"The Mysterious Island," "Abandoned," and "The Secret of the Island" are a set of books by Jules Verne. "The Fir Country," "Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea," and "In Search of the Castaways" are all by him. "A New Alice in the Old Wonderland" is by Anna M. Richards, Jr. From an affectionate reader, ANNA H. NEW YORK, April 17th, 1897. INVENTION AND DISCOVERY. POCKET PROTECTOR.--This is an invention that should recommend itself as much to girls as to boys. It is a guard of rubber or other suitable material, which is laid inside the pocket, and fitted with ribs and a spring which close the mouth of the pocket at all times. For the side pockets of coats it would seem to be a most desirable invention, and for the pockets of skirts it seems the thing that we have been looking for. Every young girl knows how inconvenient it is to have no pocket in her gown, and she also knows how strongly the dressmakers protest against putting one in, because it is sure to gape open and look ugly. With the self-closing protector the pocket would always be kept closed, and if ladies can only persuade their dressmakers to use this new invention, there is no reason why they should not once more have the comfort and luxury of pockets in their gowns. DEVICE FOR PLACING OR REMOVING PICTURE-HOOKS. The spring-time, when half the world is moving, and the other half house-cleaning, seems a very happy time for introducing the above invention. It is an arrangement attached to a long pole, and it is to be used to place or remove picture-hooks and pictures. The hooks are caught and held firmly by the two arms which project from the device. They can then be lifted off the moulding without difficulty. In the same manner the arms can be slipped under the wires of pictures, which can thus be easily taken down. This lifter will save many a climb of the step-ladder, besides doing the work of hanging and removing pictures in one-half the time. There is a new machine made for sharpening scissors. The blades to be sharpened are passed through an opening in the side of the machine, and are brought in contact with a bar, which is made of emery or other sharpening material. The bar is adjusted with springs which move back and forth with the pressure of the blade, in such manner that a very fine edge can be put on the metal to be sharpened. G.H.R. LETTERS FROM OUR YOUNG FRIENDS. DEAR EDITOR: