It is a very nice letter, Nan, and we wish we could give you a kiss for
it. We hope the little work-box is in good order, that the money purse
will never have a hole in it, and that you will be ever so much bigger
and just as happy when Christmas shall come again.
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One of our little boy readers wants to know why he must always take off
his hat when he speaks to a lady. It is a very old custom, and a mark of
respect that gentlemen like to show their lady friends. The following
little story shows what King George III. of England thought about the
matter:
Nearly seven hundred years ago, Philip II. of France summoned King
John of England either to trial or to combat for the murder of
Prince Arthur. As the latter cared for neither, a gallant soldier
named De Courcy, then languishing in prison, was set free that he
might undertake the combat not for his King's, but for his
country's sake. The fight, however, never took place, for Philip's
champion, afraid of the gigantic De Courcy, preferred to sacrifice
his honor to risking his life. Being urged by John and Philip, who
had come to witness the expected encounter, to give them an
exhibition of his strength, De Courcy placed his helmet upon a
post, and cleaving it with terrific force, drove his sword so
firmly into the wood that none but the striker could withdraw it.
"Never," said King John--"never unveil thy bonnet, man, again,
before King or subject." Thus the privilege of wearing the hat in
presence of the sovereign came to be enjoyed solely by the De
Courcys, Earls of Kinsale. They asserted their privilege by wearing
their hat for a moment and then uncovering, but the De Courcy of
George III.'s reign, not thinking this assertion sufficient, on one
occasion wore his court hat all the time he was in the presence of
the King. But the third George crushed the display of pride by
remarking, "The gentleman has a right to be covered before me; but
even King John could give him no right to be covered before
ladies."
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WILLIAM T. W.--There seems to be a prevailing opinion that the "shadow"
is the best canoe for sailing and paddling. The best-known builders of
"shadows" are Everson, of Brooklyn (489 First Street), and the "Racine
Canoe-Building Company," of Racine, Wisconsin. The American travelling
canoe is an admirable paddling canoe and a fast sailer. One of the best
rigs is the "Lord Ross," a modified lateen rig. Two sails are always to
be preferred to one large sail.
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May G. Hamblin recites perfectly the list of the sovereigns of England,
as her mother testifies. George F. and Hattie L. Leet have repeated the
same list in its order, with the date of each coronation, and also the
five lines and five houses, with the names of the sovereigns included in
each.
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We wish there were room in the Post-office box to print the nine bright
letters kindly sent to us by the principal of a school in Geneva, New
York. They were selected by her from a number of letters to HARPER'S
YOUNG PEOPLE submitted by her pupils as the regular weekly exercise in
composition. Their merit is so nearly equal that we do not think it
would be fair to choose one for publication and omit the others. So,
with cordial thanks to Mrs. L. and to the little correspondents who like
the paper so well, we simply print their names, and hope to hear from
them again: Neva K., May E. B., Maggie M., Mabel S., Lizzie B., Philip
B. R., Georgia H., May R., Carrie E. S.
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