WHY IS THE RED SEA RED?

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXIX, Issue 56, 25 February 1913, Page 1

WHY IS THE RED SEA RED?

♦ EXAMINATION FOR EVERYBODY. AMUSING PROBLEMS. A remarkable General Knowledge Paper, recently set at a largo, public school, lias been sent to us by a corrcspoiulent (states ' r Ui« D.iilv Mail)). Tin* paper is divided into 19 main questions, but there are in all soino 2<XJ queries to be answered. "The whole is a really extraordinary compilation," said a schoolmaster whose ooinion 'The Daily Mail' asked, "and 1 am certain that the man does not exist—much less the boy—who could net full marks. Presumably the setter of the questions should be excepted, for 1 suppose he. lias prepared himself for emergencies!" _ Here is a specimen question— o: a. Why is the Red Sea red? b. Why does a bad egg smell P c. Why does a kettle siug? d. What causes Echo? e Why are hot-water pipes black? f. Where does the wind go to? sr. Whv does water freeze on the surface ? h. Why does hot water crack a tlnck tumbler? i. Why is red light used in photography ? j. What causes fog? A Schoolmaster " Abroad," That is one of the most reasonable of the questions, and, probably, to boys fresh from natural science lectures, would present few difficulties, though the schoolmaster to whom 'The Daily Mail' submitted it had to admit ignorance in three or four instances. The same schoolmaster, after carefully going through the whole paper, estimated that he could answer correctly about 50 per cent, of it. A Bird Anthology.

Question 3 is an ingenious problem for students of ornithological references in English verse: a. What bird perched and sat and

"nothing more? b. What bird in a cage puts all heaven in a rage? c. What bird is secular, ages of lives'" d. What bird may have found a path through the sad heart of Ruth . J o. What sweet bird did not follow?

f. What wise bird sings, each sung twice

over ? g. What birds are summer songs for me and my aunts? h. What bird was a baker's daughter? i. What bonny bird in danger should

not tarry? j. What birds broke the crust, k. What bird warms its five wits in a belfrv ? 1, What singular bird had a manner absurd? m. Wb;>< bird did not stick at a hymn-

bo°k? , It is pleasant to think that Ivnglish hoys of the 2<)th centurv are able, or are supposed to be able, to provide answers for these delightful queries. For the Card Table.

What is perhaps the most astonishing question in tho whole paper runs as follows:

In ;i park of cards—a. Which King shows only half his f.'U'O ? b. Which King wears ermine? c. Which King has a dagger behind Ins head? d. Which King carries the orb;' e. What- do the Queens carry in their hands ? Hardly tho most inveterate, cardplayer could answer such, a question. Jt "was not claimed oven for Sarah Hattlo that she jios.ses.swl such a knowledge. , , It is almost impossible to believe that the modern boy really knows what is meant by many of the following:— A crith, a Itooinok, a sundowner, tho Drunkard's Shilling, the Hungry Hundred, Novel Post, leprechaun, Rosicrueian, shagreen.