied. - -"And do you know where it is?" - -"It is here," she said, stamping her little bare brown foot upon the -earth floor of the hut near one of the posts. - -"Buried!" Jack exclaimed. "Who found it?" - -"You must not ask me that," the girl replied. "I suppose they will kill -me for what I have told you already." - -"Not if I know myself, they won't!" Jack exclaimed. "Is this fellow your -father?" - -"Not exactly," Maria answered. "My father died, and Felipe married my -mother. And he treats me very badly," she added. - -"Then, we must get out of here to-night with the gold," Jack hurriedly -said, "and take you along. My mother will be glad to have a girl like -you in the house, and it is only forty miles up the river to the mines. -Is Felipe a sound sleeper?" - -"I will see to it that he sleeps well to-night," Maria answered, with -more meaning in her words than Jack understood at the time. "Hush! They -are coming!" - -While Felipe slept soundly in his hammock that night under the influence -of an herb that Maria added to his tea, the two Americanos paddled their -canoe rapidly up the Urubu River toward the mines. Maria sat demurely in -the bow; for she was not quite as heavy as the box of gold, so that was -put in the stern. The thousand dollars that was her share of the reward -made Maria one of the richest half-breed girls in Venezuela, and the -boys still delight in counting over the five hundred dollars that fell -to each of them. But Jack's mother says the greatest prize captured in -that expedition was Maria, the copper-colored little Venezuelan. - - - - -CIRCUMSTANCES ALTER CASES. - -BY PATTY PEMBERTON BERMANN. - - -_Dramatis Personæ:_ - - Madge. - Bess. - A Stranger. - A Salesman. - A Cash-boy. - -SCENE.--_The Upholstery Department of a fashionable shop. Screens, piles -of rugs, sofa pillows, etc., in confusion. Three or four cane-seated -chairs placed about at irregular distances. Across left end of stage -extends a pole for the display of curtains. Behind these the actors may -retire. There should be a second exit opposite, near back of stage. -Right of centre an upright piano. As curtain rises, enter slowly,_ -Cash-boy _bearing check and small change_. - -[An impression of space may be produced in two ways, either by hanging a -background canvas, whereon is painted a perspective of counters, -draperies, potteries, etc., or by the use of mirrors. As scene-painters -do not grow on every twig, the better plan is to borrow long mirrors -from a house-furnishing establishment, and arrange them so that they -reflect a section of the stage behind the curtained pole. This section -can be made to look as if sales of small articles were going on at -another end of the shop from that in the foreground of stage. But take -care that no part of the real stage setting is reflected. A pantomimic -repetition of the play would bring down the house, and as certainly -disturb the performers. Do not crowd the stage.] - -_Cash-boy_. Now where's 792 gone, I wonder? That's just the way with -'em; always yelling for "check," and when you come racing and tearing, -they ain't there. Glad I ain't down-stairs, to have them girls hollering -"Cosh! Cosh!" (_mimicking_) fit to bust your ears. Guess I better chase -after 792. (_Seats himself, and examines change._) I'll toss up to see -where he is--heads, he's skipped to lunch; tails (_enter_, R., Madge -_and_ Bess _unobserved_), he'll gimme ginger for keeping him waiting. - - [_Sees girls, closes his hand over penny, and exits, making wry - face._] - -_Bess_ (_sighing_). Poor boy! Evidently he has a cruel step-father who -ill-uses him. - -_Madge_. His case is less pitiable than ours, for one can at least -occasionally escape the society of a man. Besides, men never make things -so unpleasant at home. - -_Bess_. "Home!" Oh, Madge! I could weep to think how we have looked -forward to a home of our own, after ten years of boarding-school. -(_Enter_, R., Stranger. _She pauses on the threshold, listening._) And -now to have everything spoiled by this hateful step-mother. It is too -bad. - -_Madge_. Papa writes that she is lovely, and will be as much a companion -to us as to him. - -_Bess_. Nonsense. Who ever heard of a step-mother being a companion? I -am sure she is an ugly old maid who has no sympathy with anything under -fifty years of age. - -_Madge_. It was rather nice of her to ask papa to let us furnish our -rooms in the new house, though. - -_Bess_. Policy--mere policy. She wants to get rid of the trouble of -doing it herself. - -_Madge_. Well, for papa's sake I think we ought to try to like her. - -_Bess_. Oh, _you_ will like her fast enough, but I _never, never_ can! - -_Stranger_ (_approaching_). There seems to be nobody in this department -to wait on me; or perhaps a clerk is attending to your orders? - -_Madge_. No; we were so busy talking that we forgot how much we have to -do, and did not notice the absence of clerks. - -_Stranger_. Ah! here is some one coming. Let us hail him at once. -(Cash-boy _loiters from behind curtains_, L.) Boy, please bring a -salesman as quickly as possible. - -[Illustration] - -_Cash-boy_. 'Ain't 792 come yet? Well, he is taking a corking feed. Wish -I was him. - -_Bess_ (_compassionately_). Do not you have enough to eat at home? - -_Cash-boy_. Do I look like I'm suffering? - -BESS. No; but I thought perhaps your step-father-- - -_Cash-boy_ (_thrusting his hands in his pockets and laughing_). 'Ain't -got no step-father. The old lady, she's a step, though. - -_Stranger_. Don't you think you should speak more respectfully of old -persons? - -_Cash-boy_. I'm a jollying you. She ain't much older than you, and she -don't act a bit like a step. She's prime, I tell you. - -_Bess_ (_impatiently_). Go call some one to wait on us, and don't stand -talking all day. - - [_Exit_ Cash-boy, _calling "Sales! Sales!"_] - -_Stranger_ (_rising and looking behind curtains_, L.). It is provoking -to sit idle in this way when one has the furnishing of a house on hand. - -_Madge_. I should think so. With only two rooms to fit up, Bess and I -feel our responsibilities weighing on us. - - [_Moves about among rolls of carpet, keeping near_ Stranger.] - -_Stranger_. How sweet of your mother to allow you to select everything -for yourselves! - -_Madge_ (_softly_). We have no mother. - -_Stranger_. Poor children! - - [_Lays her hand on_ Madge's _shoulder. They return thus to their - seats._ Bess _walks over to_ R., _and leans dejectedly against - piano a moment, then turns impulsively_.] - -_Bess_. Have you daughters? - -_Stranger_. None of my own; but I'm going to adopt two in a few weeks. - -_Madge_. Do you love them so much? - -_Stranger_. I shall when we know each other better. - -_Bess_. And they? - -_Stranger_. I fear they are a trifle prejudiced at present, but love -begets love, and we shall eventually become friends. - -_Madge_. It would be difficult not to become friendly with you. - -_Stranger_. Thank you, my dear. (_Again goes to curtains_, L.) Here is -our salesman at last, and as we are all on the same errand, we may save -time by looking at carpets and hangings together. (_To_ Bess.) You shall -have first opportunity, however. - -_Bess_. No, no; you are entitled to take precedence. - -_Stranger_. Age before beauty--eh? Well, then we will collectively -examine rugs for your rooms. (_To_ Salesman.) Something in delicate -tints, please. - -[Illustration] - -_Salesman_. What size, madam? - -_Bess_ (_aghast_). Size? - -_Madge_. We did not once dream of measuring the floor. - -_Stranger_. Never mind; we will not worry about such trifles as -measurements. Let me see (_reflecting_); twelve feet square--no, twelve -by fifteen will do. (Salesman _unrolls two rugs_.) That one is -charmingly suggestive of spring-time and flowers. Just the thing for a -débutante. - -_Bess_. I think I prefer the other. What is the price? - -_Salesman_. A hundred and fifty dollars. - -_Madge_ (_springing up in surprise_). A hundred and fifty! Goodness -gracious! Why, we expected to furnish a whole room for less! How much is -the other? - -_Salesman_. Twenty-five. - -_Stranger_. Don't let me influence your choice. - -_Bess_. Imagine trampling on a hundred-and-fifty dollar rug. - -_Stranger_. People trample on more valuable things every day. - -_Bess_ (_aside_). Now why should that speech make me uncomfortable? -(_To_ Madge.) Aren't we inconsiderate in taking the time of a stranger -for our affairs? - -_Stranger_. That depends upon the stranger. - -_Bess_. Then shall we look at curtains? Those are handsome--aren't they? - -_Stranger_. I'm afraid they are more expensive even than the rug. You -might try dotted muslin, perhaps. I shall have them for my room. - -_Bess_ (_reluctantly_). Well. What are you giggling about, Madge? - -_Madge_. I was thinking that you said this morning nothing could induce -you to have dotted muslin curtains. - -_Bess_. People may change their minds--mayn't they? - -_Stranger_. I trust you may change yours some time when more is at -stake. (_To_ Salesman.) Will you kindly find some pale blue draperies -that I ordered from the fancy-goods counter down-stairs, and bring them -here? - - [_Exit_ Salesman.] - -_Bess_ (_going toward piano_). I wonder if we shall have a piano at -home? - -_Stranger_ (_absently_). Oh yes! - -_Madge_ (_surprised_). Why, how can you know? - -_Stranger_ (_recovering herself_). On general principles, my dear. Every -house must need a piano. - -_Bess_. Of course you play or sing? - -_Stranger_. My repertoire is limited, and not classical. Association -with young people has led me to devote more time than I ought to -dance-music and light opera. - -_Madge_. Do play us a two-step now, just for fun. - - [Stranger _seats herself at piano and plays with spirit. The girls - hesitate a moment, then push aside rugs and begin to dance._] - -_Bess_ (_stopping breathless_). How sweet of you! Such a fascinating -two-step, and played as if you like to take a turn yourself. - -_Stranger_. I _was_ quite devoted to it, but now that I am an old maid I -have no sympathy with anything under fifty years of age. - -_Madge_ (_aside_). That's what Bess says about our prospective -step-mother. - - [_Enter_ Salesman _with draperies_.] - -_Stranger_. Thank you. Yes, we have finished our shopping in this -department. (_To girls._) I must say good-by to you, as you probably -wish to purchase bedroom furniture, and I will first look after my -parlor. - -_Madge_. I am so sorry we cannot go on as we have begun. We shall miss -having you to advise and consult with. - -_Bess_. You have been so very kind to help us. - -_Stranger_. Policy, my dear--mere policy. - -_Bess_ (_aside_). How strange! She quotes my very words. (_To her._) I -will not believe there was a scrap of policy about it. - -_Madge_. Nor I. You were simply lovely to two ignorant girls who thought -they knew everything. - -_Stranger_. Well, good-by. Possibly we may meet again some day. - -_Girls_ (_in unison_). I'm sure we hope so. - -_Salesman_ (_as_ Stranger _starts to leave_). To whom shall I charge -your curtains and rugs, madam? - -_Stranger_. To Charles Rockwood. - -_Girls_. Why, that is papa's name. - -_Stranger_. Yes? Quite a coincidence--isn't it? - -_Salesman_. The address, please? - -_Stranger_. Thirty-three West Blank Street. - -_Girls_ (_in great excitement_). The number of our new house! - -_Stranger_. Really? - -_Bess_. What does it all mean? - -_Madge_. How perfectly exciting! - -_Bess_. Is it possible that-- - -_Madge_. This is our-- - -_Stranger_. Future step-mother? Who ever heard of a step-mother being a -companion, my dear girls? - -_Bess_. Forgive me. I did not know-- - -_Stranger_. The marplot that was to spoil everything when her daughters -returned from boarding-school. - - [_Enter_ Cash-boy.] - -_Cash-boy_. Sev--en--nine--ty--two! - -_Salesman_. Here, check, take this to the office. - -_Madge_. Wait a moment, boy. You see we have gained a "step," too. - -_Madge_ (_embracing_ Stranger). I was sure I should like you. - -_Bess_. And I-- - -_Stranger_. Never, _never, never_ can. - -_Bess_ (_taking her hand affectionately_). I thought so once, but now I -know that circumstances alter cases. - - - - -JIM DANDY. - - -When I was last in the South, the gentleman at whose house I was -visiting asked a trustworthy old colored man to get him a green boy from -the country to be trained as a house servant. In a day or so the old man -drove up to the door and put out of his wagon a sturdy-looking lad of -fifteen or so, black as the ace of spades, and clad in raiment seemingly -made of selections from a rag-bag. With a small bundle in his hand he -approached the gallery--that is what a porch in some parts of the South -is called--where I was sitting with my host, Mr. Prettyman. The boy took -off his hat and made not a bow exactly but an inclination of his head, -grinning from ear to ear, and displaying as white and useful a set of -teeth as is often seen. - -"What is your name?" Mr. Prettyman asked. - -"Jim Dandy, sah," the boy answered. - -"Whom do you live with?" - -"I lives wid Aunty," the boy said, and his manner now showed that he was -getting embarrassed, for he did not giggle, but smiled nervously. - -"Where does Aunty live?" Mr. Prettyman inquired. - -I suspect that this question made Jim Dandy fear that Mr. Prettyman did -not have as much sense as a gentleman living in a fine house in town -ought to have. He hesitated a moment, and then, moving his head -sideways, said, "Aunty, she live over yonder." - -This was most indefinite, but it was evidently the best that Jim Dandy -could do for the moment, so Mr. Prettyman took him round to the kitchen -at the back of the house and put him in charge of the cook, who was also -the old housekeeper. And so Jim Dandy was engaged. In the course of an -hour he was trying to learn his way about the house and feel comfortable -in a suit of blue clothes with many brass buttons. But there was another -ordeal for Jim Dandy. When Mrs. Prettyman reached home later in the day -she decided that the new "buttons" must be called James. And so he was -called on formal occasions, but with the children at least Jim Dandy -stuck. - -In a few days the new boy began to feel at home, and then set about -justifying his worthiness of the distinguished name he had assumed. The -first time he was sent down-town he came back in such a hurry that it -seemed incredible that he could have done his errand. The next time he -staid longer, and the third time--that was after he had been in service -a week--he staid half a day. To one of the children he confessed that he -had spent all his time in looking in the shop-windows. Hearing this, I -felt a sympathy for Jim Dandy, for I waste much of my own time in that -same occupation. But the shop-windows of this little Southern city -seemed shabby and sorry to me after New York and Paris, and I felt sorry -for Jim Dandy that such cheap splendors should make him forget his duty. - -The fourth time Jim Dandy was sent into town he was told that he must -not loiter on the way, but be back in a hurry. And, sure enough, he did -not stay long. In less than an hour he was back. But he was not the -smart-looking "buttons" who had started out shortly before. His clothes -were muddy, his coat was slit in the back, his cap was gone, and there -was blood on one of his cheeks. In appearance he looked sheepish and -crestfallen. "Jim Dandy has had a licking," I said to myself, for I felt -sure that some of the negro lads in town, envious of his whole clothes, -had given the country boy a beating for revenge and for the fun of the -thing. To inquiries Jim Dandy could make no intelligible reply. He went -to the back of the house and sat on the kitchen steps. Tears rolled down -his cheeks, and his great eyes were filled with trouble. Aunt Mandy, the -cook, evidently diagnosed Jim Dandy's trouble as I had done, and she was -voluble in her abuse of him for not "'tending to his own bizness." - -It had not been long, however, before there was an explanation of Jim -Dandy's adventure. The Mayor of the town called at Mr. Prettyman's to -ask for the boy. As the Mayor was also a magistrate, we were afraid Jim -Dandy must have done something very dreadful. This is what the Mayor -said Jim had done: - -A pony phaeton with four children in it was driving through Main Street. -A trolley-car was approaching, and the pony took fright and became -unmanageable, backing the phaeton on to the track. Jim was passing on -his errand. Seeing the danger, he got behind the phaeton, and pushed it -and the pony from the track. He was not so fortunate, for the fender of -the car caught him and rolled him over and over in the mud until the car -was stopped. This was how Jim Dandy's first suit of livery came to be -spoiled. We were proud of Jim, and spoke to him as kindly as possible; -but he was rather a sulky youth till his new suit of clothes arrived--a -suit paid for, by-the-way, by the Mayor himself, for it was his children -that Jim had saved from the trolley-car. - -The first freshness had not been worn from Jim's new suit before we all -went to a picnic on the banks of the little mountain river that flowed -through the town. Jim was told to keep a sharp lookout on the younger -children, who were fishing from the bank in shallow water. One of the -little girls was a fidgety specimen of humanity, for she could never sit -still two minutes at a time. Before she had been fishing ten minutes she -fell into the river. The water was very shallow, but the current was -swift, and there was surely enough water to drown little Margaret -Prettyman, with a-plenty to spare. But Jim Dandy was there, and the -child had hardly touched the water before he was in after her and had -her in his arms. Not many seconds more had passed before Mrs. Prettyman -had the very wet and much-frightened Margaret in her arms, and was -weeping over that rescued infant. - -Jim Dandy's smartness was again dimmed, and he was a sorry and -bedraggled looking darky. Mr. Prettyman looked his "buttons" over -carefully, and Jim was evidently embarrassed by the gaze. - -"Well, James," his master said, "you are rightly named, for you are a -Jim Dandy--every inch a Jim Dandy." - -This is what the country boy did to justify his name during the two -weeks that I staid at Mr. Prettyman's. It may be that he has gone on and -on from adventure to adventure, so that when I hear about them I will -have to send the record of them to Mr. Kirk Munroe, so that he may have -a biographer worthy of a daring career. When I left I gave some money to -little Margaret, to be divided among the servants. She came to the gate -just as I was going to the carriage, and said, "Aunt Mandy's obliged, -and Hannah's obliged, and Jim Dandy's obliged,' but Jim Dandy's obliged -the most, 'cause he stood on his head." - - - - -THE MIDDLE DAUGHTER.[1] - -[1] Begun in HARPER'S ROUND TABLE No. 845. - -BY MARGARET E. SANGSTER. - -CHAPTER IV. - -TWO LITTLE SCHOOLMARMS. - - -"And so you are your papa's good fairy? How happy you must be! How -proud!" Amy's eyes shone as she talked to Grace, and smoothed down a -fold of the pretty white alpaca gown which set off her friend's dainty -beauty. The girls were in my mother's room at the Manse, and Mrs. -Raeburn had left them together to talk over plans, while she went to the -parlor to entertain a visitor who was engaged in getting up an autumn -_fête_ for a charitable purpose. Nothing of this kind was ever done -without mother's aid. - -There were few secrets between Wishing-Brae and the Manse, and Mrs. -Wainwright had told our mother how opportunely Grace had been able to -assist her father in his straits. Great was our joy. - -"You must remember, dear," said mamma, when she returned from seeing -Miss Gardner off, "that your purse is not exhaustless, though it is a -long one for a girl. Debts have a way of eating up bank accounts; and -what will you do when your money is gone if you still find that the wolf -menaces the door at Wishing-Brae?" - -"That is what I want to consult you about, Aunt Dorothy." (I ought to -have said that our mother was Aunt Dorothy to the children at the Brae, -and more beloved than many a real auntie, though one only by courtesy.) -"Frances knows my ambitions," Grace went on, "I mean to be a money-maker -as well as a money-spender; and I have two strings to my bow. First, I'd -like to give interpretations." - -The mother looked puzzled. "Interpretations?" she said. "Of what, -pray?--Sanscrit or Egyptian or Greek? Are you a seeress or a witch, dear -child?" - -"Neither. In plain English I want to read stories and poems to my -friends and to audiences--Miss Wilkins's and Mrs. Stuart's beautiful -stories, and the poems of Holmes and Longfellow and others who speak to -the heart. Not mere elocutionary reading, but simple reading, bringing -out the author's meaning and giving people pleasure. I would charge an -admission fee, and our dining-room would hold a good many; but I ought -to have read somewhere else first, and to have a little background of -city fame before I ask Highland neighbors to come and hear me. This is -my initial plan. I could branch out." - -To the mother the new idea did not at once commend itself. She knew -better than we girls did how many twenty-five-cent tickets must be sold -to make a good round sum in dollars. She knew the thrifty people of -Highland looked long at a quarter before they parted with it for mere -amusement, and still further, she doubted whether Dr. Wainwright would -like the thing. But Amy clapped her hands gleefully. She thought it -fine. - -"You must give a studio reading," she said. "I can manage that, mother; -if Miss Antoinette Drury will lend her studio, and we send out -invitations for 'Music and Reading, and Tea at Five,' the prestige part -will be taken care of. The only difficulty that I can see is that Grace -would have to go to a lot of places and travel about uncomfortably; and -then she'd need a manager. Wouldn't she, Frances?" - -"I see no trouble," said I, "in her being her own manager. She would go -to a new town with a letter to the pastor of the leading church, or his -wife, call in at the newspaper office and get a puff; puffs are always -easily secured by enterprising young women, and they help to fill up the -paper besides. Then she would hire a hall and pay for it out of her -profits, and the business could be easily carried forward." - -"Is this the New Woman breaking her shell?" said mother. "I don't think -I quite like the interpretation scheme either as Amy or as you outline -it, though I am open to persuasion. Here is the doctor. Let us hear what -he says." - -It was not Dr. Wainwright, but my father, Dr. Raeburn, except on a -Friday, the most genial of men. Amy perched herself on his knee and ran -her slim fingers through his thick dark hair. To him our plans were -explained, and he at once gave them his approval. - -"As I understand you, Gracie," Dr. Raeburn said, "you wish this reading -business as a stepping-stone. You would form classes, would you not? And -your music could also be utilized. You had good instruction, I fancy, -both here and over the water." - -"Indeed yes, Dr. Raeburn; and I could give lessons in music, but they -wouldn't bring me in much, here at least." - -"Come to my study," said the doctor, rising. "Amy, you have ruffled up -my hair till I look like a cherub before the flood. Come, all of you, -Dorothy and the kids." - -"You don't call us kids, do you, papa?" - -"Young ladies, then, at your service," said the doctor, with a low bow. -"I've a letter from my old friend Vernon Hastings. I'll read it to you -when I can find it," said the good man, rummaging among the books, -papers, and correspondence with which his great table was littered. -"Judge Hastings," the doctor went on, "lost his wife in Venice a year -ago. He has three little girls in need of special advantages; he cannot -bear to send them away to school, and his mother, who lives with him and -orders the house, won't listen to having a resident governess. All, this -is the letter!" The doctor read: - - "I wish you could help me, Charley, in the dilemma in which I find - myself. Lucy and Helen and my little Madge are to be educated, and - the question is how, when, and where? They are delicate, and I - cannot yet make up my mind to the desolate house I would have - should they go to school. Grandmamma has pronounced against a - governess, and I don't like the day-schools of the town. Now is not - one of your daughters musical, and perhaps another sufficiently - mistress of the elementary branches to teach these babies? I will - pay liberally the right person or persons for three hours' work a - day. But I must have well-bred girls, ladies, to be with my trio of - bairns." - -"I couldn't teach arithmetic or drawing," said Grace. "I would be glad -to try my hand at music and geography and German and French. I might be -weak on spelling." - -"I don't think that of you, Grace," said mother. - -"I am ashamed to say it's true," said Grace. - -Amy interrupted. "How far away is Judge Hastings's home, papa?" - -"An hour's ride, Amy dear. No, forty minutes' ride by rail. I'll go and -see him. I've no doubt he will pay you generously, Grace, for your -services, if you feel that you can take up this work seriously." - -"I do; I will," said Grace, "and only too thankful will I be to -undertake it; but what about the multiplication table, and the straight -and the curved lines, and Webster's speller?" - -"Papa," said Amy, gravely, "please mention me to the judge. I will teach -those midgets the arithmetic and drawing and other fundamental studies -which my gifted friend fears to touch." - -"You?" said papa, in surprise. - -"Why not, dear?" interposed mamma. "Amy's youth is against her, but the -fact is she can count and she can draw, and I'm not afraid to recommend -her, though she is only a chit of fifteen, as to her spelling." - -"Going on sixteen, mamma, if you please, and nearly there," Amy -remarked, drawing herself up to her fullest height, at which we all -laughed merrily. - -"I taught school myself at sixteen," our mother went on, "and though it -made me feel like twenty-six, I had no trouble with thirty boys and -girls of all ages from four to eighteen. You must remember me, my love, -in the old district school at Elmwood." - -"Yes," said papa, "and your overpowering dignity was a sight for gods -and men. All the same, you were a darling." - -"So she is still." And we pounced upon her in a body and devoured her -with kisses, the sweet little mother. - -"Papa," Amy proceeded, when order had been restored, "why not take us -when you go to interview the judge? Then he can behold his future -schoolma'ams, arrange terms, and settle the thing at once. I presume -Grace is anxious as I am to begin her career, now that it looms up -before her. I am in the mood of the youth who bore through snow and ice -the banner with the strange device, 'Excelsior.'" - -"In the mean time, good people," said Frances, appearing in the doorway, -"luncheon is served." - -We had a pretty new dish--new to us--for luncheon, and as everybody may -not know how nice it is, I'll just mention it in passing. - -Take large ripe tomatoes, scoop out the pulp and mix it with finely -minced canned salmon, adding a tiny pinch of salt. Fill the tomatoes -with this mixture, set them in a nest of crisp green lettuce leaves, and -pour a mayonnaise into each ruby cup. The dish is extremely dainty and -inviting, and tastes as good as it looks. It must be very cold. - -"But," Doctor Raeburn said, in reply to a remark of mother's that she -was pleased the girls had decided on teaching, it was so womanly and -proper an employment for girls of good family, "I must insist that the -'interpretations' be not entirely dropped. I'll introduce you, my dear," -he said, "when you give your first recital, and that will make it all -right in the eyes of Highland." - -"Thank you, Doctor," said Grace. "I would rather have your sanction than -anything else in the world, except papa's approval." - -"Why don't your King's Daughters give Grace a boom? You are always -getting up private theatricals, and this is just the right time." - -"Lawrence Raeburn, you are a trump!" said Amy, flying round to her -brother and giving him a hug. "We'll propose it at the first meeting of -the Ten, and it'll be carried by acclamation." - -"Now," said Grace, rising and saying good-afternoon to my mother, with a -courtesy to the rest of us, "I'm going straight home to break ground -there and prepare my mother for great events." - -Walking over the fields in great haste, for when one has news to -communicate, one's feet are wings, Grace was arrested by a groan as of -somebody in great pain. She looked about cautiously, but it was several -minutes before she found, lying under the hedge, a boy with a broken -pitcher at his side. He was deadly pale, and great drops of sweat rolled -down his face. - -"Oh, you poor boy! what is the matter?" she cried, bending over him in -great concern. - -"I've broke mother's best china pitcher," said the lad, in a despairing -voice. - -"Poof!" replied Grace. "Pitchers can be mended or replaced. What else is -wrong? You're not groaning over a broken pitcher, surely." - -"You would, if it came over in the _Mayflower_, and was all of your -ancestors' you had left to show that you could be a Colonial Dame. -Ug-gh!" The boy tried to sit up, gasped, and fell back in a dead faint. - -"Goodness!" said Grace; "he's broken his leg as well as his pitcher. -Colonial Dames! What nonsense! Well, I can't leave him here." - -She had her smelling-salts in her satchel, but before she could find -them, Grace's satchel being an omnium gatherum of remarkable a -miscellaneous character, the lad came to. A fainting person will usually -regain consciousness soon if laid out flat, with the head a little lower -than the body. I've seen people persist in keeping a fainting friend in -a sitting position, which is very stupid and quite cruel. - -"I am Doctor Wainwright's daughter," said Grace, "and I see my father's -gig turning the corner of the road. You shall have help directly. Papa -will know what to do, so lie still where you are." - -[Illustration: GRACE'S FLAG OF DISTRESS.] - -The lad obeyed, there plainly being nothing else to be done. In a second -Doctor Wainwright, at Grace's flag of distress, a white handkerchief -waving from the top of her parasol, came toward her at the mare's -fastest pace. - -"Hello!" he said. "Here's Archie Vanderhoven in a pickle." - -"As usual, doctor," said Archie, faintly. "I've broken mother's last -pitcher." - -"And your leg, I see," observed the doctor, with professional -directness. "Well, my boy, you must be taken home. Grace, drive home for -me, and tell the boys to bring a cot here as soon as possible. Meanwhile -I'll set Archie's leg. It's only a simple fracture." And the doctor, -from his black bag, brought out bandages and instruments. No army -surgeon on the field of battle was quicker and gentler than Doctor -Wainwright, whose skill was renowned all over our country-side. - -"What is there about the Vanderhovens?" inquired Grace that night as -they sat by the blaze of hickory logs in the cheery parlor of -Wishing-Brae. - -"The Vanderhovens are a decayed family," her father answered. "They were -once very well off and lived in state, and from far and near gay parties -were drawn at Easter and Christmas to dance under their roof. Now they -are run out. This boy and his mother are the last of the line. Archie's -father was drowned in the ford when we had the freshet last spring. The -Ramapo, that looks so peaceful now, overflowed its banks then, and ran -like a mill-race. I don't know how they manage, but Archie is kept at -school, and his mother does everything from ironing white frocks for -summer boarders to making jellies and preserves for people in town, who -send her orders." - -"Is she an educated woman?" inquired Grace. - -"That she is. Mrs. Vanderhoven is not only highly educated, but very -elegant and accomplished. None of her attainments, except those in the -domestic line, are available, unhappily, when earning a living is in -question, and she can win her bread only by these housekeeping efforts." - -"Might I go and see her?" - -"Why yes, dear, you and the others not only might, but should. She will -need help. I'll call and consult Mrs. Raeburn about her to-morrow. She -isn't a woman one can treat like a pauper--as well born as any one in -the land, and prouder than Lucifer. It's too bad Archie had to meet with -this accident; but boys are fragile creatures." - -And the doctor, shaking the ashes from his pipe, went off to sit with -his wife before going to bed. - -"I do wonder," said Grace to Eva, "what the boy was doing with the old -Puritan pitcher, and why a Vanderhoven should have boasted of coming -over in the _Mayflower_?" - -Eva said: "They're Dutch and English, Grace. The Vanderhovens are from -Holland, but Archie's mother was a Standish, or something of that sort, -and her kinsfolk, of course, belonged to the _Mayflower_ crowd. I -believe Archie meant to sell that pitcher, and if so, no wonder he broke -his leg. By-the-way, what became of the pieces?" - -"I picked them up," said Grace. - -[TO BE CONTINUED.] - - - - -FOR KING OR COUNTRY. - -A Story of the Revolution. - -BY JAMES BARNES. - -CHAPTER XV. - -A SAFE DISGRACE. - - -George was so near that the heavy man could have touched him with his -hand, but after scratching about the door, he found the latch at last, -and stumbled sleepily out into the hall. Owing to the darkness within -the room George could now see out of the curtainless window. There was -no one on the roof! However, he could not tarry where he was; he must -take the risk; and slipping the miniature and cipher into his pocket, he -opened the window and slid over the wall to the alley. It was turning -freezing cold; the ground crunched under his feet, and the little gate -to the widow's diminutive front yard creaked shrilly. The young spy -knocked softly on the door. - -"Who's there?" came a voice from the second story. - -"'Tis I, George Frothingham," he answered. "Mrs. Mack, I pray you let me -in." - -The old woman in a minute admitted him into the hallway. - -"You will have to hide me somewhere, my good friend," he said, "for I am -in great danger." - -"The very place! the little room that you used to have," was the -whispered response. "No one would think of looking for ye there; and if -they did, there's a small attic over-head. Why should they think of my -house?" she added. - -Once more George found himself in the little room where he had passed so -many lonely hours reading and writing, recalling pleasant scenes, and -drawing bright pictures of what he hoped might be, before the great -changes had arrived. Thinking that it might attract attention to have a -light burning in the room at such an hour, he refrained from trying to -read the despatches, putting it off until morning. He tumbled into the -little bed that he had slept in so often, and, despite the excitement of -the night, fell fast asleep. When he awoke it was broad daylight--such a -crisp sparkling day! Every twig on the trees shone like a branch of -diamonds. The pools in the road were filled with white brittle ice that -broke and shivered noisily beneath the feet of some school-boys going -down the road. - -"Oh, that I was only one of them!" thought George, looking out of the -window. A curtain was tacked across the panes, and he could look out -without being seen. - -Suddenly he stopped, half dressed, although the room was intensely cold, -and pulled out the despatch he had found in the hollow limb. There it -was, neatly written in the cipher, and that also was at hand. But where -were the magnifying-glass and the snuff-box? He could not find them, and -strain his eyes to their utmost, he could not make out clearly the -characters on the diminutive sheet of parchment. He hastily finished -dressing, and called through the hallway for Mrs. Mack. There was no -answer. Then he thought of a large round glass bowl that used to hang by -a chain in the window below-stairs. He remembered that when filled with -water it magnified extremely well. Mrs. Mack had evidently gone out, the -house seemed deserted, so he slipped down the stairs, and found the bowl -in its accustomed place. But as he reached it from the hook he paused. -Two persons were softly talking at the back of the hall. He could feel, -from the draught of air, that the door was open. - -"'Tis very strange," said a man's voice; "but there's great excitement -at the City Arms. I was there with the milk this morning, and they say -as how a young gentleman from up the river has disappeared--murdered, -maybe, for all they know. They are looking in all directions for him." - -"And what might be his name?" - -George recognized Mrs. Mack's voice. - -"I have forgotten," said the man; "but they say he was a handsome lad, -and scattered his money as if he expected it to grow again." - -Then followed some conversation about the milk, and the door was closed. -Mrs. Mack started as she saw her guest approaching. - -"You had better stay in your room, Mr. Frothingham," she said. "That is -my neighbor, the milkman, an inquisitive blackguard." - -"Mrs. Mack," responded George, "I am the young man who is missing from -the City Arms. They must not find me." - -"Shure you're safe here. But what are you doing with the bowl, sir?" -inquired the woman. - -"I am going to read with it," said George. "Will you fill it with -water?" - -Mrs. Mack looked at him as if she thought he had taken leave of his -senses, but she complied, and brought the bowl up to his room. In a few -minutes more George was easily able to decipher the despatch. It ran as -follows: - - "TO YOU,--Your number is four; initial B. Observe. We are glad to - hear from our brother in New Jersey, and that he approves of the - plan. It can be done. We are not suspected, and your arrival is - most opportune. You have been seen by us; you are the young man for - our purpose. It must be done on Friday night. A dinner will be - given at a place to which you will receive an invitation. It is but - a few steps from the river. After the dinner, cards will be - proposed. Tables will be arranged in such a way that _he whom we - wish_ will be seated near the door. A note will arrive requesting - his presence with the fleet. There will be no moon. A man-of-war's - boat will be waiting; once in mid-stream, _he_ will never reach the - ships, for we know who mans the boat. The only difficulty will be - to disarm suspicion of those who accompany him. They must be - detained. You and another, who will be made known to you, will be - playing at the farther table. You back him heavily with gold and - lose your wager. This will keep the officers' attention. They will - endeavor to stay after _he_ is gone. When we have ten minutes' - start pretend to be enraged, upset the table. There will be great - confusion. The party will break up at once. Leave through the alley - behind the house; go to Striker's Wharf. There you will find an - able skiff. New Jersey is to the westward. We leave the rest to - you. If we can keep enough of _his_ friends from following him, it - will be easy to accomplish our end of the undertaking. To-morrow at - five o'clock be walking down the left-hand side of Johnson's Lane. - Some one will pass you who will strike three times on the lid of - his snuff-box. Turn and follow him. We hold no meetings, but he - will give you some instructions. Final orders at the limb. You are - number Four of Seven. Remember." - -George read the strange epistle through. It was of little use to him -now; he could not show himself in his assumed character. Richard Blount -and the manner of his disappearance must remain a mystery. So far as he -was concerned, he could lend no assistance in the proposed scheme. He -tore the letter up, burning the scraps; but, after considering, he -determined, however, to keep the appointment with the man with the -snuff-box that evening. - -At five o'clock, with a worsted shawl of Mrs. Mack's bound tightly about -his throat and a heavy fur cap drawn around his ears, he was stamping -his heels together like a butcher's apprentice, a basket on his arm, at -the corner of Johnson's Lane. Three or four people passed him, but he -saw no signs of a man with a tendency to tap on his snuff-box. At last, -as he looked down the lane, he perceived a small figure walking toward -him with a quick nervous step. George did not know what to do, for he -recognized at once that it was Mr. Anderson. Strange to say, as he was -approaching he drew a snuff-box from his pocket. Then with a flood of -light it dawned upon the lad that Mr. Anderson was one of the -"Seven," and he understood why he had not been recognized, and also knew -that there was an able hand at the helm. - -As the little man approached, a tall figure also appeared about the -corner, and strode after the schoolmaster with long swinging steps. -George saw at once that it was the young officer who had breakfasted -with him the day before. They would soon be within speaking distance. -Taking a few hasty steps he darted about the corner, dropping his basket -as he ran. So quick had been the movement that he was not in time to -dodge a great lanky man who was walking quickly from the opposite -direction, and he ran right into his arms. So great was his impetus that -the man fell back against the wall of a brick house, and his huge watch -flew out of his pocket and was dashed to pieces. - -[Illustration: "FROTHINGHAM! FROTHINGHAM!" THE OLD CLERK TRIED TO SAY.] - -"You thieving villain! Stop thief--stop!" exclaimed the stranger, making -a grasp for George's shoulder. But now the lad's great strength once -more served him in good stead. He struck down the other's arm, and as he -did so gasped, for the person he had run into was none other than Abel -Norton, his old chief clerk. Abel's other hand had firm hold upon the -woollen comforter, and George caught him by the throat and twisted him -backwards across his knee. "Frothingham! Frothingham!" the old clerk -tried to say. - -Here was an added danger. He was recognized! The two men must now be -almost at the corner. With a final effort George tore himself away, and -started down the alley at a run. He knew that farther on there was a big -lumber-yard that opened on the main street. If he could reach there -ahead of the others, he might manage to escape. - -Abel's first cries, however, had brought a number of people from the -public-houses, and the young officer and Mr. Anderson came about the -corner of the lane. George's fleeing figure was in plain sight. - -"Stop thief!" the officer shouted, and leaped forward with the stride of -a swift runner. - -"Stop thief!" echoed Abel Norton, and strange to say, the old man caught -up with the redcoat easily, and, stranger still, appeared to slip and -fall upon his heels. Down they both went. - -Schoolmaster Anderson in the mean time was at the head of four or five -other pursuers, who had run from the tap-rooms. Before he reached the -spot where the two leaders were gathering themselves together, he also -tripped, and the two next fell over him. There was a general laugh, and -by this time George had turned through the gateway into the lumber-yard. -Here again he had to adapt himself to circumstances, for at the farther -entrance was standing a group of soldiers throwing horseshoes at a peg -in the frozen ground. He could not go out of that opposite gate without -exciting suspicion. There were only two things left him to do; one to -jump the fence to the left, or try to scale the high wall to the right. -A glance at the latter decided matters. There was a clumsy-looking -ladder leaning against the wall. He hastened up, and threw himself over -the top, kicking the ladder from beneath him as he jumped. He came down -in a little garden. He had doubled on his tracks, and could hear the -pursuit going down the road behind him. Suddenly he glanced up at the -small house; it bore a sign over the front door: - -MADAME LUCILLA BONSALL, - -DRESSMAKER. - -ROBES ET MANTEAUX. - -He tried the door, it was unlocked, and he stepped in without knocking. -A strange-looking woman with a long face and pale blue eyes was sitting -there. George knew her at a glance to be Luke Bonsall's mother. She -looked up from her sewing. - -"What means this?" she asked, in a deep, hollow voice. - -"I am a friend of your son's in the army. I have a message--a message -from him to you," said George, panting. "Take me where we can be alone, -and I will tell you." - -The woman got up and slipped the bolt into the door. - -"A message from my son!" she repeated. "He is dead." - -George started. There would be no necessity to break the news. "I have -a letter here," he said, fumbling in his pocket, "How did you know he -died, might I ask, madam? It is true, and I was sorry to bear the -tidings." - -"I dreamed it," said the woman. "See, I am in black." - -George handed her the letter. She read it carefully, but did not weep or -show that it had touched her. - -"It's good news," she said. "I told him that I could not be the mother -of a coward." - -"Indeed he was none such," answered George, quickly. "He died like a -brave soldier, and would have made his mark." - -"It was not to be," responded the woman. "The Fates would not have it -so." - -"What a strange creature is this!" thought George to himself. But had he -known all, it would have seemed stranger still, for Mrs. Bonsall was a -believer in occult signs, and long ago she had had her son's horoscope -cast. She had been informed that the sickly, pale-eyed youth was to die -in battle. The idea then would have seemed most amusing to any one else, -but to Mrs. Bonsall it had been a reality, and Luke himself had gone to -the front with this cloud about him. He was brave indeed. - -George suddenly remembered his own position, and extended his hand. -There had come a confused babble of voices out in the yard. - -"Do you hear that, Mrs. Bonsall? They are after me! See," he said, "you -must assist me. I must hide until dark, for if I am found my life is not -worth a pine-tree shilling. They think I am a thief. I am not." - -"Come," the woman said; "walk softly." She took him by the hand and led -him back to a small stairway. They went up two flights until they -reached a large empty hall. George stumbled over a heavy pair of boots, -and looking through an open doorway on the right, he could see a cavalry -sabre leaning against a chair. - -"Sh! they have quartered them upon me," whispered Mrs. Bonsall. "But -it's not for long, for despair and defeat await them. Ah yes! I know, I -know!" Mrs. Bonsall pushed the fugitive into a little room beyond, and -locked the door behind him. - -He sat down on a chair near the window and looked out. He could see over -the top of the wall that he had scaled. There were some soldiers and a -number of men rummaging about the heaps of lumber. Then he heard a thump -of the knocker on the door below. A rumbling sound followed. The strain -was frightful on George's nerves. - -"And think you I would shelter a pickpocket?" asked the woman, plainly. - -George could not make out the reply, for a loud voice shouted, in a rich -brogue: "Out, you fools! There's no one here. What do you take this -spacious mansion for--a thieves' den? By the powers!" - -"Don't let them in, Corporal Shaughnessy," pleaded the widow's voice. - -The loud voice was now rumbling from below again. Some one in the crowd -laughed, and George breathed easily as he heard them go out into the -road. - -It seemed to him now that it never would grow dark. He realized that he -was very hungry, and he tried the door, but it was firmly locked. He was -in Mrs. Bonsall's power, but he felt somehow that he could trust her. As -he was deliberating whether to try the window or not, he heard the sound -of footsteps. - -"By the gun of Athlone!" said Corporal Shaughnessy's voice, "we will be -moving soon, and sorry will I be, for though our landlady is the only -female who ever failed to smile upon me, our quarters here are -comfortable, and I would hate to be losing of them for a bed in the -snows of the wilderness." - -"They do be saying," put in another voice, "that it will be decided at -the meeting to-night." - -"And where's that to be held?" said the first speaker. - -"At the Fraunces House. They always hold them there. I have been upon -guard there." - -"Come into me spacious apartment and have a pipe, McCune," said -Shaughnessy. - -The tones of the two men talking were familiar to George somehow. But -when he heard the name "McCune," he recalled the whole thing to his -memory. They were the two soldiers he and his brother had talked with -years ago on that memorable day of parting. - -The door closed behind them, and it had hardly done so when a soft -grating of the key in the lock was heard. Mrs. Bonsall opened the door. -Once more she took him by the hand and led the way down the stairs. - -As they went through the front room the woman picked up a candle and -looked intently at George's palm. - -"Tribulations," she said; "but do not despair; success awaits you." - -George did not smile, but gravely thanked her for all that she had done, -and slipped out of the house. - -It was pitch dark, and he remembered as he went along that he was far -from accomplishing anything that he had made the perilous trip for. All -his fine castles had tumbled about his ears, the smooth pathway that -appeared to stretch before him had vanished, and nothing but obstacles -loomed before his eyes. However, if he could not assist in the wild -scheme of gaining possession of such a powerful hostage as Lord Howe or -his brother, the General, any news that he could bring concerning the -probable destination of the army would be of inestimable value to -General Washington at Morristown. Why not find out as much as he could -and get away? - -So intently was he thinking, that he did not notice a figure that had -stepped out of the doorway of a house and was walking, close at his -heels. - - "Oh, de ham fat it am good, an' de 'possum it am fine," - -hummed a voice. - -George turned. "Cato, you imp of darkness," he said, "where did you come -from?" - -"From de State of New Jarsey," responded the old man, his white teeth -gleaming plainly in the darkness. "Well, Mas'r George, I's done followed -you, and it took de best horse on de place. I tink you mought need me." - -"Then it was you that dodged over there in the road near West Point?" - -"Yes, sah, I 'spect so. You come purty nigh gitting away from me once or -twice, sah." - -"How did you cross the river? How in the world?" exclaimed George, his -astonishment driving all other thoughts out of his head. - -"On a log raf, youn' mas'r, and it was purty col' work," answered the -old negro. - -"Cato," said George, impressively, "you must keep away from me, and you -must get back as soon as you can." - -"Can't I stay wid you, sah?" answered the old darky. "I'll be deaf, -dumb, and blind. I knows you are here on some business dat--" - -George interrupted him. "I hate to do it, Cato," he said; "but do you -see that corner? You get back and around it as soon as you can, and if -you meet me again, don't appear to know me, for by doing so you may -place a rope around my neck." - -The old man did not say another word, but scuttled off. - -Now George determined upon a bold line of action. So well had he known -the ins and outs of the town that he knew at once the room in which the -officers were to meet, at Fraunces Tavern. He knew that through a stable -in the rear he might gain a position from which he could hear or see -something of the proceedings. But why not first go to the orchard? He -had no sooner determined upon this plan than he had walked quickly to -the north, and taking several short-cuts, reached the tree. - -In the last few hours he had memorized the cipher until it was almost -perfectly imprinted on his mind. There was a paper in the limb addressed -to "No. 4." He drew it out, and finding where a fire had smouldered in -the street, he picked out an ember and blew it into a flame. He made out -the words: "B., Number Four, make your escape. Use all caution. We do -not know you. It is for the best that you should be a stranger to us." - -[TO BE CONTINUED.] - - - - -[Illustration] - -THE PROPOSED TRIP TO THE NORTH POLE. - -BY WILFRID DE FOUVIELLE. - - -Twelve months have scarcely elapsed since Mr. Andrée, the Swedish -balloonist, first published the details of his scheme for reaching the -North Pole by the smooth and easy but crooked paths of cloudland. During -this short period the clever and hardy aeronaut has had his proposals -favorably received by the Swedish and French academies of sciences, and -obtained the $36,000 required for his purpose from King Oscar, Mr. -Nobel, and the Baron Oscar Dickson. Mr. Andrée has travelled all over -Europe to consult the most competent specialists, and has completed all -his preparations for the transportation of his huge balloon from Paris, -where it is being constructed, to Spitzbergen early next May. The start -will be made some time in July or at the beginning of August from -Norskoärna, a small rocky and snowy archipelago situated on the -northwestern coast of Spitzbergen, and the most accessible part of this -famous territory. Norskoärna is almost under the eightieth parallel, and -although sad and even grim in aspect, this remote spot will prove a -convenient station for the departure, as the distance to the North Pole -is only about 600 miles. Mr. Andrée's balloon, which will be called The -Northern Pole, is to be made of triple French varnished silk, having a -resistance of 250 pounds to the linear inch. It contains 130,000 cubic -feet, and has a lifting power of more than 10,000 pounds. Besides the -car and its three occupants--Messrs. Andrée, Ekholm, and Strindberg--the -balloon will be supplied with scientific apparatus and 2000 prepared -photographic plates, in charge of Dr. Strindberg. The Northern Pole will -not carry sand for ballast, but use its large quantity of stores for -throwing out in case of need. At Norskoärna the balloon can be kept -waiting any length of time for a favorable wind. Held in place by -sixteen tackles attached to the rocky soil, and connected by a system of -ropes and pulleys with the whole netting, it can laugh at all the -efforts of the strongest gale, and remain there for weeks ready for -immediate despatch. - -[Illustration: GRAPHIC PLAN OF THE NORTH POLE. - -1. Spitzbergen 2. Franz Josef Land. 3. Asia. 4. North America. 5. -Greenland. + North Pole.] - -Mr. Nils Ekholm, the celebrated meteorologist of Upsal University, will -give the signal for the departure of this fearless expedition. This -signal will not be given until Mr. Ekholm finds a northern breeze -blowing briskly and with all the known signs of permanency--a frequent -occurrence, however, in those regions and in such a season. As a -professional aeronaut, I may be allowed to say that Mr. Ekholm will not -be mistaken in his prognostications, and that, once started, Mr. -Andrée's aerial craft will be carried away for hours in the direction of -the North Pole. It would be almost unreasonable to hope that the aerial -travellers will float exactly above the foremost point of our globe from -the tropics. It would be enough for Mr. Andrée to make such a nearing as -would enable him to bring back to civilization hundreds or thousands of -photographs recording all the features of those unattainable regions. -His most ambitious desires will be wholly satisfied, I am sure, if he -obtains a clear view of the rocky mountains that Lieutenant Peary is -said to have seen from the top of the Greenland glaciers on a far -distant horizon. - -[Illustration: SPITZBERGEN, THE STARTING-POINT.] - -For my own part, I believe that the three aerial explorers will have no -difficulty in running the greater part of the 600 miles separating -Norskoärna from the North Pole. If by some unaccountable misfortune -there should be a notable change in the moving paths of cloudland, it is -certain that Mr. Andrée will be able to direct his balloon in a suitable -siding. Then he will resort to his ingenious combination of guide-roping -and sailing which I described in a previous article. Since his first -trial, in 1894, he has realized great improvements, as will be seen by -comparing the aspect of his new balloon with that of the Swea sailing -above the Swedish lake country, already published in HARPER'S ROUND -TABLE. Instead of using only one medium-sized guide-rope, he will drag -in the Polar solitudes not less than three heavy hemp lines. With the -aid of these gigantic and ponderous guide-ropes, each one measuring 1200 -feet and weighing 600 pounds, he can set three sails, supplied with -yards and moved by rigging, and attached to the upper part of the -balloon, independent of the netting, so that they may receive their full -expanse. Their total surface amounts to more than 700 square feet, and -they will, if skilfully managed, impart a remarkable deviating power to -the balloon. So The Northern Pole will skip along like a sailing-craft -with a stern wind. - -It must be remembered that in summer-time the winds and storms of the -North Pole are far less treacherous than those of the most attractive -parts of the tropical, or even those of the temperate zones. The north -polar regions are never visited by cyclones or thunder. The only danger -to be encountered is a slight fall of snow, not more than four or five -inches in the whole season. For meeting this almost trivial danger Mr. -Andrée has had the upper part of his balloon covered with a silk canvas, -so that the meshes of the net will be free from any accumulation of -falling snowflakes. - -[Illustration: THE COURSE OF THE SUN IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS.] - -In the desolate northern lands the sun is a trusty friend to the -aeronaut. By constantly shining over the horizon during a number of -months he develops almost a comfortable degree of heat, while without -any intermission during the twenty-four hours of each day he supplies a -sufficient quantity of light for all photographic purposes. In the mean -time, owing to his moderate altitude, even when he crosses the meridian -line at noon, he is never elevating the unfortunuate aeronaut against -his will to a dangerous distance from the more than half-frozen soil. - -The real difficulty is for the balloon, loaded with numberless precious -documents, to find its way out before winter sets in with its long cold -nights and horrors. This exit must be made at any cost by directing the -balloon into a wind tending to some part of the south. Mr. Andrée will -certainly not pay attention to the geographical position of the spot -where he is to alight. He will not care whether he lands on land or on -sea. It will make no difference to him whether he sets foot on rocks or -on cracking ice. He will trust equally to the frozen Atlantic or to the -congelated Pacific if he can descend from cloudland above the horizon of -a whaler. Russia, Siberia, Alaska, or the Northern Dominions are as good -as his own country, if it is not beyond his power to reach some locality -inhabited by Esquimos, Laplanders, or Samoyeds. The main point is to see -The Northern Pole afloat for a long period, say a month. At all events, -Mr. Ekholm calculates that the balloon will remain in the air at least -fifteen or twenty days, and that during this time it will have passed -over a distance of nearly four thousand miles. - -[Illustration: The NORTHERN POLE.] - -In order to be quite sure to navigate in the atmosphere twelve times -longer than any aeronautical run performed up to the present day (the -thirty-six hours' voyage made in 1892 by M. Maurice Mallet, who has -drawn the accompanying sketches), Mr. Andrée is having his balloon made -absolutely impermeable, of the best and most costly material, with a new -varnish and exceptional sewing. He has replaced even the usual valve at -the top by two others a great deal smaller and fixed to the equator of -the balloon, to be used only for ordinary manoeuvres during the -prolongation of the voyage, for he is determined not to make any pause, -decided to fall from cloudland like a thunderbolt to the very spot -selected by instantly opening his monstrous sphere with a tearing rope, -to which will be attached a dagger for the grand and final moment. - - - - -EARLY DAYS OF SUCCESSFUL MEN. - -WILLIAM EUSTIS RUSSELL. - -BY LLOYD McKIM GARRISON. - - -If you have ever attended the Harvard-Yale football game at Springfield, -and sat upon the Harvard side of the field, you must have been struck by -the enthusiasm that ran along the crowded benches as a certain slender, -youthful-looking gentleman passed by them looking for his seat. You -might have seen the same enthusiasm break forth along those densely -packed New York streets through which the great Columbian parade marched -nearly two years ago, or, in Chicago, all the way from Lincoln Park to -the White City, whenever among the group of Governors of the different -States there appeared the same young-looking gentleman, managing his -black horse with a strong hand, and sitting him with a firmness that -showed the muscles of his lithe figure under his black official coat. -That gentleman was William Eustis Russell, then Governor of -Massachusetts, the leader of the Democratic party in his State, and the -possessor of a personal popularity which is not limited by her -boundaries. - -When you are a Freshman in college you are apt to look upon the big -Senior Captain of the university crew as a person of unusual strength -and size. You never imagine that he could have been different when he -was a Freshman. You think he must have been born so, and grieve because -in your class there are no Freshmen like him. It is only when you -yourself wake up one morning and find that you are no longer a Freshman, -but a Senior and Captain of the crew, that you realize that all great -men are first boys before they are anything else, and that what -afterwards makes them great is pluck and character and their admiration -and emulation of other great men. This is true of the greatest generals -and statesmen, just as of 'varsity oarsmen. They were not always solemn -men with black coats and white cravats, but boys, and probably jolly -ones; and so it was with Governor Russell, whose boyhood was such a -happy and hearty one that it has kept in his face the appearance of -youth, which makes his accomplishments seem so remarkable. - -He was born in 1857 in the old college town of Cambridge, Massachusetts, -where Harvard College is. His father was Charles Theodore Russell, a -leading lawyer in the town, and in politics a stanch Democrat. William, -or, as he was then called (and as some of his older friends still dare -to call him), "Billy" Russell, was the youngest of seven children, -having three brothers and three sisters older than himself; and the -traditional luck of a seventh son has followed him accordingly. - -His father was a man of small income, which his interest in public life -kept him from increasing. So his large family of children, brought up in -what was then a small country town, were left largely to themselves for -their amusement. He was strict in exacting from them industry, -obedience, and truthfulness. On Sundays they went punctually to church -near where the old Washington elm stands. Every evening they settled -down to study, which came easily to them; but on holidays, and during -the long afternoons after school hours, they were given almost absolute -liberty, which taught them self-reliance, the greater because their -father, who had a horror of extravagance, gave them no such allowance of -spending-money as spoils too many a boy to-day; so they had to get their -fun out of the fields, woods, and ponds, wherever it was most wholesome. -They were passionately fond of animals, and always had a quantity of -pets about, all of which, except a pony, they had either bought with -their own savings or had given to them. They built hutches, in which -they kept delightful lop-eared rabbits, guinea-pigs, and big fluffy gray -squirrels from the Waverly oaks, and many good-natured dogs of no known -breed, which followed them on their expeditions. - -Billy Russell was a delicate boy, and therefore was encouraged to lead -an out-of-door life from earliest childhood. When he was but eight years -old his father, who was a great fisherman, took him to the Maine woods -for a summer at the forks of the Kennebec. He began to grow stronger -then and there, and was soon as hearty as any boy, and much more nimble -than most. There was scarcely any kind of sport at which he did not -become expert, particularly the natural sports--skating, coasting, and -swimming; and he rode the family pony till he went to college, and got a -seat he never lost afterwards. - -He loved the water, his boat, and his fish-lines, but most of all he -longed for a gun; and as his father could not spare a small boy money -for such a luxury, he determined to make it himself--and he did. From -the inlet at Fresh Pond, and from the little green bays of Spy Pond near -Arlington, two miles from Cambridge, he picked great bunches of -water-lilies, and sold them for five cents a bunch to passers-by. He -collected old horseshoes for the rag-man and did odd jobs for neighbors; -and on the other side of the Charles River, where the bare-foot boy -shouting at and belaboring some unruly steer was not likely to be -recognized as a son of "Lawyer Russell," he many a time drove a herd of -cattle from Boston to Brighton yards for a quarter of a dollar; and he -was so industrious and clever that he had soon saved quite a handsome -sum, and the coveted gun was at last bought; and he never afterwards had -any possession that gave him such pleasure. - -The ownership of a real gun made Billy the leader of a small set of -boys, who went bushwhacking with him through all the neighboring -country. They used to camp out on the shores of Walden Pond, cooking -their own game, and learning to sleep in the open air in spite of the -strange noises of the woods. They shot and fished the whole country-side -over, from the Waverly Oaks and the woods towards Watertown out to -Weston and Wayland; and in the other direction around Spy Pond, Spot -Pond, the Mystic River, and the Middlesex Fells; they gathered nuts in -big sacks along the old Concord Road, where the red-coats ran away in -April, 1775, and sometimes even plundered the orchards around Lexington -village, the leader of the young outlaws being the future Governor of -the State. - -Although he was such an excellent student, he was the despair of his -teachers by reason of his mischievousness, which was usually of a most -ingenious kind, but because of his excellent record they never did much -more than take his Saturday afternoons away from him. His followers and -he still kept up their sport ardently, and some of his achievements at -this time were wonderful feats of daring. He was "stumped" to climb up -the scaffolding surrounding the tall steeple of Dr. MacKenzie's church, -and did so; and on another "dare" he climbed up the scaffolding to the -top of the tower of Memorial Hall, then being built--a feat any one will -appreciate who has ever seen that tremendous pile. In these undertakings -he was aided, as he was in all athletic sports, by the fact of having -the equal use of both hands. He prefers the left hand, and commonly uses -it, but the right is equally strong; and when I last saw him he was -writing with his right hand because he had just sprained his left thumb. - -When he entered Harvard College in the class of '77, which has gone down -to fame as the most brilliant (and disorderly) class that ever was, he -was only sixteen, but quite old for his age. Just as at school, he -treated all his classmates alike, without regard to what team or what -society they were on, never himself belonging to any particular set or -clique, but to the class at large, where he was universally known and -liked. He kept up his studies only fairly well, as the prescribed -courses did not interest him; but in the electives, where he chose -history and political economy, he reached such high marks that his -general average kept him in the first quarter of his class, and he did a -great deal of independent reading along his favorite lines of study that -was not counted in marks, but, nevertheless, was of the greatest service -to him. - -In the social life of the class he went along with the rest, without -particular eminence, belonging to the "Institute," the "Dickey," and the -"Hasty Pudding Club," whose initiations which were then quite elaborate -he survived; the men who were "running" him, and calling out to him to -"hit 'er up" when he was speeding through the Yard for them, little -guessing whom they were ordering about. He kept up his athletics, and -played half-back on the Harvard football team against Yale and -All-Canada in the days when they played fifteen on a side, and Harvard -teams won the games as much as a matter of course as Yale teams do -nowadays. Young Russell's athletics made him quite a "horrible example" -for parents to hold up, for before he was through college he had twice -fractured his arm skating and coasting, broken a finger at baseball, and -his nose at football; but his athletics had also given him a sound and -sinewy body which has kept him in such good health that he has been able -to undertake tasks such as no one else has ever attempted--as, for -instance, when he travelled the length of Cape Cod and spoke to twenty -different audiences in the same day, and to most of them from the steps -of a car. So he is still devoted to athletics in spite of all his -accidents, and is an enthusiastic wearer of the crimson at all its great -games in spite of its recent ill-success. - -In the summer of his Junior year he nearly lost his life in a sailing -accident which attracted great attention at the time. He, three -classmates of his, a New York boy and his tutor, were at Nantucket, and -went out sailing in a twenty-five-foot centre-board on a very rough day, -with the wind coming in puffs, and the sea, which had been raised by a -storm the day before, running very high. About four miles from the shore -the boat was caught in a squall, and in a moment had capsized and sunk, -leaving all six struggling in the water. By the merest chance a -fisherman who was crossing the bluffs above the beach on his way to his -nets saw the white sail disappear in the water, and carried an alarm to -the light-house, which was answered as soon as possible, though it was -an hour and a half before the dories had made their way out through the -surf and picked up the scattered swimmers, each one of whom thought -himself to be the sole survivor. Russell was the last to be picked up, -and had swum three miles with the help of a strong flood-tide during the -two hours he was in the water. One of the party, the New York boy, was -found clinging unconscious to an oar, the only bit of wreckage left from -the lost boat. His tutor and he were poor swimmers, and neither dared to -try the long swim to the shore which the others all undertook, so the -boy clung to the oar, and the tutor tried to keep afloat without it. -After a few moments, however, he felt himself weakening, and called out, -"Frank, pass me the oar or I'll sink!" The boy did so, and the frail -stick sank beneath their combined weight. - -The tutor never hesitated. "Frank," he said, "this will only drown us -both;" and deliberately releasing his hold on the oar, he gave it up, -with his life, to the boy whose life had been intrusted to him. - -The accident and the rescue caused great excitement in the little island -town. The old crier with his bell cried the news of the rescue about the -place before the newspaper had out its extras, and every one was deeply -moved by the heroism of Sampson, the brave fellow who had so cheerfully -died to save his friend. - -This experience was a very memorable one to young Russell, and it -sobered and matured him, as a great struggle should; and from that -moment his life became more settled and serious. - -In his Senior year at college, which followed it, he did far better work -than he had done in the three years before; and when he entered the -law-school of Boston University he began to show his true measure; for -he was not only first in his class, but such a first that, as with the -old yacht America, there was no second. He took the only prize in the -school--the William Beach Lawrence prize-essay--the first degree _summa -cum laude_ ever awarded, and was elected valedictorian of his class by -unanimous vote of his classmates. - -During all this time he had been working in his father's law-office, -supporting himself from the day he left college, and had made six -hundred dollars a year alone by revising and correcting the proofs of -Wharton's books on criminal law, and verifying the references, which was -the most tedious of tasks, but served him a good lesson in care and -minuteness. - -In 1879 he was a practising lawyer, with a small practice, and no -particular ambition, except to increase it; and so he continued for two -years, when, to his enormous surprise, he found that without his -knowledge or permission he had been nominated for the Common Council of -his native city of Cambridge. This was in the fall of 1881. The election -was a hot one, and Russell was elected by one vote over his former -High-school principal, which was said to have chagrined the latter -excessively. - -Russell was now twenty-four years old and at the beginning of his -political career, which during the next dozen years was destined to be -remarkable. - -He had always had an interest in politics because of his father's -interest in them, and in the Hayes-Tilden campaign of 1876 he spoke for -Tilden as a sort of experiment in public speaking, which gave him -confidence enough to do considerable speaking during the -Garfield-Hancock campaign in 1880. All this had been excellent training, -but Russell had to show that he had other good qualities when he was -elected to office. - -Cambridge at this time had a dishonest government under Mayor Fox, who -had put in office corrupt and incapable men, whose idea was that public -officers were not elected to make a city pleasant and safe to live in, -but to have an easy life on other people's money. - -Young Russell was an American born, fresh from the ennobling -associations of Harvard College, who knew what American government had -been and ought to be, and he at once made himself so outspoken against -this corrupt crowd as a Councilman that in the following year he was -elected Alderman, a position of far greater power. - -He was no sooner in office than the ring began its warfare against him -and he against it, in which he gave as hard blows as he took. There were -two rival horse railroads in the city. The Mayor was interested in one, -and determined to destroy the other. Russell opposed him, and so -skilfully and boldly that he carried the Aldermen with him, after one of -the bitterest and most difficult fights in his long career. - -In 1883 the ring carried every district but Mr. Russell's, and he was -re-elected by forty plurality, and remained during the year a minority -of one in the Board of Aldermen, but powerful for good because of his -unsparing opposition to and exposure of the corruption he could not -prevent. - -His identification with opposition to the ring had become so absolute -that when, in 1884, the citizens of Cambridge, without regard to party, -united to overthrow it and set up a businesslike government, Mr. Russell -became the natural candidate. He made speeches in all parts of the city, -and his knowledge of the facts was so great that his speeches had deadly -effect. His victory was complete, and the ring was so badly beaten that -it has never regained power since. As Mayor Mr. Russell's course was -most honorable and successful. Though not thirty years old, his thorough -study of government, his reverence for American institutions, and his -knowledge of the peculiar needs of Cambridge made him better able to -serve the city than an older man of a different bringing up. He -destroyed the ring, root and branch, and made his own appointments to -office for fitness only. He saw that the laws were obeyed, even though -they were laws he personally opposed. He reduced the city's debt, -lowered its taxes, and made its name as respectable as it had been -before the days of its local Tweed. - -Indeed, so grateful were the citizens to him that they re-elected him -without any opposition in 1885, 1886, and 1887; and in 1888, although he -desired to retire, he withdrew his declination on being presented with a -petition of three thousand names, and was elected again by two thousand -majority, carrying every ward and every precinct but two, in spite of -hostility to him because of his firmness in stopping disorder during the -great railroad strike during the winter before. - -His administration as Mayor had made him so conspicuous a leader in his -own party that in 1886 he was offered the Congressional nomination for -his district, which he declined to accept; and in 1888 he was made the -Democratic candidate for Governor--city and State elections coming in -different months in Massachusetts. As Massachusetts is strongly -Republican, he did not expect to win, but his personal popularity gave -him more votes for Governor than Mr. Cleveland received for President. -In 1889 he was renominated by acclamation, and made a brilliant campaign -of the State, which established his reputation as a debater of the -highest ability; but although he made great gains in the Republican part -of the State, he lost it by a small majority. In 1890 he was again -renominated, and made his third canvass of the State, which was more -thorough than ever, and resulted in his triumphant election as Governor. - -His administration of his new office was like that of his other one. He -never made a promise he did not keep, nor did he ever make a promise he -could not keep; so he became the "reform Governor," and put out bad men -to put in good ones, kept the taxes down, saw the State funds were -properly spent, and that the government was the people's and not the -politicians'. He accomplished a great deal, but most of all the -converting of political opponents into personal followers, for he won -over enough Republicans to make him Governor again in 1891, and still a -third time in 1892; and he might, it would seem, have kept on being -Governor as long as he had kept on being Mayor except that he refused, -in spite of many entreaties to do so, to run again after his third term. - -So he left public office, which he had had to undertake for a dozen -years, and went quietly back to his law practice, which he makes as -successful as his campaigns, and to his home, for he was married while -he was Mayor, in 1885, and has a charming wife and three jolly children. -You may see him any day in Boston going quietly about the streets, or -riding his horse out to Cambridge over the Milldam. He spends his -vacations, as he always did from boyhood, in the Maine woods, and loves -fishing and shooting as much as if he were still a boy. - - - - -CAMERA CLUB PRIZE COMPETITION. - - -Never since the ROUND TABLE first offered prizes for best specimens of -photographic work has the competition been so widespread or so many -pictures submitted for prizes. The pictures sent have been, as a rule, -much finer than in former years, showing that our club is raising its -standard of work, and that the members profit by the hints given in the -Camera Club Department. This was shown especially in the finishing and -mounting, very few pictures being sent in on small cards. The picture -which won first prize in marines had no name. This picture is well -finished and mounted, and justly merits first prize. The second prize -for marines was won by a Lady of the ROUND TABLE, and this also having -no name, it has been called "A Good Take," and is a picture of a number -of fishermen just shaking out the last fishes from their net on a huge -pile which lies on the ground; the boat is drawn up on the beach, and a -number of interested spectators, fishermen, are looking on. - -In landscapes the first prize was given to a Maryland landscape. A -wooded hill slopes down to a winding river, glimpses, of which can be -seen through the trees, and perspective and distance are given by the -range of mountains on the horizon. A large log marks the foreground, and -near the edge of the river can be seen figures of several boys about to -build a camp fire, the figures being quite small, and not so conspicuous -as to first attract the eye when looking at the picture. The point of -view was well chosen, and the picture would make an excellent color -study. The second-prize picture was entitled, "Here are cool Mosses -deep," and was a fine picture. - -The first prize for figure studies was given to a picture entitled, -"Would you like a Piece?" and represents a young lady offering candy -from a box of fine bonbons to three little children whom she has -evidently met on her walk. The expressions on the faces of the children -as they bashfully accept the proffered sweets are excellent, and, if -they were posed for the picture, evidently entered into the spirit of -the scene. The second prize was given to a picture entitled, "I won't -stand still." The finishing of this picture showed much artistic taste -and originality. The artist made a crayon drawing of a scroll, pinned a -butterfly, a lace-winged fly, and two or three bugs on it, and -photographed the whole. He then printed the picture in the centre of the -scroll. - -In the senior or "Open to All" competition the first prize in landscapes -was awarded to a picture entitled, "Sun and Shade," and the second prize -to a picture with no name, but showing a small stream in the foreground, -with a road leading off into a wood. Both prize-winners sent in many -other excellent specimens of work. - -The first prize picture in figure studies was awarded to one entitled, -"He cometh not." A young lady in evening costume, with opera cloak and a -scarf, sits holding a watch, at which she is looking, evidently much -annoyed at the non-appearance of her promised escort. The subject, -though rather a hackneyed one, is well treated, the lighting, pose, and -expression being above the average of photographic work. The mounting -and finish of the picture are also very fine. The second prize was -awarded to a picture entitled, the "Checker-Players." An elderly man is -playing checkers with a young boy, perhaps his grandson. He has made a -move which puts the younger one in an unfortunate position, and the -puzzled look on the boy's face as he studies the game is very good. A -little girl, the boy's sister, sits at the side of the table, looking up -into her brother's face, as much as to say, "Now you are in a box sure!" - -THE CAMERA CLUB FIRST-PRIZE WINNERS. - -[Illustration: First Prize, Senior Class--Figure Studies. - -By H. E. Murdock.] - -[Illustration: First Prize, Junior Class--Marine Views. - -By Sir Knight Joseph Lovering.] - -[Illustration: First Prize, Junior Class--Figure Studies. - -By Sir Knight Andrew M. Phillips.] - -[Illustration: First Prize, Junior Class--Landscapes. - -By Sir Knight Frank Smith.] - -[Illustration: First Prize, Senior Class--Landscapes. - -By R. Hamilton Craig.] - - - - -[Illustration: INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORT] - - -Ice-boating is the sport that appeals most strongly at the present -season to those of us who live near a lake or a river and have even the -slightest knowledge of sailing. It is a sport that many people -discourage because of the danger supposed to be connected with it, but -as a matter of fact it is less dangerous to sail and handle an ice-boat -than it is to sail and handle a cat-boat. The only two things to be -guarded against while running an ice-boat are sailing upon weak ice or -near the edge of open water, and getting the runners caught in a -crevice. In the one case you risk drowning, in the second you will very -probably smash your machine and get mixed up in the wreckage yourself. -But, compared with the chances for a ducking when sailing a cat-boat, -the probabilities of a plunge from an ice-boat are very remote; and as -for getting the runners into a crevice, only the most careless or -incompetent helmsman need fear such a mishap. - -The idea prevails among those unacquainted with the sport that, because -ice-boats skim along so rapidly over the frozen river, it is therefore -particularly dangerous. This, however, is an incorrect conclusion to -draw, for ice-boats are so easily controlled that they can be brought to -a stop almost instantly, and they answer their helms so rapidly that -they can be most easily steered and turned out of danger. As in -everything else of this nature, however, the sportsman, whether he be -young or old, must use judgment and care in the handling of his machine, -otherwise he is bound to come to grief. But such an individual would -undoubtedly come to grief on a bicycle or on skates, or even in walking -through the crowded streets of a busy city. - -[Illustration: PLAN FOR HOME MADE ICE BOAT.] - -The construction of an ice-boat is the point I want to touch on here, -rather than upon the improbability of suffering bodily harm from taking -part in the sport. Of course it is always possible to buy an ice-boat, -new or second-hand; but it is much cheaper and certainly more pleasing -and profitable to build your own craft, and it is by no means a -difficult task. The boat proper is a triangular wooden frame, partly -covered at the apex or stern. This covering, or deck, is necessary for -the accommodation of the crew. The frame is built to rest on three -skatelike runners, two of which are at the front--at either end of the -base-line of the triangle--and one at the stern, the latter being the -rudder. This rudder is controlled by a tiller, similar to the tiller of -a sail-boat, and it is with this that all the handling of the machine is -done, for the sails are seldom touched after they have once been set. - -Many rigs have been tried on ice-boats, but experience has shown that -the simple balanced jib-and-mainsail rig is the best. As a rule the jib -sheet is set on a traveller, so that no trimming down is required for -going about. If it is possible to avoid it, an ice-boat should never be -made to run before the wind, because the craft cannot be made to behave -well under such conditions. There being no resistance to speak of, such -as a cat-boat meets in the water, the ice-boat behaves badly when -sailing free, runs up against the wind, and falls back continually. The -best plan when sailing one of these machines off the wind is to take a -zigzag course back and forth in the general direction of the wind, -instead of running directly before it. - -The best material for the construction of an ice-boat is oak, but good -yellow pine will do for the frame if oak is found to be too expensive. -The platform should be built of light pine, with a low railing around -the edge. It is well to screw a few cleats and eye-bolts to this deck, to -which it may be found convenient to fasten straps and ropes to hold on -by when running fast or making turns. I give no proportions for -construction, because it is best for amateur carpenters to adapt these -to their resources. The general proportionate relation of the various -parts of the machine can be easily seen from the diagrams. - -The frame of an ice-boat is subject to severe strain, and ought, -therefore, to be made as strong as possible. It should be put together -with bolts and screws. Nails may be used for the platform, but screws -are preferable. The mast should be of pine, and must be rigged with -strong stays--of wire, if possible. The bowsprit in the same way. When -it comes to the making of the rudder a blacksmith will have to be called -in. The tiller and rudder-post will have to be forged of iron, as shown -in the diagram, and should be carefully made, because much depends upon -their strength and durability. The head of the rudder-post must be -squared off, and the tiller fixed firmly upon it. The steering runner, -or rudder proper, underneath, is secured to the iron rudder-post by a -bolt, and it is advisable to slip a large iron washer over the post to -give it a smooth bearing. - -[Illustration: RUNNER AND BLOCKS.] - -For the runner shoes I should recommend soft iron. This becomes very -much heated, to be sure, when the boat is running, but the soft metal -chills rapidly as soon as the machine comes to a stop. This alternate -heating and chilling soon give the runner's edge a degree of hardness -fully equal to that of steel. (Let me caution novices at ice-boating -against touching their runners, for the metal becomes so heated that it -can inflict painful burns.) The runners proper--that is, the wooden part -before the metal shoe is put on--should be cut of stiff, heavy oak. They -should be carefully bored, and attached to the frame with bolts. The -blocks that hold the two forward runners should be firmly bolted to the -forward plank of the frame--the one that forms the base of the -triangle--and set so as to hold the runners firmly. The iron shoes are -screwed to the runners. The metal must previously be drilled, and the -screws which hold the shoes to the wood must be counter-sunk so that -their heads may not touch the ice. - -To steer an ice-boat well considerable practice is required. There is no -perceptive "feel" to the helm as there is to that of a water craft. The -tiller turns so easily that great care and patience are required to -attain the proper "touch," but when this is once acquired it is -delightful to feel the power of a finger-touch over so great an engine. -The manner of stopping an ice-boat is similar to that of stopping a -sail-boat, in that you round up into the wind; but an ice-boat rounds up -much more quickly, and is held fast by jamming the helm hard down so -that the rudder lies parallel to the fore cross-beam--the base of the -triangle. - -The majority of pictures of ice-boats that I have seen show the machines -keeled over and speeding along over the ice on two runners, with a lot -of terrified-looking passengers gripping beams and ropes. This is all -very well for purposes of illustration, but it is not in exact -conformity with fact. Ice-boats do sometimes "rear" as the pictures show -us, but it is not because the steersman desires such conduct. Rearing is -a thing to be prevented and not to be encouraged. Ice-boats have three -runners, and they are intended to run on three runners, not on two. A -good sailor will keep his boat down on all three runners all the time. -If the wind is so strong as to lift the windward runner, send a man out -on the end to hold it down with his weight. There is no danger in this -position, and considerable sport. - -The speed of an ice-boat is greater than that of anything but a -locomotive, and under favorable conditions the boat can even distance -the engine. A mile a minute has frequently been made by such boats on -the Hudson River. I should not advise young ice-yachtsmen to attempt too -great speed, however, until they have become thoroughly familiar with -their craft; until they have learned every trick of the machine, and -have secured such control over the tiller that they are masters of the -ice-boat, and the ice-boat never master of them. Above all things, shun -thin ice as you would the open sea, and keep a constant lookout for -cracks and rough spots. Under such conditions you are beyond danger, and -you have at your command one of the finest of sports, and one of the -keenest of sensations--rapid travel. - -OFFICERS OF THE NATIONAL INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION. - -[Illustration: C. G. McDAVITT, President.] - -[Illustration: H. I. PRATT, Vice-President.] - -[Illustration: H. N. DUNBAR, Secretary.] - -[Illustration: O. E. MICHAELIS, Treasurer.] - -The officers or the National Interscholastic Athletic Association, whose -portraits appear this week, are all prominent workers in their -respective organizations. Mr. McDavitt, in addition to being president -of the National Association, is president of the New York I.S.A.A.; Mr. -Pratt is president of the Long Island I.S.A.A.; Mr. Dunbar is president -of the New England I.S.A.A.; and Mr. Michaelis is secretary of the Maine -I.S.A.A. - -The address of the secretary of the National I.S.A.A. is H. Nelson -Dunbar, Esq., 552 Shawmut Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts. All -communications on matters connected with the association should be -addressed to him. - -Dr. White, of the Berkeley School, says that he feels sure "the -head-masters of the preparatory schools throughout the country will look -with anxiety upon the formation of a National Interscholastic Athletic -Association," and he gives his reasons for this belief in a letter to a -New York paper; but I believe a great many of his objections, if looked -at from a slightly different point of view, can be turned to the favor -of the new organization. Dr. White has, to a certain extent, condemned -the weaknesses of the young association, instead of suggesting -improvements and remedies. He begins, for instance, by saying that "the -avidity for athletic competitions among boys has already been fostered -too keenly," and he adds that "we already have so many contests of a -competitive nature that the schools cannot without danger stand the -pressure of still another and more engrossing series." - -In advocating and encouraging the formation of a National Association, -the main object of this Department was to secure the organization of a -parent or controlling body that would bring order out of the present -chaotic state of interscholastic contests. The holding of an annual -field meeting was purely a secondary consideration, the principal desire -in urging the formation of the association being to secure uniformity in -the schedule of events contested at minor meets, establish a standard of -record, and to fix a cast-iron definition of what constitutes an amateur -with regard to athletic competition among schools. In favoring the -holding of a field day this Department believed, and still believes, -that the many smaller school meetings would be done away with, and that -interscholastic sport would thus be rid of one of its worst features. -Take New York city as an example. Almost every school in the local -League holds a field day previous to the big meet in May controlled by -the I.S.A.A. These little meetings could be done away with altogether. I -am heartily in accord with Dr. White when he says that "the avidity for -athletic competitions among boys has already been fostered too keenly." - -That a National Association of schools can never be a representative one -I think is not true. It is certainly not true if the object of the -association is to be the promotion of pure sport, and the regulation of -events that interscholastic associations in every part of the country -shall compete in. And that, I hold, is the object of the association. I -repeat that an annual field meeting is purely a secondary consideration. -If it should be found convenient to hold one, the contest would be -beneficial, and would doubtless be attended by representative athletes -from widely separated localities; but such a contest would merely be a -small evidence of the good work the association had done. It would also -serve to establish a definite standard of record, which it is certainly -advisable to have. But I cannot say too emphatically that in urging all -these arguments I consider them as purely secondary to the main and -fundamental objects of the association. When Dr. White says that the -date fixed for the meeting (the last Saturday in June) would of -necessity exclude a large percentage of the best athletes from the -preparatory schools, I agree with him fully. This Department has already -gone on record as being opposed to that date, and has suggested to the -Executive Committee that an earlier time be chosen. This Department's -objection, however, was not based upon the probable absence of a "large -percentage of the best athletes," but on the ground that the date of the -meeting would come at a time when senior school-boys must be giving all -their time and attention to the college entrance examinations. Dr. White -refers to this, too; and I don't think he would find any more evil in -the holding of a national meet in May than in a league meet at about -the same date. - -Where this Department fully agrees with Dr. White is in his objection to -the newspaper notoriety connected with a big meet, and to the evil -results of too much politics in the executive work. The latter is by all -means the worse of the two, but I have hoped it could be vastly -diminished by having the work distributed at centres so widely separated -from one another that the petty jealousies of local efforts would be -entirely done away with. As for the newspapers, they are a condition and -not a theory. It is the mode of the century to treat events by columns -rather than by lines, and I doubt if in the end (the small meetings -being eliminated) there would be more type set about interscholastic -matters to describe one great occasion than to record a swarm of lesser -events. It is well for the principals of schools to take an honest -interest in this new movement, and if the preponderance of opinion is -that the objects desired cannot be attained along these lines, there -ought to be enough wisdom among the older heads to point out the better -way. - -A new track-athletic league has been formed by the larger -boarding-schools of the Eastern States, and it is proposed now to hold -an annual field meeting in the spring, alternately at New Haven and -Princeton. The present members of the new association are Lawrenceville, -The Hill School, Westminster, and Hotchkiss; and it is probable that -Worcester and Andover will join at the next convention of the managers, -which is to be held during the Easter recess. This league ought to prove -a very strong one, for the schools in it are all prominent in track -sports. If they should become members of the National Association, as -they doubtless will, they would send one of the strongest teams of any -association excepting New York and Boston. - -Interest in the National I.S.A.A. seems to be general among these large -schools. The _Phillipian_, of Andover, has an editorial on the subject, -and urges the track athletes to go into training at once, closing with -the statement that a strong team is necessary this year, for "it means -not only competing in Boston, but also the chance of winning laurels for -Andover in the All-America competition in New York." If these large -schools, such as Andover, and Worcester, and Lawrenceville, and the most -important Boston schools, determine that a national championship is -something worth working for--as it certainly is--they will give the New -York athletes a hard tussle for supremacy, and the latter may as well -realize at once that it is none too early for them to begin hard -training. - -Training for baseball has already begun in many quarters, especially at -the large schools in the country. As soon as space permits, this -Department will offer some suggestions for training and preparation -which may prove of assistance to captains and players. - -The Long Island League has already arranged its baseball schedule for -this spring as follows: - - April 18--Brooklyn Latin School vs. St. Paul School. - April 22--High-School vs. Adelphi Academy. - April 25--Pratt Institute vs. Polytechnic Preparatory. - April 29--Brooklyn High-School vs. Brooklyn Latin School. - May 2--Pratt Institute vs. Brooklyn Latin School. - May 6--Brooklyn High-School vs. St. Paul. - May 6--Polytechnic Preparatory vs. Brooklyn Latin School. - May 9--Pratt Institute vs. Adelphi Academy. - May 16--Pratt Institute vs. Brooklyn High-School. - May 16--Adelphi Academy vs. Brooklyn Latin School. - May 16--Polytechnic Preparatory vs. St. Paul. - May 23--Polytechnic Preparatory vs. Brooklyn High-School. - May 23--Pratt Institute vs. St. Paul. - May 27--Adelphi Academy vs. Polytechnic Preparatory. - June 3--Adelphi Academy vs. St. Paul. - -It will be seen that their season begins early, this being necessitated -by the number of teams in the League. I hope the schedule will be -carried out completely, and that the unfortunate system of forfeiting -games--usually through fear of defeat--will not be carried on this -spring as it was last fall in football. - - DICK GORHAM.--Maroon is the college color of St. John's, Fordham. - - THE GRADUATE. - - * * * * * - -A GOOD CHILD - -is usually healthy, and both conditions are developed by use of proper -food. The Gail Borden Eagle Brand Condensed Milk is the best infant's -food; so easily prepared that improper feeding is inexcusable and -unnecessary.--[_Adv._] - - - - -ADVERTISEMENTS. - - - - -Arnold - -Constable & Co - - * * * * * - -LYONS SILKS. - -Novelties for - -Ball, Dinner, and Reception Gowns - -received by last steamer. - -White and Black Brocades, Rich Chene - -Effects, Colored Peau de Soie. - -Pim's Irish Plaid Poplins, - -White Brocades, Satins, Faille, - -for Wedding Gowns. - -_New Tissues for Bridesmaids' Dresses._ - - * * * * * - -GRENADINES, GAZES. - -LYONS VELVETS. - - * * * * * - -Broadway & 19th st. - -NEW YORK. - - - - -[Illustration: Royal Baking Powder] - - - - -BREAKFAST--SUPPER. - -EPPS'S - -GRATEFUL--COMFORTING. - -COCOA - -BOILING WATER OR MILK. - - - - -HOOPING-COUGH - -CROUP. - -Roche's Herbal Embrocation. - -The celebrated and effectual English Cure without internal medicine. -Proprietors, W. EDWARD & SON, London, England. - -E. Fougera & Co., 30 North William St., N.Y. - - - - -[Illustration] - -PRINTING OUTFIT 10c. - -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. Same outfit with figures 15c. Larger outfit for printing two -lines 25c. post-paid. Ingersoll & Bro, 65 Cortlandt St., N. Y. City - - - - -Songs. - -Franklin Square Collection. - -It would be difficult, if not impossible, to gather more features of -interest into a work of this kind. Not only are many of the best songs -and hymns in the English language here given--both old and new--but -there are also songs and hymns for children and the schools. There are -songs of home and of country, of love and fame, of heart and soul, of -devotion and praise, with their sad and sweet or lively melodies, and -with grand old chorals that stir the heart and lift it in worship. -Besides the words and music, explanatory and historic notes are given to -indicate their origin and significance. These books cannot fail to -become immensely popular.--_Lutheran Observer._ - - Sold Everywhere. Price, 50 cents; Cloth, $1.00. Full contents of - the Several Numbers, with Specimen Pages of favorite Songs and - Hymns, sent by Harper & Brothers, New York, to any address. - - - - -[Illustration: Thompson's Eye Water] - - - - -[Illustration: BICYCLING] - - 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. - - -[Illustration: Copyright, 1895, by Harper & Brothers.] - -To run from Baltimore on towards Washington it is necessary for the -rider to retrace his "steps" over the journey of the day before from the -Carrolton Hotel out through Druid Park to Arlington. Here a sharp turn -is made to the left, and a run of two miles or more made southward on -the road to Wetheredville. There are one or two climbs along this -stretch of the road which will seem unusual to one who has come down -from Philadelphia by the road we have been giving for the last few -weeks. In fact, for the first ten or twelve miles of this stage of the -journey the road runs through or across several valleys, winding about -the sides of hills, and occasionally going over a hill. After passing -Catonsville, however, and keeping sharp to the right, the run out to -Ellicott City is very free from irregularity of ground, and from -Ellicott City to Cooksville the road is straight, level, and moderately -good. There is no difficulty in keeping to the correct road after you -pass Ellicott City, as, in fact, you may easily see by reference to the -accompanying map of the journey; but from the hotel in Baltimore to -Ellicott City, or at least to Catonsville, there are several sharp turns -and not a few opportunities for getting into the wrong road. There are -two ways of avoiding this. One is to inquire as you go along, using the -accompanying map, and only inquiring where a sharp turn on the map is -hard to recognize along the way. Another plan is to secure a map of the -environs of Baltimore at the hotel, and get yourself posted before -leaving there as to the names of streets, particularly those which enter -and leave Wetheredville. - -In Baltimore itself the bicyclist should make it a point to see certain -places of note, especially Johns Hopkins University, which, while it is -in no way remarkable for buildings, is such a distinguished educational -institution that no one should leave Baltimore, once having arrived -there, without going over its buildings and seeing something of the -methods of instruction and study there. There are many other points of -interest in the city, and half a day can well be spent in going about -seeing them. As the run to Cooksville is but thirty miles at most, a -fair rider can easily make it in an afternoon, and can thus give a -morning to the city. - -It is our purpose, after the completion of this trip to Washington in -the next number of the Round Table, to take up bicycle routes in the -vicinity of Chicago. Many letters have been received complaining that -routes in the Eastern parts of the United States were being given -entirely, while the readers in the Western and Central parts of the -United States had nothing to interest them. It is necessary for us to -explain that in course of time bicycle trips will be given in the -vicinity of the principal centres of the United States; and, meanwhile, -by keeping the record of maps already published, which appears at the -bottom of this column, any reader can find the number in which any map -he may desire was published, and obtain it by sending to the Messrs. -Harper & Brothers for it. - - 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. - - - - -[Illustration: THE PUDDING STICK] - - 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. - - -"I haven't a talent worth speaking of," said Louise, throwing herself -down on the rug before the fire, and looking as mournful as a -red-cheeked, dimpled young person with merry black eyes and a laughing -mouth could possibly do. - -"That is really a great pity, Louise," said I, tossing her a pillow to -put under the pretty head. In certain moods, and at certain hours, -particularly when it is near supper-time, in the delightful hour between -daylight and dark, there is nothing more pleasant and more conducive to -thought and to a quiet talk with a friend whom you love than just to lie -on a fur rug in front of an open fire with a soft cushion under your -head. Try it, and see if you do not like it, my dear. - -"Where were you going when I met you yesterday morning, Louise?" I -inquired, casually. - -"With the little basket and the bundle?" she asked. - -"Yes, my dear." - -"Oh, _then_! I was carrying some jelly and a sponge-cake to old Mrs. -Andrews, who is ill and has no appetite. Her daughter goes out sewing, -and the children can manage to cook for themselves; but the dear -grandmother is neglected, so I thought she might enjoy something from -our table. The bundle was from mamma, but I helped pack it, and there -were enough things in it, if you'll believe me, to make the poor lady -happy for the season--a warm flannel petticoat, a little shawl for her -shoulders, and a pair of bedroom slippers. I never felt so glad in my -life as when I saw how little a thing can make some people happy." - -"We missed you from the pew on Sunday, Louise," I added, after a little -interval of silence and reflection. "Your father and mother looked -lonely without you sitting in the corner as usual." - -"Yes," said Louise, "I did not like to miss a service, and, of course, -mamma said that Dr. ---- never preached a lovelier sermon; but what -could I do? Cousin Alice hasn't been to church a morning this winter. -She does not like to leave the children with the nurse, who manages very -well with the baby, but cannot amuse Harold and Sue. So I told her to go -to church and be at ease, and I would entertain the little man and -woman, and I did, and I had my hands full. I don't wonder that Cousin -Alice looks tired out at the end of the day. Such fidgety, restless, -uproarious, sweet little pickles as those tots of hers are I _never_ -saw! I'm going to help her with them at least once a month in the same -way." - -"I'm sure it's very considerate and kind in you to think of it," said I, -"and Alice is fortunate in having such a thoughtful young cousin. -By-the-way, who attends to the flowers in your house, dear? Your -window-garden is my despair." - -"I am looking after the flowers this winter," said Louise. "It occupies -a good bit of my mornings to keep the ground loose around the roots, -water them, spray the leaves, pick off dead ones, and turn the pots -around to the sunshine. But it repays the trouble, for the plants grow -and bloom as if they loved me, and we always have flowers to send to our -friends. I'm head of the Committee on Flowers for the Christian -Endeavor, too, and it's the most delightful work I ever did." - -"Well, my darling," I said, "I'm rather of the opinion of your mother -than of yourself about you. She told me the other day that 'Louise had -practical talents, and was the dearest girl in the whole world.'" - -[Illustration: Signature] - - - - -ADVERTISEMENTS. - - - - -Expert - -Opinion - -The Canadian Government recently sent an appraiser to the principal -bicycle factories in this country, to determine the exact value of -various makes for import into Canada. After an exhaustive investigation, -his report to his Government rated - -Columbia - -Bicycles - -[Illustration] - -7-1/2 per cent. higher than any other make and they pay duty -accordingly. This but confirms the popular verdict. Columbias are - -STANDARD OF THE WORLD. - -Unequalled, Unapproached. - -Beautiful Art Catalogue of Columbia and Hartford Bicycles is free if you -call upon any Columbia agent; by mail from us for two 2-cent stamps. - -POPE MANUFACTURING CO. - -Factories and General Offices, Hartford, Conn. - -Branch Stores and Agencies in almost every city and town. If Columbias -are not properly represented in your vicinity let us know. - - - - -Monarch - -Mounted on this king of bicycles, you are Monarch of all you survey. All -nature is yours as you speed along on your ride of health and happiness. -You can depend on the MONARCH in any emergency. There's "Know How" in -the making. - - 4 models. $50 to $100, fully guaranteed. For children and adults - who want a lower price wheel the =Defiance= is made in 8 models, $40 - to $75. - -Send for Monarch book. - -[Illustration] - -Monarch Cycle Mfg. Co - -Lake, Halsted and - -Fulton Sts., - -CHICAGO. - -83 Reade Street, - -NEW YORK. - - - - -Postage Stamps, &c. - - - - -JAPANESE POSTAGE STAMPS. - -Every one who sends me 100 good stamps of his land will receive 100 -stamps, in 20 varieties, from Japan. - -K. TODA, - -BINGO MITSUNOSHO -- JAPAN. - - - - -[Illustration] - -STAMPS! =800= 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. - - - - -STAMP COLLECTORS! - -12 South America, 9c.; 15 Mexico and Central America, 10c.; 18 West -Indian, 10c.; 15 Australia, 11c.; 16 Asia, 10c. Large monthly price-list -free. Approval Sheet agents wanted; 50% com. and prizes given. C. W. -GREVNING, Morristown, N.J. - - - - -[Illustration] - -100 all dif. Venezuela, Bolivia, etc., only 10c.; 200 all dif. Hayti, -Hawaii, etc., only 50c. Ag'ts w't'd at 50% com. List FREE! =C. A. -Stegmann=, 5941 Cote Brilliante Ave., St. Louis, Mo - - - - -310 - -foreign Bolivia, etc., 10c.; 100 different China, etc., 10c. Finest -approval sheet, at 50%. Agents wanted. Large price-list, free. SHAW -STAMP CO., Jackson, Mich. - - - - -Stamps - -100 mixed, Salvador, etc., 12c.; 50 all different, 10c. Approval sheets -at 33-1/3 per cent. Send references. Address WALTER PIERSON, 360 Bridge -St., Brooklyn. N. Y. - - - - -STAMPS! 100 all dif. Barbados, etc. Only 10c. Ag'ts w't'd at 50% com. -List free. L. DOVER & CO., 1469 Hodiamont, St. Louis, Mo. - - - - -[Illustration] - -HARPER'S PERIODICALS. - -_Postage free to all subscribers in the United States, Canada, and -Mexico._ - - HARPER'S MAGAZINE _per Year_, $4.00 - HARPER'S WEEKLY " 4.00 - HARPER'S BAZAR " 4.00 - HARPER'S ROUND TABLE " 2.00 - -_Booksellers and Postmasters usually receive Subscriptions. -Subscriptions sent direct to the publishers should be accompanied by -Post-office Money Order or Draft. When no time is specified, -Subscriptions will begin with the current Number._ - -HARPER & BROTHERS, NEW YORK CITY, N. Y. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration: Thompson's Eye Water] - - - - -To Young Artists. - - -The Table offered prizes for best stories written by members under -eighteen. The first-prize story is to be illustrated. Do you want to try -to illustrate it? If so, write at once for a proof of the story. With -the proof we send suggestions about size. You select any incident in the -story, make your drawing, and return same to us. For the best -illustration we offer $10. - -If you send for proof, and then find yourself unable to make a drawing -satisfactory to yourself, you can then retire from the contest merely by -failing to forward a drawing. That is, you incur no obligation to submit -a drawing. There are already about ten who are to try their talents. -There is room for more. We print prize drawing and prize story together, -provided, of course, that we receive a creditable illustration. You -would not expect us to print one that was not so, even if it were the -best we received. - - * * * * * - -"Voyage of Discovery" Awards. - -The Table offered to divide $50 in money among the ten members of the -Order who sent that number of best answers to twenty-seven questions -which were written into jingle descriptive of a Journey taken by the -"three wise men of Gotham who went to sea in a bowl." There were some -riddles in the story, as that at a certain hotel in France the party -wasgiven a queer dish, described in a charade. But most of the -questions were such as these: "'Find a writer's tool in a Danish -port"--Co-_pen_(17)-hagen--and "convenient coin in a Russian -mart"--Ar-_change_(13)-l. Here are all the answers: - -1, La-_brad_-or and Winni-_peg_; 2, Ba-_ham_-a; 3, Au-_gust_-a; 4, -Hi-_malay_-a; 5, Cam-_peach_-y; 6, La-_dog_-a; 7, C-_hin_-a; 8, -Arti-choke; 9, Pen-_saco_-la; 10, Ar-_chip_-elago; 11, S-_imp_-lon and -Little Saint Bernard (dog); 13, Mada-_gas_-car; 14, C-_helm_-sford; 15, -K-_hart_-oum; 16, Draft, Draught, Draft; 18, Mis-_sou_-ri; 19, -Ma-_rat_-hon; 20, Co-_top_-axi; 21, Cotop-_ax_-i; 22, Wis-_Cass_-et, -_Franklin_-ville, _Lincoln_-ville, and _Pitt_-ston; 23, C-_asp_-ian; 24, -As-par-a-gus; 25, _Tar_-sus and Man-_Chester_; 26, Villa-_franc_-a; and -27, _Wig_-ht. - -Three solvers found all of the answers, and we send them, with our -congratulations, $7 each. Their names are: Paul B. Pitkin, Ohio; and -Frederic W. Darling and Joslyn Z. Smith, New York. Margaret Fendall -James, New Jersey, erred in one question, but she gave a better answered -six others of the best ten, and we send her $5. The following six failed -on one question each--not always the same one--and we award them $4 -each: Mary G. Smith, Minnesota; Arthur M. Anderson, New Jersey; William -C. Thayer, Michigan; Edith Starr Churchman, New Jersey; Gertrude G. -Wilcox, Massachusetts; and Louise McKinney, Florida. - -Winners who live near New York are asked to wait a few days for their -prizes, to give time for this number to reach distant competitors. It is -most pleasant for all to see awards in the paper, and hardly fair if -some know in advance, as they would do were we to send prizes in advance -of the paper's publication. - - * * * * * - -A Visit to a Mountain Palace. - - One glorious September morning found us all awake bright and early, - for at last, the day of our long-talked-of trip to Biltmore had - arrived. Just as the sun rose from behind Glassy Mountain with - merry good-byes we climbed into our coach, and rolled away down the - avenue. The few miles from "Clovernook" to the queer little place - called Buena Vista were soon covered, and we got a view of - Asheville. But my eager eyes sought Biltmore. Miles away, up on the - mountain-top, I caught a glimpse of gleaming white towers--the - palace in the mountains. - - We drove into the town of Biltmore, which, when finished, will seem - like one of those cities built by the old kings for their - amusement. On one side of the way costly buildings surrounded by - asphalt walks and gardens; on the other side, manufacturing - concerns. A turn in the road brought miles of the estate in view. - Everywhere we looked hundreds of men were at work. Over the grassy - hills roam the fine cattle, and here is the dairy farm, and there - the nursery. At this point we came into the grand drive, which is - only half completed. Trees of every variety border it. - - Frowning down on us from a great height was what seemed to be a - castle on the Rhine, vine-clad and impressive. By the winding road - we reached the farther side of the palace; driving through a - massive stone-vaulted hallway, on either side of which are the - elegant stables, we passed out into a circular court. Across this - and through another archway, and a palace of great architectural - beauty rose before us. I was dazed at first, and can only remember - a few things. The house seems to rise up around a semi-court paved - in marble, in the centre of which is a fountain from Pompeii. The - walls are carved in life-size statues. Dragons appear to hiss at us - from above. Italian sculptors are at work everywhere. Even the - ceilings are being carved in some rooms. My attention was called to - a grand pavilion and terrace opposite the gardens, guarded by huge - Assyrian monsters. Up marble steps and along another pavilion we - could see the west side of the place. It reminded me of the Chateau - of Chantilly, with its marble terrace and steps leading down to an - arbor. Steps on the right lead to the greenhouses and gardens; to - the left, beautiful little lakes. - - The scenery from here is most beautiful. There are mountains for - fifty miles around. At our feet the Swannanoa and French Broad - rivers meet. No trees surround the palace. Mr. Vanderbilt expects - to make this a winter house and wants the sunshine. I have built my - "castles in the air," and just before we started homeward, as I - stood there drinking in the beauty, I wondered if Mr. Vanderbilt - dreamed in his boyhood days of such a place. We all dream, I - suppose, but few can realize our dreams. At ten o'clock, we reached - what now seemed plain "Clovernook." It looked so bright and - homelike that we sang from our hearts-- - - "'Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam, - Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home." - - MAY INMAN MAGUIRE. - HENDERSONVILLE, N. C. - - * * * * * - -The Helping Hand. - -The example of "Billy" is producing results. Following him comes "Sancho -Panza," who sends, by the hand of his mistress, 25 cents, and "hopes -everybody is as much interested as I am." Sancho Panza is a Yankee dog, -at least he lives in Connecticut. Not to be behind him, here comes word -from Washington: - -"Two of us, Dick (the canary) and Polly (the parrot), are great -travellers, as we have been out to St. Louis, Mo., St. Paul, Minn., and -a great many towns and cities on the Mississippi River; we have also -been in Massachusetts, New York, Virginia, and are now living in the -District of Columbia, but hope to travel a great deal more, as the -father of our master and mistress is a naval officer, and naval -officers, you know, travel a great deal. We three little Paradise fish, -Tom, Dick, and Harry, are new members of the family, so we have not -travelled as Dick and Polly have, but hope to some day. We each send you -a dime, and our master and mistress send a quarter each, making $1 in -all." - -"Bruno Morgan," who is a greyhound and lives in New York, sends 50 -cents. Antonio France, another Connecticut "Yankee," who says he has no -tail, sends 10 cents and his mistress 10 more, and "Midget" a like sum -all the way from Nebraska. But "Midget," is a pony who says: - -"I have a great many friends who are not so well provided for. I see so -many of them whipped and overworked and shouted at by cross, impatient -drivers, who, I am sure, if they were brought up at Good Will Farm, where -Bow-wow Billy says they have established a Band of Mercy, would never, I -know, no matter how discouraged or ill-natured they might feel, vent -their anger on us defenceless creatures. I want more boys brought up at -this Good Will Farm, where they think of animals and treat them kindly." - - * * * * * - -Danbury and Its Hats. - - Hatting is the leading occupation of the people of Danbury. This - has been an occupation for at least a century, and now Danbury is - probably the largest hatting town in the country. The factories, - too, are extensive, and almost every manufacturer has a salesroom - in every important city. All kinds of hats are manufactured--soft, - stiff, and straw. We have fur factories, one of which has branches - in Mexico, Canada, Great Britain, and other countries. - - We have also silk manufactories, woollen-goods manufactories, and a - machine-shop. Recently a Danburian invented a trolley that would be - run by power passing through the tracks, thus doing away with - overhanging wires. If this proves a success, Danbury will have a - new industry, as all of the cars will be made here. We have, - besides these manufactories, two stock-farms which have gained - national notoriety. One, the Ridgewood, owns the famous horse - Quartermaster, which has gained several Blue Ribbons at the - National Horse Show in New York. Quartermarch is another horse of - that farm which has gained several prizes, one of which was at the - Grange Show, I think it is, of Orange, N. J. The other, Bekerle's, - owns several famous horses. One was sold to the Emperor of Germany - recently. May I write about a hat factory? - - ROBERT BULKELEY, K.R.T. - DANBURY. - -Yes, and tell us just how hats are made, especially the felt of the -stiff-crown ones. - - * * * * * - - KINGSMAN, ARIZONA, _December_ 30, 1896. - - Editor HARPER'S ROUND TABLE: - - DEAR SIR,--I wish to make a slight correction in my letter entitled - "How Tortillas are Made." It should be yeast _powder_ instead of - yeast. - - Very truly, - FLORENCE E. COWAN. - - * * * * * - -Questions and Answers. - -Sir Knight W. D. Olmsted, 19 Orange Street, Worcester, Mass., asks to -insert the following: "Will all who have sent stamps to addresses in the -'Want Corner,' and who have never heard from them again, please send me -their address and a stamp or postal card for reply. Also send name of -person to whom you sent the stamps, together with their address, value -of stamps, and date of sending." First sergeants of companies A, B, -etc., at West Point and in military companies rank alike. David -Blondheim, 306 North Howard Street, Baltimore, Md., wants some -correspondents. The charge made by the publishers for the cover of -HARPER'S ROUND TABLE is fifty cents, post-paid. Any bookbinder can put -it on. His charge is usually $1. - - * * * * * - -John G. Saxe, 171 West 132d Street, New York, wants to buy a copy of -HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE for November 27, 1894. Write him. John H. -Campbell, Jun., 413 School Lane, Germantown, Philadelphia, Pa., is, with -two others, to begin in February the publication of _The Keystone -Monthly_. Its price will be twenty-five cents a year, and for a limited -time sample copies will be sent free. Original stories, poems, jingles, -and letters to the editor are wanted. No pay for such contributions is -offered, the paper being an amateur one. A. B. G., Jun.: Get _Mort -d'Arthur_, through any bookseller or at the library, for references in -the study of King Arthur, his Knights, and Round Table. - - * * * * * - -Amateur Soldier: At present enlistments in the regular army of the -United States are suspended, the service having its complement of men. -But this is only a temporary condition. Enlistments will begin again -soon. Boys between sixteen and eighteen years of age may, with the -consent of their parents, enlist as musicians; eighteen to twenty-one, -with consent of parents, as regulars; over twenty-one, without consent -of parents. The lad of sixteen who begins as a musician stands just as -good chance of promotion as the older person who enlists a little later. -Indeed, in many instances, if he be bright and faithful, he stands a -better chance. The pay is $13 per month, and the enlistment for three -years; but one may purchase his discharge at the end of one year by -paying $120. Fannie E. May, Lee, Mass., is most desirous of obtaining -the address of Edith A. Putnam. Will the latter write her? - - - - -[Illustration: STAMPS] - - 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. - - -[Illustration] - -In the ROUND TABLE for December 10, 1895, the stamps issued by the -general government of the Confederate States were illustrated in reduced -form. This week I give the first instalment of the "Confederate Locals," -all of which are either scarce or rare. Counterfeits abound, however, -and the wise collector will take expert advice before parting with his -money. As a rule, collectors prefer to buy these stamps on the original -envelope, and the prices given below are those asked by dealers for -copies in good condition: - -Athens, Ga., $35 to $100. - -[Illustration] - -Baton Rouge, La., large size, $50 to $70; small size, $100. (The 2c. and -10c. stamps are not generally accepted as genuine.) - -Charleston, S.C., $10 to $15. Envelope stamps, four varieties, $10 to -$15. - -Columbia, S.C., $15 to $20. This is an envelope only. - -[Illustration] - -Fredericksburg, Va., $7.50 to $20. (10c. stamp, $20 to $30.) - -Knoxville, Tenn., $20 to $25. The embossed envelope is worth from $50 to -$100. - -Nashville, Tenn., 3c., $3.50 to $20; 5c., $15 to $30; 10c., $50 to $100. - -Mobile, Ala., 2c., $25 to $35; 5c., $3 to $6. - -[Illustration] - -New Orleans, La., 2c. blue on white, $2 to $5; 2c. red on white, $2 to -$6; 5c. brown on white or blue, $1 to $5; 5c. brilliant red on blue or -white paper, $250 to $400. The so-called reprints of the New Orleans -stamps are simply counterfeits. - - PHILATUS. - - - - -[Illustration: Ivory Soap] - -There is a "comfortable feeling" that comes after a bath with Ivory -Soap. - -THE PROCTER & GAMBLE CO., CIN'TI. - - - - -JOSEPH GILLOTT'S - -STEEL PENS - -Nos. 303, 404, 170, 604 E.F., 601 E.F. - -And other styles to suit all hands. - -THE MOST PERFECT Of PENS. - - - - -GEO. F. CRANE, - -90 Nassau St., - -NEW YORK, - -will pay cash for collections or scarce stamps. - - - - -CARDS - -The FINEST SAMPLE BOOK of Gold Beveled Edge, Hidden Name, Silk Fringe, -Envelope and Calling Cards ever offered for a 2 cent stamp. These are -GENUINE CARDS, NOT TRASH. - -UNION CARD CO., COLUMBUS, OHIO. - - - - -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. - - - - -BAKER - -sells recitations and PLAYS - -23 Winter St., Boston - -CATALOGUES FREE. - - - - -[Illustration: Thompson's Eye Water] - - - - -THE LATEST BOOKS - -FOR YOUNG PEOPLE - - * * * * * - -"HARPER'S ROUND TABLE" FOR 1895 - -Volume XVI. With 1096 Pages, and about 750 Illustrations. 4to, Cloth, -Ornamental, $3.50. - - There is nothing, we imagine, that the young reader would be likely - to prize more.--_N. Y. Sun._ - - A truly royal volume for the youthful reading appetite.--_Boston - Courier._ - - * * * * * - -A LIFE OF CHRIST FOR YOUNG PEOPLE - -In Questions and Answers. By MARY HASTINGS FOOTE. With Map. Post 8vo, -Cloth, Ornamental, $1.25. - - The Rev. Dr. DAVID H. GREER writes: - - "I believe it to be one of the most satisfactory manuals of that - character which I have ever seen. It meets a need both in the - family and the Sunday-school, and I am sure that its merits will be - very quickly and widely appreciated. It is not often that I can - give an indorsement so cordially and unreservedly as in this case." - - * * * * * - -OAKLEIGH - -A Story for Girls. By ELLEN DOUGLAS DELAND. Illustrated. Post 8vo, -Cloth, Ornamental, $1.25. - - The story is told in a simple and direct manner that enlists the - sympathy and attention of the reader.--_Saturday Evening Gazette_, - Boston. - - A story for girls, charmingly written, and illustrated throughout - with pictures dainty enough to please the most fastidious - damsel.... The incidents are full of life, the characters are very - natural, and the conversations well sustained, so that the story is - full of intense interest from beginning to end.--_Chicago - Inter-Ocean._ - - * * * * * - -By KIRK MUNROE - -=Snow-Shoes and Sledges=, a Sequel to "The Fur-Seal's Tooth." Illustrated. -Post 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.25. - - Will hold the interest of its readers from beginning to - end.--_N. Y. Evening Post._ - - We confess to have read every word of the journal with as much - interest as we once read "Robinson Crusoe" or the "Swiss Family - Robinson."-_Christian Intelligencer_, N. Y. - -_BY THE SAME AUTHOR:_ - -THE FUR-SEAL'S TOOTH.--RAFTMATES.--CANOEMATES.--CAMPMATES.--DORYMATES. -Each one volume. Illustrated. Post 8vo, Cloth, $1.25. - -WAKULLA.--THE FLAMINGO FEATHER.--DERRICK STERLING.--CHRYSTAL, JACK & -CO., and DELTA BIXBY. Illustrated. Square 16mo, Cloth, $1.00 each. - - * * * * * - -By MRS. SANGSTER - -=Little Knights and Ladies=. Verses for Young People. By MARGARET E. -SANGSTER, Author of "On the Road Home," etc. Illustrated. 16mo, Cloth, -Ornamental, $1.25. - - These verses for young people are brimful of sweetness and - tenderness; they will find generous welcome.... All through the - little volume runs a graceful current of personal influence, sunny - and gentle and sympathetic.--_Independent_, N. Y. - - * * * * * - -By W. J. HENDERSON - -=Afloat with the Flag=. By W. J. HENDERSON, Author of "Sea Yarns for -Boys," etc. Illustrated. Post 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.25. - - Mr. W. J. Henderson's latest sea-story for boys is one of the best - we have seen.... The story has been read with eager interest by - thousands of ROUND TABLE readers, and it will have an additional - charm to them and others in its present book form.--_Boston - Advertiser._ - - * * * * * - -HARPER & BROTHERS, Publishers, New York - - - - -[Illustration: THE SLUMBER SHIP] - -BY IRVING BACHELLER. - - Jack Tot is as big as a baby's thumb, - And his belly can hold but a drop and a crumb, - And a wee little sailor is he. - Heigh ho! - A very fine sailor is he. - - He made his boat of a cocoanut shell; - He sails her at night, and he steers her well - With the wing of a bumblebee. - Heigh ho! - The wing of a bumblebee. - - She is rigged with the hair of a lady's curl, - And her lantern is made of a gleaming pearl, - And it never goes out in a gale. - Heigh ho! - It never goes out in a gale. - -[Illustration: "A SPIDER HE SPUN HER SAIL"] - - Her mast is made of a very long thorn; - She's a bell for the fog, and a cricket's horn, - And a spider spun her sail. - Heigh ho! - A spider he spun her sail. - - She carries a cargo of baby souls, - And she crosses the terrible Nightmare Shoals, - On her way to the Isles of Rest, - Heigh ho! - The beautiful Isles of Rest. - -[Illustration: "WHILE THE SKIPPER TELLS HIS INCREDIBLE TALES"] - - The Slumber Sea is the sea she sails, - While the skipper tells his incredible tales - With many a merry jest. - Ho! ho! - He's fond of a merry jest. - -[Illustration: "THE SKIPPER IS LIFTING HIS SAIL"] - - When the little folks yawn they're ready to go, - And the skipper is lifting his sail--he ho! - In the swell how the little folks nod! - Ha! ha! - Just see how the little folks nod! - -[Illustration: "JUST SEE HOW THE LITTLE FOLKS NOD"] - - And some have sailed off when the sky was all black. - And the poor little sailors have never come back, - But have steered for the City of God. - Heigh ho! - The beautiful City of God. - - * * * * * - -SAM GETS HIS SUIT OF SUNDAY CLOTHES. - -Sam was a light-skinned darky of middle age, with an ever bright and -ready reply for all. He was employed in the street department of the -town of D----. One day a gentleman finding him at work tearing up some -cobblestones from the street, and desiring to hear one of his witty -replies, asked him what he was doing. Sam replied, - -"Why, sah, I's er-pullin' up de street; by-and-by I's goin' to pull up -de riber." - -"Pull up the river! Why, Sam, that's a gigantic job. You'll have to pump -and haul many a year before you can accomplish that." - -"If youse want ter see me do it, I's willin'." - -"Well, Sam, I would like to see how you would go about it; and if you -can prove to me that you can finish such a job even within a year, I -will treat you to a suit of Sunday clothes." - -"Yah, yah, yah!" laughed Sam. "Come 'long, sah, I's'll prove dat shuah!" - -And off he started for the river with the gentleman and several other -people who had gathered around during the conversation. Reaching the -river, Sam piloted the gentleman and the crowd to an old skiff. Jumping -into it, he seized the oars and started rowing, shouting as he did so, -"Dere, sah! I's er-pullin' up de riber now!" - -The gentleman gave in, and Sam got his clothes. - - * * * * * - -PAPA. "Why, Dick! Jack! how you quarrel, and all for a little penny!" - -DICK. "Yes, papa; but you said the less we quarrel about the better." - - * * * * * - -ISAAC NEWTON AND HIS SERVANT. - -A good story is told of Isaac Newton. It seems that one day, feeling -chilly, he ordered his servant to build a good roaring fire in the -grate, and when his orders had been obeyed be drew his chair up and -enjoyed the cheerful warmth. In a short while he dropped into deep -thought, and became unmindful of the heat of the fire until it grew so -intense that he was compelled to notice it. He rang the bell violently -for the servant, and when he came, ordered him to move the grate. The -servant scratched his head in puzzled silence, and Newton, becoming -thoroughly exasperated with the heat and the servant's disobedience, -shouted, "Will you move that grate?" - -The servant jumped this way and that in terror, and finally coming to -his senses, said, "Would it not be better, sir, for you to move your -chair?" - -"Well! well! well!" said Newton. "Upon my word, I never thought of -that." - - * * * * * - -TEACHER. "George, what excuse have you for being late?" - -GEORGE. "Only a far-fetched one." - -TEACHER. "What do you mean?" - -GEORGE. "The conductor of the car carried me several blocks past the -school." - - * * * * * - -PAPA. "I wonder why it is that when we drop a slice of bread it usually -falls with the buttered side down?" - -HIS LITTLE BOY. "I guess it's for the same reason that when we fall in -winter we wonder why the ice freezes with the slippery side up." - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Round Table, January 28, 1896, by Various - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HARPER'S ROUND TABLE, JAN 28, 1896 *** - -***** This file should be named 52746-8.txt or 52746-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/2/7/4/52746/ - -Produced by Annie R. McGuire -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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