[Ill.u.s.tration: If afflicted with SORE EYES USE Dr. ISAAC THOMPSON'S EYE WATER]

HARPER'S NEW 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: BICYCLING]

This Department is conducted in the interest of Bicyclers, and the Editor will be pleased to answer any question on the subject. Our maps and tours contain much valuable data kindly supplied from the official maps and road-books of the League of American Wheelmen.

Recognizing the value of the work being done by the L. A. W., the Editor will be pleased to furnish subscribers with membership blanks and information so far as possible.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Copyright, 1895, by Harper & Brothers.]

One of the prettiest and perhaps the best trip for an afternoon ride in the vicinity of Philadelphia is to run up through Fairmount Park, following the Wissahickon, which is a branch of the Schuylkill, and return to Philadelphia by Bryn-Mawr. The distance altogether is about thirty-three or thirty-four miles, and the road is not only a fine one from a bicyclist's point of view, but is most picturesque, cool, and pleasant. Leaving the public buildings at Broad and Market streets, proceed as described last week, up Broad Street to Spring Garden Street; turning left into this follow it to the bridge, but instead of crossing this turn to the right through East Park, leaving the reservoir on the right, and then keeping to the Schuylkill until Street Lane is crossed.

Here the Wissahickon drive begins, and the grade from this point to the end of the drive, while it is not the most level, is not by any means too hilly for pleasant bicycle riding. At the end of the Wissahickon drive turn left into the new road, which has been recently opened, thence turn right up the Ridge Road, and continue on to Barren Hill.

Here you should turn sharp to the left again, and run down a hill, keeping to the right at its foot. This road carries you on to Spring Mill, and from here the road again, running along by the Schuylkill, will bring you into Conshohocken, a distance of seventeen miles and a half from the public buildings in Philadelphia. The road along the route is gravel, but it is good bicycling over almost every foot of it. There is no very good stopping-place in Conshohocken, but the wheelman will find a road-house which will serve the purpose of a noonday meal very well.

Leaving Conshohocken, cross the river, going south westward, then continuing southward, follow the route marked on the map to Bryn-Mawr, the road from Conshohocken until Lancaster Avenue is reached being easily followed with the exception of a sharp turn to the right soon after crossing the river, and another turn to the left a few moments later. From Bryn-Mawr through Ardmore, Overbrook, into Market Street at the ferry, is a straight run along Lancaster Avenue, which is paved with Belgian block pavement from the point where it is joined by Fifty-fourth Street to Forty-third Street, but is otherwise a capital bicycle route.

A somewhat pleasanter way to return from Conshohocken is to follow the western bank of the Schuylkill until you strike Belmont Avenue. This is in capital condition, and will carry you through Fairmount Park. On reaching Elm Avenue, turn left, and again turn left into Girard Avenue, and from this point either continue, crossing the river and running down Grand Avenue to Grand Street, or turn to the right just before crossing and follow the western bank of the river as far as Spring Garden Street, where another crossing may be made, and the return to the public buildings followed as already described.

As was said last week, Philadelphia is most admirably suited for bicycling, but it would be difficult to find a more picturesque road than that which runs up through Fairmount Park or East Park and out towards the source of the Wissahickon, and this run is one of the best that can be found not only in the vicinity of Philadelphia, but anywhere in the United States.

NOTE.--Map of New York city asphalted streets in No. 809. Map of route from New York to Tarrytown in No. 810. New York to Stamford, Connecticut, in No. 811. New York to Staten Island in No. 812. New Jersey from Hoboken to Pine Brook in No. 813. Brooklyn in No. 814.

Brooklyn to Babylon in No. 815. Brooklyn to Northport in No. 816.

Tarrytown to Poughkeepsie in No. 817. Poughkeepsie to Hudson in No. 818. Hudson to Albany in No. 819. Tottenville to Trenton in 820. Trenton to Philadelphia in 821. Philadelphia in No. 221.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE PUDDING STICK]

This Department is conducted in the interest of Girls and Young Women, and the Editor will be pleased to answer any question on the subject so far as possible. Correspondents should address Editor.

This Pudding Stick will be a very practical affair. In these summer days, when families are separated, or young people are paying visits to their friends, a great many letters must be written, and it is well to know what sort of stationery to use, what sort of ink is best, and, in brief, to understand the small details which make a letter or note graceful and elegant. The reverse of elegance is caused by lack of attention to what seem to be mere trifles, yet, in a way, nothing is trifling.

Thick white note-paper without lines is the approved style for young ladies, the sheet of note-paper folded once in the middle to fit an envelope which comes with the paper. Little girls may use the pretty Brownie paper, or other note-paper with a dainty device in the corner; but girls over twelve years of age should confine themselves to the clear smooth white paper. If you cannot write without lines to keep your words from a zigzag course, slip in between the folds of your paper a heavily ruled sheet, which will be a guide until practice enables you to control your hand so that you can keep your writing straight and even without an outside help.

Use black ink and a good pen, steel or gold, as you prefer. Keep your pen in perfect order.

At the top of your paper, a little to the right hand, write very plainly your post-office address. If your house has a special name, as, for instance, "Sunnyside," "The Owlery," "The Wren's Nest," "Riverbank,"

that will be first mentioned, but must be followed by the names of your town, or village, county, and State. It is important to give each of these in full. If you reside in a city, your street and number must be plainly written at the top of your letter. Should your letters be sent to a post-office box, instead of to your house, give the number of the box. Never omit these details. You cannot be sure that the most intimate friend will not be glad to save herself the trouble of looking up your address, and the proper thing is to be methodical and begin a letter with care.

Of course, in corresponding with your parents, sisters, and brothers, or dear schoolmates, you may be very affectionate in your expressions.

"Dearest Mother," "Darling Papa," "My Own Dear Mollie," are all appropriate if your heart prompts you to write in this way to your home people. It is well to be less demonstrative with others, and "Dear Susie," or "My Dear John," are in better taste when writing to your cousins at a distance. "Dear" is considered less formal than "My Dear."

Should you have occasion to write a letter of business, make clear to your correspondent what you wish to say. Business letters should be straightforward and to the point, and as short as is consistent with telling all that ought to be told. Home letters, and letters of affection, as also letters written when on a journey may be as long as you choose, and as far as possible, should be written as you would talk, a letter being a talk on paper to a friend out of sight.

No part of a letter is of more consequence than the signature. I sometimes receive letters from strangers, and am wholly unable to ascertain the names of the writers, their signature being so hurriedly written that it is what we call blind. Do you not think it worth while to write your name plainly when you remember that the name stands for you wherever you go, that it represents your character, that its lack makes a legal doc.u.ment worthless, and adds worth to whatever it is affixed? Always write your name in full at the end of every letter, preceding it by "Yours sincerely," or "Faithfully yours," or "Your loving daughter," or any other appropriate form or phrase.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Signature]

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