197. Three friends, A, B, and C, sit down to play cards. As a result of the first game, A lost to each of B and C as much money as they started to play with; the result of the second game B lost similarly to each of A and C; and in the third, C lost similarly to each of A and B;--and they then had 24s. each. What had they each at first? This Sticks Them Up. [Illustration] 198. A, who is a dealer in horses, sells one to B for £55. B very soon discovers that he does not require the animal, and sells him back to A for £50. Now, A is not long in finding another customer for the horse: he sells it to C for £60. How much money does A make out of this transaction? This question has been the cause of endless discussion and argument. It might be as well to state that when A first sold the horse to B he neither made nor lost any money by the deal. SCRIPTURAL FINANCE. 199. What is the earliest banking transaction mentioned in the Bible? The answer generally given to this is, “The check which Pharaoh received on the banks of the Red Sea, crossed by Moses & Co.” There is still an earlier instance: see if you can find it out. 200. How much tea at 6s. per lb. must be mixed with 12 lbs. at 3s. 8d. per lb. so that the mixture may be worth 4s. 4d. per lb.? 201. Place 17 little sticks--matches, for instance--making six equal squares, as in the margin, then remove five sticks and leave three perfect squares of the same size. [Illustration] FOR THE JEWELLER. 202. How much gold of 21 and 23 carats must be mixed with 30 oz of 20 carats, so that the mixture may be 22 carats? LONDON GRAMMAR. Three cockneys, being out one evening in a dense fog, came up to a building that they thus described. The first said, “There’s a _nouse_.” “No,” said the second, “It’s a _nut_.” The third exclaimed “You’re both wrong; it’s a _nin_!” 203. A draper sold 12 yards of cloth at 20s. per yard, and lost 10 per cent. What was the prime cost? 204. A jockey, on a horse galloping at the rate of 18 miles an hour on the Flemington racecourse, passes in 30 minutes over the diameter and curve of a semi-circle. What area does he enclose by the ride? 205. How many trees 20 feet apart cover an acre? “Multiplication is vexation, Division is as bad. The rule of three, it puzzles me, And fractions drive me mad.” MULTIPLY £19 19s. 11¾d. BY £19 19s. 11¾d. This very old question is continually cropping up, and will continue to do so as long as men are able to reckon. The answer generally given is £399 19s. 2d. and a fraction, and the method of working it out as follows:-- £19 19s. 11¾d. = 19199 farthings. 19199 19199 368601601 ----- x ----- = --------- and so on. 960 960 921600 Many adopt the following method:-- £20 x £20 = £400