The Table is constantly in search of new ideas in puzzles. To stimulate this search it offered $5 for one new idea.
We received a great number of suggestions, of course. Many of them came from persons who had not read the Table, for the ideas were old, not new. The very best idea to reach us came from Sir Knight John R. Moreland, who is a Virginian. It was in a puzzle, and here it is:
A man was asked which is the most unlucky day of the year, and replied: If you multiply the date when fans were first used in England (1) by the number of letters in the name of a celebrated painter who died in 1483 (2), and add to the product the date when Jerusalem was destroyed by Titus (3), subtract from this sum the date when Moscow was founded (4), multiply this by the numeral part of a bird's name (5), divide this by the number of American Presidents that have been assassinated (6), from this subtract the date when Canute invaded England (7), and the date when barometers were invented (8), add the number of letters in the name of the man who invented spectacles (9), divide this by the number of men who captured André (10), add the number of words in the two shortest verses in the Bible (11), add the number of letters in the name of the first inventor of the thermometer (12), subtract the number of letters in Charles VII.'s nickname (13), subtract the number of ships in the Spanish Armada (14), add the number of signatures to the Declaration of Independence (15), subtract the number of letters in Louis Philippe's nickname (16), add the number of letters in the name of the president of the first Continental Congress (17), subtract the number of letters in the right name of "The Swamp Fox" (18), divide the number of letters in the last name of the Puritan who, when his right hand was cut off by the order of Queen Elizabeth waved his hat in his left hand and said, "Long live Queen Elizabeth" (19), subtract the number of letters in the name of the Massachusetts girl who fought in the Revolutionary war (20), add the number of letters in the right name of "Max O'Rell" (21), subtract the number of letters in the name of a river in Utah, who from the sound of his name you would think he would be in a warmer region (22), subtract the number of letters in the right name of "The Melancholy Dane" (23), subtract the date of Cleopatra's death (24), and last, subtract the number of letters in William IV.'s nickname (25), you find the day and date you ask for.
The Table awards the $5 prize to Sir John. Who can find the correct day (of the week) and date (of the month)? The second-best suggestion—we offered no second prize—came from Miss M. B. Banks, a Patron, who lives in New Jersey. It is a puzzle story, but not wholly new in idea. The answer to this prize puzzle will be given in two weeks.
The League of Junior Patrons and Patronesses of the Messiah Home.
Dear Editor of Harper's Round Table:
Do you think the Round Table readers would like to know how I, a little boy only seven years and nine months old, became an editor, like you, of a children's magazine? Mrs. Champney told me that seven years ago some very little girls made some pin-balls and paper dolls and had a fair. Many grown-up people came to it, because they thought it strange that little girls should have such a fair. With this money the children decided that they would form a home for poor little children, and their mothers should be managers. The mothers didn't like this plan at first, but afterwards they gave in, and the Messiah Home was founded, and has been helped by children ever since.
Last spring the League of Junior Patrons and Patronesses was formed. We voted that we would publish a paper, all by ourselves, to help the home. We elected a staff of editors, and I am one. So is Karl Dodge and Gilbert White and some other boys and girls. We want all the boys and girls who take Harper's Round Table to join our league, and to write articles and draw pictures for our paper. We offer thirteen prizes. The editor of Harper's Round Table is going to be one of the judges. If any one will write to Mrs. J. W. Champney, 96 Fifth Avenue, New York, she will send a little pamphlet which will tell all about it. Any one can send their contributions to her or to me.
Gilbert E. Jones,
Editor Junior League.
222 Madison Avenue, New York City, N. Y.