The topaz of the ancients had a green color, and is supposed to have been our chrysolite. It was found in the island of Topazios, in the Red Sea. "This place," says Diodorus Siculus, "was ten miles long, and called the Island of Serpents, from the number of reptiles formerly infesting it. The topazion here found was a transparent gem, agreeable in aspect, resembling glass. No one was allowed to land there under pain of death, and no boat was allowed to be kept on the island. Provisions for the few soldiers on guard there were brought at intervals from the continent. The gem was not discernible by day, its lustre being then overpowered by the sun's rays, but at night it was conspicuous by its brightness. The guards who divided the island among their patrols then ran up, and covered the luminous spot with a vase of equal size. Next day they would go their rounds, cut out the patch of rock thus indicated, and deliver it to the proper person to be polished."
We have five articles in this number to recommend to the attention of the C. Y. P. R. U. Every little pair of hands that opens YOUNG PEOPLE, the Postmistress hopes and fancies, has two corresponding little feet nicely incased in woven stockings without the suspicion of a hole in them. How did the world ever come to have woven stockings? Look at the article on our fourth page and see. Three centuries ago William Lee's observation of the labor performed by four knitting-needles in the hands of his patient, hard-working wife resulted in the invention of the stocking-loom. There is no use in telling the boys to read the rest of Mr. Payn's story. We know they have been waiting breathlessly for a week to find out what became of Philip Ashton. They are going to take a great interest, too, in the boy hero of the great floods, "Dad" Little. After these good things have been read and digested, we want them to pay particular attention to "Something about Sonatas," by Mrs. John Lillie, and see how much it will help them in the study and appreciation of music.
Contributions received for Young People's Cot, in Holy Innocent's Ward, St. Mary's Free Hospital for Children, 407 West Thirty-fourth Street:
Lizzie Champion, Warrenville, 25c.; Amelia Frink, Marshall, Mich., 25c.; Dudley A. Williams, Hackensack, N. J., 50c.; John Wilson, Still Pond, Md., 25c.; Lizzie Treadway, Cleveland, Ohio, 50c.; H. L. Ireland, Coventryville, N. Y., 50c.; Louie Bryant, Schuyler, Neb., 25c.; Eric Holt, New York, $1; Lillie Bahten, Piute Mountain, Cal., $1; Fannie K. Sowall, San Antonio, Texas, 50c.; A. N. P., 25c.; Raymond Buck, 152d St., N. Y., $1; Madge Vail, Sag Harbor, L. I., 50c.; Marshall and Harold Wawick, Plainwell, Mich., 30c.; Louis A., Howard B., and Baby Boy, Madison, N. J., 30c.; Bertie and Rex Dalmolen, Verona, Italy, $2: Florence and Frankie Ward, New York, $1; Willie S., Elizabeth, N. J., $1; total, $11.35. Previously acknowledged, $246.69; grand-total, $258.04.