Harper's Round Table, June 18, 1895 Part 11

Memorial Stones in the School Building.

Recently two Founders suggested that Chapters, cla.s.ses, and individual contributors give memorial stones for the Round Table School Building, said stones to bear the names of the giver. The thought was to have as many States represented as possible. Another Founder, fearing the cost of transportation, and that so many different colors of stone as would, of course, result, wrote to say that it might be better to have the stones made at a quarry near Good Will.

The suggestion is that any person, old or young, a Chapter, a cla.s.s, or a society of young persons, furnish these memorial stones made of the uniform size of 20 inches long, 9-3/4 inches wide, and 9 inches thick; they form the base-line on which the brick wall rests. They thus come a few feet from the ground, where they may be easily read. Several Chapters have responded already, and say they are ready to forward memorials. One of these is the Robert Louis Stevenson Chapter, of Cincinnati. Another is the William D. Moffatt Chapter, of Oakland, Md., a third is the Whittier Library Chapter, of Milwaukee, Wis., and a fourth is the Eugene M. Camp Chapter, of Brooklyn, N. Y. A society in Stillwater, Minn., wants to send one, and the Thaddeus Stevens Chapter, of Philadelphia, who has lost by death the Knight who founded it, may give a stone as a memorial.

The face of each stone would bear the letters, as: "W. D. Moffatt Chapter, Oakland, Md.," or, "In Memoriam: R. K. McCullough." It would be ideal to have enough of these memorials for the entire base-line, so that a person walking round the building could read the name of many Chapters from many States. Can't you help? Ask your Sunday-school cla.s.s about it, or propose it at your Chapter meeting.

With each stone some contribution should be made. It was suggested that at least $5 should be given to the Fund; but perhaps it will be as well to allow donors of stones to give any amount they are able to. Suppose, this summer, you give an entertainment on the lawn. We can furnish an easily arranged programme. You can clear $10 easily. You could give to the Fund one half of it, and have the stone dressed, marked, and delivered for the other half. Several Chapters are to be represented.

Let's have more of them. Write to us for particulars.

The Decisions of the Founders.

The flood of votes from Founders shows that the original members of the Order are as interested as ever in its welfare. The Order is, it may be well to explain, conducted by its members, and finally by its Founders, who vote on all important matters. Three questions were put to the Founders. 1. Should the eighteen-year age limit be abolished? 2. Should there be a new membership certificate to be called a "Patent"--a patent of n.o.ble chivalry? 3. Should the Order have a new badge?

On the first question very sound judgment was exercised, we think.

Indeed, you showed a keener insight and greater breadth than we expected. There is no doubt about the decision, for it is a three-to-one one. It is that the eighteen-year age limit be retained; but once a member, always a member, without age restriction. That is, members do not cease to be members upon reaching their eighteenth birthday.

Founders in very large numbers urge the admission of persons of any age, upon application, to be styled not Knights and Ladies, but Patrons of the Order. We think this a happy solution of the problem, and shall, unless we hear objection, provide a Patron Patent, similar in design to the member's patent.

The second point is unanimously agreed, and so is the third, save that many ask that badge designs be submitted. To this we agree, and will submit the same as soon as possible. When the new patents and badges are ready we will announce the fact, and old members may have new Patents by asking for them. The prices of the new badges cannot be told until the design is selected: but an effort will be made to have one at ten cents, and one in gold at somewhere between fifty cents and $1. So many new readers have come to us lately, that as early as we can find s.p.a.ce, we will print again the objects of the Order, how to join it, the story of the Good Will School, etc. The Order is to have some splendid prize and other offers soon.

Kinks.

No. 87.--CHARADE.

A worthy foe: a trusty friend, the safest friend to have, For if you differ, never mind, no danger is to brave.

A friend so easily shut up, so readily put down.

Can give no cause for sore regret, for deep remorse to drown.

A thing almost all people hate, and nervous people fear.

So ugly, that to naturalists it only can be dear.

Yet when that hateful stage is past it lives its little hour, A floating gleam of beauty, it blossoms like a flower.

The very happiest life on earth, I do believe, is this, He sits and lets _your_ world go by, and _his own_ world _is_ his!

And if he does no good at all, he surely does no harm.

And science, wisdom, wit, and song, fill all his days with charm.

Possibly 'tis an idle life, only a life of ease, Or worse than all, a selfish life, _but_ don't disturb him, please!

No. 88.--A STUDY IN CATS.

1. A list of numerous things of worth.

2. An inundation of the earth.

3. A kind of useful fishing-boat.

4-5. Some helps to sailors when afloat.

6. A mineral used for making soap.

7. A transformation of a trope.

8. The parent of the b.u.t.terfly.

9. A bad affection of the eye.

10. A surgeon's amputating knife.

11. A poultice that may save your life.

12. A book that should be oftener read.

13. A resting-place for honored dead.

14. A sepulchre in foreign lands.

15. A cruel whip with many strands.

16. A cataract or waterway.

17. I take your senses quite away.

18. A spicy sauce to use with meat.

19. A cla.s.s of workers with four feet.

20. A kind of ivy often found.

21-22. Sciences of reflected sound.

23. A heavy armor used of old.

24. The doctrines of the church, I'm told.

25. A mineral used for isingla.s.s.

26. A useful herb you often pa.s.s.

27. An engine used for throwing stones.

28. A remedy for broken bones.

29. I form a chain of many links.

30. A philosophic list, methinks.

31. Essential to the violin.

32. I'm noted for my scaly skin.

The Prize Story Contest.

Members forget that it takes a much longer time to read several hundred stories and weigh their merits than it does to examine puzzle answers.

To this fact is due the necessary delay over our last Story Compet.i.tion.

But the decisions have been made, and the First Prize Story, with names of all successful contestants, will be announced next week.

Want Corner.