HOSIERY, GLOVES.

Broadway & 19th st.

NEW YORK.

A cream-of-tartar baking powder. Highest of all in leavening strength.—Latest United States Government Food Report.

Royal Baking Powder Co., New York.

Sparkling with life—rich with delicious flavor, HIRES Rootbeer stands first as nature's purest and most refreshing drink. Best by any test.

Made only by The Charles E. Hires Co., Philadelphia.

A 25c. package mates 5 gallons. Sold everywhere.

the best things in Prose and Poetry, always including good Songs and Hymns. It is surprising how little good work of this kind seems to be done in the Schools, if one must judge from the small number of people who can repeat, without mistake or omission, as many as Three good songs or hymns.

and accurate Memory work is a most excellent thing, whether in School or out of it, among all ages and all classes. But let that which is so learned be worth learning and worth retaining. The Franklin Square Song Collection presents a large number of

and Hymns, in great variety and very carefully selected, comprising Sixteen Hundred in the Eight Numbers thus far issued, together with much choice and profitable Reading Matter relating to Music and Musicians. In the complete and varied

which is sent free on application to the Publishers, there are found dozens of the best things in the World, which are well worth committing to memory; and they who know most of such good things, and appreciate and enjoy them most, are really among the best educated people in any country. They have the best result of Education. For above Contents, with sample pages of Music, address

Harper & Brothers, New York.

This Department is conducted in the interest of Bicyclers, and the Editor will be pleased to answer any question on the subject. Our maps and tours contain many 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.

It is advisable at this point to leave Connecticut and Massachusetts and describe one of the best—and practically the only—ways of going on a wheel from the Hudson River to the Berkshire Hills. We have already given in former numbers of Harper's Round Table the route from New York city to Hudson, on the Hudson River. For any one making the trip from New York city to the Berkshire Hills, the best route is to follow this already described, and at Hudson to take the following trip to Pittsfield.

Leave Hudson by Warren Street, and run along the trolley-line to the Boston-Albany railroad tracks, and then make for what is called the Columbia turnpike by turning to the left around the park, and still keeping to the left into Green Street. Continuing along this road, you will run into Claverack, four miles away. The road is good, but begins to be hilly towards the last. Claverack is then left, the rider moving eastward and taking the right turn, which carries him by the Red Mills. Then comes a long ascent, and at the end of three miles Hollowville is passed. The road runs clearly, and is practically unmistakable to Martindale, and with the exception of the few hills, it is capital bicycling. Four miles further on, Craryville is reached, the hills becoming a little more frequent, but the road-bed is in such good condition that all are rideable. Three miles further on you pass through Hillsdale, and then run into South Egremont, and then, keeping to the right on leaving South Egremont, climb a long hill with a long coast on the other side, and by Maple Avenue run into Great Barrington. From Great Barrington the road to Pittsfield, through Stockbridge, is along the railroad track through Van Densenville to Housatonic, thence through Glendale to Curtisville, through Stockbridge, and leaving Stockbridge Bowl on the right, up West Street to Lenox. To go from Lenox take Main Street and run direct into the town of Pittsfield itself.

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.

One of the stamp papers reports that a Washington philatelist has had two U.S. 1847 ten-cent stamps made up into a pair of cuff-buttons. This is an old idea. I remember seeing a number of similar buttons many years ago in Germany.

A rumor is current that a new series of stamps is under contemplation by the U.S. government, or that there will be a change in the color of several denominations.

The Olympian stamps continue to be used on letters received in New York, and several foreign papers state that the set will be used until next October, and possibly longer. The official report of the number printed of the different denominations shows clearly that the speculating element was in the mind of the officials of the Greek government. For instance, they printed 20,000 of the 60-lepta stamp (12c.), and 50,000 of the 10 drachmai ($2). The 60 lepta advanced in price to $1.25 within a few days, as all the 60 l. were sold out on the first day to a few favored ones. The outcry from the other speculators was so loud that the government ordered 50,000 more printed, and the price dropped to 30c. It is a pity that the Greek government should humiliate itself in this way, and the first step to make these Olympian stamps "regular" should be an order to print as many copies of any denomination as may be asked for. The stamps themselves are so pretty and interesting that every collector wants to see them established as a regular issue.

Bev.—The U.S. 1870 stamps were printed by the National Bank-Note Company. In 1873 the contract passed to the Continental Company. They added secret marks to the 1c., 2c., 3c., 6c., 7c., 10c., 12c., and 15c., and probably to the 24c., 30c., and 90c.; but these last have not been identified to the satisfaction of all philatelists. In 1875 the American Bank-Note Company succeeded to the contract. They printed the stamps on a peculiar soft porous paper, which identifies their issues. They also added a secret mark to the 3c. stamp, and some years later they re-engraved the 1c., 3c., 6c., and 10c. As to U. S. stamps on ribbed paper, I personally do not believe in them. I have seen many collections of unused U. S. in blacks, and never saw one on ribbed paper. The used stamps which looked like ribbed paper were probably accidentally produced by the paper to which they were affixed.

W. K. Dort.—To answer all your questions would take at least two columns. U. S. Revenue stamps, perforated, are still very low in price, with the exception of the few scarce and rare stamps. You can get a full catalogue of all postage-stamps and of the U. S. Revenue stamps for 25c. from any responsible dealer.

Edgar Hill, 3612 Columbia Avenue, Cincinnati, O., wishes to exchange stamps.

J. H. De Jarnette.—No premium on the coins.

J. K. Dennon.—Postal cards are collected by some of our leading philatelists. As there is very little demand, the prices are low; but, on the other hand, dealers do not pay much attention to them, and carry very little stock. Personally I prefer adhesive postage stamps to U.S. Revenues.

W. P. Kellmond.—Dealers ask 15c. for the U.S. 1804 half-cent. No "flying eagle" cents are worth more than face, except the 1856, which can be bought for $4.

A. Hall.—The Franklin-head U. S. carrier stamp used in 1851 is one of the rarest U. S. stamps. If the U. S. government had not reprinted this stamp it would be worth $250 to-day. The reprint was made on the same paper, with the same color of ink, and from the original plates.

A. Reichman.—My advice is to keep all your stamps, whether duplicates or not, until you know more about them. Buy a catalogue, and carefully examine the stamps by it. After you have selected all the varieties, sell or trade the rest. Do not keep them, expecting to make a fortune by their rise in value. They may go up according to catalogue, but you will find it impossible to realize. Cornering stamps is about as unprofitable a thing as cornering stocks. For instance, so many people bought quantities of Columbian stamps on speculation that the dealers in New York are buying them at ten per cent. discount. One dealer bought a lot of nearly $11,000 face value at that rate, and the lot contained a quantity of the $1 and $2, which still other parties have cornered.

E. R. N.—Your stamps are worth 5c. each. The only way to tell the date of issue is by reference to one who knows, or, still better, by reference to a catalogue which gives illustrations, dates, prices, etc. Such a catalogue you can buy of any dealer for 25c. or 50c.

Hawley, Pa.—1. "Pneumatic" envelopes are those used in Berlin, Paris, etc., for letters sent through the pneumatic post-tubes. Some day we hope our government will wake up and give us a pneumatic service in the large cities. 2. See answer to O. H. Schell. 3. Technical terms in stamp-dealing are too numerous to mention in one answer. 4. By looking carefully. 5. The centennial of the first settlement.

R. H. Anderson, 121 East Forty-seventh Street, New York, wants to trade stamps for mineral or botanical specimens, or curios.

E. B. Bradley.—You ask too much. Refer to a catalogue, which can be had of any dealer for 25c.

H. Bevis.—Unless you know what the genuine stamp is, or have a copy before you, you cannot expect to detect counterfeits.

S. Garmley.—The 12c. 1872 is worth 50c. The 30c., worth 12c. The 24c. is 1861 issue, worth 25c. Your 3c. 1861 is probably the rose, worth 1c.

Philatus.