CHAPTER VI.

IN THE DRAWER.

immieboy clambered up the side of the bureau with some difficulty too, because he was now so small that the bureau was not so easy to climb. In a few minutes, however, he was comfortably fixed inside the drawer, and the Wizard, taking the key from the lock, followed him. Once inside he touched a spring on the side of the drawer, and with a bang it shut itself.

"There we are," said the Wizard, locking the drawer from the inside. "How do you like it, Jimmieboy?"

"It's awfully dark," said the little fellow. "I can't see an inch in front of my face."

"Then take my hand," said the Wizard, "and I'll lead you to where it is light."

Jimmieboy did as he was told, and the two little creatures groped their way along in the dark until the Wizard found a small door. Turning the knob to this he threw it wide open, and Jimmieboy looking through it saw a beautiful garden in which sweetly perfumed fountains were plashing merrily, and through which there were scattered beds and beds of the loveliest and withal the most singular-looking flowers he had ever seen.

"My!" he cried in an ecstasy of delight. "Isn't this magnificent!"

"Oh, yes--pretty good," said Thumbhi. "I suppose when one sees it for the first time it must look like the most beautiful place in the world, but to one whose prison it has been it isn't quite so beautiful. You never heard my song,

"'I would rather be free in a dungeon cell Than a captive at large in a flowered dell.'

"Did you?"

"No," said Jimmieboy, "I never did. How does it go?"

"This way," replied the Wizard, and then he repeated these lines:

"'I would rather be free in a dungeon cell Than a captive at large in a flowered dell; I would rather be free 'neath a load of chains Than a prisoner roaming the country lanes. I would rather be free in an ice-bound cave Than to sit on a throne as another's slave; For all the great blessings with which man's blest 'Tis freedom, sweet freedom that I love the best.'"

"That's a pretty song," said Jimmieboy. "And I think maybe you are right. I feel that way myself sometimes. Once in a while when I'm told I can't do something, I feel that way. I always want to do that thing more than ever."

"You are just like me, then--though really I didn't think much about freedom and how nice it was, and what a dreadful thing captivity was, until I had a little chat one night with a song-bird. She was cooped up in a cage, and sometimes she nearly broke her wings flattering up against the bars of it trying to get out. As I watched her I wondered how she could sing so happily when she was shut up that way, and I asked her about it. She answered me softly, 'It isn't I that is happy. It is my song that is happy because it is free.' And then she sang this little verse to me:

"Though they shut me close in these brazen bars, Though they keep me a captive long, Yet my notes will rise Till they touch the skies. No man can imprison my song."

"I've always felt sorry for birds in cages," said Jimmieboy, when the Wizard had spoken. "And I've wondered, too, how they could sing so sweetly when all the day long they were locked up with nothing to do but jump from one perch to another, or swing in that little swing at the top of the cage."

"Well, there's one thing that's nice about their lives," said the Wizard. "They don't have anybody to quarrel with. I think that's very fine."

"That's true," said Jimmieboy. "And then, too, when one bird wants to swing there isn't any other little bird that he has to give up to; but I'd rather be free, and take my chances of getting the swing, wouldn't you?"

"Rather!" ejaculated the Wizard. "But, my dear fellow, we are wasting time. The Merboy will be back in a few minutes, and if you want to see all the wonders of this place we must hurry. Come. Let's go out into the garden."

The queer little fellow leading the way, the two new friends went out of the drawer. As they sauntered along, Thumbhi reached out his hands and plucked two pretty flowers from a bush at the side of the path, and putting one of them in his mouth handed the other to Jimmieboy.

"You must be hungry by this time," he said. "Eat that."

"Flowers aren't good to eat, are they?" asked Jimmieboy.

"Cauliflowers and the flowers of this garden are. That is nothing but a biscuit-bush I plucked those from. Didn't you ever see a biscuit-bush?"

"Never," said Jimmieboy; "though I should think they'd be very nice."

"They are," said the Wizard.

"How do you make them grow?" asked Jimmieboy in surprise.

"Simple enough," said Thumbhi. "Take the Buckwheat-cake bush, for instance. Buckwheat cakes are nothing more than cooked buckwheat, so instead of planting the seeds raw we plant them cooked, and when they grow up and sprout, instead of putting forth raw buckwheat out come the cakes. Try one."

Jimmieboy needed no second bidding, for as the Wizard spoke he had reached over to the buckwheat-cake bed, and plucked a half-dozen hot, steaming cakes.

"My!" ejaculated Jimmieboy, as he swallowed the first one, somewhat greedily, perhaps, for he was very hungry. "My! How sweet they are."

"Aren't they!" said the Wizard. "And why shouldn't they be? We water the Buckwheat-cake bushes with maple syrup."

The idea was so overpoweringly lovely that Jimmieboy could not find words to express his delight over it. He simply let his eyes open a little wider, but the twinkle in them showed the Wizard how he felt.

"Now here," said the Wizard, tapping a little door in a curious-looking summer-house--"here is where we keep our tools. They are the funniest tools you ever saw in your life. They do all their own work. I'll introduce you to some of them. Mr. Rake!"

"Well?" came a voice from within. "Well, what's wanted? If you are the gravel path you might as well trot away. I can't smooth you off to-day, and if you are the weed path, I've asked Mr. Hoe to attend to you. I'm having trouble with my teeth."

"It's I--Thumbhi," said the Wizard.

"Oh," came the answer. "Why didn't you say so."

Here the door was opened, and the Rake hopped out.

"Good-morning," he said. "I didn't know it was you or I wouldn't have kept you waiting. Who is your young friend?"

"Jimmieboy," returned the Wizard. "This is his first visit, and I didn't know but what you'd show him how you do your work."

"I'd be very glad to," said the Rake, "but it's impossible this morning. I spent all day yesterday raking the candy field, and it has made my teeth ache like seventy-two--which is twelve more than like sixty; but if he's fond of jokes I can give him a few. Why is a--"

"Well, really," said the Wizard, who knew the Rake's jokes were very bad, and who was therefore anxious to spare Jimmieboy the trouble of hearing them, "we don't like to bother you. We'll run along--"

"No bother, I assure you," said the Rake. "I know it by heart. Why is a trolley-car like a grindstone without any handle?"

"I couldn't possibly guess," said Jimmieboy, with a grin.

"They don't either of them smoke cigarettes, of course," said the Rake. "I should think anybody could have told that. Now, can you tell me why a--"

"Thumbhi!" came a voice in the distance.

"Excuse me for a minute," said Thumbhi. "I think I hear somebody calling me," and he was off.

"You'd better follow him, Jimmieboy," said the Rake, kindly. "Don't lose sight of him for an instant. This is his way of getting rid of you. He brought you in here to tell you his history, didn't he?"

"Yes," said Jimmieboy.

"Well, he hasn't got one," whispered the Rake. "He hasn't got one, and he never had one, and this having himself called away is only one of his tricks. Keep your eye on him or you're lost."

With this the Rake slammed the door of the tool-house, and Jimmieboy turning about peered down the path at the Wizard, who was running as fast as his legs could carry him. Jimmieboy started in pursuit--and what a pursuit it was! Like the wind they ran, mile after mile round and round the garden, through forests that turned up on the road here and there, and once in awhile with great bounds jumping over rivers and mountains, until finally Thumbhi turned suddenly, ran backwards directly past Jimmieboy, and before the little visitor had time to turn around was lost to sight.

Jimmieboy was now quite lost. He had no idea as to his whereabouts. The garden had long since disappeared, and so fast had he run the boy had failed to notice in what direction he had come.

"Humph!" he said, seating himself by the road to catch his breath. "Here's a muddle. I wonder where the Merboy is?"

"Here I am," came a subdued little voice that sounded miles away. "Take the first door to your right, open it, and you'll find me."

Jimmieboy started up and walked, it seemed to him, for hours, but no door appeared anywhere until, just as the sun was setting, he came to a big oak-tree with a little bit of a door half-way up its trunk.

"I wonder if that's it?" said the puzzled boy, scratching his head.

"Yes," came the voice from the inside. "Climb up and come in."

"I can't climb 'way up there," said Jimmieboy.

"Then we'll let the door down," returned the voice behind the door. Sure enough down came the door. Jimmieboy opened it and walked in, and there was the Merboy only he had become a goldfish in the aquarium in the nursery again, and was swimming around as unconcernedly as if nothing had ever happened.

"Wasn't it queer?" said Jimmieboy, as he told the story to his father.

"Very," said his father, "but queer things often happen to boys who eat as much fruit cake as you do."

Which was the only explanation of his strange adventure that Jimmieboy ever got.

THE END.

Although the inter-city games at the Berkeley Oval, a week ago Saturday, were at no time exciting, because of the marked difference in strength of the contesting teams, yet in many instances the contests were exceedingly interesting, and, take it all in all, the occasion was worthy of a greater display of public interest than it received. I was surprised at the small size of the audience present. I had expected to see twice as many spectators as there were at the Oval on the previous Saturday, and no doubt there would have been if the games had been properly advertised. As far as I know not a daily newspaper of this city announced, on that morning, that there would be interscholastic games at the Oval that afternoon. This is not the fault of the newspapers; it is the fault of the managers of the Inter-City games, who should have made it their duty to see that the occasion was duly advertised and heralded. These same managers were so anxious to fill their coffers as to make all contestants pay an entrance-fee into the grounds, like ordinary spectators. If they had spent a few dollars in reading notices in the daily papers, and a few cents in postage on polite notes to the various City Editors, they would have doubled the number of spectators present, and the contestants could have been admitted free--as they should have been in any case. I hope my words on this subject will not be taken as a complaint or as fault-finding, for they are not so intended. Contestants in track games, as in other sports, can do better if encouraged by a crowd, and so I think, in justice to them, no reasonable efforts should be spared to attract a large audience.

Otherwise the games were pretty well managed. The events might have been run off a little faster, but as it was they did not drag, and by five o'clock the programme was at an end. The advantage of having few entries was clearly demonstrated, and a tiresome succession of trial heats was avoided. How much better it would be if the Interscholastics could be conducted on some such plan next year. The programme was a compromise, and a very good compromise at that. The mile walk and the Junior 220 were omitted, and the bicycle race was made two miles instead of one mile. The latter change was commendable, because the inter-collegiate event is two miles, and so it is in almost all of the other interscholastic programmes of the country. The long distance makes a better race, and the fact that New-Yorkers won every place in the event proves pretty conclusively that the N.Y.I.S.A.A. riders can cover that distance as well as they have been doing the mile.

The Long-Islanders started out with a spurt, and earned 22 of their 33 points in the first four numbers on the card. Stevens, the B.L.S. sprinter, was responsible for 10 of these, and he showed himself a strong runner. He is tall and slim, somewhat resembling Sherrill in his build, and will no doubt equal Sherrill's and the other champions' time before he retires from the track. He ran a dead heat with Hall in the first 100, doing 10-3/5, and on the run off he was victorious by about a foot in 10-4/5. Hall is not strong after his first dash, and seldom does himself justice in the finals. I believe that if he would train hard, however, he could get staying power that would enable him to do as well in the third heat as he now does at his first trial. Whether under any circumstances he could defeat Stevens is a question, for the Long-Islander showed his mettle by following up his first hard victory, and winning the 220 in the record time of 22-4/5 seconds. He could have done even better if he had known he was so close to these figures.

Fisher, of Harvard School, who holds the scholastic record of 52-1/5 sec. in the 440, was counted on by the New-Yorkers to take that event. Fisher has been training for it all spring, but since his injury last year he has not been able to get into very fit condition. He started off at a rapid gait and held the lead for about 300 yards, when his wind gave out, and Jewell, who did so much for Adelphi, in Brooklyn, the previous week, passed him easily, and came in an easy winner, with Fisher a weary third. His time, 54-1/5, was 1-2/5 seconds better than his winning time at the L.I.I.S.A.A. games. Meehan again had an easy victory in the half-mile, running as strong and pretty a race as he did the week before. In the mile, Tappen did not appear, having gone out of training, but McCord, who ran third in the N.Y. Interscholastics, came to the scratch and won in 4 m. 58-4/5 sec. He is a promising athlete, and this performance is especially creditable, as it is only his second race. Mosenthal, who beat him home the week before, ran second.

The high hurdles were run in three pretty heats. Beers came home ahead in the first in 16-1/5 sec. with a couple of Brooklyn men upsetting the hurdles behind him, and Vom Baur took the second heat in 16-2/5. Then came a neck-and-neck race between these two. Beers, who won the Interscholastics, ran well, and both men leaped together all the way. But Vom Baur was a little stronger at the finish, and left his opponent only a few inches behind him. It was an exciting race, and an exceedingly close finish. Syme won the final of the low hurdles easily, after coming in behind Harris in his heat, and Brooklyn was closed out of any points in the event by Harris and Pell. Powell took the lead in the bicycle, and made creditable time, 5 m. 32-2/5 sec. This was doubtless due to the pacing of Ehrich, which was permitted by the mutual consent of the Interscholastic Committees.

The field events were more interesting than the track events, especially the hammer, in which the record was broken by two men. Batterman threw first, and landed at 123 ft. 7/8 in. The record is 117 ft. 4-1/2 in., made by Irwin-Martin at the Interscholastics on May 11th. Irwin-Martin did not appear at the Inter-City games. Having made so good a throw, Batterman felt confident of victory, but Ayres stepped up and threw 123 ft. 11-1/4 in. Neither mark was bettered after these two performances. Baltazzi kept up to his mark in the high jump, and cleared 5 ft. 10-1/2 in. Then he had the bar put up to 6 ft., and tried for a record. He nearly did it, touching only with his ankle-bone, and he did not try again. My assumption that Baltazzi would represent the N.Y.A.C. in the International games in September has proved correct. Captain Baxter has asked him to become a member of the N.Y.A.C. team. Cowperthwaite jumped half an inch further than he did at the Interscholastics, but came near being defeated by Jewell, who cleared 20 ft. 10 in., then lost his balance and fell back. Jewell is one of the best all-round men in the schools. Simpson's work in the pole vault was of the first order, his best jump, 10 ft. coming within 3/8 of an inch of the interscholastic record established by him the year before. The accompanying table will show the day's record. The names of the Long Island representatives and schools are _italicized_ for convenience of reference.

RECORD OF THE INTER-CITY GAMES, BERKELEY OVAL, MAY 18, 1895.

Winner Event. (Five Points). Performance.

100-yard dash _Stevens, B. L. S._ 10 4-5 sec. 100-yard dash, for Juniors _Robinson, St. Paul's_ 11 2-5 " 220-yard run _Stevens, B. L. S._ 22 4-5 " 440-yard run _Jewell, Adelphi_ 54 1-5 " Half-mile run Meehan, Condon 2 m. 9 " Mile run McCord, Dwight 4 " 58 4-5 " 120-yard hurdle Von Baur, Barnard 15 4-5 " 220-yard hurdle Syme, Barnard 27 3-5 " Two-mile bicycle Powell, Cutler 5 " 32 2-5 " Running high jump Baltazzi, Harvard 5 ft. 10 1-4 in. Running broad jump Cowperthwaite, Col. Gram. 20 " 8 1-2 " Pole vault Simpson, Barnard 10 " Throwing 12-pound hammer Ayers, Condon 123 " 11 1-4 " Putting 12-pound shot Ayers, Condon 40 "

Second. Event. (Three Points).

100-yard dash Hall, Yale 100-yard dash, for Juniors Wilson, Barnard 220-yard run Washburne, Barnard 440-yard run Draper, Cutler Half-mile run _Hollingworth, Poly. Prep._ Mile run Mosenthal, Sachs 120-yard hurdle Beers, D. L. S. 220-yard hurdle Harris, Cutler Two-mile bicycle Mortimier, Blake Running high jump Wenman, Drisler Running broad jump _Jewell, Adelphi_ Pole vault Paulding, Drisler Throwing 12-pound hammer Batterman, Harvard Putting 12-pound shot Bigelow, W. & K.

Third Event. (One Point).

100-yard dash _Stevenson, Poly. Prep._ 100-yard dash, for Juniors Armstead, Berkeley 220-yard run _Underhill, Poly. Prep._ 440-yard run Fisher, Harvard Half-mile run _Van Orden, Poly. Prep._ Mile run _Romer, Adelphi_ 120-yard hurdle Moeran, Berkeley 220-yard hurdle Pell, Cutler Two-mile bicycle Gillespie, Col. Gram. Running high jump _Gunnison, Adelphi_ Running broad jump Powell, Cutler Pole vault Hurlburt, Berkeley Throwing 12-pound hammer _Fairbank, St. Paul_ Putting 12-pound shot

Points. Points made by Event. N. Y. L. I. Schools.

100-yard dash 3 6 Barnard 21 100-yard dash, for Juniors 4 5 Condon 15 220-yard run 3 6 Cutler 13 440-yard run 4 5 _Adelphi_ 10 Half-mile run 5 4 B. L. S 10 Mile run 8 1 Harvard 9 120-yard hurdle 9 0 _Poly. Prep._ 7 220-yard hurdle 9 0 _St. Paul's_ 6 Two-mile bicycle 9 0 Col. Gram. 6 Running high jump 8 1 Drisler 6 Running broad jump 6 3 Dwight 5 Pole vault 9 0 Berkeley 3 Throwing 12-pound hammer 8 1 Yale 3 Putting 12-pound shot 8 1 Sachs 3 __ __ D. L. S. 3 93 33 W. & K. 3 Blake 3 ___ 126

Next Saturday the schools of the Pennsylvania Inter-academic League will meet on Franklin Field, Philadelphia, to decide the championship of the association in track athletics. I expect to see Jones of Penn Charter, who did 10-3/4 in the 100, last year, take the event again this spring, with Hunsberger, his schoolmate, second. Unless some new man develops, Branson of Penn Charter and Remington of De Lancey will fight it out between them for first in the high hurdles. Jones should be heard from again in the 220, and McCarty of Germantown will probably take the quarter. Thackara will push him. Thackara will also have a close contest with Hedges in the half-mile, as both are good men, and Thorpe of Penn Charter will see that they make their best time. Branson has a record of 5 feet in the high jump, and it is doubtful if any one else in the I.A.A.L. can better it. The pole vault is uncertain, but Beasley of Germantown has cleared nearly 8 feet. The running broad will probably go to Remington, whose record is 18 feet 5-3/4 inches, but it will be closely contested by Hunsberger and Shoenhut. As Boyd of Cheltenham M.A. will not contest this year, the hammer and shot are uncertainties, and will go to new men.

An unusually large number of schools came into the I.A.B.B. League this year, and some good games were the result. Germantown Academy and Cheltenham M.A. defeated all their opponents, and met last Friday to decide which school should fly the championship banner. The game was played too late in the week for me to be able to notice it in this Department, but I shall treat of it next time. The De Lancey School stands third in the race, with two defeats. Cricket is not a regular I.A.A.A. sport; but a cup, offered by the Haverford College Cricket Club, was contested for last year, and has been played for again this year by a number of the schools in the league. In 1894 De Lancey headed the list, with Germantown, Penn Charter, Haverford Grammar, and Episcopal Academy following in the order named. The struggle this spring will be between Penn Charter and De Lancey, neither having yet suffered defeat. Penn Charter has two strong bowlers in Jones and Brown but in my opinion neither one is quite up to Graves, De Lancey's plucky little, all-round cricketer.

The next three weeks will see some hard training among the athletes of the New England schools, for all the principal scholastic track meets in that region come during the first days of June. The first important meeting will be the dual games between Andover and Worcester Academy, which will probably be held in Worcester, on June 1st. Then the Interscholastic games of the New England League come, at Cambridge, on June 15th, and they will be preceded on June 8th by the Western Massachusetts I.S.A.A. games at Amherst, and by the Connecticut I.S.A.A. games at Hartford. At the latter we shall see some records broken, for Beck of Hillhouse High is throwing the hammer (16 lbs.) 111 feet in practice, and is putting the shot (also 16 lbs.) 39 feet. He is sure to add ten points to the New Haven school's score.

At the meeting of the N.E.I.S.A.A., held in Boston, May 2d, the legislators very wisely voted to keep men over twenty years of age out of all interscholastic contests. Cushing Academy and Phillips Andover wanted to change the constitution so that young men over twenty years of age, if at school, could participate in games held under the rules of the N.E.I.S.A.A. But, as I anticipated, they found few supporters, and the motion to refer the question to a committee was promptly defeated, and the subject dropped. Lynn High and Mechanics' High schools applied for membership in the League, and were admitted. The New England Association is now the largest interscholastic organization in the country, having twenty-eight schools in its membership.

The dual games between Phillips Andover and Worcester academies will be close, and will furnish an exciting contest. It seems a difficult problem at this early date to name the winner, for there are so many unknown quantities to consider. Nevertheless, the 100 will probably rest between Senn, P. A., and Bryant, W. A., with Barker, P. A., third; and the winner should certainly cover the distance in 10-3/5. The order of the 220 is likely to be Gaskell, P. A., Barker, W. A., and Woodward, P. A.; but as none of them are crack men, the time will be slow. Laing, P. A., and Fish, W. A., will have a tussle for supremacy in the quarter, and will make good time. Laing is the better of the two, and will probably take the half-mile, with Gaskell and Tyler, both P. A., behind him. Richardson, of the same school, will finish first in the mile, with Milner, W. A., a close second, and Lewis, P. A., behind him. Clare of Worcester ought to get the high hurdles away from Hine, who is Andover's best man over the sticks; but Hine will undoubtedly take first in the low hurdles. Barker, W. A., will push him hard, and Fish should come in third. Lockwood, W. A., will have an easy time of it in the walk, and it is uncertain if Andover has any one good enough to secure better than third place. The bicycle race will also go to Worcester, with Crouse, P. A., possibly in one of the places. Holt of Andover should take the shot event, and he will earn second in the hammer; while Edmunds, W. A., will reverse matters by getting first in the hammer and second in the shot. Andover ought to get third in this last event with Maltby. The broad jump is the most doubtful of any event, as neither school has any very good man for that number on the card. The high jump, however, will stay at Worcester in all three places, the probable order being Johnson first, Edmunds second, and Coelith third. Johnson will also win the pole vault for Worcester, as he can clear 10 feet 8 inches. Lewis, P. A., will come nearest to him.

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This Department is conducted in the interest of Bicyclers, and the Editor will be pleased to answer any question on the subject. Our maps and tours contain much valuable data kindly supplied from the official maps and road-books of the League of American Wheelmen. Recognizing the value of the work being done by the L. A. W. the Editor will be pleased to furnish subscribers with membership blanks and information so far as possible

The map this week is perhaps one of the best in New Jersey which can be taken by a New-Yorker without too long a journey before reaching the starting-point. It not only extends to Paterson, which is a good eighteen-mile ride, and, with the return trip, makes a good half-day run, but it extends to Pine Brook, twenty-nine miles altogether, which is the first stage on the tour from New York to Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, and thence on to Buffalo.

The rider should take the Fourteenth Street ferry from New York to Hoboken, and his first object then is to get to the Boulevard. The road to the Boulevard is direct from the ferry, with a sharp turn to the right a few minutes after leaving the ferry-house, where the railroad is crossed, and the rider then comes into the Boulevard. After a long gradual ascent, he should take the first prominent turn to the left, leaving the Boulevard on the right, and going northeast to the cemetery, still uphill. The road circles this, and keeping always to the left the rider comes into the Paterson Plank Road, crosses several tracks at Homestead Station, with the Scheutzen Park on the right, then runs across the salt meadows, and finally rides over the Hackensack River. There is but one fork before he reaches the outskirts of Rutherford, which is at Washington Grove. He should keep to the Paterson Plank Road, which is the turn to the left. The road from Homestead Station to the road-house at Washington Grove is macadamized and in reasonably good condition. From the Washington Grove road-house, between Rutherford and Carlstadt, the road is perfectly straight and level, but is in poorer condition, and somewhat sandy. As the rider passes out of Carlstadt he crosses the railroad track, runs a few hundred yards until the road takes a sharp curve to the right northward, almost to the Passaic River. Here he should turn sharply to the left and cross the Passaic. This is a somewhat difficult turn, and he should be careful not to keep on to the north towards Garfield Post-office. Crossing the river, he soon arrives at a fork, where he should turn to the right, the left-hand turn being Main Street, which, though the more direct route to Passaic, is not so good a road. This fork is reached just before entering Passaic.

Passing through Passaic, the run is direct to the cemetery on the Passaic River at the outskirts of Paterson. Keep to this road until you run into Market Street. At the bridge turn sharp left and pass through the city of Paterson on Market Street to its end. Then turn to the right up a short grade to the bridge that crosses the Passaic again. The rider should not cross the bridge, but should turn sharp to the left and follow the car tracks through West Paterson Station to Little Falls. This stretch of road is in fine condition, is macadamized and level. From Little Falls it is a one-mile run to Singac. Immediately on leaving Singac and crossing the track the rider comes to cross roads. He should keep on the main road, skirting around with the river on the right, over a hilly country, by a hotel, into Fairfield; or if he chooses, he may turn to the left just before reaching Fairfield into Pier Lane. But if he wishes to make a stop in Fairfield, he must keep on to the hotel in the centre of the town. This stretch of country is a rolling macadamized road in reasonably good condition. From Fairfield, or from the junction of the main road and Pier Lane, the road southward to Franklin Post-office is in poorer condition and clay, and is much more hilly. At the junction of the roads in Franklin the rider should inquire for Bloomfield Avenue, which is the direct road to Pine Brook. This is a sandy road, somewhat hilly, and it is necessary to take the side path. At Pine Brook he has made about thirty miles, and may stop either at the hotel just off the Bloomfield road about a mile before reaching the town or at the hotel in the centre of the town.

By examining the map it will be seen that the same trip may be made by riding up to 125th Street in New York, taking the Fort Lee ferry, and riding over the direct route from Fort Lee through Taylorsville on to Hackensack, and thence over a reasonably good straight road, crossing the Passaic, and meeting Market Street above the cemetery at the point where the Paterson Plank Road joins it. A good run would be to take this latter road, to leave Market Street in Paterson, and strike for the fair bicycle road indicated on the map, which runs nearly due south through South Paterson, leaving on the west, or right hand, Montclair Heights, Cedar Grove, Upper Montclair, and riding into Montclair through Watchung, where the train may be taken for New York. This is, of course, a somewhat hilly road.

NOTE.--Map of New York city asphalted streets in No. 809. Map of route from New York to Tarrytown in No. 810, New York to Stamford, Connecticut, in No. 811. New York to Staten Island in No. 812.

This Department is conducted in the interest of stamp collectors, and the Editor will be pleased to answer any question on the subject so far as possible. Correspondents should address Editor Stamp Department.

A subscriber asks if the value of United States postage-stamps is likely to increase in the future in a manner to make them a safe investment. We can only judge of the future by the past, and taking that as a criterion, the United States stamps, with, of course, the exception of the common low values, will increase in value in the future to a far greater extent than they ever have in the past. There are to-day many millions of dollars invested in postage-stamps for collections, and while the question of stamps as an investment was somewhat doubtful ten or more years ago, at present the prominent collectors have less hesitation in investing in rare stamps than in United States bonds. The former they know will pay large interest. The recent great increase in the price of all old United States stamps is due to the buying up by collectors of all the rarities they can get, and the trend of the prices is always upward, not down.

It is reported that nearly all of the Columbian stamps on sale at Washington have been disposed of, only a few values being left. It is a last opportunity to get those much prized stamps at face value as the prices will rapidly rise after they are sold out.

The eight-cent stamp with ornaments in the corner has been issued, thus completing the set. The color is darker than the previous stamp.

The Grand-Duke Alexis Michaelivitch of Russia, who died in March, was an ardent stamp collector, and although only nineteen years of age, had already done much for the pursuit through his writings. He had planned many greater things to do for philately, but these the stamp world will lose through his early death.

When the new issue of Mexico was placed on sale, a band of music was engaged for the occasion, and after the Postmaster-General had opened the post-office window, the stamps were sold to the strains of music.

E. C. TATNALL.--Lithographed stamps are printed from stones, while all the United States, and majority of other stamps are printed from steel plates. In lithographic printing the lines are coarser and the surface smooth, while steel-plate printing shows fine lines and perfectly clean surface. The 1870-2 issue of France is lithographed.

ADVERTISEMENTS.

_Could I have another Glass of that_

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a Living Picture

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Postage Stamps, &c.

=STAMPS!= =300= fine mixed Victoria, Cape of G. H., India, Japan, etc., with fine Stamp Album, only =10c.= New 80-p. Price-list =free=. _Agents wanted_ at =50%= commission. STANDARD STAMP CO., 4 Nicholson Place, St. Louis, Mo. Old U. S. and Confederate Stamps bought.

100 all dif. Venezuela, Costa Rica, etc., only 10c.; 200 all dif. Hayti, Hawaii, etc., only 50c. Ag'ts wanted at 50 per ct. com. List FREE!

=C. A. Stegmann=, 2722 Eads Av., St. Louis, Mo.

=50= var., all dif., 5c.; 12 var. Heligoland, 15c.; 6 var. Italy, 1858 to 1862, 5c.; 3 var. Hanover, 5c.; 35 var. C. American, 50c. Agents wanted.

F. W. MILLER, 904 Olive St., St. Louis, Mo.

=100= all different, China, etc., 10c.; 5 Saxony, 10c.; 40 Spain, 40c.; 6 Tunis, 14c.; 10 U. S. Revenues, 10c. Ag'ts. wtd., 50% com.; '95 list free.

CRITTENDEN & BORGMAN CO., Detroit, Mich.

FREE

A rare stamp to all sending for my approval sheets at 50% com. Lawrence Trowbridge, Palmyra, N. Y.

WONDER CABINET =FREE=. Missing Link Puzzle, Devil's Bottle, Pocket Camera. Latest Wire Puzzle, Spook Photos, Book of Sleight of Hand, Total Value 60c. Sent free with immense catalogue of 1000 Bargains for 10c. for postage.

INGERSOLL & BRO., 65 Cortlandt Street N.Y.

Round Table Chapters.

No. 704.--The Will Carleton Chapter, of Fort Ann, N. Y. It is a school Chapter, and the teachers have been elected as honorary members. Its officers are Julia Wright, president; Fred Baker, vice-president; Jerry Finch, secretary; Gertrude Holly, treasurer; Mamie Kearans, assistant treasurer. Its object is to form the nucleus of a school library. Jerry Finch, Fort Ann.

No. 705.--The Arlington Round Table Chapter, of Arlington, Vermont. James S. Graham, Box 116.

No. 706.--The Summit City Athletic Association, of Aurora, Mo. Officers are Neil G. Garlock, George Nichols, Guy Garlock, Charles Ruby. Other members are Bert Clark, Arthur Spell, Earl Baker.

No. 707.--The W. J. Henderson Chapter, of Leesburg, Fla. Dora Mitchell, Annie Miller, Annie Halden, Tessie Hall; George H. McKee, Leesburg.

No. 708.--The Outing Athletic Chapter, of Philadelphia, Pa. Samuel Luffberry, William Hanlon; Herman F. Nauman, Jun., 8 Jefferson Street. All Knights and Ladies are invited to join.

No. 709.--The Music Literary League, of Tiffin, Ohio. E. B. Naylor, 166 Monroe Street.

No. 710.--The Uncle Sam Chapter, of Chicago, Ill. Earle Morton, Edward Burrell, Melvin Harlan, Rufus Dickman, Fred Litten; Evarts Graham, 672 West Monroe Street.

No. 711.--The Sylvia Chapter, of Frankford, Philadelphia, Pa. Will the Chapter please send names of officers?

Who Were Wise as the Wizard.

The Wizard gave us one of the best contests we ever had. Here are the answers: 1. Gilles de Retz, Marquis de Laval; Henry the Eighth. 2. Laughing Water (heroine in Longfellow's "Hiawatha") 3. Sir Henry Percie or Percy. 4. "A Merry Interlude," by John Heywood. 5. Lilly the astronomer. 6. Madagascar; Luna Island. 7. Bacon. 8. Slug; Devilfish. 9. Swallow; Swallow-tailed kite. 10. Shoe-bird. 11. Aye-aye; Ai; Horse, because it "neighs." 12. Book-spider or book-worm. 13. Dollar or goldfish. 14. Richard Steele, Thackeray's "Henry Esmond." 15. An old shepherd near Cleone, Greece, who was kind to Hercules, to repay which the hero destroyed the Nemean lion. 16. Don Quixote. 17. Clark. 18. Aaron Burr. 19. General Gates. 20. Poe (Po). 21. Holmes. 22. Marcus Terentius Varro. 23. An Irish secret society, organized in 1843. 24. To be burned as a heretic. 25. Pierre de Ronsard. 26. Snow ball. 27. Scotland. 28. A great churchbell at Lincoln Cathedral. 29. Prince Houssain, "Arabian Nights." 30. Gustavus Adolphus. 31. Earwig; Handcuff; Ear-ring. 32. Smolensk on the Dneiper. 33. George the Fourth. 34. René of Naples. 35. Ticks. 36. Jack Cade. 37. Lady Berkeley. 38. John the Painter: Silas Deane. 39. John Walter, of the London _Times_, Nov. 28, 1814; invented by Koenig. 40. New Orleans. 41. Mrs. Howe, wife of Lord Howe. 42. Edward Longshanks. 43. Richard Cromwell. 44. God of Peace and Pleasure among the ancient Saxons. 45. The initial letters of the twenty-two chapters of the Book of Revelation.

Questions that proved most difficult were 15, 20, 21, 24, 34, and 45. Only six found the 45. Many gave as its answer the title-page of a dictionary, and enough A's down the first column to fill the number; but this would not be a fair question, because, as put to the Wizard and to you, it did not cover all of the thing required. Frisco could not mean San Francisco, because in the puzzle there was no apostrophe showing that part of the word had been cut off. One solver answered correctly all save four of the questions. His name is Philip Castner; he is thirteen, and he lives in Philadelphia. His prize is $10. Two others did almost as well, and hence large second prizes are given them. One is Mae Sterner, of Pittsburg, and the other Edward L. Lyon, of Oswego, N. Y. Their prizes are $4 each. Third prizes of $1 each are given to Edward L. Wharton, New Jersey; Sarah Hodgson, Tennessee; Albert Walton, Illinois; Raymond Tilley and Francis C. Pequignot, Pennsylvania; and Mortimer J. McChesney, West Virginia. Fourth prizes, half-dollars, are sent to J. Benners King, Sydney W. Stern, Elsie Goddard, Ruth W. Balmer, J. Lawrence Hyde, Marion Miller, Daniel Llewellyn, and Katie Bartholow.

The Helping Hand.

To the Whittier Library Chapter, of Milwaukee, Wis., belongs the high honor of contributing a greater amount to the School Fund than any other, namely, $124.25. Not only so, but its contribution swells the amount sent by Milwaukee to such a figure that it enjoys the honor of having given more than any other city in the Union. The Whittier Library got its high honor by holding a two-day fair. Its receipts were $143.24, and it kept its expenses down to below $20, as you can see. Fourteen Ladies accomplished all this, and their names are: Mattie Tomanek, president; Luella Eimer, vice-president; Margaret Mitchell, secretary; Hildegarde E. A. Eimer, treasurer; Lenora Loew, Mary Kuenzli, Rose Faber, Helen Lorenzen, Mabel Diedrichsen, Alma Kuhn. Delia Volktman, Annie Voss, Erna Lasché, and Emily Burke. The Table thanks them warmly, as it does all who have helped the Fund, as follows:

Amount in money, last report $1165.32 Amount in foundation materials 400.00 ________ $1565.32

We acknowledge from Walter S. Goff, Walter G. Sill, Richard J. Drake, G. W. Hinckley, Leverett Belknap, Junior Christian Endeavor of the First Congregational Church, Philadelphia, Ralph T. Hopkins, Albert W. Atwater (on account of entertainment), N. D. Morey, D. G. White, Mary T. Porter, Helen R. Ludington, Wade Hampton Chapter, of Spartanburg, S. C., A. C. Banning, Hubbard Marsh 2d, Martha H. Evans, Allen H. Wright, Kirk Munroe Chapter, of Harlan, N. J., Alonzo S. Darragh (on account of entertainment), Loving Kindness Circle, of Bangor, Me., Ferdinand Jelke, Whittier Library Chapter, of Milwaukee, Wis., Ralph M. Stoughton, Phoebe and Harriett Waterman, L. S. Howard, John R. Dewitt, George E. Riegel, Rupert S. Holland, Miss E. G. Bowes, Robert Louis Stevenson Chapter, of Cincinnati, Frank R. Semon, Robert W. Palmer, M. B. Lawton, and Maud C. Wiggins

170.11 ________ $1735.43

On interest for us, which we are to have July 1, if we do well meanwhile

300.00 ________ Grand Total $2035.43 ________ Amount the Table set out to raise $3000.00

The Robert Louis Stevenson Chapter's gift came from a parlor entertainment, consisting of jokes from comic papers, illustrated by shadow pantomimes. The members number five: Homer A. Wessel, Jun., Hugh H. Bates, M. L. Bates, C. E. Hoffman, and J. H. Bates. Its contribution was the neat sum of five dollars.

The Table is earning, not begging, this Fund. Won't you help it to get the balance? It is to build a school-house for some poor boys who have none. Why not raise something in that garden of yours? Or pick some strawberries? Or contribute what you earn one day?

A Fascinating Walk in Rome.

This has been a very rainy season. In February it even snowed a little, which is a wonderful thing in Rome. How I should like to see a big snow-storm! A few days ago I went to the Museo Nazionale, which is made in a part of the Baths of Diocletian. In the entranceway are at least ten headless women, which we call Bluebeard's wives, although they are not hung up by their hair.

Further in is a large "cortile," and in the middle of it there are some cypresses which are said to have been planted by Michaelangelo. And one may almost believe it, because they look old and are almost dead. Near them is a fountain, and all around it are immense animals' heads on pedestals--an elephant, a rhinoceros, a horse, and others--and there are many vases and statues around the garden.

In a room on the first floor is a half figure of a vestal virgin who has a noble expression on her face. On the second floor is a large bronze statue of a pugilist resting. It was found not long ago when they were excavating to build the Theatre Nazionale. It is very powerfully done, with its prominent muscles. Its head is hideous, and he has many scars and a broken nose. In another room is a headless statue of a young man on one knee. This statue is very pretty, and it is a great pity that it has lost its head.

In one room is a lovely head of a woman asleep, and lying on a velvet cushion it looks very natural, although it has lost most of its nose. It has a very peaceful expression. In one room are some old coins dug up here not many years ago. Ages ago they were sent from England as Peterpence by Alfred the Great, Athelstan, and other kings. The Baths of Diocletian are now used in many ways very different from those they were meant for; one large vaulted hall is used to store the wood of a carpenter, another for coal, and a large part of the building is turned into a blind-asylum. There is also a big church made from part of it planned by Michaelangelo. It is called Santa Maria degli Angeli. It is a very handsome church, and has several immense ancient granite columns. Formerly they had been shamefully plastered over, but now the plaster has been scraped off. On the floor of the church is a metal line on some part of which the sun shines at meridian, and on each side of it are the Signs of the Zodiac set in marble of many colors.

Near the entrance is the tomb of Salvator Rosa with his bust over it. He was a good painter, but he chose queer subjects. I have seen dark landscapes, a picture of a witch, and a group of three horrible heads of fierce-looking brigands of his. He was a poet, too, and we have a book of his satires. We have also some pretty songs of his, which prove that he was a good musician. In front of these many buildings, which were once used for bathing, is a very attractive square with a lovely fountain which has a splendid flow of water, and in the evening it is very beautifully illuminated by electricity. Near there is the great Central Station of Rome.

ROME, ITALY. MARIA OJETTI, R. T. L.

Want Corner.

A Newport member asks what numbers on the head-light of a locomotive indicate. They are the number of the locomotive repeated on the head-light, in order that it may be seen at night. A locomotive's number is its identification on the books of the company from other locomotives. We would like to print Samuel D. McCoy's exchange notice, but cannot do so. The Table has no exchange column. Harry A. Light is interested in flowers, and his address is 27 Pine Street, New York. He asks how the United States ranks with foreign powers in point of military strength. The German army, when on a peace footing, has 546,136 men in it; the French, 567,464; the Italian, 220,685; the Austrian, 334,400; the Russian, 1,112,684; the British, 138,410; and the United States, 27,957. Great Britain has in its navy 6790 guns; France, 6554; Germany, 1361; Italy, 1562; and Russia, 1643. The United States has about the same number of guns as Germany, though it has no fewer than sixty naval vessels, as tugs, school-ships, small steamers, condemned boats, etc., out of commission and unfit for service in war.

Linnie Schloeman: Jane Porter was born in Durham, in 1776, and died in Bristol, May 24, 1850. She was educated at Edinburgh, and afterward removed to London with her mother and sister. Here she published _Thaddeas of Warsaw_, which was translated into several languages. In 1809 she published _The Scottish Chiefs_, a story of the adventures of Bruce and Wallace. Essex Hobarten asks how to make a simple dynamo. He will find more detailed information than we can repeat here in the Young People dated January 15, 1895. A copy may be had from the publishers. The price is five cents. Any dealer can get it for you.

Two Knights say they collect birds' eggs. Better not, friends. The eggs belong to the birds. We are aware that naturalists say it does no harm to extract one egg from a nest. Perhaps not, when the purpose is clearly for study. But the Table cannot do this thing as a pleasure--a mere fancy for that sort of a collection. Please do not collect birds' eggs. Chester Lewis, writing from Cincinnati, sends no street address. Suppose he writes again. James F. Rodgers will find an account of the Johnson Impeachment case in any history, Moore's _American Congress_, for example. The Senate refused to sustain the impeachment, hence one might say that it thought it unjustifiable. Stanislaus Bloch, 5 Krueza Street, Warsaw, in Russian Poland, has Russian and Finland stamps to trade, and says he will answer all letters. Carl Deal: The Order has no gold badges, but it has been suggested that it provide such.

This Department is conducted in the interest of Girls and Young Women, and the Editor will be pleased to answer any question on the subject so far as possible. Correspondents should address Editor.

Is it right to care about one's clothes, and to like to have pretty and becoming things? Why, of course it is not only right, but a positive duty to have one's wardrobe in good order, and to wear colors and shapes which suit one's style and complexion. The girls for whom I write are old enough to take intelligent interest in their clothes; some of them may even buy their own materials, and cut and make their every-day frocks and waists for themselves. Every girl should understand the principles of dress-making, so that she may know how much stuff needs to be used in a gown, and regulate for herself the sort of trimming which will finish her costume appropriately.

Growing girls do not need many dresses at once. A pretty toilette for best, which may at this season be of wool crépon or of summer silk, and a serviceable frock of serge or some other strong woollen stuff for every-day and roughing occasions, will meet the requirements of ordinary life. A girl should have besides these, for summer, one or two dainty ginghams simply made, a half-dozen shirt waists, four of linen or percale, and two of silk, and a white gown either of Swiss muslin or China silk. A sailor hat for common use, a wide-brimmed picture hat for very best, and a jaunty little toque will be enough in the way of covering for the head, and she will be wise to have, if she can, several pairs of shoes. It is economy to have duplicates of one's shoes and boots, as these last much longer when frequently changed and relieved. For tramping about the roads and hills one needs, as also for the city promenade, an absolutely comfortable walking boot, with broad soles, low heels, and a shape that fits the foot to perfection. Too loose a shoe is as disagreeable and as bad for the foot of its wearer as one which is too tight. A dress boot may be of cloth and patent-leather or of soft kid. Let me insist, girls, on your keeping your boots in order, so far as the buttons are concerned. Nothing gives one so careless an appearance as a boot from which buttons have fallen.

Gloves should be kept in order just as shoes are. As they are a very expensive part of one's outfit, one should care for them nicely. In taking off your gloves, pull them from the top downwards, so that they are wrong side out when they come off. Straighten them at your leisure, and keep your very best when not in use folded up in tissue-paper, and in a box. Chamois gloves are nice for every day, and have the advantage of standing a good deal of rough wear. They are to be preferred for gardening, driving, rowing, and sweeping. I take it that among you are many girls who sweep their own rooms, and do not wish to have hands blistered from the broom.

Reject any soap or washing compound that will cleanse without an expenditure of time and labor. "What is well done is done soon enough," and Ivory Soap will do the work as quickly as it can be done with safety.

THE PROCTOR & GAMBLE CO., CIN'TI.

They are EASILY EARNED, and it requires NO MONEY

We want the services (in light, pleasant, honorable work) of

BOYS, GIRLS, GENTLEMEN, LADIES.

We pay generously for these services--in cash, if you like, or by giving a much larger value than you would deem possible, in such articles as =Safety Bicycles= (all the way from the 24-inch wheels for the younger boys and girls up to the finest safeties for ladies and gentlemen--yes, even including the 18 or 19 lb. bicycle for "scorchers"), =Fishing Outfits=, =Watches=, =Cameras=, =Air Rifles= (lots of fun with these for the whole family--no powder, no smoke, no danger--nothing but compressed air), =Shot Guns=, etc.

Any of these additions to your summer pleasures may be secured practically =FREE= in return for a little of your time and energy. Full particulars by return mail.

ALPHA PUBLISHING CO., 212 Boylston St., Boston, Mass.

Carry in pocket. Takes 25 perfect pictures in one loading--re-loading costs 20c. Ask your dealer for it, or send for free booklet "All About the Kombi."

ALFRED C. KEMPER,

Branches London, Berlin. 132-134 Luke Street, Chicago

BASE BALL. HOW TO PLAY IT.

A Great Book, contains =all= the rules; also the =secret= of pitching curved balls, and to bat successfully. Rules for Football and Tennis. Every player should have it. Entirely new and handsomely illustrated. This =Great Book Free= to any one sending us =10= cents to pay postage. _Also_ Catalogue Guns, Revolvers, Musical Instruments, Magic Tricks. =All for 10c. Order quick.= For =$1.25= we will send =Our Base Ball Outfit=, consisting of 9 Caps, 9 Belts, 1 Ball, 1 bat. BATES SPORTING CO., 100 High St., Boston, Mass.

_=FALSE MUSTACHES= and GOATEES._

Fun for the boys, a complete disguise; Fine hair goods. As Sample of our 1000 Novelties, we send one of each with large Catalogue for 10c.

R. H. INGERSOLL & BRO., 65 CORTLANDT ST., N. Y. CITY.

=DEAF=NESS & HEAD NOISES CURED by my =INVISIBLE= Tubular Cushions. Have helped more to good =HEAR=ing than all other devices combined. Whispers =HEAR=d. Help ears as glasses do eyes. =F. Hiscox=, 853 B'dway, N.Y. Book of proofs =FREE=

HARPER'S NEW CATALOGUE,

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

CARD PRINTER _FREE_

Sets any name in one minute; prints 500 cards an hour. YOU can make money with it. A font of pretty type, also Indelible Ink, Type Holder, Pads, and Tweezers. Best Linen Marker; worth $1.00. Sample mailed FREE for 10c. stamps for postage on outfit and large catalogue of 1000 Bargains.

R. H. Ingersoll & Bro., 65 Cortlandt St. N.Y. City

Songs.

Franklin Square Collection.

It would be difficult, if not impossible, to gather more features of interest into a work of this kind. Not only are many of the best songs and hymns in the English language here given--both old and new--but there are also songs and hymns for children and the schools. There are songs of home and of country, of love and fame, of heart and soul, of devotion and praise, with their sad and sweet or lively melodies, and with grand old chorals that stir the heart and lift it in worship. Besides the words and music, explanatory and historic notes are given to indicate their origin and significance. These books cannot fail to become immensely popular.--_Lutheran Observer._

Sold Everywhere. Price, 50 cents; Cloth, $1.00. Full contents of the Several Numbers, with Specimen Pages of favorite Songs and Hymns, sent by Harper & Brothers, New York, to any address.

DOGS IN WARFARE.

During Bonaparte's campaign in Italy, says a writer on dogs, as an aid to military operations, a dog whose name holds a place in military history did service as scout and spy, and showed a reasoning power that more than once came to the aid of Napoleon's army. At Marengo the quaint-looking poodle Mustache on several occasions prevented the regiment falling into the enemy's ambush, and such confidence had the soldiers in his sagacity that they followed where he led, and met with considerable success. When Mustache died he was buried with military honors, and was sadly missed by his comrades in the regiment.

Another dog, known to fame as Dellys, held for a long time the grade of corporal in the Second Regiment of Zouaves of the French army in Africa. The Arabs used to kill the French outposts by crawling up to them in the dark and stabbing them, until Dellys made his appearance, when he soon turned the tables on the enemy. The Zouaves shaved the dog, tied small branches on his back, and taught him to advance slowly on the Arab sentinel, stopping at the slightest indication that he was noticed, and, when near enough, spring on the man, and seize him by the throat.

In ten nights seven Arab sentries were thus killed by the brave dog. For these and other services he was made sergeant, with stripes attached round his fore legs. One day Dellys was induced to wander from the camp, and was killed by the enemy. The Zouaves, furious at his loss, immediately besieged the neighboring village, and notwithstanding its almost inaccessible position on the rocks, took possession of the place in about an hour. Dellys's death was avenged.

In the Thirty-second Regiment of the French army, while manoeuvres were taking place a few years ago, experiments were made with the dogs trained by Lieutenant Jupin, which acted as sentinels and were stationed at some distance from the camp, and gave notice by a peculiar bark when any one approached within four or five hundred yards of the post.

TRAINING FOR A PIRATE.

An item concerning Washington Irving, for the truth of which we cannot vouch, although it contains a deal of good advice for certain youngsters of the present time, has lately come to our notice. It is to this intent:

Washington Irving, in his youth, had a longing to go to sea and be a pirate. He determined to make the attempt, but wisely decided to prepare himself for it by preliminary experience. He began by eating salt pork. That made him sick. He then slept for a night or so on hard boards. That made him sore. It was enough. He had no more desire to go away. Other boys who want to capture men-of-war, or who desire to go scouting and scalp Indians, would do well to imitate young Irving's example.

ANECDOTE OF LESSING.

Absent-mindedness has been frequently a characteristic of men of fame. It is to be supposed, no doubt, that their minds have been so wholly absorbed by great matters that the smaller, more trivial things of life have been considered unworthy of their attention. Among men of this stamp who have suffered in this way was Lessing, a famous German writer of plays and books of criticism. Lessing discovered at one period of his life that he was being robbed of his ready money by some person in his home, and, unable to determine who the culprit was, he put the servants of his household to a test by leaving a handful of gold upon his breakfast table one morning.

Meeting a friend he told him what he had done.

"That was risky," said his friend. "How much did you leave there?"

"Dear me!" cried Lessing. "I quite forgot to count."

A BUSINESSLIKE BEGGAR.

They tell a story of an enterprising beggar of Paris who went about with a sign "I am blind" hung around his neck.

"But you are not blind!" said a man of whom he asked alms.

"I know that," said the beggar. "But the man whose business I bought was. He used to make ten francs a day on this route with this sign. I bought him out. Pray help a poor blind man a little, sir."

A CURIOUS DEFINITION.

A great many persons have discussed the question as to what is the true definition of the word gentleman. The ideas advanced on the subject are generally entertaining, novel, and of great variety, but there has probably never been a more singular definition given than that of the Irishman who was asked his opinion on the subject.

"Sure, sorr," he replied, "a gintleman is a--well, oi should say he was a mon what ates jam on his mutton, sorr."

A BARBER'S JOKE.

A well-known American clergyman went into a barber shop one morning, and being somewhat of a joker, said to the barber, "My friend, you may cut my hair as short as you would like my sermons to be."

The barber immediately got out his razor and proceeded to shave the doctor's head.

"Hold on!" cried the doctor. "Are you going to take it all off?"

"You told me to, doctor," said the barber. "I don't want any of your sermons."

End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Round Table, May 28, 1895, by Various