After that he was without a job for a time. The princess's conditions seemed so hard that, unless she modified them, she was likely, as the Wizard expressed it, "to die an old maid." He was about to give the princess up to that fate when Queen d.i.c.k (43) entered.

"Where do you come from?"

"From Frisco." (44)

"What do you want?"

"To win the Princess Minnehaha. Answer this:

"T U A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A." (45)

"Well, what is it, anyhow?" asked the Wizard.

"Something that you'll find very prominently printed in a book that you and most other people own," replied the suitor.

"Are the letters printed in the book in this form?" inquired the Wizard, getting a bit scared, and trying to gain time.

"In this style and order, yes; but there are other letters and words between them. Come, shall I have the princess?"

The Wizard took five minutes, and gave it up. d.i.c.k won the princess, and in the bounteousness of his heart invited all the Knights and Ladies of the Round Table to visit him and see who was wiser than the Wizard.

It is needless to say where you can find answers to the foregoing questions. Of course those that demand animals' names have plays upon either the meaning or p.r.o.nunciation of those names. The nicknames were once generally applied. Where names of persons are wanted there is, as you scarcely need be told, a double meaning to those names, as, General Wool--were the name used--might be referred to as the soldier that everybody wears in winter, etc. The verses are riddles--and very clever ones. In questions 1, 2, 4, 32, 44, etc., explain briefly the meaning or origin of the numbered word or words. All who have not pa.s.sed their 18th birthday are asked to send an answer. Grown people may help you find solutions. Make a list of the questions by numbers, giving each a line and writing one below the other. Do _not_ write out the story. Fasten your sheets together. Write your name at the top of the first sheet.

Mail answers on May 10, to HARPER'S ROUND TABLE, New York--no other address is needed--and put the words Puzzle Answer in the lower left-hand corner of the envelope. Answers, with prize awards, will be announced as early as possible, and the prizes forwarded at once.

The prizes are: To the best, $10 in money, and $15, also in money, divided among a few other best solvers. Excellence consists in correct answers and correct spelling, but does not refer to penmanship.

Lost Diamond Prize Awards.

The "Lost Diamond" puzzle proved an ideal contest. It was a trifle difficult, to be sure, but it had so much information in it that n.o.body who failed of a prize had his or her labor for naught. One solver, who lives in Pennsylvania, found all the answers save one, and got the first prize of $10 as his reward. His name is James L. Pequignot. A Minnesota solver secured the second prize, which in this case is made $3. His name is Eugene T. Hawkins. The balance of the prize money is divided among the following eight contestants, $1.50 to each: Saida N. and Frank T.

Hallett, of Rhode Island; John Morton Espey and Elizabeth R. McIlvaine, of Pennsylvania; Helen E. Allis, Junius Browne, and Russell M. King, of New York, and J. Lawrence Hyde, of the District of Columbia.

A wide range was allowed in the answers. Indeed, any answer was accepted that could be found in the story, and for which authority was furnished or could be found. All were treated alike in this, and the contest rendered slightly easier for all. Here are answers by numbers:

1. Grammar, logic, rhetoric, arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and music.

2. Charles Farrar Browne (Artemus Ward). 3. School; academy. 4. Edmund March Blunt. 5. Robert Burns. 6. "Do Nothing;" Louis Fifth. 7. Eliza Cook. 8. On the Threshold. 9. George Gale. 10. Peter Bang. 11. Andrew Bell. 12. Red tape. 13. Alice French (Octave Thanet). 14. Adolphus Washington Green. 15. Frank Beard. 16. Elizabeth Barrett Browning. 17.

Skin and bone; William Mahone. 18. Cat; _Macbeth_, act i., scene 7. 19.

Allan Woodcourt; _Bleak House_. 20. Elias Howe. 21. b.a.l.l.s; from the coat of arms of the Medici family, the money loaners of Florence; origin of the three gilt b.a.l.l.s over a p.a.w.nbroker's shop. 22. John Knox. 23. The Hermit of Niagara Falls; drowned while bathing, June, 1831. 24. Private theatricals. 25. Harriet Beecher Stowe. 20. Josiah Gilbert Holland. 27.

Helen Hunt Jackson; vicinity of Manitou, Col. 28. Basket; _Merry Wives of Windsor_, act iii., scene 3; Sir John Falstaff. 20. Elizabeth. 30.

Steppes. 31. Thomas Hood. 32. Cape. 33. Task; William Cowper. 34.

Gilbert White. 35. Roger Long. 36. Thomas Day. 37. Francis Scott Key.

38. Lucy Stone. 39. Mary Berry. 40. Joanna Koerton Bloch. 41. William Black. 42. James Rains. 43. _House of Seven Gables_, by Nathaniel Hawthorne. 44. Edward Bird. 45. Captain Robert Gray. 46. William and Mary, Williamsburgh, Va., 1693. 47. Salmon P. Chase. 48. Carpet; apple.

40. Mr. Smuggins; _Sketches by Boz_. 50. A Roundabout Journey; Charles Dudley Warner. 51. Sir Thomas More: _Utopia_; statement made by Erasmus: also said to be _A Tale of a Tub_, by Jonathan Swift. 52. Ridgway Knight. 53. John Bright; Robert Peel.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Writing to the Round Table.

SOMERSET EAST, CAPE COLONY, SOUTH AFRICA.

I am going to tell you about Somerset East, the South African town in which I live. It is snugly situated at the foot of a large and pretty mountain called the Bush-berg. There are a good many kloofs or deep ravines in it which are filled with bushes. The mountain is a very fine place for picnicking. At the top of each kloof there is a steep precipice, over which there is a small waterfall.

The town is supplied by the water of one of these kloofs. It is conducted by pipes to the town. At one time the mountain was inhabited by leopards, but they have been driven away. There are a good many bucks and monkeys which live in the kloofs.

I should have told you at first that this mountain lies to the north of the town. To the south is the Fish River. It is only a small river, and has hardly any water in it except in the rainy season. Now that I have told you something about Somerset East, I will tell you something about myself. I am fourteen years of age.

My chief sports are playing football and cricket. I am also very fond of shooting, fishing, and swimming. I am also greatly interested in collecting stamps. I have a good many varieties in an alb.u.m, and would be very glad to exchange stamps with any one who would write to me.

GEORGE D. CHAPLIN.

Please tell us about your fruits, and at what season of the year they are ripe. Also about plants, flowers, and birds common with you.

Round Table Chapters.

Here are records of more Chapters:

No. 679.--The Will Carleton, of Downsville, Wis. John Ca.s.sidy, Downsville.

No. 680.--The Captain Charles King Chapter, of St. Louis, Mo. It is an international corresponding Chapter, and would like members from all foreign countries, especially from India, the West Indies, j.a.pan, China, and Africa. The initiation is a coin or stamp that equals five cents in United States money. Dues are five cents for three months, in advance.

It would like to enroll Captain Charles King as an honorary member, with his consent. The president is Henrietta B. Walker, of Hendersonville, N. C. Walter Kruckman is vice-president, and Arnold Kruckman is secretary and treasurer, care of Missouri Pacific Telegraph Department; Sixth and Locust streets, St. Louis.

No. 681.--The G. A. Henty Chapter, of Cleveland, O. Officers are F. A.

Goodwin, president, and Andrew Neil, secretary. Other members are Louis Falkner, Harry Harding, Robert Matthews. Rear 7 Eagle Street, Cleveland.

No. 682.--The Belvidere Chapter, of Daretown, N. J. Joseph S. Cook, Margaretta E. Paulding, Albert D. Paulding, Charles E. Richman. Other members are Sara C. Clayton, Josephine S. Paulding, and James W.

Richman.

No. 683.--The Granite State Literary Society, of Concord, N. H. John Leighton, Margarita Rolins, Edith Freeman, Grace Hood, Morton M. Cheney, president, 81 North State Street.

No. 684.--The "I. H. N." Chapter, of Winchester, Ma.s.s. Ca.s.sie Sands, Edith Richburg, Marion Simmonds, Pearl Maclaughlin. It meets semi-monthly, at the homes of the members, and its object is to help others and have a good time. Chapter address, 25-1/2 Myrtle Street.

No. 685.--The Phoenix Amus.e.m.e.nt Chapter, of Appleton, Wis. Officers are Benjamin Barrett, Charles Hattersly, and George Stansburg. Its object is the cultivation of literature and social amus.e.m.e.nt. It would like to correspond with other Chapters. 791 Lawrence Street.

No. 686.--The Lincoln Chapter, of Toledo, O. R. E. Richardson, 519 Congress Street.