C. H. W.--Ceres, called Demeter by the Greeks, was the G.o.ddess of agriculture. She was pictured by the ancients holding a torch and sheaf of corn, a basket filled with flowers at her side, and a garland of wheat ears interwoven in her hair. Her festival fell on the 19th of April, the beginning of seed-time. There is a pretty legend that Persephone, the daughter of Ceres, was stolen by Pluto, who allowed her to leave his subterranean kingdom only during the period between spring-time and autumn, and that Ceres, enraged at the theft of her daughter, refused to bless the earth with fruits and flowers during those months when she was deprived of Persephone. The name Ceres is derived from the Sanskrit, and signifies to create. Vulcan, whose Greek name was Hephaestus, was the son of Jupiter and Juno, and the G.o.d of fire. He was lame and ugly, but was worshipped as the patron of all craftsmen who worked at the forge. He is represented by ancient artists as a powerful, bearded man clad in a workman"s cap and short blouse, surrounded by smith"s tools. His festival fell on the 23d of August, when the young men of Athens ran torch races in his honor. You can obtain answers to your other question by inquiring at the rooms of the Society, corner of Court and Joralemon streets, Brooklyn.
HARRY VAN N.--Wheeling is the capital of West Virginia. The _New Hampshire Gazette_, published at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is the oldest paper in the Union which has been continued without interruption or change of name. It was established by Daniel Fowle in 1756. The Worcester _Spy_, still in existence, was established in 1770, and there are several other papers of equal age. The New York _Commercial Advertiser_ is one of the oldest dailies. It was established in 1793 as the _Minerva_, but soon a.s.sumed its present name. The New York _Evening Post_ first appeared in November, 1801. You will find a complete history of American newspapers in Frederic Hudson"s _Journalism in the United States_, published by Harper & Brothers.
WILLIE S. W.--There are no rules by which you can train cats. They are not so easily taught as dogs and birds; still, with patience and kindness, you may accomplish your purpose.
"NORTH STAR."--Your puzzle is very neatly and correctly made; but we can not use it, as we have recently published one with the same solution. Do not be discouraged, but try again. The book you inquire for is published by Henry Holt & Co., and is a very useful little volume.
C. W. LISK.--The dauw (_Equus burch.e.l.lii_) is a South African quadruped, intermediate between the zebra and the quagga. It is found in numerous herds in the wide plains north of the Orange River. It is somewhat larger than the zebra, but more easily domesticated.
WILLIE B. A.--Read the paper on "Gold-Fish" in YOUNG PEOPLE No. 6.
PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS.
No. 1.
EASY NUMERICAL ENIGMA.
The combined numerals in the following sentence form the name of a great poet, which is composed of 11 letters. A little girl sat in the garden watching some 6-2-5-8-7 frolicking on the gra.s.s. The gardener was at work with a 10-9-4-11, and he gave her a 7-5-3-10 to eat. Then a poor Italian came up the road with a 2-9-10-7, and she ran to 9-1-4 her mother if 6-9-10-3-2 might give him a piece of bread.
POLLY.
No. 2.
DROP-LETTER PUZZLE.
Each dash represents a letter. The whole is a familiar proverb:
B--r--s--f--f--a--h--r--l--c--t--g--t--e--.
A. T.
No. 3.
ENIGMA.
My first is in battle, but not in fight.
My second is in darkness, but not in night.
My third is in brighten, but not in cheer.
My fourth is in antler, but not in deer.
My fifth is in knot, but not in tie.
My sixth is in near, but not in nigh.
My whole is a tropical fruit.
EFFIE VIOLET (12 years).
No. 4.
DOUBLE ACROSTIC.
A vegetable. A puzzle. A gem. A buffoon. A bird. Labor. A roll of coin.
An affirmation. Answer--Two branches of an important study.
C. P. T.
No. 5.
WORD SQUARE.
First, a governor. Second, to join. Third, flexible. Fourth, a girl"s name. Fifth, attachments to fishing-rods.
E. M.
No. 6.
ENIGMA.
My first is in made, but not in done.
My second is in work, but not in fun.
My third is in knit, and also in spun.
My fourth is in take, but not in won.
My fifth is in chase, but not in run.
My sixth is in cake, but not in bun.
My seventh is in left, but not in begun.
My eighth is in mortar, but not in gun.
My whole was a noted French general.
C. W. L.