THE GYMNASIUM: CHILDREN’S BUILDING.
By the side of the road was a closely cropped and velvety lawn, and over the lawn a patent sprinkler was propelling itself. The water in passing through the pipes set in motion wheels that propelled the little sprinkler slowly over the lawn so as to distribute the water evenly. It was a clever invention, and its utility was evident. Philip and Harry stopped to examine it, but Philip still kept his note-book in hand, and soon had jotted down these entries—speeches made at sight of the little motor:
“Greatest thing I ever saw!”
(“Evidently he did not come here by way of Niagara, as Phinney did,” remarked Harry.)
“Runs itself—water does it! See?” said one.
“Pretty—good—scheme!” exclaimed another.
“Seen ’em before,” came from a third.
“Ain’t that good?” observed a fourth.
And then Harry and Philip went on; but they talked it over, and concluded that the little sprinkler was a rather independent machine to have set loose on a lawn. Sleeping dogs, and people dozing in hammocks, would have to take their chances.
By this time they had reached the Children’s Building, and after admiring the frescoed medallions on the walls, showing children in various foreign costumes, they entered by the main door. First they went up-stairs to the second floor, as they had been invited by the lady in charge to come there at once. Unfortunately, she was not in; but there was plenty in the room to interest them. Upon the walls were large and small drawings, engravings, and photographs of writers known to children or especial favorites of young readers. They saw Miss Louisa M. Alcott (“Jo,” of “Little Women”), Hawthorne, Longfellow, Whittier, Mary Mapes Dodge, Thomas Bailey Aldrich (“Tom Bailey,” of “The Story of a Bad Boy”), Frank R. Stockton (whose “Jolly Fellowship” was a favorite book of Harry’s), Thomas Hughes (“Tom Brown at Oxford” and “Tom Brown at Rugby”), Holmes, Lowell—and ever so many more; but the author of “Billy Butts the Boy Detective” was left out without being missed.