star twinkle while a planet shines clear and steady?" to be as
follows:
A planet is an appreciable disk, generally of considerable
magnitude; it is owing to the large size of the body that we behold
its reflected light clear and steady. A star, on the other hand, no
matter how large it may appear, is nothing more than a
self-luminous point--a _point_, you understand; therefore, any
object floating in the air between it and the earth will intercept
its light for an instant, and thereby cause a "twinkle." Again, on
its way to us the light of a star passes through media of varying
densities; it is refracted--bent out of its course--and turned
aside for an instant from our eyes. This occurring many, many times
per minute makes the star appear to twinkle to an observer on the
earth. There are many other ways of explaining the phenomenon, the
majority of which, however, are hypothetical and involved. One of
the more commonly accepted theories is that storms occurring in the
atmosphere of the star cause its photosphere, or luminous envelope,
to transmit to us light of varying intensity.
Our knowledge concerning the stars, as a professor of chemistry in
our college recently informed his class, has resulted in the
following revision of the old nursery rhyme:
"Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
I know exactly what you are,
For with my spectroscopic ken
I know you're naught but hydrogen;
Twinkling there so very bright,
In the distant realms of light."
SIMON THEODORE STERN.
NEW YORK CITY.
* * * * *
The Game of Kinkajou.
Shuffleboard is an admirable game. It calls forth much skill, and
were it not for the bad uses to which it is often put would be more
generally enjoyed. The regulation shuffleboard occupies
considerable space, but if you would enjoy a miniature game, dubbed
Kinkajou, your board is to be found on the well-polished surface of
the dining table, which, by-the-way, must be rectangular. Fourteen
inches from each end draw a light line with chalk. Your "weights"
are half-dollars, three for each player. Two or four may play. The
prime object of the game is to so slide the pieces that (1) they
will touch the chalk-line--scoring 5, or (2) reach the space within
the line and the end of the table--scoring 10, or (3) overlap the
end of the table or the sides within the line--scoring 25.
Two players, A and B, are at either end of the table, say. They
play in turn, each sliding his pieces to his opponent's end. If A
slides his first piece so that it all but reaches the line, he will
try to strike the first piece with his second, and "shove" it to
one of the three positions, if possible, placing the second piece
also in one of them. With his third piece he may choose to try the
slim chance of shoving to score 25.
With two at the table there is no opportunity for playing on one's
opponent; but where four are playing there is a field for really
scientific plays. Supposing A, B, C, and D are at the table, and
that A and B, C and D are partners. A and C occupy one end, B and D
the other. A's and B's pieces are turned "heads," C's and D's
"tails," by way of distinction. A begins the game by sliding her
pieces. For example, she has succeeded in placing two within and
one without the line. C, who is A's antagonist, tries first to
displace the latter's right-hand piece within the line, and
succeeds in sending it off the table, his own piece remaining on
the 10 space. C's second piece is aimed for A's outside one, with
the intention of sending it also clear of the table. This is done,
and C's piece remains on the line. C, for his last slide, sends his
piece toward A's left-hand piece within the line, but ingloriously
misses it, while his own piece falls off the table. The score of
the first "slide" is now taken, resulting in 15 for C's and 10 for
A's side. B and D now slide their pieces, and at the end of the
tenth slide the scores are compared.
A still more elaborate game of partners may be played where the
four are seated together at one end of the table. In this game a
score-keeper must seat himself at the opposite end to catch the
pieces and to point out by whom each is played. Partners do not sit
together. The plays are made in turn, beginning at the left hand.
Thus, if the order were A, C, B, D, C would have A's pieces to play
on, B would have C's, with an eye to his partner's (A's) pieces,
while D would have A's and B's, with D's to care for. At the end of
D's play the score of each side is carefully taken.
The writer has whiled away many a half-hour with this little game,
which combines in a small way billiards and "curling," and he hopes
that though not a "Round" Table game, it, nevertheless, will be
enjoyed by many a Lancelot or Elaine.
VINCENT V. M. BEEDE, R.T.F.
* * * * *
Answers to the Antiquary Puzzle.
We hope you solved many of the riddles propounded by the Antiquary and
his visitor, but if you did not you must not despair, for they were
difficult ones. Here are answers to them:
1, 1779; 2, A spirit supposed to appear at the death of a member of the
Prussian family of the Hohenzollerns; 3, Boston, Mass.; 4, Gibbon; 5,
Cane; 6, Haydn; 7, Spar; 8, Dr. Simpson, of Edinburgh; 9, Boneset.
10, January, derived from _janua_, "a gate"; 11, Gneiss (nice); 12,
Scarabæus; 13, A meteoric stone; 14, The British Museum; 15, Ishmonie,
in Upper Egypt; 16, Palmyra; 17, An old satirical name for London; 18,
The Bank of England; 19, From Morglay, "sword of death," the famous
sword of Sir Bevis of Southampton; 20, Oliver Cromwell.
21, An edition of the Bible published at Oxford, in 1717, in which the
title of the Twentieth Chapter of Luke was given as "The Parable of the
_Vinegar_"; 22, Charles I, of England; 23, Democritus of Abdera; 24,
Heraclitus; 25, Ruby (rue-bee); 26, Moonstone; 27, Daly, the manager of
a Dublin theatre, wagered that a word of no meaning should be the talk
and puzzle of the city within twenty-four hours. The word QUIZ was
chalked and pasted on the walls of Dublin, and the desired effect was
produced; 28, Coal; 29, Thoth; 30, The cryptogram is solved by allowing
the first half of the alphabet to equal the second half, in order--that
is, let A-N, B-O, C-P, etc. The verse will read:
Within this narrow portal dim,
In jewelled casket brought from far,
Has lain for thirteen centuries
King Arthur's sword Escalibar.
* * * * *
Who Can?
Please tell me where to find _The Little Red Hen_--the old-story
with the song "I'm glad I'm not a duck."
JESSY FLANIGEN.
WOODBURY, N. J.
[Illustration: STAMPS]
This Department is conducted in the interest of stamp and coin
collectors, and the Editor will be pleased to answer any question
on these subjects so far as possible. Correspondents should address
Editor Stamp Department.
The millionaire collector usually devotes his time and money to
"plating" New South Wales, Tasmania, Nevis, and other stamps which were
engraved separately by hand, with the result that each stamp on the
sheet is different. The ordinary collector cannot afford to take these
men as his standard, but it is wonderful how much can be done by true
philatelists with little money. The ordinary 3c. stamps from 1851 to
1884, the 2c. stamps of 1883, '87, '90, '93, and '94 are all extremely
common, and can be bought at from 10c. to 50c. per thousand, in assorted
lots. Almost each issue can be found in a large number of shades, and a
collection of these makes as fine a show as a plate of the rare stamps.
A similar thing is frequently done with the English stamps issued
between 1858 and 1887. These were usually printed in sheets of 240
stamps, each stamp bearing different letters. One gentleman in New York
has gone a step farther, and is making up a complete sheet of each issue
of all the English stamps, including the £5. This is a gigantic piece of
work, and I doubt the possibility of success in the majority of the
stamps, although this particular collector is a man of wealth, willing
to spend his money on his hobby. The Philatelic Society, New York, has a
number of these made-up plates of the English penny stamps, presented by
Mr. Corwin, the first president of the society. I know another
philatelist who is making a general collection of used stamps, taking
those which have been cancelled by a date cancellation or by a
post-office cancellation. This excludes all stamps bearing a smudge,
such as is usual in the greater part of the postal world to-day. Still
another philatelist takes stamps on the original envelope or letter. Of
course no complete collection can be made this way, but a remarkably
beautiful album is the result.
LAURA ROOT.--It will pass at face value. No premium.
BROWNIE.--The dealers sell Confederate bonds, bills, and
"shinplasters" at very cheap prices. Many millions were issued and
never redeemed. One dealer in a Southern city holds a quantity
weighing 8000 pounds. They are very interesting to every student of
American history, and I always advise their collection, especially
at present, when they can be bought cheap.
Z. BEHRENS.--The first U.S. stamps issued for general use
throughout the country were the 5c. and 10c. 1847 issue. They are
worth 70c. and $3.50 each (used) respectively.
L. BISHOP.--Do not cut your envelopes to shape. Cut off the entire
end of the envelope square, leaving as good a margin as possible.
Entire envelopes are being collected more to-day than formerly.
A. HARDING.--The "Special Delivery" stamps are not scarce, but
probably the yellow one will be the least common in the near
future.
B. MURPHY.--The English stamp is worth 20c., if in good condition.
E. W. GREENE.--The 10c. "Power of Attorney" U.S. Revenue is one of
the common varieties. It is worth 75c. unperforated, 1c.
perforated.
J. SMITH.--The Canada 12 pence is a very scarce stamp in any
condition. A used copy is worth $200 and more, according to
condition.
O. W. HALL.--The 24c. U.S. 1861 issue comes in twenty or thirty
different shades. They are worth from 25c. to 50c. each used, and
from $1 to $2 unused. The rare 1881 green without the line under
the stars is worth at least $10.
PHILATUS.
[Illustration: Ivory Soap]
"A good complexion needs no artificial toning or heightening." Use a
pure soap like the Ivory and leave nature to do the rest.
THE PROCTER & GAMBLE CO., CIN'TI.
BREAKFAST--SUPPER.
EPPS'S
GRATEFUL--COMFORTING.
COCOA
BOILING WATER OR MILK.
[Illustration]
PRINTING OUTFIT 10c.
Sets any name in one minute; prints 500 cards an hour. You can make
money with it. A font of pretty type, also Indelible Ink, Type Holder,
Pads and Tweezers. Best Linen Marker; worth $1.00. Mailed for 10c.
stamps for postage on outfit and catalogue of 1000 bargains. Same outfit
with figures 15c. Outfit for printing two lines 25c. postpaid.
Insersoll & Bro., Dept. No. 123, 65 Cortlandt St., New York.
BAKER
sells recitations and PLAYS
23 Winter St., Boston
CATALOGUES FREE.
[Illustration: THOMPSON'S EYE WATER]
Tommy Toddles
By ALBERT LEE. Illustrated by PETER S. NEWELL. Square 16mo. Cloth,
Ornamental, $1.25.
The wonderful adventures of a small boy who wanders through a fantastic
country in search of the wooden animals that have come to life and
strayed away from a Noah's Ark are described in a humorous and
imaginative style that will amuse older heads, while the peculiar
incidents of the narrative cannot fail to bring delight to every
youngster. There is a good leaven of light verse to the tale, which,
with the illustrations in Mr. Newell's happiest vein, make the book a
welcome addition to juvenile literature.
* * * * *
POEMS BY MRS. SANGSTER
Little Knights and Ladies
Verses for Young People. By MARGARET E. SANGSTER. Illustrated.
16mo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.25.
On the Road Home:
Poems. By MARGARET E. SANGSTER. Illustrated. 16mo, Cloth,
Ornamental, $1.25.
Home Fairies and Heart Flowers.
Twenty Studies of Children's Heads. With Floral Embellishments,
Head and Tail Pieces, Initial Letters, etc., by FRANK FRENCH. With
Poems by MARGARET E. SANGSTER. 4to, Cloth, $6.00. (_In a Box._)
* * * * *
HARPER & BROTHERS, Publishers, New York
OUT OF SIGHT, BUT--
[Illustration: MR. TURTLE. "Hello! What's this--ostrich eggs?"
MRS. TURTLE. "Sure enough! Let's pick to see who gets the odd one."
MR. T. "Good. This is out of sight."]
[Illustration: MR. T. "Thick shells, aren't they?"]
[Illustration: MRS. T. "Yes; I see I'll have to hit harder."]
[Illustration: Bang!!!]
[Illustration: !!!!!]
* * * * *
JOHNNY (_watching his little brother Toddles, just learning to walk_).
"Oh, mamma, I'm terribly afraid of something!"
MAMMA. "What's that, my dear?"
JOHNNY. "I don't believe Toddles can ride a bicycle next summer."
* * * * *
TOMMY. "Say, Bob, what did you find the hardest thing in learning to
ride a bicycle?"
BOB. "Trying to stay on it."
* * * * *
UNCLE BOB. "I haven't seen you eating any candy lately, Russell. What's
the matter?"
RUSSELL. "I'm saving up. Papa says when I get twenty cents he'll put the
rest of the money to it and buy me a bicycle."
* * * * *
"Have you got a brake on your bicycle?"
"Yes; two of 'em. That's why I'm not riding it. One break's on the
sprocket, and the other's on one of the spokes of the fore-wheel."
* * * * *
"Let me ride your wheel, will you, Bobbie?" asked Ethel.
"No, indeed," replied Bobbie. "You're a lady, Ethel, and my bittycle
hasn't got a side-saddle on it."
* * * * *
A NEW IDEA.
I wish I had a rubber tire
So big that it would be
An easy thing to ride a wheel
Across the raging sea.
I'd love to climb a breaker high,
To coast along a swell,
And skirt along a ripple, and
To wear a diving-bell,
So that if I a header took,
No harm would come of it!
Come, makers of ye bicycles,
Here's chance to show your wit.
* * * * *
JACK. "I've got the bicycle fever awfully."
JIMMIE. "Well, I know a splendid cure for it."
JACK. "What is it?"
JIMMIE (_sadly, looking out of the window_). "Snow."
* * * * *
"Oh dear!" sighed Billy, impatiently, gazing out at the snow-storm; "I
told mamma she bought my bicycle suit too soon. It will be all worn out
coasting before the bicycle weather gets here."
* * * * *
"Isn't it fun?" cried Jack. "You can go twice as fast on a bicycle as
you can without one."
"Oh, I don't know about that," replied Wallie. "The day I took my header
I beat my wheel down the hill by ten feet."
[Illustration: A SCORCHER.]
End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Round Table, March 24, 1896, by Various