A CENSUS of the world's railways recently compiled gives the following figures: In Europe the miles operated have risen in four years from 141,552 to 155,284; in Asia from 22,025 to 26,890; in Africa from 6,522 to 8,169; in America from 212,724 to 299,722; and in Australia from 12,322 to 13,888, making a total for the world of 433,953 against 395,143 four years ago. These figures show that Africa made the greatest proportionate advance, that continent's gain being over 25 per cent. against 9 per cent. in Europe, 22 per cent. in Asia, 8 per cent, in America, 12% per cent. in Australia, and nearly 10 per cent. for the entire world. The length of the world's railways in 1895 of 433,953 miles is more than seventeen times the circumference of the earth at the Equator. The United States has a greater mileage of railways than the rest of the world combined. FIVE thousand Freemasons dined with the Prince of Wales, the most worshipful grand master, recently, in the Albert hall. The purpose of the festival was to provide funds for the removal of the royal masonic institution for boys, which is now a hundred years old, from Woodgreen to Bushey. The prince asked for £100,000, saying he would be very much disappointed if that sum could not be subscribed. The lists, when read, showed a total of £134,000, much to the surprise and gratification of all concerned. "THE stamp-collection business never had a bigger boom than it has now," explained a prominent philatelist to a "Star" reporter, "in consequence of the internal-revenue war stamps manufactured in accordance with recent law. The stamp collectors think that the stamp collections will take up over $200,000 worth of stamps. Already orders have been received from all parts of Europe, from trade and private collectors as well, although it is hardly known yet in many parts of Europe that a new set of internal-revenue stamps has been ordered. It is estimated that there are in this country alone 60,000 stamp collectors. If they all include internal revenue with their postage stamps it is easy to be seen what an amount of stamps they will need to supply them."-"Washington (D. C.) Star." War Pictures We have made a special study of the recent events in Cuba and the Philippines and have got together the finest sets of stereopticon views on these subjects in the world. Send for Lists. Note-Prices have been reduced on all slides 16 Beekman St., Please mention SELF CULTURE when you write to advertisers. If possible, get them of your dealer; if he has only a substitute to offer, we will send them express paid at the above price. State size, width, and style desired, and whether button, lace, or Oxford. Our beautifully illustrated catalogue, with unsolicited testimonials from prominent women mailed free. CAUTION! There are imitations that will result in disappointment to the purchaser. A. E. Little & Co., 85 Blake Street, Lynn, Mass. H Please mention SELF CULTURE when you write to advertisers. DOUBLEDAY & McCLURE COMPANY PUBLISH THE BOOK OF THE YEAR RUDYARD KIPLING'S NEW BOOK Third Edition Printed "The Day's Work" Before Publication UN NQUESTIONABLY the most noteworthy event of 1898 in the world of books is this new volume containing twelve stories by Mr. Kipling. Not only is it the product of his most mature genius thus far, but its range is extraordinary-from the delicate dream quality of The Brushwood Boy," for instance, to those stirring tales in which he voices the monstrous throbbings of the marine engine and the American locomotive. The volume has been making for three or four years and is the best work of an author who stands easily at the head of contemporary writers. SPECIFICATIONS:-Size, 5% x 8%; Binding, green cloth; Pages, 431; Type, 10 point; Illustrations, 8 full pages by W. L. Taylor, W. D. Stevens, Sonntag, Blumenschein and others; Price, $1.50. BOOKS ON APPROVAL: Our Book Store is in Every Post Office of the U. S. Our wish is to give every reader in the country who is interested in any of our publications a chance to examine it at our expense. No matter where you are a postal card request will bring to you any of the following volumes. If, after seeing them, you want them, you have merely to remit the price. If not, return them. These are some of our fall publications, and we shall take pleasure in sending you a com plete catalogue. We do not describe them, preferring to let them speak for themselves. The People of Our Neighborhood. By Mary E. Wilkins. Illustrated. Cloth, 50 cents; full leather The Perfect Dickens (Temple Edition), 40 vol., 3 ready each month, colored frontispieces, leather, each. .80 Subscription Edition sold on instalments, limited to 1,000 sets. Send for particulars. Cyrano de Bergerac. By Edmond Rostand. Translated by Gertude Hall The Nameless Castle. By Dr. Maurus Jokai. Illustrated. 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By W. M. Price) 1.25 .60 1.50 1.00 1.00 Prayers, Ancient and Modern. By Editor of "Daily Strength for Daily Needs' 1.00 Home Games and Parties, with "Evening Refreshments." By Mrs. Rorer Klondike Nuggets, and How Two Boys Secured them. By Edward S. Ellis. Illustrated The Science of Political Economy. By Henry George How to Build a Home. By F. C. Moore Hymns that Have Helped. Edited by W. T. Stead. Cloth, 75 cents; leather DOUBLEDAY & McCLURE COMPANY, 141-155 East 25th St., NEW YORK. Please mention SELF CULTURE when you write to advertisers. HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN & CO.'S NEW BOOKS POETICAL WORKS OF ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON Cambridge Edition, uniform with the Cambridge Longfellow, Whittier, Lowell, Holmes, Browning, and Burns. With a Biographical Sketch and Notes by WILLIAM J. ROLFE, Indexes to Titles and First Lines, a portrait, and an engraved title-page with a vignette. Large crown 8vo, $2.00. The distinctive features of this edition are (1) accuracy of text, (2) ample equipment of notes, (3) numbering of the lines, (4) thin opaque paper, making a convenient volume, and (5) type of good size. It is a remarkably satisfactory single-volume edition of Tennyson. LIFE AND LETTERS OF PAUL THE APOSTLE By LYMAN ABBOTT, D. D., author of "The Evolution of Christianity," "Christianity and Social Problems," and "The Theology of an Evolutionist." 12mo, $1.50. Dr. Abbott very fully and clearly elucidates the theory that the history of organized Christianity through the ages is the history of the intermingling of the pagan conception of God, the Jewish conception, and the Christian conception of Him as a father who gives life freely to all who will accept the gift. This last, argued and affirmed in wonderful variety of form, Dr. Abbott regards as the special gospel of Paul. A CHILD'S HISTORY OF ENGLAND By CHARLES DICKENS. Holiday Edition, with fortyeight full-page engravings of castles, cathedrals, battlefields, and landscapes, from photographs by Clifton Johnson. Crown 8vo, handsomely bound, $2.50. IN THE BRAVE DAYS OF OLD A Story of Adventure in the Time of King James the First. By RUTH HALL. With a Frontispiece illustration. 12m0, $1.50. A book of stirring adventures, for boys. Giles Valentine, an English boy, and Jan Verrooy, a Dutch boy, together have a hand in many historical events in England, Holland, France and America, such as warning of the Gunpowder Plot, sailing with Henry Hudson in the Half Moon, etc. The story has good historic background, and is told with great spirit. THE STARLIGHT CALENDAR Compiled by KATE SANBORN, who compiled "A Year of Sunshine" and "The Rainbow Calendar." 16m0, $1.25. To her previous admirable calendars, Miss Sanborn now adds "The Starlight Calendar," crowning the earthly series with a heavenly conclusion. Sold by all Booksellers. 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