Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 July 1909 — FOR THE CHILDREN [ARTICLE]

FOR THE CHILDREN

The Schoolmaster. , Among stirring games that childret always enjoy one that Is always a success when played with energy Is called the “schoolmaster.” i One of the party, who volunteers to ,be.master, places himself In front of his class, who are all seated In a row. If he chooses he can examine his pujplls in the different branches of education in succession or he may choose indiscriminately. Supposing ho begins with natural history, he will proceed as follows: Pointing to the pupil at the top of the class, he asks the name of a bird beginning with the letter C. Should the pupil not name a bird beginning with C by the time the master has counted ten it is passed to the next, who, if successful and calls out “Crow” or “Cuckoo,” etc., In time, goes above the one who has failed. Authors, singers, actors or anything else may be chosen If the schoolmaster should think proper as a subject for examination, but whatever may be selected the questions and answers must follow each other with great rapidity or the fun of the game will be lessened. A Butterfly’s “Umbrella.” He was only a butterfly, one of those beautiful, large, bluish black ones that we 60 often see about the garden, but he knew enough, to get in out of the wet; It was during one of the heavy showers that so frequently in the hot days of summer come suddenly upon us, driving every one to the nearest cover. To escape the downpour, which meant great injury, if not destruction, to so delicate a creature he quickly flew to a nearby Balm of Gilead tree, where, alighting on the underside of a large leaf, he clung with wings closely ( drawn together and banging straight downward, using the big leaf as an umbrella to shield him from the great drops falling all round. High and dry. I here he remained until the shower had passed and the blue sky and warm sun called him once again to his favorite haunts.—St. Nicholas.

Care of Goldfish. When you have goldfish or other lake fish for pets It Is a great mistake to suppose that it Is necessary to change the water In an aquarium every few days. The tank should be arranged so as seldom, If ever, to require a change of water. This Is not difficult to accomplish. Both animals and plants breathe, and what is life to the plant Is poison to the animal. Animals absorb oxygen and throw off carbonic acid gas. This gas the plants Inhale, separating it Into carbon and oxygen, absorbing the carbon, which Is converted Into vegetable tissue, and throwing off the free oxygen for the animals to hreathe. By having plants as well as animals in your tank both classes Are supplied with breathing material. If you do not overstock the tank either way you need never change the water. —Chicago News. Conundrums. Why is a cat which catches his tail like a good manager? Because he makes both ends meet. \Yhat is that which we often return, but never borrow? Thanks. When Is a young lady not a young lady? When she’s a sweet tart (sweetheart). Why Is a clergyman’s horse like a king? Because he Is guided by a minister. Why Is a miser like one with a short memory? He is always for-getting. Why Is a madman like two men? Because he is always beside himself. What is that which a cat has, but no other animal? Kittens. * If you saw a dude riding on a donkey, what fruit would It remind you of? A pear. Restoring the Cut Thread. Get a couple of pieces of thread about the same length. Roll one piece up and put it between the thumb and first finger low down so that it does not show. This should be done while out of the room. Walk in with the other piece in your hand and ask some~'bodyto cut it into eight pieces. When he mts- done this burn the ends to show that it is in pieces. Then roll it up again and start talking to the people so as to take their attention away from what you are doing. Drop the cut piece and bring out the piece that was secreted between your thumb and finger. Pull it out full length, and they will l>e astonished to see what they think is in pieces all in one.