One contestant answered correctly every question save two—29 and 34. His name is Archer O. Yeames, and he lives in Jamaica Plain, Mass. He is given $15 of the $40 prize-money and the highest honor of the contest. Three others tied for second honor, and $4 is given to each. Their names, mentioned in an order that gives a little the highest credit to the first, the next to the second, and so on in the order in which all ties are named, are: Raymond Tilley, Pittsburg, Pa.; Edwin F. Killin, Stevens Point, Wis.; and Mary H. Eastman, Wilmington, Del. The next in order of merit was the answer of Esther Neilson, Philadelphia, and $3 is awarded her. Two tied for fourth place, and are given $2.50 each. Both live in Pittsburg—Thomas S. Jacobs and Pearl Coyle. For fifth place the prizes decrease rapidly—more rapidly than they would had it not proved necessary to admit five instead of three contestants, since five stood exactly alike. That is, they missed the same number of questions, but not always the same questions. They are given $1 each. They are: J. Lawrence Hyde, Washington; Joseph T. England, Baltimore; Paul F. Case, Fairport, N. Y.; Elizabeth C. Drake, Chicago; and Walter Collins, Glenfield, Pa. The Messrs. Harper & Brothers, New York, will forward checks for the sums named as soon as these awards shall have had time to be read by all contestants. The desire is that winners first learn of their success in the printed announcement. To notify them by mail, by sending them money, is to favor them, in time, over other contestants. It was a hot contest. Congratulations are extended to the victors, and the losers are urged to try again. For the information of the latter it may be stated that in this contest scarcely any two were alike; all who failed missed at least five of the thirty-five questions.
More Signs and Omens.
I live in the "Sunny South," where there is a sign for everything that happens. Among the commonest of these, many are of negro origin.
1. Clear in the night, rain again in three days.
2. "Katydids'" arrival, sign of frost in six weeks.
3. Sign of a wedding if a cat washes her face and then looks at you.
4. If the husks on the corn are thick, sign of a cold winter.
5. If the rooster crows before the door, look out for company.
6. If you drop your apron, you have lost your lover.
7. If your hair-pin is about to come out of your hair, your lover is thinking of you.
8. Bad luck for any article of your clothing to burn, either on you or off.
9. Bad luck to have a rainy wedding-day.
10. Sign of a death if a bird comes in the house.
11. Bad luck if a hooting owl comes near the house.
12. Sign of a death if a "screech-owl" comes near the house. (This is considered a terrible thing, and causes great fear among the negroes.)
13. Whippoorwills are considered birds of ill omen.
14. Sign of a death if the dog howls at night.
I think it would be interesting to continue this, and have the members send in different local superstitions.
May Inman Maguire.
Hendersonville, N. C.
Going Out on a Risky Errand.
A government Indian agent who has seen years of service tells some stories about Indians. Here is one:
"A ranch near the town of Beaver, in Utah, was attacked by Indians, and one man who was visiting the ranchman's family was killed. The house was surrounded by the Indians, and the people within defended themselves as best they could; but the ranchman, watching his opportunity, lowered his little boy and his daughter, aged eight and twelve, from the back window, and told them to try to make their way to the cañon and follow it down to Beaver, where they could obtain help. The two children succeeded in reaching the cañon unobserved, and with rare presence of mind the boy told his sister to follow down one side of the cañon, and he would follow the other, so that in case the Indians should find one of them the other might not be observed.
"The children succeeded in reaching Beaver, where a relief party was organized, which hastened to the rescue of the besieged party. At the beginning of the siege the Indians had heard the children in the house, and missing their voices, the alert savages discovered that they had gone, and endeavored to overtake them, but being unsuccessful, and knowing that help would soon arrive, withdrew before the rescuers could reach the ranch."