Scrapbook: Anna McFarland Stabler, c. 1875- c.1812

Facts About Pins.

PINS are so common now that it is difficult to imagine how inconvenient it must have been in the days when these useful little articles were scarce. In olden time, when pins were made by hand, they were so expensive that only the wealthy would afford to use them. When a lady married it was the custom to give her a sum of money to use in buying pins. This present was called "pin money," but today pin money has a different meaning. Now pins are made from brass wire which is bought at the factory in large coils. The wire is drawn from the roll through a hole in the steel plate. Then it is seized by a pain of pinchers and thrust through a hole in another plate. Next a hammer strikes the end to form the head, at the same time that the wire is cut to make the pin. The machinery then drops the pin into a groove so that it hangs by its head.

While in this position the end is sharpened. Falling between two grinding wheels the point is made still finer. After the pins are made in this way they are dipped into tubs of polishing oil and boiled in tin solution so they will be white. The sticking of the pins into papers by machinery is the most interesting work of the factory, for the machines which do this seem almost human. So rapidly do thses iron hands work that in less than an hour each machine will stick 100,000 pins. Every year there are nearly $500,000 worth of pins made in our country. Where do all of these pins go to, for it is said that only one in every hundred wears out ?

Saying, and Who First Said Them. Mandy of our common sayings, so trite and pithy, are used without the least idea from whose mouth or pen they first originated. Probably the works of Shakspeare furnish us with more of these familiar maxims than any other writer, for to him we owe: 'All is not gold that glitters,' 'Make a virtue of necessity,' 'Screw your courage to the sticking-place' (not point), 'They laugh that win,' 'This is the short and long of it,' 'Comparisons are odious,' 'As merry as the day is long,' 'A Daniel come to judgment,' 'Frailty, thy name is woman,' and a host of others.

Washington Irving gives us 'The Almighty Dollar,' Thomas Morton queried long ago 'What will Mrs. Grundy say?' while Goldsmith answers, 'Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no fibs.' Charles C. Pinckney gives 'Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute.' 'First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his fellow-citizens' (not countrymen), appeared in the resolutions presented to the House of Representatives in December, 1790, prepared by Gen. Henry Lee.

From the same we call, 'Make assurance doubly sure,' 'Christmas comes but once a year,' 'Count their chickens ere they are hatched,' and 'Look before you leap.'

Thomas Tasser, a writer of the sixteenth century, gives us, 'It's an ill wind turns no good,' 'Better late than never,' 'Look ere thou leap,' and 'The stone that is rolling can gather no moss.' 'All cry and no wool' is found in Butler's 'Hudibras.'

Dryden says: 'None but the brave deserve the fair.' 'Men are but children of a larger growth,' and 'Through thick and thin.' 'No pent-up Utica contracts our power,' declared Jonathan Sewell.

Dean Swift thought that 'Bread is the staff of life.' Campbell found that 'Coming events cast their shadows before,' and ''Tis distance lends enchantment to the view.' 'A thing of beauty is a joy forever,' is from Keats. Franklin said, 'God helps them who help themselves,' and Lawrwence Sterne comforts us with the thought, 'God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb.'

'When Greeks join Greeks then was the tug of war,' Nathaniel Lee, 1692.

'Of two evils I have chosen the least,' and 'The end must justify the means,' are from Matthew Price. We are indebted to Colley Cibber for the agreeable intelligence that Richard is himself again,' Johnson tells us of 'A good hater,' and Mackintosh in 1791, the phrase often attributed to John Fandolph, 'Wise and masterly inactivity.'

'Variety's the very spice of life,' and 'Not much the worse for wear,' Cowper. 'Man prososes, but God disposes,' Thomas a Kempis.

Christopher Marlowe gave forth the invitaion so often repeated by his brothers in a less public way. 'Love me little, love me long.' Edward Coke was of the opinion that 'A man's house is his castle.' To Milton we owe 'The paradise of tools,' 'A wilderness of sweets,' and 'Moping melancholy and moonstruck madness.'

From Bacon comes 'Knowledge is power,' and Thomas Southerne remids us that 'Pity's skin to love.'

Edward Young tells us 'Death loves a shining mark,' 'A fool at forty is a fool indeed,' but alas, for his knowledge of human nature when he tells us 'Man wants but little, nor that little long.'

Even some of the 'slang' phrases of the day have a legitimate origin. Putting your foot in it,' is certainly not a very elegant mod of expression, but, according to the 'Asiatic Researches' it is quite a fine point of law; when the title to land is disputed in Hindostan, two holes are dug in the ground and used to incase a limb of each lawyer (?), and the one who tired first lost his client's case. Fancy, if you can, some of our famous 'limbs of the law' ;leading in such a manner! It is generally the cilent who 'puts his foot in it.'

When things are in disorder they are often said to be turned topsy-turvy; this expression is derived from the way in which turf used for fuel is placed to dry, the turf being turned downward; and the expression then means top-side turfway.

Historical. Benjamin Franklin died April 17,1790.

Postal cards were introduced on June 8, 1 872.

Louisiana was purchased from France on April 30, 1803.

The first agricultural exhibition was held at Georgetown, D.C., in 1810.

The only man tried, found guilty, and executed for treason during the existence of the United States was William B. Mumford, in 1862. The execution took place in New Orleans. under an order of Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler.

The word "States: was first officially used May 15, 1756, when Mr.Archibald Cary reported to the Virginia convention, then in session at Williamsburg. the famous resolution "to declare the united colonies free and independent 'States.' "

James I, being requested by his old nurse to make her son "a gentelman," answered emphatically: "I'll mak' him a baronet gin ye like, luckie, but the de'il himsel' couldna' mak' him a gentleman." James I was the first to create baronets (1611).

The earliest known lens is one made of rock crystal, unearthed by Layard at Nineveh. This lens, the age of which is to be measured by thousands of years, now lies in the British Museum, with its surface as bright as when. it left the maker's hands.

Lace neckcloths are small cambric Geneva bands similar to those worn by clergymen were common in the reign of William III and in Queen Anne's time, but temporarily passed out of fashion in 1735. Soon after the revolution the cravat recovered its populatiry, and was worn in the most extravagant manner and shapes.

The grade of admiral was established by act of Congress, approved July 25, 1866, and on this date Vice Admiral David Glasgow Farragut was commissioned admiral. On the death of Farragut, August 14,1870, Vice Admiral David D. Porter was the next day commissioned admiral. With the death of Porter the title of admiral expired.

The first coins struck for America are supposed to have been the Sommer Island shilling and sixpence; the date of coinage, place and circumstance under which they were issued are unknown. The Sommer or Summer Islands are the present Bermudas. The shilling was called a "HoggePenny," composed of copper; size, 19; weight, 177 grains.

When England was being made into mincemeat and blocks of real estate by the Saxons and Danes silver and brass were in use as currency, but the Normans subsequently instalied the aristocratic metal, and left the democratic brass to take care of itself. Gold was first coined by Heary III and copper made into British coin in 1672. Tin was used for coinage in 1680, and the national farthing was made of this Cambrian product with a stud of copper left in the center. In 1690 and 1691 tin half pence were issued in considerable quantities. The only pure gold coins issued in English history were those of Henry III.

A New Test of Sobriety. Shibboleths to test sobriety, or comparative sobriety, in the case of supposed drunkards have often benn heard of, and have generally been looked upon as jokes for the dinner table or the smoking room. From a case reported at the Westminster police court, it appears that a doctor, examined aas a witness, has invented a test phrase which he regards as infallible. It is, "The artillery extinguished the conflagration early." This may be very effective, and it was tried successfully on a cabman (the defendant), but the doctor need not have taxed his inventive powers. There is hte "Peter Piper picked a peck of pepper," etc,. test, and one or two more not quite so elaborate. "Biblical criticism" and "British constitution" have long been favorite test, but the best is probably "Mrs Smith's fish sauce shop." -London News.

The Admiral and the Horn.- The following spicy lines were written by a Quaker girl of Southern Maryland in commemoration of the futile efforts of a distinguished naval officer to blow an ordinary fox-horn, and they were sent to the gallant old star along with a little tin trumpet:

"A hunter bold, with fox-horn gay, Oft blew his lungs and brains away, But not a sound rewards his care, All silent hanges the ambient air: In many a battle, many a fray, This gallant tar had won the day; He ne'er had hauled his colors down To man, or for, or deer, or hound. One only thing he could not do, He could not wind the horn halloo; And every fox the country through Ran laughing home when this they knew; But here's a horn, oh! admiral rare, Will blow itself with every air, And oft may make the welkin ring, 'Mid woods and dells of Sandy Spring"

THE WORLD'S GREATEST MEN CONTEST. AWARD OF PRIZES.

THE FIRST PRIZE has been awarded to W.H. Allderdice, 1804 G street, N.W., Washington, D.C., for the following answer: 1, Moses; 2 Buddah; 3, Alexander the Great; 4, Julius Cæsar; 5, Mohammed; 6, Charlemagne; 7, Christopher Columbus; 8, Martin Luther; 9, Shakespear; 10, Issac Newton, 11, George Washington; 12, Napoleon Bonaparte.

THE SECOND PRIZE has been awarded to C. Mundelle, No. 4 School Building, Indianapolis, Ind., for the following answer: 1, Aristotle; 2, Confucius; 3, Alexander the Great; 4, Julius Cæsar; 5, Hannibal; 6, Mohammed; 7, Charlemagne; 8, Christopher Columbus; 9, Shakespear; 20, James Watt; 11, George Wshington; 12, Napoleon Bonaparte.

THE THIRD PRIZE has been awarded to Jack Hacker, 710 Chruch street, Lynchburg, Va., for the following answer: 1, Solomon; 2, Confucius; 3, Buddha; 4, Alexander the Great; 5. Julius Cæsar; 6, Mohammed; 7, Charlemagne; 8, Christopher Columbus; 9, Shakespeare; 10, Peter the Great; 11, George Wshington; 12, Napoleon Bonaparte.

*VIII-CHARLOTTE M. YONGE

BY FREDRICK DOLMAN

HARLOTTE MARY YONGE is one of the most venerable figures of literary England. The titles of her books occupy eight of the capacious pages of the catalogue of the British Museum Library, and in addition to fiction, belong impartially to history, biography, science and belles-lettres.

Her books have been written-with but few exceptions-at a picturesque, oldfashioned manor-house in the county of Hampshire. Elderfield is the ancestral seat of a branch of the Yonges of Puslinch, Devonshire, a family which lays high claim to long descent, and which, about the middle of the seventeenth century, provided Plymouth with a member of the House of Commons, Sir Thomas Yonge. William Cranley Yonge, the father of the authoresss, was a Waterloo hero, an officer of the Fifty-second Regiment, who, before indulging in the leisured ease of a country gentleman on his estate. saw some hard service in the war with France. Charlotte Mary was his only daughter and for seven years his only child. Miss Yonge believes that, in consequence, an unusual amount of care was lavished upon her. She could read at eh age of four, and in her sixth year actually read aloud to her mother Rollin's "Ancient History" with some understanding of what she was reading.

In the making of her books Miss Yonge's parents, by the training they gave their only daughter, have had a direct and all-powerful influence. She has made translations from the French, compiled reading books for elementary schools, edited Shakespeare and selections from classical authors, written histories of Rome, England, France and Germany, biographies of persons, eminent and otherwise, not to mention the works of fiction which are almost innumerable. But throughout all her literary productions, as throughout her daily life, she has been true to her High Church training, faithful to the theological doctrines and ecclesiastial system on which she has been reared.

Miss Yonge entertains the pleasantest recollections of her girlhood. Her recollections are probably the more pleasant as they are undoubtedly the more vivid because she is still living in the garden where she played as a child, reads in the shrubbery where she first discovered the hibition of 1851." The first edition of seven hundred and fifty copies was exhausted in a few weeks, and from that time to this there has been a steady and unfailing sale for the book. From the large profits of the book Miss Yonge was able to fit out the "Southern Cross," Bishop Selwin's missionary steamer. In other ways foreign missions have been benefited by Miss Yonge's literary success. With the proceeds of her very successful series of stories called "The Daisy Chain" she has been able to build a missionary college at Auckland, New Zealand.

Miss Yonge's face is indicative of physi-

Editor's Note- This series of papers, "A Daughter at Sixteen," designed to give in five articles the best possible counsel to mothers, was begun in the Journal of March, 1894. Copies of the issues containing the series will be sent, postpaid, no receipt of fifty cents. Address The Curtis Publishing Company, Philadelphia, Pa.

English Free School Rules. 1734.

From Notes and Queries.

Imprimis, Whatsoever Boy comes to School past 7 o' th' Clock In the Morning In Summer time and past 8 o' th' Clock In ye Winter time (without Shewing good reason) Shall receive 3 Lashes.

Item, Whosoever absents himself from School, Either by Truantry, by trying to stay at home or otherwise; Shall incurr his Master's high displeasure. Suffer the hissing and Scoffing of ye whole School, Tarry behind the Rest on hour at Night for a week, and besides (as a suitable Reward for his -) shall suffer 12 Lashes.

Item, Whatsoever Boy shall at any time Curse, Swear or take the Lord's Name in vain, Shall assuredly suffer for such offense, 15 Lashes.

Item, What Boy soever addicts himself to Obscene Talking or foolish Jestin, shall Suffer for each such Transgression.

Item, What Boy soever absents himself from the Service of Almighty God on the Sabbath dya, and spends that Day in a wicked man'er in playing & running about, Shall recieve 20 Lashes.

Item, Whosoever steals from of defauds his School-fellow of Ink, Pens, Paper, Quills or any Other Thing Whatsoever, Shall cerainly, when found out and detected, receive 9 Lashes.

Chance.

Clinton Scollard in Munsey's Magazine.

A leafy lane, and at its foot a stile; Beyond, a meadow where the fireflies dance; A lad and lass, their loving lips a-smile, Together by the stile, and this is Chance!

CAMEL GOING THROUGH A "NEEDLE'S EYE."

" It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."-MATT. xix. 24.

For the benefit of our readers we have had the above illustration of the Camel passing through a needle's eye, engraved for the Ledger. The passage from the New Testament, "It is easer for a camel." etc., has perplexed many good men, who have read it literally. To people in these days, the metaphor is a bold one ; but the sense in which it was understood by those who head it, can be readily inferred from the engraving. In Oriental cities there are in the large gates small and ver low aperture, called metaphorically " needle's eyes," just as we talk of certain windows as "bull's eyes." These entrances are too narrow for a camel to pass through them in the ordinary manner, or even if loaded. When a laden camel has to pass through one of these entrances, it kneels down, its load is removed, and then it shuffles through on its knees. "yesterday," writes Lady Duff-Gordon, from Cairo, "I saw a camel go through the eye of a needlethat is, the low-arched door of an inclosure. He must kneel, and bow his head to creep through ; and thus the ruch man must humble himself."

Anniversaries.

DATES OF HISTORICAL EVENTS CUSTOMARILY OR OCCASIONALLY OBSERED.

Jan. 1. Emancipation Proclamation by Lincoln, 1863. Jan. 8. Battle of New Orleans, 1815. Jan. 19. Robert E. Lee born, 1807. Jan. 27. German Emperor born, 1859. Feb. 12. Abraham Lincoln born, 1809. Feb 22. George Washington born, 1732 Mch. 15. Andrew Jackson born, 1767. Apl. 9. Lee surrendered at Appomotox, 1865. Apl. 12. Fort Sumpter fired upon, 1861. Apl. 13. Thomas Jefferson born, 1743. Apl. 14. Lincoln assassinated, 1865 Apl. 19. Primrose Day in England, Lord Beaconsfield died, 1881. Apl. 23. Shakespeare born, 1564 Apl. 27. General Grant born, 1822. Apl. 30. Washington was inaugurated first Presiden, 1789. May 13. The Society of the Cincinnati was organized by officers of the Revolutionary Army, 1783 May 24. Queen Victoria born, 1819. June 17. Battle of Bunker Hill, 1775. June 18. Battle of Waterloo, 1815. July 1-3. Battle of Gettysburg, 1863. July 4. Declarat'n of Independence, 1776 July 14. The Bastile was destroyed, 1789 July 21. Battle of Bull Run, 1861. Sep. 13. Battle or Chapultepec, 1847. Sep. 17. Battle of Antietam, 1862. Oct. 8-11 Great Fire of Chicago, 1871. Oct. 17. Burgoyne surrendered at Saratoga, 1777. Oct. 19. Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, 1781 Nov. 5. Guy Fawkes Day in England. The Gunpowder plot discovered in 1604. Nov. 10. Martin Luther born, 1546 Dec. 14. Washington died, 1799. Dec. 16. Boston " Tea Party," 1773. Dec. 22. Mayflower pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, 1620.