Morning journal and courier., 1892-12-17
THE FLEETING SHOW.

! transmission to the dead letter office. 
 THE FLEETING SHOW.
 Some of Its Facts and Fancies.
 Written for the JOURNAL AND CoURIKR.l UNCoNCIoUs HUMoR.
 Do people ever weary of hearing or read ing of the unconcious humor of school childrena Their mental confusion often results in an answer or definition SO unex- pected and startling that the teacher is overwhelmed, first with surprise, and then with the desire for laughter. ssWhat is l conscience?" was asked of 8 small urchin, and he replied, "An inward monitor" I" "And what do you understand by moni- tors" was the next question, and very briskly the youth replied. "An iron-clad ship" That boy, evidently, had not been reading stories of the war for nothing, and might have answered more definitely the | question put to another boy: "How many wars can you name in which the United States have been engageds" After mo- ment's hesitation he answered, "Four," and when told to name them said, "The | first, the second, the third, and the | fourth"
 Then they exhibit sometimes an amazing l amount of practical wisdom; they think at | once of the easiest thing to be done under the circumstances mentioned. For exam pie, "What did the Israelites do when they came out of the Red Ssaa" was the ques- tion, and the very sensible answer was, "They dried themselves, sir." Again, a girl, probably @ new member of the cook ing class, was asked how beef tea was extract and go by the directions" Such children as these may be called upon for advice in any emergency. They will not be wholly without expedients.
 The query, "What are warmth produc- ing foods?" WAS ably answered in this wise: Jamaica ginger and cayenne pepper" This child probably drew upon her expert ence-she knew that whereof she affirmed. The boy who said that a 'tcynie is a philosopher who leads dogs life," has provided us with an excellent definition, and that other urchin who described optics as 'sthe science of the illusions" was not so wide of the mark as one might think. The vsgaries of our visual organs are inexplicsble sometimes, and their illusions annoying and perplexipg. Seeing things as they are," with the physical and with the men, bsl sze is that ita eg,nat nf s' ie Occasionally these children indulge in sarcasm in way that, whether conscious or unconscious, is very amusing. "The | to many by his swiftness- How many soldiers owe their lives to the swiftness with which their horses have carried them from the battle feldr' "Boys," wrote another, 'think themselves smart because they can wade where it is deep, but God made the dry land for every living thing, and rested on the seventh day. When a boy grows up he is called a husband, and then he stops wading and stays out nights, but the grown up girl is a widow and keeps house."
 Here are some of their queer definitions: 'Ironical, something very hard" "Mo- mastery, place for monsters" "Ventila- tiop, letting in contaminated air." These are, in measure, correct, but the follow ing show mental bewilderment, caused by the refusal of brain and ear to act together:
 "A bully is kind of chicken" "A somuambuiiet is a man that talks when you don't know where he is." "Obslisk, one of the marks of punctuation" "Re-
 pugnent, one who repugs."
 This list might be made very lengthy
 one, but it is not necessary to add to 1t to
 prove that, in spite of mental confusion
 and half -digested knowledge, the children
 have an original way of putting things
 that is sometimes to be commended for the
 practical wisdom it shows, and sometimes to be enjoyed for mirth- provoking qual ity that is better than all the made-to-order elaborated witticisms of their elders.
 BOOK COVERS.
 Perhaps the most satisfactory gift yor
 can make for book-loving friend, fol whom you need not provide book, Is (
 book cover.
 These, we'll liked from their first intro duction, seem steadily to gain in favor
 They protect handsome binding, conces
 the faults of shabby one, and lend an ali ) of elegarce even to the paper covered novel
 The current number of one's favorite mag ! a zine seems all the more enjoyable whel 8 cased in pretty cover, from which it ma g be slipped when the next months issu r claims attention.
 8 If you wish to give both book and cove
 there are very delightful little books to b
 bought that have plain covers of whit r yellum paper For these, white linen GOV l. CTS, with few delicateiy embroidere @ flowers or painted sprays scattered owe l. them, are particularly pretty. The boo l l' ribbon. For these. too, kid, chsmois an # velvet are suitable materials, capable n receiving all the ornamentation that or cares to put upon them
 For larger books and magazines gra o linen makes the most serviceable cove
 Measure the magazine and cut the linen 6 inch lenger and eight inches wider than u te book. At the top and bottom fold an at press a half-inch hem, but do not sew
 &o fox pocket four inches deep, and where tl ne edees meet at the top and bottom owe IS, hand them together. Of course embro ed dery must be done before these pocke ,o are made, and the slightly dampened wo = pressed under cloth until it is perfect 're smooth, A piece of cardboard is slipp 'te into each pocket to keep it stiff and
 good shapa
 Since applique work is again in vogue ne might be used for book covers with tc. mirabIe effect, and little expenditure broidery Three feur- de- lis of pale bl as or green velvet, outlined with silver co sS' upon white linen, would be an ornamen S5, tion both showy and handsome. Psnsi 97 made of two shades of purple or yell oo velvet, and outlined with gold cord, { oo' always effective; or leaf forms may 9l' used; or plain disks in tones of gold ion | brown.
 For painted design nothing is fiji
 than two Or three great ragged chrysant eat nuns, in rich yellow, or pink, or deep
 shades Whatever the design, the ribt nia which helps to keep the book in place m we'd correspond with it in color, the corn his must be sharp and neat, all edges perfec ca true, and stitches conspicuous for noth but their inconspicuousness.
 on Very durable and handsome covers 8 it made Of leather. kid, or chamois, W of painted designs, and appropriate motto ,a. such ss: ''I would be always in 8 n' s"' with a book" Or: IA book-the on friend who never grows weary of wait less for us"
 The artist in scorch-work, or pyrogl
 u1e. decorates the surface of these leat the covers, burning in elaborate conventie ,uri, or geometrical designs, with the appro