humorist, born at Waterford, Me., April 26, 1834; died in Southampton, England, March 6, 1867. 27 TRYING "I'll try" is a soldier, When school days are over, "I'll try" and "I will" Are good friends then. TOIL SPELLS SUCCESS SAMUEL F. B. MORSE was the discoverer of the telegraph. The magnetic principle on which the invention depends had been known since 1774, but Professor Morse was the first to apply that principle for the benefit of men. He began his experiments in 1832, and five years afterward succeeded in obtaining a patent on his invention. Then followed another long delay; and it was not until the last day of the session in 1843 that he procured from Congress an appropriation of $30,000. With that appropriation was constructed, between Baltimore and Washington, the first telegraphic line in the world. Perhaps no other invention has exercised a more beneficent influence on the welfare of the human race. Read: Owen Wister's short life of Ulysses S. Grant. Birthdays: Samuel F. B. Morse, the inventor of the electric telegraph, born in Charlestown, Mass., April 27, 1791; died in New York City, April 2, 1872. Herbert Spencer, a famous English philosopher, born in Derby, England, April 27, 1820; died in Brighton, England, December 8, 1903. Ulysses Simpson Grant, eighteenth president of the United States, born at Point Pleasant, Ohio, April 27, 1822; died at Mt. Gregor, N. Y., July 23, 1885. Good manners cannot be put on at pleasure, like an outside coat, but must belong to us. "THE POLITEST CLERK" "ONE time when Ulysses S. Grant was in Chicago," said an army official, "he lounged about Sheridan's headquarters a good deal. His son Fred was, at that time, on Sheridan's staff, but was absent one day; and Grant took his place at Fred's desk, to look after the business. A nervous, fidgety, irritable old fellow came in to inquire for some paper that he had left with Fred. When he stated his case, Grant took up the matter in a sympathetic way, and proceeded, after the manner of an over-anxious clerk, to look the paper up. The document could not be found; and Grant, apologizing, walked with the old gentleman to the door. As I walked down the stairs with the mollified visitor, he turned and asked: 'Who is that old codger? He is the politest clerk I ever saw at military headquarters. I hope that Sheridan will keep him.' I answered quietly, 'That is General Grant.' The fidgety old gentleman, after staring at me for a full minute, said, with considerable fervor, 'I will give you fifty cents, if you will kick me downstairs.'" -Chicago Tribune Read: "The Monroe Doctrine," declaring that the United States would not interfere in any European war, nor permit any European power to get too much influence on this hemisphere. (During Monroe's first term, Illinois, Mississippi and Maine became states of the Union and Spain gave up her possessions in Florida to the United States. Monroe was one of the best presidents this country has ever had.) Birthdays: James Monroe, fifth president of the United States, born in Westmoreland County, Va., April 28, 1758; died in New York City, July 4, 1831. James Grant Wilson, an American author, born in New York City, April 28, 1832; lives in New York City. 29 SOWING The best and highest thing a man can do in a day is to sow a seed, whether it be in the shape of a word, an act, or an acorn. ARBOR DAY O PAINTER of the fruits and flowers, In Nature's garden work with thine. Give fools their gold; give knaves their power; Let fortune's bubbles rise and fall; Who sows a field, or trains a flower Or plants a tree, is more than all. Special Days: Arbor Day in Michigan and Massachusetts (last Friday in April). Arbor Day in Connecticut (last Friday in April or first Friday in May). Arbor Day in Minnesota and Vermont (latter part of April or first part of May). (See Arbor Day, April 19 and 20, this book.) THE PLEASURE OF DOING GOOD A NEWSBOY took the Sixth Avenue elevated railroad cars at Park Place, New York, at noon on Thanksgiving Day, and sliding into one of the cross seats fell asleep. At Grand Street two young women got on and took seats opposite the lad. His feet were bare and his hat had fallen off. Presently one of the young girls leaned over and placed her muff under the little fellow's dirty cheek. An old gentleman smiled at the act, and, without saying anything, held out a quarter with a nod toward the boy. The girl hesitated for a moment and then reached for it. The next man as silently offered a dime, a woman across the aisle held out some pennies, and before she knew it, the girl, with flaming cheeks, had taken money from every passenger in that end of the car. She quietly slipped the amount into the sleeping lad's pocket, removed her muff gently from under his head without arousing him, and got off at Twenty-third street, including all the passengers in a pretty little inclination of her head that seemed full of thanks. -Exchange Sing: "Merry Springtime," from Merry Melodics. MAY 1 MAY-DAY Who shall be queen of the May? Not the prettiest one, not the wittiest one! But she that is pleasantest all the day through, MAY-DAY IN ENGLAND IN ENGLAND the first day of May was in the olden time the most delightful holiday of all the year. It was the day on which the nation expressed its joy at the return of summer. The wild flowers were in bloom and it was sufficiently warm for out-of-door parties. Early in the morning the merry girls often covered themselves with gowns of green leaves and garlands of flowers. The jolly boys blew their horns and waved the branches of trees which they had gathered in the woods. This is what is called bringing home the May. In the afternoon the children would all meet on the lawn or village green and dance around the Maypole. They would choose one girl to be queen of the May, and would crown her head with flowers and place a mat of flowers under her feet. Read: Tennyson's "The May Queen;""May," by Celia Thaxter. Sing: "The May Queen" and "May Day," from Songs in Season; "May," from Merry Melodies; "May-Day Song," from Uncle Sam's School Songs. Birthdays: John Dryden, an English poet, born at Ald |