The Washington times., 1904-08-14
WASHINGTON BUSY
COUNTING FIGURES
Times Puzzle Contest Is a
Leading Diversion.
EASY TO MAKE A MISTAKE
Correspondents Express Their Views on
the Subject-ThCught Charts
Changed.

Adding the digits in The Times figure
puzzle seems to be the leading diversion
in Washington just now. But whether
ANYBODY had added them rightly is a
question open TO doubt, judging from
the posftiveness of those who h ave add
ed them differently. And not only does
each contestant add them differently
from others, but on subsequent trials he
gets a different result himself.
AS an example of how easily it is to
be mistaken W. A. G., Of Seaton Street
sends in a second count with the ex-
PLANTATION that Il discovered an error In
my first count. and viii now submit an
other which I think will be correct. II I
don't get prize I will have TO charge
YOU for a pair OF glasses"
NJ. A. H, who gives his address at P.
O. Box S37, says: Il have had some eXpe-
rience at target practice and hope TO Sc
cure a bulls eye"
Billy Bounce Contestant.
Eva d. c., a schoolgirl of B Street
southeast. is an aspIrant after both the
prize for grown people and children. She
writes:
II am a member OF the Billy Bounce
Club and send this answer 20 your figure
puzzle with the expectation of winning
the piano, which Is the prize I endeav-
ored to win in your last contest, but be-
cause my answer was too late l got left.
IT know that was the reason, because
I lacked but one Of having II correct. The
Billy Bounce Club has been started by
the best paper in Washington. and 1 ex-
pect 70 derive a great deal Of amuse-
ment and pleasure from II.
-. Tgs-Hl a~H- oct Ia
ton Of Washington, says: Enclosed ind
80 cents for subscription to the best
paper in Washington. noticed IN last
evenings paper possibly the twentieth
century lightning calculator has run the
answers up into the millions
eff that be correct, I, who have been
counting for five days. can only figure
it $685.. and wonder If I Will have 10 go
back and sit down on that, and count
il over. again. I would like the acquain-
tance of the party who counted a MIL
lion"
Thinks Chart Altered.
John H. c.. of X Street northwest,
charges the puzzle editor with changing
the figures. He says: This thing Of
altering the chart each day IS fraudu-
lent. I have counted II daily ever since
the puzzle was first published, and each
count IS different. vas always good
at figures. and l couldn't be wrong so
often that now I can't tell when I'm
right unless the chart varied. I can't
find where the difference is, but there 9
something queer about II. any way
To quel any fears Of John II. c.. that
the chart IS surreptitiously altered, IL Is
stated that the solution duly sealed Is
locked up IN The Times safe, and will
not be opened or known until the con-
test has closed.
Prize Winners.
The solution was made by expert ac-
countants after working several days "a
verify II, which is the only one The
Times has. and as that IS a solid block
Of electrotyped figures It would necessi-
tate an amount OF work and create
an expense that there Is no likelihood OF
anyone attempting, even If it were q
physical possibility.
The figure puzzle IS undoubtedly a per.
picking proposition, but as the prizes
viii be awarded 10 those who send tho
best additions, whether they are right
or thousands OF, the proposition is in
wiling and fair. and the chances Of al
are equal.