Chapter 248
.--_W. T. Terry_, Sec., 109 E. Grace St.
252, _Utica, N. Y._ We have a most flourishing Chapter of forty-seven members. In the past year our school building was enlarged, and a room was made purposely to hold our treasures. In it is a cabinet overflowing with minerals, shells, and plants, 3 cases full of _lepidoptera_, a forty-dollar microscope, and a cabinet, which the boys are trying to fill with microscopical slides of their own manufacture. We have also an aquarium 12 x 24 inches, stocked with fish, newts, snails, turtles, etc., also a bird's egg cabinet that will hold several hundred specimens, and a Wardia case, 36 x 18 inches, which we are now using for hatching chrysalids. At our last meeting a cecropia "came out," measuring over six and a half inches across the wings. Our Chapter is divided into committees, each committee having a teacher for chairman. The committees are expected to furnish each week specimens representing their special branches. Of all the subjects before us the hardest "nut to crack" was, "What is a sea-bean?" but owing to indomitable perseverance, it has been most thoroughly cracked.
[_Please send us the kernel!_]
Agassiz's birthday was duly celebrated in the woods. Speeches were made, poems recited, and the rest of the day devoted to a grand specimen-hunt. It rained hard all day, but that could not quench the fire in this Chapter, and we returned home loaded down with treasures. We have shells, mica, and _lepidoptera_ for exchange. The Chapter desires to express its deepest gratitude to the founder of the A. A. for two delightful years.--Frances E. Newland, Sec.
[_Such a delightful report as the one which we have here condensed, is more than enough to repay one for all the labor connected with the A. A. The debt of gratitude is on the other side._]
254, _Fulton, N. Y._ We have started a library, and are now studying ornithology. Our membership is reduced to three, but all are
## active.--Herbert C. Howe.
[_If three active-members understand "Reduction Ascending," they will soon reduce the membership to a dozen or more._]
256, _Newton, Upper Falls, Mass._ The past year has been one of gratifying progress. We number twelve. Our meetings are very interesting, each member giving an account of some object in his branch of study, often illustrating it by the specimen or describing some book he has been reading, or relating some recent personal experience. At the first meeting of each month a paper called _Gatherings_ is read, composed of original records of personal observations. Wishing to bring our Chapter and its work to the knowledge of our friends, we have held a series of socials at the home of one of our members. The first of the evening we have devoted to talks and essays by the members of the Chapter, and later we have played games, and amused ourselves in other ways. We find this plan very beneficial, and have already gained three new members and a present of books.--Mrs. J. M. H. Smith.
[_We commend this suggestive report to the earnest attention of every Chapter._]
257, _Plantsville, Ct._ We have made large additions to our collections. Our library also has been enlarged, and we have now nearly 100 volumes. We decide on the subject for each coming meeting in this way. Each member writes on a ballot the subject he would prefer. The ballots are then shaken in a hat, and the one drawn first is our subject. Moreover, the one whose ballot is successful must furnish a paper on that subject, and all the others bring short items on the same subject. We closed our last meeting by a collation, and singing by our glee club.--A. L. Ely, Box 219.
260, _Mercer, Pa._ We have not been idle, and have quite a collection. We think every Chapter should keep a scrap-book for entering reports and clippings.--Mrs. H. M. Magoffin.
272, _West Town, N. Y._--Most of us are attending school away from home. We therefore disband through the winter, and then reorganize for the summer vacation, and work as much as we can, for we have farm work to do besides. Still we can study as we work, and we do this. Our minerals are all labeled and mounted. We have about 200 birds' eggs, some of them quite rare. We pride ourselves on our insects. I think we have 300, still am not positive. Our botanical specimens number 200. The work we have done, though not very great, has done us a great amount of good.--William Evans, Sec.
SOME IMPORTANT QUESTIONS.
MANCHESTER, VT.
I am extremely anxious to experiment during the coming season with the American silk-producing worms, not for the purpose of producing raw silk, but for other reasons of scientific and practical interest. I wish to learn the best books for giving a knowledge of the habits of _Attacus Cecropia_, _Polyphemus_, and the Promethean moths. I shall be glad of any information regarding the best places to find their cocoons. I should like to hear of the experience of others in finding cocoons, and raising the moths. I have M. Trouvelot's papers on the subject, Dr. Garlick's letters on his experiments; also Dr. Stirling's, Prof. Riley's report on Silk Production No. 11, Packard's "Our Common Insects," Sir John Lubbock's "Origin and Metamorphosis of Insects." I should like the addresses of any parties who have cocoons of the said moths to dispose of; and finally, information regarding the success or failure of any who may have tried the experiment of raising the worms.
Very truly yours,
C. F. ORVIS.
[_Mr. Orvis is a member of the A. A., has been for years engaged in an important manufacturing business, and we trust may obtain from "those who know," all the information he desires._]
EXCHANGES.
Two thousand square-cut post-marks, all different, in a neat book; also 1500 duplicates, for best offer in stone implements.--Laurie H. McNeill, Ch. 902, Mobile, Ala.
Correspondence with amateur egg-collectors desired. Iowa preferred.--Oscar Clute, Jr., Iowa City, Iowa.
American bird-skins and eggs (with data), for English. Also mounted microscopical pathological specimens. Lists exchanged.--Wm. D. Grier, 49 Gloucester St., Boston, Mass.
NEW CHAPTERS.
_No._ _Name._ _No. of Members._ _Address._
941 Hohokus, N. J. (A) 4 Mrs. R. Van Dien, Jr. 942 Sioux Falls, Dakota (B) 10 Percy Edmison. 943 Sancelito, Cal. (A) 7 A. J. Campbell, Box 31, Marin Co. 944 Buffalo, N. Y. (L) 12 Nathan N. Block, 82 Norris Place. 945 Baltimore, Md. 4 Maurice Straus, 225 Linden Ave. 946 Seneca Falls (B) 5 Wm. Hopper. 947 San Francisco, Cal. (J) 4 Miss Alice J. Ellis, 27 So. Park. 948 Prairie Du Chien, Wis. (A) 7 Chas. Chase, Jr. 949 New York, N. Y. (Z) 4 Fred Stanton, 420 W. 61st St.
DISSOLVED.
863 Providence, R. I. (E) Frederic Gorham. 362 Newport, R. I. (B) 4 Thomas Crosby, Jr. 242 Philadelphia (I) J. F. Stevens.
REORGANIZED.
746 Helena, Montana (A) 8 Kurt Kleinschmidt, Box 292. 68 Grand Junction, Iowa 2 Miss Sarah I. Smith. 248 Richmond, Va. (A) 23 W. T. Terry, 109 E. Grace St.
Address all communications for this department to the President of the A. A.,
MR. HARLAN H. BALLARD, Principal of Lenox Academy, Lenox, Mass.
THE RIDDLE-BOX.
As THIS number of ST. NICHOLAS goes to press nearly a month earlier than usual, the names of solvers of March puzzles can not appear until the issue of the June number.
ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN THE APRIL NUMBER.
AN EASTER REBUS.
Bid folly fly and sin depart; Keep inviolate your heart; And Easter lilies, pure and fair, Will bud and bloom forever there.
INVERTED PYRAMID. Across: 1. Depopulated. 2. Nominated. 3. Deluded. 4. Roses. 5. Ten. 6. D.
ST. ANDREW'S CROSS OF DIAMONDS. I. 1. B. 2. Dem(and). 3. Dolor. 4. Belgium. 5. Moist. 6. Rut. 7. M. II. 1. M. 2. Ham. 3. Huron. 4. Marston. 5. Motor. 6. Nor. 7. N. III 1. M. 2. Tim. 3. Talon. 4. Million. 5. Moist. 6. Not. 7. N. IV. 1. M. 2. Sam. 3. Sedan. 4. Madison. 5. Mason. 6. Non. 7. N. V. 1. N. 2. Tam. 3. Titus. 4. Natural. 5. Murat. 6. Sat. 7. L.
WORD-SQUARES. I. 1. Racer. 2. Agave. 3. Canal. 4. Evade. 5. Relet. II. 1. Cabal. 2. Above. 3. Bobea. 4. Avers. 5. Least. III. 1. Rabid. 2. Abide. 3. Bison. 4. Idols. 5. Dense.
PI.
Spring, with that nameless pathos in the air Which dwells with all things fair; Spring, with her golden suns and silver rain, Is with us once again.
CENTRAL ACROSTIC. Arbor Day. Cross-words: 1. slAin. 2. stRew. 3. saBot. 4. slOop. 5. stRap. 6. seDan. 7. smArt 8. slYly.
HOUR-GLASS. Centrals, April fool. Cross-words: 1. TartArean. 2. reaPers. 3. scRew. 4. vIe. 5. L. 6. aFt. 7. foOls. 8. limOsis. 9. inteLlect.
MYTHOLOGICAL NUMERICAL ENIGMA.
I love to go in the capricious days Of April, and hunt violets.
CONNECTED DOUBLE SQUARES. Upper left-hand square, Across: 1. Houp. 2. Alto. 3. Ties. 4. Host. Upper right-hand square. Across: 1. Pent. 2. Otoe. 3. Suet. 4. Tile. Lower left-hand square, Across: 1. Host. 2. Able. 3. Sour. 4. Hern. Lower right-hand square. Across: 1. Tile. 2. Eden. 3. Read. 4. Naps.
BAGATELLE. 1. More haste, less speed. 2. Medicines were not meant to live on. 3. He who hides can find. 4. Pride goeth before a fall. 5. The absent party is always faulty. 6. A crowd is not company. 7. Penny wise, pound foolish. Key-words: haSte, meAnt, hiDes, prIde, paRty, crOwd, peNny.
Central letters, sadiron.
MOTHER GOOSE PUZZLE.
[Illustration]
This puzzle is based upon one of the Mother Goose rhymes. The pictures represent the last word of the six lines of the verse. What is the verse?
NUMERICAL ENIGMA.
I am composed of seventy-six letters, and am a quotation from "Love's Labor Lost."
My 63-21-58-31 is elevated. My 28-1-42-35 is headstrong. My 72-45-14-62-25 is on every breakfast table. My 2-19-52 is a fashionable kind of trimming. My 74-40-55-50-22 is a glossy fabric. My 33-9-29-8 was the nationality of Othello. My 38-68-70-17-12-76 is the name of the 67-3-49-61 of one of Shakspere's most celebrated plays. My 6-43-5-26 is location. My 13-75-11-46 is mature. My 30-60-47-54-41 is what often follows a chill. My 53-36-4-24 is a mixture. My 16-39-71-20-66 is used in bread-making. My 37-73-65-7-23-27-69-18-56-51 is an allurement. My 32-57-10-15-64-44-59-34-48 is a school.
HAROLD J. HARDING.
PI.
Ta emits a gaftarrn zebree mecos toalfing yb, Dan gribsn, uyo wkon ton hwy, A lenegif sa hewn agree wordsc twaai Freoeb a leapac tage Meos dronswou gapeant; dan ouy scacer loudw tarts, Fi form a cheeb's thear A buel-yede Drady, pepsting froth, soldhu ays, "Hedlob em! I ma Mya!"
CENTRAL ACROSTIC.
Each of the words described contains the same number of letters; the central letters, transposed, will spell the name of the heroine of one of Sir Walter Scott's novels.
1. Was conspicuous. 2. A hard covering. 3. A citadel. 4. A box for fruit. 5. To ward off. 6. A sudden fright.
AVIS.
GREEK CROSS.
[Illustration]
UPPER SQUARE: 1. To begin. 2. A small drum. 3. Over. 4. Wanders. 5. A lock of hair.
LEFT-HAND SQUARE: 1. A region. 2. A report. 3. Plentiful. 4. Plants of the cabbage family. 5. A lock of hair.
CENTRAL SQUARE: 1. A lock of hair. 2. A black bird. 3. To elude. 4. A plant which grows in wet grounds. 5. To scoff.
RIGHT-HAND SQUARE: 1. To scoff. 2. Grand. 3. Declined. 4. A mournful poem. 5. To color anew.
LOWER SQUARE: 1. To scoff. 2. Mother of pearl. 3. Applause. 4. One of the Muses. 5. To furnish with a new upper part.
"HOMER."
[Illustration]
A DECORATION-DAY PUZZLE.
The words forming this numerical enigma are pictured instead of described. The answer, consisting of a hundred and one letters, is a four-line verse by Bayard Taylor.
TRIPLE ACROSTIC.
[Illustration]
ACROSS: 1. Pertaining to a monarch. 2. Entering without right. 3. Unmarried women. 4. Unfaithful. Primals, a vapor; centrals, a brown coating; finals, in a smaller degree. Primals, centrals, and finals combined, unsuspicious.
F. L. F.
INVERTED PYRAMID.
ACROSS: 1. Measurement. 2. Consumes. 3. A chemical substance. 4. A sheltered place. 5. In pyramid. Downward: 1. In pyramid. 2. Two-thirds of a girl's name. 3. Mankind. 4. Bad. 5. Celebrated. 6. Certain. 7. Wrath. 8. A bone. 9. In inverted.
F. L. F.
CONNECTED SQUARES.
[Illustration]
I. UPPER SQUARE: 1. Pertaining to a certain nymph. 2. A disease peculiar to children. 3. A dwelling-place. 4. The European blackbird. 5. A charm.
II. LEFT-HAND SQUARE: 1. Burned wood. 2. A continued endeavor to gain possession. 3. The inner part. 4. The lesser white heron. 5. A pugilistic encounter.
III. RIGHT-HAND SQUARE: 1. An expression of contempt. 2. A small column without base or capital. 3. Parts of shoes. 4. To assign. 5. To squander.
IV. LOWER SQUARE: 1. A term used in playing with balls. 2. A sacred vestment. 3. Proper. 4. A fine yellow clay. 5. A measure.
Centrals, reading downward (eleven letters), an architect who builds houses. Centrals, reading across, a mechanical contrivance common in cotton-mills.
"L. LOS REGNI."
FINAL ACROSTIC.
Each of the words described contains the same number of letters. The primals will all be of the same letter; the finals will spell a name famous in history.
1. A small shell-fish. 2. An emblem. 3. A common plant having a scarlet blossom. 4. To weaken. 5. A specter. 6. An afternoon nap. 7. A leap. 8. Unassuming. 9. A violent effort. 10. Irony. 11. A channel.
"JUVENTUS."
WORD-SQUARES IN DIAMONDS.
[Illustration]
I. Diamond: 1. In soles. 2. To touch lightly. 3. Satisfies. 4. A beverage. 5. In soles. Included word-square: 1. To touch lightly. 2. Consumed. 3. A beverage.
II. Diamond: 1. In strife. 2. To touch lightly. 3. Much talked of in railway offices. 4. An inclosure. 5. In strife. Included word-square: 1. To touch lightly. 2. A verb. 3. An inclosure.
III. Diamond: 1. In youthful. 2. The cry of a certain animal. 3. A mythical being. 4. Skill. 5. In youthful. Included word-square: 1. The cry of a certain animal. 2. Gaseous substance. 3. Skill.
"ARTHUR PENDENNIS."
HOUR-GLASS.
The central letters, reading downward, spell the name of a very prominent personage.
CROSS-WORDS: 1. Pleasing to the taste. 2. A substance similar to varnish. 3. An imp. 4. The name of a character in "Uncle Tom's Cabin." 5. In decorations. 6. Sick. 7. Resources. 8. To call by the wrong name. 9. Gives too many doses to.
"D. I. VERSITY."
WORD-SQUARE.
The letters of each of the words described may all be found in the word NAMER.
1. A girl's name. 2. Close at hand. 3. A cognomen. 4. Surface.
"DENZIL ELINOR."