To the editor: 

We wish to extend to you and your friends a cordial invitation
to visit our Republic.

Yours,
the citizens, per William DAPPING.

George Junior republic,
Freeville, N.Y., March 17th, 1897.

Dear editor: 

I enjoy your fascinating little magazine so much that I thought I would write and tell you so.  It has pleased me very much to find that you encourage kindness to animals, for it is pathetic to think how they patiently work for us with only bad treatment as a reward.  Do please write more about them, and their undeserved sufferings.  I think that your older subscribers would like to read “Fabiola,” by Cardinal Wiseman.  It is a story of ancient Rome, and the Christians of the catacombs; it is quite an old book, but is as interesting as any that I have read.

As you are so kind about answering questions, perhaps you could tell me of some magazine or shop (in New York) where I could find authentic portraits of historic people, like Catherine de Medici, Louis XI., Louis XII., etc.  I do not want them to be too expensive, and I do not want them to be fancy pictures.  From a

Friendand admirer.

    P.S.—­Would you kindly tell me soon where I could get the
    pictures here, as we leave New York May 1st, and I then will not
    have a chance to profit by your advice?

    New York, March 18th, 1897.

The authentic portraits of historic people are all paintings.  Dutton & Co., on Twenty-third Street, have a very fine collection of photographs of the famous pictures in foreign galleries, and you would most likely find what you wanted there.

M. Knoedler & Co., 355 Fifth Avenue, near Thirty-fourth Street, have photogravures of many of the famous pictures.  If you could not suit yourself at Dutton’s you would be almost sure to at Knoedler’s.

Dear Mr. Editor: 

Have the astronomers succeeded in finding out whether people live on the planet Mars or not?  I am very much interested in it.  I saw a picture of President McKinley and his Cabinet the other day.  Senator John Sherman is Secretary of State.  I hope President McKinley will take more interest in Cuba than President Cleveland has.  I remain,

Your fond reader,
Harvey V.
Scotland neck, N.C., March 8th, 1897.

DEAR HARVEY: 

It has been discovered that the air and conditions of the atmosphere on Mars are the same as those of our own planet, the Earth, and so astronomers have decided that Mars may be inhabited.  Editor.

    Dear Mr. EDITOr: