are directions for the care of a pet tortoise. And in YOUNG PEOPLE No.
27, in the article entitled "A Letter from a Land Turtle," you will find
interesting facts about the habits of these creatures.
* * * * *
ROBERT G. S.--Rabbits, as a rule, obtain all the moisture they require
from the leaves of lettuce, cabbage, and other succulent plants upon
which they feed. They like bread or cracker soaked in milk, and we have
known rabbits that would drink water, but it is not supposed to be
required by the little beasts when they are in a healthy state.
* * * * *
MINNIE W.--Vancouver Island was named from Captain George Vancouver, a
British naval officer, who accompanied Captain Cook in his first and
second voyages round the world. In 1790 he was put in command of a small
squadron, and sent to take possession of the Nootka region, then in the
hands of the Spaniards. The island which now bears his name was
surrendered to him by the Spanish commandant Quadra in 1792. Vancouver
was instructed by the English government to institute a search for a
northern water connection between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans after
taking possession of Nootka, but he was unable to discover what many
navigators before and after him sought for in vain. It was not until
1850 that the Northwest Passage was finally discovered by Sir Robert
McClure. Captain Vancouver died in England in 1798.
* * * * *
JENNIE C. A.--The cover for YOUNG PEOPLE is strong, and very prettily
ornamented. It is not self-binding, but any book-binder will put it on
for you for a small charge. See answer to C. B. M. in Post-office Box of
YOUNG PEOPLE No. 53.
* * * * *
DUDLEY.--The standard value of the foreign coins about which you inquire
is subject to slight variation in the United States, but as used in the
computation of customs duties on January 1, 1880, it was as follows:
Chilian peso, or dollar, ninety-one cents; Peruvian dollar, eighty-three
cents; Norwegian crown, twenty-six cents; India rupee of sixteen annas,
thirty-nine cents; Brazilian milreis of one thousand reis, fifty-four
cents; Austrian florin, forty-one cents; German mark, twenty-three
cents; Turkish piaster, four cents; Italian lira, nineteen cents;
Russian ruble of one hundred copecks, sixty-six cents. We have not given
the fractions of a cent, which in business transactions are added to the
above amounts, for as you are simply a coin collector, we do not think
you will require them.--The Spanish silver "quarter," the "elevenpence,"
worth twelve and a half cents, and the "fi'penny-bit," worth six and a
quarter cents, were in general circulation in the United States,
especially in the West, about forty years ago. These coins were marked
by the two pillars of the Spanish coat of arms, between them the two
castles and two lions rampant of Castile in a shield surmounted by a
crown.
* * * * *
"YOUNG SAILOR."--The first light-house of which there is any record in
history was built by Ptolemy Philadelphus about 300 B.C. It was a tower
on which wood fires were kept blazing at night. It was built on Pharos,
a small island in the bay of Alexandria, and was one of the Seven
Wonders of the World. It is an interesting fact that the modern French
and Spanish names for light-house--the one being _phare_, the other
_faro_--still preserve the memory of the island where the first attempt
at sea-coast illumination was located. The ruined tower in Dover Castle,
England, erected about A.D. 44, is claimed by some authorities to have
been built for a light-house, upon which an enormous wood fire was kept
burning.
The light-house on the southern end of the island of Conanicut, at the
mouth of Narragansett Bay, is said to be the oldest in the United
States. The present structure is comparatively modern, but the first one
was erected in 1750, and for nearly one hundred years previous a
watch-tower with a beacon fire had existed at the same point.
This light-house bears the odd name of Beaver Tail. The southern portion
of Conanicut Island is shaped something like a beaver, with its tail
pointing southward, and in early times it was known by that name, the
two extremities being called head and tail.
Previous to 1789 the few light-houses existing in the United States were
maintained by the States in which they were situated, but from that date
the expense was assumed by the general government, and in 1791 the first
light-house under the new law was erected at Cape Henry. There are now
nearly six hundred and fifty light-houses, lighted beacons, and
light-ships on the coast and waters of the United States.
* * * * *
JACK NEMO.--If you paid a year's subscription to YOUNG PEOPLE, you will
receive your paper until January, 1881. Subscriptions may begin with any
number, and the paper will be sent the length of time for which the
subscription is taken, without reference to the beginning or close of a
volume.
* * * * *
Favors are acknowledged from Frank L. L., Joseph Henry C., S. V. B.,
A. R. Reeves, Lloyd Elliot, "Bo-Peep," Mary Burns, Hattie Venable,
Bertha M. Hubbard, Nellie M. S., Amy L. O.
* * * * *
Correct answers to puzzles are received from Nellie Brainard, Jennie C.
Ridgway, "Jupiter," G. Dudley Kyte, A. H. Ellard, Alfred C. P. Opdyke,
George M. Finckel, G. Volckhausen.
* * * * *
ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN NO. 51.
No. 1.
C-hestnut.
E-lm.
D-ogwood.
A-sh.
R-ose-wood.
No. 2.
B H
F L Y D O E
B L O O D - H O U N D
Y O N E N D
D D
No. 3.
I R I S R A C E
R O S E A C I D
I S L E C I T E
S E E R E D E N
No. 4.
Lemon.
No. 5.
P A R T N E R
G O R G E
F E E
N
A T E
S T O I C
L E O N A R D
PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS.
No. 1.
DIAMOND--(_To Bolus_).
1. A letter. 2. To loiter. 3. A plant. 4. The kingfisher. 5. Merrily. 6.
Shy. 7. A letter.
ZELOTES.
* * * * *
No. 2.
EASY SQUARES.
1. First, an easy seat. Second, to unfold. Third, measures. Fourth,
insects.
S. F. W.
2. First, a quantity of wood. Second, scent. Third, a girl's name.
Fourth, a cart.
C. H. MCB.
* * * * *
No. 3.
HOUR-GLASS PUZZLE--(_To Zelotes_).
A city in Great Britain. A city in India. A city in Switzerland. A lake
in Scotland. A letter. A city in Germany. A city in France. A city in
Russia. A city in Asia. Centrals read downward spell the name of a port
on the Mediterranean Sea.
OWLET.
* * * * *
No. 4.
ENIGMA.
My first is in Paris, but not in the Seine.
My second in simple, but not in fool.
My third is in Frankfort, but not in the Main.
My fourth is in labor, but not in tool.
My fifth is in trouble, but not in grief.
My sixth is in fortune, but not in fate.
My seventh is in robber, but not in thief.
My eighth is in malice, but not in hate.
My ninth is in gymnasium, furnished with ropes and bars.
The secret of my whole is hid in sun and moon and stars.
TOM.
* * * * *
CHARACTER TREES.
1. What is the sociable tree?
2. The tree where ships ride?
3. The languishing tree?
4. The chronologist's tree?
5. The fisherman's tree?
6. The tree warmest clad?
7. The tree that fights?
8. The housewife's tree?
9. The lazy tree?
10. The dandy's tree?
11. The tree that supplies wants?
12. The tree that invites to travel?
13. The tree that forbids to die?
14. The tree always near in billiards?
15. The Egyptian plague tree?
16. The tree in a bottle?
17. The tree in a fog?
18. The busiest tree?
19. The most yielding tree?
20. Tree neither up nor down hill?
21. The tree nearest the sea?
22. The tree that binds ladies' feet?
23. The tree cockneys make into wine?
24. Tree that warms cold meat?
25. Tree offered to friends when we meet?
26. The treacherous tree?
THROWING LIGHT.
BY E. MASON.
I am white, I am black, I am all colors save blue, green, and purple,
and all lengths, yet when I am grown I am of uniform size. I run with
great swiftness, but have no motion of my own; am carried round by my
possessor, and worn according to the taste of my owner. I don't know how
I can be worn, though the outer covering of me is put to some use, I
believe. I am very hard to tame, though gentle and timid, yet I submit
to being pulled, tied, cut, dressed, burned, without rebelling; in fact,
I might be called inanimate, though I never cease growing; but the truth
is, in a year I attain my full growth.
I am excellent eating, and esteemed a delicacy, yet should I make my
appearance in the food of a delicate person, or even of anybody, disgust
would certainly ensue. I can be dressed according to fancy, though there
is but one way of cooking me; still, I do not need cooking, except when
taken from my natural place: then I am baked to preserve me; but I am
only cooked to be eaten, not preserved; and as to dressing me, my
garment must be taken off before I can be made palatable, and that I
never am, for I can't be chewed or swallowed, though lovers of me
declare me to be a toothsome morsel.
Men hunt and persecute me, yet they do not like to be without me, and
are very apt to feel when I leave them that it is a sign of age. I can
belong to people in two ways--either by inheritance or by purchase; when
in the latter manner, every one tries to conceal the fact, and pretend
that I am a gift of nature, though extravagant sums are paid for me, as
there are fashions in me in color, and I am often dyed, though that
process would render me worthless and unmarketable.
Soft and silky, fine and coarse, harsh and wiry, of a sleek coat,
running on four legs, having no legs at all, capable of suffering and
being killed, a theme for poets, having no feeling of pain, yet dying, I
am a part of man, yet an animal.
HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE.
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HARPER & BROTHERS,
Franklin Square, N. Y.
[Illustration: TWO MOTHERS.
NELLIE. "Annie, the season has commenced, and we must fix up our
children's party dresses."]
THE WONDERFUL DRAWING LESSON.
BY G. B. BARTLETT.
Many years ago a very funny pantomime was performed by the Ravels, or
some other talented actors, that astonished every one who saw it, and no
one could guess how it was done. We propose first to give a sketch of
the action of the scene, and then to describe a very simple manner of
doing the trick upon which it depends. By careful attention to the
description any boy can prepare it in a few hours in such a way that it
can be often used for home and hall, and will give as much pleasure in
preparation as in performance. The pantomime requires an old man, an old
woman, and a stupid boy--the latter it is often easy to find in any
family. The old parts can be assumed by young people, as they can be
made venerable by powdering their hair with flour. They must borrow
their grandfather's and grandmother's clothes, if possible, but the boy
can wear an old dressing-gown, and the girl a long skirt trained over
her own dress, looped up at the sides with bows of ribbon; she should
have an old-fashioned bonnet, or a broad hat tied down to resemble one,
a kerchief, and a cane. The boy should borrow a suit of a smaller boy
that is too short and tight for him, and should brush his hair down over
his eyes, and wear a paper ruffle around his neck. The boy who wears the
dressing-gown or old dress-coat should also have a palette, brush, a
piece of chalk, and some other artistic implements with which to
decorate the room, which can be very prettily arranged if for a public
performance. The most conspicuous object is a large blackboard, standing
on the floor at the rear of the room, behind which another boy is
concealed, and upon which all the mystery depends. The artist is
discovered walking around the room in a nervous manner, as if expecting
a pupil. A knock is heard, and he admits the lady, who salutes him with
an old-fashioned bow in response to those with which he greets her. She
leads in the boy by the hand, who hangs back, as if very bashful. She
puts her hand behind the boy's head, and compels him to bow to the
artist, of whom he seems afraid.
The mother consoles him, and persuades him to look at some pictures
which the artist shows him. The boy expresses great interest, and the
artist points to the blackboard, as if offering to teach him to draw.
The boy seems eager to begin, and seizes a piece of chalk from the
table. The artist takes the chalk from him, and pats the palm of his
left hand with three fingers of his right, to signify that he wants some
money. The mother pays very unwillingly, and the artist keeps demanding
more, until she shakes her head very forcibly, and points to the board,
as if refusing to pay any more money unless she is satisfied with her
son's progress in art.
The boy is then furnished with chalk, and the artist holds up a pattern
before him, and points from it to the board. The boy slowly draws the
face of a man on the top of the board, near the centre. The mother seems
much pleased, and claps her hands, in delight. The boy goes on with his
work, and finishes the body, with the arms extended, and the artist then
demands, more money, which the mother refuses, when the arms which have
just been drawn move up and down with violent gestures, and the mother
becomes so much alarmed that she pays him, and the arms then remain
still. The boy goes on with his work, and draws the two legs of the
figure, which is supposed to be facing the audience.
At the completion of the work the mother and boy contemplate it with
wonder and delight, and the artist renews his demand for more money,
which the old lady refuses. The right leg then kicks out violently, the
other does the same toward the left, the arms go up and down, and the
chalk man thus appears to be alive, and to be dancing a jig, as the
movements of the legs and arms increase in speed, although they can only
swing up and down on the board. The mother and son hold up their hands
as if struck with horror, and the former rushes out of the room, pulling
the boy by the arm. The artist follows, demanding more money, and the
curtain falls.
The blackboard is made of any smooth board painted; the arms and legs of
the figure are cut out in outline of common pasteboard, and are fastened
to the blackboard by a peg, upon which their weight is balanced, and
upon which they move. The limbs are moved by means of bits of black
thread attached to them, and passing through small holes in the board to
the boy behind it. They are fastened on after the board has been
painted, and the whole is made of a uniform dull black with common
paint, so it does not show when the light is between it and the
spectators.
The boy may make the figure of the man in any style, taking care only to
match it to the limbs, the outline of which he draws on the edges of the
pasteboard profiles. A little practice will enable the performers to
arrange animals and other figures on the same plan, to the delight of
themselves and their friends.
[Illustration: OPENING OF THE FALL HUNTING SEASON--LITTLE TOMMY'S
NIGHTMARE AFTER A BUSY DAY SETTING RABBIT SNARES.]
End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Young People, November 9, 1880, by Various