As the end of vacation draws near, YOUTH wishes to assure its friends that it is in the best of health, both physically and mentally. The long summer, usually so trying to periodicals, has in no way fatigued its energies. On the contrary, it has strengthened them. Each day we have been making many new friends, more even than we had anticipated, so that now, encouraged by this generous support, we meet the coming season with a new vigor. _A NEW FEATURE_ Beginning with this issue, Mr. Allen Biddle will contribute to YOUTH a series of short articles on “Quaint Philadelphia.” As Mr. Biddle has made a specialty of juvenile writing, and is also well versed in Philadelphia’s early history, we believe that the new feature cannot fail to prove of interest to our young readers. _TO OUR READERS_ Our recent encouraging experience has shown us that there is no surer way to increase our circle of acquaintances than through our present friends. During the past months many of our readers have taken advantage of the Special Subscription Offer which appears on this page, and in this way have obtained for themselves very complete libraries. Others, induced by our liberal cash premiums and by means of our easy arrangements for obtaining subscriptions, have proved of great service to us in enlarging our list, besides making for themselves a very considerable sum of spending money. Should any of our readers who have not already made use of these offers be inclined to aid us, we should be glad to forward them full particulars as to the premiums and the methods of undertaking the work. _50c. FOR TWENTY-FIVE NAMES_ Anyone who will send us the names and addresses of twenty-five of his friends, boys or girls, and fifty cents additional, will receive a year’s subscription to YOUTH. The magazine will be sent to any desired address. This is a very easy way for any person, young or old, to obtain a year’s subscription. We wish the twenty-five names for the sole purpose of distributing sample copies of YOUTH. They will be put to no other use, so that no one need have any hesitation in sending the list. _SPECIAL SUBSCRIPTION OFFER_ In order to make it a substantial object for our subscribers to interest themselves in extending the circulation of YOUTH, we have decided to make the following special offer: For every new subscription sent us we will send, free of all cost, one of any of the books named in the accompanying list. These books are the latest and best stories of the most popular writers for boys and girls. They are beautifully illustrated and handsomely bound. The regular price of each book is $1.25. This is an exceptional opportunity for any one to add to his library with little effort, and we trust that a very large number of our subscribers will quickly avail themselves of this special offer. This, of course, does not apply to those taking advantage of our other subscription offers.