I have had so much fun from the following game that I am induced to give it to the Table. We boys of Trinity School, N. Y., were the first to play it in this vicinity. I think it was originated by a lady gymnastic teacher in New Orleans, who wished to devise some good healthful game requiring not too much exertion.
Two lines are drawn, one on each side of the gymnasium, about ten or twelve feet from the wall. Two sides are chosen. Each takes its place inside the line. A referee and score-keeper are appointed. The referee tosses a football (a Rugby is the best) to one of the teams. The man on the team receiving the ball throws it to the opposing team, his object being to throw the ball so that it will fall behind the other team's line. If he scores a touch-down—that is, if it goes inside the line, it counts three points to the side throwing the ball. If the ball does not fall inside, but outside the line, it counts a foul, and scores a point against the side throwing it.
If a member of either team, whether he is receiving or throwing the ball, steps over or on the line, it constitutes a foul, and scores one point against his side. Of course the swifter the ball is thrown the more unlikely any member of the opposing team is to catch it. A certain length of time to play had better be agreed upon. I nearly forgot to mention that two lines must be drawn at right angles to the principal ones—that is, a line at each end. Should the ball go outside these lines it is a foul. These rules can be perfected and enlarged according to any one's desire.
I give a diagram showing how the lines should be drawn, and how the men could be arranged, if desired. This diagram is for a team of ten men. The game is called Newcomb.
Roi C. Megrue, R.T.K.
New York.
Not a few fairs and entertainments are planned for the near future in aid of the School Fund. There are to be fairs at Newton, N. J.; Upper Nyack, N. Y.; and Edgecombe Road, New York city; and stereopticon entertainments in Washington, Louisville, Dayton, and Piqua, O.; Easton, Pa.; Somerville, Perth Amboy, and East Orange, N. J.; Brooklyn and Utica, N. Y.; Newport, R. I.; and, a little later on, Cincinnati, O. Besides, Mr. Kirk Munroe is to give a reading and reception in New York city.
Why may not there be held, at or near the holidays this year, say early in December, a great number of fairs? Mr. Munroe's letter describing his visit to Good Will Farm has aroused much interest. It explains all about the work there. If you are interested, send to us for a copy. It will be sent you free. Write us about any proposed effort in your town. Suppose we hear from three or four persons in one town? We immediately bring you together and there is a working force all ready to hand. Besides, we can help you with suggestions—possibly with an entertainment all ready to your hand. How many can we hear from?
The truth of the Table's adage that "everything comes to those who try" was strikingly illustrated recently. Some Ladies of Newton, N. J., planned a fair in aid of the School Fund. Of course it was a delightful occasion. There was much hard work, and there were some disappointments, but the splendid sum of $30 was netted. Those who had the great pleasure of giving this amount to the Fund were:
Helen Leyton, Mabel T. Roof, Eleanor Hayward, Mollie Morford, Katherine Atwood, Emma Howard, Edna L. Roof, Mary S. Roof, Harry Howard, Waldemar Howard, Louis Layton, Harry Lubbs, Clarence Howard, Thomas S. Woodruff.
At about the same time some other Ladies in the upper part of New York city held a fair. They, too, had hard work and some discouragements, but then, like the Ladies of Newton, they enjoyed a great deal of satisfaction in the end, for they were able to send to the Fund $71.50. The Table most heartily thanks all who helped at these two fairs. It also urges other Ladies, Chapters, and all readers to try to hold fairs for the same purpose. Let us have one hundred fairs and entertainments this autumn and winter. Then we shall surely lay the corner-stone of the building early in the spring. Write the Table for suggestions, or see the Handy Book.
An interesting article appeared in the Round Table on "Shooting the Chutes." The writer mentioned that there were four "Chutes" in different parts of the country. There are two more, which have probably been erected since the article was written, one at Washington Park, Philadelphia, and the other at Atlantic City. They were both erected this year. The one at Atlantic City was the attraction of the season and a wonderful financial success. It earned the whole cost of its construction, $35,000. There will doubtless be another one next year, for people do not seem to tire of the exhilarating sport.
Irwin Shupp, Jun., R.T.K.
Atlantic City.
We live on Red Hill, a suburb of Brisbane. We have a very nice view from our place, and in summer a nice breeze springs up which mitigates the intense heat of the day, while in winter it is rather cold. We go to a state school, called the "Normal." We would like to correspond with some girl of our own age (thirteen years) from any foreign country. Here is the address for any girl who would like to write, Venie Lawson and Annette Wilson, Normal School, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
After Jotaphat had been captured by the Romans, Josephus, the historian, fled to a cavern with forty other Jews. His companions resolved to kill each other rather than surrender. Josephus pretended to agree, but claimed that, being leader, it was his privilege to arrange them in good order for death, and that, beginning to count from one end to a certain number, they should put to death the person on whom that number should fall, until only one man should remain, who should kill himself. The men agreed, and Josephus so arranged himself and the forty others that at the end of the slaughter he remained, with one other, whom he persuaded to live. How did Josephus arrange his men?
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.
I take it for granted that it is a class prophecy which my correspondent, who is puzzled on this score, asks for. Here is one way which she may like. Write your prophecy as though seen by the Lady of Shalott, and illustrate by tableaux-vivants. The prophet costumes herself like the Lady of Shalott. She should wear a gauzy white gown, and have a netting wound around her, assimilating a spider's web. Her hair should flow loosely about the shoulders, and she should be seated before a spinning-wheel.
"And so she weaveth steadily,
And little other care hath she."
Arrange the platform to represent a prettily furnished room, and on the wall hang conspicuously a large mirror.
"And moving thro' a minor clear
That hangs before her all the year,
Shadows of the world appear."
The Lady of Shalott as she weaves recites in slow, distinct tones the prophecy, and as the destiny of each one is told, have the person referred to pass across the stage before the mirror, and so on, out of sight. The person will be costumed and will act exactly as the prophecy foretells. The awesome effect will be heightened by an accompaniment of slow music.
A very little girl asks what easy thing she may find to do for her mother's birthday. Make a set of table-mats, dear, of coarse white cotton, crocheting them in simple close work, and finishing with a scalloped edge. I saw a very pretty set the other day, and the lady who owned them was proud that her youngest daughter, aged eight, had made them herself.
What do you think of this as a hint for a useful little gift? A Portia pen-wiper is practical, unique, new, and easy of construction. Buy a china doll—one that stands firmly. Make for her several chamois-skin skirts of different lengths, putting on the shortest one first. Pink the edges. The costume should be a red or black student's gown and cap, and put a tiny roll of parchment in her hand. If you have to tie the roll in the hand, use fine silk of the same color as the parchment, and it will scarcely show. The gown should be long and full. The material may be silk, velvet, or cashmere. The cap should have a square top, fastened to a narrow band fitting close to the head. The doll should have the appearance of stateliness. Whenever the chamois is soiled, replace the skirts, and thus the pen-wiper is always clean.
No, Susie and Rowana. I do not care for crystallized grasses. They are old-fashioned, and not in the least pretty. Do not put anything in your vases which simply gathers dust, and is not a thing of beauty. A few growing plants are a great attraction in the house, and you can have geraniums and mignonette all winter if you will begin to care for them now.
Margaret Sangster.
Elisabeth Robinson Scovil, Associate Editor of The Ladies Home Journal, and a Hospital Superintendent of experience, in her book, "The Care of Children," recommends the use of Ivory Soap for bathing infants, and says: "There is no particular virtue in Castile Soap which has long been consecrated to this purpose."
Every boy and girl interested in Interscholastic Sport should own a copy of "The Book of Athletics and other Out-of-Door Sports," edited by Norman W. Bingham, Jr., manager of the Mott Haven Team, 1895.
Cumnock of Harvard, Bliss of Yale, Mapes of Columbia, Martin of Tufts, Dwight the tennis expert, Cracknell the cricket champion, Bloss the "broad jump" record breaker, Hart the golf authority, Mayor Bancroft, of Cambridge; the "crew" trainer, Sutphen, the Round Table authority on skating, and other college men and famous amateurs contribute to the book.
One vol., cloth, 8vo, profusely illustrated, $1.50. For sale by all booksellers.
Send for the Lothrop Publishing Company's Illustrated Holiday Catalogue. It has a splendid list of new books for boys and girls. Mailed free to any address.
"By a thorough knowledge of the natural laws which govern the operations of digestion and nutrition, and by a careful application of the fine properties of well-selected Cocoa, Mr. Epps has provided for our breakfast and supper a delicately flavored beverage which may save us many heavy doctors' bills. It is by the judicious use of such articles of diet that a constitution may be gradually built up until strong enough to resist every tendency to disease. Hundreds of subtle maladies are floating around us ready to attack wherever there is a weak point. We may escape many a fatal shaft by keeping ourselves well fortified with pure blood and a properly nourished frame."—Civil Service Gazette.
Made simply with boiling water or milk. Sold only in half-pound tins, by Grocers, labelled thus:
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are made purposely for you? Is there one of you who has not sent for the "Rugby" Catalogue?
Do you think we are going to buy this paper to tell you the story? Not much. Fish a shekel out of your pocket, buy a postal, and say:
"The Waterbury Watch Co., Waterbury, Conn., send me a Rugby Catalogue." Sign your name and address.
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CARDS FOR 1896. 50 Sample Styles and list of 400 premium articles free. HAVERFIELD PUB. CO., Cadiz, Ohio.
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Oh, curious, prying Mary,
Why was it you would try
To peep in every bundle,
In every box to pry?
Mamma had often warned her,
But still she pried about,
And nothing could be hidden
But Mary found it out.
It chanced mamma from shopping
Brought in some things one day.
"Pray do not touch them, Mary," she said,
"While I'm away."
But scarce mamma had left her,
She scarce had closed the door,
Ere Mary stole on tiptoes
With haste across the floor.
She tears the paper open,
And stoops with eager eyes.
Puff! In her mouth and up her nose
The biting pepper flies.
"Hatchew! hatchew!" she sneezes;
The tears stream from her eyes.
"Who would have thought the bundle
Was pepper!" Mary cries.
"Hatchew! hatchew!" she sneezes,
The tears drip from her chin,
And while she still is sneezing
Mamma comes softly in.
She lifts her hands in wonder,
And Mary hears her cry,
"Some ill-luck always happens
To children who will pry."
"How are you getting on with your music lessons, Harold?"
"Bin promoted."
"Indeed?"
"Yeth; I play three-finger exercises now, 'stead o' two."
"Well, Jack, I suppose you keep your desk in apple-pie order."
"Yes. That's just about it: everything's all tumbled up together inside of it just like the inside of a pie."
"Hullo, Thinny!" retorted the Dictionary.
"You're a wordy person, Fatty," said the Copy-book.
"You're an empty thing, Thinny," said the Dictionary.
"Bound to have the last word, eh, Fatty!" sneered the Copy-book.
"Need it in my business, Thinny," said the Dictionary, and the Umbrella in the library corner laughed so hard that it bent one of its ribs.
An amusing story is told by a sea-captain in relation to the ignorance of his steward, whom he had directed to wind the chronometer in the cabin every morning regularly during his contemplated absence from the ship.
Now a chronometer is nothing but a finely regulated timepiece used by navigators. On its face is a small circle having a hand, and at two points on this circle are the words "Up" and "Wind." When the instrument is wound the little arrow-band points to "Up," and after the chronometer has run twenty-four hours the arrow stands against "Wind," meaning that it is time for it to be wound.
When the Captain returned to his ship, the steward reported to him that he had obeyed orders, and wound the chronometer faithfully every day, and then added that he, personally, did not think much of its ability to foretell weather.
"What do you mean?" asked the puzzled Captain. "What has a chronometer got to do with the weather?"
"Why," replied the manipulator of sailors' hash and plum-duff, "every morning the arrow would say that we were going to have wind, and half the time it was a flat calm."
"I don't yike you, Aunt Jennie," said Wilbur, after his aunt had interfered with some cherished idea he had in mind. "An' if you don't let me alone I'll save up my pottet-money an' buy a tapir."
"A what?" asked his aunt.
"A tapir," said Wilbur. "An' tapirs they eats ants!"
Jimmieboy has a very unbreakable habit of getting up at night and running in to his father's room and jumping into bed with him. He was once chided for this.
"I'm glad to have you come in the morning, but don't come too early," was the end of the lecture. The next night, however, Jimmieboy came bouncing in at one o'clock.
"Didn't I tell you not to do this, Jimmieboy?" he was asked.
"No," replied Jimmieboy. "You told me not to come early. This isn't early—it's awful late. After one o'clock."
"It's a great mistake," said Bobbie Tompkins, "to say that we Americans are born free."
"Why, Bobbie?"
"Look at that baby of ours. Was he born free? I guess not. He ain't allowed to do nothin' he wants ter."
"That was a great game of ball the Nomeals and Hungerfoods played the other day."
"Was it? What was the score?"
"Nothing to eight."