itle of "An Instructive Pastime," in No. 22 of Vol.
VII.

CLARENCE B.--There is only one source of alcohol--the fermentation of
sugar or other saccharine matter. Sugar is the produce of the vegetable
world. Some plants contain free sugar, and still more contain starch,
which can be converted into sugar. The best vegetable substances,
therefore, for yielding alcohol are those that contain the greatest
abundance of sugar or of starch.

A SUBSCRIBER, H. C. J. AND S. O. K.--Boys aged from fourteen to eighteen
years are eligible to appointment to the United States Naval Academy at
Annapolis, Md. The limit of age for those enlisting on the government
training ships is from fifteen to eighteen years. Both of these branches
of the service are open to any American youths capable of passing the
physical and mental examinations required of all applicants.

H. S. W.--The Bible informs us that Tubal-Cain, the son of Lamech and
Zillah, was the "instructor of every artificer in brass and iron," and
on that account he is considered the first blacksmith of which there is
any record. Respecting the tools used by him there is no mention made by
historians. Jabal, another son of Lamech, "was the father of such as
dwell in tents and of such as have cattle," and his brother Jubal "of
all such as handle the harp and organ."

FRANKLIN SCHOOL.--We prefer to refrain from publishing medical recipes,
such as pimple removers and the like, always advising a consultation
with a first-class physician, who will prescribe some blood-purifying
compound for the relief or cure of the trouble. In our younger days,
a mixture of molasses, cream tartar and sulphur was considered a
sovereign remedy for skin eruptions, and a weak solution of alcohol or
ammonia a most excellent annihilator of "blackheads."

HARKINGOPITCHER.--1. The originator of puzzles is not known, nor is it
at all probable that the mystery surrounding their inception will ever
be cleared away. The fabled founder is the Sphinx of Egypt, who,
the mythologists inform us, propounded the first enigma. 2. It is an
invariable custom to notify our readers of the appearance of new serial
stories, and therefore you will receive due notice of those written by
your favorites, when we conclude to publish them.

THEO. H.--The action of machines used for making ice consists in
evaporating ether, or any similar volatile liquid, in a vacuum, and
again condensing the vapor to liquid, so as to be used afre