fined. Papa says he don't
believe blue ribbon will keep them sober. Everybody wears blue
ribbon here, but I don't, because I don't want to get tipsy anyhow.

General Butler is the big boss of the Home. He comes every fall,
and walks around. They always have an arch for him. Colonel Brown
is Governor. He only has one arm, and was in Libby Prison. I wish
the boys and girls could all come and spend the day here. They have
a big deer-park, and lots of animals of all kinds, as good as a
show, and a splendid band that gives concerts, and they have dress
parades by the Brown Guards. I asked Papa how much it cost to run
it a year, and he wrote down for me, so I would not forget,
$360,740.81, last year. Hope you will find room to publish this.
Harry says you wont. Harry is my brother.--Your friend,

CLARENCE SNYDER.

* * * * *

Trenton, N.J.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I have read a great many letters in your ST.
NICHOLAS, and I always like to read them, for they are so funny. So
I thought I would write you a letter and tell you about my poor
little cat. It was given me when two weeks old, and I only had it a
month before it died--and, do you believe, I saw it die! It was
taken sick, and I cried awful. I don't know what was the matter
with it, but I think it had the colic, for it lay as quiet as a
mouse; and then it died. Oh, how sorry I was! My friend got a
little box and buried it right under my window, so I could often
think of it. So I hope you will all wish me better luck with my
cats. Be sure and give my love to Jack.--From your little friend,

JENNIE H.

* * * * *

San Francisco, Cal.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I have often read in the "Letter-Box" some other
little stories which boys and girls have written.

I will now write about the wire-cable railroads of this city. The
first one constructed was on Clay street, between Kearney street
and Leavenworth street. The road has now been continued out to Van
Ness avenue.

The second was constructed by the Sutter Street R.R. Company from
Sansom street to Larkin street, a distance of one mile.

The best of all the railroads in the city is on California street,
between Kearney and Fillmore streets, a distance of two miles. It
is considered the best built wire-ca