1807.1 
AMKRTCAN AaRTClTT/mRTST, 
Arj.'j 
iBDYS & ©irisis’ dJDiumrjSc 
A CuriouM ISox. 
A few day* •Ince we were much Interested and not a 
little pnzzled In examining a box procured at one of the 
toy atorea. It waa so constructed that a drawer, occupy, 
in" the whole of Ute inside, could be pushed out IVum 
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 pnzzlee, to be very simple 
when yon once know how it is done. We here give en- 
gravin"* representin" the various parts. The arrows 
show the direction in which one piece is to be introduced 
to the other part*. Thus a square box, (S.) Is to be placed 
in a box open at each end, (4). The skeleton box, (S,) is 
to be placed in % then 5 and 4 can be slid into the 
opening, and the box is complete. The parts need to be 
made to exactly fit, and will exercise your care with 
tool* as well as your ingenuity in making it. 
Presents. 
We trust the custom of making present* on Christmas 
day will never cease. Our yonng fHends are all of the 
same mind, without doubt. Many of them are already 
imagining the good things they will receive, and planning 
pleasant surprises fur their friends. The shop-keepers 
are laying in their stock of toys, books, game*, etc., with 
which to supply the demand for presents, and Santa Clans 
is making np 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. Better add a new Encyclopedia; or some 
recent historical works to his library; or better still make 
up a purse and let him select the articles he most needs. 
A periodical like the AgricuUurkt, or some fkvorite mag. 
azine for a year. Is almost always a pleasing gift It will 
remind the recipient of your 
affection each time it comes 
to band. In general, select 
nsefnl^rticlcs for presents. 
Even children are better 
pleased with such things, 
especially if they are 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 sbonld the poor 
be remembered during the 
holiday season. In no way 
can we better commemorate 
the event which brought 
Heaven's great gift to men. 
Sec that the heart of every 
poor widow and orphan is 
made glatl by abundant bonn- 
ty. Their smiles and grati¬ 
tude will give greater satis- 
faction than the reception of 
costly presents, and a bless¬ 
ing is promised to thoso 
who remember the friend¬ 
less. May a Merry Christ¬ 
mas gladden the hearts and brighten the lives of all our 
large AfpieuUuriM family from Maiuo to California. 
An IgfnornuC Kngi^lnccr. 
What would be thought of an engineer who waa igno¬ 
rant of the number of wheels and springs in his engine, 
which be had run for fifteen years or more, and of the 
usee of many of them! You would expect that the ap¬ 
paratus would soon be out of order, and that a fearfril 
explosion or other calamity would occur, bringing the 
whole machinery into ruin. Well, then, 
my yonng Mend of fifteen year* old, there 
Is no more wonderftil piece of machinery 
than the one yon are to have the care of 
as long as you live—your own body. How 
many pieces in the frrame-workf How 
many spring* T What goes on inside of 
the works T 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 mna- 
clca, and bow may the nerves be kept 
steady t 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 ; saery 
thing be 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 Ium 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 fhculties of man by stimulants. Whatever book 
you read or neglect, (always excepting the Bible), do not 
tall to buy or borrow one on Physiology. Lcam the parts 
of your Iwdy, their uses, bow to toke care of them, and 
put your knowledge into practice. Don't be an ignorant 
engineer, when your engine is so prccioua. 
A KIde by Wind-Power, 
At the Pair of the American Institute Just cloeed In this 
city, a new apparatus was exhibited, for conveying pas¬ 
sengers and freight, called the Pneumatic 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, largo enough to hold 
twelve persons. Wo Joined a company of passengers, 
and prcscDlIy found ourselves passing through the lube 
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 largo wheel. In fVont 
of one end of the tube, was maile to turn rapidly. This 
wheel was made something on the plan of a boy's wlud- 
mlll. The blades were set diagonally, so iliat, when 
turned in one direction, it drew the air out of the tube. 
\\'hen 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 
air forced Into the tube against the car, caused it to more 
In a contrary direction, and so the veliicio was driven 
back and forth. The Inventors claim that this plan will 
work through very long tithes, and that in this way pas¬ 
sengers may bo rapidly and cheaply carried fhim place to 
place. If the invention succeeds, some of you nisy live 
to be blown through from Xcw York to Washington. 
^Tew PuzxleM to be Anstwered. 
No. 230. Lab]/rinth .—nnd your way from the entrance to the fortune In the center, without crossing a line. 
No. 290. JUuitraUd Rtbun.—K very cheering truth. 
Ncnd r%>w PuzzlcM. 
We are always pleased to receive new puzzles, and to 
publish them if they are of sufllclent merit. Where en¬ 
graving* are neccaeary, make a drawing if yon can, but 
that is not Indispensable, if the description is clear. Do 
not be discouraged If your contribuliuus do not appear. 
The mental exercise required to originate a good problem 
will of Itself be worth making a trial. We do nol want 
puzzles yon have seen published elsewhere, or which are 
old in your neighborhood. 
Hundred of such have been 
rejected. Always send the 
answers with the puzzle*. 
The kind of puzzles la left 
to your own fancy. A good 
mathematician ran amuse 
aud instruct our readers 
with interesting problems. 
Practical ones are preferred. 
Whatever will call out 
thought, and also amuse, 
will And a welcome place. 
Amswcri* to Prob- 
lemisand Puzzle*. 
The following arc answer* 
to the puzzles, etc., in the 
November number, page 415. 
No. 285. Puzzle Picture.—\ 
fox is watching for the liarc. 
His outline may be traced by 
following the lower branches 
on the right hand side of the 
picture.... No. 288. Mathe¬ 
matical ProUcm.—UX. 82.04 
ft.; 2il. 10.71 ft.: 3d, 84.25 ft.: 
4lh, 15'4‘ very nearly ... No. 
287. Jlluetrated Ilebu*. — Bear 
this in mind : wllhsiaiid mis¬ 
fortune and misfortune will 
slay not with you... No. 288. 
Puzzle Picture. — Becauso 
every pound slionld con¬ 
tain at least twelve ouncei. 
