Part 7

"Each page is to receive the feathers of only one bird. A common wood-pigeon is an easy bird to begin with, and readily obtained at any poulterers. Draw out the tail feathers and place them quite flat in some paper until required; do the same with the right wing and the left, keeping each separate, and putting a mark on each that you may know which they contain; the back, the breast, the fluffy feathers beneath--all should be neatly folded in paper and marked, and this can be done in the evening or at odd times; but placing the feathers on the pages ought to be daylight work, that the colors may be studied. Now open the tail-feather packet, and with the razor carefully pare away the quill at the back of each feather, leaving only the soft web, which will be perfectly flat when gummed upon the page. When all the packets are thus prepared (it is only the quill feathers that require the razor), then we may begin.

"I will describe a specimen page. Towards the top of the page place a thin streak of gum, lay upon it a tail feather (the quill end downwards), and put one on each side. The best feathers of one wing may be put down, one after the other, till one has sufficiently covered the page, then the other wing feathers may be placed down the other side; the centre may be filled in with the fluffy feathers, and the bottom can be finished off with some breast feathers neatly placed so as to cover all quill ends."

* * * * *

Kinks.

No. 46.--CHARADE.

My first has been a friend of man Forever since the world began; It rules by day, and well it might, And is not lost in depths of night. My second is a bank of sand-- 'Tis got from birds of sea and land. My last a pronoun has been made. When letter H has been mislaid. My whole the squatter's heart doth tease, And doth his pocket often squeeze. Whole comes by day and stays by night, In spite of many a scornful slight.

* * * * *

No. 47.--FOR MATHEMATICIANS.

A merchant receives $3 of every $5 owing him on book debts amounting to $15,000 (which debts are five per cent. more than his liabilities), and $3.75 of every $5 on $6000 of running debts his due. Find his liabilities if he pays dollar for dollar.

* * * * *

No. 48.--WORD SQUARE.

1.

Three musketeers of art, and this is one. You'll spot him if you've seen "Trilby" done.

2.

If you are this, how many ills you'll shun If you in youth your ways have well begun.

3.

If wounded in this by bite or shot of gun, There is no hope, and now your course is run.

4.

The fourth is here, the Christian name of son Which indicates a free or candid one.

5.

I'm lost now for a terminal "un," And hampered thus is certainly no fun. So take this as it is, dear "Kink"y folks, A synonym you'll find for yellow yolks.

* * * * *

No. 49.--EASY RIDDLE IN PROSE.

We lived in a brook, and were five in number. We were taken out, once on a time, and we never got back again. Four of us were lost--hopelessly lost--and nobody knows what became of us. But the fifth took a rapid journey in the midst of much excitement, brought up at the end of the journey in the queerest place any of our family has ever been before or since, I think, and if I were able to come to you now I would be worth thousands and thousands of dollars. What am I, who were my brothers, and why can't I realize some of these thousands?

* * * * *

Answers to Kinks.

No. 41.--A PROSE CHARADE.

A potato gun, made from a goose-quill, a wooden piston, and had "wads" of sliced potato.

* * * * *

No. 42.--POLITICAL QUESTIONS.

1. Isle of Man. 2. Captain John Smith. 3. Secretary Thompson. 4. Edward Everett.

* * * * *

No. 43.--A STAR.

Caul. Clap. Balm. Pulp. Mall.

* * * * *

No. 44.--SINGLE ACROSTIC.

Assay. Nerve. Death. Reply. Ensue. Worth. Japan. Acute. Caper. Knack. Slave. Order. Niche.--Andrew Jackson.

* * * * *

No. 45.--Oliver Wendell Holmes.

* * * * *

Questions and answers.

"H. E."--For want of space we cannot publish stamp-exchange notices. "J. H. K." writes: "Will you please inform me how to obtain autographs, and give me hints in the art of collecting autographs from such people as Governors?" Autograph-collecting is not an "art." The ways to get autographs are three: Ask the people whose autographs you want for them; trade with other collectors; buy them. Many persons are fond of cataloguing autograph-collectors as "fiends," but they do not mean all they say. Nine out of every ten famous persons are rather gratified at receiving requests for autographs. Write a brief note, say frankly what you want, enclose a self-addressed and stamped envelope, and two cards--the stamps because it is your business, and you should pay the cost of it; and the cards in order that your collection may be uniform. But mere signatures are not highly regarded. Manuscripts and letters are much more to be prized. Do not, however, make requests that put persons whom you do not know to any considerable trouble, or that require them, in order to grant your favor, to give up for nothing anything that has real money value.

"History" asks: "What was it about Queen Victoria that was just celebrated?" It was this; King George III. had reigned, on the day of his death, 59 years and 95 days. The day came recently when Queen Victoria had reigned 59 years and 96 days. That 96th day, when she began on the longest reign in English history, if not in any history, was celebrated. The next oldest living sovereign, in point of length of reign, is Francis Joseph of Austria--1848. Other long English reigns, after George III., were those of Ethelred II., 37 years; Henry I., 35 years; Henry III., 56 years; Edward I., 35 years; Edward III., 50 years; Henry VI., 39 years; Henry VIII., 38 years; and Elizabeth, 44 years. Victoria has not reached the age attained by George III., who died in his 83d year. She is nearly of the age reached by George II., who died in his 77th year. The houses of Normandy, Plantagenet, Lancaster, York, Tudor, and the Stuarts were not very long-lived. The House of Hanover, to which Queen Victoria belongs has given to Britain the most venerable sovereigns in the persons of George II., George III., William IV., and Victoria. Elizabeth, the most venerable scion of the House of Tudor, died in her 71st year. She died in 1603, and from that year back to Alfred, over 700 years, no English king or queen reached 70 years. One of the notable events in the life of Queen Victoria was the celebration of her "jubilee," in 1887, marking the completion of fifty years' reign. Only three English monarchs lived to celebrate a jubilee year--Henry III., Edward III., and George III.

Anna W. Auspach, 3326 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa., is interested in pressed flowers and monograms, and wants to hear from you, and Thomas C. Gurnee, 443 Hancock Street, Brooklyn, N. Y., wants to receive sample copies of amateur papers. Harry W. Jones: The button which you describe--red, white, and blue, with a very small centre, a raised edge, and the ribbon lying in close folds, the whole being smaller than a silver dime--is that of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion. Why "never seen in the button-hole of any save men well advanced in years" is explained by the fact that it is an order of the officers and ex-officers of the army, navy, and marine corps of the United States during the civil war of now thirty years and more ago. There are twenty commanderies in as many States. The order numbers about 8500 members.

"Cedar Rapids."--A cyclopædia that is a recognized authority, issued in 1895, says the true source of the Yukon River has not yet been ascertained. It gives the river's length at about 2000 miles. The Mississippi is 2800 miles long, and the Mississippi and Missouri, which, as this cyclopædia says, should be considered as one river, and not the division as made, 4200 miles long--the longest river in the world. "H. P. B." writes to us: "Will you be so kind as to give me some information about the stage, what salaries are paid to actors, and what is the work that has to be done by them? How can one become an actor, and to whom should one apply?" Write to the Empire School of Acting, Empire Theatre, New York. Charles Field: Address Jerome K. Jerome, care _The Idler_, London, England; Bret Harte, care A. P. Watt, Hastings House, Norfolk Street, London, England; and Gen. John B. Gordon, Atlanta, Ga.

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

United States revenue stamps are advancing in price by leaps and bounds. The following is the list of new prices for 1897. Where no price is given, the old prices remain:

First Issue. Unperf. Perf. 1c. Playing-cards $15.00 $2.50 1c. Proprietary 10.00 1c. Telegraph 10.00 2c. Playing-cards 7.50 2c. Proprietary 6.00 3c. Playing-cards 35.00 8.00 4c. Playing-cards 8.00 6c. Proprietary 50.00 10c. Power of Attorney 15.00 25c. Bond 5.00 25c. Warehouse Receipt 2.00 1.00 40c. Inland Exchange 7.50 50c. Surety Bond 6.00 $1.00 Passage Ticket 8.00 7.00 $1.30 Foreign Exchange 35.00 1.25 $1.60 Foreign Exchange 10.00 2.50 $1.90 Foreign Exchange 50.00 1.50 $2.00 Probate of Will 15.00 1.50 $2.50 Inland Exchange 25.00 $3.50 Inland Exchange 40.00 $5.00 Probate of Will 12.50 1.00 $15.00 Mortgage 25.00 7.50 $20.00 Probate of Will 60.00 35.00 $25.00 Mortgage 25.00 5.00 $50.00 Internal Revenue 10.00 4.00 $200.00 Internal Revenue 30.00 20.00

Second Issue.

$1.30 $7.00 $1.60 17.50 $1.90 5.00 $20.00 15.00 $25.00 17.50 $50.00 15.00 $200.00 110.00 $500.00 (not priced.)

Third Issue.

$20.00 $17.50

Sixth Issue--Proprietary.

Violet P. Green P. 10c. $10 $2.50 50c. 20 25.00 $1 100 150.00 $5 (not priced.)

1878 Issue. Silk P. Wmk. Roul'td 5c. $4 $3 $50 10c. 15

On October 1, the Washington Post-office had the following Columbian stamps on sale:

$2 Columbians, 3002 $4 Columbians, 3437 $5 Columbians, 4581

As the same stamps have been offered by dealers and brokers in New York at various discounts (up to twenty-five per cent.) from face value, it is hardly possible that these values will command a premium for many years to come.

A new issue of Tonga stamps will be ready early in November. The set consists of values from 1/2d. to 5s.

The larger post-offices have received vast quantities of the letter-sheets (now discontinued), Columbian 1c., 2c., and 5c. envelopes, 2c. 1890 adhesives, and a lot of odds and ends.

Argentine, Sweden, and South American stamps will probably show large advances in the 1897 catalogues.

PHILATUS.

The best is not always low in price, but the housekeeper can have the best soap without extravagance.

Ivory Soap costs little, but experienced persons know that no other can do the same work and do it as well.

THE PROCTER & GAMBLE CO., CIN'TI.

FOOTBALL AND OTHER SPORTS

* * * * *

A PRIMER OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL

By W. H. LEWIS. Illustrated from Instantaneous Photographs and with Diagrams. 16mo, Paper, 75 cents.

There is probably no other man in America who has had as much football experience or who knows more about the game than Mr. Lewis.... Of value not only to beginners, but to any one who wishes to learn more about football.... We heartily recommend it as the best practical guide to football we have yet discovered.--_Harvard Crimson_, Cambridge.

Written by a man who has a most thorough knowledge of the game, and is in language any novice may understand.--_U. of M. Daily_, University of Michigan.

Will be read with enthusiasm by countless thousands of boys who have found previous works on the subject too advanced and too technical for beginners.--_Evangelist_, N. Y.

Beginners will be very grateful for the gift, for no better book than this of Mr. Lewis's could be placed in their hands.--_Saturday Evening Gazette_, Boston.

_New Edition of_

CAMP'S AMERICAN FOOTBALL

By WALTER CAMP. New and Enlarged Edition. 16mo, Cloth, $1.25.

The progress of the sport of football in this country, and a corresponding growth of inquiry as to the methods adopted by experienced teams, have prompted the publication of an enlarged edition of this book. Should any of the suggestions herein contained conduce to the further popularity of the game, the object of the writer will be attained.--_Author's Preface._

_BY THE SAME AUTHOR:_

FOOTBALL FACTS AND FIGURES. Post 8vo, Paper, 75 cents.

TRACK ATHLETICS IN DETAIL

Compiled by the Editor of "Interscholastic Sport" in HARPER'S ROUND TABLE. Illustrated from Instantaneous Photographs. 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.25. In "HARPER'S ROUND TABLE Library."

A good book to put into the hands of the athletically inclined. It is capitally illustrated with instantaneous photographs, and is full of expert and sound advice and instruction.--_Outlook_, N. Y.

* * * * *

HARPER & BROTHERS, Publishers, New York

A MATTER OF DIRECTION.

A little boy met on his way to school A savage old bear in the forest cool. "Which way is he going?" growled Bruin, aside. "The same way as you, sir," the laddie replied.

* * * * *

"I wonder why they call that a lady-bug?" queried Harry.

"Because it's got good manners and behaves itself, and doesn't go shouting around like a boy, I guess," said Polly.

* * * * *

HUMBUGS AMONG ANIMALS.

One who has deeply studied the habits of animals has discovered that there are humbugs among them.

In military stables horses are known to have pretended to be lame in order to avoid going to a military exercise. A chimpanzee had been fed on cake when sick; after his recovery he often feigned coughing in order to procure dainties.

The cuckoo, as is well known, lays its eggs in another bird's nest, and, to make the deception surer, it takes away one of the other bird's eggs. Animals are conscious of their deceit, as is shown by the fact that they try to act secretly and noiselessly; they show a sense of guilt if detected; they take precautions in advance to avoid discovery; in some cases they manifest regret and repentance. Thus bees which steal hesitate often before and after their exploits, as if they feared punishment.

A naturalist describes how his monkey committed theft. While he pretended to sleep, the animal regarded him with hesitation, and stopped every time his master moved or seemed on the point of awakening.

* * * * *

BICYCLE LINGO.

FRED. "The route I have in mind extends about two miles along the Hudson."

SMALL BROTHER. "Where does the tree stop?"

EDITH. "Where are you going to spend your vacation?"

BESSIE. "Mamma wanted to go to the Falls, but papa said that if she went to a bicycle academy she could see all the falls she cared to."

* * * * *

"Ha!" said Wallie, jeering at Maude for being a girl, "you can't ever be President of the United States."

"I know I can't," retorted Maude, "and I don't believe you can, either. You'd talk too much to get elected."

* * * * *

A COW'S MOO.

A very small girl was learning to write. Her teacher ruled the slate and set her "copies," and Lucy took great pains with the pot-hooks and round o's with which she began. One day the teacher set down something new for Lucy to copy. M--o--o--Moo.

"What is it?" asked Lucy, with a puzzled look.

"That is 'Moo.' The noise a cow makes, Lucy. See, it is made up of pot-hooks and round o's, just what you have been learning on."

So Lucy sat down and prepared to copy "Moo." But she did it in a queer way. She made an M at the beginning of each line, and followed each M with a whole string of o's all across the slate, like this, Mooooo.

"But that isn't right, Lucy," said the teacher, when the little girl showed her the slate. "You must copy the word as I have written it. So--Moo."

Lucy looked at the teacher's copy, and then at her own attempts, and then she shook her head decidedly.

"Well, I think mine _is_ right, Miss Jones," she said. "For I never saw a cow that gave such a short 'Moo' as you wrote down!"

* * * * *

"Well, Tommie, I suppose you are the smartest boy in your class?"

"Yes, sir," said Tommie. "Teacher says I'm too smart."

* * * * *

A GRATEFUL MILLIONAIRE.

The recent troubles in Africa have called public attention to a large number of interesting persons living in the southern portion of that continent. Among others who have been conspicuously noticed is Mr. "Barney" Barnato, who has made a great fortune in Africa, and of whom a Cape Town journal tells the following interesting anecdote: When a boy Mr. Barnato went to the London Jews' Free School, which has produced so many leading Jews of the day. When he left, his teacher, who was much attached to him, gave him a penny and his blessing. The years rolled by, the friendless youth had made his wonderful career in South Africa, and the little "Barney" had become a personage. About the time when half London and Paris were going crazy over the flotation of the Barnato Bank, "Barney" was seized with a fancy to visit his old school-master. With great difficulty he managed to hunt up the old man.

"Do you recollect," he said, when they met--"do you recollect giving your little 'Barney' a penny when he left school thirty years ago? Here it is back again, and with compound interest," and therewith he handed the school-master a check for £105.

* * * * *

"Popper," said Sammie, "I'm writing a letter to Jimmie Perkins about my turkle. How many k's are there in turkle?"

* * * * *

"I'm going to be a piano-tuner when I grow up," said Walter. "You can bang on the keys and take it all apart as much as you please, and _get paid for doing it, too_."

End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Round Table, November 3, 1896, by Various