Comparisons of Words.
(P. stands for Positive; C., Comparative; S., Superlative.)
| P. | A part of the foot | Sole |
| C. | Pertaining to the sun | Solar |
| S. | Comforted | Solaced |
| P. | A river in Scotland | Dee |
| C. | An animal | Deer |
| S. | One who does not believe in inspiration | Deist |
| P. | A negative | No |
| C. | A Bible worthy | Noah |
| S. | Dost know | Knowest |
| P. | To divide | Halve |
| C. | A port of France | Havre |
| S. | The time of gathering grain and fruit | Harvest |
| P. | A grain | Corn |
| C. | An angle | Corner |
| S. | With an upper molding | Cornised |
| P. | A personal pronoun | Ye |
| C. | A division of time | Year |
| S. | Is used in making bread | Yeast |
| P. | A knot | Bow |
| C. | A tedious person | Bore |
| S. | To make great pretensions | Boast |
| P. | A personal pronoun | You |
| C. | A pitcher | Ewer |
| S. | Accustomed | Used |
| P. | A line of things | Row |
| C. | A loud, deep voice or sound | Roar |
| S. | To cook | Roast |
| P. | To move with a lever. | Pry |
| C. | Previous | Prior |
| S. | Appraised | Priced |
| P. | A secret agent | Spy |
| C. | A steeple | Spire |
| S. | Seasoned | Spiced |
| P. | A body of water | Sea |
| C. | A prophet | Seer |
| S. | At an end | Ceased |
| P. | A song | Lay |
| C. | A stratum | Layer |
| S. | Fastened with a cord | Laced |
| P. | A meadow | Lea |
| C. | One of Shakspeare's royal characters | Lear |
| S. | Rented | Leased |
| P. | An insect | Flea |
| C. | To mock | Fleer |
| S. | Sheared | Fleeced |
| P. | A path | Way |
| C. | One who weighs | Weigher |
| S. | Desolate | Waste |
| P. | A very common abbreviation | Co |
| C. | The center | Core |
| S. | Border of the sea | Coast |
| P. | A part of the body | Neck |
| C. | A river of South-west Germany | Neckar |
| S. | Nearest | Next |
| P. | A river in Italy | Po |
| C. | To examine steadily and earnestly | Pore |
| S. | A pillar | Post |
| P. | A vowel | E |
| C. | A spike of corn | Ear |
| S. | A point of compass | East |
| P. | A tool | Hoe |
| C. | Whitish | Hoar |
| S. | An army | Host |
| P. | A personal pronoun | I |
| C. | Anger | Ire |
| S. | Cooled with ice | Iced |
| P. | Compensation | Fee |
| C. | Terror | Fear |
| S. | An entertainment | Feast |
| P. | To clothe | Indue |
| C. | To suffer | Endure |
| S. | Persuaded | Induced |
Brattleborough, Vt.
Dear St. Nicholas: I have been trying to start a fresh-water aquarium which shall be self-supporting. I have failed, so far, because I have been unable to procure the proper oxygen-producing plants.
The little brook-plants I have tried do not answer the purpose. Can you tell me where I can find the following plants, or their seeds: Vallisneria spiralis (or tape-grass), Callitriche verna (or water-starwort), and Anacharis alsinastrum (or water-thyme)?—Yours truly,
E.M.P.
In general terms, the first and third plants named by E.M.P. are to be sought for in very quiet streams, or in ponds; but, as they are quite submerged, they may escape attention. Callitriche is to be found floating on the surfaces of small ponds or pools. But perhaps E.M.P. is a little too far north for Vallisneria. Anacharis is in Canada, and should, by rights, be in Vermont.
However, E.M.P. need not be restricted to these. In quiet fresh-water streams, and especially in ponds, there are Myriophyllums (or water-milfoil), Ceratophyllums (or hornwort), the aquatic Ranunculuses, and the Utricularias (or bladderworts), all of which naturally grow submerged and are quite as good for producing oxygen as those named by E.M.P. Water-cresses will do to get along with until the other plants can be found.
Dear St. Nickolas: Daisie and me thought we would rite you a letter, and tell you that we did the ansers to some of your puzzles in the May number. We did them most all our own self. We are twin-sisters, and we are both just as old as each other. We go to skool every day. So good by.—From youre little frends,
Dottie and Daisie.