THE ANSWER TO THE ENGLISH RIDDLE

Otago Witness, Issue 1500, 14 August 1880, Page 24

THE ANSWER TO THE ENGLISH RIDDLE

Published s<me months ago in the Riddler Column, and uhioh will Be freshen the memory of most of our readers. "8o there's my riddle, One that's dead is quick : And now behold the meanincf." Alii well Jhatlends well. An answer required ! the writer is bidden Explain his Enigma and that whioh is hidden. Of all the roplies-it may now be confessed— Not one is quits accurate. Many have guessed. Some think it is Beat. Some know it is Light. And Otberi Bay Phosphorous, ahinmg at night. Some call it Electro-Magnetic. Another Asiumes it is Life-though it has not a Mother, gome aay it is Vapour. One thinks it is Snow. And some what they think have not let the world know. ?ou will find PHOSPHORESCENCE the answer complete i As it signified Light without sensible heat. The great Northern Light, the Aurora, shinej forth, And remains, as its name would imply, in the North. And Fireflies sparkle. Their light, as they fly, Disappears and appears though we cannot tell why. The Sea's pnosphore=cence -whatever It be (At preient an ultra marine myatery.) The Glow-worm— so gracefully lightning the vale. The quaint Ignis Faluns -no heal or tail. And Phosphorus— one of the bearers of light (In various forms giving mort Us a fright.) And the Moon and the Stars all .assist in the feat Of giving us Light without Bensible heat. That it thrives upon death you may view, if you wißh, On the sands by the sea, on remains of dead fish, Over dank vegetation, or over the graves Of thoße whom the Tempter no longer enslave?. Such Matter or Force, if arranged and devised Jn a portable form, would bo aelf-advertieed. __ Thh want of the Age would at last be supplied «_ T&e powers of darkness be further defied. How pleasant to think that tho homes of the poor Might thus be made brighter than ever before. The Housewife would save in consumption of oil. The Miner be safe. It would lighten bis toil I No child need bo left in the d&rk, in despair,) Alarmed at the thought of the ghosts in the air. The Student might read in his bed m the night BeKardlesß of danger from fire. His light He could easily hide— when he sought his repose— Beneath his own pillow, or under the clothes. If tbon, yon admit that the want is made out, I take it for granted that you will, no doubt, Approve of the far-sighted wit of the Sage Who declared that " More Light" waa the want of his Age. Herbert Champion Roberts. Eaßt India Club, St. James' Square, S. W.