PLAYS

Dialogues, Speakers for School, Club and Parlor. Catalogue free.

T. S. DENISON, Publisher, Chicago, Ill.

About Naval Schools.

Bert Cunnington, who lives in Arkansas, Reed Kohl, a New York city member, and Fred P. Jackson, who lives in a Baltimore suburb, ask about St. Mary's school-ship and naval apprentices. All get the various naval schools well confused. That they do so is no great wonder, since the provisions governing them are new, and have recently been changed. We will try to make these naval matters clear. In the first place, the United States Naval Academy, at Annapolis, is a school where men are trained to become officers in our navy. Indeed, entrance to the academy is at the same time entrance to our navy—naval cadet, and so on up, without leaving the United States service at graduation.

Entrance to this academy is had only through members of Congress—through the member from your district, Mr. Jackson. Representatives Baker, Rusk, and Cowen represent Baltimore.

Only one cadet from each district may be at the academy at a time. You must wait for a vacancy. Residents of other districts must address their member of Congress, or the Secretary of the Navy, Washington, who will give information about vacancies. The President of the United States has ten appointments—not annually, but may keep ten cadets at the academy. These cadetships are usually assigned to sons of naval officers. The Annapolis Academy was removed to Newport, R. I., for a time during the civil war. That is why, possibly, you get the naval apprenticeship school at Newport and the naval academy confused.

Naval apprenticeships have nothing whatever to do with the Annapolis Academy. They are enlistments for young men above fifteen and not above eighteen years of age, who may remain in the navy till they are twenty-one. These boys must have the full consent of parents or guardians, be of good character—for apprenticeships are not to reform bad characters—be sound of body, and be able to read and write English. Having been sworn in, they are sent on board naval vessels, where they are given the elements of a common-school education and taught naval seamanship. That is, they knot, splice, hitch, and bend rope; sew canvas; head, reef, and furl sail; learn the use of the various gear in standing and running rigging; become acquainted with the terms for the different parts of the ship; practise military tactics, broadside exercise, rifle drill; and learn how to fire the great guns, to row, and to swim.

Apprentices are enlisted as "third-class boys," and receive $9.50 a month. There is no condition from what part of the United Slates they come. They receive their board free. Their clothing is provided by the paymaster of the ship to which they are assigned and charged against their pay. There is a possible promotion to $11.50 a month. These apprentices never become line-officers, but may rise only to warrant-officer, gunner, or boat-swain. Warrant-officers are retired at sixty-two, as are other officers, and receive thereafter a fair proportion of their duty pay as an annuity. Apprenticeship recruiting stations are at New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. Address "Recruiting Station for Naval Apprentices, Navy-yard," and add the city and State.

Wholly distinct from either of the foregoing are the various school-ships. These are not owned by the national government, but by cities, and are under the control of the boards of education. The Saratoga is located at Philadelphia, and the St. Mary's at New York. Address "Executive Committee, Nautical School." To join the St. Mary's applicants must be residents of the city of New York. They must also be of good character, and between sixteen and twenty years of age; $30 is required as an entrance fee, and a large number of personal necessities, as clothing, thread, needles, etc. The course covers two years of two terms each, with two summer cruises. The St. Mary's spends part of the year at the foot of Twenty-eighth Street, East River, New York, a part in Long Island Sound, and the cruises are usually to the coast of Europe and Mediterranean ports.

Rules governing the Saratoga are similar to those governing the St. Mary's. Graduates of these nautical schools look about them for positions just as do graduates of other schools. The New York Board of Education say: "The passage of the 'Postal Subsidy Bill,' requiring all vessels receiving such subsidy to be officered by Americans, and to carry a cadet for each 1000 tons burden, enables graduates of this school to obtain a situation upon graduation, where the education obtained at this school will be of great advantage to them. Graduates of this school, with few exceptions, are competent to navigate a vessel, understanding thoroughly dead-reckoning, and how to find the latitude and longitude by the sun, moon, planets, or stars; they are also taught the duties of seamen, they have practice in handling a sailing vessel, in steering, heaving the lead, in handling boats, both under oars and sails, the rule of the road, and in fact everything that may assist in their advancement in the profession they have chosen."

A Distinct Difference.

The following story is told of the late Professor S——, the great teacher of German at the University of Pennsylvania, and a man of much hard and blunt sense. A man having a son whom he had reared in a most superficial way called on the professor, whom he knew slightly, and asked how much it would cost to give his son an education. The professor, looking intently at the son, who accompanied his father, and who was attired in uncomfortably big cuffs, high collar, and gave forth an aroma of up-to-date perfume, blandly observed:

"I can't say. But you can send him through college for about $2000."

Cruel, but Facetious.

When employees are discharged from the service of a firm or company they generally receive from such employers brief letters stating when employment is to cease. But the head of a great theatrical concern once took a quite different course in discharging his actors and singers. His season had been unprofitable, but he took a little of his remaining money and paid the way of his entire troupe to West Point. The members of said troupe were Europeans. After luncheon he arose, and in the blandest manner possible said:

"Ladies and Gentlemen,—Mark the beauties of America, the greatest, grandest, and most wonderful country in the world. Behold the noble Hudson before us; observe these magnificent mountains; consider everything well. For, by my word, you will never see them again at the expense of Messrs. Blank and Company."

Of course sorrow closed the day's outing, but the actors and singers had no alternative than to engage steamer passages to Europe—which they did.

Through Historic Country on a Bike.

One cool, sunny day in the beginning of this month we took a fifty-one-mile bicycle trip out of the city. At the start our road lay along the extreme west of the city, and soon the new Harlem Ship-canal came into view. We halted on the bridge which spans it to watch a diver at work—quite a novel sight; then went on toward Yonkers. Yonkers passed, we took the open road for Dobbs Ferry. At the latter place we were informed that our road, Broadway, was first opened in 1844 under the name of Edgar's Lane.

Back of the road, under tall shady trees, stands Washington's headquarters. A monument in front relates that here the French allies under Rochambeau first joined our General and his forces; also that here Washington planned the Yorktown campaign which successfully terminated the Revolution; and that directly opposite, on the river, an English sloop fired seventeen guns in honor of Washington—the first official acknowledgment of our nation on the part of the mother-country.

From Dobbs Ferry to Irvington the road is lined with handsome suburban residences, and leads through a pretty bit of country. Four miles more, and Tarrytown is reached. In Tarrytown we saw a monument over the spot where Major André was captured in 1780. The shaft of the monument was dedicated in 1853. One side bears a relief picture in bronze of the capture; while another side has carved on it a eulogy of the three brave citizens of Westchester County who rescued their country from "imminent peril." The remainder of the stone, which is capped by a heroic figure of a Revolutionary soldier, was erected in 1880 by the Society of the Sons of the Revolution.

Directly north of Tarrytown there is a bridge. Crossing it, a sharp turn of the road brought us to Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. We spent some time examining the inscriptions on some of the stones. The lower portion of the cemetery is evidently the oldest, for here repose the ashes of many who died at the close of the last century and the beginning of this. Sleepy Hollow lies on a hill. At the top, in the centre of the family plot, is buried the "American Goldsmith," whose pen made the region where he now rests famous. His grave is simplicity itself, the headstone which covers it bearing merely the inscription, "Washington Irving, born April 3, 1783, died November 28, 1859."

Simon Theodore Stern. New York City.

Questions and Answers.

Music.—The only place to which we can refer you is the United States Marine Recruiting-office, 109 West Street, New York. That office wants boys from fourteen to sixteen to learn music. Apply for conditions. "Gold Fever" asks about gold-prospecting, especially in Alaska. The occupation has many risks, and only the hardiest of persons, not alone in body, but in determination and cheerfulness, ought to undertake it. The Alaskan field is well to the north—in the Yukon country, which is near the arctic circle. It is cold there. But perhaps the worst discomfort is mosquitoes. An odd pest for that climate, yes. But they abound there as they do in few other regions. A recent prospector says, "When a man goes up one of the creeks he must envelop his head in a mosquito-frame of cheese-cloth—their bills go through netting like a knife through tissue-paper—must wear gloves, and tie his trousers and shirt sleeves closely about his ankles and wrists." Mining is a lottery, and the young man ought to think not twice only, but a dozen times before undertaking it.

George J. Smith asks.—"Will you kindly tell me the names of artists who teach pen-drawing and illustrating? When does the annual contest for prizes begin?" Many artists take students, if such students possess native talent. They require students to come to their studios, though some of them have classes at art-schools. Apply to Irving R. Wiles, Charles Broughton, or Clifford Carleton. Their addresses may be had in the directory. Of course they charge for lesson-giving. And we do not say that these gentlemen will now take pupils. Why not join the classes at the Art Students' League? Round Table contests are announced, usually late in October. See one of the issues of this paper for them. It is not likely there will be an illustration contest unless there proves to be a good prize story to make a picture for. In almost no other way, save that of giving all contestants the same thing to illustrate, can conditions fair to all be made. Full information will be published in the Table later.

Frank S. Teal.—We know of no place to procure the Table button or pin save through this office, and we have none in stock. David A. Hill.—So great has been the growth of the Good Will institution that a building suitable to house its industrial school should cost, on the ground of present and future need, $10,000 at least. This sum is quite beyond the power of the Table to give. When, three years ago, the Good Will work began, the size of the Institution did not demand a building costing one-half that sum. The Table thought to raise $3000. It raised about $1600, when the situation developed as above outlined—a situation in which all of us, as friends of Good Will Farm and its work in behalf of poor boys, greatly rejoice. The money raised by the Table is to be, by vote of the founders, turned over to the trustees of Good Will, to be invested in a Round Table Fund, and the income used to help such boys as the trustees think most deserving of aid.

Another Mother and Man.

The truth of the adage about the hand that rules the world being the one that rocks the cradle is again exemplified, but this time not in the world of statesmanship, but in that of science. Nikola Tesla, who ranks with Edison in electrical invention, was, as a boy in Montenegro, full of mischief, and also under the guidance of a remarkable woman—his mother. He once went by himself to a chapel in the hills back of his native town, and managed to get himself locked in it at night. A search was made for him, but there was no clew until, clear and sharp on the night air, rang out the tones of the chapel bell. Nikola was cold, nervous, and hungry when found.

On another occasion, when up to some boyish pranks, his mother suddenly appeared on the scene. He was so startled that he fell into a kettle of fresh milk, spoiling the milk and his clothes at the same time.

Like many other men who have become famous along one line of usefulness, young Tesla was started in life at another line. His father wanted him educated for the Church, but his mother encouraged his scientific tastes, and finally had her way. She was a woman of unusual ability, force of character, and ingenuity. This last characteristic was developed in her embroidery, which was of artistic and original designs, and made her famous all through the part of Montenegro in which she lived. To his mother's love and influence Tesla attributes much of his manhood's success.

Natural-History Bit from West Australia.

Some time ago you asked for descriptions of wild flowers and fruits: I live in West Australia, so far north that we have flowers in our yard every month in the year. This past winter, during July especially, we had very cold weather for this part of Australia, yet our sarsaparilla grew well. It is of a lovely deep purple, and its flowers sometimes wholly cover a stiff stem eighteen inches long. In summer we have a flower called kangaroo's claw. It grows slowly, and has only one flower. Its slender stem looks like red plush. The flower resembles a man's hand held out to shake with you. The "fingers" are green, and, odd to say, there is always a pale green spot at the tips, that look like finger-nails.

We have a queer tree. It has pale green leaves, with prickly under leaves, and a cream flower that smells like Daphne. But the oddest thing about it is the fruit, which looks like luscious pears, but which is nothing but wood. Not a few people here send the fruit to their friends living in England, who use it to fool people with. The latter, if they do not know the fruit, can easily be induced to sit down with knife and plate to eat it. There is also here a Zamia palm. It looks like a huge pineapple, with a top like a close fern. The sprouts shoot up through the centre like two smaller pineapples. When the palm is opened one can scrape off from the inside very delicate wool, which country folks often use for beds in place of feathers. Cattle sometimes get hold of the wool and eat it, and it is most injurious to them. If the mails permitted, I would like to send you some of this wool.

Alicia Shaw. Preston.

That Electric-light Outfit.

Mr. H. C. Durston was interested, as doubtless many others were, in "A Small Electric-light Outfit," and he writes, "Can you tell me if, by increasing the size or number of battery cells, I can get power enough to run a ten-candle-power lamp?" Increase the number, not the size. Yes. "Where can I get the small lamp mentioned, and what is its life?" Apply to the Standard Electric Lamp Company, 248 West Twenty-third Street, New York. Following are the claimed life: ½-candle power, one watt, no life guaranteed; ½-candle power, two watt, 100 to 200 hours; ½-candle power, three watt, 600 hours; and ½-candle power, four watt, indefinitely.

There is only one soap that is kept by all grocers, that is Ivory Soap.

The Procter & Gamble Co., Cin'ti.