JOHN DORY.--There will be another eclipse of the moon this year, which will be total, and visible at Greenwich on December 27th; but of the sun, the two that are due will be invisible at Greenwich. There have been three each, of the sun and moon, this year. The first record of a solar eclipse is to be found in Chinese history, and took place about 2169 B.C., in the reign of Shingkang, when the unfortunate astronomers, Ho and Hi, were put to death for not having predicted the phenomenon. The famous eclipse, predicted by Thales of Miletus, and which (according to Herodotus) interrupted the battle between the Medes and Lydians, occurred on May, 28th, 585 B.C.; Sir G. B. Airy is our authority for the date; as also for those of Xerxes, B.C. 478, and Agathocles, B.C. 310. These are the earliest of which we have authentic records. A NEW READER.--The mirror glass used in painting is silver-plated and bevelled. The latter makes the work look richer. The glass need not be new, but it must be thoroughly cleaned, either with spirits of turpentine and a chamois leather, or covered with wet whiting and rubbed away with the leather when dry. Then polish well, and leave quite clear. The tracing on the mirror is done from a design with red carbonised paper, and then retraced with a reed pen and lithographic ink to fix it for painting. The colours used are the ordinary tube colours employed in oil painting. FLUFFIE and BUSY BEE.--Recipes for rock, a cream toffee, will be found in vol. xvii., page 695, and also in vol. xviii. PRISCILLA.--At a double wedding the two brides go up the aisle with their father, or brother if no father be living, one on each arm. The bridesmaids follow, the elder sisters going first. The bridegrooms may wear white or pale grey gloves. OUR PUZZLE POEMS. FOREIGN AWARDS. PREPOSITIONS. _Prize Winners (Half-a-Guinea Each)._ Helen Shilstone, Ellangowan, Fontabelle, Barbados. Mrs. Talbot Smith, Adelaide, S. Australia. _Very Highly Commended._ J. W. W. Hogan (Penang), Laura O'Sullivan (Rangoon). _Highly Commended._ Mrs. G. Marrett (Hyderabad). _Honourable Mention._ M. Browne (Oudh), Elsie V. Davies (Australia), Clara J. Hardy (Australia), Lily Harman (Benares), Elizabeth Lang (France), Maud C. Ogilvie (Deccan), Hilda D'Rozario (Bangalore). A SHORT STORY IN VERSE. _Prize Winner (One Guinea)._ Elizabeth MacPherson, Umbango, Tarcutta, N. S. W., Australia. _Very Highly Commended._ Lizzie Cameron (S. Africa). _Highly Commended._ Nellie M. Daft (Portugal), E. Violet Davies (Australia), E. H. Glass (Oudh), Mrs. Hardy, Clara J. Hardy (Australia), Caroline Hunt (Tasmania), M. R. Laurie (Barbados), Maud C. Ogilvie, K. Prout (Deccan), E. Nina Reid (New Zealand), Mrs. Sprigg (Cape Colony). _Honourable Mention._