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diff --git a/59335-0.txt b/59335-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d654cee --- /dev/null +++ b/59335-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3374 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 59335 *** + + + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: HARPER'S ROUND TABLE] + +Copyright, 1896, by HARPER & BROTHERS. All Rights Reserved. + + * * * * * + +PUBLISHED WEEKLY. NEW YORK, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1896. FIVE CENTS A +COPY. + +VOL. XVII.--NO. 881. TWO DOLLARS A YEAR. + + * * * * * + + + + +[Illustration] + +A VIRGINIA CAVALIER. + +BY MOLLY ELLIOT SEAWELL. + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +The next few weeks worked a great and serious change in George. It was +the first time he had seen death since he was ten years old, when his +father died. That had made a great impression on him at the time, but +the feelings of a child of ten and a youth of sixteen are very +different. He had loved little Mildred dearly, and the child's death was +a deep sorrow to him. The grief of his brother and sister was piteous. +As the case often is, the father was the more overwhelmed, and the poor +mother had to stifle her own grief to help her husband. George could not +but love and admire his sister the more when he saw her calm fortitude, +and how, inspired by love for her husband, she bore bravely the loss of +her only child. Both Madam Washington and Betty had come to Mount Vernon +the day of little Mildred's death. Madam Washington was obliged to +return after a few days to her younger children, but George and Betty +remained. + +"For George is the heir now," said Laurence, with a sad smile, "and he +must learn to manage what will one day be his own." + +"Oh, brother," burst out George, with strange violence, "do you believe +I wanted this place at the price of your child's life? I would give it +all, twenty times over, to have her back!" + +"If I had thought you coveted it, I should never have made you my heir," +was Laurence's reply to this. + +Never was there a kinder or more helpful soul than Betty, now a tall +and beautiful girl of fourteen. Mrs. Washington's health was much +shattered by this last and greatest sorrow, and Laurence, who had always +been of a delicate constitution, became every day more feeble. George +attended him assiduously, rarely leaving him. He persuaded his brother +to ride out and take some interest in the place. He read to Laurence of +evenings in the library, and tried to interest him with accounts of the +new regions in which the younger brother had spent so many months. +Nothing could ever make Laurence Washington a happy man again. + +Mrs. Washington's sorrow, though as great, was better controlled. She +always managed to wear a cheerful look before her husband, and although +she was not able to accompany him in his out-door life, she was with him +every moment he spent in-doors. Betty was to her as great a comfort as +George was to Laurence Washington. Betty had so tender a heart and so +excellent an understanding that she was as helpful as a woman twice her +age, and these two young creatures were mainstays and comforts at an age +when most young creatures rely wholly on other people. + +All day they were engaged, each in gentle and untiring efforts to make +life a little brighter to their brother and sister. But after the older +persons had retired, every night, George and Betty would sit up over the +fire in the library and talk for hours. Their conversations were not +always sad--it is not natural for the young to dwell in sadness--but +they were generally serious. One night Betty said: + +"Don't you think, George, we ought to write to our mother and ask her to +let us stay over Christmas with brother Laurence and sister Anne? You +remember how gay it was last Christmas, and how glad we were to be here? +Now I think when they are in great trouble we ought to be as willing to +stay with them as when they were happy and bright and could make us +enjoy ourselves." + +"Betty," answered George, in admiration, "why did I not think of this? I +see it is just what we ought to do." + +"Because," said Betty, promptly, "women are much more thoughtful than +men, and girls are much more thoughtful than boys." + +George did not dispute this, as he had been taught never to call in +question any woman's goodness, and in his heart he believed them to be +all as good as his mother and Betty and his sister Anne. The lesson of +chivalry towards all women had been early and deeply taught him, and it +was a part of the fibre of his being. "And shall I write and ask our +mother to let us stay?" asked George, humbly. + +"No," replied Betty, with a slight accent of scorn; "you might not ask +it in the right way. I shall write myself." + +Now, although Betty always assumed, when alone with George, this +superior tone, yet when they were in company nothing could exceed her +submissiveness towards this darling brother, and it was then George's +turn to treat her with condescending kindness. But each thought this +arrangement perfectly natural and mutually satisfactory. Whenever they +had a discussion, though, Betty always carried the day, for she was +really a girl of remarkably fine sense, and much more glib and +persuasive than George, who could always be silenced, if not convinced, +by Betty's ready tongue and quick wit. The next day the letter was +written, and within a week a reply was received giving permission for +them to remain over Christmas. + +Mrs. Washington, ever thoughtful of others, made the same preparation +for the holiday on the estate as usual, so that, however sad the house +might be, the servants should have their share of jollity. But the tie +between a kind master and mistress and their slaves was one of great +affection, and especially were the white children objects of affection +to the black people. Therefore, although the usual Christmas holiday was +given, with all the extra allowances and indulgences, it was a quiet +season at Mount Vernon. On Christmas day, instead of the merry party in +carriages going to Pohick Church, and an equally merry one going on +board the _Bellona_ to service, the coach only took Mr. and Mrs. +Washington and Betty to church, George riding with them, for he hated a +coach, and never drove when he could ride. + +Meanwhile William Fairfax had returned to Belvoir, where there were +Christmas festivities. George and Betty were asked, and although their +brother and sister urged them to go, neither felt really inclined for +gayety. They were not of those natures forever in pursuit of pleasure, +although none could enjoy it more when it came rightly; and a native +good sense and tender sympathy with others, which found no expression in +words, made them both feel that they should omit no mark of respect in a +case where they were so directly benefited as by the little girl's +death. Laurence Washington and his wife could not admire too much +George's delicacy about Mount Vernon. While he made use of the servants +and the horses and carriages and boats, and everything else on the +place, with the freedom of a son rather than of a younger brother, no +word or look escaped him that indicated he was the heir. + +William Fairfax was a great resource to both George and Betty. Living a +whole summer together as he and George had done, it was inevitable that +they should become either very much attached or very antagonistic--and +luckily they had become devotedly fond of one another. William was +preparing to enter William and Mary College the following year, and +George bitterly regretted that he would not have so pleasant a companion +for his next summer's work. Very different were his circumstances now, +the acknowledged heir of a rich brother. But George determined to act as +if no such thing existed, and to carry out his plan of finishing the +surveys on Lord Fairfax's lands. The universal expectation of war with +France, whenever the French and English outposts should get sufficiently +near, made him sure that he would one day bear arms; but he prepared for +whatever the future might hold for him by doing his best in the present. + +In February he returned to Ferry Farm for a while, but he had been there +only a month when Laurence Washington wrote, begging that he would +return, and saying that he himself felt utterly unequal to carrying on +the affairs of a great estate in his present wretched state of health +and spirits. Madam Washington made no objection to George's return to +Mount Vernon. She realized the full extent of Laurence's kind intentions +towards George, and that his presence was absolutely necessary to keep +the machinery of a large plantation going. + +In March, therefore, George was again at Mount Vernon, practically in +charge of the place. There were ploughing and ditching and draining and +clearing and planting to be done, and, with a force of a hundred and +fifty field hands and eighteen hundred acres of arable land, it was no +small undertaking. By daylight George was in the saddle, going first to +the stables to see the stock fed, then to the kennels, and, after +breakfast, riding over the whole estate. It kept him in the open air all +day, and he began to like not only the life, but the responsibility. He +had all the privileges of the master, Laurence leaving everything to his +judgment, and his sister was glad to have it so. This continued until +June, when, the crops being well advanced and Lord Fairfax having +written urgently for him, he turned affairs over to the overseer until +the autumn, and prepared to resume his work as a surveyor. + +He paid a hurried visit to Ferry Farm, where, although he was painfully +missed, things went on perfectly well, for no better farmer than Madam +Washington could be found in the colony of Virginia. Indeed, George's +success at Mount Vernon was due in great measure to applying the sound +system in vogue at Ferry Farm to the larger interests at Mount Vernon. +Madam Washington's pride in his responsible position at Mount Vernon, +and his still greater responsibility as a State surveyor for Lord +Fairfax, did much to reconcile her to George's long absences. Deep in +her heart she cherished a pride in her eldest son that was one of the +master-passions of her life. The extreme respect that George paid her +filled her with more satisfaction than the attentions of all the rest of +the world. Once only had they clashed--in the matter of the midshipman's +warrant. She had won a nominal victory by an appeal to his feelings, but +she had no mind after that for any more battles of the sort. So, with +tears, but with encouraging smiles, she saw him set forth, in the summer +of 1749, upon his second year's work in the wilderness. + +[TO BE CONTINUED.] + + + + +HOW TO MANAGE AN AQUARIUM. + +BY JAMES STEELE. + + +It is generally supposed that it is necessary to change the water in an +aquarium at least once a day; but that is not the case. The true +principle on which an aquarium should be conducted is not to change the +water at all, but so to aerate and refresh the original supply as to +maintain it always in a pure and perfect state. There are several means +by which this may be done. The healthy growth of plants is very +important, and active and brisk contact with the air of the atmosphere +will greatly freshen the water. Motion in the water is absolutely +necessary. In large aquaria this is obtained by an arrangement of tanks +into which the water is pumped, and from which it flows rapidly, +circulating through the tanks where the fish live. In its passage +through the air it absorbs considerable oxygen, without which no fish +can live. Fish placed in water that has been boiled die in a very few +minutes. + +In a small aquarium the water can be refreshed by frequently drawing it +up through a glass or rubber syringe, and squirting it back into the +vessel from some height above it. + +The first thing to be done in the formation of a fresh-water aquarium is +to start your plants in proper soil at the bottom of your tank, fill the +tank with water, and leave it undisturbed until the plants begin to grow +and the little bubbles of oxygen are to be seen rising to the surface of +the water. + +Choose your plants from such as you may collect from rivers or brooks or +ponds anywhere in the country. Plant them, and then cover the surface of +the soil with pebbles and small bits of rock, or anything that is +suitable and in keeping with the rest of your arrangements. Never put +sea-shells into a fresh-water aquarium, and never put in any artificial +objects. Everything should be as simple and natural as you can make it. + +Now fill your tank with water poured through a siphon or funnel, being +very careful not to disturb the soil or the roots of the plants. You +should have some clean river sand in the bottom of your tank, and your +pieces of rock should be so arranged as to form little caves and +hiding-places for your fish. It will take perhaps two weeks to get your +tank into a proper condition for fish to live in. Every bit of dead or +decaying vegetation should be carefully removed. Keep your tank shaded +from the heat of the sun, and expose it to the bright light only once in +awhile. + +In order to manage your aquarium properly you will require a few simple +tools. A little hand-net that can be bought for a few cents, or made for +even less out of a bit of wire and a small piece of mosquito-netting, is +useful for catching the fish or shells without putting your hands into +the water. A pair of wooden forceps, like a glove-stretcher, will be +found most convenient for nipping off bits of decaying plants or for +catching objects that may have accidentally fallen into the water. Glass +tubes of various sizes are also useful. If you want to catch any small +object in the water with the tube, place the tube in the water with your +finger over the hole in the top. Until your finger is removed the tube +will remain full of air. Place it over the bit of refuse or whatever it +is you want to catch, remove your finger, and the water will rush in, +carrying the object with it into the tube, which should then be closed +at the upper end by placing your finger over it as before. A glass or +hard-rubber syringe is necessary with which to aerate the water +thoroughly at least once a day, and oftener if possible. Fill the +syringe, hold it high above the tank, and then squirt the water back +again. A long piece of India-rubber tubing which may be used as a siphon +is necessary for the purpose of changing the water in the tank, when it +is evident that something has gone wrong. + +If a green film begins to gather on the side of the tank that is most +exposed to the light, it should be cleaned away every day, and the sides +of the glass polished carefully. A small piece of clean sponge tied on +the end of a stick will answer the purpose very well, and, if used +daily, you can keep the glass clear with very little trouble; but if the +scum is neglected and left to accumulate, you will find it almost +impossible to remove it from the glass even by hard scouring. + +It is best to have only small fish in your aquarium, and for this reason +trout are not desirable. Although very beautiful and intelligent, they +grow so rapidly that they are likely to become in a short time too +unwieldy for your tank. Goldfish and minnows are very good, and the +common little sunfish or "pumpkin-seed" is excellent. + +You must keep careful watch over the fish in your aquarium, and if any +one of them appears to be sick he should be removed at once, very +gently, with the hand-net, and placed in fresh water, where he will +often recover. If, however, the little sufferer is doomed to die, it is +better not to run the risk of his doing so among his healthy companions. +It is best always to have a hospital for your sickly pets, and as soon +as one of them, whether a fish or a bird or any animal, shows signs of +ill health, he should be taken away from the others and placed by +himself. + +Certain varieties of snails live well in fresh water, and will be found +useful in clearing away the green film that is almost certain to collect +on the side of the glass; but you must be careful or they will devour +your plants as well; and if your tank is very small it is hardly worth +while to try to keep them. + +Water-beetles and water-spiders also thrive well, and their habits are +most interesting to watch; but water-beetles fly by night, and unless +you are careful to cover your tank you are likely to discover some +morning that a number of your tenants have taken French leave. + +You must be careful not to overstock your aquarium, for your fish will +not thrive if they are overcrowded. Remember, also, that heat and dust +are fatal to your pets. The water must be kept clean and cool at all +times, and all foreign matter and every particle of decaying vegetation +should be removed immediately. + +To manage an aquarium successfully, no matter on how small a scale, +requires a good deal of care and time, but you will find it time well +spent, and the pleasure and knowledge the study of your pets will give +you will be an ample return for the time you spend on them. + + + + +WHO CAN ANSWER? + +BY GRACE A. CANNON. + + + The question's not a new one, dear, + But one that ev'ry day + Comes to some girls and boys I know + While at their work or play. + + My Nanny comes to me at morn, + And with beseeching look, + Asks me if I can tell her where + She'll find her slate or book. + + And Teddy comes to me and says, + Sometimes with downcast eye, + "Mamma dear, won't you please to come + And help me find my tie?" + + And Alice, too, comes with a frown + When going out for play; + "Oh dear, mamma, what did I do + With my hat yesterday?" + + No hat is found out in the hall; + The book's not in its case; + No tie is found upstairs to be + In its accustomed place. + + Now me the reason tell, my dear, + And quickly, if you can, + Why all these things may not be found + By Alice, Ted, or Nan? + + The question's not a new one, dear, + But one that ev'ry day + Comes to some girls and boys I know + While at their work or play. + + + + +[Illustration: ADVENTURES WITH FRIEND PAUL.] + +BY PAUL DU CHAILLU. + +Part I. + + +Dear young folks of HARPER'S ROUND TABLE, I have been invited by my +friend, the Editor, to write for you a series of stories in which I +shall tell you of some of the adventures that have happened to me in the +great equatorial forest which begins on the west coast at the sea-shore +and stretches far to the east on both sides of the equator, adventures +which I have not told in _Stories of the Gorilla Country_, _Lost in the +Jungle_, _Wild Life Under the Equator_, _My Apingi Kingdom_, and _The +Country of the Dwarfs_, five books which I wrote especially for you. + +During my travels I have had so many strange adventures, I have endured +so many days of hunger and starvation, I have had so many hair-breadth +escapes, I have seen so many strange sights, I have met face to face so +many savage and fierce men and still more savage and dangerous beasts, +that I could spend days in recounting to you the adventures of my life. + +Africa is a wonderful country. There are great sandy deserts, extensive +ranges of mountains, immense prairies, vast tracts of brushwood, swampy +lands, great rivers and lakes; but the wonder of that large continent is +the great equatorial forest I discovered, and which contains so many +wild animals and interesting tribes of people. + +What an immense forest it is--a sea of trees, if I may use the +expression! No one knows how wide it is, neither do we know its exact +length. + +What gigantic trees are seen in that forest! Some rival in size the +great California trees. These are the giants of the forest, and they +rise two or three hundred feet above the other trees, upon which they +look down. They are like sentinels watching over the country. Some of +these big trees are worshipped by the natives. Under the roof of the +mighty branches is the thick jungle, where no man can penetrate easily. +The jungle is the undergrowth of the forest. It is made up of younger +trees: lianas, thorny creepers, kinds of bamboo and rattan, thorny +trees, sword-grass that cuts like a razor, and aloes plant in the swampy +parts. In many places the explorer cannot see a yard off from where he +stands. + +What beautiful butterflies and queer insects, rare birds--some with +brilliant plumage--lovely and strange flowers and orchids the traveller +will meet as he explores this unknown land! Though all alone in that +great solitude, he will seldom feel lonely, for his mind will be +occupied all the time. + +[Illustration: HIDDEN SNAKES THE CHIEF DANGER OF THE FOREST.] + +There are also many disagreeable things in the forest. The most +dangerous, for they are often enemies unseen, are the snakes. There are +snakes that live chiefly in the water. I used to keep a sharp lookout +for them when I bathed in the clear little streams which run through the +woods. There are tree snakes, those who pass a great part of their time +on trees and feed on squirrels, birds, and monkeys; and also land +snakes--that is, snakes that never climb trees and seldom go into the +water. The biggest of them is the python. Often they are coiled along +the trunk of a tree waiting to spring upon a passing gazelle. But there +are so many venomous snakes, it makes me shudder as I think of them with +their triangular heads. What fangs they have, especially the _Clotho +nasicornis_, a thick short snake! Its fangs for all the world look like +fish bones. In color that snake can hardly be distinguished from the +ground and dead leaves on which it crawls. It is of great thickness +round the middle; its head is very huge and hideous, being triangular in +shape, and having an erect proboscis or born rising from the tip of its +nose. Besides snakes, there are centipedes, so-called because, I +suppose, they have about a hundred legs. Their sting is poisonous, and +in some cases fatal; those that are very dark in color are much dreaded. + +Then the scorpions! you find them everywhere, even between the leaves of +your books! + +What narrow escapes I have had with snakes, scorpions, centipedes! I +wonder sometimes that I am alive to tell of the things I have seen. I +never used to lie down without looking for these creeping things. You +think, naturally, that a man's life must be miserable on that account. +Not at all; one gets accustomed to everything in the world. At last I +did not mind it at all, I got so used to doing this every day. + +There were also many kinds of flies--called by the natives the mboco, +ntchoona, the eloway. The mosquitoes will often plague us. We shall meet +the terrible bashikonay ants. When they spread in the forest, they +attack every living animal. All flee before them--gorilla, leopard, and +elephant. + +In that great forest are many tribes of men; some of them wear no +clothing whatever. These people worship idols, good and evil spirits; +dread witchcraft, and put to death all those who they think are wizards +or witches. They are constantly engaged in warfare against each other. +The most fierce looking of all are the cannibal tribes. How horrid they +look with their sharp-pointed teeth, which have been made so by being +filed! What magnificent-looking warriors they are! What brave hunters! +It was in their country that I shot my first gorilla. + +The strangest people I discovered were the dwarfs or pygmies, a race of +people very diminutive in size. They looked so queer, especially the +white-headed old folks. None of their houses is more than three feet in +height. These pygmies, like the monkeys, lived chiefly on the fruits, +berries, and nuts of the forest; they never cultivated the soil. But +they knew the use of fire, knew how to trap game and cook their meat. + +All these tribes thought Friend Paul was a Moguizic, a supernatural +being who had come from some part of the sky. Many believed that I had +descended from the moon, and that I came to see the world and its +inhabitants. They believed that I could do all kinds of supernatural +things, and in many tribes where guns were unknown they thought I held +thunder and lightning in my hands, and when I fired a gun they all fell +low on the ground. + +Highways of communication and roads are unknown in this great dark +Africa. But there are numerous paths going in every direction, so the +traveller, if the natives are willing to guide him, can go from the west +coast to the east coast, and from the Cape of Good Hope to Egypt, +Morocco, and Algeria, or _vice versa_, for every village and tribe has +paths leading towards the other. Often the paths leading from one +village to another are very difficult to follow, for the jungle is so +rank; and often they are closed for months on account of wars among +different tribes. + +Such paths you have never seen--narrow, just wide enough for a man to go +through the thick jungle. The branches of trees often join together. +Here a big tree has fallen across the path, and you must either bend +yourself to pass under it, or climb over it. If you cannot do either, +then you must go around it. You have to walk over the roots of trees +until your feet are sore. Sometimes then you fall in the midst of +sword-grass, or under the canelike bamboos or palms, or have to walk in +swamps filled with aloes. I still walk in a stooping manner, the result +of my being obliged to bend constantly under branches of trees, or under +fallen ones. Often a stream is your only path. + +Day after day, my dear young folks, Friend Paul spent travelling in that +forest without hearing the chatter of a monkey or the shrill cry of a +parrot. The only noise he could hear was now and then the falling of a +leaf or the gentle murmur of a little stream wending its way towards +some big unknown river which he hoped some day to find. + +I walked thousands and thousands of miles on foot under its shady trees. +The foliage was so thick that sometimes I was several weeks without +being able to see the sun, the moon, or the stars, for my eyes could not +penetrate the dense and thick leaves. How glad I was when I came to a +river or an open space, and could see once more the sun, the moon, and +the stars! I loved the stars, for without them and the moon I could not +have known where I was; they showed me the way all through my travels. + +Not only had I to travel on foot, but everything I had to take with me +had to be carried on the backs of men, for no beasts of burden are to be +found in the big forest. There are no camels, no donkeys, no horses, no +oxen; and had I taken some with me they would have died of starvation, +for there were no pastures, and they could not have lived on the +different leaves of the trees or of the jungle. Besides, they could not +have gone through the narrow crooked path of the great forest. + +Rain falls almost every night for hours, accompanied by such thunder and +lightning as you have never heard or seen in our country. The claps of +thunder are so terrific that often they made me jump from my bed of +leaves. The lightning at times is so vivid that it pierces the foliage +of the trees; and as to the heavy rain, it often falls like a solid +sheet of water for hours, and this happens almost every night for nine +months of the year. After the rainy season comes the dry season--cold, +for sometimes the thermometer falls to 66° Fahrenheit. I felt then this +low temperature very much. Not a drop of rain falls during the dry +season; but far in the interior, in the mountain regions, it rains +twelve months of the year, but during three months of that time no +thunder is heard. + +If the men are strange, the beasts roaming in that great forest are +still more wonderful to behold. The huge elephant roams everywhere on +its rivers and lakes, the hippopotami are numerous in the sluggish +streams, and the lakes are filled with crocodiles of huge size. The +great gorilla, which I discovered, is the terror of the natives, and is +called by them the Giant of the Forest. The strong man of the woods +wanders continually in search of fruits, berries, and nuts. When night +comes he sleeps at the foot of a tree, while his wife, the female +gorilla, is sleeping on its branches. The gorilla never makes a shelter +or a house for himself. Those who describe them as making houses mislead +you. Friend Paul killed many of these gorillas, and was the first white +man who ever hunted them and saw them in their wild state. + +Besides the gorilla, Friend Paul saw several other wonderful kinds of +man-like apes, also the common chimpanzee, called by the natives +nshiego. Then he discovered three new species or varieties of the +chimpanzee family, known to the natives under the names of +Nshiego-mbouve, apes with bald heads and black faces; the +Nshiego-nkengo, whose faces always remain yellow; and the Kooloo-kamba. +All these apes are very shy, and the hunter to approach them has to be +very wary. + +Dear friends, we are to travel together in that great African forest. We +will carry no tents with us; we will build a new camp every day when we +are on the march, and we will protect ourselves from the rain by +building slanting roofs, covered with large leaves put on the top of +each other as we do with shingles, slates, or tiles at home. We will +protect ourselves from the wild beasts by burning all night large +fires--the wild beasts are afraid of fire. These fires will protect us +also from snakes and voracious ants. + +When we cannot find game we will be hungry together, and, like the +monkeys, we will have to eat the wild berries, nuts, and fruits of the +forest. When we cannot find these we will starve together until +Providence comes to our rescue. At other times, when food is very scarce +and it becomes a matter of life and death, we will be obliged to eat +snakes, or sometimes leopards. When we have plenty, we will eat +elephants, hippopotami, crocodiles, buffalo, wild boar, antelope, +gazelles, and other animals. Often we will feast on monkeys--these at +certain times of the year are delicious. Then, when we get into regions +where no animals are to be seen, and fruits, nuts, and berries cannot be +found--then we will drink water, which will help us to keep body and +soul together. At times we will lie down under some big tree, ill with +fever or weak from starvation. Then we shall think of the sweet home +that is so far away, and wonder if we will ever return there again. + + + + +CAPTAIN HANK'S SUBSTITUTE. + + +Captain Hank of the Life-boat Patrol Service and Jack Hawley were old +friends. The Captain had been at the station near Jack's house for a +number of seasons, and when Jack first met him he was such a little chap +that the Captain called him "Shorty." Jack had grown, however, into a +strong hearty lad, and his one ambition was to get into the life-boat +service. + +While they were talking one night in the station the sharp ring of the +telephone bell made all hands glance up anxiously. Captain Hank strode +over to the receiver. + +"Hullo!--Yes, Captain Hank.--What is it? Tramp steamer ashore? Yes. How +many men do you want? Hullo! Yes. Full relief? All right--send them +immediately. Good-by. + +"Boys, there's a tramp ashore at the lower station; want the full +relief. Trot along, and get back as soon as you can. There's a nasty sea +on to-night, and, with the wind right on shore, we might want you." + +The men donned their oil-skins and boots, and trotted off down the beach +to the lower station, some five miles below. The Captain glanced at the +remaining men, enough to man the life-boat, with the man out on patrol. + +"It's a fearful night out, boys," he said. + +The words had hardly left his mouth when the door opened and the patrol +rushed in. + +"Three-master ashore on the outer bar, Captain." + +Like a flash every man was on his feet and into his oil-skins. Seizing +the gun-carriage, they rushed it out and down the plank runway to the +beach. Jack ran along with them, and strained his eyes as the Coston +signal-light lit up the raging sea and disclosed to view a large +three-master lying almost on her beam ends. There was a slight +phosphorescent glow where the mad seas, lashed into foam, broke about +her, sweeping the decks. Even as he looked two of her masts toppled and +fell with a crash. On the shrouds of the remaining one a dark group was +huddled. + +Jack's heart thrilled with excitement and pity. Poor fellows! their +lives must be saved! + +The life-saving crew were busy with the gun, and in a few minutes away +went the shot carrying a delicate line out to the wreck. It fell short +or the wind drove it back. Again and again they tried it, but without +success. The wind seemed to carry it to one side. + +"It's no use, boys, trying to rig the breeches buoy," roared the +Captain; "we've got to man the life-boat, so get on your corks. I'll +telephone to the lower station to see if I can get any of the boys +back." + +Jack longed to go in the boat, but he knew it was impossible, and, +sheltered behind it, he watched the black shadow on the bar, and hoped +they would be in time to save the lives out there. The wind was sweeping +and screaming with violent force, and the cold spray lashed the beach +with foam. Jack heard one of the men yell to his neighbor that the +Captain was a long while, and, thinking he could be of help, he ran back +to hurry him up. + +As he entered the station a low groan greeted him. The Captain lay in +the middle of the floor, motionless. He had stumbled over some rope in +his hurry, and broken his arm. + +"It's no use, Jack," he moaned; "I can't go out with this arm. We will +need the six oars in such a sea." + +Jack paused. "Captain," he said, "they will launch the boat." And +catching a heavy oil-skin coat off a peg he rushed down to the beach. +The men stood waiting, looking out to sea. Without saying a word he +gripped the boat, and when the right breaker came he gruffly shouted, +"Now, men," as he had often heard the Captain, and with a strong heave +and all together they rushed the boat out into the surf and leaped +aboard. + +Jack seized the steering-oar, and before the next wave could swamp them +they got a grip on the water and successfully mounted it. It was a +remarkable launch in such a sea, and promised success for their other +efforts. + +They were going right into the teeth of the gale, and the crew rose to +the work. It was hard work, though. The wind beat them back, tearing at +their frail craft with fierce tugs, dashing the frozen spray over them +in sheets. To reach the wreck Jack had to keep off the wind a little, +and time and time again the boat's head would swing around, and his +heart would jump as the monstrous waves threatened to swamp her. + +His hands were numb with cold and his face frozen with spray. The crew +bent over their oars. They knew nothing of the change of Captains, and +when they heard the gruff commands, they may have wondered at the +boyishness of the tones, but never dreamed who was steering the boat. + +They were nearing the ship, and with admirable skill, in keeping with +his efforts from the start, Jack got up in the lee of the wreck, +directly under the shrouds to which the group was clinging. Slowly but +surely, one by one, the men scrambled down the rigging and, when a +favorable opportunity presented itself, leaped aboard. + +There were five men, and as the last came aboard Jack did a neat bit of +steering that even the brave crew of the life-boat noticed and cheered. +They left the wreck, and with their backs to the mad wind, they bounded +over the roaring waves towards the shore. + +Jack kept the boat directly in front of the storm, and as they neared +the surf his command rang out, "Steady!" And then a gigantic wave raised +them on its crest and, with a swirl and a roar, ran them upon the beach. +In a trice they ran the boat out of reach of the surf. + +In the snug warmth of the station the crew started to cheer the dripping +Captain in his oil-skins; but when he took off the broad-brimmed hat +that hid his face and they saw Jack, they were mute. One of them rushed +to their Captain's bunk, and when he saw the helpless figure of the real +Captain lying there, he pointed to it and then to Jack. + + HUBERT EARL. + + + + +UP IN A WATER-SPOUT. + +ONE OF THE OLD SAILOR'S YARNS. + +BY W. J. HENDERSON. + + +The Old Sailor sat on the end of the pier, but he was restless and ill +at ease. He looked often at the southwestern sky, where heavy blue-black +clouds were massing themselves in low and writhing shapes. He shook his +head solemnly, rose to his feet, and walked nervously up and down. + +"This are the werry identical kind o' day it were," he muttered, "an' ef +we don't see some on 'em to-day, w'y, I'm a bloomin' marine, that's +wot." + +"See some of what?" inquired a voice behind him; and turning, he saw the +two boys. + +"Waal, waal, waal!" he exclaimed; "you two infants is a-gettin' 'most as +weatherwise as tree-frogs." + +This exclamation was not unnatural, for the two boys were clad in long +sea-boots, oil-skins, and sou'westers. + +"Ye look like a pair o' sunflowers," said the Old Sailor, with +admiration in his tone, "an' I reckon ye don't worry much about the rain +wot are a-comin'." + +"No; I guess we will not get wet," said Henry, laughing. + +"But s'posin'--now mind I don't go fur to say it'll happen--but s'posin' +ye was to go fur to come fur to git carried up aloft." + +"What ever do you mean?" asked George. + +"Look down yonder--quick!" exclaimed the Old Sailor, pointing to the +southern horizon. + +The boys saw an immense blue-black cloud, from which hung down a great +dark cone. A similar cone, point upward, rose from the sea, and the two +were joined by a slender wavering black column. + +"Oh, what is it?" cried George. + +"I know," exclaimed Henry. "It's a water-spout." + +"It's going out to sea," ejaculated George. + +"Werry good; werry good indeed," said the Old Sailor, sagely; "it +sartainly are a-goin' out to sea. 'Cos w'y, it can't go on land, 'cos it +are a water-spout an' not a landspout, w'ich the same there ain't none, +'ceptin' them on the sides o' houses fur rain to go down, an' them +mostly leaks." + +The three stood and watched the dreaded monster of the sea--a rare sight +indeed near shore--until it passed out of sight. + +"It are gone," said the Old Sailor, "an' it 'ain't took nothin' with 't +'ceptin' wind an' water." + +"Do they ever take anything else with them?" asked George. + +"W'ich the same they do," answered the Old Sailor; "an' wot they takes +ain't never come back but oncet, as I knows on. I knowed we'd see some +on 'em to-day; 'cos w'y, this are the kind o' day wot breeds 'em, an' it +are the werry identical kind o' day wot it all happened on." + +So saying, the Old Sailor sat down on the end of the pier, and the boys +seated themselves beside him. + +"This 'ere yarn wot I'm a goin' fur to tell ye," began the Old Sailor, +"are a most ser'ous tale, an' I hopes as how 't won't go fur to give ye +no nightmare. I were fust mate o' the barkentine _Herrin' Bones_, bound +from Rio Janeiro to New York. She were a wall-sided hooker, with double +to'-gallants, an' a werry disrepitable habit o' goin' to leeward." + +"What was her cargo?" asked George. + +"I allers tells ye wot the cargo were, my son, but this 'ere wessel +didn't have no cargo; she were flyin' light, an' preehaps 'twould 'a' +bin better ef she'd had more ballast aboard. Her Cap'n were Gawge W. +Smoke, an' her second mate were a long-legged feller from New Orleans, +named Pierre Crust, an' a werry crusty Pierre he were too. Waal, to git +right down to the business part o' this 'ere yarn wot I'm a-tellin' ye, +I'll say that we didn't have nothin' but fair weather an' good +to'-gallant breezes till we got right up atwixt St. Thomas an' Bermooda, +an' then it rained an' blowed squalls an' thunder-storms fur two days +an' nights all round the compass. Cap'n Gawge W. Smoke, sez he to me, +sez he, 'It ain't no fittin' weather fur to be buggaluggin' round here.' +An' sez I to he, sez I, 'It ain't, but here we be, an' we can't fly +away,' sez I, jess like that, him bein' Cap'n an' me fust mate, an' the +barkentine bein' the _Herrin' Bones_. But ef I'd knowed wot were +a-comin', I'd never said nothin'. + +"Waal, them squalls an' thunder-storms kep' a-gettin' thicker an' +blacker, till byme-by the hull sky all round were jess like it were down +yonder a leetle while ago. An' Cap'n Gawge W. Smoke he allowed that we'd +best stand by fur water-spouts. Sure 'nuff, 'twere jess about six bells +in the forenoon watch o' the second day o' this 'ere cantankerous +weather, w'en the lookout sung out, 'Water-spout on the weather bow!' +'Fore we had time to look at it another hand sighted one on the lee bow, +an' some one else seed one on the weather-quarter. In less 'n five +minutes we sighted seven on 'em to wind'ard an' six to leeward, makin' +thirteen, w'ich the same that are a werry unlucky number. + +"Waal, we clapped on a leetle more sail, hopin' fur to run out o' this +'ere convention o' water-spouts. But, bless ye! ye might as well 'a' +tried to git away from a express train by runnin' down the track ahead +o't. They was comin' down on us at a powerful gait. W'en the biggest one +were about half a mile away, we could see it whirlin' round an' round +like a big wheel, an' it roared like Niagarer Falls, w'ich the same ye +'ain't never seed, but ye see pictures of 'em in your geoggerfy. Pierre +Crust, our second mate, he got so skeered he jess went an' hid his head +under a deck bucket. Cap'n Gawge W. Smoke he give orders to clew up the +to'-gallants, so's to stop the vessel, hopin' that the spout'd pass +ahead on us. But, bless ye! the bloomin', bleedin', blasted thing turned +out of its course, an' kep' a-comin' right fur us. + +"'We're bound for Davy Jones's locker,' sez Cap'n Gawge W. Smoke, sez +he. 'It are a-goin' to break right on top o' us.' + +"'Werry good, sir,' sez I. 'Axin' your parmission, I'll put on a +life-persarver.' + +"''Twon't do ye no good,' sez he. 'W'en she breaks on us she'll drive us +twenty fathom down. Here it comes! Stan' by, all hands, to go under +hatches.' + +"Roarin' like a thunder-storm, an' loomin' over us like a iceberg turned +black, the water-spout come to the barkentine. We all shut our eyes, an' +held our breath, an' waited to be buried under a million tons o' water. +But may I never live to see lobscouse agin ef the bloomin' thing busted +at all! We felt the ship give a lurch an' a jump, an' then she started +off at the rate o' thirty knots an hour. + +"'Wot are it?' yelled the Cap'n. + +"'The water-spout!' I yells back. 'She's picked us up!'" + +The Old Sailor paused to gaze around the horizon, and the two boys gazed +at one another in breathless amazement. In a moment their remarkable +friend resumed his narrative. + +"It weren't no sort o' pickle fur a decent old barkentine to be in, an' +the _Herrin' Bones_ knowed it, but there she were. She were a-sailin' +round and round like a chicken with its head off. Her keel were in the +water o' the spout, an' her masts was a-stickin' out sideways like +toothpicks out o' old Bill Smorkey's mouth arter dinner. W'y, blow me +fur a farmer ef I don't b'lieve she'd 'a' fell off the bloomin' thing +sideways ef it hadn't bin that the wind wot the spout made a-goin' round +filled the sail she had spread, an' so kep' her up. + +"'Clew up the foretops'l!' hollered Pierre Crust. + +"'Let it alone,' sez Cap'n Gawge W. Smoke, sez he. 'D'ye want to fall +off this 'ere marine buzz-saw an' git drownded?' + +"'Stop the ship; we're out o' our course,' sez Tobias Kitten, the +carpenter, w'ich the same he ort to bin a tailor, 'cos w'y, he didn't +know no more about a ship nor a feller wot sits cross-legged onto a +table an' mends pants fur a livin'. + +"'Out o' our course!' sez the Cap'n, sez he. 'I wish the bloomin' +water-spout were out o't.' + +"All hands was a-layin' flat on deck, with our feet agin' the lee +rail--leastways it ort to bin the lee rail, 'cos it were the one wot +were down, but it weren't, 'cos the wind were blowin' up, an' things was +ginerally goin' back end fust, like a Chinese junk in a head-sea. + +"'D'ye think she'd right herself ef we cut away the masts?' Cap'n Gawge +W. Smoke sez he to me. + +"'Mebbe she would,' sez I to he; 'but ef she did we'd have water on top +o' us, an' then good-by.' + +"'Then I'm blowed ef I know wot to do with her,' sez he to me, sez he. +An' me not knowin' wot to say back, I didn't say nothin', but hung on +with both hands. + +"'Oh my! oh my!' sez Pierre Crust; 'we're a-goin' up this 'ere dreadful +thing. Look down!' + +"An', sure 'nuff, w'en I looked over the side I seed a ship away down +below us on the sea, an' her Cap'n were a-lookin' at us through a +telescup, he were. + +"'Salt me down fur a mackerel,' sez Cap'n Gawge W. Smoke, 'ef ever I +thought that any ship o' mine would go fur to turn herself into a +bloomin' balloon!' + +"All the time we was a-sailin' round an' round the spout like it was a +corkscrew worked by steam, an' we was a-goin' up an' up. + +"'I wonder ef there's water 'nuff up there to float the old hooker?' sez +Pierre Crust. + +"'Waal,' sez Cap'n Gawge W. Smoke, 'she can't go aground in the clouds, +anyhow, an' there ain't no rocks either.' + +"'Waal,' sez I to he, sez I, 'w'ere d'ye think she will go?' + +"An' he jess looks at me fur a minute, an' then sez he, 'Preehaps you'd +like to get out a chart an' figger out yer position,' sez he to me, him +bein' Cap'n an' me fust mate. + +"All this time the _Herrin' Bones_ were a-sailin' around an' around the +bloomin' water-spout an' goin' up an' up. Now you know, 'cos you jess +seed a werry short time ago, that them water-spouts widens out at the +top till they just spreads right out into the flat clouds. Waal, we all +commenced fur to wonder wot'd happen to us ef the _Herrin' Bones_ kep' +on a-goin' up. Putty soon she beginned fur to lean over so that her deck +weren't no safe place to stay on, an' then Cap'n Gawge W. Smoke he +orders all han's fur to go b'low. + +[Illustration: THE PRECARIOUS POSITION OF THE "HERRIN' BONES."] + +"'Might as well go to the clouds comf'table,' sez he. We all went b'low +an' shut all the hatches. Then there weren't nothin' to do 'ceptin' fur +to wait developments, as the old hen said w'en she sot down on the +duck's egg. Byme-by the bark were hove over so fur that we was all +a-settin' on her side, with the decks risin' up like walls on both sides +of us. We could hear the ballast tumblin' over itself down in the hold, +an' our stores was mixed up into the werry wust sea-salad wot any one +ever seed. + +"'Oh my! oh my!' sez Pierre Crust, sez he, hidin' his head in a +cracker-box, 'we're a-goin' to fall out o' the clouds upside down an' be +all smashed up.' + +"He were a werry ostridge sort o' man, he were, 'cos he allers thort as +how he were out o' danger ef he had his measly old head hid. Howsumever, +we all thort putty much the same as he did, an' we weren't in no +partikler humor fur to dance hornpipes about it. + +"'She's a gittin' furder over!' yelled Tobias Kitten. + +"An' so she were. We couldn't stay on the sides o' her any more, but had +to sit down on the under sides o' the decks--wot shore-folks would call +the ceilin'. An' the furniture in the cabin, bein' screwed fast, were +all a-hangin' down from overhead. + +"'Waal, may I be squilgeed inside an' out with a paint brush,' sez Cap'n +Gawge W. Smoke, sez he, 'ef ever I expected fur to be master o' any +wessel wot were so undecent as to sail on her head.' + +"'Tobias Kitten,' sez I, 'slide back the hatch an inch an' tell us what +ye can see.' + +"An' Tobias he laid down flat on his face, slid the hatch back, and +peaked out. Then he shut it with a bang, an' turned paler'n he were +afore. + +"'S'help me gracious goodness!' sez he; 'yo can't see nothin' 'cept +white steam.' + +"Then we knowed we was up in the clouds fur sure, an' we all felt putty +ser'ous; 'cos w'y, w'd never bin there afore, an' we didn't know nothin +about the rules an' regulations o' livin' up there. All on a suddent +there were a most fearful crash o' thunder. + +"'By the great hook block!' sez Cap'n Gawge W. Smoke, sez he, 'we're in +a thunder-cloud.' + +"'An' mebbe w'en it begins for to rain,' sez I, 'we'll git rained down +to 'arth agin.' + +"'Oh my! Oh my!' hollered Pierre Crust, out o' the cracker-box. 'On our +heads! Oh dear! We're all dead men, sure.' + +"Waal, arter that fur half an hour it were not possible fur to carry on +any werry improvin' conwersation, 'cos w'y, it were a-thunderin' an' +a-lightnin' an' a-roarin' all around us, sech as no one never heerd +afore. Then all on a suddent the bloomin' deck dropped right from under +us, an' we was kinder floatin' around, a-grabbin' right an' left at +things, all 'ceptin' Pierre Crust, an' he jess kep' his head in the +cracker-box an' kicked out with his feet. + +"'We're a-fallin'! We're a-fallin'!' he yelled. + +"An' so we wuz. An' w'ile we wuz a-fallin' I seed the side o' the wessel +come under me, an' then slide around till the floor o' the cabin were +under me, an' then--boom! There were a most awful thump, an' a squash +like wot ye hear w'en yo throw a stone into a mud-puddle, an' there we +was." + +"Where?" cried both boys. + +"In the blessed Atlantic Ocean," said the Old Sailor, solemnly, "about a +hundred miles this side o' Bermooda. An' Pierre Crust he pulled his head +out o' the cracker-box an' bounced on deck, an' sez he: + +"'Wot was all you men so scared about? Turn to, now, an' get the cloth +on her, an' we'll make Sandy Hook Light-ship in two days.' + +"An' so we did, too. An' w'en we got to New York we read in the papers +as how the Cap'n o' the ship _Beeswax_ had seen a cur'ous mirage of a +ship sailin' round an' round a water-spout. But we never could get +nobody to b'lieve as how 'twere us." + + + + +IN THE OLD HERRICK HOUSE. + +BY ELLEN DOUGLAS DELAND. + +CHAPTER III. + + +The first week of Valentine's stay passed rapidly. So much of his time +was occupied in visits to the oculist and in seeing the sights of the +city that he was not in the house during the greater part of the day. + +The Misses Herrick began to fuel some degree of liking for the boy, who, +though occasionally noisy, was always polite, and he and Elizabeth were +soon firm friends. + +She had carried out her intention of consulting him about the affairs +which most interested her. She had told him of her longing for their +father's return and of the letter she had written to him; she had even +conducted him to the mysterious room. + +Her aunts had gone out of town for the afternoon, and Miss Rice was also +absent. The coast was exceptionally clear, for Marie, who had charge of +the little girl, was only too ready to neglect her duties. + +Elizabeth was somewhat disappointed, however, by the effect produced +upon Valentine by the disclosure of the room, or rather, the lack +effect. He was apparently not in the least impressed. + +He looked about him, inspected the letters, took down a little clock +from the mantelpiece and examined it, and then walked to the window. + +"Well," said Elizabeth, who was impatiently waiting for some expression +of wonder, "what do you think of it?" + +"I don't see anything to make such a fuss over. Just a room, like +anybody's else." + +"But whose was it?" + +"Don't know and don't care." + +"You don't? Why, I think it is the most exciting thing I ever heard of!" + +"If that isn't just like a girl! I suppose Marjorie would go wild over +it too. But come along down to the garden. I haven't seen the Brady +family yet, and I believe that is one of the girls down in the alley +now." + +"It is," said Elizabeth, joining him at the window. "It is Eva Louise. +Very well, we will go down. But I do wish you would be more excited over +the room." + +"It takes a good deal to excite me," replied her guest. "If it were a +game of football, now, or a bicycle-race, I might get excited; but just +a room!" + +It would be impossible to convey an idea of the lofty scorn expressed by +Valentine's voice; and much disappointed and feeling somewhat crushed, +Elizabeth put away the keys. Then getting her hat and warm jacket, for +the fall days were growing colder, she followed Valentine to the garden, +and together they went out through the back gate. + +It is one of the peculiarities of Philadelphia that small streets known +as "alleys" intersect the larger thoroughfares, and in many cases behind +the handsomest houses are small dwellings in which live very poor +families. + +The Herricks' garden occupied a large amount of space, and the alley and +its inhabitants were almost too far away to be noticeable; but they were +there, all the same, and here Elizabeth's friends, the Brady family, +lived in a manner which formed a startling contrast to her own home. + +"I have thought of something," exclaimed Elizabeth, stopping short in +the alley. Eva Louise, seeing them coming, had disappeared behind her +own back gate. Even in so humble an abode as that of the Bradys it was +only the back which opened upon the alley. + +"What is it?" asked Valentine. + +"It is about the Bradys," said Elizabeth, standing close to him and +speaking in a low, mysterious voice that she might not be overheard from +the other side of the fence. "Don't you think, Val, that it must be very +hard for those girls to live in such a tiny little house and never to +have a bit good time? Why, Eva Louise thinks the very nicest thing she +can do is to play jack-stones on people's door-steps. Just think of it, +Val, jack-stones! And she told me once that she had never been inside of +any house, except those in their street that are like their own!" + +"Well, what of it? We can't help it; and what is your idea?" + +"But we can help it! That is just what I am going to tell you. We can +invite the Bradys in to see us." + +"Oh, my eye! What would Aunt Caroline say?" + +Elizabeth was silent for a minute. She had not thought of that. "I don't +know," she said, slowly. "I don't suppose Aunt Caroline would like it. +We will have to give it up." + +"No, we won't," returned Val, who was becoming bored with city life and +longed for excitement of some kind. "Let's have a party to-day while the +aunts are away. They would never know." + +"We might; but I should tell them afterwards, of course. I really +should, Val." + +"Seems to me you are getting pretty particular all of a sudden. How +about that room that you go to all the time on the sly?" + +"That is true. I don't believe that is right. Why didn't you say so +before, Val? I will tell Aunt Caroline to-night." + +"I say," interrupted Valentine, "I've got a dandy idea! Let's ask the +Brady family over, and take them up to that room! No one will ever know, +and it would be a jolly lark. I'll open the front door, and the servants +won't know, either. It will be no end of fun. You go after them now and +bring them over. You see, if we had them in the other part of the house +we couldn't keep them out of sight, and the servants would make a fuss." + +Elizabeth looked doubtful. "I should like to," she said, "but we shall +have to keep very quiet there, and not disturb the things in the room +much. It really seems as if we ought to give them a good time, though, +and when I explain it all to Aunt Caroline I don't believe she will +mind; do you? At least, not so very much." + +"Of course she won't," said Valentine, hopefully, upon whom the scheme +had taken a strong hold. "Go and get them and bring them around to the +front door, and I will let you in." + +And without giving her time to remonstrate, Val left her and ran up the +garden walk to the house. + +"After all," said Elizabeth to herself, "it can't be a wrong thing to +do, for it says in the Bible that when people give parties they ought to +invite all kinds of queer people. I remember perfectly it says to call +in the lame, the halt, and the blind. I always thought 'call in' was +such a funny expression, but I am sure it says it somewhere in the +Bible, and I think it was about that party. Now the Brady family are not +lame or blind, but perhaps they are halt. I never knew what halt meant, +and very likely they _are_ halt. Anyhow, I mean to call them in." And +suiting the action to the word, she raised her voice and called loudly: +"Eva Louise! Eva Louise!" + +Eva Louise had been surveying her neighbors through a hole in the fence +for some time. She had even caught a word or two of the conversation, +and had heard her own name mentioned, but she had not understood what it +was all about. Now, seeing that Elizabeth was alone, she opened the +gate. + +"What do yer want?" she asked. + +"Is Bella at home?" + +"Guess so." + +"And Tom?" + +"Nope." + +"Is Dick?" + +"Nope." + +"Isn't George?" + +"Nope." + +"Nor Billy?" + +"Nope." + +"Oh, dear me, I am so sorry! Then who is at home?" + +"Me an' Bella an' the baby an' ma an', I guess, pop. He's mostly home. +Pop ain't workin' now, but the boys is. What do yer want?" + +"Well, I want to invite you all over to our house. I am sorry the boys +are not at home." Here Elizabeth paused, somewhat embarrassed. She did +not care particularly about having "ma" and "pop" Brady. The former was +inclined to be cross, and there was a disagreeable odor about Mr. Brady +which it was well to avoid. Elizabeth did not know just what it was, but +it reminded her of that which was sometimes wafted to her from a corner +saloon. Clearly it would not do to "call in" Mr. and Mrs. Brady. "Well," +she said, with a sudden inspiration, "this is to be a young people's +party. My brother and I are going to give it. I want to invite you and +Bella to my house right away." + +"To your house?" repeated the wondering Eva Louise. + +"Yes. And we will go around outside to Fourth Street. Go get Bella." + +So Eva Louise went into the house and informed her astonished family +that she and Bella were "axed to a party over to Herrickses." Whereupon +Mrs. Brady promptly seized first one and then the other of her +daughters, vigorously applied a scrubbing-brush to hands and faces, set +upon the tangled heads two gaudy hats with lace and flowers, pinned +together the gaping rent in Bella's frock, and pronounced them ready. + +"And mind yer manners," she cautioned. "Act pretty, an' mebbe the +ladies'll give yer each a present. There's no knowin'." + +And then they rejoined Elizabeth in the alley, where she had waited, +their hearts beating high with hope. + +The little group passed out of the alley and around through Spruce +Street to Fourth Street. A number of people turned and looked at the +oddly assorted trio walking so soberly along, Elizabeth, in her large +felt hat and pretty jacket, between Eva Louise and Bella, in their +tawdry finery and ragged frocks; but Elizabeth was quite unconscious of +attracting attention. + +Her mind was absorbed with a new question which had presented itself. +She had never heard of a party where the guests were not given some kind +of refreshment, and she knew of no way in which she could provide it for +the present occasion. + +It would not do to ask the servants for something to eat, neither would +it be proper to stop and buy what was necessary at the cake-shop while +her guests were with her. She must consult with Valentine. + +[Illustration: THE ARRIVAL OF EVA LOUISE AND BELLA.] + +Her fellow-conspirator was watching for them, and opened the door at +once. + +"Everything is all right," he whispered to Elizabeth. "The cook is busy +making cake, and the other girls are all chattering, and James has gone +round to the stable to see the men there. There won't be anybody around +to see us. We'll take them right up." + +"But wait a minute, Val," returned Elizabeth; "I want to ask you +something. And first I must introduce you. That is the way I have heard +Aunt Caroline do sometimes. This is my brother, Mr. Valentine Herrick, +Miss Eva Louise and Miss Bella Brady. Now you know each other and can +talk. If I had not introduced you, you know, you would not have been +able to talk at all." + +Apparently the introduction did not have the desired effect of promoting +conversation, for Bella put her finger in her mouth, and Eva Louise +turned her back upon the company, while Val himself with difficulty +repressed a laugh. + +"Will you please walk into the drawing-room and sit down a minute?" said +their hostess. "I must speak to my brother, if you will please excuse +me." + +The guests obeyed, and were presently seated upon two of +great-grandfather Herrick's chairs with the high carved backs, while +Julius Cæsar from the window-seat stared in astonishment. + +"We must give them something to eat, Val," whispered Elizabeth, in the +hall. "How shall we get it?" + +"I will go buy it," returned Val, promptly. "Let's see; have you got any +money?" + +"Yes; I have seventy-five cents, and if that isn't enough, I have some +more in my little bank." + +"Oh, that is enough, with what I've got. You will have to stay in the +parlor till I get back, so as to let me in," and seizing his cap, he was +off. + +Elizabeth rejoined her visitors in the drawing-room and tried to make a +conversation. Somehow, to talk to the Brady girls had never before been +so difficult. In the alley there was always so much to say. Now they sat +stiffly and straight upon their chairs, and their faces looked +preternaturally solemn. There was silence in the room for a few +minutes, and Julius came and rubbed himself against Elizabeth's feet. +This suggested a topic. + +"Do you like cats?" she asked. + +"Yes," said Bella. + +"Nope," said Eva Louise, simultaneously. + +There was another pause. + +"It is a very nice day to-day." + +"Yes," they both replied. + +Elizabeth thought deeply for several minutes. What could she say next? + +"Are you at all halt?" she asked, presently. + +The Misses Brady merely stared. + +"Are you at all halt?" she repeated. + +"Yes, I guess so," answered Bella, who, though doubtful, thought it +polite to agree. + +"Oh, that is a good thing," said Elizabeth, in a relieved tone. "I did +not exactly know, you know, so I thought I had better ask. I am very +glad you are halt. That makes it all right. And there is my brother come +back. I will go and let him in, and then we will go up to the party." + +Valentine returned laden with oddly shaped packages, and the four +ascended the stairs together. + +"It's a dandy old feast I've got," whispered the boy; "all the things +that look so good, but you never have at home. We shall need some +plates, though. I'll put these bundles down at the door, and while you +are getting the keys I'll run down to the dining-room for the plates." + +He came back in a short time with a pile of Miss Herrick's best china, +the plates which were used for the salad course when she gave a dinner; +and Elizabeth having procured the keys, they entered the room. The +guests were still under the spell of silence. Being invited to remove +their hats, they did so and laid them on the bed. Then they gazed at the +floor. + +"What shall we do?" said Elizabeth to Val, in an under-tone. She had +never before realized what hard work it was to give a party. + +"Let's begin on the grub," suggested her brother, whose appetite was +sharpened by the thought of the cake-shop dainties which could never be +enjoyed at home. + +This seemed to be the best thing to do under existing circumstances, and +Elizabeth removed the few articles which were on the table, and Val +lifted it over to the centre of the room. A towel was spread over it for +a table-cloth, the plates were set thereon, and then Val opened his +packages and proudly placed the contents upon the plates. + +There was a half pie, presumably custard, four large cocoanut balls, +four sour-balls, four huge doughnuts, four buns (generously speckled +with currants), and, crowning delicacy, a paper box of vanilla +ice-cream. + +Valentine made another raid upon the dining-room, and returned with +forks, knives, and spoons, announcing that he had barely escaped meeting +James, who was on his way up the back stairs just as Val left the +pantry. + +The guests were then invited to draw up their chairs, which they did +with an alacrity that was most encouraging. + +"I wonder if 'halt' means hungry?" thought Elizabeth. "I shouldn't +wonder if it did." + +She politely ignored the fact that both visitors scorned the assistance +of forks in eating the pie, and devoted herself to removing currants +from a bun. Somehow it did not seem an appetizing feast to her, but +Valentine and the Brady girls were enjoying it, and that was all that +was necessary. + +At last the repast was over, the final course, consisting of a +sour-ball, which so protruded the cheek of each member of the party that +speech was for a time impossible, and then Elizabeth wondered what they +should do next. + +"Suppose we play a game," suggested Val, as soon as he could speak. + +"So we will," agreed Elizabeth. "What shall it be? Eva Louise, do you +know any nice games?" + +"Nope." + +"Do you, Bella?" + +"Jack-stones." + +"Oh yes, jack-stones. Well, we haven't got any." + +"Yes, we have, too. I brung 'em." + +"Oh, did you?" + +Apparently there was no help for it. Elizabeth despised jack-stones, +which hurt her knuckles, and which she never could catch; but one must +be polite in one's own house. + +"I say, you are funny ones!" said Val, who had thoroughly enjoyed his +luncheon, and had now time to grasp the situation. Elizabeth's company +manners amused him extremely, and the whole thing was "no end of a +lark," as he expressed it. + +"Why don't you play something you don't play at home?" he asked. "Let's +try 'Fish, flesh, or fowl,' or 'When I was in Spain,' or some other nice +game?" + +Bella said nothing, but Eva Louise at last found her voice. + +"Ef we don't play jack-stones, we ain't agoin' to play nuthin'. We're +agoin' home." + +Bella here nudged her sister's elbow. + +"We ain't agoin' home till we get our presents. Yer know what ma said." + +This aside was so plainly audible to the host and hostess, that +Elizabeth looked shocked, but Val roared with laughter. + +"Very well," said Elizabeth; "we will play jack-stones." + +But at the first throw Val, in the exuberance of his feelings, tossed +them so high that one landed on the table, right in the centre of one of +Miss Herrick's delicate china plates, breaking it squarely in two. + +"My eye!" exclaimed the boy. "What have I done?" + +"Jack-stones are a hateful game, anyhow," cried Elizabeth, whose dismay +caused her to forget her manners. "I don't know what Aunt Caroline will +say. It is all your fault, Eva Louise, that Val broke the plate, for you +made us play jack-stones." + +"'Tain't, neither," returned Eva Louise, with asperity. "No one didn't +tell him to throw the jack up there. An' ef this is what yer call a +party, I don't think much of it. We hev as good pie as that at home, an' +we can get ice-cream o' the ice-cream man any day he comes round. I say, +Bella, let us go home." + +But Bella still held back. Elizabeth looked at them for a moment in +silent wrath, and then her feelings found words. + +"Well, I should be very glad indeed if you did go home. I think you are +very rude girls. And I never knew you had ice-cream whenever you wanted +it, and all those nice things." + +"No more we do," interposed Bella; "leastways, I never seen it. Eva +Louise was makin' that up, I guess." + +"Oh, was she? Then she tells stories, does she? I don't want to have +anything more to do with you. You are very, _very_ rude girls, and I am +sorry I invited you to the party. I only asked you because you were +halt." + +"I dun'no' what yer talkin' about," replied Eva Louise, as she put on +her hat; "only I guess yer'd better not name me no names, or I'll hev +yer 'rested. Halt! I ain't no halt;" and with her head held high as she +proudly sniffed the air, she walked from the room. Bella still lingered. + +"Don't yer give no presents at yer party?" she asked. + +Elizabeth had already begun to repent of her hasty speech. She feared +that she had been rude, and she felt that she must make amends. + +"Wait a minute," she said, flying up the short flight of stairs which +led to her own room. + +Eva Louise delayed her departure, and Bella looked more hopeful. +Valentine hovered in the background, wondering what was going to happen +next. + +Presently Elizabeth returned. In one hand she held a silver calendar +which had ornamented her desk, in the other a handsomely bound book. + +"These are all I can find," she said, bestowing one upon either guest. +"You see, I have to give you things that are really my own, and not Aunt +Caroline's or Aunt Rebecca's. Val, we will go down with them to the +front door." + +The little procession in silence descended the two long double flights +of stairs. The front door was opened for them, and the two visitors +were about to depart, one carrying the silver calendar, which flashed +gayly in a ray of sunlight, the other holding the large red-covered +book. + +"Good-by!" they said, cheerfully, feeling mollified by the presents. + +"Good-by," returned Val and Elizabeth. + +And even as they spoke a carriage drew up at the door, and from it +stepped Miss Herrick. She paused in astonishment, and looked at the two +strange figures emerging from her own front door, and at the two +frightened faces in the hall beyond. + +"What does this mean?" she asked, as she swept by them into the house +and the door was closed. + +[TO BE CONTINUED.] + + + + +THE AMERICAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS. + +THE AMUSEMENT CLUB. + +BY EMMA J. GRAY. + + +The sun was setting one afternoon in late September. The deep blue sky +was dappled with rosy golden and white clouds, but a glance at the +brown-stone houses opposite revealed the unhappy thought that we were +once again in our old town-house. I tried to imagine I was mistaken; +that the lapse of summer-time had never been; that, indeed, all the +happy vacation had not drifted by; that the moss-grown bridges, +low-hanging branches, and piny woods were yet to come; that I must be +asleep and having a horrible nightmare. + +[Illustration] + +But, "Amy! Amy! Where are you?" woke up my foolish reverie, and "Will +and I have been hunting all over for you!" were the half-annoyed words +which followed, as my friend Irene Sloane and her brother stood before +me in our second-floor front room. + +Irene was my most intimate friend; it was rare when a day passed without +her being in my house or I in hers. Therefore the absence of ceremony in +the hunt she had just made. Her brother, too, I had known always, and +now that they had rushed in--for rushed is the only way to describe +their entrance, so excited and all of a flutter they seemed--I forgot +all about my foolish dreaming, and exclaimed, "Do sit down both of you, +and tell what's up!" + +But Irene was too excited to sit down; she had come to tell a "splendid +plan. And don't you think so, Will?" and it was "Mamma's idea," and much +more of a similar purport, until Will, who had taken a chair, hastily +rose, and with a most sober face and energetic manner, exclaimed: + +"Irene, what's the use of beating about the bush any longer? Tell Amy +all about it, and then she'll have a chance to have her say too." + +"Well, the plan is to form an Amusement Club. It will seem awfully +stupid to be at home after all our fun last summer. Don't you think so?" + +"Certainly I do, for I was thinking just before you came that we'd +gotten back to hardtack sure enough; there seems nothing to look forward +to but books and study." + +"Oh, hardtack fiddlestick! I'm ashamed of you both," interjected Will; +"though I'm willing to admit," the boy continued, with a deep sigh, "it +does come awfully hard to study after such a long loaf. But this +Amusement Club will fix us up fine; it will give no end of jolly times, +for, only think, we'll all meet once a week, or once a fortnight, and +that will be amusement enough for one evening." + +"Do explain it, Will. I can't make any sense out of what you are trying +to tell me." + +"Mamma will explain, for she said she would take charge of the first +meeting." + +"Yes," interrupted Irene, and then excitedly tossing her two long braids +back, "the first meeting is to be at our house next Saturday afternoon +at three o'clock. What do you think of that for a starter?" + +"All right; only where do I come in? You haven't asked me yet?" + +"Aren't you ashamed to talk so, Amy De Nyse, when you know that not only +are you expected to come, but to help Will and me invite all the other +girls and boys?" + +"Which way could we invite them the easiest? And do you think you'd tell +what they were invited for, or surprise them?" + +"I say, surprise them. Don't you, Will?" And Irene looked questioningly +toward her brother; and as he nodded his head she continued, "But I'd +tell them it's important and a secret." + +"Good! people are sure to be on hand if there's a secret around." + +"And as to the way of inviting them," Will said, "the best way would be +to make a list of names, and then cut them apart, each take an equal +number--or I don't care if I take one or two extra." + +"And you know what mamma said," his sister replied; "not to invite too +many for the first meeting." + +"Now what do you think of the prospect, Amy?" + +"Capital! I've heard so much about clubs, that I've been wanting to join +one for a long time." + +"And I too," exclaimed Irene. + +"An athletic club, you refer to, I suppose, running-matches, etc.," said +mischievous Will as he pulled his sister's long braid, for he was a +great tease, and knew that both Amy and Irene had lost at a +running-match during the summer, and indeed they were anything else but +athletes, taking far too kindly to hammocks, and lounging around +generally. + +And after a little more merry conversation, in which "vacation" and +"club" were prominent words, the brother and sister took their +departure. + +Thus it was that the following Saturday afternoon found twenty jolly +girls and boys seated in Irene Sloane's library. And what a chattering! +Magpies were silent by contrast. Indeed, it was more like a riot than a +meeting until Mrs. Sloane entered, when, presto! what a change! Not that +she was feared, however, for, on the contrary, she was greatly beloved +by all of her children's friends. It was only that the children were +half awed, being so full of expectation, anticipating they knew not +what, and also because the sudden presence of an older person always +does result in changing the atmosphere of a room. + +A few moments after the cordial greetings were extended Mrs. Sloane +explained the purpose of their meeting. + +For example, several of them had returned from vacation with scores of +new ideas on the subject of entertaining; many new games and amusements +had been learned. Now why not help others by teaching these. That each +member, in fact, must pledge himself or herself to advance the cause of +amusement by teaching a new game, charade, or something pertaining to +entertainment once a month. And with that point in view, everybody must +keep wide awake, and on the constant lookout. Also establish a habit of +getting up novel entertainment and inventing games. Remember, somebody +originated every game known. + +By being members of this club, each person would also receive help as to +the management of business meetings, for, in the main, every business +meeting was conducted in a similar manner, and as many middle-aged +people did not understand even the ordinary duties of chairman, they +could not do better than learn when young. + +One of the boys interrupted by inquiring if they might come to her for +advice if they were in a quandary. + +"Certainly; any time," was the assured answer; "but I know I can trust +everybody here to help one another;" and Mrs. Sloane looked thoughtfully +around. "Indeed, I am confident you will all take so much pleasure out +of this organization that you will wonder you had not started an +amusement club before. You will be too proud to have failure;" and then, +with a cordial smile, added, "you have too good comradeship to have +discord." + +"Before we proceed to the election of officers, I wish to say I will +stay in the chair this afternoon until about the time to adjourn, when +your president will assume his position, and hereafter he will always be +in charge of each meeting, unless necessarily absent, in which event the +vice-president will act in his stead." Then, with a pleasant look around +on all the upturned faces, Mrs. Sloane said, "We are now ready for the +nominations for president." + +Several names were promptly mentioned, and as none of the nominees +declined, they were voted upon by ballot. Mrs. Sloane named three boys +to distribute and afterwards count the ballots. + +The ballot papers were very small, about three inches one way and two +the other, and as they had been prepared beforehand, there was no +hinderance. Therefore it was but the work of a few minutes to distribute +a paper to each person, on which every one immediately wrote the name +preferred. The ballots were then collected and counted; each nominee +received some votes, but the largest number being for Will Sloane, he +was announced as president. Whereupon one of the club immediately rose +and said, "I move the vote to be made unanimous." This being seconded, +Will Sloane's name was called amidst cheers, claps, and huzzahs, for the +excitement was now too great for the children to keep altogether quiet. + +After this there followed the elections of vice-president, secretary, +and treasurer, all being elected in a similar manner. + +There was also a board of directors added, consisting of eight people +and the president. This board Mrs. Sloane selected, and of the eight +named five were girls; the duty of the board being to talk over various +questions affecting club work; for example, how money could be expended, +whether entertainment would be given for charity--indeed, all matters of +import. After such discussions by the board, the matter would be +presented by one of its members at the first regular club meeting, and +there acted upon. + +It was decided to hold the meetings every second Saturday evening at +seven o'clock, and that no meeting could extend beyond one hour and a +half; that the chairman would open the meetings promptly, and that +twelve people would constitute a quorum. And any matter by them decided +must be acceded to by the entire club. + +That the fee would be ten cents a week, paid regularly. That they should +have more members; but Mrs. Sloane advised the number should be limited +to thirty, as too great a number would be difficult to control. + +The duty of the treasurer would be to receive and keep a correct account +of the reception and disbursement of money, and that he should give a +report of the same at the first meeting of each month. + +The secretary should enroll the names and residences of the officers and +members; he should write the minutes of each meeting, and read them at +the following one. + +The order of conducting the meeting would be: + +Calling to Order; Secretary's Report; Treasurer's Report; Unfinished +Business; New Business; Adjournment. + +As Mrs. Sloane now thought that the children were taxed enough for one +day, and that they would enjoy an after-talk by themselves, she thanked +the club for their courtesy, and with a most gracious smile towards her +son, added, "I now have the pleasure of conducting you to the chair." + +[Illustration] + +This said, she stepped one side. He pleasantly bowed, and took the place +made vacant by his mother. + +No sooner had she retired than Mrs. Sloane laughingly said, "I move we +adjourn." + +When at once Amy De Nyse, who had been unusually quiet, jumped to her +feet. "Before that motion is seconded, I move a vote of thanks to Mrs. +Sloane," and she was about to add, "for her patience and goodness to us +this afternoon," but her voice was drowned in the hearty ringing voices +of the happy children who had now informally gathered about their +leader, and each one thanked her warmly and heartily over and yet over +again. And then were heard such expressions as, "You'll have to come to +all of our entertainments," "Won't we have jolly fun practising the +different charades, tableaux, and games?" and "When we get money enough, +perhaps we can have a regular club-room, with a platform, curtain, and +scenery." + +And that thought proved the inspiration for another and yet another, +until one of the boys reached a grand climax by waving a handkerchief +over his head and shouting: "I have a scheme. Let us get up specialties, +and make a charge to show them. Why, this club may make us all rich +yet!" + + + + +Out on Long Island there is to-day an exceedingly angry farmer. He can +usually be found nursing his wrath on the top of a rail-fence near his +barn an hour before sunset. His big jack-knife digs deeply into the +piece of wood it is whittling as the farmer emphasizes his wrath. + +"Talk about the benefit newspapers are to the country--bah!" he +exclaims. "The other night I had all my chickens stole 'cept two, and +that old town paper recorded it in big type, and let the whole country +know about it in less than no time. What do you suppose the result was, +eh? Why, the thieves that took them chicks thought they got them all, +and when they read in the paper that two was left behind, what did they +do but come around the very next night when I never expected them, and +they took the other two. I don't see much use for newspapers that tells +everything a thief wants to know." + + + + +THE GREAT SEAL OF ENGLAND. + + +Many people doubtless know that upon the accession of a new monarch to +the throne of England a new Seal is struck, and the old one is cut into +four pieces and deposited in the Tower of London. In former times the +fragments of these great Seals were distributed among certain poor +people of religious houses. When her Majesty Queen Victoria ascended the +throne of England, the late Benjamin Wyon, R.A., the chief engraver of +her Majesty's Mint, designed the beautiful work of the present Great +Seal of England. The details of the design are: obverse, an equestrian +figure of the Queen attended by a page, her Majesty wearing over a habit +a flowing and sumptuous robe, and a collar of the Order of the Garter. +In her right hand she bears the sceptre, and on her head is placed a +regal tiara. The attendant page, with his bonnet in his hand, looks up +to the Queen, who is gracefully restraining the impatient charger, which +is richly decorated with plumes and trappings. The legend "Victoria Dei +Gratia Britainniarum Regina, Fidei Defensor," is engraved in Gothic +letters, the spaces between the words being filled with heraldic roses. +The reverse side of the Seal shows the Queen, royally robed and crowned, +holding in her right hand the sceptre, and in her left the orb, seated +upon a throne beneath a niched Gothic canopy; on each side is a figure +of Justice and Religion; and in the exergue the royal arms and crown, +the whole encircled by a wreath or border of oak and roses. + +The Seal itself is a silver mould in two parts, technically called a +pair of dies. When an impression is to be taken or cast, the parts are +closed to receive the melted wax, which is poured through an opening at +the top of the Seal. As each impression is attached to a document by a +ribbon or slip of parchment, its ends are put into the Seal before the +wax is poured in, so that when the hard impression is taken from the +dies the ribbon or parchment is neatly affixed to it. The impression of +the Seal is six inches in diameter and three-fourths of an inch in +thickness. The Great Seals of England are interesting from their bearing +portraits of the sovereigns, as in the Seals of Offa and Ethelwolf, and +that of Edgar with a bust in profile. After William I. all the Kings are +on one side on horseback, the face turned to the right, except that of +Charles I., which is turned to the left. Edward IV. first carries the +close crown; Edward the Confessor and Henry I. and Henry II. are seated +with the sword and dove. Wax was not uniformly used for Seals, as +impressions occur in gold, silver, and lead, also in various other +substances. The colors have varied, but red appears to have been the +most ancient. + + + + +THE VOYAGE OF THE "RATTLETRAP." + +BY HAYDEN CARRUTH. + +VI. + +Besides the cactus, another form of vegetation which began to attract +more and more of Ollie's attention was the red tumbleweed. Indeed, Jack +and I found ourselves interested in it also. The ordinary tumbleweed, +green when growing, and gray when tumbling, had long been familiar to +us, but the red variety was new. The old kind which we knew seldom grew +more than two feet in diameter; it was usually almost exactly round, and +with its finely branched limbs, was almost as solid as a big sponge, and +when its short stem broke off at the top of the ground in the fall it +would go bounding away across the prairie for miles. The red sort seemed +to be much the same, except for its color and size. We saw many six or +seven feet, perhaps more, in diameter, though they were rather flat, and +not probably over three or four feet high. + +The first one we saw was on edge, and going at a great rate across the +prairie, bounding high into the air, and acting as if it had quite gone +crazy, as there was a strong wind blowing. + +"Look at that overgrown red tumbleweed!" exclaimed Jack. "I never saw +anything like _that_ before. Jump on the pony, Ollie, and catch the +varmint and bring it back here!" + +[Illustration: OLLIE AND THE TUMBLEWEED.] + +Ollie was willing enough to do this, and the pony was willing enough to +go, so off they went. I think if the weed had had a fair field that +Ollie would never have overtaken it, but it got caught in the long grass +occasionally, and he soon came up to it. But the pony was not used to +tumbleweed-coursing, and shied off with a startled snort. Ollie brought +her about and made another attempt. But again the frightened pony ran +around it. Half a dozen times this was repeated. At last she happened to +dash around it on the wrong side just as it bounded into the air before +the wind. It struck both horse and rider like a big dry-land wave, and +Ollie seized it. If the poor pony had been frightened before, she was +now terror-stricken, and gave a jump like a tiger, and shot away faster +than we had ever seen her run before. Ollie had lost control of her, and +could only cling to the saddle with one hand and hold to the big +blundering weed with the other. Fortunately the pony ran toward the +wagon. As they came up we could see little but tumbleweed and pony legs, +and it looked like nothing so much as a hay-stack running away on its +own legs. When the pony came up to the wagon, she stopped so suddenly +that Ollie went over her head. But he still clung to the weed, and +struck the ground inside of it. He jumped up, still in the weed, so that +it now looked like a hay-stack on two legs. We pulled him out of it, and +found him none the worse for his adventure. But he was a little +frightened, and said: + +"I don't think I'll chase those things again, Uncle Jack--not with that +pony." + +"Oh, that's all right, Ollie," said Jack. "I'm going to organize the +Nebraska Cross-Country Tumbleweed Club, and you'll want to come to the +meets. We'll give the weed one minute start, and the first man that +catches it will get a prize of--of a watermelon, for instance." + +"Well, I think I'll take another horse before I try it," returned Ollie. + +"Might try Old Browny," I said. "If he ever came up to a tumbleweed he +would lie right down on it and go to sleep." + +"Yes, and Blacky would hold it with one foot and eat it up," said Jack. +"Unless he took a notion to turn around and kick it out of existence." + +We looked the queer plant over carefully, and found it so closely +branched that it was impossible to see into it more than a few inches. +The branches were tough and elastic, and when it was tossed up it would +rebound from the ground several inches. But it was as light as a thistle +ball, and when we turned it loose it rolled away across the prairie +again as if nothing had happened. + +"They're bad things sometimes when there is a prairie fire," said Jack. +"No matter how wide the fire-break may be, a blazing tumbleweed will +often roll across it, and set fire to the grass beyond. They've been +known to leap over streams of considerable width, too, or fall in the +water and float across, still blazing. Two years ago the town of +Frontenac was burned up by a tumbleweed, though the citizens had made an +approved fire-break by ploughing two circles of furrows around their +village and burning off the grass between them. These big red ones must +be worse than the others. I believe," he went on, "that tumbleweeds +might be used to carry messages, like carrier-pigeons. The next one we +come across we'll try it." + +That afternoon we caught a fine specimen, and Jack securely fastened +this message to it and turned it adrift: + + "Schooner Rattletrap, September --, 188-: Latitude, 42.50; + Longitude, 99.35. To Whom it may Concern: From Prairie Flower, + bound for Deadwood. All well except Old Blacky, who has an + appetite." + +The night after our stop by the unfinished house we again camped on the +open prairie, a quarter of a mile from a settler's house, where we got +water for the horses. This house was really a "dugout," being more of a +cellar than a house. It was built in the side of a little bank, the back +of the sod roof level with the ground, and the front but two or three +feet above it. + +"I'd be afraid, if I were living in it, that a heavy rain in the night +might fill it up, and float the bed-stead, and bump my nose on the +ceiling," said Jack. + +[Illustration: "CARRYING EVERYTHING THAT WAS LOOSE BEFORE IT."] + +It had been a warm afternoon, but when we went to bed it was cooler, +though there was no wind stirring. The smoke of our camp-fire went +straight up. There was no moon, but the sky was clear, and we remarked +that we had not seen the stars look so bright any night before. The +front of our wagon stood toward the northwest. We went to bed, but at +two o'clock we were awakened by a most violent shaking of the cover. The +wind was blowing a gale, and the whole top seemed about to be going by +the board. We scrambled up, and I heard Jack's voice calling for me to +come out. The cover bows were bent far over, and the canvas pressed in +on the side to the southwest till it seemed as if it must burst. The +front end of the top had gone out and was cracking in the wind. I crept +forward, and as I did so I felt the wagon rise up on the windward side +and bump back on the ground. I concluded we were doomed to a wreck, and +called to Ollie to get out as fast as he could. I supposed a hard storm +had struck us, but as I went over the dashboard I was astonished to see +the stars shining as brightly as ever in the deep, dark sky. Jack was +clinging to the rear wagon wheel on the windward side, which was all +that had saved it from capsizing. He called to me to take hold of the +tongue and steer the craft around with the stern to the gale. I did so, +while he turned on the wheel. As it came around, the loose sides of the +cover began to flutter and crack, while the puckering-string gave way, +and the wind swept through the wagon, carrying everything that was loose +before it, including Ollie, who was just getting over the dashboard. He +was not hurt, but just then we heard a most pitiful yelping, as Jack's +blankets and pillow went rolling away from where the wagon had stood. It +was Snoozer going with them. The yelping disappeared in the darkness, +and we heard frying-pans, tin plates, and other camp articles clattering +away with the rest. The Rattletrap itself had tried to run before the +gale, but I had put on the brake and stopped it. The three of us then +crouched in front of it, and waited for the wind to blow itself out. We +could see or hear nothing of the horses. There was not a cloud in sight, +and the stars still shone down calmly and unruffled, while the wind cut +and hissed through the long prairie grass all about us. It kept up for +about ten minutes, when it began to stop as suddenly as it had begun. In +twenty minutes there was nothing but a cool, gentle breeze coming out of +the southwest. We lit the lantern and tried to gather up our things, but +soon realized that we could not do much that night. We found the +unfortunate Snoozer crouched in a little depression which was perhaps an +old buffalo wallow, but could see nothing of the horses. We concluded to +go to bed and wait for morning. + +When it came we found our things scattered for over a quarter of a mile. +We recovered everything, though the wagon-seat was broken. The horses +had come back, so we could not tell how far they had gone before the +wind. + +"I've read about those night winds on the plains," said Jack, "and we'll +look out for 'em in the future. We'll put an anchor on Snoozer at +least." + +This intelligent animal had not forgotten his night's experience, and +stuck closely in the wagon, where he even insisted on taking his +breakfast. + +The road we were following was gradually drawing closer to the Niobrara, +and we began to see scattering pine-trees, stunted and broken, along the +heads of the cañons or ravines leading down to the river. There was less +sand, and we made better progress. The country was but little settled, +and game was more plentiful. We got two or three grouse. We went into +camp at night at the head of what appeared to be a large cañon, under a +tempest-tossed old pine-tree, through which the wind constantly sighed. +There was no water, but we counted on getting it down the cañon. A man +went by on horseback, driving some cattle, who told us that we would +find a spring down about half a mile. + +"Can we get any hay down there?" I asked him. "We're out of feed for the +horses, and the grass seems pretty poor here." + +"Down a mile beyond the spring I have a dozen stacks," answered the man, +"and you're welcome to all you can bring up on your pony. Just go down +and help yourselves." + +We thanked him and he went on. As soon as we could we started down. It +was beginning to get dark, and grew darker rapidly as we went down the +ravine, as its sides were high and the trees soon became numerous. There +was no road, nothing but a mere cattle-path, steep and stony in many +places. We found the spring and watered all the horses, left Blacky and +Browny, and went on after the hay with the pony, Jack leading her, and +Ollie and I walking ahead with the lantern. It seemed a long way as we +stumbled along in the darkness, all the time down hill. + +"I guess that man wasn't so liberal as he seemed," said Jack. "The pony +will be able to carry just about enough hay up here to make Snoozer a +bed." + +We plunged on, till at last the path became a little nearer level. It +crossed a small open tract and then wound among bushes and low trees. +Suddenly we saw something gleam in the light of the lantern, and stopped +right on the river's bank. The water looked deep and dark, though not +very wide. The current was swift and eddying. + +"We've passed the hay," I said. "It must be on that open flat we +crossed." + +We went back, and turning to the right, soon found it. I set the lantern +down and began to pull hay from one of the stacks, when the pony made a +sudden movement, struck the lantern with her foot, and smashed the globe +to bits. + +"There," exclaimed Jack, "we'll have a fine time going up that +badger-hole of a cañon in the dark!" + +But there was nothing else to do, and we made up two big bundles of hay, +and tied them to the pony's back. + +"She'll think it's tumbleweeds," said Ollie. + +"If she'd headed in the right direction I hope she will," answered Jack. + +We started up, but it was a long and toilsome climb. In many places Jack +and I had to get down on our hands and knees and feel out the path. The +worst place was a scramble up a bank twenty feet high, and covered with +loose stones. I was ahead. The heroic little pony with her unwieldy load +sniffed at the prospect a little, and then started bravely up, "hanging +on by her toe-nails," as Ollie said. When she was almost to the top she +stepped on a loose stone, lost her footing, went over, and rolled away +into the darkness and underbrush. Jack stumbled over a little of the hay +which had come off in the path, hastily rolled up a torch, and lit it +with a match. By this light we found the pony on her back, like a +tumble-bug, with her load for a cushion and her feet in the air, and +kicking wildly in every direction. While Ollie held the torch, Jack and +I went to her rescue, and after a vast deal of pulling and lifting, got +her to her feet just as the hay torch died out. Again she scrambled up +the bank, and this time with success. We went on, found the other +horses, and were soon at the wagon. We voted the pony all the hay she +wanted, and went to bed tired. + +The next day, the ninth out from Yankton, though it was a long run, +brought us to Valentine, the first town on the railroad which we had +seen since leaving the former place. Before we reached it we went +several miles along the upper ends of the cañons, down a long hill so +steep that we had to chain both hind wheels, forded the Niobrara twice, +followed the river several miles, went out across the military +reservation, which was like a desert, saw six or eight hundred negro +soldiers at Fort Niobrara, and finally drove through Valentine, and went +into camp a mile west of town. On the way we saw thousands of the +biggest and reddest tumbleweeds, and two or three new sorts of cactus. +The colored troops surprised Ollie, as he had never seen any before. + +"It's the western winds and the hot sun that's tanned those soldiers," +said Jack. "We'll look just that way, too, before we get back." + +Ollie was half inclined to believe this astonishing statement at first, +but concluded that his uncle was joking. + +We went into camp on the banks of the Minichaduza River, a little brook +which flows into the Niobrara from the northwest. It gurgled and bubbled +all night almost under our wheels. A man stopped to chat with us as we +sat around our camp-fire after supper. We told him of our experience in +getting the hay the night before. He laughed and said: + +"Ever steal any of your horse feed?" + +"We haven't yet," answered Jack. "We try to be reasonably honest." + +[Illustration: THE YOUNG FELLOW WILTED RIGHT DOWN ON THE GROUND.] + +"Some don't, though," replied the man. "Most of 'em that are going West +in a covered wagon seem to think corn in the field is public property. A +fellow camped right here one afternoon last fall. He was out of feed, +and took a grain sack on one arm and a big Winchester rifle on the +other, and went over to old Brown's corn-field. He took the gun along +not to shoot anybody, but to sort of intimidate Brown if he should catch +him. Suddenly he saw an old fellow coming toward him carrying a gun +about a foot longer than his own. The young fellow wilted right down on +the ground and never moved. He happened to go down on a big prickly +cactus, but he never stirred, cactus or no cactus. He thought Brown had +caught him, and that he was done for. The old man kept coming nearer and +nearer. He was almost to him. The young fellow concluded to make a brave +fight. So he jumped up and yelled. The old man dropped his gun and ran +like a scared wolf. Then the young fellow noticed that the other also +had a sack in which he had been gathering corn. He called him back, they +saw that they were both thieves, shook hands, and went ahead and robbed +old Brown together." + +The man got up to go. "Well, good-night, boys," he said. "Rest as hard +as you can to-morrow. You'll strike into the sand hills at about nine +o'clock Monday morning. Take three days' feed, and every drop of water +you can carry; and if you waste any of it washing your hands you're +bigger fools than I think you are." + +[TO BE CONTINUED.] + + + + +[Illustration: INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORT] + + [_The series of four papers on the Science of Football, by Mr. + W. H. Lewis of the Harvard Football Team of 1893, begun in this + Department last week, is continued in the present issue._] + + +The subject of position-play in football may best be covered by taking +up and discussing each individual of the team in turn. The end rusher, +therefore, should be chosen for agility, speed, endurance, and good +judgment. The first three qualifications are necessary to enable him to +avoid, break up, and worm his way into, through, or around the +interference, tackle into its very midst, or take advantage of +occasional fumbles. His duty on the offensive, or when his own side has +the ball, will depend upon his assignment in the particular play. +Generally the end should stand much nearer his tackle when on the +offensive, so as to be able to get into every play. In plays through +tackle and end, or around the end on his own side of the line, he may +help the tackle to block or pocket the opposing tackle. If a half-back +comes into the line between tackle and end, the end should remember to +take the inside man, as he is the more dangerous, because uncovered and +nearest to the play. + +[Illustration: FIG. 1.] + +The great bulk of the end's work comes in the defensive game. He is to +prevent the long runs or open plays. He should never run behind his own +line, because of the danger of leaving his side of the line open to +criss-cross or some trick play. The end's primary duty is to turn the +runner in. He therefore should go in as quickly and on as sharp an angle +as possible, so that he can meet the interference before it gets well +formed and started. He should take the direction of A D (shown in Fig. +1), A B C if he must, but never A E. If the opposing end plays up in the +line opposite him, the only direction possible will be A B C. + +He should meet the interference with body well forward, the arms +extended straight and stiff, so as not to be hit by the interference, +being careful to keep a little to the outside of it. In plays through +the middle of the line, or pile up, the ends should keep out of the +scrimmage, so as to be sure that the runner does not come out of the +pile. + +_Tackle._--If there is any one position in the line harder to play than +another, that position is tackle. The tackle must look out for territory +on both sides of him, and be ready to help either guard or end, as the +emergency requires. The great majority of the plays are aimed at him. +His constant study must be how to meet each particular play in every +style of offence. He should stand about four feet from his guard, and +should not allow himself to be drawn out further than six feet; the +wider his line is drawn out, the weaker it will be and the more +territory he will have to cover. The offensive work of the tackle +depends largely upon the play and his assignment in it. In blocking he +should always take the man nearest the centre, as he is the nearest to +the starting-point of the play, and therefore the most dangerous. In +that case he should call in his guard to take his man. On plays through +and around the other side of the line, the tackle should momentarily +block his man, and then get into the push or interference. + +When the tackle himself takes the ball, he should be careful not to give +his intention away. He should, without notice, shift his position and +bring his feet pretty close together, to enable him to start quickly. He +should take off by giving his tackle a push in his chest with the open +hand. The end should go into the opposing tackle the moment his tackle +takes off, so as to prevent his opponent from following. When his own +side is going to kick, the tackle should block his man long enough to +prevent his stopping the kick, and then get down the field so as to help +the ends prevent a return. The tackle should go nearly straight, so as +to protect the centre of the field, the ends taking care of the sides. + +The great bulk of the tackle's work is on the defensive. His duty is to +tackle everything in sight. Clean, sharp breaking through is imperative +in a tackle. The first thing a tackle should do when he steps into the +line on the defence, is to notice his opponent's style of blocking, and +adapt his method of breaking through accordingly. + +Plays directed on the tackle call for great judgment and great strength. +The tackle should, if possible, shove his man back and into the play. +His next best plan to meet it is to go down in front of it good and +stiff and pile it up. He should go into the mass head and shoulders or +sideways, but never upon any pretext turn his back to it. In defending +his territory against trick plays, the best and only advice that can be +given to a tackle is to keep the eyes open, notice the alignments of the +opposing back's, the way they stand, their facial expression, and +movement, and try to divine which way the ball is going. When the +opposing side is going to kick, the tackle should spread a little so as +to give himself a better chance of getting through. + +_Guard._--The two guards and the centre make up the proverbial stone +wall into which the opposing backs are supposed to ram their heads to no +effect. + +A guard should stand with the foot next to centre forward if possible, +but if a man starts quicker with that foot back, why, stand that way. He +should be careful not to allow himself to be drawn out too far from the +centre. If his man goes out far he should tell the quarter-back, and +have him send a play through guard and centre, and his opponent will +probably move in again. As long as the inner foot of the opposite guard +is inside of the outer foot of the guard blocking, the latter ought to +be able to take him the moment the ball starts, and run him out to the +side lines. The guard should also keep a sharp lookout for the opposing +quarter, and if he comes up into the line between him and centre, push +him out with open hand. + +[Illustration: FIG. 2.] + +After having made a hole if called for, or blocked his man, the next +duty of the guard is to get into the push or interference himself. Get +hold of the runner; if possible, pull him along. Give him a chance to +use you in warding off would-be tacklers. One of the first duties of a +guard is to line up quickly. He should be right beside his centre the +moment the ball is down. The play cannot start without some one to guard +it. When his side is going to kick, the guard should move in close to +the centre so that no little quarter or stray back can come through and +stop the kick. He must block well, and almost until he hears the ball +booted, because the path through the centre is the straightest line, +and hence the shortest distance to the kicker, as will be seen in Fig. +3, line A B. The exact moment when he can let his man through must be +determined by the quickness of the man in front of him and the kicker, +as will be seen in Fig. 3. After having blocked long enough to insure +the kicks getting away, he should get down the field with the other +forwards to help prevent return of the ball. + +[Illustration: FIG. 3.] + +On the defense there is an immense amount of hard work for the guard. He +is primarily responsible for the ground between him and tackle, and +secondarily for that between him and centre. In going through, this fact +should be kept in mind. The fact that a guard must stand lower than +tackle, and has less and different kind of territory to cover, will +prevent him ordinarily from using as many methods of breaking through as +a tackle. He must take some method of getting through that will enable +him to use the body of his opponent to cover the territory between him +and centre, and to enable him to get out and back up tackle, and that +will put him through back to back with his man before the runner reaches +the line. + +_Centre Rush._--The position of centre rush is comparatively a new one. +Until a few years ago the middle position in the line was occupied by a +snap-back, whose only duty was to put the ball in play. After that he +was merely a passenger. From the snap-back the centre rush has been +evolved by gradual enlargement of his duties. To-day he is chief of +forwards, there being no duplicate to his position, as there is of +tackle and guard. Every play starts from the centre rush, and depends +upon him for a large share of its success or failure. The position is +one requiring painstaking, conscientious hard work, admitting of very +little glory, although the centre handles the ball more than any other +player. On the offensive, the first duty of the centre rush is to put +the ball in play. Much depends upon this. The team can play no faster +than he does. If he is slow, the whole thing is slow. He must follow the +ball closely, and the moment it is down, take it from his back and put +it down for the next play. When the ball goes out of bounds, he must be +the first man on the side lines, to take it in on the jump for the next +play. The line forms on him, and to have his team line up quickly he +must be doubly quick. + +To snap the ball back, the body should be just low enough to reach the +ball with the snapping arm, and no lower nor higher. The distance +between the forward and rear foot must be obtained by practice. The rear +one, in general, should be just far enough back to give him a good +start. The centre should straddle only enough to keep from wobbling from +side to side. The centre should never stand flat-footed. The feet should +be at right angles to the gridiron lines. The position is much like that +of a sprinter on his mark, as is shown in Fig. 2. + +_Different Methods of Snapping._--First, the flat, or side, snap, or +snap on the longer axis of the ball. Place the ball upon the ground +about two inches from the forward foot. Turn the lacing in. Have the +seams of the ball parallel with the gridiron lines. Take a firm grip of +the ball. Let the fingers be well over the front of it. The ball is sent +back to the quarter with a downward motion of the wrist and arm. Place +the ball as far under you as possible; it shortens the distance. The +advantage of the side snap is that the snapper can balance himself +partly on the ball, so that he can ofttimes put the ball into play under +very trying circumstances. + +Second, the end-over-end, or snap on the shorter axis. This snap is in +most general use at present. It requires more skill in handling than the +other. It has the advantage that it is quicker when well executed, and +enables the quarter to be of considerably more aid in the interference. +To use this style of snapping, place the ball on the end, the head out a +little, although the exact angle must be acquired by practice. The ball +is put into play by a delicate wrist motion back and downward. + +The defensive-work of the centre is almost illimitable. He can be of as +much or of as little use to his side as he has a mind to. He has more +opportunity for brilliant tackles than any other man on his side, for +the sole reason that he is not expected to do anything, and is the +unaccounted-for man. His own man is handicapped by having to snap the +ball, and he has no other assignment except that man. He should remain +in his position long enough to see whether the play is coming at him or +not. This will, of course, be determined by his shrewdness in guessing +the play. If the play is at him, by keeping his man away from him, he +can get under and into either hole. If his own position is not attacked, +he should take the hole nearest the runner. He can often go through +between guard and centre by having his guard break to the outside, and +the opposing guard, following him, makes the hole for centre to go +through. + +_The Half-Back._--The function of the half-back is to carry the ball. +The advance into the enemy's territory must be made by him, except that +a tackle may occasionally be called on for a run. The position is a +difficult, trying, and exhausting one. The back must be sent time and +again without let-up. With reference to his own proper function, a +half-back should be chosen for speed, endurance, sand, and a cool, quick +judgment. There are two distinct styles of backs--the "plunging back" +and the "wrigglers," or "dodgers." It is desirable to have one of each +upon a team. The former is better in line-breaking as a rule, and the +latter excels in "broken fields" and end-running. The backs should be +drilled carefully in the Fundamentals, especially those connected with +their immediate duties, such as tossing, catching, kicking, and +tackling. Standing starts and short dashes are also invaluable as +preliminary practice. + +As to the form of the half-back, it should be such as will not give away +the direction in which he intends to run, yet such as will enable him to +start at once upon the snap of the ball or signal. Many of the best +backs give away the point of attack by unconscious glances and +movements, things that should be studiously avoided. False starts are +also to be guarded against, as they spoil the whole play and slow up the +game. The backs should take, as far as possible, the same position in +the given play every time. The body should be angular in form and +carried well forward, much like the position of the standing start of a +sprinter, with this difference, that the rear foot should not be quite +so far back. The position must be one in which the backs can start +quickly in either direction. Backs generally stand perfectly square, +with toes of both feet on a line. Before they can get away from that +position they must take either a short step back or forward. This step +is unnecessary and shows a man up. + +In going through the line, the general rule is to go low. In running +low, the runner should bend his neck so that he can see and take his +holes cleanly. When going through the middle of the line, it is best to +carry the ball in both hands. Take the ball in the pit of the stomach, +the legs and trunk forming a basket or angle, and then grapple it to you +with both hands. Do not carry the ball too far under the arm. The ball +should be carried so that it may be shifted in order to use the nearest +arm to ward off would-be tacklers. It is surprising how many tacklers +can be warded off by using that arm like a piston-rod against every man +that comes up. In line-breaking, the back should remember to keep his +feet and fight for the last inch of ground. If he can only keep his feet +and give his own side a chance to push, he is bound to gain ground. + +_Full-Back._--No player has _cut so much ice_ in the winning or losing +of big matches in the last two seasons as the full-back. The holding of +big teams to small scores by inferior ones has been largely owing to +good men in this position. Hence the growing appreciation of the demands +of this position and its vital importance to the success of the eleven. +Kicking to-day has come to be a part of the offensive game, and the +full-back, consequently, the biggest ground-gainer of all the backs. The +full-back should be chosen almost solely for his ability to kick. Other +qualifications are desirable, to be sure, but the ability to kick is the +prime requisite. The preliminary training of the full-back should be one +continuous kick. + +[Illustration: FIG. 4.] + +The position of the full-back on the offence will be generally midway +between the two backs, or a little in advance of them, near enough to +touch either with the out-stretched arm. In runs around the end the +full-back will generally be called on either to lead the interference or +to block some particular player on the other side--a half-back or an +end, most likely. In bucking the centre, the full-back should put his +head down and go low and hard. He should make up his mind where he is +going, and then go there without halting and hesitating. While as a +general rule it is hard to gain through a good centre, a short gain +through that territory is all the more valuable. The line through the +centre is a straight line, and therefore the shortest distance to the +required five yards, as will be seen in Fig. 4, the base of a +right-angled triangle being always shorter than the hypothenuse. + +_The Quarter-Back._--The first essential qualification of a quarter-back +is brains. He should be able to take in a situation at a glance, to +think quickly, and to put that thought into execution at once. He should +be cool without being deliberate, enthusiastic without being excitable. +He should be brimful of nervous force and energy and of tireless +activity. He should be absolutely fearless, and of positive force of +character. The quarter-back should have constant, painstaking practice +in handling and passing the ball. All spare moments on and off the field +can most profitably be put in by him in receiving the snap from his +centre and passing to some back. By that practice he gets used to his +centre and learns intuitively when and where the ball will come every +time. + +The two ways commonly used in putting the ball into play are the "end" +and "flap" snap. Take the position of quarter in receiving the "flap" +snap first: The quarter stands, or rather kneels without touching his +knees, close up behind the centre, about a foot from him. + +The position is such that he can start quickly in the opposite direction +from the one he is facing to receive the ball. Turning to the rear is +easily and quickly done by using the balls of the feet as a pivot and +swinging the body around on them. The ball should be picked up cleanly. +It ought to require no more changing to throw than a baseball. The ball +is picked up with the fingers over one end of it, the other end is bound +to point along the arm, and thus it is ready for throwing. When the ball +is snapped end over end, the quarter-back takes an entirely different +position. He should stand squarely behind the centre, both feet being +nearly on a line. He should stand near enough to take the ball on the +first bound just the moment before the ball reaches the point where it +begins to fall. His distance is about from two to three feet. + +Upon the defence, the quarter with the other two backs form a kind of +second rush-line. The play of the quarter-back on the defence, unless +some special assignment is made him, is that of a free lance, a pirate +to mix up things generally and break through where he is least expected. +He generally stands behind the centre, and the moment the play starts, +takes the nearest hole. Oft-times the guard and centre can make a hole +to let the quarter through. + + * * * * * + +When an individual enters a competition which is held by any association +for the purpose of determining which player has the strongest claim, by +reason of his skill, to represent that association at a competition to +be held by some other (and, usually, greater) organization at some +future date, he takes upon himself, as a man of honor, the obligation, +in case he wins, of representing the first body in the contest to be +held by the second body. This more or less ethical and undoubtedly wordy +definition I hope is clear; but in case it is not, let me put it in +another and possibly more colloquial way: If the Scholastic School holds +a golf tournament for the purpose of selecting a man to represent the +Scholastic School at the University College golf tournament, every man +who _enters_ the Scholastic School tournament pledges himself (in +spirit, of course, he being an honorable amateur), in case he is a +winner, to appear and compete, to the best of his ability, at the +University College golf tournament as the representative of his school. + +In other words, any person who wins at a preliminary event, and fails to +fulfil at the final contest the obligations he has thus assumed, is +guilty of a breach of faith. He is guilty of a breach of faith unless he +is physically unable to stand the bodily strain of the contest he has +entered for, and in such a case he should at once notify both the body +he represents (that it may send a substitute if it chooses) and the +officers of the organization for whose competition he is entered, that +the latter may not be placed in a false position toward the public and +the other competitors. + +Mr. C. W. Beggs, of the Lawrenceville School, entered the Princeton +Interscholastic Tennis Tournament as a representative of +Lawrenceville--and won. By this victory Mr. Beggs became Princeton's +representative at the National Interscholastic Tennis Tournament to be +held at Newport, and accepted the obligation and responsibility of +representing Princeton on that occasion, just as fully and as +unequivocally as a football-player or a baseball-player accepts the +responsibility of playing his position in the final match game of the +season when he earns a place on his school's eleven or nine. Mr. Beggs +did not fulfil his obligations toward Princeton. He did not appear at +Newport on the day of the tournament, and, so far as I am able to learn, +he did not notify the officers of the national event of his intended and +perhaps entirely unavoidable absence. + +By acting in this manner he disarranged the programme of the national +event, he lessened the interest in the play of the tournament, and he +deprived Princeton of a possible victory. It is possible that Mr. Beggs +was prevented by illness from appearing on the courts at Newport, but +illness alone can be accepted as a valid excuse for his absence. Having +undertaken to be present, not travels nor "occasions of a life-time" +should have kept him away--should have allowed him to break his faith. + +These few words are not aimed in censure at Mr. Beggs. He is not alone +in such conduct. But he is a vivid example of an unsportsmanlike act +(unsportsmanlike unless he had the excuse of illness, and, even so, +inconsiderate if he did not notify the National L.T.A., and it does not +appear that he did), and the ethics of sport can only be taught to most +of us by the display of a striking example. The interests of +interscholastic sport may best be maintained by a strict adherence to +obligations assumed. + +"TRACK ATHLETICS IN DETAIL."--ILLUSTRATED.--8VO, CLOTH, ORNAMENTAL, +$1.25. + + THE GRADUATE. + + + + +ADVERTISEMENTS. + + + + +[Illustration: ROYAL BAKING POWDER] + +A cream-of-tartar baking powder. Highest of all in leavening +strength.--_Latest United States Government Food Report._ + +ROYAL BAKING POWDER CO., NEW YORK. + + + + +[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 many valuable data kindly supplied from the + official maps and road-books of the League of American Wheelmen. + Recognizing the value of the work being done by the L.A.W., the + Editor will be pleased to furnish subscribers with membership + blanks and information so far as possible. + + +[Illustration: Copyright, 1896, by Harper & Brothers.] + +The route given in the next three weeks will be one of the best trips in +the vicinity of Chicago, extending from Chicago itself to Joliet, thence +to Ottawa, and thence to La Salle, and return. Like the great majority +of trips taken from Chicago, this one depends largely upon the time at +the rider's disposal, for you may either start from Chicago itself, or +if the time is too short you can take the train for Ottawa and ride from +there, or it is possible to get off the train at Joliet and ride on. But +if time is not so important a matter, it is by all means best to ride +all the way from Chicago. A choice of roads leads out of the city. You +can go by the Archer Road to Joliet viâ Summit, Mount Forest, Willow +Springs, Sag, Lemont, Romeo, and Lockport. In going the other way, take +the Washington Boulevard west to Des Plaines Avenue, and then south to +Riverside. This route leads along the old Illinois-Michigan Canal, Des +Plaines River, and the new drainage canal, and it gives an excellent +opportunity for you to examine the work on this large engineering +undertaking. + +There is still one other route to Joliet, which is a good road if the +weather is good, but which after rain it would be unwise to attempt. +This route is as follows: Start south on Western Avenue, or go down +through Pullman City, turning westward to arrive at Blue Island. Here it +will be necessary to make inquiry for the Blue Island and Orland Road, +which runs southwest through Orland Station on the Wabash railway to +Joliet. Part of this secondary route is not on the map, but it can be +traced from Orland through Alpine, Hadley, and on into Joliet. The most +attractive route, however, is the second one--that is, through +Riverside, Summit, Willow Springs, etc. + +On this first stage to Joliet the road to Summit is easily found, except +that on passing through Summit a sharp turn to the left should be made, +instead of crossing the track and the canal, up a hill, the road then +being perfectly clear through Mount Forest and Willow Springs to Sag +Station, with one hill about midway between the two latter places. At +Sag Station turn to the left and run down to Sag, less than a mile away; +then, turning sharply to the right, run to Lemont. Thence, keeping +always on the southern and eastern side of the tracks and the river, +follow the road to Romeo, with a hill as you enter the town, and run +thence through Lockport to Joliet. The distance is close upon forty +miles. If the trip is made in a day, a good place to stop is at Sag. If, +however, the wheelman decides to run to Ottawa in one day, Joliet would +make a stop a little less than half the distance; though this run to +Ottawa of about ninety miles is a little too much for the average rider, +and Joliet being a good place to stop overnight, he is advised to make a +two days' trip of the journey. In case Joliet is too far, there is a +good hotel at Lockport, six or seven miles nearer Chicago than Joliet, +and the stop might be made there, although that leaves a long ride for +the next day. + + NOTE.--Map of New York city asphalted streets in No. 809. Map of + route from New York to Tarrytown in No. 810. New York to Stamford, + Connecticut, in No. 811. New York to Staten Island in No. 812. New + Jersey from Hoboken to Pine Brook in No. 813. Brooklyn in No. 814. + Brooklyn to Babylon in No. 815. Brooklyn to Northport in No. 816. + Tarrytown to Poughkeepsie in No. 817. Poughkeepsie to Hudson in No. + 818. Hudson to Albany in No. 819. Tottenville to Trenton in No. + 820. Trenton to Philadelphia in No. 821. Philadelphia in No. 822. + Philadelphia-Wissahickon Route in No. 823. Philadelphia to West + Chester in No. 824. Philadelphia to Atlantic City--First Stage in + No. 825; Second Stage in No. 826. Philadelphia to Vineland--First + Stage in No. 827; Second Stage in No. 828. New York to + Boston--Second Stage in No. 829. Third Stage in No. 830; Fourth + Stage in No. 831; Fifth Stage in No. 832; Sixth Stage in No. 833. + Boston to Concord in No. 834. Boston in No. 835. Boston to + Gloucester in No. 836. Boston to Newburyport in No. 837. Boston to + New Bedford in No. 838. Boston to South Framingham in No. 839. + Boston to Nahant in No. 840. Boston to Lowell in No. 841. Boston to + Nantasket Beach in No. 842. Boston Circuit Ride in No. 843. + Philadelphia to Washington--First Stage in No. 844; Second Stage in + No. 845; Third Stage in No. 846; Fourth Stage in No. 847; Fifth + Stage in No. 848. City of Washington in No. 849. City of Albany in + No. 854; Albany to Fonda in No 855; Fonda to Utica in No. 856; + Utica to Syracuse in No. 857; Syracuse to Lyons in No. 858; Lyons + to Rochester in No. 859; Rochester to Batavia in No. 860; Batavia + to Buffalo in No. 861; Poughkeepsie to Newtown in No. 864; Newtown + to Hartford in No. 865; New Haven to Hartford in No. 866; Hartford + to Springfield in No. 867; Hartford to Canaan in No 868; Canaan to + Pittsfield in No. 869; Hudson to Pittsfield in No. 870. City of + Chicago in No. 874. Waukesha to Oconomowoc in No. 875; Chicago to + Wheeling in No. 876; Wheeling to Lippencott's in No 877; + Lippencott's to Waukesha in No. 878; Waukesha to Milwaukee in No. + 879. + + + + +[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. + + +HOW TO SALT PAPER. + +Salting paper is the process by which photographic paper is coated with +chloride of sodium (common salt), chloride of ammonium, or chloride of +barium, and salted paper is pure photographic paper which has been +immersed or floated in a salting-bath and then dried. Paper prepared +especially for photographic use is the best; but paper which is free +from impurities may be used. Whatman's drawing-paper is a good paper. +The paper is first salted, and when dry the sensitizing solution is +applied. + +To salt paper with chloride of sodium, take 20 oz. of water and 30 grs. +of common salt; dissolve the salt in the water and filter; put this +solution in a flat dish larger than the sheets of paper to be salted. +Select the smoothest side of the paper, and turn back two corners +diagonally opposite to each other. Take hold of the paper by these +corners and lower the sheet of paper gently into the solution. See that +every portion of the surface is thoroughly wet, but do not let the paper +touch the bottom of the dish. Let it remain in the solution for one +minute; then, if it appears to be thoroughly covered, pin it up to dry, +with the side which was salted turned outward. To sensitize this paper, +take nitrate of silver, 1/2-oz., and water, 10 oz. After it is dissolved +take out 3 oz., and to the remaining 7 oz. add strong ammonia-water, +drop by drop. A brownish precipitate will form, but keep adding the +ammonia till the solution is nearly or quite clear, then turn in the +other 3 oz. and filter. This solution may be put in a flat dish, and the +paper be sensitized by floating it on the solution, or it may be spread +on with a brush, according to directions given in No. 869. + +To salt paper with chloride of ammonium make a solution as follows: + + Chloride of Ammonium 32 grs. + Water 4 oz. + Gelatine 8 grs. + +Put the gelatine in the water, and set the vessel containing it in a +dish of hot water until the gelatine is dissolved. When it is cold add +the chloride of ammonium, and either float according to directions just +given, or apply the solution with a brush. + +To sensitize, take 1 oz. of water and 60 grs. of nitrate of silver. +Dissolve thoroughly and brush the paper with this solution. Brush evenly +and lightly both ways of the paper, so as to avoid a streaked +appearance. Print and tone the same as for aristo prints. The combined +toning-bath gives good results. The tone of the prints closely resembles +platinum prints. + +Another process for salting paper is: + + Chloride of Ammonium 3 grs. + Chloride of Sodium 3 grs. + Water 2 oz. + +Apply this solution with a brush, or float the paper on the bath. To +sensitize, take 60 grs. of nitrate of silver and 1 oz. of water. Add +ammonia-water, drop by drop, till 25 drops have been used. The solution +at first turns muddy, but continue dropping the ammonia till it clears. +If it does not clear after the 25 drops have been added clear by +filtering. Sensitize as per former directions. + +This paper is very easily prepared, is inexpensive, and gives fine +delicate prints. Do not print much deeper than is desired for the +finished print. One may use a toning and fixing bath combined, or a +separate toning and fixing bath may be used. + +One can sensitize a strip at the head of a letter or a corner of a +visiting-card; and print the same as any paper. + +The paper can be bought ready salted, but it is not always fresh. It is +very little trouble to salt paper and to sensitize it, and the cost is +much less than when paper is bought ready prepared. The plain paper +should be used within two or three days after sensitizing with the +silver, but the salted paper keeps well, and may be sensitized as +needed. + +Mark the sensitized paper on the wrong side lightly, as it is hard to +distinguish the sensitive side. When dry these prints are so flat and +the paper is so thin that they make nice book illustrations. + + SIR KNIGHTS FRED. W. LONG and FRED. D. ROSE wish to know in what + numbers of the ROUND TABLE the "Papers for Beginners" may be found. + In Nos. 812, 813, 814, 816, 817, 818, 821, 822, 823, 824, 825, 826, + 832, 838, 840, and 842. See also the late numbers for "Chemistry + for Amateur Photographers." + + E. LESTER CROCKER, Tarrytown-on-Hudson, New York, wishes to be + enrolled as a member of the Camera Club. + + + + +ILL-TEMPERED BABIES + +are not desirable in any home. Insufficient nourishment produces ill +temper. Guard against fretful children by feeding nutritious and +digestible food. The Gail Borden Eagle Brand Condensed Milk is the most +successful of all infant foods.--[_Adv._] + + + + +ADVERTISEMENTS. + + + + +Columbia + +Bicycles + +LEAD THE WORLD. + +No competition has been able to shake the hold of Columbia Bicycles on +the wheeling public. It is the natural reward of unequalled experience, +materials, workmanship and facilities. To enjoy the highest delight of +bicycling you must ride the Columbia. + +Standard of the World + +$100 TO ALL ALIKE. + +POPE MFG. CO., Hartford, Conn. + +Columbia Art Catalogue free from all branch houses and agents, or will +be sent by mail for two 2-cent stamps. + + + + +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. + + + + +[Illustration: STAMPS] + +100 all dif. Venezuela, Bolivia, etc., only 10c., 200 all dif. Hayti, +Hawaii, etc., only 50c. Ag'ts w't'd at 50% com. Lint FREE! =C. A. +Stegmann=, 5941 Cote Brilliante Ave., St. Louis, Mo + + + + +STAMPS + +=10= stamps and large list =FREE!= + +L. DOVER & CO., 1469 Hodiamont, St. Louis, Mo. + + + + +STAMPS on Approval! 50% disct. _List free._ + +W. C. Shields, 30 Sorauren Ave., Toronto, Canada. + + + + +110 Foreign Stamps, Liberia, Borneo, Mexico, etc., 5c. H. L. ASHFIELD, +767 Prospect Ave., N.Y. + + + + +[Illustration: THOMPSON'S EYE WATER] + + + + +Reader: Have you seen the + +[Illustration: Franklin] + +It is a Collection which no one who loves music should fail to own; it +should find a place in every home. Never before, it may truthfully be +said, has a song book been published at once so cheap, so good, and so +complete.--_Colorado Springs Gazette._ + +[Illustration: Square] + +This Song Collection is one of the most notable enterprises of the kind +attempted by any publisher. The brief sketches and histories of the +leading productions in the work add greatly to the value of the +series.--_Troy Times._ + +[Illustration: Collection?] + +Sold Everywhere. Eight Numbers. Price, 50 cents each; Cloth, $1.00. Full +contents, with Specimen Pages, mailed, without cost, on application to +=Harper & Brothers, New York=. + + + + +From Calamus to Quill. + + It is most interesting to trace the evolution of the pen, beginning + with the _calamus_ and _stilus_--the reed and erasing bodkin--and + ending with a fountain-pen of the most improved make. In ancient + days great care was taken in the selection of the choicest reeds, + the best-cured parchment, and the daintiest waxen tablets. Egypt + grew the best reeds, though they were also found in Armenia, + Persia, and Italy. The modern Turks and Moors prize the Persian + reeds above all others, splitting the points in the same manner as + our grandfathers prepared their goose-quills. The oldest account + known respecting quills is found in a work of St. Isidore's, who + died in 636. Alcuinus, who lived in England, speaks of his pen, so + the familiar article must have been in use almost as long as the + art of writing was known in the country. Perhaps steel pens would + have been more popular when first introduced if all had known that + the quills were pulled from the living geese! + + Dr. Warner told his stationer that with one quill pen, old when he + took it up, he wrote an "ecclesiastical history," two volumes + folio, and a "dissertation on the Book of Common Prayer," both + first and final draughts. Byron wrote the "Bride of Abydos" in one + night, without once mending his quill, while Andrew Borde, + physician to Henry VIII., and the original "Merry Andrew," wrote a + book of nearly three hundred pages, 12mo., in the same manner. + Camden wrote of the quill with which he composed the Britannia, + + "With one sole pen I wrote this book, + Made of a gray goose quill; + A pen it was when I it took, + And a pen I leave it still." + + LAUNCELOT CLAYMORE. + + * * * * * + +What Shakespeare Studied when at School. + +Mr. William J. Rolfe, the Shakespearian student, has written most +entertainingly of the Avon bard's school days. "The training in an +English free day school in the time of Elizabeth," he writes, "depended +much on the attainments of the master, and these varied greatly, bad +teachers being the rule and good ones the exception. In many towns the +office of schoolmaster was conferred on 'an ancient citizen of no great +learning.' Sometimes a quack conjuring doctor had the position, like +Pinch in the _Comedy of Errors_." What did William study in the +grammar-school? Not much except arithmetic and Latin, with perhaps a +little Greek and a mere smattering of other branches. + +The Latin grammar used was certainly Lily's, the standard manual of the +time, as long before and after. In _The Taming of the Shrew_ (I., 1, +167) a passage from Terence is quoted in the modified form in which it +appears in this grammar. + +This fact, slight as it is, seems to have its bearing on the Baconian +controversy. "Can we imagine," asks Mr. Rolfe, "the sage of St. Albans, +familiar as he was with classical literature, going to his old Latin +grammar for a quotation from Terence, and not to the original works of +that famous playwright?" + +We often hear people speak of "good old times," as if present times were +worse. But good old school times of the sort described here were +certainly not better than present times. + + * * * * * + +Asked to Cease Soaring a Moment. + +Mrs. Phelps-Ward has just related an amusing story of John Greenleaf +Whittier and Lucy Larcom. They were driving together one day, and +discussing the Bible, the future life, and kindred topics. The poet was +a spare man, as of course you know, while the author, whose stories and +poems you so well remember, was portly, and had withal an easy-going +temperament, which led her to take things as they came, disturbed by +nothing. She was, when interested in a subject, generally quite +oblivious to all else around her. Driving along, they came to a rather +steep hill that had a bad gully in it. The horse was none too easy to +manage, and the carriage swayed uncomfortably toward the heavy +side--that borne well down by the portly woman. Mr. Whittier was trying +his best to control the horse and keep his seat, but his companion +talked on. + +"Lucy," said the poet, sternly, and with not too much composure, "if +thee doesn't stop talking long enough for me to control this horse, +thee'll find thyself in heaven before thee wants to." + + * * * * * + +Kinks. + +No. 30.--AN OBLONG STAR. + +If the cross-words are rightly guessed the central letters of the +right-hand hour-glass, reading downward, will spell the name of the +Grecian painter from whose untiring industry is derived the proverb, +_Nulla dies sine linea_ ("No day without a line"). The central letters +of the left-hand hour-glass will spell the name of a renowned Greek +sculptor who was born about the time of the battle of Marathon. + +1. _Upper Diamond._--1. In drawling. 2. A Japanese coin worth about +four-fifths of a cent. 3. A word occurring frequently in the Psalms. 4. +A deceiver. 5. The inferior pole of the horizon. 6. A form of a personal +pronoun. 7. In drawling. + +2. _Lower Diamond._--1. In drawling. 2. Mournful. 3. The pyramidal roof +of a tower. 4. Insulting. 5. Scorched. 6. To finish. 7. In drawling. + +3. _Left-hand Hour-glass._--1. Spotted. 2. Fences sunk below the ground. +3. A mite. 4. In drawling. 5. The dado. 6. A map. 7. Calcined gypsum. + +4. _Right-Hand Hour-glass._--1. Revolves. 2. Writing material. 3. A +couch. 4. In drawling. 5. A beverage. 6. To step. 7. To sparkle. + + VINCENT V. M. BEEDE, R.T.F. + + * * * * * + +No. 31.--A HETEROGENEOUS PIE. + +A maniac in a Canadian asylum once requested his keeper to bring him a +pie composed of the following ingredients: + +One object^1 which once bore the words, "For the fairest," won by Venus; +one cup of one^2 who rides the main; three cups of an appropriate name^3 +for a hard-headed animal; a morsel of a rod^4 little used in billiards; +a nickname^5 applied to a New England State; one pound of the fish^6 +that struggles; a goodly quantity of the fruit^7 from which a mechanic +in one of Shakespeare's comedies derives his name; a dash of the _nom de +plume_^8 of James W. Morris; forty incites^9; a heaping measure of the +substance^{10} indicated by the blank. + + "Not a ---- + But shows some touch in freckle, streak, or stain, + Of his unrivall'd pencil."--Cowper. + + XENTRIQUE. + + * * * * * + +No. 32--BEHEADING. + +1. Behead a fruit, and leave a fruit; behead once more, and leave our +ancestors; behead again, and leave a part of our ancestors. + +2. Behead a tree, and leave past; behead again, and leave to depart. + +3. Behead a fruit, and leave a vegetable; behead again, and leave to +adorn. + +4. Behead a plant, and leave slack; behead again, and leave that +wherewith the plant might have been cut. + + * * * * * + +Answers to Kinks. + +No. 28.--A MUSICAL MÉLANGE. + +1. Beethoven. 2. Chopin. 3. Handel. 4. Bull (_Taurus_). 5. Rossini. 6. +Thomas. 7. Albani. 8. Crotch. 9. Lasso. 10. Mason. 11. Potter. 12. +Purcell. 13. Fiddle. 14. Spinet. 15. Flute. 16. Bugle. 17. Trumpet. 18. +Bagpipes. 19. Kettle-drums. 20. Fife. 21. Horn. 22. Lyre. 23. +Harpsichord. + + * * * * * + +No. 29. + +1. Burns. 2. Scott. 3. Herbert. 4. Willis. 5. Spenser. 6. White. 7. +Dryden. 8. Hemans. 9. Pope. 10. Goldsmith. 11. Cowper. 12. Southey. + + * * * * * + +Not Good Form. + +Care for what one says ought always to be exercised, without regard to +whether or not it may be heard by those for whom it is not intended. +Here is a story that emphasizes this lesson: + +An officer of the Law Division of the New York Custom-house walked into +the Collector's office a few days ago, while the Collector was talking +with a tall man, whose back was turned toward the door. + +"What is it?" asked the Collector. "Anything important?" + +"Oh no," returned the officer. "Only another blunder in the long list of +blunders committed by that Secretary of the Treasury of ours." The tall +man laughed. + +"Mr. Blank," said the Collector, "let me introduce you to Mr. Carlisle, +Secretary of the Treasury." + +The Secretary turned, still laughing, and shook the hand of the law +officer, who, red in the face, stammered a half-heard apology--and got +out as quickly as possible. + + * * * * * + +A Good Amateur Newspaper. + +The _Scribbler_ has completed its first year, and it makes quite an +unnecessary apology for its past shortcomings. This latter is really the +poorest thing about its past--this apology. Many a public speaker, after +giving a good address, mars it by apologizing for it. The _Scribbler_ +has done well, and of course will do better. Its address is: Easton, +Pa., and its manager, Norman E. Hart. You should see a copy. It is neat +and Interesting. + + * * * * * + +Questions and Answers. + +John C. Cone, 519 South Seventh Street, Hamilton, O., wants to receive +sample copies of amateur newspapers. The Table has not published a +description of the badge, dear Sir Sidney Mulhall, and has now none in +stock. Evelyn T. Jones: Yes, the Table is glad to receive descriptions +of places, industries, outings, etc., and asks correspondents to try to +see how excellent they can make such morsels--correct grammar and +spelling, avoidance of unnecessary words, and careful selection of +descriptive adjectives. Letters from foreign places, if filled with +information of general interest, are published when space permits. Good +"Kinks" will be published, but new ideas are wanted, not merely new +material in old forms. + +Arthur J. Johnston, Box 136, Dartmouth, N. S., says, "I am much +interested in politics, and would like to correspond with members of the +Table, especially those living in Canada, on that subject." Cyrus +Williston, Vernon, N. Y., wants to hear from members of the Order, any +subject, and Louis O. Brosie, 3405 Butler Street, Pittsburg. Pa., has +some quite old numbers of HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE which he does not want. +He mentions the fact upon seeing inquiries in this column for these old +copies, no longer in the publishers' stock. Aaron Spong asks where he +can find a collection of college songs. There are several to be had. Ask +for _Carmina Princetonia_; _Columbia College Song-Book_; _Harvard +College Song-Book_. Go to your bookseller or to a music-store. Any +dealer can get collections for you upon order, but Chicago dealers will +have them in stock without doubt. + +Henry F. French asks for information concerning the earliest national +books. The Pentateuch is the oldest of books. In Greece the most ancient +writings are Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, date about 900 B.C. In Latin, +Plautus wrote his comedies 200 B.C. The first British author was Gildas, +500 A.D., who wrote a _Conquest of Britain_. At the same date Venan +Fortunatus, in France, wrote the first work of that country--a book of +Latin poetry. The Koran is the earliest work of any Arabian, Persian, or +Turk. It was written A.D. 600. The first of Germany's literature was +Walafred Strabo's book of poems and theology, 841 A.D. In Russia, +Yaroslaff in the year 1000 A.D., compiled a code of laws, while Monez +(1100 A.D.) is the first Portuguese author. The other countries are +represented as follows: Italy, Accursius, writer of jurisprudence, +1182-1260 A.D.; Sweden, Eric Olai, author of _A History of the Goths and +Swedes_, 1400 A.D.; Poland, Vinc Kadlubek, writer of a history of +Poland, 1226 A.D. Arvine names Benjamin Thompson our "pioneer in +letters." He was called "ye renowned poet of New England, learned +schoolmaster and physician." + + + + +[Illustration: STAMPS] + + This department is conducted in the interest of stamp and coin + collectors, and the Editor will be pleased to answer any question + on these subjects so far as possible. Correspondents should address + Editor Stamp Department. + + +Specialization has led to the cataloguing of innumerable minute +varieties in perforations, water-marks, papers, shades, and impressions +from more or less worn or retouched plates, to say nothing of "freaks." +The result has been the immense catalogues with which we are all so +familiar, and albums containing a multitude of spaces for stamps which +not one collector in a thousand can ever expect to fill. This has led to +a reaction, and the average collector will hereafter not be puzzled by +minute varieties of no interest to any one except the small group of +rich men in each country to whom they are due. These advanced collectors +do not use printed albums, and special catalogues can easily be made for +them. All the large dealers hereafter will make albums and catalogues +which the average collector will have a chance of filling up at +reasonable rates. + +Unique or very rare stamps in such albums will probably be represented +by photographs of the costly originals. + + W. MACFARLANE.--The 2c. U.S. Revenues are extremely common, hence + have no value. + + S. MANNING.--The old U.S. Special Delivery stamps are worth 15c. + each, used. The yellow one will probably prove to be the scarcest. + + H. M. CROSSMAN.--The 1892 Columbian half-dollar can be bought for + 75c. The 1893 one is in common use. The Columbian quarter is worth + $1.75. + + H. H. C.--The ordinary U.S. quarter for 1853 with rays on the + reverse can be bought for 35c. The rare variety of the same date + for $3.50. + + F. M., JUN.--The 50c. Mortgage U.S. Revenue is worth 5c.; the 50c. + Entry of Goods and Conveyance, 1c. each: the $1 Inland Exchange, + 1c. These prices are for perforated stamps; if unperforated they + are worth $1 each upward. + + WILL KELSEY.--All sheets of the current issue have one outside row + of stamps unperforated on one side, and all the 1c., 2c., etc., + have two rows of stamps unperforated on one side. Such partly + perforated stamps have no special value. The 1875 reprint of the + 1869 3c. stamp is worth $15 unused. This reprint can be known by + the snow-white paper on which it is printed. Many of the 1869 + stamps show no signs of grilling, owing to a very light pressure of + the grills. Such stamps have no greater value than the grilled + ones. + + NYACK.--I do not know what the stamped paper made for use in the + American colonies is worth. I know of one copy which was bought by + the holder for $50. There were no adhesive stamps made for the 1765 + stamp act. + + T. A. WESSMAN.--It is impossible to pass any opinion on rare + Chinese coins without seeing a rubbing. They are considered as + simple curios here, and can be bought very cheap if the dealer has + any. + + A. F. BERLIN.--Apply to any of the larger dealers for price. + + A. B. C.--My remarks applied to Spanish stamps only. The West + Australian cancelled stamps with punched holes were those issued by + the colonial authorities to the imperial (_i.e._, Great Britain) + authorities for official use. Most of these imperial officials were + in charge of the convict camps in West Australia, and doubtless + some of the stamps were given by them to prisoners in their charge, + as it seems fairly well established that some letters from + prisoners were pre-paid by punched stamps. + + C. S. SMITH.--Dealers offer U.S. dollars of 1800 for $2; + half-dollar 1811, 1812, 1818, seventy-five cents each. + + C. RAWSON, 3421 North Nineteenth Street, Philadelphia, Pa., wishes + to exchange stamps. + + H. D. GRAHAM.--"Local" stamps are those used by postmasters and by + private firms who carried letters in competition with the U.S. + mails. They have all been suppressed by the U.S. government. The + _early_ Boyd's Express, Blood & Co.'s, Honour City Post, etc., are + very scarce. Hussey's Post and the later Boyd's Express are very + common. Many have been reprinted, and others have been + counterfeited. + + N. P. COPPEDGE.--The English penny is quite a common coin. It has + no value in this country, and in England can be bought for + threepence. + + PHILATUS. + + + + +[Illustration: IVORY SOAP] + +"Health is the vital principle of bliss, and exercise, of health." + + No health--there is no hope of bliss, + No exercise--and health soon flies, + No bath with Ivory Soap--you miss + The best results of exercise. + +Copyright, 1896, by The Procter & Gamble Co., Cin'ti. + + + + +[Illustration] + +GOLD RINGS FREE! + +We will give one half-round Ring, =18k Rolled Gold= plate & =warranted= to +anyone who will sell 1 doz. Indestructible Lamp Wicks (need no trimming) +among friends at 10cts. each. Write us and we will mail you the =Wicks=. +You sell them and send us the money and we will mail you the Ring. + +STAR CHEMICAL CO., Box 435, Centerbrook, Conn. + + + + +A TRIP ABROAD, + +a Piano, Phonograph Bicycle, Solid Gold Watch, and many other unheard-of +opportunities, free for the asking, to every young person. Get all +information by sending your address (no stamp required) to + +CHASE & CO., No. 1 Madison Ave., New York City. + + + + +[Illustration] + +EARN A GOLD WATCH! + +We wish to introduce our =Teas and Baking Powder=. Sell 50 lbs. to earn a +=Waltham Gold Watch and Chain=; 25 lbs. for a =Silver Watch and Chain=; 10 +lbs. for a =Gold Ring=; 50 lbs. for a =Decorated Dinner Set=; 75 lbs. +for a =Bicycle=. Write for a Catalog and Order Blank to Dept. I + +W. G. BAKER, + +Springfield, Mass. + + + + +[Illustration: THOMPSON'S EYE WATER] + + + + +HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE SERIES + +_Illustrated. Post 8vo, Cloth. $1.25 per volume._ + + =The Mystery of Abel Forefinger.= By WILLIAM DRYSDALE. + + =Raftmates.--Canoemates.--Campmates.--Dorymates.= By KIRK MUNROE. + + =Young Lucretia=, and Other Stories. By MARY E. WILKINS. + + =The Mate of the "Mary Ann."--Flying Hill Farm.= By SOPHIE SWETT. + + =A Boy's Town.= By W. D. HOWELLS. + + =The Midnight Warning=, etc. By EDWARD H. HOUSE. + + =The Moon Prince=, and Other Nabobs. By RICHARD KENDALL MUNKITTRICK. + + =Diego Pinzon.= By JOHN RUSSELL CORYELL. + + =Phil and the Baby, and False Witness.= Two Stories. By LUCY C. + LILLIE. + +_Illustrated. Square 16mo, Cloth, $1.00 per volume._ + + =Lucy C. Lillie.=--THE HOUSEHOLD OF GLEN HOLLY.--THE COLONEL'S + MONEY.--MILDRED'S BARGAIN, etc.--NAN.--ROLF HOUSE.--JO'S + OPPORTUNITY.--THE STORY OF MUSIC AND MUSICIANS. + + =James Otis.=--SILENT PETE.--TOBY TYLER.--TIM AND TIP.--MR. STUBBS'S + BROTHER.--LEFT BEHIND.--RAISING THE "PEARL." + + =David Ker.=--THE LOST CITY.--INTO UNKNOWN SEAS. + + =William Black.=--THE FOUR MACNICOLS. + + =Kirk Munroe.=--CHRYSTAL, JACK & CO., and DELTA BIXBY.--DERRICK + STERLING.--WAKULLA.--THE FLAMINGO FEATHER. + + =John Habberton.=--WHO WAS PAUL GRAYSON? + + =Ernest Ingersoll.=--THE ICE QUEEN. + + =W. O. Stoddard.=--THE TALKING LEAVES.--TWO ARROWS.--THE RED MUSTANG. + + =Mrs. W. J. Hays.=--PRINCE LAZYBONES, etc. + + =G. C. Eggleston.=--STRANGE STORIES FROM HISTORY. + + =George B. Perry.=--UNCLE PETER'S TRUST. + + =Sophie Swett.=--CAPTAIN POLLY. + + =W. L. Alden.=--A NEW ROBINSON CRUSOE.--THE ADVENTURES OF JIMMY + BROWN.--THE CRUISE OF THE CANOE CLUB.--THE CRUISE OF THE + "GHOST."--THE MORAL PIRATES. + + * * * * * + +HARPER & BROTHERS, Publishers, New York + + + + +LOST HIS BEARINGS. + +[Illustration: "BEGINS TO WORK KIND OF HARD. GUESS I'LL STOP AND LOOK +INTO HER."] + +[Illustration: "I'LL FIX THAT IN JUST A MINUTE."] + +[Illustration: OSTRICH (_sotto voce._). "SO WILL I."] + +[Illustration: "GREAT SCOTT! WHERE HAVE THOSE BEARINGS GONE TO?"] + + * * * * * + +A MATTER OF LETTERS. + +"I'm afraid you're a tease," said the old farmer to Aleck. + +"I may be a tease," said Aleck, "but I'm not one of the jays." + + * * * * * + +FULLY OCCUPIED. + +"Well, Charlie," said his aunt, as she met him on his return from the +summer hotel, "what did you do with yourself all summer?" + +"Oh, I was losin' my hat about half the time," said Charlie. + +"Indeed! And what did you do the other half?" + +"Oh, I spent that lookin' for my hat." + + * * * * * + +It is a hard matter to get the better of, or at least to convince, an +Irishman in an argument that you are right. Not long ago, in one of the +cabins of a coast-line steamer, the conversation turned round to +astronomy. A gentleman observed that the sun made a revolution around +the earth, and what more wonderful thing than that could be found in +astronomy? This somewhat amused the other passengers, but their laughter +developed into great hilarity when an Irishman near by, exclaimed: + +"That's not so! The sun, I am certain, does not revolute the earth!" + +"But," said the gentleman, "where does it come from when it rises in the +east, and where does it go when it sets in the west? It has no other +thing to do but to pass under the earth and come up again." + +"Arrah, now, that's plain enough. Shure yer shouldn't be puzzled at +that. If the sun goes from the east to the west, it returns the same +way, and the only reason yer don't see it is because it comes back at +night-toime." + + * * * * * + +A SLIGHT DIFFERENCE. + +"Jimmie, you wasted your breath talking to old Mr. Wilbur this morning. +He's as deaf as a post." + +"I know that," said Jimmie, with a smile, "but posts don't have ten-cent +pieces in their pockets to give little boys, and Mr. Wilbur does." + + * * * * * + +"Is this a sleeping-car, papa?" + +"Yes, Johnny." + +"Does it travel all night?" + +"Yes." + +"Humph! Must do all its sleeping in the day-time." + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: GETTING A FEW POINTS IN NATURAL HISTORY.] + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Harper's Round Table, September 15, +1896, by Various + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 59335 *** |