The next two illustrations are from designs by Gordon Craig, whose peculiar drawings have attracted much comment from those who note the fads and fancies of the art world. These designs are capital children's plates. The woolly French poodle and the fierce Jack-in-the-box please both old and young. Their usefulness, however, would certainly be increased if they bore the full names of the owners rather than their initials only, but their artistic effect is certainly complete as they are drawn now. OLIVER STILLINGFLEET LOCKER LAMPSON 1898 FEAR GOD. FEAR NOUGHT The last English design shown is for a dear little girl who must be related to Bo-Peep. She has apparently come up from the meadow to report that her spring lambs and mint are doing well. Her dolly is tightly clasped in her arms, and she smiles in a most contented manner. This design is by May Chatteris Fisher, of Birmingham. She is known on the other side of the ocean for her pleasing book illustrations and decorative drawings. The two upper plates on page 46 were "made in Germany," like so many useful things we moderns use. The first one, by Professor Hildebrandt, is for his little daughter Elisabeth, and has long been one of my favorites among modern German design, and is full to overflowing with the young lady and her treasures. We see her at her desk, deeply engrossed in some fascinating tale, while dolly, knitting, and toys await her ladyship's pleasure. Now, judging by the examples shown, which are examples of the best, we may ask, what are the especial features of a successful plate for a child? First, as to size. Little book-plates are suitable for little people; but as many books for children are quite large, this rule of smallness need not be absolute. It is nice to have a design reproduced in two sizes, so as to be suitable for large and small books. But if you have only one size have it small. Then, simplicity of design should rule and picture-plates should be chosen in preference to all others, the meaning of the whole thing being plain to the youngThe older folks are making everything est. I sincerely trust that this little ramble among plates for their always bright girls and boys. RAINE BARBARA % HER BOOK DORRIT A TRIP THROUGH THE NEW YORK NAVY-YARD. BY JOSEPH HENRY ADAMS. LOCATED at the Brooklyn side of the East River, on what is known as Wallabout Bay, and midway between the old and new bridges, there is a piece of government land comprising about one hundred and fifty acres. This is the New York Navy-yard. From a small shipyard of a century ago this property has been gradually developed and improved until at the present time it is one of the foremost naval stations of the world, and in time of war it becomes perhaps the busiest place on this continent. It is admirably situated upon one of the finest of harbors, and has a magnificent waterfrontage of a mile, while within its boundaries are creeks, canals, and basins enough to accommodate a large fleet of war-ships, cruisers, and transports. During the late war with Spain the New York Navy-yard played a most important part in the great drama of conquest, and in the early stages of the conflict its docks, wharves, and waterways were crowded with cruisers, battle-ships, gunboats, and monitors undergoing hasty repairs and equipment for active service in the serious work that followed. Apart from the regular government craft, there was a large fleet of auxiliary cruisers and steam-yachts being converted into gunboats, armed cutters, and despatch-boats for service in the Southern waters, as well as for picket duty all along the Atlantic coast. Many of these yachts required resheathing with armor-plate, and all of them were transformed from beautiful pleasure-craft painted in bright hues to the most formidable-appearing sea-fighters of dull-leaden color. The navy-yard magazines were crowded with projectiles and shells, cases of prism and grain powder, and thousands of rounds of smokelesspowder cartridges for rifles and rapid-fire guns, which were hastily shipped and stored in the magazines of the war-vessels or transported to the field of action in the West Indies. The machine-shops, foundries, ordnance and supply departments were filled with an army of skilled workmen, who labored day and night on the pressing work of making vessels ready. More than eight thousand men were employed in the yard at that time, although the regular force in times of peace is but two thousand. Every known trade and profession is carried on within the limits of the New York Navyyard, from crude farming to the making of delicate scientific instruments, and from rough blacksmithing to the designing of the most formidable fighting-craft. Workmen of every description are employed, from the laborer who shovels dirt for one dollar a day, to the artisan and craftsman whose services are worth two dollars an hour. The machinery and equipment in the shops are of the most modern type, and capable of turning out any kind of sea-craft, from the dainty little despatch-boat to the most powerful battle-ship. The navy-yard is a mine of interest, and every one should make a visit to some large navy-yard to see the manner in which this important branch of Uncle Sam's work is carried on; for in a description, no matter how graphic, it is hardly possible to convey the full meaning and extent of the important work necessary to the naval defense of a large country with an extended coast-line, like the United States. As a whole the New York Navy-yard ranks as the finest naval station in the Union, the next in order being the yards at Washington, D. C., Charlestown, Massachusetts, Pensacola, Florida, League Island, Pennsylvania, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Mare Island, California, Kittery, Maine, and Norfolk, Virginia. It occupies a position unequaled for undertaking naval movements in Atlantic waters, for in the late war this was demonstrated to the entire satisfaction of the government. The yard is open to visitors every day except Sundays, between ten and four o'clock; and access can be had to every part of the grounds, including glimpses into the shops through the open doorways, although visitors are not allowed inside the buildings unless by special permit. Any of the ships may be visited by permission from their captains or officers on deck, and the marines are always quite willing to show the visitors the big guns and the points of interest all over the ships. As you pass in through the main gateway at Sands Street, a sentry will call you to halt; but if satisfactory reasons can be given for admission, and you are above suspicion, you may pass in and begin the interesting tour of inspection. At first one hardly knows which way to turn when within the gates, there are so many paths and points of interest in sight; but if you turn to the right and follow the path leading to the commandant's residence, that will be found the best course. It might be well to apply at the office of the captain of the yard for a general pass, so that you may not be halted at any place and your business inquired into. If you have a camera it can be taken with you, for in time of peace there is no serious objection to taking pictures of the yard in general; but photographing within the buildings will not be allowed unless by special permission. On the way to the captain's quarters you will pass long sheds filled with lumber of all sorts and from all over the world, that is used in construction and finishing. Everything, from the light molding of hard wood to the huge mahogany log weighing several tons, may be found here, and a large quantity of the hard woods have been in the sheds many years, so they are well seasoned. Most of the expensive logs are painted at the ends to preserve them from the weather and to reduce the likelihood of splitting; but the soft wood is used much faster and in larger quantities so that this precaution is not neces sary. The large stock is constantly being drawn on and replaced, but there is always an abundance, as Uncle Sam never "runs on shorts" if it is possible to avoid it. is interesting, for here we may see great piles of cannon-balls, condemned of course, but used for ornamenting the grounds, and some fine old guns mounted on antiquated carriages of iron, many of them trophies of war, together with various historic relics. Conspicuous among these are two finely fashioned old guns of bronze, with highly ornamental mountings, resting on carriages of steel, in which the name "Sevilla, 1857" is cast in bold characters. Formidable are these in appearance, but no match for the guns of to-day that can throw a projectile for several miles with great accuracy. They are muzzle-loaders, with a small touch-hole, and on the nameplate at the side we read that they were captured from the Spanish fortifications at Cavite, Philippine Islands, by Admiral George Dewey, after the famous battle of Manila Bay. They were brought home on the “Olympia,” the trim war-ship which was the first to cut loose with her guns in the battle of Manila Bay. She was the flagship of Admiral Dewey, and she began the battle in obedience to his quiet command to his executive officer: "You may fire, Gridley, when ready." We all know what followed that first shot, and to the jackies and gunners who fought on our ships that morning nothing but the highest praise has been given all over the world, not only for their wonderful marksmanship but for the humane deeds of rescue when the poor Spaniards were drowning about their burning and sinking fleet, on which hundreds had been killed, while on our fleet there had been no loss of life. Her reception at the navy-yard must have been a great surprise and delight to the jackies, who had been absent from their native land for more than a year, and many of whom had been recruited and trained on the "Vermont,” in this navy-yard. Close to these old guns are two formidableappearing guns with shields and mounts, broken breech-blocks, and pierced armor-plates, showing the effect of "Yankee" projectiles. One bears a label showing that it is a breechloading rifle-gun, mount, and shield having been taken from the sunken Spanish flagship "Reina Christina" at Manila Bay; while the The immediate vicinity of the captain's office other is from the "Reina Mercedes," and the same size as the first-two monuments to Admiral Dewey's gallant victory over the Spanish fleet on that memorable May morning. Along the line, and mounting guard in front of the captain's quarters, are two guns from the Santiago battle. The label of one tells us that it is a breech-loading rifle-gun from the Spanish armored cruiser "Almirante Oquendo," taken at Santiago by our fleet, while the other is from the "Vizcaya," and bears a corresponding inscription. The upper part of one gun-shield is perforated and torn by a projectile, and is a suggestion of the fearful destruction that shot must have wrought among the gun-crew. the yard also; they were fortunately removed and brought here before the vessel was raised, and subsequently lost while being towed from Cuba to the United States; otherwise we should never have had them. Some of these captured guns are without breech-blocks; for, if you remember the details of the battles, the fact may be recalled that in the Santiago battle, when hope was lost by the Spanish sailors, they removed the breech-blocks and other parts of the mechanism and threw them overboard, to render the guns useless should they fall into our hands. Beyond the captain's office there are many antiquated pieces of almost every description, It is a practical demonstration also of the trophies of several wars, dating back nearly a accuracy of the United States gunner at long hundred years. They are mostly old wroughtrange, for the projectile must have entered a iron and bronze guns, some taken from H. M. S. port-hole in order to strike the shield of the "Macedonian," October 25, 1812. Another is Spanish gun. the twelve-inch gun "Peacemaker," of 1838, a Two guns from the "Maria Teresa" are in clumsy affair and seeming very old-fashioned VOL. XXX.-7. |