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diff --git a/old/53865-8.txt b/old/53865-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 2f1661a..0000000 --- a/old/53865-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3680 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's Harper's Round Table, February 18, 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, February 18, 1896 - -Author: Various - -Release Date: January 2, 2017 [EBook #53865] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HARPER'S ROUND TABLE, FEB 18, 1896 *** - - - - -Produced by Annie R. McGuire - - - - - - - - -[Illustration: HARPER'S ROUND TABLE] - -Copyright, 1896, by HARPER & BROTHERS. All Rights Reserved. - - * * * * * - -PUBLISHED WEEKLY. NEW YORK, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1896. FIVE CENTS A -COPY. - -VOL. XVII.--NO. 851. TWO DOLLARS A YEAR. - - * * * * * - -[Illustration] - -THE LITTLE CORPORALS. - -BY JULIANA CONOVER. - - -There was a suspicious sniffle, then a series of gulps, and then the -letters grew blurred and indistinct, and even hard winking would not -keep the tears back; to Charlie's mortification they actually splashed -down on the page before him. - -Herr Dr. Hartmann looked up, peering through his glasses at the boy. - -"What dost thou read?" he asked, kindly. "It is not, I hope, bad news -from the home?" - -"No," muttered Charlie, blowing his nose hard; "it's--a hockey story." - -"Ach, du liebe Zeit!" ejaculated the puzzled master. "And what is -that--an American wild animal, perhaps?" - -Charlie shook his head and smiled, such a pathetic, homesick smile. "No, -it's a game," he answered. "You play it on the ice with hockeys--sticks -with a crook at the end--and a block of wood or rubber." - -"So? and our German boys they do not know it? Then thou must teach -them"--cheerfully--"yes? for the skating is good now, they tell me. -Komischer Junge!" he exclaimed a little later to his wife. "He reads for -pleasure, and then he cries. It is, of course, the homesickness, and I -fancy he misses the out-of-door life and the sports which they have -always in America." - -Charlie Stanton was fourteen--quite old enough, he maintained, to be his -own master, even in a foreign country; but when his mother and father -had actually said good-by, leaving him in a German family in Berlin -while they went to Egypt for the winter, he began to regret his boasted -independence; and while not acknowledging himself homesick, even a -hockey story recalled too many happy memories to be read quite -stoically. Mr. and Mrs. Stanton had felt perfectly safe in leaving their -son with Dr. Hartmann, for he was a man who made it as much his concern -to know that his pupils were happy, as that they imbibed a sufficient -quantity of German and the classics. - -At two o'clock the next afternoon Charlie started out for the West End -Eisbahn. It was a beautiful day, cold and crisp and clear, and the boy's -eyes glistened as he adjusted the lever of his skates. Then he stood up -and looked about. Germans to right of him, Germans to left of him, -Germans all around him, rising and falling. He watched them for a -moment, and then struck out rather dismally, for even skating lost half -its charm when one was quite alone. What was his astonishment, then, -when a small block of wood shot past him, propelled by a real hockey in -the hands of a boy about his own size. - -"Stop him! head him off! he'll make a goal!" shouted Charlie, in great -excitement, forgetting his surroundings utterly; and seizing a cane that -was lying on a bench, he started off in mad pursuit, colliding -recklessly with girls and officers, and sending several stiff little -cadets sprawling on their backs. The next minute, by a dexterous stroke, -he knocked up the hockey, dislodged the ball, and before his astounded -opponent could recover himself, had carried it in triumph to the end of -the pond. - -"Goal!" he cried, waving his stick as the other boy came up. - -"You went out of bounds," he retorted; "but, George! you do know how to -play hockey! Are you an American?" - -"Yes. Are you?" - -"Rather"--emphatically. "We're only spending the winter here, because -Edith, my sister, is taking violin lessons. Here she comes"--as a -remarkably pretty girl, accompanied by a "colossal schneider" hussar, -glittering in blue and silver, skated towards them. - -"Are you on the war-path, Dick?" Edith Hartley asked, laughingly, "Herr -Von Lutzow says that the dead and wounded are lying all over the pond, -and that the German army will have to hold you to account." - -"All right. We'll challenge the German army to a game of hockey--won't -we!" turning to Charlie. - -"Easily," he replied. - -"Hear that, Rahden?" said Von Lutzow, to a Second Lieutenant in the -Infantry Guards who had joined Miss Hartley. - -The young officer laughed. "Is it what you call the American cheek--yes? -I have heard of it. Guädiges Fräulein, may I have the honor?" - -"Not if you insult my country. Oh, Herr Von Lutzow, do get up a hockey -game. It would be such fun to see you try and play." - -"You think we could not? Too stiff--what? Rahden, we will have to show -them that the German army cannot be trifled with even in sport. Then, -Young America, get up your company, team, what you call it, and we will -meet you on the battle-ground of the Grunewald one week from to-day. Ah! -It will be the birthday of your great man, is it not? Your Mr. -Washington." - -Dick and Charlie were old friends by the time they left the Eisbahn, and -they walked home together, discussing most earnestly the vital question -of "material" for their hockey team. - -"A week is an awfully short time," Dick said, as they parted; "but if -the ice lasts we will show them what American boys can do." - -The next day, however, brought a most discouraging note to Charlie. - -"I can't find a fellow who knows a hockey from a hole in the ground," -Dick wrote. "It's awfully hard luck. I could get Englishmen to burn; but -that wouldn't do, because we challenged the officers to an international -game, and we've got to stick to it, and play them somehow." - -Charlie's spirits sank to zero. He didn't know a single boy in the whole -city, and, what was even worse, he could not go out that afternoon to -help in the search. But surely in all Berlin there must be at least -seven boys--for they needn't play eleven--who knew something of shinny, -or even football--if they could only skate. So he wrote back to Dick in -the words of the famous Lawrence, and then waited in a fever of -impatience for Dick's next bulletin. - -"It's all right," Dick wrote. "I hustled like everything yesterday, and -managed to find some fellows who knew how to handle their hockeys pretty -well, but have never played on a regular team. They'll do, though. I -hope the officers won't crawl now." - -So did Charlie, devoutly, for his spirits had risen so high with the -first sentence that he felt ready for any thing--artillery, cavalry, -infantry--let them all come on! - -That afternoon the raw recruits were drilled with such energy by the -"little corporals," as the officers had dubbed the boys, that it began -to look dark for the German army. - -Dick and Charlie really played a remarkably fine game for their age, and -were indefatigable in their efforts to teach the team how to dodge, and -stop short, and back up, and play together, etc.; and it was quite dark -when a dozen dead-tired but hopeful and enthusiastic boys started for -home, their skates over their arms. - -Finally Washington's birthday dawned bright and clear. - -"And it is to-day the great game--yes?" asked Dr. Hartmann, as he -watched Charlie's serious face at the morning coffee. "And the Kaiser, -he will be there?" - -Charlie laughed such a clear ringing laugh it did the Herr Doctor's -heart good to hear it. There did not seem to be an atom of homesickness -left in the hoy, and all because of a game! Truly the sporting spirit -was a strange and unaccountable thing. - -No, the Kaiser was not at the Grunewald, but quite a number of brilliant -uniforms lined the little sheet of ice on that memorable afternoon. The -boys were in old and variegated sweaters--a great contrast to the smart -military team that walked gingerly across the slippery ice while the -officers on the bank chaffed them in ringing tones. - -"Stillgestanden! Kopf in die Höhe!" (halt! head up!) cried one. "Knochen -zusammen!" (legs together) called another; while a gaudy yellow hussar -exhorted one to "shake himself into his coat." - -Their amusement only increased when the Prussian force stood up in line, -their faces crimson from the effort of putting on their skates without -the help of a Bursche. - -Frank Moore, a friend of the Hartleys, had promised to act as umpire, -and had made all the necessary arrangements. After a little preliminary -skirmishing, Dick and a big hussar with a fierce red mustache shook -hands and declared themselves ready. Then the two teams lined up. The -umpire placed the block in the centre of the field, and the whistle -blew. Like a flash the forwards bore down upon the little solid -vulcanized rubber block, the officers reaching it first. - -"Spread out!" cried Dick. "Guard your field!" - -The big hussar tried to dodge, but he was between too many fires; so, -swinging his hockey, he gave the ball a tremendous whack, which sent it -spinning down towards the goal. "After it! after it!" he yelled to his -lagging team. "Great Scott! we'll--machen ein goal!" recollecting -himself suddenly. But there was no goal, for the ball went out of bounds -thirty yards from the posts. - -It was brought out at right angles, and dropped by the umpire between -the hockeys of the two captains. There was a few seconds of feverish -scrimmage, in which all the forwards joined, and then a long hockey -darted like the tongue of a snake into the crowd from the outside, -skilfully hooking the block, and the owner whirled round in the very -faces of his own men, and then backwards and sideways he zigzagged, -until he found an open space, for which he made a dash, and before the -astounded hussars could recover themselves he had carried it, skating -like the wind, past the backs and the goal-keeper, in for a goal. - -A storm of "Bravos!" greeted this successful trick, and Edith led with a -rousing American cheer, for it was Charlie who had scored one for his -country. - -"That's jolly good hockey!" said a fat, breathless little Lieutenant; -and Dick turned and looked at him in surprise. - -Then the block was put in play again, and back and forth it flew, until -the big hussar once more got the ball and a clear space, and by a -brilliant exhibition of fast skating and clever tricking, he too carried -it safely in for a goal. - -"Deutschland, Deutschland über alles!" chanted the officers on the bank. - -The German army was playing well, suspiciously well; their long passes -would have brought joy to a lacrosse-player's heart, and their clean -hits would have made a polo enthusiast shout with delight. - -Dick and Charlie conferred together in low tones. Should they protest -against the pure English of the gay hussars? Something was clearly -wrong, though the uniforms seemed right. But no, they would not stop to -challenge them. - -Up and down the ice the rubber block spun, alternately threatening the -well-guarded goal-posts. It was such pretty hockey that the officers on -the bank, in the excitement of the game, forgot to chaff their -representatives, and only when Charlie, "by playing for his man," had -bowled a stiff little hussar clean over, did they give way to -unrestrained mirth. - -"You've broken my leg, you young idiot," roared out this forgetful -officer, as he struggled to his feet; and then he bit his lip, and -muttered "By Jove!" for he saw that he had given himself away. - -"Was ist dann los?" (What's the matter) was called out from the bank as -the game hung fire for a minute. - -"We are discovered," came back the answer, and there was a burst of -laughter from the crowd, for the fraud practised upon the boys had been -an open secret to them all. - -"Take your mustache off, Mackintosh, it dazzles my eyes," cried some -one. And the boys looked up at the big hussar, who was grinning -sheepishly under his disguise. - -"What Dummkophs we were!" they exclaimed. "Why, their uniforms don't fit -for a cent!" - -At this the bogus officers shouted. - -"Mine's horribly tight," said one. "I can't breathe." - -"I can't bend in mine," groaned Thomas, the English chaplain's son; -"it's got a ramrod up the back." - -"My stiffest chokers are cotton wool compared to these impossible -boards," said little Smith, wriggling his neck round inside the -beautiful gold collar. - -"Is there _one_ real officer on the team?" demanded the little -corporals, who were sternly superintending the unmasking of the -impostors. - -"No," answered Mackintosh, cheerfully. "We are all echt English -subjects--for I'm a Canadian." - -The two Lieutenants who had "crawled" so ignominiously came forward with -Miss Hartley to make their peace. - -"Your sister she have did it," said Von Rahden, for Germans too are -descended from Adam. - -"Yes," acknowledged Edith, penitently, but with a twinkle in her eye, -"it was my fault. Herr Von Lutzow said, 'What is a German officer, a -hussar, without his sword or spurs? He is not, as you say, "inside -it."'" - -"I have said, we had not the time," protested this maligned hussar. - -"Or the skill," she answered, laughing. "At any rate, they regularly -backed out, Dick, so Mr. Moore and I concocted this scheme in order to -cover their disgraceful retreat, and redeem at least their uniforms." - -"Beastly things," growled Mackintosh; "handicapped us like everything." - -"Take them off, then," she retorted. "You'll play it out boys? America -against England instead of Germany?" - -The little corporals looked at the strapping young Englishmen, all good -football-players, and some old hockey-players as well; but they did not -have the Napoleonic spirit for nothing. - -"Yes, we'll play them," they said, and the whole team echoed it. - -Then the bogus hussars peeled off their tight gold-laced jackets, and -breathed once more freely. It would be an international struggle, and -they must put forth all their strength and skill. The teams lined up. - -"We'll pass the block to each other as we did before," whispered Dick, -"and then scoot for the open ice. And tell the fellows, Charlie, not to -try and stop Mackintosh, but to hook his hockey the way you did; and -we'll work that circling trick again, too." - -Mackintosh was clearly a star player. He kept his body bent, his arm out -straight, and his hockey ever ready for the block to nestle in. And when -Thomas backed him, and the rest cleared the way, he was a formidable man -to tackle. But "Young America," led by the gallant little corporals, -never lost heart or head. They shinnied on all sides, they kept their -eyes right on the block, they hit it hard, they "babied" it, they shoved -it between legs and hockeys to an open field, and then darted like -lightning for it themselves, and they worked tricks which made the more -knowing spectators shout with enthusiasm. - -The score kept running up, and still the apparently unevenly matched -teams kept even. Five goals each, and only five minutes more to play. - -"Look out for the long pass and skirting round the edges," said -Mackintosh, and Thomas nodded. - -The umpire blew his whistle, and once more the forwards charged down -upon the block, which became the centre of a fierce scrimmage. Dick -hovered on the outskirts, and when the puck flew from between the legs -of Smith he caught it on his hockey and started off; to the right of one -he dodged, to the left of another, and, when fairly cornered, he -managed, by a quick turn and lightning stroke, to hit the ball, and send -it whizzing down the pond. - -Now there was racing and chasing on Cannobie Lea, and Mackintosh, the -big Canadian, got there first. Then squirming and worming, he worked his -way up the field. Edith held her breath. - -"Hook his hockey! hook his hockey!" cried Charlie, who was guarding the -goal, cool even at this critical moment; and he started slowly towards -him, hoping to force him out of bounds. But Mackintosh, with Dick hard -behind, could not afford to lose speed by dodging, and--crash! the two -came together, and together went down, with a sound like falling -timbers--giant oaks. The ice shivered, and then split from end to end, a -long deep crack; but the game went on, for Dick, with the national honor -at stake, could not stop to see what besides the eight-inch ice was -cracked, and by a series of never-to-be-surpassed tactics he carried the -ball straight up the pond for a winning goal; and then, while the air -thrilled to the cloudburst of "Bravos!"--for the officers had basely -gone over to the enemy, and were backing America with all the lung-power -they could spare from their dignity--he skated back to find Charlie with -a bleeding head and broken collar-bone, but mad with delight because his -fall had saved the game. The crowd swarmed upon the ice, and the boys -were the heroes of the hour. But they bore their honors very modestly, -even though Edith declared it to be a double victory. - -"They had beaten the Germans by default," she said, "and England by -_nerve_. Any one, to look at the two teams"--here she glanced up at -Mackintosh and down at Charlie--"would see that the boys were clearly -outclassed; but the great American spirit--" - -"_And_ a week of hard practice," put in Mackintosh. "Only got our -hockeys yesterday." - -"I accept the amendment. The great American spirit, _and_ a week of -practice have gained the day." - -"Three cheers for the little corporals!" said Von Lutzow. "They have -nobly won their spurs. And we, Husaren of the Royal Guards, who cannot -fight with crooked sticks, will be proud to cross swords with them at -any time." - -"And this," ejaculated Herr Dr. Hartmann, clasping his hands in horror -as Charlie, with head and shoulders bound and bandaged, but happy as a -king, was deposited at the door--"and this is called sport!" - - - - -THE RESTORATION OF "TIP." - -BY J. PARMLY PARET. - - -Tip was a vicious young elephant, and during his brief life of -twenty-three years he killed several of his keepers. His last act of -violence came near causing the death of Snyder, the attendant who had -charge of him at the Central Park Zoo, and as a result he now stands -upon a wooden pedestal in New York's Museum of Natural History, where -all may look at the brute which caused so much trouble for the circus -people who owned him. For his attack upon Snyder, nearly two years ago, -the Park Commissioners ordered his execution, and he was killed with -powerful drugs given to him in his food. The process of mounting and -stuffing his hide, to be exhibited at the museum, was very interesting, -as the accompanying series of pictures will show. - -[Illustration: 1.--THE FIRST BOARD AND THE WOODEN BONES.] - -The preparation of the elephant's tough skin and the cleaning of his -bones took nearly a year before the actual work of mounting was started. -As it is intended to mount Tip's skeleton separately, exact -reproductions of his skull and a few of the other large bones were -carved in wood, to be used in modelling the form on which the hide was -to be mounted. All of the flesh, of course, was destroyed, and in its -place the museum workmen built up a dummy of his body, or manikin, as -they call it, from measurements and photographs taken of him before his -death. Building this lay figure and fitting the skin to it took nearly -six weeks' work, and the stuffed elephant then stood over two months, to -allow the hide to stretch and dry on its new body before the specimen -was ready to be shown. It has been on exhibition only a few weeks now. - -[Illustration: 2.--THE WOODEN HEAD AND RIBS.] - -The first part in the difficult task of mounting Tip was to build the -manikin. The workmen sawed out of heavy planking a flat piece about the -general shape of the big brute's side. This was supported by iron rods, -in place of legs, bolted to the frame-work and to the temporary pedestal -upon which the work was done. The wooden skull and leg bones were then -screwed to the body, and other pieces of wood the shape of Tip's sides -were fastened in place like ribs. A pair of handsome ivory tusks taken -from some other real elephant were fitted to the skull, while another -long plank was hung down between them for his trunk. Tip was nine feet -and a half high at the shoulder, and eleven feet in length, so it was no -easy task to reach all parts of his great body. Great ladders were built -at each end of the manikin, and ropes were rigged from the ceiling over -it, to haul up the heavy parts of the wooden animal they were creating. - -[Illustration: 3.--AFTER THE LATHS HAVE BEEN PUT ON.] - -Just as the carpenters build the walls of a house, these workmen covered -the great ribs of their wooden elephant all over with laths. They nailed -them to the frame-work, leaving his body hollow, and then for the first -time the manikin began to take on the shape of a real elephant. His body -looked more like some huge barrel, perhaps, than that of Tip, and his -legs were a trifle stumpy and unfinished at the ends; he lacked a tail -as yet, too, and his trunk was only a rough pine board; but the gleaming -ivory tusks were there, and his head had a lifelike appearance that was -very encouraging. But the difficult part of the work was just beginning, -for the body must be made to fit exactly to the shape of the hide before -it could be put on. - -Excelsior was next called into use, and the lath-covered frame-work was -completely enveloped in those thin shavings from wood so often used for -packing china and glass. Bunches of it were tacked to the laths, and in -some places it was tied on with string, while here and there a little -lump was glued to the frame-work. The many photographs of Tip were -gotten out, and measuring-tapes were used to get the exact size in all -parts. For days the men were busy with nothing else but this work. They -trimmed off corners here, and added patches there, as the defects in the -manikin's shape were shown by the photographs and measurements. - -[Illustration: 4.--THE CLAY MANIKIN READY FOR THE HIDE.] - -At last the great hide was brought up from the cellar, and for the first -time fitted to the wooden elephant. When Tip was skinned a year before, -the men were careful to cut off the hide so that it would be easy to -work with when they came to mount it, the two sides and the head being -skinned separately. Now these three pieces of hide had undergone an -elaborate preparation. They had been soaked for months in acids, and had -been scraped and pared down to about an inch in thickness. If this tough -skin were kept long in the open air it would have hardened so stiff that -it would have been almost impossible to mount it. So it had been kept in -a solution the workmen call "tan liquor," and when the manikin was -finished an enormous tub containing these soaking hides was brought up -to where the dummy stood. - -[Illustration: 5.--ONE SIDE OF THE HIDE IN PLACE.] - -Ropes were fastened to one side of Tip's skin, and it was hauled up -against the manikin and fitted around the body. Then it was lowered back -into the tub again, and more excelsior added where the skin hung loose, -or bits cut away to make room for the clumsy dimples in the elephant's -hide. This was repeated over and over again, until the men were -satisfied with the fit of the final covering for their specimen. But, -like good tailors, they were not easily satisfied, and the patient -manikin had to have its new coat "tried on" many, many times before it -was ready to have the seams sewed up for good. Both sides had to be -treated in this way, and then the head, which, of course, needed more -fitting and alterations than the sides. - -But it was finally finished, and the last work on the manikin was then -done. The great body with its woolly coat of excelsior was hidden under -a thin layer of modelling clay. This was spread over evenly and worked -down smooth with the men's hands; the body, the legs, the head, the -trunk, and even the tail were treated to this last coat, and at a little -distance Tip looked very natural, except for the lack of eyes and soles -for his feet. Again the big pieces of hide were hauled up out of the tan -liquor, and again they were fitted to the manikin. Here and there a few -final alterations were necessary, and then the body was ready to be -sewed into its new coat forever. - -Clumsy seamstresses these workmen would have made if fine linen and -sewing-silk had been their materials, but with copper wire, and -brad-awls to punch the needle-holes, they managed to make fully as -strong, if not as neat, seams as the cleverest dressmakers. The two -sides of the skin were hauled up and matched together at the top of the -elephant's back. Then, with their clumsy needles and their wire thread, -the workmen climbed up on top of the manikin, and sewed together the -long seam where the knives of the skinners had opened the hide. Other -seams down the back of the legs and under the elephant's belly were -sewed up in this way, and Tip's hide once more held an elephant, -although a very different kind of an elephant from that it was intended -to cover. The skin of the head was put on in the same way, and the -trunk-covering was sewed over the padded plank in a most natural -position. Two large eyes of glass were fastened into the sockets, and -Tip was put away to dry out. - -[Illustration: 6.--"TIP" RESTORED.] - -Had any one who did not know the secrets of the taxidermist come upon -the elephant a few days later, he would have thought he had seen a -ghost--and the ghost of the famous white elephant, too, at that. There -stood Tip, to be sure, but all white. The effect of the chemicals in -which his skin had soaked so long had been to bleach the hide to a -streaky gray that looked almost ghostly. But the workmen expected this, -and they soon altered the disguise. They went over to the zoo in the -Park with big buckets of paint, and mixed a lot of it to match the skin -of Tom, another elephant there, whose hide is almost exactly the same -color as was Tip's. Then they painted the stuffed elephant from trunk to -tail, and varnished over the paint, covering up all the stitches they -had taken in his hide, and giving him once more the appearance of the -familiar old friend on whose broad back the children used to ride about -the circus ring until he got too ugly to be safe. - -Never again will Tip attack his keepers. Behind a railing he stands in -the museum, as harmless as old Jumbo, whose skeleton stands nearby, but -still as natural as in life. On his label one reads, - -ASIATIC ELEPHANT, - -followed by a brief history of his twelve years' experience in America, -his death and restoration. His skeleton will be mounted by the museum -experts, and will stand at the side of the stuffed hide. - - - - -DOMINOES. - - -After the dominoes have been laid face down upon the table, and well -shuffled, each player--and there should be but two--draws seven cards, -the one having the highest "double" leading the game. In case there -should be no double out, the player holding the highest number of spots -on one card is entitled to lead. The two then play alternately until the -game is so blocked that one cannot match a piece; the other then -continues until he blocks himself or plays all his cards, thus winning -the game. In case both are blocked, each counts the number of spots on -the cards left in his hand, and whoever has the smallest number wins the -game. - -The game is so simple, skill consisting almost entirely in the power of -memory, that it cannot be hampered by many rules, but there is much -advice which the learner would do well to remember. - -In playing, lay down such cards as will enable you to play at either end -the next time, if possible. - -Play the cards with the greatest number of spots on them first, so that -in event of the game being blocked to both you may stand a chance of -winning by spots. - -The numbers of which you have the most are the best to play, since your -adversary is likely to have less. - -When it is possible for you to block the game, do not do so if you have -been playing high cards and your adversary low ones, for in that case -the chances are that he will be able to "count out." It is dangerous to -block your own hand until you have become so skilled in the game as to -be able to form some idea of the size of your adversary's hand. - -If you hold a double, and one or more with the same number, play it as -soon as possible; but do not try to make a number for it, otherwise your -adversary, if he be a good player, will see what you are trying to do, -and prevent it. But if you hold a double of an end at which your -adversary cannot play, work at the other end in the hope of shutting him -out of the game entirely. - -With a heavy hand, play first on one end and then on the other, to -prevent any chance of blocking the game when the number of spots would -count against you. A good hand is that having the greatest variety of -numbers, as 6-3, 5-4, 2-1, 4-3, 1-0, 2-0, 0-0, and with it one can -generally play every time, while a bad hand would be 6-6, 5-5, 6-2, 6-4, -2-2, 2-1, 1-1, and of course the very worst would be to hold all the -doubles; but that would hardly occur in an actual game. - -As an example of how doubles should be played, suppose your hand -consisted of 5-5, 2-2, 3-2, 2-4, 1-0, 5-0, 6-2, it would be better in -every way to play the 5-5, since your other double can be forced either -by the 3-2, 2-4, or 6-2. - -_All Fives_, or _Muggins_, is and should be played similar to the one -above, save that the great object is to make the spots at both ends -amount to five, or any number divisible by five without a remainder. If -one plays 5-5 at the start, he counts ten. If 0-0 is played first, the -0-5 would count five to the player; then if 5-5 be played it counts ten, -and 0-0 played on 0-5 counts five also. If 6-6 is at one end and 4-4 is -played at the other, twenty is counted to the game, since twelve and -eight make twenty. In this game he who can play 5-5 has the lead; and -failing in that, he who holds 0-5, then 2-3; and failing in all, he who -holds the highest card. The game should be fifty or one hundred points, -and the winner counts all the spots in his adversary's hand at the -close, adding them to his score, or, in case of a block, adds the -difference between the lesser and the greater hand. - -_The Drawing_ game is played like the Double Sixes, save that when a -player is blocked he must draw another card, and continue to do so until -he can play. He who plays out first, or, in case of the game being -blocked, he who has the smallest number of spots wins. This game really -requires the most skill, since a player must remember all the cards, and -try to form some idea of what remains in the pool and what his adversary -holds. It is quite common to unite this game with All Fives, thus making -a longer game of the former. - -_The Matadore_ game has more of the element of chance in it than any -other. Each player draws three cards, and he who holds the highest plays -first. After that the next player can only go when his domino, added to -the one previously played, will make seven. Those cards having just -seven spots on them, and the double blank, are called matadores, and may -be played at _any_ time, regardless of spots. There are, of course, but -four matadores--6-1, 5-2, 4-3, 0-0. If one cannot play, he must draw -until he can, or until but two are left, when no more can be taken. The -number of points in this game may be made from twenty to a hundred, as -the players decide. - - - - -WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY. - - - 'Tis splendid to live so grandly - That, long after you are gone, - The things you did are remembered, - And recounted under the sun; - To live so bravely and purely - That a nation stops on its way, - And once a year, with banner and drum, - Keeps its thought of your natal day. - - 'Tis splendid to have a record - So white and free from stain - That, held to the light, it shows no blot, - Though tested and tried amain; - That age to age forever - Repeats its story of love, - And your birthday lives in a nation's heart, - All other days above. - - And this is Washington's glory, - A steadfast soul and true, - Who stood for his country's honor - When his country's days were few. - And now when its days are many, - And its flag of stars is flung - To the breeze in defiant challenge, - His name is on every tongue. - - Yes, it's splendid to live so bravely, - To be so great and strong. - That your memory is ever a tocsin - To rally the foes of the wrong; - To live so proudly and purely - That your people pause in their way, - And year by year, with banner and drum, - Keep the thought of your natal day. - - MARGARET E. SANGSTER. - - - - -THE SKATING BRIGADE. - -BY ELIZABETH S. HICOK. - - -The boys worked hard that day, carrying sticks and dragging logs from -the woods that bordered the banks of the Curve. The Curve was one of the -many bends in the river that began its journey far up among the hills, -whose summits could be seen from the town of Landon on a clear day. - -The Rambler had evidently started out in life with no definite plans as -to its future course, except, perhaps, the one purpose of seeking an -easy, pleasant way. To accomplish this it wandered in and out, and -formed many little bays and inlets as it flowed carelessly along. At all -seasons it offered irresistible attractions to the boys fortunate enough -to live near it. What swimming holes could be compared with those of the -Curve and the Dip? Where could better fishing be found than at the -Angle? Could there be a cooler place to rest on a hot day, after a good -pull at the oars, than under one of the stone arches of the bridge that -spanned the river two miles above the town? In fact, at almost any time -of year if a Landon boy was not around when wanted, it was pretty safe -to conclude that the river was responsible for his absence. - -But now it is winter. Though there is but a thin mantle of snow on the -ground, the reeds and cat-tails are frozen stiff in the ice, and the -willows look more dejected than ever, as they droop their bare slender -branches to the ice-covered stream. But this winter scene is not a -dreary one to a boy fond of skating, and the ice for miles up and down -the river is as smooth as glass. The party at the Curve numbers sixteen, -and they are all skaters. - -It was a queer collection of wood that the boys had brought -together--logs, large and small, branches of trees, and underbrush--but -it suited their purpose. - -"We have worked long enough," said Ralph Waring, a tall, overgrown lad, -who was leaning lazily against a tree. - -"We?" laughed a small energetic boy, pushing with all his strength -against a large log that refused to move. "We!" - -"Well, _you_, then," said the first speaker, good-naturedly. "Mr. -Hastings did not bargain for this, I'll wager, when he said we could -have all the wood we could use. We'd better go into the lumber business, -with such a good start." - -"Ralph is right," said Gordon Brice. "We have now more wood than we -need. Besides, it is four o'clock. If we are to meet here at seven we -must lay the logs and brush ready to light, and hurry home for a rest -and something to eat. I'm tired as a horse and hungry as a bear." - -The boys set to work again, Ralph doing his share, and soon a large -cone-shaped pile stood in a cleared space near the shore. - -"Now three good cheers for Washington's birthday," said Gordon. Hats -waved in the air, and three cheers were given with hearty good will by -all the boys, who then took the narrow path that led along the bank to -the town. - -It was somewhat past the appointed time that evening before all the boys -were again at the Curve. Gordon had taken too long a rest, and -overslept; Max Utley had mislaid his skates; and Ralph, of course, was -late. - -"On time?" drawled this delinquent, as he sauntered up to the group of -boys, some on one knee fastening their skates, others sitting on a log -as they performed this operation, and still others stamping a foot to -make sure that all was secure before starting out. - -"Yes, your time--half an hour late," replied Jack Foster. "We are all -ready for the skate up the river, and do not intend to wait for any -one." - -"Don't expect any favors; don't deserve any," said Ralph, not in the -least ruffled by Jack's remark. "Perhaps I can meet you on the down -trip. I shall make the effort, anyway." - -"Well, shall we set fire to the pile?" said Max. - -Half a dozen boys were ready for this work, and after a number of -matches had flared up and gone out in the haste of each boy to be the -first to start a blaze, little flames were seen creeping in among the -brush and reaching out blue and red fingers towards the logs. - -Off the boys started then, Gordon at the head, and Ralph bringing up the -rear. - -It was a clear starlight night. - -"To the Dip!" shouted Gordon. "To the Dip!" was sent back along the -line, and on they sped. - -It had all been planned. They were to skate to the Dip--a short distance -up the river--and then return to spend the rest of the evening at the -Curve, skating by the light of the fire. - -At the Dip they rested a few moments, then started down the river, hand -in hand, sixteen abreast. They skated fast, and for the most part -silently, needing all their breath to maintain the steady motion. - -"I wonder how the old Curve will look under fire?" said Clarence Bemen -at last, to Ralph, who was at his right, working hard to keep up with -his companions. - -They were fast approaching the starting-place. - -"We are almost there," said Ralph, breathlessly. "That's all I care -about." - -They could catch a faint glimmer thrown out from the fire over the ice -directly in front. The boys, in their excitement, grasped hands tightly -as with a long sweep they went round the point of land into the Curve. - -But what do they see? They all stop suddenly, for on the bank in the -full light of the fire was the figure of a man, tall and slight, and in -military dress. A coat with broad rolling collar and with epaulettes on -the shoulders was held together by three large buttons; the trousers -were short, and met at the knee by high boots with flaring tops. The man -wore a powdered wig, surmounted by a three-cornered hat. At his side was -a sword, sheathed. - -The skaters were too astonished to move forward or say a word. But at -last Ralph, whose mind always moved faster than his body, said, -emphatically, - -[Illustration: "GEORGE WASHINGTON! AS TRUE AS I LIVE."] - -"George Washington! as true as I live." - -Just then the man unsheathed his sword and waved it in the direction of -the boys, as if wishing to summon them nearer. - -"The old fellow looks kind of ghostly," said Max, irreverently. "But we -are sixteen to his one. Come on! We will let him speak for himself, if -he can speak." - -On the line moved with slow long strokes, in perfect unison, till they -came within a few feet of the shore. - -"You come up in good style. I always like to see the young American show -himself the soldier," said the strange man. - -Then Gordon, as spokesman, said, raising his cap, "Have we the pleasure -of welcoming to the Curve George Washington, whose birthday we -celebrate?" - -"You have," replied the person addressed, bowing low, and speaking in a -deep bass voice. "Of all the places where the anniversary of my birth is -being honored to-day none has offered more attraction than this. It -reminds me of scenes from my past life which can never be effaced from -my memory. The cliffs that surround this Curve, this frozen stream, this -fire even, built in my honor, recall the terrible winter at Valley -Forge, and that memorable night when I with my brave followers crossed -the Delaware." - -Here the General drew forth a large bandanna handkerchief from his -pocket and wiped his eyes. - -"Who can it be?" whispered the boys. - -"And where did he find that rig--'The old three-cornered hat, and the -breeches and all that'?" said Donald Gray, who was always ready, on -every occasion, with a quotation. - -Meanwhile the General had recovered from his emotion, replaced his -bandanna, and resumed his speech. - -"My experience amid the scenes of war has made me very sympathetic, and -I am easily affected to tears. If you have studied your histories, as -you should, you already know that I was very kind to my men, and always -tried to make them as comfortable as circumstances would permit." - -"The Commander-in-Chief is pretty eloquent," said Clarence to Ralph, "He -is using large words. Have you any idea who it is?" - -"I have my suspicions," answered Ralph, "but I am not sure. Hush! he -isn't through with his oration." - -"You all know the old fisherman down at the Ledge?" continued the -speaker, inquiringly. - -"Uncle Simon?" said half a dozen voices at once. "Should say so." - -"Yes, Uncle Simon. I think there is not a boy here that he has not -befriended, mended his fish-poles, disentangled his lines, patched his -boats, saved him from drowning in summer and from freezing in winter. -Well, Uncle Simon is down with rheumatism, and hasn't fire enough to -keep him warm. When I happened to hear of the fine stock of wood you had -laid in for a big bonfire, I thought now is Uncle Simon's chance to get -warm. Now Uncle Simon's young friends can come to the rescue. What do -you say, boys, shall we form ourselves into a skating brigade, pile the -wood on these sleds that you forgot to take home, and carry it down the -river to Uncle Simon? All in favor say 'Aye.'" - -The response to this appeal did not come at once. The boys thought this -rather a tame ending to their contemplated sport. - -"One good turn deserves another," said the General, persuasively. -"Remember that Uncle Simon has helped most of you out of some -difficulty. Now, once more, all in favor say 'Aye.'" - -This time there was not a boy that did not respond. The cliffs around -echoed with the young voices. - -With the General's assistance they set to work. Two large logs were laid -on each sledge, with a third log on the top, and some brush that Max -said would do for Uncle Simon's kindling wood. - -"Eight boys to a sledge, four on each side, with a firm grasp on the -strap, and no racing, unless--well, unless you have to keep up with the -other sledge," commanded the General. "Now on with your skates again." - -"Can you skate, General?" asked Gordon. - -"Skate? Of course I can. Brigade is a pretty high-sounding name for so -small a company, but we shall do the work of one." - -"The fire is pretty low," said Jack, regretfully, as he looked at the -fast-dying flames. - -"I don't care," said Hugh Bently. "Uncle Simon sha'n't suffer from cold -if I can help it." - -Before starting off, General Washington produced a large covered basket -from behind a log. This he placed on the front of one of the sledges, -and secured firmly. He said that it was his present to Uncle Simon. - -While these scenes were being enacted at the Curve, Uncle Simon, in his -cottage at the Ledge, sat by his hearth, looking despondently into the -fire that was fast disappearing up the chimney in smoke. His thoughts -ran something in this way: - -"I shall have to go to bed pretty soon and stay there to keep warm. No -more wood, and nothin' to eat in the house." - -Here a twinge of rheumatism made him screw up his face, and his thoughts -became, in consequence, still more bitter. - -"I've done many a good turn to folks in my life. Every boy in Landon -ought to be here this minute waiting on me. The ungrateful little -rascals, never to think of--" Just here his thoughts were interrupted by -a loud rap on the door. "Come in," said Uncle Simon, starting up, then -sinking back in his chair as another twinge seized him. "Come in." - -But he was not prepared to see sixteen of the young rascals march in -with skates on their arms, and headed by a tall figure in military dress -carrying a basket. The small room was full. - -"What's this? What's this?" said the old man. - -"We are the Landon Skating Brigade," said their leader. "Our -headquarters are at the Curve, and we have brought you some wood and -some provisions for Washington's birthday. We intend to split the wood, -too." - -The boys looked at one another in dismay. This was more than they had -bargained for, and Ralph gave a low growl of disapproval. The spirit of -the occasion, however, was on them, and the General went on, -uninterrupted: - -"Perhaps you don't remember the boy you fished out of the Dip five -summers ago, just as he was going down the third time?" With this remark -the General took off his cocked-hat, and with it came the wig. - -"George Hastings!" exclaimed the old man. - -"Yes, George Washington Hastings." Young Hastings explained that he was -home from college to spend his birthday, had heard of Uncle Simon having -a visit from his old enemy, the rheumatism, and of the preparations -going on at the Curve. "Then I planned this campaign," he ended. - -"It beats everythin'--it beats everythin'! You are a second George -Washington," said Uncle Simon, in a choked voice. - -The boys made three more trips to the Ledge that night, and on the last -one they insisted on giving George Washington a ride. - -Uncle Simon did not suffer any more from cold or hunger, for he was -cared for by the Landon Skating Brigade. - - - - -FOR KING OR COUNTRY. - -A Story of the Revolution. - -BY JAMES BARNES. - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -A CONFUSION OF IDENTITY. - - -After Abel Norton had left the young man whom he supposed to be his -friend George Frothingham, the spy, he hurried over to the westward -toward the rocky shore of the Hudson. Abel had never seen the "other -half," and did not know that George had a twin brother who might pass -for his reflection in a mirror, even to the curve of his little -finger-tip. - -The scheme for the capture of General Howe or his brother had fallen -through completely, and the two gentlemen, for some reason, had been -more wary than usual about accepting promiscuous invitations. Abel's -only wish now was to assist in relieving George (now that his wound -enabled him some freedom) from the danger of being a "mysterious -prisoner." He knew that if the latter's identity were disclosed he would -get short shrift and no favor. - -"Was it not lucky I met him? They must fare well at the sugar-house," -Abel said to himself, as he plunged down a steep bank into a rocky -hollow. - -There was a cluster of huts nestling opposite. Wooden screens from which -in the spring and fall the fish-nets were hung to dry surrounded them. A -few boats were hauled bottom upward before the door, and the icy water -of the Hudson lapped the shore of a small inlet only a stone's throw -distant. As he reached the door of one of the larger hovels he was -seized with a violent attack of coughing, and in the midst of it the -door was opened, and a rough, bearded man stood there holding a -flickering candle, which he was shielding with his knotty fingers. - -"What in the name of glory have we here?" he asked. - -"Jonas, good friend, it is I," spluttered Abel. "There's work for you -and Roger to-night, and money in it." - -"Well," replied the man, speaking in a deep drawling tone, "come -inside." - -He held the door open, and Mr. Norton essayed to pass him. A coughing -fit more violent than the first struck him like an internal hurricane, -and, being close to the candle, the blast from his lips extinguished the -light in an instant. - -"You must have swallowed the north wind," said the fisherman. "Roger, -lad, get a light." - -There was a movement in the further corner, and a young man raking -together the embers of the fire in the large stone fireplace. A blaze -broke out, and the candle was soon relit, throwing dancing shadows over -the beams strung with gill and seine nets. Piles of floats were littered -about, a sheaf of oars and a few sturgeon lances stood in the corner. -The floor was covered with shavings. - -"And what is the business on a night like this?" spoke up the younger -man, whom the other addressed as "Roger." - -"You are to row a silent man across the river." - -"It's a bad night to cross," growled the older fisherman, looking out -through the little window at the snow-flakes sifting through the ray of -light. - -"There's gold for you in the venture," coughed Abel Norton, who had -regained his composure partly, but was wheezing badly. He shook the -water from the shoulders of his great coat, and dove into a capacious -pocket. "This will be doubled if you succeed," he said, putting two gold -pieces on the edge of a sawhorse. - -"What time and where, Mr. Norton?" said the younger man, more -respectfully. - -"Be at Striker's wharf at eleven o'clock. A tall young man will hail -you. Ask no questions, but put him on the other side. He may add -something to this himself." - -"Will we try it, lad?" put in the older fisherman. - -"Aye," was the response; "we have butted the tide at a worse hour for -good reason." - -A minute more Abel was outside and climbing the bank; he skirted through -the vacant fields, and again was amidst the houses. The effect of his -illness was apparent, his steps were rather faltering, and it was ten -o'clock when he reached Broadway. He turned down the lane, and stopped -before the brick house in which Mr. Anderson had once held his school. -He knocked on the door, and a lanky servant girl admitted him. "I would -see your master at once," said Abel, as he passed on into the study. - -Mr. Anderson was seated at the end of the long table, his great horn -spectacles giving him an expression of constant surprise. A green shade -shielded his eyes from the glare of a bright lamp. "Gadzooks!" he -exclaimed. "Are you not taking risks, out on such a night as this?" - -"There are larger risks often taken," responded the older man, throwing -himself back in a chair and pulling at his neckerchief. "I am going to -break a rule, for the matter is urgent. We must talk despite the embargo -laid on certain subjects of conversation. Listen. Our young friend has -escaped. Number Four has broken out." - -"I did not know it was to be to-night," said Mr. Anderson. "Are you -sure? I was at the prison this afternoon, and saw no signal. You -remember, if everything was ready, he was to place two crusts of bread -outside the door of his cell. Only one was there. That meant to-morrow." - -"Nevertheless, I saw him and talked with him not two hours agone," -answered Abel. - -"The boat--" began the schoolmaster, excitedly. - -"They will meet him at Striker's wharf at eleven o'clock. The last -patrol goes down at half past ten." - -"You have done good work; but one more question, and then, we will -resume the rules. How was he dressed?" - -"In the uniform of a British officer," answered Abel. - -"Whew!" whistled Mr. Anderson. "There may be some mistake." - -"No chance of it," said Abel. "I talked with him." - -Mr. Anderson had arisen and taken off his spectacles. He reached down -from a hook a fine fur-lined coat, and was stretching it across his -shoulders. "You had best home and to bed, good friend," he said. "We'll -say no more upon the subject. It's a fine night." - -"Aye, for in-doors," coughed Abel Norton; and both conspirators passed -out into the cold air. They parted on the door-step. It had stopped -snowing. - -A wise plan for plotters to follow is that of never referring, even -amongst themselves, by word of mouth to the matter they wish kept -secret. If each receives his instructions from one source, and acts -accordingly, there is a better chance for success and less danger of -detection. - -The friends of American liberty that had remained banded together in the -city for the purpose of supplying Washington with information had -adopted this wise plan. Their orders were received from Number One, who -was none other than that trusted servant of the King, Rivington, printer -by special appointment to his Majesty. This worthy had come to the -patriot cause early in the fall. But he was the last man to suspect. - -The conspirators were seldom or never seen in one another's company, and -some were not even supposed to know the others. The action and -discoveries of each, however, were made understood by their system of -cipher correspondence. As an instance of the relation, the captain and -lieutenant (Rivington and Anderson) were supposed to be on terms of -bitter enmity. - -The latter was now making all haste to gain the lower part of town. A -suspicion had seized him that perhaps everything was not right. When he -came to the City Arms he hurried into the coffee-room. - -A young officer with a deep bass voice was singing a song full of sighs -and apostrophes to some distant fair one. - -Mr. Anderson slid into an empty chair and joined in the noise and -applause that followed the musical effort. He then turned to his -neighbor. - -"Ah, Captain Markham," he said, "have you seen our handsome young -friend, Lieutenant Frothingham, to-night?" - -"I was talking to him less than an hour ago," replied the Captain, who, -strange to say, was not in his cups. "He was to return, I take it, from -what he said." - -Hardly had bespoken the words when the subject of them entered. -William's face wore a preoccupied expression, and seeing one of the inn -servants, he beckoned him to one side. Mr. Anderson caught the gesture, -and noticed that the servant had followed the Lieutenant into the -hallway. - -If by chance he could have seen what occurred he would have been -surprised, for, after a short conversation, the servant departed with -three gold pieces clinking in his palm. He had then made his way to the -stables and aroused one of the tall young grooms. From the stables he -had walked to William's lodgings with a complete suit of the groom's -clothing over his arm. It comprised a short jacket and leather gaiters -like those worn by the young prisoner at the sugar-house, a good costume -for facing the snow. - -William entered the room a second time, and seeing Mr. Anderson, dragged -a chair across and sat down close to him. - -The little schoolmaster drew a secret from a simple nature with as much -delight as a keen terrier would draw a badger from his hiding-place. - -"What do you think has happened?" he inquired, to see how much the young -man knew. - -"Concerning what?" answered William, on his guard. - -"Concerning the person uppermost in your mind," returned the -schoolmaster. - -"I hope nothing ill," was William's anxious interruption. - -"No, no, perhaps not ill. 'Twas good you warned me." - -"It has caused me many sleepless hours," said William. "Let us draw -apart, for I must talk freely with you." - -They pushed back their chairs, and sought a deserted corner by the open -fireplace. - -"As a lad," remarked Mr. Anderson, "your brother was not prone to waste -words. You are like him. Talk quickly." - -"I am betwixt two fires," said the young man--"my duty and my -affections, Mr. Anderson. You know me. I love my brother as I love my -life, but I serve my--" - -"King," suggested the schoolmaster. - -"King," repeated William, wondering why he had found it so difficult to -say country, as he had intended. "I would die to save my brother's life, -I think most honestly," went on the young Lieutenant. "I would that he -was free, but I cannot, any more than you, connive at the escape of a -prisoner who might bear important news to the enemy. There is nothing -wrong in feigning to know naught of his existence, but to aid in his -escape I could not. Therefore I told you, and left the matter in your -hands, knowing your interest. You think not harshly of me? Pray think -how you would feel were you in my position. I feel sometime as if I were -not young at all, as if the separation from the brother who is in my -heart had aged me far beyond my years, so deeply do I feel it." - -"You said that you could trust me with his welfare. Now, prithee, what -has brought the subject up in this new light?" asked Schoolmaster -Anderson. "Remember that should it be known who he was, and the -authorities should find out what a dangerous person had been amongst -them, his life would not be worth the dregs in that wine-glass." - -William shuddered. "There's a plot to aid in his escape." - -"That I know well," returned the schoolmaster. "If it were frustrated -and he kept safe, you would rejoice--hey?" - -"'Twould be my duty," returned William. - -"Have you aught against the calling of a spy?" inquired Schoolmaster -Anderson. - -William reflected. "If it were base to be one," he replied, "my brother -George would have been far from it, that I promise you. A spy risks his -life to serve his king--" - -"Or country," put in Mr. Anderson. "Ay, he is usually a brave, fearless -man, and should not be condemned. He can harm no one but his enemy." - -"The stake he plays for is his life," continued William. - -"Now the one who spoke to you to-night--" said Mr. Anderson, as if -carrying on a train of thought of his own. - -"Spoke to me, sir? I said naught concerning that," answered the young -man, hastily. - -"If he had knowledge who you were--" - -"But he mistook me," again interrupted William. "What are you driving -at? To whom do you refer?" - -"His name has slipped me," replied the schoolmaster. "You may be able to -jog my memory. I saw you talking with him a short while ago. I can find -out easily." - -"No; listen," said William. And then he told of his meeting with Abel -Norton, and the conversation in the doorway, omitting, however, entirely -the reference to the boat. - -When he had finished Mr. Anderson replied. "This is interesting news to -me," he said; "but it was not to this strange person that I referred. It -was to your neighbor at the table, Captain--what's his name?--over -there, who had been talking to you before you left. So that was an -adventure on the street? What are you going to do?" - -William saw that he had been trapped into telling what he had better, -perhaps, have kept quiet. "I have been ordered to the forces at the -north," he said, confused. - -"Indeed?" replied Schoolmaster Anderson. "Success to you. I judged that -you were not a kind to idle in tavern parlors, or your regiment one to -grow stale in barracks." - -"But I am going alone," said William, entrapped again. - -"Ah!" said the schoolmaster; "much better, mayhap; changes are oft for -the best." A roar of laughter from the table attracted his attention. -"Come, we are missing all the gayety," he said. And slipping his arm -through William's, he strolled up and joined the group, who were -listening to a red-faced adjutant relating a story of being lost in an -Irish bog. - -When William looked around a moment or so later the schoolmaster had -disappeared. - -He had slipped away unnoticed, and his nimble feet were flying up the -road. He swung about the corner into Vine Street. The sentry at the door -of the prison was fast asleep, his heavy head resting on his folded -arms. The schoolmaster ducked adroitly underneath him and opened the -door; he crossed the court-yard to the prison entrance, and pulled the -bell. There was a stirring within, and the jailer stood there -unsteadily, half asleep, with a blanket thrown about his shoulders. - -"What want you now?" he asked. - -"The prisoner on the second floor," said Schoolmaster Anderson. "His -Lordship would have him examined. Know you whether he has a birth-mark -on his cheek?" - -"I don't know or care," answered the jailer. - -"'Tis to decide a wager," said the little man, clicking his heels -together, "and if he has not one, half of it is for yourself. You -remember the inspection the other day?" - -"Ay," said the jailer. "Is the bet for a large amount?" - -"Wait until you hear," laughed the schoolmaster. "I saw it plainly. -Come, let us up, I say." - -But now the jailer took a sudden turn. "I would not have him disturbed. -I have a kindly feeling for the lad." - -"What, turning soft-hearted?" answered the schoolmaster, who had already -pushed half up the stairway. He picked up a lantern from the wall. - -"Leave the poor lad alone," said the jailer, gruffly. - -By this time the sound of Mr. Anderson's heels was echoing down the -corridor. He held the lantern above his head, and a look of astonishment -spread over his features. - -He retraced his steps to where the jailer stood, leaning against the -wall, his hands outstretched for support. - -"You may save your pity and your solicitude," said Mr. Anderson, banging -up the lantern. "There will be some reckoning made for this condition of -affairs to-night." - -"What? What?" stammered the jailer. - -"Mark what I say," went on the schoolmaster, looking the other squarely -in the face with his twinkling ferretlike eyes. "Your prisoner has -escaped. You careless sluggard!" - -Of course all this requires an explanation. - -It had been a momentous day for the prisoner in the little cell. The -signal, as agreed upon in another cipher letter which had been smuggled -in to him, was this: If the bars were ready to be misplaced he would put -two crusts of bread outside the doorway of his cell; if for any reason -the time should be postponed, only one would be placed on the flagging. -Some one on an ostensible visit to another part of the jail would be on -the lookout for this simple sign. It happened that just before this -visit was paid, the under jailer, unseen, swept away one of the crusts -of bread, so the signal appeared to read for the following night. - -The bars, however, were ready to be removed. It would take but a slight -exertion to make a hole large enough for him to draw his body through. -But how to escape from the door below or to pass the sentry at the -gateway? - -When the second jailer appeared early in the evening, George stopped him -and handed him five golden guineas. "Have a feast at my expense," he -said. "Share it with the people here who have been so good to me; to-day -is my birthday." (This was a fact, and, for that reason, William's as -well.) "Listen, also; go you to Fraunce's Tavern and buy four bottles of -the best Lone Star Madeira. Present them to the head prison-keeper with -the compliments of an officer. Pretend you do not know from whom they -come. He might not accept them from a prisoner in his care." - -Probably the man had never held so much gold in the grasp of his dirty -fingers before. He fairly grovelled. "Lord bless you, sir, leave me to -do the lying," he said. - -George's last generous offer had almost proved his undoing, for shortly -after dark he had heard the sounds of carousing and some merriment from -the jailer's quarters. The sentry at the head of the stairs had -disappeared, and the sound of the file biting away the last remaining -bits of steel would have been audible were it not for the clamor below. -He was about to push the loosened iron out when a wheezy voice humming a -snatch of a song was heard coming down the corridor. It was the head -jailer. - - "Stone walls do not a prison make, nor iron bars a cage," - -he chanted thickly. "I can be generous as well as other folk. I am not a -hard man. My guest of honor must drink with me." In an instant he was -before the doorway. "Here's a good health to you, my unknown friend. -Long live the King!" With that the jailer wavered unsteadily and tossed -off a glass of Madeira. - -George feared that he was about to be discovered, and pretended sleep; -but this was all the visit amounted to, for soon he heard the heavy -footsteps lumber down the stairway, still protesting that it was not "a -flint heart." - -Now was the time. George pushed the bars gently, and they came off -without much trouble. He laid them on the quilt, and drew himself -through the aperture, then he tiptoed carefully down the steps. - -A ray of light from a room to the right showed that the door was partly -ajar. He looked inside. The jailer was fast asleep. Before him on the -table wore three empty bottles of Madeira. A heavy military cloak hung -from a peg at one side, and a huge three-cornered hat above it. George -throw the cloak about his shoulders and placed the hat upon his head. It -came down over his ears. He drew the bolt of the big front door and -stepped out under the stars--for it had ceased snowing--and into the -court-yard. The only entrance was guarded by a man leaning on his -musket. - -How to pass him was the question. But as the young fugitive drew nearer -he perceived that the tall soldier was fast asleep. He was leaning on -one side of the door with his foot propped against a post on the other. -His leg made a barrier. - -Making his body as small as possible, George essayed to stoop under the -outstretched leg; but his shoulder jostled the sentry, and he awoke. -George recognized the ex-corporal. - -"Well, well, McCune," he said, shaking the man roughly; "asleep at your -post, man! It will never do!" - -The sentry drew himself up as best he could, and his musket snapped to a -present. "Pardon me, Lieutenant," he said. "Do not report me, or I will -get the lash." The poor fellow trembled as he spoke. - -"Let it not occur again," said George, "and I will see." - -"May the saints bless you, sir!" said the sentry thickly, as he watched -the figure of his supposed officer disappearing about the corner. It was -at this moment that Anderson and William were holding their talk at the -tavern. - -At eleven o'clock a small boat jumped about under the rafters at the end -of Striker's wharf. A man with a boat-hook held it securely against the -pier head. - -"'Tis time he were coming," he said to another behind. - -[Illustration: IN AN INSTANT THE BOAT SWEPT OUT INTO THE SWIRLING TIDE.] - -At that moment a soft hail was heard, and a young man bent over the edge -of the timbers. In an instant he had lowered himself into the boat, the -oars were manned, and it had swept out into the swirling tide of the -river. - -Hardly had it disappeared when another figure of the same size and -general appearance came on a quick walk to the water's edge. He hailed -softly, looking under the pier. - -There was no answer, or no boat in sight. The cloaked figure then turned -about and hurried back to the eastward. - -Had something gone amiss? - -[TO BE CONTINUED.] - - - - -MYSTERIES OF STAGE SCENERY. - -BY W. J. HENDERSON. - - -You have taken off your overcoat and made yourself as comfortable as -possible in an angular little folding-chair that never was intended to -give any human being a minute's comfort. The orchestra has crashed -through the last measures of the overture. The footlights are turned up; -the auditorium lights are turned down; the curtain rises. You see a -beautiful valley, winding away among very purple mountains till it loses -itself in the crimson of the glowing sunset. The sky is as luminous as -if it were nature itself, and you are almost tempted to believe that the -rear wall of the theatre has been removed, and that you are looking out -at something real. Presently you notice a few soft fleecy clouds -drifting across the sky. The crimson fades gradually, and the pale gray -of a brief twilight follows. The sky grows darker and darker, and -presently you see the twinkle of a single star, then another and -another. And now a gentle greenish glow begins to pervade the scene. It -increases in power till the stage is flooded with the bright refulgence -of a summer moon. The whole thing is beautifully managed, and is most -realistic. - -[Illustration: MAKING THE FIRE IN THE LAST SCENE OF "DIE WALKÜRE." - -Calciums, Cloud-machine, Lycopodium Torch, Red Fire, and Steam-box in -Operation.] - -But after a time the moonlight fades out, and leaves behind it a -threatening gloom. A dull distant peal of thunder proclaims the approach -of a storm. There is a flash of lightning. The storm breaks. Peal upon -peal of crashing thunder rends the sky. The wind howls and shrieks, and -the sharp cut of the driving rain is distinctly heard. The curtain falls -at the end of the act, and you rub your eyes and wonder if you have been -dreaming or have really seen these things on a wooden stage. - -The next act shows a scene in the forest, and as the sunlight filters -through the rustling leaves, the dancing shadows on rock and trunk are -plainly seen. Again the scene changes. This time it is a fire. The stage -is filled with flames and smoke and the crash of falling timbers. You -are almost tempted to believe that the house is really afire. But the -same old curtain comes down at the end, and only a strong smell of -powder reminds you of what you have seen. In the last act of this -surprising play the hero and heroine, converted into disembodied -spirits, go to the heavenly regions on a winged horse; and you see them, -glowing with supernatural light, go flying across the deep blue sky. You -leave the theatre in a state of wonder. - -How is it all done? - -Of course I have been imagining a play in which many different effects -were combined; but nevertheless you have seen these illusions, though -not all in the same play. - -Spectral appearances are often managed nowadays with a stereopticon. For -instance, in _Siegfried_ there is a scene in the forest in which the -music of the opera is supposed to depict the rustling of the leaves. In -order to heighten the effect of this scene it is customary to produce -the illusion of the flickering of the sunlight caused by the waving -foliage. This is done by means of movable glasses, something like the -arrangement of a kaleidoscope without the variety of colors. The white -light is thrown through these moving glasses, and the audience sees the -waving shadows, as if caused by sunlight filtering through wind-shaken -leaves. In the last act of _Die Walküre_ the sisters of Brünnhilde are -heard coming through the air to their customary place of assembly to the -wild measures of the "Ride of the Valkyries." It is also necessary that -they should be seen. This necessity is fulfilled by the stereopticon. A -picture of a Valkyr maid mounted on her steed is thrown on the dark -drop-curtain at the back of the stage, and is made to pass from the -upper left-hand corner down to the lower right-hand corner. By keeping -the power of the light at a moderate pitch, the picture is prevented -from being too hard and definite. Again, when the sisters, fleeing -before the angry Wotan, depart in a body, a picture representing the -group passes from the lower right-hand corner to the upper left-hand -corner, while the stormy music of the "Ride" dies away. The effect is -very fine indeed. - -In the _Flying Dutchman_ there is a view of the sea in the first scene, -and a gale of wind is supposed to be blowing. The audience sees thin, -gray, filmy scud scurrying across the sky from the beginning of the -scene until the gale ends. This is also a stereopticon effect, and is -produced by passing properly painted glasses across the opening of the -lens. These few instances will give the reader some idea of the part -which the stereopticon now plays in the illusions of the stage. It -cannot be said that the results are always satisfactory, and, no doubt, -in the course of time a better plan will be introduced. - -One of the most familiar and beautiful effects produced upon the stage -is the change from day to night or from night to day. The former, owing -to the conditions surrounding stage illusions, is the more striking, and -is that most frequently seen. In order to produce this effect the -rearmost piece of scenery is a "drop," which is made about double the -height of the ordinary scenes. This drop is painted to represent sky. -The lower half is colored with the bright tints of the sunset, and these -gradually blend in the middle of the drop into the subdued shades of a -moonlit night. Sometimes the setting sun itself is shown, and this is -effected by cutting a circular hole in the drop, pasting a piece of red -muslin over the back of it, and putting a light behind it. The drop is -now hung so that the lower half alone is visible. Now the scenery of the -distance is painted upon a separate piece, which is "profiled"--that is, -the irregular line made by trees, houses, mountains, etc., is cut out -with a circular saw. This profile piece is set about four feet in front -of the sky drop. Some six or eight feet further toward the front is hung -what is called a cut-gauze drop, though this is sometimes omitted, -especially if the view at the rear embraces an expanse of water. If it -is woods, however, the cut-gauze drop is always used. This drop has -sides and a top of canvas, painted as the case requires. The open -central part is filled with stout gauze netting, which gives a charming -aerial effect to the distance. - -Now all is ready for the sunset except the lights, which are arranged -thus: Behind the profile a row runs across the stage to throw its light -on the lower part of the sky drop. The top part is illuminated by the -border lights. A similar arrangement is made in front of the profile, -while the foreground depends for its light on the borders and -footlights. In all new theatres these are electric lights in three -circuits. One circuit consists of lights with white globes, another red, -and the third green. For broad daylight effects the white are used. In -the scene we are describing, beginning with sunset, the red circuit is -turned on. Calcium-lights with red glasses are stationed at the sides of -the stage, and thus the whole scene is suffused with a glow of red -light. The change from sunset to moonlight is effected by slowly and -imperceptibly lowering the sky drop. As the sun disappears behind the -distant hills the red "mediums," as they are called, are turned off and -the green ones gradually turned on. When the night sky has fairly got -down to its place the green mediums are all turned on at full force, and -green glasses are placed in front of the calciums. The stage appears now -to be flooded with moonlight. Of course the moon cannot be shown, for it -would naturally be too far toward the audience. I was once in a theatre -where the sun went down behind a mountain, and in half a minute the moon -rose in the very same place. And the strangest part of it was that the -audience did not pay any attention to this astounding freak of nature. - -[Illustration: BEHIND THE SCENES. - -Man up in the Flies producing flickering Sunlight.] - -The change from moonlight to sunrise is, of course, effected by simply -reversing the process just described. Either one of these changes may be -rendered more effective by certain additions. For instance, in the -sunset part of the drop all the spaces between the clouds may be cut -out. Muslin is then pasted over these openings, and is painted to -represent the sky between the clouds. By placing lights behind this -muslin a beautiful transparent sky is produced, and by gradually -changing the color and intensity of the light as the sun goes down the -appearance of the scene is made very realistic. This method is seldom -employed, except in plays in which the scenic effects are an important -element. A moonlit river is made also by cutting out the canvas, putting -in muslin, and lighting it from the rear. - -Moonrise is produced with a sky drop, cut out between the clouds, as in -the case of the sunset just described, and a "moon-box." This moon-box -is simply a box with a circular hole cut in one side of it. Over this -hole is pasted a piece of white muslin, and inside the box is a light. -The box is placed behind the muslin sky drop, with the hole against the -drop. The light is turned on, and the moon is drawn slowly upward by -wires. Of course the illuminated face of the moon shows through the -muslin, and disappears when it passes behind the thick canvas clouds. By -having another piece of muslin painted red, and imperceptibly fading to -white in its upper part, the orb of night can be made to appear red at -the horizon, and gradually change to pale yellow as it floats upward, -just as it does on a summer night. A few floating clouds may be added to -the general effect by hanging in front of the sky drop a gauze drop with -a few muslin clouds sewn on it, and moving the whole slowly. These -matters charm the eye and create an illusion when they are skilfully -managed. - -I spoke of a moonlit river. Sometimes you see in the theatre a river or -a bay which does not simply lie calmly luminous under the rays of the -stage moon, but which sparkles with dancing ripples. This is a very -pretty stage effect, and is by no means difficult to produce. The -position of the moon having been determined, the next thing is to make -what Mr. Howard Pyle so gracefully describes as the "moon path." -Beginning at the upper edge of the water, a number of irregular holes -are cut in the scene. These are then covered on the back with muslin, -and the whole is painted over to represent water. Behind these holes is -placed an endless sheet of canvas, passing around two cylinders of wood, -one at the top and the other at the bottom. The lower cylinder has a -crank by which the sheet is turned. In the sheet are cut a number of -holes similar to those in the scene. A strong light is now placed -between the two sides of the sheet. When the crank is turned the -flashing of the light from the moving holes in the sheet through the -stationary ones in the scene produces a fine ripple. It is necessary to -turn the crank so that the front part of the sheet is always ascending, -because in this way the holes through which the light flows pass -upward, and that makes the mimic waves seem to dance upward toward the -sky. Sometimes the man who turns the crank becomes tired, and the -audience is surprised to see the ripples go by fits and starts. For this -reason an electric motor is better, or a steam attachment, if such a -thing can be had in the theatre. The moonlit sky above the waters may be -improved by the addition of a few twinkling stars, and these are easily -enough produced by hanging large spangles on bent pins. The slightest -tremor of the drop will cause them to shake, and the flashing of the -light which they reflect produces the illusion of twinkling. - - - - -STUDYING TO BE MUSICIANS. - - -Some agreeable writer, whose name I have forgotten, said that there was -no art which had so many devotees as music, and none of which there was -such widespread ignorance. If I should say that there must be in the -city of New York not less than 50,000 girls engaged in learning how to -play upon the piano, I should perhaps astonish some of the readers of -this paper, yet it is my firm belief that these figures are much too -small. Such institutions as the National Conservatory of Music and the -New York College of Music have each from 600 to 800 piano students, and -there are some thirty smaller conservatories in the city. The number of -private pupils is enormous, and one often wonders whether it can be -possible that Americans are so fond of music that every family contains -a student. The truth is, however, that nine-tenths of the girls who -study the piano--I had almost said study music, but they do not do -that--are actuated not by a love of music, but simply by a desire to -possess an accomplishment. These young women are quite contented if they -can acquire sufficient technical skill to perform a few brilliant, showy -pieces in such a manner as to surprise their friends. There are a few, -of course, who learn to play the piano because they are really fond of -music, and desire to be able to give themselves artistic pleasure. And -there are a few others who are studying seriously in the hope of -becoming fine artists, capable of delighting the public, or, at the -worst, of becoming professors in conservatories. Even then they are not -much worse off than the great artists of the concert stage, for it is -only once in a generation that a man like Paderewski arises, who can -earn hundreds of thousands of dollars. Most of the noted pianists are -compelled to teach in order to make a living, for concert engagements -are not numerous. Their devotion to their art is the result of a deep -and absorbing love for it, which must be its own reward. - -Life in the music schools of New York is by no means as picturesque as -life in the art schools, so charmingly described by Mr. Ralph; but it is -interesting, and it has a remarkable jargon of its own, quite -unintelligible to the non-musical person. The girls--the boy students -are very few--flock to the New York schools from the entire surrounding -country. Every morning train brings them from Newark, Paterson, -Elizabeth, Yonkers, Tarrytown, Nyack, Greenwich, and other outlying -towns and cities, where, indeed, good teachers may often be found, but -not the advantage of conservatory systems. The New York girls come in -street cars, in carriages with liveried coachmen, and on foot, for the -students are of all classes. It is an inspiriting sight to see them -trooping in on a stormy winter morning, with their heavy wraps, their -snow-covered furs, their stout overshoes, their arms full of music, -their cheeks full of roses, and their eyes dancing with the glow of -exercise. Then there is the usual chatter about the lessons as they -assemble in the waiting-room. - -"Oh, I don't believe I shall ever manage that queer passage in the -bass--the one where the chord of five notes is, don't you know?" - -"Yes, I had that sonata last year; but, my dear, it's child's play to -the Schumann piece I have now." - -"Oh, dear!" says another, drearily, "I do wish that Bach had never -lived. I'm sure I can't see anything pretty in his eternal fugues." - -"Well, I don't think they're any worse than these Deppe two-finger -exercises." - -"Wait till you begin counterpoint, dear," says another, consolingly. - -And then the bell strikes, and off they all go, still chattering, to the -various class-rooms or lesson-rooms. A few minutes later the -conservatory becomes a dreadful babel of confused sounds. Down in the -basement some one is groaning out an organ fugue by Thiele, with a great -clattering of heels on the pedals. On the first floor the sight-reading -class is droning angularly a part song by Weinzierl in the large room, -while in the apartment next to them the "gold medal" pupil is pounding -Schumann's Etudes Symphoniques into sounding brass without any tinkling -of cymbals. Upstairs one young woman is pursuing the uneven sopranos of -her way up and down the scale, a boy is playing a violin étude in -several kinds of pitch, and a dozen girls are hammering out their -semi-weekly allowance of Bach, Beethoven, Weber, Mozart, and Chopin all -at once. The teachers--German, Polish, Russian, French, Italian, -occasionally American--sit, stand, or pace the floor, according to their -temperaments, and correct, guide, and urge gently or excitably as the -case may be. - -"No, my dear, the accent on the second beat, and the pedal taken after -it, and held over to the first beat of the next bar." - -"Ach! You, dere! You play mit your knuckle! Vat is dat? Bay, bay; hit de -bay!" - -"Ah, mon enfant! You sing wiz ze troat vide oppen, so--ba-a-a-ah. Is it -not? Vell, I vish you sing viz ze glottis a lettle pinch, so--bu-u-u-uh. -Now, sing." - -And the unhappy pupil closes her throat up, as if she had a sort of -artistic croup, and tries to force her voice through by main strength. -In the mass of pupils in the conservatory there are always twenty or -thirty who are studying seriously, with the hope of making artistic -careers for themselves. These do not simply study the pianos or singing; -they study music, which is a vastly more laborious undertaking. For once -a week there is the lesson in harmony, which is one of the driest and -most discouraging topics in the world. Yet no one can be said to know -anything about music who does not understand harmony. Just think of -it--harmony, counterpoint and fugue, form, theory, composition, -instrumentation, sight-reading, history of music. Those are the subjects -which the educated musician must know, and they are all taught in the -regular music-schools. Harmony is the science of chords, you know. The -teacher explains the laws by which the various intervals are governed, -leading the pupil step by step till he has advanced from a simple -"resolution" like this: - -[Illustration] - -to something like this: - -[Illustration] - -Then comes that wonderful art of counterpoint, culminating in the -building of a grand and complex composition out of two little phrases, -called subject and answer, which flash and frown one against the other -like lightnings against a blue-black sky. The student has to learn all -about form--how a symphony is constructed from the humble beginning of a -simple motive like this: - -[Illustration] - -Furthermore, he must study instrumentation, and learn how the small army -of voices in the modern orchestra are to be used. He must know their -compass, their capacity for fast performance, the notes upon which it is -possible to make trills, the keys in which they stand, and, above all, -the character of the writing best suited to them. And again, he must be -acquainted with the history of his art, for without it he is quite -ignorant of the purposes of the composers whose works he attempts to -perform. What a light it throws upon the correct interpretation of -Mozart to know that in his day smoothness, finish, and a singing tone -were the requisites of good playing. What a valuable thing it is for the -pupil to know that Mozart desired to have the passages flow like oil, -and that he was opposed to all decided violations of the time. What a -flood of illumination it throws on all music to know the meaning of the -three great periods of musical history, polyphonic, classic, and -romantic. These subjects are taught to classes by lectures and special -teachers; but it is a sufficient evidence of the light-mindedness with -which most pupils approach, music that not more than five per cent. of -the conservatory students enter these classes. The composition classes, -of course, are only for very advanced students. Indeed, in Dr. Antonin -Dvoràk's composition class at the National Conservatory several -well-known composers are to be found. - -And what do the music students outside of their study and practice -hours? You can see them by the dozen at concerts and at the opera. They -are especially conspicuous at the matinée entertainments. They have a -school-girlish look, coupled with an air of wisdom, and they devote -great attention to pianists' hands and arms. If the student is an -aspiring young vocalist, she uses her opera-glass continually. I said to -one of them at an opera matinée once, - -"Why do you constantly watch Madame Lehmann through your opera-glass?" - -"Well," she replied, "my teacher says that I must keep my tongue flat, -because all good singers do, and I'm trying to see how Madame Lehmann -holds hers." - -"And how does she?" - -"I can't see it all; I believe she has swallowed it." - -Another said to me: - -"I am watching Mr. Paderewski's wrists. My teacher says I must keep my -wrists up, and there he goes every few minutes and lets his drop below -the key-board." - -"Perhaps when you are as far advanced as Mr. Paderewski," I suggested, -"your teacher will allow you to do as you please with your wrists." - -It takes time and devotion to make a good musician. I know that Mr. -Paderewski is in the habit of practising from four to six hours a day, -in addition to the performance of his long and difficult concert -programmes, in order to preserve the skill which he acquired by long and -wearisome labor. Even the men who play in the orchestras spend several -hours each day in practice, for fingers will grow stiff and awkward -unless they are used constantly. - - - - -FALCONRY, OR "HAWKING." - -BY ZITELLA COCKE. - - -The training of hawks was a recognized profession in the last century. -There were men who devoted their lives to it, and drew immense salaries -for their labor. Louis XIII., who was devoted to this sport, and always -rode out with his falconer and falcon for a hunt before going to mass in -the morning, paid his trainer by the day a sum which seemed fabulous. -Poor Louis XVI. did not care for the sport, and dismissed trainers and -falcons from his service as an unnecessary expense. - -So much time and pains were taken in the training of these birds that it -was the occasion of a regular technical language, understood only by -those who were versed in the art and the sport. Training the bird was -called "manning it." Jesses were part of the bird's equipment, and -consisted of narrow strips of strong leather fastened to its leg, by -which it could be held when not on the hunt. Flat gold or silver rings -called "varvels" were attached to the end of these jesses, with the -owner's name and address written upon them. Bells were frequently tied -to the leg of the bird, so that when it flew out of sight it could be -traced by sound of the bell. To teach the bird to do what was called -"jumping to the fist" was a great art, and took great time and care to -accomplish. And a pretty sight it must have been--a sight quite worthy -of being portrayed in Queen Matilda's embroidered tapestry--to see the -bird, eager and impatient, about to spring to its master's fist. The -graceful motion could not, of course, be represented in a picture, but -as we imagine it, we cannot wonder that hunting with hawks was even more -fascinating than hunting with hounds. And then to see it spring from the -gauntleted fist into the air, and soar far away until it became a mere -speck in the sky, yet never forgetting its resting-place, and returning -to it after a flight of many a mile. - -And this glove, or gauntlet, upon the hand of the falconer, and -sometimes the monarch, was an important feature of the equipment. It -was made of thick buckskin, and the royal gauntlets were wondrously -adorned with gold and silver threads, and even jewels, set in forms -of flowers and family crests. The bird itself often wore a helmet -bedecked with plumes and jewels, to be removed, however, when it -was pluming itself for flight. The call to the hawk was a spirited -cry--"Yo-ho-hup--yohup--yohup"; and another, -"Helover--helow--helow--helover." - -When the bird was taken out and exercised, with a view to keeping him in -good physical condition, as well as in thorough acquaintance with the -various things taught him by his trainer, it was called "weathering." - -The distance accomplished by these birds in a short time seems almost -incredible, and this circumstance alone would make them a terror to -their victims. Few birds could compete with the falcon. Its flight was -as rapid as it was untiring, keeping always a little above the victim, -and swooping down upon it in such a way as to make resistance -impossible. In the air the heron itself was unable to resist his -assailant, but if the two fell to the earth the heron had the advantage, -and the falcon rarely escaped without losing one or both eyes. It was -the eye always at which the heron aimed. A German Duke is said to have -wept bitterly when his favorite falcon, falling to the earth with a -heron in his talons, lost both of its eyes in the encounter which took -place on the ground. - -Lovers of dogs insisted that the hawk came to the "lure" only--the -"lure" being the feed which constitutes a part of the training--and was -never actuated by an affection for its master. But lovers of falconry -declare the falcon to be capable of warm and lasting affection. A -Colonel Johnson, of the Rifle Brigade, was ordered to Canada with his -battalion. He had devoted much time and expense to the "manning," or -training, of two falcons, and he took them with him across the Atlantic. -During the voyage, after feeding them, he would fly them every day. -Sometimes they sailed far out of sight, but always returned to the -master. One evening, after a longer flight than usual, one of the -falcons returned alone; the other, the chief favorite, was missing. -Colonel Johnson made up his mind that he would never see his falcon -again, but one day, after the arrival of the regiment in America, he saw -a paragraph in a Halifax newspaper announcing that the captain of an -American schooner had in his possession a fine hawk, which had suddenly -made its appearance on board his ship during his passage from Liverpool. -Colonel Johnson believed this bird to be his much-prized falcon, and -obtaining leave of absence, started in pursuit of it. He went to -Halifax, saw the captain of the schooner, and asked permission to see -the bird. The captain refused the request, "guessed" that he would keep -the bird himself, and asserted his disbelief in the Englishman's story. -Colonel Johnson proposed that his claim to the ownership of the bird -should be put to the test by an experiment. It was this: Colonel Johnson -was to be admitted to an interview with the hawk, which had shown no -partiality for any person since its arrival in the New World, and had -repelled the caresses of its new owner. If at this meeting it exhibited -unequivocal signs of recognition such as would convince the by-standers -that Colonel Johnson was its original master, the American captain was -to surrender all claim to it. Several Americans present admitted this -test to be perfectly reasonable, and the captain was persuaded to -acquiesce. He went up stairs, and returned with the falcon. The door was -hardly opened before the bird jumped from the captain's fist and perched -upon the shoulder of its long-lost master, rubbing its head against his -cheek, taking hold of his buttons and champing them playfully in its -beak, and evincing by every way in its power its delight and affection. -The verdict was unanimous. Even the hard-hearted captain relented, and -the falcon was restored to its rightful owner. - - - - -PUTTING THE SIXTEEN-POUND SHOT. - -From instantaneous Photographs taken of W. O. Hickok, Inter-collegiate -Champion. - - -[Illustration: 1.] - -[Illustration: 2.] - -[Illustration: 3.] - -[Illustration: 4.] - -[Illustration: 5.] - -[Illustration: 6.] - -[Illustration: 7.] - -[Illustration: 8.] - -[Illustration: 9.] - - - - -[Illustration: INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORT] - - -Although putting the shot and throwing the hammer are events usually -performed by the same man in an athletic competition, it is a fact, -nevertheless, that the two things do not go well together. The hammer -develops the pulling muscles in the back and arms, while the shot, on -the other hand, develops the pushing muscles. - -At one time Hickok, the present inter-collegiate champion, devoted -himself exclusively to the shot, and soon got himself into such form -that he could put 45 feet at any trial. Then he started in to practise -with the hammer, and found his best throw measured only 110 feet--his -best former record being one hundred and forty odd. He kept on -systematically working then at both weights, but he soon noticed that -the shot went down as the hammer went up, so that in a month he could -scarcely do 40 feet. At the next inter-collegiate contest he put the -shot 44 feet, which he considered a lucky performance--and it -was--although before training for the hammer event for the same contest -he had put over 45 feet. - -To become successful in this event requires long and persistent work, -just as in hammer-throwing. Shot-putting is a great science to develop, -and it usually takes several years before an athlete can really become -proficient in the event. The beginner must first strengthen his arms, -giving particular attention to the development of the triceps and -deltoids. This is best accomplished by work on the parallel bars, and by -pounding a bag, as in boxing. The latter exercise cultivates swiftness. -Sprinting is also an important exercise for a shot-putter, for it -teaches him to be quick and light on his feet--a most important feature -of the general preparation. - -In addition to these things he should, of course, constantly work at -putting the shot--in the gymnasium in winter, and on the field in the -open-weather months. Let me say right here to the beginner, always use a -16-lb. shot. Shun a 12-lb. shot as you would a shuttle-cock. If you feel -you are not strong enough to use the regulation weight, do not under any -consideration go into training for the event. Wait until you are strong -enough. There is plenty of time. The shot is an event that only strong -and well-developed young men should indulge in--and if you feel you are -not strong enough to handle sixteen pounds, you had better devote your -energies to some other branch of athletics. The man who works with a -12-lb. shot is like the boy who prepared for entering the cavalry by -riding assiduously on merry-go-rounds. In other words, practice with a -lighter weight is a waste of time; you will have to learn all over again -when you take up the regulation 16-lb. shot. - -The shot is put from a seven-foot circle, along four feet of the -circumference of which is placed a board four inches high. This is the -so-called front of the circle, and the put is measured from this board -to the nearest mark made in the ground by the shot. A fair put is one -that has been made without any part of the competitor's body having -touched in front of the circle or on the board before the measurement is -made. A put is counted a foul if the competitor steps over the front -half of the circle or on the board before the measurement of his put has -been made--and the foul counts as a trial. Therefore be sure to remain -in the circle until the field judge has measured and registered your -put. - -The careful athlete will always spare his right arm as much as he can. -For instance, when he picks up the shot he will hold it in his left -hand, and he will do the same while he steps into the circle and gets -his footing. After this has been secured he will roll the shot over into -his right palm--as shown in illustration No. 3 on the opposite page--and -then he is ready to start. - -Assuming as easy a position as possible, let the shot be well balanced -in the right hand. Do not grip it tightly. In starting off, as shown in -the fourth illustration, place the whole weight of the body upon the -right leg, holding your left arm forward as a balance. Then take a quick -hop with the right leg, all the time keeping the shot as near the -shoulder as possible. Upon alighting after the hop, touch your left foot -to the ground--and it ought to fall very close to the board rim. This is -the position shown in the sixth illustration. The seventh shows the next -movement, which is the transposition of the feet. - -The correct attitude for getting across the circle on this hop is -crouching. Then, as soon as your left foot touches ground, you bring it -swiftly backward, throwing the entire right side of the body forward; -and you turn half around, so that the right shoulder will be in the -exact direction in which the shot is to be put. After the impetus upward -has been given by the legs and body, shoot the arm outward with all the -force at your command, the motion being just such a one as you would -make with the clinched fist against the sparring-bag. This motion--the -change of feet, the lift, the turn, the thrust--is a very rapid one, but -the photographs illustrate it very well in the last two pictures of the -series. Furthermore, this movement must be perfectly uniform from -beginning to end, with no jerks and hitches; but it takes long practice -to acquire a perfect smoothness. - -The shot must be allowed to leave the hand easily, and the forward -effort of the put must be so regulated that the equilibrium of the -performer will be maintained. The perfect performer allows his body to -bend forward just to that point where, should he go half an inch -further, he would be forced to step out of the ring. - -The beginner should practise with the shot for a good period every-day. -He should work until he begins to feel tired, but after he has become -master of the event--say in a year or so--he need practise but two or -three times a week, and he will find that his form and powers are thus -best retained. - -In England the university athletes put the shot from a ten-foot square -instead of a seven-foot circle. This gives them a certain advantage over -American athletes, for they get a longer run, and thus more speed, and -hence a greater momentum at the end. Hickok can put the shot from two to -three feet farther from a ten-foot square than he can from a seven-foot -circle, and with practice he believes that he could do even better. If -an unlimited run, or series of hops, were allowed, the record for -putting the shot would certainly be much greater than it is at present; -but there is no doubt that the average form of athletes who take part in -this event would be very much lower than it is now with the present -scientific restrictions. - -The first important indoor games of the season were held on Saturday, -February 8th, in the Eighth Battalion Armory by the Barnard School. -There were ten events on the programme, all of which were open, and a -cup was offered to the visiting school winning the greatest number of -points. This trophy went to Berkeley, who took two firsts and one -second, and still, no doubt, retained something up her sleeve. - -The Barnard team captured six firsts and two seconds, and showed that -there is plenty of strong material in the school from which to develop a -promising team for out-door work in the spring. All the events were -interesting to watch, there being no handicaps, and the junior races -were especially good, being rather more "for blood," perhaps, than the -others, and being always a better field for surprises, as new material -of an unknown quantity is continually appearing there. - -Four records were broken, and the little fellows did most of the -figure-smashing. W. S. Hipple, who made such a good showing against -Kilpatrick last fall, defeated Irwin-Martin in the quarter-mile run, and -then lowered the half-mile in-door record, made by Martin two years ago, -from 2 m. 14-2/5 sec. to 2 m. 5 sec.! The time of the man who finished -second to Hipple was 2 m. 19-4/5 sec. Beldford lowered the record for -the mile. He took the lead from the start, but had a sharp tussle with -Manuel of Pingry's toward the end, beating him in by only a few yards in -4 m. 54-2/5 sec. - -Moore ran the first heat of the 60-yard dash in 7 seconds, and repeated -his performance when he won in the finals. He took another first in the -220, which was the only sprint run without heats. His time in this was -26-1/5 seconds, with Goetting of Brooklyn High second. The in-door -scholastic record for the Junior 60-yard dash was made by Moeller, -Columbia Grammar, in 1893, 7-2/5 seconds. At this Barnard meeting, -Wilson, Leech, Hewitt, Armstead, and Tebyrica each won his heat in 7-1/5 -seconds, but Armstead came home first in the finals in 7-2/5 seconds. -The record for the Junior 220-yard dash went down likewise. The old mark -was 28 seconds, made by Wilson last year. Wilson ran his first heat this -year in 27-2/5 seconds, Millard got the next in 27-3/5 seconds, and -Wilson took the final in 26-4/5 seconds. - -The high-jump mark only got up to 5 feet 6 inches, where Pell and Brown -tied. The hurdles looked like an easy thing for Beers, but in the final -heat he had a hot tussle with Herrick and Harris, winning on a close -margin. On account of a claimed foul the two latter had to race over -again, and Herrick won in 8-1/5 seconds. Beers had cleared the distance -in 8 seconds. - -The summary of points made follows: - - Name. Firsts. Seconds. Thirds. Total. - - Barnard 6 2 .. 36 - Berkeley 2 1 .. 13 - Brooklyn High .. 2 1 7 - Stevens Prep 1 .. .. 5 - De La Salle 1 .. .. 5 - Cutler .. 1 1 4 - Colombia Grammar .. 1 1 4 - Pingry .. 1 1 4 - Adelphi .. 1 .. 3 - Trinity .. 1 .. 3 - Oxford .. .. 2 2 - Alling's Art .. .. 1 1 - Drisler .. .. 1 1 - Dwight .. .. 1 1 - -At the meeting of the Long Island I.S.A.A. last week the protest entered -by Brooklyn High against Adelphi as a result of the League game of -handball, played between them the previous week, was decided. The -protest grew out of one of those inexplicable misunderstandings about -rules which seem to crop up every now and then in all kinds of sport. In -this case the High-school claimed the game on points, while Adelphi -wanted the game on actual wins, which were 5 out of 7, the points being -133 to 131 in favor of High-school. According to the Y.M.C.A. rules, -which were adopted by the League, Adelphi won; but both captains were -ignorant of the rules, and agreed on playing for points. Before the game -was well advanced Captain Forney of Adelphi found out his mistake, and -declared he was playing for games won. - -The decision reached was the most natural and logical one. It was found -that both teams had violated the rules equally by agreeing to play for -points, and the game was awarded to Adelphi, because that team had won -in accordance with the Y.M.C.A., and consequently the L.I.I.S.A.A., -rules. This case is somewhat similar to the one which cropped up on the -football field last fall in this same Brooklyn League. It looks as -though the captains did not keep very well posted on the rules. And yet -one of the first things a captain should do is to know these by heart. -Talk with the captain of a Yale or a Harvard university team, and there -is not a question of the most intricate nature covered by the rules of -his game that you can corner him on. It ought to be the same way with -school captains. Slipshod knowledge is worth nothing; absolute -familiarity with the law is vital. - -The Long Island League has decided to hold annual in-door games -henceforth, and the first ones will be given in the new Fourteenth -Regiment Armory, Brooklyn, on Saturday, the 29th. The following events -will be open to members from any school that is a member of the National -Interscholastic Association: 75-yard dash, 75-yard dash (boys under -sixteen), 220-yard dash, 440-yard dash, 880-yard dash, 1-mile run, -putting 12-pound shot, running high jump, pole vault, and 75-yard -hurdle. The rules governing entries and competition will be those of the -Long Island Association and of the A.A.A. Entries close February 22d -with H. O. Pratt, 232 Clinton Avenue, Brooklyn. - -The convention of New Jersey schools, held in Plainfield last week, -resulted in the formation of a New Jersey Interscholastic A. A. Its -members are Plainfield High-school; Newark Academy; Pingry's School, of -Elizabeth; Stevens Preparatory School, of Hoboken: Rutgers Preparatory -School, of New Brunswick; and the Montclair High-school. It was decided -that each school shall hold an athletic meeting every year. The State -athletic meet will be held on the first Saturday in June, and the annual -meeting of the association will take place on the same day. The -association will control track athletics, baseball, football, and -cricket. - -It is encouraging to see so many associations starting up in various -parts of the country, and I cannot but feel that the formation of the -National Association has had much to do with it. The schools have -realized what a great advantage it will be to have an established and -recognized standard, and a central and controlling body; and knowing -that the only way for them to become members of such a central or parent -body is to first form an association, the result has been the -organization of interscholastic leagues in many sections where hitherto -there had been only a desultory sort of interest and activity in track -athletics. - -Another new association recently established is the Hudson River -Interscholastic League. It is composed of the Mohegan Lake School, of -Peekskill; Riverview Academy, of Poughkeepsie; and Holbrook's, of Sing -Sing. Doubtless before long the many other institutions in the towns -along the Hudson will see the advantage of belonging to an association, -and will apply for admission. It looks now as if by the time the -officers of the National Association get ready to make their -announcement of the spring games there will be more than double the -number of associations to answer the call than there was a year ago at -this same period. - -The ice-polo season has been a most successful one in Boston this year, -and many of the games have proved exciting and close. Lack of space has -prevented our giving any detailed account of the matches in this -Department, but I hope to be able to publish the result of the winter's -work and the scores of the League games, for the sake of the record, as -soon as the finals have been settled. - -The suggestion made by Professor Atewell, of the Columbia Grammar -School, to hold an interscholastic gymnasium contest is an excellent -one, and one that this Department heartily endorses. Such a contest has -many advantages over an in-door track-athletic meeting, and now that -most of the schools in the city are provided with gymnasiums, it would -seem an easy matter to arrange one. Trinity School, at present, seems to -take the greatest interest in gymnasium work of any school in the city. -By gymnasium work I do not mean exercise in the gymnasium preparatory -for track athletics. I mean work on the rings, bars, etc., and -calisthenics. - - THE GRADUATE. - - - - -[Illustration: THE CAMERA CLUB] - - Any questions in regard to photograph matters will be willingly - answered by the Editor of this column, and we should be glad to - hear from any of our club who can make helpful suggestions. - - -PREPARATION OF TINTED SENSITIVE PAPERS. - -NO. 2.--HOW TO MAKE VIOLET TONES. - -To make violet tones the paper is first sensitized in the same way -described for making red prints. Make a solution of 96 grs. of nitrate -of uranium and 4 oz. of water. Put this solution in a shallow tray, such -as is used for toning, and float the prepared photographic paper on this -for twenty seconds; drain carefully, and pin up to dry in a dark room. -If dried by artificial heat the paper is made more sensitive and prints -more quickly. - -As soon as the paper is dry wrap it in post-office paper, and then in -black needle-paper--such as sensitive papers are wrapped in--and lay it -away in a drawer or covered box till wanted. This paper may be prepared -several days before using, but should not be kept too long. - -To print, place in the printing-frame and expose to light. If the -negative is thin, three minutes in bright sunlight or one hour in the -shade or a very dull day will be necessary for printing, and if a strong -negative, ten minutes in bright sunlight or two hours in the shade will -be necessary. - -Have ready prepared a solution of 8 grs. of chloride of gold and 4 oz. -of water. As soon as the print is taken from the frame wash it for -twenty-five or thirty seconds in hot water (120° Fahr.), and place face -up in a toning-tray, and flood the print with the chloride-of-gold -solution. The print does not show when it is taken from the frame, but -is developed with the chloride-of-gold solution. When the detail is well -out, and the color a rich violet, take from the tray and wash in running -water or in several changes of water, till none of the coloring matter -shows in the water. Pin by the corners on a flat board, and set the -board in an upright position till the prints are dry. - -These violet prints are very attractive for certain kinds of work. -Flower studies, especially those of single flowers, make novel prints. A -set of four different colored prints might be made and used as -decorations for a calendar. Mount the prints on square sheets of heavy -drawing or Bristol board, and on each sheet place a three months' -calendar. These calendars may be obtained at any stationery-store. The -cards may be further decorated by tracing fine gilt lines round the -picture and calendar leaves. An appropriate motto may also be added to -each sheet. - -Of course the first of the year has already passed, and it may seem out -of season for suggestions as to making calendars, but one of the -prettiest birthday gifts to a friend is a calendar beginning with the -day of the month which marks his or her birthday. Such a calendar is -very convenient, for it laps over into the coming year, which is -sometimes a great advantage. Instead of mounting the prints directly on -the card, an opening may be cut in the card and the picture placed -behind it, as described in "Tinted Papers," No. 1. If this is done, a -thinner piece of card-board should be pasted on the back, not only as a -finish, but as a protection to the picture. - -Blue prints may be toned to a dark violet by first printing, washing -them in clear water, and then flowing them with a solution of 1 part -potassium hydrate in 300 parts of water, and again with a solution of -4-1/2 oz. of alcohol (90 per cent.), 7-1/2 oz. distilled water, 1 oz. -gallic acid. This gives the prints a dark purple or violet color, not so -pleasing as that made by the process just given, but, if not printed a -too deep blue in the first place, look very well. - -Tinted papers--with the exception of carbon papers and blue prints--are -not found in the market, but must be prepared by the amateur. - - MR. EMIL DÆCHE, Patron, of Jersey City, New Jersey, gives the - formula which he uses for toning aristo paper whereby he obtains - fine chocolate tones, and asks if prints made by this process will - be permanent. The prints, if well washed, ought to be permanent, - and not turn yellow. The reason why prints turn yellow after having - been made some time is not so much the toning process as the fault - of the paper. Aristo prints are not as permanent as albumen, - bromide, or platinotype prints, or even those made on plain salted - paper. Improvements are being made in aristo papers, and they are - now of much better keeping quality than those first put on the - market. If Mr. Dæche will kindly send a more detailed account of - the process which he uses, we should be glad to publish it for the - benefit of the members of the Camera Club. - - - - -ADVERTISEMENTS. - - - - -[Illustration: Royal Baking Powder] - - - - -Arnold - -Constable & Co - - * * * * * - -Cotton Dress - -Fabrics. - -_D. & J. Anderson's Zephyrs,_ - -_Chene and Persian Effects,_ - -_Silk Mixtures,_ - -_Stripes, Checks, and Plaids._ - -Wash Fabrics. - -_French Piqué,_ - -_Printed Dimity,_ - -_White Emb'd Nainsook._ - -Printed Linen Lawns. - -_Frères Koechlin's Organdies._ - -NOVELTIES. - - * * * * * - -Broadway & 19th st. - -NEW YORK. - - - - -[Illustration] - -No - -you haven't seen it if you say it's like any other. - -The CUPID Hair Pin never slips out. - -It's in the TWIST. - -Richardson & De Long Bros., makers of the famous DeLong Hook and Eye. - - - - -HARPER'S CATALOGUE thoroughly revised, classified, and indexed, will be -sent by mail to any address on receipt of ten cents. - - - - -[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. - - -It is practically impossible in this Department to give satisfactory -answers to inquiries in bicycle matters. The questions are in many cases -so similar, and yet just different enough to require separate answers, -that it would require a good portion of this periodical to answer them. -For example, many inquiries are received as to the best route from some -town or city in one State to another town or city in an adjoining State. -Of course these letters require separate answers in each case, which -would be impossible. It is, however, quite possible to give here some -general information as to the best methods of finding out such answers, -each man for himself. In the first place, it is wiser in the end to join -the L. A. W. You pay $2 per year for membership, which brings you free -the road-book of your State, if there is one, and the _L. A. W. Bulletin -and Good Roads_--a periodical that, among other things of value, gives -you all the addresses, up to date, of consuls, chief consuls, and other -State and central officers of the League. From these men all such -information can be obtained. If you do not belong to the L. A. W., you -have to pay $1.50 for the road-book and $2 for the _Bulletin_, which is -the only paper in which you can find all the officers and consuls of the -United States. The question then presenting itself to you, How can I -ride best from A in Pennsylvania to B in Ohio? your course in seeking -information is clear. Write to the chief consul of Pennsylvania and the -chief consul of Ohio--whose addresses are in the _Bulletin_--and ask -each to send you the road-book of his State. You will receive the -Pennsylvania book free if you live in Pennsylvania yourself, but you -must, of course, pay for the Ohio book. Having obtained these -road-books, or book of maps, or tour-books (for each State has a -different plan in getting up its books), pick out A, Pennsylvania, and -B, Ohio, on the maps of each book, and then follow the routes on the -maps which lead to some common point on the border. Here, then, is your -trip marked out carefully, well described, and in a form that you can -carry with you--and all at a cost of $3.50. If either State happens to -have no road-book of any kind, write to the chief consul, tell him your -proposed plan, and he will be glad to answer your questions to the best -of his ability. If there is no chief consul, then that State is indeed -benighted and behind the times--at least from a wheelman's point of -view. - -Another general set of questions which can be classified in an -indefinite sort of way is the set which refers to training for long -distances or short distances either for racing or for pleasure trips. -General rules here can be laid down for training. In fact, the -Interscholastic Sport Department is constantly giving suggestions in -training for one particular event or another. Bicycle-training is -practically the same as the preparation gone through by a man who is to -run in the longer distances. Of course the principal part of the work is -wheeling constantly day after day for certain distances, depending on -the event for which we are training, gradually increasing speed or -distance as the event is a short distance or a long tour. Muscular -development and lung-power are required, and these must be practised by -constant gymnasium work. Running slowly on the toes, rising and falling -on one leg and then on the other many times, rising on the toes and -falling back slowly on the heels two or three or four hundred times in -succession without bending the knees--these exercise the proper leg -muscles. But when the lungs and heart come into the question more care -should be taken. Many strong men find that while their lungs and heart -are vigorous for ordinary games, bicycling puts too great a strain on -both, especially the latter. For instance, after riding steadily up hill -and down hill for twenty miles at fifteen miles an hour, you begin to -feel a stricture across the chest, you have that peculiar sensation as -if you were tasting blood, and it is impossible to take a long -satisfying breath which seems to "go" beyond a certain point down into -your lungs. When these facts become noticeable, especially if you are -not in the best of training, it is well to dismount and walk a little by -your wheel, until you can mount again and ride with the mouth closed and -the air entering your lungs through the nostrils. In fact, all riding -should stop when the wheelman cannot breathe most of the time through -his nose; otherwise the lungs are overtaxed, which may do no harm in -occasional instances, but will in the end, if kept up, be injurious. - - - - -A WONDERFUL VIOLIN. - - -Wandering through the Italian quarter of New York lately, I came across -a copy of Dante's _Inferno_. It was bound in very thick covers, and in -looking it over a few days ago, I was much surprised to find a sort of -pocket, partially disguised, in the under cover. It contained some -sheets of manuscript written in a fine Italian hand. I had the -manuscript translated, and found that it was a sort of diary of a young -lad whose whole life must have been wrapped up in violins, for the -records of his day-book are liberally interspersed with memorandums on -that instrument. After reading the pages through, I found a little story -among them, and for its curious interest, I give it herewith. - -It seems the boy's family was of noble origin, and had grand designs for -the future of their son, whose name was Paolo. Paolo, however, was -averse to their ideas, as his only desire was violins, either to make -them or play them, and ofttimes, in defiance of his father's orders, he -would steal into a distant part of the house, and indulge in his love of -playing. This had happened so frequently, and Paolo was fast growing to -be a manly fellow, that his father rebuked him very strongly one day. He -touched the sensitive chords of the musician's soul too much, and Paolo -responded with hot words that led to his father's banishing him forever -from the house. - -Paolo went forth with his valuable violin, his one friend, as he -thought, and passed on from town to town, city to city, playing for his -living. He changed his name, and as time went by, his father, who sat -brooding in sadness over his hasty action, never recognized in the name -of a new brilliant maestro his banished son. A violin hung in front of -his chair in the large hall, and he was accustomed to sitting there -before it and dreaming of Paolo. One day, as the light of the afternoon -was fast waning, he sat with eyes wandering over the instrument. -Suddenly, almost like fairy music, the low sweet melody of a favorite -piece of Paolo's came from the violin. He started back, fearing that he -was mad; but no, the music was certainly coming from the violin. What -could it mean? He seized it, and the moment he did so the music stopped. -He dropped down in his chair again, and waited. Softly the strains came -from the strings, and with a cry of grief the father called aloud for -his son, only to hear a voice, and, turning, he found Paolo standing -before him with outstretched arms. They were reconciled at last. - -Paolo accounted for the wonderful music by leading his father to the -other end of the hall and pointing to a small alcove behind a pillar, -explained that everything spoken or played in that spot would cast the -sound directly over to where the violin hung, and that as a boy he had -discovered the wonderful echo, and experimented with it more than once. -He had driven the nail in the wall years ago, and when he entered the -hall upon his return, and saw his father sitting there before the -violin, he resolved to try his love by use of that boyish experiment. - -It would be hard to credit this story, were it not for the fact that -such an echo is one of the show-cards of the guides in the Capitol at -Washington, and several others are more or less famous through the -world. - - HUBERT EARL. - - - - -[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 have been putting in order my top drawer. Do you keep yours in perfect -order, girls? I have the greatest respect for you if you do. Mine gives -me more trouble than I can begin to tell you about. However, if you -could peep into it this morning you would admire it as much as I do, -what with the boxes all closed, and the gloves smoothed out and laid -lengthwise, and the handkerchiefs in small white piles, and the veils -folded, and everything else spick and span, and beautiful to see! It -will stay so, too--at least I hope it will--for at least a fortnight, -that wonderful upper bureau drawer into which so many things go, and out -of which so many things come. I'm afraid, though, that one of these days -when I'm hurrying to catch a train, or somebody is waiting to speak to -me, I'll dive down among the laces and boxes and gloves and cards and -handkerchiefs, upsetting this and overturning that, and woe is me! the -top drawer will be in a whirl of confusion once more. When I was a -little girl I shared a drawer with my sister, who had a great deal of -system and a natural talent for arrangement and compactness which I did -not have, and therefore had to cultivate. We divided our territories by -a pasteboard fence, and on her side there were always beauty and peace -and harmony; a place for everything, and everything in its place. But I -would rather not tell you very much about my side. I used to have -clearing-up days then, and I have them still. - -Now don't imagine for a moment that I began this talk just to let you -know that I often have to fight against an inclination to be a little -bit disorderly in my arrangement of my various things. I had something -else in view. We are many-sided beings, you and I, and our top drawers -are not the only parts of our belongings which are now and then the -better for being gone over and straightened out and set right. Think -about it, girls. Can you not, looking back across the last month, or the -last week, or even over this very last hour, see that in something you -did or said or thought you were mistaken, you were not quite unselfish, -or you had not the fair point of view? Aren't you often sorry, after a -hasty word, that you had not waited before you spoke? And, again, are -there not times when you did not speak out bravely and strongly in -defence of an absent friend? Clearing-up seasons are good for the soul, -and one's mind and heart are the better for the taking one's top drawer -in hand--one's top drawer where she does not keep ribbons and roses and -belts and buckles only, but fancies and resolves and notions and -dispositions and prejudices. - -Speaking of clearings up, there are moods when we are frank and open -with ourselves, and when we confess that we are not so sweet and amiable -as we might be. Perhaps we are not so just as we might be. What fusses -and frictions are caused by the sort of temper in the top drawer that -explodes like a fire-cracker the instant a match of irritation comes -within touching distance! What a disagreeable thing a certain sort of -smile is, the hateful smile that comes out of the top drawer where -vanity and jealousy lurk! When we are about it, we might as well, in our -clearing up, burn and get rid of the bad tempers, the crossness, and the -suspiciousness which help to make us and others wretched. To be happy -ourselves and to make others happy should be our constant aim and -effort. Above everything else, do not let us be contrary, like little -Miss Mary in Mother Goose. Many people are so, and they make others very -unhappy. - -There is one little corner of the top drawer which is more important -than any other. It ought to be labelled "Conscience." Here we should be -careful that we never leave a single thing in confusion. Where we are in -doubt whether an action is right or wrong we _must_ settle it by the -light of conscience, and our decision will be influenced by our general -habits of thinking and doing, and by our every-day habit of asking our -Heavenly Father's guidance for each hour of life. - - MURIEL.--Your letter interested me very much, and I will soon - devote one of these talks to the subject you speak of so sensibly. - - ANNE T.--Why worry about your height? It is beautiful to be tall, - if you carry yourself gracefully, head up, shoulders back, as a - tall girl ought. - - LOUISE S. M.--If you are tired of story-books, try biography. Have - you read Miss Edgeworth's life, or that of Miss Alcott? Or take up - a course of English history. - -[Illustration: Signature] - - * * * * * - -STARVED TO DEATH - -in midst of plenty. Unfortunate, yet we hear of it. The Gail Borden -Eagle Brand Condensed Milk is undoubtedly the safest and best infant -food. _Infant Health_ is a valuable pamphlet for mothers. Send your -address to N. Y. Condensed Milk Co., N. Y.--[_Adv._] - - - - -ADVERTISEMENTS. - - - - -[Illustration] - - There are monarchs, there are monarchs, - Men of every clime and hue, - From the Czar of all the Russias - To the Prince of Timbuctoo. - Monarchs good and monarchs famous, - Monarchs short and monarchs tall; - But the best is our Monarch-- - It's the Monarch of them all. - -Monarch - -King of Bicycles--A Marvel of - -Strength, Speed and Reliability. - -4 models. $80 and $100, fully guaranteed. For children and adults who -want an 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. - - - - -WALTER BAKER & CO., LIMITED. - -Established Dorchester, Mass., 1780. - -Breakfast Cocoa - -[Illustration] - -Always ask for Walter Baker & Co.'s - -Breakfast Cocoa - -Made at - -DORCHESTER, MASS. - -It bears their Trade Mark - -"La Belle Chocolatiere" on every can. - -Beware of Imitations. - - - - -Postage Stamps, &c. - - - - -FREE! - -Send 10c. to pay the postage, and I will send you a 225-page catalogue -with illustrations of every stamp, FREE. 100 varieties foreign stamps, -5c.; 200 varieties foreign stamps, 25c.; 12 varieties Japan, Spain, and -Portugal, 2c.; 400 varieties foreign stamps, $1.25; 500 varieties, -$1.75; 750 varieties, $4.50; 1000 varieties, $6.50. Approval sheets for -good references. - -RICHARD R. BROWN, KEYPORT, N. J. - - - - -[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. - - - - -$117.50 WORTH OF STAMPS FREE - -to agents selling stamps from my 50% approval sheets. Send at once for -circular and price-list giving full information. - -C. W. Grevning, Morristown, N. J. - - - - -[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. Stegman, 5941 Cote Brilliante Ave., St. Louis, Mo - - - - -FOREIGN STAMPS ON APPROVAL - -Agents wanted at 50% com. Lists free. - -CHAS. B. RAUB, New London, Conn. - - - - -500 - -Mixed Australian, etc., 10c.; =105 varieties=, and nice album, 10c.; 15 -unused, 10c.; 10 Africa, 10c.; 15 Asia, 10c. - -F. P. Vincent, Chatham, N.Y. - - - - -125 - -dif. Gold Coast, Costa Rica, etc., 25c.; 40 U. S., 25c. Liberal com. to -agents. Large bargain list free. F. W. MILLER, 904 Olive St., St. Louis, -Mo. - - - - -Stamps! - -25 var. free to all sending good ref. for my fine app'l sheets at 50% -commission. - -CHAS. DREW, 25 West 104th St., New York. - - - - -BOOKS OF STAMPS at 33-1/3% com. References required. =Model Stamp Co.=, W. -Superior, Wis. - - - - -FINE PACKETS in large variety. Stamps at 50% com. Col's bought. -Northwestern Stamp Co., Freeport, Ill. - - - - -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. - - - - -333 African, U. S., and Foreign Stamps. One Dime. Address J. Handford, -55 N. 6th St. Paterson, N.J. - - - - -HARPER'S CATALOGUE - -thoroughly revised, classified, and indexed, will be sent by mail to any -address on receipt of ten cents. - - - - -[Illustration: Thompson's Eye Water] - - - - -A PRIZE MUSIC COMPOSITION. - - -The ability to compose music is not as common as that to solve puzzles, -and so the Table in its Music Contests this year opened competition to -amateurs without regard to age. For variety, a song and a hymn setting -were asked for, $5 being offered for the best in each class, and -packages of visiting-cards, with copper plates, for the second best. -First verses of two poems were given. Both were by Mrs. Margaret E. -Sangster, in her book _Little Knights and Ladies_. - -We publish this week the song setting which won the first prize, and the -whole poem, in order that you may have a complete song. The composition -is by Miss Mary E. Bigelow, of Berea, O., who is a Round Table Patron. -The second prize is awarded to Harry R. Patty, of Los Angeles, Cal., -Knight. Others whose compositions are deserving of high praise, -mentioned with honor, are: Helen H. Sohst, Alice C. Banning, Penry -Jones, Frank Balentine, Minnie Brendel (Weimar, Germany), and E. S. -Hosmer. The additional verses of "Our Little Echo" are: - -[Illustration: OUR LITTLE ECHO.] - - This little echo, soft and sweet, - Repeats what others say, - And trots about on tireless feet, - Up stairs and down, all day. - - It makes us very careful not - To use a naughty word, - Lest in the echo's lisping tones - It should again be heard. - - Which would be such a dreadful thing, - As any one may see, - Who has an echo in _his_ house - A little over three. - -The first-prize hymn, with awards, will be published soon--probably next -week. - - * * * * * - -A Leech Barometer. - - Very few books of pastimes are lacking in elaborate descriptions - for making so-called "infallible" barometers. Now here is a - barometer, not absolutely infallible, however, of an exceedingly - simple kind, though, like the aforementioned, you may purchase your - outfit entire at the apothecary's--unless, luckily, you are a rural - member. Here are the directions: - - Buy or catch a leech. Confine it in a jar three-quarters full of - rain-water, which must be changed regularly twice a week. Place the - jar on a window-frame, facing the north. - - Weather indications. _Fair and Frosty._--The leech lies motionless, - rolled up in a spiral form, at the bottom of the glass. _Rain or - Snow._--The leech creeps up to the top of the glass. If the rain - will be heavy and of long duration, it remains a considerable time. - If trifling, it quickly descends. If the rain or snow is - accompanied by wind, it darts about quickly, and does not cease - until there is a hard blow. _Storm of Thunder or Lightning._--The - leech is exceedingly agitated, and expresses its feelings in - violent, convulsive starts. - - VINCENT V. M. BEEDE. - - * * * * * - -About Some Chapters. - -The Table has a flourishing Chapter in Santiago College, Agustinas 150, -Santiago, Chile. Its president is Blanca Oliveira, aged fourteen, and -she wishes to correspond with American Ladies of her own age. Writing -under date of November 25th, the president tells of an entertainment -given by the Wide Awake Chapter in the college gymnasium, in which -songs, dialogues, recitations, and the like were the attractions. The -invitation cards are very neat. The Chapter has forty-one members, who -have corresponded with many readers of the Table in this country and -Europe, some doing so in French and Spanish as well as in English. - -Washington Chapter, of Racine, Wis., was organized on February 22, 1894, -and is prospering. It holds semi-monthly meetings, and the dues are five -cents per month. Officers are elected every four months. The present -officers are: President, Hira E. Tyrrell; Vice-President, Russell Lewis; -Secretary, Frank H. Marlott; Treasurer, Arthur Murray. "We think it -would be nice to know what some of the many other Chapters are doing," -writes Secretary Frank H. Marlott, 1511 Wisconsin Street. "I am sure we -are not the only ones who should like to have some suggestions from -successful Chapters regarding programmes," etc. - - * * * * * - -Information Wanted. - -Name and address of story "All at Sea," sent in competition for a prize, -that manuscript may be returned, and address of Rudolph Raphael, "Tea -Picker of Chang Choy," for same purpose. - - * * * * * - -The Good Will School Fund. - -This Fund has grown since last report as follows: - - Amount previously acknowledged $1579.16 - - Little Women Chapter, of New York, $6; - Barbara Arbogust, 25 cents; Frank Alfred - Stetson, 50 cents; Paul C. Conn, 10 cents; - Fred W. and George M. Beal, 50 cents; Walter - Goff, 50 cents; The Kirk Munroe Talk at - St. Agnes Hall, New York, $10.08; "Euclid - Place," $1.30; Sunday-school Class, Stillwater, - Minn., 50 cents; Francis S. Winston, - $1; Louis O. Brosie, from contributions to - his amateur paper, $2; Margaret C. Walter, - $1; Carrie M. Walton, 10 cents; John Burroughs - Chapter, Winsted, Conn., $15.84; - Sophie R. St. Clair, 50 cents; Fred W. Christensen, - 10 cents; Bessie Cauffman, $3.50; - Franklin Pendleton, 25 cents; Paul A Sensheimer, - $1; "Sancho Panza," 25 cents; Mrs. - H. E. Banning, 50 cents; Alice May Douglas - Chapter, Bath, Me., $3; "Midget," 10 cents; - John H. Campbell, Jun., 5 cents; "Bruno - Morgan," 50 cents; Laura Gooding, $1; - "Antonio," 20 cents; Evarts A. Graham, 30 - cents; Dick, Polly, Tom, Harry, etc., $1; - George Taylor, 20 cents; Katherine W. Butler, - 10 cents; Alice V. B. Foos, $1; Sidney - Davis, and each of the following-named, 10 - cents: Edward O. Tatnall, Mary Fithian, - Adela Harper, Randolph Wilson, Walter P. - Hall, Edith and Amy Shattuck, Ethel Van - Rennselaer, George H. Hogeman, W. W. - Harvey, Edith Moore, and Richard Corcoran; - Lindsey D. Holmes, and each of the following-named, - 50 cents: Mrs. D. L. Miller, - Mary A. Lippincott, S. J. Peters, Lulu Wangelin, - L. I. and E. Brown, James F. Rodgers, - Grace M. Fay, Grace E. Hall, Stella L. Tutewiler, - L. S. Whittaker, Pauline L. Stockton, - J. A. Beach, Ethel R. Betts, B. W. Gale, - Frankie L. Potts, and W. Stowell Wooster; - Ellen B. Laight, $1; John Nixon Brooks, $1; - "Santa Claus," 5 cents; J. Howard Beckley, - 15 cents; J. F. Hammond and Sophie V. - Gray, each 5 cents; Daisy Noyes and Ralph - Page, each 25 cents; G. W. Hinckley, $1; Albert - Gregory, 16 cents; Whitman Dart, 15 - cents; K. K. Forsythe, 25 cents; Eleanor - Davis, $1; Harry G. Sprowl, 5 cents; "Hecla," - N. Y., $1; Eileen and Robert Weldon, 19 - cents; and Robert W. Stockbridge, 16 cents. - - Total 69.75 - - In the formal acknowledgment of a contribution - from the Admiral Benham Chapter - the sum was given, by mistake, $8.95. - It should have been $18.95. Hence we add 10.00 - - ----------- - - Total of Fund $1658.91 - - - - -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. Correspondent should address - Editor Stamp Department. - - -In the ROUND TABLE for January 26, 1896, I illustrated twelve of the -rare Confederate locals. I complete the list (with a few exceptions) in -this number. - -[Illustration] - -Livingston, Kingston, Greenville, Madison, Ringgold, and Victoria are -all great rarities. The stamps are worth from $250 to $750 if on -envelope and in good condition. - -[Illustration] - -Goliad (several varieties) are worth from $100 to $500 each. Rheatown -and Tellico Plains (same type) are worth over $100 each. - -Danville (W. D. Coleman, P.M.) and Pittsylvania (same type) worth $250 -each. - -[Illustration] - -Petersburg is worth $15; Pleasant Shade (same type) is worth $150. -Lynchburg, worth $25 to $30; Lenoir, from $50 to $75. - -[Illustration] - -Marion (six varieties) is a very rare stamp, but the original plate from -which the stamps were printed is in the possession of a New York -stamp-dealer. (Not illustrated.) - -There are several others not illustrated, such as Spartansburg, Salem, -etc., which resemble the ordinary postmark, and several others which are -not yet fully accepted as genuine. - -Representative Pugh, of Kentucky, has introduced a bill in Congress -permitting all cities of 100,000 or more inhabitants to issue stamps of -special designs for local use, the designs on such stamps to commemorate -the history of the city or the memory of its prominent deceased -citizens; but no such stamps shall be made to advertise the business of -any individual, firm, corporation, or society. The cost of engraving and -printing will be paid by the city issuing the stamps, not by the general -government. - - PHILATUS. - - - - -[Illustration: IVORY SOAP] - -A well enforced rule of order and Ivory Soap will make the kitchen an -attractive and appetizing spot. - -Copyright, 1895, by The Procter & Gamble Co., Cin'ti. - - - - -BREAKFAST--SUPPER. - -EPPS'S - -GRATEFUL--COMFORTING. - -COCOA - -BOILING WATER OR MILK. - - - - -CARDS - -FOR 1896. 50 Sample Styles AND LIST OF 400 PREMIUM ARTICLES FREE. -HAVERFIELD PUB. CO., Cadiz, Ohio. - - - - -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. - - - - -[Illustration: Thompson's Eye Water] - - - - -[Illustration] - -THE - -BALTIMOREAN PRINTING-PRESS - -has earned more money for boys than all other presses in the market. -Buys, don't idle away your time when you can buy a self-inking -printing-press, type, and complete outfit for $5.00. Write for -particulars, there is money in it for you. - -THE J. F. W. DORMAN CO., - -Baltimore, Md., U.S.A. - - - - -HOOPING - -COUGH - -CROUP - -_Can be cured_ - -by using - -ROCHE'S HERBAL - -EMBROCATION - -The celebrated and effectual English cure, without internal medicine. W. -EDWARD & SON, Props., London, Eng. Wholesale, E. FOUGERA & CO., New York - - - - -CHARLES CARLETON COFFIN'S - -Fascinating Historical Works - - ABRAHAM LINCOLN. - THE BOYS OF '76. - THE STORY OF LIBERTY. - OLD TIMES IN THE COLONIES. - BUILDING THE NATION. - -_A History of the Rebellion in Four Volumes:_ - - DRUM-BEAT OF THE NATION. - MARCHING TO VICTORY. - REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC. - FREEDOM TRIUMPHANT. - -_Nine Volumes. Profusely Illustrated. Square 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, -$3.00 each._ - -Mr. Coffin avoids the formality of historical narrative, and presents -his material in the shape of personal anecdotes, memorable incidents, -and familiar illustrations. He reproduces events in a vivid, picturesque -narrative.--_N. Y. Tribune._ - -Mr. Coffin writes interestingly; he uses abundance of incident; his -style is pictorial and animated, he takes a sound view of the inner -factors of national development and progress; and his pages are -plentifully sprinkled with illustrations.--_Literary World_, Boston. - - * * * * * - -Published by HARPER & BROTHERS, New York. - - - - -FROM CHUM TO CHUM. - -BY GASTON V. DRAKE. - -III.--FROM BOB TO JACK. - - -[Illustration] - -Dear Jack,--I got your letter the day we came aboard this ship and I was -so much interested with what was going on here that I put it in my -pocket to read next day. The trouble with the next day was what I might -have expected. I wasn't seasick at all but something I had for dinner -didn't agree with me and I lay down all day and wished I was ashore. As -an old man who stood near me said "they run trolly cars all over the -land where you don't want 'em, but out at sea when you'd give ten -dollars to be carried ashore in one they don't have 'em." I'd have gone -ashore on a shingle if I could have. If you can imagine the Mountain -House dancing around like a cork, 'way up in the air one minute and -fifty feet lower down the next you'll get some idea about what I've been -going through. I'd have enjoyed it though if I hadn't eaten that thing -that disagreed with me, for to people that don't get seasick the -moviness of the whole business is great. - -There's a sailor on the _New York_ that's had almost as many thrillers -as Sandboys and between you and me I think he could talk Sandboys all -around the block. He's been a pirate, he told me, but a nice kind of a -pirate. He says he was called the Chesterfield of the Black Flag because -he always did what he did politely no matter how horrible. If he -attacked a ship at night he always did it in a dress suit and things -like that, and if there were ladies aboard of any ship he captured and -he had to lock 'em up in the hold he always apologized for doing it, and -hoped they'd have a good time. He was brought up in Salem Massachusetts -where he imbibed a love of the sea and learned manners--those are his -own words, particularly imbibed. That word shows what a fine man he -really is. His language is really splendid. Most pirates, he told me, -wasn't fit to associate with gentlemen because they couldn't talk like -gentlemen, but he felt that he could go anywhere, even into a lady's -parlor and talk and never say a word that "wouldn't go with the -furniture," as he put it, without swearing off a bit of his piracy -neither. He has charge of the steamer-chairs on board this boat and -nobody but me knows who he really is. He hasn't been on shore for five -years because he says there's a price on his head. Just as soon as the -boat gets into port he takes a dozen cans of sardines and a box of -crackers and goes and hides up under the bowsprit and lives there on the -sardines and crackers until the ship starts to sea again, when he comes -out and takes charge of the chairs. That's how I came to know him. I get -up early and go out on deck and he tells me all the thrillers he knows. - -He had an awful experience last trip over. He was putting away the -chairs one night when all of a sudden he saw one of the English -detectives that had been looking for him for years coming along the deck -and in the moonlight the detective saw him and recognized him at once. - -"Aha!" said he. "Run to earth at last, Chesterfield." - -"Not as I know on," said the sailor. "Seems to me I'm run to sea." And -then he gave a wild ominous laugh. "I'm very glad to see you," he -continued. "How are Mrs. Detective and the children?" - -"You haven't lost any of your manners, Chesterfield," said the -detective; "but they don't go with me. You're my pirate!" And he laid -his hands on Chesterfield's shoulder. - -"Pardon me," said Chesterfield. "But really my dear Mr. Detective you -don't realize your peril. I could throw you overboard in two seconds, -and if it wasn't an exceedingly impolite thing to push a gentleman of -your standing into the water where you'd get your clothes spoiled I'll -be jiggered if I wouldn't do it. Can't I summon assistance for you?" - -[Illustration] - -"I'll summon it quick enough!" cried the detective rudely not even -thanking Chesterfield for his offer, and he ran to one of those big air -funnels that came up through the decks and hollered help down it, -supposing that it lead into the cabin where the stewards stay; and -Chesterfield just took him by the coat tails and pitched him head first -through the funnel into the hold, where the fellow could howl to his -heart's content and nobody'd hear him because he landed way below the -lowest deck on a bale of cotton and there he staid until the ship got -into port--and when he came out he was so excited that nobody'd believe -what he said, he spoke so sort of crazy and he was arrested for a -stowaway. Chesterfield of course had gone and hid under the bowsprit, -and even if folks had believed the detective they'd have thought he'd -escaped. But to show how polite he was, every morning Chesterfield would -go to the funnel when nobody was looking and call out good-morning to -the detective and drop down two sandwiches and a bottle of ginger-ale so -he wouldn't starve. - -[Illustration] - -When the pirate isn't on duty I don't have quite as much fun, though I -have fun enough. We have to eat by a time-table. Soup comes at half past -six, fish at twenty minutes to seven, lobster patties at ten minutes to -seven, roast beef at seven, and so on, and I don't like it a bit. I -don't ever want anything but soup and pie. The soup comes in early -enough but you have to wait an hour and forty minutes for the pie and -it's slow work. I asked the Captain if I couldn't have my pie at six -forty and he said he'd be glad to let me only discipline had to be kept -up and if the waiters were allowed to bring in pie out of its turn it -would upset the whole system an' we'd get nothing but chaos. I don't -know what chaos is; we've never had any at home and I never saw it on a -bill of fare anywhere, but Pop says it's no good and spoils one's -digestion. - -[Illustration] - -The pirate gave me a pointer for coming home. He said there was a boy on -the _New York_ two years ago that had a pair of roller skates, and on -very rough days he'd put 'em on and stand up near the bow and when the -bow went up with the waves the boy would slide 'way down to the stern on -his skates without a bit of trouble, and then back he'd go when she -pitched the other way. It seems to me that's a great scheme and I'm -going to try it. I always did like skating and the decks are bully for -it, smooth as a park road. - -The scenery isn't much so I won't try to tell you about it. It's nothing -but water all the time, and when we get up in the morning you seem to be -in just the same place you were last night. - -The gong has just rung for dinner, and I must go. Maybe in a few days -I'll write to you again, but I'm going to mail this letter to you now, -because the pirate says maybe to-morrow we'll meet the sister ship to -this one going back to New York, and he thinks if I can catch the eye of -the Captain of the Paris, perhaps he'll stop long enough to take this -letter aboard and carry it home to you. - -Yours with love to Sandboys, - - BOB. - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Round Table, February 18, 1896, by Various - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HARPER'S ROUND TABLE, FEB 18, 1896 *** - -***** This file should be named 53865-8.txt or 53865-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/3/8/6/53865/ - -Produced by Annie R. 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