PROSE Hamilton Burroughs Yetta Beneck McDermott WHAT THE LEAGUE IS THE ST. NICHOLAS LEAGUE is an organization of the readers of the ST. NICHOLAS MAGAZINE. THE LEAGUE motto is "Live to learn and learn to live." THE LEAGUE emblem is the "Stars and Stripes." THE LEAGUE membership button bears the LEAGUE name and emblem. THE ST. NICHOLAS LEAGUE organized in November, 1899, became immediately popular with earnest and enlightened young folks, and is now widely recognized as one of the great artistic educational factors in the life of American boys and girls. THE ST. NICHOLAS LEAGUE awards gold and silver badges each month for the best original poems, stories, drawings, photographs, puzzles, and puzzle answers. PRIZE COMPETITION, No. 264 Competition No. 264 will close December 1. All contributions intended for it must be mailed on or before that date. Prize announcements will be made and the selected contributions published in ST. NICHOLAS for March. Badges sent one month later. Verse. To contain not more than twenty-four lines. Subject, "The Winds of March." Prose. Essay or story of not more than three hundred words. Subject, "A Good Reason," or "A Good Excuse." or un Young Photograph. Any size,, mounted mounted; no blue prints or negatives. photographers need not print and develop their pictures themselves. Subject, "In the Open." Drawing. India ink, very black writing-ink, or wash. Subject, "Admiration," or "A Heading for March." Puzzle. Must be accompanied by answer in full. Puzzle Answers. Best and neatest complete set of answers to puzzles in this issue of ST. NICHOLAS. Must be addressed to THE RIDDLE-BOX. No unused contribution can be returned unless it is accompanied by a self-addressed and stamped envelop of proper size to hold the manuscript or picture. RULES ANY reader of ST. NICHOLAS, whether a subscriber or not, is entitled to League membership, and upon application, stating age, a League badge and leaflet will be sent free. No League member who has reached the age of eighteen years may compete. Every contribution, of whatever kind, must bear the name, age, and address of the sender and be indorsed as "original" by parent, teacher, or guardian, who must be convinced beyond doubt-and must state in writingthat the contribution is not copied, but wholly the work and idea of the sender. If prose, the number of words should also be added. These notes must not be on a separate sheet, but on the contribution itself-if manuscript, on the upper margin; if a picture, on the margin or back. Write in ink on one side of the paper only. A contributor may send but one contribution a month-not one of each kind, but one only; this, however, does not include "competitions" in the advertising pages or "Answers to Puzzles." Address: The St. Nicholas League, The Century Co. 353 Fourth Avenue, New York. THE LETTER-BOX BROWNWOOD, Tex. BELOVED OF MAGAZINES: Being sure you would like to hear it, I want to tell you how you helped my class. This year, my expression teacher was at a loss to know where to get an Indian play. We were to give an Indian program for the benefit of the school. I mentioned seeing an attractive Indian play in one of my numbers of ST. NICHOLAS, and I offered to lend her the copy. When she read it over, she eagerly accepted it; and that was our Grammar School's graduating play! We gave it with several other Indian songs and readings in costume. A great many people told us it was the prettiest program of the year. The name of the play was, "The Finding of the First Arbutus," in the April issue for 1920. My teacher liked it so well that she said she was going to subscribe to the magazine for herself. I recited "Biddy McCall," from the October number of 1920, on St. Patrick's Day before the high school, and every one seemed to enjoy it. I enjoyed "The Dragon's Secret" so much, and I think "The Luck of Denewood" is splendid. I surely hope those two writers will write for us some more. I think the LEAGUE is just wonderful, and it is the first thing I turn to every month, to get the next subject for verse, drawing, photograph, or prose. I sent in one contribution for the month of May but nothing came of it. You can't down me, though. I'm going to keep on until I win a gold badge! I am fourteen years old, and I graduated from the grammar school this year. I will enter the high school in September, and there I will join the Camp Fire Girls. How I look forward to it! Yours for Health, Wealth, and Prosperity. I SAN ANTONIO, TEX. DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I do not subscribe for you, but my mother buys you down town every month. We have just had a terrible electrical storm, and the water was ten feet deep in some places. Our telephones will not work, and we have no water or lights, and the gas we have is so slow that it will hardly burn. This was all caused by the storm. To get water to drink we have to go to the ice factory and stand in line, or else go where a water-pipe is broken. San Antonio is a wreck, all our theaters, and stores have their basements full of water and the first floors almost full. The water had so much force that it broke bridges and tore down houses. Even our paved streets were broken down by the water. We shall not have telephone or light service for two or three days longer. I don't live near the river, or our house would have been damaged. Some people who lived there lost their homes, because the water carried away houses, trees, bridges, and everything in its reach. I must tell you that you are the loveliest book in the world for a girl or boy. Your devoted reader, PHYLLIS KIMMELL (AGE 10). TULSA, OKLA. DEAREST ST. NICHOLAS: I want to tell you of all the many happy hours I have spent with you, and that I don't think any child can afford to miss you. And now, I want to tell you about my lovely vacation from which I have just returned. The most wonderful part to me was a trip through Yellowstone Park. Of course, the geysers are the main thing; and especially "Old Faithful Geyser," so called because it never fails to "play" every sixty to sixty-five minutes. For four minutes, it shoots up a hundred and sixty feet. It is truly a wonderful sight. The hotel accommodations are splendid. Away off in the ruggedness of the mountains are built the finest and most beautiful hotels. I suppose every one has heard of the tame bears. I walked up to one and fed it candy. "Jesse James," a cinnamon-colored grizzly bear is known as "the hold-up bear," because he always sits in the middle of the road, and every car that comes along feeds him candy and sugar. At Mammoth Hot Springs, we saw a wonderful old stage-coach. It was made about 1872. A few years later it was captured by the Indians and recaptured by General Howard. Many distinguished people rode in it, President Cleveland among them. It was rather dilapidated looking, but what would n't be? From the park we went to Minneapolis and Alexandria, Minn. We had a lovely time swimming, fishing, and engaging in the many other sports. Your ever faithful reader, ALICE MAY KISTLER (AGE 13). NASHVILLE, TENN. DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: Although I have only taken you for six months, I have enjoyed you so much. The month of May I spent in the West. When I was at the Grand Cañon we took some sightseeing trips. We went over to Hermit's Rest. I wanted my picture taken there, overlooking the Cañon. I had my ST. NICHOLAS in my hand, and I turned it around, so every one could see the title. Then I had my picture taken that way. Your delighted reader, EVA STEVENS (AGE 11). DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I have been taking you for eight months, and now I wonder how I ever did without you, for you are the most entertaining magazine I have ever read. I used to get you from the library and liked you so much that when asked what I wanted for a birthday present I promptly said, "ST. NICHOLAS." Your devoted reader, RUTH CONWAY (AGE 13). 40. DIAMOND. 1. K. 2. Hop. 3. Korea. 4. Pew. 5. A. PICTURED POEMS. 1. The Pine Tree. 2. The Pumpkin. 3. The Barefoot Boy. 4. The Mayflowers. 5. The Palm Tree. 6. The Robin. 7. The Three Bells. 8. The Tent on the Beach. 9. Red Riding Hood. By J. G. Whittier. 5. 9. LITERARY ACROSTIC. Initials, Silas Marner. Cross-words: 1. Squadron. 2. Indurate. 3. Lucidity. 4. Affright. Savagery. 6. Monotone. 7. Allegory. 8. Renovate. Nepenthe. 10. Eclipses. 11. Response. From 1 to 11, George Eliot; 12 to 21, Squire Cass; 22 to 28, Godfrey; 29 to 35, Dunstan; 36 to 40, Nancy; 41 to 45, Dolly; 46 to 50, Eppie; 51 to 55, Aaron. PI. The leaves, now fluttering from the trees, The north wind, whistling o'er the lea, The pumpkins, large and mellow, And pies the cook shall mix. 6 SUBTRACTIONS AND ADDITIONS. 1. Fil-let-ter. 2. Ped-antler. 3. Jab-ber-eft. 4. Smo-oth-man. 5. Imb-rue-ful. Dod-der-ive. 7. Cle-ave-nue. 8. Gra-yer-bua. Labor Day. ZIGZAG. Hallowe'en. Cross-words: 1. Horse. 2. Cable. 3. Gelid. 4. Wails. 5. Gecko. 6. Scowl. 7. Scent. 8. Means. 9. Nerve. DIAMONDS CONNECTED BY A SQUARE. I. 1. L. 2. Sew. 3. Legal. 4. Was. 5. L. II. 1. L. 2. Hid. 3. Limit. 4 Die. 5. T. III. 1. Least. 2. Earth. 3. Armor. 4. Stone. 5. Three. IV. 1. T. 2. Lea. 3. Tense. 4. Ash. 5. E. V. 1. E. 2. Eve. 3. Every. 4. Era. 5. Y. TO OUR PUZZLERS: To be acknowledged in the magazine, answers must be mailed not later than December 3, and should be addressed to ST. NICHOLAS RIDDLE-BOX, care of THE CENTURY Co., 353 Fourth Avenue, New York City, N. Y. SOLVERS wishing to compete for prizes must comply with the LEAGUE rules (see page 109) and give answers in full, following the plan of those printed above. ANSWERS TO ALL THE PUZZLES IN THE AUGUST NUMBER were duly received from Betty Muir-"The Three R's"-Virginia Ball. ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN THE AUGUST NUMBER were duly received from H. A. Doyle, 9-J. F. Davis, 9-"Allil and Adi," 9-V. L. Marks, 9-"Sun and Moon," 9-"Kemper Hall," 9-R. T. Smith, 9-E. B. Forman, 9-"Three Benedicts," 9-E. Tong, 9H. Blackwood, 9-A. Miller, 8-M. and M. E. Swift, 8-R. Howe, 8-T. L. Wade, 8-M. I. Fry, 8-A. T. Gifford, 8-V. and H. Jeone, 8-B. Barber, 8-F. Dekum, 8-C. S. Messler, 8-M. J. Stewart, 8-S. Dickins, 8-"English Club," 8-B. Booth, 8-St. Anna's Girls, 7-M. Scattergood, 7-E. Huntress, 7-H. C. Sayward, 7-M. E. Love, 6-L. Tucker, 6-M. F. Mize, 6-C. Brogan, 6-E. Deuel, 5-"Whitty's," 5-"M. and N.," 5-A. Hardenburgh, 5-R. E. Putney, 5-"B. and M.," 5-C. B. Hussey, 5-V. Stone, 5-L. Polakow, 5-E. Dessonneck, 5-E. Brooks, 4-M. Stowell, 4-J. Moulton, 4-C. S. Barnes, 4-A. S. Goedecke, 4-H. W. and K. S., 4-E. J. Chase, 4-R. Hallas, 4-C. Christopher, 4-E. Murray, 4-L. Radel, 4-L. Sassman, 4-J. Neches, 4-C. Wittman, 4-K. Bachenheimer, 4-K. Kahler, 4-J. A. Goodman, 4-R. Bechtel, 4-M. Rothschild, 4-M. Nelson, 4-D. Botsford, 4R. M. McKame, 4-G. Allan, 3-E. W. Bowen, 3-S. A. Rand, 3-I. Thorndike, 3-N. E. Diemer, 3-E. A. Thorp, 3-H. Byrne, 3-E. Collins, 3-E. Bundy, 3-C. Fisk, 3-F. Frank, 3-M. Smith, 3-J. M. Reed, 3-M. Ramsay, 3-L. Killam, 3-D. Harris, 3-H. R. Vaughn, 3-J. Lacher, 3-H. H. Woods, 3-H. L. Smith, 3-C. R. Towner, 3-M. Shea, 3-G. Meisels, 3-K. S. Goodman, 3-H. McMillan, 3-S. Gerschwitz, 3-K. Smyth, 3-E. N. Smithwick, 3-D. Burn, 3-R. Byers, 3-S. L. Osborne, 3. Two PUZZLES: E. G.-P. LaF.-J. H.-R. H.-G. T.-L. H.-H. M. B.-D. H.-F. B.-C. C.-N. D. D.-E. H.-W. S.J. C.-M. F.-H. M. F.-A. W.-E. H. F.-D. M.-B. C.-P. A. P.-R. H.-E. M.-F. E.-E. H.-L. D. R.-E. J.-R. C.-J. W.-M. F.-B. S.-T. P.-A. B.-M. I. S.-A. G. C. Jr. For lack of space, the initials of solvers sending but one answer cannot be printed. AN AUTUMN PUZZLE (Silver Badge, ST. NICHOLAS LEAGUE Competition) 12 * 13 17 28 18 32 24 CROSSWORDS: 1. Staring with wonder. 2. A native prince of India. 3. To consolidate. 4. A simpleton. 5. A voracious fish. 6. An aromatic plant. 7. To place in a yielding substance. 8. To fetter. 9. Occurrence. 10. Plunges into. 11. A deputy. 12. Juvenile. When these words have been rightly guessed, the initial let14 23 7 ters (indicated by stars) will spell a memorable day. The letters indicated by the figures from 1 to 12 spell another memorable day; from 13 to 24, a man who took a memorable journey; from 25 to 32, a memorable month for Guy Fawkes. MARGARET PECK (AGE 15). TRIANGLE READING ACROSS: 1. Business of exchanging commodities by barter or purchase. 2. A western city. 3. A conjunction. 4. To perform. 5. In commodities. T. M. CHAPIN (AGE 10), League Member. NOVEL DOUBLE ACROSTIC All the words described contain the same number of letters. When rightly guessed and written one below another, the primals and finals, when read in connection, will name a certain famous time. CROSS-WORDS: 1. An accused person's plea that he was elsewhere when the crime was committed. 2. An ancient musical instrument having three strings. 3. Indian corn. 4. To place quite deep in a soft substance. 5. A city of Italy. 6. A kind of candy. ORIOLE J. TUCKER (AGE 12), League Member. All of the nine pictured objects may be described by words of equal length. When rightly guessed and written one below another, the zigzag (beginning at the upper, left-hand letter and ending with the lower, left-hand letter) will spell the surname of a famous story writer. MEDORA HARRISON STEEDMAN (AGE 11), A MILITARY ACROSTIC (Silver Badge, ST. NICHOLAS LEAGUE Competition) CROSS-WORDS: 1. A city . 13 . 30 26 28 6 . 5 11 1 17 * * 16 4 12 * 14 * * * 7 of Persia. 2. A strong strap or cord for leading an animal. 3. A small hole. 4. Inside of. 5. A lake in central New York. 6. Uneven. 7. Enchanting. 8. To be heavy with sleepiness. 9. A violent twist. 10. A military depot. 11. To wrinkle or disarrange. When these words have been rightly guessed, the initial letters (indicated by stars) will spell a prodigious event. The letters indicated by the figures from 1 to 11, from 12 to 19, from 20 to 24, from 25 to 30, each name a place associated with the great event. ELIZABETH WATERMAN (AGE 12). LETTER REMAINDERS (Silver Badge, ST. NICHOLAS LEAGUE Competition) EXAMPLE: Take placed and consumed from suffice, and leave a letter. ANSWER: Sat-i-ate. 1. Take a dog and to be ill from to shorten, and leave a letter. 2. Take the whole and to be afflicted from a two-word salutation, and leave a letter. 3. Take a boy's name and suitable from to profit, and leave a letter. 4. Take a melody and a part of the body from a recent invention, and leave a letter. 5. Take a beast of burden and a color from made certain, and leave a letter. 6. Take a beverage and epoch from to search through carelessly, and leave a letter. 7. Take a domestic animal and an abbreviation from a spicy plant beloved by the animal, and leave a letter. 8. Take away and a color from proposed, and leave a letter. 9. Take to low as a cow and to grow old from a place to anchor, and leave a letter. . 10. Take a vessel for liquids and an animal from to examine thoroughly, and leave a letter. 11. Take a pronoun and an article from to inclose, and leave a letter. 12. Take two domestic animals from a cookroom, and leave a letter. 13. Take two vehicles from a company of travelers, and leave a letter. 14. Take a kitchen utensil and a pronoun from a fierce animal, and leave a letter. 15. Take a snake and a color from desired greatly, and leave a letter. 16. Take a part of the body and wrath from a large wardrobe, and leave a letter. 17. Take a weight and an epoch from the weight of goods carried in a ship, and leave a letter. The seventeen letters will spell a season that is both regretted and anticipated. BETTY HOOPER (AGE 12). All the words described contain the same number of letters. When rightly guessed, the primal letters may all be found in the word "syzygy," and the final letters spell the name of an American writer who was born in November. CROSS-WORDS: 1. An involuntary and unnatural contraction of a muscle. 2. Certain islands in the South Pacific. 3. A sylvan deity, part man and part goat. 4. A large fish. 5. A member of a certain famous organization for boys. 6. A scolding woman. 7. The country of which Damascus is the chief city. 8. Another name for Horeb. 9. Luster of a smooth surface. ELIZABETH J. BLEAKLEY (AGE 15), League Member. THE RUMFORD PRESS |