LEHIGH Div., 321, Lehighton, Pa., asks for space in the JOURNAL for the first time to show our sister Divisions what we are doing. We were organized last April, with sixteen members, and we are still taking in others.

We enjoy our meetings, and too much praise cannot be given Mrs. Geo. Riley, of Mauch Chunk, Pa., who organized us, and who has kept her watchful eye upon us, often visiting us and giving us encouragement and instruction. We enjoy her visits, and also the visits of all the Sisters of Div. 80. We are a young Division and need helpful words, which are always appreciated.

May all our sister Divisions have continued prosperity, and may we all work for the good of the order.

SEC., Div. 321.

THE ladies' sewing circle of F. S. Evans Div., 99, held a sale and supper at Engineers' Hall, Boston, Mass, November 19, which proved a success and added a neat sum to the treasury. The fancy table contained many useful as well as ornamental articles which found ready buyers. The mystery table contained many mysterious looking packages which netted a neat sum as did also the table of salted peanuts, corn balls and various sweets. The dainty handkerchief donated by the President of the Division, Mrs. Annie Batchelder, was drawn by Mrs. Minnie Cobb. The handsome sofa pillow fashioned by the willing hands of Sister Hathaway's daughter, Mrs. Annie Moore, was drawn by Mr. Davis, and the substantial looking blankets were drawn by Mr. Bruce. The piano was presided over by Engineer Charles Fisher's daughter, Miss Lizzie Fisher, who handled the keys with skill, showing her practice and experience as a fine pianist. Miss Woodman favored us with dancing as did also Sister Chase with her fancy steps. Oldtime dancing was indulged in until a late hour, Miss Fisher furnishing music for INSURANCE SECRETARY.

the same.

Div. 21, Atlanta, Ga., of the G. I. A., sends greetings to all sister Divisions and

wishes to give a short account of some of the work we have accomplished and some of the entertainments which we have had during the last six months. In the summer we had two lawn fetes, later a rummage sale, still later simultaneously on the evening of Oct. 21, Sisters Mayo and Ray gave a candy pulling at their homes in different sections of the city. These were for the pleasure of the children and the benefit of the G. I. A. Both were complete successes. I will add that all our money-making schemes have been successes; but don't think, Sisters, that the almighty dollar is all that we are striving for. We use it as "the means to an end," for many hearts and many burdens are made lighter by kindly ministrations, and help in time of need from our beloved order.

We have just received a stimulus to do even better than we have ever done, for our first President, Sister Jas. S. McKibbin (now President of Div. 128, of Indianapolis, Ind.), has been with us again after an absence from our city of over twelve years. She came back to us with such love and enthusiasm for the G. I. A. it positively inspired us.

On the 6th ult., from 3 to 5 P. M., our Grand Guide, Sister Chas. H. Weekley, gave a reception in honor of Sister McKibbin. The day was perfect. About two hundred called to pay their respects to her charming guest. Sister Weekley was assisted in receiving by Miss Annie Williams and Sisters McKibbin and Scribner, President of Div. 21. Chocolate, cakes and mints were served in the dining room by several pretty young ladies gowned in white. The color scheme of the dining room, yellow and white, was effectively carried out in chrysanthemums and butterflies. Butterflies were suspended in the air and everywhere, and as a pleasing souvenir of the occasion, a tiny hand-painted butterfly was pinned to the shoulder of every guest. Fine music added to the charm of

the occasion.

ON THE night of the 16th ult., Div. 21 also gave an entertainment in honor of

our first President at the spacious and lovely home of Sister J. D. Kitchins.

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The novel feature of the entertainment was that every guest was given a tiny bag containing twenty-four beans, and whoever could make another say yes to any question could claim a forfeit of a bean. When a certain time was up and the beans were counted it was found that Miss Laura Welch had been more successful than anyone else in getting men, maids and matrons alike to say that little word to her; in fact no one could say her nay, and to her the prize, a Gibson picture, was awarded.

Music, flowers, refreshments and genuine hospitality all tended to make the evening delightful. Before it ended our President, Sister Scribner, in behalf of Better Half Div., 21, presented to Sister McKibbin a souvenir spoon. She was so surprised that for the time being she was speechless, but at our next meeting she gracefully and feelingly thanked us all for our little gift.

By invitation she told us about the study club of Div. 128 and how they met at the homes of different Sisters once a month, and after finishing the program light refreshments were served and then a plate was passed around on which every Sister was expected to place a dime. The refreshments were very simple and were prepared and the expenses defrayed by several Sisters so that it would be very easy for each Sister to do her part. She also told us about the ladies of their Division going to their hall occasionally and spending the whole day there in a very informal way. Each brought some one article of food and they invited their husbands and children to call on them there and have luncheon with them. Those "all day meets" as she called them she said brought them more closely together. We felt that her talks were for the good of the order.

Hoping I shall not take too much of your valuable space and wishing the Sisters one and all a happy and prosperous New Year, I am,

Yours in F., L. & P.,
COR. SEC., Div. 21.

Died Nov. 9, 1904. Sister Pearl Shambow, aged 29. of Div. 37, Little Rock, Ark. Cause of death, appendicitis. Carried one certificate, payable to Geo. T. Shambow, husband.

Members will pay their Insurance Secretaries on or before Jan. 31, 1905, or be marked delinquent; in order to reinstate must pay a fine of 10 cents on each certificate besides the delinquency. Insurance Secretaries must forward to General Secretary and Treasurer not later than Feb. 10, 1905, or stand delinquent till remittance is made. Assessments Nos. 191, 192 and 193 will be paid from the Fund.

Members in good standing Nov. 30, 1904, fortyseven hundred and eighty-eight in the first class, and nineteen hundred and eighty-five in the second class.

In notifying the General Secretary of the transfer of a member from her Division, the Insurance Secretary should state date when transfer card was granted, By-laws page 87, Section 7.

Some Divisions, beginning with No. 1, have been notified to send in certificates for rewriting, according to action of late convention. Several months will be required to complete the task, and each Insurance Secretary will receive instructions in time to make collection.

MRS. GEO. WILSON, Pres. V. R. A. MARY L. ROBERTSON, Gen'l Sec'y and Treas.

the older form of pump, to permit of air reaching the high-pressure cylinder from the atmosphere. This is especially desirable in this pump since the stroke has been increased.

Changes have also been made for the purpose of facilitating repairs such as removing slide valves. Instead of being screwed into place, as in the number 2 pump, the caps are secured by tap bolts. The use of separate cages for each of the different air valves makes it possible to use the same size of air valve throughout the pump, thus simplifying repairs.

IMPROVED OIL CUP CAP.

end. Experiments have been made to make the same amount of oil last over a greater period of time. The accompanying illustration shows a slight modification in the valve shown in the September JOURNAL. It consists in drilling the stem of the cap with three holes, as shown, which holes permit more of the air that reaches the top of the oil, as already explained, to pass back to the pump instead of so much oil being forced through when the oil has dropped considerably, and the volume of air is greater above the oil than is the case where the cup is about full. The greater volume, being capable of more expansion, would force the oil to the pump quickly and in larger quantities. The escape holes drilled in the cups

at present, it is claimed, tend to make a cup of oil last over a greater period of time.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

C. V. D.-Q.-I had a train the other day that went into emergency almost every time I made a service application of the brake.

My idea was that there was a triple valve that had a weak graduating spring that caused it, but in talking with one of the boys he seemed to think that the trouble was a broken graduating pin. Would like to hear what you think of it.

A.-Either of these things would cause the action you describe, but in all probability neither was the actual cause. The thing that is almost always responsible for this occurrence is a dirty condition of the triple valve. While a broken graduating pin or a weak spring could cause the trouble the latter could only do this on a very short train, and the latter is a condition that is practically never found now, although it was occasionally found years ago when some of the first triple valves were in service, in which the graduating valve did not have a bearing on the shoulder of the piston as at present. I have not encountered a case of a broken pin in ten years, and it is safe to say that this trouble is a thing of the past. With this condition existing it is a question if the trouble would be experienced on a long train since the tendency would be for the triple valve to move the slide valve to a position such that the air would pass down by the removed portion of the slide valve, past the emergency piston which is a loose fit, and on into the brake cylinder. In connection with this explanation it should be remembered that the reduction of pressure on a long train is very slow in a service application and the port through the triple in any case is only open sufficiently to permit of the pressure in the auxiliary reservoir reducing as fast as is that in the train pipe.

With a weak graduating spring no bad effects would be felt unless the train were very short, that is, so short that the air was being taken from the train pine faster than the auxiliary reservoir pres