Harper's Young People, August 31, 1880 Part 8

HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE is a splendid paper. I would advise every one to take it.

I would like to exchange birds' eggs with some correspondent. To any one sending me ten eggs I will send ten in return.

J. F. WELLS, Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada.

A CONSTANT READER.--During early colonial times both Indians and negroes were held as slaves in Ma.s.sachusetts, and advertis.e.m.e.nts of negroes for sale were common in the Boston _News Letter_ and other publications of the day. s.h.i.+p-loads of fresh importations of negroes were constantly arriving from the African coast. Meanwhile the feeling against slavery was steadily gaining ground, and much public discussion on the subject took place. The exact date of the abolition of slavery in Ma.s.sachusetts is a disputed point, but it is generally conceded to have legally taken place at the time of the adoption of the State Const.i.tution in 1780, although advertis.e.m.e.nts of slave property for sale appear in the newspapers of a later date. In 1788 the Legislature of Ma.s.sachusetts pa.s.sed an act to prevent the slave-trade, inflicting a heavy fine upon any citizen of the commonwealth who should import, transport, buy, or sell any of the inhabitants of Africa as slaves, or fit out vessels to be employed in the traffic.

Public feeling was for a long time hostile to the negro race, and during the early part of the present century "blacks" were repeatedly warned to depart out of the commonwealth, the pretext being to avoid the increase of a pauper population, "which threatened to become both injurious and burdensome."

C. S. M.--About what animal do you desire to know the habits? You left your sentence unfinished.

ALICE P.--Turtles prefer bits of meat and insects to bread-crumbs. If you read former numbers of Our Post-office Box carefully, you will find directions for feeding all kinds of turtles.

CAMILLE B.--The poem by your little sick friend is very pretty, but we can not make room for it.

PEARL A. H.--Your story is very pretty, but comes too late for publication.--You must send to the address of the advertiser for the catalogue you wish.

J. L. TOPPIN.--Directions for building a canvas canoe were given in YOUNG PEOPLE No. 26. There is an interesting paper ent.i.tled "The Cruising Canoe and its Outfit" in HARPER'S MAGAZINE for August, 1880, which will also give you much useful information.

Favors are acknowledged from Charles G. R., William Mullen, "Mars,"

Edwin J. Prindle, W. Clarence J., Louis H., John R. Glen, Nellie, Mary and Cora Wright, Katie and K. T., Etta G. D., Fannie E. C., T. Ellis, Susie A. M., Camilla A. M., Louise S., Mary Hartwell, Ivy Hamilton.

Correct answers to puzzles are received from "Evening Star," Samuel R.

Hayter, K. T. W., F. B. W., Nettie and Lottie Marshall, Camille Benson, Charles L. Hupf, "b.u.t.tercup," Eddie A. Leet, Mary E. N., Gracie Kelley, John Brooke, Willie Hargest, Clara Jaquith, T. J. Anderson, Minnie H.

Ingham, M. P. Martin, W. S. Dodge, Mattie P., Etta M. Gilbreath, Wilfrid H. Warner, Edward L. Hunt, "Western Star," Charles Stewart.

PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS.

No. 1.

ENIGMA.

My first is in vein, but not in hand.

My second is in waist, but not in band.

My third is in queer, but not in funny.

My fourth is in sugar, but not in honey.

My fifth is in train, but not in car.

My sixth is in moon, but not in star.

My seventh is in wheat, but not in rye.

My eighth is in cunning, but not in sly.

A tribe am I whose home is found Where snow lies deep on the frozen ground.

W. G.

No. 2.

WORD SQUARE.

First, a stalk. Second, an ancient vestment. Third, a river in Bohemia.

Fourth, a sign.

GEORGE.

No. 3.

GEOGRAPHICAL DOUBLE ACROSTIC.

A city in New York State. Mountains in Asia. A river in Asia. A city in China. A lake in the United States. Answer--Two rivers in Europe.

LEON.

No. 4.

DECAPITATION.

Entire I'm found in every home; but if you once behead, I may be white, I may be black, I may be brown or red.

Behead again, and all at once invisible am I; You can not grasp me, yet without me you would surely die.

JENNIE.

No. 5.