highest prize was 14 pounds, and the distance was about 142 miles,
starting from Quickjock and returning to the same spot. The distance was
accomplished by the winner in 21 hours and 22 minutes, inclusive of rest
on the way. But so keen was the struggle that the second was only half a
minute later, while the third arrived 11 minutes later.

The Riddle of the Sphinx.

The sphinx was a strange creature that figured in different old-world
mythologies. Its form varied, but the monster which propounded the
famous riddle was supposed to have the body of a lion, the head of a
woman, bird's wings, and a serpent's tail. Well, this sphinx appeared
once upon a time, near Thebes, in ancient Greece, and asked a riddle
of every passer-by, whom it promptly slew if the correct answer were not
forthcoming. This scourge at length drove the poor Thebans to despair,
and they offered their kingdom and the hand of their Queen to whomsoever
would relieve them of the dreaded monster's presence. One Oedipus
essayed this task. The sphinx asked him, "What being has four feet, two
feet, and three feet; only one voice; but whose feet vary, and when it
has most, is weakest" Oedipus answered, "Man," and there and then the
sphinx threw itself into the sea. Man, you will notice, has four feet
(hands and feet) and, when compelled to use a staff, three feet.

The Wolf and the Bees.

Not long since a wolf, in a milk factory in Cheshire, was stung to death
by the bees of a hive that stood near its kennel. As the honey was being
taken from one of the hives the wolf happened to come out of his den,
and the bees swarmed upon him in large numbers. The poor brute at once
retired into his house, but it was evident he was in much agony, for he
rolled over and over, pulling the hair out of his coat in great
quantities. Steps were accordingly taken to draw off the bees, the
kennel being closed and smoked. These efforts, however, proved useless,
and within three hours the unfortunate wolf was dead. A horse and two
dogs were also seriously stung on the same occasion.

About Pages.

Nowadays, when we talk of pages, allusion is made as a rule to the "boy
in buttons," but long ago they were rather important folk. It was the
practice, hundreds of years since, to employ youths of noble birth to
wait upon the sovereign, and the custom flourished in the Middle Ages.
The young gentleman "served his time" at courts and castles as a page,
previous to taking the fu