ALBERT MULLEN.--Box-wood only is used by engravers on wood, as it has a fine grain and the requisite hardness. It can be got out in small pieces only, and these are either glued or screwed together to form large blocks. When a picture is to be engraved in haste, the block is taken apart and the pieces are given to several engravers, in order to save time. Sometimes thirty or more engravers are employed at once on a single block.
LEONARD S. E.--If you send four cents in postage stamps to the publishers the number you require will be forwarded to you.
A. H. ELLARD.--Your handwriting is very neat and distinct for a boy of your age. In a Numerical Charade each figure represents a letter of the solution. Supposing the answer to be "America," you could make "car"
from the sixth, seventh, and fourth letters, and proceed in this way until you had used every letter of the solution.
JAMES W. C., H. W. G., and OTHERS.--Thanks for your kind letters, but we have decided to use no more puzzles referring in any way to ourselves.
We also wish to remind some of you that enigmas must be in rhyme, otherwise they can not be printed. Do not take your own name nor the names of any of your friends to form a puzzle, because children to whom you are entire strangers could never guess it. Be careful to use new solutions in making puzzles; and when you see that we have already published one on Washington, Bonaparte, or the name of any other celebrated man, do not send us a repet.i.tion. We pay no attention to puzzles not accompanied by full answers.
Willow "p.u.s.s.ies" are to be found now in almost all localities, judging from the many reports sent us by our youthful correspondents. Crocuses have pushed upward to the spring sunshine, and rose bushes are beginning to send out tender green shoots. "p.u.s.s.ies" have been reported by C. H. W., Mary M. R., Joe Ward, and many others; and Louis C. Vogt sends a twig of these pretty downy tokens of spring, which he accompanies with a very neatly printed letter. It is now time to begin to watch for violets and anemones, and other early flowers.
Answers to question by S. R. W. in Post-office Box, No. 17, are received from "North Star," W. F. Bruns, Harry V. G., Florence B., E. L. M., Freddie H., Kittie A. R., "Mystic," and others. Eight words have been sent. They are Scion, Suspicion, Coercion, Pernicion, Epinicion, Internecion, Ostracion, Cestracion; these are all to be found in Worcester"s Dictionary. There is also Cion, which is synonymous with Scion. There are, besides, several obsolete words with the same ending not to be found in modern English dictionaries.
Favors are acknowledged from Charlie Markward, Willie H. McVean, Amy L.
Orr, Harry C. Peck, Edward L. Haines, Percy and George, Alma Hoffmann, Rebecca Hedges, Willie C. S., Alice E. Stephenson, Lottie C. Underhill, Bessie L. Stewart, Jennie Clark, Charlie A. Mather, H. H. Pitcairn, Nellie G. Vaughn, J. D., Willie R. H., Frank Coniston, Mina L. C., Lyman C., Willie B. A., Leonie Young, Mamie Brooke, James Walker, Katie Black, Henry Koehler, G. Walter Burnham, Effie E. P., Geraldine Watson, Ray Bennett, Anabel Turner, Freddie C., Arthur B., R. L. R.
Numerous correspondents have sent new answers to our Puzzle Picture in No. 14; and although many have given nine names, but two, Florence Ozias and Mark Robbins, have found D-rill, the mischievous monkey concealed by our artist.
Correct answers to puzzles received from E. T. Smith, George H.
Churchill, Mamie E. F., Herbert N. Twing, Fannie T., and Belle M., Leonard S. E., Effie K. Talboys, E. P. Walker, J. F. Sullivan, H. S. T., Gracie Flint, W. Robertson, Katie Wentz, Millie Benson, Ella W., Nellie Bartlett, Goldie Williams, W. H. Kurtz, Henry Cullyford, J. H. Crosman, Jun., Stella, Jay H. M., L. L. Lee, Marie Doyle, Gracie K. Richards.
Answer to Charade in No. 17, on page 216--Fishball.
PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS.
No. 1.
NUMERICAL CHARADE.
I am composed of 12 letters.
My 1, 3, 4 is a measure.
My 6, 2, 9, 12 is a girl"s name.
My 11, 10, 4, 8, 3, 6, 5 is a young reptile.
My 1, 7, 11 is a small animal.
My whole is a South American river.
CHESLY B. H.
No. 2.
DOUBLE ACROSTIC.
A small rope. A scent. A question often asked. Variegated. To clasp.
Water. Answer--two English poets.
M. L.
No. 3.
ENIGMA.
My first is in loss, but not in gain.
My second is in France, but not in Spain.
My third is in sling, but not in stung.
My fourth is in old, and also in young.
My fifth is in Venus, but not in Mars.
My whole is composed of beautiful stars.
ALFRED W. S.
No. 4.
RHOMBOID.
Across--A descent; a bench; to clip; to hold. Down--In flap; a preposition; to allow; a bird; a knot; a p.r.o.noun; in flap.
N. L. COLLAMER.
No. 5.