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Round Table

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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.

Continuing the suggestion begun last week regarding bicycling in Europe during the summer, a word should be said about France. By all means the cheapest route, considering the comfort, to Paris from New York is by the smaller boats of the Hamburg line, which take nine or ten days to reach Havre. It is possible, however, to get a round-trip ticket from New York to Paris and return, including the ride from Havre to and from Paris by train, first-class, for a little under $100.

The roads of France—that is, the parts which are usually ridden—are in the main superior to any roads in the world for bicycling purposes. The many government military roads are kept in remarkably good condition, and while they are perhaps not as interesting as the English roads, which wind about through the country, they are nevertheless better made in the main, though they go along straight lines. On the whole, for a first trip it would be better to take the train from Havre to Paris, and to start from Paris itself. Bicycling in the city itself is very common, and most of the roads are either macadamized or asphalted. In the vicinity of the city there are some beautiful roads, such as the run out to St. Germain, a somewhat shorter one to St. Denis, and, at the other end of the city, to Versailles. These roads, of course, would be taken first by any tourist.

It then becomes a question whether the wheelman will take the trip through Normandy, or will ride or take the train into the middle of France and wheel through Touraine. Perhaps the pleasantest trip for the summer would be to ride through Normandy. In that case leave Paris, passing through St. Germain, following the Seine through a remarkably beautiful country. The run would carry you through Nantes, Vernon, Louviers, and Elbeuf, whence you may either turn northward to Rouen, to see the city and cathedral, or, keeping on, pass through Pont-l'Evêque, and thence to Trouville. This Normandy coast is covered with summer resorts that are peculiarly French, and very attractive, therefore, to the foreigner seeking new sights. Houlgate, Dieppe, and Honfleur are such places, and will well repay a visit. The trip can then be extended through Caen, across the peninsula to Coutances, to Granville, or it may extend out on the peninsula to Cherbourg, and the return to Paris may be either along the southern edge of Normandy through Alençon, taking in Chartres and Etampes, or the return journey may be made by train if there is not sufficient time to ride it both ways on a bicycle.

It is, of course, impossible in this very limited space to give any idea of the possibilities of France for bicycling, but this trip through Normandy, including the short one-day runs in the vicinity of Paris, will make a three or four or five weeks' bicycling tour that will repay any one for whatever expense he may incur. The southern trip through Touraine will be best made, unless considerable time is at your disposal, by taking the train from Paris for Tours. Starting from there, you should run over different parts of Touraine, visiting the famous castles of that country, such as Blois and Amboise. All this country, like Normandy and the vicinity of Paris, is full of good roads, and a month can be easily spent in riding over Touraine alone. These two districts of France are perhaps the best suited for bicycling, and should be recommended to the wheelman as suitable for his first foreign tour.

H. Bert Blackwell.—To train for a half-mile bicycle race, ride on a track, if possible, or on a good road, ten miles at a reasonably good rate every day in the week except Sunday. Practise starts Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday for about twenty minutes, and Tuesday and Friday ride a half-mile against time, with a pace-maker, if possible. Two weeks before the race takes place practise starts for twenty minutes each day, and ride a half-mile against time four times a week. For diet avoid liquids as much as possible, except water; eat beef and chops which are moderately rare, boiled potatoes, and plain vegetables; avoid sweets in the main, and eat nothing fried. Aside from this, the food question is not so important as the time of eating, which should be absolutely regular: breakfast between seven and eight, the same time every day; a hearty lunch, which should be practically a dinner, at from half past twelve to one; and a dinner or supper at between six and half past. Go to bed at ten, and get up at seven. This may well be considered a severe course of training, and is only for a seasoned rider.

B. M. Warren.—Bicycle maps running along the coast of Connecticut have already been published in the Round Table. We hope, some time this summer or in the early fall, to give some of the best routes through central Connecticut.

E. W. Davies.—The best route from Woodstown, New Jersey, to Trenton, through Philadelphia, is as follows: Leave Woodstown and proceed to Swedesborough (seven miles), thence to Clarksborough (six miles), Woodbury (five miles), and Gloucester to the ferry (four miles), crossing thence to Philadelphia. Leaving Philadelphia, proceed to Frankfort (seven miles), thence to Bristol (fifteen miles), and thence to Trenton (nine miles). The road is moderately good all the way.

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.

FORMULAS FOR COLORING TRANSPARENCIES.

As we have received many inquiries in regard to the colors used in making the tinted transparencies described in No. 857 of the Round Table, we give the following formulas for preparing the coloring solutions, which are by M. Gachinot, Paris, France, all of which can be successfully used. Having printed the plate according to the directions given, immerse in any of the following solutions till the desired color or tint is obtained:

RED BATH.

Carmine (in grains)5parts.

Liquid Ammonia15"

Distilled Water120"

BLUE BATH.

Prussian Blue50parts.

Oxalic Acid50"

Distilled Water120"

YELLOW BATH.

Gamboge50parts.

Saffron50"

Distilled Water150"

The yellow bath must be boiled for five minutes, and filtered.

VIOLET BATH.

Permanganate of Potash10parts

Distilled Water100"

GREEN BATH.

Prussian Blue50parts.

Oxalic Acid50"

Picric Acid15"

Distilled Water150"

Dissolve by heat.

Aniline colors may also be used, and are both cheap and easily prepared. Dissolve one ounce of any aniline color in ten ounces of distilled water, and immerse the transparency in the solution till the desired tint is obtained. Wash in several changes of water till the whites are clear. Dry in a place free from dust.

Sir Knight R. H. Wyld says that in developing some pictures taken with a pocket Kodak the pictures came out positive instead of negative. The picture was overdeveloped. Probably the developer worked rather slow, and the picture may also have been under-exposed. The rest of the material will probably be all right with proper time exposure. Cold sometimes retards the action of the developer. The temperature of the developer should never be below 65° Fahr. The process for making plain salted paper was described in Nos. 796 and 803, and was also given in the circular issued last fall announcing the photographic competition.

J. W. B. encloses two prints, and asks what is the matter with them. The prints were made too dark, and in order to tone them out they were overtoned. The negatives are evidently thin, which also accounts for the gray tone of the print. The blue print formula may be found in Nos. 797, 823, and 828.

Sir Knight Russel Senior asks if different colored inks can be used to color transparencies, if aristotype prints put in a glycerine solution to keep them flat injures the gloss when they are ready to be burnished, and for a simple way to enlarge negatives. The colored inks are made from aniline colors, and it is better to prepare the color according to directions given in this paper for using aniline colors. Glycerine does not affect the polish of the print. Directions for enlarging may be found in No. 801, March 5, 1895. If you have not a file of the Round Table, enclose five cents to Harper and Brothers, and the number will be sent to you. As the directions occupy all the space devoted to the Camera Club, they cannot be repeated in "Answers to Queries"; but another paper on enlarging will be printed in a few weeks for the benefit of our new members.

Sir Knight Leonard S. Whittier asks if the editor has heard of the "Quad Camera," and if it is a good camera for five dollars, and also asks the addresses of firms that manufacture cameras at this price or less. The "Quad" camera is said to do very good work for so small a camera. The Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, N.Y., Kombi Camera Co., Chicago, Ill., Manhattan Optical Co., Cresskill, N.J., are among the firms that manufacture low-priced cameras. A card sent to Scovill, Adams Co., or E. & H. T. Anthony and Co., New York, will bring a catalogue of cameras and photographic outfits.

Sir Knight Herschel F. Davis wishes a good formula for a one-solution metol developer, and asks if the exposure should be shortened when using metol for a developer. A single solution of metol is made as follows:

Metol30grs.

Sodium Sulphite (crystals)180"

Potassium Carbonate90"

Water4oz.

In mixing this developer the potassium carbonate can be left out till the detail is out, then add the potassium, and leave the plate in the developer till the required density is gained. One can make the exposure much shorter with the metol, and this developer is specially good for under-exposed plates.

This Department is conducted in the interest of Girls and Young Women, and the Editor will be pleased to answer any question on the subject so far as possible. Correspondents should address Editor.

So you, my little Irene, are appointed a delegate to a great convention, and mamma has consented to let you go with the other young people to a city half-way across the continent—you who at seventeen have never made a journey except under your mother's care. It is your first flight from the nest, and I do not wonder that you and she both anticipate it with a good deal of thought and some perplexity. To you, of course, the outlook is all roseate; you are sure you will have an enchanting time, and you have no forebodings; but mamma, being older and having experience, feels less at her ease. And yet it is a simple matter to travel under auspices so agreeable as those which belong to Christian Endeavorers when they go to an annual assemblage of their great society.

Resolve beforehand to go equipped lightly as to luggage. A pretty travelling-dress, with an extra waist for any emergency or occasion of ceremony, is all you will require in the way of a gown, and a change of under-clothing will go with the waist in your hand-bag. An oil-silk bag for your sponge, your needful toilet articles, and such trifles as pins, needle and thread, shoe buttons, and light overshoes can easily be compressed into a very small space. An extra pair of gloves should be taken, and a small bottle of camphor or other remedy for sudden indisposition will not be amiss.

On the journey, whether by boat or by train, keep strictly with your own party. There will probably be a number of your friends, very likely your pastor and his wife, in the company, and you must be careful to stay where they stay, and go where they go. You are not an independent traveller. You belong to a party, and must conform to its regulations. Especially when your objective point is a strange city, where you will be thrown among hundreds of people unknown to you, be sure that you do not separate in any way from your own particular group.

Arrived at your destination, you will probably find that quarters have been assigned to you in hospitable homes. Here, as you are received with friendly greetings, do your utmost to prove that you appreciate the kindness shown. Give as little trouble as possible to your entertainers. Every home has its fixed hours for meals, and visitors should be ready at the moment, so that the hostess shall not be embarrassed in her proceedings by any lack of punctuality in theirs. If prayers in the family are before breakfast, be sure that you rise early enough to attend them, and in every point make your visit a pleasure to those who kindly invite you to be a guest beneath their roof.

In visiting a strange place avail yourself of each opportunity for seeing interesting points, for going to see objects of natural interest, museums, libraries, etc., always, however, visiting these with your own party, or with friends who are responsible for your safety.

You will need very little money on such a journey as I am thinking of, your tickets being procured beforehand, and your only requirement being for small change. The funds of the party should be in the hands of one person, selected before starting, who will act as treasurer on the trip, keeping a strict account of her disbursements, so that she may render it at the journey's end.

Marjorie Daw.—Miss Deland's Oakleigh is, in my opinion, as entertaining a book as Little Women. The Story of a Short Life and Jackanapes were written by Mrs. Ewing, who died some years ago. Grandma's Attic Treasures is by Mary D. Brine.

Marion D.—Send your invitations for the garden party in the shape of informal notes, written in the ordinary way. "Dear Alice,—Come to my party next Saturday afternoon at 4 o'clock. Tea in the garden," or, "My dear Mary,—Will you give me the pleasure of your presence at a lawn-party next Saturday at four o'clock, to meet Miss Elsie Morrow and Miss Nancy Page, of Baltimore." Let your little note be brief but cordial. It is quite proper to write such an invitation on one's visiting-card.

Carrie H. D.—I do not think that a girl should too confidently depend on her friend's opinion that she can write short stories. The only way to really test the matter is to send the stories, written plainly, or type-written, and, of course, on one side of the paper only, with return postage enclosed, to the editor of a paper. A girl should read the best stories she can find, and the best essays and historical sketches too, and be in no haste to publish. I cannot advise a young girl to go upon the stage. She should certainly not think of this, unless her parents and teachers not only fully approve, but also urge her to do so. In my experience girls of all periods are much alike. I think the girls of to-day are not at all silly; in some particulars, as in opportunities for out-door sports, and in excellent health, they surpass the girls of a few years ago. Girls are fascinating creatures, and I dearly love them.