There is a new machine made for sharpening scissors.
The blades to be sharpened are passed through an opening in the side of the machine, and are brought in contact with a bar, which is made of emery or other sharpening material.
The bar is adjusted with springs which move back and forth with the pressure of the blade, in such manner that a very fine edge can be put on the metal to be sharpened. G.H.R.
LETTERS FROM OUR YOUNG FRIENDS.
Dear Editor:
Mother and I have been reading The Great Round World all winter and have enjoyed it so much. I think it is a very valuable little magazine, you make everything seem so interesting. Halifax is rather a quaint city. It is noted for its beautiful scenery, fine harbor, park, and public gardens. It is an ideal place to spend the hot summer months in, and American tourists are learning more about us every year. A little girl visiting here from Boston last summer was asked one morning if she should like to go to the green market and see the Indians make and sell their baskets. She hesitated a moment, then said, "Well, if they are not wild Indians I would." I think strangers have an idea that the inhabitants of Halifax are nearly all Indians (we rarely see one except market days), that our noses are really blue in color, that our houses are covered with codfish-skins, and that our only article of diet is fish. This seems all very amusing to us. We are going to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee here next month. One feature of the celebration will be a grand Military Tournament. I saw one last year, and it was grand. At the close there was a mimic battle between the British and the Arabs; it was very exciting. I was so interested that I said to my sister, "The Arabs fight just as well as the British," forgetting for a minute that they were all British. I think the American flag prettier than the flag of any other nation. There is a lovely story running through St. Nicholas, now. It is called "Miss Nina Barrow." It ought to delight every girl reader. Hoping I am not taking up too much of your valuable time with my letter, and wishing The Great Round World much success, I remain,
Yours truly,
Halifax, N.S., May 11th, 1897. Marie
Dear Editor:
I am very much interested in the Cubans, and I hope that they will get free. I wish The Great Round World would tell more about it. We have your nice little book for our reading class. We all laughed right out when we read about the serpent down on the Florida coast, and the singing mouse. I will close now, wishing great success to The Great Round World.