Nos. 303, 404, 170, 604 E.F., 601 E.F.
And other styles to suit all hands.
to agents selling stamps from my 50% approval sheets. Send at once for circular and price-list giving full information.
STAMPS! 100 all dif. Barbados, etc. Only 10c. Ag'ts w't'd at 50% com. List free. L. DOVER & CO., 1469 Hodiamont, St. Louis, Mo.
A few words to Founders, members, and all who have contributed to the Round Table Industrial School Fund:
Some time since, as you recollect, you voted to try to raise $3000 with which to erect a brick structure at Good Will Farm to be known as the Round Table Industrial School. Although in Maine, Good Will Farm takes poor and homeless boys from every part of the country, so far as it has accommodation, gives them a Christian home, an education, and a start in the world.
Since you undertook the raising of this Fund, Good Will Farm has prospered wonderfully. A part of this prosperity has been due, it is but just to say, to the wider knowledge of its work and merits afforded by the Table and its large membership. Generous men have built new cottages as homes for more boys, and money has been given for the support of girls, so that the place is soon to be not alone Good Will Farm for boys, but Good Will Farm for girls as well. One citizen of New York has bought a tract of land across the Kennebec River from the farm, and in the grove on this land is to be held the summer school and annual July gathering.
In memory of a deceased brother some kind ladies have built a school-house—not an industrial, but a literary school, equipped with every convenience. The cost has been nearly if not quite $25,000, not including a proposed museum of natural history in one of its largest rooms.
With such gratifying prosperity Good Will has grown quite beyond the expectation held at the time we began our task. An industrial school large enough to meet its present and immediate future demands would cost at least $10,000—a sum far beyond the Table's ability to raise, and one that it never thought to undertake.
There are many things to be considered in connection with our work to date; 1, The times, which have been far from good; 2, The fact that young persons, not grown-ups, undertook the task; 3, And most important of all, our effort to earn, not to beg, the money we contributed—to be generous with what was ours, not with other people's money.
Of our Fund at date, amounting to $1682.35, all cash in hand, we have no reason to be ashamed. It is a handsome sum, and one that many an institution besides Good Will would be glad to receive at our hands.
If, now, we change our plans we ought to bear in mind that we are not the only persons who, finding that circumstances change, alter their minds and their acts to fit them. Especially ought we to be gratified, since the change that makes us alter our minds and acts is one of wonderful prosperity for the splendid charity which we started out to help.
After looking over the whole ground, and consultation with the supervisor and one of the leading trustees, we beg to make to the Founders this suggestion:
That the money now in hand be turned over to the trustees of Good Will Farm, to be invested by them according to their best judgment, the same to be known as the "Round Table Fund," and the income of it to be used to help educate at Good Will any boy or girl, or boys and girls, as the supervisor or trustee, or both, decide to be most worthy of such help.
Included in the amount of the Fund as given is money to pay for twelve Memorial Stones, which were to form part of the base-line of the school building. We suggest that the donors of this money be given the privilege of withdrawing it if they so desire; but if they do not wish to withdraw it, that the papers making the formal transfer contain "codicils" or "minutes" mentioning the names of the persons or Chapter, the same to forever form a part of the "Round Table Fund" foundation.
The method of deciding Round Table questions is by vote of the Founders—postal-card votes. In this case we think it the part of generous wisdom to allow all contributors, as well as all Founders, to vote. And so the request is made that all of you give us opinions. Shall we make the disposition of the matter here suggested? Remember, dear Knights and Ladies, that we are to rejoice that we have a gift so handsome in amount to bestow, rather than to sigh for the thousands of dollars we haven't in hand to give. The Good Will trustees will gladly accept the Fund in the form proposed. Shall we give it to them?
We were six in the little party which started to go to the mountain to camp out. We trudged along with our bundles up the steep road and through woods until we came to our hut. This hut was made of poles interlaced with brush-wood. When we got there the first thing we discovered was that some cattle had been there and eaten the green leaves off, but that was soon put right. We had a lot of food with us, and when we ran short a native boy we had engaged brought up some more. All our crockery was of tin, as all other kinds would break, and these always stood just outside the door.
One night three of us decided to go to town. The other three would not come, so they staid and looked after the things while we were away. We started at eight and got back at ten. When we went down we were all dressed in our mountain suits, which were composed of football jerseys and strong trousers, and these were pretty full of mud. Our visit to town was shortened by the mist coming down, and we had to hurry up for fear of it catching us at a very rocky place we had to climb; but we got up just as it reached the top. Meanwhile the three in the cave were having some fun. We were just gone when they heard something in the tin mugs. One took up the gun and shot as the thing jumped away, but only succeeded in wounding it, as we discovered next morning by the blood-stains on the bough of the tree. We staid ten days in the hut, and enjoyed the time thoroughly. The last day it drizzled, so we gave up the plan we had of going down in the night, and went at mid-day.
I am a stamp collector, and would like to exchange stamps with any one who would do so.
R. MacWilliam, Jun.
Gill College, Somerset East, Cape Colony, South Africa.
The family referred to in the "Guessing Contest" of two weeks ago is the "Berry," and the numbered lines describe them:
1, Elder; 2, Goose; 3, Checker; 4, Knot; 5, Hack; 6, Box, 7, June; 8, Hop; 9, Candle; 10, Poke; 11, Prince; (12, Wax, 13, Snow;) 14, Straw; (15, Coffee, 16, Wine;) (17, Bane, 18, Bramble;) (19, Dog, 20, Bear;) (21, Pigeon, 22, Partridge, 23, Crow;) 24, Bog; 25, Cloud; 26, Dew; 27, Mul, 28, Blue; 29, Black; 30, Bil; 31, Bay; (32, Bar, 33, Choke;) 34, Dangle; 35, Wintergreen; 36, Cran (crane); 37, Huckle; (38, Holly, 39, Mistletoe;) (40, Soap, 41, Thimble;) 42, Rasp; 43, Yew.
James Nichols asks if we have a story contest open now, and he sends a tale for a prize. We reply, not now, and return his story. Louise Hall, secretary of the Broken Bow Chapter, 216 Thirteenth Street, Oakland, Cal., says members of her society want to hear from persons who can describe famous places and homes of famous men. Kathleen Kent, 1162 Harrison Street, is the member in charge, and she desires pictures of famous men. The Chapter members promise to answer all letters on the subject. Herbert C. Davis, Box 87, Carthage, O., plays chess, and wants to play some games by mail.
Roberta Esther Conley was much interested with that touching letter from Broussa, describing the hardships of Armenians, and she hopes everybody who can will help Miss Barton and others in relief work. The Red Cross Society is an international one, organized some years ago in Geneva, Switzerland. Miss Clara Barton is president of the American branch only. It has special privileges, as that it is, in time of war, to be permitted to go into both armies to do relief work, and that all generals shall recognize its officers and permit them to pass. It does relief work in times other than war, as during floods, famine, hurricanes, etc. "Why does it not go to Cuba?" We do not know.
"J. A. M." writes: 1. How can a boy seventeen years of age obtain a position as cabin-boy or something else on board a sailing vessel to California or thereabouts? 2. What are the duties involved in such a position? 3. How much could he earn that way, and how would it be paid to him? He does not intend to be a sailor, but wishes to regain his health and strength and earn some money to help pay his expenses at a preparatory school, for college, about a year and a half from now. 1. Apply at office on board the ships. There is no general rule. Cases of this kind are not numerous. A friend of the Table, aged 19, applied recently and was promptly taken, mainly because he was big and strong. He was offered $8 per month and board, and was required to ship for a year's cruise. One going for his health would not be likely to get much salary. 2. The duties of cabin-boy are those of a general boy of all work. 3. The pay, even for a well boy, is very small, say from $4 to $6 per month, with board.
J. L. P. and H. E. A.: All readers may send original puzzles for "Kinks." They may also send short stories when competitions are open. Short stories, other than in competition for prizes, are not desired. But the Table wants morsels, descriptive of interesting but not too well known places. Perhaps this latter phrase needs explaining. A morsel about Mt. Auburn, describing the tombs of Sumner, Burlingame, and Longfellow, would be interesting, while one describing Niagara Falls would be too hackneyed to warrant space being given it. Round Table Chapters are societies of young persons, sometimes of schools, often of churches or neighborhoods, organized to study natural history, to make collections, or perhaps merely to have a good time.
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.
Among the qualities most to be desired in a young girl's character is a high sense of honor. I wish I could impress on every reader the need of being always above everything petty or small, so that one would not for a single moment ever be tempted to do a mean or underhand thing, to speak unkindly of a friend, or to repeat a conversation which was confidential.
It may happen to you, for instance, to be visiting in the home of a relative or friend, where there may be a little friction at the table, or where some anxiety arises about the course of a member of the family. No matter what you see or hear, in such circumstances you are bound, if you are an honorable person, to be silent about it, neither making comments nor looking as if you could tell something if you chose, nor in any way alluding to what is unpleasant, at any future time. A guest in a home cannot be too careful to guard the good name of those under its roof, for it is an honor to be a guest, in the first place, and honor is demanded in return.
Again, a nice sense of honor in matters connected with money is very important. Polly is treasurer of a society, and has the care of the funds. She must never for an instant, or in an emergency, lend these funds to other people, or borrow them for her own use. I knew a girl—Polly was her name, by-the-way—who was induced, being treasurer of a certain guild, to lend her brother, for one day, the money she had in her care. The brother was older than Polly, and a very persuasive person. He said: "Why should you hesitate? I'll bring it back to you to-night, and it will oblige me very much if I can take that fifty dollars and pay a bill I owe before noon to-day." Foolish Polly permitted her scruples to be overruled. The money was not brought back, and but for her father's kindness in making it good she would have been disgraced as a dishonest treasurer. She told me long afterwards that the lesson had been burned in on her mind never to take liberties with money which she held in trust.
A nice sense of honor will keep a girl from making a confidante of her maid or of any person in an inferior situation. One's mother is a girl's natural adviser and her safest intimate friend. A nice sense of honor will hinder all prying into other people's affairs, and will lead one to turn a deaf ear to the gossip of the idle and malicious.
Sometimes one becomes accidentally aware of a state of things which she knows her friend must prefer to keep to herself. The honorable girl will never hesitate here; she will be as thoughtful for her friend's interests as if they were her own.
This little talk may be too old for some of my younger readers, so I will conclude it by telling them a little story. Once upon a time in a small New England village there was a district school. The boys and girls went to this from the country homes for miles, some of them not minding a very long walk over snowy roads in winter, and under the trees in summer. The master was very grave and stern, and if he laughed behind his grizzled beard, the children looking up to him from their benches seldom saw it. A big ruler always lay on his desk, and they were very much afraid of that; so that when one morning at recess, in a game of ball, Charley B—— had the misfortune to break a window in the school-house, it required no little courage in the eight-year-old boy to march straight into the room, up to the desk, and confess that he had been careless and had done the mischief. Mr. True was very kind, and said, consolingly, that the window could be mended. So Charley rushed off with a light heart.
Later in the day a girl, I am ashamed to say, stole up to the desk and told her tale. "Mr. True," said this disagreeable little being, "I can tell you who broke the window! I saw—"
"Hush, Nancy!" said the master, in an awful voice. "I know who did it. An honorable person did it. Which you are not. You may remain after school and write out ten pages of history as a punishment for tale-telling."
Lottie W.—Strawberries served for breakfast need not be hulled. Eat them, instead, one by one, dipping each into powdered sugar.
Ivory Soap is white and pure; it is a clean soap and it washes clean.
The Procter & Gamble Co., Cin'ti.
Made only by The Charles E. Hires Co., Philadelphia.
A 25c. package makes 5 gallons. Sold everywhere.
The celebrated and effectual English Cure without internal medicine. Proprietors, W. Edward & Son, London, England.
A Story of the American Revolution. By James Barnes. Illustrated. Post 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.50.
The story is one of adventure and abounds in vivid description. The author has evidently made a careful study of the New York of a century ago, and of the history of the secret patriot societies which were formed in the city under the British rule, and the story in many of its descriptions has marked historical value.—Boston Advertiser.
Gives a series of striking pictures of social and military life in and about the city of New York during the period of British occupation.... Filled with exciting incidents, and will have a strong fascination for young readers.—Boston Transcript.
A very stirring story of the early years of the American Revolution.—Brooklyn Times.
Abounding in adventure, and those chapters in which the young soldiers play the part of spies are particularly enthralling.—Buffalo Courier.
Full of movement and full of surprises.... Will instruct as well as interest the average boy who reads it.—Boston Journal.
A Sequel to "The Fur-Seal's Tooth."
Brimful of adventures admirably recorded. The young folks will take delight in it.... We confess to having read every word of the journal with as much interest as we once read "Robinson Crusoe" or the "Swiss Family Robinson."—Christian Intelligencer, N. Y.
A book that will hold the interest of its readers from beginning to end.—N. Y. Evening-Post.
There is plenty of moving incident in the tale, and the atmosphere, redolent of seals and the life of that stormy clime, will delight all boys.—Spectator, London.
An entertaining story for boys, and will usefully enlarge their knowledge of our great Atlantic peninsula.—N. Y. Evening Post.
The story has a strong, wholesome tone, and will hold the interest of boy readers from first to last page.—Churchman, N. Y.
Capitally written and admirably illustrated.... An excellent record of the early development of certain Western cities and of certain Indian tribes now fast disappearing.—Critic, N. Y.
A wholesomely exciting tale of adventure which any bright boy might consider a valuable addition to his library.—Christian Intelligencer, N. Y.
Each one volume. Illustrated. Post 8vo, Cloth, $1.25.
The "Mates" Series, Four Volumes in a Box, $5.00.
"I git good measure," said Mrs. Jones, "but, I declare, the milk Henry brought me yesterday mornin' was more'n half water."
The art of painting pictures so near to life as to deceive the naked eye is very old. Pliny relates that Zeuxis once painted some grapes so naturally that birds used to come and peck at them, and that Parrhasius once painted a curtain so artfully that Zeuxis desired it drawn aside that he could see the picture it hid. Discovering his error, he confessed himself outdone, as he had only imposed on birds, whereas Parrhasius had deceived the human intellect. Another time Zeuxis painted a boy with some grapes, and when the birds again flew at the grapes he was very angry, saying that he was certainly at fault with the picture. He reasoned that had it been perfect the birds would have been frightened away by the boy.
Caius Valerius Flaccus says that Zeuxis's death was occasioned by an immoderate fit of laughter on looking at the comic picture he had drawn of an old woman.
"The reason why the British want to swallow up half of Venezuela," asserted Pat, "is because of the gold there is down there."
"Sure," replied Mike, "they're always after gold, the English. If they were landed on an uninhabited island, they would not be there an hour before they'd have their hands in the pockets of the naked savages!"
Baron Rothschild was once caught in a predicament that many people experience daily, and that is getting into a conveyance of some kind, and then not having the money to pay the fare.
The driver of the omnibus into which Rothschild entered demanded his fare, and the Baron, feeling in his pockets, discovered that he had no change. The driver was very angry. "What did you get in for, if you had no money?"
"I am Baron Rothschild," explained the great capitalist, "and there is my card."
The driver scornfully tossed the card away. "Never heard of you before," said he, "and don't want to hear of you again. What I want is your fare."
The banker was in great haste. "Look here. I've an order for a million," he said; "give me the change." And he proffered a coupon for that amount.
The driver stared and the passengers laughed. Fortunately a friend of the Baron entered the omnibus at the moment, and taking in the situation, immediately paid the fare. The driver, realizing his mistake, and feeling remorseful, said to the Baron,
"If you want ten francs, sir, I don't mind lending them to you on my own account."
It's time to put the lessons by,
The fields are full of daisies;
When summer blue is in the sky,
Who cares for sums and phrases?
Deep in his heart, his highest joy,
The boy I know is wishing
To leave the school-room's strict employ,
And just to go a-fishing.
He'll find a grand old willow-tree,
Above brown waters dipping,
Where catfish glide and pickerels be,
And dainty birds are sipping.
There, waiting long, with earnest pluck,
At last his line will quiver,
And you and I will wish him luck
Beside that bonny river.
Willie. "I think I know why Ponto wags that stump of a tail so very hard."
Aunt Jane. "Why does he do it, Willie?"
Willie. "Because it is only half a tail, and he wants to enjoy a sense of wagging a whole one."
Manufacturers are always pleased to turn out the product of their establishments in less than the average time, and many have made records to which they point with pride. In the issue of the Round Table for December 10, a short article was published on making a coat in thirteen and a half hours, from shearing the sheep to putting the finished garment on a man's back. This was done at Greenham Mills, in England, in 1811. Mrs. James Lyon, of Bath, New York, writes that a similar feat took place in that town in 1816, and was accomplished in less than nine hours by one George McClure, who asserted that it could be done in ten hours. The record of each step of the work still exists, with the exception of the shearing. The wool was colored in thirty-five minutes; carded, spun, and woven in two hours and twenty-five minutes; fulled, warped, and dyed in one hour and fifty-one minutes; carried to the tailor in four minutes, and was turned into the finished coat by him and his journeyman in three hours and forty-nine minutes. The shears used in the work are still preserved, and can be seen at the Steuben Agricultural Society's Fair Grounds, at Bath.
This feat, at the time, doubtless attracted as much attention as a record-breaking railroad train or steamship does to-day. It is probable that many of our present manufacturers make such trials for their own edification, which, if described, would prove interesting.
[1] Begun in Harper's Round Table No. 857.