Harper's Round Table, October 1, 1895 Part 12

J. A. WILSON, 1108 Fairmount, Phila., Pa.

Clever Camping Hints.

The Round Table has interested me greatly. Therefore I venture to offer the suggestions which follow:

When camping on beach or in the mountains, on prairie or in forest, it is a good plan to have in the outfit a number of iron pins or stakes about half an inch thick and twelve or fifteen inches in length. Three of these should be driven into the ground deep enough to ensure their staying upright, and so near together that pot, kettle, or pan, and perhaps the coffee-pot, will stand safely on the ends of the pins when the coals are glowing or the sticks are blazing beneath. It will be found that this simple kitchen range is for several reasons better than any pole on forked stakes can be, and is incomparably better than a camp-fire without some device for ensuring the uprightness of pot or pan.

Many campers make their camp-fires by laying the sticks with the middle on the coals or the blaze. The better way is to put the ends to the fire. The fire can be managed much more easily in that way, by withdrawing a few sticks if the heat is too great, or by pushing a stick or more in between the pins and under the cooking-vessel if the heat is not enough. Camp-fires are often made too big for the needs and for the comfort of the campers.

I have seen a camp-fire made on the surface of a broad lake, and far from the nearest land, yet not in the canoe. If there had been a couple of shovelfuls of sand or earth, the fire might have been made in the canoe. As it was, the Indian gathered a few armfuls of green sedges and gra.s.ses and threw them on the water, then made the fire on the top of the heap, and soon had roast duck for dinner.

An axe is a clumsy and a dangerous tool in canoe and in camp. It is awkward in shape, and heavy. It can be used for many purposes, but the machete can be used for all the purposes for which an axe is used, except for heavy pounding, and is admirably adapted for many other uses. Millions of people from Texas to Patagonia have long found the machete an ever-ready tool.

Machetes are of many shapes and sizes. The laborer who clears trees and bush from land uses a broad and heavy blade. It is some eighteen or twenty inches in length, and may be three inches wide at its widest. The traveller will carry a machete which is like a heavy sword, and may be straight like a rapier, or curved somewhat, like a cavalry sword. This blade may be two feet or even twenty-six inches in length. For camp uses I should choose one like those the laborers use. A leathern sheath with belt go with some cla.s.ses of machetes. With one of these an effective blow can be struck for cutting brush, trees of moderate size, or the flesh and bones of game. It will be useful in skinning animals or in cleaning fish. In short, there is scarcely any cutting about a camp which cannot be done far better with a machete than with the best of axes, and the price is the same as that of an axe.

I have found no better bed than is made by having a wide hem turned along the edges of very wide canvas. Through these hems run slender poles, that may be used during the day in pushing a canoe over shallow waters. The ends of the poles may rest in notches in two logs, to hold them apart, or in crotched stakes driven into the ground, and stayed apart by sticks lashed to them. When not in service as a bed this cot may be used as a tarpaulin to cover the baggage in the canoe.

E. W. PERRY.

SOUTHBRIDGE, Ma.s.s.

The Music Rack.

SOME ANECDOTES OF PAGANINI.

Nicolo Paganini was a typical violinist. He obtained a permanent position at the court of Luca in his twenty-first year, after remarkable success as a boy, and there composed such powerful concertos fortnightly that Napoleon's sister, Eliza Bacciocchi, was each time overcome when Paganini reached the harmonic sounds.

One day Paganini announced to the court that he would shortly play a novel love-song. He accordingly played a wonderful sonata on two strings--G and E. G represented the lady, E the man. The court was carried away with the beauty of the piece. At the end the Princess Eliza remarked to Paganini, "Since you have done so finely a thing on two chords, can you make us hear something marvellous on one?"

Paganini smilingly agreed; and after some weeks, on the day of St.

Napoleon, executed a brilliant piece on the chord C, which he ent.i.tled "Napoleone."

Paganini, the elder, was an avaricious and unnatural father. When Nicolo's gains had amounted to twenty thousand francs the father threatened to kill him if the whole was not given over. But the mother was faithful, and after the father had pa.s.sed away Paganini said, "I took care of my mother--a sweet duty."

Though loaded with honors given by the Pope, the Emperor of Austria, the King of Prussia, and others, yet the latter part of Paganini's life was a constant struggle. He was of a delicate make-up, and his whole being was wrapped, as it were, in his violin. He met much opposition in his last years. A favorite saying of his was, "One must suffer to make others feel." Schottky affirmed that Paganini possessed a musical secret by means of which a pupil could obtain a conception of the capacities of the violin in three years. This secret, which Paganini himself declared he possessed, was never given to the world.

Many compositions have been ascribed to Paganini which are mere imitations. The few genuine ones contain many grotesque turns which make them all the more fascinating. Whatever may have been the faults and weaknesses of the man, as a composer Paganini was a star among his contemporaries. "As a composer Paganini stands very high. His works are rich in invention, genial, and show a mastery of the scientific part of the art."

VINCENT V. M. BEEDE.

Prizes for Short Stories.

HARPER'S ROUND TABLE offers five prizes for the best stories of adventure written by a Knight or Lady of the Round Table. Stories must contain at least five hundred and not over fifteen hundred words, actual count. The incident must be a probable one, and the story well told, both in sequence of events and language employed. As far as practicable, type-write the story, but this is not made a condition. At the top of the first page place your name, age, and address in full, the number of words in your story, and say where you saw this offer. Do not roll your ma.n.u.script. Use paper about 5 by 8 inches in size, fold it or send flat.

Prepay postage and enclose return postage. Address it not later than December 25, 1895, to HARPER'S ROUND TABLE, New York, and put in the left-hand corner of the envelope the words "Story Compet.i.tion." 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 other contest. One person may not submit more than one story. Criticism by grown persons is permissible. The prizes are $25 each to the three best, provided there are three good stories. If there are not three good stories, the prizes will not be awarded. We shall not award a prize to and print a poor story, even if it chance to be the best received by us in this compet.i.tion. One of the stories, either a prize one or otherwise, as we may elect, is to be used in the Pen-drawing Contest, and printed, if good, with its prize ill.u.s.tration.

Prizes for Nonsense Verses

Nonsense verses are ridiculous jingles--the more ridiculous the better.

They may be four, six, or eight lines. Five prizes are offered by HARPER'S ROUND TABLE for the best--that is, for the most ridiculous.

Each prize is: Fifty engraved visiting-cards, in a neat box, with copper plate for future use. Of course the cards bear the winner's name.

Compet.i.tion open only to those who have not pa.s.sed their eighteenth birthday. Forward not later than December 1, 1895.

About the Patents.

The new Patents and also the Prospectuses to those who have asked for them, in order that they may earn prizes for placing them in the hands of families likely to be interested in them, will be mailed to all applicants about October 1st. There has been a little delay in publishing the ROUND TABLE Handy Book, but it will be ready October 1st and forwarded to all who have applied for it. The Handy Book contains thirty-six pages filled with much useful information. Those who want Patents should ask for them, and in doing so send the names of friends who may wish to belong to the Order. Ask for a Patron Patent for your teacher. The Patents will be handsomely illuminated, four pages, and bear on the last page full information about the Order.

Amateur Journalism.

The Easton, Pa., venture, which we spoke of as _Leisure Hour_, came out at last as the _Scribbler_. The September issue is most creditable. It is small, but hopes to grow. We hope it will. Address Norman Hart, Robert E. James, Jun., or George F. Wilson, 203 Northampton Street. The _Eclipse_, a bright little paper published by F. H. Lovejoy, Weldon, Pa., is larger now than ever--and better. The following-named want to receive copies of amateur papers. Harry H. Luther, Hotel Gordon, Jamaica Plain, Boston, Ma.s.s.; Charles E. Abbey, Chester, N. J.; J. F. Barksdale, Hardy, Miss.; and Harry R. Whitcomb, Umatilla, Fla.

Walter S. Beattie, 651 Madison Avenue, New York city, writes:

"We desire original contributions for our paper, _Sports and Science_, and offer a handsome book, monthly, to the person writing the best short story, poem, or sketch. All should join the Sports and Science club, and receive this paper free. Send two-cent stamp for postage to the editor for all particulars and copy of paper."

W. S. BEATTIE.

A Visit to Robbers' Cave.

Several summers ago, when I was spending my vacation at Leon Springs, we were sitting on the porch toward evening when some one suggested a visit to Robbers' Cave for the next day. In a few minutes all those idle loungers had dispersed, some to see about a guide and horses, others to make arrangements for a lunch.

After an early breakfast we mounted our horses and rode off, leaving the lunch to be brought in the surrey. When we reached the mouth of the cave we were a rather jolted-up crowd, for riding over hills in Texas is not like riding along a road in San Antonio. But by the time the surrey, with the rope-ladder and torches arrived, we were squabbling over who should go down first.

To settle that we drew straws, and it fell to my lot to go down third. The entrance to the cave was not more than six feet round, and the bottom was reached after a descent of twenty-five feet.