INVENTION AND DISCOVERY.

Bicycle-holder.-A clever invention comes to us from California.  It is called a bicycle-holder, and is designed for carrying bicycles on street cars.

It is a simple device consisting of two hooks placed on an iron bar, from the centre of which another bar depends which is also furnished with a hook.

The wheel is hung on to the upper hooks, one of which passes through each wheel.  The lower hook is so adjusted that the hind wheel rests in it, thus forming a perfect support for the machine.

It is possible to attach two bicycle-holders to the back of each car, and if it works as well as it is expected to do, will be a great convenience to wheel-men.

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Road map.—­This is also a boon to bicyclists.  The map, instead of folding up to put in the pocket, is rolled on two small cylinders.  With the map comes a nickeled wire attachment which fits over the ends of the cylinders and holds a portion of the map firmly extended.

In the centre of the wire holder is a loop which snaps on to the handle-bar of the wheel and enables the rider to carry his map stretched out before him ready for instant use.

As the rider proceeds farther on his journey he can twist the cylinders and unroll a fresh portion of his map.  It is an excellent device, and one which can be adjusted to all bicycles.

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Wrist-guide for pianos.-This is an attachment which can be fixed to any piano, and is intended to show the learner just the right angle at which the wrist should be held.

Children seem naturally to be flabby-wristed when they are trying to learn to play, and to drop the wrists below the level of the keyboard seems to be the chief aim and object of every young pianist.

Years ago there were not so many inventions for making learning delightful to the young, and we distinctly remember the fierce battles which used to take place at each music lesson over this very wrist business.

As no wrist-guide had then been invented, necessity—­which is the mother of invention, they say—­taught our instructress to make one of her own.  Hers was more simple than the present one, but probably even more effective.  It consisted of a pair of sharp-pointed scissors which glistened ferociously under the learner’s wrists, ready to give them a sharp reminder whenever they flagged and showed a disposition to droop.

The piano was not as popular an instrument in those days as it has since become.

This wrist-guide ought to save many tears and much vexation of spirit to both teacher and pupil.

BOOKS RECEIVED.

We have received from the publishers, Thompson, Brown & Co., Boston, a set of the Duntonian Vertical Writing-Books.  This series is described by the publishers as follows: