close.

The employers have agreed to meet the representatives of the strikers and talk matters over with them, provided they will promise that the subject of the eight-hour working day shall not be brought into the discussion.

As this was one of the great objects of the strike, it seemed at first as if it would be impossible for the masters and men to come to an understanding.

It has been reported, however, that the strikers have agreed to withdraw their demand for an eight-hour day and that the meeting will take place.

One of the great societies of engineers is, however, holding out for the eight-hour day, and as this society includes the master-workmen of the trade, the end of the strike may still be far off.

While we are on the subject of strikes it may interest you to hear of a decision that has just been given in a lawsuit between a laborer and a labor union.

The workingman, who was an engineer, did not belong to any union, and did not wish to join one. The union, however, wished him to become one of its members, and great efforts were made to induce him to join. The man, however, remained firm.

When the union found that he was really determined not to join, it began to persecute him, and sending its walking delegates to follow him wherever he obtained employment, threatened his master to call all the rest of his workmen out on strike if the offending engineer was not discharged.

This happened time after time; all of his employers declared that he was a competent workman, and that they were very sorry to discharge him, but they dared not take the risk of a strike and so were obliged to let him go.

In 1896 this man tried to join the union but they refused to have him, though at the same time they continued to persecute him so that he could not obtain work anywhere. Then he sued the Labor Union for damages.

The judge before whom the case was brought gave a decision in the workingman's favor, declaring that if labor unions were allowed to do any such wicked things as this, no laborer who was not a union man could be able to earn his living.

Preparations are being made in Honolulu for the reception of the Princess Kaiulani.

It is whispered that, in case the annexation treaty should be rejected by the Senate, Kaiulani wants to be on hand to seize the throne.

It would appear that the Hawaiians who wish to see a monarch once more on the throne of the Sandwich Islands are not agreed as to which queen they wish to serve under. There is a strong party for Kaiulani and another equally strong for Liliuokalani. Congress, however, meets in December, and it is rumored that the Hawaiian treaty will be one of the first things the Senate will consider. The rival queens will therefore not have so very long to wait before they will know whether there will be any throne left for them to fight for.

INVENTION AND DISCOVERY.

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.

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.

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.

LETTERS FROM OUR YOUNG FRIENDS.

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.

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.

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.