Morning journal and courier., 1891-10-02

side of the falling rod makes 6 slight
 mark. The distance through which the
 rod drops while the shot is passing from
 one screen to the other is indicated by the distance of the cut from the end of the | rod. From this the corresponding inter | val of time is easily computed, and this l forms the unit for the calculation of the | projectile's velocity in feet per second. When it is necessary to obtain very accu- | rate records several chronographs may be | used for testing the same shot. Of course the rate of projectile's ve- l locity diminishes rapidly during its flight from the gun, and the calculations of the I initial velocity must be confined to a short | portion of it's path immediately after it | leaves the gun. Instantaneous photo graphs are obtained of the projectile as'it strikes the target. From these expert ments in velocity the ordnance officer is | able to determine the relative strength of different powders.
 A Sehool-Gfrrs Meeting With Hans Christian Andersen. From the October St. Nicholas. Near by Countess Sorr sat, beside the tall, kind-faced gentleman with whom she had been talking at our entrance. Once, o5 "utShCo thchl, Ab Wao ofAoCAS ehos they were talking about me, and, catching my eye and seeing my embarrassment, he nodded pleasantly; and when the usual toast to the Blooming Wreath of Young Ladies" was proposed, he leaned toward me aud said, stAnd to the Little Buds also, my FIaulein." Deeply pleased and flat tered, asked my neglectful professor pro- lessor the name of my friendly vis-a-vis.
 "That is Professor Andersen," he an- swered, "the celebrated poet"
 Really" said I, 1T have heard his name so often. I am sure Helen and Nelly would be delighted to have his autograph. So that is Professor Andersenl" My neighbor was convinced that appreciated Andersen's celebrity, and as the countess then rose, 1 heard no more about him at that time.
 In the next room the company divided into various groups. Some young ladies gathered around Andersen and begged him for his autograph for their albums. He was very amiable, and told them to send their books to him, as he would be three or four weeks at Sorran; and then, proba- ply seeing from my eyes the deep interest I took in the scene, he came acoss the room and said, "Now, little one, do you not want me to write something in your album" shook my head sadly and said timidly and slowly, "No, I thank you" little amused and said, "No? Why not, thsn7"
 "Because have no album; if you only could have asked me day before yesterday could have wished for one, for that was my birthday
 was your birthday! You must allow me to congratulate you now. Would you like me to write you a congratulation2 Then on your next birthday (for you seem to be certain your wish will be accomplished you can put it in your album, and keep it in memory of a friend" He held out his hand to me, and as I laid my trembling fnger-tips in it he continued: 'Do you especial friend of children? Have I been yours, too?' This puzzled me; I did not know what he meant by "Have I been" :" but nodded my head and said, Ut is very good of you to be my friend, for it is real ly quite lonely here among so many strange people," and I went on: "Helen and Nel- ly admire you so much, and now I will, too"
 "Now, onlys" said Andersen, much amused. "Then you did not like the fairy tales."
 This remark puzzled me again, but l concluded that he wished me to give him my opinion on the subject of fairy tales, so I replied decidedly, "Oh, I cannot bear theml I want to know how it really looks in the world, and then" Here paused and burst out laughing, hearty, merry l laugh, at the remembrance of certain sad afternoon when I was little girl. ] was shocked at myself immediately, and fancying that Professor Andersen would consider me only foolish schoolgirl, I | hastened to add in justification, II will tell you why 1 hate fairy tales. Many, many years ago"
 "There lived queen," interrupted An dersen.
 ''No, no, Professor, I was it myself. Many years ago I was reading pretty story about little princess who had a | wicked stepmother, and the story grew | sadder and saddel, and at last cried so | hard that I had to stop reading. My | brother was at home then on leave from | the cadet school, and he came straight into | the room, and said quite rudely, Rosa, | stop that bowling! What is the matter with your I showed him my book and
 sobbed out, 'Oh the poor princess! Then
 Ulrich took the book and said: Oh, that
 will come all right; let me see,' and he sat | down and read little and then laughed
 ont loud, and showed me that the princess
 turned into swan; so of course the story
 was not true, and all my crying had been for nothing. Then laughed, too, and
 never read any more fairy tales. What
 was the use9 Ulrich said they were none
 of them true, and since have grown up
 am astonished that I ever believed such
 nonsense"
 The good professor listened to my story | with great attentian; then he stroked my
 head kindly with his long, slender hand and
 said, ''You are little heretic. We mus
 try to convert you. Come up into the Ii
 brary in half an hour and I will read vol
 one of my fairy tales, and perhaps yor
 will pronounce milder judgment"