J. W. Anderson asks how fast the fastest bird is able to fly, and how high wild-geese are when one sees them in the form of an old-fashioned drag in the air above. The fastest flying bird is said to be the Virginia plover, which has been known to fly 225 miles per hour; but wild-geese, Baltimore orioles, and other migrants rarely average more than fifty miles per day. The height of the geese is sometimes as great as 10,000 feet, but ordinarily they fly about 4000 feet above the earth.--We regret the necessity of informing our old-time friend, C. Roy Baker, of Ohio, that we do not publish exchanges of bicycles, etc., and have no exchange column.--Leo Rehbinder: 844 Chapter charters have been granted, but many of the Chapters weary of well-doing. But our injunction has ever been to maintain your society as long as it yielded pleasure, and when it ceases to do so, disband it. The Order is a very large one, but we have no figures at hand of other orders. Ask your bookseller for titles of stories other than those published in this paper--S. B.: Address Thomas A. Edison, at Menlo Park, N. J. "F. A. H." asks where he can learn mechanical draughting. At the Pratt Institute. The pay for beginners is small, say $6 per week. Apply to some draughtsmen for average rate of wages.--Edgar S. Pitkin asks about entrance to the Naval Academy at Annapolis. We have answered this question so many times that we fear old readers will tire reading of it. But we assure them that many want the information, and that to furnish helpful information is the purpose of this department. Sir Edgar should apply to his member of Congress for appointment, but he can learn when there will be a vacancy in his district by writing to the Secretary of the Navy, Washington. The age limit is fifteen to twenty. The appointment is from each Congressional district. There is doubtless a man at the academy now from your district. If so, when he goes out another will be taken in. The examination is very strict and difficult, but covers chiefly the common branches. The Secretary of the Navy will give exact information if a vacancy is to occur within a year. The conditions are too long to print here. The Congressman who makes the appointment generally has a preliminary examination, but it counts for nothing at Annapolis, and is usually found to be a very unsatisfactory way to select a man for the cadetship. An alternate is named. Both go to Annapolis and take the examination. If the appointee fails--and generally one-half fail--the alternate goes in, provided he passes.