Part 12

1. A CAPTAIN of a ship who was driven out to sea by a heavy storm, found he had provisions sufficient for only half his crew, and decided to throw overboard half of them, to be selected by lot. There were twenty men, half of them white, and half black; he placed them all in a circle, saying that every fifth man in three times round should be thrown overboard. He appeared to arrange them carelessly, yet he managed so that the lot fell to the ten black men. How could it be?

2. _The Wolf, the Goat and the Cabbages._—Suppose a man has a wolf, a goat, and a basket of cabbages, on the bank of a river; he wishes to cross with them, but his boat can only hold one of the three beside himself. He must therefore take them over one by one, in such a manner that the wolf shall have no opportunity to devour the goat, nor the goat the cabbages. How is he to accomplish it?

3. _The impossibility made possible._—Place three pieces of money on the table and desire some person to take away the piece from the centre without touching it.

4. Two men eat oysters together for a wager, to see who could eat the greatest number. One eat ninety-nine only, the other eat a hundred and _won_. How many did the winner eat?

5. What is the difference between six dozen dozen and a half a dozen dozen?

6. Four people sat down one evening to play; They played all that eve, and parted next day. Could you think, when you’re told, as thus they all sat, No other played with them, nor was there one bet; Yet, when they rose up, each gained a guinea, Tho’ none of them lost to the amount of a penny!

7. P R S V R Y P R F C T M N V R K P T H S P R C P T S T N. This inscription was affixed to the communion-table of a small church in Wales; no one could decipher it for centuries, but at length the clue has been discovered. What is it?

8. Procure six cards, and having ruled them as in the following diagrams, write in the figures neatly and legibly. It is required to tell the number thought of by any person, the numbers being contained in the cards, and not to exceed 60. How is this done?

┌————┬————┬————┬————┬————┬————┐ ┌————┬————┬————┬————┬————┬————┐ │ 3 │ 5 │ 7 │ 9 │ 11 │ 1 │ │ 5 │ 6 │ 7 │ 13 │ 12 │ 4 │ ├————┼————┼————┼————┼————┼————┤ ├————┼————┼————┼————┼————┼————┤ │ 13 │ 15 │ 17 │ 19 │ 21 │ 23 │ │ 14 │ 15 │ 20 │ 21 │ 22 │ 23 │ ├————┼————┼————┼————┼————┼————┤ ├————┼————┼————┼————┼————┼————┤ │ 25 │ 27 │ 29 │ 31 │ 33 │ 35 │ │ 28 │ 29 │ 30 │ 31 │ 36 │ 37 │ ├————┼————┼————┼————┼————┼————┤ ├————┼————┼————┼————┼————┼————┤ │ 37 │ 39 │ 41 │ 45 │ 43 │ 47 │ │ 52 │ 38 │ 39 │ 44 │ 45 │ 46 │ ├————┼————┼————┼————┼————┼————┤ ├————┼————┼————┼————┼————┼————┤ │ 49 │ 51 │ 53 │ 55 │ 57 │ 59 │ │ 47 │ 53 │ 54 │ 55 │ 60 │ 13 │ └————┴————┴————┴————┴————┴————┘ └————┴————┴————┴————┴————┴————┘

┌————┬————┬————┬————┬————┬————┐ ┌————┬————┬————┬————┬————┬————┐ │ 9 │ 10 │ 11 │ 12 │ 13 │ 8 │ │ 3 │ 6 │ 7 │ 10 │ 11 │ 2 │ ├————┼————┼————┼————┼————┼————┤ ├————┼————┼————┼————┼————┼————┤ │ 14 │ 15 │ 24 │ 25 │ 26 │ 27 │ │ 14 │ 15 │ 18 │ 19 │ 22 │ 23 │ ├————┼————┼————┼————┼————┼————┤ ├————┼————┼————┼————┼————┼————┤ │ 28 │ 29 │ 30 │ 31 │ 40 │ 41 │ │ 26 │ 27 │ 30 │ 31 │ 34 │ 35 │ ├————┼————┼————┼————┼————┼————┤ ├————┼————┼————┼————┼————┼————┤ │ 42 │ 43 │ 44 │ 45 │ 46 │ 47 │ │ 38 │ 39 │ 42 │ 43 │ 46 │ 47 │ ├————┼————┼————┼————┼————┼————┤ ├————┼————┼————┼————┼————┼————┤ │ 56 │ 57 │ 58 │ 59 │ 60 │ 13 │ │ 50 │ 51 │ 54 │ 55 │ 58 │ 59 │ └————┴————┴————┴————┴————┴————┘ └————┴————┴————┴————┴————┴————┘

┌————┬————┬————┬————┬————┬————┐ ┌————┬————┬————┬————┬————┬————┐ │ 17 │ 18 │ 19 │ 20 │ 21 │ 16 │ │ 33 │ 34 │ 35 │ 36 │ 37 │ 32 │ ├————┼————┼————┼————┼————┼————┤ ├————┼————┼————┼————┼————┼————┤ │ 22 │ 23 │ 24 │ 25 │ 26 │ 27 │ │ 38 │ 39 │ 40 │ 41 │ 42 │ 43 │ ├————┼————┼————┼————┼————┼————┤ ├————┼————┼————┼————┼————┼————┤ │ 28 │ 29 │ 30 │ 31 │ 48 │ 49 │ │ 44 │ 45 │ 46 │ 47 │ 48 │ 49 │ ├————┼————┼————┼————┼————┼————┤ ├————┼————┼————┼————┼————┼————┤ │ 50 │ 51 │ 52 │ 53 │ 54 │ 55 │ │ 50 │ 51 │ 52 │ 53 │ 54 │ 55 │ ├————┼————┼————┼————┼————┼————┤ ├————┼————┼————┼————┼————┼————┤ │ 56 │ 57 │ 58 │ 59 │ 30 │ 60 │ │ 56 │ 57 │ 58 │ 59 │ 60 │ 41 │ └————┴————┴————┴————┴————┴————┘ └————┴————┴————┴————┴————┴————┘

9. Place eight counters or coins, as in the diagram below:

┌———┬———┬———┬———┬———┬———┬———┬———┐ │ 1 │ 2 │ 3 │ 4 │ 5 │ 6 │ 7 │ 8 │ └———┴———┴———┴———┴———┴———┴———┴———┘

It is then required to lay them in four couples, removing only one at a time, and in each removal passing the one in the hand over two on the table.

10. _The wine Merchant and his Clerk._—A wine merchant caused thirty-two casks of choice wines 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 nine. The clerk, however, took away twelve of them, at three different times—that is, four at 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?

┌———┬———┬————┐ │ 1 │ 7 │ 1 │ ├———┼———┼————┤ │ 7 │ │ 7 │ ├———┼———┼————┤ │ 1 │ 7 │ 1 │ └———┴———┴————┘

11. [Illustration] man’s family.

12. First draw a square and divide it into four parts. Then make six marks in the first square and say they represent six pigs, for you pretend to describe a farmyard you once saw. In the next square make six more marks to represent cows, in the next square six more marks for horses, and the last square represent donkeys.

┌————————┬————————┐ │ │ │ │ ││││││ │ ││││││ │ │ │ │ ├————————┼————————┤ │ │ │ │ ││││││ │ ││││││ │ │ │ │ └————————┴————————┘

ARITHMETICAL PROBLEMS.

1. An old man married a young woman; their united ages amounted to one hundred. The man’s age, multiplied by four and divided by nine, gives the woman’s age. What were their respective ages?

2. How many yards of paper, three-quarters of a yard wide, will cover a chamber that is sixty feet round, and ten feet one and one-half inches high?

3. In a family of eight young people, it was agreed that three at a time should visit the Crystal Palace, and that the visit should be repeated each day as long as a different trio could be selected. In how many days were the possible combinations of three out of eight completed?

4. How many changes can be given to seven notes of a piano? That is to say, in how many ways can seven keys be struck in succession, so that there shall be some difference in the order of the notes each time?

5. At a time when eggs were scarce, an old woman who possessed some good hens, wishing to oblige her friends, sent her daughter with a basket of eggs to three of them; at the first house, which was the squire’s, she left half the number of eggs she had, and half a one over; at the second she left half of what remained and half an egg over; and at the third she again left half of the remainder, and half a one over; she carried home one egg in her basket, not having broken any. How many had she when she started?

6. Two drovers, A and B, meeting on the road, began discoursing about the number of sheep they each had. Says B to A, “Pray give me one of your sheep and I will have as many as you.” “Nay,” replied A, “but give me one of your sheep and I will have as many again as you.” Required to know the number of sheep they each had?

7. To tell at what hour a person intends to rise. Let the person set the hand of the dial of a watch at any hour he pleases, and tell you what that hour is; and to the number of that hour you add in your mind twelve; then tell him to count privately the number of that amount upon the dial, beginning with the next hour to that on which he proposes to rise, and counting backwards, first reckoning the number of the hour at which he has placed the hand. How is it done?

“The Two Travelers.”

8. Two travelers trudged along the road together, Talking, as Yankees do, about the weather; When, lo! beside their path the foremost spies Three casks, and loud exclaims, “A prize, a prize!” One large, two small, but all of various size. This way and that they gazed, and all around, Each wondering if an owner might be found. But not a soul was there—the coast was clear— So to the barrels they at once drew near; And both agree, whatever may be there, In friendly partnership they’ll fairly share. Two they found empty, but the other full, And straightway from his pocket one doth pull A large clasp-knife; a heavy stone lay handy, And thus in time they found their prize was brandy. ’Tis tasted and approved; their lips they smack, And each pronounces ’tis the famous Cognac. “Wont we have many a jolly night, my boy? May no ill luck our present hopes destroy!” ’Twas fortunate one knew the mathematics, And had a smattering of hydrostatics; Then measured he the casks, and said, “I see This is eight gallons—those are five, and three.” The question then was how they might divide The brandy, so that each should be supplied With just four gallons, neither less nor more, With eight, and five and three, they puzzle sore; Filled up the five, filled up the three, in vain. At length a happy thought came o’er the brain Of one; ’twas done, and each went home content, And their good dames declared ’twas excellent. With those three casks they made division true; I found the puzzle out; say, friend, can you?

9. “To five and five and fifty-five The first of letters add; It is a thing that pleased a king, And made a wise man mad.”

10. “The sum of four figures in value will be Above seven thousand nine hundred and three; But when they are halved you’ll find, very fair, The sum will be nothing, in truth, I declare.”

ANSWERS TO CONUNDRUMS.

1. GOLIAH.

2. He was his own son.

3. Because of the sand which is (sandwiches) there.

4. Because the children of Ham were bred (bread) and mustered (mustard) there.

5. He is not at all black (a tall black).

6. The bed will not come to us.

7. There is not a single person in it.

8. He is crusty.

9. When it is ajar.

10. He had a lady in his head.

11. He is always forgetting (for-getting).

12. Because they are too long and too loose (Toulon and Toolouse).

13. R U E (are you he).

14. Adriatic (a dry attic).

15. Hymen.

16. It is a deck oration (decoration).

17. It follows the sea (C).

18. The cat’ll eat it (the cattle eat it).

19. There is no parting there.

20. S X (Essex).

21. He is ruffled.

22. She sows tares while the husbandman sleeps.

23. It is often told (tolled).

24. Because they found little profit (prophet) in the rushes on the banks.

25. Because one is a taper in a cavern, the other a caper in a tavern.

26. Jeroboam, Samuel, Benjamin (Jerry beau ’em; Sam you will; Ben jam in).

27. Herodias’ daughter, because she got ahead of John the Baptist on a charger.

28. They were snaked out.

29. It took him forty days and nights to find Ara-rat.

30. Because we can not make them here (hear).

31. Fiddle-de-dee (Fiddle D D).

32. Because he is best known by his gait (gate).

33. “Its silvered o’er with care.”

34. Because it cannot be used till it is drawn.

ANSWERS TO ENIGMAS AND CHARADES.

1. Fire-fly.

2. Mur-mur.

3. Canada.

4. Sky-lark.

5. Ladder—adder.

6. Fast—Feast.

7. Counter-pane.

8. Truly.

9. Yesterday.

10. A bed.

11. Railway train.

12. Gold.

13. Candle-stick.

14. Hour-glass.

15. Flute.

16. Justice, (just-ice.)

17. A tree.

18. Alphabet.

19. The animal sent was an antelope, (aunt elope!) the fruit returned was a cantelope (can’t elope.)

20. On I on, (onion.)

21. Broom.

22. The letter L.

23. The vowels.

24. A spermaceti candle.

25. Cares—s.

26. Heroine.

27. Idol.

28. Cod.

29. The kine that bore the ark. 1 Samuel, vi., 10, 12, 14.

30. Bathsheba.

31. Solomon.

32. Horse-man-ship.

33. Flash.

Answer to Enigmatical Dinner.

1. Turkey.

2. Parsnips.

3. Hare, (hair.)

4. Dandelion, (dandy-lion.)

5. Lamb.

6. Mint-sauce.

7. Tongue.

8. Mangoes.

9. Potatoes.

10. Ham.

11. Cabbage.

Dessert.

1. Ice cream.

2. Maderia, (wine.)

3. Whips.

4. Champagne, (sham-pain.)

5. Punch.

6. Brandy.

7. Pine-apples.

8. Hock.

9. Pears.

10. Trifle.

11. Currants.

ANSWERS TO PARADOXES AND PUZZLES.

1. The secret of the puzzle is to arrange the men by a simple formula; take the sentence, “A gray owl did eat a snake,” and arrange them with checkers, the vowels all black, the consonants white. You will then see by taking away every fifth one, three times round, those left will be all white.

2. First take over the goat, the next time the wolf; leaving the wolf he must bring back the goat and leave it, then take the cabbages, and going back once more he takes the goat. Thus the wolf will never be left with the goat, nor the goat with the cabbages.

3. If the secret be not discovered, remove one of the end pieces to the other side, thus you take away the piece from the centre without touching it.

4. One hundred.

5. 792; six dozen dozen being 864, and a half a dozen dozen 72.

6. Four merry fiddlers played all night To many a dancing ninny; And the next morning went away, And each received a guinea.

7. Persevere ye perfect men, Ever keep these precepts ten.

It was discovered that by using the vowel E this couplet was formed.

8. Request the person to give you all the cards containing the number he has fixed upon, and then add all the right hand upper corner figures together, which will give the correct answer. For example: suppose 10 is the number thought of, the cards with 2 and 8 in the corners will be given, which makes the answer 10.

9. Place 4 on 7, 6 on 2, 1 on 3, and 8 on 5, or 5 on 2, 3 on 7, 8 on 6, 4 on 1, &c.

10. The clerk arranged them thus:

┌———┬———┬———┐ ┌———┬———┬———┐ ┌———┬———┬———┐ │ 2 │ 5 │ 2 │ │ 3 │ 3 │ 3 │ │ 4 │ 1 │ 4 │ ├———┼———┼———┤ ├———┼———┼———┤ ├———┼———┼———┤ │ 5 │ │ 5 │ │ 3 │ │ 3 │ │ 1 │ │ 1 │ ├———┼———┼———┤ ├———┼———┼———┤ ├———┼———┼———┤ │ 2 │ 5 │ 2 │ │ 3 │ 3 │ 3 │ │ 4 │ 1 │ 4 │ └———┴———┴———┘ └———┴———┴———┘ └———┴———┴———┘

11. Be above meddling in a man’s family.

12. In the last square you must only make five marks, and then ask the one you are talking to, to count and see if all are right; if you do it carelessly and he is off his guard he will probably say “one of the donkeys are wanting.” You then must slily say, “If you’ll jump in, all will be right.” Such simple “sells” often cause a good laugh.

ANSWERS TO ARITHMETICAL PROBLEMS.

1. The man’s age was 69 years and 12 weeks. The woman’s, 30 years and 40 weeks.

2. 90 yards.

3. Multiply 8 × 7 × 6, and also 3 × 2 × 1, and divide the product of the former, 336, by the product of the latter, 6, the result is 56, the number of visits, a different two going each time.

4. 7 × 6 × 5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1, result is 5,040, the number of changes.

5. 15 eggs.

6. A had seven and B had five sheep.

7. Suppose the hour he intends to rise be 8, and that he has placed the hand at 5; you will add 12 to 5 and tell him to count 17 on the dial first reckoning 5, the hour at which the index stands, and counting backwards from the hour at which he intends to rise; and the number, 17, will necessarily end at 8, which shows that to be the hour he chose to rise.

8. The five-gallon barrel was filled first, and from that the three-gallon barrel, thus leaving two gallons in the five-gallon barrel; the three-gallon barrel was then emptied into the eight-gallon barrel, and the two gallons poured from the five-gallon barrel into the empty three-gallon barrel; the five-gallon barrel was then filled, and one gallon poured into the three-gallon barrel, therefore leaving four gallons in the five-gallon barrel, one gallon in the eight-gallon barrel, and three gallons in the three-gallon barrel, which was then emptied into the eight-gallon barrel. Thus each person had four gallons of brandy in the eight and five-gallon barrels respectively.

9. This puzzle has as yet no answer. I trust some of the readers of this book will be able to send us a correct answer. It most surely can be ascertained, as there is a way to solve it.

10. The four figures are 8 8 8 8, which being divided by a line drawn through the middle, become ̶8̶8̶8̶8̶. The sum of which is eight 0s, or nothing.

Games for Old and Young.

BLIND MAN’S BUFF is a popular, old-fashioned and delightful pastime, too well known to render any description of it necessary. A more quiet variety of blind man’s buff is played in the following manner: All the company arrange themselves around the room, one being blinded in the centre. Some one then either numbers them, or calls them by the names of different towns or cities. Each one must remember the name given him. Then the one who named them calls out to any two in the party, such as: “Two and Ten change places,” or, “Boston go to New York,” &c. Those called must quickly exchange places (on pain of a forfeit it they do not), the one blinded trying to catch them on their way. The caller must make them change places often, and from distant sides of the room, so as to give the blinder a good chance. If he catches any one in the act of changing his place, and calls his name correctly, the person so caught must take the part of blind-man until, in turn, he catches somebody else.

SHADOW BUFF.

SHADOW Buff is a variation of blind man’s buff. Though not as generally known, it is equally amusing. A large piece of white cloth, or a linen or cotton sheet, is suspended smoothly at one end of the room, at a little distance from “Buffy,” who sits with his face towards the cloth, and his back to the company. Behind him a light must be so placed as to throw the shadows of persons passing between it and “Buffy” directly on the curtain. All other lights must be extinguished. The players then walk, one by one, slowly between the light and “Buffy” (who must not turn his head), limping, jumping, grimacing, or disguised as they please, so as to distort their shadows on the curtain. If “Buffy” can tell correctly to whom any shadow belongs (guessing once only at each person), the player whom he so discovers takes his place as “Buffy.”

BLIND MAN’S WAND.

THIS is another variety of the same game. The blind man carries a cane, which he reaches in every direction. Whoever it touches is bound, by the rules of the game, to take hold of it, and repeat whatever the blind man orders. The one who is caught can disguise his voice as he pleases. The blind man is allowed three guesses, and if he cannot discover the person touched by his voice, he must try another. This is an amusing change.

There is still another, called “Fettered Buff.” The person who is to catch his companions is not blinded, but his wrists are tied behind him, and he catches by running backwards. This form of the game is not recommended. The person so bound cannot balance himself easily, or guard himself, and is liable to injury from falling.

CHINESE SHADOWS.

THIS can be played only in the evening, by candle light. A white curtain should be fastened smoothly at one end of the room, as in “shadow buff.” Half the company must be spectators and half actors. The spectators must be seated facing the curtain. Two persons in front should hold a ribbon or stick across the curtain as high as they can easily reach, to mark the line on which the shadows are to move, or a line may be drawn across the curtain. The actors must stand behind the spectators, at a little distance, with a large supply of figures cut in paper, such as houses, trees, men, women, animals, birds, &c. These figures must be slowly passed along, one after the other, in the manner you wish the shadows to fall on the curtain. It is easy to make them advance, retreat, &c., while you hold conversation for them. Those who are skillful in the use of these shadows, can make them represent a battle, game, contra dance, &c. The figures of inanimate things must not be moved; birds can be suspended on the ends of strings, and swung about irregularly, from time to time. The effect is not unlike a magic lantern. When the actors have played long enough, they must change places with the spectators.

“THE COMICAL CONCERT.”

THIS game, when well played, is extremely diverting. The players are arranged as an orchestra, and each one undertakes to imitate some musical instrument. One pretends to play the violin, by stretching out her left arm, and moving her right hand across it, as if she were drawing a bow; another doubles up her hands and puts them to her mouth, to imitate a horn; another moves her fingers on a table, to imitate a piano; another takes the back of a chair and touches the rounds, as if they were the strings of a harp; another motions as if beating a drum; another holds a stick, after the manner of a guitar, and pretends to play upon it; another appears to be turning a hand-organ; another plays a flute, trombone, or any instrument he fancies—even a jewsharp. This is but half the game. Each musician should, while playing, make a sound with his mouth, in imitation of his instrument, thus:

Rub-a-dub, goes the drum; Twang, twang, goes the harp Toot, too, hoo, goes the horn; Tweedle-dee, tweedle-dee, goes the violin, &c.

If all play with spirit it makes a laughable jumble. The leader must stand facing the orchestra, with a long stick, beating time, in an absurd imitation of some famous leader. In the midst of the noise and fun, he suddenly stops, and pointing his wand of office to one of the players, asks, abruptly, “Why don’t you play better?” The one spoken to must answer instantly, and with suitable reference to the nature of his instrument. For instance, the drummer could say one of his drumsticks is broken; the harper, that a string is loose; the pianist, that a key is broken or out of tune; the violinist, that a string is broken, &c. If they hesitate a moment, or give an unsuitable answer, or if they repeat an excuse already made, they must pay a forfeit or take a new instrument. While one is answering, all must stop playing. When the leader waves aloft his wand, all must commence again, and play till he speaks to some one else; so on till they are weary. Sometimes it is a rule that all who laugh must pay a forfeit. There are many forfeits in that case.

THE MENAGERIE.

THIS is a noisy game. All the actors in the play must take seats around the room, while some one or two of the number must be chosen to give out the parts. The persons so chosen whisper in the ear of each one the name of some animal he is to imitate. When all are ready and the signal is given by one chosen for the purpose, each one commences to utter sounds in imitation of the animal named to him. Those who fail must pay some penalty. It cannot be called a “concord of sweet sounds,” but such a game will give life to a too quiet company on a stormy Winter evening.

QUAKER MEETING.