278. (Dot) (ewer) (I's) (cross) (ewer) (T's) (M in D) (ewer) (queues) & (peas) · Dot your i's, cross your t's, mind your q's and p's. 279. 1. Plant. 2. Hague. 3. Berne. 4. Rigid. 5. Nails PARIS, TURIN. 280. Pete, ever, teas, erst. 281. S-h-ark. 282. Ray. 283. S-Kate. 284. T-rout. 285. S-melt. 286. Red mullet. 287. H-err-ring. 288. Pike. 289. Squill. 290. Hal-i-but. 291. Ha-d-dock. 292. Sol-e. 293. Tun-n-y. 294. Perch. 295. S-word. 296. P-i-lot. 297. Tuscany. 298. 1. Cid. 2. Adage. 3. Moses. 4. Epaulette. 5. Lighter. 6. Sabot CAMELS, DEsert. 299. Germany. 300. Spring-day, day-spring. 301. West Point. 302. D-rain. The Prize Puzzles seem to have proved rather difficult. We have numerous letters containing answers to several, but complete lists are rare. Horatio takes a prize (will he send us his address?); Tempest also, and F. S. P. (send address); Franklin M. Welsh, Philadelphia (send address); Mary D. Coffin, No. 35 South Street, Biddeford, Me.; Dexter, 818 West Street, Wilmington, Del. We heartily commend those who almost won prizes, and they are too numerous to mention, but they will doubtless have better success next time. Hope springs eternal in the human breast, Man never is, but always to be, blessed. 451. Po, pour, post. 452. Knee, near, nest. 453. Fee, fear, feast. 454. On S T = honesty is a strong staff to lean upon. 455. Seine. 456. Don. 457. Madeira. 458. Bog. 459. Ode-r. 460. One-g-a. 461. Dan-u-be. 462. D-win-a. 463. F-lint. 464. (500 over, 500 D 50 L) - Dover, Del. = H AN eTw a S JE Fox. D 479. My second is possessed by my first, and my whole is what you would do to deprive my first of my second. SHORT & SWEET. 465. 1. Kino. 2. Aspic. 3. Nine. 4. Gondola. S. T. Upid's letter is received. - Lorain Lincoln's puzzle is A.; we hope she will continue her favors during O. O.'s absence. - Due notice will be given of the publication of Oliver Optic's new series of Young America Abroad. Bluenose is sharp with his scientific questions: can he not turn to some Encyclopædia and read the article on "Electricity"? In our limited space we cannot attempt to explain the phenomena of "lightning;" as to where it goes to" when it reaches the ground, it is quickly taken up by the particles of earth, and "conducted" in so many ways that its concentrated force is scattered, and it loses its "striking" power. Friend Bluenose, if you have not the requisite book at hand, buy or borrow it; but if you do the last, be sure and return it. We are sensitive on this point, for it is raining while we write, and the man who borrowed our umbrella yesterday just for a few minutes" has not brought it back. Who will give, through the Letter Bag, the address of the Eureka Press Company? It is wanted by a reader. - The Pedler makes us another welcome visit. Well, G. F. Rank, we think you made a good point in your letter, and as for the rebus, it is A. We thank Alex for his kind letter in regard to the lamented Herbert - There is genuine pleasure in reading Evan Eric's letters, they are so plainly, legibly, and handsomely written. S. M. Hodgdon's rebus is quite ingenious, but is rather too easy. We find that the wits of our readers grow sharper as time passes on, and practice in guessing makes perfect, as well as practice in making. ter in a newspaper; it is contrary to law, and is cheating the government. When the postage of a letter is only three cents, it is both foolish and wrong to write upon newspapers; the single cent saved will scarcely compensate for a weakened sense of right and wrong, and it is just as bad to cheat the government as to cheat an individual. Jack Spratt is down at Pigeon Cove, and his letter looks as if he was at peace with himself and all the world. Styx, Jr., has an idea that this Magazine is like an animal because it has an "Optic."- Our young friends will please remember that prizes are given only for answers to the prize puzzles, and not for solutions of the other head work. A few readers seem to be a little confused on this point. - Cecil Swain's answers are correct. On the cover of the Magazine may be found lists of prizes. Fred Pyle, 505 West Street, Wilmington, Del., wants specimens of amateur papers. - D. State's sans têtes are A. 1 We are glad Bostet is "yours goodnaturedly." Just suppose, boys and girls, that we should publish only one rebus a year from each of our kind friends who send head work to us; our Magazine would be more than filled with head work and nothing else! Therefore we have to make a choice, and we try and do the best we can; and we know that the headworkers will have confidence that we do as well for them as is possible. - Cyphax wants some specimens of amateur papers sent to Box L, Great Falls, N. H.- Desdemona has a few words to say, and as our bump of gallantry is in fine order this morning, we will allow her to speak for herself; and we hope her words will have due weight with the boys no, not boys, but girls : "Do not girls take your nice magazine? Their names in 'Our Letter Bag' rarely are seen; That I'll write you again at no far distant day." WISH CORRESPONDENTS. - Max Tyro, 800 River Street, Troy, N. Y. (literature, science, and art). Ugin, Bryant, Fulton Co., Illinois (telegraphing). C. D., Box 104, Sing Sing, N. Y. (printing). — Duke, Lock Box 47, Watertown, N. Y. - Pepper Whitcomb, Lock Box 295, Watertown, N. Y. - Tether, 74 Hamilton Street, Cleveland, Ohio. - Rene Descartes, 157 Vail Avenue, Troy, N. Y. (natural philosophy). James C. Avery, Box 753, Springfield, Mass. stadt, N. J. (stamps, base ball). - Red Stocking, Carl OUR BOYS GIRLS OLIVER OPTIC, Editor. EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE. DEAR VII. accommodations very well. The three hundred and twenty passengers have settled themselves away in the cabins and state-rooms, and on deck, so they are not in each other's way. About two thirds of them have been seasick, but now they are nearly all in good condition. Our excellent friend and roommate, the doctor, has been among the number; but to-day he is as jolly as though he had never been sick, and every body else had been his patients. He has breakfasted and lunched like an old salt, and we conclude that the General Transatlantic Company will not make much more on his diet. EAR BOYS AND GIRLS: We are at sea, not quite three days from New York; and among the passengers there is considerable difference of opinion as to where we are, though we suppose the captain has no We have had fog every day until to-day, doubt whatever in regard to this important and the steam-whistle has been screeching for matter. The latest information, which is said hours together. Now it is cloudy, and we to come directly from Captain Surmont, is, have hardly seen the sun since we embarked. that we shall reach the Banks of Newfound- Two or three sails in the distance have asland at eight o'clock this evening, and be sured us we were not alone in the world; but upon them for about twenty-four hours. Ev- the throbbing ocean is all around us — and ery day at noon a bulletin is posted in the that is all. Unlike the Cunard line, there is smoking-room, which informs the passengers no religious service on Sunday, and all days where they are, if they are able to define their are alike. We find a great many pleasant position by the cabalistic latitude and longi- people on board, and not a few young gentletude. That of to-day, June 14, assures us men and ladies who claim to have known us that the Ville de Paris is in latitude 42° 43', better than we knew them. We find one genlongitude 58° 38'; that the ship has run, dur- tleman with whom we crossed the Atlantic ing the last sea day, three hundred and twenty in 1865. The business of the day consists in miles, and has twenty-two hundred and twen-eating, drinking, and sleeping. Our bedroom ty-eight miles more to accomplish in order to garçon brings up a cup of coffee and a cracker reach Brest. We write in our state-room - an apartment of about seven by eight feet. It contains two berths and a sofa; but as about one half of the latter extends into a recess not more than two feet wide, that half is not available for use, except for stowage purposes. What | we supposed to be a ventilator for the fireroom below us, proves to be a coal-shoot, which is not the less a nuisance, however, on that account. The coal-bunkers are directly under us, and the fuel is thrown down through them in port. We confess that the room looks much larger to us now than when we first came on board; and though we prefer our library at home when we write, we are entirely satisfied with it. We are writing on the top of our trunk, improvised into a desk. We have lifted it upon the sofa under the bull's-eye, as the best expedient our fertile imagination could suggest. We wish it were | more fertile. The sea is very calm, but the swell gives the ship a roll which is not exactly suited to literary occupations requiring the use of a pen. In spite of the disappointment we felt when we came on board, we like the ship and her before we get up in the morning, or we can |