This Department is conducted in the interest of Bicyclers, and the Editor will be pleased to answer any question on the subject. Our maps and tours contain many valuable data kindly supplied from the official maps and road-books of the League of American Wheelmen. Recognizing the value of the work being done by the L.A.W., the Editor will be pleased to furnish subscribers with membership blanks and information as far as possible.

Continuing the trip from Chicago to Waukesha, we give this week the second stage of the journey, which is divided into three parts. As was stated last week, it is probably well for the rider to stop at Wheeling for dinner, rather than stay there for the night. The ride is a short one, and can be done by any one who had ridden for a season with comparative ease in the early morning hours before it grows too warm. If this is done, the rider may stop at Wheeling for dinner and for three or four hours' rest, and then in the cool of the early evening continue on as far as Lippencott's on Fox Lake, about 23 or 24 miles from Wheeling. Here is a good place to stop for the night, and the run from Lippencott's to Waukesha will not be too great for the second day. For convenience in making maps, however, we have divided this journey into three.

Leaving Wheeling, still on the Old Milwaukee Toll Road, run a little west of north four and a half miles to Halfday. At Halfday turn westward, taking the left fork, cross the railroad about two miles out of the town, and run on to Diamond Lake, four and a half miles from Halfday. Keeping straight on the main road, continue to Dean's Corners, three and a half miles from Diamond Lake. Again keep straight ahead, running into Fremont Center, keeping to the left about a mile before entering the town, and then by turning sharp to the right half a mile further on, run into the village itself. On running out of Fremont Center keep to the left at the fork across the stream, and then bear to the right up towards Fort Hill. Instead of running to Fort Hill, however, you should keep to the left about half a mile before reaching the town, and keep to the main road running up to Lippencott's between Fish Pond on the left and Wooster Lake on the right. The road is easily found, with the exception of one or two turns just before reaching Lippencott's, and these can be more easily found by making inquiries than by attempting to describe them here. Lippencott's is a pleasant place with a good hotel on Fox Lake, where it is moderately certain that you will pass a cool night and feel refreshed for your ride to Waukesha the next day.

Note.—Map of New York city asphalted streets in No. 809. Map of route from New York to Tarrytown in No. 810. New York to Stamford, Connecticut, in No. 811. New York to Staten Island in No. 812. New Jersey from Hoboken to Pine Brook in No. 813. Brooklyn in No. 814. Brooklyn to Babylon in No. 815. Brooklyn to Northport in No. 816. Tarrytown to Poughkeepsie in No. 817. Poughkeepsie to Hudson in No. 818. Hudson to Albany in No. 819, Tottenville to Trenton in No. 820. Trenton to Philadelphia in No. 821. Philadelphia in No. 822. Philadelphia-Wissahickon Route in No. 823. Philadelphia to West Chester in No. 824. Philadelphia to Atlantic City—First Stage in No. 825; Second Stage in No. 826. Philadelphia to Vineland—First Stage in No. 827; Second Stage in No. 828. New York to Boston—Second Stage in No. 829; Third Stage in No. 830; Fourth Stage in No. 831; Fifth Stage in No. 832; Sixth Stage in No. 833. Boston to Concord in No. 834. Boston in No. 835. Boston to Gloucester in No. 836. Boston to Newburyport in No. 837. Boston to New Bedford in No. 838. Boston to South Framingham in No. 839. Boston to Nahant in No. 840. Boston to Lowell in No. 841. Boston to Nantasket Beach in No. 842. Boston Circuit Ride in No. 843. Philadelphia to Washington—First Stage in No. 844; Second Stage in No. 845; Third Stage in No. 846; Fourth Stage in No. 847; Fifth Stage in No. 848. City of Washington in No. 849. City of Albany in No, 854; Albany to Fonda in No. 855; Fonda in Utica in No. 856; Utica to Syracuse in No. 857; Syracuse to Lyons in No. 858; Lyons to Rochester in No. 859; Rochester to Batavia in No. 860; Batavia to Buffalo in No. 861; Poughkeepsie to Newtown in No. 864; Newtown to Hartford in No. 865; New Haven to Hartford in No. 866; Hartford to Springfield in No. 867; Hartford to Canaan in No. 868; Canaan to Pittsfield in No. 869; Hudson to Pittsfield in No. 870. City of Chicago in No. 874. Waukesha to Oconomowoc in 875. Chicago to Wheeling in 876.

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If one is a collector of antiquities, he has doubtless in his possession one of those beautifully chased and ornamented timepieces that at one period at the court of France were so much in vogue, it being the fashion to wear several of them at one time. Invariably set with jewels, they were very costly, but for usefulness in keeping time they were practically worthless. A good story is told of a nobleman who was showing two or three of his beautiful watches to a friend. Being jostled by a passer-by the friend accidentally dropped two of them on the floor. He was very profuse with his apologies for his awkwardness, to which the nobleman replied,

"Oh, pray don't mention it, my dear friend. It's the first time I ever saw them go together."

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This Department is conducted in the interest of stamp and coin collectors, and the Editor will be pleased to answer any question on these subjects so far as possible. Correspondents should address Editor Stamp Department.

The new Spanish Congressional stamp has been received on letters. It is a very handsome stamp, printed in carmine, bearing the Spanish coat of arms, with the words "Congreso de los Diputados." The cancellation is a crown with ornament attached bearing the words "Congreso de los Diputados." The cancellation is the same as that hitherto used on the ordinary Spanish envelopes bearing the regular issues of stamps when mailed by a member of the Spanish legislature.

This is the time for the annual conventions of all kinds, even of stamp-collectors. The Southern Philatelic Association has already adjourned. The Sons of Philately met August 5, at Gettysburg, Pa. The American Philatelic Association will meet at Minnetonka.

The two new Japanese stamps are to be issued September 12, 1896, the second anniversary of the Emperor's leaving Tokyo to go to Hiroshima, so as to be near the seat of war between Japan and China.

The inhabitants of the small group of islands situated on the south of Iceland possess a very curious method of communication in their so-called "bottle post." When the wind blows from the south, and one of the islanders wishes to communicate with the mainland, he puts his letters into a well-corked bottle, and to insure their delivery he incloses at the same time a plug or twist of tobacco, or a cigar. The wind speedily impels the bottle to the shores of the main island, where people are usually on the lookout, who are willing to deliver the letters in return for the inclosed remuneration.

Africa is coming to the front with a multiplication of new stamps. The French in Madagascar have issued three different sets, two provisional and one regular. The British East Africa new series of fifteen denominations, and Zanzibar with fourteen denominations, have been issued. In the near future specialists in African stamps will grow common.

This reminds me of a prophecy by one of the old dealers that soon there would be albums made for each country and for each hemisphere for the advanced collector with money, and one simplified album for the use of the general collector, who with less money, but with equal enthusiasm, would get just as much enjoyment out of his modest general collection as the millionaire specialists out of their marvellous collection of varieties, etc., of one country.

W.W. Wood.—The two coins are sold by dealers at a slight increase over face.

J.M.F.—There were five varieties of the $5 red Internal Revenue, first issue, viz.: Charier Party, Conveyance, worth 15c. each; Mortgage and Probate of Will, worth 50c. each; and Manifest, worth $1.50. These prices are for perforated copies; unperforated copies are worth from $1.25 to $10. The second issue, blue and black, and the third issue, vermilion, are worth 50c. or 60c. each. Cuban stamps are not much collected, and any one can buy them in quantities, therefore there is little prospect of an advance.

W.R. Wheeler.—The $10 Charter Party, perforated, is worth 60c.; unperforated, $8; the $3 Charter, 15c., and $1.50 respectively; a pair of $2 Mortgage, unperforated, is worth $4; the $2 and $5 Probate, worth $1 and 50c. respectively.

W.R.C.—The 3c. U.S. red, 1851, is worth 35c. per hundred; the 1857, about 25c. per hundred; the 1861, about 10c. per hundred. The 1c. blue, from 1851 to 1860, are worth much more, depending on condition of the plate, etc. The U.S. Internal Revenue 2c. are not worth anything, the other 2c. Revenues are worth various prices.

F.E. Cowan.—I do not know the value of Mexican Revenue stamps. Probably some St. Louis dealer could quote prices. Hitherto they have not been collected generally, but I believe they will soon be more popular. When that time comes prices will become more stable.

G. Leonard.—I cannot repeat the long list of coins previously published in the Round Table for December 17, 1895, and January 14, 1896.

A.A. Hall.—English Revenue stamps, or rather stamped papers, have been used for several hundred years. You will doubtless recall England's attempt to force the American Colonists to use stamped paper in 1765. The law was repealed in 1766 in consequence of the disaffection and riots.

J. Schwanman.—"Gumpaps" is a nickname or term of contempt applied to stamps issued primarily to sell to collectors, especially those condemned by the Society for the Suppression of Speculative Stamps, usually called the S.S.S.S.

W.T. Williams.—No. Never paste your stamps down. Always use hinges, and buy the best hinges, as it will pay you in the end. I frequently see old collections containing stamps pasted down, with the result that almost every stamp has been damaged. Blues, greens, and some reds disappear altogether. I am told it comes from using dextrine from which the acid has not been thoroughly removed.

J.J. Singer.—In perforating postage-stamps a die plate is placed before the needles of a machine carrying hundreds of needles. As about 180,000,000 holes are punched per day, the wear on the die plate is excessive. Brass plates wear out in a day, and even steel plates are rapidly destroyed. The use of aluminium bronze has caused the die plates to last for months without renewal. Usually the parallel horizontal rows are perforated first, and the vertical rows next. Both rows have been perforated at one time, but this method has proved impracticable.

Faithful Reader.—The 1850 dime can be bought of the dealers for 20c. They are still in circulation.

M.C. Haldeman, Thompsontown, Pa., wishes to exchange stamps and philatelic literature. Also wants samples of amateur papers.

V.M.—The 1851 1c. U.S. is worth $2 unused, 25c. used. But there are two varieties (from the early impressions) which are worth much more. Do not cut any pairs or strips of any unperforated stamps.

Philatus.

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