Proposed International Club.
Efforts are being made to form a Correspondence Chapter, its members to be Ladies, and those whose homes are widely scattered, in order that they may describe each other's homes, and have those descriptions of interest. Three members interested in it are: Donna Vittoria Colonna, Colonna Palace, Rome, Italy; Miss Isma Fincham, Roydon, Queenstown, South Africa; and Miss Florence E. Cowan, Kingman, Arizona. The last-named desires to hear from Miss Marie Ojetti, Rome, Italy, from the members in Australia and New Zealand, and all others, fourteen to eighteen years of age, who may wish to join.
Questions and Answers.
Robert Burdette Dale asks about the Panama Canal. The projector of it was M. Ferdinand de Lesseps, the man who success fully financed and constructed the Suez Canal. For his Panama venture he obtained vast sums from the French middle classes. The United States consul at Colon reported, about one year ago, that $400,000,000 had been spent upon the canal, but that comparatively little progress had been made toward completion. Yet he said in the same report that $100,000,000 would complete it. The discrepancy is due to the cause you mention—profligacy in the management thus far.
Charges of fraud were made in France, and the last days of the great engineer were embittered by the wreck of his hopes and of many poor French families. Direct fraud was not, we believe, traced to M. Ferdinand, but rather he was the victim of over-confidence and of unscrupulous men. At present about 1000 men are employed on the canal, chiefly to protect machinery and work already done. The Nicaragua Canal is to be 170 miles long, and its estimated cost $100,000,000. Its survey crosses no rivers; but were a canal to do so, it would, if on the same level, let the river run into the canal and act as a water-feeder. If not on a level, either the river or the canal would be crossed by an aqueduct. Mountains are tunnelled, or the route laid out around them.
Don Rathburn, write to Hon. George D. Perkins, Sioux City, your member of Congress, who will give you full particulars about entering Annapolis. At least he can tell you if there be a vacancy from your district. Only one person at a time may be at Annapolis from one district. Hence, ordinarily, one is appointed every four years. If, in this busy political season, Mr. Perkins does not reply promptly, write to Hon. Hilary A. Herbert, Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C. Elizabeth Barber, 126 Court Street, Oshkosh, Wis., wants numbers 783 and 787 Harper's Young People. These issues are out of the publisher's stock. If any reader has them and is willing to sell them, Miss Barber will pay both price and postage. Thomas Skelley will do the same to get numbers 787, 792, and 796, and Nicholas J. Healy, 203 West Street, New York city, to get number 821. The last named is informed that he can get number 833 by applying to the publishers. These numbers are wanted to complete volumes for binding. Ralph B. Hughes, Richmond, Mo., a member of our Order, says: "I am much interested in the collection of the colloquial songs of this country, and would be very glad to receive a copy of the words of any of these songs from any of the readers of the Round Table. I want plantation songs, negro and steamboat deck hands' songs, sailors' and soldiers' songs. Any one who will send me these songs will confer a favor, which I would be glad to repay in any way that I can. I have a small collection of these songs, many of which are very interesting, and I would like to enlarge it."
"Fortunatus" can find, probably, no place where "fine needle-work may be readily sold at a good price." The reason is an over-supply. She can try two ways to earn money with her needle. One is to secure the names of well-to-do women and write them personal letters, mentioning the wares for sale, and asking if they may be sent for inspection. A few replies—perhaps ten out of fifty letters—will be received, and it is safe, as a rule, to send the article on approval, with stamp for its return. If any be lost, charge it to profit and loss, which is in every business. The other is to place the work on sale at exchanges, which are found in all cities. To reach them, address "Woman's Exchange." A small commission is charged, and generally hints are given you about what class of articles sell best.