EARN A TRICYCLE.

We wish to introduce our Teas. Sell 30 lbs. and we will give you a Fairy Tricycle; sell 25 lbs. for a Solid Silver Watch and Chain; 50 lbs. for a Gold Watch and Chain; 75 lbs. for a Bicycle; 10 lbs. for a Gold Ring. Write for catalog and order sheet Dept. I

W. G. BAKER,

Springfield, Mass.

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. Recognising 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.

Copyright, 1896, by Harper & Brothers.

The map accompanying the department this week is a continuation of the best routes on the western bank of the Hudson. Last week the map covered the country as far north as Englewood and Hackensack; this week it runs from Englewood across into New York State. The most direct route, and the most interesting ride, is to leave Englewood, and run northward through Highwood, Tenafly, Cresskill, Demarest, Closter, Norwood, Tappan, Blauveltville, Rockland Park, to Nyack; or one can ride from Tappan through Sparkill, Piermont, direct to Nyack nearer the river. In parts this road is in very good condition, but there are places where it is heavy riding. In Tappan it is worth while stopping for part of an hour to see the Andre Monument and Washington's Headquarters.

Another good run is to start from Englewood, running direct to Hackensack—that is, as direct as the road will permit. The road-bed is good all the way. On reaching Hackensack, run southward through the town; then turn westward, and run out through Dundee to Paterson. From Paterson the road is in more or less good condition out towards Tuxedo, running through Ridgewood Junction, Ridgewood, Hohokus, Allendale, Ramseys, to Sufferns. Proceeding thence towards Tuxedo, or turning eastward and running through Tallmans, Monsey, Spring Valley, Nanuet, Clarksville, and West Nyack, to Nyack. Still another run is from Englewood to Hackensack, and thence northward to Sufferns, through Arcola, Paramus, turning to the left at Ridgewood, and running on through Hohokus.

Any of these roads can be picked out easily from the map, and you are pretty sure to find that in the main those roads marked in heavy black are good bicycle roads. The hotel accommodations are none of the best in any part of this country, with a few exceptions. In the summer-time the Prospect House in Nyack is probably the best hotel within a radius of many miles, but it is closed in the fall and winter. Reasonably good accommodations can be had at Hackensack and Paterson, but the smaller towns usually have but one hotel, which is apt to be of the road-house type, and one must make up his mind, if he finds it necessary to stop over night anywhere, to take what comes in an optimistic spirit. The hills of the country are in some cases rather steep. Close to the Hudson, after one has once got on top of the Palisades, there are not many which cannot be ridden. The road running from Hackensack up the Hackensack River valley, through Overtown, Westwood, Montvale, Middletown to Nanuet does not run over many hills, but further back from the river, north of Paterson, the wheelman is likely to find more irregularities in the surface of the country.

Note.—Map of New York city asphalted streets in No. 809. Map of route from New York to Tarrytown in No. 810. New York to Stamford, Connecticut, in No. 811. New York to Staten Island in No. 812. New Jersey from Hoboken to Pine Brook in No. 813. Brooklyn in No. 814. Brooklyn to Babylon in No. 815. Brooklyn to Northport in No. 816. Tarrytown to Poughkeepsie in No. 817. Poughkeepsie to Hudson in No. 818. Hudson to Albany in No. 819. Tottenville to Trenton in No. 820. Trenton to Philadelphia in No. 821. Philadelphia in No. 822. Philadelphia-Wissahickon Route in No. 823. Philadelphia to West Chester in No. 824. Philadelphia to Atlantic City—First Stage in No. 825; Second Stage in No. 826. Philadelphia to Vineland—First Stage in No. 827; Second Stage in No. 828. New York to Boston—Second Stage in No. 829; Third Stage in No. 830; Fourth Stage in No. 831; Fifth Stage in No. 832; Sixth Stage in No. 833. Boston to Concord in No. 834. Boston in No. 835. Boston to Gloucester in No. 836. Boston to Newburyport in No. 837. Boston to New Bedford in No. 838. Boston to South Framingham in No. 839. Boston to Nahant in No. 840. Boston to Lowell in No. 841. Boston to Nantasket Beach in No. 842. Boston Circuit Ride in No. 843. Philadelphia to Washington—First Stage in No. 844; Second Stage in No. 845; Third Stage in No. 846; Fourth Stage in No. 847; Fifth Stage in No. 848. City of Washington in No. 849. City of Albany in No. 854. Albany to Fonda in No. 855; Fonda to Utica in No. 856; Utica to Syracuse in No. 857; Syracuse to Lyons in No. 858; Lyons to Rochester in No. 859; Rochester to Batavia in No. 860; Batavia to Buffalo in No. 861; Poughkeepsie to Newtown in No. 864; Newtown to Hartford in No. 865; New Haven to Hartford in No. 866; Hartford to Springfield in No. 867; Hartford to Canaan in No. 868; Canaan to Pittsfield in No. 869; Hudson to Pittsfield in No. 870. City of Chicago in No. 874. Waukesha to Oconomowoc in No. 875; Chicago to Wheeling in No. 876; Wheeling to Lippencott's in No. 877; Lippencott's to Waukesha in No. 878; Waukesha to Milwaukee in No. 879; Chicago to Joliet in No. 881; Joliet to Ottawa in No. 882; Ottawa to La Salle in No. 883: Jersey City to Englewood in No. 890.

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.

Belgium has just issued a new series of stamps in commemoration of the exhibition to be held in Brussels next year. These stamps can be used throughout the kingdom, and no limit as to time for such use has been made. Consequently the S.S.S.S. will probably not put them on the list of stamps not worthy of collection.

The stamps are about twice the size of the current issue of Belgium, and all have the sabbatical label attached. The design is St. Michael and the Dragon, with the Brussels City Hall and Palace of Justice in the background. The 10 centimes is a rich brown, the 5 centimes a violet, and the 25 centimes, for postal packets, black and green. The design is very handsome, and the stamps make a good appearance.

The surcharging of India stamps with the names of the various native governments goes on apace. New issues have lately come on the market from Gwalior, Jhind, Chamba, and Sirmoor. These are very good stamps for the average collector to leave alone. Advanced collectors and specialists, of course, need no advice.

Straits Settlements, Johore.—Design—A portrait of the new Sultan.

1c., green.4c., green and rose.
2c., green and blue.5c., green and brown.
3c., green and olive.6c., green and yellow.
$1, lilac and green.

Negri Sembillan.—Water-mark crown and C.A. Design—Tiger head.

15c., green and mauve.

Perak.—Water-mark crown and C.A. Design—Tiger head.

25c., green and carmine.

Same design, but water-marked crown and C.C.

$2, green and carmine.$10, green and violet.
$3, green and olive.$25, green and yellow.

The following are late issues which are now in the hands of dealers:

Sierra Leone.—Water-mark C.A. with crown. De la Rue's standard design.

1d., black and rose.2-1/2d., black and blue.
2d., black and orange.1s., green and black.

Canada has just issued a new 2c. post-card.

Madagascar.—-

1c., black.20c., red.
2c., brown.30c., brown.
4c., claret.1 franc, bronze.

Colombian Republic, Antioquia.—Two sets seem to have been issued at one time. The design is the same in both, but the colors are different. The denominations are 2c., 2-1/2c., 3c., 5c., 10c., 20c., and 50c.; 1 peso, 2 pesos, and 5 pesos, and a registration stamp.

The new French stamps, the design of which was published last March, seems to have been abandoned. It is said the government was not satisfied with the design, and intend to open a new competition.

I am frequently asked whether the dollar values of U.S. stamps are ever used in a legitimate manner, and if so by whom.

As a matter of fact the dollar values are used in a very few post-offices, and probably the bulk are used in New York city. Bankers send bonds abroad in large packages by registered mail. The regular rate is 10c. an ounce, $1.60 a pound. One large firm of bankers to my knowledge has used over $2000 in dollar stamps for this purpose in a single week. The average size of the bundle of bonds necessitates stamps to the average value of about $20. Larger bundles are frequently sent. In England a stamp of £5 ($25) is frequently used. I have seen the wrapper of a bundle received by a New York banker on which were eight £5 stamps. Lawyers send legal papers in a similar manner. The largest package I know of from New York was about the size of a large dry-goods case. It was filled with legal papers to be used in a patent suit in South Africa. The postage was $187, consequently the box weighed about 117 pounds. There is practically no limit to the weight of first-class parcels in either the domestic or foreign mails.

F. W. Lampier, Jun., Stites Melton, and Miss Fannie Moore, of Ridley Park, Pa., wish to exchange stamps.

B. A. Richardson.—Dealers sell the 1835 dimes at 20c.

F. I. O.—The 3 kreuzer 1865 Würtemberg unused is offered by dealers at about $2.

K.—The following are prices quoted by dealers: U.S. cents, 1831, 1845, 1846, and 1847, 5c. each. Dimes, 1838, 1842, 1854, and 1856, 20c. each. Half-Dime, 1853, 10c. Quarter, 1845, 50c.; 1853, 35c. U.S. cent, 1705, 50c. to $1. The other coins, etc., face value only.

A. Albers.—English Revenues used for postage, if on the original envelope, are sought after in England, but in America there is no demand.

C. P. K.—By buying at auctions entire envelopes can frequently be bought at much less than the catalogue prices for cut copies.

Philatus.