334 
THE YOUNG SCIENTIST, 
not tame, nor were they sick, as they were 
very active, and seemed to enjoy tliem- 
selves lieartily. 
Now, niy young bird lovers, solve this 
mysterj^ 
No, 4. — Early one da.rk morning, when 
crossing the City Hall Park, I was sur- 
prised and puzzled as to what a number 
of human beings were in search of at so 
imcanny an hour. Each person had an 
empty fruit can in his hand, while with 
the otlier he every now and then seemed 
to clutch at something in the short and 
scanty grass. After watching them for a 
time, I failed to reach a conclusion as to 
what they were seeking for, as they crept 
about on the ground it! so stealthy and 
cat-like a manner. At last, overcoming 
my m<);lest\ , I boldly approached one of 
the seekt'i's, and inquired of him why he 
was crawling on all fours. He told me 
why, and I asked him what for. He an- 
swered "Eor my rum in the morning." 
Inquiring of another creeper, he an- 
swered, " For my pet in the morning." 
Asking of another, he answered, "To 
obtain a breakfast for my wife and chil- 
dren in the morning." 
What could be the object which these 
many human beings so eagerly sought on 
hands and knees V one for rum and 
misery; another from a strong attach- 
ment, and a third for the love and affec- 
tion he bore his wife and children ? 
Fun From the Classics. 
BY AN " OLD BOY." 
EALLY, boys seem to take more 
interest in Greek and Latin 
than I thought possible. If we 
are to believe what certain edu- 
cationists tell us, the study of the classics 
is rajddly dying out at school. Well, it 
may be so, but at any rate it is not de- 
funct yet, for no one can find any pleas- 
ure in deciphering a macaronic or con- 
struing a puzzle who has not made some 
acquaintance with ancient authors. And 
that there are some who have found 
amusement in these studies I have rea- 
son to know. 
A friend reminds me that we have not 
yet had Pugno puqnas puqiimn, a very old 
friend : "I have fought battles with my 
fist." This is tolerably easy ; but which 
of you can construe the following: 
Carmina, carmina, carmina, carmina, carmina 
miilta, 
Carmina multa rogas : carmina multa dedi " ? 
The lines are supposed to have been 
written by a cheeky Etonian in reply to 
an exacting tutor. They are decidedly 
ingenious. 
I have lately met with some very good 
macaronics: one, from which I will give 
an extract, is in an ancient number of- 
" Punch," and is entitled, " The Death of 
the Sea Serpent, by Publius Jonathan 
Virgilius Jefferson Smith " : 
''Arma virumque cano, qui first, in tlie Monon- 
gahela, 
Tarnally squampnsli'd the Sarpint, mittens lior- 
rentia tela. 
Miglity slick were the vessel progressing, j aetata 
per aequora ventis : 
But the brow of the skipper was cloudy, cum 
soUicitudine mentis," 
However, whilst bewailing their bad 
luck— 
He saw coming towards them, as fast as though 
to a combat "'twould tempt 'em, 
A monstrum, horrendum, informe (cui lumen 
Avas shortly ademptum). 
On the taflirail up jumps in a hurry dux fortis^ 
and seizing a truriipet, 
"With a blast that would waken the dead, mare 
turbat et aera rumpit — 
' Tumble up, all you lubbers,' he cries- 
' tumble up ! for careering before us 
Is tlie raal old Sea Sarpent himself, cristis 
masculisque decorus ! ' " 
The ei)ic goes on to relate how they 
lowered the boat and attacked the mon- 
ster, who turns on them : 
''But the bold skipper exclaims, ""O terque qua- 
terque beati ! 
Now with a will, dare viam, when I want you 
be only parati ! ' " 
Dare viam for " give way," is very fine. 
He finally overcomes the serpent with 
a lance which ad intima viscera mittit; 
and the skipper's cry, 
'•'•'We've tixed up Ms flint, for in ventes vita 
recessit,' " 
closes the poem. 
Professor Smith, of the Blind Asylum 
at Louisville, Kentucky, wrote the follow- 
ing when a student at Yale College : — 
(1) Felis sedit by a hole. 
Intenta she cum omni soul, 
Prendere rats. 
Mice cucurrerunt over the floor. 
In numero duo, tres, or more, 
Obliti cats. 
(2) Fehs saw them oculis ; 
I'll have them, inquit she, I guess, 
Dum ludunt. 
Tunc ilia crept toward the group, 
Habeam, dixit, good rat soup, 
Pingues sunt. 
(3) Mice continued all ludere, 
Intenti they, in ludum, vere 
Gaudenter ; 
Tunc rushed the felis unto them, 
Et tore them omnes limb from limb, 
Violenter. 
