QUESTIONS.

1. Why is Psalm 119 in King James' version of the Bible. numbered 118 in the Douay version? S. D. PARRISH

2. Why is it that Psalm 150 in King James' version has only five verses, while the Douay version has six? S. D. PARRISH.

3. Who is the author of the following; to what does it refer? "They shall go forth into the mountains of Hepsidam where the lion roareth and the whang-doodle mourneth for its firstborn. DAVID. M. DRURY, Brooklyn, N. Y.

4. In what Encyclopædia. or what work on astronomy can be found the information of what particular fixed stars are the Polar stars to the several planets? Our polar star is Polaris (or Cynosura); that of Mars is said to be Arided (or Deneb Cygni). Which stars are polars to the other planets. Or will some person give the formula for finding such. S. C. GOULD.

5. Who were the publishers of "Songs of Singularity," by "The London Hermit"? Or where can a copy be had? L.

6. Will you publish the last words of all the Presidents, including McKinley's, or inform me where such can be found down to Cleveland, the only living ex-President?

ELON.

7. How many of our 26 Presidents have perpetuated their parents' names in their own names?

ELON.

8. What name of the Supreme Being is considered the most sacred to Christians, baring any name that Christians use profanely? REVEREND.

9. Had the horoscopes of Presidents Lincoln, Garfield, and McKinley been cast, and if so when and where were such pub. lished? Were they fulfilled? DESTINY.

10.

Have biographies or sketches of the lives of the leading almanac-makers of our day been published, such as Isaiah Thomas, Robert B. Thomas, Dudley Leavitt, Daniel Robinson, Truman Abell, Nathan Wild, Thomas Spofford, Thomas Green Fessenden, and others? If all, or any, state where such can be found. HENRY T. Ballard. Has a book on "palimdromes ever been published, or any considerable collection of them ever been made ? G. B.

II.

The Game of Ltfe.

-

A Homily.

BY JONN G. SAXE.

There's a game much in fashion

- I think it's called EUCHRE,

(Though I never have played it for pleasure or lucre),
In which, when the cards are in certain conditions,
The players seemed to have changed their positions.
Any one of them cries in a confident tone,
"I think I may venture to GO IT ALONE."

While watching the game, 'tis a whim of the bards,
A moral to draw from the skirmish of cards,
And to fancy he finds in the trivial strife
Some excellent hints for the Battle of Life ;
Where, whether the prize be a ribbon or throne
The winner is he who can 66
go it alone."

When great Galileo proclaimed that the world
In a regular orbit was ceaselessly whirled,
And got, not a convert, for all of his pains,

But only derision and prisons and chains,

It moves, FOR ALL THAT!" was his answering tone,

For he knew, like the earth, he could "got it alone."

When Kepler, with intellect piercing afar,
Discovered the laws of each planet and star,
And doctors, who ought to have lauded his name,

Derided his learning and blackened his fame;

"I can WAIT,,' he replied, "till the truth you shall own," For he felt in his heart he could "go it alone."

Alas! for the player who idly depends,

In the struggle of life, upon kindred or friends;
Whatever the value of blessings like these,
They can never atone for inglorious ease,

Nor comfort the coward, who finds with a groan,
That his crutches have left him to

66

go it alone."

Health, family, culture, with, beauty, and gold
And all such endowments acquired of old
The unfortunate owner may fairly regard

As, each in its way, a most excellent card;

Yet the game may be lost, with all these for your own,
Unless you have the courage to go it alone."

66

A Homily on A Homily.

BY DOUGLAS A. LEVIEN.

I have read, witty Saxe, your last version of EUCHRE (It's a game I have played, although never for lucre); And if you but knew it as well as I know it,

You would find, O most genial and excellent poet;

It teaches a lesson more useful than one

To be gleaned from the sentence, “I'll play it alone."

Self-reliance, we know is an excellent trait,
The Advance Guard of Science who patiently wait
Until Time has developed the truths they proclaim,
Deserve a high place on the record of Fame,

And often in life, as in euchre I own,

You make a big march when you "play it alone."

But to "go it alone," you no doubt understand,

You must hold the BIG KNAVES of the pack in your hand.
And too often in life, in a similar fix,

You depend on your cards to secure you the tricks.

So that something too much of the Knave may be shown
In a selfish desire to "go it alone."

But the game, you describe as a

"trivial strife,"

Has a moral to point for the battle of life;

It is this: When the cards are dealt round on the stand,

And each player looks anxiously into his hand,

How bravely your partner ill luck can resist,

If cheered by the sound of your voice, "I'll assist !"

The great Galileo, imprisoned and bound,

In the midst of his trials some sympathy found.
When angry Dominicians hurled at his head.

All the wrath on which bigotry's passion is fed,

A fair form appeared through the dungeon's dim mist,
And a daughter's soft voice whispered low, "I'll assist !"

What's the worth of this world, if designing and cold,
You selfishly seek all the honors to hold?

Repelling your neighbor with glances of stone
And the words harshly spoken, "I'll play it alone."
No! no! higher up on humanity's list

Is he who can cheerfully say, "I'll assist !"

Then in love O, rash poet! if she whose bright eyes
Are gazing in yours with a tender surprise,
Should apply to your own case the moral you've shown,
And quietly tell you to "play it alone"!

With what passionate ardor those lips would be kissed,

Till they murmured once more the soft words, "I'll assist !"

Then shuffle the pack! Cut the cards once again!
And let a new moral awaken your strain !

Go! teach the world that the battle of life

May be lightened to all who take part in the strife,

If the generous lesson thus taught be not missed,
And each man to his neighber will say, "I'll assist !"

Homily on the Homilies of Saxe and Levien.

BY MARCUS BARLETT.

I have read in the papers, O praiseworthy Bards!
How each drew a moral from one game of cards.
Though widely they differ in import, yet still
Each handles his subject with consummate skill;
And though they are drawn from a trivial strife,"
Each one has its worth in the battle of life.

And here let me urge ere I further proceed,

That, though very good, they are not all that we need ;
I'll therefore call Euchre once more to the stand,

And shuffle and deal to each player a hand;

And, as in the card the game goes round,
Examine the cards till another is found.

I'll not always answer to "go it alone."

As many who've failed would most willingly own;

And if you" assist "you may both get a fall,

And often 'tis ruin to "go it at all;

For, through luck or misfortune, you sometimes, alas !
Hold a very bad hand you should then say "I pass!"

When a man's in the wrong, it is wicked you'll own,
To encourage him even to go it alone,"

66

And wickeder far, if alone he'd desist,

To strengthen his hand with the cry, "I'll assist!"

For both will be beaten and "euchred" at last,

And wish, when too late that the hand had been " passed."

Time carries us forward, and not very slow,

Temptations are thronging our way as we go,
And the wealth that's another's, so seemingly nice,
We may steadily grasp with the clinch of a vice;
Or may hold to our lips the inebniate glass;
Then we hold a bad hand - 'tis our duty to

pass."

With the Bowers and Ace and the pair on the throne,
You can make a "big march" if you" play it alone."

And when you in confidence say, I'll assist,"

66

You'll perhaps make a point," though a "march" may be missed;
But with a full hand, and no trump in the class,

You cannot be euchred if you just say, "I pass."

It appears from this game, then

- this "trivial strife,"

Three maxims we get for the battle of life;

And these all your nerves for the conflict will brace,
If each with discretion is used in it place.

Meet bravely each game, then be not dismayed;
In none you'll be euchred, if skillfully played.

So down in your list Self-reliance write first
Of the three, 'tis a maxim, by no means the worst.
For a rich prize has been endlessly missed,

By "passing," or waiting, some friend to "assist."
And the light on the earth which Science has shone,
Has been dimmer by far, had none gone it alone,"

66

"Twill encourage the timid and strengthen the weak,
To treat them with kindness, and kindly words speak;
For often, when sinking with hope long deferred.
Has a moral been strengthened with one kindly word;
And a victory gained which despair would have missed,
By the heart-felt expression - go on," I'll assist !"

And now, through the length and breadth of our land,
Too many are trying to play a bad hand.

Humanity shudders when watching the game,

Where Crime is arrayed against Honor and Fame;

But Justice will smite evil-doers at last,

Then they'll wish in their hearts they had prudently "passed."

Suggestions for Emigration.

The Brewers should to Malt-a go, the Loggerheads to Scilly,
The Quakers to the Friendly Isles, the Furriers all to Chili.
The little squalling, brawling brats, that break our nightly rest,
Should be packed off to Baby-lon, to Lap-land or to Brest.

From Spit-head Cooks go o'er to Greece; and while the Miser waits
His passage to the Guinea coast, spendthrifts are in the Straits.
Spinsters should to the Needles go, Wine-bibbers to Burgundy;
Gourmands should lunch at Sandwich Isles, Wags in the bay of Fun-dy.

Musicians hasten to the Sound, the surpliced Priest to Rome;
While still the race of Hypocrites at Cant-on are at home.
Lovers should hasten to Good Hope; to some Cape Horn is plain,
Debtors should go to Oh-i-o, and Sailors to the Main-e,

His, Bachelors, to the United States, Maids to the Isle of Man ;
Let gardners go to Botany Bay, and Bootblacks to Japan.
Thus, emigrants and misplaced men will then no longer vex us;
And all not thus provided for had better go to Texas.