Constableville, Lewis County, N. Y.
* * * * *
Foreign postage stamps and United States revenue stamps, for
others.
A READER OF "YOUNG PEOPLE,"
P. O. Box 8, Newton Centre, Mass.
* * * * *
Red shells from Buzzard's Bay, postage stamps, mostly from South
America, and American and foreign postmarks, for foreign postage
stamps.
WALTER S. CRANE,
P. O. Box 474, Brookline, Mass.
* * * * *
Seven African stamps (no duplicates), for two Indian arrow-heads.
WILLIAM G. FLANAGAN,
Johnstown, Cambria County, Penn.
* * * * *
Thirty postmarks, for five foreign postage stamps.
CLIFTON B. GATES,
Ellington, Chautauqua County, N. Y.
* * * * *
Petrified wood, for Indian relics and foreign postage stamps.
B. PEASE,
279 East Fifth Street, St. Paul, Minn.
* * * * *
A stone from the Mammoth Cave, or stamps, for shells, ocean
curiosities, or minerals.
DELLIE PORTER,
Russellville, Logan County, Ky.
* * * * *
Indian arrow-heads, for foreign postage stamps or shells.
WILLIAM and JENNIE OTTERSON,
Bennet Creek (_viâ_ Mountain Home), Idaho Ter.
* * * * *
Postmarks, stamps, coins, and minerals, for stamps, coins, and
minerals.
GEORGE F. BRECKENWOOD,
Bay City, Mich.
* * * * *
Stamps and sea-shells, for minerals, Indian relics, or coins.
C. H. WHITLOCK,
P. O. Box 485, Ithaca, N. Y.
* * * * *
R. O. C.--The city of Santa Fe, in New Mexico, is the oldest in the
United States.
* * * * *
"INQUISITIVE JOE."--The first narrow-gauge railroad was that leading
from collieries either in Wales or the north of England, upon which
point authorities differ. The gauge of four feet eight and a half inches
is supposed to have been determined by the width of axle of the colliery
wagons, and, once adopted, to have been applied to new roads built in
other localities for passenger traffic.--It is supposed that the Chinese
were the first to mine coal, and also from time immemorial to collect
gas from it for purposes of illumination. Their method of working mines
was very primitive, and is but little improved up to the present time.
It is supposed that coal was used in Great Britain previous to the Roman
invasion, but was probably collected only at the outcrops of the coal
seams. In 1259 a charter was granted to the freemen of Newcastle to "dig
for cole," by the King, Henry III., and from this time coal mining was
an extensive industry. In France and Belgium, coal was also mined for
fuel at a very early period. The Greeks and Romans were evidently
acquainted with coal as fuel, but are supposed to have made little or no
use of it.
* * * * *
MICHAEL G. S.--There were two obelisks on the site of the ancient port
of Alexandria, known as Cleopatra's Needles, one erect, the other
fallen. The fallen one was taken to England in 1877, and the obelisk
formerly erect is now placed in the Central Park of New York city.
* * * * *
JOHN C.--Cockroaches, often called Croton-bugs in New York city, will
devour anything they can find in the domestic store-room. They will also
eat woollen cloth. They will exist a long time without food, as did the
specimen you imprisoned in a bottle. Had you fed your bug with crumbs of
bread or cake, he would have eaten greedily. The species of cockroaches
which is found in houses in all maritime towns is supposed to be an
emigrant from Asia, from which country it spread to Europe, and
afterward came to America, where it has made itself thoroughly at home,
to the great annoyance of many housewives, who battle in vain against
the ravaging hordes of these disgusting insects.
* * * * *
ROSE G.--Gold has been mined from time immemorial, as the most ancient
peoples used it for ornaments and for money. Before the introduction of
coinage, gold for purposes of trade was probably in the form of lumps of
different weights. Gold is mentioned in the Bible as early as the second
chapter of Genesis, where, in the eleventh and twelfth verses, Havilah
is spoken of as a land "where there is gold. And the gold of that land
is good."--The use of steam as a propelling agent was recognized some
time before a practical trial was made of its power. The first
application of it as a motive force for vessels appears to have been
made by Papin, a French mathematician and inventor, who, in 1707, made
the experiment of propelling a small paddle-wheel vessel by steam on the
Fulda River, at Cassel. The name of his vessel is unknown. Other
experiments were made from time to time, but until Robert Fulton
launched his little steamer on the Hudson River in 1807, nothing had
been a success. Fulton's vessel, which was called _Clermont_, attained a
speed of five miles an hour only, but from that time steam navigation
progressed with rapid strides.--It is impossible to obtain an accurate
census of large countries, but the following figures are taken from the
latest estimates, and are probably not far from being correct: Chinese
Empire, from 450,000,000 to 550,000,000; British Isles, 32,412,000;
Mexico, about 10,000,000; Central America, 2,671,000; South America,
25,675,000.--There are many books giving epochs of United States history
in story form. Some published within a short time by Messrs. Harper &
Brothers are The _Boys of '76_, and _Old Times in the Colonies_, by
Charles C. Coffin; _Stories of the Old Dominion_, by John Esten Cooke;
and _The Story of the United States Navy_, by Benson J. Lossing.
* * * * *
AGNES B. W.--In HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE No. 32, June 8, 1880, is a paper
entitled "A Chat About Philately," which gives a clear explanation of
the terms which puzzle you.
* * * * *
C. J. K., VERMONT.--We would gladly correct the error caused by the
omission of a word in your letter, but we can not print any more offers
to exchange birds' eggs. If you have any new exchange to offer, write it
very clearly to the Post-office Box, and we will give space to it as
soon as possible.
* * * * *
Correct answers to puzzles have been received from Hugh Burns, R. O.
Chester, George F. Crego, Bessie Comstock, James L. Frazer, Louise
Gambier, Albert H. Hopkins, Alice M. Hine, Isobel Jacob, Eddie Keeler,
"L. U. Stral," Freddy E. Lester, Allie Maxwell, W. Olfenbüttel, "Starry
Flag," Clara Spees, "The Dawley Boys," May Thornton, Walter J. Wells.
* * * * *
PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS.
No. 1.
ENIGMA.
My first in eat, but not in drink.
My second in float, but not in sink.
My third in garment, not in dress.
My fourth in curl, but not in tress.
My fifth in race, but not in run.
I can gaze unhurt at the noonday sun.
MAUD P. A.
* * * * *
No. 2.
DOUBLE ACROSTIC--(TO NORTH STAR).
_Primals_.
Without me, what is life?
To win me, shun no strife.
_Finals_.
Fair land of my primals, from sea to sea,
Swell the loud anthem of liberty!
_Cross Words_.
1. A State where orange groves adorn the land.
2. Shots thus directed prove an ill-trained hand.
3. In me you name a railroad and a lake.
4. Success without me ever is at stake.
5. I am a royal town in Eastern clime.
6. A festival was I in ancient time.
7. Busy, laborious, and to care much given.
Her wiser sister raised her eyes to heaven.
LONE STAR.
* * * * *
No. 3.
GEOGRAPHICAL CONCEALMENTS.
States.--1. I remember when Ohio was a wilderness. 2. Albany, Denver,
Montpelier, and Boston are capitals. 3. Can the painter color a door
green? 4. Was Handel aware that, he was a great musician?
Rivers.--5. Everything was in order when I left. 6. Oh, Ned, you did not
tag us fair. 7. Do not let your anger rise.
Cities.--8. He that ventures into the lions' den, verily he shall be
slain. 9. Will Dinah bring home the washing to-night? 10. I told Hal, if
axes were dear, not to buy any. 11. As we were getting over the stile,
Ed's hat blew off.
EDWIN J. S.
* * * * *
No. 4.
DOUBLE DIAMOND.
Across.--A thousand. Something used by housekeepers. A boy's name.
Warlike. A thick board. Three-quarters of a cent. A vowel.
Down.--A consonant. Chance. A blackbird. A Territory. To publish. An
animal of Tartary. Fifty.
DOUBLE U. CAYENNE.
* * * * *
No. 5.
ENIGMA.
In ham, not in beef.
In coral, not in reef.
In slate, not in book.
In stork, not in rook.
In pan, not in pot.
In cold, not in hot.
In church, not in steeple.
In ruler, not in people.
In push, not in pull.
In empty, not in full.
In stop, not in go.
In fast, not in slow.
In speak, not in tell.
The name of what State do these letters spell?
JOHN D.
* * * * *
ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN No. 67.
No. 1.
Equinoctial.
No. 2.
G A S H
S E E D
T E A R
D R A W
E Y E S
No. 3.
D
B A R
B O N E S
D A N G L E D
R E L A X
S E X
D
No. 4.
L U T E V I E W
U P A S I D L E
T A R N E L L A
E S N E W E A K
No. 5.
Butterfly.
* * * * *
Charade, on page 240--Hammock.
HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE.
SINGLE COPIES, 4 cents; ONE SUBSCRIPTION, one year, $1.50; FIVE
SUBSCRIPTIONS, one year, $7.00--_payable in advance, postage free_.
The Volumes of HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE commence with the first Number in
November of each year.
Subscriptions may begin with any Number. When no time is specified, it
will be understood that the subscriber desires to commence with the
Number issued after the receipt of the order.
Remittances should be made by POST-OFFICE MONEY-ORDER OR DRAFT, to avoid
risk of loss.
HARPER & BROTHERS,
Franklin Square, N. Y.
WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT IT.
The pigeon and the baby both
Were six months old to-day;
I told them so at breakfast-time,
To see what they would say.
The pigeon held his head one side,
And gently murmured "Coo";
The baby clapped his dimpled hands,
And gayly shouted "Goo!"
And that is all they said, my dears--
Upon my word, it's true.
PHANTOM FACES.
BY FRANK BELLEW.
[Illustration: FIG. 1.]
The other night I went to a little party, where a number of young people
were gathered together to amuse themselves and each other. Many games
were played, and many amusing tricks performed, and among others was one
so striking and ingenious that I resolved to record it for the benefit
of YOUNG PEOPLE.
We were ushered into a long parlor, where a number of chairs were
arranged after the manner of a lecture hall. At the further end of the
room was a long table, draped in front, and having on it two screens
about thirty inches apart, making something like a window without any
top. But you can judge better of the appearance of the object by looking
at Fig. 1, which correctly represents it. Presently a young gentleman
appeared at this opening, and told us he was going to show us some
magical and mysterious transformations and character representations.
After he had made his little address through the opening, the lights in
the room were turned down, and all was darkness, save behind the
screens, whence a bright light shone on the face of the young man.
"First," he said, "I will show you a Dandy." And putting a fashionable
hat rakishly on his head, he fixed himself in position. In an instant a
pair of stylish mustaches appeared on his upper lip, and he looked the
Dandy all over. He waited a few minutes, until we had taken a good look
at him, and then, slowly opening his mouth, the mustaches disappeared
down his throat.
[Illustration: FIG. 2.]
"Now," he said, "I will give you a representation of Bill Sykes."
Changing the dainty hat for a battered stove-pipe, he again fixed
himself in position, and instantly he had a black eye, a red nose, and
grimy, half-shaven-looking chin and jaws, as represented in Fig. 2. I
must confess that he made a rather mild and inoffensive Bill Sykes, but
still the transformation was marvellous.
After a few minutes' waiting, as before, the black eye, red nose, and
half-grown beard vanished, the hat was removed, and he assumed other
characters, as follows: the Sick Man, the Red Indian, the Western Miner,
and the Darky.
[Illustration: FIG. 3.]
And now I will tell you how he did it, and how you can do it yourself.
In the first place, take a good look at Fig. 3, so that you may follow
my description. Behind the screens were placed two powerful lights, with
reflectors behind them made of tin bent into the shape of a gutter-pipe
split open, or a tomato can with the ends knocked out, and ripped down
the side--indeed, if you can get no better reflectors, tomato cans will
answer the purpose very well. Regular circular reflectors are, of
course, the best, if you can procure them, the object being to
concentrate as brilliant a light as possible on the face of the
performer.
Well, behind the screens, as I said, he had two brilliant lights, which
shone directly on his face. The appearance of mustaches, board, and
black eye was produced by shadows thrown by pieces of card-board on the
desired spot. The grimy appearance of Bill Sykes's face was produced by
a half-shadow thrown from a piece of net in a frame. The color of the
Red Indian and of Bill Sykes's nose was produced by holding a piece of
red glass between the performer and the light. The Sick Man was made to
look pallid by using a piece of blue glass in the same way, and the
Darky's sable hue by a similar use of glass of the proper color.
[Illustration: FIG. 4.]
Now look at Fig. 4. The objects marked A represent the instruments used
to throw the shadows for the mustaches in the Dandy, B is the beard of
the Miner, C the black eye, and D the grimy jaws and red nose of Bill
Sykes. Remember that in each of these cases, except the black eye, you
require a pair of the instruments. The instruments A B, C are cut out of
card-board, and fastened to wires or thin sticks about two feet in
length. D is a frame of wire over which is stretched a piece of common
net, such as women use for caps; added to this is a piece of red glass,
as marked in the diagram, to throw the red light on the nose of Bill
Sykes.
By looking at Fig. 3 you will see how the performer holds his
instruments. To the right is a mirror, in which his face is reflected,
so that he can see whether he has got the shadows in their proper
places. In bringing the shadow-throwing instruments into position they
should be held edgeways toward the light, so that they will throw little
or no shadow until they have come into their right position; then turn
them suddenly with the broad side to the light, and the mustaches or
beard will appear like a flash.
When the performer seems to swallow his mustache, the effect is produced
in the same way, viz., by turning the shadow-throwers edgeways to the
light, and at the same time opening the mouth.
Before exhibiting, the performer must make several experiments in order
to ascertain the right distance at which to hold the shadow-throwing
instruments from his face, and, indeed, to fix their exact position;
this being once determined, he can bore holes in his table, at a
suitable angle, into which he can stick the handles of his instruments,
so that he need not have the trouble of holding them.
He must also fix the precise position for his head, for which purpose he
must have a rest, or a small pad fastened to the wall behind him,
against which he can securely lean without fear of _wobbling_.
One last hint: do not let your audience sit too close to you, but keep
them at as great a distance as possible, and amuse them with such
small-talk as you can command.
End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Young People, March 1, 1881, by Various