A PUZZLE WITH FORTY DOLLARS OFFERED IN PRIZES FOR BEST ANSWERS.

A mystery trip it was indeed, that of our Half Dozen Club. The route of the journey was decided by a game of hare and hounds. The points of interest to be visited were snatched by the hounds while following the track of the hare from innumerable papers which designedly marked the latter's course. Could any route be made more uncertain?

After the game, when the papers, previously marked with the names of notable persons, places, and things, were put together in order, it was found that we should have a remarkable company, and an even more remarkable route. Let me describe both as we take the journey in fancy together.

Our conveyance was the magic carpet(1) of Prince Houssain. Safe? Well, it might not have been had we not carried the Dart of Abaris(2). Then the god(3) who was thrown from Olympus for getting mixed up in a family row acted as guide and kept us from danger by wearing Tidbottom's spectacles(4). For a rudder he used Van Tromp's broom(5).

We arrived in no time at Kit's Coty House(6), and began at once to pick up souvenirs. The Knight of the Rueful Countenance(7) got the bones of his famous horse(3). The witty English clergyman(9) who, to make his nag speedier, hung his food before the nag's nose, but just out of his reach, got the bones of a dog that won literary fame for his master(10).

Snatching the magic tent of Prince Ahmed(11) and a supply of smoke farthings(12), onion pennies(13), and screw dollars(14) to pay expenses, we passed through the ivory gate(15) to the shore of the sea of darkness(16), where we embarked in the ship Skid Bladnir(17). We visited the islands of Laputa(18), were ship-wrecked while passing the magnetic mountain of Prince Agib(19), and barely escaped with our lives and curios to the shore of the Land of Cakes(20).

Here we were joined by Dr. Mirabilis(21), the mutton-eating king(22), the hero of the red shirt(23), Abel Shufflebottom(24), and a company of bridge bachelors(25). So many were we that the supply of Galli-Maufry(26) ran low, and when we reached the Land of Cocaigne(27) we were wellnigh starved.

Our party now separated, some going to the Grid-iron palace(28) and others to King Cunobelin's Gold Mines(29). Of course we were disappointed at not being able to visit the heart of Midlothian(30), Montezuma's Watch(31), or the Land of the Morning Calm(32). But we got home on Running Thursday(33), just in time for New Year next day. We had a little money left, for we had consulted the wise men of Gotham(34). Had we not done so, we should certainly have donned the badge of poverty(35) forthwith, or we might have put on a badge bearing what follows, and charge a certain sum per guess at the answer. Did you ever hear of a person increasing his income in that way? But here is what we might have donned, for people whom we met to answer.

"I(36) used to live, for two hundred years or so, in the tops of high trees in the forest. Then I was smashed, oh! so fine, and went into war. I played an important part in the Civil War. I helped to kill, and was, by thousands and thousands of men, torn to pieces myself. I am light, yet heavy, and everybody knows me, or of me."

Or this badge might have earned us more money:

"I(37) have two legs only, but everybody would say, judging from my name, that I have a dozen. I am often called a crank. Know books? Yes, but never read them. I have much to do with chairs—wearing them out—and people often wonder how I live."

But to return to the trip long enough to say that it was a great one!

In this fanciful story are mentioned some famous people, usually by their nicknames, and some odd historic places and things. There are also two riddles. In sending answers, do not write out the story. Number names as numbered here, write one below another in the proper order, and put your name and address at the top of your first sheet of answers. Mail answers not later than January 9, 1897, to Harper's Round Table, New York—no street number required—and put in the lower left-hand corner of your envelope "Puzzle Answer." Correct answers, with names of winners, will be published in Harper's Round Table as early after the close of the contest as possible, probably within about two weeks.

The prizes, which will be awarded by the Messrs. Harper & Brothers, Publishers, New York, are: $40, divided among the ten best solvers according to merit. If one solver stands conspicuously ahead of the rest he or she will be given from $10 to $25, as the comparative excellence of the answer warrants. Persons of any age may help find the answers, but only those who have not passed their 18th birthday, and who are members of households in which this paper is regularly read, may send them in. Merit signifies correctness and neatness, and has no reference to the solution reaching the office of Harper's Round Table first in point of time. Elaborate decoration of answers is not encouraged. Use common stationery, note size, and do not roll. Write on one side of the paper only. Everything comes to those who—try!

This Department is conducted in the interest of stamp and coin collectors, and the Editor will be pleased to answer any question on these subjects so far as possible. Correspondents should address Editor Stamp Department.

The stamp business was unusually dull throughout the summer and fall, and the expected revival has not yet appeared. Probably one reason is that every one is waiting for the 1897 catalogues. The astonishing rise in the value of unused stamps seems to have concentrated speculation in this direction, and the needless manufacture of "new varieties" with fancy prices has discouraged the average collector. It is high time to come down to a philatelic basis, and let the financial side of collecting alone for a season. The advance in prices has nearly reached its limit in the majority of cases, and subsequent increase of value will be slow. In many instances there will be either a retrocession, or—the dealers will keep the stamps in their safes vainly waiting for customers.

Some idea of the extent of the U. S. postal service is given in the following figures from the President's message:

MAIL MATTER FOR THE YEAR ENDING

June 30, 1896.

	Weight.
	Pounds.	Revenue.
Letters and postal cards	65,337,343	$60,624,464
Newspapers	348,988,648	2,996,403
Books, seeds, etc.	78,701,148	10,324,069
Merchandise	19,950,187	3,129,321
Free matter	94,480,189	....
Received for box rents, etc., over	....	5,424,951
	—————-	—————-
Total	607,457,515	$82,499,208

The entire expenditures of the department, including pay for transportation credited to the Pacific railroads, was $92,186,195.11, which may be considered as the cost of receiving, carrying, and delivering the above mail-matter.

F. Ormiston.—An immense quantity of Roman States remainders were sold to dealers, hence prices are very low. Your stamps are worth from 3c. to 5c. each.

M. E. Jenkins.—U. S. cent, 1798, worth 20c.; 1802, 25c.; half-cent, 1809, 10c.; 1828, 20c.; 10c. shinplaster, face. "Army and Navy" is not a coin, but is a token, and has no money value.

D. W. Hardin, 1003 Court Street, Saginaw, Mich., wishes to exchange U. S. Revenues with beginners in the same line.

H. L. Mossman.—Canadian penny, 1854, is worth face only.

Constant Reader.—1. See reply to A. W. de Roade in No. 893. 2. The coins have no premium. 3. Apply to any respectable dealer.

F. T. O.—Bergedorf half-schilling is worth 50c. The 5c. Columbian worth 1c.

Del Rose McCann, Ridley Park, Pa., F. Mikelski, Bath, Me., wish to exchange stamps.

J. Rico.—Do not attempt too much. The collection of minor varieties requires time, money, and knowledge. You had better collect "straight" stamps only. By the time you have got together three or four thousand you will have required much knowledge, and then be in a position to decide what special line, if any, you purpose to take.

A. A. Lato.—West Indian and U. S. stamps unused were the fashionable stamps during the past year. The results of the late auctions indicate quite a falling off in values. Probably now would be a good time to collect them, if you care to specialize in them.

Philatus.

A fine complexion is too rare
To run the risk of losing;
But everyone who takes good care
(All other kinds refusing)
To get pure Ivory, grows more fair
With every day of using.