Once a year, at Easter, the children"s knowledge of the game is tested by a kind of examination conducted by an examining committee of peasants, of which the clergyman is the president and the school-master the vice-president. Forty-eight of the scholars are selected by lot, and matched against each other by a similar method. The twenty-four winners in the series of single combats then enter upon a second struggle among themselves, and the remaining twelve on the third. The six winners in the threefold contest are declared the champion players of the school.
They each receive a prize, consisting of a chess-board and chessmen, and are escorted home by their parents and friends after the manner of the Olympian victors among the ancient Greeks. Afterwards a feast is given in their honor to which all the friends and relations are invited.
MARSHMALLOW PASTE AND CANDIES.
Dissolve five ounces of best white gum-arabic in twenty table-spoonfuls of water, and strain it. Put it with a pound of powdered sugar into a basin, and place this basin in another containing water. A farina or double boiler is especially good to use for this cooking. Stir constantly till the ma.s.s is very stiff and very white. Divide the paste while still hot into parts, flavoring one with vanilla, another with rose and a few drops of pink coloring matter, and another with orange-flower water, if strong and fresh. Then pour the paste into tin dishes dusted with corn-starch. When cool divide into squares with a sharp knife, using it with a quick stroke. A variety of candy can be made with this paste by dipping the squares when perfectly cold in fondant. The fondant should be melted in small quant.i.ties, and each portion differently colored and flavored. From marshmallow paste is made another attractive candy, called Neapolitan nougat. Make the marshmallow paste as before, but when thick and white add the well-beaten white of an egg. When well blended remove the ma.s.s from the fire, flavor with vanilla, and add a pound of blanched, chopped almonds, and an ounce of pistache nuts, also blanched and chopped. When well mixed press into a box, and when cold cut into bars and wrap each bar in double waxed paper. As this candy will not keep long put it into an airtight box.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Ivory Soap]
Elisabeth R. Scovil in her book, "The Care of Children," recommends the use of Ivory Soap for bathing infants, and says: "There is no particular virtue in Castile Soap, which has long been consecrated to this purpose."
THE PROCTER & GAMBLE CO., CIN"TI.
[Ill.u.s.tration]
EARN A TRICYCLE!
We wish to introduce our Teas, Spices, and Baking Powder. Sell 30 lbs.
and we will give you a Fairy Tricycle; sell 25 lbs. for a Solid Silver Watch and Chain; 50 lbs. for a Gold Watch and Chain; 75 lbs. for a Bicycle; 10 lbs. for a Beautiful Gold Ring. Express prepaid if cash is sent for goods. Write for catalog and order sheet.
W. G. BAKER,
SPRINGFIELD, Ma.s.s.
HARPER"S CATALOGUE
thoroughly revised, cla.s.sified, and indexed, will be sent by mail to any address on receipt of ten cents.
[Ill.u.s.tration]
WONDER CABINET =FREE=. Missing Link Puzzle, Devil"s Bottle, Pocket Camera, Latest Wire Puzzle, Spook Photos, Book of Sleight of Hand, Total Value 60c. Sent free with immense catalogue of 1000 Bargains for 10c.
for postage.
INGERSOLL & BRO., 65 Cortlandt Street, N. Y.
[Ill.u.s.tration: If afflicted with SORE EYES USE Dr. ISAAC THOMPSON"S EYE WATER]
By Kirk Munroe
Snow-Shoes and Sledges.
A Sequel to "The Fur-Seal"s Tooth." Ill.u.s.trated. Post 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental. (_Nearly Ready._)
Mr. Munroe long ago established himself as one of our ablest juvenile writers, and this latest work from his pen is perhaps the best that he has published. The story continues the adventures of two boys--Phil Ryder, a New-Englander, and Serge Belcofsky, an Alaskan--from St.
Michaels, in the northern part of Alaska, through a 2000-mile trip with dog-sleds and snow-shoes up the Yukon River and across the mountains to Sitka.
The Fur-Seal"s Tooth.
A Story of Alaskan Adventure. Ill.u.s.trated. Post 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.25.
A fresh and well-told narrative.... One would not willingly lose a page of this charming story.--_Philadelphia Ledger._
_PREVIOUS VOLUMES BY MR. MUNROE:_
=Raftmates.--Canoemates.--Campmates.--Dorymates.= Post 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.25 each. The Four Volumes in a Box, $5.00.
=Wakulla.--Flamingo Feather.--Derrick Sterling.--Chrystal, Jack & Co., and Delta Bixby.= Ill.u.s.trated. Square 16mo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.00 each.
HARPER & BROTHERS, Publishers, New York
[Ill.u.s.tration: MELVILLE IS AN INGENIOUS LAD. WITH HIS OLD HOBBY-HORSE AND SOME PARTS OF AN OLD BICYCLE HE HAS A STEED THAT COMES NEARER A REAL ANIMAL THAN ANYTHING YET SEEN.]
STORIES BY GRANDMA.
REMARKABLE HARVEST OF WILD ANIMALS.