say, a great deal of gambling. Nobody works, and everybody is supposed
to be in good humor.
--_From "A Peep at China",
by Lena E. Johnston._
ADDING THE RIGHT WORDS
This drill is given to see how well you can follow printed directions,
and how well you understand the way the words are grouped at the
bottom of the page. There is something for you to write in each of the
following paragraphs, and your ability to read and understand will be
judged by how exactly you follow these directions.
1. Arrange your paper with your name on the first line to the right,
and your grade below it on the second line.
2. Do not write anything on the third line, but on the next six lines
in the margin, write the figures from 1 to 10.
3. The first group of words at the bottom of the page is a list of
farm-products; you can easily name other words that might be added to
this list, such as:
beans rye oats
Write two of these new words after figure 1 on your paper.
4. There are nine other lists of words, and each list names not
farm-products, but some other things. After figure 2 on your paper,
write two other words that could properly be added to the second group
of words.
5. In the same way, write two more words that could rightly belong to
each of the other eight groups of words. When you finish wait quietly
for the others.
1. corn, potatoes, wheat, peas.
2. chisel, plane, file, axe.
3. creek, ocean, gulf, sea.
4. fireman, librarian, teacher, physician.
5. overcoat, fur cap, overshoes, muffler.
6. meat, horns, tallow, hair.
7. pencil, pen, blotter, stamps.
8. cup, saucer, plate, bowl.
9. door, window, stairs, chimney.
10. tennis, croquet, hockey, baseball.
THE GOOD CITIZEN--HOW HE USES MATCHES
There are two things you can do with every good and useful
thing--use it and abuse it. Here you are going to read about the
abuse of a very useful thing, indeed--a match. When things are a
common, everyday part of the household, people are apt to treat
them carelessly; and carelessness always means trouble. As you
read, think whether anything in this article hits _you_.
This is a good selection to outline. Perhaps your teacher will
have some of the best outlines put on the blackboard.
The match is one of the most valuable and one of the most dangerous
articles made by man. It has been in use for less than one hundred
years, but think of trying to get along without it!
Suppose, for example, that you were camping far from any houses, and
discovered, when the time came to cook dinner, that you had lost your
matches. What would you do? Would you rub sticks together like the
Indian or make a "bow-drill" like the Eskimo? These were the methods
used by mankind for thousands and thousands of years, but they mean
desperately hard work, as you would soon realize. You would be
fortunate if you could find a bit of flint from which to strike sparks
with steel as your great-grandfather probably did. But even in that
case you would appreciate matches as never before.
It was not until the year 1827 that an English druggist named John
Walker made the first practical friction-matches, known as
"Congreves". A folded piece of glass-paper went with every box, and in
order to light the match one had to draw it in one hand quickly
through the folds of the paper held tightly pressed together with the
other. Another kind of match, the "Promethean", appeared a little
later. It had at one end a thin glass globule, which it was necessary
to press in producing fire.
Thus people went on experimenting, for everyone was interested and there
was great demand. Gradually methods of making that were better and
cheaper were discovered, until, to-day, matches are found in every home.
It is said that more matches are sold in the United States than in all
the rest of the world. More than seven hundred million matches are
used in the United States each day. You can hardly imagine such a
figure. If a factory made just one match for every minute, night and
day, it would take nearly fourteen hundred years for it to produce as
many matches as this country uses in a single day. Or--to put it in
another way--nearly five hundred thousand flames are struck every
minute on an average. There is not one of these flames that would not
develop into a destructive fire if it had a chance. Consequently,
every match must be regarded, and must be treated, as a possible
source of great damage.
Matches, to-day, are of two general classes: Those which may be struck
upon any rough surface, and the so-called "safety matches", made to be
struck only upon the box. But there are good matches and bad matches
in both classes. In other words, while the safety match, as a rule, is
safer than the kind first mentioned, a poorly made strike-on-the-box
match may be more dangerous than a well-made strike-anywhere match.
Therefore, we ought to know something about what a match is, as well
as how to use it.
Here is a match. What could appear more harmless? A tiny stick of wood,
shorter than your finger, coated at one end with some substance that
forms a little bulb, or head--who would believe that it can be either a
blessing or a deadly peril, according to the way in which it is used?
The secret of fire-production lies in the head of the match. This
contains certain chemicals which take fire easily when heated, and it
also contains particles of ground flint in order to create heat by
friction when the match is struck. If two objects are rubbed quickly
together, the resulting friction brings heat, and all the more easily
and quickly if one of the objects be rough. If you sandpaper a board,
rubbing it hard, you will soon find both paper and board becoming
warm. Thus friction from striking a match produces sufficient heat to
cause the head to burst into flame.
Now, it must be remembered that even careful persons may meet with
accidents through the use of bad matches. Sometimes, when struck, the
blazing head will fly off, or the stick will break and fall;
sometimes, too, the match will continue to glow after the flame has
been blown out. These are signs that the match is poorly made;
probably it is of some very cheap brand, for such things never happen
with good matches. Carefulness, therefore, must begin at the time of
buying. One should always notice the brand and always order by brand.
Whenever a brand is found to have any of these faults it should be
avoided in future, no matter how low the price may be.
The best of the strike-anywhere matches are given a special treatment
to keep the head from flying off when struck, and also to guard it
from being set on fire accidentally. Great care is also taken in the
preparation of the wood to safeguard against breaking. But as a class,
the safety matches are less dangerous.
Matches of all kinds are carefully tested in the great Underwriters'
Laboratories, which The National Board of Fire Underwriters maintains
in Chicago, and those that are able to pass the test are labeled by
the Laboratories. It is always a protection to find one of these
labels on a box. The Laboratories have no interest in the sale of
matches, and any manufacturer who will make goods of the right grade
can secure the label.
Let us suppose that your house is provided with good matches, those
having solid heads and tough sticks. There will be no danger if you
are always careful when using them. But are you? Here are some
questions for you to answer.
Do you ever throw away a match which is burning or even glowing? Never
do this again. It has caused hundreds of deaths and has burned
thousands of homes.
How do you strike a match--away from you or toward you? Probably you
have never thought about this, but think of it hereafter, and form the
habit of always striking _away_ from you. Thus, if the match breaks or
its head flies off, it will not be likely to set fire to your
clothing. In lighting matches upon a box, first _close the box_;
otherwise the flame may set fire to the whole box. If the box is set
in a box-holder, such as those used by smokers, wherein the upper part
of the box is open, place the box so that the heads are not exposed.
In striking a match upon such a holder, always strike downward away
from the open end.
If matches are spilled, do you stop at once and pick up every one? If
you leave them strewn about for even a little while, you may forget
them until after mischief has been done. A match on the floor is
always a dangerous thing. It may be stepped on and ignited, or it may
be found by a little child, or it may be carried into the wall or
under the floor by a rat or mouse. It is not probable that mice often
start fires by gnawing match-heads, but they do like to use them in
building nests in warm, comfortable places, close to chimneys or
furnace pipes. Dangerous fires may come from this cause or from
matches rubbed against beams while being carried to the nest.
Where do you keep your matches? Are they out of reach of little
children, as they always should be? Are they kept away from the stove,
or the stovepipe, or any other place where they may become overheated?
Are they loose in a drawer or on a shelf, or are they in a covered box
or dish of metal or earthenware? Sometimes uncovered matches are
ignited by the sun's rays shining through a lens-forming bubble in a
window-pane.
Do you carry matches on your person? A child should never be allowed
to do this. He may be careful, but some careless child may ask him for
a match. Always be on the safe side. A grown person should never
permit himself to carry loose matches in his pocket. The State Fire
Marshal of Iowa says:
Some men, especially smokers, are in the habit of carrying matches
around with them. It is the easiest thing in the world for matches
carried around loose in a man's pocket to drop out. Suppose the man
has work to do about a barn. A match drops out on the barn floor and
a horse steps on it. It is a parlor-match and ignites, setting fire
to hay and other inflammable material found in barns. Then the barn
burns and the cause of fire is reported something like this:
"Unknown. Nobody had been in the barn for some time. Everything safe
when the barn was closed up."
Six hundred and ninety-four barn fires took place in Iowa in 1914.
Hundreds of these were reported as of unknown origin, but it is safe
to say that in a great number of cases, if the cause could have been
traced, it would have been found to be a match that had dropped out
of a smoker's pocket.
Until we find some better device for producing fire, matches will
continue to be used in immense numbers, and they will always be a
source of danger in the hands of careless people, and even careful
people may be imperiled by the actions of careless people about them.
There are no safety-rules more important than those applying to the
use of matches, and habits of carefulness should be formed by every
person. Some one has said:
Matches do not think with their heads. When you use them, your
head has to do all the thinking. Do the thinking! Put them out!
SAFETY RULES FOR BUYING MATCHES
1. Purchase by brand, and always avoid brands which break, lose
their heads, or glow after being blown out.
2. Look for the label of the Underwriters' Laboratories.
3. Give the preference to strike-on-the-box, or safety matches,
but, in case of buying the strike-anywhere match, get one that has
a protected tip.
SAFETY RULES FOR USING MATCHES
1. Keep them in covered boxes or dishes, away from the heat of
stoves and stovepipes and out of the reach of rats and mice.
2. Strike matches away from you. If you are striking on a box,
first close the box. Strike downward on the box.
--_National Board of Fire Underwriters._
QUESTIONS
1. Make three more rules for using matches.
2. What is the meaning of the following words?
friction experimenting
Underwriters safety-matches
inflammable peril
ignite avoid
accidentally device
3. Tell three ways in which matches may be dangerous.
NOBLESSE OBLIGE
_Noblesse oblige_ is a French expression (pronounced nōblĕss´
ōbleejh´) which means, "High birth or position makes one responsible
for the good of those lower than he in position". The following
story tells of a British officer during the World War who did not
forget this motto. The story was told by the writer of a book
narrating experiences at the front. As you read, think how you would
have felt if you had been one of the young colonel's men.
A great love and sympathy always seem to exist between the British
officer and his men. One of the reasons is the justice and unselfishness
of the officer. For instance, a British officer among the walking
wounded never goes ahead of his men to have his wounds dressed.
Outside of one dressing station sat a young colonel with a bad wound.
One of the secretaries noticed him and said, "You had better get into
the dressing station at once."
"It is not my turn. I will not go out of turn."
Some four hours later, the secretary, passing out food and drink,
again noticed the colonel.
"Here! Why haven't you had your wounds dressed?" he exclaimed.
"I am waiting for my turn."
"But it was your turn a long time ago."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course I am. Come, let me help you."
Into the dressing room he staggered. He had no idea that he had done a
heroic thing.
--"_Youth's Companion._"
1. Could the young colonel have had his wounds dressed earlier if
he had wished?
2. Why did he not do so?
THE MAGIC HORSE
Here is another Arabian fairy tale. It is much longer than the
story of the queer man who was made Caliph for a day and is also
very different from that tale. But it is a fine story of adventure
filled with surprises and with all the changes of fortune that
fairy stories so often have. Of course, all sixth grade boys and
girls know that the Indian who is spoken of is an East Indian of
Asia and not a North American Indian.
On the Nevrouz, that is to say, the new day, which is the first of the
year, and the beginning of the spring, an ancient and solemn feast was
observed through all Persia. At the court, this feast was always
attended with the greatest splendor. All artists, natives or
strangers, were allowed at that time to produce their several
inventions before the king; who never failed to confer liberal rewards
on those whose abilities deserved them.
Near the close of one of these feasts, an Indian presented himself
before the king with an artificial horse of the most perfect
workmanship, richly accoutred. "I flatter myself, sir," said the
Indian, addressing himself to the king, "that your majesty hath never
seen anything so wonderful as this horse, either now, or at any former
Nevrouz." The king surveyed the horse with attention. "I see nothing,"
said he, "but a fine piece of sculpture, which any able artist may
equal."
"Sir," replied the Indian, "it is not his form, but his use that I
commend so highly. On his back I can convey myself through the air to
the most distant part of the earth, in a very short time. I can even
instruct any other person to ride in the same manner. Such is the
curiosity I have the honor to present to your majesty's notice."
The king was highly pleased with this account of the Indian's horse,
and desired to see a proof of his abilities. "There is," said the
king, pointing to a mountain about three leagues off, "on the summit
of that mountain, a palm-tree of a particular quality, which I should
know from all others; go, fetch me a branch of it."
The Indian mounted his horse, and turning a peg which was in the neck,
away he flew with him, and they were presently out of sight. Within a
quarter of an hour he was seen returning with a palm branch in his
hand, which, as soon as he had descended and alighted, he laid at the
king's feet.
The king was greatly pleased with this extraordinary performance, and
resolved to purchase the horse if he could prevail with the owner to
part with him. Accordingly, he asked the Indian if he was to be sold.
"Sir," replied the Indian, "I should not have produced my horse to your
majesty if it had been absolutely impossible for me to sell him. Yet the
artist from whom I received him, laid me under the most solemn
injunction that I should never part with him for money; nor on any terms
but such as I might request your pardon before I presume to name them."
The king impatiently answered that he forgave his demand, even if it
was to reach his crown; but he reserved to himself the power of
refusal, if he thought that demand too exorbitant. The Indian then
replied that he was ready to resign his horse if his majesty would
condescend to bestow on him the princess, his daughter, in marriage.
When the courtiers heard this extravagant request, they all burst into
loud laughter; but the prince Firouz Shah, the only son of the king,
was enraged, and the more so when he saw the king pensive, debating
with himself what answer to return. Going up to his father, he said,
"I entreat your majesty will pardon the liberty I am about to take,
but is it possible you can hesitate a moment what answer to make to
this insolent fellow? Can you bear to think of degrading our house by
an alliance with a scandalous juggler?"
The king approved of his son's spirit, but argued that if he refused
to comply with the Indian's proposal, perhaps some other sovereign
might be less nice, and by that means become possessed of the greatest
curiosity in the world. He ended his reply by desiring his son to
examine the horse attentively, and give his opinion of him.
Respect for his father made him receive these orders in silence. He
approached the horse, and the Indian drew near to instruct the prince
in the method of managing him; but the haughty young man was in too
great a fury to listen to him. He spurned the kneeling Indian
contemptuously, and leaping into the saddle, he turned the peg, and
the horse flew away with him.
The Indian was exceedingly alarmed when he saw the prince depart
before he had learned how to manage the horse. He threw himself once
more at the king's feet, and besought his majesty not to blame him for
any accident which might befall the prince, since his own impetuosity
had exposed him to danger. The king had no apprehension for his son,
till he saw the Indian so terrified. He then felt all the horrors of
the prince's situation. He cursed the Indian and his fatal horse, and
ordered his officers to seize and conduct him to prison. "If my son
does not return safe," said he, "in a short time, thy paltry life, at
least, shall be sacrificed to my vengeance."
In the meantime, Firouz Shah was carried through the air with
inconceivable swiftness, till at length he could scarcely discern the
earth at all. He then wished to return, which he expected to do by
turning the peg the contrary way; but when he found the horse continued
to rise from the earth, and proceed forward at the same time with
greater swiftness, he was alarmed and began to regret his pride and
anger. He turned the peg about every way to no purpose; in this
situation he retained, notwithstanding, a perfect presence of mind, and,
on examining the horse closely, he at last perceived another peg behind
the ear. On turning that peg he presently found that he descended in the
same oblique manner that he had mounted, but not so swiftly.
As he drew near the earth, he lost the light by degrees, till he came
into total darkness. He did not attempt, therefore, to guide the horse,
but waited patiently, though not without apprehension, till he should
alight.
It was midnight when the horse stopped, and Firouz dismounted, faint
with hunger and fatigue. He groped about and found he was on the roof
of some large building. At length he came to some steps, which he
descended, and rambled about in the dark for some time; at last, on
opening a door, he found a light, and saw a number of black guards
asleep on pallets, with their sabres lying by them. This convinced him
that he was in a palace, and that this chamber was the guard room of
some princess. As he knew if any of the guards should awake he would
be in great danger, he resolved to enter the next apartment, and throw
himself on the mercy of the lady who inhabited it.
He found there asleep on a sofa a young lady, whose exquisite beauty
captivated his heart the moment he beheld her. Her women were sleeping
in little beds around her. The prince gazed on her for a long time,
forgetful of his situation; and, at length he knelt down, and gently
pulling her hand toward him, he kissed it.
The motion awakened the princess, who was surprised to find a stranger
at her bedside. She would have cried out, but Firouz besought her
patience. He told her that he was the son of a king, and that a very
extraordinary accident, which he would relate, had brought him to the
necessity of claiming her protection.
The lady was the daughter of the king of Bengal. Many of her
attendants were by this time awakened. She told Firouz, therefore,
that she should be glad to hear the particulars of his adventure in
the morning, but for the present besought him to withdraw. At the same
time she ordered her attendants to conduct him to a chamber, and
supply him with such refreshments as he wanted.
The prince attended her the next day and related to her all the
particulars of the arrival of the Indian with his horse, of his
insolent demand, and its consequences. He concluded his account of his
journey by observing that however much he had been enraged at the
Indian, he now began to consider him his benefactor; "since," added
he, "he has been the cause of my being known to a lady whose chains I
shall be proud to wear as long as I live."
The princess received this compliment in such a manner as showed it
was very acceptable to her. She invited the prince to repose a few
days in her palace to recover himself from the fatigue and alarm he
had undergone. He accepted this invitation; and being much together,
they fell more and more in love with each other. And, at last, when
filial duty obliged Firouz to think of returning to Persia, the fond
princess, fearing she should see him no more, dropped a hint that she
should not be afraid to trust herself with him on the enchanted horse;
and the prince, equally enamored, failed not to confirm her in this
rash adventure.
Everything being agreed on between the lovers, they repaired, one
morning at daybreak, to the roof where the horse still remained; and
Firouz assisted the princess to mount him. He then placed himself
before her, and turning the peg, they were out of sight before any of
the attendants in the palace were stirring; and in two hours the
prince discovered the capital of Persia.
He would not alight at the king's palace, but directed his course to a
small cottage in a wood, a little distance from town, that he might
inform his father who the lady was, and secure her a reception
suitable to her dignity. When they alighted, he led her into a
handsome apartment, and ordered the keeper of the house to show her
all imaginable respect. Then he hastened to the palace, where the king
received him with unspeakable joy. Firouz related to his father all
that had befallen him, and the king was so delighted with his son's
safe arrival, that he readily complied with his desire that the
wedding ceremonies between him and the princess should be immediately
celebrated.
While the necessary preparations were being made, the king ordered the
Indian, who was to have been executed the next day, to be released
from prison, and brought before him. "My son's safe arrival," said the
king to him, "hath preserved thy life. Take thy horse, and begone from
my dominions; where, if thou art ever seen again, I will not fail to
put thee to death." The Indian being then freed from his chains, and
set at liberty, withdrew in silence.
But he meditated a severe revenge. He had learned from those who
fetched him out of prison, that Firouz had brought home with him a
beautiful princess, to whom he was about to be married. He was told
also that she was at the house in the wood, where he was directed to
go and take away his horse. While Firouz was preparing a great retinue
to conduct the princess in state to the palace, the Indian hastened to
the house in the wood, and told the keeper he was sent by the prince
to conduct her, on the horse, to the capital; and that the whole court
and people were waiting with impatience for the wonderful sight.
[Illustration: THE PRINCE OF PERSIA CARRIES AWAY THE PRINCESS OF
BENGAL]