Questions and Answers.
James Nichols asks if we have a story contest open now, and he sends a tale for a prize. We reply, not now, and return his story. Louise Hall, secretary of the Broken Bow Chapter, 216 Thirteenth Street, Oakland, Cal., says members of her society want to hear from persons who can describe famous places and homes of famous men. Kathleen Kent, 1162 Harrison Street, is the member in charge, and she desires pictures of famous men. The Chapter members promise to answer all letters on the subject. Herbert C. Davis, Box 87, Carthage, O., plays chess, and wants to play some games by mail.
Roberta Esther Conley was much interested with that touching letter from Broussa, describing the hardships of Armenians, and she hopes everybody who can will help Miss Barton and others in relief work. The Red Cross Society is an international one, organized some years ago in Geneva, Switzerland. Miss Clara Barton is president of the American branch only. It has special privileges, as that it is, in time of war, to be permitted to go into both armies to do relief work, and that all generals shall recognize its officers and permit them to pass. It does relief work in times other than war, as during floods, famine, hurricanes, etc. "Why does it not go to Cuba?" We do not know.
"J. A. M." writes: 1. How can a boy seventeen years of age obtain a position as cabin-boy or something else on board a sailing vessel to California or thereabouts? 2. What are the duties involved in such a position? 3. How much could he earn that way, and how would it be paid to him? He does not intend to be a sailor, but wishes to regain his health and strength and earn some money to help pay his expenses at a preparatory school, for college, about a year and a half from now. 1. Apply at office on board the ships. There is no general rule. Cases of this kind are not numerous. A friend of the Table, aged 19, applied recently and was promptly taken, mainly because he was big and strong. He was offered $8 per month and board, and was required to ship for a year's cruise. One going for his health would not be likely to get much salary. 2. The duties of cabin-boy are those of a general boy of all work. 3. The pay, even for a well boy, is very small, say from $4 to $6 per month, with board.
J. L. P. and H. E. A.: All readers may send original puzzles for "Kinks." They may also send short stories when competitions are open. Short stories, other than in competition for prizes, are not desired. But the Table wants morsels, descriptive of interesting but not too well known places. Perhaps this latter phrase needs explaining. A morsel about Mt. Auburn, describing the tombs of Sumner, Burlingame, and Longfellow, would be interesting, while one describing Niagara Falls would be too hackneyed to warrant space being given it. Round Table Chapters are societies of young persons, sometimes of schools, often of churches or neighborhoods, organized to study natural history, to make collections, or perhaps merely to have a good time.