Two important matters were attended to at the meeting of the New York Interscholastic Athletic Association last Tuesday. One was the question which football rules shall govern the contests held under the supervision of the association this fall, and the other was in regard to the formation of a National Interscholastic Amateur Athletic Association.
There was so much business of immediate local importance for the association to transact that it was not until late in the afternoon that the question of organizing the National I.S.A.A.A. could be brought up. But when it was brought up the representatives of the schools were unanimous in their opinion that the scheme should be put through, and it was immediately voted that the matter be taken up by the association, sitting as a committee of the whole, at their next meeting. The first step in the matter has now been taken, and we may consequently look forward confidently to a new and brilliant era in the history of school sports.
As to the football rules, but little discussion was necessary. The constitution of the N.Y.I.S.A.A. specifies that all games of the N.Y.I.S.F.B.A. shall be played under the rules of the Inter-collegiate F.B.A., and as that association this year consists merely of Yale and Princeton, the New York school games will be conducted according to the newly made Yale-Princeton or Inter-collegiate regulations. As this code is, beyond any doubt, the best one of the three at present in use, it is fortunate that the constitution of the N.Y.I.S.A.A. was so worded as to provide for their adoption.
There is no doubt that if a National Interscholastic A.A.A. be formed, a team of athletes from the Oakland High-School in California will come on to compete at the first meeting. They are thoroughly in earnest out there. A couple of weeks ago I quoted from the San Francisco papers, which contained more or less accurate reports of these young sportsmen's intentions, but since then I have received a copy of the High-School Ægis, Oakland High-School's paper in which there is an article entitled "The Prospective Eastern Trip." It is too long to quote entire in these columns, but a few paragraphs from it cannot fail to be of interest. The article begins by saying that,
"Through the efforts of Harper's Round Table, a United States Interscholastic Athletic Association bids fair to be formed, and if the consolidation takes place, the first field day will be held at New York city in June, 1896. The association will consist of all academies, preparatory and high schools in the United States which are of enough prominence in athletics to be eligible. It will be a far greater organization in point of numbers than the Inter-collegiate Association. New England will have thirty schools represented, New York eighteen, Long Island five, and Pennsylvania twelve, besides many other schools in different parts of the country."
The Ægis is certainly correct in saying that, in point of numbers, the National I.S.A.A.A. would be greater than the I.C.A.A.A. New England would certainly have more than thirty schools represented, for there are thirty schools in the N.E.I.S.A.A. alone, and many important institutions outside the organization that would certainly join. There are also the Maine, the Connecticut, the Western Massachusetts, the New York State, the Pittsburg, the Cook County (Illinois), the Dartmouth, and many other associations, which, by joining, would bring the membership, reckoned in schools, up to the hundreds.
In view of such a representative gathering of the schools of this country, the Ægis is perfectly justified in remarking that "the school which wins the meet at Mott Haven next June will be the champion academic school of the world; truly a great distinction." And continuing, it asks: "Why should not the Oakland High-School be this school? We have good athletes, who are capable of upholding the honor of the school in any kind of company and on any field." With such a spirit as this the Oakland athletes cannot fail to be prominent in any contest they may enter.
The general plan of the trip East, to be made by the O.H.-S. team, is to come directly to New York viâ Denver and Chicago. The present idea is to reach here early in June, and to arrange a series of dual games with some of the larger schools. Says the Ægis:
"The crack schools of the East, with which the O.H.-S. team would compete, are Andover and Worcester academies in New England, and Barnard School of New York. A comparison of their records with the records of those athletes now in school, in addition to the probable records of the next field day, shows that we do not suffer by the contrast. The fact must be also taken into consideration, that we have nearly a year to improve in, which the Eastern schools do not have, their track athletics ending with the spring term, while ours continue into winter. The time in the 220-yard dash and 220-yard hurdle race is made straightaway, while our records are made on a curved track, and a very poor one at that. The difference in time is nearly a second and a half, which brings our record in the 220-yard dash down to about 23-4/5 seconds, which is very good."
The return trip might be made over the Northern route, if the O.H.-S. team can arrange for games with the Multnomah A.C. of Portland, Oregon.
The amount of money necessary to defray all the expenses that would be incurred in coming East is estimated by the California athletes at $2500. They propose to collect this sum from the members and alumni of the school, from an entertainment to be given, and from contributions by the business men of Oakland. They also count on making some profit from their share of the gate receipts at the various games in which the team will compete. Again, I cannot urge too strongly upon the leaders of athletics in our Eastern schools the desirability and advisability of encouraging these California sportsmen to come East. It will give interscholastic sport a great boom in every way, and raise the standard and importance of school contests. I have no doubt whatever that, as soon as the Eastern trip of the O.H.-S. team is definitely decided upon, Andover, Worcester, Hartford H.-S., Barnard, Cutler, and many other schools will be eager to arrange dates for dual games.
There is such a great number of school football teams in and about Boston, that it is impossible, of course, to include them all in one association. Even the original I.S.F.B.A. has found it necessary to divide itself into a Senior and a Junior League, so great was its membership. And so, as rapidly as new teams crop up and find there is no room for them in existing associations, they will form new organizations themselves, and eventually, no doubt, the great scholastic games of the year will be between the winning elevens of different associations, just as the principal scholastic football game hereabouts is that between the teams representing the New York I.S.F.B.A. and the Long Island I.S.F.B.A.
The Suburban High-School League is second in importance, in the neighborhood of Boston, only to the old association made up of the Boston and Cambridge schools. It is only a year old, but it is in a thriving condition, the principal schools of its membership being the Medford, Malden, Melrose, and Winchester High-Schools. The championship last year, the first of the League's existence, was won by Malden H.-S., whose team defeated Medford H.-S., 10-0, in the final game of the season. This fall the Suburban League teams will start playing their championship games on November 2d, when Medford and Winchester meet at Medford, and Malden and Melrose come together at Melrose. The two winning teams will decide the championship on the 9th.
The Malden H.-S. team is in better condition at this early date than any of its rivals in the League. Captain Flanders, who has been a member of the team for three years, is putting his men through a course of training that is developing all there is in them. He is a capable player himself, having held almost every position on the team. In his first year he was used in the rush line, and finally occupied one end. The next year he went in at right half-back, and this season he will play full-back. He is a strong runner, and is better at half than anywhere else; although at full he will probably do a good deal of running with the ball, and play close up as a sort of third half-back most of the time. Swain at left guard has also played three years on the team. He is the heaviest man in the aggregation, and there is no better man in the League at breaking through or making holes. Priest will leave end and go to right half-back, and Atwood will be taken from the line, too, to go in as Priest's partner. Both men will require considerable coaching, but Atwood is a fast sprinter, and ought to turn out well in his new position.
The Medford H.-S. team is made up mostly of new men, but it is full of good material. Captain McPherson has had experience on the team for two years, and will have good control over his men, his position being at quarter. But he has a hard row to hoe, and will deserve no end of credit if he moulds all this awkward and green energy into a team of players by November 2d. At Melrose the prospects are but little better. The new men are light, and most of them are inexperienced, only two ever having played on school teams before. These two, Harris and Libby, will no doubt take care of the ends, as they seem best fitted for those positions. If necessary, Libby can go in at quarter. The material back of the line is unusually light, even for a school team. Bemis, however, is a hard runner, and tackles well, and will no doubt be the regular full-back. The other candidates are a little slow in their work, and are much in need of vigorous coaching. They could well spend an hour of every morning in passing and falling on the ball.
There is good material at Winchester, although only three of last year's eleven are again in school. The lack of old players, however, is amply compensated for by the enthusiasm of the new, and I shall expect to see Winchester well up toward the top of the ladder at the end of the season. Ordway, the Captain and full-back, has played on the team two years, and is a good man to give the ball to. He gets around the ends in good style, and is not afraid of bucking the centre. Thus far the candidates are playing well together, although they are a little slow at breaking up interference, and sometimes fail to follow the ball as closely as they should. In a word, their aggressive play is better than their defensive work. The latter should receive attention.
Andover's play in the recent game against Boston College was quick and snappy, and of a kind that may well give Lawrenceville some anxiety. P. A. rolled up 22 points in two fifteen-minute halves, and came pretty near scoring four more as time was called. The Boston men were heavier, but lacked the training which clearly characterized Andover's work. Douglass was put in at half in place of Goodwin, who is temporarily laid up, and made the star play of the game. It occurred at the opening of the second half. Andover kicked off, and Boston returned it. Douglass caught the ball about in the centre of the field, and ran. He dodged half the Boston team, and crossed the line for a touch-down. Butterfield did good work likewise, making several gains through the line. The Andover men seemed to have no trouble in making holes in the Boston College line, and after each play the forwards were noticeably quick in lining up. Andover is going to have a good team.
The Exeter eleven is pretty well knocked out. Half the men who were in good shape two weeks ago are more or less seriously injured now, and it is probable that the P.E.A. team this year will be as poor a one as has represented the school for some time. This condition of affairs is due not so much to poor material as to bad judgment on the part of the captain and the manager. Before the team was in any condition to perform such hard work, games were arranged with Tufts College, Boston A.A., M.I.T., and Dartmouth. Each one of these teams was heavier than the Exeter eleven, and as a result several P.E.A. men are limping about the Academy grounds, and one or two men will not play football again this fall. The game against Dartmouth, especially, was hard for Exeter. In bucking the Hanover rush-line five of P.E.A.'s best men were hurt.
The most serious loss was Hawkins, the quarter-back. The other men behind the line had come to depend considerably upon him, and when Martin was put in his place they went to pieces. Perhaps they should be not too severely blamed for this, for Martin is a wretched player and ought never to be allowed at quarter-back again until he learns a good deal more about the game. In the Tufts game Martin passed the ball on more than one occasion to his opponents. When Thomas took his place in the second half there was a slight recovery from the previous demoralization, but P.E.A. did no scoring. If Exeter had arranged her games against lighter and weaker teams in the early part of the season, and had fixed the dates with these older men for now and the following weeks, her players would have been better able to stand the hard work required of them.
It is just this sort of thing that brings football into disrepute with people who don't know anything about the game. They see in the papers that Brown, Jones, and Robinson are hurt as a result of playing football. They do not stop to reflect that possibly Brown, Jones, and Robinson had no business playing the game, but at once decry football. Possibly if Brown, Jones, and Robinson had been put on horseback and trotted around a field they would have been much lamer, and certainly they would have been much more liable to get their necks broken. Take two elevens in training and let them play a game; there will be no one hurt in all probability. Take twenty-two men who are not in any kind of training and set them loose on a gridiron for two fifteen-minute halves and see how many doctors you will need at the end of the game. That's the secret of most of the outcry against football. Half the men who get hurt would not have gotten hurt if they had gone at it properly, and it is almost always of these fellows that the general public gets reports. There is a good deal for the general public to learn about football.
There is one good thing I notice in the methods of the Chicago High-School teams. They play only fifteen-minute halves in their football matches, and that is a very proper arrangement for the early part of the season. Young players cannot stand the strain of full-time play at first, and it is the height of folly to try to play two thirty-five-minute halves at present. Even the big college teams do not attempt such severe work, playing usually twenty or twenty-five minute halves until the 1st of November, by which time the men have become seasoned, and are able to stand the exertion of full-time play. School teams should begin by playing short halves, gradually lengthening them until the full time is reached two or three weeks before the important game. At first it is even better to play three periods of ten minutes, with a short rest between each, than two fifteen-minute halves with only one rest. It all depends on the size and strength of the men who are playing, and the Captain must be the judge in these matters. His idea should be to get the greatest development with the smallest possible strain on his men.
The Junior League schedule of the New England F.B.A. has been arranged, and several matches have already been played. The dates are as follows:
Roxbury High—October 11th, Newton High at Newton; October 19th, Chelsea at Franklin Park; November 2d, Roxbury Latin at South End Grounds; November 9th, Dedham at Dedham; November 20th, Somerville at Somerville; November 23d, Hyde Park at Franklin Park.
Chelsea High—October 19th, Roxbury High at Franklin Park; October 23d, Somerville at Somerville; October 26th, Roxbury Latin at Brookline Common; November 1st, Newton at Chelsea; November 7th, Hyde Park at Chelsea; November 16th, Dedham at Dedham.
Roxbury Latin—October 18th, Hyde Park at Hyde Park; October 26th, Chelsea High at Brookline Common; October 30th, Somerville High at Somerville; November 2d, Roxbury High at South End; November 8th, Newton High at Newton; November 13th, Dedham High at Dedham.
Dedham High—October 14th, Somerville at Somerville; October 25th, Newton at Newton; November 1st, Hyde Park at Dedham; November 9th, Roxbury High at Dedham; November 13th, Roxbury Latin at Dedham; November 16th, Chelsea at Dedham.
Somerville High—October 14th, Dedham at Somerville; October 23d, Chelsea; October 30th, Roxbury Latin; November 12th, Hyde Park; November 20th, Roxbury High; November 22d, Newton High.
Hyde Park High—October 18th, Roxbury Latin at Hyde Park; November 1st, Dedham High at Dedham; November 7th, Chelsea High at Chelsea; November 12th, Somerville High at Somerville; November 15th, Newton High at Newton; November 23d, Roxbury High at Franklin Park.
Newton High—October 11th, Roxbury High at Newton; October 25th, Dedham High at Newton; November 1st, Chelsea High at Chelsea; November 8th, Roxbury Latin at Newton; November 15th, Hyde Park at Newton; November 22d, Somerville High at Somerville.
The winner of the series meets the tail-ender of the Senior League to determine whether or not they shall exchange places next season.
The Graduate.
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 dull season just ended has been extremely interesting from the fact that a large number of stamps have been advancing in value by leaps and bounds. So many new collectors have come into the field that the supply of scarce and rare stamps has been much smaller than the demand. This has been the case especially in unused U.S. stamps to such a degree that dealers have refused to sell, calculating that they would make more money by holding off. The Department stamps have scored the greatest advance. The Executives, sold a few years ago for $4 or $5 per set, command $25 to $30 to-day. The Justice set, which could be bought for $8 or $10 a set, are difficult to find at $80 or $90. Even the despised Interior, worth formerly 75c. to $1 per set, now bring $5 to $6. A fine set of State formerly owned by the writer, and sold for $40 in 1891, changed hands the other day at $250.
In a word collectors with money—bankers, merchants, noblemen, and even royalties—have greatly increased in numbers during the past three years, whereas there are no more unused U.S. stamps to-day than formerly. Indeed, there are fewer stamps on the market, as there is a constant destruction of old albums and collections, through fire, water, and carelessness.
Used stamps are not appreciated to as great an extent as unused, as the great demand has led to the looking over of every lot of old letters within the reach and knowledge of collectors. Consequently the common varieties of U.S. stamps and envelopes are somewhat of a drug in the market, and are bought by dealers to-day chiefly on the chance of finding one or more of the scarcer kinds in the lot of "cheap trash."
I was mistaken in my opinion that the recent find of a big lot of St. Louis stamps would bring down their price. The exact contrary has been the effect. Two or three of our largest collectors are ready to buy these stamps at an increased valuation, as they are now "plating." That is, they are making up sheets of these stamps as originally issued. As there were two papers and three plates, and each plate contained six stamps, to make up a complete set would require thirty-six stamps in all. The cost of such a set of six plates of six stamps each would probably be at least $15,000, possibly $20,000.
The new catalogues are appearing. The first in the field was Seuf's, then Stanley Gibbon's; the next to appear will probably be Scott's. Meanwhile J. W. Scott has issued a circular of the new prices of the U. S. issues, and probably will soon issue a new edition of "Our Catalogue," which was the first ever made in the handy pocket form.
Miss C. A.—The New Jersey cents are worth from 25c. to $3 each, according to condition, etc.
Philatus.
Children's Long and Short Coats, School Gowns,
Matinées, Tea Gowns, Wrappers, Corsets.
AND ALL WHO ARE YOUNG AT HEART
IF NOT IN YEARS,
WATERLOO is novel and exciting! It costs $1.25 ($1.50, express prepaid from publishers). It is one of the famous
Our Illustrated Catalogue, including "Innocents Abroad," "Chivalry," "Authors," "Napoleon," "Yankee Doodle," and 100 others, for two-cent stamp. "Brownies" and "Wonderland," by mail, 35 cents each. Look for the imprint.
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.
From Benefit Street and Olney Street, Providence, to the Boston Common is forty-seven miles, and this is the distance to be run on the sixth and last stage of the two-Hundred-and-Fifty-eight-mile trip from New York to Boston. Wherever you may put up in Providence, it is well to make for Benefit Street first on starting for Boston. Thence proceed, and turn into Olney Street, following this to East Avenue, when the run to Pawtucket is direct, and it is a capital four-mile run at that. The rider will do well, after crossing the river, to bear to the right, and, crossing the Massachusetts border, run into Lebanon Mills, just on the Massachusetts side. Or to be more explicit, after leaving Pawtucket turn to the left, cross a stone bridge, bear to the left immediately after crossing, then take the next left fork, and finally bear to the right at the third fork, and make for Lebanon Mills direct. Take Cottage Street out of Lebanon, and turn to the right at the cemetery, and follow the main road to Hebronville. Thence the road is clear through Dodgeville across the track to Attleborough. From Attleborough, crossing the river, you take the left turn at Fourth Street, and run direct, though by a somewhat roundabout road, to West Mansfield, which is a good twenty miles from Providence. From West Mansfield run northward, keep to the right, cross the track, and run into Mansfield Junction. Crossing tracks, run on to East Foxborough, and thence leaving Sharon on the westward, proceed to East Sharon. The rider should take care to turn to the right at the railroad round-house near Massapoag Pond, and avoid running on into Sharon. From Cobb's Tavern at East Sharon the run to Canton is direct and very good, as is also the road from Canton to Ponkapog, though you should take care to take the right fork a mile and a half out from Cobb's Tavern, and a mile and a half further on to turn sharp left at a crossroads. From Ponkapog the rider runs on by Blue Hill on Blue Hill Avenue, passing down through Mattapan to Warren Street, and on this to Harrison Avenue, to Chester Park, to Columbus, to Boston Common. The following are the directions by the road from Boston. The reverse trip to Providence is given, because it is one of the good runs out of Boston.
Starting at Copley Square, leave Public Library on the right, and go out Huntington Avenue to Parker Street; there turn to the left, following Parker to Tremont, there turn to the left onto Tremont, and at New Heath Street turn to right, at Parker Street turn to left, and follow it to Centre Street, turn to right onto Centre, and take direct road to Jamaica Plain, continue till monument is reached, then take South Street to the left of monument, and on reaching water-trough turn to the left, cross over the railroad tracks, and turn to the right onto Walkhill Street to the fork, where keep to right onto Hyde Park Avenue, which follow till it joins Central Park Avenue. Continue on last-named avenue to River Street, and then turn to right. Ride across the square, and go, viâ Centre Street and River Street, to Milton Street, turn to the right. Turn to left at High Street, on reaching Washington Street take that past Memorial Hall, Dedham, to Norwood, past Public Library, and at fork of roads keep to right into Walpole, where, at the Common near Town Hall, turn to the left, and after a run of a quarter of a mile turn to the right, and from the turnpike-road turn to the right to South Walpole. In leaving this village keep to left, and take East Foxborough road, but on reaching Common bear to right, and turn to right into South Street, and go to forks, where take the left fork to the turn of the road, then turn to the right and cross Wading River, and after passing reservoir you reach forks, take left one to end, then turn to right onto Pleasant Street, which follow to Park Street. Turn to right and cross railroad, continuing to fountain, turn to left onto South Main Street to car track, and follow car track to Hebronville, cross Lebanon Bridge, keep straight road viâ Central Avenue, following car tracks to Six Corners, there take left fork with car tracks and Cottage Street to junction of car tracks. In Pawtucket turn to left on Summit Street, take first right, Main Street, keeping to left at the forks, then first left onto School Street, and bear to right at forks to the first cross street, turn to right onto Division Street, and cross the river, turn to left onto Pleasant Street, the continuation of which is Seven Point Road, take first left beyond cemetery, then follow Blackstone Boulevard to the end, and continue viâ of Butler Avenue, following car tracks, and turning to right at Angell Street, pass the asylum wall, take third street to left, follow Cook Street, turn to right onto Benevolent Street, right onto Benefit Street, turn to left onto College Street, and down hill into Market Square.
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. New Jersey from Hoboken to Pine Brook in No. 813. Brooklyn in No 814. Brooklyn to Babylon in No. 815. Brooklyn to Northport in No. 816. Tarrytown to Poughkeepsie in No. 817. Poughkeepsie to Hudson in No. 818, Hudson to Albany in No. 819. Tottenville to Trenton in No 820. Trenton to Philadelphia in No. 821. Philadelphia in No. 822. Philadelphia-Wissahickon Route in No. 823. Philadelphia to West Chester in 824. Philadelphia to Atlantic City—first Stage in No 825; Second Stage in No. 826. Philadelphia to Vineland—First Stage in No. 827. Second Stage in No. 828. New York to Boston—Second Stage in No. 829; Third Stage in No. 830; Fourth Stage in No. 831; Fifth Stage in No. 832.
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.
Although directions for mounting prints have been given in this column, still a few extra hints may not come amiss to our competitors.
The mounting of pictures has a great deal to do with their artistic finish, and as technical excellence is one of the points on which the prize pictures are to be marked, of course the mounting of the pictures is included in this term.
There are many styles of card-mounts, and in selecting a mount be sure that the color of the card harmonizes with the color of the print. Do not use a gray mount for pictures with warm brown tones. A creamy-white is the color that is best adapted to most prints. A very attractive card-mount is what is called a "plate-sunk" mount. The card has a depression in the centre a little larger than the print to be mounted, and has the effect of a frame. This card is of heavy board and rather expensive, yet it pays to buy a good card-mount for prize competition pictures.
Never mount a print on a card only a trifle larger than the print. The picture should have at least an inch-wide margin all round. A 4 x 5 print should be mounted on a 6 x 8 card, and larger prints on correspondingly larger cards. Do not use what is called a 4 x 5 card-mount for a 4 x 5 picture. If you have never used a larger mount than one which just fits the picture try an unmounted print on a large sheet of plain paper, and see how much the picture gains in beauty by having a wider margin to the mount.
A nice way to mount prints for exhibition is to first mount the print on a plain card, and then place a mat over it of rough water-color paper, or such paper as is used to mat pictures. In using a mat do not trim the photograph; mount it in the centre of the card, and then place the mat over it.
Mount your pictures in as neat and attractive manner as possible, and see if it does not raise your standard of "technical excellence."
Sir Knight Fred. P. Moore asks if there is any way to fix a defective plate that has holes or scratches on the film; if chemicals can be bought at drug stores, and are they cheaper or dearer than those bought of the photograph dealers; and would also like the formula for paste given over again. A negative that has scratches in the film can have the holes or scratches filled up in this way: apply retouching fluid to the spots in manner directed on bottle. When it is dry take a soft lead-pencil and mark or pencil out the spots, filling them with the soft lead. Be careful not to mark any place except where the holes and scratches are, as all such marks will show in the print. It is best to experiment with a spoiled negative first before attempting to retouch a good plate. A little practice and a steady hand will soon enable an amateur to retouch the spots in his negatives so that the print will show a perfect picture. It is much cheaper to buy photographic chemicals at the regular dealers; for instance, I bought 5 grs. of ferricyanide of potassium at the druggist last week for which I paid ten cents, and a few days later bought an ounce at the dealers in photographic goods for which I paid ten cents. Druggists keep good chemicals, but they charge more for them. The formula for paste is as follows: 1 oz. best arrowroot, 40 grs. sheet gelatine, 1/2 oz. methylated spirits, 3 drops of carbolic acid. Mix the arrowroot with 1 oz. of water, then add 7 oz. of water and the gelatine broken in bits. Boil for five minutes, stirring all the time, and when nearly cold stir in the spirits slowly, and then the acid. Keep tightly corked, and when wanted for use take out a little and rub smooth with a knife.
should early learn the necessity of keeping on hand a supply of Gail Borden Eagle Brand Condensed Milk for nursing babies as well as for general cooking. It has stood the test for 30 years, and its value is recognized.—[Adv.]
Every whale has barnacles—every success has imitators.
There are two classes of bicycles—
and others
Columbias sell for $100 to everyone alike, and are the finest bicycles the world produces. Other bicycles sell for less, but they are not Columbias.
By a boy or girl in each town between now and Christmas.
U. S. at 25% Com.
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| 1000 | Mixed only | .15 | } | |
| 500 | All different, only | 2.00 | } | |
| 100 | All different, | .15 | } | Post free. |
| 50 | Varieties, France | .20 | } | |
| 9 | Varieties, Columbian, | } | ||
| 10c. to 15c. inclusive | .40 | } |
1000 Mixed Foreign Postage Stamps, including Fiji Islands, Samoa, Hawaii, Hong Kong, for 34c. in stamps; 10 varieties U. S. Columbian stamps, 25c.; entire unused 5c. and 10c. Columbian Envelopes, 25c. the pair. Only a limited number were issued by U. S. Government. E. F. GAMBS, Box 2631, San Francisco, Cal. Established, 1872.
STAMPS FREE—Set unused Turkish for 2c. stamp; 20 Heligoland, 25c.; 6 Sardinia, 5c.; 6 Bavaria, 5c.; 8 Japan, 5c.; 8 Samoa, 10c.; 3 Corea, 10c.; 3 China, 6c.; 100, no two alike, 10c. Albums, 5c., 10c., 25c., and 50c.; J. A. Wilson, 1108 Fairmount Ave., Philadelphia, Pa.
100 all dif. Venezuela, Bolivia, etc., only 10c.; 200 all dif. Hayti, Hawaii, etc., only 50c. Ag'ts w't'd at 50 per ct. com. List FREE! C. A. Stegmann, 5941 Cote Briliante, St. Louis, Mo.
STAMPS 10 var. Canada 10c. 3 var. New Brunswick, 10c. 100 var. fine stamps with Album and Stickers, 25c. 1000 fine mixed foreign stamps, 25c. Sheets on approval at 50 per cent. com.
500 Mixed Australian, etc., 10c.; 105 varieties, and nice album, 10c.; 15 unused, 10c.; 10 Africa, 10c.; 15 Asia, 10c. F. P. Vincent, Chatham, N.Y.
25 var. unused stamps, 10c.; 8 Samoa, 8c.; 14 Roman States, 8c. EXCELSIOR STAMP CO., Keyport, N.J.
Following is a list of answers to some questions which have been put to us concerning the $50 "Word Hunt." Many asked the same questions, but we endeavor to answer all the different ones in the following:
No other authorities than Webster or Worcester may be used. Words that are marked "obsolete" in the Dictionary may not be used, neither may compound words. One letter may not be used twice unless it appears twice in the Puzzle Words. The letter "a" is a word. By proper names is meant not only given names of persons, but any words that must be commenced with a capital letter.
Prefixes and suffixes may not be used except when they form part of a simple word. Words of the same meaning but spelled differently are allowable, but words of different meanings and spelled alike are not. The possessive case, diphthongs, slang words, abbreviations, and contractions are not allowable. Degrees of comparison, the different forms of the verb, and plurals that are formed otherwise than by adding "s" are allowable, also words in the Appendix.
Words derived from the Latin or Greek may be used, but words commonly used, yet purely foreign, may not. All the letters contained in the Puzzle Words need not be used; each word may contain any number of letters, no matter how few, so long as they form a word. One person may try for only one prize—senior or junior.
All are invited to compete, whether subscribers or not. If you are not a member of the Order of the Round Table, write to the publishers for a Membership Patent. We request that answers be written on one side of the paper only, and that each word be numbered. Write the words in alphabetical order, as far as possible, and do not roll the sheets, but send them either flat or folded.
Winter is almost over. We have had a very warm one. Spring is not supposed to come until September, but already the trees are getting quite green, and birds and butterflies are coming back. We very seldom see snow at Roydon, and have had none this winter, but we are having a fearful drought. It is over a year since we had rain. The farmers are looking very anxious about their crops.
In October the "shearing" begins. You meet everywhere bands of Kafirs in their red blankets, knob-herries (sticks with a huge knob at one end, usually carried by natives) in their hands, and a bundle containing a pot, tin beaker, shears, and sometimes boots, slung over their shoulders; these are "shearers." The farmers hire them at the rate of about sixpence (twelve cents) for ten sheep. Not much, is it? but the Kafirs are easily satisfied.
The sheep are put into an enclosure. Each Kafir, stripped to the waist, seizes one and commences to shear the wool off. Sometimes they are careless and cut the flesh. Then a man standing by dips a brush in tar and rubs the place over. This not only heals it, but keeps the flies off. As soon as a shearer has finished a sheep he receives a "loikee" (bean or something of that sort). At the end of the day he receives payment according to the amount of loikees in his possession.
The wool is packed into large bales and is sold by the pound. Dealers send the bales by rail to the seaports, where they are shipped to England, and come back to us in the shape of clothes. It is just as well to keep to windward of the shearing-house. Not being addicted to water, the Kafirs have an odor peculiarly their own. As I once heard it remarked, "it is enough to knock a fellow down," if you go too near.
We sell a great deal of fruit in the summer. Our fruit ripens then, not in autumn. Early in the morning the men begin to pick and pack the fruit. In 1893 we sold 9100 apricots, 10,718 plums—which includes New Orleans, Golden Drop, Magnum Bosum, Damsons, Greengages, and the common blue plum—and 16,243 peaches and nectarines, besides hundreds of apples, pears, and figs. In the winter we have oranges, lemons, shaddocks, and citrons. Our winter fruit was a failure this year on account of the drought.
We send most of our fruit to East London, where it has a ready sale. In their season we have loquats, granadillas, and walnuts. We almost live on fruit in the summer. The weather is unbearably hot. Last Christmas day was very hot, and all we felt inclined to do was to lie about in the shade and drink cooling drinks. As evening approaches we get merry again. It is cool almost as soon as the sun sets. We have no twilight to speak of. It is lovely out-of-doors in the evening. We promenade up and down and watch the stars.
My friend, Douglas Ritchie, who is thirteen years of age, has started a stamp collection. He would like to exchange South African stamps for those of other countries. He is also very anxious to join the Round Table. Will you send him a Patent, please? His address is The Manse, Queenstown, Cape Colony, South Africa. My letter is getting so long that I must conclude. Will you please give my love to dear Mrs. Sangster, and tell her I do enjoy the "Pudding Stick" so much.
Isma Fincham, R.T.L.
Roydon, Queenstown, Cape Colony, South Africa.
Of course we'll send the Patent. Mrs. Sangster thanks you warmly, and is much gratified to learn that you so greatly enjoy her Pudding Stick. She gives you, her distant but not less dear reader, her most cordial greeting. Won't you write another just as good morsel as this one?