that he will find time to grace the annual banquet with his presence. Le Roy A. Lincoln, counsel to the insurance department, who is another prince of good fellows, will leave Albany on the first of January to join the law firm of Rumsey & Morgan, of New York city. He is one of the mainstays of the insurance department team, and his enthusiasm, good nature and sportsmanlike qualities have done much toward making the league a success. The boys all wish him the greatest good fortune and feel assured that he will follow in the footsteps of his illustrious father. The league is represented in the city league by a team of which Johnny Waldron is captain. The city league is a composite organization made up of teams consisting of the leading bowlers of ten of the strongest separate leagues in the city, and the team finishing first in the city league is considered the champion team of the city. Last year the State departments team stood third in the city league, and it is stronger this year and the boys feel confident of finishing first or second. They have secured a good start, having won six games and lost none, and are tied with the Elks major team for first place. In team work the comptroller's, governor's and public service teams have shown the best form up to the Christmas holiday recess, the comptroller's leading with 28 games won and 11 lost, and the governor's and public service being tied for second place with 27 won and 12 lost. The governor's boys, the famous 'Pickles and Ginger" team, who roll the community ball, started out to make a runaway race of it, winning 17 of the first 18 games played, but they slowed up and the comptroller's team came up fast and passed them at the first quarter and are maintaining their lead at the half mile pole. It is understood that applications for the exercise of the pardoning power of the governor may be necessary unless the P. & G's, get going faster and regain the lead. The highway team holds fourth place in the team standing, with the education fifth, the insurance, excise, attorney-general's, engineer's and tax men bringing up the rear of the procession, in the order named. Highway Commissioner Duffey still pins his faith on his heroes who won the championship of the league last year, and believes they will repeat the performance, while Comptroller Travis is sure that his expert account A plainly dressed man, who introduced himself as John Smith, walked into a doctor's office in a Texas town, and having explained his symptoms, asked the doctor how long it would take to cure him. The doctor, who had treated the visitor with every possible courtesy, replied: "You will require careful treatment under my personal supervision for about two months before you are able to resume your labors in the bank." "Doctor, you are fooling yourself. I am not Smith the banker, but Smith, the street car driver." "Is that so? Well, my good fellow, I don't see what you came to see me for."- Exchange. ants have it all figured out to win and that they are possessed of the ability to back up their figures. The public service regulators deserve the confidence imposed in them by the commission, and are quite likely to have something to do with fixing the ratings of the teams at the close of the season, while the legal lights appear quite likely to lose their case. Attorney-General Lewis expresses the opinion that if the lawyers are beaten it will be necessary for him to apply for a new list of eligibles from the Civil Service Commission in order to procure some real talent. The excise inspectors have been strengthened by securing the services of Dolson, and doubtless will be among the contenders at the close of the season. Substantial prizes are given by the league and also by the alley owner for team and individual bowling, and there is keen competition for the honor of landing at the top. Every Saturday afternoon and each other afternoon after five o'clock the alleys are occupied by the members of the regular teams or those anxious to make the teams, as every bowler in the various departments desires to get on the team and do his bit for the honor of his department. The schedule runs from the last of September until the first week in April, with what is called a "high-low " tournament during the Christmas vacation, when the men with the highest and lowest averages combine as two-men teams and contest for prizes. The team and individual prizes have been nearly doubled this year, and the prizes for teams include all but the last two teams. thus giving the weaker teams a little more incentive to do their best. One of the most enjoyable features of the league is the annual banquet which occurs at the close of the season. The banquet last year was a decided success, the heads of the various departments attending as guests of the league, Comptroller Travis, Highway Commissioner Duffey, State Chairman Glynn and Toastmaster Kearney contributing witty speeches to the success of the occasion; and this year the boys are planning some extra stunts for the final wind-up of the season. Anyone who does not believe that a man can accomplish a regular man's work during business hours and enjoy a boy's play during his hours of recreation, should drop in some Wednesday night and watch the New York State Departments Bowling league in action. The poor and the rich, envying each the other's freedom from the cares of too little and too much, yet learning year by year that without health and enthusiasm and faith and love, none can be rich, and with them none can be poor. Exchange. 'Your speeches are not as entertaining as they used to be." "Well," replied Senator Sorghum, "maybe I'm improving. People nowadays are getting so thoughtful that you can't expect 'em to vote for you simply because you can make 'em laugh."- Washington Star. PERSONAL ITEMS OF STATE INTEREST Gossip about well-known persons in the State-what they are doing Foster N. Mabee F OSTER N. MABEE, accountant and statistician in the State excise department, is one of the oldest and continues to be one of the most efficient employees of the State government. This is remarkable when it is considered that Mr. Mabee is seventyeight years old, having celebrated his last birthday on December 6th. Mr. Mabee is well known to many of the legislators, as it is his duty to collect data on such important subjects as laws that affect the liquor traffic, and to prepare the reports of the department. He is now getting out the material for the twenty-second annual report of the department, he having prepared all of the twenty-two documents issued from that branch of the State government. Mr. Mabee was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., and resided in that city until 1865, when he was appointed paymaster of the Erie railway and removed to Owego, the former home of the late Thomas C. Platt, Republican leader in New York State for many years. He was president of the village for three consecutive terms and was otherwise active in its life before he came to Albany. It was Mr. Platt who was responsible for Mr. Mabee's removal to Albany in 1896-twenty-two years ago-to fill the position of special agent in the excise department. He afterwards took a civil service examination for the position he now holds and has been busy in it ever since. Mr. Mabee can relate many interesting anecdotes of Thomas C. Platt, when the latter was a young man in the drug business in Owego. He knew him as a member of a campaign quartet of singers, and as a political leader in his own county of Tioga. In the old days Mr. Mabee seldom missed attending the State conventions as a delegate, and he recalls having been introduced to James A. Garfield in 1880 when Garfield was a candidate for President. Mr. Mabee retains a high admiration for Thomas C. Platt, whom he regarded as one of the ablest politicians the State or the country ever produced. "One of the things which can always be said to the everlasting credit of Thomas C. Platt," said Mr. Mabee, "is that he never broke his word in his political career. Men who know anything about politics and the difficulties which beset the leaders will appreciate that this is a great deal to say of a man in Mr. Platt's position, who so long was the Republican leader in this State." Mr. Mabee was a member of the Seventh New York regiment through the Civil War, and made the mem orable march down Broadway with it on the 19th of April, 1861. He is the oldest living past grand commander of the grand commandery of Knights Templar in the State of New York. At present he is a grand trustee of the order. Miss Christabel Abbott of the State Normal school at Geneseo has been appointed chairman of the national press committee of the drama league of America. Miss Abbott is a teacher in the department of literature and speech arts in Geneseo. John K. Sague. former mayor of Poughkeepsie, recently left the United States accompanied by his family for China on an important mission for President Wilson. Four years ago Mr. Sague was appointed appraiser of the Port of New York. He is one of the well-known Democrats of the State. Charles H. Armitage who for ten or twelve years past has been legislative correspondent for the Buffalo News has been appointed secretary to Mayor George S. Buck of Buffalo, the new mayor of that city, at a salary of $4,000 a year. Mr. Armitage's former home was Elmira where he began in the newspaper business. Will H. Low the well-known painter recently visited Albany, his native city, accompanied by Mrs. Low. They inspected the Albany school of fine arts of which Mr. Low is the art critic. In an address to the students he said that he believed after the war artists would feel the necessity for a return to expressing the fundamental truth of things. Leland D. McCormick, secretary to State Engineer and Surveyor Frank M. Williams, resigned his position on December 10 to enlist as a clerk in the aviation section of the signal corps of the army. Mr. McCormick is succeeded by Charles R. Waters, who for a number of years has been attached to the barge canal office at Fort Plain. Mr. Waters is a graduate of Union College. John N. Carlisle, former State commissioner of highways, may soon become a lieutenant colonel in the national army. Mr. Carlisle is a former member of the first regiment of the New York national guard and retired with the rank of major after having served for more than five years. Mr. Carlisle is a resident of Watertown and devotes his time between that city and Albany to the practice of law. Edward L. Stanton of Albany for several years stenographer to Senator Robert F. Wagner has become a chief yeoman in the navy. Mr. Stanton has for years been a well-known employee at the State capitol. John S. Patterson, who on December 26 completed his fiftieth year of service in the State insurance department, died December 30, aged seventy years. Mr. Patterson was about twenty years of age when he became a clerk in the employ of the State. For many years he has been actuary in the department and his experience has been such that he was an invaluable employee in all matters relating to insurance. STATE SERVICE is indebted to Warwick S. Carpenter of the conservation department for the beautiful picture of an Adirondack scene used on the front cover of this issue of the magazine. Mr. Carpenter is an expert photographer and also takes moving pictures of subjects related to the department. He delivers hundreds of lectures throughout the State during the year on the many interesting topics related to the conservation department. The military postoffice at Spartanburg, S. C., headed by Major Daly, Capt. Hicks and Lt. Weeks, is one of the busiest military postoffices in the United States, handling from 1,200 to 1,500 sacks of mail a day and keeping open night and day to give the best of service known in any military training camp. On the arrival of the boys at Camp Wadsworth experienced men with N. Y. postoffice experience were needed to run several of the departments. Gilbert H. Swartz, of the 22nd Engineers; Thomas J. Callahan, of the 22nd Engineers; J. Lawrence Goldhamer, of Field Hospital 108, and Frank A. Quinn of Field Hospital headquarters, were first called on special duty to work at the military postoffice. They are now at the heads of several important departments on account of their faithful work. CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS The State civil service commission will hold examinations January 26 for these positions: Appraiser of forest lands, conservation commission, $150 a month; practical experience in lumbering and appraising timber lands necessary. Assistant examiner in claims, compensation bureau state industrial commission, $900 to $1,200 a year; open to men and women. Assistant inspector of physical training, military training commission, $2,500 to $3,000 a year; at least three years' satisfactory experience as director or assistant director of physical training of the entire school system of a city of the first or second class, is necessary. Budget assistant, executive department, men only, $1,200 a year. Detective agent, comptroller's office, men only, $1,800 a year. Food distribution investigator, State food commission, $1,500 a year, men and women. Forest surveyor and draughtsman, conservation commission, men only, $1,000 a year. Knowledge of woods surveying and forestry is necessary. Inspector, State board of dental examiners, education department, men only, $1,200; applicants must be regularly licensed registered dentists. Junior clerk, men and women, salaries up to $600 a year. No examination will be given as the eligible lists for general clerical positions for salaries more than $600. Laboratory apprentice, State department of health, $600 to $720 a year; college education or its equivalent is required. Library apprentice, State department of health, $600 to $700 a year; college education or its equivalent is required. Library assistant, State Library, $600 to $900 a year, men and women. Page, open to girls between the ages of 14 and 18, State and county offices, salaries, $300 to $360. Title examiner, Adirondack lands, attorney-general's office, $3,000 to $3,500 on entrance; open only to men attorneys admitted to practice in New York state. Title examiner, Catskill lands, subject to same requirement as above. Matron, State reformatory institution for females, $480 to $600 and maintenance. Principal or assistant principal, nurse in training school, State hospitals for the insane; principal, $900 to $1,200 and maintenance. Hatchery foreman conservation commission, $1,140. Guard, State agricultural and industrial school, Industry, men only, $600 and maintenance. Chief transfer agent, State hospital service, $600 to $720 and maintenance, men and women, 25 to 50 years of age. Assistant medical officer, department of the health officer of the port of New York city, men only, $1,500, together with quarters, subsistence and laundry. Applications must be filed with the commission on or before January 16. ELIGIBLE LISTS ESTABLISHED IN DECEMBER Francis G. Pollock, 292 W. Delevan ave., Buffalo.. 88.23 Thomas F. Hannon, Box 115, Hudson. 88.01 Martin H. Oakwood, 379 Hancock st., Brooklyn... 87.73 M. C. Fischer, Carmel.. 87.67 William C. O'Donnell, 216 Wyckoff st., Brooklyn.. 86.87 John Ducey, 26 Hudson ave., Haverstraw. 86.53 Peter P. Campbell, 533 First ave., Long Island City 86.51 John H. Smith, 34 Glencar ave., Box 85, Pelham 86.27 Frank J. Wilson, Box 707, 215 W. 23rd st., New John J. Conklin, 217 Bowery, New York city R. Friedman, 1722 Bay Ridge ave., Brooklyn. John J. Riedy, 2 Dana ave., Albany 83.79 83.53 83.47 A. S. Lowe, 64 Franklin st., Astoria. 83.40 WATCHMAN GRADE 5. PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION FIRST DISTRICT Held December 8, 1917. Salary, $721-$900. Established December 19, 1917. James F. Carroll, 1 Syracuse st., Baldwinsville 82.47 81.97 84.00 83.25 ASSISTANT PHYSICIAN REGULAR Held November 3, 1917. Salary, $1,200. Established December 14, 1917. W. A. Spriggins, 349 E. 92d st., New York city.. 81.93 81.64 81.60 81.47 81.40 George O. Connor, 212 Newman ave., Yonkers. 81.01 80.87 David T. Brewster, State Hospital, Poughkeepsie.. 80.70 C. T. Bagley, 27th Division, Field Hospital, Spartanburg.. B. C. Diamond, 1810 Lexington ave., New York... 78.00 S. W. Hausman, Ogdensburg State Hospital, Ogdensburg.. Thomas J. Mangan, 387 E. 187th st., New York 79.83 75.75 Frank C. Stoney, 136 Maple st., Richmond Hill 80.40 DR. FINEGAN REPORTS ON ELEMENTARY EDUCATION The annual report on elementary education by Dr. Thomas E. Finegan, deputy commissioner of education, has recently been issued. It is a volume of 942 pages illustrated by interesting pictures exemplifying progress in education throughout the State. Not merely is this a valuable work to people directly related to the schools; it is of great practical value to all citizens who would know something of the wonderful advance being made in our educational system. In an introduction to the report, Dr. John H. Finley, State commissioner of education, says that while it is a record of substantial progress, it is preeminently a prophecy, for it gives a clear view of things that must sooner or later come to pass for the betterment of schools in this State. He calls attention to the distinctly new features in the report, first, that which has to do with physical training of boys and girls in all the private and public schools, and second, that concerning the training of adult illiterates. Physical training, Dr. Finley says, is the most important provision for the health and physical development of the child ever made by a State, and he intimates that only a beginning has been made. Both Dr. Finley and Dr. Finegan are very much in earnest about the need of education in English for adult illiterates. Attention is also called to the two laws relating to the country schools. One permits the consolidation of country schools, doing away with numerous small buildings, and concentrating education for the children of the district in one commodious structure with better teachers than are usually engaged for the old-time small schools. The other law establishes what is known as the township system, making the town the unit for rural school management instead of the district. The purposes of these two laws is to give every country child the advantages comparable with those of the city child. Many pages of the report are devoted to this consolidated plan. Numerous pictures of the old schools, so familiar to those who have traveled through the country districts, as well as of the new structures which take their place, are shown. These illustrations tell better than anything that can be written, the marked improvement for the benefit of the pupils and encouragement of the teachers. Where consolidation has been effected, the pupils are taken to and from the school by conveyances when they have to travel too far to conveniently go afoot. In some districts automobiles are employed, while in others there are buses drawn by horses. Dr. Finegan shows in his report that during the past four years about 500 rural schools have been discontinued and consolidated with the adjoining districts. In some cases several of the districts have been formed into a central district. In discussing the subject, Dr. Finegan said: "The purpose of a school, wherever one is maintained, is to provide the children of that community with an education of the type which will make them efficient members of society and useful citizens. Nothing should be permitted to interfere with this function of the school or with the constitutional right of the child to obtain an |