I have organized a little club of five girls, three thirteen-year-olds, one ten, and one eleven years. We call it the Iris Club, in honor of Juno's hand-maiden between the earth and sky; and also in honor of her, our colors are purple and white. Our dues for the first month are ten cents, and after that five cents. We are going to give these dues to the Home for Friendless Children. I thought it would be nice to take up some noted work which all would enjoy—the oldest as well as the youngest. I love Dickens, but his works are so lengthy, and the plot so long in evolving, that the younger ones might lose interest. Can you suggest a list of books?
Adelaide L. W. Ermentrout.
Reading, Pa.
Ellen Douglas Deland's Oakleigh, The Wide, Wide World, which is a standard, but which you may have read, and Mrs. A. D. T. Whitney's books—all of them.
Amateur Illustrator's Outfit.
"What utensils are needed by an amateur illustrator, and where can they be obtained? J. S."
Corning, N. Y.
Illustrations are made in two ways—pen-drawing, and what is called "wash." For the former get good Bristol board, a bottle of drawing-ink, and some small steel pens. The outfit will cost half a dollar, perhaps, and can be had from a dealer in artists' materials, or your bookseller may have them. If he has not, he can get them for you. To draw in wash use ivory black and Chinese white. The drawing is a water-color, and the picture is made with the lights and shades of the background, the ink, and the white. Use water-color paper and small sable brushes—half a dozen assorted sizes. You can get the outfit by sending to the address given in any advertisement. These are all the utensils you need. The rest comes by practice and study.