After a careful consideration of General Miles’ plan, the Secretary of War stated his disapproval of it on the ground that it would be impracticable. The Decline of Great Salt Lake The Great Salt Lake, which for a number of years past has been gradually diminishing in size, is now causing some little apprehension to the people of Utah. Although not well understood, it is thought that the diversion of the streams which formerly fed this interesting body of water, for the purpose of agriculture, is partly responsible for its decrease. The cutting away of forests also is supposed to have had its effect in diminishing the water supply of the region. The Great Power House The largest power house in the world is that recently erected in New York City by the Manhattan Elevated Railroad. The total energy of its entire system of engines is 1,000,000 horse-power. This is capable of being converted into a force of 600,000 electrical horse-power, in which form it will be used for propelling the trains of the elevated railroad. IN-DOORS PARLOR MAGIC By Ellis Stanyon The first of this series of papers on Magic, commencing with the March number, included directions to the beginner for Palming and the Pass. PROGRAMME AND COIN.--The effect of this experiment is as follows: The performer borrows a marked half-dollar from a stranger in the audience, immediately handing it to a gentleman to examine the mark, date, and other items. While this is being done, the performer obtains the loan of a programme, which he tears in half, laying one half on his table. The gentleman is now requested to place the coin in the half of the programme held by the performer, who wraps it up and gives it to him to hold. He now goes to his table for a piece of sealing-wax, which he passes several times over the packet held by the gentleman, when immediately it is transformed into a packet of three envelopes, made from the programme, all gummed and sealed, one inside the other, with the marked half-dollar in the smallest one. As the gentleman cannot see how it is done, the performer repeats the trick for his benefit with the other half of the programme, but the result is the same. This time, however, the gentleman is requested to take the last envelope to the owner of the money, that he may open it and satisfy himself that it actually contains his own coin. The six envelopes are now rolled up and given to the gentleman to hand to the lady, to keep as a souvenir of the entertainment, but before he has proceeded far the performer tells him he has dropped one of them (he has not really done so), and, failing to find it, he very naturally begins to count those in his hand, when he discovers to his astonishment that he holds the programme restored. * * * * *