celebrated?" It was this; King George III. had reigned, on the day of
his death, 59 years and 95 days. The day came recently when Queen
Victoria had reigned 59 years and 96 days. That 96th day, when she began
on the longest reign in English history, if not in any history, was
celebrated. The next oldest living sovereign, in point of length of
reign, is Francis Joseph of Austria--1848. Other long English reigns,
after George III., were those of Ethelred II., 37 years; Henry I., 35
years; Henry III., 56 years; Edward I., 35 years; Edward III., 50 years;
Henry VI., 39 years; Henry VIII., 38 years; and Elizabeth, 44 years.
Victoria has not reached the age attained by George III., who died in
his 83d year. She is nearly of the age reached by George II., who died
in his 77th year. The houses of Normandy, Plantagenet, Lancaster, York,
Tudor, and the Stuarts were not very long-lived. The House of Hanover,
to which Queen Victoria belongs has given to Britain the most venerable
sovereigns in the persons of George II., George III., William IV., and
Victoria. Elizabeth, the most venerable scion of the House of Tudor,
died in her 71st year. She died in 1603, and from that year back to
Alfred, over 700 years, no English king or queen reached 70 years. One
of the notable events in the life of Queen Victoria was the celebration
of her "jubilee," in 1887, marking the completion of fifty years' reign.
Only three English monarchs lived to celebrate a jubilee year--Henry
III., Edward III., and George III.
Anna W. Auspach, 3326 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa., is interested in
pressed flowers and monograms, and wants to hear from you, and Thomas C.
Gurnee, 443 Hancock Street, Brooklyn, N. Y., wants to receive sample
copies of amateur papers. Harry W. Jones: The button which you
describe--red, white, and blue, with a very small centre, a raised edge,
and the ribbon lying in close folds, the whole being smaller than a
silver dime--is that of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion. Why
"never seen in the button-hole of any save men well advanced in years"
is explained by the fact that it is an order of the officers and
ex-officers of the army, navy, and marine corps of the United States
during the civil war of now thirty years and more ago. There are twenty
commanderies in as many States. The order numbers about 8500 members.
"Cedar Rapids."--A cyclopædia that is a recognized authority, issued in
1895, says the true source of the Yukon River has not yet been
ascertained. It gives the river's length at about 2000 miles. The
Mississippi is 2800 miles long, and the Mississippi and Missouri, which,
as this cyclopædia says, should be considered as one river, and not the
division as made, 4200 miles long--the longest river in the world.
"H. P. B." writes to us: "Will you be so kind as to give me some
information about the stage, what salaries are paid to actors, and what
is the work that has to be done by them? How can one become an actor,
and to whom should one apply?" Write to the Empire School of Acting,
Empire Theatre, New York. Charles Field: Address Jerome K. Jerome, care
_The Idler_, London, England; Bret Harte, care A. P. Watt, Hastings
House, Norfolk Street, London, England; and Gen. John B. Gordon,
Atlanta, Ga.
[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.
United States revenue stamps are advancing in price by leaps and bounds.
The following is the list of new prices for 1897. Where no price is
given, the old prices remain:
First Issue. Unperf. Perf.
1c. Playing-cards $15.00 $2.50
1c. Proprietary 10.00
1c. Telegraph 10.00
2c. Playing-cards 7.50
2c. Proprietary 6.00
3c. Playing-cards 35.00 8.00
4c. Playing-cards 8.00
6c. Proprietary 50.00
10c. Power of Attorney 15.00
25c. Bond 5.00
25c. Warehouse Receipt 2.00 1.00
40c. Inland Exchange 7.50
50c. Surety Bond 6.00
$1.00 Passage Ticket 8.00 7.00
$1.30 Foreign Exchange 35.00 1.25
$1.60 Foreign Exchange 10.00 2.50
$1.90 Foreign Exchange 50.00 1.50
$2.00 Probate of Will 15.00 1.50
$2.50 Inland Exchange 25.00
$3.50 Inland Exchange 40.00
$5.00 Probate of Will 12.50 1.00
$15.00 Mortgage 25.00 7.50
$20.00 Probate of Will 60.00 35.00
$25.00 Mortgage 25.00 5.00
$50.00 Internal Revenue 10.00 4.00
$200.00 Internal Revenue 30.00 20.00
Second Issue.
$1.30 $7.00
$1.60 17.50
$1.90 5.00
$20.00 15.00
$25.00 17.50
$50.00 15.00
$200.00 110.00
$500.00 (not priced.)
Third Issue.
$20.00 $17.50
Sixth Issue--Proprietary.
Violet P. Green P.
10c. $10 $2.50
50c. 20 25.00
$1 100 150.00
$5 (not priced.)
1878 Issue. Silk P. Wmk. Roul'td
5c. $4 $3 $50
10c. 15
On October 1, the Washington Post-office had the following Columbian
stamps on sale:
$2 Columbians, 3002
$4 Columbians, 3437
$5 Columbians, 4581
As the same stamps have been offered by dealers and brokers in New York
at various discounts (up to twenty-five per cent.) from face value, it
is hardly possible that these values will command a premium for many
years to come.
A new issue of Tonga stamps will be ready early in November. The set
consists of values from 1/2d. to 5s.
The larger post-offices have received vast quantities of the
letter-sheets (now discontinued), Columbian 1c., 2c., and 5c. envelopes,
2c. 1890 adhesives, and a lot of odds and ends.
Argentine, Sweden, and South American stamps will probably show large
advances in the 1897 catalogues.
PHILATUS.
[Illustration: Ivory Soap]
The best is not always low in price, but the housekeeper can have the
best soap without extravagance.
Ivory Soap costs little, but experienced persons know that no other can
do the same work and do it as well.
THE PROCTER & GAMBLE CO., CIN'TI.
FOOTBALL AND OTHER SPORTS
* * * * *
A PRIMER OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL
By W. H. LEWIS. Illustrated from Instantaneous Photographs and with
Diagrams. 16mo, Paper, 75 cents.
There is probably no other man in America who has had as much
football experience or who knows more about the game than Mr.
Lewis.... Of value not only to beginners, but to any one who wishes
to learn more about football.... We heartily recommend it as the
best practical guide to football we have yet discovered.--_Harvard
Crimson_, Cambridge.
Written by a man who has a most thorough knowledge of the game, and
is in language any novice may understand.--_U. of M. Daily_,
University of Michigan.
Will be read with enthusiasm by countless thousands of boys who
have found previous works on the subject too advanced and too
technical for beginners.--_Evangelist_, N. Y.
Beginners will be very grateful for the gift, for no better book
than this of Mr. Lewis's could be placed in their hands.--_Saturday
Evening Gazette_, Boston.
_New Edition of_
CAMP'S AMERICAN FOOTBALL
By WALTER CAMP. New and Enlarged Edition. 16mo, Cloth, $1.25.
The progress of the sport of football in this country, and a
corresponding growth of inquiry as to the methods adopted by
experienced teams, have prompted the publication of an enlarged
edition of this book. Should any of the suggestions herein
contained conduce to the further popularity of the game, the object
of the writer will be attained.--_Author's Preface._
_BY THE SAME AUTHOR:_
FOOTBALL FACTS AND FIGURES. Post 8vo, Paper, 75 cents.
TRACK ATHLETICS IN DETAIL
Compiled by the Editor of "Interscholastic Sport" in HARPER'S ROUND
TABLE. Illustrated from Instantaneous Photographs. 8vo, Cloth,
Ornamental, $1.25. In "HARPER'S ROUND TABLE Library."
A good book to put into the hands of the athletically inclined. It
is capitally illustrated with instantaneous photographs, and is
full of expert and sound advice and instruction.--_Outlook_, N. Y.
* * * * *
HARPER & BROTHERS, Publishers, New York
[Illustration]
A MATTER OF DIRECTION.
A little boy met on his way to school
A savage old bear in the forest cool.
"Which way is he going?" growled Bruin, aside.
"The same way as you, sir," the laddie replied.
* * * * *
"I wonder why they call that a lady-bug?" queried Harry.
"Because it's got good manners and behaves itself, and doesn't go
shouting around like a boy, I guess," said Polly.
* * * * *
HUMBUGS AMONG ANIMALS.
One who has deeply studied the habits of animals has discovered that
there are humbugs among them.
In military stables horses are known to have pretended to be lame in
order to avoid going to a military exercise. A chimpanzee had been fed
on cake when sick; after his recovery he often feigned coughing in order
to procure dainties.
The cuckoo, as is well known, lays its eggs in another bird's nest, and,
to make the deception surer, it takes away one of the other bird's eggs.
Animals are conscious of their deceit, as is shown by the fact that they
try to act secretly and noiselessly; they show a sense of guilt if
detected; they take precautions in advance to avoid discovery; in some
cases they manifest regret and repentance. Thus bees which steal
hesitate often before and after their exploits, as if they feared
punishment.
A naturalist describes how his monkey committed theft. While he
pretended to sleep, the animal regarded him with hesitation, and stopped
every time his master moved or seemed on the point of awakening.
* * * * *
BICYCLE LINGO.
FRED. "The route I have in mind extends about two miles along the
Hudson."
SMALL BROTHER. "Where does the tree stop?"
EDITH. "Where are you going to spend your vacation?"
BESSIE. "Mamma wanted to go to the Falls, but papa said that if she went
to a bicycle academy she could see all the falls she cared to."
* * * * *
"Ha!" said Wallie, jeering at Maude for being a girl, "you can't ever be
President of the United States."
"I know I can't," retorted Maude, "and I don't believe you can, either.
You'd talk too much to get elected."
* * * * *
A COW'S MOO.
A very small girl was learning to write. Her teacher ruled the slate and
set her "copies," and Lucy took great pains with the pot-hooks and round
o's with which she began. One day the teacher set down something new for
Lucy to copy. M--o--o--Moo.
"What is it?" asked Lucy, with a puzzled look.
"That is 'Moo.' The noise a cow makes, Lucy. See, it is made up of
pot-hooks and round o's, just what you have been learning on."
So Lucy sat down and prepared to copy "Moo." But she did it in a queer
way. She made an M at the beginning of each line, and followed each M
with a whole string of o's all across the slate, like this, Mooooo.
"But that isn't right, Lucy," said the teacher, when the little girl
showed her the slate. "You must copy the word as I have written it.
So--Moo."
Lucy looked at the teacher's copy, and then at her own attempts, and
then she shook her head decidedly.
"Well, I think mine _is_ right, Miss Jones," she said. "For I never saw
a cow that gave such a short 'Moo' as you wrote down!"
* * * * *
"Well, Tommie, I suppose you are the smartest boy in your class?"
"Yes, sir," said Tommie. "Teacher says I'm too smart."
* * * * *
A GRATEFUL MILLIONAIRE.
The recent troubles in Africa have called public attention to a large
number of interesting persons living in the southern portion of that
continent. Among others who have been conspicuously noticed is Mr.
"Barney" Barnato, who has made a great fortune in Africa, and of whom a
Cape Town journal tells the following interesting anecdote: When a boy
Mr. Barnato went to the London Jews' Free School, which has produced so
many leading Jews of the day. When he left, his teacher, who was much
attached to him, gave him a penny and his blessing. The years rolled by,
the friendless youth had made his wonderful career in South Africa, and
the little "Barney" had become a personage. About the time when half
London and Paris were going crazy over the flotation of the Barnato
Bank, "Barney" was seized with a fancy to visit his old school-master.
With great difficulty he managed to hunt up the old man.
"Do you recollect," he said, when they met--"do you recollect giving
your little 'Barney' a penny when he left school thirty years ago? Here
it is back again, and with compound interest," and therewith he handed
the school-master a check for £105.
* * * * *
"Popper," said Sammie, "I'm writing a letter to Jimmie Perkins about my
turkle. How many k's are there in turkle?"
* * * * *
"I'm going to be a piano-tuner when I grow up," said Walter. "You can
bang on the keys and take it all apart as much as you please, and _get
paid for doing it, too_."
End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Round Table, November 3, 1896, by Various