is getting up--what plan he is to go on, what the system is, and where
he can find a book on the subject. Handicapping in bicycling is the same
in principle as all other handicaps, and there are the same reasons, and
only the same reasons, for giving handicaps that there are in other
contests. As a rule, handicapping is best left alone. It should only be
resorted to when the differences in speed of competitors are so great
that no one could get up a race and induce men to enter unless a
handicap were resorted to. In long distances, in road races of 25 miles
or more, time handicaps are usually given. The time of each
contestant--that is, his best time for a mile, or for 35 miles--is
ascertained, and a table made of all these. Each man, then, shows a
certain rate per mile for 25 miles, or whatever the distance may be.
According to this record, one man does 10, 20, or 25 miles at the rate
of a minute a mile faster than another. In a 25-mile race, therefore, he
should give the other about 25 minutes' start. This is, of course, a
large handicap, but it illustrates the point. If A does 20 miles in 60
minutes and B's record is 15 miles in 60 minutes, then, to make the race
even, B should start on his run at 2 P.M., for example, while A has to
wait at the scratch 15 minutes. When he finally starts at 2.15 P.M., B
is 3-3/4 miles ahead of him. Supposing the road race was on a stretch of
road five miles long and the course was to make it down and back four
times--that is, twice each way. The distance handicap could be made by
starting both A and B at the same time, with B at a position 1-1/4 miles
from the first turn and A at the scratch; but such long-distance
handicaps are difficult things to take care of, since it is practically
impossible to start both men at the same moment. It is for this reason
that time handicaps have been taken up. On short distances of a mile or
two the difficulty is, of course, avoided, and distances can be arranged
with simultaneous starts. A bicycle-race under 25 miles is, however, a
dangerous and not particularly exerting affair, though there are many
still. Ascertain, therefore, each man's record for the same distance,
and then arrange the time handicaps, so as to give all, according to
their records, the chance of coming in at the same moment.
"WHEELMAN" asks what are the laws regarding riding on sidewalks,
coasting, and so on, and whether these laws are the kind that are
enforced, or if they are, like many other city and town ordinances, only
for use in emergency, and not otherwise observed. In the first place,
the laws, ordinances, or regulations regarding riding on sidewalks,
scorching, coasting, and so on, are different in every city or
township--that is, each township has its regulations concerning these
matters, and they have been adopted to protect other people. There is a
movement on foot to make bicycles come under the head of carriages, and
subject to the same laws; but in the mean time several things ought to
be borne in mind by wheelmen. Most ordinances agree in stating that in
city or town no bicyclist shall ride on sidewalks; that too great speed
is dangerous; that coasting, where cross-streets are common, is
dangerous; and that anything likely to endanger foot-passengers or be
dangerous to the wheelman must be avoided. The regulations are made to
cover these matters. It therefore behooves the wheelman to guard against
any of these matters; for if we all thought of the possible danger and
inconvenience to other citizens, there would be no occasion for stricter
regulations than there have been for carriages. Hence, if you coast in a
city or town, you are helping the movement which will cause aldermen and
selectmen to pass more severe laws. If you ride on sidewalks, you are in
just so far stimulating the popular prejudice against wheels, raising
the fines, and causing a general feeling that bicyclists must be
legislated against. When you are on country roads, where not one person
an hour passes, choose the side path, since it may be the only good bit
of road; but when you come to civilization, remember that no matter how
bad the road, and no matter how many other wheelmen may be riding on
sidewalks, and coasting and scorching, the law asks you to keep to your
proper place, and you are helping the cause of bicycling, to say the
least, if you do so.
NOTE.--Map of New York city asphalted streets in No. 809. Map of
route from New York to Tarrytown in No. 810. New York to Stamford,
Connecticut, in No. 811. New York to Staten Island in No. 812. New
Jersey from Hoboken to Pine Brook in No. 813. Brooklyn in No. 814.
Brooklyn to Babylon in No. 815. Brooklyn to Northport in No. 816.
Tarrytown to Poughkeepsie in No. 817. Poughkeepsie to Hudson in No.
818. Hudson to Albany in No. 819. Tottenville to Trenton in No.
820. Trenton to Philadelphia in No. 821. Philadelphia in No. 822.
Philadelphia-Wissahickon Route in No. 823. Philadelphia to West
Chester in No. 824. Philadelphia to Atlantic City--First Stage in
No. 825; Second Stage in No. 826. Philadelphia to Vineland--First
Stage in No. 827; Second Stage in No. 828. New York to
Boston--Second Stage in No. 829; Third Stage in No. 830; Fourth
Stage in No. 831; Fifth Stage in No. 832; Sixth Stage in No. 833.
Boston to Concord in No. 834. Boston in No. 835. Boston to
Gloucester in No. 836. Boston to Newburyport in No. 837. Boston to
New Bedford in No. 838. Boston to South Framingham in No. 839.
Boston to Nahant in No. 840. Boston to Lowell in No. 841. Boston to
Nantasket Beach in No. 842. Boston Circuit Ride in No. 843.
Philadelphia to Washington--First Stage in No. 844; Second Stage in
No. 845; Third Stage in No. 846; Fourth Stage in No. 847; Fifth
Stage in No. 848. City of Washington in No. 849. City of Albany in
No. 854; Albany to Fonda in No. 855; Fonda to Utica in No. 856;
Utica to Syracuse in No. 857; Syracuse to Lyons in No. 858; Lyons
to Rochester in No. 859; Rochester to Batavia in No. 860; Batavia
to Buffalo in No. 861; Poughkeepsie to Newtown in No. 864; Newtown
to Hartford in No. 865; New Haven to Hartford in No. 866; Hartford
to Springfield in No. 867; Hartford to Canaan in No. 868; Canaan to
Pittsfield in No. 869; Hudson to Pittsfield in No. 870.
"IT."
BY EMMA J. GRAY.
Many of the games with which we are familiar in the United States are
well known throughout Great Britain and on the Continent. But among the
most amusing and most popular of English games is one of which we know
little or nothing. It is dignified by the two-lettered name, "It."
This is altogether suitable for the parlor, and may be played by
everybody if we will except the very young people. It creates roars of
laughter, on account of the funny mistakes made by the questioners. "It"
is a great mystery, and the longer it is played the greater mystery
often it becomes. Only those understanding this game may remain in the
room. All others must leave; there is no alternative. One of the party,
unfamiliar with the game, is then selected to return, and must, by
questioning those in the parlor, learn what "it" is. When he knows "it,"
he too must remain behind, and some one else is selected to fill his
place. In this way the game is carried on, until each one in turn comes
in and finds out the secret.
"It" is really the person who sits at your left, but, before this is
discovered, usually much amusement is made. The game is played in the
following way:
All in the parlor must sit in a circle, and must not change their
positions. When the player is called in, he is told to ask a question of
whomever he may please, and the person must correctly answer. For
example--"Is 'it' white?" As everybody present is white, the answer is
necessarily "Yes."
The questioner then asks another person, "Is 'it' thin?" and if the
person to the left of the person thus questioned is thin, the answer is
again "Yes." Perhaps this question may be repeated, and some one else is
asked, "Do you also think 'it' is thin?" and if this person has some one
for a left-hand neighbor who is very stout, of course he answers "No."
And thus the questioner is mystified, and must continue question after
question. For a long time he may think "it" is a thing. Therefore a good
question to put would be, "Is 'it' alive?" And then he might ask, "Is
'it' in this room?" Then he might try complexion, and again would be
mystified, for if he asked, "Is 'it' a brunette?" and the reply being
"Yes," his next question, "Has 'it' dark eyes?" would perhaps have for
answer, "No"; and, "Has 'it' light hair?" "Yes." And so the secret seems
harder than ever.
A good way is to ask the same questions over and over, and try to locate
"it" in that way. But the questioner should not easily be discouraged. A
few points may be given to him, such as some of the above. The players
would better announce "It" as a trick game.
[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.
In the summer of 1895 a complete _unperforated_ sheet of the current 5c.
U.S. unwatermarked was found in the post-office of New Orleans. A
well-known collector bought the sheet for $1000. Some months later
another collector who was looking up Plate Nos. discovered
_unperforated_ sheets of the current 3c. and 4c. stamps on unwatermarked
paper (Plate Nos. 47 and 50 respectively). These unperforated stamps
have been put on the market at $24 for a pair, or $12 each in larger
blocks. No single stamps to be sold. The demand has been very lively,
and most of the stamps have been sold at that price.
Of the 1890 issue the following are known to exist unperforated: the
2c., 4c., 5c., and 15c. Very few copies have come on the market, and
those have been eagerly snapped up by the big collectors. Hitherto these
unperforated stamps have probably been mere accidents, but there is
danger in their becoming hereafter "accidental on purpose."
Plate Nos. are still booming. The early pink 2c. and ultramarine 1c. are
comparatively easy to get. But the early Plate Nos. on watermarked paper
are quite scarce. There must be quantities of these in the smaller
post-offices. Fifteen dollars are offered for Plate 89 in any color.
As soon as a great rarity is discovered hundred of collectors look over
everything they can find, and, wonderful to say, the stamp supposed to
be unique rarely remains in that condition. The 10c. Baltimore, first
catalogued about a year ago, was hardly announced when a collector in
Louisville found another copy on the original envelope. And now another
copy has turned up in Washington. The other day a lady who had relatives
living in Florence in 1852 was induced to look over her old letters, and
among them was one envelope bearing a beautiful strip of three 2 soldi
Tuscany worth $50 each. The strip of three is probably worth $200 at
least. Several other rare stamps were in the same lot.
The Argentine Republic has just issued a complete set of post-cards,
embossed envelopes, and wrappers in commemoration of the eighty-sixth
anniversary of the republic's independence. It is said that this issue
is not to serve for a limited time, but will continue indefinitely.
Argentine has not been very conservative in the making of new issues
during the last decade. Complete series were issued in 1888, 1889, 1890,
1892, with some additional values in 1891, Columbian 2c. and 5c. in
1892, and official stamps in red and in black surcharges, with the
inevitable inverted surcharges, some perforated, others rouletted, etc.
From present appearances it looks like a good set to let alone. As to
their appearance, they are ugly in comparison with the Greek Olympian
stamps, which have been put on the black list. The following is a
complete set of this commemoration series:
3 centavos post-card, orange on buff.
4 centavos post-card, gray on buff.
6 centavos post-card, violet on buff.
6x6 centavos post-card, violet on buff.
3 centavos letter-card, orange on buff.
4 centavos letter-card, gray on buff.
1/2 centavos wrapper, blue.
1 centavos wrapper, brown.
2 centavos wrapper, green.
4 centavos wrapper, gray.
5 centavos envelope, pink on buff.
L. WARREN.--The only way to detect counterfeit stamps is to know
what the originals are. Paper, water-mark, perforation, roulette,
color of ink, size, and peculiarities of the engraving, and many
other factors enter into the problem. Dealers usually keep an album
of all the different varieties of counterfeits of every stamp for
the purpose of comparison. Duplicate counterfeits are at once
destroyed. In addition, dealers, like the advanced collectors,
study the peculiarities of all genuine originals which come into
their hands, and are always ready to take time and trouble to see
fine collections, and talk over the different stamps. It is only by
this method that a man becomes an expert in these days of dangerous
counterfeits. Gradually an intuitive knowledge of forgeries is
developed, so that frequently an expert will condemn a stamp which
seems to be in all essentials a genuine one. If not an expert there
is only one way to buy valuable stamps, namely from collectors or
dealers, known to be experts, and known to be responsible.
W. K. DART.--The current 2c. have three forms of triangle (see
ROUND TABLE for May 12, 1896). They have no particular value,
either used or unused. I would advise you to get a catalogue for
25c., as it is impossible for one to quote prices on a long list of
ordinary stamps for every one of the many readers of the ROUND
TABLE. Study your stamps by the aid of the catalogue.
S. E. SEORAH.--The A.P.A. will hold their annual meeting at Lake
Minnetonka, a beautiful summer resort in the lake country of
Minnesota.
PHILATUS.
* * * * *
A GOOD CHILD
is usually healthy, and both conditions are developed by use of proper
food. The Gail Borden Eagle Brand Condensed Milk is the best infant's
food: so easily prepared that improper feeding is inexcusable and
unnecessary.--[_Adv._]
ADVERTISEMENTS.
[Illustration: COLUMBIA BICYCLES]
WALTER BAKER & CO., LIMITED.
Established Dorchester, Mass., 1780.
Breakfast Cocoa
[Illustration]
Always ask for Walter Baker & Co.'s
Breakfast Cocoa
Made at
DORCHESTER, MASS.
It bears their Trade Mark
"La Belle Chocolatiere" on every can.
Beware of Imitations.
Postage Stamps, &c.
$117.50 WORTH OF STAMPS FREE
to agents selling-stamps from my 50% approval sheets. Send at once for
circular and price-list giving full information.
C. W. Grevning, Morristown, N. J.
[Illustration: STAMPS]
100 all dif. Venezuela, Bolivia, etc., only 10c., 200 all dif. Hayti,
Hawaii, etc., only 50c. Ag'ts w't'd at 50% com. List FREE! =C. A.
Stegmann=, 5941 Cote Brilliante Ave., St. Louis, Mo
STAMPS
=10= stamps and large list =FREE!=
L. DOVER & CO., 1469 Hodiamant, St. Louis, Mo.
[Illustration: Thompson's Eye Water]
[Illustration]
Good
Music
Franklin Square Song Collection.
GOOD MUSIC arouses a spirit of good-will, creates a harmonious
atmosphere, and where harmony and good-will prevail, the disobedient,
turbulent, unruly spirit finds no resting-place. Herbert Spencer puts
his final test of any plan of culture in the form of a question, "Does
it create a pleasurable excitement in the pupils?" Judged by this
criterion, Music deserves the first rank, for no work done in the school
room is so surely creative of pleasure as singing. Do we not all agree,
then, that Vocal Music has power to benefit every side of the child
nature? And in these days, when we seek to make our schools the arenas
where children may grow into symmetrical, substantial, noble characters,
can we afford to neglect so powerful an aid as Music? Let us as rather
encourage it in every way possible.
_Nowhere can you find for Home or School a better Selection of Songs and
Hymns than in the Franklin Square Song Collection._
Sold Everywhere. Price, 50 cents; Cloth, $1.00. Full contents of the
Several Numbers, with Specimen Pages of favorite Songs and Hymns, sent
by Harper & Brothers, New York, to any address.
Older, and Knew More.
A Brooklyn gentleman tells a new story of Henry Ward Beecher. Mr.
Beecher was a great preacher and a great teacher, but he was also not
above admitting that he was a student as well, and had things to learn
and to unlearn. Dining with the gentleman who relates the incident, the
probability of a civil war was discussed. It was the year 1859.
"Oh no," said Mr. Beecher, positively, "the South will never make war on
the question of slavery alone. And it has no other ground. Slavery will
be abolished, first in the border States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and
gradually southward to the Gulf. The controversy is spirited, but war
will not come."
Late in 1861, when the war was raging and the Northern cause was
darkest, the great divine lunched with a parishioner, and the gentleman
first named was also a guest. Reminded of his prediction, the question
was put,
"What do you think now?"
"I am three years older, and know more," was Mr. Beecher's reply.
* * * * *
Kinks.
NO. 8.--MORE POETICAL PICTURES.--BIRDS.
Fill in the blanks with the names of the birds answering the
description, and find out the authors' names. Answers will be published
soon.
"The gentle ****, weary of rest,
From his moist cabinet mounts up on high and wakes the morning." (1)
"The **** hath sung beneath the thatch
Twice or thrice his roundelay." (2)
"The noisy ***,
Jargoning like a foreigner at his food; (3)
The ********, balanced on some topmost spray,
Flooding with melody the neighborhood." (4)
"The ****, round-breasted as a rustic maiden,
Paddles and plunges, busy still." (5)
"O what a winning way thou hast of wooing,
Gentlest of all thy race--sweet ******-****!" (6)
"The ******, then, on every tree, (7)
Mocks married men, for thus sings he, ***-***!" (8)
"The call of the ********
Is frequent and pleasant
When all other calls are hushing." (9)
"The **** high floating, like a sloop unladen,
Lets the loose water waft him as it will." (10)
"Alone, and warming his five wits,
The ***** *** in the belfry sits." (11)
"The tawny ***** seats his callow brood
High on the cliff, and feasts his young with blood." (12)
"The *********** begins his song
Most musical, most melancholy bird." (13)
"'Tis the merry ***********
That crowds and hurries and precipitates
With fast, thick warble his delicious notes." (14)
* * * * *
Answers to Kinks.
No. 7.
1, Stork--Longfellow. 2, Sparrow--George Parsons Lathrop. 3, Robin; 4.
Bluebird; 5, Sparrows; 6, Crows--Longfellow. 7, Swallows--James Barron
Hope. 8, Partridge; 9, Woodpecker; 10, Oriole--J. T. Trowbridge. 11,
Jay--William Howitt. 12, Thrush--John Clare. 13, Peacock--James Barron
Hope.
* * * * *
Questions and Answers.
H. G. Benton, Akron, O. The justices of the United States Supreme Court
are nominated by the President of the United States, and must be
confirmed by the Senate. The Chief Justice is named for that place, and
does not, as in Pennsylvania and some other States, reach that place by
seniority. "A Writer" is assured that it is not influence or a hearing
that sells manuscripts to periodicals. The conditions of such sale are
merit, adaptability, and demand. John M. Wadsworth asks us to print
pictures of rare American coins and stamps. He should know that such an
act is against the law.
"S. B." asks: "How can I obtain a position out-of-doors, and go from
place to place, seeing something of the world? I wish to combine
business with pleasure, and I think out-of-door life would do me good. A
position in an engineer's surveying-party is just the thing, but how can
I obtain this?" Young men ought not to expect to combine pleasure with
their business. Thousands of old men, who have served years in harness
and earned a partial rest, if there be such reward, do not aim so high.
If you seek employment with an engineer party, apply directly to an
engineer. There is no employment bureau or agency through which you can
deal, or, if there be, it is better to attend to the matter yourself.
You will find addresses in the railway journals and in colleges where
surveying and engineering are taught. When you get the place, banish at
once any thought of pleasure as one of the objects of your occupation.
Not to do so is wrong to your employer, and ten times more wrong to
yourself and your future.
Henry P. Budisch, who hoped to go to West Point, but changed his mind
under necessity and went to Cornell instead, asks how many men actually
went into the civil war from Northern States. The total was 2,772,408.
This included drafted men as well as volunteers, and all arms of
service. The highest number of men in arms at one time was 1,000,516, on
May 1, 1865--just at the war's close. These were practically all
volunteers, because the regular army during the war never exceeded
25,463, which number it reached in January, 1863.
Fred Breittner asks what is the Ancient and Honourable Artillery Company
of Boston which recently received such marked attention in England? It
is the oldest military organization in the United States, dating from
1638. The term "ancient" was first used in 1700, and the "honourable"
was borrowed from a similar company in London. It is not now a part of
the militia of Massachusetts, and is, in truth, more of a social than a
military company. It has its headquarters in Faneuil Hall. Its rare
uniforms are an heirloom from British Colonial times.
[Illustration: THE CAMERA CLUB]
Any question 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.
DIRECTIONS FOR TONING BROMIDE PRINTS IN DIFFERENT COLORS.
Bromide-paper coated with silver bromide and gelatine in emulsion may be
used for contact printing as well as for enlargements. By treating the
developed print with a lead intensifier different tones may be obtained,
some of which are quite pleasing. Print according to directions, and
develop with any developing solution, but eikonogen gives the best
results. Do not develop the picture fully; development should be stopped
as soon as detail begins to appear in the shadows. Fix the picture and
wash it well. While it is still wet immerse it in an intensifier made as
follows:
Nitrate of lead 1 part.
Ferrocyanide of potassium 1-1/2 parts.
Distilled water 25 parts.
This bath must be filtered before using. Leave the print in this bath
till the image turns yellow, then wash in running water. Washing will
turn the image white, when it may be immersed in any of the following
baths, according to the tones desired:
REDDISH-BROWN.
Nitrate of uranium 1 part.
Ammonium chloride 1 part.
Water 10 parts.
After washing and before drying place the print in this bath, and tone
till the desired shade. Wash in two or three changes of water, and dry
between clean blotters.
Several prints of a beautiful green tone were sent in during the last
photographic contest. One of our members sends the following formula for
making the green tones on bromide-paper: Make up a solution of cobalt
subchloride 1 part, and distilled water 10 parts. Let it stand for an
hour, then filter. Print and develop according to the method given
above, and after immersing in the lead bath, wash thoroughly, and place
face up in the solution of cobalt. Keep the prints moving gently till
the picture gradually assumes a fine green tone. Wash and dry with
blotter. The same corespondent also sends the following formula for a
reddish-brown or chestnut-color (in the prints sent in there were no
clear whites, the high lights having a reddish tint, the paper seeming
to have absorbed the solution): Cupric chloride, 1 part; distilled
water, 10 parts. Immerse in the lead bath, and place the print, without
washing, in the cupric-chloride bath.
The formula given for reddish-brown with uranium is one recommended by
Dr. Vogel. It is more reliable than the cupric chloride.
Sepia-brown tones may be obtained on enamelled bromide-paper by using
the following toning solution:
Hypo 2-1/2 oz.
Ground alum 1/2 oz.
Granulated sugar 1/2 oz.
Boiling water 17-1/2 oz.
Dissolve the hypo first, then add the alum and sugar. This bath keeps
well, and can be made up in larger quantity if desired. To use, take two
toning-trays, in one of which have a cold bath, and in the other a hot
bath. Immerse the prints in the cold bath for a minute or two, and then,
without rinsing, transfer them to the hot bath. After toning rinse in an
alum bath made in the proportion of one ounce of alum to thirty-five of
water. Wash thoroughly, and dry on a ferrotype plate.
SIR KNIGHT J. K. HUNTER asks if the "C" Daylight Kodak, with glass
plate attachment, is a good camera for beginners, and what outfit
is needed for developing and printing. The Daylight camera is a
very good camera, and easily managed. The outfit needed for
developing and printing consists of a dark-room lantern, a 4 by 5
celluloid or rubber developing-tray, an amber-colored glass tray
for the hypo or fixing bath, a 4 by 5 printing-frame, and a
toning-tray. Directions for making a dark-room lantern were given
in No. 781. You can refer to this if you wish to make your lantern
instead of buying it.
LADY CHARLOTTE B. TAYLOR, 1727 Q Street, Washington, D.C., has a
pocket Kodak which she wishes to sell. Any Knight or Lady wishing
to purchase is requested to write to Lady Charlotte.
SAMUEL H. GOTTSCHALK, 1810 Columbus Avenue, Philadelphia, CHARLES
H. WOODS, Carlinville, Ill., RALPH H. WEAND, 718 DeKalb Street,
Norristown, Pa., and JAMES D. WAITE, 101 West Eighty-fifth Street,
New York city, wish to be enrolled as members of the Camera Club.
We are receiving many new members for the club, and hope that we
shall see some very fine work in the coming contest, rules for
which will appear later.