Harper's Young People, October 26, 1880 Part 9

I am just beginning a collection of monograms. As yet I have but very few, but I would be very glad to exchange with any readers of YOUNG PEOPLE.

ISABELLE VAN BRUNT, 27 West Thirtieth Street, New York City.

All boys from fourteen to twenty are invited to become members of a debating club on a legal basis. The debates are carried on by mail. For further information address the recording secretary,

N. L. COLLAMER, Room 49, Treasury Department, Was.h.i.+ngton, D. C.

I would like to exchange stamps or postmarks with any readers of YOUNG PEOPLE.

I have mislaid the address of May A. J. Cornish, of Was.h.i.+ngton, and if she will kindly send it to me I will answer her letter requesting exchange.

GEORGE G. OMERLY, 616 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

E. M. W.--Many thanks for your trouble in copying the pretty version of the legend of the forget-me-not. But as it is very long, and is not new, we can not print it.

A. C.--The military organization of the ancient Romans which was called a legion numbered from 3000 to 6000 men. It combined cavalry and infantry and all the const.i.tuent elements of an army. Originally only Roman citizens of property were admitted to the legion, but at a later period the enrollment of all cla.s.ses became common.--There are so many large printing establishments in New York city that it is difficult to answer your other question. The best thing for you to do is to make a personal application to any one you may select.

CHARLIE.--You will find the advertis.e.m.e.nt of the "Royal Middy" costume in YOUNG PEOPLE No. 27.--The Indian ponies of the far West are very serviceable and hardy little animals. The Canadian ponies and Texan mustangs are useful, but sometimes too vicious for a little boy like you. A s.h.a.ggy little Shetland is pretty, if you can obtain one.

W. S. W.--Your florist friend will know better than we can tell you in what way to procure you a plant of the Venus's-flytrap. He can, no doubt, send you some young roots. As the plant is only a cl.u.s.ter of leaves, low on the ground, from which springs a single stalk, about six inches high, crowned with a bunch of white flowers, it can not easily be propagated by cuttings. It is a matter of dispute if this plant feeds upon the insects it captures or not. The unfortunate fly imprisoned in its leaves is macerated in a juice which the leaf again absorbs, but the plant would probably thrive as well from the nourishment derived from the sun and air and earth alone.

HARRY I. F.--We can not print your request for exchange, as you gave no address, not even the town in which you live.--We can not give addresses of correspondents, but if you have any questions to ask of the one you name, you can write them to the Post-office Box, and if they are suitable, we will print your letter.

N. W. J.--We have not made the arrangements about which you inquire. We thank you sincerely for your pretty letter and your kind intentions.

MIRIAM B., FLORENCE N., HARRY F. H., AND MANY OTHERS.--We refer you to the introductory note to the Post-office Box of YOUNG PEOPLE No. 45 for the reason why your requests for exchange are not published. Such collections as yours are very pretty and interesting, but as our Post-office Box is not large enough to contain every pretty thing, we can only print those requests for exchanges of articles which we consider in some way instructive.

PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS.

No. 1.

WORD SQUARES.

1. First, a household pet. Second, a surface. Third, an animal. Fourth, a measure.

WINNIE.

2. First, a narrow board. Second, vitality. Third, at a distance.

Fourth, a portion of time.

H. N. T.

No. 2.

MALTESE CROSS.

Central letter.--In valetudinarianism.

Top.--A vegetable. Something found in nearly every newspaper. An untruth. Snug. A metal. A letter.

Right.--Having many names. A register of deaths. Having two ways. One who a.s.sumes a part. Excommunication. A letter.

Left.--A root. Decrease. An officer of a university. Pertaining to a wall. A loud noise. A letter.

Down.--To personify. Dimly. A violent revolutionist. A cone-bearing tree. A small cask. A letter.

Centrals read downward spell a word applied to certain species of minerals; read across, a word signifying a counter-accusation.

RIP VAN WINKLE.

No. 3.

DROP-LETTER PUZZLE--FOR LITTLE READERS.

A familiar verse:

M--r--h--d--l--t--l--l--m--, I--s--l--e--e--a--w--i--e--s--n--w; A--d--v--r--w--e--e--h--t--a--y--e--t T--e--a--b--a--s--r--t--g--.

LITTLE ROSIE.