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 INQUIRER: | 1 |
| DEAR ELEANOR: | 2 |
Polo stick.—Our boys should be interested in this invention, as it suggests many ideas for the improvement of other sporting goods.
While the inventor has called his idea a polo stick, it is in fact in the glove that the novelty lies.
[Illustration: Polo Stick]
This is made of strong leather, and in the palm a metal plate or lock is fixed.
The glove fastens at the wrist with a strong button.
The polo stick, instead of being grasped around the stock, is held by a metal handle, in the centre of which is a hasp fitting the lock in the palm of the glove. The polo stick is thus firmly locked to the hand and practically becomes a part of the user’s arm.
So strong is the lock that the stick must be splintered before it will give way.
For polo such a device is invaluable, for dropping one’s stick means dismounting and losing much valuable time; but a simple locking device would be of great assistance in all games that require the stick, bat, or club to be held with especial firmness.
Spring caster.—This is a very novel idea, and one which is likely to become very popular if it is found to be practical.
[Illustration: Spring Caster]
Between the roller of the caster and the plate which attaches it to the chair-leg, a strong spiral spring is inserted. The chair thus supported adapts itself to every movement of the sitter, and gives ease and comfort that no firmly fixed seat can do.
For writers these springs are particularly delightful, as the forward movement of the body brings the seat forward with it, and the writer can have the comfort of resting his back at the same time that he is at a convenient angle for his work.
G.H.R.
We have received two very interesting letters, one from E.J.K., 461 West 43d Street, and one from C.H.K., 504 West 44th Street. We thank these friends for their kind letters, but are unable to print them at length.
To the Editor.
Dear sir:—In your article in No. 51, on the forest fires
and drought following a very wet season, and remarking that
we should have such extremes, is it not due—our
irregularity of climate—to our careless devastating of
whole portions of the country of trees? Many claim so. We
are in sore need of national or state foresters. [Signed]
inquirer.
While vegetation has something to do with the climate, the sudden changes to which we are subject are due to the configuration of the land. The Rocky Mountains and the Appalachian Range rising at either edge of the continent form the immense valley through which the Mississippi takes its course; and these two factors of the high mountains and the broad plains have the greatest influence on the climate.
Our immense length of seaboard and the proximity of the Gulf Stream are also agents for engendering our variable climate.
Trees protect moisture from rapid evaporation, and a wooded country is a blessing to its inhabitants, defending their dwellings from wind in mountainous districts.
The denudation of the forests tends to destroy the moisture of the atmosphere, but has little effect on the sudden transitions from heat to cold.
Editor.
Mr. William B. Harison.
Dear sir:—Thank
you very much for the box-kite. It arrived
the day before yesterday, and works admirably.
Truly
yours,
Eleanor
H.
We are glad you like the kite, and that it flies well.
We witnessed a very funny attempt to fly one of our kites lately. It took the small owner of the kite, his mamma, papa, and two friends to make the effort, and even then failed, notwithstanding that the papa and the friend climbed the fence at the risk of their necks in their endeavor to reach the breeze.
On serious reflection we decided that the kite did not fly because there was no breeze to fly it with, and therefore we recommend all our young friends to wait for the breeze before they endeavor to fly their kites.
Editor.