CHAPTER III.

THE WRECK ON THE BAR.

It was something tremendous for a young landsman to find himself away out at sea in a three-cornered boat. Captain Kroom noticed Sam's look and said:

"This 'ere isn't any mill-pond, eh? Well, my boy, all I'm afraid of is that it'll be a dead calm before we can get there and back again. What I hate is a calm. I got stuck in one once for more'n a month. It's next thing to being wrecked."

"She's a hard boat to row," said Pete; and he spoke of the _Elephant_.

Sam did not say anything, but it seemed to him that the face of the Atlantic might wear its pleasantest expression when it had no wrinkles at all. He would even have been willing to row a little. The _Elephant_ thus far had wind enough in her sail for a boat of her size, and the stranded ship could be seen pretty well without any glass. So the Captain put the "binocular" back into its case and returned it to the valise. Before he did so, however, he had looked across the sea long and carefully, and he remarked:

"She's a-standing straight up, and the tugs are trying to pull her off. Guess she isn't going to break up."

Sam felt better the moment he could again take an interest in the wrecking business. After all, the ocean was reasonably good-tempered that morning, and the terrible lines of surf were now far behind him. He understood, too, that shallow water extended to a long distance out, and that the _Elephant_ was in very good hands.

"He knows all about the weather," Pete told him; and the 'longshore boy appeared to feel altogether at home.

According to him, they were now in the very best cruising-ground for blue-fish, and even mackerel, but the Captain did not encourage trying their luck. Nearer, nearer sped the _Elephant_, and at last Sam ventured to remark:

"I guess it's just as you said. Is she on a rock?"

"Nary rock," growled the Captain. "But I'm worse puzzled than ever 'bout the valise. This isn't the _Narragansett_. This is the _Goshawk_, and she's from Liverpool. If we haven't come away out here for nothing! Anyhow, I'll hail her."

It occurred to Sam that it was not needful to go close to the ship to make them hear the trumpetlike voice with which the Captain demanded, "What ship is that?"

"Keep away! No loafers wanted!" came back loudly.

"Stuck in the mud, are ye?" thundered the Captain. "Some lubbers don't know how to handle a ship. I want to get some word of the _Narragansett_, Captain Silas Pickering, New Haven. Can any of you wreckers tell me--"

"Mate, hold on; it's old Captain Kroom."

"I say, Kroom," shouted another voice from the deck of the _Goshawk_, "Pickering's on board. The insurance men are in charge of this craft. That feller's nothing but her old mate. There's been more thieves--"

"Come aboard, Kroom," broke in the mate. "You're all right, but we've had the worst kind of luck."

"No, you haven't," returned Kroom, as the _Elephant_ swept alongside the _Goshawk_. "I've been worse wrecked than you are. Why, you are going to save the hull and cargo!"

"That's so," said the mate, leaning over the rail; "but we lost all our sticks. Everything that was on deck. Pickering? We took him on at Liverpool. His ship had to be refixed, and the owners sold her, and he won't go aboard a steamer if he can help it."

"I guess there's the right stuff in him, then," said Captain Kroom, with energy; but the mate went on:

"He's awful, though. Some fellers came aboard soon after we struck, and they stole his kit, and there's lots of things missing. He's been sittin' 'round with a gun on his lap ever since, watching for thieves."

"Kroom," came loudly from behind the mate, "what do you want of me?"

The Captain said nothing, but he held up the valise, while Pete did the same with the trousers of the blue suit.

"Where'd you get 'em?" gasped the mate.

"Trolled for 'em," responded Kroom; but he added a pretty full explanation.

A very tall, gaunt old man was now leaning over the rail near the mate, and he did not interrupt, but when the Captain finished his account he took his hat off and held it out.

"Kroom," he said, "you can beat me spinning yarns. That stuff was on deck, and they pitched it overboard to get it away. I bought that tackle in London. Found the clothes below in my cabin, and rolled the tackle up in 'em. Don't know why. It was all stolen day before yesterday. My other luggage went in a tug this morning. Are you and the young chaps coming aboard?"

"Want to, boys?" asked Kroom. "There isn't anything worth seeing."

"Guess not," said Pete. "I'll hand him up the valise and things."

"I'd rather go home," said Sam.

"No, you needn't hand it up," said Captain Pickering. "I'm coming ashore with you. I won't be landed in a tug-boat if I can help it. I'd a'most rather swim."

"Just my thinking," rolled out at the stern of the _Elephant_. "I quit the sea on account of 'em--all sorts of steamers. I'm a sailor, I am. I don't want anything to do with steam."

"Fact!" whispered Pete to Sam. "He hates even a railroad. Everything but the old kind of ships."

Captain Pickering did not bring any gun with him. Nothing but a small satchel. He came down over the side of the _Goshawk_ by a rope, and Sam felt a little queer to perceive what an addition the tall, brawny old seaman made to the load to be carried by the _Elephant_. Hardly had he taken his seat in the middle of the boat before the wind was in her sail and her head was turned landward.

"It's comin' on a calm," said Pickering, "but we may get there first."

"Not across the bay," replied Kroom; "but we may get inside the bar. That was an old trick of the thieves with that spar for a buoy. No use to search their boat, you know. I've known it tried in all sorts of places."

"They reckoned on getting it again alongshore?" asked Pickering.

"Yes," replied Kroom; "but they didn't reckon on the tide through the inlet. Our bay-men pick up stuff all the while that came in that way. It's all right. Dry as a bone."

"Of course it is," said Pickering. "I say, boy, if that suit fits you, keep it. You and he can have some of the tackle."

That meant Pete and Sam, and they were ready to say "Thank you, sir"; but they were a great deal more ready to keep still while the two old sailors talked about the storm which had stranded the _Goshawk_, and about other storms they had known. It must have been quite a hurricane; but even before it was fully described, Captain Pickering had his valise open, and was slowly looking over some of its contents. Log-books, log-books, log-books. Sam knew what they were now, and he would have given something to know what was in them.

"That's one of the _Narragansett_'s," said its owner, laying it down. "I sailed her for six years. One trip was 'round the world. Last ship I'll ever have. She was an old one. They're not buildin' many more of those prime clippers we used to have. It's all steam nowadays. I can't do anything with steam, Kroom. Can you?"

"I don't want any," replied the Captain. "It's taking the place of horses, too, on land. That and 'lectricity and these 'ere two-wheeled things they call cycles. I wouldn't any more ride one of 'em--"

"Did you ever ride a horse?" asked Pickering. "I did once; but I didn't know how to steer him, and we made a losin' voyage of it."

"Well," said the Captain, "I can drive. Kind o' drive. But I'd rather have some other feller navigate, as a rule. I'm most at home in a boat. Watch now. We'll be in the breakers in less'n five minutes."

"Good boat," remarked Captain Pickering. "But we're too many in her." Nevertheless, he talked right along about ships, as cool as a cucumber, even when the _Elephant_ was making her dangerous way through the blind channel. "Glad you know where it is," he said to Kroom. "I'd ha' swamped her tryin' to find it. We're nigh half full o' water anyhow."

That was what had troubled Sam, for again and again the tossing waves of the channel had washed over in, and he and Pete had been baling their best. Not that Pete appeared to be troubled, and he had remarked to their passenger: "Captain Kroom knows every channel around this bay. He'll get through."

So he did, and they were now inside of the breakers, between them and the bar. Right ahead of them, moreover, was another cat-boat, twice as large as the _Elephant_, with four men in it.

"There they are!" exclaimed Pickering. "The very chaps that came aboard the _Goshawk_ this morning. Reckon they'd been there before, too. Tell you what, Kroom, they're hunting for that spar-buoy, to get the things they hung to it."

"They won't get 'em," growled Kroom. "But every man of 'em belongs on the other side o' the bay. They are oyster and clam dredgers. Some of our fishermen are born wreckers, sure's you live. Anything they can take off a stranded ship is fair game to them."

"I guess so," said Pickering. "They thought they'd made a good find this time. That valise'd ha' been a fortune to 'em, chronometers and all. Glad you struck it."

"Sam hooked it," said Pete, "but it was Captain Kroom pulled it in. Sam thought he had the biggest kind of fish."

"Hullo, Captain!" came from the other boat. "Have ye had any luck?"

"Not any," responded Kroom. "But I want to get inside before it's calm."

"That there wreck out there's a Britisher," said the boatman. "They'll get her off. We haven't struck a fish to-day. We're goin' on in."

They were only out there fishing, all innocent, therefore, but they let the _Elephant_ keep away a little, or they kept away from her.

"Wonder what they've picked up?" muttered Pickering.

"Look back," replied Kroom. "Don't you see something?"

"I do!" whispered Sam to Pete. "It's something white--"

"Right in the wake of their boat," said Kroom. "They must ha' let go of it just as we came out of the channel."

"That's it!" said Pickering. "That's where those life-preservers went to. One of 'em makes a better buoy-mark than any spar would."

"Captain," put in Pete, "that one isn't hitched to anything; it's running right along on the tide. It's loose."

"Fact!" exclaimed Kroom. "You've pretty good eyes, Pete. I saw 'em. They didn't pull up anything, but they tried to. It only broke loose, whatever it was."

"No, you don't!" said Pickering, sharply. "It's hitched on the bottom again. They saw us coming, and they let go. That's all."

"Get out your lines, boys," shouted Kroom. "We'll try for blue-fish, up and down here," and then he added, to the men in the other boat: "I won't go home empty-handed. Why don't you fellers throw a hook?"

"No use, Captain," came back. "We may get some weakfish in the inlet, but you'll only throw away time."

"We've got all the time there is," said Captain Kroom; but Sam and Pete were making haste, and when the _Elephant_ tacked again their lines were out.

"Shouldn't wonder if they were kind o' mad," remarked Pickering. "But there was more'n one life-preserver on deck. They can hunt for the others."

"That's what they'll do," said Kroom; "but this one's follerin' us. Whatever is hitched to it'll anchor it in shoal water. Things have to go over the bar and into the bay at high tide. They know that, and they think they can wait."

The wide spread of water between the surf and the beach was now comparatively smooth, with long low waves playing lazily across it.

There might be fish there, but most likely not, the Captain said, and it ought not to arouse any suspicions of the wreckers that he wanted to try it.

They sailed ahead for the inlet, but Pete may have been correct when he told his shipmates, old and young:

"They're a-watching us. They mean to see if we're just after fish."

"There comes that thing!" exclaimed Sam; but Pickering caught his arm.

"Don't you point, boy! Don't anybody look at it! Fish away. I guess it isn't worth much, but they needn't see us get it."

The _Elephant_ had not begun her remarkable voyage very early in the day, and more time had passed than her boy crew were aware of. Her commander, however, had kept track of the tides and the hours, like the sharp old fisherman that he was.

"We went out with the tide," he said to Pickering. "It's turned to run in now. Those chaps'll wait for that stuff at the other end of the inlet. I don't want 'em to guess that we know a thing about it; but it'll be good and dark before we get home."

"My folks know I went fishing," said Sam. "They won't care."

"Mine won't, if they learn that I'm with Captain Kroom," said Pete. "They know he doesn't come home early-- Hullo! Blue-fish!"

He had struck one; he pulled it in rapidly, but, the moment it came within reach, Captain Kroom seized it and stood straight up in the boat, hailing the wreckers with:

"Luck! Four-pounder!"

"All right!" came faintly back over the water. "It's all you'll get."

"Guess not," grumbled Pickering. "But I wish I knew if they had anything from the _Goshawk_ in their boat. There was another lot of chaps there, just like 'em."

"We can't help it if they have," said Kroom. "Do you know, they're not a bad kind of chap. Honest as the day on shore. Wouldn't cheat you in the weight of a fish. It was just so with the Cornish wreckers that plundered me once."

"Never was wrecked in my life," replied Pickering. "This _Goshawk_ business wasn't mine. I wasn't in charge of the ship. It doesn't count."

"Well," said Kroom, "I wasn't ever wrecked after I got to be Captain. Most of mine came younger. I went to sea when I was a little feller. What I hate around a wreck is sharks."

If he was just about to tell a shark story, his chance for it was spoiled. He had a line of his own out now, and the next instant he exclaimed:

"Pete! Pickering! Take care of the boat while I get him in. 'Tisn't any blue-fish this time!"

The _Elephant_ yawed and leaned over dangerously before Captain Pickering could get to the tiller, but Pete let the sail swing out like a tiptop young boatman.

"Just in time!" he said. "Sam, the Captain's got a big one!"

It was indeed a fish, but the flurry of excitement on board the _Elephant_ had not escaped eyes that were watching her. One eye, the right eye of a pretty sharp pair, had been squinting through a pocket-telescope, such as coast-wise men of that sort are very apt to carry.

"Boys," exclaimed its owner, "old Kroom has found something. Come on!"

The next moment that cat-boat, with the four wreckers in it, was tacking as straight a course as it could make toward the _Elephant_.

"Meet 'em, Pickering," thundered Captain Kroom. "I'm bringing him in. They mustn't guess we are after anything but fish."

"They won't," said Pickering, "not if you can show 'em a prime sea-bass."

"That's what it is, Sam," said Pete. "I told you this was the place to get 'em. If he doesn't know all about fish!"

The Captain was putting out his strength as well as his knowledge just now. A less-experienced fisherman might have lost that splendid bass, hooking him with only blue-fish tackle. It was well, too, to have Pickering in charge of the _Elephant_, for she ran into rougher water while the fish-fight went on.

[TO BE CONTINUED.]

The All-Connecticut Interscholastic Football Team for 1896 is as follows:

J. B. PORTER, _New Britain High-School_ end. P. F. MCDONOUGH, _New Britain High-School_ tackle. PAUL THOMPSON, _Hillhouse H.-S._ guard. E. W. SMITH, _Hartford H.-S._ centre. R. B. HIXON, _Hotchkiss School_ guard. T. L. MONTAGUE, _Hotchkiss School_ tackle. NORMAN GILLETTE, _Hartford H.-S._ end. F. R. STURTEVANT, _Hart. H.-S._ quarter-back. E. A. STRONG, _Hartford H.-S._ half-back. H. C. LANE, _Meriden H.-S._ half-back. PETER O'DONNELL, _New Brit. H.-S._ full-back.

The substitutes are: J. R. Smith, Norwich Free Academy, end; T. F. Flannery, New Britain H.-S., tackle; F. A. Wheeler, Bridgeport H.-S., guard; Ernest Towers, New Britain H.-S., centre; J. E. Meehan, New Britain H.-S., quarter-back; Godfrey Brinley, New Britain H.-S., half-back; J. D. Lucas, Norwich Free Academy, full-back.

In selecting these players care has been taken to look over very carefully the work of the men on the weaker teams. The requirements of each man are "sand," experience, and physical endurance.

For centre, E. W. Smith, of Hartford, is undoubtedly the best man playing at that position among the schools of Connecticut. He plays a very fast game, is good at making holes, tackles well, and follows the ball every time. R. B. Hixon, of the Hotchkiss School, is beyond doubt the best guard of the schools. He has played every year since he has been in school. He understands the game thoroughly, and has a magnificent physique, which virtually makes him a "stone wall." Thompson of Hillhouse H.-S. is better than Wheeler of Bridgeport, because he is more strategic and quicker on his feet. He can get through the line very nearly every time, and gets in a great many tackles. He is also very good on the defence.

T. L. Montague, of Hotchkiss School, and P. F. McDonough, of New Britain, are easily chosen for tackles. Both run well with the ball, hold their man well, and are good in getting through and making tackles. Flannery of New Britain runs well with the ball and holds his man, but is not so good at tackling as either Montague or McDonough.

J. B. Porter, of New Britain, is beyond doubt the best among the ends. He is an almost sure tackler, and is down the field every time on a punt. Norman Gillette, of Hartford, has been chosen for the other end, because he breaks up interference well and gets hold of his man nearly every time. J. R. Smith is good, but too often lets his man go after making a tackle.

For quarter-back it is hard to choose between F. R. Sturtevant, of Hartford, and J. E. Meehan, of New Britain. Both play the game for all it is worth. In passing and tackling Sturtevant surpasses Meehan, but Meehan gets into the interference a great deal better than Sturtevant. On the whole, however, taking in the important points of strategy and command of men, Sturtevant may be ranked as the better player.

It is extremely difficult to pick out the half-backs. H. C. Lane, of Meriden, is one of the finest players that ever played in the League. He runs extremely hard and fast, and tackles superbly. The difficulty came in choosing the other half-back. For this position E. A. Strong, of Hartford, and Godfrey Brinley, of New Britain, are the best men. Brinley runs very fast around the end and displays a great deal of "sand," but he has always been assisted with first-class interference. Strong, on the other hand, has as much, if not more, "sand" as Brinley. He runs fast, and knows how to interfere with his hands, and if he had had such good interference as Brinley did, I think his runs would have been as long.

For full-back the choice lies between Peter O'Donnell, of New Britain, and J. D. Lucas, of Norwich. Lucas does not hit the line as hard as O'Donnell, but fully equals him in tackling and punting. O'Donnell has a better knowledge of the game.

For captain of this team R. B. Hixon, of Hotchkiss, should have the honor. The team he was captain of is one of the best teams playing football among the schools this year. He has plenty of experience, and a good control over his men.

The financial side of the Interscholastic football season in Connecticut seems to have been very successful this year, for the statement of receipts and expenditures as made out by the treasurer shows that there is $400 in the treasury. This does not include the total profit from all the games, as the managers of the Association hold back each year $100, for incidental expenses the next season.

The profits of this year--that is, the $400--are to be divided among the eight elevens that made up the membership of the Association, each school to receive $50. I have gone into this detail in order that I might introduce a rather startling quotation from the Meriden _Journal_. It is to be hoped that this paper does not represent the Connecticut idea of sportsmanship. At any rate, the Meriden _Journal_ avers that the division of the spoils is not quite just. It argues that Meriden and New Britain, having played for the championship at New Haven, deserve to receive more money than the other teams of the League. It cannot understand why Suffield, who was only admitted to the Association this year, and forfeited its scheduled match against Norwich, should have the same amount of cash as any other team.

As a remedy for this state of affairs the _Journal_ suggests that the two elevens which came together for the final championship contest divide fifty per cent. of the net receipts for the season, the elevens in the semi-finals thirty per cent., and the elevens which figured in the opening games only, twenty per cent. If this is not advocating the playing of football for money, and is not thus a direct propaganda of professionalism, I don't know what is. If the editor of the Meriden _Journal_ believes that the schoolboys in his neighborhood are playing football for the prize-money to be divided at the end of the year I am sure he is very much mistaken in his men.

Nevertheless, any such statement as this, especially when given currency in the city of the team that stood second in the League, is exceedingly injurious not only to the reputation of that team and school but to the entire Connecticut Association. Many persons who read this, and who do not know that the _Journal_ is discussing a subject in which its ignorance is made evident by what it says, will believe that interscholastic sport is being carried forward on a money basis.

Everybody knows, of course, that no enterprise, not even sport in the truest amateur spirit, can be carried on without the expenditure of some money. The railroads will not carry amateurs free of charge, nor will tailors furnish them with football suits for nothing. Therefore it is necessary that the Association have some revenue. This is usually obtained in one of two ways, either by subscriptions levied in the various schools or by charging admission-fees at the more important games. The latter is in many respects the better, because it distributes the taxation over a greater number of people.

If, however, at the end of the year it is found that the revenues are greater than the expenses, the treasurer of the Association should profit by this knowledge to do away with certain features of taxation the next year; for his endeavor should be to collect only just the amount of money that is needed to defray the legitimate expenses of the several football teams under his care.

The very fact of dividing up money at all savors of professionalism, but when you come to dispose of it in proportion to the success of the teams, the offence is made even worse. Any of these elevens in question that accepts a dividend makes itself liable to charges of professionalism, and a strict interpretation of the ethics of sport would find it guilty. It is to be hoped that the Connecticut Association will recognize this fact as soon as it is pointed out to them, and reconsider the proposition of sending $50 to each team. If the money were left in the treasury of the Association it would be a different affair entirely from dealing it out to the treasuries of the various schools that played in the League.

The simple fact that $100 is held by the Central Treasury for next year's expenses shows that the $400 is considered as a surplus or profit. Therefore any team that accepts such profit puts itself in a dangerous position, so far as its amateur standing is concerned. As I understand the case--and as it should be, if it is not--the treasurer of the Association defrays the expenses of the several teams upon requisition of the several managers. Therefore he alone should handle the moneys of the Association, and next year, when the expenses begin again, it is he who should provide what is necessary.

The $400 now standing to the account of the Connecticut Association should be devoted to the maintenance of that Association, and not to the benefit of the individuals who make up its membership. The fact that there is so much money on hand will make it very well possible for the games next year to be carried on without the charge of an admission-fee, or it will enable the managers to present this year a trophy of some kind to the winning team, or they might even go to the extravagance of presenting the eleven champions with some small souvenir, as is frequently done in the colleges, such as a gold football for a watch-charm.

The misunderstanding which has occurred in the New England Interscholastic Football League, and which was spoken of briefly in this Department last week, may be briefly stated as follows: The constitution of the Association as published in book form requires that fifteen days' notice of the eligibility of any player be given in writing to the secretary before the date of playing. At the beginning of the season the Boston _Journal_ was voted the official organ of the Association, and on October 30 that paper published a part of the constitution, but omitted entirely any reference to the fifteen-day clause. The same article contained also the names of the various players for the schools, and was published on the first day of the games of the interscholastic series.

The Cambridge Manual-Training School acknowledges the rule in the constitution which requires a fifteen-day notice, but pleads ignorance for not having complied with it in the case of one of its players, urging its belief that the fifteen-day clause had been stricken out, since it did not appear in the constitution as published by the Boston _Journal_, the official organ of the Association, on October 30. The donors of the cup for which the teams contest have the power to change the constitution as they wish. C.M.-T.S. thought that the donors had availed themselves of this privilege when they saw the constitution printed in the _Journal_ without the fifteen-day clause.

The player whose name was not submitted to the committee is S. S. Merrill, who played end on the Worcester Academy team last season. This year he has been a member of the Burdett Business College of Boston, playing end on its football team until he changed to Cambridge Manual-Training School. He entered Cambridge Manual-Training School October 26, and his name was sent to the Executive Committee November 9. On November 13 Merrill played against Hopkinson's, and the game was protested by the latter school inside the allotted time for protests. In the games with Boston Latin and English High, on November 17 and November 20 respectively, Merrill also played, and while these games were protested by the two schools their claims were on different grounds than those of Hopkinson's. Boston Latin's protest related to Merrill not being a member of Cambridge Manual fifteen days before playing, which was not sustained according to statistical proof from the principal of Cambridge Manual. English High's protest was on a question of fact, and an article of the constitution settled that.

While the consequences have been serious to the Cambridge Manual-Training School, it appears that the sentiment of the entire Association was for some reason so strong against C.M.-T.S. that the officers of the Association could not allow that school to violate even one letter of the constitution. The committee accepts the statement that there was no malicious intent, and says in its decision that it feels that "Cambridge Manual has not intentionally broken the constitution, and has acted in perfect good faith."

This is an unfortunate complication, and one greatly to be deplored. Cambridge Manual seems to have suffered a penalty out of all proportion to the offence committed, and while it is just that the committee of the Interscholastic Association should enforce the constitution to the very letter, and while it seems that in the present case they have not in any way exceeded their duties, still I believe that, so long as Merrill was a _bona fide_ student at the school, every sportsman will consider C.M.-T.S. the virtual, if not actually the pennant-holding, champion of the Senior League of the New England Interscholastic Football Association.

In especial relation to these recent occurrences, it is good news that a conference of interscholastic football authorities will be held in the latter part of next month. It is proposed at that time to go over the constitution carefully, and to add or eradicate such clauses as the conditions in Boston may seem to require.

The protest of Trinity School against De La Salle was withdrawn at the last meeting of the New York Interscholastic Association's executive committee, and the championship has been awarded to De La Salle Institute. This makes one more unpleasant incident that is put away into the past without being dragged out to an unpleasant length; and no matter what Trinity's position may have been in the case, her athletic managers have done well to drop their protest.

In addition to in-door track athletics this winter the Brooklyn schools will have a handball league, and the schedule of games has already been laid out as follows:

January 16--Pratt Institute _vs._ Brooklyn High, and Poly. Prep _vs._ Brooklyn Latin. January 23--Pratt _vs._ Brooklyn Latin, and Adelphi _vs._ Poly. Prep. January 30--Brooklyn High _vs._ Brooklyn Latin, and Pratt _vs._ Adelphi. February 6--Brooklyn Latin _vs._ Adelphi, and Poly. Prep. _vs._ Pratt. February 20--Brooklyn High _vs._ Pratt. February 27--Poly. Prep. _vs._ Brooklyn High.

Brooklyn Latin School and Poly. Prep, will probably have the strongest teams, from present appearances, and as the game has been played by both these institutions for some seasons past, some exciting contests should result.

_Unless unforeseen contingencies arise to prevent, the All-New York and the All-Chicago Interscholastic Football Teams will be announced in the next issue of this Department._

"FOOTBALL FACTS AND FIGURES."--BY WALTER CAMP.--POST 8VO, PAPER, 75 CENTS.

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QUESTIONS FOR YOUNG MEN.

ON CHOOSING A PROFESSION.

The old story told of the great Duke of Wellington, the man who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo, that he wanted football-players for his Generals has been supplemented within the last few weeks by a similar statement made by the Honorable Theodore Roosevelt, the president of the police commissioners of the greatest city of America. Mr. Roosevelt's remark was made at a public meeting which he was addressing on the general subject of the modern city, with especial reference to the police, and he said that he wanted vigorous, manly men for policemen, men who in their younger days had made or would have made good football-players had they been given the chance. This does not mean that everybody from a policeman up to a General is made a competent official merely because he has played football. It is merely a phrase, but that phrase has a distinct meaning to every one, because it suggests what qualities are required in any walk of life to make successful, competent workers.

The great Duke and the distinguished police commissioner meant by this that they wanted for their lieutenants men who knew what discipline was--men who were ready at any moment to jump into any work, and do it with all their strength of mind or body, or both; men who were self-reliant and could be trusted, who knew how to obey and how to command and how to do things themselves. It is not enough to-day to say that this or that boy is absolutely trustworthy in order to get him a situation in a shop, a banking-house, or a law-office, in the leather or the toy business. He _must_ be trustworthy. It is taken for granted that he is honest. This is not undervaluing honesty in the least. Quite the reverse, in fact, because if a boy is not absolutely reliable, nobody wants him, no matter how clever he may be. But there are hosts of honest boys--in fact almost all of them are straightforward. But to get a place in any establishment much besides honesty and reliability is required, and hence the good old Sunday-school-story type of boy who made millions because--and only because--he was honest, is unfair to the average boy reader, since it makes him think that success is at his hand if he is only honest.

That is the mistake many a fine chap makes, and when after a while he does not get ahead, in spite of his honesty, he grows melancholy and disgusted. When you get a place as boy in a store, as clerk in a banking-house, or assistant in a professional office, you must take things into your own hands. Naturally you want to advance yourself, but the quickest way of doing this is to let your own interest drop for the time, and study out what is your employer's interest. Having found this, try every day in the year to see how you can improve, suggest, push forward his success. Pretty soon he begins to notice you, to think over your suggestions. In time something comes up, and he wants a man for a certain purpose. Ten to one he will think you are the only one for it, because you have been keeping yourself before him so much in a way that helps him. And not long afterwards you are the man he relies on. That is the beginning, and like all good thorough beginnings, it is more than half the battle.

When you sit down to choose a profession, then--unless you have a very definite idea of what you want to do, and in that case the work is easy, for you only have to work at it hard and long to make your living by it--when you sit down to make a choice, and have no great preference, say to yourself that you will take whatever job you can get, and will not only do that which is given you to do honestly and thoroughly, but will get up each morning thinking out some little thing that may possibly be of advantage to your employer's purse or fame. It cannot help making an impression, for business men are just as human as office-boys, and if you only show them that you are trying your best to add to their fortunes or their name, they cannot help watching you, trusting you, advancing you. And any business that is done well and vigorously will not only become interesting, but will give you a chance to make a successful life, and to add to the good of your fellow-countrymen, besides giving you a living into the bargain. Anything well done and worked at hard and long--for twenty years, say--is sure to be conquered, and whether it is the keeping of a grocery-store or the running of a government, the same qualities of honesty, originality, and thoroughness are required, and, if employed, are successful. What you do, then, is not so important as the push and vigor which you put into it.

* * * * *

AMERICA STILL AHEAD.

Russia is a very large country, and with Siberia's immense area included, the size of the United States suffers in comparison with her. One of her newspapers has vaunted the proposed transporting of a whole town some forty odd miles along a frozen river (a heretofore unknown feat, as it claims), the object of the removal being to place the town among some hills that lend themselves admirably to the purpose of fortification, thus securing a valuable military station. It will undoubtedly be quite a feat to accomplish such a task, and if the Russian engineers find any hitch in their plans, they can surmount the difficulties by reference to a similar undertaking successfully accomplished in the State of Illinois, namely, the moving of the town of Nauvoo over a frozen river. In the course of three winters this was done, and seven hundred houses were transported, and a new town, now a prosperous place, was established. The Russian newspapers can boast of the great work of moving one of their towns; but it is a pleasure to know that the United States long ago anticipated them in such matters.

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.

IMITATION CARBON PRINTS.

Those of our amateurs who have used the formulas for tinted papers will enjoy preparing paper in imitation of carbon prints. The method is one of the simplest forms of sensitizing paper. The formula is as follows:

No. 1.

White gum-arabic 4 oz. Distilled water 6 oz.

Dissolve the gum-arabic in the water--heating the water--and if, when dissolved, the mixture does not measure ten ounces, add enough clear water to make that amount.

No. 2.

Bichromate of potash 1 oz. Distilled water 9 oz.

For use mix equal parts of the solution, and filter; then take a tube of moist water-color, any tint desired, and dissolve enough of it in the solution to produce the tint desired. Pin a sheet of photographic paper to a flat board, and apply the solution with a flat brush after the manner described for sensitizing paper. The paper must be sensitized by gas or lamp light.

This paper is not a printing-out paper, but is developed. Expose under the negative, lay the print for a few seconds in lukewarm water, then place it face up on a sheet of glass, and develop it with hot water, using it about 110° F.; rinse, and place for ten minutes in a bath made of

Powdered alum 1 oz. Water 20 oz.

As the progress of the printing cannot be seen, it is a good idea to sensitize a strip of paper, and experiment with the printing till the time for exposure can be ascertained.

SIR KNIGHT KENNETH TANNER, 711 First Avenue, Asbury Park, N. J., says that he has intensified several of his negatives with mercury, and that they are fading fast, and wishes to know how to preserve them. They may be restored by soaking in a solution made of Schlippe's salts, 40 gr., and water, 4 oz. Soak the negative in clear water till thoroughly wet, and then immerse in the restoring solution till the desired effect is obtained.

LADY EUDORA LANDERS asks if the picture which she encloses in her letter belongs in any of the classes for which prizes are offered. The picture is that of a building--a log house--and therefore would not come in any of the classes. The picture is a good one, and well taken; but the camera was not exactly level, and the lines of the horizon slant. If the picture is squared by the horizon-line and trimmed, this defect will be remedied.

SIR KNIGHT R. J. GEDDES asks if by prepared photographic paper is meant salted paper. The paper, if bought unsalted, must be salted before it is used. Sir Knight Geddes will find directions for making green tones in No. 862, May 5, 1896.

SIR KNIGHT LEONARD KEBLER, 142 Harrison St., East Orange, N. J., asks if his name is enrolled among the members of the Camera Club, and for the number of the ROUND TABLE which contains directions for enlarging. Sir Leonard says that in an answer to one of the queries asking about enlarging, the answer was that directions could be found in No. 801, March 5, 1895, but that he looked in this number and there was no article on photography. By referring to the number mentioned the editor finds an article on "Bromide Enlargements." This tells how to make an enlarged photograph from a small negative, which is what Sir Leonard means. Bromide paper is the sensitive paper used for such photographs, and they are called bromide enlargements. Sir Leonard is enrolled in the Camera Club.

SIR KNIGHT HARRY CHASE sends a print, and asks if it would come under marines or landscapes. It would be classed with the marines. It is a good picture, the water looking like water and not like chalk or snow.

SIR KNIGHT F. G. CLAPP asks if the rule in the photographic competition saying no picture shall be sent which has been submitted in other competitions, means the ROUND TABLE competitions, or all competitions. It means any competition in which prizes are offered for best photographs. The object of our prize competition is to stimulate our club to do its best work expressly for this competition. We wish new pictures with fresh subjects, not pictures that have been sent to other competitions and placed on exhibition.

SIR KNIGHT GILBERT JACKSON asks if there is any way to remove an object from a negative which one does not want in the finished print. The objectionable part of the picture may be blocked out by painting over it, on the glass side of the negative, with Gihon's opaque, a non-actinic water-color paint.

"EDITH" asks how to enlarge from a silver print. In order to enlarge from a silver print, it would be necessary to make a negative from the print, and then make a bromide enlargement from the negative according to direction given in No. 801, March 5, 1895.

SIR KNIGHT CONANT TAYLOR encloses a print and asks what is the matter with it. The picture was not printed deep enough, and has faded in the toning. It has the appearance of being overtoned, or toned in poor solution. In toning, when not sure that the bath is all right, test it according to directions given beginners for testing toning solutions. Take a piece of blue litmus paper and dip it into the toning solution. If it turns red the bath is too acid. Add enough of the alkali to turn the paper back to blue. Bicarbonate of soda is an alkali. In toning remove the prints from the bath before they are quite toned, as they fade in washing.

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Thoroughly revised, classified, and indexed, will be sent by mail to any address on receipt of ten cents.

A MYSTERY TRIP.

A PUZZLE WITH FORTY DOLLARS OFFERED IN PRIZES FOR BEST ANSWERS.

A mystery trip it was indeed, that of our Half Dozen Club. The route of the journey was decided by a game of hare and hounds. The points of interest to be visited were snatched by the hounds while following the track of the hare from innumerable papers which designedly marked the latter's course. Could any route be made more uncertain?

After the game, when the papers, previously marked with the names of notable persons, places, and things, were put together in order, it was found that we should have a remarkable company, and an even more remarkable route. Let me describe both as we take the journey in fancy together.

Our conveyance was the magic carpet(1) of Prince Houssain. Safe? Well, it might not have been had we not carried the Dart of Abaris(2). Then the god(3) who was thrown from Olympus for getting mixed up in a family row acted as guide and kept us from danger by wearing Tidbottom's spectacles(4). For a rudder he used Van Tromp's broom(5).

We arrived in no time at Kit's Coty House(6), and began at once to pick up souvenirs. The Knight of the Rueful Countenance(7) got the bones of his famous horse(3). The witty English clergyman(9) who, to make his nag speedier, hung his food before the nag's nose, but just out of his reach, got the bones of a dog that won literary fame for his master(10).

Snatching the magic tent of Prince Ahmed(11) and a supply of smoke farthings(12), onion pennies(13), and screw dollars(14) to pay expenses, we passed through the ivory gate(15) to the shore of the sea of darkness(16), where we embarked in the ship Skid Bladnir(17). We visited the islands of Laputa(18), were ship-wrecked while passing the magnetic mountain of Prince Agib(19), and barely escaped with our lives and curios to the shore of the Land of Cakes(20).

Here we were joined by Dr. Mirabilis(21), the mutton-eating king(22), the hero of the red shirt(23), Abel Shufflebottom(24), and a company of bridge bachelors(25). So many were we that the supply of Galli-Maufry(26) ran low, and when we reached the Land of Cocaigne(27) we were wellnigh starved.

Our party now separated, some going to the Grid-iron palace(28) and others to King Cunobelin's Gold Mines(29). Of course we were disappointed at not being able to visit the heart of Midlothian(30), Montezuma's Watch(31), or the Land of the Morning Calm(32). But we got home on Running Thursday(33), just in time for New Year next day. We had a little money left, for we had consulted the wise men of Gotham(34). Had we not done so, we should certainly have donned the badge of poverty(35) forthwith, or we might have put on a badge bearing what follows, and charge a certain sum per guess at the answer. Did you ever hear of a person increasing his income in that way? But here is what we might have donned, for people whom we met to answer.

"I(36) used to live, for two hundred years or so, in the tops of high trees in the forest. Then I was smashed, oh! so fine, and went into war. I played an important part in the Civil War. I helped to kill, and was, by thousands and thousands of men, torn to pieces myself. I am light, yet heavy, and everybody knows me, or of me."

Or this badge might have earned us more money:

"I(37) have two legs only, but everybody would say, judging from my name, that I have a dozen. I am often called a crank. Know books? Yes, but never read them. I have much to do with chairs--wearing them out--and people often wonder how I live."

But to return to the trip long enough to say that it was a great one!

* * * * *

In this fanciful story are mentioned some famous people, usually by their nicknames, and some odd historic places and things. There are also two riddles. In sending answers, do not write out the story. Number names as numbered here, write one below another in the proper order, and put your name and address at the top of your first sheet of answers. Mail answers not later than January 9, 1897, to HARPER'S ROUND TABLE, New York--no street number required--and put in the lower left-hand corner of your envelope "Puzzle Answer." Correct answers, with names of winners, will be published in HARPER'S ROUND TABLE as early after the close of the contest as possible, probably within about two weeks.

The prizes, which will be awarded by the Messrs. Harper & Brothers, Publishers, New York, are: $40, divided among the ten best solvers according to merit. If one solver stands conspicuously ahead of the rest he or she will be given from $10 to $25, as the comparative excellence of the answer warrants. Persons of any age may help find the answers, but only those who have not passed their 18th birthday, and who are members of households in which this paper is regularly read, may send them in. Merit signifies correctness and neatness, and has no reference to the solution reaching the office of HARPER'S ROUND TABLE first in point of time. Elaborate decoration of answers is not encouraged. Use common stationery, note size, and do not roll. Write on one side of the paper only. Everything comes to those who--try!

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.

The stamp business was unusually dull throughout the summer and fall, and the expected revival has not yet appeared. Probably one reason is that every one is waiting for the 1897 catalogues. The astonishing rise in the value of unused stamps seems to have concentrated speculation in this direction, and the needless manufacture of "new varieties" with fancy prices has discouraged the average collector. It is high time to come down to a philatelic basis, and let the financial side of collecting alone for a season. The advance in prices has nearly reached its limit in the majority of cases, and subsequent increase of value will be slow. In many instances there will be either a retrocession, or--the dealers will keep the stamps in their safes vainly waiting for customers.

Some idea of the extent of the U. S. postal service is given in the following figures from the President's message:

MAIL MATTER FOR THE YEAR ENDING

June 30, 1896.

Weight. Pounds. Revenue. Letters and postal cards 65,337,343 $60,624,464 Newspapers 348,988,648 2,996,403 Books, seeds, etc. 78,701,148 10,324,069 Merchandise 19,950,187 3,129,321 Free matter 94,480,189 .... Received for box rents, etc., over .... 5,424,951 ----------- ----------- Total 607,457,515 $82,499,208

The entire expenditures of the department, including pay for transportation credited to the Pacific railroads, was $92,186,195.11, which may be considered as the cost of receiving, carrying, and delivering the above mail-matter.

F. ORMISTON.--An immense quantity of Roman States remainders were sold to dealers, hence prices are very low. Your stamps are worth from 3c. to 5c. each.

M. E. JENKINS.--U. S. cent, 1798, worth 20c.; 1802, 25c.; half-cent, 1809, 10c.; 1828, 20c.; 10c. shinplaster, face. "Army and Navy" is not a coin, but is a token, and has no money value.

D. W. HARDIN, 1003 Court Street, Saginaw, Mich., wishes to exchange U. S. Revenues with beginners in the same line.

H. L. MOSSMAN.--Canadian penny, 1854, is worth face only.

CONSTANT READER.--1. See reply to A. W. de Roade in No. 893. 2. The coins have no premium. 3. Apply to any respectable dealer.

F. T. O.--Bergedorf half-schilling is worth 50c. The 5c. Columbian worth 1c.

DEL ROSE MCCANN, Ridley Park, Pa., F. MIKELSKI, Bath, Me., wish to exchange stamps.

J. RICO.--Do not attempt too much. The collection of minor varieties requires time, money, and knowledge. You had better collect "straight" stamps only. By the time you have got together three or four thousand you will have required much knowledge, and then be in a position to decide what special line, _if any_, you purpose to take.

A. A. LATO.--West Indian and U. S. stamps _unused_ were the fashionable stamps during the past year. The results of the late auctions indicate quite a falling off in values. Probably now would be a good time to collect them, if you care to specialize in them.

PHILATUS.

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* * * * *

GEORGE WASHINGTON

By WOODROW WILSON, Ph.D., LL.D. Copiously Illustrated by HOWARD PYLE, HARRY FENN, and Others. Crown 8vo, Cloth, Deckel Edges and Gilt Top, $3.00.

Professor Wilson has made at the same time a new biography of Washington and a new history of America in Washington's time. In the perspective of American history, a perspective clearer, perhaps, to this writer than to any other, the period treated is especially significant, being the culmination of the colonial era, and including the final overthrow of French dominion on American soil, the Revolutionary War, and the establishment of the Republic on the firm basis of constitutional law. Upon this historic background Professor Wilson has painted his living portrait of Washington, and with masterly skill and homely simplicity has shown the relation of the man to the stirring events of his time, and has made the whole epoch luminous with the spirit of its foremost man. To many readers the most charming feature of this work will be the picture presented of Washington in the quiet days of Mount Vernon before and after the Revolution.

* * * * *

HARPER & BROTHERS, Publishers, New York

POSTER CALENDAR. 1897

_By Edward Penfield. Price 50c._

Published by R. H. Russell & Son, New York.

* * * * *

A BRAVE LITTLE GIRL.

Just one more kiss for good-night, mamma, Just one more kiss for good-night; And then you may go to my dear papa, And--yes--you may put out the light; For I'll promise you truly I _won't_ be afraid, As I was last night; you'll see, 'Cause I'm going to be papa's _brave_ little maid, As he told me I ought to be.

But the shadows won't seem so dark, mamma, If you'll kiss me a _little_ bit more; And you know I can listen, and hear where you are, If you only _won't_--shut the door. For if I can hear you talking, I think It will make me so sleepy, maybe, That I'll go to sleep just as quick as a wink, And forget to--to cry like a baby.

You needn't be laughing, my mamma dear, While you're hugging me up so tight; You think I am trying to keep you here, You, and--I guess--the _light_. Please kiss me good-night once more, mamma; I could surely my promise keep If you'd only stay with me just as you are, And kiss me till--I go to sleep.

* * * * *

ONE GOOD REASON.

BETTIE WITLESS. "Why does that little boy always go barefooted?"

SALLIE KNOWALL. "Why, because he has more feet than shoes."

* * * * *

Abraham Lincoln was fond of a good story, and it is a well-known fact that he often illustrated an important point in the business at hand by resorting to his favorite pastime. Probably one of the best he ever told he related of himself when he was a lawyer in Illinois. One day Lincoln and a certain judge, who was an intimate friend of his, were bantering each other about horses, a favorite topic of theirs. Finally Lincoln said:

"Well, look here, judge. I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll make a horse-trade with you, only it must be upon these stipulations: Neither party shall see the other's horse until it is produced here in the court-yard of the hotel, and both parties must trade horses. If either party backs out of the agreement, he does so under a forfeiture of twenty-five dollars."

"Agreed," cried the judge, and both he and Lincoln went in quest of their respective animals.

A crowd gathered, anticipating some fun, and when the judge returned first, the laugh was uproarious. He led, or rather dragged, at the end of a halter the meanest, boniest, rib-staring quadruped--blind in both eyes--that ever pressed turf. But presently Lincoln came along carrying over his shoulder a carpenter's horse. Then the mirth of the crowd was furious. Lincoln solemnly set his horse down, and silently surveyed the judge's animal with a comical look of infinite disgust.

"Well, judge," he finally said, "this is the first time I ever got the worst of it in a horse-trade."

* * * * *

NEW VARIETY OF COOKING.

MOTHER. "Freddie, pass the bread."

FREDDIE (_who has been studying about minerals at school_). "Do you want aluminum bread, or the other kind?"

MOTHER. "What do you mean?"

FREDDIE. "One is very light and the other isn't."

* * * * *

SOME NATURAL HISTORY.

TRIPSEY. "I wonder does the catamaran feed on mice?"

FRIPSEY. "Yes; and the dromedary maid gives him cheese that she makes. The tomahawk catches young chickens for food, the wanderoo eats nothing on a journey, the spinning-jenny lives on cotton, the monkey-wrench apes the saw horse, and lives on wood; while the gunwale eats nothing, the toad-eater diets on favors, and the Welsh rabbit feeds everybody but himself. Animals are queer things, Trip."

* * * * *

NEAR NEIGHBORS.

PROFESSOR SNIBLEY. "The _os humeris_ is the shoulder-blade, is it?"

STUDENT. "I'm not sure, sir; but it's somewhere near the funny-bone."

End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Round Table, December 22, 1896, by Various