Harper's Round Table, October 8, 1895 Part 14

The following, "A Thanksgiving Song," requires a hymn composition, with the four parts--soprano, alto, tenor, and ba.s.s. Here is the first verse:

"For sowing and reaping, for cold and for heat.

For sweets of the flowers, and gold of the wheat, For ships in the harbors, for sails on the sea, O Father in heaven, our songs rise to Thee."

The other one requires the soprano, or tune, and piano accompaniment.

Here is the first verse:

"We have an echo in our house, An echo three years old, With dimpled cheeks and wistful eyes, And hair of sunny gold."

The concluding verses of both these poems will be found in _Little Knights and Ladies_, by Margaret E. Sangster. Verses here given are sufficient for this compet.i.tion, but those who may want the concluding verses can procure the book from any bookseller; price, $1. Messrs.

HARPER & BROTHERS are the publishers, and will send the volume, postpaid, on receipt of the price. Put your name and address on the back of the compet.i.tion, and say whether you are over or under eighteen years of age. There are no other conditions.

Kinks.

No. 106.--A STUDY IN FLOWERS.

Tell me the name of the fatherly flower (1), And of that which expresses permission, not power (2), Of the flower you'd wish, had you broken your arm (3), Of the one coming fresh from the dairy and farm (4), Of the church-going flower, in gorgeous attire (5), And the plant you may use if the cow runs drier (6); The darling Billy (7), and the reverend John (8), The gra.s.s beloved by every one (9), The flower that bids you for money to wed (10), And that which you often put on your head (11), The flower composed entirely of hair (12), And that both a dude and a beast somewhat rare (13), The dark-eyed maid (14), and the tattered tar (15), The pilgrim of Israel come from afar (16), The plant full of money (17), and that full of legs (18), The one for which many a poor beggar begs (19), The flower pretending to be a large stone (20), And those worn by a man who lives all alone (21).

What flowers are for kissing considered the best (22)?

And which doth a dear darky mammy suggest (23)?

Which does old Reynard wear on his paw (24)?

And what does a lady oft place on the floor (25)?

In what flower are various vegetables planted (26)?

And what weed is by fishermen oftentimes wanted (27)?

In what flower do many animals go (28)?

And which did the old Indian cast at his foe (29)?

G. V. B.

Where is the Richest Gold-Mine?

The Black Hills are in the western part of South Dakota, and they extend a little distance into Wyoming. The largest gold-mines in the world are up in Lead City, a small town about four miles from here. Silver is also found in some places. There are some high rocks here in this city called "White Rocks," because they are of a white color. When visitors come and learn the height (6000 feet), they are filled with a desire to climb them. People often give up other trips to have a climb up the highest rock. Even invalids attempt the journey. You pa.s.s the cemetery about half-way up.

We have firemen's tournaments here about once a year. At these, firemen take the hose-carts (we don't have fire-engines here, for our water-tank is up on a high hill), and run races with other towns, the prizes being money, of course. The tournaments usually last two or three days. They have coupling contests, too, where they see who can get water first, and have nozzle on far enough to hold the strain of the water. This is called the "novelty coupling contest." The plain coupling contest is without water. They have to "break hose," which means to detach the nozzle from one end of the hose and attach the nozzle to the other end.

ETHEL VAN CISE.

DEADWOOD, S. D.

The Helping Hand.

There have been a number of contributions to the Fund since our last acknowledgment. The amounts have been small, but every little helps.

Here are names of contributors to date--two weeks in advance of the date of this issue:

Dorothy and Pinneo, 5 cents; Victor R. Gage, $3; W. Stowell Wooster, 10 cents; George Tempel, 10 cents; William W. Mursick, 10 cents; Rose, Louise, and Mrs. P. B. Levy, Mignonette Karelson, Hattie M. Reidell, and Johanna Girvins, $1; Edwin J. Roberts, 10 cents; Christine, Ada, and Harry Norris, 30 cents; Paul Barnhart, 10 cents; Ursula Minor, $5; Vincent V. M. Beede, 10 cents; Eileen M. Weldon, 10 cents; Florence E.

Cowan, 10 cents; Maud I. Wigfield, 10 cents; Jessie Alexander, $1; Kate Sanborn, 10 cents; Two Friends, 30 cents; Allie and Julia Russell, 20 cents; Thacher H. Guild, 10 cents; Frederick G. Clapp, 10 cents; a member, 10 cents; the Winship family, 50 cents; Mary D. and Belle A.

Tarr, 20 cents; Erwin F. Wilson, 10 cents; Charles E. Abbey, 10 cents; Tom R. Robinson, 10 cents; Chauncey T. Driscol, $1; John C. Failing, 10 cents; Tracy French, 10 cents; J. Crispia Bebb, 25 cents; Christina R.

Horton, 25 cents; Adella Hooper, 10 cents; John H. Campbell, Jun., 10 cents; Lyle, Frances, and H. W. Selby, $1; Evelyn, Marianne, and Lyle Tate, $1; Helen F. Little, 10 cents; Nellie Hazeltine, 25 cents; and Addie Brown, 25 cents. Total, $17.65.

[Ill.u.s.tration: STAMPS]

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.

Several correspondents have asked me about plate numbers on English stamps, and also the meaning of the letters in the corners of the same stamps. First, as to plate numbers. For many years the plate numbers on English adhesive stamps were printed on the margin only, hence they were cut off the imperforated sheets, and torn off the perforated sheets, and are as scarce to-day as the early U.S. numbers. By reference to the one shilling, 1865, ill.u.s.trated below, the figure 1 is found on either side of the portrait. This signifies that the stamp has been printed on plate No. 1 of the one shilling. Of the higher values few plates were required, but of the one-penny stamp about 150 plates were necessary. I hope to give in an early number of the ROUND TABLE a fairly complete list of the English one-penny stamp varieties, as now collected in England. It will be very interesting to see how scientific stamp-collecting has become.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 1840.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: 1855.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: 1862.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: 1865.]

As to the letters in the angles. The one penny and twopenny English issued in 1840 had letters in the lower corners only, the fourpenny, sixpenny, and one shilling had no letters. In 1865 all the stamps were issued with letters in all four corners. The lower values were printed in sheets of 240 stamps, the first stamp bearing the letters A B in the upper corners, the next A C, the next A D, etc. In the lower corners the letters were reversed; thus a stamp marked F D in the upper corners was marked D F in the lower corners. In the rooms of the Philatelic Society, New York, complete sheets of the one-penny English stamp are to be seen, each plate made up of 240 separate stamps. The labor involved in making up these sheets was enormous, necessitating the examination of many thousands of stamps.

B. MAGELSEN.--I hope shortly to print an article on one of the stamps of Great Britain, which will give a fair answer to your questions.

PHILATUS.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Ivory Soap]

At all grocery stores east of the Rocky Mountains two sizes of Ivory Soap are sold; one that costs five cents a cake, and a larger size. The larger cake is the more convenient and economical for laundry and general household use. If your Grocer is out of it, insist on his getting it for you.

THE PROCTER & GAMBLE CO. CIN'TI.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

"Napoleon"