| My 1, 2, 3, 4 is an animal, so I've heard. |
| My 5, 6, 7 is an animal, not a bird. |
| My whole is a kind of cloth; now, mind, |
| In Webster's book its name you will find. |
Will A. Mette.
| My whole ought to be found in every house, and I am composed of 18 letters. |
| My 1, 2, 6, 4 is a musical instrument. |
| My 18, 2, 12, 17, 5 is a bird of prey. |
| My 8, 15, 10 is a pronoun. |
| My 7, 10, 12, 2, 3 is sweet. |
| My 13, 9, 14 is the name of a poet. |
Eureka.
1. A Spanish word which means chalk. 2. A girl's name. 3. Permission. 4. Creeping vines. 5. A girl's name. 6. A vessel. Primals and finals compose the name of a celebrated Roman soldier and conqueror.
G. E.
1.—1. A letter. 2. Something that does not like the sun. 3. A kind of nut. 4. A period. 5. A letter.
Marion.
2.—1. A letter. 2. To recline. 3. A journal. 4. To wander. 5. A letter.
3.—1. In spice. 2. Owed. 3. Bright. 4. Conclusion. 5. In youth.
Robin Adair.
1. I am an article of dress; behead me, and no family should be without me.
2. I am what a boy's knife ought to be; behead me, and I am a musical instrument.
3. I am a vessel; behead me, and I am part of the human body.
4. I am always to be found in a good dairy; behead me, and I am a stationer's measure.
5. I am something useful on the table; behead me, and I am what no boy should be at school.
6. I am a wild animal; behead me, and no boat should be without me.
7. I am a motion of the eye; behead me, and I am a useful fluid.
8. I am useful when one wishes to cross a river; behead me, and I am part of a mountain.
Roger Derby.
M-ark. F-rank. E-ben. E-van. O-bed. O-liver. T-heron. O-scar. K-ate. M-abel. O-live. G-race.
America.
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Chattanooga.
Correct answers to puzzles have been received from Florence, Mabel, and Annie Knight, "North Star," "Little Lizzie," Mary and Helen, Julia, Edgar Seeman, Nelse Walton, Imogene Starr, Ella Dana, Maggie Phillips, Richard Towers, Robbie and Freddie, "Twin Sisters," Carrie B. Kunkel, Carrie V. Latimer. Mabel Sykes, Elvira Urisarri, Francis Arrowsmith, Raymond Lincolnton, "Eureka," Harry Johnston, S. Brewster, John Trotwood, Viola La Mont, Elsie Dee, Jack Chandler, William Holmes, Tom, "Albatross," "Fern Heather," Margaret Lamb, Marion, "A. B. C.," and Jacob D. Jais.
[For Exchanges, see 2d and 3d pages of cover.]
This game is very popular with the school-boys of Havana, Cuba. It is a very jolly, harmless sport, and would make a good summer pastime for the boys of Northern schools when snow-ball fights are out of season.
"Rome and Carthage" is played as follows: The boys are divided into two armies, each of which chooses its leader or general. Each side must be provided with a banner. The game is played so much in Havana that the boys there have handsome flags with "Rome" or "Carthage" worked or stamped upon them, but any gay piece of flannel will do. The weapon is a soft rubber ball, each soldier being provided with one or more. These balls are very soft indeed, and will not hurt even when thrown with great force. They cost very little when bought by the quantity. When the armies are equipped, the two leaders draw lots to see which side shall man the fort. Now in this country a good fort might be made in the open field of logs and bushes. In Havana it is generally a platform built in the court-yard of the school-house, as nearly all large buildings in that city are built with an open square in the centre.
The army who defend the fort plant their banner near the centre in front, while the attacking party station themselves about thirty feet away, with their banner fastened securely in the ground. Then, at a signal from the leaders, the fight begins in earnest, and the rubber balls fly through the air in all directions. Whoever catches a ball in his hand retains it as captured ammunition, and can return fire with it; but if any soldier is so clumsy as to allow himself to be hit, he is considered dead, and must immediately leave the ranks.
Ducking and scrambling to avoid the bullets occasion a great deal of fun, and require not a little dexterity, while much skill is necessary to make true and rapid shots. No wrestling or striking with fists is allowed.
Presuming the Carthaginians to be the attacking party, they must make great efforts to capture the Roman banner by assault; and if they can successfully carry it past a line drawn about ten feet in front of the fort, the Romans are conquered, and must yield the fort to the victors and take the field themselves. If, on the other hand, the Romans can, by making a sortie, capture the Carthaginian colors, or by skillfully shooting the invaders save their own standard, they continue in possession of the fortification.
The game generally lasts about twenty minutes, although a vigorous assault will sometimes decide it much quicker. If in half an hour neither party conquers, the armies are called to order, ammunition is again equally divided, and the contest renewed. The question of superiority is decided, as in many games of chance, by the best two in three matches. If an army is proved by continued defeat to be worthless, it is disbanded, and a new distribution of soldiers arranged.
In Bombay, when the rainy season is over, the fishermen and their wives and children gather by hundreds to keep a festival which they call "the full moon of cocoa-nuts."
The feast occupies two whole days. The idea which inspires it is that the sea is very powerful. The simple-minded people think they ought to praise it because it gives them their bread, and so as they stand on the shore they beg it to be good to them. They ask it, in caressing words, not to be angry or stormy when their little boats shall go out, and they tell it they hope it will give them plenty of fish.
Not only the fishermen, but owners of boats and ship-builders, and sometimes rich merchants, go to the sea-side to court the favor of grim old Neptune. Every person carries a gift of cocoa-nuts. Wading out into the surf as far as possible, he flings the rough brown fruit into the waves. After the cocoa-nut has been received by the billows, the devout finish by offering a crown of flowers. The waters are covered with beautiful wreaths and garlands, which are given in thankfulness for past favors.
Little does the ocean care for the flowers and the fruit which are poured into its depths. But the festival makes the grave men and women as eager and happy as children, and when they go home, at the end of the second day, they carry with them memories which will make them joyful as long as they think of "the full moon of cocoa-nuts."