HAVERFIELD PUB CO., CADIZ, OHIO
A Dog that Knew a Tune.
Does your dog know a tune? In Trenton, New Jersey, two famous dogs are
owned. One is said to be worth $200. Some months ago both were stolen.
All attempts to find them were in vain, and money rewards proved
unavailing. Recently the owner went to a barn where he thought they
might be. He whistled, but got no response. He was just leaving the
premises when he recalled that one of the dogs always showed unusual
life and joy whenever he whistled the tune, popular years ago, under the
title "Captain Jinks," who belonged to certain marines. He whistled this
tune at a venture, and was at once rewarded by a vigorous whine which he
readily recognized. The dog knew the tune, and the result was the
recovery by the owner of his two valuable dogs, and the arrest of the
thief who had stolen them.
* * * * *
The Largest Lens.
The largest telescopic lens ever made has just been completed in
Cambridgeport, Massachusetts. It cost $100,000, and is the property of
the Chicago University, for use in the observatory on Lake Geneva,
Wisconsin. This lens is the greatest work of its kind ever undertaken in
the world. Day and night, not a single minute has the lens been
neglected. Every precaution was taken to insure its safety from damage,
and now that the work is finished, it only remains to carefully ship it
to its destination.
Once it safely arrives at Lake Geneva, the huge lens will be placed in
the telescope of what is known as the Yerkes Observatory. The dome of
the observatory is 110 feet high and ninety feet in diameter. Its weight
is about 200 tons. It revolves on twenty-six sets of ball-bearing
wheels, and is worked by electricity. Beneath the dome is a marble floor
hung with counter-balance weights. This floor, ponderous as it appears,
can be raised or lowered twenty-five feet, at the will of the observer,
by the simple turning of a lever.
* * * * *
The Tables on Cabby.
One night, after Parliament adjourned, the new Archbishop of Canterbury,
then Bishop of London, was driven to his home, Fulham Palace, by a cabby
who, noting what a distinguished passenger he had, undertook to get from
him a big fee. Determined not to be taken advantage of, Bishop Temple
tendered the exact legal fare, two shillings, and refused to add even a
modest tip.
Cabby did not protest. He tried flattery. He knew that most bishops of
London had reason to expect promotion to Canterbury in the event of a
vacancy in the primacy of all England. So he said, in a begging and
martyrlike tone:
"Do you think the Archbishop of Canterbury, with his big salary, ought
to ask a poor cabby to drive all the way to Fulham late at night, and
then give him the pittance of two shillings only?"
"Decidedly not," returned the Bishop. "The Archbishop of Canterbury
lives at Lambeth Palace, and the cab fare from Westminster to Lambeth is
not two shillings, but only one shilling. Good-night."
* * * * *
From a Student in Adelaide.
I am a student in the University of Adelaide. One of our professors
is Dr Stirling, who is much interested in Central Australian
discovery. A short time since he told us some facts about an
investigation he helped to make in connection with an exploring
party, two or three years ago. Perhaps it will interest American
readers, for I read that in your country there was a race of people
who lived there before Europeans came. That race is dying out, is
it not? The Australian aborigines are, at any rate. Here is the
account related by Dr. Stirling, as I copied it in my note-book. He
read it from a circular sent out by a scientific society, but he
helped to prepare the circular, and he has helped also to explore
some parts of unknown Australia.
"The present inhabitant of Australian wilds is a descendant of a
stone age. He still fashions his spear from flint. History he knows
none. He has no traditions even, and a poorer and more meagre
language than any savage known even in Africa. He is a savage brute
in the form of a man. He is jolly, laughs much, has a good eye, and
has never yet been known to wash. He has no private ownership of
land, save the dirt on his own body. He does not till the soil, but
lives on roots and game. He lives in a climate that affords a 15°
Fah. temperature, yet he never uses the skins of animals for
clothing and rarely makes a fire. He goes about perfectly nude, and
eats his food raw. He has no religious belief whatever, and has
little or no sense of honor or of truth. Attempts to civilize him
prove disastrous failures. He is being 'civilized' off the face of
the earth, I am sorry to say, and soon only his flints will remain.
I hope this will interest you."
F. B. VAN BRAAGEN.
ADELAIDE.
It is of much interest. Please tell us about the University of Adelaide.
* * * * *
Kinks.
No. 59.--FOR YOUNG MATHEMATICIANS.
We once knew a professor at college who declared that when a pupil had
mastered addition he had mastered half of arithmetic. To prove his
assertion he gave this: Put down one hundred, then one, then five, then
one, and then one hundred. What is the result? "207," some one said. Was
that right?
* * * * *
No. 60.--A RIDDLE.
I'm part of a city, and part of a ghost;
I'm part of a little, and part of the most;
I'm part of astrology, part of the light.
Part of the battle as well as the fight.
With murder, however, I've nothing to do;
I shun all that's wicked, though not what's untrue.
In fathers and mothers I'm sure to be found;
In sisters and brothers I also abound.
I'm crossed in affection as well as in wealth;
I'm always with doctors, yet always in health.
I know naught of hunger, but suffer with thirst,
And I'm found with the best as well as the worst.
* * * * *
No. 61.--WORD SQUARE.
1. Spherical bodies. 2. To decamp. 3. To go beyond the limit. 4. A fish
allied to the carp. 5. A Judean town. 6. Dull.
* * * * *
Questions and Answers.
Harold W. Jansen asks where mica comes from, saying he is interested in
it because he and his sister fell to wondering about it while watching
the tinsmith put up their coal-stove for the winter. Mica comes chiefly
from North Carolina, and is found there in all sorts of blocks of
various thicknesses and shapes, which can be split and resplit almost
without limit, until it becomes the transparent pane of commerce.
The material is imbedded or scattered through the feldspar with which
the surrounding mountains are covered. The veins are found between walls
of slate. It is blasted from the surrounding rock by means of dynamite,
and is freed from all impure matter by miners with chisel and pick. From
the mines it is taken directly to the shops, where it is split into thin
sheets and trimmed into regular forms, which are then ready for the
market, the price varying according to the size of the sheets.
The average size will fit an ordinary parlor heater. In rare instances,
sheets as large as twenty-four by eighteen inches are found; but there
is seldom or never a demand for mica of this size, so the sheets have to
be cut down.
A. W. A.: Fish are sensitive about the nose. They are also able to feel
a shock in adjacent water. If a fish be buried in sand till only his
tail be left exposed, a slight tap on any part of the tail will excite
the fish and cause it to free itself, or attempt to do so. Salmon have
been known to wear their snouts to the bone and their tails entirely
away at digging in the sand and stones for a nest in which to spawn.
This and other facts go to prove that fish, in spite of their
sensitiveness about the nose and tail, do not feel pain, as from a hook
in their gills or even in their stomachs. Fish that have been torn by a
hook will often grab for a second bait, showing an inclination to feed,
which they would scarcely do if suffering acute pain.
J. W. Anderson asks how fast the fastest bird is able to fly, and how
high wild-geese are when one sees them in the form of an old-fashioned
drag in the air above. The fastest flying bird is said to be the
Virginia plover, which has been known to fly 225 miles per hour; but
wild-geese, Baltimore orioles, and other migrants rarely average more
than fifty miles per day. The height of the geese is sometimes as great
as 10,000 feet, but ordinarily they fly about 4000 feet above the
earth.--We regret the necessity of informing our old-time friend, C. Roy
Baker, of Ohio, that we do not publish exchanges of bicycles, etc., and
have no exchange column.--Leo Rehbinder: 844 Chapter charters have been
granted, but many of the Chapters weary of well-doing. But our
injunction has ever been to maintain your society as long as it yielded
pleasure, and when it ceases to do so, disband it. The Order is a very
large one, but we have no figures at hand of other orders. Ask your
bookseller for titles of stories other than those published in this
paper--S. B.: Address Thomas A. Edison, at Menlo Park, N. J.
"F. A. H." asks where he can learn mechanical draughting. At the Pratt
Institute. The pay for beginners is small, say $6 per week. Apply to
some draughtsmen for average rate of wages.--Edgar S. Pitkin asks about
entrance to the Naval Academy at Annapolis. We have answered this
question so many times that we fear old readers will tire reading of it.
But we assure them that many want the information, and that to furnish
helpful information is the purpose of this department. Sir Edgar should
apply to his member of Congress for appointment, but he can learn when
there will be a vacancy in his district by writing to the Secretary of
the Navy, Washington. The age limit is fifteen to twenty. The
appointment is from each Congressional district. There is doubtless a
man at the academy now from your district. If so, when he goes out
another will be taken in. The examination is very strict and difficult,
but covers chiefly the common branches. The Secretary of the Navy will
give exact information if a vacancy is to occur within a year. The
conditions are too long to print here. The Congressman who makes the
appointment generally has a preliminary examination, but it counts for
nothing at Annapolis, and is usually found to be a very unsatisfactory
way to select a man for the cadetship. An alternate is named. Both go to
Annapolis and take the examination. If the appointee fails--and
generally one-half fail--the alternate goes in, provided he passes.
Charles R. Botsford, 55 Liberty Street, New York, wants to belong to
some amateur photograph club. Will the secretary of any such club
desiring a bright member, either active or corresponding, write
him?--John Desmond asks if the cruisers off the Cuban coast burn hard or
soft coal. We presume his query is prompted by the fact that soft coal
makes a black smoke that can be seen a long distance, because it ascends
high above the water the instant it leaves the smoke-stack. When the
Cuban trouble first began, the Spanish cruisers burned Cuban coal, and
their smoke was seen plainly. The Spaniards noticed, however, that the
vessels used by the insurgents to convey ammunition from Florida made
almost no smoke at all. They inquired the reason, and soon began sending
to Philadelphia for anthracite coal. So now the Spanish cruisers burn
hard coal, and do not show themselves to the enemy hours before the
hulls of their ships heave into view.
[Illustration: STAMPS]
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 readers of the ROUND TABLE Stamp Column who intend going to Europe
next summer will find the London Philatelic Exhibition very interesting.
The exhibition opens July 22, and closes August 5. The stamps will be
exhibited in classes: 1. Stamps of Great Britain; 2. Of British
colonies; 3. Of Europe; 4. Of Asia and Africa; 5. Of America, etc. Each
of these classes will be subdivided, and twelve gold, forty-three
silver, and forty-eight bronze medals will be awarded to the best
collections. In addition as special prizes, nine gold, nineteen silver,
and ten bronze medals; besides a large number of additional medals and
other prizes are offered by individual members for special exhibits. A
few of the leading collectors in America intend competing for some of
the prizes. It is estimated that stamps to the value of $2,000,000 will
be on exhibition.
F. LOWE.--I congratulate you on the possession of the Tobago one
shilling, in color of the sixpence. I referred to this stamp in the
ROUND TABLE for November 10, and erroneously stated that the stamp
was the first of a new issue. It turns out to be an error of the
first water. It is quoted at all kinds of prices, from $5 upward.
The chances are that a large block of them is in the hands of
insiders. If so, $5 is a fair price.
W. W. STOCKTON.--The word Cave on your Ceylon stamp is a portion of
the name of a firm. It is frequently found on stamps of the Straits
Settlements.
E. LEROY POND, Terryville, Conn., wants to exchange U. S. stamps
for those of Siam, Salvador, China, etc.
A. H. GREEN.--The English shilling is worth face only. I hope you
will enjoy the next 892 numbers of the ROUND TABLE as much as you
have the 892 numbers already published.
F. MIKELSKY.--Apply to any dealer for onion-skin hinges. They cost
15c. per 1000.
J. A. HALL.--The U. S. charge 8c. for registering a letter, and if
such letter is lost while in the hands of the post-office officials
the U. S. will not recoup the loss. In Europe the various
governments make allowance on letters lost by them. For instance,
in England, by paying 4c. in addition to the ordinary postage, the
sender of a letter lost in transmission can collect from the
government $25. By paying 6c. in addition to the postage, an
allowance of $50 is made if the letter is lost. Each 2c. in
addition increases the amount $25.
J. H. OTRIEH.--Russian locals are collected by a very few persons
in this country. One of these collectors tells me that some of the
rare Russian locals command as much as $100 and more. The common
varieties, however, have very little value.
F. M.--I cannot give addresses in this column. Write to any of the
dealers who advertise in the ROUND TABLE.
S. HELLER.--You can buy 1000 different stamps in a packet for $10,
or 1500 for $25. I do not know of any larger packets, but think one
with 2000 stamps would cost at least $50 or $60.
B. STOW.--The Mr. Frederick Hill who has jast died at the age of
ninety-four was a brother of Rowland Hill. He was connected with
the London post-office for many years, and was pensioned in the
year 1876.
A. W. SPENCER.--The Alsace-Lorraine stamps were used by the German
post-offices in France during the war of 1870. The earliest dated
stamp known is September 6, 1870.
E. F. HERRE.--The only rare small cent is the 1856 flying eagle.
All the others are very common. The 1817 penny is worth 20c.
E. M. GEARHART.--The Olympian stamps can be bought of any dealer at
double face value, unused, and at 1c to 25c. each, according to
denomination if used. There are so many varieties of the
Confederate stamps that I cannot give any more definite answer,
until after examination. As millions of complete sheets were in the
Southern post-offices at the time the civil war ended, they are
very common with the exception of a few varieties. Neither the
watermarked or the unwatermarked U. S. stamps of the present issue
will ever be rare or even scarce, with the possible exception of
the dollar stamps. The late issues of the U. S. envelopes are
distinguished by the water-mark and the shape.
PHILATUS.
[Illustration: Ivory Soap]
No other soap is found in so many homes.
THE PROCTER & GAMBLE CO. CIN'TI.
Some Popular Books
* * * * *
"Harper's Round Table" for 1896
Volume XVII. With 1276 Pages, and about 1200 Illustrations. 4to, Cloth,
Ornamental, $3.50.
It is doubtful if any other book issued at this holiday season
contains so many stories for young readers as this volume.--_San
Francisco Chronicle._
The book is one which is sure to delight all the
children.--_Detroit Free Press._
A pronounced success as an educational means of great
value.--_Pittsburg Chronicle-Telegraph._
A Virginia Cavalier
A Story of the Boyhood of George Washington. By MOLLY ELLIOT SEAWELL.
Illustrated. Post 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.50.
An absorbing tale.--_Philadelphia Bulletin._
Rick Dale
A Story of the Northwest Coast. By KIRK MUNROE. Illustrated by W. A.
ROGERS. Post 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.25.
A "capital story."--_Book Buyer_, N. Y.
Naval Actions of the War of 1812
By JAMES BARNES. With 21 Full-page Illustrations by CARLTON T. CHAPMAN,
printed in color, and 12 Reproductions of Medals. 8vo, Cloth,
Ornamental, Deckel Edges and Gilt Top, $4.50.
Brimful of adventure, hardihood, and patriotism.--_Philadelphia
Ledger._
The Ship's Company
And Other Sea People. By J. D. JERROLD KELLEY, Lieutenant-Commander
U.S.N. Copiously Illustrated. 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, $2.50.
A great storehouse of charm.--_Boston Transcript._
The Dwarfs' Tailor
And Other Fairy Tales. Collected by ZOE DANA UNDERHILL. With 12
Illustrations. Post 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.75.
The twenty-two tales form a cosmopolitan array that cannot fail to
delight young readers.--_Chicago Tribune._
For King or Country
A Story of the American Revolution. By JAMES BARNES. Illustrated. Post
8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.50.
A manly, straightaway narrative, with the adventures of a
reasonable, practicable kind.--_Life_, N. Y.
Tommy Toddles
By ALBERT LEE. Illustrated by PETER S. NEWELL. Square 16mo, Cloth,
Ornamental, $1.25.
Every child in the land should have this book.--_Interior_,
Chicago.
Shakespeare the Boy
With Sketches of the Home and School Life, the Games and Sports, the
Manners, Customs, and Folk-lore of the Time. By WILLIAM J. ROLFE,
Litt.D., Editor of "Rolfe's English Classics," etc. Illustrated. Post
8vo, Cloth, $1.25.
At once fascinating and instructive, and will be found as readable
by the elders as by the youth.--_Watchman_, Boston.
* * * * *
HARPER & BROTHERS, Publishers, New York
[Illustration: MY LITTLE POET]
My little poet one spring day
Walked out along the country way;
His heart was light and merry.
He wisely said, "'Twere best I bring
Along with me, prepared to sing,
My rhyming dictionary."
[Illustration]
My little poet's arm I took,
And asked if he'd within his book
A word to rhyme with _notions_;
He shook his little curly head,
And arched his brows, and laughed, and said:
"Oh yes, indeed! There's _oceans_!"
J. R. CONNER.
* * * * *
He was a Southern local politician running for office, and believed in
making a thorough canvass in person. One day he was addressing a crowd
of negro voters who had turned out to greet him, when he caught sight of
a gray-wooled old man on the outskirts of the crowd. The old uncle had a
rusty sword with him, and the orator thought he saw his opportunity to
catch the negro vote.
"There," he cried, pointing to the apparent veteran, "that gentleman
over there illustrates the bravery of your race. Men of his merit I
admire. Brave men of your race should be upheld; their dignity should be
maintained. And were I in office, I would fight for you the same as that
aged hero fought for us. Look at him. There he stands to-day with his
trusty sword, the weapon that he drew in defence of his country. What
better example could--"
Broad smiles that threatened to divide the faces of that colored crowd
had been spreading during the latter part of the orator's harangue; but
when the old darky broke in with, "'Deed, massa, youse am right 'bout
dat sword bein' drawn, but Ise done drawed it in a raffle," it
completely broke up the meeting.
* * * * *
ANOTHER QUESTION.
"I hate to bother you, Pop; but, really, I'd like to know--"
"Well, what?"
"How it happens that baby fish don't get drowned before they've learned
to swim?"
* * * * *
WHAT SHE WANTED.
Sallie was helping herself rather copiously to the preserves, when her
aunt said, "Oh, Sallie, not too much, dear. You don't want too much, do
you?"
"Yeth, I does," said Sallie, "and more too. I want three much!"
* * * * *
PROVED.
"Bah!" cried Bobbie. "The idea of saying the world's round! I know
better."
"Oh, you do, eh?" said his uncle. "And how do you know better?"
"It stands to reason," said Bobbie, "if it was round, the ocean wouldn't
stay on it, but go sloshing down it into space."
* * * * *
MERELY AN IDEA.
"Pop," said Willie, "I don't see why, if when you've got toothache you
go and have your tooth pulled, it wouldn't be a good thing when your
head aches to go and get your hair pulled."
Up to this hour Pop has not been able to explain.
* * * * *
ANOTHER QUESTION.
"Pop," said Willie, "why is it called a gymnasium?"
"Why? Why, because that's its name--ah--"
"Yes, I know that," said Willie, "but why didn't they call it a
Tomnasium or a Bobnasium, eh?"
* * * * *
AN OBSERVANT YOUTH.
"Now, Bobbie," said the teacher, "spell pipe."
"P-I-P-E," said Bobbie.
"That's right. And now tell me something about pipes. What do people do
with them?"
"Well," said Bobbie, thoughtfully, "boys blow bubbles with 'em; plumbers
put 'em in; Scotchmen blow music out of 'em; and men like Pa smoke 'em.
It all depends on the kind of pipes you want me to tell you about."
* * * * *
A YOUTHFUL OBSERVER.
"Dear me, Robbie," said his mother, "do you want to be a baby all your
life? Do behave yourself."
"I wouldn't mind, Mamma," said Robbie. "All the baby does is laugh and
squawk and get waited on. Seems to me that's rather pleasant."
* * * * *
AN OPINION.
I don't know what my Daddy does,
But I've a sort of whim
That when I get to be a man
I'd like to be like him!
For he's the finest chum I have.
It doesn't matter what
He does to me, I think he's best
Of all the friends I've got!
Why, even when he takes his hand
And spanks me, and I cry,
I cannot truly help but see
A look in Daddy's eye
Which shows me, though he doesn't spare
My feelings with his hand,
He loves me more than anything
That lives on sea or land.
And so I say if sometimes I
Have little boys like his,
I hope that I'll be to them as
To me my Daddy is!
JOHN KENDRICK BANGS.
End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Round Table, December 29, 1896, by Various