New Idea in Puzzles.
Are you familiar with the puzzles that have been published in HARPER"S ROUND TABLE? They have been exceptionally good, and of many styles. A new style of puzzle is wanted. That is, an idea in puzzles that has not hitherto been used. We do not mean new material in an old form, but a new catch or form. If you cannot make the entire puzzle, write out the suggestion. $5 is offered for the idea--the best one we receive, provided that it is new. Compet.i.tion open to anybody, any age. Send suggestions, either by description or in a puzzle, not later than December 1, 1895.
Special to all Readers.
It is desired to correct the records of the Order, especially the addresses. We ask, therefore,
1. That Founders will send us their names and addresses on a postal card, spelling out a first name, printing all In English capitals, and adding the word "Founder." Use simply the sign "A."
2. That all members will do the same, except that they will not use the word Founder. Remember that you remain a Knight or Lady of the Order even if, since becoming such, you have pa.s.sed your eighteenth birthday.
3. That persons over eighteen, not now members, who wish our Order well, will send us names and addresses, and receive a Patron Patent. Use simply the letter "D."
4. That members send us names and addresses of friends whom they wish Patents for; say whether such friends are over or under eighteen.
If you wish to distribute Round Table Prospectuses, make the request on a separate postal card from the one on which you ask for a new Patent.
Only one person may accept this offer in one town or neighborhood. In applying say how many Prospectuses you can place, whom you intend to give them to, what are your facilities for giving them out, and what prize you seek. The prizes are: Bound volumes of HARPER"S YOUNG PEOPLE for 1893 or 1894; gold badges of the Order; packet of fifty visiting-cards bearing your name, with the plate for future use; rubber stamps bearing your name and address; pencils resembling a common nail; and silver badges of the Order.
These Prospectuses must not be thrown into front yards, nor given out three or four to a family. They must be given each to a different family, and those families known by you to be such as are likely to be interested in them. There may be delay at times. If you do not receive a prompt response to your request, do _not_ write a second time. A response will reach you as soon as possible.
All About Naval Apprentices.
Please tell me all about naval apprentices and how to become one.
GEORGE SYKES.
PLUM VALLEY, NEB.
Boys between the ages of fifteen and eighteen years may enlist to serve in the navy until they shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years. The consent of parents or guardians, however, must first be obtained. These boys, after being sworn in, are sent on board of naval vessels and are carefully trained for the service of the navy. Before a boy is accepted he is obliged to pa.s.s the examining board of officers, satisfying them that he is of robust frame, intelligent, of good moral character--for the navy is in no sense a reformatory--that he has a perfectly sound and healthy const.i.tution, and that he is able to read and write. The elements of an ordinary English education are given the apprentices, and their professional studies embrace the knotting, splicing, hitching, and bending of rope; fancy marlinespike seamanship; sewing canvas; bending, reefing, and furling sail; the names and use of the various gear in the way of standing and running rigging; and the manner in which it should be set up and rove; terms for the different parts of the ship; military tactics; broadside exercise; rifle drill; the loading and firing of the great guns, as well as the handling of smaller pieces of ordnance, such as Hotchkiss and Gatling guns, etc. Auxiliary to these studies the boys are taught rowing and swimming.
Apprentices are enlisted as "third-cla.s.s boys," and receive $9.50 per month. Their food is also given to them; but their outfits of clothes, furnished to them by the paymaster of the vessel when they join, are charged against their accounts, and they receive no money until the indebtedness has been wiped out. While serving on board of naval training vessels, apprentices may be promoted to "second-cla.s.s boys,"
and have their pay increased to $11.50 per month, and when doing duty on cruisers of the navy they are eligible to higher ratings and pay as a reward of proficiency and good conduct.
The highest rank that an apprentice may hope to gain is that of warrant-officer, so that he cannot look forward to a grade beyond that of gunner or boatswain--the pay of which, however, reaches $1800 a year after a certain period of service. Warrant-officers are, like all other officers of the navy, retired after reaching the age of sixty-two years, and a generous percentage of their active-service salary is paid to them as long as they live.
Recruiting stations for apprentices are to be found in New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco, where boys may apply at any time.
Address "Recruiting Station for Naval Apprentices, Navy-Yard." The naval school, known as the Naval Academy, is situated at Annapolis, Md., and is entirely distinct from the apprentice branch of the service. At the latter inst.i.tution young men are prepared to become officers in the line and in the engineer corps of the navy. During the war of the rebellion the Naval Academy was temporarily transferred to Newport in Rhode Island.
Kinks.
No. 102.--RIGHT TRIANGLE.
All words begin and end with same letter.
1. *--A letter.
2. * *--A preposition.
3. * * *--To possess.
4. * * * *--A sign.
5. * * * * *--A vegetable.
6. * * * * * *--To continue in use.
7. * * * * * * *--Notion.
8. * * * * * * * *--Act of blunting.
9. * * * * * * * * *--Adverse reason.
10. * * * * * * * * * *--Business.
11. * * * * * * * * * * *--Display.
12. * * * * * * * * * * * *--Extinction.
ALBERT.
No. 103--ZIGZAG.
If the cross-words--of equal length--are correctly guessed, the zigzag, beginning at the upper left-hand corner, will spell the name of the eldest daughter of the Emperor Arcadius (born A.D. 399).
CROSS-WORDS.--1. A fruit. 2. To chew. 3. Burning. 4. To instruct. 5. A covered entrance. 6. Slumber. 7. To compel. 8. An episcopal crown. 9.
Starwort.
No. 104.--HOUR-GLa.s.s.
1. To equalize. 2. Shy. 3. Fixed. 4. A letter. 5. A metal. 6. A horse.
7. Brought into life.
The centrals give the name of a continent.
SIMON T. STERN.
No. 105.--THE SUPPER TABLE.
1. A convulsion of the lungs, and a reward.
2. A kind of deer, and a grain, served in a flat form.