has so far succeeded in moulding public policy that not only has the area of squares and small parks in the more densely populated section been greatly enlarged, but a long look ahead has been taken, and ample provision made for future needs. I think we can ay that this phase of the movement has succeeded to an unexpected degree, and it does not seem to be any longer a question of policy, but rather one of means and ability.-From "The Movement for Municipal Reform," by Clinton Rogers Woodruff, Secretary of the National Municipal League, in "North American Review" for October.

A DIVER'S SIGNALS.

James Cassidy writes an article about diving, entitled "Under the Sea," for the October "St. Nicholas." Mr. Cassidy says:

Each diver, while under water, requires a signalman to hold his life-line (that is, the line fastened round his waist, by which he is hauled up) and the-air-pipe, both of which should be, kept just taut, so that any movements of the diver may be felt. The signalman is of the utmost importance to the diver; indeed, to use the words of a diver with whom we recently talked, he is his life. He must exercise the utmost vigilance all the time that the diver is down. Should the attendant give one pull on the life-line, it signifies, “How are you getting on?" If all is well, the diver gives an answering pull to reassure those above. Two pulls on the airpipe, given by the diver, mean "More air" (pump faster); and so on throughout the code of signals.

In addition to the signal-code, modern invention has adapted and utilized the telephone, and a speaking-apparatus for men working at a depth of sixty feet or more is frequently used. It has been adopted in Great Britain by the Admiralty, the War Office, and the School of Military Engineering. The electric light also is now employed by divers working at a depth beyond twenty feet.

THE CARE OF ANIMALS.

The boy who is really fond of animals never ill-treats his pets, or abuses and makes a slave of his dog. On the contrary, his dog is his companion and playmate.

The boy knows that a dog's master is a god in the eyes of the poor brute, and is worshipped with canine devotion, which again and again has been proved faithful unto death. Such knowledge makes the boy just and kind. But a dog is only a domesticated

wolf, and the wolf is not the only wild creature which can be domesticated; neither is the wolf the only animal which can appreciate kindness.

The same care which transforms a red-mouthed wolf into a faithful dog can transform other undomesticated beasts into useful creatures. As soon as an animal learns that you are contributing to its comfort in place of tormenting it, you may notice it will greet you with a milder expression. As soon as you can make the wildest and fiercest beast understand that the use of jaws, claws, or sting are unnecessary, it will refrain from using them. It is not always possible to come to this understanding with the larger beasts, but the lad who loves his pets will bestow upon the little creatures that affection which shows itself in a sympathy which can understand their wants and necessities. Such a lad can perform wonders; birds will come at his call, the small beasts of the field will follow at his heels, and no child will fear him.—“Harper's Round Table."

SOMETHING ABOUT THE KITCHEN.

"There is a fine large kitchen," will often be heard from the house-hunter, but every foot of room beyond what is needed is a distinct detriment. Most of the French hotel kitchens, where fascinating gastronomic marvels are produced, consist of a range and a table at the cook's back, with just enough room for him to stand in. His pots and pans are hung on hooks on one side of the range, and the necessary dishes are ranged on wall-shelves at the other. He wastes no steps.

If "piped" water is introduced from a town or city water-works the labor of housekeeping is immensely diminished, but as this happy condition is by no means universal, the location of the well or the cistern becomes an important consideration. Thousands of steps may be saved and hundreds of exposures avoided by thinking beforehand on these: a little longer piece of lead pipe will bring the cistern water into the kitchen, so that the pump can be placed close to the sink, and a short length of rubber hose-pipe fitted to the spout will save the heavy lifting that keeps many women ill all their days.

Space and steps can be economized by placing the kitchen windows so high in the wall that a hanging table can be placed under them, and put up out of the way when not in use.

Some of the undesirable "largeness" of the kitchen could be utilized in a light closet, where all cooking utensils, from pots and

pans to æsthetic jelly-moulds, could be stored, and the kitchen sink, of iron, with legs of the same material, would give no means of hiding damp rags and brushes to breed mould and bacteria. The kitchen sink itself, and the sink in the butler's pantry, should be arranged on the same plan, with a broad shelf for soiled dishes at the right, and a grooved drain-board at the left, and a dresser immediately above for the reception of the cleaned dishes. Suppose you reverse the position of the table and the board. Washing dishes three times a day for 365 days of one year makes 1,095 dish-washings. Think of the vital force wasted in putting these dishes across to the other side! Until a race of left-handed dishwashers shall have been evolved, the arrangement described is the only proper one. The doors leading from the butler's pantry to the dining-room, and from the kitchen into the pantry, should be swing doors, hung so that a maid with a full tray of dishes can pass without touching them, while the undesirable smells and sounds of the kitchen are excluded. All doors should be hung so as not to "interfere." With a cellar properly made under the whole house, a laundry in the basement should be provided, so as to remove the soiled garments from the neighborhood of cooking food. This does not necessarily involve set tubs, but it does need a simple laundry stove, and when once that is secured the basement can be warmed sufficiently for drying in the winter; for it is little less than murderous for a woman to carry clothes from a hot steaming laundry into a zero atmosphere. The martyrs of the clothes-yard are uncounted. A house where all these details have been provided for will add to the days of its owner by the simple conservation of vital force.-Mrs. H. M. Plunkett, in "Harper's Bazar.”

"THE CENTURY'S" NEW WAR SERIES.

"The Century Magazine” makes the most important announcement for the coming year that it has put forth for fifteen years. It is that length of time ago that the magazine announced its "War Series," which grew into the most notable history of the Civil War that has appeared. A New War Series is now promised, dealing with the recent war in the same remarkable way that gave distinction to the former series.

Admirals Sampson and Schley have engaged to contribute to "The Century's" New War Series, which will include articles by nearly all of the leading officers of the army and navy. Admiral

Sampson will give an account of the operations of the squadron under his command, with special reference to the hunt for Admiral Cervera's fleet, including the attack on San Juan, Porto Rico, and the manœuvres and plans which resulted in the destruction of the Spanish ships. Admiral Schley will write of the operations of the Flying Squadron in the search for the Spanish fleet, and his narrative will also represent the part taken by the "Brooklyn" in the action off Santiago.

The first volume of "HARPER'S ROUND TABLE," in its new monthly form, which is now completed, contains an unusually excellent collection of serial and short stories, strikingly told and graphically illustrated. There are articles of travel and exploration; practical and instructive articles; narrative and descriptive articles; articles on hunting, fishing, and sport of every kind. The bound volume is in every way an ideal holiday gift for young people. Harper & Brothers, Publishers, New York.

ONE of the latest of the Southern writers to make himself known by good work, which has also charm, is John Fox, Jr., author of "A Cumberland Vendetta," "The Kentuckians," "Hell fer Sartain," etc. Mr. Fox is a young man; in fact, it is but a few years ago he graduated from Harvard, but he is rapidly coming to the front as a writer, and much is expected from his new novel—a love story of the Spanish-American war-which will be published in "Harper's Magazine." William Dean Howells, in his papers on "The Southern States in Recent American Literature," now appearing in "Literature,” says that Mr. John Fox, Jr., in his short stories, shows himself to be in direct touch with his material, which is praise indeed. Another writer of the South who commends herself to Mr. Howells is Miss Ellen Glasgow, a young Virginian girl who made her way to popularity with a work called "The Descendant," and has increased it with her latest book, "Phases of an Inferior Planet." "She is, in fact," says Mr. Howells, "the very latest arrival from the South in our literature; but hardly half her work has to do with her own region; the rest concerns itself with the journalistic Bohemia of New York. This is not quite such alien ground as it might seem, however, for the newspaper world of New York is partly peopled from the South. Her book has a good deal of nervous force, both in. the better and the worse sense."

DECEMBER, 1898.

NUMBER 349.

THEATRE SANITATION.*

BY WM. PAUL GERHARD, C. E., Consulting Engineer for Sanitary Works.

The honorable President of our Association has invited me to prepare a paper for its annual meeting, and seeing that the Executive Committee has placed among the topics for consideration "Sanitation, with Special Reference to Drainage, Plumbing and Ventilation of Public Buildings," I have selected as my subject "The Hygiene of Theatres," not so much with a view of presenting any new facts or startling theories, as with a view of eliciting discussion upon a question of sanitation which has been hitherto somewhat neglected.

One reason for this apparent neglect is undoubtedly the fact that, though large numbers of persons are congregated in theatres, concert halls and other places of amusement, the duration of stay in such buildings is a brief one, never exceeding three or four hours at the most, whereas in other public buildings, such as schools, court houses, assembly halls and lecture halls, occupancy generally extends during the whole or a large part of each day. I venture to assert, however, that going to see a play would be a far greater pleasure if theatres were adequately ventilated and otherwise kept in a sanitary condition,

My intention originally was to base the statements of this paper upon a careful detailed personal examination of existing theatre. buildings, but pressure of business and the limited time afforded me for the preparation of this paper prevented me from making such special studies and inspections, and I am therefore obliged to draw largely from casual experiences and observations taken.

Read at the meeting of the American Public Health Association, Ottawa, Canada, Sept. 27, 1898. Published in THE SANITARIAN by special permission of the Secretary.