The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copyrighted by BookRags, Inc.
| Table of Contents | |
| Section | Page |
| Start of eBook | 1 |
| INVENTION AND DISCOVERY. | 1 |
| LETTERS FROM OUR YOUNG FRIENDS. | 1 |
| DEAR FANNY: | 3 |
| MY DEAR LUCY: | 3 |
| 5 | |
Some clever person has thought of a very novel advertising scheme.
It is for use at night, and consists of a sign made entirely of small electric lights, which is sent up into the air and held there by means of balloons.
Advertisers have used the pavements under our feet for their signs, and have disfigured some of our grandest rocks with their Sapolios and their St. Jacob’s Oils; pretty nearly everything on the face of the earth has been made to serve their purpose. The heavens have thus far escaped, but this new invention brings them also into line.
[Illustration: Nonpareil]
If it proves a success the glaring announcements of the bill-boards, which annoy us by day, may be repeated in the sky at night; and the romantic, peaceful heavens will be dotted all over with “H.O. is the Best;” and the obnoxious “Yellow Kid,” with a hideous electric toe, will parade among the stars undaunted and unchecked.
This fruit-cutter seems to be a very clever invention.
As you can see from the sketch, it opens like a pair of scissors. Its blades are very sharp, and as it cuts the fruit, the blades pierce right through the flesh until they meet the pit in the center. The curves in the blade catch the stone and hold it fast, while the points and heels of the blades overlap until they have cut entirely through the flesh.
[Illustration]
This invention should save a vast amount of time, and be a boon to the good housekeepers who put up preserves, not to mention the young folks of the household who are called in to help.
* * * * *
This sketch shows a folding crate for transporting or housing bicycles.
It is a very ingenious affair, folding tightly up when not in use, and taking up very little more room than an umbrella.
Opened, it looks like an ordinary crate—only made of iron instead of wood.
It has a baseboard to which hinges are attached, and if desired it can stand against the wall to hold the bicycle when not in use.
[Illustration]
For packing and transporting it is joined by straps, and would seem to be a very useful invention.
G.H.R.
Dear editor:
I am a subscriber to the great round World, and read it with great interest every week. In No. 13 of the great round World, you published a picture of the iron statue of King Arthur by Fischer. Last summer we stopped for a short time in Innsbruck, and I saw the said statue in the Cathedral of that city.
There was one thing which puzzled me considerably and I know that you will be willing to explain it. Why was the fleur-de-lis placedPage 2
on the shield supplied to the statue? I can’t see what possible connection Arthur could have had with France, for I always thought that the fleur-de-lis was not borne by any British sovereign until after the hundred years’ war was begun. Since King Arthur is supposed to have lived in the fifth or sixth century it seems strange to me that he should have been supplied with a shield bearing a device of a so much later period. Since I know nothing of heraldry, I have been much puzzled by this, and would be very grateful for an explanation. I should like to mention three books which I enjoyed so much when I read them that I am sure they would be appreciated by many. They are Miss Yonge’s “Dove in the Eagle’s Nest,” and a “Chaplet of Pearls,” and the “Caged Lion.”
Wishing the great round World continued success,
I remain
your devoted reader,
Katherine
P.
New York city, May 26, 1897.
MY DEAR KATHERINE:
In reference to your question about the fleur-de-lis on King Arthur’s shield.
It can have no heraldic meaning whatever, because armorial bearings were not in use in England until long after the Norman Conquest.
The kings and the great barons chose certain devices for their seals; but the same device was not used by the members of a family, nor was it handed from father to son, until armorial bearings came into use.
The use of the fleur-de-lis is not of French origin.
It was used as an ornament on the sceptres, seals, and robes, not only of the French kings, but of Greek, Roman, German, Spanish, and English kings, and was a symbol employed by many noble families in various parts of Europe.
Particular symbols have in all ages been assumed by various families of mankind, civilized and uncivilized, but they have nothing whatever to do with heraldry.
King Arthur was a legendary person, and his story is sung alike by the bards of Wales and the minstrels of France.
According to the Welsh legends he was born in Wales, and went over to Brittany in France, where he fought some of his famous battles.
According to the Breton (French) legends, he was the son of one of the early Britons who fled to France at the time of the Saxons. He was born in Brittany, and with the help of the Bretons went back to England and wrested his kingdom from the Saxon’s hands.
The reason for the fleur-de-lis on the shield may therefore be that the sculptor chose to pin his faith to the Breton legend of the hero, and therefore placed the symbol of France on the shield. Editor.
The State of Montana has just adopted the great round World for use in all its public schools.
Dear Mr. Editor:
I am very much interested
about Crete and Cuba, and I always
want to see what the
great round World says about them.
I was interested about Princess
Charlotte of Belgium. I hope you
will tell us more about her.
I hope that Cuba will gain
her liberty, and that Crete will free
herself from the rule of Turkey.
I think that King George of
Greece is a very nice man, and I
hope that he will keep the
Powers from interfering with Greece.
The kindergarten for the blind
is in Jamaica Plain, very near
us, and last week I went to
an exhibition there.
Sometimes I visit the kindergarten,
and I have often seen the
girls knitting and sewing.
Our teacher, Miss Cushman, takes the great round World. She lends it to the girls who do not take it, and they find out about Crete and Greece. We are studying about the Eastern Question, and your magazine helps us to find what we want. Do you know any more about the big python that was found in Florida, or was it just taken to the Smithsonian Institute?
Will you please send me a “Who? When? What?” Chart?
Your devoted
reader,
Fanny R.H. (aged
12.)
Brookline, mass.., April 28th, 1897.
Many thanks for your kind letter. We have heard nothing further about the python. We understood that it was to be stuffed for the Institute.
Editor.
Dear editor:
Will you please publish an account of the phonographic graphophone—its invention, when, and by whom? We have recently had a concert by this wonderful invention, and I am requested to get all the information I can from whatever source I can. The great round World, which is read every morning in our schoolroom, is so much appreciated by all that I am sure my schoolmates will be pleased to see your reply. I shall be glad to get this information as early as possible.
Very
respectfully,
Lucy
F.
Brent, GA., April 28th,
1897.
The graphophone is an improved phonograph, the cylinder being of hard rubber instead of wax.
The phonograph was invented by Thomas A. Edison in 1877, and improved by him about 1889.
It operates by means of a thin diaphragm set in vibration by the voice or any other sound. It bears a stylus which records the vibration, on a rotating, wax-coated cylinder, in a faint wavy line.
This line is sufficient, however, to guide the stylus over the same course again, and agitate the diaphragm into reproducing waves of sound, similar to those originally recorded.
The Editor is very much obliged to Dallas S. for his
pleasant letter.
Editor.
In reply to Mrs. C.H. Parkhurst, we suggest that a letter of inquiry to Mr. Ford will be the speediest way to ascertain where the combination tool can be procured. Editor.
* * * * *
=Great round World
game of states=
copyright, 1897
By William Beverley Harison
Complete in handsome box, price 50 cents, post-paid
A new and delightful game
has just been invented. It is called
“The game of States.”
The directions have been written
exclusively for the great
round World; they are as follows:
DIRECTIONS
This game may be played by four, six, or eight players. Two players toss up for the first choice of partners; the winner also has the right for his side to be “call” or to “reply.”
After sides are chosen the winner of the toss consults with his side, and they decide whether they will “call” or “reply.” “Call” is considered the better position.
The game is played with a map of the United States made of perfectly plain pasteboard with each State a separate piece, and without names or marks of any kind on the pieces.
This map should be large enough to have Rhode Island about one inch long, and the game should be played around a table with the sides named North, South, East, and West.
The side which “calls” takes all of the States in a box. When “time” is called by the “reply” side, the “calls” must put a State on the table, and the “replys” must name it and give the position it occupies before the time-keeper of the “calls” can count 25; if the name or position is not correctly given, the “calls” must themselves name the State and its position, and place it on the table in about the position it will occupy when all the pieces are in place; if they do this, they score.
For instance: The State of Massachusetts is put out, and the “replys” name it “Massachusetts—Northeastern part,” and count one. This is continued until the entire map is complete.
As maps may be obtained which have the Great Lakes also cut out, it is great fun to see the mistakes made.
The “calls” or “replys” will frequently in playing it turn a state upside down; this counts against the side making the mistake.
The game may be varied by putting one State on the table and calling for “next North,” “next South,” “next East,” etc., when the name of the State occupying that position must be correctly given.
The side having the greatest number of points wins the game.
* * * * *
=Premium list=
In connection with our offer
of any bicycle you wish for 100 new
subscriptions, we have prepared
a
=Premium Catalogue=
This contains a list of selected
articles which will be given to
those who may obtain a smaller
number of subscriptions
* * * * *
Those who fail to secure the necessary number for the bicycle may make selection from this catalogue.
* * * * *
=Copy mailed on receipt of 5c.=
* * * * *
=The great round
World=
=3 & 5 West 18th St, New York
City=
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Which Is Your Favorite
BICYCLE
You have your choice of any wheel in the market if you send us one hundred regular subscriptions to the
“Great Round World”
Show the paper to your friends, and you will soon find one hundred people who will be glad to subscribe. Send the subscriptions in to us as fast as received, and when the one hundredth, reaches us you can go to any dealer you choose, buy any wheel you choose, and we will pay the bill.
Six-months’ subscriptions will be counted as one-half, three-months’ as one-quarter,
SAMPLE COPIES WILL BE FURNISHED AT HALF PRICE. (SEE OTHER OFFERS)
Great Round World
3 and 5 West 18th Street, New York City
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This rate is $1 a year, net
Regular rate, $2.50 a year
WE TRUST TO RECEIVE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION BEFORE THE TIME OF EXPIRATION
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A copy of the paper will be sent to any teacher
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We can use school-books in
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