During the last dozen years there have been many efforts made to urge people to indulge in certain little self-sacrifices of their own choosing in order to save money for charity. Special societies have been formed with this end in view. Large societies have inaugurated annual self-denial weeks, and have sent out envelopes in which the self-denial money was placed. The returns from the small collections have massed enormous sums.
A story issued in the interest of this feature of charity tells how a little girl, because of her poverty, had nothing to give up for the sake of another, so she decided to sell her pet dog, that she might have an offering. The ways in which "do-without money" is obtained are many. Some go without certain articles of food. Others walk instead of ride in the street cars. Entertainments and excursions are given up and their cost duly noted.
A Suggestion and a Promise.
P. E. Hawkins writing from Taunton, Mass., tells how to cure skins—information we have printed from other sources, but we had not done so when he wrote—and adds:
"A pretty mat for a lamp or ash-receiver can be made by cutting the skin its entire length on the lower side of the animal. Then cut felt or cloth after the shape of the skin but larger, and sew the skin to it. The mat will be prettier if the felt or cloth be scalloped or 'pinked.' Any bright color will do. May write again describing the method of catching herring in the Taunton River, and the way the fish get above the East Taunton dam."
Let us have the herring morsel. Thanks.
The Fun of the Amateur Editor.
In answer to your request in your issue of June 11th, I write to tell you that I do not hire my paper printed as the other correspondent does. The name of my paper is Our Young People, and the printing on each of its four pages measures five by six, slightly larger than the Amateur Collector. Our Young People is eleven by eight when open. As we print it ourselves it does not cost much actual money, but it does cost quite a good deal of work.