musement. Some one suggested
we should assemble once a week at each other's homes, and bring our
friends with us, so that all could see the impressions and make
exchanges.

[Illustration: KNIGHTS OF GOLDEN CROSS.]

This was carried out an entire winter, and we found such a course added
immensely to our finds and pleasure, as there is no collecting that
adapts itself better for club purposes than this for both boys and
girls. The capital proved, too, a particularly good field for us, being
full of people who had seals gathered from all parts of the world.
English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish coats of arms were found,
besides quite a variety of exquisitely cut heads in antique rings,
gathered from the tombs and curiosity shops of Greece, Italy, and Egypt.
In most cities the seals may be found in museums and private
collections, and as the act of making an impression in wax is not
injurious to them, and requires but little time, we found people
generally very willing to allow it. When a sufficient number of seals
are gathered, _i.e._, enough to fill a card-board, they are mounted by
first marking the place where they are to go faintly with a lead-pencil.
Begin by making a square-cut line in the centre of the board, a little
smaller than the writing-paper which contain the seal impressions. This
is for the largest of them, then, according to size, graduating to the
smallest.

[Illustration: Socrates.]

The others may be clustered around the first, which should have the most
space about it, with at least an inch of border. When the outlines are
all drawn take a sharp knife and, following the pencil marks, cut
entirely through the mounting-board.

[Illustration: Homer.]

The seals are placed in their proper position by covering the outer
edges of the paper they are on with mucilage and then pressing the
card-board on to them, taking care that the seal shows through the
centre of the cut space.

[Illustration: Treasury Dept. Con. States.]

For a pretty effect, if the largest seal in the middle is red, surround
it by a circle of yellow ones, followed by blue, gold, brown, and black,
giving a harmonious whole. Some collectors run a line of blue or red ink
about the card-board, with ornamental curves at the corners as a
finishing touch.

Have it framed in some light wood, like ash, oak, or holly, three and a
half to five inches in width, with a glass over it.

SEA RANGERS.

BY KIRK MUNROE,

AUTHOR