A - NEW PASTIME. • - [TO THE EDITOR -OF THE

"SPECTATOR." , ainonth ago I read in an evening paper an account of .a new pastime. - I found it very interesting and fascinating, but Iha,ve never seen any second mention of it. As it seems to me one ofthe best amusements for those who are confined to the house and for the sleepless, it seems a great pity that it should-be allowed to Sink back into oblivion. It has the great advantage that it can be taken up- or dropped at any moment, and that it can be pur;med by ;one person alone. It consists in making the-numbers from 'one to one hundred by employing in every case fonr times the 'figure four. Any arithmetical or algebraic signs may be used, but never less or more than the

four fours. Thus :—

4 + 4

4 4

—1

— + — = 2

4 + 4

4 4

4 + 4 + 4

4 — 4

=3

4

+

= 4

4

4

So far it is simple, but the art consists in employing the different formulm to get the higher numbers. I have got all up to twenty-eight, and about half the rest up to hundred.—I