At a noted game club in Boston this little trick was introduced by the writer to show how easily the keenest intellects can be puzzled when off their guard. Three substances are first chosen with great care--one animal, one mineral, one vegetable. After each has been subjected to the closest examination to discover that but one kingdom is represented in its composition, they are laid, side by side, the mineral toward the north, after some pains have been taken to discover the points of the compass as nearly as possible. The attention of the company is then called to the subject of electricity in the human body, and after each has spoken of his powers in that direction, such as the common ones of lighting the gas with the finger, or by giving shocks or causing sparks after rubbing the feet on a thick carpet, etc., the operator says, "I am about to try a simple experiment of this kind, and to judge which of these three substances was touched by any one gifted with magnetic power." He then closes his eyes, while some one touches one of the substances, and then he remarks, "I am perfectly willing to let you do this for yourselves if you are able: just rub your finger very hard on the carpet, and judge by a faint tingling sensation which of those three articles was last touched." After some hesitation, he lifts up the substance last touched, and repeats the experiment until all are satisfied. Many imaginative people think that they feel a faint sensation, and if they happen to select the right article, are much elated, and it is very funny to see several sensible people on their knees rubbing the carpet with their forefingers to feel the faint tingling of electricity. This trick was played for weeks without discovery, so the author was ashamed to tell that the scientific mystery was owing to a confederate, and that a quiet and demure lady signified the article which had been touched by giving an almost imperceptible cough as his finger touched the right one; and to make it more difficult of detection, when two had been touched without the signal, he of course knew that the third was the right substance for him to select. CHARADE. If my first is my second, 'Tis sure to be fleet; If my second's my first, It is not fit to eat. And what is my whole Will depend upon whether My second and first You fit rightly together. If my second comes first, 'Tis an animal; but If my second comes second, Why, then, 'tis a nut. So if it's an animal, Then you may back it; But supposing it isn't-- I leave you to crack it. THE PAN OF FLOUR. [Illustration: He would pull the Cloth.] [Illustration: Result.] [Illustration: "Look at dat Chile! His own Farder wouldn' know 'im!"] End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Young People, May 10, 1881, by Various