We found Southport a very nice country for a small one; but begging Master Frank's pardon, we will call it a town. Here we found all life and stir, and every appearance of a gala day. Excursion trains were constantly coming in, filled with people, whose very faces showed that they were bent on spending Good Friday in a jolly way.

We followed the crowd, who were, with one accord, hastening to the shore. There the tide goes out a very long way, and there is a pier built out a mile and a quarter long, giving, in almost endless ways, amusements to all who throng it.

She

On our way there I saw a large, strangelooking woman, with an old bonnet pitched on her head, but no shawl or jacket on. was carrying in one hand an immense club, with which she was not over careful, as she elbowed her way through the crowd. I exclaimed, "See that crazy woman!" Where

upon the children laughed, and said, "Why,

auntie, that is only a donkey woman!" What a donkey woman was I soon found out; for when we reached the shore, we saw scores of

these rough women, with donkeys, which they let to children for short rides up and down the sandy shore. They would put the

children on, sometimes two or three on one poor animal, and then they would themselves run on behind, dealing a blow with their great clubs at almost every step. You could have a ride for two pence (four cents), or four pence, six pence, or a shilling, as you might like; but I noticed, as a general thing, that the more pence that were given, the more blows the donkeys had. These poor creatures could hardly be supposed to rejoice at the coming of Good Friday; for this is the first day of the year that they are thus brought out to give amusement to others, and to receive for themselves whippings and poundings without number. After this, on all festive days, they meet a similar fate.

The English pride themselves on being a humane people. You hear much of the society which has for its object the "prevention of cruelty to animals," and if a horse is abused, there will be many who will see that its cruel owner is prosecuted and fined; and this is well; but the poor donkey has few that will speak or act in its defence.

During the day we took a drive in a beautiful little open carriage, drawn by three sleek, fat little donkeys abreast; and, as the driver was told that he should have an extra shilling if he did not strike the animals, we had a fine ride.

Wherever we went we saw crowds of happy people amusing themselves in very un-American-like ways.

After visiting two interesting museums, we closed the day's festivities with a fine sail. Then Willie, and Frank, and auntie went home, somewhat weary, of course, but feeling that they had passed a very happy day. They did not forget that their pleasure had been mainly due to the unfailing patience and kindness of their papa, who looked as if he had his reward in seeing his children so happy, and, as he afterwards slyly remarked, in seeing the astonished face and big eyes that the Yankee auntie often presented.

TH

MAGIC SQUARES.

HE forming of what are called "Magic Squares" is somewhat curious, if not wonderful; but when, after all, we consider that many curious and wonderful feats can be performed with simple numbers, we need not be surprised in the least degree; and if Our Boys and Girls will give their attention for a few moments, they will, without doubt, obtain much pleasure and satisfaction, if not profit, in forming, from what they may learn, these same Magic Squares. The name 66 Magic Square" has been applied to a square divided into several smaller squares, into which latter consecutive numbers, commencing with 1, are placed in such a manner that every line of numbers, whether | taken vertically, horizontally, or diagonally, shall each amount to the same sum.

There are three principal classes of these squares, viz. 1st, those which contain an odd number of smaller squares in each line; 2d, those which contain an even number of smaller squares in each line, this even number being exactly divisible by 4; and 3d, where the even number of smaller squares in each line cannot be divided by 4 without a remainder.

We have space, however, to consider the first only of these classes, or, as they are called, "Odd Magic Squares." As an example of this kind, let us take one in which each line shall contain five smaller squares, the whole square containing the consecutive numbers from 1 to 25 inclusive, as shown in the following diagram, exclusive of the dotted lines and smaller figures, whose object will be explained directly.

form; also another on the right hand side of it (these two imaginary lines are shown in the preceding diagram); and commence by placing the first number (1) in the middle square of the top line. This having been done, attend carefully to the two following rules:

I. In placing the numbers in the smaller squares, ascend, in an oblique direction, from left to right; any number which, by pursuing this direction, would fall into a square in either the top or the side imaginary exterior line of squares, must be carried along to the square situate at the end directly opposite, and therein placed. Thus, I having been put in the middle square of the top line, 2 would, by pursuing our rule, fall into the exterior square above the fourth vertical line; it must, therefore, according to rule again, be carried down to the lowest square of that line, and located as the reader sees it. Then, ascending again obliquely, 3 falls within the limits of the large square; but 4 falls out of it, to the right hand end of the middle horizontal line; and it must, therefore, be carried along that line to the extreme left, and there placed. Resuming our oblique ascension to the right, we place 5, as shown in the diagram, and would place 6 in the middle of the top line; but finding that spot already occupied by 1, we must look for direction to rule

II. When, in ascending obliquely with a number, a square is reached already occupied, place that number directly under the last number located, and proceed as before. Thus, in ascending successively with 4, 5, 6, the 6 must be placed directly under the 5, because the square next to 5, in an oblique direction upward to the right, "is engaged."

Odd Magic Squares, however large in their number of compartments, can be easily filled up by attending to these two rules; but Magic Squares of the other two classes are of a more intricate nature; and the forming of them would not, perhaps, be quite so interesting to Our Boys and Girls. The former, however, are the means of much amusement, mingled with chagrin, to "the uninitiated," who are invariably at fault to discover the manner in which they are formed. GOLD PEN.

THE Amazon River took its name from a tradition that bands of female warriors, like the ancient Amazons, had been seen on its banks; and scientific explorers have given credence to the legend that a community of warlike women inhabited a region near the upper waters of that river.

S

As the days begin to lengthen,

The cold begins to strengthen."

runs the old couplet, and it has well nigh proved true this spring. Winter seemed to postpone its usual duties, and let March transact some of its business; which was unkind, as the first month of our American spring has enough of its own to attend to, and not always of the pleasantest kind. But neither frosts nor thaws trouble our young friends; and although some of the papers tell of mails delayed by storms and floods, our full-freighted letter bags seem to contradict the rumor. Young America will be heard from, and cares little for wind or weather.

Well, Betty, we have read your little note, and like it; the puzzles are a little too easy. -The request of W. G. S. is attended to. George Babcock does well at the puzzleguessing, and we have almost decided to use his rebus. Sometimes there are so many good ones that we want to take them all; but we have only so much space to fill, and we do the best we can. - Let it be distinctly understood that "Tad" is publisher, and George H. Griffith (what's his other name?) is editor of the North Star. - Our friend W. G. Wilkins, of the Biddle House, Detroit, Michigan, is anxious for specimens of printing from our amateurs. Who will respond?

There seems to be some confusion about anagrams; the true way to clear up the mystery is to be sure you make your own. As we said last week, "don't borrow," and then you are safe. Good anagrams are difficult to make, but are excellent for puzzling young folks' brains. What should we do without our weekly letters from Ski, and Specs, and Cute? May they always be as faithful to their friends! -Dexter, by the way, comes into the same list.-Life Boat is quite clever with his pencil; but please draw with ink, when possible: pencil lines are apt to be rubbed or dimmed by the time they reach us.

Willie Eaton writes us from Norridgewock, Maine, that he is still alive, and takes the

A Panama correspondent wants to know whether the "Onward and Upward Series" is to be written by Oliver Optic. Certainly. O. O. never puts his name to anything he does not write; trust him for that. We are altogether "yy" for Cincinnati Boy's head work; that was old in our boyhood's days. All our club rates can be found on the cover; this will answer many questions. - Captain Joe's letters and puzzles reach us, and are read with pleasure; but he is so bountiful that he must not expect all of them to be used.

When a boy signs his name so that we can't read it, what shall we do? We have had some experience of this kind lately, and do not like it. It is not always easy to write handsomely, but it is easy to write legibly. - Ariel's rebus was very well drawn, but the second symbol was defective. - Martin Gales writes us an interesting letter; and we judge his collection of stamps, coins, and minerals must be excellent for one so young. - Cayuga thinks he would like to buy stationery of Audax, if he reckons twenty-four quires to a ream, as in his rebus 34. Will Audax own up, or will he explain? - Fox's musical rebus is good.

Jack Spratt's No. 6 pleases us; but as for No. 5, we must say again that the principles governing the "society for the prevention of cruelty to animals" compel us to give the animals a little rest. Suppose we let alone, for a little while, jackasses, tea-chests, aches, and a few of the very common symbols. Are not the inventive powers of our readers equal to the emergency?

WISH CORRESPONDENTS.-Yankee Tubbs, Lock Box 58, Cadiz, O.- Snug, Box 168, Rutland, Vt. George S. Lyons, Lock Box 234, Providence, R. I. (hunting, &c.). - Gobb Lynne, 62 Knight Street, Providence, R. I. (stamps).-J. Ned Hills, Bellevue, Newton, Mass. (hunting). Herbert W. Smith, 818 West Street, Wilmington, Del. (boys' papers). Howard Fuller, New Brunswick, N. J. (monograms). - Victor T. Harold, 193 Longworth Street, Cincinnati, O.