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diff --git a/59808-0.txt b/59808-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bae6093 --- /dev/null +++ b/59808-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3374 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 59808 *** + + + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: HARPER'S ROUND TABLE] + +Copyright, 1896, by HARPER & BROTHERS. All Rights Reserved. + + * * * * * + +PUBLISHED WEEKLY. NEW YORK, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1896. FIVE CENTS A +COPY. + +VOL. XVIII.--NO. 888. TWO DOLLARS A YEAR. + + * * * * * + + + + +[Illustration: ONE PORTRAIT BEFORE WHICH MY MOTHER USED TO STAND AND +WEEP.] + +A LOYAL TRAITOR. + +A STORY OF THE WAR OF 1812 BETWEEN AMERICA AND ENGLAND. + +BY JAMES BARNES. + + Memories of John Hurdiss, of Stonington, Connecticut, written by + himself, in order to ease his mind and, incidentally, to interest + any one who might enjoy an unembellished narrative, told by a pen + untried but truthful. It represents the labor of spare moments + taken from a busy life, and is dedicated to those who may bear the + writer's name. He therefore craves a kind indulgence.--J. H. + + EDITOR'S NOTE.--The manuscript from which the following + auto-biographical story is printed was found in an old desk that + had been hidden away in the garret of a shipping-office in the town + of Stonington, Connecticut. It narrowly escaped being destroyed at + the time of discovery. Parts of it required a great deal of care in + the putting together, as the mice had unfortunately commenced their + work of destruction. However, it has been deciphered without loss + of a paragraph, and, it is to be hoped, contains sufficient that + will interest the reader. John Hurdiss is well remembered by one or + two of Stonington's oldest inhabitants, although he moved from that + town to the West some time in the forties. His grandchildren (for + whom he probably wrote the story) are now given a chance to read of + the strange adventures of their ancestor under three flags. The + mystery which is referred to, and which has little to do with the + story itself, perhaps, we leave for their unravelling. Thus, + without further preamble, it is presented as it came from his pen + and in his words. The main title is taken from one of Captain + Hurdiss's own expressions; the titles to some of the chapters had + to be supplied, as the original author left them in blank. + + +Chapter I. + +AB INITIO. + +In sitting down to write a tale in which I myself am the central figure +and most prominent actor, I cannot help at first feeling a fear that any +one who perchance shall read all that is to follow (if I ever succeed in +the finishing of it) will judge me a person whose opinion of himself is +high in the extreme. + +While possessing the proper self-respect, without which no man is ever +truthful or successful, I do not claim to have accomplished anything +for the reason that I am gifted beyond the ordinary. I am not. But +circumstances of my early youth gave to me chances for adventure, and +fate probably led me, under the guiding hand of Providence, through much +that is outside of the usual walks of life. + +Although, as I write, I am only in late middle age and hale and hearty, +all that I intend to record seems long ago indeed. Yet truthfully, and +in such ways as memory recalls it, do I intend to put it down. If I am +discursive, it is because I am led away by the vividness with which my +eye puts the scenes again before me; that is all there is to it. + +In going over many events of the past in the half-waking hours at +night--a habit I have long been prone to--I have felt, often, my +heart-beats quicken, and more than once I have scarce restrained an +inclination to speak or to cry aloud in accordance with my feelings. +Perhaps the placing of all this upon paper may reduce the intensity with +which I relive a life that is gone. And thus, to begin: + +My earliest childhood's recollection is of a warm summer's day. I know +it was warm, because the sand in which I was playing sparkled and shone +as it ran through my fingers, and the long stretch of beach, whose +whiteness dazzled my eyes, was hot to the touch of my bare feet. A great +brown curly dog playing up and down the water's edge makes part of the +picture, and an old colored mammy, crooning softly to herself, was +shading my head with the green branch of a tree. Then a tall man with +gray hair came and lifted me on his shoulder and carried me through a +wood whose trees seemed to touch the clouds; then out of the shadows, by +a path through a meadow (in which were some great fierce hogs that +frightened me most dreadfully), up to a large house, where a beautiful +woman took me in her arms and kissed me and called me pet names that I +was glad to hear. This, I say, is the first day of all my life that I +can remember--which is beginning at the beginning, and no mistake. + +Gradually it came to me, so that I can remember it, that I began to love +things. I loved my beautiful mother, who spoke to me in a language very +different from that of the three old colored people whom I saw every +day, namely, Aunt Sheba, Ann Martha, and Ol' Peter; and I loved them +also, and I loved the dog. + +I seemed to understand the two kinds of speaking very well (my mother's +and the rest of the world's, I mean), although I did not know that one +was French and the other darky English pure and simple. + +The tall man, whom I sometimes called "_père_," and at others "daddy," +was not always with us. Very often it was long months between his +visits, and he generally remarked how I had grown and how much heavier I +had become since last he had lifted me up on his shoulder. + +Then came the time when I began to think--strange thoughts that were +never answered, because for the most part I confided them to no one +except, maybe, to the brown curly dog, who was called "Maréchal" by my +mother, and "Maa'shal" by the colored people. Like myself, he seemed to +understand either language perfectly, and replied to each in his own +fashion. + +I well remember the day I first began to wonder at the vastness of the +world. It was upon an occasion when my father and Ol' Peter took me for +a sail in a _tremendous_ boat that they afterwards hauled up on the +beach out at the mouth of the river--this is very clear in my mind--and +the next morning after this excursion I went down with my mother to the +end of the little wharf, and lo and behold! a great ship was lying at +anchor in the broad stretch of water beyond the reedy point of land. My +mother was crying softly, and my father kissed her, and me, too, over +and over again. Then he stepped in a boat rowed by dark men with beards +on their faces, and put off to the ship, spread her sails like a great +bird and swept out into the bay. + +When she had gone beyond the point, and we could no longer see a tall +figure standing on the after-deck waving his hat, my mother burst out +crying harder than ever, and we went back to the house. I never saw my +father again. + +I call him "my father," in thus looking back at the great spring-time, +because I always think of him as such, and because I bear his name. Long +years afterwards I learned much that this story will tell, if it goes on +to the end, but it is now too early to indulge in explanations--I must +relate things as they come to me. + +Well, when I was six or seven years of age--when these first days I have +touched on were even then but a memory--I began to enjoy life in new +ways. I had never a play-mate but the dog, who had grown too old for +romping; but my mother would read long and wonderful stories to me in +her beautiful low voice, in French, of course, and I, listening, +pictured the outside world as something strange and beautiful, and just +waiting and yearning for _my_ coming to see it and enjoy it. + +The ships that sailed up and down the bay, long distances off, were all +bound somewhere that only _I_ knew, and my thoughts would follow them to +enchanted islands where fairies and beautiful creatures lived, and where +wonderful birds sang from the branches of wonderful trees. I had begun +to study with my mother about this period. Dull work it often appeared +to be, and I dare say many a rebellion had to be put down and many an +outbreak silenced, although I can recollect no chastisements. But at +last, before I was ten years old, I would take a book, and followed by +the sedately plodding Maréchal, seek a shady spot down at the point, +where I read myself to sleep often enough. + +Of course now, by this time, I knew that the name of the river on which +our plantation bordered was the Gunpowder, that the blue waters were the +waters of Chesapeake Bay, that I lived on the shores of Maryland, and +that the ships were bound not to fairy islands (except now and then when +I _wanted_ them to be), but to Baltimore and Annapolis and Havre de +Grace, and to a dozen other places whose inhabitants sought their living +by trading and sailing on the sea. + +I had also heard from Ol' Peter that there had been a war between our +country and another, named England, and that a great man named +Washington had once stopped at this very house in which we lived. Ol' +Peter described to me the surrender of Cornwallis (at which he had been +present, according to accounts); but my mother's talk and all she read +about was of France, that I gradually came to believe must have been the +most beautiful country in the world. Yet my mother always spoke as if +France were dead, which puzzled me not a little. Of a truth, there were +many things that puzzled me in those days. I had so many times received +the answer, "You will learn all some day--_On vous dira tout ça un de +ces jours, mon petit_," that at last I learned to hold back my +curiosity, or to answer with my own imagination. + +Our neighbors, who were not very neighborly, lived at long distances +from us. They had no children, and up to my tenth year I had never +exchanged a thought with any one of my own age. To tell the truth I am +afraid my mother did not encourage the people near us to be very +friendly, and I suppose that they talked much, and perhaps said spiteful +things about her. I can remember how I began to notice that she seldom +walked farther than the rose-bush at the end of the garden path, and +that she was growing thinner and thinner, yet more beautiful every day. + +We led a very simple existence, living mostly on what we raised in the +garden and what Ol' Peter brought back from the "cross-roads"--a +collection of three houses five or six miles distant from our +plantation. + +But I was growing big and strong for my age--so strong, indeed, that I +could handle the heavy oars when Peter and I went out on the river to +tend the nets; and never shall I forget the first time I was allowed to +fire the old fowling-piece that occasionally brought a fat canvas-back +duck, lusciously reeking of wild celery, to grace our table. + +The furnishings of the big house we lived in I can recall in detail; +they were very rich, although there were no carpets in any of the rooms +except in the room my mother slept in. But there were great nail-studded +chairs, and two carved oak sideboards, and a wonderful clock, upon +which, by-the-way, I took my first lesson in geography; it was shaped +like a golden earth, with the hours marked upon its circumference, and a +hand that pointed them out as each came around in turn. + +The rooms upstairs were empty, except for some packing-cases and +rubbish--all but one small chamber, to which my mother alone had the +key, and which contained a great iron-bound chest that I stood much in +awe of. In the wide hallway downstairs were three portraits; one before +which my mother often used to stand and weep (I knew it to be he who had +sailed away in the ship and used to carry me on his shoulder). The +second was a handsome pale-faced man whose hair fell in long ringlets +over his steel armor, and who looked forth, very proud and haughty, from +his piercing gray eyes that would follow one even out of the door on to +the piazza. (I have often peered around the corners to see if they would +discover me, and they never failed in it.) The third was a beautiful one +of a woman whom I thought to be my mother. One day she told me, however, +that it was not--that it was her twin sister, at which I marvelled. + +A score or so of books were in a great case in one of the bare front +rooms, some of them bound in handsome leather bindings and filled with +fine engravings. What would I not give to possess them now! + +One day was so much like another that, were it not for the seasons that +flew by quickly, the world would have apparently been standing still; +but that the oars were becoming less heavy and the distances not so +great. Very soon I tended the nets alone or wandered along the shore +with the old flintlock fowling-piece over my shoulder; ducks, or perhaps +a wild goose or a swan, during the spring and fall, were always ready to +be cooked, hanging in the spring-house at the end of the garden. + +I began to roam farther and farther in my lonely excursions. Poor old +Maréchal would follow me no longer than reached the shadow of the house. + +I suppose that many people who travelled by the coach that passed the +cross-roads every day wondered who the boy was that used to stand with a +tall gun beside him at a fence corner, silently watching the lumbering +vehicle go down the highway in a cloud of dust. I must have presented a +quaint sight, no doubt, for my clothes were of home manufacture and I +kept growing out of them. But the buttons, I recollect, on the rough +cloth, were very beautiful, and inscribed with the same crest that was +painted on one corner of the portrait with the flowing brown hair; these +buttons played an important part in subsequent adventures, and I would +give a finger to possess one at the present writing. But I am forging +ahead of my story. To get back to it in quick order: + +One day my mother and I and Ol' Peter mounted the rickety wagon to which +our one lone mule was harnessed, and drove to the cross-roads. It was +the first time that I could remember my mother leaving the plantation. I +did not know then that it was on my account that she was making this +departure, but I can see it plainly enough in looking over the time. A +question that I had asked of her some days before had more than probably +decided her upon doing so. + +"Mamma," I had inquired, "are we always going to live here?" + +I remember that she had looked at me strangely, and the next day the +preparations were made for the great change. It is little things that +occasion them usually in life, I notice. + +When the coach stopped at the cross-roads tavern, the passengers gazed +at us most curiously. The guard nudged his companion and whispered +something, and a tall man in an officer's uniform politely handed my +mother to a seat inside. Then the horn blew, the driver touched up the +horses, and away we went. + +I began to feel frightened. We passed houses and plantations with +hundreds of colored people working in the fields, and at last, a little +past noonday, we entered the town of Baltimore, and drove to an inn. The +sight of so many people and of boys of my own age playing in the +streets, the near-by glimpses of the shipping at the wharfs, thrilled +and excited me; and as we descended from the coach, I held fast to my +mother's skirt and would have hidden. The landlord of the inn hastened +out and received us with the greatest consideration. After some bowing +and scraping, and many orders to the negro servants, he turned from my +mother, and poking out his finger in my direction, addressed a question +to me, to which I falteringly replied in a manner that was evidently +unintelligible, from the look on his face. I must have spoken French in +my embarrassment. + +We did not stay long at the inn--two or three days at the most; then we +went to live in a little house that my mother had rented at the corner +of the street. Aunt Sheba and the two other servants joined us. It was +my mother's intention to go back to the plantation for the rest of the +property she had left behind her; but she put off the expedition time +after time, although she often spoke of doing so as if it were a duty +neglected. + +Now I went to school at a Mr. Thompson's, a cross-faced, snuffy +individual, who wondered at my knowledge of Latin and marvelled at my +simplicity. But it did not take me long to adapt myself to +circumstances. After I had fought two or three battles with the lads of +my own age, they decided that I was better as a friend than as an enemy, +and I grew, more than likely, to think and behave as any one of them. + +And so two years went by--two years like those of any boy's +life--playing along the wharfs, climbing into orchards, talking with the +fishermen, swimming, racing, fighting, and all. But my poor mother could +now hardly leave her room; she passed most of her time in a chair by the +window waiting for me, I take it. The people were very kind to her, and +the doctor who lived near the inn used to come and see her frequently. +Major Taliaferro (pronounced "Tolliver") was a devoted attendant; he was +Captain of the county train-band. He and I grew very friendly; +by-the-way, he was the officer who was so polite to us on the +stage-coach. One afternoon when I returned from school I found my mother +sitting talking to a gentleman whom I recognized as a Mr. Edgerton, a +well-known lawyer of the neighborhood (he afterwards went to the +Legislature, I might record, and became well known). + +Upon my entrance the gentleman regarded me most curiously, and when he +left bowed low at the door. The next week was to be the saddest and +perhaps the most misfortunate of all my life. + +I was seated on the hard little bench in Mr. Thompson's school-room, +longing to be back once more with my old gun and my boat paddling along +the marshy shore of the Gunpowder, when a shadow fell across the +threshold. I looked up; it was the doctor. I cannot recollect his name, +which is a pity, as I would like to set it down; but he was a kind man, +and I am grateful to him. He stepped quickly to Mr. Thompson's side and +whispered a few words in his ear. The latter coughed and looked at me +over the great bows of his spectacles; then he called my name. + +The doctor caught me by the hand, and I followed him out into the sunny +street. + +"Be a brave lad; be a brave lad, John," he repeated. + +He almost dragged me up the road, so fast he walked, and a nameless fear +coming into my heart, I began to sob aloud. There were two or three +people gathered in front of our little house. Back in the garden I saw a +strange sight. It was Ol' Peter leaning across the picket-fence; his +head was bowed on his arms, and his shoulders were moving up and down. +The people spoke in whispers as we went up the little path. Once inside +the door the doctor bent down and kissed me on the forehead. + +"Be a brave lad, my son," he said. "Your mother has left us"-- He turned +away without finishing something he was going to say. + +It did not require the sight of Aunt Sheba's tearful face beside me to +tell what had happened. I knew it with a chill all through me; boy that +I was, I fainted dead away. After a while, when I came to myself, they +brought me to the room and left me there. + +The second day afterwards was the funeral. It seemed to me that all of +the town was present--from curiosity, mayhap, the largest part; yet, +since she had come to the town, my mother's gentle manner had made her +many friends. The doctor said she had long suffered from trouble of the +heart. + +But I could scarcely realize what had happened. What it meant to me of +course I did not know. + +It was the fall of the year. The blackbirds were chattering in the +hedges, and off in the fields a bob-white had begun to pipe his cheery +whistle. It was all the same, but there was a great blank somewhere. I +could not even cry. My heart and senses were deadened by my sorrow, and +yet I felt angry, as if I had been robbed. + +When we returned to the house after the funeral, Mr. Edgerton, the +lawyer, was waiting. + +"I have here Madam Hurdiss's warrant to examine her effects, and the key +to a certain strong-box which she has directed me to open and take care +of," he said. "We will start for the Gunpowder to-morrow morning. You +will go with us, doctor?" + +My kind friend nodded. "The young gentleman will accompany us," he +replied, with a hand on my head. "He is the party most interested." + +"Of course," returned the lawyer. "And we will start early." + +Then he said something about its being "a most interesting case," and +the two gentlemen left the room. That night, for the third time, I +sobbed myself to sleep, Aunt Sheba holding my hand and crooning the old +Congo song that had lulled me many times on her wide bosom. + +[TO BE CONTINUED.] + + + + +[Illustration: ADVENTURES WITH FRIEND PAUL] + + +Friend Paul has crossed the Atlantic in a small vessel with all the +things he has bought, and you and he will explore the country together. + +It is very important that the explorer be exceedingly careful at first, +and that he watch the treacherous climate. Many white men in Africa have +lost their lives by their own rashness. They go in the sun all day long +after flowers, butterflies, insects, birds, or animals, and they perish +in a few days, victims of the tropical climate. In the next place, one +must not drink spirits. Many lives along the coast have also been lost +on that account. The buoyant spirit of youth is quite enough to carry +you through all kinds of hardships. It is very nice for every young +fellow to rough it, to go through hardships, to have plenty of walking, +to eat all kinds of food, to paddle or row. If he does these, he will +have plenty of health for the future and no dyspepsia. + +The explorer in a wild country should be always on the alert, and think +that there is danger lurking everywhere--that an enemy in the shape of a +man, or of a wild beast, or of a snake is hiding behind every tree; he +must look inside of his hat, on the ground upon which he treads, and in +scores of other places, for venomous reptiles or insects. + +One has to be patient among savage tribes. One must be very slow to +anger, must use great forbearance, and adapt himself to their ways of +thinking, remembering always that their ways are not his ways, +especially in regard to time, for they seem to think that what can be +done one day will be better done the next. In a word, they have no idea +whatever of the value of time. Be kind and sympathetic with them. Never +do an unjust thing. Act in such a way that they will believe implicitly +in your word. Nevertheless, use great firmness, never show any sign of +fear; otherwise you are doomed. Use force only in the last extremity. +Pay in beads or with other trinkets for everything you get. Never take +food by force, for in no country, including our own, would farmers +tolerate a band of strangers plundering their fields and killing cattle +to feed themselves. They would rise in a body to drive those thieves or +marauders away. So we must not find fault with the poor natives when +they rise in arms against the travellers and their followers who come to +plunder their fields and forage their country. + +As I have told you, the explorer has to be wary, to look out for danger +everywhere. So Friend Paul thought a great deal of his rifles and guns +and revolvers--they were his friends. A brace of revolvers always lay +under my head, and were used as pillows. When I suspected danger, I +slept with them in the belt round my waist. A couple of rifles were +always lying by my side or within my arms during my sleep. I slept with +my boots on, so as to be ready at once in case of emergency or sudden +attack. During the daytime I never went anywhere without carrying my +revolvers, and then I had a rifle or shot-gun in my hand--just as a man +carries his umbrella. + +No matter how friendly a people appeared, I thought a sudden attack +might be made at any time. In my pouch or bag were at least fifty +cartridges for rifles, and the same number for my revolvers. + +I had a breech-loading rifle which I loved better than all my other +rifles, for it was a most powerful weapon. I could use it with either +steel-pointed bullets or shells. I named the rifle "Bull-dog." The only +fault I found with Bull-dog was that it was very heavy to carry, for it +weighed sixteen pounds. + +When I carried Bull-dog I had a feeling that I was with my best friend, +one upon which I could rely in case of great danger, no matter how huge +or fierce the wild animal might be. That feeling always gave me +confidence, and I aimed with great steadiness, for my faith in the power +of Bull-dog was unbounded, and I knew I had a shot to spare in case of +wounding the animal. + +Bull-dog was well known among my hunters. They looked at it with wonder, +and were always glad when Bull-dog was going with us. They used to say: +"Bull-dog never misses, but brings death in its path. The elephants, +leopards, gorillas, and hippopotami fall dead when hit by its bullets." +My men knew Bull-dog among all my rifles, and there was always rejoicing +among them when I said to one of them, "Go and fetch Bull-dog from my +hut, and carry it for me until we reach the hunting-ground," or when I +started with it. + +Bull-dog was so heavy that by the end of the day my shoulders, +especially the left one, felt sore. In the course of time that left +shoulder had become quite black from the effects of carrying it or other +guns. A gun that is quite light the first hour becomes heavier every +hour afterwards, and very heavy by the end of the day. + + * * * * * + +Now that we have become acclimatized, and have learned the language, we +must bid good-by to the sea-shore King. + +After many wanderings I came to a very wild tribe who knew the use of +fire-arms. The natives were kind-hearted toward me. I had been left +there by the people of another tribe, who immediately afterwards +returned to their country. The King loved me, and after I had remained +with him for a while and hunted, and thought it was time to leave, he +called a great council, and after a whole day of deliberation it was +agreed that Mienjai--a man of great bravery--and other men should take +me and my outfit to another tribe further inland. + +We left. The path had been much neglected on account of war; in many +places it could be seen but indistinctly, and in other places we had to +guess our way through a dense jungle before we found it again. + +The third day we lost our way, and after wandering through the forest +for quite a while Mienjai saw a path, and said: "Let us follow it. I +think it is a hunting-path, and that it leads to one of the villages of +the tribe to which we are going." So we took the path, and soon we came +to another, which was much used by people. When Mienjai saw this he +smiled, and his big mouth seemed to open from ear to ear, and at the +same time showed two rows of teeth, the upper and lower incisors, or +front teeth, being filed to a point. + +[Illustration: FRIEND PAUL ENTERS THE NATIVE VILLAGE.] + +After walking in the path for about two hours we came to a village, +which barred the way. The village was fenced all round with high poles, +upon many of which were skulls of wild beasts. The gate was closed, and +we could hear the sound of many voices inside. Mienjai shouted to the +people that he was Mienjai, the nephew of Rabolo, that we were friendly, +and that they must let us in. Two men came to the gate, and after +holding a conversation with Mienjai and my men they let us in. + +How strange and wild-looking these two men appeared! Each carried an +old-fashioned flint-gun. Their faces and bodies were painted with +different colors. Each had round his waist a leopard-skin belt. They +looked at me with amazement. I had long black hair, which fell on my +shoulders, and this filled them with wonder. The houses of the village +were built of the bark of trees; they had no windows and only one door. +At the end of the street, which was not very long, there was a great +crowd of people, and every man had one of those trade flint-guns. I did +not like the looks of the people with those guns, for I would rather see +natives armed with spears, even with poisoned arrows, than with guns. + +Then we passed by the idol-house, and I saw a big idol, of the size of a +human being and representing a woman. How ugly she looked! One of her +cheeks was painted yellow, the other white; she held in her hand a +stick. + +Not far from the idol was a big veranda, under which my men put down +their loads and, leaving me alone, went toward the crowd. Soon after, +three bunches of plantains, a goat, two fowls, and six eggs were put at +my feet. + +The King sent word that he could not see me that day. The next day he +came and asked me why I came to his country. I replied: "King, I heard +your village was filled with great hunters. I want to go into the forest +with them, for I wish to kill all the wild beasts I can and stuff them. +I want to kill all the birds I can and stuff them. Then I want to catch +all the butterflies and insects I can and keep them." The King looked at +me with wonder, and spoke to Mienjai, saying, "Does the spirit mean what +he says?" After a little while he said, "Yes, I will give to the Moguizi +the best hunters of our tribe." + +[Illustration: "HE WILL BE ONE OF YOUR HUNTERS," SAID THE KING.] + +The following morning he called his people and said, "We must provide +hunters for the Moguizi who has come to live among us." Then he shouted: +"Men who are brave and who are not afraid of wild beasts, come forward. +Where is Okili?" shouted the King. Okili then came forward. A fine +fellow Okili, I thought, as I surveyed him from head to foot. He was +tall and slender. His limbs were strong, he had a keen eye, his body was +tattooed all over. Then the King shouted, "Where is Mbango?" Then Mbango +came forward. He was quite the opposite of Okili, short of stature and +stout. I looked at him and saw that his eyes were full of daring, and +that he appeared to be gifted with great determination. He was just the +right kind of man I would choose to go with me. "He will be one of your +hunters," shouted the King. Then Mbango went by the side of Okili. + +"Macondai, where are you?" cried the King. Macondai came forward. His +body was covered with scars. He was a great warrior who had seen many +fights and had many times been wounded. After I took a look at him he +went to where Mbango and Okili were. Then I heard the King call for +Niamkala. Niamkala was a gray-headed warrior who had seen many fights. +He was a great elephant-hunter, and wore a belt upon which were hung +the tails of twenty-three elephants which he had killed. He was a +grim-looking warrior and hunter who did not seem to be afraid of +anything. After I had eyed him he went to where the other hunters who +had preceded him stood. "I do not see Fasiko," said the King. "Where is +he?" "Here he comes," shouted the people. Fasiko came forward. He was +covered with fetiches and charms. He was a man celebrated for +leopard-hunting. He wore a necklace of the teeth of the leopards he had +killed. I liked his looks. I said to myself this fellow is cool-headed. +After I looked at him he joined the other hunters. "Ogoola!" shouted the +King. "Why do you keep in the background? Come forward; be not bashful." +Ogoola looked every inch a hunter. He wore a belt adorned with trophies +of the wild animals he had killed. "I do not see Obindji," said the +King, inquiringly, to his people. They answered: "He will arrive this +evening. He was not at the plantation when you sent word." Then suddenly +they all shouted, "Here he comes!" Obindji was a favorite slave of the +King, a mighty hunter, and he looked like it. His front teeth were filed +sharp to a point. Obindji was somewhat lame, for he had been badly +wounded years before by a leopard he had shot, but which had strength +enough to spring upon him, fortunately falling dead as its claws +fastened in his legs. + +"Where is Makooga?" shouted the King. "Here I am," responded a small man +in the crowd. After pushing his way through, he stood before the King. +He was very short, not over five feet three inches in height. "Moguizi," +said the King to me, "never mind his size; his heart knows no fear; he +is a good shot; he is daring, and one of the best hunters we have. No +one can come nearer game than he does. He is like a snake." Makooga went +where the other hunters were. + +"A fine set of fellows they are," I said to myself as I looked at them +all. Then the King said, "Okili must always be by the side of the +Moguizi." + +Then I said to them: "Men with brave hearts, be not afraid of me. I am +your friend. We are going to live in the forest and hunt wild beasts +together. You are men; I can see it by your faces. Come to my house. I +have something for you--beads for your wives and brass rods for you, and +powder also." They all shouted! "You are a good Moguizi. We will go with +you wherever you say, and we will kill big game. You will see if we are +men or not." + +Then the King said: "These men will follow you wherever you go, Moguizi. +They know every tree, every path of the forest. They know where the game +is to be found." Then, addressing them, he said: "Go make your guns +ready; see that their flints are right so that they do not miss fire, +and cook food enough for three or four days. Be here in two days." They +followed me to my house, and I gave to each what I promised. At night I +called the King, gave him a brand-new flint-gun, two brass kettles, ten +brass rods, and several bunches of beads. He was delighted, and took +hold of my foot as a token of submission, which meant that he would obey +me. + + PAUL DU CHAILLU. + + + + +HAROLD WHITE'S PERIL. + +BY G. T. FERRIS. + + +"I tell you, Captain Heald, this is an awful responsibility you're +shouldering. Not one, but two hundred lives hang on it. General Hull +could never have meant his orders to be absolute. At such times +something must be left to the commanding officer. He must know better +than a superior two hundred miles away." + +The swarthy brows of Kinzie, the Indian trader, who knew redskin nature +better than any other man at Fort Dearborn, were puckered with anger and +contempt. It was the hour for a quick-witted and resolute soldier, not +for a timid martinet, the slave of the letter and not of the spirit of +his orders. The commander of that little garrison of fifty, many of whom +were non-effectives, was "a round peg in a square hole"--and a hole, +too, that yawned big and deep for human life. + +"You're not a military man," was the peevish answer. "My business is to +obey orders and not reason on them. The General has determined to +withdraw all garrisons from outlying posts, and I must do my duty at any +risk." + +"At risk to yourself, yes! but not to helpless women and children and a +lot of sick soldiers not able to pull a trigger or stagger five miles in +a broiling sun," John Kinzie retorted, quickly. And pointing through the +gate of the palisade, he continued: "Look at those savages on the beach +watching like vultures. A thousand lie within call of a war-whoop. How +many scalps would remain at the end of an hour if you put yourself in +their hands? D'ye think Black Partridge would have said those words last +night if there had been a ray of hope?[1] You have ample stores and +ammunition, and can hold out for a month or more behind these timber +walls. Anything else is madness. As for me," said the trader, with an +air of noble pride, "the danger is less. So I don't speak for myself or +mine. I have dealt with every tribe for two hundred miles about. I have +never tricked a savage in trade. They have eaten of my dish and drunk of +my cup, and found shelter under my roof. My wife has been a guardian +angel to their sick and needy. But be sure of one thing: friendship for +the Kinzies will never save the life of any other pale-face at the hands +of a redskin." + +[1] Captain Heald, commanding Fort Dearborn, had received despatches by +an Indian runner from General Hull, commanding the Americans at Detroit +in the war of 1812, directing him to destroy his surplus ammunition, +divide his stores among the Indians as a peace-offering, evacuate the +post, and, trusting his safety to a savage escort, fall back within the +American lines. On the day after the council where he had, in opposition +to the remonstrances of his junior officers, announced his purpose of +prompt obedience, Black Partridge, a Pottawattamie chief who had always +been a friend of the Americans, stalked into his quarters, and threw the +medal he had received from Congress on the table with these words: +"Father, I come to give you back the medal I wear. It was given me by +the Americans in token of our friendship. But our young men are resolved +to bathe their hands in the blood of the whites. I cannot hold them +back, and I will not wear a token of peace while I am compelled to act +as an enemy." + +"Mr. Kinzie must decide for himself whether he will accompany the troops +or not if he is so sure of his Indian friends," said the Captain, stung +by the words of the other. "We march at nine to-morrow morning," and he +turned on his heel into the parade-ground. As he passed through the +groups of settlers who had sought shelter in the fort, and noticed the +look of foreboding stamped on every face, he was almost inclined to +change his purpose, though the soldiers were even then dismantling the +arsenal and knocking in the heads of the spirit-barrels. + +John Kinzie walked rapidly to the head of a sand knoll which gave him a +wide view of the scene. Groups of dark figures were scattered over the +shining beach as if they were statues of copper, or they waded in the +ripples of the beautiful blue lake, throwing water at one another with +loud laughter. One could scarcely have fancied that close to the edge of +this sportive mood the spirit of murder hid in ambush with cocked rifle +and sharp hatchet. A mile away lay the Indian camp, which had grown five +times bigger within as many days, like an assemblage of huge ant-hills, +with the ants thickly swarming about. But it must be time for Harold +White to return, and he passed to the rear of the palisades, where the +men, rolling the casks through the underground sally-port, were emptying +the powder and whiskey into the river. Just across the stream opposite +the fort, set in the midst of green trees and fields, were his home and +warehouses. He had sent his young clerk, a lad of fifteen, with a +message to Mrs. Kinzie, for he had preferred to have his family stay in +their own house till the last moment. + +"Did ye ever hear tell of such a 'fool' business as this, Bill?" he +heard one soldier say to another, shaking his fist in the direction of +the fort. "I guess mighty few of us will hev as much hair on our heads +this time to-morrer." + +"I don't keer for myself," said the other, gloomily; "a soldier's got to +buck agin the wuss thing as comes without sayin' a word. But I'm +a-thinkin' of the old 'oman and the little gals." + +Mr. Kinzie saw the canoe shoot from under a clump of bushes and skim +swiftly across the narrow river, to-day a black and unattractive body of +muddy water, but at that time a pellucid stream where fish leaped to the +angler's bait. + +"To-pee-nee-be's messenger has come," said Harold, "and brings word that +the two big canoes will cross to-night from St. Joseph to take off the +family at sunrise." + +"Thank God!" cried the trader, fervently, for sure as he felt for +himself of the comparatively friendly feeling of the savage horde +gathered there, he knew Indian nature too well to trust it when mad with +the thirst for blood-shed. The chief of the St. Joseph band had a few +days before warned him of treachery, and offered to convey his wife and +children across the lake to his own village. "Harold, you must stay with +Mrs. Kinzie in the canoes," said he. "I shall march with the troops, and +do what I can. Perhaps I may have some influence till if comes to the +worst. I depend on you. I know what your wish is, but you must forego it +now. You've had your taste of Indians already. Remember, you only +escaped by the skin of your teeth last spring." + +"Yes," was Harold's reply; "and I shall never be happy till I've--" He +bit the words off short, but the boy's smooth face was a man's in its +stamp of passion and resolve, for the frontier lads often got old in +will and courage before their chins grew beards. Some of the legends of +boys' doings in the annals of Indian warfare are as stirring as the +stories of Homer's heroes. Harold had had righteous cause for his +feelings. Four mouths before, on a bright spring day, a score of +Pottawattomies had entered the house of his uncle, about two miles up +the river from the fort, and asked for food. Their tongues were +friendly, but their eyes sullen. + +"Harold," said his uncle Lee, "go over the river with Beaubien and feed +the horses," but his look said, "Paddle as fast as you can to the fort +for help." The Frenchman and he had scarcely gotten well into the stream +before there came the spit of bullets, and then came a continuous +crackle, with the shrieking of women and children, and then silence. +Harold, left friendless, found a protector in Mr. Kinzie; but his heart +flamed always hot with that memory. The Kinzie family would be as safe +without him, and he was swept by his rash fancies as if his will were a +soap-bubble. + +The sun hung in the sky, on the fatal August morning, a burnished copper +ball. Scarcely a breath heaved the dark surface of the lake, and no +laughter of light danced in the sparkle of a crest. A pallor lay on the +sandy levels and ridges of the beach similar to the upturned face of +some one dead. Nature had set the stage for the tragedy of man. The +little column left the fort at nine o'clock, a small company of friendly +Indians in the van, then the caravan of transport wagons, loaded with +rations and with women, children, and sick soldiers, then a few armed +settlers, then a meagre uniformed platoon of less than two-score +fighting-men. A double column of Pottawattomies formed on either side. +As they began to move, the soldiers presented arms to the flag +fluttering down from its staff. They might have spoken the words of the +gladiators when they trooped into the arena in olden time, "_Ave, Cæsar! +morituri te salutamus_" (Hail, Cæsar! we, the death-doomed, salute you). +It is even a historical fact that the band played the Dead March when +that funeral procession tramped out on the road of destiny between walls +of living bronze. + +Harold, armed with a double-barrelled rifle, had hidden behind a big +sand knoll near the gate. When John Kinzie helped his family into their +frail barks of safety he had marked the absence of the lad, but there +was no time to think further or search, for there was much business +afoot. Harold saw his guardian now expostulating with Indian chiefs, now +urging some special course on Captain Heald, who marched with his +detachment, now encouraging the trembling women in the wagons. And so +the column wended its slow course over the burning sand away from the +fort. + +Suddenly came other sounds than the distant drone of trumpet and tuba. +Surely that was gun-firing. There could be no mistake, indeed, for +punctuating the muffled roar was heard the long-drawn "wow-wow-wow" of +the whooping savages. The hour had come. A mile and a half from the +fort, where now stands a memorial tablet under an old cottonwood-tree in +the thick of the princeliest residences of a great city, the cloud had +burst. From behind the sand ridge which divided the prairie from the +beach five hundred warriors had sprung suddenly to their feet, like +arrows drawn to the head, and poured in a hail-storm of bullets, to +which the treacherous escort added their quota. Harold had stood for +some time spellbound by his own thoughts and fears, but the trance was +now broken. He ran hot-foot toward the scene of the struggle. Each step +brought the sights and sounds of the massacre clearer. Shrieks, yells, +the rumble of the firing, dark forms leaping like madmen with uplifted +arms, or bending like wild-beasts over objects on the sand. It was a +tumult of horror beyond words. After a little the confusion lessened, +and there was a pause, followed by the howl of triumph which is the +Indian's pæan of victory. Harold, primped out by his wild run, had +hidden behind a sand hill for breath, within a stone's-throw of the +scene, for the savages, absorbed in their work of death, had not noticed +his advancing figure. One wagon, from which now came the wail of a sick +child, had escaped their fierce handiwork, and three warriors with bare +tomahawks bounded toward it. The boy, taking steady aim, discharged both +barrels of his rifle, and one of the red men fell. Every nerve tense +with excitement, Harold sprang forward with his clubbed gun, and, +catching a tomahawk cut on the barrel, dashed the butt into the head of +the nearest savage. As the latter fell with closing eyes, it was with a +thrill of satisfaction, strangely blended with awe, as if some higher +power had struck by his hand, that the boy recognized the face of the +leader of the savages who had slain his uncle and his family. The next +moment he was half throttled by a clutch about his throat. + +"Boy my prisoner; make no noise," he heard as the iron grip loosened. It +was the voice of Black Partridge, who, an unwilling actor in the +tragedy, had by his craft, as afterwards turned out, saved several lives +on this occasion. Mr. Kinzie, Captain Heald, and another officer, with +their wives and a few others, had escaped the slaughter, and were +captives. As for the rest, their mutilated bodies lay dead on the sands +down to the very water's brink, where their road had been. + +"Perhaps not able to save Harold, for boy kill warriors," continued the +friendly chief. "Better crawl through grass like Indian back to fort, +and hide in cellar till dark; then swim cross to Kinzie's." So he led +his charge to the edge of the rank prairie-grass with, "See Black +Partridge bym-by." + +Bending in his covert, Harold retreated stealthily as a coyote to the +empty fort. As he passed through the gate into the dismal solitude, with +all its suggestions of recent life and cheer, his heart quivered afresh +with the sense of what it all meant. He knew the subterranean secrets of +the fort well; and knew, too, that some of the Indians were likely to +stray back at any time. Both block-houses of the post had deep stoned +cellars, from which were exits into the underground sally-port opening +on the river bank. He could easily hide himself here among the rubbish +and lumber, and perhaps find something to eat. He did indeed discover +some scraps of bread and bacon, and, better yet, a retreat to elude the +keenest eye down in that dusky cavern. As the day waxed the heat grew +stifling, but there was a well in the cellar which relieved his thirst. +In fumbling about the place for the pump-handle, he found several +barrels apparently undisturbed. He marvelled what they could be, and by +some blind instinct did not make his hiding-place here, but selected a +spot protected by a mound of empty boxes close to a little timber gate +which opened into the sally-port. + +He heard the yells and shouts of the Indians outside and above as they +roamed about everywhere, searching for the "fire-water," which they +loved so well. They had indeed been doubly infuriated because the +commandant had ordered the destruction of the whiskey and the powder. +They fancied that some might have escaped, and were hunting for it like +hounds on the scent. Harold could now and then construe an Indian word, +and he thought of the barrels so near at hand. He had felt a broken +candle in one of the boxes where he hid, and this he now lit from his +flint and steel. As he groped his way, peering at the cellar bottom, he +perceived several black trails converging toward the heap of casks. He +blew out his light with a gasp, and a breath of ice stirred the roots of +his hair and chilled his marrow as the truth flashed on him. Some of the +soldiers had left full powder-barrels and a train to destroy the +careless savages, if possible, should they go down with lighted candle +or torch. Harold crawled back to his ambush, and tugged with all his +might at the little timber gate; but the bolts were rusty with damp and +disuse. + +While he struggled he heard the outcries of the Indians nearer and +nearer, and their thick tongues showed they had already found whiskey, a +beginning which promised the ransacking of every rat-hole in the fort +for more. With the strength of despair he struggled with the obstinate +bolts, and, just as they began to creak a little in their rusty sockets, +a dozen savages, doubly intoxicated with liquor and with the slaughter +of the inhabitants of the fort, tumbled down the stone stairs at the +other end of the cellar. With candles flaming in their hands, with faces +and bodies hideously painted, and with eyes glowing in the flare of the +lights like live coals, they looked like nothing less than the demons +which Harold remembered to have seen in some of the Bible picture-books +of that period. + +[Illustration: HAROLD'S ESCAPE INTO THE TUNNEL.] + +The boy's only thought now was to force the gate, escape into the +tunnel, and close the mouth again behind him. That was his one chance of +escape. The maddened red-skins, their eyes glittering in the weird +light, waving their glittering candles from which smoulders of burnt +wick were dropping, chanting some sort of exultant song, ran about the +cellar as if they were the figures of a monstrous nightmare. Their eyes +at last fell on the pyramid of barrels, and they darted at the expected +treasure-trove. Harold had never ceased tugging frantically at the gate, +and when the bolts jangled back and he slid the barrier, it seemed his +dangerous companions must have heard. Luckily the blissful thought of +"fire-water" made them blind and deaf to all else. He passed the portal, +softly closed it again, and sped with whirling senses up the dark +passage. But the strain had been too great, and he collapsed in a dead +faint, with a crash in his ears as if the earth had been shattered to +its core. + + * * * * * + +When Harold recovered his senses a disk of light in front marked the +outlet to sunshine, but in the rear the tunnel was choked, and his legs +were tangled fast in a mass of earth and débris. He extricated himself +and made his way to the entrance, sore but sound of bone. One of the +block-houses had been blown to fragments, and the other partly tumbled +into ruins, while about fifty of the savages had been slain or terribly +maimed. Groups of Indians stood in the distance sobered and +awe-stricken. When he crossed to the Kinzie mansion after dark, he found +the captives there under guard, but the captors altered into a merciful +mood. Black Partridge had improved the occasion to impress on their +minds that the awful catastrophe was a divine punishment for their +treachery. + + + + +STRIKING "PAY DIRT." + +BY ANNIE HAMILTON DONNELL. + + +"No beans? Why, Thanny!" The rich creamy spoonful dripped back into the +tureen. Millia Thacher's tired face put on astonishment as a garment. +"No _beans_?" + +"Well, that's what I said, wasn't it?" her brother snapped across at +her. "I don't know's the world has got any call to stand still because I +don't want 'em, either. I don't want any dinner." + +"Why, Thanny!" + +"Well, I don't. That's all there is to it." + +"But, Thanny, I've got rhubarb pie. I made it a purpose, and I guess +it's real good. You ain't going to slight that, Thanny?" + +"Milly Thacher, for pity's sake do stop Thannying me! Anybody'd think I +was ten years old instead of twenty. There! I'm sorry. I'll be a good +boy now." + +He reached his long arm across the table, and touched Millia's face with +big, contrite fingers very gently. The sudden remorse softened the +morose lines in his face, and lifted for a minute the cloud upon it. It +was a strong enough, comely enough young face, its chin rounded out +boldly, and the clean-cut mouth above was not at all weak. But Nathan +Thacher's face was listless and discouraged, and altogether unhappy. + +He pushed away his chair, rasping it over the uneven floor as if the +discord accorded with his mood. + +"It's no use, Milly; I'm going to give it up. It's no _use_." + +"Oh no, Thanny--no, no! You're only tired out and down-spirited this +morning, that's all. You don't feel like yourself. The idea of us +_giving it up_!" She laughed nervously, with a little shrill, hysterical +note in her voice. "Why, we've got to keep right on, Thanny Thacher, +just as we promised father we'd do. We've got to keep the old farm +running--" + +"Till it runs down hill into the poorhouse. It's more'n two-thirds down +now." + +"I don't care! Then we've got to pull it up again. We promised father." + +Millia's defiance had the thrill and surrender of a sob in it, and +suddenly she sank down into a heap on the kitchen floor and cried in +smothered dreary abandon. + +The door being open, Nathan looked out, across Millia's huddled +shoulders, at the bare stretch of rough uncultivated acres. The scant +unthrifty grass divided the honors with rocks and underbrush. There was +nothing beautiful nor "sightly" nor encouraging in the prospect, and +Nathan Thacher's mouth puckered into a low whistle of contempt. He +whistled still louder, and shuffled his feet about to drown the low +monotony of Millia's sobs, filling the little room drearily. + +"Hush up, Milly; there's a good girl," he said at last, prodding her arm +gently. "What's the good of wasting all that salt water? Salt may go +up." + +He made a sorry attempt at laughing, and strode past her out of the +door. The girl sat on the floor, rocking back and forth with even +swaying motion for a long while. The cheerless world outside oppressed +her through the net-work of her fingers and chilled her heart. Pitifully +distinct she saw the same barren stretch of fields that Nathan had +seen--the same sparse, worn-out vegetation. It looked as forlorn, as +discouraging, as it had to him. But Millia Thacher's troubled soul held +stubbornly to its one anchor of unswerving loyalty to the poor old farm, +and of faith to their promise--Thanny's and hers--to poor old "father." + +Give it up? Never! Oh, no, not. They must stand by the farm. Thanny must +work--she must work. + +She got up hastily, and peered out across the fields in the eager hope +of seeing Thanny with old Bess ploughing. Surely he would plough to-day; +yes, there he was, but walking idly, moodily, about, with stooped-over +shoulders, like an old man. + +Poor Thanny! He hadn't wanted, anyway, to be a farmer, and after his +brave little beginning out in the world--after father died--it had been +hard to come home and settle down on the old "run-out" farm among the +stumps and rocks and the meagre timothy heads. + +Poor Thanny! Millia watched him with loving eyes. He looked so dismal in +the dismal setting of stubbly fields, backgrounded by the dull sky, that +she had no heart to upbraid him. Poor Millia! + +The little kitchen wore its late-afternoon spick-and-span dress, and +Millia sat in it, humming a little brave tune over her mending-box, when +Nathan came hurrying, springing in. There was rare buoyancy in his step, +and Millia wailed, astonished. + +"Why, Thanny!" she cried, as soon as he got within hearing range. + +Nathan Thacher's tanned face radiated excitement and triumph from every +feature. His eyes were shining. Into Millia's hands he thrust a bit of +jagged rock. + +[Illustration: "LOOK AT THAT, MILLY--GOLD!"] + +"Look at that, Milly--_gold_!" + +"My goodness me, Thanny!" + +"_Gold_, I tell you--g-o-l-d! Milly Thacher, there's gold on this +farm--do you hear? It's under your face and eyes, in that rock. It's in +all the rocks." + +He laughed shrilly, executing shuffling dance steps around her chair. + +"Thanny Thacher, you ain't in your right mind! You scare me." + +"Milly Thacher, it's the live truth! Dan Merriweather thought so as long +ago as he worked for father, but father didn't believe it, nor I either. +I didn't think there could be any such good luck. But there is--there +is!" The boy's face was radiant. "Dan's an old Forty-niner, and he ought +to know. I didn't believe him, though--not till this afternoon, when I +found that rock. Seeing's believing, and can't you see? Can't you see +all those little gold grains, Milly Thacher, if you've got half an eye? +They're _there_. All we've got to do is to get 'em out. I guess I know +gold when I see it!" + +Millia held the little rock in limp, unbelieving fingers. She saw the +tiny sparkles in it; but--_gold!_ Visions of wealth and luxury and rest +hurried through her brain, of Thanny looking happy and satisfied again, +and of herself--plain, tired little Milly--wearing becoming clothes, and +letting her roughened fingers grow smooth and white. Perhaps she would +wear soft kid gloves; people did who had gold. Perhaps Thanny would too; +Thanny's hands were slender and shapely. Luxuries read of and dreamed of +appealed suddenly to her dazzled vision as possible, probable realities; +people with gold on their farms had such things, of course. + +Nathan broke in upon her dreaming: + +"They found gold on a farm over in Bentley. Over Easton way, too. I +guess it's all over these parts. Anyhow, it's on the Thacher farm!" He +laughed jubilantly. Then he pocketed the little sparkling pebble, and +said, briskly: "Don't you wait supper for me, Milly. I'm going down to +the Forks to see Amasa Flagg. He can advise me some about working the +vein. Amasa knows everything." + +Working the vein! How mysteriously important it sounded to Millia as she +sat there, confused and awed! Could that be Thanny--_Thanny!_--swinging +along with great springy strides, his shoulders unstooped, and +importance and energy trailing in a little wake behind him? + +Would Amasa Flagg advise him to dig a mine--Millia's thoughts were +couched in familiar words--and wear a candle in his hat, and burrow +round in the earth in unsafe places? My goodness me!--would there be +real miners round the place, perhaps wanting to board right in the +family? + +In the midst of things Millia fell asleep. + +Nathan came home at night rather sobered, but still confident. There was +gold there; how much nobody could prophesy till it could be looked into +systematically, and that took money. There was no money on the Thacher +place, and Nathan scorned any suggestion of borrowing. + +So the money must be earned. When that was done, he would sink a shaft +and find his gold. When that was done--the money earned! Well, it looked +a little appalling just at first; but Nathan Thacher had his grandfather +Thacher's courage, once aroused, and he set his teeth for the struggle. + +"Crops," Amasa Flagg had said, succinctly. + +Nathan had thought of his barren waste fields, and gasped inwardly. +Well, crops, then, if crops it must be; but what? + +"Corn," the oracle had declared. "There's money in sweet-corn, now 't +them factories are runnin full tilt over to Easton. They want all they +can git. You won't make no mistake if you plant your fields full of it, +an' I calc'late you'll find that the nighest road to your gold-mine. I +calc'late so. But you'll have to hustle considerable, an' make your hoe +fly real stiddy. You can't make a corn crop payin' without you do +everything thorough. You've got to hustle, my boy, early 'n' late!" + +And how Nathan Thacher hustled those long hot summer days! How, from +daylight to sunsetting, he delved and toiled in his fields, working +miracles in them with slow stubborn courage! He lost courage once or +twice, but Millia never knew it. She watched his eager determined face +steadily, and always read quiet resolution in it, and, as the weeks +multiplied to months, a new expression of self-respect that delighted +her soul. + +"Thanny's losing his old down-spirited looks," she would muse happily +over her work. "He holds up his head straight and kind of proud now; +but, my goodness me, how he is working!" + +And Millia, too, worked. She hurried through with her house duties, and +went out to the fields with Nathan to do whatever lighter work he would +let her do out there. Side by side the brother and sister toiled, seeing +the waste places bloom under their eyes, and gradually the rough acres +smooth out into beautiful thrifty corn rows. + +Millia walked between them in cool evenings, and let her skirts flip the +tiny stalks gently. They grew tall, and she could nudge them in friendly +greeting as she passed down and up between them. + +Of course all this success came only out of the hardest possible +wrestling with nature. There went before it weeks of mighty work with +drag and pick, wresting out rocks and uprooting stumps and weeds. Only +Grandfather Thacher's grim persistence, descended like a mantle on +Nathan's aching young shoulders, carried those hard days. The neighbors +helped at odd times, and Nathan repaid them in rainy intervals. So at +last the two big fields were smooth and ready for the ploughing, that +left them seamed with long ridges wavering gently away into perspective. +How good the upturned earth had smelled to Millia! She stood outside and +drew in long satisfying whiffs of it. + +It was so good to see the old place thriving at last--to smell it and +watch it and be proud of it. Millia forgot all about the gold-mine some +days. + +Nathan never did. He repaired the fences to keep intruders out. He drew +out loads upon loads of dressing for his land from stores of hitherto +wasted fertility beneath the old barns. He nurtured and tended and +worked unstintingly, but always with the glitter of the gold grains in +his rocks before his eyes. Nathan never forgot. He studied books on +mining in the evening until his tired head nodded over the blurring +letters. Once, when the corn was all planted, and there was a little +interval of rest, he went to a city, a day's trip distant, and had his +little samples of glistening rock assayed. It was when he came home from +that journey that Millia thought she could detect a little look of +disappointment in his face, and perhaps a faint crestfallen note in his +voice. But she forgot about it soon, because they were so busy weeding +the corn rows. + +One evening, when the green stalks towered more than elbow-high around +them, Thanny and Milly walked through the rows, talking to each other +across them. They both looked happy. Milly's small thin face had rounded +out a little, and turned to a golden brown. She walked with little quick +jubilant steps. The old farm looked so beautiful to-night! What would +father say? + +Suddenly she began to laugh. In front of her dangled her scarecrow--the +work of her own hands--mincing and bowing to her ludicrously. A slight +breeze stirred his hempen hair and swayed his coat skirts. It was +Thanny's coat and Thanny's hat and Thanny's trousers and boots. He was +an unwieldy, unflattering travesty of Thanny, with, oddly enough, his +stooped shoulders, and old air of depression and gloom. Had Thanny +bequeathed them to Milly's scarecrow, for once and all? + +For to-night Thanny's shoulders were not stooped, and his whole +expression was cheery and manly. + +He stopped too and laughed. + +"My goodness me! Thanny, ain't he a beauty?" giggled Milly, delightedly. + +"Milly," Thanny said, "that's me. I've been watching myself this long +time--stooped over and hangdog and down in the mouth. I've been seeing +myself the way you and other folks used to see me, and--well, it was +kind of a bitter pill, but I took it, and I guess it's done me good. I +guess so." + +The summer days swelled the sweet-corn kernels and brought the ears to +their perfection. It was almost time to cut them and carry them away to +the factory, when one day Nathan found Millia among the rows, and +stopped to put both his big hands on both her shoulders with unusual +gentleness. Looking up into his face, she thought how serenely happy it +seemed. + +"Milly," he said, laughing a little in quiet triumph, "they offered me +eighty dollars an acre for this corn to-day." + +"Why, Thanny!" + +"Yes'm; and I took it." He walked away, down one row and up another. +Then he faced her again. "Milly, we've struck pay dirt a'ready. We've +found the gold," he said. + +"Why, Thanny! Why, I thought--" And then Milly caught his sudden +sweeping gesture, comprehending all the golden stalks of corn, row after +row, and understood. "Why, yes!" she cried; "so it is, Thanny +Thacher--it's our gold!" + +"Yes," Thanny said, thoughtfully, as they walked home together, and +there was quiet contentment in his voice. "Yes, I guess it's all right. +The assayer said there wasn't enough gold in the rocks to make it worth +while, but there's gold in the old sod, Milly. We've struck 'pay dirt.'" + + + + +A FAIR RETORT. + + +It is quite as hard as ever to get ahead of Pat. This was proved the +other day during a trial in an English court-room, an Irish witness +being examined as to his knowledge of a shooting affair. + +"Did you see the shot fired?" the magistrate asked, when Pat had been +sworn. + +"No, sorr. I only heard it," was the evasive reply. + +"That evidence is not satisfactory," replied the magistrate, sternly, +"Stand down!" + +The witness proceeded to leave the box, and directly his back was turned +he laughed derisively. The magistrate, indignant at the contempt of +court, called him back, and asked him how he dared to laugh in court. + +"Did ye see me laugh, your Honor?" queried the offender. + +"No, sir; but I heard you," was the irate reply. + +"That evidence is not satisfactory," said Pat, quietly, but with a +twinkle in his eye. + +And this time everybody laughed, even the magistrate. + + + + +DANIEL WEBSTER'S SCHOOL DAYS. + +BY ALBERT LEE. + + +The house where Daniel Webster boarded while he was a scholar at the +Phillips Academy, Exeter, still stands at the corner of Water and +Clifford streets, in that little New Hampshire town. The external +appearance of the building has been changed somewhat; the protruding +logs in the back part of the house have been covered with planed boards, +and the large old-fashioned chimney that stood until within a few years +has been torn down, but the little room on the second floor is still in +about the same condition as it was in the days when Webster studied +there. + +He was fourteen years of age when brought by his father to Exeter and +placed in charge of Mr. Clifford, a worthy gentleman of the town. The +precise date of Daniel Webster's entrance at the academy is the 25th of +May, 1796. It was the first time that the boy had been away from home, +and he describes his feelings himself as follows: "The change +overpowered me. I hardly remained master of my own senses among ninety +boys, who had seen so much more and appeared to know so much more than I +did." When Webster's father had bidden his son farewell, he said to Mr. +Clifford that "he must teach Daniel to hold his fork and knife, for +Daniel knows no more about it than a cow does about holding a spade." + +From all accounts this comparison must have been a good one, for Daniel +Webster's table manners were so rude that it is said that the other boys +who boarded at Mr. Clifford's requested the latter to send Webster away. +But Mr. Clifford, of course, never for a moment considered this, and +knowing that young Webster was of a most sensitive disposition, he tried +to correct the lad by example rather than by advice and remonstrance. +Webster was accustomed to hold his knife and fork in his fists; one day +Mr. Clifford held his own knife and fork in the same way, and continued +doing so at intervals, until Webster saw how ungraceful it was, and +corrected himself. + +Daniel Webster was not much of a success as a student while at Exeter. +He admits this in his autobiography. He seemed unable to recite in a +room full of boys; and although he spent many hours in study, he could +never, having learned his lesson, make a good recitation. The strangest +thing of all, however, is that he could not be induced to speak in +public; and when the day came on which it was usual for his class to +declaim, although he had learned his piece, he was utterly incapable of +rising from his seat when his name was called. "The kind and excellent +Buckminster," says Webster in his autobiography, "sought especially to +persuade me to perform the exercise of declamation, like other boys, but +I could not do it. Many a piece did I commit to memory, yet when the day +came when the school elected to hear declamations, when my name was +called and I saw all eyes turned to my seat, I could not raise myself +from it. Sometimes the instructors frowned; sometimes they smiled. Mr. +Buckminster always pressed and entreated most winningly that I would +venture, but I could never command sufficient resolution. When the +occasion was over, I went home and wept bitter tears of mortification." +To think that such should have been the nature of the boy who afterward +became so famous an orator, and whose speeches, as a man, have become +classical, and whose presence "has graced the courts of justice in the +national halls of legislation"! + +Daniel Webster was so greatly discouraged at this inability to declaim +before his comrades, and by the treatment he received at the hands of +his fellow-students because of his awkwardness and shyness, that at the +end of his first term he said to Dr. Abbott, the principal, that he +thought he would not return after Christmas. The principal knew very +well that Webster's rustic manners and coarse clothing had been the +cause of the misconduct of the other boys toward him, and he therefore +encouraged Webster to remain in school, and assured him that he was a +better scholar than most of the boys in his class, and he promised the +lad that if he would return at the commencement of the next term, he +would be placed in a higher class, where he should "no longer be +hindered by the boys who cared more for play and dress than for solid +improvement." Webster says that these were the first encouraging words +that he had ever received with regard to his studies, and because of +them he resolved to return to school, and to work with all the ability +he possessed. + +But in spite of his best determinations, Webster was never able to do +well in the class-room, and he therefore left Phillips Academy after +having attended its classes for nine months. His father placed him then, +in February, 1797, in charge of the Rev. Samuel Wood at Boscawen, who +prepared him for college. Even with Mr. Wood young Webster's success as +a student was not very great, for at the end of a year the reverend +gentleman said to his pupil, "I expected to keep you till next year, but +I am tired of you, and I shall put you into college next month." + +Daniel Webster went to Dartmouth College, and there he did much better, +both in his studies and in his intercourse with his fellow-students, and +he managed a number of times to speak in public. + + + + +THE AMERICAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS. + +A JAPANESE MATINÉE. + +BY EMMA J. GRAY. + + +The members of the Senior Class in the Frotinbas Institute wished to +give a complimentary entertainment to their friends. There were many +informal suggestions and discussions as to the character of the +entertainment, and had not a class meeting been called, such a condition +of affairs might have been kept up indefinitely. But the meeting decided +matters, for then the different suggestions were formally examined, +weighed, and voted upon. That receiving the most votes being a Japanese +matinée. + +The question now settled, committees were appointed to complete +arrangements, so that at the time of entertainment there would be +neither balk nor anxiety. + +To the girls were given the important duties of decoration and +refreshment, the boys declaring that "girls had a knack at such things," +and therefore there was not the slightest use of their blundering +awkwardness. + +While the boys on their part promised to furnish sufficient and clever +amusement. And when the day of days at last arrived, for everything is +sure to come in time, and too soon sometimes, no sky could be bluer, nor +sunshine give heartier welcome, for it was a perfectly delicious +atmosphere. As a consequence, therefore, the new gymnasium, in which +this pretty entertainment was held, was crowded to its utmost limit. +Such a wealth of charming girls and manly boys! There were older people +there, too--mothers and fathers, whose love for their children made them +sure to come and see how they did things, and, indeed, to be quite +honest, we must not fail to mention the dearest of dear little people, +whose chubby dimpled hands would clap with all their baby might, and +whose gleeful laugh, whenever their big brothers or sisters would +particularly delight them, would spread contagion through the entire +audience. + +All the girls looked quaint and interesting in Japanese costume. Some of +these had been hired, and others made at home by the nimble fingers of +the wearers. In order to learn how to do things, the girls carefully +examined the portraits of Japanese women, and also received many ideas +from a large Japanese emporium. At this place they made all their +purchases, even to such small though important items as hair-pins, for, +notwithstanding that none of the girls were over sixteen, each had her +hair rolled, and altogether dressed in the Japanese fashion. This +hair-dressing effected an enormous change, for instead of a cloud of +windy curls, long waving hair, or braids, to which we were accustomed, +the smoothly arranged and fantastically decorated locks seemed odd +indeed, and gave the girlish faces an almost unnatural look, as though +they were masquerading after the fashion of their baby sisters when they +roguishly look through grandmother's spectacles. But notwithstanding the +change wrought by upturned hair, there was no change in their winsome +manner, and therefore every guest was instantly won. + +The gymnasium had been arranged to represent a salon. The boys and girls +hall contributed some of the furnishing, such as bric-à-brac and +hangings, the sort that could be most safely conveyed from home, others +had been hired, and some of the less expensive articles, for +example--large paper parasols, balloons, cotton crêpe materials, and +fans--had been bought. The tone of the room was perfect, indicating the +thought with which the different articles had been selected and placed. + +There was a raised platform, so that the tricks, which were the prime +feature of the entertainment, could be seen. This platform was +artistically decorated, and chairs, screens, tables, gauze hangings, and +all the accessories required by the exhibitors were conveniently near. +To the left of the platform there stood an upright piano, on which low +music was played throughout the performance. + +[Illustration] + +The hour stated for the matinée was three in the afternoon, and as most +of the guests were present, it opened promptly with a succession of +college songs furnished by a mandolin quartet, after which the following +tricks, were shown. + +It will be noticed that many of these tricks are already familiar, and +very easily executed, when you know how. We will hope the accompanying +explanation will stimulate some readers to try + +THE NUT TRICK. + +The shell must be prepared before the performance. Remove the kernel by +boring a hole, or opening the nut at one end. Take out the contents by +the aid of a lady's hat-pin, and instead of the kernel, slip in a short +piece of scarlet-colored baby-width ribbon. Then putty or wax the +opening over, and color the putty or wax with a dye, crayon, or paint +the exact shade of the nut. The nut being thus prepared, you may now lay +it on the table before your friends, and present a bunch of many-colored +ribbons of the same width and length to them. Ask that some one select +any piece he choose; you must have a don't-care air, as though it didn't +make any difference to you which piece was chosen. While, on the +contrary, you care so much, that should a wrong selection be made you +must at once tell an interesting story, which will help your friends to +forget that the ribbon has already been selected, and you should make +use of this opportunity to offer the ribbons over again. This time the +selection will likely be correct. It would be wise to have the majority +of pieces of ribbon the color of the piece in the nut, as that color +would catch the eye first and stand a better chance of being taken. + +The right ribbon now being chosen, make a great point of looking at it; +hold it up at arm's length, so that all the audience may see it. Then +ask the party who made the selection to put it back in the bunch with +the others and mix them all up to please himself. When he has finished, +face the bunch of ribbons, and loudly repeat, three times over, "Ribbon, +go into the nut." Then ask your friend to go forward and take the little +hammer which he will find on the table and crack the nut open. When the +nut is opened, sure enough inside is a scarlet ribbon. + +BURN A LADY'S HANDKERCHIEF, BUT RETURN IT WHOLE AGAIN. + +This requires a tin cylinder about eight inches in diameter and twelve +inches in height. Into this put a perfectly fitting tin vessel, which is +divided strictly in half. When this vessel is slid inside of the +cylinder the whole does not look unlike a canister with a cover at each +end. Having the handkerchief, hold it so that everybody sees it, and +talk fluently, keeping the body constantly in motion, indeed making so +many motions that no one has noticed that you have packed this +handkerchief in the upper division of the tin vessel, and that, as you +are walking towards the candle, you have turned the cylinder upside +down, and that also the handkerchief you are now holding is really not a +handkerchief at all, but a thin piece of muslin you have prepared to +simulate a handkerchief. Pour on it a few drops of alcohol, which will +help it to burn even more rapidly; tear it, if you think it more +effective. When the owner thinks that her handkerchief is forever +destroyed, cleverly manage to invert the cylinder, take out the +handkerchief, shake it well, holding it so that all the audience sees +that it is not even scorched, and then return it to the lady. + +THE BOWL TRICK. + +Fill a tiny tumbler with water and cover it with a bowl. Then state you +will drink the water in the tumbler underneath without moving the bowl. + +Of course the company do not believe you, and you ask all to turn their +backs, or close their eyes, if they will promise not to look, until one +of the party counts ten. Immediately they have turned their backs, or +closed their eyes, you pick up another glass of water and hastily +swallow a few mouthfuls. They hear the sound, but no one can look until +ten is counted. By that time the glass from which you drank is hidden +again, and the company catch you wiping your moist lips. Undoubtedly one +of the number will be so suspicious that he will lift the bowl to see, +and then is your opportunity, for you at once pick up the glass and +drink, saying, as you put it down, "_I_ didn't touch the bowl." + +AN IMPOSSIBLE JUMP. + +Take a gentleman's hat, and, turning it around so that every one sees +it, ask your friends whether, if you put it on the floor, they could +jump over it. Of course they will answer "yes." Then stand it close to +the wall, and tell them not to all try at once, but take their turn to +jump. + +TURN A GOBLET UPSIDE DOWN WITHOUT SPILLING THE WATER. + +Fill a glass goblet so as not to allow any water to drop over the edge. +Cover the top with a piece of paper; on the paper put your hand, and +turn the goblet rapidly over; then remove the hand. The upward pressure +of the air will prevent the water from spilling. + +THE HAT OMELET. + +Everybody who enjoys tricks is no doubt familiar with this. It is very +easy to do. + +First state that you are about to make an omelet. Then break three eggs +into the hat, and appear to add a little milk and flour, after which +shake all together and hold the hat over a lighted lamp, candle, or gas. +After a few moments lift out the hot flaky omelet and pass it to your +friends, otherwise they will think they have been deceived. + +The secret is the omelet was cooked on the range, and was in the hat +when you commenced to exhibit the trick, the hat being held too high for +the audience to see inside. The eggs were not full, only the shells, the +contents having been previously drawn through a tiny aperture at one +end. Laugh and talk a great deal, and it will not be noticed that you do +not put in the corn-starch and milk; also let a real egg drop, as if by +accident, on a plate standing on the table before you, or let a +table-spoon or knife fall. This will attract all eyes and further +prevent discovery. As in other tricks, you should practice it before +showing it to your friends. + +THE WONDERFUL CARAFE. + +[Illustration] + +An empty carafe is brought by your confederate. This you should rinse +and drain in the presence of your audience in order to satisfy them that +there is really no mistake, that the carafe is positively empty. After +it has well drained dry it, wiping it around with the greatest care. In +the towel which your confederate brought you he also brought a bladder, +in which was a weak preparation made up of spirits of wine, sugar, and +water. In this way the carafe is filled without the audience detecting. +The glasses are already in position, and in each one has been put a drop +or two of flavoring extract, such as pineapple, lemonade, orange, +peppermint. The magician then inquires if any one would like a glass of +lemonade, and being answered in the affirmative, he pours the same from +the carafe by filling the glass in which the drops of lemonade extract +have been placed. In like manner he will give a glass of orangeade, or +whatever drink corresponds to the extract in the glasses. + +THE VANISHING TEN-CENT PIECE. + +Put this coin in the palm of your hand and take pains to let everybody +see it. Then state that if any one of the audience will call out +"Vanish" it will disappear. + +The reason why is because the nail of your middle finger is covered with +white wax, and closing the hand forcibly the coin instantly fastens +itself to it. You must then open the hand wide and show that the +ten-cent piece has really gone. + +The tricks now being over, the audience rose to congratulate their young +entertainers and also to exchange a few words with one another, and in +so doing many of them did not discover that refreshments were about to +be served until they were asked to take seats at the small tables that +had most mysteriously appeared. + +[Illustration] + +The refreshments were very simple, being only vanilla and strawberry +rolled wafers, and delicious tea. The tea was, of course, poured into +the prettiest of Japanese cups, and carried on richly decorated trays on +which were laid divers colored Japanese napkins, while the graceful, +cordial, Japanese-robed young girls added an indescribable charm. + +And thus closed this dainty, interesting entertainment amid the pleasant +chatter of the happily seated, congenial company. + + + + +THE NORMAL EYE. + +BY JNO. GILMER SPEED. + + +If six persons casually thrown together look at the moon when it is high +in the heavens, and each be asked how large the moon seems to be, it is +more than likely that the questioner will receive six different answers. +This probably would not be the case if the moon were near the horizon +and just rising or just setting. + +The differences in the answers to the first query will be due to the +perfect or imperfect action of the various eyes. The comparative +uniformity of the answers in the second instance would be due to the +nicer adjustment of the eyes by seeing at the same time with the moon +familiar objects on the earth, such as houses and trees, which would +afford a standard of measurement. + +Many persons old and young have remarked what I have just noted. I have +often observed such differences of vision, but never gave any particular +thought to the matter until the beautiful gilded statue of Diana on top +of the lofty tower of the Madison Square Garden was erected as a +weather-vane. The arrow of the chaste huntress points in the direction +of the prevailing wind. + +To me the statue, when it was first erected, seemed at least ten feet +tall. To another of my friends it seemed a trifle smaller, and so did +the appearance vary, until the sixth of my companions said that to him +the statue seemed no larger than a good-sized doll--that is, about two +feet in height. + +Then we turned to the moon, and here again were six opinions. They +varied from between attributing to the moon the size of a barrel-head, +eighteen inches in diameter, and the size of a breakfast plate, about +seven and a half inches. I was puzzled and interested, and as I saw +larger than any of my friends, I was afraid that my eyes were in some +way out of focus. + +Next day I went to an optician to ascertain whether or not I had normal +vision. I was put through the usual tests of reading, without the aid of +glasses, sentences in different-sized letters. Then the optician +declared that I saw with most unusual accuracy. I was puzzled at this, +for I regarded Mr. Augustus St. Gaudens, who had made the weather-vane +statue of Diana, as the most gifted sculptor in America, and Mr. +Stanford White, the designer of the tower upon which the statue stands, +as one of our most accomplished architects. These gentlemen could not +have made a mistake, I thought, for surely they did not mean that Diana +should have to one standing on the ground the appearance of a giantess. + +It happened that the shop of the optician I consulted was in the +neighborhood of Madison Square. Looking from the windows, one could see +Diana changing her front as the spring winds shifted. Still she seemed +at least ten feet in height. I turned to the optician. + +"Have you normal vision?" I asked. + +"I am not so fortunate," he replied. + +"Is there any one here whose vision has been frequently tested, and +about which there can be no doubt?" + +A young man was sent for, and I was told that his eyesight was as +perfect as human eyesight ever gets to be. I took him to the window and +pointed out Diana, who now seemed in the act of shooting her arrow +directly over our heads, and was therefore facing us. + +"How large does she look?" I asked. + +"Oh, she is too large," he responded, with a laugh; "she seems fully ten +feet high to me." Here was confirmation of my own opinion. + +I then went to Mr. St. Gaudens. He told me frankly that the statue was +too large, and that it was to be replaced by a smaller one--five feet +shorter, a diminished replica. With the modelling he was entirely +satisfied, as are all other competent art critics, I believe, but he was +convinced that the statue was too tall. + +I asked him what the custom was in determining how much a figure that +was to be placed at an elevation should be exaggerated. He told me that +in modelling ordinary statues a platform could be made of the same size +as the base upon which the finished work was to rest, and that then the +sculptor's sense of proportion would guide him. In this case, however, +where a statue was to be placed at an elevation of 325 feet, such a test +was impracticable. + +Hence the proportions had to be determined by a scale-drawing which +showed all the various parts of the building and tower in relation to +each other and to the whole. This drawing was modified until it +completely satisfied the sense of proportion of both architect and +sculptor. Such a method, however, appears not to have been exact enough +to have prevented two of our ablest men from falling into a costly error +of judgment. + +By marking off a base-line for one side of a right-angled triangle, and +letting another side of the triangle be the height of the tower, the +length of the hypothenuse, or third side of the triangle, which would +also have been the line of vision, could have been easily calculated. +Then if another right-angled triangle be constructed, the hypothenuse of +which is just as long as the normal human vision can see without +diminishing an object of the size that it is desirable that the elevated +object should appear when fixed in place, then the height of this given +object would be to the hypothenuse of the second or subsidiary triangle +as the hypothenuse of the larger triangle is to the height of the +desired object. That is, if the normal vision will reach accurately 200 +feet, that would be the hypothenuse of the second triangle. Suppose, +then, that the hypothenuse of the first triangle be 500 feet, and it was +desired that the elevated object should appear six feet high; then the +architect would have to make it fifteen feet high for the proper result +to be attained. + +By applying such a plain mathematical rule as this the costly mistakes +made in New York might have been obviated, and by its aid it can be +determined at any time just how much an elevated object should be +exaggerated so that it will look of a natural size. Such a rule as this +can be applied by any school-boy who has mastered his trigonometry; but +there are few, if any, architects who resort to calculations to +determine a mere matter of size when it does not relate to the strength +of the structure. The strength of walls and floors is of course +calculated with mathematical nicety, but those matters of construction +and ornamentation which only affect the appearance of buildings are +determined by the taste and the sense of proportion of the designer. + +And it may be that it is scarcely worth while for architects and +designers to take any greater pains than they do to arrive at +mathematical accuracy in those things which, after all, have only an +æsthetic value. The first Diana on the tower was too large; but if a +thousand had been randomly gathered in Madison Square Garden, and a +census of their opinions taken, it would probably have been found that +the vote stood something like this: 50 would have thought the statue 15 +feet high; 100, 10 feet; 200, 8 feet; 200, 6 feet; 200, 5 feet; 100, 4 +feet; 100, 3 feet; 50, 2 feet. + +The statue, which was at an elevation of 325 feet from the ground, was +really 18 feet in height. The present statue, which has replaced the one +of which I have been speaking, is 13 feet high. + +The percentage of persons having normal vision is very small, and those +who by the use of glasses or spectacles correct such defects are also +comparatively small, if we except those who realize the impairment of +their vision as they realize, after the meridian of life has been +passed, the impairment of other faculties. Children, as a rule, have +normal vision; but I am assured by numerous practical opticians that not +more than ten per cent. of the men and women who have passed their +twenty-first birthday still have normal vision; and when a person has +got beyond forty-five and can still see with the accuracy of youth, then +that person affords so exceptional a case as to be worthy to be placed +among the living curiosities. A small percentage of persons with +abnormal vision see large, but, as a rule, eyes that are not as they +should be see objects in a diminished form. + +This being the case, an architect who has a normal vision, or corrects +his vision by the aid of properly adjusted spectacles, and whose sense +of proportion is also of a high order, will very likely continually be +designing things that only a small percentage of those who are to look +at them will be capable of appreciating. Out of a thousand grown persons +who see his accurately proportioned work, one hundred will see it with +normal eyes, and two hundred more, perhaps, will see it with eyes +corrected by spectacles. Three hundred will therefore view his work as +he does himself, and seven hundred, not knowing that their vision is +defective, will judge that his work has been badly done. Therefore, +build he ever so well, he is building only for a small minority. The +children, with eyes ordinarily in a normal condition, should be the best +friends an architect could cultivate, for they, in one sense, at least, +usually have the capacity to look upon his work and say whether it be +well done or not. But, unfortunately, about the time that young people +reach an age when they begin to think seriously about art and +architecture, the great majority of them also begin to lose that normal +sight, without which distant objects can no longer be seen in accurate +proportions. Or perhaps the architects might impress upon all those who +criticise their work that a consultation with an oculist and a call upon +a spectacle-maker would enable a critic to reform his adverse judgment. +Such a course would be a good thing both for the eye specialist and the +optician. But if an architect himself have defective vision, he can +either design his structure by mathematical rules, or do for himself +what has just been suggested for his critics. At any rate, the +statistics available, and these are to a large extent only approximated, +show that the eyesight of Americans is getting all the time more +defective, and lead to the conclusion that in the course of a few more +years the exceptional person will be the one who does not wear +eye-glasses or spectacles or squint impertinently through the "monocle," +that distinguishing mark of English and Continental dandyism. + + + + +[Illustration: The Remarkable Adventures of Sandboys] + +THE LAST BEAR OF THE SEASON. + + +[Illustration] + +When the boys, after a long and tedious railway journey from the hot +city to the cool wooded mountain country, arrived at the much-beloved +hotel where they had spent several very happy summers, the first person +to greet them was Sandboys, the curly-headed hall-boy with the twinkling +eyes and rapid-running feet. Sandboys, as they entered the great, +comfortable hotel office, was in the act of carrying a half-dozen +pitchers of iced water up stairs to supply thirsty guests with the one +thing needful and best to quench that thirst, and in his excitement at +catching sight once again of his two little friends, managed to drop two +of them with a loud crash upon the office floor. + +"It's Sandboys," said Jack, gleefully. "I was afraid we wouldn't see him +this year. He's been studying theelygy." + +"He'll never be any kind of a preacher," returned Bob, with a laugh at +the idea. "He can't hardly open his mouth without tellin' a fish story +or a bear story, and I don't think his kind of stories would do for +sermons." + +At any rate, whatever the cause might have been, there Sandboys was, +plying his old vocation, and apparently no further along in the study of +theology than he had been when, a year before, he had bade the boys +"good-by forever," with the statement that as he was going to be a +missionary, the chances were they'd never see him again. + +"I don't see why the proprietor of this hotel keeps a careless hall-boy +like that," said a cross old lady, upon whose dress Sandboys had managed +to spill some of the water. + +"Well, you will see in a few days," returned an old maid who was sitting +at her side, sharply. "Those two boys as has just come in is fearful +noisy and lively, and that Sandboys last summer was the only person +around here as could keep 'em quiet. When he wasn't around they was +a-climbin' all over the men and a-settin' in the laps of all the +ladies." + +"They look movey an' noisy," said the cross old lady, eying Jack and Bob +narrowly. "Whose boys be they?" + +"They're cousins--their fathers is brothers. Their last name's Drake," +replied the old maid. + +"Humph!" sneered the cross old lady. "Seems to me, if they behaves as +you say they do, they'd oughter been named Gander. Gander's a good name +for all boys, 'pears to me, anyhow, a-squawkin' an' a-sissin' around all +the time." + +But Bob and Jack and Sandboys were blissfully unconscious of the +severity of the old lady's criticism, and had eyes for the moment for +none but each other. + +"Hull-lo!" cried Sandboys, joyfully. "You back again?" + +"Looks so, don't it?" said Jack. + +"Didn't expect to see you, though, Sandboys," said Bob. "Thought you'd +be off preachin'. Given up theelygy?" + +"Sorter," said Sandboys. "Didn't like the prospect o' bein' et by +Samoans and Feejees, so I thought I'd stick to bell-boyin' another +season, anyhow; but I'll see you later, boys. I've got to hurry along +with this ice-watter. It's overdue now, an' we've got the kickin'est lot +o' folks here this year you ever see. One man here the other night got +mad as hooky because it took forty minutes to soft bile an egg. Said two +minutes was all was necessary to bile an egg softer'n mush, not +understandin' anything about the science of eggs, where hens feeds on +pebbles." + +"Pebbles?" cried Jack, astounded at the idea. + +"Certainly. Pebbles," reiterated Sandboys. "Nothin' extryordinary about +that. Chickens has got to eat somethin', and up in these here States o' +New Hampshire an' Vermount there ain't much left for 'em after we human +bein's has been fed except pebbles, in which the soil is partickerlarly +fertile. Well, when a hen fed on pebbles comes to lay eggs, cobblestones +ain't in it with 'em for hardness, so's when you come to bile 'em it +takes most a week to git 'em soft--an' this feller kicked at forty +minutes. Most likely he's swearin' around upstairs now because o' the +delay in gettin' his ice-watter; and 'tain't more'n two hours since he +sent for it, neither." + +With this, Sandboys, gathering up the remaining pitchers of water, +bounded up the first flight of stairs like an antelope and disappeared, +while Bob and Jack went with their parents in to supper, to which they +did full justice, for their luncheon on the train that day had been very +scrappy and meagre. + +They did not see Sandboys again that night, for they were pretty well +tired out with their day's exertions, and most reluctantly obeyed their +parents' commands to tumble into bed at an early hour. But the next +morning they were down bright and early, and there in the office, +humming softly to himself, sat Sandboys, patiently awaiting such +summonses as might come to him from the awakening guests above. + +"It's nice to see you again, boys," he said, as they greeted him. +"Somehow the hotel 'ain't seemed natural without you. It's been too +sorter peaceful an' quiet like; but now that you're back, I reckon the +band'll begin to play a few tunes. All been well?" + +"First rate," said Jack. "How about you?" + +"Pretty good," said Sandboys. "'Ain't had much to complain about. Had +the measles in December, and the mumps in February; an' along about the +middle o' May the whoopin'-cough got a holt of me; but as it saved my +life, I can't kick about that." + +Here Sandboys looked gratefully at an invisible something--doubtless the +recollection in the thin air of his departed case of whooping-cough, for +having rescued him from the grave. + +"That's queer," put in Bob, looking curiously at his old friend. "I +don't see how whoopin'-cough could save anybody's life. Do you, Jack?" + +"I guess I don't," replied Jack; "but it isn't queer if it saved +Sandboys's life, because somehow or other queer things happen so often +to him that they've stopped being queer to me." + +"Well, I must say," said Sandboys, with a pleased laugh at Jack's +tribute to the wondrous quality of his experiences, "if I was a-goin' to +start out to save people's lives generally I wouldn't have thought a +case o' whoopin'-cough would be of much use; but as long as I'm the +feller that has to come up here every June an' shoo the bears out o' the +hotel, I ain't never goin' to be without a spell o' whoopin'-cough along +about that time if I can help it." + +"What do you mean by shooing out the bears?" asked Jack. + +[Illustration] + +"It's part o' my business," said Sandboys. "I told you once before about +how the bears come down from the mountains in winter and sleep here in +the hotel rooms, an' lead a reg'lar hotel life among 'emselves, until +the snow melts, when we have to drive 'em out. They climb in the windows +of the cupola generally, burrowin' down to it through the snow, an' +divide up the best rooms in the house, an' enjoy life out o' the wind +an' storm, snug 's bugs in rugs. Last June there must ha' been a hundred +of 'em here when I got here, an' one by one I got rid of 'em. Some I +smoked out; some I deceived, gettin' 'em to chase me out through the +winders, an' then doublin' back on my tracks an lockin' 'em out. Others +I gets rid of in other ways; but it's pretty hard work, an' when night +comes I'm generally pretty well tired out. + +"By actual tally this June I shood a hundred an' three bears off into +the mountains. When the hundred an' third was gone I searched the house +from top to bottom to see if there was any more to be got rid of; every +blessed one of the five hundred rooms I went through, and not a bear was +left that I could see. I tell you, I was glad, because there was a +partickerlarly ugly run of 'em this year, an' they gave me a pile o' +trouble. They hadn't found much to eat in the hotel, an' they was +disapp'inted an' cross. As a matter of fact, the only things they found +in the place they could eat was three sofy cushions an' the hotel +register, which don't make a very hearty meal for a hundred an' three +bears. + +[Illustration] + +"All this time I was sufferin' like hooky with bad spasms of +whoopin'-cough, an' that made my work all the harder. So, as you can +guess, when I found there warn't another bear left in the house, I just +threw myself down anywhere and slept. My! how I slept! I don't suppose +anything ever slept the way I did. And then what do you suppose +happened? As I was a-lyin' there unconscious, a great big black hungry +bruin that had been hidin' in the bread-oven in the bake-kitchen, where +I didn't think of lookin' for him, came saunterin' up, lickin' his chops +with delight at the idee of havin' me raw for his dinner. I lay on, +unconscious of my danger, until he got right up close, an' then I waked +up, an' openin' my eyes, saw this great black savage thing gloatin' over +me. He was sniffin' my bang when I caught sight of him." + +"Mercy!" cried Bob. + +"There was no use o' askin' for mercy from him," retorted Sandboys, with +a convincing shake of his head. "He was too hungry to think o' bein' +merciful." + +"'Oh lor!' says I, as I gave myself up for lost. 'This here's the end o' +me;' at which the bear looked me straight in the eye, licked his chops +again, an' was just about to take a nibble, when, 'whoop'! I had a spasm +of whoopin'. Well, I guess you boys knows what that means. There ain't +nothin' more uncanny, more terrifyin', in the whole run o' human noises +than the whoop o' the whoopin'-cough. At the first whoop the bear jumped +back ten feet. At the second he put for the door; but stopped and looked +around, hopin' he was mistaken, when I whooped a third time; and the +third did the business. That third whoop would ha' scared Indians. It +was awful. It was like a tornady runnin' through a fog-horn; an' when he +heard that, Mr. Bear started on a scoot up those hills that must have +taken him ten miles before I quit coughin'. + +"An' that's why I says that when you've got to shoo bears for a livin', +an attack o' whoopin'-cough ain't the worst thing in the world to have +when you can use it. Anyhow, it saved my life from the last bear of the +season, an' I'm thankful to it." + +Which Bob and Jack thought it was no less than proper that Sandboys +should be; but they didn't tell him so, for at that moment he was +summoned to find number 433's left boot, which the bootblack had left at +number 334's door, by some odd mistake. + + + + +[Illustration: INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORT] + + +Lawrenceville has never started the year with so few old football men +back again in school. Nine of last year's players have not returned. +Among those who are on hand are Cadwalader and Richards, the guards. +Richards has been out for practice only about two weeks, but he is +rapidly getting into his old form. Mattis, who was disabled at full-back +last year, came out early, and was appointed temporary captain; but he +has now been forced to give up playing, owing to an injury to his knee, +and Richards has been appointed permanent captain. Righter, who was +elected to the office at the close of the season last fall, did not +return to school, and is now at Amherst College. + +[Illustration: THE LAWRENCEVILLE FOOTBALL TEAM.] + +Compared with those of former years, the rush-line will be light, +averaging, perhaps, between 157 and 160 pounds. Cadwalader is the +heaviest man on the team. Ross, Pinkerton, and Dana have been tried at +centre, and the last-named appears at present to be capable of the best +work in that position, although he lacks experience. Cadwalader and +Richards will of course be worth more than they were last year, both men +being extremely valuable as ground-gainers. For tackles, S. Dodds and +James are the leading candidates. Dodds played on the second team last +fall, and should become a strong player under coaching this year. James +may be looked upon as fairly sure of making his position. + +As to the rest of the team, there is considerable uncertainty. At +present Little and Dudley are playing at the ends, and are as good as +four other candidates for those positions. C. Dodds, who was substitute +full-back last year, might be developed into a good end rusher, but he +is now being played at full-back and right half-back. At quarter Arrott, +who pitched for the nine last year, has been doing fairly good work, but +it seems probable that he will be superseded by De Saulles, a brother of +the '94 quarter-back now at Yale. De Saulles is quick, a sure tackler, +and, with experience and maturity, will doubtless become the equal of +his brother. + +There is a large number of candidates for the half-back +positions--Willing, Wells, Kafer, Adams, and McCord. The latter two may +eventually get the positions, while Kafer, a brother of last year's +full-back, and C. Dodds may be held for the full-back positions. + +Much good material will doubtless be developed, however, by the various +house teams, which are practising daily, and some men may be taken from +them for the first eleven. The games of importance played so far have +been against the Princeton scrub twice, Lawrenceville losing, 18-6 and +18-0. It should be remembered, however, that this scrub team scores +almost daily on the Princeton 'varsity. Lawrenceville has defeated the +New Jersey A.C., 8-4, and St. Paul's, Garden City, 28-0. The St. Paul's +team is considerably heavier than that of Lawrenceville, but they have +not so far developed the team-work which is such a strong feature of the +Jersey-men's game. Their men start very quickly, and their half-backs +are real sprinters, but they are not sufficiently shielded by +interference, and when they came in contact with the Lawrenceville men +they were unable to make such gains as they did against Berkeley, whom +they defeated 50-0. + +A few weeks ago this Department had occasion to comment upon certain +unsportsmanlike features of athletics in Wisconsin, and called +particular attention to the fact that the Madison High-School had at one +time allowed certain members of the University of Wisconsin to play upon +its football team. It was also said at that time that the Madison +High-School was "a great boaster of championships." The latter phrase +seems to have given greater offence to the athletes at Madison H.-S. +than anything else, for the Department is in receipt of a letter from +the captain of the M.H.-S. football team, in which he admits that "we +had on our last year's team two players who were taking studies at the +U. of W.," but, he adds, "we never boast." + +It is to be regretted that the Madisonians should have misunderstood the +sense in which the word "boast" was used in this Department. We never +had any intention of citing them as vainglorious. Those students at +Madison who have read, or are now reading, Homer will find the +expression "to boast" very frequently used by the old Greeks, and always +in a good and proper sense. If they will look in the Century Dictionary +they will find, among a number of definitions, the following: "Boast +(II., 2.): to glory or exult in possessing; have as a source of pride." +It was in the sense that Madison H.-S. had many championships as a +source of pride that they were spoken of in this Department as boasters +of championships. In the same sense we may very justly call Andover a +boaster of championships. Lawrenceville School is a boaster of +championships; the Oakland High-School, in California, is a boaster of a +great many championships; the Berkeley School in this city is a boaster +of championships; so, likewise, is the English High-School in Boston. +There is nothing in these statements for any schools to take offence at. + +Concerning the two players of the Madison High-School team last year who +were members of the University of Wisconsin while they played as +school-boys on the school team, the captain of the Madison High-School +gives a frank and detailed statement of their connection both with the +school and with the University. He adds: "True it is they were members +of the U. of W., but they were only there on condition, and, on the +other hand, were full-fledged members of our school until their +graduation day. They were the only ones in the history of our teams that +were members of both schools at the same time. You can judge for +yourself whether or not we were justified in playing both of these men." + +Any one with the slightest conception of the ethics of sport will be +able to judge of this question at once, and will unfailingly decide that +the Madison High-School was certainly not justified in any way whatever +in playing these two men. Just as soon as these students were enrolled +as members of the University, no matter if they only took fifteen +minutes' instruction a year at the University, they were disqualified +from having any connection whatsoever with High-School athletics. + +In an affair of this kind there can be no half-way conditions. If you +allow such men as these on school football teams, what is to prevent +University students from taking one hour a week at the High-School in +order that they may play football on the High-School team? The latter +would be just as much a student of the High-School as the two men who +have caused Madison's athletics to suffer charges of unsportsmanship. + +I feel sure that a little thought on this subject will convince the +captain of the Madison High-School football team, and all the members of +his school, that what I say is perfectly just. He has asked me to +correct the statement made in the same issue that "the Madison +High-School football team has never been defeated." I do so at once. It +has been defeated. I ought to have known at the time, from experience, +better than to write any such sentence as that. + +[Illustration: J. S. BUSH, + +HARTFORD HIGH-SCHOOL. + +Half-back.] + +[Illustration: K. A. STRONG, + +HARTFORD HIGH-SCHOOL. + +Half-back.] + +The New Britain High-School football team, which has made such a good +record so far this year, is going to make a strong bid for the +championship of the Connecticut League. I am writing this just before +the important game with Hartford, which will have been played by the +time this week's ROUND TABLE is published; but even if New Britain +suffers defeat at the hands of Hartford, I feel sure that it will not be +without putting up a strong fight. + +Towers, at centre, is aggressive on the attack, but weak in defensive +work, and does not get into the interference. Corbin, right guard, on +the other hand, gets into the interference well, but is a weak tackler. +Alling, on the other side of centre, is a sharp, aggressive player. +Flannery and McDonough are both old players, and are the best two men in +the line, invariably making their distance when the ball is given to +them. Porter, at end, is one of the best players in that position in the +Connecticut High-School League. He is very fast in getting down the +field, and breaks through the interference cleverly. Griswold, at the +other end, is a good tackler, but in other respects his playing is only +fair. + +Captain Meehan, quarter-back, runs his men with good judgment, is a good +tackler, passes well as a rule, but occasionally makes costly fumbles. +Brinley, at half-back, is a green player, but a fast runner, and will do +very much better as soon as he learns to follow his interference. Fitch, +the other half-back, has this same fault, and is not much of a tackler, +but he seems to have the knack of making gains around the end. +O'Donnell, at full-back, is a fair punter, a good line-backer, and a +good tackler. He is beyond doubt the best player on the team, and plays +as well as many a college man in the same position. Take it all in all, +the New Britain team has a strong heavy line, but the half-backs run too +high, and do not pay enough attention to following their interference, +and the whole aggregation is too careless at tackling. + +The star player among the Chicago High-Schools is beyond any doubt +Teetzel, of the Englewood High-School, whose portrait we published in +this Department last week. It is deeply to be deplored that any charges +of professionalism should have been brought against him, and it seems +that these should either be proved at once or entirely withdrawn and +hushed. In the recent game between Englewood and Lake View, Teetzel +proved himself a giant. At the outset it looked for a time as if Lake +View were going to have the best of the argument; they forced the ball +rapidly down the field and scored. But Englewood took a sharp brace at +this point, and had everything their own way for the rest of the +afternoon, winning, 28-6. + +There have been a number of squabbles among the High-School teams of +Chicago, and most of the disputes seem from this distance to be of a +most childish nature. The true reason for all the trouble appears to be +a fear of defeat, which evidences, on the other hand, an unhealthy +desire for victory that bodes no good to the welfare of sport in that +section. I am glad to learn that the Board of Managers at the recent +League meeting decided that English High and North Division must play +out their game which was scheduled for two weeks ago but was not played. + +All of the Games played in the Cook County League on October 22 were won +by large scores. North Division defeated Northwest Division, 48-0, but +the latter team was so poor that the game was devoid of interest. +Johnson made several splendid runs, one for 100 yards and another for 90 +yards, both resulting in touch-downs. Friedlander showed himself as +expert, as ever as an end, although he did not have many chances. Manual +lost to Hyde Park, 42-0. Hyde Park's team-work was excellent, and the +best individual play was done by Ford, a new man at end. The other +games, of the day, at least those that were not forfeited, developed no +good men, and displayed little of interest to football enthusiasts. + +Contrary to expectations, Shady Side Academy and Kiskiminetas, of the +Pittsburg Interscholastic League played their first game on October 24, +and the latter won by the large score of 20-0. To be sure, Shady Side +was handicapped by the loss of Beeman, who was unable to play, and who +is usually one of the strongest ground-gainers of the eleven; and +Arundell, their full-back, ought never to have gone on the field, while +Dravo was in about as equally poor condition. + +From the start the play was mostly in S.S.A.'s territory, and a very few +moments after the ball was started Kiskiminetas had scored a touch-down +and kicked a goal. Shady Side made a desperate effort to stop the game +of their opponents, but the Saltsburgh men were a heavier lot, and sent +their interference around Humbird's end for continual gains. Their +system of interference was excellent, and Shady Side found it almost +impossible to break into it. Thus before the end of the first half the +home team had scored two touch-downs, kicking both goals. + +In the second half, although S.S.A. worked hard, Kiskiminetas gained +gradually and pushed the ball slowly down the field, until McColl scored +another touch-down. The Pittsburg half-backs, even when they had the +ball, were apparently unable to advance it very far, Geer not being +hardened to the game yet, and Dravo, as already mentioned, being in poor +condition. The line also did not hold together as it should, and Kelso, +the Kiskiminetas right tackle, went through it frequently for good +gains. Toward the end of the second half, however, Shady Side made a +desperate stand and held their opponents well. + +The Kiskiminetas eleven is unusually strong this year, averaging over +150 pounds. Montgomery is a wonderfully good end rusher, and prevented +any runs being made through his territory by breaking up the +interference every time and downing the runner. Kelso is a splendid +ground-gainer, and dashed seemingly at will through the Shady Side line. +McConnell did good work for the Pittsburg team, and by his fine tackling +prevented Kiskiminetas from scoring on more than one occasion. The +playing of Kirke, S.S.A., was one of the features of the game; he +repeatedly broke up the magnificent interference of the opposing eleven, +and worked hard from start to finish. + +In the second half G. McConnell was put in at full-back, and it is to be +regretted that he is not heavier, for he has the making of a good +player. When he has put on a few more pounds he will make a good running +full-back or a plunging half. He is especially good at starting quickly. +The next game between these two elevens will be played on the Shady Side +Academy grounds, November 16, and should be very interesting, for +between now and then the Shady Side team ought to be able to develop +some team-work, in which at present they are slightly deficient. + + HARRY LOGAN, PINE GROVE, PA.--Yes. + + ALBERT CURRIER, IOWA CITY.--Rule 9 of the Football Rules of 1896 + states that "A goal consists in kicking the ball in any way, except + by a punt, from the field of play over the cross-bar of the + opponents' goal." For greater detail see Lewis's _Primer of College + Football_ (Harper and Brothers, 75 cents). + +"TRACK ATHLETICS IN DETAIL."--ILLUSTRATED.--8VO, CLOTH, ORNAMENTAL, +$1.25. + + THE GRADUATE. + + * * * * * + +A School of Squid. + + I spent seven weeks of my vacation in Searsport, Maine. One day my + father proposed to go fishing in the bay. We got a boat and rowed + to a spot noted for cunners. Soon my father began to pull in his + line. I followed his example. When the supposed fish reached the + surface we found they were not fish, but squid. They threw water + upon us, and threw out a poisonous inklike substance, which luckily + did not hit us. + + We did not take the squid into the boat, but let them drag over the + stern as we rowed ashore. We looked over the side of the boat, and + away down in the water we could see a large school of them. They + rose to about four feet from the surface. One of them grasped the + largest of the prisoners and endeavored to pull him away. The line + proved too strong, and he gave up the task. + + It is very interesting to watch squid swim. When swimming forward, + the ten arms are laid in such a position as to form a point. The + caudal fin is now its propeller. When swimming backwards the caudal + fin is carefully folded over the body. Water is then forced through + the siphon, which sends the body backward. The squid's head is so + joined to the body that it appears like a pivot. The body is + covered with black specks, which are little sacs of pigment that + expand and contract. The general color is white. + + WILLIAM J. PUTNAM, R.T.K. + DORCHESTER, MASS. + + * * * * * + +LAUGHING BABIES + +are loved by everybody. Those raised on the Gail Borden Eagle Brand +Condensed Milk are comparatively free from sickness. _Infant Health_ is +a valuable pamphlet for mothers. Send your address for a copy to the New +York Condensed Milk Co., N. Y.--[_Adv._] + + + + +ADVERTISEMENTS. + + + + +(Now Ready) + +FOOTBALL + +BY + +Walter Camp + +AND + +Lorin F. Deland + +In Three Parts, illustrated by seven field diagrams, six training +diagrams, two coaching diagrams, and over fifty diagrams of plays. With +copious notes, and instructions. _Complete in one volume._ 449 pages, +Crown 8vo. Price $2. + +WHAT THE PRESS SAYS: + + _Will be the authority for years to come._--Philadelphia Press. + + _Greatest work ever published in the field of amateur + sport._--Boston Herald. + +_Sold by Booksellers. Sent, post-paid, by_ + +HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN & CO., Boston. + +11 EAST 17TH STREET, NEW YORK. + + + + +[Illustration: ROYAL BAKING POWDER] + +A cream-of-tartar baking Powder. Highest of all in leavening +strength.--_Latest United States Government Food Report._ + +ROYAL BAKING POWDER CO., NEW YORK. + + + + +[Illustration] + +Highest + +Award + +WORLD'S + +FAIR. + +Skates + +CATALOGUE FREE. + +BARNEY & BERRY, Springfield, Mass. + + + + +WATCH AND CHAIN FOR ONE DAY'S WORK. + +[Illustration] + +Boys and Girls can get a Nickel-Plated Watch, also a Chain and Charm for +selling 1-1/2 doz. Packages of Bluine at 10 cents each. Send your full +address by return mail and we will forward the Bluine, post-paid, and a +large Premium List. No money required. + +BLUINE CO. F Concord Junction, Mass. + + + + +PLAYS + +--SPEAKERS-- + +For Home and School. + +New Catalogues FREE. + +DE WITT, Rose St., N. Y. + +--DIALOGUES-- + + + + +PLAYS + +Dialogues, Speakers for School, Club and Parlor. Catalogue free. + +=T. S. DENISON=, Publisher, Chicago, Ill. + + + + +THE NEW YORK SUN _on April 11, 1896, said of_ + +HARPER'S + +PERIODICALS + +They are handsome and delightful all, and are as friends that one is +glad to see. They please the eye; the artistic sense is gratified by +them; they overflow with varied material for the reader. They educate +and entertain. They are the well-known and well-liked literary and +artistic chronicles of the time. They are a credit to their publishers +and to the discernment of the public that approves them. May they +continue to be as admirable as they have been and as they are. Better +could hardly be wished for them. + + * * * * * + +FOR SALE EVERYWHERE. + + + + +[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 so many questions constantly being sent in to us, asking how +to get out of New York on a wheel, that, in spite of the fact of maps +already published showing the exits from New York, it seems advisable to +give, in brief form, a description of the two or three roads which are +at all rideable. + +There are but three ways to go northward. One runs from 59th Street and +Central Park to 110th Street, thence out Seventh Avenue to 116th Street. +Here, turning left into St. Nicholas Avenue, it continues to Tenth +Avenue, thence crossing the cable and running to Kingsbridge Road. In +time we shall be able to run out direct to Kingsbridge over the new +bridge, down the long hill beyond 181st Street, but for some time this +road has been in a state of construction and repair that was enough to +give bicyclers nervous prostration. It has been advisable, therefore, to +cross at 181st Street on Washington Bridge, thence following Featherbed +Lane to Macomb's Dam Road, to Fordham Landing Road, to Sedgwick Avenue, +to Bailey Avenue, to Kingsbridge, and thence out of the city along the +Hudson to Yonkers. This is the main road up the Hudson on all routes, +long or short. It is the best road from the start, and for many reasons +the wheelman is advised to take it even when he is bound southward and +eastward. A mile or more on a bicycle is nothing compared to the +difficulties of getting over a bad road, and any rider will prefer five +good miles to one very bad one. A map of this route is published in +HARPER'S ROUND TABLE, No. 810. + +This is what renders the other two routes out of New York undesirable as +compared with what the Kingsbridge will be when it is completed. The +second in order of importance as good road is that which leaves 59th +Street and runs through the Park to Seventh Avenue, thence proceeds to +the new 155th Street bridge. Cross this and run out Jerome Avenue, +through Morrisania to Jerome Park, along the old aqueduct for a bit, +thence through South Yonkers, Bronxville, Tuckahoe, to White Plains. The +road here is not good in any part. The Avenue is badly macadamized, and +here, as elsewhere in this part of New York, the road-bed is torn up +with repairs, and new plans and works for the system of roads which some +day, when we are all dead and wheeling has gone out of fashion, will +make the northern exits of New York the finest in the world. However, +this is the road to take if you are bound up the valley or series of +valleys lying between the Hudson River ridges and the western ridges of +Westchester. Certain routes out this way are rideable. The others are +not to be thought of under any circumstances if pleasure is the object +in view. + +The third exit is further to the east, and runs from 59th Street, as +follows: Leave Central Park and run into Fifth Avenue from the Park at +the exit where the asphalt begins on the avenue; thence run out to 120th +Street, turning west to Morris Avenue, to 124th Street; then, turning +back, eastward to Fifth Avenue, to 135th Street, and thence to Madison +Avenue, crossing the bridge. After crossing, turn left to Mott Avenue. +From this point the run to White Plains is pretty bad work, being over +hilly, rough roads, with nothing of interest at hand for the eye to rest +on. The route is to 162d Street; thence east and south to 161st Street, +turning left into Washington Avenue, to Third Avenue, to Fordham +Railroad station, at the left a few blocks on. Crossing the bridge here, +turn right into Webster Avenue and run direct to Williamsbridge. + + + + +BUILDING A STATUE. + + +Modelling the clay for a statue is one of the most fascinating, +interesting, and, at the same time, instructive sights. From the moment +the preliminary frame-work is constructed to the final delicate +finishing-touches of the sculptor, the work progresses through many +stages. It is seldom that we think of the time and labor spent on such +works of art. + +The sculptor who undertakes a commission to model, let us say, an +equestrian statue of colossal size, to be erected in commemoration of +some great General, finds a long task before him. In the first place, he +reads up the General's life, obtains all the information possible of his +characteristics, habits, etc. Then he procures all the photographs of +him that he can, and after careful study of them he works up a number of +pencil sketches, until he strikes a typical pose that he hopes will be +satisfactory. Then comes the production of the miniature model. This he +deftly works into shape with clay or wax. Oftentimes these small models +are carried to a nearly perfected stage, and it is in these that the +genius of the sculptor asserts itself. + +From the lump of clay which his fingers have flattened, trimmed, rounded +off, the little model issues forth as a nucleus, from which its gigantic +brother is to come. With the proportions laid out in the small one, the +sculptor sketches his iron frame-work for the full-size model. On a +platform of heavy beams he constructs this frame-work, which, when +complete, has an anatomical look about it; but it would be a difficult +matter to find in the seemingly crazy arrangement of twisted iron and +the wire ropes, with blocks of wood tied on them, anything resembling +anatomy. + +The skeleton frame has to be exceedingly strong; for should any part +give way later with the weight of the damp clay, it would doubtless +involve the beginning of the work all over again. With the frame +complete and tested as to its strength, the clay is built up around it, +careful attention being given to each minute detail, especially to the +anatomical ones. From the beginning, in the use of the clay, it is +essential to keep it damp, and all through the construction water is +applied through a hose-pipe with a sprinkler attached. This wetting-down +is extremely important, for should the clay get dry, it would crumble +like dirt, or crack, thus ruining the work. + +The figure of the General is modelled nude, and brought to a high +finish. A live model is employed for the purpose, and he poses astride a +dummy horse in the position the sketch and miniature model call for. +After the figure is finished, even to the curve of each muscle, +equipments are put on the dummy horse, and the model dresses himself in +the General's costume and again takes the pose. The sculptor then +proceeds to dress the General and his horse. With his many different +tools he slowly shapes the clothing in the new clay that he has +ruthlessly slapped on the exquisite modelling underneath. Bit by bit the +various garments assume form and develop under the ready hand of the +master, every little fold or crease being carefully worked up. The +likeness is the most important part, however, and great attention is +paid to the face. In this it is necessary to combine so many things +besides likeness that the task is at times almost discouraging. + +Months have been required to accomplish the work, and all through it the +sculptor has been studying the history of his subject, reviewing his +results, altering them to suit his tastes, until finally he lays down +his tools and calls his work finished. Plaster casts are then taken of +the model, and from these the bronze casting is made. + +If a marble statue is ordered, the sculptor sometimes prefers to model +on a small scale and then to put his model in the hands of skilful +cutters in marble, who carry the work as far as they can judiciously, +when it is again taken up by the sculptor, who finishes it, putting in +the lines that proclaim his genius and commend it to the world as a work +of art. When this is done, the small original model must be finished up +to the highest point of the sculptor's ability. Usually, the first +modelling is done in the clay, life size, as this allows of alterations +that may suggest themselves during the advancement of the work. + + HUBERT EARL. + + + + +[Illustration: THE CAMERA CLUB] + + Any questions in regard to photograph matters will be willingly + answered by the Editor of this column, and we should be glad to + hear from any of our club who can make helpful suggestions. + + +HOW TO MAKE "DOUBLES." + +A photographic operation which gives a great deal of amusement is the +making of "doubles." A double photograph is one in which the same person +is represented twice, both portraits being taken on the same plate. +Doubles are made in the ordinary camera, the only apparatus needed being +some device by which either part of the lens or part of the plate-holder +is covered. This being done, the person to be photographed takes his +position before the camera, half the plate is exposed, and the shutter +closed. The subject then changes his position to the opposite side, and +the other half of the plate is exposed. When the picture is developed it +will look as if made by one exposure. + +One way of making doubles is to have a box which will fit the front of +the camera so that it will project about three inches beyond the front +of the lens. A double door opening exactly in the middle of the box +should be fitted to the front of the box. The doors should meet in a +close straight line, so that when closed there will not be any danger of +light getting into the camera before the plate is exposed. Care must be +taken that the doors meet on a line exactly in the middle of the lens, +so that when either door is opened only half the lens will be in +operation. + +Another and simpler way is to cut a plate-holder slide exactly in half, +arrange the camera, close the shutter, put in the plate-holder, take out +the slide, and slip the half-slide in its place. Make the exposure, take +out the half-slide and put in the plate slide, pose the subject for the +other half of the picture, and take out the slide and put the half-slide +in the holder over the part which has already been exposed. + +In arranging for the picture it is more convenient to fix on some line +or small object which shall come in the centre of the plate when the +exposure is made. The subject to be photographed should stand at least +nine or ten inches one side of this central point, for if the drapery of +the dress overlaps, the picture will show a blur. + +In making the exposure great care must be taken not to move the camera, +as if it is moved even the very least bit, a blurred line will appear in +the picture showing just where the two exposures join. The focus must +not be changed unless a plain background is used. In making the +exposures for the two pictures the time of both must be equal. This is +more necessary for an exposure made out-of-doors than for one made in +the house. If the exposures are unequal in time the negative will be +unequal in development, and, as a consequence, half of it will be +lighter than the other. + +Many interesting and amusing pictures may be made by the means of double +photographing. A person may be taken playing checkers or chess with +himself, reading to himself, taking his own picture, offering himself +something to eat, etc. An amusing picture might be made of a person +begging of himself, the first picture being taken in his ordinary +walking dress, and the second dressed in ragged clothes and holding out +his hat for alms. + +[Illustration: AT WAR WITH HIMSELF.] + +In the accompanying picture the subject is fighting a duel with himself. + + SIR KNIGHT FREDERICK CLAPP sends a print, and asks the reason of + the spots on the negative from which it is made, and when the next + photographic competition is to be conducted. The spots on the + negatives which make the print imperfect are caused either by bits + of film or dirt in the developer settling on the film, or by + air-bubbles forming on the surface of the plate when it is covered + with the developer. In either case the developer is prevented from + acting on the film, and causes spots which have the effect of + halation. Small round holes in the negatives are caused by dust on + the plate. The time of the photographic contest has not yet been + decided. It will be announced in this column as soon as + arrangements are completed. + + SIR KNIGHT CALVIN FARRAR sends a print of the interior of the log + cabin built for the recent celebration in Cleveland. Please accept + thanks for same. + + SIR KNIGHT RICHARD C. LORD asks for a formula for developer for + snap-shots and for time exposures. See answer to Sir Charles + Lusenkamp for formula in No. 886. The J. C. tabloids make a fine + developer for instantaneous exposures. + + "QUAD," Pittsburg, Pa., sends a print from a film, and asks what + gives it its mottled appearance. As far as one can judge from the + blue print, the mottling is due to imperfect fixing, or the film + was left too long in the developer without rocking. There is no + remedy for the film. + + SIR KNIGHT E. D. BALL, Spartansburg, S. C., sends a print, and + wishes to know what is the reason of the yellowish-brown color. The + trouble is in the toning-bath. Test it with blue litmus-paper. If + it turns the litmus-paper red, add enough bicarbonate of soda, a + little at a time, until it turns the red color back to blue. Use + the bicarbonate of soda in solution. + + EDWARD BRAGTON, 87 West Thirty-second Street, Bayonne, N. J.; + RACHEL KELSEY, Baraboo, Wis.; WILLIAM T. KELSEY, Baraboo, Wis.; + J. L. GOODMAN, 807 Broderick Street, San Francisco, Cal.; H. T. + COOPER, 2416 Harriet Avenue, Minneapolis, Minn.; E. LESTER CROCKER, + Tarrytown-on-Hudson, N. Y.; JOHN H. CHAMBERLAIN, 6 Franklin Avenue, + Dayton, O.; ARTHUR P. LAZARUS, 756 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, + Cal.; FRED. W. LONG, 416 West Adams Street, Muncie, Ind.; FRED. D. + ROSE, 405 South High Street, Muncie, Ind.; HARRY R. PATTY, 2533 + Michigan Avenue, Los Angeles, Cal.; WM. H. WHITE, JUN., Pembroke + Avenue, Norfolk, Va.; GEORGE E. HOLT, Moline, Ill., wish to become + members of the Camera Club. + + LADY LESLEY ASHBURNER, Media, Pa., would like to correspond with + members of the Camera Club. Lady Lesley asks for directions for + making enlargements, as she did not find it in No. 801, as + directed; also how to make ferro-prussiate paper. Look again at No. + 801. The article is entitled "Bromide Enlargements." Directions for + making ferro-prussiate paper may be found in Nos. 797, 823, and + 828. + + + + +Arnold + +Constable & Co + + * * * * * + +Paris Lingerie. + +_Peignors, Matinées, Jupons,_ + +_Chemise du Nuit._ + +SILK PETTICOATS, + +CORSETS. + + * * * * * + +CHILDREN'S WEAR. + +_School Frocks, Jackets,_ + +_Reefers, Long Coats._ + + * * * * * + +Broadway & 19th st. + +NEW YORK. + + + + +Postage Stamps, &c. + + + + +[Illustration] + +The neatest and most attractive Stamp Album ever published is =The +Favorite Album for U. S. Stamps=. Price 25c. (post free 30c.). + +Catalogue of U. S. Stamps free for the postage, 2c. Complete Catalogue +of all Stamps ever issued, 10c. Our Specialty: =Fine Approval Sheets= at +low prices and 50% commission. + +R. F. ALBRECHT & CO., + +90 Nassau Street, New York. + + + + +[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. + + + + +1872. + +1c. 2c. & 3c. National Bank Note Co. Print, 20c. + +P.S. Chapman, Box 151, Bridgeport, Ct. + + + + +[Illustration] + +EARN A GOLD WATCH! + +We wish to introduce our =Teas and Baking Powder=. Sell 50 lbs. to earn a +=Waltham Gold Watch and Chain=; 25 lbs. for a =Silver Watch and Chain=; 10 +lbs. for a =Gold Ring=; 50 lbs. for a =Decorated Dinner Set=; 75 lbs. +for a =Bicycle=. Write for a Catalog and Order Blank to Dept. I + +W. G. BAKER, + +Springfield -- Mass. + + + + +JOSEPH GILLOTT'S + +STEEL PENS + +Nos. 303, 404, 170, 604 E.F., 601 E.F. + +And other styles to suit all hands. + +THE MOST PERFECT OF PENS. + + + + +HOME STUDY. + +A thorough and practical Business Education in Book-keeping, Short-hand, +etc., given by =Mail= at student's home. Low rates. Cat. free. Trial +lesson 10c. Write to + +BRYANT & STRATTON, 85 College Bldg., Buffalo, N.Y. + + + + +PISO'S CURE FOR CONSUMPTION + +CURES WHERE ALL ELSE FAILS. + +Best Cough Syrup. Tastes Good. Use + +in time. Sold by druggists. + + + + +Big Grape and Apple Harvests. + + I live in the centre of the great grape belt of the south shore of + Lake Erie. Some years ago one saw nothing but wheat and barley in + this region, with corn and grass on the hills to the south, but + within ten years all has been changed. Now the whole country, + hill-side and all, is one vast vineyard. Few raise anything else in + their fields. I know one vineyard, twenty miles west of here, + containing 300 acres. The vines stretch away almost as far as one + can see. + + At this season grape-pickers come here in vast crowds. They are + from the cities, and are a picturesque lot of folk. They dress in + every fashion, and represent almost every nationality. They board + themselves and live cheaply. Our fields are just now full of these + pickers--thousands of men, women, boys, girls--and our streets are + full of wagons carting the grapes to the railway stations for + shipment. Although your maps show us bordering on Lake Erie, water + transportation is impracticable from here. The banks of the lake + here are high and rocky, and speed on water is too slow for + perishable fruit. Besides, one could go only to Buffalo or + Cleveland by lake, and the great grape markets are Philadelphia, + New York, and Chicago. + + This year there is so much fruit other than grapes that the latter + bring very low prices, and growers are despondent. Apples--"New + York apples" are famous, you know--are so plentiful that people are + not picking them at all. The trees are breaking with the load of + them. They rot on the ground. One cannot even give them away. + Thousands of bushels are useless, and every one says: "Oh, if some + people in the cities only had them! We would rather see them do + somebody good." Do you who live in the cities have to pay anything + for apples now? If you do, it seems strange to us, for we can get + nothing for them. They do not fetch enough to pay railway freights, + not to mention picking and packing. The same is true of grapes + almost. Activity reigns, but so do "the blues." I think almost any + business is better than grape-growing. + + ERNEST SPENCER. + BROCTON, N. Y. + + * * * * * + +Mounting Bird-feather Collections. + + In your issue of September 22 last Sir Knight Jay F. Hammond asked + how to mount his bird-feather collections. I send a copy of the way + Mrs. Brightwen describes her method, taken from her "More About + Wild Nature." + + RAYMOND A. BEARDSLEE, R.T.K. + HARTFORD, CONN. + + "The feathers should be mounted in a blank album of about fifty + pages, eleven inches wide by sixteen, so as to make an upright page + which will take in long tail feathers. Cartridge-paper of various + pale tints is best, as one can choose the ground that will best set + off the colors of the feathers. Every other page may be white, and + about three black sheets will be useful for swan, albatross, and + other white-plumaged birds. + + "The only working-tools required are sharp scissors and a razor, + some very thick strong gum arabic, a little water, and a duster in + case of fingers becoming sticky. + + "Each page is to receive the feathers of only one bird. A common + wood-pigeon is an easy bird to begin with, and readily obtained at + any poulterers. Draw out the tail feathers and place them quite + flat in some paper until required; do the same with the right wing + and the left, keeping each separate, and putting a mark on each + that you may know which they contain; the back, the breast, the + fluffy feathers beneath--all should be neatly folded in paper and + marked, and this can be done in the evening or at odd times; but + placing the feathers on the pages ought to be daylight work, that + the colors may be studied. Now open the tail-feather packet, and + with the razor carefully pare away the quill at the back of each + feather, leaving only the soft web, which will be perfectly flat + when gummed upon the page. When all the packets are thus prepared + (it is only the quill feathers that require the razor), then we may + begin. + + "I will describe a specimen page. Towards the top of the page place + a thin streak of gum, lay upon it a tail feather (the quill end + downwards), and put one on each side. The best feathers of one wing + may be put down, one after the other, till one has sufficiently + covered the page, then the other wing feathers may be placed down + the other side; the centre may be filled in with the fluffy + feathers, and the bottom can be finished off with some breast + feathers neatly placed so as to cover all quill ends." + + * * * * * + +Kinks. + +No. 46.--CHARADE. + + My first has been a friend of man + Forever since the world began; + It rules by day, and well it might, + And is not lost in depths of night. + My second is a bank of sand-- + 'Tis got from birds of sea and land. + My last a pronoun has been made. + When letter H has been mislaid. + My whole the squatter's heart doth tease, + And doth his pocket often squeeze. + Whole comes by day and stays by night, + In spite of many a scornful slight. + + * * * * * + +No. 47.--FOR MATHEMATICIANS. + +A merchant receives $3 of every $5 owing him on book debts amounting to +$15,000 (which debts are five per cent. more than his liabilities), and +$3.75 of every $5 on $6000 of running debts his due. Find his +liabilities if he pays dollar for dollar. + + * * * * * + +No. 48.--WORD SQUARE. + +1. + + Three musketeers of art, and this is one. + You'll spot him if you've seen "Trilby" done. + +2. + + If you are this, how many ills you'll shun + If you in youth your ways have well begun. + +3. + + If wounded in this by bite or shot of gun, + There is no hope, and now your course is run. + +4. + + The fourth is here, the Christian name of son + Which indicates a free or candid one. + +5. + + I'm lost now for a terminal "un," + And hampered thus is certainly no fun. + So take this as it is, dear "Kink"y folks, + A synonym you'll find for yellow yolks. + + * * * * * + +No. 49.--EASY RIDDLE IN PROSE. + +We lived in a brook, and were five in number. We were taken out, once on +a time, and we never got back again. Four of us were lost--hopelessly +lost--and nobody knows what became of us. But the fifth took a rapid +journey in the midst of much excitement, brought up at the end of the +journey in the queerest place any of our family has ever been before or +since, I think, and if I were able to come to you now I would be worth +thousands and thousands of dollars. What am I, who were my brothers, and +why can't I realize some of these thousands? + + * * * * * + +Answers to Kinks. + +No. 41.--A PROSE CHARADE. + +A potato gun, made from a goose-quill, a wooden piston, and had "wads" +of sliced potato. + + * * * * * + +No. 42.--POLITICAL QUESTIONS. + +1. Isle of Man. 2. Captain John Smith. 3. Secretary Thompson. 4. Edward +Everett. + + * * * * * + +No. 43.--A STAR. + +Caul. Clap. Balm. Pulp. Mall. + + * * * * * + +No. 44.--SINGLE ACROSTIC. + +Assay. Nerve. Death. Reply. Ensue. Worth. Japan. Acute. Caper. Knack. +Slave. Order. Niche.--Andrew Jackson. + + * * * * * + +No. 45.--Oliver Wendell Holmes. + + * * * * * + +Questions and answers. + +"H. E."--For want of space we cannot publish stamp-exchange notices. +"J. H. K." writes: "Will you please inform me how to obtain autographs, +and give me hints in the art of collecting autographs from such people +as Governors?" Autograph-collecting is not an "art." The ways to get +autographs are three: Ask the people whose autographs you want for them; +trade with other collectors; buy them. Many persons are fond of +cataloguing autograph-collectors as "fiends," but they do not mean all +they say. Nine out of every ten famous persons are rather gratified at +receiving requests for autographs. Write a brief note, say frankly what +you want, enclose a self-addressed and stamped envelope, and two +cards--the stamps because it is your business, and you should pay the +cost of it; and the cards in order that your collection may be uniform. +But mere signatures are not highly regarded. Manuscripts and letters are +much more to be prized. Do not, however, make requests that put persons +whom you do not know to any considerable trouble, or that require them, +in order to grant your favor, to give up for nothing anything that has +real money value. + +"History" asks: "What was it about Queen Victoria that was just +celebrated?" It was this; King George III. had reigned, on the day of +his death, 59 years and 95 days. The day came recently when Queen +Victoria had reigned 59 years and 96 days. That 96th day, when she began +on the longest reign in English history, if not in any history, was +celebrated. The next oldest living sovereign, in point of length of +reign, is Francis Joseph of Austria--1848. Other long English reigns, +after George III., were those of Ethelred II., 37 years; Henry I., 35 +years; Henry III., 56 years; Edward I., 35 years; Edward III., 50 years; +Henry VI., 39 years; Henry VIII., 38 years; and Elizabeth, 44 years. +Victoria has not reached the age attained by George III., who died in +his 83d year. She is nearly of the age reached by George II., who died +in his 77th year. The houses of Normandy, Plantagenet, Lancaster, York, +Tudor, and the Stuarts were not very long-lived. The House of Hanover, +to which Queen Victoria belongs has given to Britain the most venerable +sovereigns in the persons of George II., George III., William IV., and +Victoria. Elizabeth, the most venerable scion of the House of Tudor, +died in her 71st year. She died in 1603, and from that year back to +Alfred, over 700 years, no English king or queen reached 70 years. One +of the notable events in the life of Queen Victoria was the celebration +of her "jubilee," in 1887, marking the completion of fifty years' reign. +Only three English monarchs lived to celebrate a jubilee year--Henry +III., Edward III., and George III. + +Anna W. Auspach, 3326 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa., is interested in +pressed flowers and monograms, and wants to hear from you, and Thomas C. +Gurnee, 443 Hancock Street, Brooklyn, N. Y., wants to receive sample +copies of amateur papers. Harry W. Jones: The button which you +describe--red, white, and blue, with a very small centre, a raised edge, +and the ribbon lying in close folds, the whole being smaller than a +silver dime--is that of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion. Why +"never seen in the button-hole of any save men well advanced in years" +is explained by the fact that it is an order of the officers and +ex-officers of the army, navy, and marine corps of the United States +during the civil war of now thirty years and more ago. There are twenty +commanderies in as many States. The order numbers about 8500 members. + +"Cedar Rapids."--A cyclopædia that is a recognized authority, issued in +1895, says the true source of the Yukon River has not yet been +ascertained. It gives the river's length at about 2000 miles. The +Mississippi is 2800 miles long, and the Mississippi and Missouri, which, +as this cyclopædia says, should be considered as one river, and not the +division as made, 4200 miles long--the longest river in the world. +"H. P. B." writes to us: "Will you be so kind as to give me some +information about the stage, what salaries are paid to actors, and what +is the work that has to be done by them? How can one become an actor, +and to whom should one apply?" Write to the Empire School of Acting, +Empire Theatre, New York. Charles Field: Address Jerome K. Jerome, care +_The Idler_, London, England; Bret Harte, care A. P. Watt, Hastings +House, Norfolk Street, London, England; and Gen. John B. Gordon, +Atlanta, Ga. + + + + +[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. + + +United States revenue stamps are advancing in price by leaps and bounds. +The following is the list of new prices for 1897. Where no price is +given, the old prices remain: + + First Issue. Unperf. Perf. + 1c. Playing-cards $15.00 $2.50 + 1c. Proprietary 10.00 + 1c. Telegraph 10.00 + 2c. Playing-cards 7.50 + 2c. Proprietary 6.00 + 3c. Playing-cards 35.00 8.00 + 4c. Playing-cards 8.00 + 6c. Proprietary 50.00 + 10c. Power of Attorney 15.00 + 25c. Bond 5.00 + 25c. Warehouse Receipt 2.00 1.00 + 40c. Inland Exchange 7.50 + 50c. Surety Bond 6.00 + $1.00 Passage Ticket 8.00 7.00 + $1.30 Foreign Exchange 35.00 1.25 + $1.60 Foreign Exchange 10.00 2.50 + $1.90 Foreign Exchange 50.00 1.50 + $2.00 Probate of Will 15.00 1.50 + $2.50 Inland Exchange 25.00 + $3.50 Inland Exchange 40.00 + $5.00 Probate of Will 12.50 1.00 + $15.00 Mortgage 25.00 7.50 + $20.00 Probate of Will 60.00 35.00 + $25.00 Mortgage 25.00 5.00 + $50.00 Internal Revenue 10.00 4.00 + $200.00 Internal Revenue 30.00 20.00 + +Second Issue. + + $1.30 $7.00 + $1.60 17.50 + $1.90 5.00 + $20.00 15.00 + $25.00 17.50 + $50.00 15.00 + $200.00 110.00 + $500.00 (not priced.) + +Third Issue. + + $20.00 $17.50 + +Sixth Issue--Proprietary. + + Violet P. Green P. + 10c. $10 $2.50 + 50c. 20 25.00 + $1 100 150.00 + $5 (not priced.) + + 1878 Issue. Silk P. Wmk. Roul'td + 5c. $4 $3 $50 + 10c. 15 + +On October 1, the Washington Post-office had the following Columbian +stamps on sale: + + $2 Columbians, 3002 + $4 Columbians, 3437 + $5 Columbians, 4581 + +As the same stamps have been offered by dealers and brokers in New York +at various discounts (up to twenty-five per cent.) from face value, it +is hardly possible that these values will command a premium for many +years to come. + +A new issue of Tonga stamps will be ready early in November. The set +consists of values from 1/2d. to 5s. + +The larger post-offices have received vast quantities of the +letter-sheets (now discontinued), Columbian 1c., 2c., and 5c. envelopes, +2c. 1890 adhesives, and a lot of odds and ends. + +Argentine, Sweden, and South American stamps will probably show large +advances in the 1897 catalogues. + + PHILATUS. + + + + +[Illustration: Ivory Soap] + +The best is not always low in price, but the housekeeper can have the +best soap without extravagance. + +Ivory Soap costs little, but experienced persons know that no other can +do the same work and do it as well. + +THE PROCTER & GAMBLE CO., CIN'TI. + + + + +FOOTBALL AND OTHER SPORTS + + * * * * * + +A PRIMER OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL + +By W. H. LEWIS. Illustrated from Instantaneous Photographs and with +Diagrams. 16mo, Paper, 75 cents. + + There is probably no other man in America who has had as much + football experience or who knows more about the game than Mr. + Lewis.... Of value not only to beginners, but to any one who wishes + to learn more about football.... We heartily recommend it as the + best practical guide to football we have yet discovered.--_Harvard + Crimson_, Cambridge. + + Written by a man who has a most thorough knowledge of the game, and + is in language any novice may understand.--_U. of M. Daily_, + University of Michigan. + + Will be read with enthusiasm by countless thousands of boys who + have found previous works on the subject too advanced and too + technical for beginners.--_Evangelist_, N. Y. + + Beginners will be very grateful for the gift, for no better book + than this of Mr. Lewis's could be placed in their hands.--_Saturday + Evening Gazette_, Boston. + +_New Edition of_ + +CAMP'S AMERICAN FOOTBALL + +By WALTER CAMP. New and Enlarged Edition. 16mo, Cloth, $1.25. + + The progress of the sport of football in this country, and a + corresponding growth of inquiry as to the methods adopted by + experienced teams, have prompted the publication of an enlarged + edition of this book. Should any of the suggestions herein + contained conduce to the further popularity of the game, the object + of the writer will be attained.--_Author's Preface._ + +_BY THE SAME AUTHOR:_ + +FOOTBALL FACTS AND FIGURES. Post 8vo, Paper, 75 cents. + +TRACK ATHLETICS IN DETAIL + +Compiled by the Editor of "Interscholastic Sport" in HARPER'S ROUND +TABLE. Illustrated from Instantaneous Photographs. 8vo, Cloth, +Ornamental, $1.25. In "HARPER'S ROUND TABLE Library." + + A good book to put into the hands of the athletically inclined. It + is capitally illustrated with instantaneous photographs, and is + full of expert and sound advice and instruction.--_Outlook_, N. Y. + + * * * * * + +HARPER & BROTHERS, Publishers, New York + + + + +[Illustration] + +A MATTER OF DIRECTION. + + A little boy met on his way to school + A savage old bear in the forest cool. + "Which way is he going?" growled Bruin, aside. + "The same way as you, sir," the laddie replied. + + * * * * * + +"I wonder why they call that a lady-bug?" queried Harry. + +"Because it's got good manners and behaves itself, and doesn't go +shouting around like a boy, I guess," said Polly. + + * * * * * + +HUMBUGS AMONG ANIMALS. + +One who has deeply studied the habits of animals has discovered that +there are humbugs among them. + +In military stables horses are known to have pretended to be lame in +order to avoid going to a military exercise. A chimpanzee had been fed +on cake when sick; after his recovery he often feigned coughing in order +to procure dainties. + +The cuckoo, as is well known, lays its eggs in another bird's nest, and, +to make the deception surer, it takes away one of the other bird's eggs. +Animals are conscious of their deceit, as is shown by the fact that they +try to act secretly and noiselessly; they show a sense of guilt if +detected; they take precautions in advance to avoid discovery; in some +cases they manifest regret and repentance. Thus bees which steal +hesitate often before and after their exploits, as if they feared +punishment. + +A naturalist describes how his monkey committed theft. While he +pretended to sleep, the animal regarded him with hesitation, and stopped +every time his master moved or seemed on the point of awakening. + + * * * * * + +BICYCLE LINGO. + +FRED. "The route I have in mind extends about two miles along the +Hudson." + +SMALL BROTHER. "Where does the tree stop?" + +EDITH. "Where are you going to spend your vacation?" + +BESSIE. "Mamma wanted to go to the Falls, but papa said that if she went +to a bicycle academy she could see all the falls she cared to." + + * * * * * + +"Ha!" said Wallie, jeering at Maude for being a girl, "you can't ever be +President of the United States." + +"I know I can't," retorted Maude, "and I don't believe you can, either. +You'd talk too much to get elected." + + * * * * * + +A COW'S MOO. + +A very small girl was learning to write. Her teacher ruled the slate and +set her "copies," and Lucy took great pains with the pot-hooks and round +o's with which she began. One day the teacher set down something new for +Lucy to copy. M--o--o--Moo. + +"What is it?" asked Lucy, with a puzzled look. + +"That is 'Moo.' The noise a cow makes, Lucy. See, it is made up of +pot-hooks and round o's, just what you have been learning on." + +So Lucy sat down and prepared to copy "Moo." But she did it in a queer +way. She made an M at the beginning of each line, and followed each M +with a whole string of o's all across the slate, like this, Mooooo. + +"But that isn't right, Lucy," said the teacher, when the little girl +showed her the slate. "You must copy the word as I have written it. +So--Moo." + +Lucy looked at the teacher's copy, and then at her own attempts, and +then she shook her head decidedly. + +"Well, I think mine _is_ right, Miss Jones," she said. "For I never saw +a cow that gave such a short 'Moo' as you wrote down!" + + * * * * * + +"Well, Tommie, I suppose you are the smartest boy in your class?" + +"Yes, sir," said Tommie. "Teacher says I'm too smart." + + * * * * * + +A GRATEFUL MILLIONAIRE. + +The recent troubles in Africa have called public attention to a large +number of interesting persons living in the southern portion of that +continent. Among others who have been conspicuously noticed is Mr. +"Barney" Barnato, who has made a great fortune in Africa, and of whom a +Cape Town journal tells the following interesting anecdote: When a boy +Mr. Barnato went to the London Jews' Free School, which has produced so +many leading Jews of the day. When he left, his teacher, who was much +attached to him, gave him a penny and his blessing. The years rolled by, +the friendless youth had made his wonderful career in South Africa, and +the little "Barney" had become a personage. About the time when half +London and Paris were going crazy over the flotation of the Barnato +Bank, "Barney" was seized with a fancy to visit his old school-master. +With great difficulty he managed to hunt up the old man. + +"Do you recollect," he said, when they met--"do you recollect giving +your little 'Barney' a penny when he left school thirty years ago? Here +it is back again, and with compound interest," and therewith he handed +the school-master a check for £105. + + * * * * * + +"Popper," said Sammie, "I'm writing a letter to Jimmie Perkins about my +turkle. How many k's are there in turkle?" + + * * * * * + +"I'm going to be a piano-tuner when I grow up," said Walter. "You can +bang on the keys and take it all apart as much as you please, and _get +paid for doing it, too_." + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Round Table, November 3, 1896, by Various + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 59808 *** |