CARDS
The FINEST SAMPLE BOOK of Gold Beveled Edge, Hidden Name, Silk Fringe, Envelope and Calling Cards ever offered for a 2 cent stamp. These are GENUINE CARDS, NOT TRASH. UNION CARD CO., COLUMBUS, OHIO.
Two
Beauties.
The DeLONG hook and eye and the CUPID hair pin. The one will not unhook of itself, the other will not slip out of the hair.
Both made by
Richardson & DeLong Bros.,
Philadelphia.
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 much 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.
Before we take up the maps again a word should be said concerning the purchase of a wheel for the ensuing year. Just at this time every bicyclist is longing for a $100 '96 wheel, and looking with disgust on his '95 or '94 machine, which has served him many a time, and carried him over many a good mile. Of course the '96 is better than the same make of '95. That is required of manufacturers if they wish to keep up with the best things of the time. There are certain improvements this year in bearings and tubes, in increasing the easy running of one, and strengthening without adding to the weight of the other; but in spite of those improvements, this year for the first time there have been no great changes in wheels. If you have a '95 wheel, therefore, which has run about a 1000 miles, two courses are open to you. You may be able to get $50 for it, and by putting another $50 with that, buy a new one; or you can spend ten or fifteen dollars on the '95 wheel and have a bicycle practically as good as can be obtained for ordinary use. If you are riding bicycle-races, or going in for long-distance records and thousand-mile tours, it will unquestionably pay you to get what you can for the old machine, and buy a new one of the highest price. On the other hand, if you seldom do more than ten to twenty miles a day once or twice a week, or if you use it for riding to and from the railroad station each day, or for going to and returning from school, the one you have already used a year, if it has been well cared for, will meet every requirement as fully as the new bicycle could. Indeed, a '95 or '96 bicycle of good make ought to keep in good condition with such use for three or four years without requiring more than five or ten dollars a year. There are cases to-day of '92 and '93 wheels which run as well as many '95 bicycles, and which have had constant use for three or four years. Naturally they are heavier, and the running gear is not as perfect as in the later wheels, but this year the improvements are so insignificant, compared with those of past years, that '96 and '95 wheels are not different in important details. In a place like New York city, or Chicago, or Philadelphia, or Boston, one can pick up a good wheel for half price which will be sure to last him a year without expense or annoyance. Somebody with a superfluity of money is willing to let his wheel go at any price in order to have an excuse for buying a new one; and such a man usually gives a bicycle a minimum amount of use.
In purchasing such a second-hand bicycle several important points should be noted. In the first place, and most important of all, take the bearings of front, back, and sprocket wheels apart and see if the balls are worn. Put them in place and note if they "rattle round" more than they should. Here is the first place where a bicycle begins to lose its usefulness. If the bearings are worn, either from use or lack of care in keeping dirt out, the wheel will never again run easily. Next look closely at the pedals, not only at the bearings in them, but at the condition of them generally. They get a large amount of wear and tear, and they strike obstacles which come in the way of the bicyclist more often than any other part of the wheel. From this they are apt to be imperceptibly bent in one place or another, which will account for an otherwise inexplicable difficulty in sending the wheel ahead. Then look at the tires carefully. If they have had several punctures you might as well pay out the money at once to get new ones as to spend it in piecemeal, at great inconvenience to your riding because of frequent punctures. Sometimes, too, the rubber is not of the best grade, and in a year will become dried and likely to crack. Sometimes the owner has not been careful to keep the tires well filled with air, and the rim of the wheel cuts partly through them, making them likely to burst at that point. Aside from these three important points, with the addition of sprocket chain and spokes, the faults of a wheel will show themselves.
This Department is conducted in the interest of Girls and Young Women, and the Editor will be pleased to answer any question on the subject so far as possible. Correspondents should address Editor.
The quality of one's voice in conversation has much to do with the pleasure listeners find in their part of the exercise. "A low voice," says Shakespeare, "is an excellent thing in woman." I agree with him, adding on my part the adjective "clear." A low mumbling voice is not agreeable, but when a voice has pleasant modulations, is low-toned, sweet, and distinct, it is as delightful to hear it in speech as in song.
One sometimes meets a charming girl who has a beautiful complexion, bright eyes, a pleasant manner, and a merry laugh. But, alas! her shrill, screaming voice, or her nasal tones, or her harsh discordant way of speaking, neutralizes her other advantages. With my eyes shut, simply by hearing a girl's voice in another room, or in a public conveyance where she sits at my back and I cannot even glance at her, I can tell whether a young girl is well or ill bred; almost I can state positively whether she belongs to the better-educated or the untaught classes in our land. Her voice tells the whole story. It is a surer indication than anything else about her of the people she has lived among, the care that has been taken in her upbringing, and the sort of character, refined or coarse, which she bears.
There are little mannerisms of speech which belong to certain parts of the country, and which are caught up unconsciously by young people, so that when they go away from home those who meet them have little difficulty in deciding from what point they started. For instance, if a young girl drops her final g's, and says mornin', evenin', greetin', meetin', comin', and goin', I know where she comes from. I have visited in a place or two where the sweet-voiced people nearly all cut off their final g's. And if she rolls her r's, and says the words that have r in them with a burr, I recall a journey I made one summer, and I remember numbers of nice girls who all paid r the compliment of twisting it lovingly around their tongues as they used it. A girl who says daown for down and caow for cow labels herself as plainly as if she labelled a trunk, and so does a girl whose vowel sounds are all matters of conscience to that degree that she speaks as if she were mentally spelling her words.
We ought to try to pronounce correctly. There are changes in pronunciation from time to time, but the dictionaries and the usage of well-educated persons will guide us, if we care about the matter and take pains to be right. But if we happen to hear some old-fashioned lady or gentleman pronounce a word in a by-gone manner, we shall, of course, be too polite to take notice, nor will we, as rude people have been known to do, repeat the same word in our own turn, with a different accent. I cannot too strongly urge my girls to be polite in all circumstances. Politeness is merely consideration for others, real unselfishness.
Kathie asks me to give her my views about flirting. My dear child, I haven't any. I cannot imagine school-girls flirting, if by this is meant interchanging looks and smiles in a silly way with strangers. No well brought up girl ever does this; and when a girl allows herself to infringe on the code of behavior which holds her aloof from strangers, she shows herself to be either very ignorant or very stupid.
When you are travelling, or are in any place where a stranger performs a kind and obliging act, acknowledge the courtesy by a simple bow and a thank you. The man who rises and gives you a seat in a car is entitled to this acknowledgment, and so is any one who, at any time, shows you politeness. But you must not enter into conversation with strangers, nor make new acquaintances in public.
Any question in regard to photograph matters will be willingly answered by the Editor of this column, and we should be glad to hear from any of our club who can make helpful suggestions.
Owing to the number of questions received and replies given, we are compelled to omit this Department this week.
E. G., of Worthington, Ohio, asks what is the best kind of water to use in photography, and what is done with the different solutions after they have been used. The best kind of water is distilled water, but as this cannot always be obtained, amateurs get along without it. Water which has been filtered through blotting paper is free enough from sediment to make it all right for ordinary purposes such as developing, toning, etc. In washing pictures after toning, or in washing negatives in running water, it is a good idea to tie a flannel bag to the faucet, as this catches all sediment, and prevents gritty particles settling in the soft film. Photographers who use a great deal of material usually save their solutions and separate the gold, but amateurs do not find it of enough value to pay, as the quantity used is so small. Toning solutions are usually thrown away after the gold is exhausted. Developers can be used over several times if fresh is added to keep up the strength. Hypo after being used for a batch of pictures should be thrown away, for dirty hypo will stain negatives, and as it costs but little it is better to have it fresh, and thus ensure good results.
Sir Knight Louis A. Dyar, of Winona, Minn., asks why pictures taken with a camera that makes a picture 3½ x 3½ are not allowed in prize competitions; how to make platinotype prints; if sepia prints are considered artistic; if it is possible for one to take a good instantaneous out-of-door figure study; and if a camera is not perfect, if the manufacturers would repair it. The reason why pictures made with a camera smaller than a 4 x 5 are usually excluded from prize competitions is because the small cameras do not admit of so much scope in the pictures, and while many artistic "bits" are taken with the small camera, they cannot really enter into competition with pictures taken with a larger camera, which requires more care and skill in making. Prints made in sepia tints are considered quite artistic for some pictures. Sepia tints would not be appropriate for snow pictures or for marines, but for some landscapes sepia tones are better than black or gray. It is possible to take a good instantaneous figure study out of doors, but the contrast between the lights and shadows is apt to be too strong if the picture is taken in the sunlight. With a quick plate and lens one may make a good instantaneous with the subject placed in the shadow of a building. If a camera is found to be defective it should be taken to the dealer from whom it was purchased, who will return it to the manufacturers and have the defect remedied.
Sir Knight Leslie T. Redman, Lexington, Massachusetts, says that the film from his negatives has a tendency to rise from the glass, and wishes some remedy. This is what is called "frilling," and is usually caused by the solutions being used at too high a temperature. A little alum in the fixing bath will harden the film. The following is a good formula: Hypo, 16 oz.; water, 64 oz.; pulverized alum, 1 oz. Mix thoroughly till the hypo and alum are dissolved. Let it stand for twenty-four hours till the precipitate formed by the alum has settled at the bottom. Then either syphon off the clear liquid or turn it off carefully, so as not to disturb the sediment at the bottom. The negative should remain in the fixing bath five minutes after the silver has been removed.
F. P., Mok Hill, California, asks for a good formula for an intensifier. F. P. will find in No. 824 (August 13th) three formulas for intensifying a plate, and one in No. 839 (November 26th) in answer to Sir Knight John H. Curtis. If not successful in their use, please write to the editor of the Camera Club.
Sir Knight Robert H. Ewell, sent, last May, directions for making spirit photographs. The publication has been withheld until the present time, as winter seems the best time for trying experiments, there being little of out-door work for the camera. Drape a sheet about a person, letting it fall below the feet. Take a picture of this person standing near or behind a chair with the arm extended, making a short exposure. Close the shutter, leaving the camera in same position, pose some one in the chair—the ghost having, of course, been removed—and take his picture. The first exposure for the spirit should be quite short, while that for the real photograph should be exposed as for any portrait. Develop the plate, and the negative should show the dim outline of the "ghost" standing by the person photographed. The editor has seen many amusing photographs made in this way.
Sir Knight Teebor Rolyat, Newark, N.J., asks if the Night Hawk is a good camera for a beginner, and if it is suitable to take good pictures; what is the simplest and best solution for a beginner to use; and if it would spoil a plate when the sun is shining on the camera from the front. The Night Hawk is considered an excellent camera for beginners, and it will take good pictures if the owner will use care and judgment. Some of the pictures which won prizes in a recent contest were taken with an outfit costing less than twenty dollars. One must use that camera as the painter advised his pupils to mix paints—"With brains, sir!" A beginner would be more successful if he used one of the ready-prepared developers when first learning. They are prepared by expert chemists and accurately mixed. After a little experience in developing, one can then mix his own solutions. Many formulas have already been given, and others are to follow soon. Two formulas for developers are given in No. 844 (December 31). The sun shining into the camera and striking the plate would fog the plate, but if the lens is shaded so that the direct rays of the sun do not strike it, the camera may be pointed directly toward the sun.