PUZZLES, RIDDLES, CHARADES.

PERHAPS Some of my little readers will complain that there are not puzzles enough in this book; others will say there are too many; some will complain that they are old, and others that they are too difficult. All I can say is, that I nave done the best I could to please them; 1 have made as many new ones as I have wit to make; and I have preferred old ones that were good, to new ones that were silly. To those who have a contempt for this species of amusement, I will reply in the words of Mrs. Barbauld: Finding out riddles is the same kind of exercise for the mind, which running, and leaping, and wrestling are to the body. They are of no use in themselves: they are not work, but play but they prepare the body, and make it alert and active for anything it may be called upon to perform. So does the finding out good riddles give quickness of thought, and facility for turning about a problem every way, and viewing it in every possible light.”

The observing reader will perceive that there are several species of puzzles, distinct from each other, and known by marks peculiar to them. Puzzles and enigmas are general terms, applied to those which come under no particular class. A Conundrum is founded on a comparison between two things, resembling each other in sound, but not in sense; thus:-Why is a nail driven into timber, like a very old man? Ans. Because it is in firm (infirm). A Riddle describes the various powers and qualities of an object in the most puzzling way possible; thus an andiron is said to stand upon three feet, to run upon none, to bear heavy burdens, to dwell in a warm climate, &c. A riddle can be translated into another language, but charades, anagrams, &c., cannot be. A Charade is made of a word divided into syllables, and each syllable described separately, thus: My first marks time, my second spends it, and my whole tells it. Watch-man.

A Rebus is composed of initials, instead of syllables, thus: The first letter of a weight, the beginning of what little girls will be, and the first letter of a musical instrument, make a very unmusical bird. Ounce, woman, lute—O-w-l.

A Logogriph is where the letters of any particular word are used to make other words, by being differently arranged. There is no need of using all the letters each time, and they may be used over and over again; but care must be

taken to employ no letter that is not in the original word. Thus in the word pillory, may be found, pill, rill, lip, oil, roll, lily, &c.

An Anagram is somewhat similar to a logo griph; but the letters are not used twice over A phrase is taken, and the letters must all be used in another phrase, made by transposing the letters-thus in the word potentates, you may find just the same letters that make ten tea-pots. Observe, no letter is added, none left out, and none used twice.

A Pun is like a conundrum; indeed a conundrum is nothing but a pun, put in the form of a question. When a gentleman said of Mr. Hook, "Hook and I are often together," he made a very good pun. (Hook and eye.)

Of late, pictured puns have been quite fashionable.

8. Spell Constantinople, syllable by syllable, without mistake.

9. PRSVRYPRFCTMNVRKP HSPRCPTSTN. But one letter is war. ing to make a perfect sentence. What is it?

10. Can you draw three rabbits, so that they will have but three ears between them; yet each will appear to have the two that belongs to it?