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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 59467 ***
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: HARPER'S ROUND TABLE]
+
+Copyright, 1896, by HARPER & BROTHERS. All Rights Reserved.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+PUBLISHED WEEKLY. NEW YORK, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1896. FIVE CENTS A
+COPY.
+
+VOL. XVII.--NO. 885. TWO DOLLARS A YEAR.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE LOST HOMER.
+
+BY WEBB DONNELL.
+
+
+"Not back yet, Ned?" The tone hardly indicated that Mrs. Sinclair
+expected an affirmative answer. The disappointed look on Ned's face told
+its own woful tale.
+
+"No, mother," said Ned, looking out of the window upon the valley
+sloping to the Hudson, a quarter of a mile away. "No, he isn't back yet,
+and I've given up all hope that he ever will come back."
+
+Ned drummed dismally on the window-pane before he went on. "If Helen
+'tossed' Fleetwing a hundred miles out at sea, the pigeon would have
+been here before dark that day, for the steamer sailed at noon."
+
+"Yes, one would think so," assented Mrs. Sinclair.
+
+"Now it's the third day," went on the boy at the window, disconsolately.
+"Helen either forgot to set the bird free until the steamer was too far
+out for him to be able to fly back, or Fleetwing has been shot by a
+pot-hunter. When can we hear from Helen, mother?"
+
+"Well, the steamer is due at Queenstown next Friday," said Mrs.
+Sinclair, "Then it will be six or seven days before her letter can get
+back to us. I guess we will have to wait ten days longer, Neddie; but
+I'm just as sorry as I can be about Fleetwing, dear."
+
+"Yes, mother," said Ned, brightening at the sympathy.
+
+"And we'll hope for the best," went on Mrs. Sinclair. "You know,
+homing-pigeons have returned to their lofts after weeks of absence. We
+won't give up Fleetwing till we hear from Helen, anyway."
+
+"I know that some homers are out a long time from the loft and then get
+back all right," said Ned, "but Fleetwing always attends strictly to
+business. You know, he came straight home from the World's Fair flight
+from Chicago, more than a thousand miles."
+
+Ned Sinclair's hobby--most boys of fifteen have one or more--was
+homing-pigeons. He had become interested in the subject through a visit
+to a pigeon-loving uncle, who taught him the secrets of caring for
+pigeons, homing and training them to make longer and still longer
+flights to their loft from far-away points.
+
+Ned's father had built for him a splendid loft in the chamber of the
+stable, with a wire-covered "flight" stretching out over the green grass
+at the side. Great pains had been taken in stocking the loft to get
+only the best "strains" of homers, and the result appeared in the speedy
+return of almost every bird that Ned had ever sent away to be liberated.
+
+Very often a bird would be intrusted to a friend going upon a journey,
+with a request that it be liberated at a certain hour and place.
+
+Mr. Sinclair, too, had almost always taken a bird or two with him when
+he went down to New York city on business, a hundred miles from home. It
+had frequently happened that in an hour after being liberated from the
+Grand Central Station the swift little homer would trip the
+alighting-board at his own loft window, far up the Hudson, and so ring
+the little electric bell that in the house announced a pigeon's arrival
+home.
+
+Then, later on, Ned had joined a Homing-pigeon Club in a near-by city,
+and successively from the two-hundred, the three-hundred, and the
+five-hundred mile "stations" his homers had flown home, making excellent
+records for speed.
+
+While the record made in the World's Fair flight was not at all
+noteworthy for speed, Ned's birds did make the long distance, and
+returned to their loft, though thoroughly tired out--something that
+could not be said of many Eastern lofts that sent birds to Chicago for
+that contest.
+
+A few days before, Ned's sister Helen had started with a party of
+friends for a trip through Europe. Ned had proposed that she take one of
+his homers a hundred miles out to sea, then send a message back to them
+from the steamer. He had selected the most reliable pigeon in the loft,
+and had packed it carefully in a light basket. Then he had waited
+patiently on the day the steamer sailed from New York for the tinkle of
+the little bell that should tell of its return home.
+
+Again and again he visited the loft, thinking the bell might have rung
+in his absence from the house, but always to return disappointed. It was
+not until Helen's hastily scribbled note from Queenstown arrived that
+any clew to the mystery was given.
+
+"Tell Ned," the note ran, "how sorry I am that I could not follow out
+his directions about the pigeon. Beth was taken frightfully seasick
+before we were down the bay, and I was so anxiously attending to her for
+some hours that I entirely forgot about liberating Fleetwing and sending
+a message home. When I did have a chance to think about it the steward
+said we were two hundred and fifty miles out. Then I didn't know what to
+do. I couldn't carry a homing-pigeon all over Europe with me, and I
+hesitated about liberating it so far out for fear it might not reach
+land, especially as the weather was not very clear. I had to decide
+quickly, and so concluded the best thing to do was to set Fleetwing
+free, but not to hamper him at all with a message tied to his flight
+feathers. I 'tossed' the little fellow from the deck, and he went
+straight up into the air, circled a moment, and then flew away
+America-ward. I _do_ hope he got home safely."
+
+"That explains it," said Ned. "Probably a thick fog came up, and
+Fleetwing lost his way, and got exhausted before he could get to land.
+That's the end of _that_ bird," he concluded, dismally.
+
+But Ned was not altogether correct in his conclusions, though a fog did
+gather over the sea soon after Fleetwing turned his breast landward, and
+the bird did become nearly exhausted before he finally reached the
+shore. But reach it he did, after a brave struggle in the air, and then
+he did what exhausted homing-pigeons will sometimes do. He alighted at a
+strange pigeon-loft in one of the towns above New York city. The sight
+of other pigeons, homers like himself, and his own utterly wearied
+condition, made him very willing to stop for rest, despite his strongly
+rooted homing instinct. Then, as has been the case with many another of
+his race, the charms of new comradeship caused him to linger in the new
+quarters.
+
+Two mornings later a man entered this loft and caught a half-dozen of
+the pigeons, Fleetwing among the number. The man evidently did not keep
+homing-pigeons for the love of it, since he did not know his birds by
+sight, but took those that came first to hand. He packed the pigeons
+carefully in a hamper, carried them out to the street, where a carriage
+was in waiting, and was driven to the railway station.
+
+A few hours later, with the hamper of homing-pigeons still beside him,
+he went on board a great transatlantic steamship in New York and sailed
+for Europe.
+
+Two weeks later, while Ned Sinclair was hunting for a tennis-ball in the
+bottom of the hall closet, he heard the pigeon bell ring loud and clear.
+He started suddenly.
+
+"What's that?" He said to himself, excitedly. "There's no pigeon out of
+the 'flight'!"
+
+He hurried out to the loft, tennis and all else but pigeons banished
+wholly from his mind.
+
+In the loft, pecking in a quite-at-home way at a pan of split-pease and
+hemp seed was Fleetwing, the lost homer. Ned knew him instantly.
+
+"Where under the sun--" he began, excitedly, but stopped on catching
+sight of the bird's wing and tail feathers. They certainly had something
+most unusual attached to them.
+
+Ned caught the pigeon and investigated the mystery. The quills of two of
+the flight feathers of each wing, and of three of the tail feathers, had
+bits of thin oil-silk bound firmly about them, and these were tied with
+strong silk threads.
+
+It took but a moment to cut the thread and to unroll the silk from one
+of the quills. Within were three small stones, that flashed and sparkled
+in the light. The other feathers had similar revelations to make.
+
+Here was an incident quite new to the homing-pigeon fancy. As a rule, it
+may be said, homing-pigeons do not go flying about the country for weeks
+at a time, finally returning to their own lofts loaded with what even to
+the inexpert eye appeared marvellously like diamonds. The stones had not
+yet been cut as for setting, but their quality appeared even in their
+unfinished state.
+
+It is small wonder that Ned was highly excited over the occurrence. His
+delight at the safe return of his favorite homer, that he had given up
+for lost, was quite over-balanced by his astonishment at the treasures
+he had brought back.
+
+He hurried from the loft to find his father and mother to show them the
+stones. Very soon every member of the family was very nearly as excited
+over the matter as was Ned.
+
+"If it were a strange homer I should think it might be a case of
+attempted smuggling," said Mr. Sinclair, remembering that the most
+persistent and ingenious attempts are being made constantly to get
+diamonds into the United States without payment of the high import duty,
+"but that Fleetwing should become engaged in any such disreputable work
+is perfectly inexplicable!" he continued, with a laugh.
+
+"Are you sure it _is_ Fleetwing, Ned?" asked Mrs. Sinclair.
+
+"I'm certain sure of that, mother," said Ned, fingering the pieces of
+oil-silk. "I should know him anywhere; but to be perfectly certain about
+it, I examined his seamless leg-band, and it has his loft number and my
+initials."
+
+As he spoke, smoothing out the pieces of silk in his fingers, Ned
+suddenly started, and held one piece up to the light. It had a line of
+writing across it that could be deciphered readily.
+
+"Take at once to No. -- L---- Street," the line read.
+
+Mr. Sinclair had already planned to go to New York city on business the
+following day. Ho took the stones and the bits of oil-silk with him.
+
+Some hours later an official of the United States Treasury Department
+was looking them over most intently. He touched a button beside his
+desk, and a messenger appeared.
+
+"Ask Mr. Armstrong to come here a moment," he said.
+
+When the expert appeared, the official handed the stones to him without
+a word.
+
+"They are diamonds of exceptionally fine quality," said Mr. Armstrong,
+after a moment's examination.
+
+"We shall have to condemn the property, Mr. Sinclair," said the Treasury
+official, "as there can be no doubt that an attempt was being made to
+smuggle them into the country. In fact, we had already discovered that
+homing-pigeons were being used in this way, the birds being carried to
+Europe, then brought back and liberated, with their burden of diamonds,
+before reaching Quarantine. But how on earth your boy's homer became
+pressed into this service," continued the official, "I can't conceive.
+He deserves a medal, at any rate," he went on, "for flying straight to
+his own loft with the diamonds."
+
+The Treasury official picked up the bits of oil-silk.
+
+"I feel quite hopeful," he said, "that with this clew we may be able to
+break up this particular attempt to rob Uncle Sam of his just dues."
+
+Ned was a very interested listener to the story his father had to tell
+that night, and an exceedingly interested reader, a little later on, of
+a letter that came from the national Treasury Department, enclosing a
+handsome sum of money as his share of the value of the diamonds, since
+Ned--or Ned's pigeon--stood in the place of the "informer," who is given
+a generous share of the value that is thus turned in to the government
+through his efforts.
+
+The money made Ned's eyes sparkle. "Here's a pony, a dog-cart, and a
+russet-leather harness," he shouted; and then, with a fine realization
+of the eternal fitness of things, he rushed off to give Fleetwing an
+extra dish of hemp seed.
+
+
+
+
+PET SQUIRRELS.
+
+BY JAMES STEELE.
+
+
+The five varieties of squirrels that are found in North America are
+commonly known as the red squirrel, the gray, the flying, the striped
+squirrel or chipmonk, and the fox and black squirrels. These last two
+are extremely rare, and are found only in the West. In the Middle and
+Eastern States the red squirrel is the most abundant. He is to be seen
+almost everywhere in the woods, and his noisy impudent call, which has
+earned him the name of _chickaree_, is one of the most familiar sounds
+in the woods and trees along the road-side. The larger and shyer gray
+squirrel, although still abundant, is not so numerous or so often seen
+as the red squirrel, and the flyers are still more rare. The chipmonk
+finds his home among the stone walls and along the fences; he has little
+value as a pet. The red and gray are easily caught and tamed, but the
+flying-squirrel makes the best pet of all.
+
+The red squirrel lives in a hole in the ground, or the hollow of a tree,
+and both he and the chipmonk can be caught in an ordinary box-trap
+placed upon the ground near their familiar haunts. They are usually easy
+victims.
+
+The gray squirrel, who lives in a nest that he builds himself, is much
+more wary than the red squirrel or the chipmonk. The trap for him should
+be set in his runway on the ground, or in the branches of the tree which
+he frequents.
+
+The flying-squirrel lives sometimes, like the chickaree, in a hole in a
+dead limb, or he often takes the old abandoned nest of a gray squirrel
+for his home, lining it with very much softer material than the former
+occupant used. But most frequently he lives in the hollow of some limb.
+While he does not really fly, in the time sense of the word, the curious
+parachutelike folds of skin extending from the fore to the hind legs
+enable him to make very long leaps, sometimes a distance of forty feet
+from one tree to another, although this is unusual. He is the brightest
+and most interesting of all the squirrels, and when once tamed he makes
+the most affectionate and loyal pet.
+
+A good way to catch a flying-squirrel that lives in a hollow
+limb--usually an old woodpecker's hole--is to take a stocking, put it
+over the hole, and then have some one beat with a stick upon the limb
+below. Presently the little fellow will come plunging out, and, of
+course, into the stocking, where he can be tied up, carried home, and
+emptied, as it were, into the cage.
+
+To tame a squirrel is no easy matter, especially if he is a very old
+one. His bite is very severe, but when once tamed he can be handled with
+impunity so long as he is not hurt.
+
+To teach a squirrel to become accustomed to handling, however, requires
+some patience. Every time he is fed it is well to make a little clucking
+sound, or something he will recognize as a friendly call meaning
+feeding-time. After having tamed him so that he will eat while you are
+watching him, which he will sometimes do in one or two days, get him
+accustomed to having your hand around the cage. Then lasso or noose him
+around his body with a small cord, and take him out of the cage without
+lifting him by the cord. Take care, for he will bite and sink his little
+teeth almost through the bone of your finger if he has the chance.
+
+Now take a glove that has been stuffed full of cotton, and stroke him
+gently with it. If he attempts to bite, which he is almost certain to
+do, give him a little tweak. Repeat this as often as he tries to bite,
+and he will soon learn that if he sits still he is all right. Now feed
+him from the thick glove. In a surprisingly short time he will give up
+all idea of biting, and you can stroke him or pick him up with your
+hand, and carry him about in your pocket. He will grow wonderfully
+attached to you, and when once tamed thoroughly he will never run away;
+although he may pay short visits to his mates, he will return to you.
+But pray remember this, that his deadly enemy is the cat.
+
+His cage should be made as much as possible of metal, and kept
+scrupulously clean. It should be provided with an exercising wheel, or
+treadmill, although when a squirrel is perfectly tame and permitted to
+run about he will get all the exercise he needs on his little excursions
+about the house or up in the trees.
+
+Never give a squirrel any seasoned cake or soft bread to eat. Nuts,
+grains, such as dried corn, and now and then a bit of apple, are enough
+for him, and he should always have access to plenty of fresh, clean
+water. Do not make the mistake of supposing that when your squirrel has
+become on sufficiently good terms with you to be permitted to take
+little trips among his old haunts he will forage for himself. When he
+once becomes accustomed to being fed he speedily forgets how to find
+food for himself in the natural way.
+
+Squirrels are remarkably intelligent, and a whole book might be written
+about them and their habits, after the manner in which Mr. Frank
+Buckland wrote his celebrated volume about rats. A little incident that
+happened to one of my own pet squirrels shows how intelligent they are,
+and how appreciative of kindness. A little flyer that was seated on the
+window-sill of an upper-story room suddenly disappeared. Thinking he had
+gone out upon the roof, I called him in the usual way repeatedly, but no
+squirrel came.
+
+I searched for him for some time, and finally concluded that he had
+decided to take a vacation. Three days after the little fellow had
+disappeared I was sitting with my uncle upon the piazza, when we heard a
+scratching noise, which appeared to come from a tin leader or rain pipe
+that extended from the roof down the corner of the house to a cistern.
+The pipe made a sharp angle at the piazza, and it was from this point
+that the sound seemed to come. As soon as we began to talk the sound
+stopped, to be repeated the moment we became quiet. I tapped the pipe
+gently, and spoke, and the frantic scratching from the inside convinced
+me of the truth at once. It was poor little "Chatters"; and now the
+question was how to get him out.
+
+At last the plan was suggested of removing a section of the pipe and
+lowering a cord, which was done. I shall never forget the sensations I
+felt when I lowered that miniature life-line. Presently I felt a tug,
+and soon, sure enough, I could feel something climbing up. It was
+suggested that it might be a rat, but in a moment a little squirrel's
+head appeared, and "Chatters" gave one leap, landed on my shoulder, and
+then quickly hid himself in my pocket. If any boy spends his summer in
+the country, he will find more pleasure taming these little animals than
+cruelly pursuing them with sling-shot or stones, or shooting them with a
+rifle for the sake of so-called "sport."
+
+
+
+
+THE REBELS DID NOT RUN.
+
+A CUBAN WAR PICTURE.
+
+BY THOMAS R. DAWLEY, JR.
+
+
+Darkness turned to the gray of dawn and revealed the hazy outline of the
+Cuban camp. An expanse of wood and bush and swamp, dotted here and there
+with lofty palms. A labyrinth of winding paths guarded by impenetrable
+thickets. Within an open space, far within, scattered with the palm-leaf
+tents of the Cuban patriots, smouldered the camp-fires.
+
+[Illustration: A GAUNT PEASANT MOUNTED ON A SHAGGY PONY.]
+
+Maceo had crossed the Trocha! The word spread through the rebel camp,
+and the camp bestirred itself. A gaunt peasant, mounted on a shag-headed
+pony, brought the news, and it was voiced from mouth to mouth. The gray
+fog lifted slowly. Through the dim haze the rebels saw the gaunt peasant
+on his shag-headed pony as though fastened there.
+
+Maceo had crossed the Trocha! The camp was impatient to hear the rest.
+Nearly two months had passed since the rebel general had gone with his
+army down into Pinar del Rio to fulfil his promise of marching from one
+end of Cuba to the other. The Spaniards drew a line across a narrow part
+of the island, and put their soldiers there, and called it the Trocha.
+They said they had Maceo entrapped. He never could pass the Trocha.
+
+The rebels had waited patiently, longingly, for the chief's return.
+Morning after morning they had huddled over their fires, or those who
+had blankets remained swathed in them until the sun came out and warmed
+the steaming earth. Then the rebels foraged. They chewed sugar-cane for
+breakfast, and stewed beef and sweet-potatoes for dinner. They begged
+cigarettes from their comrades, and there were many who went without.
+The Spaniards had not been after them for days, for they had gone off to
+hold the Trocha or chase Maceo down in Pinar del Rio.
+
+Occasionally the Havana papers found their way into the camp. They
+brought news always discouraging. Maceo was continually fleeing before
+the valor of Spanish arms. He would certainly be forced to throw himself
+against the Trocha, where disastrous defeat awaited him. Once a battle
+was fought, and, according to the papers, Maceo had left six hundred of
+their comrades on the field. The camp doubted. A giant mulatto, who had
+seen eight years' service in the last war, said the Spaniards lied! They
+always lied!
+
+Thus down the labyrinth of winding paths, through wood and bush and
+swamp, the rebel camp had waited. And now Maceo had crossed the Trocha!
+The peasant brought the news, and the peasant did not lie.
+
+The morning mists rolled up and away. The camp-fires crackled with a new
+vigor as their smoke followed the mists. The air was cool and crisp, for
+Cuban winters know cold nights and mornings. Ill-clad rebels gathered
+around the fires, while others refused to unwind themselves from
+tattered blankets captured in the last raid. They looked over the fires
+and through the smoke. The gaunt peasant was still there. He was big and
+bony. He looked like a giant on the little dingy horse; his bones were
+so big, and the horse was so little. And it seemed that his bones swung
+on hinges, well oiled. He gesticulated wildly. His arms went up and
+down, and his body turned from side to side. A rebel chief, tall and
+dignified, with grizzled mustaches, stood by his brown tent and listened
+carefully to every word he said.
+
+Maceo had crossed the Trocha! The peasant did not lie. Once more he
+threw out his arms wildly. Then he brought both palms down upon the
+pommel of his saddle, and straightening his long arms, hunched his
+shoulders upon them and rested there. He had finished.
+
+The chief's whistle sounded through the camp. The rebel band was happy.
+It had been in the swamp so long. It was impatient. It longed for a
+move; anything for a move, and the chief's whistle meant that it was
+going to move now.
+
+The sun warmed the earth, and the camp rose. There was a hurrying to and
+fro, a sound of cracking twigs and numerous voices. Sorry-looking nags
+were pulled away from scattered heaps of cane-top fodder bordering the
+camp, over which they had been chewing and dreaming all night.
+
+A mule which did not propose to budge was called a rude name. Cubans are
+not violent. They are not addicted to using harsh words. The Cuban
+simply tugged at the mule's long halter-rope, called him by his wrong
+name, turned and tugged again. The mule was obdurate. A half-naked black
+spanked the animal suddenly. The mule relented and stepped quickly
+forward, and the Cuban fell headlong. The half-naked black grinned with
+a scared expression; another roared. The fallen rebel picked himself up,
+and laughed too.
+
+There was a jingling of bridle-bits and a rustling of saddle-gear; a cry
+of impatience as a girth broke in the attempt to tighten it. A little
+Major yelled an order to a distant subaltern. A Captain demanded his
+spurs from an orderly; another his gun. The negro element worked
+mechanically and said little.
+
+The last rope was coiled, the last buckle tightened, and the men flung
+themselves astride their saddles.
+
+The rebel band was moving.
+
+Two scouts with long machetes at their sides and carbines ready resting
+upon their thighs galloped down the path. Others followed. They wound in
+and around and through the wooded expanse. The path forked and twined
+and forked again, leaving little islands of dense brush and scrubby
+trees. The scouts followed these twining paths, each in his own way,
+and the rebel band came scurrying on behind.
+
+The many twining paths merged into a grove of guava-trees, and were lost
+in the dry matted grass. Out came the scouts from between the islands of
+brush. Into the guava grove they spurred their horses, bending here and
+dodging there to escape the low branches, and out upon the open they
+halted.
+
+A long savanna spread before them. A scout urged his horse out upon the
+plain, and he was followed by another. The two galloped to the right and
+rose on a ridge overlooking a stretch of country beyond. There they
+paused; and as one, bending in his saddle, peered into the distance, the
+other shielded his eyes and looked too. Then they wheeled and rode up
+and down the ridge. Nothing! Nothing but cane-fields, palm-trees, and a
+tall chimney in the distance.
+
+The halted ones advanced. In a reeling, waving line they came sweeping
+over the plain. They wheeled to the left and they wheeled to the right,
+and as the plain narrowed they wheeled together again, and plunged into
+a road through a broad field of cane bearing the marks of repeated
+forages.
+
+Led by the tall grizzly chief, the rank and file emerged from the guava
+grove and scurried into one long, ragged, irregular column aiming
+straight for the road.
+
+The road aimed for the tall chimney.
+
+The grizzly chief could see his advance galloping on ahead, and his rank
+and file came swinging on behind. The cane-field changed from green to
+brown and black. It had been burned. Beneath the tall chimney could be
+discerned rootless walls, charred riblike rafters, and broken sheds
+grinning between dark green mango-trees.
+
+Suddenly, where the road seemed to end between the mango-trees and a
+gray wall, appeared two horsemen. The gallop of the advance changed to a
+walk. It moved cautiously. Two little puffs of smoke and the crack of
+distant rifles told that the enemy was there. The rebel band halted, and
+the advance-guard came swinging back down the road.
+
+A Lieutenant touched his hat and said, "Orders, my chief?"
+
+"Tell them to spread out and reconnoitre! Maceo has crossed the Trocha,
+and we must advance to meet him."
+
+The Lieutenant spurred ahead and met the flying guard. It stopped. The
+men looked over their shoulders worriedly as the Lieutenant delivered
+his message.
+
+"Maceo has crossed the Trocha." The words were like magic, and the men
+turned and urged their horses into the burned field. The charred and
+rotten cane broke beneath the horses' hoofs as they made a wide circle,
+with the tall chimney for a centre. The horsemen at the end of the road
+disappeared.
+
+The rebel band advanced. Again the horsemen appeared at the top of the
+road--two, four, six, eight, dozens of them. In rapid succession they
+rode out from the gray walls and dark mango-trees. There was another
+crack of rifles and puffs of blue smoke.
+
+"Remingtons!" exclaimed the chief, as the advance-guard cautiously
+halted in the wide circle which it had mapped out for itself. "A local
+guerilla force!" And raising himself in his stirrups, the grizzly chief
+turned to his men, and flourishing his long blade, shouted: "Scatter
+out! Advance, and let them have it!"
+
+To the sound of thumping hoofs and snapping canes the rank and file of
+the rebel band went plunging through the field.
+
+The guerrilleros drew up in one serried rank just where the ground
+sloped into the cane-fields. They would meet the on-coming storm. They
+knew the rebels would run; they always ran. And they raised their loaded
+carbines and fired. As the smoke cleared away they saw a wide circle of
+yelling rebels and their horses dashing through the cane. They stuffed
+cartridges into their carbines and fired again.
+
+Their shots were answered. They saw the puffs of smoke, they heard the
+"ping! ping!" of rebel Winchesters, and they saw the circle growing
+smaller as the horses grew larger. It seemed that they were monsters as
+they reared above the cane, crushing it down with their heavy hoofs and
+breasts. They saw gleaming steel flashing high in the sunlight, and they
+heard the rebel cry, "Á la machete!"
+
+"Crack! crack!" rang out the Spanish Remingtons. "Ping! ping!" answered
+the rebel Winchesters, and a Spaniard cried, "I'm hurt!" as he swayed
+from his saddle. A comrade caught him and swung him back, and the
+serried rank could stand it no longer. It gave way--broke and ran.
+Helter-skelter by the ruined buildings, through the yard, scampered the
+frightened ponies. Down by a gaping broken wall the road commenced
+again. With loose rein and unguiding bridle the horses reared and
+plunged into one another, jolting the wounded man terribly. His carbine
+clanked on the ground, and he knew his only chance was to hang on.
+
+The fleeing Spaniards heard the rebel yells close behind them, and the
+"ping! ping!" of their Winchesters. "Tack! tack!" the bullets struck the
+gaping corner wall, and a long stretch of road lay before them.
+
+In the distance a church tower, and red tile roofs spread beneath it.
+The sunlight glinted upon them as it never had done before, and to the
+fleeing Spaniards they seemed as though made of gold and silver. Would
+they ever reach the sheltering cover?
+
+And now rang out a fierce, exultant yell. The guerilleros knew that the
+rebels had reached the corner wall. They dug their spurs frantically
+into their horses' sides as they clung closer to their necks.
+
+Again the rebel cry of victory rang out. But the distance was greater,
+and the Spaniards knew that the band was not pursuing.
+
+Maceo had crossed the Trocha! And that was the time the rebels did not
+run.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+THE REASON WHY.
+
+
+  Now the football season's here
+    Our muscles we prepare,
+  And, 'though perhaps it may seem queer,
+    We cultivate our hair.
+
+  We don't do this, you must well know,
+    Because we have to, but
+  We let it sprout and tangle so
+    Because we have to butt.
+
+
+
+
+IN THE OLD HERRICK HOUSE.[1]
+
+[1] Begun in HARPER'S ROUND TABLE No. 879.
+
+BY ELLEN DOUGLAS DELAND.
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+
+"Come, do hurry up, Elizabeth, and promise," urged Valentine. "The time
+is going on, and the aunts will come home and catch us. You must be down
+stairs as if nothing had happened when they do come. Of course I know
+you are not going to give me away. If I had not thought I could depend
+on you pretty well, I should not have come. We were good friends when we
+were here before, and, after all, you are my own sister."
+
+"I know, Val, and I want to help you," said Elizabeth, slowly; "but--"
+
+"But what?"
+
+"It does not seem right to deceive Aunt Caroline."
+
+"Oh, what difference does that make? I am sure you used to deceive her
+enough when you came to this room all the time and had the Brady girls
+here, and everything else. You have changed very much, I think."
+
+"I know I have changed. You see, I am a whole year older, and in a year
+you learn lots of things, and I am sure it is not right to deceive any
+one."
+
+"I do call it a shame," exclaimed Valentine, walking about the room.
+"Here have I come all this distance expecting to find a sister who would
+help me, and now you go and turn your back on me. There is no use
+expecting anything of a girl. There never was one that was worth
+anything but Marjorie. I was going to tell you the whole story, and you
+know you like to hear things."
+
+"Oh, I know I do!" cried poor Elizabeth. "I am just crazy to hear. What
+shall I do about it? I wish I had some one to advise me."
+
+"Come, Elizabeth--there's a good girl! Don't tell, and I will begin
+right away to explain. I know you won't, so I will tell you, anyhow! You
+see, the other day at school--"
+
+"Wait, wait, Val!" interrupted Elizabeth. "I must not hear, for if you
+once tell me I shall have to keep to it, for it would be a bargain; but
+if you don't I can decide later. I am going down stairs to think it
+over."
+
+Valentine, left alone, scarcely knew what to think.
+
+"I am in for it now," he said to himself. "Who ever would have thought
+of that meek little Elizabeth going back on me? I'm in an awful scrape,
+and I have a good mind to run away now, only I might meet Aunt Caroline
+on the doorstep, just as the Brady girls did. No, I have got to stick it
+out, now that I am here, and perhaps after all Elizabeth will come
+around. She is awfully curious to know what it is all about, that is one
+thing, and it may bring her to her senses. It is awfully poky up in this
+room all alone, and I do wish she would come back."
+
+It was an hour and more before she did. Then the door was quietly
+opened, and Elizabeth stood before him.
+
+"Well, you are going to promise now, aren't you?"
+
+"No, Val, I have come to suggest something. If you will come over to one
+of the other rooms and hide, I will help you all I can. Aunt Caroline
+would not find you if you were in one of the other rooms--the one next
+to mine, for instance. Even that does not seem quite right, but it is
+better than being here. I have been thinking it over, and I am sure it
+is not right to have you here when Aunt Caroline told me never to come
+into this room again, and I actually had to go to her desk to steal the
+key. Will you come to one of the other rooms?"
+
+"No. It has got to be this room or none. I might just as well go sit in
+the parlor as be in any room but this. Great Scott! how the fellows will
+laugh!"
+
+"What fellows?"
+
+"Never mind. Do you think I am going to tell you anything, Miss
+Spoilsport, Tattletale, and everything else?"
+
+"Oh, Val, I am so sorry! I do want to help you!" Elizabeth was crying
+now.
+
+"Oh, don't stand there blubbering! Go down and tell auntie all about it.
+How Val came and made you steal the key, and made you open the door, and
+made you do everything else. It was all his fault--oh yes!"
+
+"Val, you are hateful!" cried Elizabeth, drying her eyes. "You know I am
+not that kind of a girl at all. I am sure I want to help you, and I want
+to know dreadfully why you came, but I know if I asked any one but you
+whether I ought to have let you into this room, they would say no. Mrs.
+Loring would, I know."
+
+"And who is Mrs. Loring?"
+
+"Patsy's mother."
+
+"Oh, Patsy again! Everything is Patsy now. That is the reason you don't
+want to help me, because you have got a new friend. Even your own
+brother is of no account now."
+
+"That is not a bit true, and you have no right to say it; and I don't
+think you are a very good brother to ask me to do what is not right."
+
+"But there is no harm in it, really, Elizabeth! I am not doing the room
+any harm, and it can't possibly hurt Aunt Caroline to have me here.
+Where is the wrong of it?"
+
+"The key," persisted Elizabeth. "I ought not to have taken the key."
+
+"Oh, nonsense! You got it, and that's all there is about it. You can't
+undo what you have done, and now the best thing is to keep quiet about
+it and it won't hurt any one. But if you were to go and tell it would
+make a terrible fuss, and every one would be upset, and nobody would be
+a bit better for it."
+
+There seemed to be some truth in this reasoning. After all, it would be
+easy to keep her aunt in ignorance, thought Elizabeth. She would never
+do such a thing again; but now that it was done--
+
+Valentine saw that his argument had some effect, and he hastened to
+follow it up.
+
+"And I do want to tell you all about it!" he added, craftily.
+
+"Oh, Val," said Elizabeth, hurriedly. "I want to hear about it and I
+want to help you. And, after all, it is too late about the room.
+I--I--think I'll promise!"
+
+"That you won't tell?"
+
+"That I won't tell."
+
+"Elizabeth, good for you! You're a brick! I knew you would come out all
+right. I just knew it."
+
+"But wait! I have not altogether promised. Only almost."
+
+"Oh, it's the same thing. I'm sure of you now!"
+
+And Valentine capered about the room in excitement, until Elizabeth
+remembered that it was important that he should not be heard, and warned
+him to keep still.
+
+"After all, it is not a secret for always," he said. "In two weeks you
+can tell them all about it if you want to. You see I am not binding you
+down forever." This with an air of generosity.
+
+"It will be harder to tell then than now," remarked Elizabeth. "But I
+must go! I hear some one calling me. I'll tell you for certain when I
+come back."
+
+She slipped out of the room, and it was but just in time. Her aunts had
+returned, and Miss Herrick wished to see her in the library. She met the
+maid who was looking for her on the stairs. The library was directly
+under the closed room, and Elizabeth wished that she could again warn
+Valentine to be very quiet. He was so careless.
+
+She found her aunt in an unwonted frame of mind. Miss Herrick put her
+arm about Elizabeth and drew her to her side.
+
+"I have been hearing very good accounts of my niece," she said. "I met
+Mrs. Arnold this afternoon, and she told me that your teacher speaks
+very highly of you, Elizabeth."
+
+How this demonstration would have pleased Elizabeth yesterday, or even
+this morning! Now she felt like a hypocrite.
+
+"And she is very anxious that I should allow you to take
+drawing-lessons." Here Miss Herrick paused and sighed heavily. "And you
+wish to yourself, do you not, Elizabeth?"
+
+It had been the dearest wish of Elizabeth's heart since she began
+school, but now she felt as if she would be doing wrong if she were to
+take advantage of her aunt's kindness.
+
+"I--I don't know," she faltered.
+
+"If that is not human nature," exclaimed Miss Rebecca, who had not
+spoken before. "When you were not allowed to draw, nothing could keep a
+pencil out of your hand, and now that you are given permission you don't
+wish to do it."
+
+"Oh, I do want to, Aunt Rebecca!" cried Elizabeth, recovering herself;
+"I want to, dreadfully. Are you really going to let me, Aunt Caroline?"
+
+"I suppose so. Mrs. Arnold put it before me in such a light that I could
+not very well refuse. She says she has an excellent teacher, and if you
+have so much talent, Elizabeth, it seems wrong not to give my consent.
+But it is very hard for me to say yes! You must be a very good girl if I
+do."
+
+Elizabeth hid her face in her aunt's shoulder. If she had heard this
+earlier she would not have yielded to Valentine's entreaties. It was too
+late now. She had allowed him to stay in the locked room, she had almost
+promised not to tell. There was a weight like lead on her heart.
+
+"Stand up straight, Elizabeth," said Miss Herrick, her momentary
+tenderness passing. "Naturally you cannot understand my repugnance to
+the idea of your perfecting yourself in drawing and painting, and it is
+not to be expected that you should. It is connected with events which
+happened before you were born." Again she paused.
+
+At any other time Elizabeth's curiosity would have been aroused, and her
+indignation also, at the fact that there were more mysteries, but now
+she paid no heed. If only she were not deceiving her aunt!
+
+"There must be something queer about our family," she thought,
+desperately, "that we are all the time hiding something from one
+another. I do wish I were one of the Lorings. They never have any
+mysteries or secrets, and it is so nice."
+
+Suddenly there was a loud thump overhead. Miss Herrick started and
+looked terrified. Elizabeth exclaimed aloud, and then again hid her face
+behind her aunt. Even Miss Rebecca seemed stirred from her usual
+indifference.
+
+"What was that?" murmured Miss Herrick. "Was it--was it in the room
+overhead?"
+
+Miss Rebecca nodded. "It sounded so," she said.
+
+"What can it be?"
+
+They listened, but there was no further sound.
+
+"Shall I go and see, Aunt Caroline?" asked Elizabeth, in a timid voice.
+
+"You, child! Why should you go? If we hear anything more I will send
+James. It is very strange."
+
+"Perhaps the cat has been shut up somewhere," suggested Miss Rebecca;
+"or probably one of the servants has been in one of the empty rooms
+getting something. It does not necessarily follow that it is _that_
+room, Caroline. I would not give it another thought."
+
+"True, the box of oranges was put in the upper store-room. You are
+right, Rebecca. Strange how my thoughts always fly to the one place when
+I hear anything overhead. I suppose it was because we were talking about
+the drawing-lessons when it happened."
+
+And she relapsed again into thought.
+
+"So the locked room has something to do with Aunt Caroline not liking to
+have me learn to draw," said Elizabeth to herself. "I thought so. But,
+oh dear, it will never do for Val to make so much noise! I must go and
+tell him."
+
+She slipped away very soon, and after going to her own room crept down
+the short flight of stairs and along the passageway to the door of the
+mysterious chamber. She found Valentine sitting on the floor, convulsed
+with laughter.
+
+"Did you hear me?" he asked, in a stage whisper. "I haven't dared to
+move since. I upset a chair. Giminy! it scared me to death! And I
+expected the whole family to march in the door the very next minute.
+Didn't you hear me at all?"
+
+"Hear you! I should think we did. It was a very narrow escape, and I
+have come to tell you that you must be more careful. You had better not
+stir at all, for we are in the library, right underneath. And oh, Val, I
+do feel so guilty! Aunt Caroline is so kind, and says I can take
+drawing-lessons, and here I am deceiving her! I suppose you would not
+let me off now?"
+
+"Well, I should like to see myself letting you off now! No, sir. You
+have just the same as promised, and that is the end of it."
+
+Elizabeth sighed deeply and was about to leave him, but he detained her.
+
+"I say, Elizabeth, what about dinner? I'm awfully hungry."
+
+"Hungry again? Why, I brought you a lot of things to eat."
+
+"Gee whiz, girl! Do you think I can live for hours on crackers and cake?
+Don't you think you can smuggle up some dinner for me?"
+
+"I will try," said Elizabeth, though somewhat doubtfully; "but I don't
+see how I am to do it."
+
+"Put some things in a basket, and pretend they are for the Brady girls."
+
+"I have not had anything to do with the Brady girls for ages," returned
+Elizabeth, with some contempt. "Not since I ran away."
+
+"Ran away? You ran away? Ho, ho! so you're not so awfully good after
+all! What did you run away for?"
+
+"I can't tell you. I can never tell you. And now I must go."
+
+"Well, I like that," said Valentine, as he closed the door behind her;
+"she ran away, and isn't going to tell me about it! But I hope she will
+remember my dinner."
+
+It was easy enough to remember his dinner, but not so simple a matter to
+secure it. Elizabeth was so absorbed in thinking it over that she forgot
+to eat anything herself.
+
+"You are not eating a morsel," said Miss Herrick. "This will never do! I
+had hoped that going to school and companionship with other children
+would keep up your appetite. Don't you feel well?"
+
+"Oh yes, Aunt Caroline, only I am not hungry. Perhaps, if you don't
+mind, I could have something to eat later."
+
+It was an inspiration. In this way she could get something for
+Valentine. But she was doomed to disappointment.
+
+"I do not approve of eating just before you go to bed," said her aunt.
+"Eat now or not at all."
+
+Elizabeth was quite desperate. She must take the chance of finding
+something in the pantry. When dinner was over and her aunts had returned
+to the library she slipped into the pantry. Unfortunately nothing had
+been left there. All that she could find for Valentine were a few more
+crackers and some bread. However, it would keep him from starving.
+
+Her brother received them with small thanks, but they were better than
+nothing. Then he wanted Elizabeth to stay with him, but this she would
+not do.
+
+"I must go down stairs again to say good-night, and then I must go to
+bed," she said, firmly.
+
+"Come here instead, and I will tell you the whole story," suggested
+Valentine, who had no desire for a lonely evening.
+
+"No, this is the last time I am coming to-night. I--I think, Val, I will
+not hear your story at all. If I have deceived Aunt Caroline I have
+deceived her, but I am not going to be paid for it. I have been thinking
+it over. You are not to tell me. Good-night!"
+
+It was half an hour later, and Valentine had come to the conclusion
+that he might as well go to bed himself, when there was a faint tap at
+the door. The room was lighted by but one candle--they had thought that
+a gas-light might show beneath the door, and attract attention--and the
+place was so gloomy and mysterious that when the knock came Valentine
+was startled in spite of himself.
+
+"It is ghosts, maybe," he muttered. "This room is so queer and uncanny."
+
+The tap was repeated, and he moved cautiously to the door. There stood
+Elizabeth, her dark eyes shining in the candle-light, and a deep color
+burning in her cheeks. For a moment she said nothing. Valentine was the
+first to speak.
+
+"Good for you! So you have come to hear the story. Come in," he
+whispered.
+
+"No, I am not coming in. I have only come to tell you that--that--"
+
+"What?"
+
+An awful dread seized Valentine's heart.
+
+"That I cannot give that promise. I am going down now. I have been
+thinking and thinking, and I know it isn't right to deceive, and I don't
+want to hide anything. There is too much hiding in our family. I am
+going down now to tell Aunt Caroline you are here."
+
+Valentine did not speak. She could scarcely see his face, for it was in
+shadow, but somehow it frightened her.
+
+"Oh, Val, say something! I am so sorry, but I must. Will you ever
+forgive me?"
+
+"No. You have the same as broken your promise."
+
+He closed the door, and she turned and ran down stairs. Her aunts were
+sitting as she had left them. Miss Herrick was writing notes at the
+desk, while her sister read by the lamp on the table. The shelves which
+lined the walls were filled with books, and the engravings and etchings
+which hung above added to the sombre aspect of the room. It was
+absolutely still except for the scratching of Miss Herrick's pen, and
+for a moment or two Elizabeth stood there in the silence unnoticed.
+
+"Aunt Caroline," she said at last.
+
+It was in such a weak voice that no one heard her.
+
+"Aunt Caroline!" she repeated.
+
+"Yes," said Miss Herrick; but still her pen travelled swiftly across the
+page. It was provoking to be interrupted.
+
+"Aunt Caroline!" said Elizabeth for the third time.
+
+"What is it, Elizabeth?" said her aunt, at last laying down her pen. "I
+hear you, and I have answered. Don't stand there repeating my name like
+a parrot. Why are you not in bed?"
+
+"Because I have something to tell you. I could not go to bed. I--I have
+something to tell you."
+
+"So it appears. Suppose you tell me now, instead of this endless
+repetition. Come, I have no time to waste."
+
+"Aunt Caroline," said Elizabeth, drawing nearer, and standing with her
+hands clasped behind her back, as she did when she had anything of
+importance to say, "Val is here."
+
+"Val? What Val? What do you mean?"
+
+"My brother Val."
+
+"Is here? Oh no! you are mistaken, Elizabeth. Let me feel your hands.
+You ate no dinner, and you are feverish. Your eyes are very staring.
+Rebecca, do you suppose the child is delirious, or is she walking in her
+sleep?"
+
+"I am not either, Aunt Caroline. I am not de--that long word, and I am
+wide awake. Val is here. He came this afternoon, and he is up in the
+locked room."
+
+Miss Herrick rose to her feet, and even Miss Rebecca dropped her book.
+
+"She is certainly ill. Rebecca, ring the bell for James to go for the
+doctor."
+
+[Illustration: "I TELL YOU I AM NOT ILL, AUNT CAROLINE," CRIED
+ELIZABETH.]
+
+"I tell you I am not ill, Aunt Caroline," cried Elizabeth. "Val came and
+said that he wanted to hide, and that he must hide in that room. I got
+the key from your desk--you left your desk unlocked--and I let him into
+the room. It was very wrong, Aunt Caroline. I know it was wrong. And I
+am so sorry. That is the reason I am telling you, because I ought not to
+have done it. If you don't believe that he is here, come and see."
+
+[TO BE CONTINUED.]
+
+
+
+
+A VIRGINIA CAVALIER.
+
+BY MOLLY ELLIOT SEAWELL.
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+
+The next day, the 31st of October, 1753, George set forth on his arduous
+mission. He had before him nearly six hundred miles of travelling, much
+of it through an unbroken wilderness, where snow and ice and rain and
+hail at that season were to be expected. In the conference with the
+Governor and his advisers, which lasted until after midnight, George had
+been given _carte blanche_ in selecting his escort, which was not to
+exceed seven persons, until he reached Logstown, when he could take as
+many Indians as he thought wise. He quickly made up his mind as to whom
+he wanted. He wished first a person of gentle breeding, as an
+interpreter between himself and the French officers. He remembered
+Captain Jacob Vanbraam, a Dutch officer, now retired, and living at
+Fredericksburg, who might be induced to make the journey. Then there
+were Gist and John Davidson. It was thought best, however, to take an
+Indian along as interpreter for the Indians, as they might complain, in
+case of a misunderstanding, that Davidson had fooled them. In regard to
+the other three persons George concluded that it would be well to wait
+until he reached Greenway Court, which was directly in the route of his
+outward journey, as he would be most likely to find in that vicinity a
+person better used to such an expedition than in the lower country.
+Armed with full credentials by the Governor, and with a belt around his
+body containing a large sum in gold and negotiable bills, George at
+daylight took the road he had traversed the night before.
+
+He determined not to take Billy on the expedition, but he rather dreaded
+the wild howlings and wailings which he thought it was certain Billy
+would set up when he found he could not go. George therefore thought it
+well as they trotted along to make Billy ride up with him, and describe
+all the anticipated hardships of the coming journey. He did not soften
+one line in the picture, and enlarged particularly upon the scarcity of
+food, and the chances of starving in the wilderness, or being scalped
+and roasted by Indians. Billy's countenance during this was a study.
+Between his devotion to George and his terror of the impending
+expedition Billy was in torment, and when at last George told him he
+must remain either at Mount Vernon or Ferry Farm, Billy did not know
+whether to howl or to grin.
+
+George reached Fredericksburg that night, and went immediately to
+Captain Vanbraam's house. The Dutchman, a stout, middle-aged man, yet of
+a soldierly appearance, at once agreed to go, and, in the few hours
+necessary for his preparations George took the opportunity of crossing
+the river and spending the night with his mother and sister and brothers
+at Ferry Farm. His mother was full of fear for him, but she realized
+that this brave and gifted son was no longer solely hers--his country
+had need of him as soon as he came of age. Next morning Betty went with
+him across the river, and bade him good-by with the smiling lips and
+tear-filled eyes that always marked her farewells with George, her best
+beloved. Billy wept vociferously, but was secretly much relieved at
+being left behind. Four days afterwards George and Captain Vanbraam
+reached Greenway Court, having sent an express on the way to Gist and
+Davidson, who lived on the Great North Mountain.
+
+When George burst into Lord Fairfax's library one night about dusk the
+Earl knew not whether to be most delighted or surprised. He immediately
+began to tell the Earl of his forth-coming plan, thanking him at the
+same time for procuring him such preferment. "And I assure you, sir," he
+said, with sparkling eyes, "although at first I felt a strange sinking
+of the heart, and was appalled at the idea that I was unequal to the
+task, as soon as the command was laid upon me I felt my spirits rise
+and my fears disappear. If I succeed I shall be very happy, and if I
+fail the world will say I was but a boy, after all. Why did his
+Excellency send an inexperienced young man on such an errand? But I
+shall certainly do my best."
+
+"Angels can do no more," the Earl quoted.
+
+George's eagerness and his boyish enthusiasm pleased the Earl, who had
+no taste for solemn youngsters; and he listened, smiling, as George
+poured forth his hopes, plans, and aspirations. When he spoke of the
+additional men to be taken, Lord Fairfax said:
+
+"I know of two capable ones. Black Bear would make an excellent Indian
+interpreter, and Lance would be the very man to note the French
+fortifications. He has as good a military eye as I ever knew."
+
+George gasped with delight.
+
+"Do you mean, sir," he cried, "that you will really let me have Lance?"
+
+"Go and ask him."
+
+The young Major, who had impressed the Governor and councillors with his
+gravity and dignity, now jumped up and ran to the armory, bawling
+"Lance! Lance!" at the top of a pair of powerful lungs. Lance promptly
+appeared, and in three words George told him the plan. Old Lance nearly
+wrung George's hand off at the news.
+
+"Well, sir, it makes me feel nigh thirty years younger to be going among
+the mounseers again. Maybe you think, sir, I never saw a French fort;
+but I tell you, sir, I have seen more French forts, ay, and been at the
+taking too, than they have between here and Canada."
+
+Black Bear was across the mountain, but a messenger was sent at once for
+him, and he was told to bring another trusty Indian along. Within two
+days from reaching Greenway Court the party was ready to start. Lord
+Fairfax saw George set off, in high health and spirits, and full of
+restrained enthusiasm. He wore the buckskin shirt and leggings of a
+huntsman to make the journey in, but in his saddle-bags was a fine new
+Major's uniform of the provincial army, and he carried the rapier given
+him many years before by Lord Fairfax.
+
+Seven days' hard travelling, at the beginning of the wintry season,
+brought the party to Logstown, not far from what is now Pittsburg. The
+journey had been hard, snow having fallen early, and, the fords being
+swollen, the party were obliged to swim their horses across the mountain
+streams. But George had not found time heavy on his hands. Captain
+Vanbraam and Lance discovered that they had served in different
+campaigns in the same region, and, without forgetting the status between
+an officer and a private soldier, they were extremely good comrades,
+much to George's delight.
+
+On their arrival at Logstown, Black Bear at once went in search of his
+father, the great chief of one of the Six Nations, and the other chiefs
+were assembled in the course of a day or two. George found them much
+incensed against the French, but, like all their tribe, before they
+could act they had to have many meetings and a great oratorical display.
+George, who loved not speech-making, made them but one brief address,
+and by using all his powers managed to get Tanacharison and
+representatives of the other tribes off, and in a few days more they
+arrived at a French outpost. It was merely a log house with the French
+colors flying over it. George, waiting until dusk, and leaving his
+Indian allies out of sight, taking only with him Vanbraam and Lance, as
+his servant, rode up to the door and knocked. Three French officers
+appeared, and on seeing two gentlemen in uniform, the senior, Captain
+Joncaire, civilly asked them, in broken English, to alight and sup with
+them.
+
+George, with equal politeness, told them that he was the bearer of a
+letter to M. de St.-Pierre, the commandant at the French fort farther
+up, but would be pleased to accept their hospitality.
+
+Inside the house was quite comfortable, and the party, except Lance, who
+waited on the table, soon sat down to supper. As George had frankly
+informed them of his mission, it behooved them to be prudent, and so
+they were until the wine began to flow. Captain Vanbraam had not thought
+it his duty to let on that he understood French, and the conversation
+had been conducted in such English as the French could command. George,
+although he could not speak French, could understand it a little,
+especially with the help of the abundant gestures the French used.
+
+He had always had a contempt for men who "put an enemy in their mouths
+to steal away their brains," and the spectacle soon presented by the
+French officers made him vow inwardly that never, so long as he lived,
+would he put himself in the condition they were then in. These men,
+brave and otherwise discreet, passed the bottle so often that they soon
+lost all sense of prudence, and, turning from broken English to French,
+told things in regard to their military plans which they would rather
+have died than betray. Captain Joncaire, forgetting, in his maudlin
+state, that George had said he did not understand French well, turned to
+him and said, in French:
+
+"Ah, you English mean to drive us out. Well, let me tell you we are not
+to be driven out. We expect to go to war with your country soon, and
+this is a good place to begin. We know that you can raise two men to our
+one, but you have a dilatory, foolish Governor in Virginia, and he will
+let us overrun the country before he does anything to stop us."
+
+As he kept on, giving information about his people that he should never
+have done, and which George partly understood, such keen contempt came
+into George's eyes that a gleam of soberness returned to Captain
+Joncaire, and for a few minutes he said no more. But "when the wine is
+in the wit is out," and the Frenchmen continued to talk in the foolish
+manner which awaits the wisest man when he makes a beast of himself with
+liquor.
+
+At ten o'clock George and Captain Vanbraam had to tear themselves away
+from the Frenchmen, who, drunker than ever, tried to hold them back by
+embracing them.
+
+As they made their way back to their camp Captain Vanbraam repeated
+every word the drunken officers had said. George spoke little. The
+spectacle was not only disgusting but painful to him.
+
+Next morning, early, Captain Joncaire sought out their camp, and
+professed great surprise at seeing the Indians, whom he declared to be
+his friends. He invited them to the house, where George well knew there
+would be liquor and cajolery in plenty for them.
+
+"My dear Major Washington," cried Joncaire, after a while, and coloring
+slightly as he spoke, "I am afraid you had us at a disadvantage last
+night. We talked rather wildly, I fancy, but don't put too much
+confidence in what we said when the wine was flowing."
+
+"I am compelled to put confidence in what Captain Joncaire and his
+officers say, drunk or sober," was George's reply, delivered not without
+sarcasm, at which Captain Joncaire winced. The Frenchmen invited the
+Indians to their post, and George had the mortification of seeing them
+all carried off, except Tanacharison and his son Black Bear; and when,
+in the evening, he sent for the chiefs, they returned to him stupidly
+drunk and loaded with presents from the French.
+
+"We must get them away as soon as possible," said George to his white
+followers and his two faithful Indians. Tanacharison, a venerable old
+chief and a man of great eloquence, watched the Indians in their drunken
+sleep, and when they wakened, although it was near sun-down, so worked
+upon them by a speech he made them, that they agreed to leave with the
+rest of the party. George and Captain Vanbraam went to the French post
+to bid the officers a polite farewell.
+
+Captain Joncaire said many civil things to them, and sent them a
+handsome present of provisions, but was evidently chagrined at the
+Indians being carried off under his very nose.
+
+Eleven days more of travelling through intense cold, with the snow deep
+on the ground, brought the party to Fort Le Boeuf, on French Creek,
+about fifteen miles from Lake Erie. This was commanded by M. Legardeur
+de St.-Pierre, an old French officer of great ability, and a chevalier
+of the military order of St. Louis.
+
+The party reached the fort late in the evening, and found it a stout
+place, well adapted for defence. George rode up to the gate--his horse
+now a sorry-looking creature--and asked to be conducted to the
+commandant. As soon as the message was delivered M. de St.-Pierre came
+out in person, and, receiving the letter from the Governor of Virginia
+with great respect, raising his hat in taking it, invited Major
+Washington's party in.
+
+Although strictly attending to the commandant's conversation, George
+used his keen eyes to the utmost advantage, and he felt sure that Lance
+was doing the same thing. There were over a hundred soldiers in the
+fort, and not less than thirty officers.
+
+George and his party were led through a court-yard, around which were
+barracks and officers' quarters, protected by bastions well provided
+with artillery. Arrived at the commandant's quarters, M. de St.-Pierre
+said, courteously, in English,
+
+"When you and your party have refreshed yourselves for a day or two,
+Major Washington, we will discuss the matters contained in the
+Governor's letter."
+
+Now this was just what George did not desire. He knew that every
+artifice would be practised on his Indian allies to win them to the
+French, as Captain Joncaire had done, with much greater prospect of
+success. How would he persuade them to leave the good food, the
+seductive liquor, and the presents that he felt sure the French were
+ready to shower upon them? His only dependence was upon Tanacharison and
+Black Bear. How often did he rejoice inwardly over that bucket of water
+he had given to Black Bear the night of the attack at Greenway Court,
+six years before! His reply, therefore, to the French commandant was
+polite but positive:
+
+"I thank you, sir, for your kindness, but I am ready at this moment to
+proceed to the consideration of his Excellency's letter."
+
+This slightly disconcerted M. de St.-Pierre, who had some inward
+contempt for the youth of the ambassador sent by the Governor.
+
+"I shall have to send for my second in command, Captain Reparti," he
+said, "who left us this morning to visit another post."
+
+"I hope, monsieur, that you will send for him at your earliest
+convenience, for my orders are peremptory--to deliver the letter and
+return with an answer at the earliest possible moment."
+
+"If I send this evening," remarked M. de St.-Pierre, "my messenger might
+lose his way in the darkness."
+
+"If you will kindly give me the directions, sir," answered George, with
+much politeness, "I have men in my party who can make the journey by
+night, although they have never traversed this part of the country
+before."
+
+"I will send, however, immediately," said M. de St.-Pierre, coloring
+slightly, and comprehending that he was dealing with a natural
+diplomatist.
+
+After a very agreeable dinner George was shown to his room, where Lance,
+as his servant, awaited him. Scarcely was the door closed before George
+began, anxiously,
+
+"Where are the Indians?"
+
+"In the barrack-room, sir. The French soldiers are promising them guns
+and powder and shot and hatchets, and pouring liquor down all of them
+except Tanacharison and Black Bear, who won't drink, and who mean to be
+true to us. But, sir, you can't blame the poor devils for taking what
+the French give them."
+
+"We must get away from here as soon as possible," cried George. "What
+have you noticed in the fort, Lance?"
+
+"That it's mighty well made, sir; the mounseers are fine engineers, and
+they know how to build a fort. They have eight six-pounders mounted in
+the bastions, and a four-pounder at the gate-house. But they have got a
+lot more places pierced for guns, and you may depend upon it, sir, they
+have a-plenty more guns than they choose to show stowed away somewhere."
+
+Next morning, Captain Reparti having arrived, M. de St.-Pierre and his
+officers considered the Governor's letter privately, and then, admitting
+George, with his interpreter, Captain Vanbraam, an answer was dictated
+denying the right of the English to any part of the country watered by
+the Ohio River. This was an important and dangerous announcement, and
+although not a word was said about war, yet every man present knew that
+if this contention were maintained England and France must fight, and
+the country must be drenched with blood. George, with perfect composure,
+received the letter, and, rising, said:
+
+"My mission, sir, is accomplished. I have delivered the Governor's
+letter, and your reply, M. de St.-Pierre, shall be conveyed not only to
+the Governor, but to his Britannic Majesty. I am now ready to take my
+leave."
+
+"Do not be in so great a hurry to leave us, Major Washington," said M.
+de St.-Pierre, suavely. "Some of my young officers promised a few guns
+to your Indian allies, by way of making them satisfied to remain during
+our negotiation, which I thought would be longer, and the guns cannot
+arrive until to-morrow morning."
+
+As George knew the impossibility of getting the Indians off without the
+guns, he consented with the utmost readiness to remain; but he would
+have given half his fortune to have got off.
+
+The day was one of intense nervous strain on him. His sole dependence in
+managing the Indians were Tanacharison and Black Bear. And what if they
+should betray him? But at night the old chief and his son came to him
+and promised most solemnly to get the chiefs away as soon as the guns
+should arrive in the morning. George had a luxurious bed in his rude
+though comfortable quarters, but he slept not one wink that night. By
+daylight he was up. Soon after Lance sidled up to him in the court-yard,
+and said,
+
+"Sir, the guns have come--I saw them myself; but the Frenchies will not
+say a word about it unless they are asked."
+
+Just then M. de St.-Pierre, wrapped in a great surtout, appeared, coming
+out of his quarters.
+
+"Good-morning, Major Washington!" he cried.
+
+"Good-morning, M. de St.-Pierre!" replied George, gayly. "I must give
+orders to my party for an early start, as the guns you promised the
+Indians have arrived, and I have no further excuse for remaining."
+
+"Sacre bleu!" burst out M. de St.-Pierre; "I did not expect the guns so
+soon!" At which he looked into George's eyes, and suddenly both burst
+out laughing. The Frenchman saw that his _ruse_ was understood.
+
+The party were soon collected, and after a hearty breakfast George took
+his leave, and, much to the chagrin of the French, succeeded in carrying
+off all his Indian allies with him. They rapidly retraced their road,
+and when they made their first halt, ten miles from Fort Le Boeuf,
+George exclaimed, aside to Lance,
+
+"This is the first easy moment I have known for twenty-four hours."
+
+"'Tis the first I have had, sir, since we got to the first post,
+fourteen days ago!"
+
+It was now the latter part of December. The horses, gaunt and starved,
+were no longer fit for riding, and George set the example of dismounting
+and going on foot. Their progress with so large a party was not rapid,
+and George determined to leave Captain Vanbraam, with the horses and
+provisions, to follow, while he, in his health and strength, set off at
+a more rapid gait, in order that he might reach Williamsburg with M. de
+St.-Pierre's defiant letter as soon as possible. Lance, with his
+experience as a foot-soldier, easily proved his superiority when they
+were reduced to walking, so George chose him as a companion. Christmas
+day was spent in a long, hard march, and on the next day George,
+dressing himself in his buckskin shirt and leggings, with his gun and
+valuable papers, and giving most of the money for the expedition to
+Captain Vanbraam, struck off with Lance for a more rapid progress.
+
+The two walked steadily all day, and covered almost twice as much ground
+as the party following them. At night, with their flints, they struck a
+roaring fire in the forest, and took turns in watching and sleeping. By
+daylight they were again afoot.
+
+"I never saw such a good pair of legs as you have, sir, in all my life,"
+said Lance, on this day, as they trudged along. "My regiment was counted
+to have the best legs for steady work in all the Duke of Marlborough's
+army, and mine were considered the best pair in the regiment, but you
+put me to my trumps."
+
+"Perhaps if you were as young as I you would put me to _my_ trumps,
+for--"
+
+[Illustration: WITH A SPRING, GEORGE HAD THE SAVAGE BY THE THROAT.]
+
+At this moment a shot rang out on the frozen air, and a bullet made a
+clean hole through George's buckskin cap. One glance showed him an
+Indian crouching in the brushwood. With a spring as quick and sure as a
+panther's, George had the savage by the throat, and wrenched the
+firelock, still smoking, from his hand. Behind him half a dozen Indian
+figures were seen stealing off through the trees. Lance walked up, and
+raising a hatchet over the Indian's head, said, coolly,
+
+"Mr. Washington, we must kill him as we would a snake."
+
+"No," replied George, "I will not have him killed."[2]
+
+[2] Washington, in his journal, speaks of the Indian firing at him at
+short range, but says nothing of his preventing his companion from
+killing the would-be murderer. But his companion expressly says that he
+would have killed the Indian on the spot had not Washington forbidden
+him. The Indians became very superstitious about Washington's immunity
+from bullets, especially after Braddock's defeat. In that battle he was
+the target for the best marksmen among them, and not only escaped
+without a scratch, although two horses were killed under him and his
+clothes riddled with bullets, but he was the only officer of Braddock's
+military family who survived.
+
+The Indian, standing perfectly erect and apparently unconcerned,
+understood well enough that the question of his life or death was under
+discussion, but with a more than Roman fortitude he awaited his fate,
+glancing indifferently meanwhile at the glittering edge of the hatchet
+still held over him.
+
+George took the hatchet from Lance's hand, and said to the Indian, in
+English: "Though you have tried to kill me, I will spare your life. But
+I will not trust you behind me. Walk ten paces in front of us, in the
+direction of the Alleghany River."
+
+The Indian turned, and, after getting his bearings, started off in a
+manner which showed he understood what was required of him.
+
+The Indians have keen ears, so that George and Lance dared not speak in
+his hearing, but by exchanging signs they conveyed to each other that
+there were enemies on their path, of whom this fellow was only one.
+
+Steadily the three tramped for hours, Lance carrying the Indian's gun.
+When darkness came on they stopped and made the Indian make the fire,
+which he did, scowling, as being squaw's work. They then divided with
+him their scanty ration of dried venison, and, George taking charge of
+the guns, Lance slept two hours. He was then wakened by George, who lay
+down by the fire and slept two hours, when he too was wakened. George
+then said to the Indian, who had remained sleepless and upright all the
+time:
+
+"We have determined to let you go, as we have not food enough for three
+men. Go back to your tribe, and tell them that we spared your life; but
+before you go pile wood on the fire, for we may have to remain here, on
+account of the rise in the river, for several days."
+
+This was a _ruse_, but the Indian fell at once into the trap. After
+replenishing the fire he started off in a northwesterly direction. As
+soon as George and Lance were sure that he was out of sight they made
+off in the opposite direction, and after some hours of trudging through
+snow and ice they found themselves on the bank of the river. They had
+hoped to find it frozen over, but, instead, there was only a fringe of
+ice-cakes along the shores and swirling about in the main channel.
+
+Lance looked at George in some discouragement, but George only said,
+cheerfully: "It is lucky you have the hatchet, Lance. We must make a
+raft."
+
+The short winter day was nearly done before a rude raft was made, and on
+it the two embarked. The piercing wind dashed their frail contrivance
+about, and it was buffeted to and fro by the floating ice. They could
+not make the opposite shore, but were forced to land on an island, where
+they spent the night. The hardships told on the older man, and George
+saw, by the despairing look in Lance's eyes, that he could do no more
+that day. Wood, however, was plentiful, and a great fire was made.
+
+"Cheer up, Lance!" cried George, when the fire began to blaze: "there is
+still more dried venison left. You shall sleep to-night, and in the
+morning the river will be frozen over, and one more day's march will
+bring us to civilization."
+
+Lance was deeply mortified at his temporary collapse, but there was no
+denying it. George had but little sleep that night. Five days afterwards
+the two parted--Lance to return to Greenway Court, and George to press
+on to Williamsburg. By that time they had secured horses.
+
+"Good-by, my friend," said George. "Tell my lord that nothing but the
+urgency of the case prevented me from giving myself the happiness of
+seeing him, and that no day has passed since he sent you with me that I
+have not thanked him in my heart for your company."
+
+A subtle quiver came upon Lance's rugged face.
+
+"Mr. Washington," he said, "I thank you humbly for what you have said;
+but mark my words, sir, the time will come, if it is not already here,
+that my lord will be thankful for every hour that you have spent with
+him, and proud for every step of advancement he has helped you to."
+
+"I hope so, my friend," cried George, gayly, and turning to go.
+
+Lance watched the tall, lithe young figure in hunting-clothes, worn and
+torn, riding jauntily off, until George was out of sight. Then he
+himself struck out for Greenway Court. Four days afterwards a tattered
+figure rode up to Mount Vernon. The negroes laughed and cried and
+yah-yahed at seeing "Marse George" in such a plight. Spending only one
+night there, in order to get some clothes and necessaries, he left at
+daybreak for Williamsburg, where he arrived and reported to the
+Governor, exactly eleven weeks from the day he started on this terrible
+journey.
+
+[TO BE CONTINUED.]
+
+
+
+
+TURKEY, "THE SICK MAN."
+
+BY V. GRIBAYÉDOFF.
+
+
+It is now forty-three years since Czar Nicholas I., in conversation with
+the British ambassador at St. Petersburg, referred to Turkey as the
+"Sick Man," and suggested that Great Britain and Russia deal him his
+death-blow and divide up his heritage. We all know that Great Britain
+not only rejected the proposition, but, with France and Turkey as
+allies, not long after declared war on the Russian Empire. This Crimean
+war cost the great powers engaged in it thousands and thousands of men
+and millions and millions of money, and when peace was signed in 1856,
+Russia found herself deprived of some territory on the Roumanian
+frontier and of the right to maintain a fleet in the Black Sea.
+
+The result acted as medicine on the "Sick Man." Propped up on each side
+by the western powers, he raised his head and endeavored to feel himself
+again. He has had several relapses since that period, one notably in
+1877-8, when the Russian troops encamped within view of Constantinople.
+Great Britain again came to his rescue, and prevented some of the
+amputations planned by the Muscovite--amputations which would surely
+have led to his demise from sheer loss of blood. For this good service
+England did a little amputating on her own account, and added to her
+dominions the fertile island of Cyprus, in the Mediterranean. The "Sick
+Man" thus obtained another lease of life, but recent events would
+indicate that his end is at last approaching--as one writer has put it,
+from sheer inner putrition; and this time there is no sympathizing
+friend to stretch a helping hand, none to ward off his well-merited
+fate!
+
+Even those Englishmen who have been most bitterly opposed in the past to
+a conciliatory policy toward Russia are beginning to recognize the
+mistake of upholding Turkish rule in Europe. As one English religious
+journal recently remarked, while advocating the substitution of the
+Russian for the Turkish flag in Constantinople, "The Czar's rule is bad
+enough, but there is in the hearts of the Russian people the seed of
+better things." And it really seems an anomaly that England, of all
+countries--England, the land of John Howard, of William Wilberforce, of
+David Livingstone--should have been instrumental in maintaining that
+pestiferous charnel-house on the banks of the Bosporus! Better a
+thousand times that the Turkish government should be abolished!
+
+[Illustration: SOME OF THE "IRREGULARS."]
+
+The recent massacres in Armenia and Constantinople are but repetitions
+of the events of former years. When the Russian troops crossed the
+Danube in 1853 they found many Bulgarian villages pillaged and their
+inhabitants massacred by the irregular Turkish troops. The horrible
+stories that are being told to us daily from Armenia are the same as
+those told in 1853 from Bulgaria. Towns were burned to ashes, and the
+inhabitants were burned with them or were killed in attempting to escape
+from them. Nevertheless, the innate barbarity of the Turk did not
+prevent the western powers from coming to his help in those days!
+
+In 1861 there were other terrible massacres in the Ottoman Empire, the
+Christian Maronites of the Lebanon being the victims this time. In the
+course of a few days five thousand men, women, and children were
+slaughtered in and around Damascus. This pill was even too much for the
+Sultan's complacent western friends, and that potentate was obliged to
+submit to the landing of a French army of intervention in Syria. The
+many thousands of murders in the Lebanon district were avenged by the
+execution of about fifty Mussulman ringleaders, after which the French
+withdrew, with colors flying, to the time of "Partant pour la Syrie."
+
+[Illustration: YILDIZ KIOSK, THE SULTAN'S PALACE.]
+
+In 1876 the barbarities of the Turks in Bulgaria aroused, as we know,
+the indignation of the whole civilized world. Here was a brilliant
+opportunity for putting an end, once and for all, to Mussulman
+authority over a Christian population, and yet such was the jealousy
+of the great European powers, one for another, that they could not agree,
+and at the eleventh hour, as the Russians were about to grasp the
+prize--Constantinople--a British fleet was sent to the Sea of Marmora,
+and the Turk was saved once more, as above stated, to perpetrate further
+atrocities in the name of law and order!
+
+It is a long lane that has no turning, and let us trust, therefore, that
+the symptoms pointing to the Porte's approaching dissolution are not
+deceptive. When the end does come it will come with a crash. A glance at
+the photographs on these pages will convey an idea of the kind of men
+still at the Sultan's beck and call. They certainly do not look as if
+they would give up to the Giaour without a struggle. Indeed, if the
+lessons of history count for anything, the unspeakable Turk will fight
+tooth and nail to maintain his supremacy. Since the days of Osman,
+founder of the present dynasty, nay, even as far back as the first
+century of the Christian era, the ancestors of the modern Turk were
+redoubtable warriors and conquerors. Even in the present century,
+although usually unfortunate in the outcome of their wars, they have
+given evidence of the old fearlessness and disregard for death. The
+defense of Plevna furnishes a brilliant example of Turkish bravery and
+obstinacy.
+
+[Illustration: TURKISH ZOUAVES.]
+
+The pictures here presented have a peculiar interest at this moment.
+They represent the regiments garrisoned in Constantinople upon whom the
+Sultan can count in any emergency. These men are well clothed, well fed,
+and receive their pay with regularity, unlike the troops in the
+provinces, who have been wretchedly neglected of late years. These crack
+regiments are the regular imperial guard, line infantry, zouaves, and
+marines. They are picked men of Turkish race, and are decidedly more
+respectable than the irregulars shown in another group. It is the latter
+who, after the Sultan himself, are to be held accountable for the recent
+horrible massacres. It is they who organized themselves into marauding
+bands and spread death and devastation among the unhappy Armenians, with
+the cognizance of the camarilla at the Yildiz Kiosk, or Sultan's palace.
+
+[Illustration: TROOP OF THE SULTAN'S BODY-GUARD.]
+
+When the final day of reckoning arrives, it is sincerely to be hoped
+that this gentry will come in for some attention. The civilized world
+has an old score against them. May it speak in no uncertain tone--in the
+same voice that thundered ten thousand Turkish assassins to their doom
+at the sea-fight at Navarino of blessed memory! Those were the days of
+noble impulses and lofty aspirations, when international jealousies were
+powerless to sway the councils of nations and stifle the cry of the
+oppressed. Those were the days of Canning and of Byron. Would that some
+such men were alive to-day to teach Europe her sacred duty.
+
+
+
+
+THE VOYAGE OF THE "RATTLETRAP."
+
+BY HAYDEN CARRUTH.
+
+X.
+
+
+After we got back to the Rattletrap we promised ourselves plenty of
+sport the next day watching the freighters with their long teams and
+wagon trains. Jack could not recover from his first glimpse of
+Henderson.
+
+"Rather a neat little turnout to take a young lady out driving with," he
+said, after we had gone to bed. "Twenty-two oxen and four wagons. Plenty
+of room. Take along her father and mother. And the rest of the family.
+And her school-mates. And the whole town. Good team to go after the
+doctor with if somebody was sick--mile and a half an hour. That
+trotting-cow man at Yankton ought to come up here and show Henderson a
+little speed. Still, I dare say Henderson could best Old Browny, on a
+good day for sleeping, and when he didn't have Blacky to pull him
+along."
+
+But we got small sight of the trail the next day, as the rain we had
+left behind came upon us again in greater force than ever. It began
+toward morning, and when we looked out, just as it was becoming light,
+we found it coming down in sheets--"cold, wet sheets," as Ollie said,
+too.
+
+We could watch the road from the front of the wagon, and saw a number of
+freighters go by, usually with empty wagons, as it soon became too muddy
+for those with loads. We saw one fourteen-ox team with four wagons, and
+another man with twelve oxen and three wagons. There were also a number
+of mule teams, and we noticed one of twelve mules and five wagons, and
+several of ten mules and three or four wagons. With these the driver
+always rode the nigh-wheel animal--that is, the left-hand rear one.
+
+"I'm going to put a saddle on Old Blacky and ride him after this," said
+Jack. "Bound to be in the fashion. Wonder how Henderson is getting along
+in the mud? A mile in two hours, I suppose. Must be impossible for him
+to see the head oxen through this rain."
+
+The downpour never stopped all day. We tried letter-writing, but it was
+too cold to hold the pen; and Jack's efforts at playing the banjo proved
+equally unsuccessful. We fell back on reading, but even this did not
+seem to be very satisfactory. So we finally settled down to watching the
+rain and listening to the wind.
+
+When evening came we shut down the front of the cover and tried to warm
+up the cabin a little by leaving the oil-stove burning, but it didn't
+seem to make much difference. So we soon went to bed, rather damp,
+somewhat cold, and a little dispirited. I think we all staid awake for a
+long time listening to the beating of the rain on the cover, and
+wondering about the weather of the morrow.
+
+When we awoke in the morning it did not take long to find out about the
+weather. The rain had ceased and the sky was clear, but it was colder.
+Outside we found ice on the little pools of water in the footprints of
+the horses. We were stiff and cold. Some of us may have thought of the
+comforts of home, but none of us said anything about them.
+
+"This is what I like," said Jack. "Don't feel I'm living unless I find
+my shoes frozen in the morning. Like to break the ice when I go to wash
+my face and hands, and to have my hair freeze before I can comb it."
+
+But we observed that he kept as close to the camp-fire which we started
+as any of us. We went up to Smith's to look after the horses. While Jack
+and I were at the sheds Ollie staid in the road watching the freight
+teams. A big swarthy man, over six feet in height, came along, and after
+looking over the fence at Smith's house some time, said to Ollie,
+
+"Do you s'pose Smith's at home?"
+
+"Oh, I guess so," answered Ollie.
+
+"I'd like to see him," went on the man, with an uneasy air.
+
+"Probably you'll find him eating breakfast," said Ollie.
+
+"I don't like to go in," said the man.
+
+"Why not?"
+
+[Illustration: "I'M AFRAID OF THE DOG."]
+
+"I'm--I'm afraid of the dog."
+
+"Oh!" replied Ollie. "Well, I'm not. Come on," and he stalked ahead very
+bravely, while the man followed cautiously behind.
+
+"He's a Mexican," said Smith in explanation afterwards. "All Mexicans
+are afraid of dogs."
+
+"That's a pretty broad statement," said Jack, after Smith had gone. "I
+believe, if there was a good reward offered, that I could find a Mexican
+who isn't afraid of dogs. Though perhaps it's the hair they're afraid
+of; Mexican dogs don't have any, you know."
+
+"Don't any of them have hair?" asked Ollie.
+
+"Not a hair," answered his truthful uncle. "I don't suppose a Mexican
+dog would know a hair if he saw it."
+
+"I think that's a bigger story than Smith's," said Ollie.
+
+It was Sunday, and we spent most of the day in the wagon, though we took
+a long walk up the valley in the afternoon. The first thing Ollie said
+the next morning was, "When are we going to see the buffaloes?"
+
+Smith had been telling us about them the evening before. They were down
+town, and belonged to a Dr. McGillicuddie. They had been brought in
+recently from the Rosebud Indian Agency, and had been captured some time
+before in the Bad Lands.
+
+We followed the trail, now as deep with mud as it had been with dust,
+meeting many freighters on the way, and found the buffaloes near the
+Deadwood stage barn.
+
+"See!" exclaimed Ollie; "there they are in the yard."
+
+"Don't say 'yard,'" returned Jack; "say 'corral,' with a good, strong
+accent on the last syllable. A yard is a corral, and a farm a ranch, and
+a revolver a six-shooter--and a lot more. _Don't_ be green, Oliver."
+
+"Oh, bother!" replied Ollie. "There's ten of 'em. See the big fellow!"
+
+"They're nice ones, that's so," answered Jack. "I'd like to see the
+Yankton man we heard about try to milk that cow over in the corner."
+
+[Illustration: SOME SAID IT WAS A GRIZZLY, AND OTHERS A SILVER-TIP.]
+
+After we had seen the buffaloes we wandered about town and jingled our
+spurs, which were quite in the fashion. We encountered a big crowd in
+front of one of the markets, and found that a hunter had just come in
+from the mountains to the west with the carcass of the biggest bear ever
+brought into Rapid City. Some said it was a grizzly, and others a
+silver-tip, and one man tried to settle the difficulty by saying that
+there wasn't any difference between them. But it was certainly a big
+bear, and filled the whole wagon-box. Ollie sidled through the crowd,
+and asked so many questions of the man, who was named Reynolds, that he
+good-naturedly gave Ollie one of the largest of the claws. It was five
+inches long.
+
+At noon we went down to the camp of the freighters on the outskirts of
+town, near Rapid Creek. There must have been fifty "outfits"--Jack said
+that was the right word--and several hundred mules as many oxen, and a
+few horses. The animals were, most of them, wandering about wherever
+they pleased, the mules and horses taking their dinner out of nose-bags,
+and the mules keeping up a gentle exercise by kicking at one another. It
+seemed a hopeless confusion, but the men were sitting about on the
+ground, calmly cooking their dinners over little camp-fires. One man,
+whom we had got acquainted with in the morning at Smith's, asked us to
+have dinner with him, and made the invitation so pressing that we
+accepted. He had several gallons of coffee and plenty of bacon and
+canned fruit, and a peculiar kind of bread, which he had baked himself.
+
+"I'm a-thinking," he said, "there ain't enough sal'ratus in that there
+bread; but I'm a poor cook, anyhow."
+
+[Illustration: THE RECEIPT FOR THE SAL'RATUS BREAD.]
+
+The bread seemed to us to be already composed chiefly of saleratus, so
+his apology struck us as unnecessary. He very kindly wrote out the
+receipt on a shingle for Jack, but I stole it away from him after we got
+home and burned it in the camp-fire; so we escaped _that_.
+
+"Your pancakes are bad enough," I said to him. "We don't care to try
+your saleratus bread."
+
+Jack was a good deal worked up about the loss of his receipt, and
+experimented a long time to produce something like the freighter's bread
+without it, but as Snoozer wouldn't try the stuff he made, and he was
+afraid to do so himself, nothing came of it.
+
+We enjoyed our dinner with the man, however, and Jack added further to
+his vocabulary in finding that the drivers of the ox teams were called
+"bullwhackers," and those of the mules and horses "muleskinners."
+
+In the afternoon we climbed the hill above our camp. It gave us a long
+view off to the east across the level country, while away to the west
+were the mountain-peaks rising higher and higher. It was still cold, and
+the raw northeast wind moaned through the pines in a way which made us
+think of winter.
+
+We went to bed early that night, so as to get a good start for Deadwood
+the next day. We brought the horses down from the ranch in the evening,
+blanketed them, and stood them out of the wind among some trees.
+
+"Four o'clock must see us rolling out of our comfortable beds and
+getting ready to start," said Jack, as we turned in. "We must play we
+are freighters."
+
+Jack planned better than he knew; we really "rolled out" in an
+exceedingly lively manner at three o'clock. We were sleeping soundly at
+that hour, when we were awakened by the motion of the wagon. Jack and I
+sat up. It was swaying from side to side, and we could hear the wheels
+bumping on the stones. The back end was considerably lower than the
+front.
+
+"It's running down the bank!" I cried, and we both plunged through the
+darkness for the brake-handle. We fell over Ollie and Snoozer, and were
+instantly hopelessly tangled. It seemed an age, with the wagon swaying
+more and more, before we found the handle. Jack pushed it up hard, we
+heard the brake grind on the wheels outside; then there was a great bump
+and splash, and the wagon tilted half over and stopped. We found
+ourselves lying on the side of the cover, with cold water rising about
+us. We were not long in getting out, and discovered that the Rattletrap
+was capsized in the mill-race.
+
+"Old Blacky did it!" cried Jack, as he danced around and shook his wet
+clothes. "I know he did. The old sinner!"
+
+We got out the lantern and lit it. Only the hind end of the wagon was
+really in the race; one front wheel still clung to the bank, and the
+other was up in the air. Ollie got in and began to pass things out to
+Jack, while I went up the hill after the horses. Jack was right. Old
+Blacky was evidently the author of our misfortune. He had broken loose
+in some manner, and probably begun his favorite operation of making his
+toilet on the corner of the wagon by rubbing against it. The brake had
+carelessly been left off, he had pushed the wagon back a few feet, and
+it had gone over the bank. I soon had the harness on the horses, and got
+them down the hill. We hitched them to the hind wheel with a long rope,
+Jack wading in the water to his waist, and pulled the wagon upright.
+Then we attached them to the end of the tongue, and after hard work drew
+it out of the race. By this time we were chilled through and through.
+Our beds and nearly everything we had were soaking with water.
+
+"How do you like it, Uncle Jack?" inquired Ollie. "Do you feel that you
+are living now?"
+
+Jack's teeth were chattering. "Y--yes," he said; "but I won't be if we
+don't get a fire started pretty quick."
+
+There were some timbers from an old bridge near by, and we soon had a
+good fire, around which we tramped in a procession till our clothes were
+fairly dry. The wind was chilly, and it was a dark cloudy morning. The
+unfortunate Snoozer had gone down with the rest of us, and was the
+picture of despair, till Ollie rubbed him with a dry corner of a
+blanket, and gave him a good place beside the fire.
+
+By the time two or three hours had elapsed we began to feel partially
+dry, and decided to start on, relying on exercise to keep ourselves
+warm. We had had breakfast in the mean time, and, on the whole, were
+feeling rather cheerful again. We opened the cover and spread out the
+bedding, inside and outside, and hung some of it on a long pole which we
+stuck into the wagon from the rear. Altogether we presented a rather
+funny appearance as we started out along the trail, but no one paid much
+attention to us. The freighters were already astir, and we were
+constantly passing or meeting their long trains. Among others we passed
+Eugene Brooks, the man with whom we had taken dinner. We told him of our
+mishap, and he laughed, and said:
+
+"That's nothing in this country. Something's always happening here which
+would kill folks anywhere else. You stay here awhile and you'll be as
+tough as your old black horse."
+
+Brooks had an outfit of five spans of mules and two wagons. We staid
+with him a half-hour, and then went on. As we could not reach Deadwood
+that day, he advised us to camp that night where the trail crossed
+Thunder Butte Creek, a branch of La Belle Fourche.
+
+The trail led for the most part through valleys or along the sides of
+hills, and was generally not far from level, though there was, of
+course, a constant though hardly perceptible rise as we got farther into
+the mountains. We camped at noon at Elk Creek, and made further progress
+at drying our household effects. We pressed on during the afternoon, and
+passed through the town of Sturgis, where we laid in some stores of
+provisions to take the place of those spoiled by the water, and also a
+quantity of horse-feed. We congratulated ourselves later on our good
+luck in doing this.
+
+As the afternoon wore away we found ourselves getting up above the
+timber-line. The mountains began to shut in our view in all directions,
+and the valleys were narrowing. As night drew nearer, Jack said:
+
+"Seems to me it's about time we got to this Thunder Butte Creek. He said
+that if we passed Sturgis we'd have to go on to that if we wanted
+water."
+
+We soon met a man, and inquired of him the distance to the desired
+stream. "Two miles," he replied, promptly. We went on as much as a mile
+and met another man, to whom we put the same question. "Three miles," he
+answered, with great decision.
+
+"That creek seems to be retreating," said Jack, after the man had gone
+on. "We've got to hurry and catch it, or it will run clean into Deadwood
+and crawl down a gold-mine."
+
+It was growing dark. We forged ahead for another mile, and by this time
+it was quite as dark as it was going to be, with a cloudy sky, and
+mountains and pines shutting out half of that. I was walking ahead with
+the lantern, and came to a place where the trail divided.
+
+"The road forks here," I called. "Which do you suppose is right?"
+
+"Which seems to be the most travelled?" asked Jack.
+
+"Can't see any difference," I replied. "We'll have to leave it to the
+instinct of the horses."
+
+"Yes, I'd like to put myself in the grasp of Old Blacky's instinct. The
+old scoundrel would go wrong if he knew which was right."
+
+"Well," I returned, "come on and see which way he turns, and then go the
+other way." (Jack always declared that the old fellow understood what I
+said.)
+
+He drove up to the forks, and Blacky turned to the right. Jack drew over
+to the left, and we went up that road. We continued to go up it for
+fully three miles, though we soon became convinced that it was wrong. It
+constantly grew narrower and apparently less travelled. We were soon
+winding along a mountain-side among the pines, and around and above and
+below great rocks.
+
+"We'll go till we find a decent place to camp, and then stop for the
+night," said Jack.
+
+We finally came to a little level bench covered with giant pines, and we
+could hear water beyond. I went on with the lantern, and found a small
+stream leaping down a gulch.
+
+"This is the place to stop," I said, and we soon had our camp
+established, and a good fire roaring up into the tree-tops. Ollie found
+plenty of dry pine wood, and we blanketed the horses and stood under a
+protecting ledge. It was cold, and the wind roared down the gulch and
+moaned in the pines, but we scarcely felt it blow. We finished drying
+our bedding and had a good supper. Jack got out his banjo and tried to
+compete with the brook and the pines. We went to bed feeling that we
+were glad we had missed the road, since it had brought so delightful a
+camping-place.
+
+Ollie was the first to wake in the morning. It was quite light.
+
+"What makes the cover sag down so?" he asked.
+
+Jack opened his eyes, reached up with the whipstock and raised it.
+Something slid off the outside with a rush.
+
+"Open the front and you'll see," answered Jack.
+
+Ollie did so, and we all looked out. The ground was deep with snow, and
+it was still falling in great feathery flakes. Old Blacky was loose, and
+looked in at us with a wicked gleam in his eyes.
+
+[TO BE CONTINUED.]
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORT]
+
+
+The championship season in football is now fairly under way in almost
+every section of the country, and the reports that come in from all
+sides are of a most promising nature for the welfare of the sport. More
+players in a greater number of schools spread over a broader area of the
+country are at work on the gridiron this year than ever before, and the
+colleges may feel confident of receiving a higher grade of raw material
+in the future than has ever come in with any previous Freshman class.
+
+In the Boston Association the number of schools in the Junior League has
+become so large as to make it necessary to divide it into two sections,
+the winners of each to play off to decide the championship; and then, of
+course, the champion of the Juniors must play the tail-ender in the
+Senior League to determine whether or not they exchange places. Newton,
+Somerville, Chelsea, and Medford form one division of the Junior League;
+Roxbury Latin, Dedham, Hyde Park, and Dorchester the other. Dorchester
+and Medford are new-comers, and thus, to a certain extent, unknown
+quantities. Somerville High, having won the championship of the Junior
+League last year, will now move up into the Senior ranks, and from
+present appearances the team ought to make a good showing. In the game
+with Tufts College, Somerville held the collegians down to one
+touch-down in a twenty-minute half. They developed good team-work in
+their aggressive play, but when on the defence they were not so strong.
+This is the natural result of practice work against a weaker team, such
+as a second eleven usually is. The only way to develop a strong defence
+is to practise against stronger opponents, hence the advisability of as
+many matches with outsiders as possible.
+
+The weak spots in the Somerville team are the guards. They are somewhat
+light, but with training and careful coaching should develop well,
+Almeida, the captain, is a good man, and is playing an unusually strong
+game at quarter for a captain. If he can manage his men as well as they
+were managed last season, Somerville need have no fears of losing its
+position in the Senior League. The backs, Pipe and Cuddy, are doing as
+well as can be expected so early in the season, and if Hanlon, at
+full-back, can keep on improving in his kicking, the team will be well
+taken care of back of the line.
+
+From present appearances it looks as if English High would have fully as
+good a team as last year, and the eleven is certainly as strong as any
+other in the League to-day. Five of the old champions are back, and they
+form an excellent nucleus for an exceptionally good lot of new material.
+Kimball, who will probably hold centre, is pretty green, but will
+improve. He will doubtless be guarded by Walker, who is a new man, and
+by Carroll, who was last year's substitute centre. If these three men
+are finally selected, they will make as heavy a centre as there is on
+any team in the association. The position of quarter-back is still open,
+as it is not known yet definitely whether Sherlock will return to
+school. If he does not, however, Mansfield and Mann will make good
+substitutes, and can be trained into excellent players. Mann is a fast
+runner, and will make a good running quarter if he takes the place.
+
+The Boston Latin School loses a good many of last year's team, but is
+fortunate in having an unusually large number of men anxious for
+positions on the eleven. The practice work so far has been of the first
+order, and the number of candidates has made it possible for the old men
+to get good practice. Those who are trying are not all by any means new
+to the game. Some were substitutes to the team which won the
+championship in 1895.
+
+The men of last tear's team who are left to represent Boston Latin this
+year are Lowe, who played left guard; Teevens, who was substitute tackle
+in 1894, but who played back of the line last year; Daly, last year's
+right half-back, who, however, will doubtless make a try for full-back
+this fall; and Brayton, who is a candidate for guard. The new men,
+besides being a promising lot, are all pretty heavy, and so we may
+expect to see the Latin School represented by a heavy team in the coming
+championship.
+
+The schedule for the championship series in the Senior League was made
+up at a recent meeting of the football committee as follows:
+
+     Boston Latin.--Oct. 30, Brookline High at South End; Nov. 6,
+     Hopkinson at South End; Nov. 13, Cambridge High and Latin at South
+     End; Nov. 26, English High at South End.
+
+     Cambridge Manual.--Oct. 30, Boston Latin or Cambridge High and
+     Latin, Soldiers' Field; Nov. 6, Brookline High at Soldiers' Field;
+     Nov. 13, Hopkinson at Soldiers' Field; Nov. 20, English High at
+     Soldiers' Field.
+
+     English High.--Nov. 6, Cambridge High and Latin at South End; Nov.
+     12, Brookline High at South End; Nov. 17, Hopkinson at South End;
+     Nov. 20, Cambridge Manual at Soldiers' Field; Nov. 26, Boston Latin
+     at South End.
+
+     Cambridge High and Latin.--Oct. 31, Hopkinson (undecided); Nov. 6,
+     English High at South End; Nov. 13, Boston Latin at South End; Nov.
+     18, Brookline (undecided).
+
+     Brookline High.--Oct. 30, Boston Latin at South End; Nov. 6,
+     Cambridge Manual at Soldiers' Field; Nov. 12, English High at South
+     End; Nov. 18, Cambridge High and Latin at Soldiers' Field or South
+     End; Nov. 24, Hopkinson at Soldiers' Field.
+
+     Hopkinson.--Oct. 31, Cambridge High and Latin at South End (?);
+     Nov. 6, Boston Latin at South End; Nov. 13, Cambridge Manual at
+     Soldiers' Field; Nov. 17, English High at South End; Nov. 24,
+     Brookline High at Soldiers' Field.
+
+The schools of Maine are beginning to practise for their championship
+season, and several minor games have already been played. Portland High
+ought to have a fairly strong team, although it is perhaps too early yet
+to form any idea of what the new material will develop into. Bangor High
+is practising hard, and of last year's team there are again in school
+Connors, McCann, Snow, Hall, Hunt, Knaide, and Crowley. The Cony
+High-School, of Augusta, is looking forward confidently to winning the
+championship, and the eleven is practising hard every day. Several of
+last year's team are back, notably Savage and Sawyer, the guard and
+tackle. The regular League schedule, however, has not yet been arranged.
+
+The Cook County High-School League, of Chicago, had a little trouble
+over its elections recently, but it is to be hoped that if any ill
+feeling resulted, it has all been smoothed over by this time. It seems
+to be a natural desire among a great many of us to go ahead regardless
+of rules sometimes, and this always results in trouble afterwards. When
+it comes to an election, nothing should ever be attempted that is not
+strictly in conformity with the regulations of the association. The
+desire for office or the enthusiasm of supporters should not be allowed
+to influence any candidate. A man elected under any circumstances except
+those of absolute regularity can never feel satisfied with his position,
+and will always suffer the loss of a certain amount of self-respect.
+
+At the last meeting of the League's committee this trouble over the
+election was satisfactorily arranged, and a schedule for the
+championship series was laid out as follows:
+
+     Oct. 10.--West Division at North Division, Lake View at Oak Park,
+     English High at Hyde Park, Northwest at Englewood, Chicago Manual
+     at Evanston.
+
+     Oct. 17.--Hyde Park at West Division, Englewood at Lake View, North
+     Division at English High, Evanston at Northwest, Oak Park at
+     Chicago Manual.
+
+     Oct. 21.--West Division at Englewood, Chicago Manual at Hyde Park,
+     Northwest at North Division, Lake View at Evanston, English High at
+     Oak Park.
+
+     Oct. 24.--Evanston at West Division, Chicago Manual at Lake View,
+     Oak Park at Englewood, Hyde Park at North Division, Northwest at
+     English High.
+
+     Oct. 31.--Northwest at Oak Park, North Division at Chicago Manual,
+     Englewood at Evanston, West Division at Oak Park, English High at
+     Lake View.
+
+     Nov. 4.--North Division at Lake View, Evanston at English High,
+     Hyde Park at Oak Park, West Division at Northwest, Englewood at
+     Chicago Manual.
+
+     Nov. 7.--Lake View at Hyde Park, Oak Park at Evanston, Englewood at
+     North Division, Northwest at Chicago Manual, English High at West
+     Division.
+
+     Nov. 14.--Hyde Park at Evanston, English High at Englewood, Chicago
+     Manual at West Division, North Division at Oak Park, Lake View at
+     Northwest.
+
+     Nov. 21.--Hyde Park at Englewood, Northwest at Oak Park, Evanston
+     at North Division, Chicago Manual at English High, West Division at
+     Lake View.
+
+The home grounds of the different teams are: Englewood, Hyde Park, and
+Chicago Manual, Washington Park; Lake View and North Division, Lincoln
+Park; English High and West Division, Douglas Park; Northwest Division,
+Humboldt Park; Evanston, Evanston; and Oak Park on the Oak Park Club
+baseball-grounds.
+
+The New Jersey Interscholastic A.A. has arranged its football schedule,
+and the games will be played in the following order:
+
+  Oct. 10.--Newark Academy _vs._ Pingry, at Newark.
+  Oct. 15.--Stevens Prep. _vs._ Montclair H.-S. at Montclair.
+  Oct. 24.--Pingry _vs._ Stevens Prep. at Elizabeth.
+  Oct. 24.--Newark _vs._ Montclair at Montclair.
+  Oct. 31.--Stevens _vs._ Newark at Hoboken.
+  Nov.  7.--Pingry _vs._ Montclair at Elizabeth.
+
+It is probable that the Wisconsin Interscholastic League will soon fall
+to pieces, inasmuch as three of the strongest members have withdrawn
+from it. The reason given for this action on their part is that the
+high-schools in the State are so widely separated, that the time and
+expense incurred in travelling to and from games are so great, that
+these contests must be abandoned. The Milwaukee schools, however, have
+decided to keep up interscholastic sport so far as they are themselves
+concerned, and have adopted a constitution and drawn up a set of rules
+to govern their own games, which shall take the place of the old League
+regulations. These rules were made by delegates representing three
+schools. They debar all undesirable persons from taking part in any of
+the contests, and a committee has been appointed to see that athletics
+are kept pure not only in Milwaukee, but to enforce the Milwaukee
+standard against all out-of-town teams that desire to hold contests with
+members of this new association.
+
+From all accounts it would seem that athletics in Wisconsin must have
+been about as impure and un-amateur and shamefacedly semi-professional
+as could possibly be. The trouble all came about, as it usually does,
+gradually. One school committed some small offence, and then another
+school committed a larger one, excusing itself on the ground that its
+neighbor was the first sinner. Madison High-School, so far as I am able
+to learn, seems to have been the worst transgressor. It is a great
+boaster of championships, and it is true that the Madison High-School
+football team has never been defeated. It has seemed to many, however,
+that the authorities of that school ought to take some steps to prevent
+men who are students at the University of Wisconsin from playing on the
+High-School team. Such men actually did play on the school teams while
+members of the university, by taking some single subject in the
+High-School. With university men on the school teams, victory naturally
+came to Madison very frequently when it met other schools, and this
+afforded a bad example.
+
+The contagion reached Milwaukee, and the High-Schools there did a great
+many things which are doubtless now regretted by the better element. To
+such a point have they come in Wisconsin that the _Mercury_, which is
+the paper of the Milwaukee East-Side High-School, says, in a leading
+editorial: "There must be an entire revolution in the High-School
+athletics of this State. Otherwise Wisconsin will have a league
+professing purity in athletics, but really composed of professionals and
+'ringers' and some unquestioned amateurs.... Numerous charges have been
+wafted to our ears, but we will deal only with those which we can
+substantiate." So long as the _Mercury_ can substantiate the charges, it
+may be interesting to the readers of this Department to hear what those
+charges are.
+
+It would seem that the first case of irregularity occurred in last
+year's football season, when, according to the _Mercury_, the Madison
+eleven had two players who were regular members of the University of
+Wisconsin. The next case was in the Milwaukee East Side High-School
+itself. Members of that institution had the rules of the League
+suspended until after the date of the field meeting in order to allow
+one of their men, who had not been regularly enrolled since December, as
+the rules required, to enter and compete. "The next irregularity," says
+the _Mercury_, "was the entrance of a professional from the interior of
+the State, but that resulted satisfactorily. He was ruled out." The
+editorial then goes on to tell another story of professionalism in which
+two schools, holding a majority vote, refused to obey the rules of the
+Association, and legislated so as to allow certain individuals to
+represent their schools in a track-athletic meeting who had no more
+right to do so than any professional performers that they might have
+called on for similar work. It is to be hoped that the new spirit which
+seems to be awakening in Milwaukee will have sufficient influence and
+power to root out these evils in the future, or the sports of that State
+will get into a sad condition, where the young are so crafty and bold in
+their adoption of unfair methods.
+
+With the awakening spirit of purity in athletics the prospects for
+football in Wisconsin seem to be brighter than ever before. The Madison
+High and the East Side and South Side high-schools at Milwaukee will
+undoubtedly be the strongest three high-school teams in the State.
+Madison has more old players back than the others, and thus has a slight
+advantage to start with; and it has the additional advantage of good
+coachers from the neighboring university. The Milwaukee schools,
+however, will put heavier men into the field.
+
+The St. John's Military Academy will be stronger on the gridiron this
+year than it has been for some time, and ought to come out pretty well
+in interscholastic contests. The amateur spirit has had some pretty hard
+rubs at St. John's, as has been told of before in this Department, but I
+understand that this year no instructors will be permitted to play on
+the team, and none but students of the institution will be allowed to
+wear the school colors. It has not always been possible to say this of
+St. John's teams.
+
+[Illustration: LINE-UP OF THE BROOKLYN HIGH-SCHOOL ELEVEN.]
+
+All the schools of the Long Island League are working hard at football
+this year, much harder than they have worked for the past few seasons,
+and we may therefore expect to see a better general average across the
+river. St. Paul's School always has had a strong team, and expects to
+have the best that ever represented the school this year. The Boys'
+High-School of Brooklyn has an energetic captain, Dickson, and promises
+to put a strong eleven into the field.
+
+[Illustration: THE BERKELEY OVAL FOOTBALL FIELD.]
+
+The trouble with last year's High-School team was that the men were too
+light, and became discouraged early in the season, and did not work with
+that determination which alone can insure success on the football field.
+A number of the old men are back, however, this fall, and the new
+material seems to be heavier than any which has before been available.
+
+The unusually large number of students at the Buffalo High-School this
+year seems to have bred a lively interest in football. The first team
+the High-School ever put into the field was in 1892, but so little
+interest was taken in its work by the students at large and the players
+themselves, that they were able to accomplish but little. This year,
+however, a change seems to have come over the spirit of B.H.-S., and
+large crowds watch the practice every afternoon. The eleven is light
+when compared with some of the teams which it will meet during the
+season, but the men play well together, and the new rules are so
+arranged that a light eleven is not under such a disadvantage as it used
+to be in years past. Vayers, the captain, knows the game thoroughly, and
+has the ability of imparting knowledge to those under him.
+
+The Andover football team this year seems to be rich in candidates for
+positions behind the line, whereas very few good men can be found for
+the rush-line itself. Nevertheless, Captain Barker is working hard with
+such material as he has, and no doubt by the close of the season he will
+have developed an eleven of the usual Andover calibre. It seems very
+improbable that a game with Exeter will be arranged this year, although
+there has been a renewal of interest in the subject lately, and
+considerable thought and some activity among the graduates of the two
+schools.
+
+The papers on the "Science of Football" which have been appearing in
+this Department during the past few weeks, written by Mr. W. H. Lewis,
+of the Harvard football team of 1893, are published now in book form,
+with much additional material, and many more illustrations and diagrams
+than were given originally in the ROUND TABLE. The book will be found
+especially valuable to beginners, for whom it is intended rather than
+for the more experienced player, and the chapter on training will be
+found especially serviceable to the captains of school teams.
+
+"TRACK ATHLETICS IN DETAIL."--ILLUSTRATED.--8VO, CLOTH, ORNAMENTAL,
+$1.25.
+
+  THE GRADUATE.
+
+
+
+
+A little boy who had been very well and carefully brought up was
+overlooked one evening at dinner in the serving of the roast. Presently
+he said,
+
+"Papa, will you pass me the salt, please?"
+
+This was an unusual request, and the father said: "Certainly. Have you
+none at your end of the table?"
+
+"Not enough for all the meat you are going to give me," replied the
+little boy. And he was served at once.
+
+
+
+
+[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.
+
+
+
+
+Arnold
+
+Constable & Co
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Ladies'
+
+Furnishings.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+_Fine Underwear,_
+
+_Night Robes, Petticoats,_
+
+_Dressing-Sacques._
+
+SILK PETTICOATS.
+
+_Infants' Ouffittings,_
+
+_Real Lace Robes,_
+
+_Hemstitched Silk Caps,_
+
+_Long Coats._
+
+CHILDREN'S HAND-EMBROIDERED
+
+UNDERWEAR.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Broadway & 19th st.
+
+NEW YORK.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: THOMPSON'S EYE WATER]
+
+
+
+
+Harper's Catalogue
+
+Thoroughly revised, classified, and indexed, will be sent by mail to any
+address on receipt of ten cents.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: PISO'S CURE FOR CONSUMPTION]
+
+CURES WHERE ALL ELSE FAILS.
+
+Best Cough Syrup. Tastes Good. Use
+
+in time. Sold by druggists.
+
+
+
+
+[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.
+
+
+There are several well-known rules in bicycling to-day which have
+established themselves by custom, and yet many of which, perhaps, will
+not be found in any book. They are, none the less, rules to be followed,
+because they are founded on experience. Riding in the city is very
+different from riding in the country, and there are certain differences
+in riding in small towns from either the country or the city. In the
+country there is no reason why one should not ride on side-paths or
+sidewalks if the road is better there. There is much less traffic, not
+so many pedestrians, and no one has any objection to this side-path
+riding there.
+
+It is very different in towns, however. There, whether the law forbids
+sidewalk riding or not, no bicyclist should leave the street. In towns
+and in cities bicycles become in every way subject to the laws of
+carriages; a wheelman should keep always on the right-hand side of the
+road on principle. When a horse and carriage or another wheel is
+approaching, he should turn to the right, although both the driver of
+the horse and carriage and the rider of the wheel must give him room to
+pass on the right. In overtaking and passing either carriages or
+bicycles, you should pass to the left, turning, in other words, from the
+right-hand side of the road in towards the centre. In turning a corner,
+there are several rules to be observed, and in practice they ought all
+to be observed invariably. If you are turning into a street to the left
+a wide circle should be made, keeping well to the right, leaving room
+always at the corner for any vehicle, whether bicycle or carriage, to
+easily pass.
+
+In fact, a good principle is to keep straight on until the cross-road is
+nearly passed, then turn to the left, and running into the cross-road
+close to the curb at the right. Where there is a road with a walk, or a
+car track, or anything of the sort in the centre that divides the avenue
+into two roadways, always keep on the right hand of the two, and when it
+is necessary to cross in order to get into a side road, do the crossing
+as quickly as possible. If this one rule alone were followed, many
+accidents would be avoided.
+
+The use of bells and brakes constitutes an important part of city
+riding. Every man or woman who rides in a city should have a brake.
+There are times when nothing can save a fall except a very powerful
+brake. You may be riding close behind a horse-car, a cable-car, or
+carriage, when either the cars are obliged to stop suddenly, or perhaps
+a horse falls down. The sharp turn required to avoid running into the
+cars or carriage on a slippery pavement would throw the rider.
+Back-pedalling is of no use in the emergency, and a brake is the only
+thing that will save a collision. In like manner, in riding at night,
+and turning a corner, some one may come upon you suddenly when only a
+brake will save a collision. Bells are of just as much use. It is always
+safe, and therefore advisable, to ring your bell as you cross a
+cross-street. One should never overtake and pass another bicyclist,
+especially a woman, without giving a distinct notice by ringing a bell.
+The rider may be new to the wheel, or a hundred different things might
+happen to change the direction of the leading rider, and the notice
+given by ringing the bell will often save a catastrophe. No corner
+should be turned without notice being given by ringing the bell. No
+carriage should be overtaken and passed without the same notice.
+
+Of course this looks as if one would be kept ringing the bicycle bell
+continually in the city, which is indeed the case; but after a moment's
+thought it will appear that any vehicle which moves without noise is
+obliged to give notice by ringing bells just as frequently. Cable-cars,
+trolley-cars, horse-cars, etc., are all ringing bells continually, and
+yet the newspapers each day contain notices of accidents from one or the
+other. Hence one should make up his mind that if he is to ride in the
+city he must be continually on the watch, and must continually be giving
+notice of his presence by the only noise-making method at his
+command--the bell.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: THE CAMERA CLUB]
+
+     This Department is conducted in the interest of Amateur
+     Photographers, and the Editor will be pleased to answer any
+     question on the subject so far as possible. Correspondents should
+     address Editor Camera Club Department.
+
+A CAMERA CLUB PRINT EXCHANGE.
+
+
+There is scarcely a State in the Union but what is represented in our
+Camera Club, and its membership extends to Canada, the maritime
+provinces, and Europe. Correspondence and local photographic chapters
+are formed among the members, who find that the exchange of ideas and
+experiences are of the greatest help to the amateur who wishes to
+improve.
+
+A few weeks ago one of our members living in a Western State, wishing to
+have a picture of the Treasury Building in Washington, wrote to the
+editor, asking if some member of the Camera Club living in that city
+would not be willing to send him a print of it in exchange for one of
+some Western views, a list of which he enclosed in his letter. By a
+singular coincidence the same mail which brought this letter brought one
+from a member residing in Washington, who stated that she had made some
+fine negatives of the government buildings, and asking suggestions in
+regard to the printing and mounting. The address of the young lady was
+sent to our Western correspondent, and the exchange of prints made to
+their mutual satisfaction.
+
+This incident has suggested to the editor the idea of forming a
+photographic-print exchange for the benefit of the members of the club
+who wish to form a collection of views from different localities.
+Suppose some member of the club wished photographs of the State Houses.
+He could state his wish, and say what pictures he had to offer in
+exchange. Members residing in the capitals of the different States, who
+cared to make the exchange, could correspond with the member wishing the
+pictures.
+
+If the starting of a photographic-print exchange meets the favor of the
+club, a limited space could be given each week to the printing of the
+requests. The print exchange would enable one to make a fine collection
+of views, and the members would receive many helpful suggestions from
+seeing the work of other amateurs. The addresses and wants would be
+published in the Camera Club Department of the ROUND TABLE, but the
+correspondence would of course be carried on by mail, and not through
+the Camera Club.
+
+Some of our amateurs have been abroad, and have made fine negatives of
+foreign scenes: the stay-at-home amateurs might, through the print
+exchange, be able to obtain some of these pictures. Amateurs who make a
+specialty of some particular subject or branch of photography might add
+to their collection, and in many ways the exchange would be a source of
+pleasure and profit.
+
+The plan of exchanging prints is not a new one to our amateurs, for
+several of the prize-winners in our photographic contest exchanged
+prints of the prize pictures.
+
+In making exchanges it is better to send unmounted prints, as the
+pictures can then be mounted on cards of uniform size, or placed in an
+album.
+
+
+
+
+[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.
+
+
+It is now reported that instead of 200,000 sets (except the 5c.) Nova
+Scotia cents issue, there were 200,000 stamps only, divided as follows:
+
+   1c.             52,000
+   2c.             54,000
+  8-1/2c.          54,000
+  10c.             28,000
+  12-1/2c.         12,000
+
+The price paid was about $10,000, and the entire quantity of stamps has
+been divided into 2000 lots, each containing the same number of stamps,
+and the price was fixed at $6 per lot. Stanley Gibbons, of London, the
+English agent, stated in a letter that 80 sets would cost $500, and that
+single sets would retail at $6. In Stanley Gibbons's paper announcing
+prices of the Nova Scotia sets, advertisements of other dealers appeared
+offering sets at $2.40 to $3.60. Harry Hilckes, of London, states that
+sets have been offered to him at 62c. per set. The difference between $6
+and 62c. per set is simply ridiculous. Collectors should not pay fancy
+prices for stamps which are common.
+
+The French government announces the early withdrawal of the 75-centime
+adhesive stamp, the 5c. and 60c. envelopes, and the 3c. newspaper
+wrapper.
+
+The new Japanese stamps which were to be issued in Japan on September
+12, 1896, were received on letters in London on September 5.
+
+The S.S.S.S. adds the following to its list of speculative stamps the
+collection of which should be discouraged:
+
+Uruguay (Suarez memorial), 1c. black and violet; 5c. black and blue;
+10c. black and red. Venezuela (Miranda), 5c., 10c., 25c., and 50c., and
+1c. Bolivar.
+
+The desire to differentiate minute varieties on the part of advanced
+collectors gives point to a story which is going the rounds of the
+philatelic press. A certain dealer secured a lot of U.S. stamps with
+original gum, etc. Some were older than other copies of the same issue,
+others were a little "off," still others had had the gum soaked off,
+etc. He began marking them "uncancelled"; a better copy became "unused,"
+a still better one "original gum"; then advancing, "old original gum,"
+"older original gum," "very old original gum"; and still there were a
+few which seemed to him should be classed by themselves, so after much
+thought they were labelled "pre-historic gum."
+
+     MCHENRY COAL.--The 1827 dime can be bought for 20c.
+
+     W. G. CRAWFORD.--I do not understand your inquiry regarding
+     postal-cards. There is a "Postal-Card Society" in existence which
+     is quite active, but stamp-collectors, as a rule, confine
+     themselves to adhesive stamps. In many instances, however, cut
+     square envelopes are added. Entire envelopes of the U.S. are coming
+     into favor gradually.
+
+     W. T. HOLDEN, 36 Marcy Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y., wishes to exchange
+     stamps. I believe dealers are eligible to membership in the
+     Dorchester Stamp Exchange. I do not know the New York Stamp
+     Exchange. All the philatelic societies in New York have exchange
+     circuits of their own, confined to their own membership. Dealers
+     are not eligible to membership in "The Philatelic Society, New
+     York"; but members who afterward become dealers can continue their
+     membership if they wish.
+
+     H. O. KOERPER.--The 1839 dime is offered by dealers at 20c. each;
+     the 3c. piece in fair condition from 10c. to 20c. each. Worn copies
+     of either are worth face only. U.S. fractional currency which is
+     not fresh and clean is worth face only.
+
+     L. V. GREEN.--Continental, Colonial, and Confederate paper money is
+     extremely plentiful. With a few exceptions, dealers do not care to
+     buy, except in large quantities. One house held Confederate money
+     in _bales_, and sold it by the pound. The copies mentioned by you
+     have no money value.
+
+     T. A. B. OSAGE.--No illustration of the St. Louis stamp appeared in
+     No. 871 HARPER'S ROUND TABLE, page 875. It was illustrated in No.
+     826 (August 26, 1895). You say you have a copy of the 5c. St.
+     Louis, and ask its value. It is impossible to express any opinion
+     as to the value of a rare stamp until after examination. I am
+     always glad to oblige a subscriber to the ROUND TABLE, but I cannot
+     be responsible for the loss of stamps in transit. If you wish me to
+     examine it I will do so, provided it be sent by express prepaid.
+     When returned, it would be sent express at your expense. In the
+     case of less valuable stamps, they can be sent by registered mail,
+     and an addressed envelope stamped for return in the same way should
+     be enclosed with the stamps. If stamps are sent in the regular
+     mail, they will be returned the same way, provided an addressed and
+     stamped envelope be enclosed.
+
+     MARY WILLIS.--French assignats are worthless. The French government
+     made thousands of millions, which gradually sunk in value from par
+     with gold to absolutely nothing within four years. The same was
+     true of Colonial and Continental currency in this country, with the
+     solitary exception of Vermont Colonials, which were redeemed at
+     par.
+
+     G. T. T.--Your 1853 quarter is the common variety, worth face only.
+
+  PHILATUS.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+YOUNG MOTHERS
+
+should early learn the necessity of keeping on hand a supply of Gail
+Borden Eagle Brand Condensed Milk for nursing babies as well as for
+general cooking. It has stood the test for 30 years, and its value is
+recognized.--[_Adv._]
+
+
+
+
+ADVERTISEMENTS.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+W. G. BAKER
+
+..Pays You..
+
+Well to Introduce
+
+Teas, Spices and Baking Powder.
+
+JUST go among your friends and sell a mixed order amounting in total to
+50 lbs. for a Waltham Gold Watch and Chain or a Decorated Dinner Set; 25
+lbs. for a Solid Silver Watch and Chain; 10 lbs. for a Solid Gold Ring;
+175 lbs. for a Lady's High-Grade Bicycle; or sell 75 lbs. for a Boy's
+Bicycle; 100 lbs. for a Girl's Bicycle; 200 lbs. for a Gentleman's
+High-Grade Bicycle; 30 lbs. for a Fairy Tricycle.
+
+     Express or freight paid if cash is sent with order. Send address on
+     postal for Catalogue. Order-sheet and particulars.
+
+W. G. BAKER (Dept. I), Springfield, Mass.
+
+
+
+
+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., & fine =STAMP ALBUM=, only 10c.; 200, all dif., Hayti,
+Hawaii, etc., only 50c. Agents wanted at 50 per cent. com. List FREE!
+=C. A. Stegmann=, 5941 Cote Brilliant 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.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: THOMPSON'S EYE WATER]
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Commit to Memory]
+
+the best things in Prose and Poetry, always including good Songs and
+Hymns. It is surprising how little good work of this kind seems to be
+done in the Schools, if one must judge from the small number of people
+who can repeat, without mistake or omission, as many as =Three= good songs
+or hymns.
+
+[Illustration: Clear, Sharp, Definite,]
+
+and accurate Memory work is a most excellent thing, whether in School or
+out of it, among all ages and all classes. But let that which is so
+learned be worth learning and worth retaining. The Franklin Square Song
+Collection presents a large number of
+
+[Illustration: Old and New Songs]
+
+and Hymns, in great variety and very carefully selected, comprising
+Sixteen Hundred in the Eight Numbers thus far issued, together with much
+choice and profitable Reading Matter relating to Music and Musicians. In
+the complete and varied
+
+[Illustration: Table of Contents,]
+
+which is sent free on application to the Publishers, there are found
+dozens of the best things in the World, which are well worth committing
+to memory; and they who know most of such good things, and appreciate
+and enjoy them most, are really among the best educated people in any
+country. They have the best result of Education. For above Contents,
+with sample pages of Music, address
+
+Harper & Brothers, New York.
+
+
+
+
+The Importance of Care.
+
+
+Not infrequently has the Table urged upon its readers the desirability
+of good penmanship and careful selection of words in letter-writing.
+Here are three stories, all vouched for as true, which emphasize the
+points anew:
+
+A Cincinnati grocer's house found that cranberries had risen to $6 per
+bushel. The purchasing clerk immediately sent this note by the firm's
+teamster, "One hundred bushels per Simmons." (Simmons was the driver's
+name.) The well-meaning correspondent thought the scrawl read, "One
+hundred bushels persimmons," and boys were straightway set to work, for
+persimmons were plentiful. The wagon made its appearance next day loaded
+down with eighty bushels. The remaining twenty bushels were to follow
+next day, and when the correspondent found out his mistake he angrily
+demanded why the order did not read _by_ Simmons?
+
+A New England clergyman wrote a letter to the General Court. The clerk
+came to a sentence which he read, "I address you not as magistrates, but
+as Indian devils." The Court was wroth until the "Indian devils" were
+found to be "individuals."
+
+An English gentleman, in writing to a Lincolnshire friend, mentioned the
+latter's kindness to him, and said he should soon send him a suitable
+"equivalent." The friend read the word "elephant," and immediately built
+a handsome barn for the reception of his elephantine majesty. But much
+to his surprise a barrel of oysters was the "equivalent."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Minimized Writing.
+
+Mention was made in the Table, not long since, of the microscopic ring
+presented to Queen Elizabeth, consisting of a silver penny on which
+Bales "put more things than would fill several duodecimo pages." For a
+long time, Pliny's remark that Cicero had once seen Homer's Iliad in a
+nutshell was considered an exaggeration, at least. But an old French
+writer named Huet proves the statement to be true. A sheet of sheep-skin
+10x8 can be neatly folded up so as to fit the shell of a large walnut.
+In its breadth the strip will contain one line of thirty verses, and in
+its length, 250 lines. Each side of the page would, then, contain 7500
+verses, or the whole of the Iliad! Huet proved this fact in the presence
+of the Dauphin, using a sheet of paper and a crow-quill pen.
+
+In the library of St. John's College, Oxford, is a head of Charles I.
+made up of minute lines of script which at a little distance resemble
+common engraving lines. The lines of the head and ruff form the Psalms,
+the Creed, and the Lord's Prayer. There is a portrait of Queen Anne in
+the British Museum "not much above the size of the hand." This drawing,
+too, is made up of microscopic lines and scratches which form the
+contents of an entire folio!
+
+Elizabeth's silver penny ring was surpassed by the farthing of Peter
+Almunus, an Italian monk. On the coin were engrossed the Acts of the
+Apostles and the Gospel according to St. John. Another example of
+microscopic writing was presented to Elizabeth in the shape of a piece
+of parchment the size of a finger, containing the Decalogue, the Creed,
+the Lord's Prayer, the name of the giver, and the date. A pair of
+spectacles accompanied this Lilliputian manuscript.
+
+Ælian tells us of an artist who wrote a "distich in letters of gold,
+which he enclosed in the rind of a grain of corn," while Menage writes
+of microscopic sentences, pictures, and portraits. He mentions reading
+an Italian poem in praise of the Princess, "written by an officer in the
+space of a foot and a half."
+
+With Pope we would say:
+
+  "Why has not man a microscopic eye?
+  For this plain reason--man is not a fly."
+
+  MAURICE MAXWELL.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+A Story about Holland's Young Queen.
+
+Queen Wilhelmina, of Holland, who once applied for membership in the
+Order of the Round Table, and purchased a set of Columbian stamps
+through the Editor of the Round Table Stamp Department, has become
+betrothed to her second cousin, although yet in her early teens. When
+the German Emperor paid a visit to The Hague, in 1893, the Queen desired
+to be present at the banquet given in his honor. This, of course, was
+out of the question. To all the pleadings of her daughter the Queen
+Regent turned a deaf ear. "You are too young and must go to bed." As,
+however, the child Queen persisted in her demands, there remained for
+the Regent but one alternative--to herself conduct the young lady to her
+bedroom. This she did, but not without one final energetic protest from
+the disappointed Queen. "I will go to the balcony and tell the Dutch
+people how you abuse their Queen."
+
+Of course the young lady did nothing of the kind, but sobbed herself to
+sleep instead, and next day dutifully begged her mother's pardon.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Kinks.
+
+No. 41.--A PROSE CHARADE.
+
+I am a combination of the animal and vegetable kingdom, generally made
+by boys, and carried in their pockets. Part of me once belonged to a
+two-legged farm animal, and helped to do what Maxim, Langley, and
+Lielenthal have as yet failed in. The next important part grew in the
+forest and was shaped by a jack-knife. The third and last part grew in
+the ground. Many a fly has met death at my hands, but my chief merit is
+noise. What am I?
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+No. 42.--POLITICAL QUESTIONS.
+
+1. What legislature is known as the "House of Keys"?
+
+2. What early American hero boasted of having killed, while in Austria,
+thirty men merely to prove to a party of ladies that he was brave?
+
+3. Who burned up the "copy" of the first _Congressional Record_?
+
+4. Who made the principal address at Gettysburg, now forgotten, on the
+day that Lincoln made his famous impromptu one?
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+No. 43.--A STAR.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+1 to 2, part of a woman's cap; 1 to 3, an explosion of thunder; 4 to 5,
+a soothing ointment; 4 to 3, a soft mass; 5 to 2, a wooden mallet.
+
+  B.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+NO. 44.--SINGLE ACROSTIC.
+
+The following words, all the same length, give for their initials, when,
+read downward, the full name of a President of the United States: To
+attempt; firmness; something that comes to us all; to answer; to
+succeed; value; to varnish; keen; to dance; dexterity; to toil; to
+command; a recess in a wall.
+
+  F. X. M.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+No. 45.--NUMERICAL ENIGMA.
+
+  I am composed of three words and nineteen letters.
+  1. My 11, 6, 3, 19, 5, is to mount.
+  2. My 10, 11, 12, 18, is a low place between hills.
+  3. My 13, 11, 10, 12, 5, is a dipper with a handle.
+  4. My 19, 1, 2, 4, 18, is to clear up.
+  5. My 14, 15, 17, 8, is the dearest place on earth.
+  6. My 7, 3, 18, 13, 10, to sway.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Answers to Kinks.
+
+No 37.
+
+2803 miles--found by taking all the letters in the lines that are
+employed in the Roman notation, setting down their common value in
+figures, and adding all together. Count i as figure 1.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+No. 38.
+
+        R
+      W A R
+    W A V E S
+  R A V A G E S
+    R E G E T
+      S E T
+        S
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+No. 39.--Niagara.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+No. 40.
+
+1.--1. Baret. 2. Abode. 3. Rosin. 4. Edict. 5. Tents.
+
+2.--1. Prong. 2. Racer. 3. Ochre. 4. Nerve. 5. Green.
+
+3.--1. Sharp. 2. Honor. 3. Angle. 4. Rolls. 5. Press.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+A Clever Chapter Memorial.
+
+The prettiest memorial that we have ever seen of any Round Table Chapter
+comes to us from the Kearsarge Chapter, of Hudson, N. Y. It is a small
+volume, bound in white cloth, neatly printed, and containing about half
+a hundred pages. This Chapter has fourteen members and has had two jolly
+and profitable years. Its clever editors, Messrs. L. G. Price, M. A.
+Jones, Paul Rowley, C. S. Keating, and S. J. Salls, dedicate their neat
+book to the Chapter--and its friends. They explain the objects of the
+Order, and define a Knight: "A nineteenth century relic of the past,
+distinguished for his chivalry, honor, and appetite"--the Kearsarge
+variety, we presume. In some cyclopædic information it defines _gavel_:
+
+  "Something the Chapter needs, but hasn't got;
+  Different from gabble, which it has, but needeth not."
+
+There is a witty salutatory, a list of the officers and members, minutes
+of the year, done in college class-day oratory style, football, skating,
+bicycling, tennis, and debating records, and a skit in one act, "Tales
+of a Soda-Water Fountain," which is clever in composition and
+exceedingly droll. Here is the Chapter yell:
+
+Hobble, gobble! Razzle, dazzle! Sis! Boom! Ah! Kearsarge Chapter, Rah!
+Rah! Rah!
+
+Ten pages of advertising help out the "Business Manager's Cinch." The
+editors hope it will be "a credit to the Chapter." It is indeed. No
+mention is made of price, but we presume other Chapters can buy copies.
+The treasurer is Allen Rossman, Hudson.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Proposed International Club.
+
+Efforts are being made to form a Correspondence Chapter, its members to
+be Ladies, and those whose homes are widely scattered, in order that
+they may describe each other's homes, and have those descriptions of
+interest. Three members interested in it are: Donna Vittoria Colonna,
+Colonna Palace, Rome, Italy; Miss Isma Fincham, Roydon, Queenstown,
+South Africa; and Miss Florence E. Cowan, Kingman, Arizona. The
+last-named desires to hear from Miss Marie Ojetti, Rome, Italy, from the
+members in Australia and New Zealand, and all others, fourteen to
+eighteen years of age, who may wish to join.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Questions and Answers.
+
+Robert Burdette Dale asks about the Panama Canal. The projector of it
+was M. Ferdinand de Lesseps, the man who success fully financed and
+constructed the Suez Canal. For his Panama venture he obtained vast sums
+from the French middle classes. The United States consul at Colon
+reported, about one year ago, that $400,000,000 had been spent upon the
+canal, but that comparatively little progress had been made toward
+completion. Yet he said in the same report that $100,000,000 would
+complete it. The discrepancy is due to the cause you mention--profligacy
+in the management thus far.
+
+Charges of fraud were made in France, and the last days of the great
+engineer were embittered by the wreck of his hopes and of many poor
+French families. Direct fraud was not, we believe, traced to M.
+Ferdinand, but rather he was the victim of over-confidence and of
+unscrupulous men. At present about 1000 men are employed on the canal,
+chiefly to protect machinery and work already done. The Nicaragua Canal
+is to be 170 miles long, and its estimated cost $100,000,000. Its survey
+crosses no rivers; but were a canal to do so, it would, if on the same
+level, let the river run into the canal and act as a water-feeder. If
+not on a level, either the river or the canal would be crossed by an
+aqueduct. Mountains are tunnelled, or the route laid out around them.
+
+Don Rathburn, write to Hon. George D. Perkins, Sioux City, your member
+of Congress, who will give you full particulars about entering
+Annapolis. At least he can tell you if there be a vacancy from your
+district. Only one person at a time may be at Annapolis from one
+district. Hence, ordinarily, one is appointed every four years. If, in
+this busy political season, Mr. Perkins does not reply promptly, write
+to Hon. Hilary A. Herbert, Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.
+Elizabeth Barber, 126 Court Street, Oshkosh, Wis., wants numbers 783 and
+787 HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE. These issues are out of the publisher's
+stock. If any reader has them and is willing to sell them, Miss Barber
+will pay both price and postage. Thomas Skelley will do the same to get
+numbers 787, 792, and 796, and Nicholas J. Healy, 203 West Street, New
+York city, to get number 821. The last named is informed that he can get
+number 833 by applying to the publishers. These numbers are wanted to
+complete volumes for binding. Ralph B. Hughes, Richmond, Mo., a member
+of our Order, says: "I am much interested in the collection of the
+colloquial songs of this country, and would be very glad to receive a
+copy of the words of any of these songs from any of the readers of the
+ROUND TABLE. I want plantation songs, negro and steamboat deck hands'
+songs, sailors' and soldiers' songs. Any one who will send me these
+songs will confer a favor, which I would be glad to repay in any way
+that I can. I have a small collection of these songs, many of which are
+very interesting, and I would like to enlarge it."
+
+"Fortunatus" can find, probably, no place where "fine needle-work may be
+readily sold at a good price." The reason is an over-supply. She can try
+two ways to earn money with her needle. One is to secure the names of
+well-to-do women and write them personal letters, mentioning the wares
+for sale, and asking if they may be sent for inspection. A few
+replies--perhaps ten out of fifty letters--will be received, and it is
+safe, as a rule, to send the article on approval, with stamp for its
+return. If any be lost, charge it to profit and loss, which is in every
+business. The other is to place the work on sale at exchanges, which are
+found in all cities. To reach them, address "Woman's Exchange." A small
+commission is charged, and generally hints are given you about what
+class of articles sell best.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Can You give these Directions?
+
+Malcolm I. Davis asks how to make an Æolian-harp for his library window.
+Some time ago we gave directions for such harp, but several who followed
+them said their harps were capable of being improved--"might be better,"
+one Connecticut member wrote. Will some one give us directions for
+making a harp warranted to be the best.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: IVORY SOAP]
+
+  'Tis wisest to economize
+  By blending, in the home supplies,
+  The highest worth and widest scope.
+  Now Ivory, being pure and good
+  For laundry, bath and toilet, would
+  Save fully half the bills for soap.
+
+Copyright, 1896, by The Procter & Gamble Co., Cin'ti.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: THOMPSON'S EYE WATER]
+
+
+
+
+HARPER'S NEW CATALOGUE,
+
+Thoroughly revised, classified, and indexed, will be sent by mail to any
+address on receipt of ten cents.
+
+
+
+
+_Just Published_
+
+A PRIMER OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL
+
+By W. H. LEWIS. Illustrated from Instantaneous Photographs and with
+Diagrams. 16mo, Paper, 75 cents.
+
+     Mr. Lewis, an old Harvard football centre-rush, has put together in
+     this book the result of his experiences in practical football. The
+     work, therefore, is not so much a treatise on the game as a series
+     of practical suggestions, to be used by captains in teaching their
+     men and coaching their teams. The book is divided respectively into
+     the "individual" and "team" play. The part on the "individual"
+     discusses, first, the individual plays, such as passing, kicking,
+     running, falling on the ball, and so on, and then the work of the
+     individual players themselves. The second part discusses, first,
+     offensive and then defensive team play. It will be seen, therefore,
+     that the book is unique of its kind, and in its small compass will
+     be eminently suited for use from day to day in the field or during
+     the discussion after practice.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+RECENT POPULAR BOOKS
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+WITH MY NEIGHBORS
+
+By MARGARET E. SANGSTER. 16mo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.25.
+
+     Mrs. Sangster is a gentle mentor, and while she preaches with great
+     earnestness, it is the sweet womanliness that shines through all
+     she says that attracts and holds the reader.... "With My Neighbors"
+     is wholesome and sweet.... A little book that fulfils an admirable
+     mission.--_Chicago Evening Post._
+
+THE OLD INFANT, AND SIMILAR STORIES
+
+By WILL CARLETON. Post 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.25.
+
+     Every one breathes the sympathy of a whole-souled man, whose humor,
+     while pungent, is always kindly.... There is always that trembling
+     in the laugh that betokens the presence of a tear ready to fall.
+     Will Carleton is always a poet, whether he writes in verse or
+     not.--_N. Y. Commercial Advertiser._
+
+SHAKESPEARE THE BOY
+
+With Sketches of the Home and School Life, the Games and Sports, the
+Manners, Customs, and Folk-Lore of the Time. By WILLIAM J. ROLFE,
+Litt.D., Editor of "Rolfe's English Classics," etc. Illustrated. Post
+8vo, Cloth, $1.25.
+
+     Clearly, forcibly, yet simply, has Prof. Rolfe presented the story
+     of a boy's life, a great boy, a boy of high aspirations, for the
+     literary pleasure of the student and the scholar, as well as for
+     the captivation and delight of the undergraduate and the children,
+     with whom in all ages is Shakespeare a favorite.--_Boston Courier._
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+HARPER & BROTHERS, Publishers, New York
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: THE LITTLE RABBIT'S MISTAKE.]
+
+  "HELLO, SOME RABBIT'S LOST ITS TAIL! TOO BAD, I DO DECLARE!"
+  (HE SAW A FLUFFY THISTLE-DOWN AFLOAT UP IN THE AIR.)
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+THAT SETTLES IT.
+
+TEDDY. "I tell you it's so."
+
+NELLIE. "I say it is not."
+
+TEDDY. "Well, mamma says it's so; and if mamma says it's so, it's so
+even if it isn't so!"
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+PRIDE GOETH BEFORE A FALL.
+
+The following anecdote was new many years ago, but will bear repeating.
+A certain Spanish knight, very poor but proud, and rightly so, as his
+birth was as high as a King's, arrived late one very dark night at an
+inn in France. Riding up to the entrance on his forlorn nag, he fell to
+battering the gate. He finally awakened the landlord, who, peering out
+into the night, called,
+
+"Who is there?"
+
+"Don Juan Pedro Hernandez Rodriguez de Vellanova, Count of Malofra,
+Knight Santiago and Alcantara," replied the Spaniard.
+
+"I am very sorry," shouted the landlord, "but I haven't room enough for
+all those gentlemen you mention." And he slammed the window and retired.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+WELL TO REMEMBER.
+
+What is good for one is not always good for another. This is illustrated
+in a short tale told some time ago about a French medical student. While
+in London on a visit the student lodged in the house with a man very
+sick with a fever, who was continually besieged by his nurse to drink
+very nauseating liquids which were lukewarm. The sick man found this
+almost impossible to do, until one day he whispered to his nurse,
+
+"Bring me a salt herring and I will drink as much as you please."
+
+The woman indulged him in his request; he ate the herring, drank the
+liquids, underwent the required perspiration, and recovered.
+
+The French student, thinking this very clever, inserted in his journal,
+"Salt herring cures an Englishman of fever."
+
+On his return to France he prescribed the same remedy to his first
+patient with a fever. The patient died. On which he inserted in his
+journal: "N.B.--A salt herring cures an Englishman, but kills a
+Frenchman."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+A LONG CHASE.
+
+It was noticed, at one of the boys' clubs over on the East Side, that a
+little negro who attended regularly always sought a certain book each
+evening, and laughed uproariously apparently at the same picture. One of
+the supervisors approached and saw that the picture represented a bull
+chasing a small colored boy across a field. He asked the little fellow
+what amused him so.
+
+"Gosh!" answered the boy, "he 'ain't kotched him yet!"
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+A new pair of shoes came home for Davy, aged five. He was delighted with
+them until they had been put on his feet. Then he exclaimed, with a
+pout, "Oh, my! they're so tight I can't wink my toes!"
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+One of King George's ministers was once asked why he did not promote
+merit. "Because," replied the minister, "merit did not promote me!"
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+David Garrick, the celebrated actor, was once urged to become a
+candidate for Parliament. "No, I thank you," replied Garrick. "I would
+rather play the part of a great man on the stage than the part of a fool
+in Parliament."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Just before the sea fight between the fleets of Admiral Duncan and
+Admiral de Winter, the former called his men together, and said,
+
+"Lads, there is a hard winter coming on; see that you keep up a good
+fire!"
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+"Now, boys," said the new school-teacher, "I want you to be so quiet
+that we can hear a pin drop."
+
+There was a cavernous silence for a second, then a voice in the rear
+muttered, "Now, then, let her drop!"
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+[Illustration: PURE FOLLY.]
+
+MRS. DACHSHUND. "MY SON, HOW OFTEN MUST I TELL YOU NOT TO GET INTO AN
+ARGUMENT WITH THAT GOAT?"
+
+SON. "WHY?"
+
+MRS. DACHSHUND. "BECAUSE HE'S ENTIRELY TOO HEADSTRONG."
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Round Table, October 13, 1896, by Various
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 59467 ***