The extension piece (Fig. 1) of the protector consists of an endless band of waterproof fabric, like that of the body, provided at its edges with bindings, to which rings for drawing strings are secured. The protector can readily be adjusted and held upon a small or medium sized hat by properly manipulating the drawing strings. To adapt the protector to a large hat, the extension piece is united to the main piece by a string passed through the inner series of rings on the facing and through one of the series of rings on the extension piece. A string is then passed through the other rings of the extension piece, when the protector can be held to the hat by adjusting the drawing strings. It is evident that this protector may be applied over a hat without danger of crushing the most delicate trimmings. [Illustration: HOPKIRK'S PROTECTOR FOR LADIES' HATS.] This invention has been patented by Mrs. W. H. Hopkirk, of Agency, Iowa. IMPROVED STUMP PULLER. The stump puller shown in the accompanying engraving (page 130) is exceedingly powerful, as, by a system of compound levers, a pull of one pound on the operating bar will exert a pull of 384 pounds on the stump, and if the lifting chain be passed around a single pulley, this power is doubled. With one of these machines one man has pulled a green maple stump two feet in diameter from clay soil. The pulling mechanism is supported by a tripod, to the upper end of which is secured a chain carrying a bar or plate provided with a bearing in which slides a notched bar. Meshing with the notches of this bar are the teeth of a pawl, which is so connected, by levers, with the operating handle that the downward movement of the latter will raise the pawl and notched bar and the chain attached to its lower end. A sliding bolt then holds the notched bar in its raised position, when the handle can be raised to enable the pawl to engage with the next lower teeth of the bar. Thus, by a succession of up and down movements of the handle, the notched bar may be elevated its entire length, or until the stump is pulled completely out. It will be seen that the sliding bolt permits of the upward, but prevents the downward, movement of the notched bar when the pawl is disengaged and slides downward. But, by means of a suitably arranged hand lever, the pawl may be moved so as to be out of contact with the bar, and, at the same time, the bolt, which is pressed forward by a spring, may be moved to disengage it from the notch in the bar, which may then be adjusted in any desired position. The machine is built of steel and malleable iron. This invention has been patented by Messrs. R. R. Tichenor and P. Walker, of Henning, Minn. The Defense of New York within Thirty Days' Time.