supplied its wants, while the violet one was a marvel of daintiness and
suggestion of spring-time loveliness. The banquet-lamp had a silver
stand and shade of violet silk and white lace; near it was a sofa
cushion of sheer white linen lawn embroidered with violets, and
surrounded by a wide insertion of lace, finished with a ruffle edged
with lace. Beside this was a little bag, of white silk, with a pattern
of lilac sweet-pease, in the bottom of which a needle-book was inserted,
and not far off lay a table-centre embroidered with violets.
The yellow table was tempting, with a large glass bowl filled with
lemonade, served with a variety of yellow cakes. The green one dispensed
ice-cream. The blue, besides tea, sold pretty blue-and-white china cups
and saucers, tied together with blue ribbon; and the indigo one was
sought by lovers of chocolate.
The attendants at each table wore its colors. And another pretty feature
of the occasion was a large pine-tree, standing in one corner of the
hall, from whose branches hung oranges made of yellow paper, each one
containing some prize for the purchaser.
QUEER MONEY.
Here is an amusing account of a traveller who went many years ago to
Mexico, and found the natives using a strange kind of currency. Says he:
"In one of the small towns I bought some limes, and gave the girl one
dollar in payment. By way of change, she returned me forty-nine pieces
of soap the size of a small biscuit. I looked at her in astonishment,
and she returned my look with equal surprise, when a police officer, who
had witnessed the incident, hastened to inform me that for small sums
soap was legal tender in many portions of the country.
"I examined my change, and found that each cake was stamped with the
name of a town and of a manufacture authorized by the government. The
cakes of soap were worth three farthings each. Afterwards, in my travel,
I frequently received similar change. Many of the cakes showed signs of
having been in the wash-tub; but that I discovered was not at all
uncommon. Provided the stamp was not obliterated, the soap did not lose
any value as currency. Occasionally a man would borrow a cake of a
friend, wash his hands, and return it with thanks. I made use of my
pieces more than once in my bath, and subsequently spent them."
[Illustration: INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORT]
In looking over the programmes of the different scholastic athletic
associations, I find that the Connecticut High-School A.A. is about the
only one which has the same list of events as that approved by the
I.C.A.A.A. It also uses the same system of scoring--5, 2, and 1--whereas
most of the other interscholastic associations award three points to the
winner of second place. This, however, is a different question, and one
that I hope to treat of later. One thing at a time; and if we can get
the card straightened out by next spring I shall be satisfied. If I can
persuade all the executive committees to adopt the list of events in use
by the colleges I shall consider that this Department has done some
good, and has accomplished at least one valuable thing in its own sphere
of usefulness. I am optimistic enough to believe that a year from now
every association will have adopted the uniform schedule.
The Connecticut Association at one time had the standing high and broad
jumps as well as the running high kick on their card; but when Yale
offered a silver cup for competition among the schools in 1891, one of
the conditions attached to the gift was that the programme must be made
to correspond with the inter-collegiate schedule. To the New Haven
college, therefore, is largely due the credit for the Connecticut
H.-S.A.A.'s present emancipation from acrobatics. The events on their
card, like those of the I.C.A.A.A., comprise the 100 and 220-yard
dashes; the quarter, the half, and the mile runs; the mile walk; the
120-yard hurdle race over 3 ft. 6 in. hurdles, and the 220-yard hurdle
race over 2 ft. 6 in. hurdles; the 2-mile bicycle race; the pole vault;
the running high and broad jumps; the shot and hammer, both of sixteen
pounds.
It is only natural that a university or college association which takes
an active interest in the sports of its preparatory schools should wish
to have the athletes who are making ready to enter its ranks familiar
with the events on the inter-collegiate card. We all know very well
that, no matter how great the college-man's interest may be in sport, as
such, he is not going to waste his time and money and energy in training
and encouraging young men who do not expect to go to college, or who
practise high kicking and standing jumps, or other feats of which he
takes no notice. He very justly argues that there are enough young
athletes in the country, who want to do what he does, for him to give
all his attention to them. Therefore if school associations want the
colleges to take a lively interest in their efforts, to send them
trainers, and to offer them cups, I would advise them to work along the
lines that college athletes have found most suitable for their purposes,
and to let other matters alone. No one to whom I have spoken of this
matter so far has disagreed with me. If any readers of this Department
have any arguments for the other side, I am sure we shall all be glad to
hear them.
IOWA STATE HIGH-SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION GAMES, MUSCATINE, MAY 25,
1895.
Event. Winner--5 points. Performance.
50-yard dash Horsburgh, T. 5-3/5 sec.
100-yard dash Holbrook, T. 11 "
120-yard hurdle Holbrook, T. 20-1/3 "
Mile run Morland, T. 5 m. 18 "
Half-mile bicycle Cole, C. 1 " 16 "
Half-mile run Demorest, M. 2 " 19 "
Half-mile walk Brunn, M. 4 " 12 "
220-yard hurdle Holbrook, T. 28-4/5 "
440-yard dash Demorest, M. 55-2/5 "
220-yard dash Holbrook, T. 24-4/5 "
Standing high kick Flournoy, C. 7 ft. 6 in.
Running high jump Flournoy, C. 5 " 3 "
Running hop, step, and jump Booth, I. C. 39 " 3 "
Baseball throw Halinan, C. 314 "
Putting 12-lb. shot Keister, C. 38 " 3 "
Standing broad jump Flournoy, C. 9 " 9-3/4 "
Pole-vault Flournoy, C. 9 " 3 "
Event. 2d--3 points. 3d--1 point.
50-yard dash Bannister, C. Holbrook, T.
100-yard dash Booth, I. C. Dean, M.
120-yard hurdle Horsburgh, T.
Mile run C. Hanley, M. J. Hanley, M.
Half-mile bicycle Riggs, I. C. Mahin, M.
Half-mile run Swisher, I. C. Morland, T.
Half-mile walk Reed, T.
220-yard hurdle Conger, C. Freeman, I. C.
440-yard dash Hertz, I. C. Bannister, C.
220-yard dash Dean, M. Bannister, C.
Standing high kick Brunn, M. Leefers, T.
Running high jump Booth, I. C. Horton, M.
Running hop, step, and jump Freeman, I. C. Horton, M.
Baseball throw Conger, C. Dean, M.
Putting 12-lb. shot Holmes, C. Holbrook, T.
Standing broad jump Holbrook, T. Lackmond, C.
Pole-vault Booth, I. C. Freeman, I. C.
Points Made.
Clinton 50
Tipton 43
Muscatine 30
Iowa City 28
---
Total 151
Tipton, T. Clinton, C. Muscatine, M. Iowa City, I. C.
A very good example of what might justly be called a "freak" programme
is that of the Iowa State High-School Athletic Association. Their field
day was held at Muscatine on May 25th last, and I insert a table showing
the results of the games more as an interesting curiosity than as a
valuable contribution toward athletic records. Of the seventeen events
on the card, only nine appear on the I.C.A.A.A. schedule, and one of
these--the 12-lb. shot--ought to be left out. If the hurdles are
undersized, then the Iowans have really only six numbers on their list
that would admit them to competition with the Interscholastic
Association of the United States, which we hope to see in full-fledged
running order next spring. Iowa has a claim to recognition in athletics,
her university having sent to the Mott Haven games this year the fastest
sprinter that has entered for many a year. Let me therefore urge the
younger athletes to train themselves for events that they can achieve
renown in rather than to waste their time in high kicking. Crum would
have received scant attention at Mott Haven even if he could have
hopped, stepped, and jumped from one end of the Oval to the other.
[Illustration: CLINTON HIGH-SCHOOL TRACK-ATHLETIC TEAM.
Champions of the Iowa State High-School Athletic Association.]
Four schools were represented on the Fair Grounds at Muscatine, and
Clinton H.-S. took the cup with 50 points. The Clinton team consisted of
fourteen boys only, and as they have trained themselves without any
assistance from older athletes, their performances are creditable. While
it is true that none of them as yet threaten the Interscholastic
records, it must be remembered that our Eastern schools have been in
athletics many years longer than the Iowans, and enjoy far greater
advantages from trainers and coaches than can be had in the West. In a
very few years, however, matters will no longer be thus, and I
confidently look to see several of these records held beyond the
Mississippi. My young friends on the Pacific coast are going to raise a
few of the marks too. Look out for them!
If the plan now proposed in the middle West can be carried out, we shall
see next year an Interscholastic Association composed of the principal
schools of Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. This organization
will be a powerful one, and its meetings, where the entries will be
restricted to the firsts and seconds of the State contests, ought to be
productive of good records. Such competition cannot fail to elevate
sport in that section, and then the East will have to look to its
laurels.
At a meeting of the schools represented in the Senior and Junior
football leagues, held in Boston early last May, some good changes were
made in the manner of running things, and several excellent rules were
adopted. The constitution now governs both leagues, which are united
under the single title of "The Interscholastic Football Association"--of
New England, I suppose. Henceforth the president of the association will
practically be elected by goals and touch-downs, because the office goes
to the Captain of the winning eleven of the Senior League. The
vice-president is similarly chosen, the office going to the Captain of
the champion team of the Junior League. There are to be graduates on
the executive committee, which is perfectly proper, but that these
should be chosen from one college alone is unwise and unfair. The new
scheme is to have the executive committee consist of the Captain of the
Harvard football team, three undergraduates of the schools in the
league, with the president _ex officio_, and two graduates of Harvard.
The objection I make to this arrangement is that it is hardly right to
look upon the Interscholastic Football Association as a feeder for
Harvard alone. It is probably true that Harvard has done more for
football in the Boston schools than has any other college, and even more
than any other college ever will do; but still men do go from Boston
schools to other places than Cambridge, and these men might feel that
there is a little too much crimson ink on those regulations. It would be
better to have it set down in the constitution that certain members of
the committee shall be graduates of the schools that are members of the
leagues (college graduates, too, if you like, and even ex-members of
'varsity teams, if practical football knowledge is wanted), but let the
eligibility to committee membership depend upon the candidate's school
relations rather than upon his college connection. It might happen some
year, or for several years in succession, that the football men of the
Boston schools would go to Tufts College or to the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology. Then both those institutions would feel that
their interest in the welfare of the Interscholastic League entitled
them to an eye in its supervision. I remember that in 1888, the year the
Interscholastic League was formed by Harvard to train players for the
Cambridge eleven, several of the best players of one of the strongest
teams went to Yale.
The teams in the Senior League are now limited to six, and before the
series of games begins in the fall each school must hand in its list of
players for the year. It is also required that each player shall have at
least twelve hours a week at his school, and be not over twenty-one
years of age. The Seniors get considerable advantage over the Juniors in
the matter of voting, they being allowed two votes to the latter's
single ballot.
It is almost impossible to avoid typographical errors, especially in
matter consisting largely of numerals, like the tabulated records so
frequently printed in this Department. I remember once of a publisher in
London who made up his mind to publish a book that should have no
typographical errors whatever. He had his proofs corrected by his own
proof-readers, until they all assured him that there were no longer any
errors in the text. Then he sent proofs to the universities and to other
publishing houses offering a prize of several pounds sterling in cash
for every typographical mistake that could be found. Hundreds of proofs
were sent out in this way, and many skilled proof-readers examined the
pages in the hope of earning a prize. A few errors were discovered. Then
all the proof-sheets having been heard from, the publisher felt assured
that his book would appear before the public an absolutely perfect piece
of composition. He had the plates cast, the edition printed and bound
between expensive covers--because as a perfect specimen of the printers'
art it was of course unique in literature, and exceedingly valuable to
bibliophiles. The edition sold well and was spread all over the country.
The publisher was very much pleased with himself for having done
something that had hitherto been considered an impossibility. Then his
pride had a fall, for six or eight months later he received a letter
calling his attention to an error in a certain line on a certain page.
Then came another letter announcing the discovery of a second error in
this perfect book. I believe before the year was up four or five
mistakes were found.
This only goes to show that, even with the greatest care, absolute
perfection is impossible. The next best thing, therefore, is to correct
unavoidable errors as soon as they are discovered. This Department
depends hugely upon its readers to find its occasional slips, and I
shall take great pleasure in calling attention to the misprints as soon
as I know of them. There are many who preserve the ROUND TABLE and
depend upon the accuracy of the figures given for reference in the
future. They can make their tables absolutely true by noting in ink on
the margin of the pages any corrections given here later. The errors I
have discovered thus far follow:
Hackett's time in the mile walk, shown in the table on page 538, should
be 7 min. 46-2/5 sec., instead of 7 min. 4-2/5 sec. On page 537,
Meehan's time at the end of the first lap in the half-mile run should
have been given as 61 sec., not as 60. In the table of the Connecticut
H.-S.A.A. games printed on page 634, Beck's shot-put is given as 36 ft.
8-1/2 in. His actual performance was 37 ft. 8-1/2 inches. At the dual
games between the Hillhouse High-School and the Boardman Manual
Training-school of New Haven, Beck made a put of 39 ft. 5 in. This would
therefore correct his interscholastic record in the table on page 706,
where it shows 39 ft. 3 in. The order of the finish in the bicycle race
at the Connecticut H.-S.A.A. games was Baker, Steele, Rutz. This is
stated correctly in the table, but not in the text.
A few years ago, long before photography had reached the stage of
accuracy which we now enjoy, instantaneous photographs were made of a
horse in action, and it was shown that the old conception of a galloping
steed with four feet off the ground, the animal posed very much like a
Roman arch, was absolutely erroneous. The actual position of a moving
horse was shown to be entirely different and somewhat peculiar. Motion
is so swift that our eyes cannot keep up with it--cannot even catch one
of its elements. Thus we get a very imperfect idea of moving objects
that we look at, and not until photographs come to our assistance do we
really know just what we have seen.
What the readers of this Department are presumably most interested in
just now is sport, and more particularly that sport participated in by
their schoolmates, and by young athletes of their own age in other
schools. Each individual, no doubt, has his own favorite branch of
athletics, and he naturally strives to reach as great a degree of
perfection as he is capable of in that special kind of work. It is not
always easy to succeed in becoming perfect. Books and descriptive
articles are valuable, but they must lack a great deal. The next best
thing to actual physical demonstration, therefore, will be a series of
instantaneous photographs that show each element of an athletic
performance from the beginning of the action until the end. This
Department will endeavor from time to time to offer these series of
elements to its readers, and will begin next week by showing just how
the high jump is performed. The photographs that will accompany the text
show how each motion of the jump is made, where the jumper is, and how
he looks during the entire transit over the bar.
THE GRADUATE.
[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.
I have a number of inquiries every week regarding water-marks in stamps,
especially since the U.S. has begun the practice. Many governments have
used this method as a prevention to counterfeiting. The water-mark is
made in the paper while in process of manufacture. When the paper pulp
is somewhat solidified, a roller is run over it under pressure. This
roller has on the outside a pattern made in brass or copper, and as it
passes over the wet sheet it thins the paper wherever the pattern has
pressed it. If well done, the water-mark can be seen by looking through
the paper. If poorly done, the water-mark can be seen indistinctly.
Philatelists look for indistinct water-marks by placing the stamp face
downward on a piece of black paper, or japanned iron, and then apply
pure benzine to the back of the stamp with a camel's-hair brush. This
method reveals water-marks better than any other. Formerly most paper
had a water-mark, but as a rule to-day it is used on fine qualities of
writing-paper only.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
England and her colonies have used water-marks in stamps since 1854. In
that year the Small Crown was used for 1d. red and 2d. blue. The V. R.
was used on the 6d. violet issued in the same year. In 1855 the Garter
was used for the 4d. in three sizes known as the "Large, Medium, and
Small Garters." To give an idea of the difference in value according to
water-marks I quote from a late catalogue:
Unused. Used.
Small garter, 4d. on bluish paper, $75.00 $1.25
" " 4d. " white " 100.00 2.50
Medium " 4d. " " " 60.00 1.00
" " 4d. " bluish " 75.00 2.00
Large " 4d. " white " 1.75 .08
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
In 1856 the "Large Crown" and the "Heraldic Emblems," or "Four Flowers,"
were used on the 1d., 1-1/2d., 2d., 3d., 6d., 9d., and 1s. stamps.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
Eleven years later the "Spray of Rose" was used on all stamps from 3d.
to 2s. The "Anchor" was used on the 2-1/2d. in 1875, and the "Orb" on
the same stamp five years later. The "Maltese Cross" was used on the
10s. and L1 in 1878. This completes the water-marks on English Stamps,
with the exception of 1/2d. stamp, which was printed on sheets marked
"half-penny."
J. HALL.--All U. S. stamps since 1857 should have been perforated.
Any unperforated U.S. stamps since then are the results of
accident, and should not be catalogued. They are "freaks." Proofs
are not perforated, and can be distinguished from stamps by their
having been printed on card-board or India paper.
A. P.--I should like to follow your suggestion and give a list of
all the new issues if space permitted.
A. LORDELL.--There are three varieties of the current 2c. U. S.
with the triangle more or less different, Types I., II., and III.
B. K. H.--I strongly advise you not to buy the Chinese local
stamps. They are simply philatelic trash, and will probably be
worth less money ten years from now than they cost to-day. Buy
good stamps from a responsible dealer. As a rule the higher the
value the more likely to increase in the future. This applies to
all but the first-class rarities now worth from $50 apiece upward.
W. F. BROWN.--No addresses of dealers can be given in this column.
I believe the dealers have a full supply of all the Columbian
stamps, except the $1 and $2, which are sold for $7 and $4
respectively. There is no 7c. Columbian stamp.
M. S. C.--The coin dealers sell the 1803 cent for 10 cents. The
English coins mentioned are all common.
L. V. BLISS.--Thanks for your suggestion. I would adopt the same
at once, but the postal laws do not permit the printing of any
illustration of a U.S. stamp, or even part of such and the absence
of illustrations would make such articles uninteresting and very
difficult to understand.
H. CROSSMAN.--England 1840 1d. black, 2d. blue.
RAY B. BAKER.--The Cape of Good Hope, 1861, 1d. red is worth 60
cents, the wood-black, $15, the wood-black error, same issue,
$250. The 1/2d, 1871 is sold for 6 cents. $1, $2, and $5
Columbian, $7, $4, $5.50 respectively.
O. A. P.--It is not a coin, and is worth nothing.
HELEN O. KAUPER.--The 90c. orange, 1890, is sold by dealers for
$1.50 unused, 75 cents used. The coins are worth face value only.
B. W. LEAVITT.--A 2c. stamp should always be enclosed with a
letter of inquiry.
C. MCQUEEN.--The values of all the Columbians are about the same
as six months ago, except that the $1 has advanced to about $6 in
value, and the $2 is hard to get at less than $4.
H. H. BOWMAN.--The 3c. 1861 mentioned by you is the regular rose
issue, but oxidized by time. All red stamps with cochineal are
subject to oxidization from dampness, sulphur fumes, etc.
H. C. DURAR.--I congratulate you on your discovery of a rare
local.
J. B. DAGGETT.--There are three varieties of the 1803 cent. The
small circle is sold for 10c., the large circle for 40c., the
1-100 and 1-1000 for 35c. The Kossuth medal has no value.
W. S. FOWLER.--The first postage-stamp ever made was the 1 p.
black of 1840. It is sold for 8c. The 1 p. red was used from 1841
to 1880. There are many minor varieties, some of which are rare.
E. P. NOYES.--The silver dollar does not command a premium.
J. S. GREEN.--No premium on the eagle cent. The Dutch penny has no
value in the U. S.
W. H. KERR.--The two Siam provisionals, 1 att on 64 atts and 2
atts on 64 atts, are worth 10c. or 15c. each. The other stamp is a
"sick-fund" stamp from Germany.
C. C. PERPALL.--The difference in the stamps is caused by
imperfect printing.
ASH.--The $3 gold pieces do not command any premium. The dates
given are the common dates.
M. C. W.--The two stamps are revenue stamps from Bosnia. They
cannot be used in payment of postage. Embossing was described in
the last number of the Round Table. Stamps vary in value from year
to year, and even month to month. Generally there is an increase
year by year, but in a few instances they decrease in value. No
catalogue can fix prices, and the same issue may be cheap or dear,
according to the condition of the individual stamp.
PHILATUS.
ADVERTISEMENTS.
Highest of all in Leavening Power.--Latest U. S. Gov't Report.
[Illustration: Royal Baking Powder]
[Illustration: If afflicted with SORE EYES USE Dr. ISAAC THOMPSON'S EYE
WATER]
HARPER'S NEW CATALOGUE,
Thoroughly revised, classified, and indexed, will be sent by mail to any
address on receipt of ten cents.
[Illustration: BICYCLING]
This Department is conducted in the interest of Bicyclers, and the
Editor will be pleased to answer any question on the subject. Our
maps and tours contain much valuable data kindly supplied from the
official maps and road-books of the League of American Wheelmen.
Recognizing the value of the work being done by the L. A. W., the
Editor will be pleased to furnish subscribers with membership
blanks and information so far as possible.
[Illustration: Copyright, 1895, by Harper & Brothers.]