INVENTION AND DISCOVERY.

FISH-HOOK BOOK.—­A book has been invented for carrying fish-hooks, and it promises to be of great use to all those who find pleasure in the gentle art of angling.

It is a book arranged somewhat like a wallet.  At one end is a strong leather pocket for flies, then stretched across it are four ledges.  Each ledge has a number of slits in it.  At the end opposite the pocket is the first ledge, and into the slits in this ledge the hooks are placed.  The short line attached to the hook is carried to the next ledge, and carefully slipped into a slit opposite to the one which holds the hook.  The line is carried over another ledge to be finally anchored in the one nearer the pocket.  When the book is closed the ledges fit into each other, and the fish-hooks are kept in place and therefore cannot get tangled.

The book is of a convenient size and is likely to find many admirers.

A patent was lately issued to a man who has invented a means of cutting the pages of the magazines for us.

His idea is to bind a strong thread into every page that needs cutting, and when we would cut the pages there is nothing to be done but to pull the thread and this cuts the page.

The next thing to be invented should be a machine that reads the magazine for us, and tells us what is in them.

The nearest approach we have made to this idea is in reading stories to the phonograph, and having the instrument repeat them to us.

    G.H.R.

LETTERS FROM OUR YOUNG FRIENDS.

Another heavy mail this week.  The Editor’s friends are getting so numerous that a strike of the postmen on the route may be expected.

    DEAR EDITOR: 

Three daily readers of THE GREAT ROUND WORLD wish to know if Queen Victoria is allowed to see the daily papers.  We once heard or read somewhere that certain things are cut from the papers and handed to her on a beautiful silver tray—­such articles as her advisors think it best for her to see; but she cannot read all the daily papers as common folks do.  Will you kindly answer in next week’s number of the Magazine, and oblige three constant and interested readers of the Magazine?

JOHN ELIOT R.
URSULA FRANCIS R.
HELEN L.H.

PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY, March 31st, 1897.

MY DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS: 

In reply to your letter asking how Queen Victoria gets her news, I must tell you that she is perhaps the most advanced and progressive woman in the world.

Though she is such an old lady, she keeps herself thoroughly posted about everything that goes on in the world.  There is no question as to what she shall be allowed to read—­she reads everything that is of interest to her; but that she may not waste her precious time looking over worthless articles, her secretaries are instructed to read the papers first every morning, and see what is worthy the Queen’s reading.