The Russellville Democrat., 1881-08-18
AN INTRICATE PROPOSITION.
With which MsJor Max Greatly Puzzle
 his Vile.
San Francisco Chronicle.


 Did it ever occur to you, my dear that a person going overland would have 10 mail two letters day from the train in order to have one letter day return to San Francisco" asked Major Max the other evening, after the cloth was re- moved from the table and bis wife was pouring his glass of two thirds benedic- tine and one-third curacon, which the Major contended was the only civilized drink with which to prepare for the af- ter-dinner cigar.
 Mrs. Max passed the Major his cordial and waited moment before replying: Why, no; 1t seems to me that if a per- son travellng east mailed a letter each day by westward bound train letter would arrive here each day."
 Mrs. Max answered cautiously, for while she knew that the Major pretend- ed to deplore the factthat sue was illog- ieal, he really derived much comfort from his superior comprehension, and was somewhat addicted to study ing out intricate propositions with which to puzzle the lady.
 You think so, do you?" queried the Major, as trough about to be convinced by her, while in truth he only wanted her to commit herself more decidedly, that his victory would be the more signal a&&8 @
 "Why, Yes," Mrs. Max continued somewhat assured, Eff you mailed let ter on the first day out, it would get here the next day; if you mailed one the day following It would arrive here q day after the first and the letters being mailed twenty-four hours apart, would, of course, continue to arrive here day apart. They couldn't grow further apart on the road, could they. Major?"
 Mrs. Max wound up this sequence oi feminine logic with atriumphant acccent, and felt sure she had posed the Major, for he did not reply until after lighting a cigar Then be said slowly, You post letter the first day out"
 "Yes."
 ""That letter arrives here the day after you leave?"
 Certainly. One day gone, one letter received"
 Exactly. We'll. the next day-a lit tie cfracoa, straight, please-the next day you post another letter from the train, and"
 If Mrs. Max had not been examining new pattern of lace she had in her sleeves she mIght have noticed the sat- isfied smile the Major had as he leaned back in his chair and said. "The second day you would be at Ogden2'
 "Yes."
 "Wouldn't it take as long for letter to returz 10 San Francisco as 1t had taken you to go to Ogden?"
 "I suppose so."
 Then the second letter would arrive here two days after you arrived at Og- den and four days after you left here?'
 Mrs. Max looked up and said hesitat- ingly:
 "Woll, don't see how you make that cut" -|-t
 q did not make it out, Mrs. Max. only asked if was right"
 "No, you are not: if you post letter on returning train each day say that a letter must arrive here each day, and don't care"
 Mrs. Max, how long does it take to go to New York;"
 "Seven days, I suppose"
 "Then letter day would be seven letters. You would post you sixth let. | ter on your sixth day out, and it would take it six days more to return, being | twelve days after you left here. Now, a: | you had only mailed five letters before the one which arrived on the twelfth day, how could letter a day have ar rived2"
 | Mrs. Max thought a moment, and then asked with considerable warmth Do you mean to gay, Major Max, that il a person goiog to New York posts a let 1 ter on San Francisco bound train each day that it takes two weeks for all those 1 letters to arrive here2"
 Tt certainly would" replied the Maj or, glowing comfortably behind bis cigar He knew Mrs. Max ackno xledgod bel defeat by the way she rang for the tea but she would not ask for further ex' planation.