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ETTERS should be directed to "EDITOR OF OLIVER OPTIC'S MAGAZINE, CARE OF LEE & SHEPARD, 149 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON, MASS."

Bluenose asks why "who" is not used, instead of "which," in the Lord's Prayer. At the time of the translation of the English Bible, the distinction in the application of relative pronouns was not so rigidly fixed as is now the case. Our language has been greatly modified since then, and many words have far different meanings; but our version of the Scriptures is noble and grand, and the variations in single words are not of sufficient importance to justify radical changes.-C. W. Wilcox, of Brattleboro', desires to sell his collection of nine hundred and fifty stamps.

Atlantic Cable's letter pleases us. He can swing an axe, harvest the grain, and read Greek and Latin, while his sister can play the piano finely, and "beat Bridget cooking the dinner any day"! Such boys and girls just suit us. Labor is honorable, and no matter how much money or how many accomplishments boys and girls may have, they should know how to work, and not be ashamed of the knowledge. We should like to have a raking or splitting match with Atlantic Cable, and we think he would find that some editors can work with their hands as well as with their brains!

The "Fragment" is quite good, friend Wolff.-G. F. Rank sends us a new beatitude: "Blessed is he who expects nothing;" and we will finish it — "for he will not be disappointed."- Scioto is welcome, and so is his geographical. The Truant is very good for a first attempt; and if the writer will always live up to its sentiment, he will succeed in life. Admiral Chow Chow, of Hartford, Conn., wants the address of Trix, and also of Hautboy. - Buck's rebus is ingenious, but scarcely adapted to our page. S. T. Raw's rebuses are drawn with much skill.

Tin Kettle is informed that on receipt of the price, $3.50, the bound volume of the Magazine will be sent, post-paid; address Lee &

Shepard. The enigma by Truck Patch is on file. So is Tim Id's. Specs is A. - Those who have foreign stamps for sale will please address Howard F. Martin, Nunda, N. Y., Box 292. Why, Bobby Buttonhole! 'twas excellent; and it is carefully filed away for a future examination. - - We know nothing of the Novelty Press, and this is as definitely as we can answer Tom Tit's question. He thinks Egg Harbor a good place for eggs, Clover Hill a good place for horses, and Mount Airy a good place to spend the sumWe agree with him.

mer.

This is an address recently asked for; Charles Rupert, Boston, Mass. By the way, Charlie complains that a great many of those who ask for correspondents do not answer the letters sent to them. This should not be, but we fear some of our friends are a little careless in this matter. J. B., Box 888, New Britain, Conn., wants specimen copies of boys' papers. - Hunkidori changes his name to Dauntless. - Uncle Charlie's note is attended to. The prize offer is restricted to rebuses, and does not include enigmas and miscellaneous head work.

Black Knight's rebus is good, but the couplet has been used so many times, the rebus would be too easily guessed. Succor Boy's suggestion has been considered, but it is hardly practicable.-G. W. Goetz sends a good rebus. - Eddie Magie's rebus is very good, but it is too long. There are several books on coins, some of them quite expensive; for a moderate cost, we think Prime's "Coins, Medals, and Seals," $3.50, very good. - A little too easy, friend Bagbone.

We are glad to see Hector's handwriting again; let us see it more frequently in future. - Evan Eric is good on geographicals.,The rebuses by Red Jacket were almost good enough. The subject of Commodore's rebus has been used too often for repetition; his idea is good, however. - Friend Arny sends a very pretty rebus, based on an old puzzle, and it is so good that we may use it. - Dexter's geographicals are accepted.

WISH CORRESPONDENTS. T. H. N. C., Lancaster, Pa. - Commodore, Box 1056, Oswego, N. Y.-E. E. Dunlap, Lisbon Falls, Me. - T. Driggs, East Saginaw, Mich. - Sir Guy of Warwick, Box 344, Albion, N. Y. Frank, Prairie City, Ill. Fred C. Kolte, Box 517, Milwaukee (authorship). -F. A. Knight, Concord, N. H.- Nimrod, Turner Junction, Du Page Co., Ill. (coins, hunting, and fishing). Crackers, 212 Albany Street, Buffalo, N. Y.

OUR BOYS GIRLS

OLIVER OPTIC, Editor.

EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

DEAR

XV.

EAR BOYS AND GIRLS: After our experience in getting to Venice, we are forced to conclude that the Italian railroads are not well managed in all respects. We do not know of any railroad in the United States where a man can ride seventy-five miles without finding out that he is going the wrong way. The train for Ancona should have gone at 4.45. It started at 4.55, but we supposed our watch which we had set by Roman time - was at fault. The station was two or three hundred feet long, with four tracks through it. Sometimes there are half a dozen trains in it at the same time. You pay your money, and you may take your choice, for FAI is the only label on them. In France the tickets are generally examined before the train starts. In the stations in Italy we have heard men shouting the names of the places to which the train would take passengers, but it was not done at the time we made our blunder. We were informed that the station men would be fined for permitting us to make the mistake. If so, the company makes money by our misfortune, and we lose time, money, and sleep.

One of our days in Venice was spoiled by this mishap; and we advise American travellers in Italy not to get into a car till some one besides themselves takes the responsibility of the step, for it is a perilous one. However, we reached Venice, and we will grumble no more, though we regard our safe arrival as a piece of singularly good fortune. The railroad station is on the Grand Canal. We found the porter of the Hotel d'Europe, gave him our baggage receipt, and were escorted to a gondola. Yes, to a gondola! It was the longest, blackest, trimmest, and most poeticallooking craft we ever saw. It had a little cabin in the middle, with a door forward and a window on each side, with seats for four persons. Our trunk was put on board, and the gondolier began to whirl his single long oar about in the most dexterous manner. The movement is something between paddling and rowing. Although the oar is used only on one side, and near the stern, the gondola goes in a perfectly straight course.

After going a short distance on the Grand

Canal, which is about three hundred feet wide. we dodged into a narrow canal. We were perfectly sure that our skipper would run into a stone wall when he turned, but he saved it by just one inch. He turned a dozen corners in going from one part of the Grand Canal — which is in the shape of the letter S to another part; but he never left more than an inch between the gondola and the wall. Several times we met other gondolas, and our man whisked through places where there was not an inch to spare on each side. We were utterly astonished and confounded by his skill and dexterity. We cruised about for hours and hours in these trim craft, and they always shaved a hair off a post, a corner, or another boat. The gondoliers whisk them round in their own length, stop them instantly, or back them, without moving from their places. Their motion in rowing is poetry itself— more graceful than any dancer we ever saw. They stand up, and throw themselves forward upon their oar, so that they have a tremendous purchase, and the blade of the oar is very broad.

The Hotel d'Europe is in what was once the Palace Giustiniani. It is well kept; and the landlords the brothers Marseilles — are exceedingly polite and attentive to their guests. With our usual good luck, we found that the valet de place, who spoke English, was engaged, and we were obliged to take one who spoke French. We engaged a gondola, visited the Square and Church of St. Mark, went through the Palace of the Doges, crossed the Bridge of Sighs, descended to the famous dungeons, entering that in which the Doge Marino Falieri was confined, saw the place where he and others were executed. The next day we went to several churches, and to the Armenian Cloister of St. Lazarus, on an island, two or three miles from the city. We explored the canals, walked over the Rialto, and on Sunday evening attended the grand march of the Galley-gente down the Grand Canal. It was a large floating platform, gorgeously decked with the gayest of colors, with canopies, banners, and fanciful designs, having a band of music on board. It was towed by four large gondolas, with four rowers in each. Before, behind, and on each side of it were a multitude of gondolas, public and private. As the procession moved, blue, red, and white lights were burned to illuminate the gay scene. Though it was Sunday evening, the band did not play psalm tunes. It was really the most novel and interesting pageant we ever saw. It is got up by the city, and is attended by the police. OLIVER OPTIC.