1867.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
4=55 
wars 4 (Barns' mMmmSa 
A. Curious Box, 
A lew days since we were much, interested and not a 
little puzzled in examining a bos procured at one of the 
toy stores. It was so constructed that a drawer, occupy- 
ing' the whole of the inside, could be pushed out from 
either of the four sides. How one drawer could thus 
cross another was the mystery. Upon taking it apart, 
however, it was found, like most puzzles, to be very simple 
when you once know how it is done. We here give en- 
gravings representing the various parts. The arrows 
show the direction in which one piece is to be introduced 
to the other parts. Thus a square box, (5,) is to beplaced 
in a box open at each end, (4). The skeleton box, (3.) is 
to be placed in 2, then 5 and 4 can be slid into the 
opening, and the box is complete. The parts need to be 
made to exactly Jit, and will exercise your care with 
tools as well as your ingenuity in making it. 
CHris.mas Presents* 
We trust the custom of making presents on Christmas 
day will never cease. Our young friends are all of the 
same mind, without doubt. Many of them are already 
imagining the good things they will receive, and planning 
pleasant surprises for their friends. The shop-keepers 
are laying in their stock of toys, books, games, etc., with 
which to supply the demand for presents, and Santa Clans 
is making up his famous pack for the great occasion. 
What to give is often a perplexing question. A gift will 
be all the more valued, if it is appropriate. We should 
hardly think of selecting a Bible as a present to a minis- 
ter, though it is often thoughtlessly done. It is to be 
supposed that one of his profession is already supplied 
with that book. Belter add a new Encyclopedia, or some 
recent historical works to bis library ; or better still make 
up a purse and let him select the articles he most needs. 
A periodical like the Agriculturist, or some favorite mag- 
azine for a year, is almost always a pleasing gift. It will 
remind the recipient of your 
affection each time it comes 
to hand. In general, select 
useful articles for presents. 
Even children are better 
pleased with such things, 
especially if they arc also 
ornamental, than with toys 
which will soon be broken 
or cast aside as tiresome. 
Perhaps a clothes wringer 
or washing machine would 
please mother much better 
than a gold ring, while father 
would prize a new umbrella 
or some other serviceable 
article. Consult both the 
wants and the tastes of your 
friend, in selecting a gift. 
Especially should the poor 
be remembered during the 
holiday season. In noway 
can we better commemorate 
the event which brought 
Heaven's great gift to men. 
.See that the heart of every 
poor widow and orphan is 
made glad by abundant boun- 
ty. Their smiles and grati- 
tude will give greater satis- 
faction than the reception of 
costly presents, and a bless- 
ing is promised to those 
who remember the friend- 
less. May a Merry Christ- 
mas gladden the hearts and brighten the lives of all our 
large Agriculturist family from Maine to California. 
An !guoraut Engineer. 
What would be thought of an engineer who was igno- 
rant of the number of wheels and springs in his engine, 
which he had run for fifteen years or more, and of the 
uses of many of them ? You would expect that the ap- 
paratus would soon be out of order, and that a fearful 
explosion or other calamity would occur, bringing the 
whole machinery into ruin. Well, then, 
my young friend of fifteen years old, there 
is no more wonderful piece of machinery 
than the one you are to have the care of 
as long as you live — your own body. How 
many pieces in the frame-work? How 
many springs ? What goes on inside of 
the works ? How are they to be kept in 
good running order? What will injure 
the stomach ? What will hurt the brain ? 
What will increase the power of the mus- 
cles, and how may the nerves be kept 
steady ? For want of such knowledge hun- 
dreds of calamities are daily taking place. 
There is a man who says he is dyspeptic. 
He is thin, sallow, and miserable ; every 
thing he eats disagrees with him. His 
machinery runs badly— it must be mended, 
or it will soon cease running. When a 
boy he used to stuff himself with good 
things, not only at meal times, but when- 
ever he could find any thing that tasted good. He 
overworked his machinery. There goes a man limp- 
ing with rheumatism. His springs are rusty. He did not 
know how to use them properly. Another is red, bloated, 
nervous, unsteady in his walk, dim of sight, and ready to 
break down all over. He has spoiled his machinery with 
alcohol. It would be as wise to pour oil of vitriol among 
the wheels of a watch, to brighten them, as to try to sharp- 
en up the faculties of man by stimulants. Whatever book 
you read or neglect, (always excepting the Bible), do not 
fail to buy or borrow one on Physiology. Learn the parts 
of your body, their uses, how to take care of them, and 
put your knowledge into practice. Don't be an ignorant 
engineer, when your engine is so precious* 
ARitle by Wind-Power. 
At the Fair of the American Institute just closed in this 
city, a new apparatus was exhibited, for conveying pas- 
sengers and freight, called the Pueiunatic Railway. A 
large tube, seven feet in diameter, was laid across the 
room from one gallery to another, a distance of about one 
hundred feet. Tracks were laid on the bottom of this 
tube, and a car placed on these, large enough to hold 
twelve persons. We joined a company of passengers, 
and presently found ourselves passing through the tube 
at considerable speed, and then back again to the en- 
trance. There was no smoke, nor steam, nor machinery 
in connection with the car. The power which moved the 
vehicle, however, was produced by a steam engine in 
another part of the building. By means of shafts and 
belts, connected with the engine, a large wheel, in front 
of one end of the tube, was made to turn rapidly. This 
wheel was made something on the plan of a boy's wind- 
mill. The blades were set diagonally, so that, when 
turned in one direction, it drew the air out of the tube. 
When this was done, the air in front of the car being 
partly exhausted, the air behind it pressed against the car, 
and so forced it along. The principle was the same as 
that by which any thing is pumped or sucked through a 
tube. When the motion of the wheel was reversed, the 
ail* forced into the tube against the car, caused it to move 
in a contrary direction, and so the vehicle was driven 
back and forth. The inventors claim that this plan will 
work through very long tubes, and that in this way pas- 
sengers may be rapidly and cheaply carried from place to 
place. If the invention succeeds, some of you may live 
to be blown through from New York to Washington. 
^'ew Puzzle* to !*c Answered, 
No. 380. Labyrinth. —Find your way from the entrance to the fortune in the center, without crossing a line. 
very cheering truth. 
Semi ISexr Puzzles. 
We are always pleased to receive neiv puzzles, and to 
publish them if they are of sufficient merit. Where en- 
gravings are necessary, make a drawing if you can, but 
thatis not indispensable, if the description is clear. Do 
not be discouraged if your contributions do not appear. 
The mental exercise required to originate a good problem 
will of itself be worth making a trial. We do not want 
puzzles you have seen published elsewhere, or which are 
old in your neighborhood. 
Hundreds of such have been 
rejected. Always send the 
answers with the puzzles. 
The kind of puzzles is left 
to your own fancy. A good 
mathematician can amnse 
and instruct our readers 
with interesting problems. 
Practical oues are preferred. 
Whatever will cull out 
thought, and also amuso, 
will find a welcome place. 
Answers to Prob- 
lems and Puzzles. 
The following arc answer;* 
to the puzzles, etc.. in the 
November number, page 415. 
No. 235. PWttU Picture.—X 
fox is watching tor the hare. 
Hi- outline maybe traced by 
following the lower branches 
on the right band side of the 
picture No. 286. Muifu- 
matical ProNetn*—UU B2.04 
ft.: 2d, Hi.il ft.; 3d, 64.25ft.; 
4th, 15°4' very nearly. . . No. 
•JS7. Illustrated Hi bust.— Dear 
thisinmind ; withstand mis- 
fortune and misfortune will 
Btay not with you. .. No. 2St*. 
pazzk Pad/re. — Because 
every pound should con- 
tain at least twelve ounce*. 
