INVENTION AND DISCOVERY.

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.

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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.

LETTERS FROM OUR YOUNG FRIENDS.

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 placed