CHILDREN’S PUZZLE COLUMN.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIV, Issue III, 19 January 1895, Page 71

CHILDREN’S PUZZLE COLUMN.

(1) Thrbe-fourthb of across anda circle complete Two semi-circles and a perpendicular meet A triangle standing on two feet Two semi-circles and a circle compete. (2) If Dick’s father is John’s son, what relation is Dick to John ’—Cousin Mabel Deacon. what am i ’ I stand among the many objects of endless variety which are the most helpful and invaluable to man. From time

immemorial I have been his right-hand servant. lam one of the preserves of civilization, for if I were not in existence there would be no art, no culture, no science—almost nothing which pertains to the intellect. Authors, poets, mathematicians, architects, and scores of others, and, in consequence, books, history, and colleges would be unknown. Memories would fade. There would be no communication between persons at a distance except by costly contrivances. Friends in far-off portions of the globe would know little or nothing of each other’s affairs. My origin is various. I may spring from gall and bitterness, from a berry, from bark, or from the body of an awful sea-monster. I may be of different colours, and I am very athletic, being able to run down a slope at a perfectly marvellous speed. But there are times when I am dull and heavy, when I refuse to move an inch. Many would consider me beautiful, for I am always sleek and glossy. I may even have the metallic lustre of a humming bird. No matter what my make up or appearance, I am always more or less literary. lam often associated with the press. lam fluent, impressible, and even sympathetic. But alas I there are many stains upon my character. I often resort to blackmailing. Many a man’s labour of years has been rendered useless by me. But lam really not always responsible for my misdeeds, on account of my Evil Genius, my shadow, my—oh ! I cannot find words to express my feelings in regard to IT. I will let you imagine a sharp, cruel creature which from your birth is ever with you, without which you can do nothing, and which yon must always follow in order to make anything at all of yourself, or in any way improve your bad character : which, as a preliminary to your following it, prods and pokes you to the very core, lessening your size each time, until you finally disappear entirely. I can never get away from this fiend until the last event of my life occurs. This I will describe. I am deposited by my persecutor on a level plain in a disconnected, drawn out form. In this inanimate condition I lie, sometimes for hundreds of years, until I am destroyed. Now the strange part of this is that when I am in this withered, lifeless condition. I become a perfect necromancer, more or less powerful. I may cause tears or laughter, sorrow or happiness, war or peace, love or hatred. I have been and still am the means of saving the life of many a person. And yet, with all these wonderful qualities and uses, I can be bought for a song. After this minute description of myself you must, of course, know my simple little name.