Take a piece of cardboard 13 inches long and 5 wide, thus giving a surface of 65 inches. Cut this strip diagonally, giving two pieces in the shape of a triangle, and measure exactly 5 inches from the larger end of each strip and cut in two pieces. Take these strips and put them into the shape of an exact square, and it will appear to be just 8 inches each way, or 64 inches--a loss of one square inch of superficial measurement with no diminution of surface. [Illustration: 5 × 13 = 65 square inches.] 49. If we buy 20 sheep for 20 shillings, and give 2s. for wethers, 1s. 6d. for ewes, and 4d. for lambs, how many of each must we buy? 50. A sets out from a place and travels 5 miles an hour. B sets out 4½ hours after A and travels in the same direction 3 miles in the first hour, 3½ miles the second hour, 4 miles the third hour, and so on. In how many hours will B overtake A? OFTEN ASKED. 51. What is the difference between 4 square miles and 4 miles square? TO TELL THE NUMBER THOUGHT OF ON A CLOCK. Ask a person to think of any number on the dial of a clock; you then point, promiscuously at the various numbers, telling the person to add the number of times you point to the number he thought of, and when the total reaches 20, you will be pointing at the number he selected. For instance, suppose he selected the number 5. You point indifferently 7 times at the various numbers, but the 8th time your pointer must be at XII., his addition will then be 13 (for 5 and 8 added equal 13), the next at XI., his addition then 14, next at X., and so on. When he calls 20, you will be pointing at the number he thought of--5. [Illustration] A very amusing experiment is to ask a person to write down the figures around the dial of a clock. Nearly all know that the figures are generally the Roman numerals; but, in writing them down, when they come to the four, it is very often written IV. instead of IIII. It is said that a certain king, being unable to find any other fault in a clock that had been constructed for him, declared that the figure four should be represented by four strokes (IIII) instead of IV. In vain did the clock-maker point out the mistake, for his majesty adhered obstinately to his own opinion, and angrily ordered the alteration to be made. This was done, and the precedent thus formed has been followed by clockmakers ever since. 52. At dinner table: one great grandfather, 2 grandfathers, 1 grandmother, 3 fathers, 2 mothers, 4 children, 3 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild, 3 sisters, 1 brother, 2 husbands, 2 wives, 1 mother-in-law, 1 father-in-law, 2 brothers-in-law, 3 sisters-in-law, 2 uncles, 3 aunts, 1 nephew, 2 nieces, and 2 cousins. How many persons? “Can February March?” he asked. “No, but April May,” was the reply. “Look here, old man, you are out of June.” “Don’t July about it.” “It is not often one gets the better of your August personage.” “Ha! now you have me Noctober.” And then there was work for the coroner.