too muddy for poling and current too swift for rowing, he makes sad
progress.

[Illustration]

The above cut shows how one man can easily tow alone. The light
regulating string, B, passes from the stern of the boat to one hand of
the person towing, T. The tow line, A, is attached a little in front of
the center of the boat. Hence when B is slackened the boat approaches
the shore, while a very slight pull on it turns the boat outward. The
person towing glances back "ever and anon" to observe the boat's line of
travel.

* * * * *




RAILWAYS OF EUROPE AND AMERICA.


The following table, which has been prepared by the French Ministry of
Public Works, gives the railway mileage of the various countries of
Europe and the United States up to the end of last year, with the number
of miles constructed in that year, and the population per mile:

Total Built in 1881 Population per Mile

Germany 21,313 331 2,154
Great Britain 18,157 164 1,939