Page:The Strand Magazine (Volume 17).djvu/609

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612
THE STRAND MAGAZINE.

HELPING ATLAS.

Mr. Frank H. Williams, of 14, Distaff Lane, Cannon Street, E.C., in sending the accompanying snap-shot, writes: "Inclosed is a photograph of myself turning head-over-heels for the amusement of a few friends, which photo. I think a fitting companion to 'A Candidate fur Apoplexy' in a recent number. The picture was taken by my brother on a hot afternoon last summer." Mr. Williams seems to have taken root in his odd posture, but a still funnier effect is obtained if the picture is held upside down, fur then he appears to be trying lo help Atlas in holding the world up, only that his footing is somewhat uncertain.


A REMARKABLE ADDRESS.

Our next photograph is a facsimile of an address on a letter that found its way from Spain to The G.P.O., St. Martin's-le-Grand. Remarkable as it may seem, this specimen of handwriting was deciphered by "the blind man of St. Martin's," and and the letter safely reached its destination. It is addressed III the "Spanish Ambassador {or Embassy), London." We wonder how many of our readers would enjoy having to decipher scrawl like this. Even (he Post Office expert was undecided about one word, and admits to either Ambassador or Embassy. This specimen of illegibility in addresses was taken from the scrap-book of Post Office curiosities, collected by one who was employed at the G.P.O. for upwards of fifty years, the photograph itself being sent in by Mr. C. W. Gott, 7, Leybourne Terrace, Stockton-on-Tees..


From a Photo. by C. [indecipherable], Widnes


A LOYAL MONUMENT.

This not a photograph of some granite monolith, or an obelisk of marble by skilled hands and requiring days of toil. Like the mushroom, it sprang up in a single night, and is made entirely of soap-boxes, with a pole through the centre as a support. This "monument" was built to commemorate the Queen's Jubilee by the firm of W. Gossage and Sons, of Widnes, and adorned the square of that loyal borough during jubilee week. Many hundreds of boxes were used in its construction. The height (6oft. ) was intended to represent the length of the reign of Her Majesty. Mr. Herbert W. Pales, of Widnes, is the sender of this interesting photograph.