Chapter XII: On the “calf’s” Back (2)

“Another feature to be introduced in our schools ought to
be mentioned here. I mean the exchange, between schools,
of correspondence on geographical subjects and of their
natural science collections. This feature, already introduced
in several schools of the United States by the ‘Agassiz
Association,’ can not be too warmly advocated. It is not
enough to collect specimens of rocks, plants, and animals from
its own limited regions. Each village school ought to have
collections from everywhere; not only from all parts of its own
country, but from Australia and Java, Siberia and the Argentine
Republic. It can not purchase them, but it may have them—it can
have them in exchange for its own collections, from schools
scattered everywhere on the surface of the globe.

“Such is the great idea which presided at the creation of the
‘Agassiz Association’—an organization which has already seven
thousand members and six hundred ‘Chapters,’ or sections.[5]
The members of this Association are accustomed to study
natural sciences in the field, amid nature itself; but they
do not keep their treasures to themselves. They write to
other branches of the Association; they exchange with them
their observations, their ideas, their specimens of minerals,
plants, and animals. They write about the scenery of Canada to
friends in Texas. Their Swiss friends (for something similar
exists also in Switzerland) send them the _Edelweiss_ of the
Alps, and their English friends instruct them in the geology
of England. Shall I add that in proportion as the existence of
the Association becomes known, specialists, professors, and
_amateur_-naturalists hasten to offer their services to their
young friends for lecturing before them, for determining their
specimens, or for climbing with them on the hills in geological
and botanical excursions?... Is it necessary to insist on the
benefits of the ‘Agassiz Association,’ or to show how it ought
to be extended? The greatness of the idea of establishing a
lively connection between all schools of the Earth is too
clear. Everybody knows that it is sufficient to have a friend
in a foreign country—be it Moscow or Java—to begin to take
some interest in that country. A newspaper paragraph entitled
‘Moscow’ or ‘Java’ will thereafter attract his attention,—the
more so if he is in a lively intercourse with his friend, if
both pursue the same work and communicate to one another the
results of their studies and explorations. More than that: Let
English children be in a continuous exchange of correspondence,
collections, and thoughts with Russian children, and you may be
sure that after some time neither English nor Russians will so
readily grasp at guns for settling their misunderstandings. The
‘Agassiz Association’ has a brilliant future; similar ones will
surely extend all over the world.”

[5] “Hand-book of the Agassiz Association,” by Harlan H. Ballard. Lenox, Mass., 1884.

DELAYED REPORTS.

455, _Bedford, Pa._ Each member has his own cabinet. Our time has not been wasted by any means. It will not be long before we recommence our collecting expeditions and picnics.—W. C. Langdon, Jr., Sec.

447, _Chittenango, N.Y._ We have a very good collection, including rare insects. We intend soon to visit the Indian mound near Manlius, where we hope to make various additions to our collection. We shall raise 1000 silk-worms for study this summer.—C. A. Jenkins, Sec.

490, _New York_ (_N_). The year has been the most successful of our existence. We stand to-day strong in numbers, interest, and enthusiasm. We have held meetings steadily twice a month, and these have been enthusiastic and well attended. Our good friend, Professor J. D. Hyatt, has lectured for us, illustrating each lecture by blackboard diagrams and also by his powerful microscope. We have started a library, and a number of interesting and valuable books have been presented to us. We have issued a little paper called the “Naturalist’s Journal.” Our cabinet is assuming gigantic proportions, and embraces specimens in all lines of natural history, properly arranged and classified. We have a tabulated list of subjects and speakers for our meetings arranged for the next three months. These are nicely printed, together with names of officers, time of meeting, rules, and constitution, so that each member can have a copy for his own reference, and also to distribute to his friends. We have also made arrangements for excursions and field-meetings. We are encouraged and inspired by the past, and enter upon the future with bright anticipations for still greater success. May that success crown the efforts of all our Chapters!—Cephas B. Fox, Secretary.

REPORTS FROM THE SIXTH CENTURY.

527, _San Francisco_ (_G_). One of our young men has made an excellent induction-coil and other apparatus which we find useful in experimenting. Our work, as members of the A. A., has been very satisfactory and instructive.—Henry Rhine, Secretary.

539, _Philadelphia_ (_P_). We started in October, ’83, with ten members, and we now have thirty-two. We have held 100 regular and two special meetings. Six lectures have been delivered to the Chapter by as many lecturers. Our present plan of working is this: The Chapter is divided into three classes, zoölogy, botany, and mineralogy and geology. A member may join all the classes if he chooses, but must join at least one. Each class elects its own chairman. At four successive meetings, zoölogy is studied. The next four meetings are botanical. We conduct a journal, not printed, but written in a book, and read by the editor. Each member, in turn, is appointed to contribute an article to this journal. Our finances are in good condition, and in our next report I hope you will find an account of a permanent meeting-place (with an engraved charter, and picture of Professor Agassiz on the wall), containing a large library, a new cabinet, and a splendid microscope.—Louis L. Calvert, Sec.

549, _Linlithgow, Scotland._ The work of our Chapter has gone on very successfully. The members of the A. A. are also members of a local association, and the work of the latter is generally considered to be also that for the former. All the members have to acknowledge with pleasure the numerous offers to exchange made to them by American friends, advantage of which has been greatly taken. The Secretary has greatly enriched his herbarium by the additions to it of American plants. The out-of-door work—always the most pleasant—proved all last year to be most pleasurable and profitable, and it may be interesting to other members to know that all the members here are ’cyclists and find their wheels of the greatest service.

The subjects taken up have been botany, geology, entomology, ornithology, conchology, oölogy, and to a certain extent also zoölogy. Meetings have been held and papers read, and many excursions taken, and the members hope that, in spite of the claims made on them by their daily avocations, they will still be able to continue the study of nature.—Wm. Wardrop, Secretary.

544, _Philadelphia_ (_Q_). Our meetings are well attended and very interesting. Our debates are excellent, and show preparation on the part of the participants. During the coming year we promise to push things to a higher point than ever.—Joseph L. Hammer, Sec.

555, _Olympia, W. T._ We have held weekly meetings continuously, and have made constant additions to our cabinets. In botany we have a pretty good collection of phanerogams; about five hundred species determined; and in microscopy we have a good collection of diatoms. We have a good series of Puget Sound clamshells.—For the Secretary, Robt. Blankenship.

556, _Phila._, (_R_). Many specimens have been gained, but our cabinet does not fairly represent the Chapter, because each member is an enthusiastic collector in his own department, and, with a selfishness that perhaps can not be blamed, reserves his “finds” to increase his “working capital.” Our library has been more fortunate.

Our correspondence is a very pleasant feature. Mr. H. G. White writes us valuable letters on the bird life of Eastern Massachusetts, and W. H. Steckel keeps us informed on the plant life of Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Another department of our Chapter is the biological section. Objects are exhibited under the microscope, and specimens, dissections, and preparations are handed around and freely discussed. Sometimes we meet informally, and spend an evening in dissections and general study. One will take a cicada pupa, one a locust or an earth-worm, and so on; before adjourning, each reports on his evening’s work.

Our MS. paper, “Monthly Notes,” has fallen into the hands of a most able and vigorous editor, and is flourishing vigorously. To conclude, we all feel that we are engaged in a good work, and each one, inspiring and being inspired by the example of the others, agrees that the Agassiz Association is the most worthy object of his loyalty and love. A question frequently asked by outsiders is, “Does it pay?” We promptly and heartily answer, “Yes!”—Wm. E. McHenry, sec.

564, _Santa Rosa, Cal._ The interest and attendance for the past six months have been larger than ever before. We gave a reception one Saturday evening, for the purpose of awaking an interest, and introducing our society to the public. The programme was:

1. Address, “History of the S. R. Chapter of the A. A.,” _Pres. G. Lowell_, 2. Select Reading, “The Cat,” _Louis King_. 3. Essay, “Nature,” _Wilber M. Swett_. 4. Select Reading, “Poem of Agassiz,” _Geo. Butt_. 5. “Biographical Sketch of Agassiz,” _Geo. Shaffer_. 6. “Microscopical Exhibition.”

The members loaned their private collections. There were four microscopes at hand, and numerous slides, all of which had been prepared by members. We hope by our perseverance to raise the S. R. A. A. to rank “one,” as a working Chapter.—Wilber M. Swett, Sec.

565, _Waseca, Minn._, is in the field to stay. Since our last report we have accomplished a great deal in the way of adding to our collections. We consider one good working member worth a hundred drones. The Secretary and Vice-President hope to be at Davenport in August. We report forty-six mounted birds, and seventeen skins of birds, all of our country; three mammals, forty-five osteological specimens, etc.; three skeletons, fifteen alcoholic specimens, and 200 eggs in sets, all named and numbered. Also some 1200 mineral specimens. We also devote some time to the study of ethnology, as up to as late as 1863, the ground on which Waseca now stands was frequented by tribes of Indians; and as a consequence of that study we have a box of bones, dug up from a mound, about two hundred arrow points, stone axes, and a curiously carved stone head. Please consider Chapter 565 as one of the Chapters that will be heard and felt in the years to come.—J. F. Murphy, Sec.

569, _Ludington, Mich._ We have a faithful club. Have not lost a member since we started two years ago last November. Have not failed of a meeting each week since last September. Have fourteen boys between ages of thirteen and fifteen.

Have been studying Winchell’s geological excursions, and one of the members said he thought that Prof. Winchell had written the book purposely for him. It has explained to us the higher geologies, and by it we have been enabled to name nearly all the rock specimens found in Michigan.

We gave a public meeting to our parents and friends, and entertained them with music, and essays, etc., prepared on the subjects previously studied. We also had a blackboard illustration, showing the causes of wells and springs, drawn and explained by one of our boys.

Again we invited the young ladies’ club to hold a meeting at our rooms, and after listening to their programme of essays, music, etc., we invited them to a banquet, cooked, arranged, and served _wholly_ by our _boys_. All pronounced it a fine success. We have had various excursions, examining gravel banks, gullies, cañons (small ones), etc. We have had experiments in chemistry, and have used the various acids, to the full satisfaction of the owner of the club-room. In order to fix in the minds the description of the different rocks, two of our young members have invented games of mineralogy,—one to be played like “Authors,” and the other like the geography game. The members like to try the latter on their adult friends, to see how much they know of the hardness, streak, chemical composition, forms of crystals, and uses of the common rocks.—L. B. Elsworth, Cor. Sec.

571, _Grand Rapids, Mich._ We organized our club in the first part of January, 1883, with about fifteen members; but we have grown, and now we have twenty-five members. We meet for one hour every Monday evening. One plan has been to call for items of interest from each of the members, and of these items we are forming a scrap-book. We have often had short talks from gentlemen upon various subjects, such as gunpowder and the care taken of it; light, and sound, and electricity with experiments. Our meetings are well attended, and the interest rather increases than otherwise.—Ed. Avery, Sec.

578, _Osceola, Iowa._ Our Chapter has a membership of twenty. We meet every Wednesday evening in a room fitted for that purpose. We have a cabinet containing a fine collection of ores, fossils, etc. Our Chapter was organized over two years ago. Since then our membership has gradually increased, and with it the interest of the members. The condition of the society is in every way promising.—Lee Burns, Sec., Box 744.

587, _Concord, N. H._ We think we have made more progress during the past year than in any other since our Chapter was formed. We have received many good specimens in exchange, among them some coal-fossils, in which we were greatly interested; a piece of iron ore from the Isle of Elba, and a quantity of shells from all points of the compass. So now our cabinet contains some 500 minerals, besides the shells and other curiosities. We have not read scientific books as much this winter as we did last year, but have given our time to practical work in botany and mineralogy. Five young ladies come in every Monday for the study of botany, taking up house-plants as a preparation for other work next summer. Also, we took advantage of Professor Crosby’s offer, and have much enjoyed the work in mineralogy under his direction. We found blow-pipe analysis very fascinating.—Lunette E. Lamprey, Sec.

590, _Pomfret Centre, Conn._ An average of four members of our Chapter have met once a week through the winter. We have carefully examined two herbariums collected by members, besides looking over nearly one hundred species of flowers and ferns sent to me from California. During the year we have examined 300 species of flowers and ferns growing in this vicinity. We have made one excursion this month, and we have upon our list since April 7, 1886, twenty-five plants. The first, Houstonia, was found on April 13. Our members are more enthusiastic than ever before, and we are looking forward to a very profitable season.—S. P. Oakes Marsh, Sec.

595, _Oneonta, N. Y._ One of our members is taking the course of lessons in mineralogy, and enjoys it very much. Another is making a collection of the violets, and writing out descriptions of all the plants she finds. When we go to the woods we always take a basket and stout knife; then when we find a plant which we do not know, and is not in bloom, we transplant it to our little wild garden; then when it blossoms, we analyze it: if it is pretty and desirable, we let it grow; if not, we pull it up; but when we meet it again, we know it.—Jessie E. Jenks, Sec.

600, _Galveston_ (_A_). Since date of last report (September 16, 1885), we have held fifteen meetings, at which were read six essays and eleven selected readings. There were reported seventy-six notes on natural objects, and specimens found, to the number of one hundred and fifty-one.

Among the many curious notes reported was one on the nest of a mud-wasp, found within the rind of a ripe orange, the skin of which had burst from rapid growth.

EXCHANGES.

Galena, gold ore, silver ore, fluorspar, etc. I will hereafter give all inquirers for exchange my closest attention.—Ernest L. Roberts, Sec. 262, Denver, Col.

Infusorial earth from Virginia for specimens from other States.—Chapter 248, 109 East Grace street, Richmond, Va.

Minerals for same. Lists exchanged. Silicified wood a specialty.—Miss Allie Cole, Sec. Ch. 700, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.

Cactus and petrified wood.—Emma E. Pirie, San Antonio, Texas.

Collections of twenty-five native California plants each, for books and pamphlets relating to botany and ornithology.—P. M. Hoit, Santa Barbara, California.

Holly, mistletoe, balls of sweet gum-tree, and “cross-vine,” for mounted sea-weed, star-fish, and other marine specimens.—Frank J. Engel, Montvale Springs, Tennessee.

Well identified bird-skins for same. Send for lists.—L. M. Davies, 203 Newell street, Cleveland, Ohio.

Petrified wood.—Wilber M. Swett, Santa Rosa, Cal.

NEW AND REORGANIZED CHAPTERS.

_No.
_No._ _Name._ of _Address._
Members._
967 Menominee, Mich. (A) 2 Guy Milbury.
779 Chicago, Ill. (Y) 4 Miss Alice I. Halsey, 3027½ S.
Park Ave.
45 Shelbyville, Ky. (A) 6 Ross Neel.
791 St. Louis, Mo. (F) 5 Mrs. E. K. Jones, 713 Channing
Ave.
347 Baltimore, Md. (C) 6 Miss Affa Gray, 428 N. Mount St.
719 Phila., Pa. (A’) 7 Herbert L. Evans, 4414 Sansom St.
557 Phila., Pa. (S) 7 Chas. Nason, 2116 Percy St.
968 Montvale Sp’gs, Tenn (A) 9 Frank J. Engel, Blount Co.
969 Cromwell, Ct. (A) 9 H. H. Barrows.
970 Stanbridge Quebec (A) 8 A. F. Sargent.
971 Mendham, N. J. (A) 11 Alvah Quimby.
110 Marshalltown, Iowa (A) 4 C. C. Trine.
13 Madison, N. J. (A) 9 Lillian H. Springer.
107 Newburyport, Mass. (A) 6 Geo. A. Noyes.
168 Buffalo, N. Y. (C) 5 Henry S. Gatley, 205 Swan St.

DISBANDED.

841 Fairview, N. J. Mrs. C. W. Asbury.
506 Port Henry, N. J. John M. Thomas.
462 New Haven, Conn. (A) J. H. Haydon.

Secretaries of Chapters 601-700 will kindly send in their annual reports by August 25, if possible.

All are invited to join the AGASSIZ ASSOCIATION, old and young.

Address all communications for this department to

MR. HARLAN H. BALLARD,
Lenox, Mass.

THE LETTER-BOX.

Contributors are respectfully informed that, between the 1st of June and the 15th of September, manuscripts can not conveniently be examined at the office of ST. NICHOLAS. Consequently, those who desire to favor the magazine with contributions will please postpone sending their MSS. until after the last-named date.

The explanation of “curving” in base-ball pitching has been discussed at length in this volume of ST. NICHOLAS, and we now present to our older boy-readers, as a final contribution on the subject, these three letters from three widely separated localities. The first comes from the far West:

PINOLE, CAL., 1886.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: The explanation of “curving” suggested in
your April number is ingenious, but unfortunately it makes the
ball curve the wrong way. The anonymous explanation in February
has the same defect, though it narrowly misses being correct.
I ask your readers to look over that explanation again, and
they will see that the ball, under the extraordinary conditions
imposed upon it, instead of “curving,” as the writer says, to
the right, will not advance at all, but will revolve around the
point D to the left.

There can be no doubt about the possibility of “curving” a
base-ball. The subject is an old one in gunnery, and has
been thoroughly investigated by various experimenters. When
spherical projectiles were the only ones in vogue, the matter
was one of vital interest to artillerists. When such a ball
is thrown, it is acted upon by two forces—the resistance of
the air and the force of gravity. The normal path for a given
velocity and angle of projection is a plane curve, because both
these forces act in the vertical plane of fire—the force of
gravity vertically and the resistance of the air tangentially
to the curve. When, in addition to the motion of translation,
the ball is given a motion of rotation about its center of
inertia, the latter will no longer describe the normal path,
but will deviate from it by “curving” to the right or left, up
or down, depending upon the direction of the rotation. This is
because the resultant of the air-resistances will no longer act
in the line of the tangent in the general case, but at an angle
with it. The general effect will be an increase or diminution
of the normal range or deviation to the right or left of the
plane of fire.

Now, it is almost impossible to project a spherical ball from
a smooth-bore gun without giving it a rotation the direction
of which it is difficult to predict; hence the inaccuracy of
that kind of fire. Spherical balls are not homogeneous, as a
rule. If the center of figure and center of inertia do not
coincide, the ball will rotate when fired—unless so placed in
the gun that these points are both in the axis of the piece.
Taking advantage of these principles, Major Wade, of our army,
years ago managed to make an eccentric shell curve so as to
fall fifty yards to the right or left of the plane of fire.
The “curving” due to rotation is in the direction in which the
_front of the ball rotates_. Perhaps the explanation accepted
by artillerists can be best understood by the aid of a figure.
Let the ball be moving in the direction AE and be rotating at
the same time in the direction BCD about an axis vertical to
the plane of the paper. AE will be the projection of the plane
of fire—which plane will divide the ball into two hemispheres.
Now, the half of the ball on the side B will be moving forward
by the rotation, or in the same direction as the center, while
the other half D will be moving backward, or in opposition
to the motion of the center. The side B will have a greater
velocity than the side D. The resistance of the air upon any
surface moving through it varies with the amount and form of
the surface. In these regards, the two sides are alike, but
the resistance also varies with the velocity of the moving
surface, increasing with some power greater than the square,
and in this regard the two sides are different. The side B
will experience a greater resistance than the side D, or, what
is the same thing, the resultant of all the pressures on all
points of the hemisphere. B is greater than the corresponding
resultant on D, and the ball will yield toward the side D,
describing a curve C F.

The deviation of oblong rifle projectiles which rotate about
their axes of figure is called “drift.” This is a very
interesting phenomenon, but it should not be confounded
with the “curving” or deviation by rotation of spherical
projectiles, as it is to be explained very differently. Yours
truly,

W. R. QUINAN.

The next letter is sent from Chicago, and the writer’s theory is comparatively a simple one:

CHICAGO, 1886.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I have been much interested in the letters
on the subject of curve-pitching, and since I have taken you
for eleven years, I hope you will publish my theory, that it
may be picked to pieces, and I may be set right on the subject.
My theory is as follows:

Let _A B_ be a ball moving toward _D_, and rotating in the
direction shown by the arrows.

As the ball flies along, it pushes the air aside, as shown by
the lines _F E_; the air thus rubs against the sides of the
ball. But as the half of the ball called _B_ is revolving with
the air as shown by the arrow, there is much less friction
on that side than on the half called _A_, which is revolving
against the air.

Therefore, as motion is always in the direction of least
resistance, the ball must curve in the direction _C_.

If any of the readers of the ST. NICHOLAS can not understand
my explanation, let them imagine, for example (instead of a
regular ball), a ball covered with paddles, and they will then
readily understand it. If they think it not a good simile, let
them look at the surface of a ball through a microscope and
their doubts will not last long.

Your friend,

W. H.

Finally, from Boston, comes this rather formidable-looking explanation, which will interest those of our boy-readers who are accustomed to take their recreation and fun in the form of mathematical problems. [But doesn’t it make the ball curve in the wrong direction?]

BOSTON, MASS.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: Let the line _A B_, Fig. 1, represent in
length and direction a given force acting on the point _B_.
Draw any parallelogram, as _A C B D_, having _A B_ for a
diagonal; then the lines _C B_ and _D B_ represent in length
and direction two forces acting on _B_, which, together, are
equivalent to _A B_, _A B_ is the resultant of _C B_ and _D B_,
_C B_ and _D B_ are components of _A B_.

If the parallelogram, _A C B D_, Fig. 2, is a rectangle, the
components _C B_ and _D B_ are known as right components. The
force represented by _D B_ has no effect in the direction _C
B_, and the force represented by _C B_ has no effect in the
direction _D B_.

Let Fig. 3 represent a ball revolving about its center _O_,
in the direction indicated by the arrows, but the ball, as a
whole, not moving in any direction. Let _BB_, _BB_, be lines
at right angles to each other. Let the resistance of the
atmosphere be represented by lines _AB_, _AB_, _AB_, _AB_, and
_AB′_, _AB′_, _AB′_, _AB′_, running in a direction opposite
to the revolution of the ball. The lines _AB_, _AB_, _AB_,
_AB_ are already perpendicular to _BB_, _BB_, and need not
be changed. But the lines _AB′_, _AB′_, _AB′_, _AB′_ must be
resolved into components perpendicular to _BB_, _BB_. This has
been done in one case, the components being _CB′_ and _DB′_.
But the force _CB′_ acting on the point _B_ is equivalent to
the force _EF_ acting on _BB_, and the force _DB_ is equivalent
to the force _GH_ acting on the other _BB_.

In a similar manner all the other forces, _A′B′_ may be
resolved into forces perpendicular to the lines _BB_, _BB_.

If, in Fig. 3, all the forces acting on each of the lines _OB_,
be represented by a single line, we have as the result the four
equal lines _AB_, _CD_, _EF_, _GH_, Fig. 4 representing the
total force acting on the ball.

Now, suppose the ball to move in the direction indicated by the
large arrow, Fig. 5, then the resistance on the side _B_ would
increase, that on the side _F_ would decrease, hence _AB_ would
increase, while _EF_ decreased proportionately. Again, the air
in front of the ball at _H_ is condensed, that in the rear at
_D_ is rarefied, hence the resistance at _H_ is increased, that
at _D_ being lessened, and _GH_ is increased, while _CD_ is
lessened.

Set off on _AB_, _AK_ equal to _EF_; _AK_ will balance _EF_,
and we have only the force _KB_ acting on the line _BF_. Making
_GL_ equal, _CD_, in the same manner, we have only the force
_LH_ acting the line _HD_.

Now, the force represented by the line _BK_ can not do any work
in the directions _BF_ or _FB_, and therefore merely slows the
ball. But the force _LH_, although it can not do any work in
the directions _HD_ or _DH_, can do work in the direction _LH_,
and causes the ball to follow the curve _HM_.

Of course, all the forces, _AB_, _CD_, _EF_, _GH_, tend to stop
the rotation of the ball, but the forces _KB_ and _LH_ are the
only ones which change the motion of the ball as a whole.

F. H. C.

* * * * *

The following verses were written by a young poet of eleven, who began making rhymes at the rather early age of three.

CONSOLATION.

BY ETHEL S. K. PACKARD.

The waves of the coming tide
Crept gently along the beach,
With musical, silv’ry plash,
As if they broke into speech.

And when my sweet joy was dead,
The sound of the heaving sea,
Like gentle breath of sleepers,
Was a soothing balm to me.

* * * * *

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I suppose you know that many girls have a
poor opinion of boys. Well, my sister and her girl-friends were
going to have a fair in my mother’s parlors. I wanted to be in
it, but they laughed, and asked me “if I could dress a doll, or
make a needle-book?” While they were joking, Mamma whispered
something in my ear, and we had a secret together, and we kept
it till the night of the fair, and then we astonished my sister
in this way. There is a long hall opening out of our back
parlor. Mamma had it brightly lighted, that night, and about
the middle of the evening Papa opened the door which led into
the hall, and hung a large card over the door, on which was
written: “Target-Shooting.”

I was in there with my new air-pistol, and the target was at
the other end of the hall. I loaded the pistol, and another
boy took the money. We charged two cents for a shot, and we
had all we could do to load fast enough, so many people wanted
to shoot. Some took ten shots. When I handed the money to my
sister, she said I was “a daisy,”—I think I had the best of the
joke that time,—don’t you?

Yours,

JAMIE H.

Yes, Jamie,—but we think also that some of the credit belongs to Mamma. Don’t you?

* * * * *

A FRIEND of ST. NICHOLAS sends to the “Letter-box” this illustrated jingle:

A rising young Man at the CAPE,
Climbed a tree with the speed of an ape.
“Why I’ve climbed up you’ll know
If you look down below.”—
Said this rising young Man at the CAPE.

* * * * *

THE CHILDREN’S RIDE.

Once there were two little girls. Their names were Rosy and Alice. They had a little brother whose name was Robbie. Once when they were in the woods they saw a creature with eyes of flame, whistling as it went through the air, and it said in a gruff voice, “I am a Jabberwock.”

“What kind of a creature under the sun are you?” said Robbie; “what flashing eyes you have! You look rather kind, though very frightful. Please take me up to the moon on your back and give me some cheese when you get there.”

Robbie had heard that there was cheese in the moon, but he did not really think so; only for a joke he said that.

“Oh! you soft little pussy thing!” said Rosy, as they rode away up to the moon. Pretty soon they went bump against something which was shiny and yellow. It was the moon. Then Jabberwock let the children get off her back, and asked the Man in the Moon if he would please get from his closet some cheese. “Why!” said Robbie, “I didn’t know there was really any cheese up in the moon!”

“Then,” said the Jabberwock, “why did you ask for it?”

“For a joke,” said Robbie.

“Well, here now,” said the Man in the Moon, “eat your cheese.”

“Why, how nice!” said Alice, as she took a large bite out of the cheese. “I think it would be nice to live up in the moon altogether, though I am afraid Mamma would not let us.”

“Well, I suppose she wouldn’t,” said the Jabberwock. After they had had some cheese they went down again.

“Oh, thank you,” said Rosy, as they got down to the earth. “Jabberwock, I think you are the loveliest creature in the world—except Mamma!”

“Oh,” said Alice, “I wish you would stay with us a few days—I suppose you will if we ask you to.”

“Yes,” said Jabberwock, “I would love to. Should you like to see my baby? It is a sweet little thing.”

She led them to a hole in a tree, where they saw the tiniest little baby Jabberwock you ever saw.

“What a cunning little thing!” said Rosy; “but has it not got any fur on?”

“No,” said Jabberwock; “but still it is pretty, is it not?”

“Of course it is,” said Rosy.

“But come,” said Alice, “this is the time Mamma wanted us to be home.”

“Is it?” said the Jabberwock. “Well, I will come.” So away they went.

Written by MARY CONSTANCE DU BOIS
(at the age of 5 years and 10 months).

* * * * *

We acknowledge with thanks the receipt of pleasant letters from the following young friends: Frank Taylor, Harry Armstrong, Katie P. Peabody, Alice Conway, Robert A. Provan, Fay Taylor, Pussy and Leuce, Josie Irwin, Agnes F. Conwell, W. H., Allmond McKay Griggs, Hugh P. Yiemann, Katie, Dorothea Nimzer, Anna Wetmore, Edith M., H. L. M., “Venus,” Celia Loeb, Francis E. L., Florence E. Gaffield, Marion S. Dumont, Lee A. Miller, M. C. H., Evelyn Knight, Pansy, Luckett & Miriam I., F. W. Horninghouse, Hattie Frost, Emily E. Warner, “Alice, Annie, Gracie, Florence, Jessie, Marion,” “Three Rebels,” K., H. S. M., Bessie Maud Bowsher, Jerry Richter, Walter S. H., Nettie Rychen, Allan C. Rowe, May Singleton, Philip A. M., William B. Judson, Minnie W., C. E. Lankford, Ida E., Annie B. Sargent, Nellie P. Clark, Alex. D., Helen W., J. Henry Warren, F. W. Lodge, Grace Coburn, Harriet F. Lightfoot, Edith S. Clark, Fred B. W., Sadie Furman, Ellen S. Congdon, Gertrude, Emily Belton, Grace Vandever, Helen Crane, Alex. Evans, Kate Morris, Belle B. Anderson, Mabel B., M. B. P., Mabel Carrington, Cora L. Witherspoon, Gertrude M., Eugene Kell, C. G. Elmore, Willie Pettigrew, Willie J. Spear, Jeannette G., Jessamine C., Albert L. Scoullar, Albertie Russell, George Emerson, Helen A. Polsley, Ed. H. B., Elizabeth Butler and Elizabeth Wright, P. N. S., Ethel Grey, Rebecca K. Allison, Burton P. Thoms, Amy H., Florence Rawson Greer, Stella A. Goodell, S. W. Bridgham, Jenny Wren, Anna L. L., R. E. B., Maude F. Helen, W. M., Mary Weller, Buddie Holt, Daisey Higham, Sadie, Lyra and Silvia, M. G. Waring, E. H. Smalley, Annetta Reese, Anna May Peaslee, Florence Langton, Bessie P., Howard Butcher, Jr.

* * * * *

MR. CULMER BARNES contributes to the “Letter-box” this month a timely picture:

THE RIDDLE-BOX.

ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN THE JULY NUMBER.

NUMERICAL ENIGMA. “Our country! In her intercourse with foreign nations, may she always be in the right; but our country, right or wrong.”

_Stephen Decatur._

CUBE. 1 to 2, mother; 2 to 6, repose; 5 to 6, needle; 1 to 5, Marion; 3 to 4, eating; 4 to 8, greedy; 7 to 8, nimbly; 3 to 7, ensign; 1 to 3, mite; 2 to 4, rung; 6 to 8, easy; 5 to 7, noon.

ANAGRAMS. 1. Don Quixote. 2. Oliver Twist. 3. The Virginians. 4. Guy Mannering. 5. Old Curiosity Shop. 6. Uncle Tom’s Cabin. 7. The Woman in White. 8. The Last Days of Pompeii. 9. The Vicar of Wakefield. 10. Quentin Durward.

PI. “Angling may be said to be so like the mathematics that it can never be fully learnt.”

_Izaak Walton._

METAMORPHOSES. 1. Cow; row, rot, rat. 2. Hard; harm, farm, form, fort, sort, soft. 3. Left; lest, vest, vast, east. 4. Hit; nit, not, now, low. 5. Long; lone, lose, lost, lest, west.

RHOMBOIDS. I. Across: 1. Venom. 2. Damon. 3. Bales. 4. Resin. 5. Strop. II. Across. 1. Nabob. 2. Mason. 3. Danes. 4. Remit. 5. Donor.—CHARADE. Par-son-age.

ZIGZAG. Independence Day. Cross-words: 1. Ivy. 2. aNt. 3. liD. 4. fEd. 5. Put. 6. nEd. 7. paN. 8. aDd. 9. End. 10. aNd. 11. roC. 12. lEd. 13. Dig. 14. mAy. 15. laY.

HOUR-GLASS. Centrals, straw-hats; from 1 to 2, saltwater; from 3 to 4, stopwatch. Cross-words: 1. Spinsters. 2. Apitpat. 3 Largo. 4. Tap. 5. W. 6. Aha. 7. Trait. 8. Centime. 9. Handsomer.

TO OUR PUZZLERS: In sending answers to puzzles, sign only your initials or use a short assumed name; but if you send a complete list of answers you may sign your full name. Answers should be addressed to ST. NICHOLAS “Riddle-box,” care of THE CENTURY CO., 33 East Seventeenth street, New York City.

ANSWERS TO ALL THE PUZZLES IN THE MAY NUMBER were received, before May 20, from Maud E. Palmer—Annette Fiske—Philip S. Fiske—“B. L. Z. Bub, No. 1”—Maggie T. Turrill—Paul Reese—San Anselmo Valley—Arthur and Bertie Knox—“Betsy Trotwood”—B. L. Z. Bub, No. 2—“May and 79”—Sallie Viles—The Melvilles—Blithedale—Mamie R.—Madge and the Dominie—Carrie S. Seaver and Alice M. Young—The Spencers—“Francesca”—“Clifford and Coco”—Bertha Z. Gerhard—“Sisters Twain”—“R. U. Pert”—“Hazel, Laurel, and Olive”—“Theo. Ther.”

ANSWERS TO PUZZLES TO THE MAY NUMBER were received, before May 20, from M. L. B., 1—M. S. Dumont, 1—W. B. R.—M. L. D. and others, 2—Pelham, 1—Two Fs., 5—The Peraults—C. D. Mason, 1—“Miss Ouri,” 5—“Tigers,” 2—Stella Mendel, 1—Johnny, 1—Dixie, 1—“Tigers,” 1—Maud F., 1—Lucy Jones, 1—J. Schlussel, 1—Laura G. Levy, 9—Buttercup and Daisy, 1—Helena Hellwig, 2—Madge Fursman, 1—Florence Althaus, 7—Thyrza Thornton, 5—C. S. H., 2—Mrs. Sippi, 5—Mary, Jennie and Mother, 6—Grace Cameron, 2—Effie K. Talboys, 8—“Yum Yum,” 1—Pepper and Maria, 12—Papa and Daisy, 1—Ned Mitchell, 5—Emma W. and Katie B. Knight, 2—T. L. and L. Cozzens, 1—Lucy M. Bradley, 12—Lizzie Wainman, 1—Geo. H. English, 1—“Chrysanthemum,” 1—Mary P. Fan, 1—“Jack Sprat and Pa,” 6—H. and L., 9—Clarence Brothers, 1—L. Reeves, 9—Eugene Kell, 1—No Name, N. Y., 9—W. R. M., 11—Bertha H., 12—“Rags and Tags,” 1—Nellie and Reggie, n—S. B. Bissell, 8—“Avis” and Grace Davenport, 10—“Mohawk Valley”—“Rasco,” 2—S. L. Meeks, 9—Belle Murdock, 12—No Name, Chicago, 10—B. B. Y., 11—“The Girls, Mabel, John, and Chickadee,” 11—R. B. C., 2—Original Puzzle Club, 10—“Geo. M. Ebry,” 2—Harrison Allen, Jr., 1—R. Lloyd, 1—“Blank” and Ulysees, 12—Dash, 12—Francis W. Islip, 12—Eleanor, Maude, Louise, Bertie and Nanno Peart, 7—Ida and Edith Swanwick, 8—Geo. S. Seymour, 8—Lulu May, 11—Frank M. Crispen, 1—Puzzled Family in Paris, 8—Esther Reid, Merton House, 1.

CHARADE.

My dear, this _whole_ I send to you,
A token of my friendship true;
I trust you’ll _first_ it,—hold it fast,
And prize it if but for my _last_.

“MYRTLE GREEN.”

OCTAGON.

1. A gentle blow. 2. The Christian name of the heroine of a novel by Theodore Winthrop. 3. To bleach. 4. The herb wolf’s-bane. 5. Pertaining to the bile. 6. A fruit which was said to make strangers who ate of it forget their native land. 7. Musical syllables.

EDWARD ROBERT B.

GREEK CROSS.

. . . .
. . . .
. . . .
. . . * * * * . . .
. . . * * * * . . .
. . . * * * * . . .
. . . .
. . . .
. . . .

I. UPPER SQUARE: 1. Proportion. 2. To affirm. 3. Familiar beverages. 4. Formerly.

II. LEFT-HAND SQUARE: 1. Rent. 2. A Hebrew measure. 3. Fabrics of a certain kind. 4. Formerly.

III. CENTRAL SQUARE: 1. Formerly. 2. A large bird of South America. 3. Bodies of water. 4. Labor.

IV. RIGHT-HAND SQUARE: 1. Labor. 2. Surface. 3. Abode. 4. A feminine name.

V. LOWER SQUARE: 1. Labor. 2. A feminine name. 3. To break suddenly. 4. Retained.

MURRAY AND PERCY.

INVERTED PYRAMIDS.

I. Across: 1. Eloquence. 2. To eat into. 3. Part of a cat’s foot. 4. In eloquence.

Downward: 1. In Troy. 2. A musical note. 3. Skill. 4. An implement. 5. A lyric poem. 6. A musical note. 7. In Troy.

II. Across: 1. Pertaining to the craft of Freemasons. 2. A wooden shoe. 3. To cut the grass from. 4. In ceramic.

Downward: 1. In ceramic. 2. Similar to. 3. A boy’s nickname. 4. A hautboy. 5. At this moment. 6. A pronoun. 7. In ceramic.

“LOU C. LEE.”

ILLUSTRATED CENTRAL ACROSTICS.

All of the cross-words of the above central acrostic are grouped around the central picture, and answer to the following definitions.

1 (nine letters). A contrivance useful in winter. 2 (nine letters). A swift-flying insect. 3 (seven letters). A young fowl. 4 (five letters). Familiar objects in rural districts. 5 (three letters). A winged animal. 6 (three letters). Consumed. 7 (five letters). Useful to fishermen. 8 (seven letters). An animal.

The central letters of the words described will spell the name of a great Athenian philosopher, and the central picture will suggest what is usually associated with his last moments.

AN EGYPTIAN PUZZLE.

x
. x .
. . x . .
. . . x . . .
. . . . x . . . .
. . . . . x . . . . .

The above Egyptian puzzle is an illustrated pyramid, as the diagram in the lower left-hand corner indicates. When rightly guessed, the central letters (indicated by crosses) will spell the name of a famous statue that is said to emit sounds like those of a harp as the sun rises. The illustrations answer to the following definitions.

1. A letter. 2. A precious stone. 3. An animal. 4. Tropical fruit. 5. An animal. 6. A native of a certain Egyptian city.

RIMLESS WHEELS.

8 1 2
. . .
. . .
7 . . 9 . . 3
. . .
. . .
6 5 4

I. From 1 to 9, the Christian name of an English queen; from 2 to 9, a famous river; from 3 to 9, a cupola; from 4 to 9, the name of a large lake; from 5 to 9, to scale; from 6 to 9, magnitude; from 7 to 9, the margin; from 8 to 9, a number.

The letters represented by the figures from 1 to 8 spell the name of a Danish author who died August 4, 1875.

II. From 1 to 9, part of a watch; from 2 to 9, qualified; from 3 to 9, matured; from 4 to 9, uncommon; from 5 to 9, 43,560 square feet; from 6 to 9, to stare; from 7 to 9, to incite; from 8 to 9, a specimen.

The letters represented by the figures from 1 to 8 spell the name of a famous American who died August 14, 1870.

HONORA N.

DIAMOND.

1. In telephone. 2. One of the smaller sails on a ship. 3. A small but famous country. 4. A Spanish nobleman. 5. A favorite. 6. Era. 7. In telephone.

“ŒDIPUS.”

DOUBLE ACROSTIC.

In each of the following sentences a word is concealed, the definition to which is given in the same sentence. When rightly selected and placed one below the other in the order here given, the primals and finals will each form the name of a distinguished poet who was born in August. The cross-words are all of the same length.

1. It is hard, in essays, to avoid assurance.

2. Mary has gone to Salem; Bell is home, and the latter will adorn the book she is composing.

3. In an oration, a legate gave the detail of reasons for making it.

4. Clare hears a little rumor that there will be a recital this evening.

5. This incident I call the same as that in the other story.

6. On Mount Carmel I temporized with one of the friars.

7. When I look now in glyphs, I feel their beauty understandingly.

CYRIL DEANE.

CUBE.

1 . . . . . . 2
. . . .
. . . .
5 . . . . . . 6 .
. . . .
. . . .
. . . .
. 3 . . . . . . 4
. . . .
. . . .
7 . . . . . . 8

From 1 to 2, royal; from 2 to 4, a long-tailed species of hawk, found in Europe; from 3 to 4, a dealer in precious stones; from 1 to 3, eternal; from 5 to 6, a two-masted vessel; from 6 to 8, becoming circular; from 7 to 8, a method of securing a good draught in chimneys; from 5 to 7, the name of one of the three persons thrown into the fiery furnace of Nebuchadnezzar; from 1 to 5, the flower-deluce; from 2 to 6, an affected cast of countenance; from 4 to 8, a kind of seaweed; from 3 to 7, to scourge.

“ROSE MADDER.”

BEHEADINGS.

1. Behead withered and leave part of the head. 2. Behead dry and leave to free from. 3. Behead flexible and leave a demon. 4. Behead to sulk and leave to unfold. 5. Behead surrounded by and leave in the center of. 6. Behead joyful and leave a young boy. 7. Behead an ornament worn by Jewish priests and leave an edge. 8. Behead a short piece of iron and leave to be ill. 9. Behead the fraction of an ounce and leave an ancient instrument of war. 10. Behead a character in the play of “Othello” and leave gone.

The words described are of equal length. The beheaded letters, read in the order here given, will spell the name of one of Washington Irving’s earliest works.

“FRANCESCO AND CO.”

ZIGZAG.

Each of the words described contains the same number of letters, and the zigzag, beginning at the upper left-hand letter, will spell an important event that occurred on August 5, 1856.

CROSS-WORDS: 1. Certain. 2. An exhibition. 3. Merriment. 4. Festivity. 5. To satisfy. 6. To strike. 7. A minute particle. 8. Formerly. 9. Recent. 10. Half. 11. Nationality. 12. Pain. 13. Dry. 14. Capable. 15. An elevation. 16. To engage. 17. Hearty. 18. To salute. 19. Want. 20. Notion. 21. To cook slowly. 22. To twist.

“KATASHAW.”