Chapter XIV: The Continental Congress (4)

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I have never written to you before, but I
love to read the letters others have sent you. You have been
coming to our house nearly three years, and we all look
anxiously for the 26th of the month, when you are due. You
are my own book. I pay for you with money I have earned
myself. My little sister wonders whenever she sees ST.
NICHOLAS what the Brownies are doing in it. Mamma is much
interested in "Little Lord Fauntleroy," and we like it too,
and all the rest of your stories, but especially "The Gilded
Boy of Florence," because we know the man who wrote it and
have heard him preach. He says all he wrote in that story is
true. Good-bye.

Ever your faithful reader,

C. LIZZIE B.

* * * * *

LONDON, ENGLAND.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I am an American girl who left New York
four years ago, during which time I have been a constant
reader of ST. NICHOLAS. My school friends who read English
all want it also. You have been forwarded to me from London
as far as Turkey and Egypt. And so, if you can only spare a
few minutes, I would like to tell you about the pyramids and
the sphinx.

From Shepherd's Hotel, Cairo, it is a beautiful drive of
seven miles through an archway of large trees by the side of
the Nile. There are several pyramids. The chief one is said
to be 463 feet high, and one would think the top would be
very small; but you will no doubt be surprised to hear that
the Khedive gave a dinner to twenty-four guests upon the top
of a pyramid. The dinner was served in the usual manner by
Arab waiters; the gentlemen walked up, while the ladies were
carried up in chairs. The pyramids are built like
stairs,--one stone on top the other, with only an edge for a
foothold.

Many tourists try to climb the structure, which is very
fatiguing work. We gave an expert Arab fifty cents to do it
in ten minutes; he went up in six minutes and down in four
minutes. From the pyramid to the sphinx is quite a little
walk through thick sand; and the Sphinx is so big you can
hardly see it all at once. The English soldiers knocked off
some of its right hand and all its nose. It is cut from a
solid rock and looks as black as iron. The Egyptian postage
stamps have pictures of both the pyramid and the sphinx. The
temple dedicated to the sphinx lies in ruins here, but the
remains are very beautiful, being nearly all of alabaster;
and in the cellar they have just discovered an image, which
is so immense they can't get it out from the place where it
has lain so many hundred years. Some time I will write a
letter about the Holy Land, as I lived there two months. I
hope you will print my letter; it is my first attempt, and I
am fourteen years old. Your March number will find me at
Alexandria, for I take the Beyrouth steamer next week. I
hope, dear ST. NICHOLAS, your Egyptian friend has not tired
you, and I also hope this may find a place in your
Letter-box.

Your loving Egyptian friend,

MAUD STANLEY F.

* * * * *

MOHEGAN LAKE, N. Y.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I send you this letter, a true story
about a fish-hawk.

It was in the middle of April, 1883. A man who was rowing on
one of those lakes east of the Highlands, in the northern
part of Westchester County, espied a large fish-hawk sitting
on a dead limb near the water. The man, having his gun with
him, rowed over toward the hawk, and when in range fired at
him flying. The wounded bird fell, hit on the outer joint of
the left wing. With the help of his companion the man
managed to bring him home. In less than a week, the boy of
the house fed him with fish out of his own hands, and the
hawk did not attempt to claw him. One day the boy wanted to
see how many pounds of fish the hawk would eat. He caught
seven suckers weighing a pound and a half each. The hawk ate
six, one after another, and took the seventh, but refused to
eat it until half an hour afterward. What an enormous
appetite he had! Later on in the summer, the boy would take
him to the water to wash. He did it just as a canary does in
his china bath. The boy would take him and put him on the
side of the boat and row him around, and the hawk would sit
there, taking in everything, as well as the summer visitors,
who were taking him in. The hawk was so tame that his keeper
could smooth his head and chuck him under his beak and the
hawk would only flop his wings and whistle when the boy
turned, as though delighted with what the boy did. This
creature measured five feet eleven inches from tip to tip of
the wings, and came to his death in October of the same
year, by getting caught in the string by which he was
fastened, greatly to the sorrow of his keeper who cared for
him. The bird is now stuffed and in a friend's room in New
York City.

Yours truly,

S. F. K. E. G.

* * * * *

CINCINNATI, O.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I thought I would write to you to say
what so many of the other girls and boys who take you have
already said: "That I love every one of your stories and can
hardly wait until the 25th of the month comes, to read you."
I have taken you two years and would not be without you one
single month. I live in the dirty city of Cincinnati, but I
have a great deal of fun any way.

We have had two snowstorms this winter, but by the time the
snow has lain on the ground three or four days it is so
black that I actually believe that people who come from the
country would not know it was snow unless they were told.

I will now close, hoping to have the pleasure of seeing this
letter printed.

I remain, your constant reader,

GRACE S. C.

P. S. I forgot to say I was thirteen years old and have a
brother nine years old, who thinks the ST. NICHOLAS "a
dandy," as he expresses it.

* * * * *

MORE ABOUT CURVE-PITCHING.

LINCOLN CO., NEB.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: The two letters in the February number on
"curve-pitching," I was very glad to see. It was during my
college-days that the "curve" made its appearance, and it
was for some time a matter of much interesting discussion
among us. I was not much of a base-ball man, but I saw a
good deal of curve-pitching, and occasionally threw some
rather wild "curves" myself in an amateurish way. We budding
physicists discussed the why and wherefore of the problem,
but never arrived at any satisfactory solution. The same
explanation which is given in the second letter of your
February number suggested itself to me at the time, and I
was quite satisfied with it until I discovered that it did
not accord with the facts of the case. It is a beautiful
theory, but, like some other theories, it doesn't work.

According to the theory, as shown by your correspondent, the
ball rotating (as indicated by his diagram which he gives),
against the hands of the watch should curve to the right,
producing the _in_ curve. But the fact is, that a ball so
rotating will curve to the left--the _out_ curve. And a ball
rotating in a contrary direction, _i. e._, so that points on
its forward side are moving to the right, will curve to the
right--the _in_ curve. In both cases the axis of rotation is
vertical, so that the motions of the ball may be well
illustrated by a spinning-top, as is shown in the first
letter by A. D. S. But the case of a rifle-ball in motion
does not seem to me to be parallel with that of a base-ball
under normal conditions. A rifle-ball is given a rotation
about an axis parallel to and coincident with its line of
flight, just as an arrow rotates on its shaft. Now, none of
the curves of a base-ball are produced with the axis of
rotation in this position. In the _in_ and _out_ curves, as
already said, the axis of rotation is vertical; while the
_rise_ and _drop_ are produced by rotating the ball about a
horizontal axis perpendicular to the line of flight. In
_all_ cases the axis of rotation _must_ be at right angles
to the line of flight, and the more accurately this
condition is complied with, the more marked the effect. My
knowledge of the subject is too slight to warrant me in
asserting that the curving of the rifle-ball and that of the
base-ball do not depend on the same principle, but it does
not seem to me that the two are identical, for the above
reasons.

I have no theory to offer, but trust that among the readers
of ST. NICHOLAS some may be found who have penetrated to the
"true inwardness" of this interesting problem, and will give
us a complete and scientific explanation of it.

Yours truly,

H. H. H.

* * * * *

BEVERLY, OHIO.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I have read with considerable interest
the letters in ST. NICHOLAS for February concerning
curve-pitching. I am a boy who takes great interest in
base-ball, and have many times pitched curves. I have seen
persons, and see them yet, who firmly maintain that a ball
cannot be curved, even when they have ocular demonstration
of the fact. But that has nothing to do with what I have to
say. I have studied the diagram of my anonymous friend, and
am convinced that he is exactly wrong. With the following
diagrams I shall show which way a ball curves with a given
rotation, and give my theory of the curve:

Suppose, as in the letter published, the ball moves one
hundred feet per second, and revolves so that the equator
moves around at the same rate. Then, in the first diagram,
the friction at B is greatest, and at D is 0. But instead of
curving as my anonymous friend demonstrates, it will curve
in exactly the _opposite_ direction; namely, in the same
direction in which it rotates.

I have appended diagram 2, simply to show the curve where
the friction is 0 at B and greatest at D. Then it will curve
as indicated.

I have a short theory, namely: In the first diagram, the
more rapid movement of B compresses the air on that side,
while at D it is in its normal state. Hence the pressure at
B more than counterbalances that at D, and, as it were,
shoves the ball in the direction of the side D, thus
producing the curve. In the 2d diagram, the letters B and D
interchange in the theory. I would like to hear more about
this subject.

Very respectfully yours,

F. C. J.

* * * * *

BIRMINGHAM, MICH.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I have read with great interest the
articles in the October, December, and February numbers,
about curve-pitching. I have had quite a good deal of
experience in the "one,-two,-three,-and-out" line myself,
and have also, for the last two or three years, been able to
make others have the same experience, by putting them out,
in the same way. Therefore, I venture a reply to the
explanation in the February number, backing my statement by
the experience of many eminent curve-pitchers, and also by
the story in the October number of "How Science Won the
Game."

The above diagram is the same as your correspondent uses,
and he asserts that the point B is moving faster than D;
consequently, there is more friction at B, whence B is
retarded more than D, and so the ball will curve toward W in
the path of the dotted line. Now, if he will look in the
story of "How Science Won the Game," where the base-ball
editor shows the boys how to hold and how to throw the ball
to make the different curves, he will find that when he
throws the ball so that it whirls as shown in diagram, it
will curve toward P, a direction entirely opposite from the
one he designates. And any curve-pitcher will tell him the
same. When I first read his explanation, I thought it was
all right, for it looks quite reasonable, but upon second
thoughts, I saw it was wrong, and to make sure, I took a
ball and tried it. The only way I can get around his
explanation (aside from actual fact) is this: The point B,
as he clearly shows, is moving faster than D, and so the
ball, if the friction of the air is taken away, will
naturally curve toward the side D or point P. Now, the
question is, Will the friction of the air be enough greater
on the side B to overcome the difference in the motions of
the two sides? If it is, the ball must move in a straight
line, but as it curves toward the side D, we must conclude
that it is not, and that the friction of the air tends more
to hinder than to help the ball to curve. I really believe
that if it could be tried, a person could make a ball curve
in a vacuum more easily than we can make it curve in the
air. Trusting to hear more upon this subject, I remain,
sincerely yours,

"A CURVER."

* * * * *

FREMONT, NEB.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I have never written to you before, but I
think perhaps you will publish this one letter. I hope you
will publish it, as I have never yet had anything of mine
published.

I like the story entitled, "How Science Won the Game."
Although I am but thirteen years old I think I can pitch a
curve. I go to the Fremont Normal School and like it very
much.

I am going to have the 1884 and 1885 ST. NICHOLAS bound next
week. I think you have a very entertaining magazine, and I
think the pictures are very nice. I have the magazine for a
Christmas present every year. I have taken ST. NICHOLAS
three years and I hope I may always take it.

Papa says he doesn't think you will publish this, but I
think you will.

Yours truly,

EDDIE H. B.

* * * * *

AYER, MASS.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: As so many of your readers have written
to you, I thought I would write too, that I might have the
pleasure of seeing my letter in print.

I have taken you a year and have fallen greatly in love with
your delightful pages.

I think "How Science Won the Game" is a lovely story; I felt
much interested in it, for last summer the girls of my age
who lived here got up a base-ball nine. In time, we played
very nicely and enjoyed the fun. The readers of the
Letter-box may think this a funny game for girls to play,
but we liked it and found it very good exercise.

I am fifteen years old; I have a little dog, his name is
Teddie; he is a very good little dog, but I pity the cat
that gets in his way.

I like to read "From Bach to Wagner," as I enjoy reading of
different composers.

Your true reader,

RUTH F.

* * * * *

We heartily thank the young friends whose names here follow, for pleasant letters received from them: Kate Ethel C., John Myers, Sadie B. Crane, G. M. F., Jamie H., Walter J. Cohen, Stuart L. Martin, George Williams, Eddie L. Goodman, Violette T. Haines, Lillie M. Grubbs, Freda Nicolai, Eva Wilkins, Miriam Ferry, Hortie O'Meara, Anna Ross, Clara Louise Whitney, Constance and Richard Bigelow, E. R. B., J. H. B., Mary and Gussie, Jessie Hiltner, Alberta Stout, Willis Dunning, Nellie E. Stebbins, Marion R. Brown, A. W. Smith, Josie and May, Kate G., Hallie H. Haines, Johnny B. S., Daisy, Gertie Beidler, Mary M. C., Charles L. Baldwin, Kitty Clover, Alice Olney, Emil Harrington, Katie M. Cathcart, Arthur F. B., Agnes Hanks, Elizabeth K. Stewart, Wade W. Thayer, Brooks Upham, Rosalie, Mamie Eells, Florence Lanty, Frank Dearstyne, Vera Wheeler, Nellie McN. Suydam, Elizabeth B. Grumball, Ida Cameron, Ethel Marion Walker, Fawn Evans, Alfa P. Tyrrell, H. and A. V. P., G. P. S., Clara Moore, F. W. S., Portia, Nellie T., Eva R., Norine, Anna M. Lister, Blanche E. Ives, Mary Hicks, "Dolly Varden," Nora T. C., Natie P. Thompson, Daniel McPhail, Mary E. Seavey, Storrs E. E., H. C. J., Edith B., Kittie E. Fogarty, Frank Carman, Ruth A., C. H. M., Richard D. Bennett, Anne Grey Millett, Addie Rockwell, Laura Smith, Paula Goetz, Katie S. Denholm, Carl M. Ruhlen, Thomas McKeone, W. C. T., Marion Loomis, Alice E. Bogert, Gertrude E. S., Julian Granbery, B. M. S., Edward P. Irwin, "The Five Friends," T. L., Kate B. Tilley, Irene S. Duer, Violet Scath, Florence M. Wickes, E. W. B., May Delany, and Bertha Sweet.

THE AGASSIZ ASSOCIATION

SIXTY-FIRST REPORT.

AN ENGRAVED CHARTER FOR FRAMING.

Our attention has been called to the fact that heretofore we have sent to our Chapters no charters, or certificates, suitable for framing.

To remedy this deficiency, we have engaged one of the leading firms of New-York City to design a very beautiful A. A. Charter, to be handsomely engraved on bond or parchment paper. The size of the charter will be about 12 × 18 inches or larger.

At the top is drawn an open ST. NICHOLAS, showing on one page Prof. Agassiz's portrait, and on the other, representations of the animal and vegetable kingdoms.

Above the magazine is our badge, the Swiss Cross; and below is the motto, _Per Naturam ad Deum_. Then follows the certificate proper, handsomely ornamented, bearing the name of the founder of the Chapter, the name, number, and letter of the same, and signed with the autograph of the President of the A. A. Of course the first two hundred impressions--or artist's proofs--are the finest. Many members are so pleased with them that they wish to secure copies for their individual possession.

THE CLASS IN MINERALOGY.

None of the courses of study we have ever had the pleasure of offering to our friends, has had the magnificent success which is attending Prof. Crosby's class in mineralogy. At this writing no less than eighty-nine pupils are enrolled, and as Chapters usually take the course through one representative, this number doubtless means that at the least five hundred persons are learning how to observe and describe minerals, under most competent instruction. To each pupil is sent a set of thirty valuable specimens, and all exercises are corrected and returned for revision. Geographically, the class extends from Washington Territory to England.

REPORTS OF CHAPTERS.

We have to begin again this month, as last, by presenting the excellent reports of dilatory Chapters. A little more promptness hereafter, good secretaries, if you please!

37, _Kingsboro, N. Y._ By some mischance, your card notifying me that our report is due has just come to my notice, and I hasten to write, fearing our "candlestick may be removed." Last week three of us visited a gold-mine and brought home specimens of rock from which gold is obtained, averaging about twenty dollars per ton. The rock is dark, fine-grained, and resembles lime-stone. It effervesces with acid. We have here beautiful specimens of the Azoic rocks, and we could make up named collections to exchange for other specimens.--W. W. Thomas, Box 711.

112, _So. Boston_. We number ten active and three honorary members. During the year we have held twenty-two meetings, with an average attendance of eight. In January we gave an entertainment, and realized $10.80. In April we endeavored to establish an assembly of the Chapters in this part of the State, but did not succeed.

During the year we have studied chemistry, zoölogy, and astronomy. At one time we visited the Agassiz museum in a body, and learned a great deal. Having seen now what we can do, I think we shall all study harder during the coming year.--Geo. L. Whitehouse, 37 Gates street.

[_Don't be discouraged; we shall have a State Assembly in
Massachusetts before many years._]

134, _De Pere, Wis._ We have eighteen members. Our room is beginning to look very nicely. We added five new cases last fall. We have 1600 geological specimens,--including 1000 fossils,--600 minerals, 50 birds, 500 plants, 400 shells, and 100 ethnological specimens.--A. S. Gilbert.

153, _Chicago_ (_E_). At the Exposition here last fall, we had two large cases, one containing minerals, the other fossils, which compared favorably with any in the building, and did much toward making our society known to the throng of visitors. We have added new books to our library at no small expense. Our "Paper" is the latest addition to our meetings, and contains original articles, clippings, and the letters received.--Charles T. Mixer.

164, _Jackson, Mich._ (_B_). We have eight members, and expect more soon. We all have natural histories of our own. We meet once a week, on Monday evening. We had a very pleasant field-meeting by Clark's Lake. All our members are interested.--James C. Wood.

168, _Buffalo_ (_C_). During the summer there were some excursions, which brought a number of specimens into the hands of our curator. With the new year fresh courage has inspired most of us. Our prospects are quite bright. We still have our standing committees in each department, and these have a report to make nearly every week. Every two weeks we have an essay. Our next topic is to be "Forests and their Utility." Besides this and the reading and discussion of scientific essays, we have our weekly report on the current scientific news, and notes and personal observations. Chapter K of this city has joined us, and Chapter I thinks of following the example of Chapter K.--Sophie Finkenstaedt.

187, _Albany, N. Y._ (_A_). We have found time for occasional meeting among the heavy requirements of school-life; and as for myself, I find our own back-yard a bewildering field for exploration. We have ten active and eleven honorary members. Our meetings are held alternate Wednesday evenings at the houses of members, and are always well attended and interesting. At our next meeting--our second anniversary--a special programme is to be carried out. We are to debate the comparative usefulness of astronomy and botany; have an extra number of _The Naturalist_, our MS. paper; scientific essays, readings and lectures. Albany A has never been more flourishing.--John P. Gavit.

THIRD CENTURY.

215, _Tioga Centre, N. Y._ We have been steadily progressing in our department--botany. Last autumn we made asters a specialty, and succeeded in collecting and analyzing fourteen species and two varieties. We are now ready to exchange promptly.--Angie Latimer, Sec.

220, _De Pere, Wis._ (_C._) Chapter C has disbanded. Please scratch our number out.--Jessie R. Jackson.

[_But we hope the Chapter will "jump into another bush," so
we can "scratch them in again!"_]

234, _New York_, (_G_). We have joined Chapter 87, New York (B),--F. W. Roos, 335 W. 27th street.

238, _Winterset, Iowa_. One of our charter members is dead; one is in Oregon; two are away at college; one is in Mississippi. In fact, there is nothing left of our Chapter. I am sorry, for I think the Association work is a very great benefit to the members.--Harry C. Wallace.

[_Our correspondent will remember that by our present rules
even one active member is allowed to maintain the honor, and
retain the number and name of a Chapter once properly
organized. We shall be disappointed if we do not meet him on
the 24th of next August, at Davenport, Iowa, as the
representative of a reorganized and efficient Chapter._]

246, _Bethlehem, Pa._ We are in a very flourishing condition, and now have fifteen members. Our cabinet is crowded with specimens, all in good condition. We occupy a pleasant room rented by the Chapter. We shall enter the coming season with undiminished enthusiasm for the study of Nature.

248, _Richmond, Va._ An informal meeting was held, and twenty-three of us boys were enrolled as members of a Chapter of the A. A. We elected our teacher, Miss Jennie Ellett, President. Committees were appointed to draft by-laws, build cabinets, etc. Instead of forming a new society, Mrs. Marshall has kindly consented to let us reorganize Chapter 248.--_W. T. Terry_, Sec., 109 E. Grace St.

252, _Utica, N. Y._ We have a most flourishing Chapter of forty-seven members. In the past year our school building was enlarged, and a room was made purposely to hold our treasures. In it is a cabinet overflowing with minerals, shells, and plants, 3 cases full of _lepidoptera_, a forty-dollar microscope, and a cabinet, which the boys are trying to fill with microscopical slides of their own manufacture. We have also an aquarium 12 x 24 inches, stocked with fish, newts, snails, turtles, etc., also a bird's egg cabinet that will hold several hundred specimens, and a Wardia case, 36 x 18 inches, which we are now using for hatching chrysalids. At our last meeting a cecropia "came out," measuring over six and a half inches across the wings. Our Chapter is divided into committees, each committee having a teacher for chairman. The committees are expected to furnish each week specimens representing their special branches. Of all the subjects before us the hardest "nut to crack" was, "What is a sea-bean?" but owing to indomitable perseverance, it has been most thoroughly cracked.

[_Please send us the kernel!_]

Agassiz's birthday was duly celebrated in the woods. Speeches were made, poems recited, and the rest of the day devoted to a grand specimen-hunt. It rained hard all day, but that could not quench the fire in this Chapter, and we returned home loaded down with treasures. We have shells, mica, and _lepidoptera_ for exchange. The Chapter desires to express its deepest gratitude to the founder of the A. A. for two delightful years.--Frances E. Newland, Sec.

[_Such a delightful report as the one which we have here
condensed, is more than enough to repay one for all the
labor connected with the A. A. The debt of gratitude is on
the other side._]

254, _Fulton, N. Y._ We have started a library, and are now studying ornithology. Our membership is reduced to three, but all are active.--Herbert C. Howe.

[_If three active-members understand "Reduction Ascending,"
they will soon reduce the membership to a dozen or more._]

256, _Newton, Upper Falls, Mass._ The past year has been one of gratifying progress. We number twelve. Our meetings are very interesting, each member giving an account of some object in his branch of study, often illustrating it by the specimen or describing some book he has been reading, or relating some recent personal experience. At the first meeting of each month a paper called _Gatherings_ is read, composed of original records of personal observations. Wishing to bring our Chapter and its work to the knowledge of our friends, we have held a series of socials at the home of one of our members. The first of the evening we have devoted to talks and essays by the members of the Chapter, and later we have played games, and amused ourselves in other ways. We find this plan very beneficial, and have already gained three new members and a present of books.--Mrs. J. M. H. Smith.

[_We commend this suggestive report to the earnest attention
of every Chapter._]

257, _Plantsville, Ct._ We have made large additions to our collections. Our library also has been enlarged, and we have now nearly 100 volumes. We decide on the subject for each coming meeting in this way. Each member writes on a ballot the subject he would prefer. The ballots are then shaken in a hat, and the one drawn first is our subject. Moreover, the one whose ballot is successful must furnish a paper on that subject, and all the others bring short items on the same subject. We closed our last meeting by a collation, and singing by our glee club.--A. L. Ely, Box 219.

260, _Mercer, Pa._ We have not been idle, and have quite a collection. We think every Chapter should keep a scrap-book for entering reports and clippings.--Mrs. H. M. Magoffin.

272, _West Town, N. Y._--Most of us are attending school away from home. We therefore disband through the winter, and then reorganize for the summer vacation, and work as much as we can, for we have farm work to do besides. Still we can study as we work, and we do this. Our minerals are all labeled and mounted. We have about 200 birds' eggs, some of them quite rare. We pride ourselves on our insects. I think we have 300, still am not positive. Our botanical specimens number 200. The work we have done, though not very great, has done us a great amount of good.--William Evans, Sec.

SOME IMPORTANT QUESTIONS.

MANCHESTER, VT.

I am extremely anxious to experiment during the coming
season with the American silk-producing worms, not for the
purpose of producing raw silk, but for other reasons of
scientific and practical interest. I wish to learn the best
books for giving a knowledge of the habits of _Attacus
Cecropia_, _Polyphemus_, and the Promethean moths. I shall
be glad of any information regarding the best places to find
their cocoons. I should like to hear of the experience of
others in finding cocoons, and raising the moths. I have M.
Trouvelot's papers on the subject, Dr. Garlick's letters on
his experiments; also Dr. Stirling's, Prof. Riley's report
on Silk Production No. 11, Packard's "Our Common Insects,"
Sir John Lubbock's "Origin and Metamorphosis of Insects." I
should like the addresses of any parties who have cocoons of
the said moths to dispose of; and finally, information
regarding the success or failure of any who may have tried
the experiment of raising the worms.

Very truly yours,

C. F. ORVIS.

[_Mr. Orvis is a member of the A. A., has been for years
engaged in an important manufacturing business, and we trust
may obtain from "those who know," all the information he
desires._]

EXCHANGES.

Two thousand square-cut post-marks, all different, in a neat book; also 1500 duplicates, for best offer in stone implements.--Laurie H. McNeill, Ch. 902, Mobile, Ala.

Correspondence with amateur egg-collectors desired. Iowa preferred.--Oscar Clute, Jr., Iowa City, Iowa.

American bird-skins and eggs (with data), for English. Also mounted microscopical pathological specimens. Lists exchanged.--Wm. D. Grier, 49 Gloucester St., Boston, Mass.

NEW CHAPTERS.

_No._ _Name._ _No. of Members._ _Address._

941 Hohokus, N. J. (A) 4 Mrs. R. Van Dien, Jr. 942 Sioux Falls, Dakota (B) 10 Percy Edmison. 943 Sancelito, Cal. (A) 7 A. J. Campbell, Box 31, Marin Co. 944 Buffalo, N. Y. (L) 12 Nathan N. Block, 82 Norris Place. 945 Baltimore, Md. 4 Maurice Straus, 225 Linden Ave. 946 Seneca Falls (B) 5 Wm. Hopper. 947 San Francisco, Cal. (J) 4 Miss Alice J. Ellis, 27 So. Park. 948 Prairie Du Chien, Wis. (A) 7 Chas. Chase, Jr. 949 New York, N. Y. (Z) 4 Fred Stanton, 420 W. 61st St.

DISSOLVED.

863 Providence, R. I. (E) Frederic Gorham. 362 Newport, R. I. (B) 4 Thomas Crosby, Jr. 242 Philadelphia (I) J. F. Stevens.

REORGANIZED.

746 Helena, Montana (A) 8 Kurt Kleinschmidt, Box 292. 68 Grand Junction, Iowa 2 Miss Sarah I. Smith. 248 Richmond, Va. (A) 23 W. T. Terry, 109 E. Grace St.

Address all communications for this department to the President of the A. A.,

MR. HARLAN H. BALLARD,
Principal of Lenox Academy, Lenox, Mass.

THE RIDDLE-BOX.

As THIS number of ST. NICHOLAS goes to press nearly a month earlier than usual, the names of solvers of March puzzles can not appear until the issue of the June number.

ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN THE APRIL NUMBER.

AN EASTER REBUS.

Bid folly fly and sin depart;
Keep inviolate your heart;
And Easter lilies, pure and fair,
Will bud and bloom forever there.

INVERTED PYRAMID. Across: 1. Depopulated. 2. Nominated. 3. Deluded. 4. Roses. 5. Ten. 6. D.

ST. ANDREW'S CROSS OF DIAMONDS. I. 1. B. 2. Dem(and). 3. Dolor. 4. Belgium. 5. Moist. 6. Rut. 7. M. II. 1. M. 2. Ham. 3. Huron. 4. Marston. 5. Motor. 6. Nor. 7. N. III 1. M. 2. Tim. 3. Talon. 4. Million. 5. Moist. 6. Not. 7. N. IV. 1. M. 2. Sam. 3. Sedan. 4. Madison. 5. Mason. 6. Non. 7. N. V. 1. N. 2. Tam. 3. Titus. 4. Natural. 5. Murat. 6. Sat. 7. L.

WORD-SQUARES. I. 1. Racer. 2. Agave. 3. Canal. 4. Evade. 5. Relet. II. 1. Cabal. 2. Above. 3. Bobea. 4. Avers. 5. Least. III. 1. Rabid. 2. Abide. 3. Bison. 4. Idols. 5. Dense.

PI.

Spring, with that nameless pathos in the air
Which dwells with all things fair;
Spring, with her golden suns and silver rain,
Is with us once again.

CENTRAL ACROSTIC. Arbor Day. Cross-words: 1. slAin. 2. stRew. 3. saBot. 4. slOop. 5. stRap. 6. seDan. 7. smArt 8. slYly.

HOUR-GLASS. Centrals, April fool. Cross-words: 1. TartArean. 2. reaPers. 3. scRew. 4. vIe. 5. L. 6. aFt. 7. foOls. 8. limOsis. 9. inteLlect.

MYTHOLOGICAL NUMERICAL ENIGMA.

I love to go in the capricious days
Of April, and hunt violets.

CONNECTED DOUBLE SQUARES. Upper left-hand square, Across: 1. Houp. 2. Alto. 3. Ties. 4. Host. Upper right-hand square. Across: 1. Pent. 2. Otoe. 3. Suet. 4. Tile. Lower left-hand square, Across: 1. Host. 2. Able. 3. Sour. 4. Hern. Lower right-hand square. Across: 1. Tile. 2. Eden. 3. Read. 4. Naps.

BAGATELLE. 1. More haste, less speed. 2. Medicines were not meant to live on. 3. He who hides can find. 4. Pride goeth before a fall. 5. The absent party is always faulty. 6. A crowd is not company. 7. Penny wise, pound foolish. Key-words: haSte, meAnt, hiDes, prIde, paRty, crOwd, peNny.

Central letters, sadiron.

MOTHER GOOSE PUZZLE.

This puzzle is based upon one of the Mother Goose rhymes. The pictures represent the last word of the six lines of the verse. What is the verse?

NUMERICAL ENIGMA.

I am composed of seventy-six letters, and am a quotation from "Love's Labor Lost."

My 63-21-58-31 is elevated. My 28-1-42-35 is headstrong. My 72-45-14-62-25 is on every breakfast table. My 2-19-52 is a fashionable kind of trimming. My 74-40-55-50-22 is a glossy fabric. My 33-9-29-8 was the nationality of Othello. My 38-68-70-17-12-76 is the name of the 67-3-49-61 of one of Shakspere's most celebrated plays. My 6-43-5-26 is location. My 13-75-11-46 is mature. My 30-60-47-54-41 is what often follows a chill. My 53-36-4-24 is a mixture. My 16-39-71-20-66 is used in bread-making. My 37-73-65-7-23-27-69-18-56-51 is an allurement. My 32-57-10-15-64-44-59-34-48 is a school.

HAROLD J. HARDING.

PI.

Ta emits a gaftarrn zebree mecos toalfing yb,
Dan gribsn, uyo wkon ton hwy,
A lenegif sa hewn agree wordsc twaai
Freoeb a leapac tage
Meos dronswou gapeant; dan ouy scacer loudw tarts,
Fi form a cheeb's thear
A buel-yede Drady, pepsting froth, soldhu ays,
"Hedlob em! I ma Mya!"

CENTRAL ACROSTIC.

Each of the words described contains the same number of letters; the central letters, transposed, will spell the name of the heroine of one of Sir Walter Scott's novels.

1. Was conspicuous. 2. A hard covering. 3. A citadel. 4. A box for fruit. 5. To ward off. 6. A sudden fright.

AVIS.

GREEK CROSS.

UPPER SQUARE: 1. To begin. 2. A small drum. 3. Over. 4. Wanders. 5. A lock of hair.

LEFT-HAND SQUARE: 1. A region. 2. A report. 3. Plentiful. 4. Plants of the cabbage family. 5. A lock of hair.

CENTRAL SQUARE: 1. A lock of hair. 2. A black bird. 3. To elude. 4. A plant which grows in wet grounds. 5. To scoff.

RIGHT-HAND SQUARE: 1. To scoff. 2. Grand. 3. Declined. 4. A mournful poem. 5. To color anew.

LOWER SQUARE: 1. To scoff. 2. Mother of pearl. 3. Applause. 4. One of the Muses. 5. To furnish with a new upper part.

"HOMER."

A DECORATION-DAY PUZZLE.

The words forming this numerical enigma are pictured instead of described. The answer, consisting of a hundred and one letters, is a four-line verse by Bayard Taylor.

TRIPLE ACROSTIC.

ACROSS: 1. Pertaining to a monarch. 2. Entering without right. 3. Unmarried women. 4. Unfaithful. Primals, a vapor; centrals, a brown coating; finals, in a smaller degree. Primals, centrals, and finals combined, unsuspicious.

F. L. F.

INVERTED PYRAMID.

ACROSS: 1. Measurement. 2. Consumes. 3. A chemical substance. 4. A sheltered place. 5. In pyramid. Downward: 1. In pyramid. 2. Two-thirds of a girl's name. 3. Mankind. 4. Bad. 5. Celebrated. 6. Certain. 7. Wrath. 8. A bone. 9. In inverted.

F. L. F.

CONNECTED SQUARES.

I. UPPER SQUARE: 1. Pertaining to a certain nymph. 2. A disease peculiar to children. 3. A dwelling-place. 4. The European blackbird. 5. A charm.

II. LEFT-HAND SQUARE: 1. Burned wood. 2. A continued endeavor to gain possession. 3. The inner part. 4. The lesser white heron. 5. A pugilistic encounter.

III. RIGHT-HAND SQUARE: 1. An expression of contempt. 2. A small column without base or capital. 3. Parts of shoes. 4. To assign. 5. To squander.

IV. LOWER SQUARE: 1. A term used in playing with balls. 2. A sacred vestment. 3. Proper. 4. A fine yellow clay. 5. A measure.

Centrals, reading downward (eleven letters), an architect who builds houses. Centrals, reading across, a mechanical contrivance common in cotton-mills.

"L. LOS REGNI."

FINAL ACROSTIC.

Each of the words described contains the same number of letters. The primals will all be of the same letter; the finals will spell a name famous in history.

1. A small shell-fish. 2. An emblem. 3. A common plant having a scarlet blossom. 4. To weaken. 5. A specter. 6. An afternoon nap. 7. A leap. 8. Unassuming. 9. A violent effort. 10. Irony. 11. A channel.

"JUVENTUS."

WORD-SQUARES IN DIAMONDS.

I. Diamond: 1. In soles. 2. To touch lightly. 3. Satisfies. 4. A beverage. 5. In soles. Included word-square: 1. To touch lightly. 2. Consumed. 3. A beverage.

II. Diamond: 1. In strife. 2. To touch lightly. 3. Much talked of in railway offices. 4. An inclosure. 5. In strife. Included word-square: 1. To touch lightly. 2. A verb. 3. An inclosure.

III. Diamond: 1. In youthful. 2. The cry of a certain animal. 3. A mythical being. 4. Skill. 5. In youthful. Included word-square: 1. The cry of a certain animal. 2. Gaseous substance. 3. Skill.

"ARTHUR PENDENNIS."

HOUR-GLASS.

The central letters, reading downward, spell the name of a very prominent personage.

CROSS-WORDS: 1. Pleasing to the taste. 2. A substance similar to varnish. 3. An imp. 4. The name of a character in "Uncle Tom's Cabin." 5. In decorations. 6. Sick. 7. Resources. 8. To call by the wrong name. 9. Gives too many doses to.

"D. I. VERSITY."

WORD-SQUARE.

The letters of each of the words described may all be found in the word NAMER.

1. A girl's name. 2. Close at hand. 3. A cognomen. 4. Surface.

"DENZIL ELINOR."