PERIODICALS

They are handsome and delightful all, and are as friends that one is glad to see. They please the eye; the artistic sense is gratified by them; they overflow with varied material for the reader. They educate and entertain. They are the well-known and well-liked literary and artistic chronicles of the time. They are a credit to their publishers and to the discernment of the public that approves them. May they continue to be as admirable as they have been and as they are. Better could hardly be wished for them.

FOR SALE EVERYWHERE.

the best things in Prose and Poetry, always including good Songs and Hymns. It is surprising how little good work of this kind seems to be done in the Schools, if one must judge from the small number of people who can repeat, without mistake or omission, as many as Three good songs or hymns.

and accurate Memory work is a most excellent thing, whether in School or out of it, among all ages and all classes. But let that which is so learned be worth learning and worth retaining. The Franklin Square Song Collection presents a large number of

and Hymns, in great variety and very carefully selected, comprising Sixteen Hundred in the Eight Numbers thus far issued, together with much choice and profitable Reading Matter relating to Music and Musicians. In the complete and varied

which is sent free on application to the Publishers, there are found dozens of the best things in the World, which are well worth committing to memory; and they who know most of such good things, and appreciate and enjoy them most, are really among the best educated people in any country. They have the best result of Education. For above Contents, with sample pages of Music, address

Harper & Brothers, New York.

Swiss Funerals.

This is a solemn subject to write about, but the funerals in Switzerland, at least in the part of Switzerland I know, are so strange that I think it may interest the Table to hear about them. In the first place, when a person dies a notice is put in the paper, always with a deep black margin around it. Here is one I translated from a German paper.

Death Notice.

To sympathetic relations, friends, and acquaintances, we here announce the sad news that our much-beloved husband, grandfather, father, brother, brother-in-law, and uncle,

Mr. Friedrich Karl Muller,

Surgeon,

departed this life in his sixtieth year, after much suffering, and blessed with the comfort of our holy religion.

For quiet sympathy beg,

St. Gall, the 25th of December, 1895,

The deeply mourning wife,

Maria Muller, née Fuchs,

Fanny, her daughter,

in the name of all the relations.

The mourning urn will be exhibited from

1.30 till 4 o'clock p.m.

You will perhaps wonder what a mourning urn is. In front of the house where the person died there is placed a little black table, covered with a black cloth, on which stands a large black jar. Into this the friends and acquaintances of the family drop little black-margined visiting-cards, sometimes with a few words of sympathy on them. The urn is put out on the table on the day of the funeral.

No one except gentlemen ever go to the church-yard, and they generally follow the hearse on foot, though sometimes carriages are used. The horses that draw the hearse have long black cloaks on, with places cut out for them to see through. One custom I like is that whenever a gentleman sees a funeral passing him, he takes off his hat until it has gone by, whether he knew the dead person or not.

The graveyards over here are very different from the American ones. None have separate lots belonging to their family, but persons are buried according to the year in which they died. For instance, I once had a French governess who walked with me to the cemetery one day. She happened to remember that her grandfather died in 1879, and found his grave immediately, but we had the greatest hunt for the place where her grandmother was buried, as the date of her death had escaped mademoiselle's memory. I have forgotten the exact date myself, but I remember that we at last discovered her grave in quite another part of the cemetery, as she died while young, and was buried in the rows for 1867 or 1868. I must confess I think this custom very disagreeable, and like our American way much better.

Marian Greene, R.T.F.

For the Natural History Club.

There have been living in an old willow-tree in our yard this winter six very dark colored birds, the size of a robin, with long slender bills. They have a whistle call very much like the mockingbird, and have only shown themselves on very warm days early in the morning. They evidently get their food from a neighboring chicken-pen. We have been here fifteen years and have never seen these little guests before. I should like some one interested in ornithology to see them and tell me how they happened here.

L. E. B. Yonkers, N. Y.

Going Back to Old Greece.

We wish to tell you of our Chapter of Minerva's Owlets, organized this winter for the purpose of gaining an idea of Greek and Latin mythology, "and," as our constitution says, "for having a good time withal." We each bear the name of an Olympic deity, and during our meetings call each other by those names.

After the regular business meeting at which, of course, Jupiter presides, a god and goddess each gives an autobiographical sketch of their wanderings among mankind, and then necter and ambrosia are served, usually by mortal hands. The meetings are not always held upon Mt. Olympus, but often at the different haunts of ye deities. Already have we met in the palace of Jupiter, in Venus's arbor, with Neptune in his submarine grotto, in Diana's temple, and in the grove of Athena.

Ye gods and goddesses have interested themselves so much in the affairs of mortals that they are now expending their godly abilities in behalf of the Good Will Farm. They hope to be able to soon send to it the greetings of

Ye Chapter of Minerva's Owlets. Minneapolis.

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.

HINTS FOR THE DARK ROOM.

All bottles containing chemicals should be plainly labelled, not only to prevent mistakes in mixing solutions, but also to avoid accidents from careless handling. Chemicals which are poisonous should have some distinctive mark on the bottle. One of the best, and one which is easily distinguished in the dark-room, is a strip of white paper, two inches or more in width, pasted entirely round the bottle.

A good strong paste which keeps well, and sticks so fast that the label is not easily detached from the bottle, is made as follows:

Gum-arabic2oz.

Gum-tragacanth (powdered)2"

Acetic acid1½drs.

Glycerine2oz.

Water4"

Heat the water and dissolve the gum-arabic and the gum-tragacanth, then add the glycerine and acid. Stir till thoroughly mixed, and put in a wide-mouthed bottle. This is a very good paste for sticking labels, etc., but is not good for mounting photographs. A good black ink for marking labels is made from—

Lamp-black12grs.

Indigo4"

Copal (powdered)2drs.

Oil of lavender2oz.

Heat the oil and dissolve the gum-copal in it, then stir in the lamp-black and indigo. This ink will not corrode, and it will not fade.

To prevent chemicals running down the side of the bottle when pouring, coat the rim of the bottle with paraffin wax by dipping the mouth of the bottle in the melted wax.

All trays must be washed after using. The decomposition of chemicals in an unwashed tray will often spoil fresh solutions if put into the tray. Never leave solutions standing in trays; when through using turn the solution into a glass bottle. When not in use trays should be turned upside down on a shelf or table.

Developing solutions should be filtered between each using. Bits of film often come off the plate, and if left in the developer will settle on the plate and cause a spot on the negative. The better way is to filter a solution after using and before returning it to the bottle.

To ensure perfectly clear negatives always use clean hypo. Hypo which has been used several times becomes a dark muddy color, and is apt to stain the negative. Hypo is so cheap that one can afford to use fresh, and run no risk of spoiling negatives.

In placing plates in the holders, instead of using a brush for dusting, take a piece of surgeon's cotton, roll it into a soft ball, and rub lightly over the plate. This will remove the specks of dust, and will not scratch the plate.

It often happens when travelling that a dark room is not always to be found in which to change plates in the holders. The provident amateur carries a candle with him, and when no dark room is convenient he lights the candle, sets it under a table, and changes the plates on the table. This can be done with perfect safety if care is taken that no reflected light strikes the plates. The plates being in the shadow, and the light from the candle being rather dim, the plates are not injured any more than by a red light.

Letters are often received asking what one must do in order to become a member of the Camera Club. All that is necessary in order to become a member is to send name and address to the editor and state your desire.

George H. Baynes, Jun., St. Paul's School, Concord, N. H., and Howard Preston Bartram, No. 67 Washington Street, Newark, N. J., both wish to be enrolled as members of the Camera Club. Sir Howard asks what is the object of the club. Its object is to raise the standard of amateur photography among young people, and by helpful suggestions aid its members in perfecting themselves in the art of making pictures with the camera. It also keeps its members informed in regard to the best methods and new discoveries in the mechanical part of photography, and each year offers valuable prizes for the best pictures submitted by members of the club, in order to stimulate them to excel in photography.

Sir Knight E. D. Ball, Spartansburg, S. C., wishes to correspond with some amateur photographer living in the tropics, as he would like to make exchanges of photographic views.

Sir Knight Charles E. Botsford, Newark, N. J., asks for a blue-print solution which will keep, how to make sensitive plates, and how to make paper like solio, aristo, etc. He also encloses two blue prints made from a formula given in the Round Table, and asks why one is not good. Blue-print sensitizing solution will keep for a long time if not mixed. Keep the two solutions separate till wanted for use, and wrap the bottles in non-actinic paper, or keep them in a dark-room. Directions for making sensitive plates would occupy too much space to allow giving them in "Answers to Queries." Both sensitive plates and solio and aristo papers are so cheap, and are so much better made than an amateur can make them, that it is better to buy them ready prepared. The trouble with the print from the negative is that it was not printed long enough, and faded in the washing. Print till the shadows are deeply bronzed. The paper sent seems to be very evenly sensitized and of a good color. Also asks for the address of George McCarthy.

Sir Knight Sprague Carleton asks what is the reason of the transparencies which he makes having no detail. He says he prints one second, and develops according to directions, using Eastman's plates and formula. The proper way to print transparencies is to print by the dark-room lantern. Place the plate in the holder, then open the door of the lantern, and holding the printing-frame twelve or fifteen inches from the light, print for at least five seconds, moving the frame a little all the time, so that the picture may print evenly. Some negatives will require a longer time than others, just the same as if printing on paper. If the dark-room lantern is not suitable, use a No. 2 kerosene burner turned about half-way down, and expose the plate from three to ten seconds, according to the density of the plate.

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.

All U. S. stamps are first engraved on a soft steel die, which is afterwards hardened; several impressions of the die are then made on a roller of soft steel, which is subsequently hardened. Impressions from the roller are then made upon the soft steel plates used in printing. The following are some of the ways in which minor varieties of the design are caused: By the shifting of the roller during the making of the plate, causing the top and bottom parts of the stamp to be doubled; by missing the guide-lines, causing them to appear in the stamp; by retouching the die roller or plate—each plate is retouched, but some of the dies and rollers are not; by a brittle roller—small pieces break off and become embedded in the plate, causing white blotches to appear in the design; by re-entering—that is, impressing the roller twice on the same stamp in the plate; also by the wearing of the plate.

A unique medal is said to be preserved in the Paris mint. It is a very large gold piece bearing on the obverse the Emperor Napoleon's portrait, and the reverse Hercules strangling the giant Antæus. The inscription is Descente en Angleterre (Invasion of England), and Frappé à Londres (Struck in London). The die was broken after the collapse of Napoleon's plan, and only the proof copy preserved.

The movement among the younger philatelists to collect late issues only is growing everywhere. The low prices at which the bulk of the stamps issued during the last ten years can be had is a great argument in its favor. In 1890 the first postage-stamp ever issued was fifty years old. One collector in England began with the stamps current January 1, 1890, and now has a collection in ten albums of seventy pages each. The "Seebecks" appear, but they cost so little, are so handsome in themselves, and as the issues have undoubtedly done postal duty, many collectors will not be frightened off even by the S. S. S. S. I wonder whether the Seebecks, fifty years after their issue, will not be as scarce and as much sought after as early English, French, etc.?

W. H. Bangs.—The quarter-dollar is worth face only; the 3c. Playing Card green is worth $4 perforated, $15 unperforated.

J. Hung.—The collection of entire U. S. envelopes means the spending of a large amount of money and the exercise of patience, as the rare envelopes only turn up occasionally. Many collectors of entire envelopes do not try to collect all sizes, but take one of each die on each paper. Other collectors prefer to take their U.S. envelopes "cut square"—that is, the die only, leaving a large square margin. This is the usual method, and U. S. envelopes are likely to increase in value every year.

J. Rivo.—See answer to T. L. Watkins, No. 864. Ribbed paper is ordinary paper (wove or laid), run between rollers having fine lines cut in them longitudinally. Many ordinary stamps present the appearance of ribbing in consequence of their having been pasted on ribbed paper envelopes or wrappers. Personally I do not believe in the so-called ribbed paper U. S. stamps.

Philatus.

The best is not always low in price, but the housekeeper can have the best soap without extravagance.

Ivory Soap costs little, but experienced persons know that no other can do the same work and do it as well.

The Procter & Gamble Co., Cin'ti.

There is lots of pleasure, satisfaction and health corked up in a bottle of HIRES Rootbeer. Make it at home.

Made only by The Charles E. Hires Co., Philadelphia.

A 25c. package makes 5 gallons. Sold everywhere.