17 1 7 THE WINE MERCHANT AND HIS CLERK. A WINE MERCHANT caused thirty-two casks of choice wine to be deposited in his cellar, giving orders to his clerk to arrange them as in the annexed:figure, so that each external row should contain niue. The clerk, however, took away twelve of them at three different times; that is, four each time; yet, when the merchant went into the cellar, after each theft had been committed, the clerk always made him count nine in each row. How was this possible? This problem may be easily solved by inspecting the following figures: 1 7 1 0 0 00000 0 -000 THE CURIOUS CROSS. COMPOSE a cross, with thirteen sixpences, shillings, or any other coins, as No. 1, in which it No. 1. No. 2. will be perceived you may reckon nine in three different ways; that is to say in the entire perpendicular line, up the perpendicular line to the cross line, and including the cross line, first on the right, then on the left. These are the qualities of the cross. The puzzle is to take two of the pieces away, and still to leave the same qualities in the cross. This is done by taking away the two outside pieces of the cross line, and lifting the two which remain one piece higher. The figure will then be as No. 2. 0 0 Ο QUAINT QUERY. WHAT is the difference between six dozen dozen, and half-a-dozen dozen? Answer-792-Six dozen dozen being 864, and half-a dozen dozen, 72. KEY TO OUR INTELLECTUAL FEAST. (On page 186.) FIRST COURSE. Sole. Shrimp Sauce. Spare Rib. SECOND COURSE. Turkey. Melted Butter. DESSERT. Nectarines. Chest-nuts. WINES AND SPIRITS. Teneriffe. Shrub. THE EDITOR TO HIS FRIENDS. ADDRESS:9, BELL SQ., FINSBURY, LONDON. THE Editor takes this opportunity of respectfully intimating to his Contributors, that if on application as to the fate of their contributions, they would kindly mention the titles of their papers, they would not have so much reason to complain of his inattention. The Editor is extremely desirous of showing every courtesy towards those who enlist themselves in his service, and regrets that he is so often thwarted in this desire, by the want of precision in inquiries after MSS. addressed to his care. FIRST CLASS. E. R. (too late last month).-M. W. M.-Kate Sydnas.-H. A. J.-Lily H. (the Certificate forwarded Feb. 23rd, was the one we alluded to).Alpha (prettily arranged).-J. C. L. (we think you are right in your observations).-Rosemary (there is no objection to the two signatures).-A. C. M. Jll (our best thanks for your services; the poem has some good points, but not good as a whole). -F. S. Mills.-L'Eclair and Undine.-M. A. and S.-Nellie (the omission was quite accidental).Azile (neatly arranged numbers).-Estelle-Ruthenpharl.-W. H. H. (name and address only required from those to whom Certificates are awarded).-Marguerite (we are happy to discover improvement). Prudence.-Little Giggie (it is not our intention to curtail).-Juanita. Hamlet. -Fanny.-Captain J. R.-Mary Anne.-Will-o'the-Wisp very creditable for your age). SECOND CLASS. The At contracts dependent on measures of capacity 34. ROLANDO-ESSENTIAL OILS.-These are of an odoriferous nature, such as Aniseed, Aneoils obtained by distillation from various plants thum or Dill, Bergamot, Carraway, Pepper and Spearmint, Rose and Rosemary, &c., all of which are used medicinally; although it is the perfumers who are the largest consumers of these oils, some of which they term Essences, a term derived from the Latin essentia, whose origin is an obsolete form of the verb esse, to be: so that the term actually means that which constitutes the being of a thing; it is therefore often applied to any strong preparation. The essences included in the modern Pharmacopoeias are those composed of 1 part of the oils above named, with some others, to 9 parts of Rectified Spirits; they are convenient for making up extemporaneous prescriptions, and for all purposes in which Aromatic waters are required; 9 drops of Essence being sufficient for one ounce of water. D. M. R.-Leonatus (send name and address for Certificate).-Anna Grey (your request shall have attention).-Amelia.-Daisy H.-Emily A. Or,-For a stone of flour: Into two quarts of C-th (we are glad to find our graphiologist at water put a quarter of an ounce of hops, two fault, and that you are firm in your attachment). potatoes sliced, a teaspoonful of malt, or sugar; -Winnie.-Marie and Elise.-W. Garbutt.-R. boil twenty minutes, strain through a sieve, let D. Harlow.-Amelia.-W. Homewood.-Winnie. the liquor stand until milk-warm, then add a -Irene.-Wilhelm.-Roberta yes, by all means). little German yeast, for a first quickening; after-Eliza (the postage will be one penny).-Edwards some of this yeast will do. Let it stand in ward.-Jane Anne (we do not agree with you; the home sphere for woman). QUESTIONS ANSWERED. 31. ANNIE J.-The largest number of visitors in one day at the Crystal Palace was 109,915, and the amount taken £5,231 10s. This was on Tuesday, October 7th, 1851, the last week of the Exhibition.-AGNESE. 32. NAUTILUS.-The inland navigation of Great Britain is estimated at 5,430 miles. This computation includes both river and canal communication. 33. NEW SUBSCRIBER. BUSHEL. A measure of capacity for dry goods, as grain, fruit, pulse, and many other articles, containing four pecks, eight gallons, or thirty-two quarts. Corn is now invariably measured by the imperial bushel. It is of cooper-work, made of oak, and hooped with iron, and, according to the Weights and Measures Aet, must be stamped by competent authority before it can be legally used; and having been declared the standard measure of capacity in the country for dry measure, it forms the basis of all a large jar or jug till sufficiently risen. First put into an earthen bottle a part of the yeast for a future quickening; let it stand in a cool place until wanted for a fresh making. Any "plain cook" or housewife can easily make this yeast.A. C. M. J-LL. 35. JOHN BOWLEY.-SEA TERMS.-Windwurd, from whence the wind blows; leeward, to which it blows; starboard, the right of the stern; larboard, the left; starboard helm, when you go to the left; but when to the right, instead of larboard helm, helm a-port; luff you may, go nearer to the wind; theis (thus), you are near enough; luff no near, you are too near the wind; the tiller, the handle of the rudder; the cupstan, the weigher of the anchor; the buntlines, the ropes which move the body of the sail, the bunt being the body; the bowlines, those which spread out the sails, and make them swell. Ratlines, the rope ladders by which the sailors climb the shrouds; the companion, the cabin-head; reefs, the divisions by which the sails are contracted; stunsails, additional sails, spread for the purpose of catching all the wind possible; the fore-mast, main-mast, mizen-mast; fore, the head; aft, the stern; being pooped (the very sound of which tells one that it must be something very terrible), having the stern beaten in by the sea; to belay a rope, to fasten it. The sheets, a term for various ropes; the halyards, ropes which extend the topsails; the painter, the rope which fastens the boat to the vessel; the eight points of the compass, south, south and by east, south-south-east, south-east and by east, south-east, east south and by east, east south-east, east and by south-east. The knowledge of these points is termed "knowing how to box the compass." 36. NEW SUBSCRIBER.-STETHOSCOPE-This term comes from two Greek words, stethos the breast, and skopeo to examine, and is applied to an instrument used by physicians for distinguishing the sounds within the thorax or chest, and other cavities of the body. It is a simple cylinder of wood, or other material (gutta-percha has been much used of late), perforated longitudinally through the middle, with one extremity spreading out into a funnel shape, and having a flattened disc; to the former the ear is applied, while the latter rests on the chest or other part to be auscultated, as the process of investigating the state of the internal viscera and fluids of the body is called. Phonoscope, or sound-conductor, would be a better name for this useful instrument than the above, as expressing more fully its object and meaning. An improvement in the Stethoscope, by Mr. Walter Bryant, has been made; it consists of a moveable extremity, or body piece, made of gutta percha or vulcanized india rubber, and is so constructed as to fit into the tube of any stethoscope ordinarily used. In this case the axis of the tube is placed at an acute angle to the edge, which is applied to the patient's body. By this arrangement the stethoscope thus provided being placed on the chest, the other extremity, or the ear piece, can be directed most conveniently to the ear of the auscultator. 37. ESTELLE. ORIGIN OF "TUFT HUNTER." -The word "tuft-hunter" first arose from the practice of noblemen at the universities wearing a gilt tassel of tuft to distinguish them from the other scholars. The tuft-hunters were those who flattered and cringed to them, on account of their rank.-KATE SYDNAS. 38. ETHOL. TO REMOVE GREASE FROM BOARDS, AND TO WHITEN THEM?"-Boards may be made free from grease in the following manner:-Dissolve a small quantity of fuller's earth in hot water (as much as will bring it into the consistency of a thick paste); when cold, thickly cover the greased part (or parts) with it, and let it remain so for a few hours, then scour it well with cold water. This operation has sometimes to be repeated. To whiten boards, you must scour them well with a mixture of sand, lime, and soft soap, and afterwards dry them with a clean cloth.-WALTER HOMEWOOD. 39. EDWARD. ARTIFICIAL CORAL. This may be employed for forming grottos, and for similar ornamentation. To two drachms of ver milion add one ounce of resin, and melt them together. Have ready the branches or twigs peeled and dried, and paint them over with this mixture while hot. The twigs being covered, hold them over a gentle fire, turning them round till they are perfectly covered and smooth. White coral may also be made with white lead, and black, with lampblack mixed with resin. When irregular branches are required, the sprays of an old blackthorn are best adapted for the purpose; and for regular branches the young shoots of the elm are most suitable. Cinders, stones, or any other materials may be dipped into the mixture, and made to assume the appearance of coral. 40. JULIA.-CRYPTOGRAPHY.-A Greek word signifying secret writing. Cryptographs are used by persons wishing to correspond with each other in a language that none but themselves can understand. For this purpose a form of cipher is devised by the aid of the alphabet and of figures, and arranged according to the preconcerted method of the parties concerned. One of these methods may be easily illustrated, thus:-Supposing the English alphabet, omitting the letter j, to consist of twenty-five letters; let them be arranged in a square, thus: "Why didst thou build the hall? Son of the winged day! Thou lookest from thy tower today: yet a few years, and the blast of the desert comes: it howls in thy empty court!"-OSSIAN. As soon as I had refreshed myself with some food, drink, and a wash, I related the whole of the circumstances connected with the loss of my horse to my companions, and one of them most kindly set off with our dragoman in quest of the truant; and having made the sheikhs of the different villages acquainted with the circumstances, they all promised their assistance to recover him. While my goodnatured companion was racing over the valley of the Bekaa, in BAALBEC quest of my horse, I repaired with the followers of Ali, and consequently opposed to the Sunnite creed. They curse Omar, and honour Ali: wash from the wrist downwards, instead of the tip of the finger, like the Turks; and neither eat, drink, nor sit down with a stranger. Circumstances often oblige them to conceal their real feelings, but inwardly they hate the orthodox Moslems, and have recently avowed their sentiments more openly during the insurrection at Damascus, which was headed by the Emir Hangiar. The residence of the Emir was mean, and surrounded with a court-yard, and scarcely having the recommendation of cleanliness to entice any one within its walls; but necessity obliged us, and therefore we had no choice. The Emir was seated on a divan, smoking a tchibouque, and chatting to some of his attendants who stood around him, forming an imposing group. The men were mean in appearance; they had none of the noble bearing that marked the Bedauwi or Druse; for the physiognomy of the Metaweli is morose and dull when they are peaceable; but if excited, it displays a brutal ferocity. The features are high and regular, with piercing black eyes, fine white teeth, and remarkably bushy beards: they are about five feet one or two inches in height, and active, though spare and deficient in muscle. The Emir is rather a handsome man, with a determined look about him; somewhat above the average height-and indeed he may be called his part, as far as the difficulty of procuring the animal was concerned, for the horse was in his stable at the very time we were entreating him to use means to recover it. Although the Emir returned the horse, yet I have every reason to believe that he retained a small leather case, containing a thermometer, a compass, some mathematical and other instruments, and two letters. This case was firmly lashed upon the horse, but the Emir denied all knowledge of it; and, as he would not afford me any clue by which it might be recovered, I wrote to the Consul-General, Colonel Rose, on my return to Beyrout, who kindly instructed Mr. Wood, the Consul at Damascus, to cause the authorities there to write to the Emir respecting the case. As the order that was issued by his Excellency, Ali Pasha of Damascus, to the Emir Hangiar Harfoosh, is a very good specimen of Oriental writing in the present day, I shall give the translation of it below. "That at this date we have learned from his Seigneur, The Honoured, our Friend, the Illustrious, Mr. Aud Bey (Wood), Consul of the British Government in Damascus, the well-guarded, That His Seigneury had received a letter from His Siegneury the Consul-General of the English Government in Beyrout, that an English traveller was before the date of this in Baalbec, and his horse ran away from him, and then people found his horse for him, and brought it to him. But there was on the back of the horse a small box, containing instruments, and things necessary and indispensable for him. But the box was missing, and as it is indispensable to him, it is necessary that we write to you this our Order, that on receiving it you will make every posHe is an expert dejereed player, an ex-sible inquiry, and cause the said box to cellent swordsman, a daring soldier, a wily courtier, and a thorough rebel. He received us very courteously, heard my tale, smiled complacently, promised to do all he could for me, and in fact said that if we would remain that night in Baalbec, that the horse should be restored the following evening. He kept his word, and without any danger of breaking it on "Robust, but not Herculean-to the sight, No giant frame sets forth his common height; appear, whatever place it may be in, and that you will send it to this place, under perfect care, in order that it may be delivered to his Seigneury, the above-mentioned Consul. And if the box was found open, you must inquire from those who opened it, and make them find all the contents of the said box, without a single article being deficient from it; and send |