a city of British India(7), and was so startled for the moment that he
wished himself in the United States with the insect(8) that country
people might carry to the barn when arriving home late at night. A wish
being equal to a journey by sea and land, the ghost was presently in
America. On the way, however, he passed over the sea(9) which, having
two outlets to larger seas, its waters never flow out, but always in,
and yet its surface is ever several feet lower than the larger waters
west and southeast of it. He startled the "midnight judiciary"(10),
begged the members' pardon, retired, and almost immediately crossed seas
and met the woman(11) who furnished Sir Walter Scott with descriptions
of Irish characters for one of his novels. He told her he wished to call
next on the Queen of England(12) who saved her husband's life by sucking
poison from a wound.
"You should take the 'X.Y.Z. letters'(13) with you as introduction," was
the reply.
"Even so," said the ghost, "I might not be received."
"But you would had you the tact of the man(14) who compared himself,
when he should be dead, to a book."
"Ah yes, but I have no country, being but a ghost. I am like the man(15)
who once refused a sword from a Russian Czar. If now I were the man(16)
who shut up Paraguay, making it a second Japan for twenty-five years!"
"Or the Pope of Rome(17) who was made a cardinal at the age of
fourteen."
"Ay, or even the Confederate commander(18) at the siege of New Orleans
in April, 1862."
Determining next to go to the smallest and oldest republic in the
world(19), the ghost bade his fair companion adieu and started. Wearied
with long travel, he sought conveyance. Finding himself on board a queer
one, he asked an explanation, and was told this:
"A very mountain high and bright,
In all the land I'm never seen;
Formed of a substance liquid light,
Yet hard and dealing death, I ween.
"Men view me with delight and awe
If I a distance safe preserve.
But my approach they flee before,
Nor pause my beauty to observe."(20).
The ghost next tried the ship(21) that carried the Golden Fleece. This
took him to lands where he mounted the seat beside the driver(22) of the
chariot of the sun. This he did, not without first being invited. He was
too well bred to presume.
But he had run his course, for even the outing of a polite ghost must
end. The Revolutionary general(23) who was once tied to the stake by
Indians, a fire started around him, and was then saved by a rainstorm,
got hold of him, this polite ghost, and was not to be scared by him.
"Who are you?" demanded the general.
"The god(24) of fun," replied the truthful, polite, and mythological
ghost.
"Heigho! Heigho!! Heigho!!!" shouted the general at the top of his
lungs, and looking up to the sky.
"I'll go, I'll go," said the ghost, frightened at the voice, but
relieved at sight of what came in answer to it.
"There! there's the porter of heaven who opens the door(25). Get you
gone," thundered the general.
And the ghost went.
* * * * *
In this fanciful story are mentioned a lot of odd things--people by
their nicknames, articles by their descriptive characteristics, etc.
There are also some riddles. In sending answers, do not write out the
story. Number answers as numbered here, write one below another in the
proper order, and put your name and address at the top of your first
sheet of answers. Mail answers not later than March 1, 1897, to HARPER'S
ROUND TABLE, New York--no street number required--and put in the lower
left-hand corner of your envelope "Puzzle Answer." Correct answers, with
names of winners, will be published in HARPER'S ROUND TABLE as early
after the close of the contest as possible, probably within about two
weeks.
The prizes, which will be awarded by the Messrs. Harper & Brothers,
Publishers, New York, are: $39, divided among the three or four best
solvers according to merit. Persons of any age may help find the
answers, but only those who have not passed their 18th birthday, and who
are members of households in which this paper is regularly read, may
send them in. Merit signifies correctness and neatness, and has no
reference to the solution reaching the office of HARPER'S ROUND TABLE
first in point of time. Elaborate decoration of answers is not
encouraged. Use common stationery, note size, and do not roll. Write on
one side of the paper only. Everything comes to those who--try!
* * * * *
Questions and Answers.
Lee Heilman asks the origin and use of "Yankee." It is from "Yangees," a
corruption of "English," the name originally given by Massachusetts
Indians to early colonists. It was applied solely to New Englanders by
the British soldiers in the Revolutionary war; afterwards by foreigners
to all citizens of the United States; and finally by Confederates of the
South to all soldiers of the North during the civil war.--W. S. Goff
asks the origin and meaning of the "O" in names like "O'Connor." It
means "of," and came from names of places.--"What ship did William Penn
come to America in?" asks a Knight living in Iowa. It was the _Welcome_.
"Who came with him?" Ancestors of everybody now living in Philadelphia
who is anybody. At least that is the impression one gets, so many good
Quaker City folk laying claim to the honor for their ancestors. We
regret having to say that in not one of some twenty cyclopedias at our
hand is there mention of anybody on board the _Welcome_ save Penn
himself. The list is given in Watson's _Annals of Philadelphia_. Will
some reader in that city copy out the names and send them to Howard G.
Van Cise, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. The Annals will be found in any
Philadelphia library.
Stanley Slingerland, 58 Hope Street, Brooklyn, N. Y., is a Knight of
eleven, and wants some Knight near his age to write him.--Marion H. V.
Tompkins, La Salle, N. Y., wants high and private school yells. Will you
send her yours?--Frank H. King, aged fourteen, desires a position on an
amateur paper. It is as contributor, we suppose. We fear he will find
few positions of any other sort. Amateur papers generally let one
fellow, the owner, "do all the work and board himself."--Fred T.
McNaughton: No drawing contests are in contemplation by the TABLE.--Rosa
E. Hutchinson asks: "In writing to some one in a foreign country, asking
for an autograph, should a stamp of that country be enclosed, or a
United States stamp? If the former, where may it be obtained?" Enclose
an American stamp. It will answer as well. If, however, you must have
foreign stamps, buy them from the dealers whose advertisements you find
in this paper. You can procure from them any stamps issued anywhere, and
at no excess of cost. In answer to your two other questions address one
care Scribner & Sons, New York, and the other simply Indianapolis.
[Illustration: THE CAMERA CLUB]
Any questions in regard to photograph matters will be willingly
answered by the Editor of this column, and we should be glad to
hear from any of our club who can make helpful suggestions.
HOW TO FINISH LANTERN SLIDES.
For the benefit of those of our club who have never made lantern slides,
we give the cost with the list of materials required. Lantern-slide
plates, 55c. per box; mats, twenty-five for 25c.; wafers for marking
corners, 10c. per box; cover glass, 60c. per box (two dozen in box);
gummed binding strips, 20c. per hundred; printed labels for name and
number, 20c. per hundred.
The mats usually come with the opening already cut, but one style of mat
has the shape of different openings stamped on it in gilt lines, and may
be cut along the lines of the opening best suited to the subject. Having
the mat ready, place it over the slide on the film side, gumming it
slightly at the corners to hold it in place, then in the lower left-hand
corner of the slide as it lies film side up gum one of the round wafers.
This wafer is always placed at the lower left-hand side of the lantern
slide, and is a guide to the operator in putting the slide into the
lantern. Dust the film with a fine camel's-hair brush or a piece of
clean dry chamois, and place over it one of the cover glasses which has
been previously cleaned and polished. These glasses are very thin and
the edges sharp, and care must be taken in handling, or one is liable to
get a severe cut. Some lantern-slide makers, in preparing a quantity of
slides, finish each slide separately, while others mat the slides, then
apply the wafers, then the cover glasses, and so on through the several
operations necessary to the finishing of a slide. In the latter case it
is better to gum the cover glasses at the corners just enough to hold
them in place.
The next step is to bind the slide and cover glass together. Take one of
the gummed strips--which are cut the exact length required for the
slide--moisten it with a sponge, take the slide and cover in the right
hand, lay the end of the strip on the table (keeping hold of it with the
left hand), and put one of the corners of the slide near the end of the
strip. Press down firmly on the strip so as to hold it in place, and
bring the strip along the edge of the glass; then, without lifting the
slide from the table, lower the side on which has been placed the strip,
and carry the binder on to the next corner, and so round the plate. Turn
the edges of the strip down on the plate, cutting away the extra
thickness at the corners. If the strip becomes dry before the operation
is finished, it can be moistened again. The gum on the strips is so very
sticky that it will bear much rough usage and still hold the slide and
cover glass together.
The last process is to apply the labels. These are pasted on the
right-hand side of the slide, opposite the side on which is the wafer.
The slide is now ready for name and number, which is written or printed
on the label.
Many skilful amateurs make slides from their finest plates, thinking it
one of the best ways of preserving their pictures, for if the original
negative is broken, another can be made from the slide. Mr. E. L. Wilson
has invented an apparatus for viewing lantern slides without the aid of
a lantern. It consists of a large condensing lens fitted to a tube in
one end of which is a frame for the slides. This apparatus has been
given the name of touroscope.
HARRY MCLACHLIN asks for a treatment for over-exposed plates. As
soon as the image flashes up, showing that the plate has been
over-exposed, take it from the developer and place it in a tray of
clean water to stop development. Turn the developer from the tray
and rinse the tray. Mix up a weak solution of developer, or dilute
this same developer with one-third water. Add to it a few drops of
a solution of bromide of potassium prepared with 1/4 oz. of bromide
to 5 oz. of water. This solution should be mixed ready for use and
marked "Restrainer." The bromide is called a restrainer because it
makes the development proceed more slowly. Put the plate back in
the tray and turn over the weak developer. Rock the tray gently,
and if the image still comes out too fast, add a few more drops of
the bromide. Unless the plate has been very much over-exposed, one
can get a good negative by this process.
HARRY MCLACHLIN, Whitehall, N.H.; H. A. KRETSCHMAR, West Nyack,
N. Y.; LOUIS EARL SHERWOOD, North Ontario, Cal.; JOSEPH M. KIMBALL,
16 Montague St., Providence, R. I.--wish to become members of the
Camera Club.
SIR KNIGHT HARRY CHASE, 175 Sumner St., Malden, Mass., wishes to
get one or two pictures that have taken prizes in the ROUND TABLE
contest. Will any member who has won a prize write to Sir Harry? He
will pay for the pictures or exchange prints.
M. R. asks if the Comet Camera is a good one for beginners. The
Comet is a nice little camera which takes very small pictures. It
would be more satisfactory to buy a larger camera, and use glass
plates.
ADVERTISEMENTS.
Arnold
Constable & Co
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[Illustration: WALTER BAKER & CO.]
COSTS LESS THAN ONE CENT A CUP
Be sure that you get the
genuine article, made at
DORCHESTER, MASS.,
By WALTER BAKER & CO., Ltd.
Established 1780.
Postage Stamps, &c.
[Illustration]
=STAMPS!= 300 genuine mixed Victoria, Cape, India, Japan, Etc., with
Stamp Album, only 10c. New 96-page price-list FREE. Approval Sheets, 50%
com. Agents Wanted. We buy old U.S. & Conf. Stamps & Collections.
=STANDARD STAMP CO., St. Louis, Mo., Est. 1885.=
[Illustration]
=ALBUM AND LIST FREE!= Also 100 all diff. Venezuela, Bolivia, etc., only
10c. Agts. wanted at 50% Com. =C. A. Stegmann=, 5941 Cote Brilliant Ave.,
St. Louis, Mo.
STAMPS
100, all different, 10 cents. Sheets on approval at 50% com. Agents
wanted.
B. V. JENKINS, 1224 N. Charles St., Baltimore, Md.
1000
Best Stamp Hinges only =5=c. Agts. wt'd at 50%. List free.
=L. B. DOVER & CO.=, 5958 Theodosia, St. Louis, Mo.
100
stamps, all dif., only 5c.; postage, 2c. extra; list free. COLUMBIA
STAMP CO., Minneapolis, Minn.
LAUGHING CAMERA. 10c.
[Illustration: MY! OH MY!!]
The latest invention in Cameras. You look through the lens and your
stout friends will look like living skeletons, your thin friends like
Dime Museum fat men, horses like giraffes and in fact everything appears
as though you were living in another world. Each camera contains two
strong lenses in neatly finished leatherette case. The latest
mirth-maker on the market; creates bushels of sport. Catalogue of 1,000
novelties and sample camera 10c., 3 for 25c., 12 for 90c. mailed
postpaid. Agents wanted.
ROBT. H. INGERSOLL & BRO.
Dept. No. 62, 65 Cortlandt St., N.Y.
[Illustration]
$25.00 $15.00 $10.00
In Gold, will be paid to the three purchasers sending in the most
solutions of this novel Egg Puzzle. Interests and amuses young and old.
Requires patience & steady nerves. Send 15 cts. for Puzzle, (2 for 25
cts.) and learn how to secure a PRIZE.
Walter S. Coles, Neave Building, Cincinnati, Ohio.
=BUTTON-HOLE LANTERNS=, burn 6 hours, perfectly safe and clean, 20 cents.
=POCKET KINESCOPES=, figures move as if alive, 10 cents.
NOVELTY MFG. CO., NEWPORT NEWS, VA.
BOYS and GIRLS
can earn money by working half an hour daily distributing free samples
of Headache Powders. For full particulars address, =CAPITAL DRUG CO., Box
880, Augusta, Me.=
AN OVERRATED BOOK.
"Bosh!" cried Bobby. "What good is a dictionary? It only tells you the
meaning of words you know about; but when a baby says 'goo-goo' and
'gah-gah' at you, and you wonder what he means, it doesn't help a bit."
* * * * *
NOT A BRIGHT PROSPECT.
"Well, Harry, I suppose you expect to be President of the United States
some day."
"I'm afraid not," said Harry. "My party's all gone to pieces. Why, even
I ain't in it any more."
* * * * *
[Illustration]
VALENTINE BY PROXY.
In Ethel's palm the goat
The valentine would place,
But finding it so sweet,
He swallowed it with grace.
When little Ethel saw
Such rapture on him shine,
She murmured, "I will be
Ronaldo's Valentine."
And now Ronaldo's joy's
On every breeze afloat,
Since to her was his wish
Translated by the goat.
R. K. M.
* * * * *
ONE WAY TO MAKE A RECORD.
"I got fifteen valentines," said Jackey--"one from pa, one from ma, one
from Jennie, and two from Mollie Perkins."
"Where did the other ten come from?"
"Oh, I sent the other ten to myself."
* * * * *
At a political meeting in Kansas during the late campaign a free-silver
speaker was orating upon the subject of the "masses" and the "classes,"
and finally exclaimed, "Is not one man as good as another in this free
country of ours?"
A farmer in the audience cried out, "Sure, and a great deal better!"
* * * * *
NO NEED TO LEARN.
"I'm afraid you'll never know how to write, Tommie," said his teacher,
sadly.
"Don't care," said Tommie. "Uncle Jim is going to send me a type-writer
for my birthday."
* * * * *
A poor Irish woman took a copper kettle to a pawn-shop in order to
secure some money.
"I should think you would not want to put this up," remarked the
pawnbroker. "What will you cook your dinner in?"
"Sure it's to get money to buy meat with to put in it that I'm pawnin'
the thing."
* * * * *
A New York police magistrate, who has made a reputation for
irascibility, was scolding half a dozen hawkers and peddlers who had
been arrested for standing about and encumbering the sidewalks. "We
can't allow this," exclaimed the excitable magistrate. "If everybody
stood in the street, how could anybody get by?"
* * * * *
IN THE TRAINED-MONKEYS' CAGE.
FIRST MONKEY. "You remember that boy who was teasing me yesterday? I
caught him by the wrist and pretty nearly twisted his arm off."
SECOND MONKEY. "Yes; I heard him tell another boy he got hurt by a
monkey-wrench."
* * * * *
The story is told that Daniel Webster, when on his way by stage-coach to
Washington once, was looked upon with suspicion by his travelling
companions. Finally one of the latter tapped him on the knee and said,
"How far are you going?"
"I am going to Washington," answered Webster.
"Are you a merchant?" continued the inquirer.
"No, I am a Senator," replied Webster.
"Well, well!" exclaimed the other, holding out his hand. "I am relieved.
We feared you might be a highwayman."
* * * * *
Two Irishmen were repairing a well over on Long Island, when suddenly
one of them missed his footing and fell to the bottom. The other,
greatly excited, leaned over the edge and exclaimed,
"Denny! oh, Denny! are ye dead?"
No answer came. Then he called again,
"Denny, if you're dead, speak!"
Presently the fellow at the bottom replied,
"Sure I'm not quite dead, man, but I'm spachless!"
* * * * *
A HARD PROBLEM.
"What I can't understand," said Wilbur, "is why in winter, when it's
cold and we'd like to keep warm, we've snowballs to play with; while in
summer, when we'd give a million to be cool, they give us fireworks on
the Fourth of July?"
* * * * *
COASTING AND COASTING.
"Come on coasting."
"Nope--too cold. I hate coasting in winter."
"Hoh! When else could you?"
"In summer, on board of a cat-boat."
* * * * *
A DISTINCTION.
"Dear me, Johnnie, what _have_ you been doing? You are all over ink."
"No, mamma," said Johnnie, "I ain't! The ink is all over me."
End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Round Table, February 16, 1897, by Various