or Thiers has done justice to his heroism; but he furnishes much of the
enthusiasm, the dash and fury, of every triumphant army. It was the
small boy of France who helped to win those marvellous victories under
the revolutionary government of 1789, and, later, under Napoleon. When
Wellington was contending against Marshal Soult in Spain, he got a
number of young recruits from England whose smooth faces and dudish
uniforms excited the derision of veterans. But when the conflict came
they were foremost in the charge. The Duke, who had shared the contempt
for these "parlor soldiers," was forced to admit that "the puppies
fought well. They report oftener for duty, are capable of more
endurance, and are irresistible in a charge. They need only a few
veterans to steady them in action. Some are timid in the first
encounter, as was Frederick the Great, but they soon overcome it." It
was "a narrow lane, an old man and two boys," that saved the battle in
_Cymbeline_, and forced on the Romans better thought of Britons than
when Julius Cæsar "smiled at their lack of skill." The soul contributes
more than the body to results. Take a boy of eighteen, inspire him with
enthusiasm, and however fragile in form, he will outstrip, both on the
march and in the field, the less impressible men with twice his physical
strength. I have seen trudging in the ranks of Lee's army striplings
whose equipments almost outweighed their delicate bodies. But they
straggled less, were sick less, and were foremost in the fight. When the
hour of battle came their faces brightened with a beautiful light, a
smile would play over their features, and their disposition to cheer and
charge became irrepressible. It has been said that the most dangerous
antagonists are those who value their own lives the least; and these
lads seemed not to think of either life or death, but the foe, the foe,
and to be up and at them. Must a battery be captured? They rushed at it,
and recked not of the terror and death it belched forth. Must a redoubt
be carried? Forward they leaped so swift and brave, not counting the
bristling mass that defended it.
[Illustration: "I AM THE KING'S DRUMMER AND CANNOT BEAT FOR REBELS."]
Another and well-known incident of the bravery of a boy is the one which
is told of a young drummer in 1798 who, in an engagement between the
rebels and the King's troops, was captured. During the fight he was
ordered by his captors to beat the drum for them. Without a moment's
hesitation he placed his drum on the ground and put his foot through
both heads, then sitting down he said, "I am the King's drummer and
cannot beat for rebels."
All who have seen anything of war appreciate the presence of the small
boy in the ranks, for he must be reckoned with in the hours of battle. A
fury blazes in his little frame that nerves his delicate arm and gives a
tiger-spring to his step.
[Illustration: INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORT]
One of the principal difficulties which have to be faced every year by
the managers of interscholastic athletics is the choice of proper and
competent officials for league games. It is not so difficult in the
spring-time to get umpires for baseball games, but in the fall if seems
to be an exceedingly difficult matter to secure the proper kind of
officials for the football matches.
Not only is this difficulty encountered in New York, but we often hear
of the same trouble in Boston and Philadelphia, and other great athletic
centres. The main difficulty seems to be in securing referees and
umpires who shall be thoroughly impartial. Inasmuch as the men who can
be secured to act as officials at school games are usually graduates of
the schools, or are still in the schools, or are teachers at the
schools, there is always the chance that they may be more or less
interested in the success of one team or the other, and so not entirely
impartial in their decisions, in spite of having the best of intentions.
If it were only possible to secure the co-operation of graduates of two
or three years' standing, both in this city and in others, the question
of officials would be settled. This, however, would be the ideal
solution of the vexing problem, and can hardly be hoped for. It might be
possible to get a list of such gentlemen, who are familiar with the
sport, and who would be willing, for the sake of the promotion of the
sport, to give one afternoon each season to the game.
In Boston there has been so much trouble over the matter of securing
competent officials for the football-games that a committee of the head
masters of the schools interested finally took up the question, and,
after going thoroughly into its merits, reported to the Football
Association, whose executive committee thereupon passed the following
resolutions:
"Voted, that all games officials should be approved by the
executive committee of the association before being allowed to act,
and that the officials should be, when possible, men of college
rank.
"Voted, that the secretary of the association be empowered to act
by the executive committee as regards the approval of games
officials, except in such cases where he shall desire to call a
meeting of the whole committee."
It is plain now that when this rule goes into effect, the old system of
waiting to choose the officials until the teams appear upon the football
field ready to play will be done away with. The captains of the teams
are now compelled to meet the secretary of the Football Association
before the game, and to decide upon the officials at that time. This
will dispose of one of the difficulties; but the greatest difficulty of
all, that of securing the individuals themselves, of getting them to
promise to come, and of having them appear after they have promised, is
one that cannot be overcome by legislation. It is a condition that can
only be improved by an increased interest among college men in the
sports of their juniors.
Among other things done by the Executive Committee of the Boston
Interscholastic Football Association was the reconsideration of its
former decision to compel the Cambridge High and Latin schools to
compete in athletics as two separate institutions. C.H. and L.
petitioned to be readmitted to the Senior Football League as a single
school, and their cause was very strongly championed by a number of
graduates at the recent committee meeting.
The result was that C.H. and L. was readmitted to the Senior League, and
for this year at least the two schools will be represented by a single
eleven. It is greatly to be hoped, however, that the young man who
captains this year's team will make it his especial business to find out
all about the men under him, and to know whether they attend the High or
the Latin school, or neither. In this way he will avoid making the
rather unexplainable mistake which occurred last year.
The decision of the committee has infused new life into the many
football-players of C.H. and L., and active practice has been begun by
the various squads. Warnock has been elected captain; and as this move
was made upon the advice of a number of graduates, it is probable that
the new leader will prove to be a man competent to avoid the pitfalls
which proved so disastrous to his predecessor.
Not more than four or five of the men who played on last year's team are
back in school this year. Among them is Estabrook, who will retain his
old position at centre. One of his guards will undoubtedly be Usher.
The tackles will probably be Fletcher and Simmons. Captain Warnock will
undoubtedly go in and look after one end of the line. Back of the line
we shall probably see Clarkson at quarter, and the other positions ought
to be divided among Donovan, Lewis, and Hill. But it is too early to
make much of a prognostication, as football was somewhat disorganized at
C.H. and L. in the early part of the fall on account of the uncertainty
in the future, which has now been settled by the executive committee's
action.
The Hartford High-School team, after its rather poor showing a few weeks
ago, has taken a big brace, and is displaying somewhat of its old-time
form. The eleven went up to Springfield a week or so ago, and defeated
the High-School eleven there, 18-10. The team-work on that occasion was
much better than Hartford had done at any time this year, and the
general snap of the players was noticeably improved.
This good work was followed up a week ago Friday in the game against
Hillhouse, in which the latter was defeated, 16-4. The weakest spot in
the Hartford team was right guard, which is filled by Costello. The
Hillhouse men made all their gains through him, with hardly any
exception. Captain Sturtevant was unable to play at quarter on account
of injuries received in the Springfield game, and this may possibly
account for the many holes made through guard. Had Sturtevant been at
his usual post, it is probable that he could have headed off some of the
runs that got past Costello. Two of Hartford's touch-downs were made by
Bush, who is developing into a strong player.
The Hillhouse players fumbled badly, and many of their fumbles proved
most expensive. They had gotten the ball to within one yard of the
Hartford line, when they lost it through inability to keep their fingers
on the leather. The New Haven men's defence was weak too, and Hartford
had little trouble in getting around the ends. Their best work was done
by Morris, Sternberg, and Wolfe. For Hartford the best playing was done
by Bush, Strong, Twichell, and Allen.
If this improvement in the Hartford team continues, New Britain will not
have such a sure thing of the championship as we all had reason to
suppose a few days ago. The line-up for the rest of the season will
probably be as follows: Whaples and Gillette, ends; Allen and Morris,
tackles; Weeks and Costello, guards; Smith, centre; Strong and Bush,
half-backs; Sturtevant, quarter-back and captain; Twichell, full-back.
This team will average about 154 pounds, and, unusual as it is, the
backs will average 156 pounds, two pounds heavier than the rush-line.
[Illustration: ENGLEWOOD HIGH-SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM.
Cook County Interscholastic League.]
The Cook County High-School Football League's season began October 10.
If we may judge from the initial game, there are four strong teams and
four weak teams in the Association. Englewood H.-S. so badly out-classed
Northwest Division in the first half, scoring 30-0, that the Northwest
men did not care to play out the second half, which was exceedingly
unsportsmanlike. Teetzel did not play for Englewood in this game, but
Ferguson went in at right half in his place, and did good work. He made
a number of long runs, and proved a clever substitute. The Northwest
eleven did not have sufficient team-work to prevent Englewood's plays.
[Illustration: TEETZEL, HALF-BACK,
Englewood High-School, Chicago.]
Another one-sided match was that between West Division and North
Division, in which the Northerners routed the Westerners, 42-0, in
20-minute halves. West Division seemed to go to pieces in the face of
the excellent team-work of North Division. Johnson, the N.D. left
half-back, made a number of good runs, assisted by interference. On the
whole there was little individual play, the men working well in concert.
It was doubtless a surprise to Oak Park to be defeated, 44-0, by Lake
View. Oak Park's centre was lamentably weak, and the Lake View men went
through it repeatedly, and when they got tired of bucking the line they
travelled easily around the ends. Evanston defeated Manual, 28-0. Manual
had no team-work at all, and was defeated principally on this account,
although Evanston had little trouble in making holes between guard and
tackle on both sides of the line.
[Illustration: LINDEN, END.
Hyde Park High-School, Chicago.]
In the game between Hyde Park and English High, Hyde Park made a
touch-down at the very start. Then followed a series of fumbles, first
by Knickerbocker of Hyde Park, who caught the kick off; then by Sullivan
of English High, who secured the ball and made a good run, only to lose
the leather to Hyde Park again. This incident was the cause for a
display of bad feeling and ill-breeding, and, worst of all, of
unsportsmanlike instincts.
The English High players refused to accept the decision of the referee,
and left the field, subsequently protesting the game; but, very
fortunately for the good name of the Chicago League, their protest was
not sustained, and the game went to Hyde Park, as it should have.
In the Inter-preparatory League the initial games were between the
Princeton-Yale and University schools, the latter winning, 10-8. This
game was much closer than any played by the Cook County teams, although
the contesting elevens were not made up of such good men, but were more
evenly matched. Fumbling was plentiful, and gave Henneberry, one of the
University School half-backs, a chance to make a 40-yard run.
"TRACK ATHLETICS IN DETAIL."--ILLUSTRATED.--8VO, CLOTH, ORNAMENTAL,
$1.25.
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.
Collectors in the West are warned against an old-time philatelist who is
going about offering "specimen" sets of the U.S. stamps at very low
prices. Several of these sets have been sent to me for examination. They
prove to be card-board proofs rubbed down with pumice-stone, gummed, and
perforated. The word "specimen," instead of being printed, was then
applied, by means of a rubber-stamp, in aniline ink. These are very
dangerous frauds, as few young collectors are familiar with the genuine
originals. Unused U.S. stamps and "specimen" sets are always saleable in
New York city at fair prices. When any one offers these stamps at
"bargain-counter" rates, it is safe to say that there is something wrong
in the transaction.
The Nova Scotia "find" made a very little flurry in this country, but in
England it has developed into a first-class sensation. The leading
dealers are involved, and letters to one another and to the philatelic
press abound; but, curious to say, no definite information is given. The
facts seem to be that one large dealer was offered sets at sixty-two
cents, and several weeks later another large dealer advertised himself
as the sole agent for the sale of these stamps, and fixed six dollars as
the price of the set. In the absence of any statement as to the true
quantity of each of the stamps, collectors refuse to buy except at very
low prices.
A Western philatelic paper proposes the riddle, "What is the difference
between stamp-albums and clocks?" and answers it as follows: "The latter
points out the hours, the former causes us to forget them."
The auction season has begun, and most of the larger sales will be held
in the hall of the Collectors Club, 351 Fourth Avenue, New York. The
value of stamps sold by auction in London during the past season was
nearly $200,000, and the auction sales during the same period in the
United States amounted to a somewhat larger sum.
R. B. HADDOCK.--The 1856 flying eagle is the only small cent that
dealers care to buy. They offer from $1.50 to $2 for a fine copy.
The 3c. piece is quite common.
F. G. TUPPER.--Your half-dollar is worth face only. Most of the
early dollars and half-dollars were in the same style.
H. C. DAY.--The U.S. envelopes of the present issue differ
slightly from the preceding. The main difference is in the
water-mark of the paper, and advanced collectors make at least
eight varieties. I have not room to give all the varieties.
PHILATUS.
ADVERTISEMENTS.
[Illustration: ROYAL]
The greatest American baking powder. Sold the world over and approved by
the highest authorities for its healthfulness.
ROYAL BAKING POWDER CO., NEW-YORK.
Postage Stamps, &c.
[Illustration]
The neatest and most attractive Stamp Album ever published is =The
Favorite Album for U.S. Stamps=. Price 25c. (post free 30c.).
Catalogue of U.S. Stamps free for the postage, 2c. Complete Catalogue of
all Stamps ever issued, 10c. Our Specialty: =Fine Approval Sheets= at low
prices and 50% commission.
R. F. ALBRECHT & CO.,
90 Nassau Street, New York.
THE market value of the 7c. Vermilion, 1872, United States, is 75 cents,
but in order to increase the circulation of my price-list of stamps, I
will send one of these stamps and a copy of my list to any one sending
me 30 cents and the names and addresses of five or more stamp
collectors.
E. T. PARKER, Bethlehem, Penn.
10 BOOKS FREE
On tricks, experiments in electricity, in chemistry, war, puzzles, 4 of
stories, coins we buy, 4 on stamps, stamp dictionary, toy making. Send
35c. for youth's paper, 1 year, and choose any ten books.
BULLARD, Pembroke St., Boston, Mass.
[Illustration: STAMPS]
100, all dif., & fine =STAMP ALBUM=, only 10c.; 200, all dif., Hayti,
Hawaii, etc., only 50c. Agents wanted at 50 per cent. com. List FREE!
=C. A. Stegmann=, 5941 Cote Brilliant Ave., St. Louis, Mo.
[Illustration: STARR STAMP CO.]
Coldwater, Mich. See ad. in H.R.T. Sept. 29th for bargains. Large col'n
bought. Agents wanted. 50% com.
STAMPS
=10= stamps and large list =FREE!=
L. DOVER & CO., 1469 Hodiamont, St. Louis, Mo.
200
Foreign Stamps, 10c. Agt's wanted. 60% discount.
LOU. O. BROSIE, 3405 Butler St., Pittsburg, Pa.
HARPER'S MAGAZINE
For 1897
will contain
[Illustration: GEORGE DU MAURIER.]
GEORGE DU MAURIER'S
Last Novel
The Martian
which was begun in the October Number.
* * * * *
POULTNEY BIGELOW
will contribute papers on
WHITE MAN'S AFRICA
with many illustrations.
STEPHEN BONSAL ON EASTERN SIBERIA
F. HOPKINSON SMITH ON HUNGARY
* * * * *
A New Novel of the Next Century
BY
[Illustration: FRANK R. STOCKTON.]
FRANK R. STOCKTON
will appear during the year.
* * * * *
SHORT STORIES
will continue to be the most popular feature of the MAGAZINE.
Besides contributions from authors already famous, others
will be especially sought from NEW WRITERS.
* * * * *
STRIKING AMERICAN FEATURES
WILL BE CONTRIBUTED BY
CHARLES F. LUMMIS, WOODROW WILSON, OWEN WISTER,
FREDERIC REMINGTON, AND WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS.
* * * * *
_35 CENTS A COPY. $4.00 A YEAR._
HARPER & BROTHERS, Publishers, New York
[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 many 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.
There are many questions connected with what to the average rider would
be long journeys on a bicycle which seldom or never obtain the amount of
attention which they require in order to give the rider the comfort and
pleasure that he ought to have.
For instance, the packing of luggage is one of the most important
details of a week's run. The best method for carrying luggage is that
already described in this column, namely, a leather bag fitted to the
inside of the frame. The proper luggage for a week should be the
smallest set of toilet articles that can be conveniently used, a couple
of sets of under-clothing, and at least two extra pairs of long
stockings, and, perhaps most important of all, a pair of loose slippers.
When starting out in the morning the entire clothing which you wear
should be perfectly dry. This can always be accomplished if it is done
in the right way, by asking a maid at the hotel where you stop at night
to see that all your clothes are dried during the night, and it is well
to dress in a different suit each day, except, of course, the trousers
and jacket. When you stop at noon for the hour or two for dinner, with
the intention of riding on in the afternoon, the greatest care should be
taken to avoid taking cold, especially in the fall and winter weather.
In the first place, you should wrap yourself up usually by putting on
the coat and waistcoat which you have been carrying on the front of the
wheel or in the leather portmanteau. It is unwise, however, to take a
bath and change the clothing at this time of day, and therefore merely
the rest and the dinner should be your care at noon. After riding all
the afternoon, the moment the bicycle is stowed away or put under some
one's care, go to your room at the hotel and take a bath. If there
happens to be no bath-tub available, which is often the case at small
inns or country hotels, take a sponge bath--always in warm water at
first, ending with cold. There is considerable danger to any one who
takes a warm bath after heavy physical exertion and omits the cold water
afterward. It is one of the best methods known for catching a dangerous
cold.
The food which you eat on these journeys is quite as important as any
other of the details of the ride. It is always well, if that be
possible, to sit still reading the paper, or smoking, or resting in any
way, for from three-quarters of an hour to an hour after each meal. For
breakfast, oatmeal, coffee, and perhaps a couple of eggs with toast is
quite as much as it is well for you to take, unless you have been in the
habit of eating a very heavy breakfast. If the journey is to be
continued in the afternoon, it is well not to eat too heavily at dinner,
and you are advised to stick to water for drink. Then after the
afternoon ride, after a good bath, and with a change of clothing and the
slippers on, at anywhere from six to eight o'clock, you may eat as much
and take as much time at table as you care to. If this rule is followed,
you will wake up the next morning fresh and ready for the day's run.
THE BABY SPEAKS.
I've got a joke on pa and ma--
They say 'at I can't walk.
It really makes me laugh right out
To hear those people talk.
Why, I can walk as well as you,
So grand in all your pride,
But for the present "Baby" thinks
He'd much prefer to ride.
Money Prizes Offered Subscribers.
The attention of all subscribers to HARPER'S ROUND TABLE is called to
the prize competitions which we are offering for the winter of 1896-7.
These Prizes are worth, in all, $475, and are offered for original Short
Stories, Amateur Photographs, and Puzzle Solutions. Contestants for them
must be _bona fide_ subscribers to HARPER'S ROUND TABLE, save in Puzzle
contests, in which contestants may be subscribers of a few newspapers
which publish the puzzles simultaneously with HARPER'S ROUND TABLE. If
you are not now a subscriber, and desire to compete, send the
subscription price, $2, with your puzzle answer, photograph, or story,
and you will then receive HARPER'S ROUND TABLE each week for a year,
besides having a chance at the prizes. Even if you do not secure any
prizes, you will have the paper, and be able to enter other
competitions, and take advantage of our Book and Library offers.
* * * * *
Prizes for Puzzle Solutions--$200.
Offered in Five Unique Contests.
HARPER'S ROUND TABLE puzzles are famous. During the year five prize
puzzles will be published, and $40 in cash will be offered for best
solutions to each. Competition for these prizes is open only to actual
subscribers to HARPER'S ROUND TABLE, and to the subscribers of a few
newspapers which print these puzzles simultaneously with this
periodical.
These prize puzzles are given in addition to the usual "Kinks." As a
rule, the Kinks are not prize contests. The prize puzzles consist of
stories, which are interesting as stories, and are good puzzles besides.
The five cover as many varieties or styles of puzzles, and so give
solvers of different tastes and abilities a chance at the particular
kind of puzzle for which they have a bent. Here are titles of two of the
prize puzzles: "The River Styx Puzzle," and "A Wonderful Outing
Tragedy." Others are similar. The prize-money is $40 to the best three
solvers in each contest. The right is reserved to divide the prize-money
according to merit of answers. As a rule, it may be said that the best
solver wins $20; the one who comes next wins $12, and the third $8.
These puzzles will appear in HARPER'S ROUND TABLE during November and
December, 1896, and January, February, and March, 1897, with the
particulars of the contest. Correctness and neatness are the tests of
excellence.
* * * * *
Prizes for Short Stories--$150.
First Prize, $75; Second, $50; Third, $25.
HARPER'S ROUND TABLE offers $150, divided in three parts, thus: First
Prize, $75; Second Prize, $50; Third Prize, $25--for the best stories
written by actual subscribers to it, those whose names are on its
subscription list for a one year's subscription. Stories must contain at
least five hundred words, and must not exceed two thousand words, actual
count. The plot must be probable, and the story well told, both in
sequence of events and in language employed. As far as practicable
type-write the story. But this condition is not imperative. At the top
of the first page place your name and address in full, and the number of
words in your story. Do not roll your manuscript. Use paper about five
by eight inches in size, unless the story is type-written, when use
regular type-writer paper. Prepay postage, and enclose return postage.
Address it, not later than February 28, 1897, to HARPER'S ROUND TABLE,
New York, and put in the lower left-hand corner of the envelope the
words "Story Competition." No story may be sent by you that is not
wholly original with you, and none may be submitted that has ever been
submitted in any contest. One person may not submit more than one story.
Two persons may not join in writing a single story. If you are not a
subscriber, and desire to compete for these prizes, send $2 with your
story, and give address to which paper is to be sent for one year.
* * * * *
Prizes for Photographs--$125.