Produced by Don Kostuch
[Transcriber's Notes]
This is one of the first books I remember reading as a child. Some of
the items are thoughtfully written, like how to write checks. Many
others are just rumors or careless opinions. Some are "racy" ads. Many
articles are lead-ins to the advertisements. Whatever their truth, they
are interesting reading, calculated to draw the attention of drug store
customers of 1910.
The text of the advertisements have been reproduced along with the
accompanying graphics. Correct grammar and punctuation has been sacrificed
to preserving the original format of the ads.
"Mother's Remedies, Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remedies from
Mothers of the United States and Canada" (Gutenberg EText 17439) is a
book for a similar audience, but without advertisements.
Here are the definitions of some unfamiliar (to me) words.
aperients
Laxative.
averment
Assert formally as a fact.
biliousness
Peevish; irritable; cranky; extremely unpleasant or distasteful.
bill of attainder
Legislative determination imposing punishment without trial.
bodkin
Small, sharply pointed instrument to make holes in fabric or leather.
carnelian
Pale to deep red or reddish-brown.
catarrhal
Inflammation of a mucous membrane, especially of the respiratory
tract, accompanied by excessive secretions.
cholera morbus
Acute gastroenteritis occurring in summer and autumn; symptoms are
severe cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting.
conspectus
General or comprehensive view; survey; digest; summary.
copperas
Ferrous sulfate.
cumulation
Accumulation, heap, mass.
diathesis
Constitutional predisposition.
disseised
Dispossess unlawfully or unjustly; oust.
emercement (amercement)
Fine not fixed by law; inflicting an arbitrary penalty.
emoluments
Payment for an office or employment; compensation.
Erebus
Greek Mythology; the dark region of the underworld through which the
dead must pass before they reach Hades.
erraticism
Deviating from the usual conduct or opinion; eccentric; queer.
histologist
One who does anatomical studies of the microscopic structure of animal
and plant tissues.
impecuniosity
Having little or no money; penniless; poor.
indurated
Hardened; obstinate; unfeeling.
inheres
Inherent or innate.
intendent
Title of various government officials or administrators.
Irondequoit
Town of western New York on Lake Ontario and Irondequoit Bay, near
Rochester.
lees
Sediment settling during fermentation, especially wine; dregs.
luxation
Displacement or misalignment of a joint or organ.
Marque (letter of)
Commission granted by a state to a private citizen to capture and
confiscate the merchant ships of another nation.
meerschaum
Fine, compact, usually white clay-like mineral of hydrous magnesium
silicate, H4Mg2Si3O10, used for tobacco pipes, building stone and
ornamental carvings. Also called sepiolite.
Orfila
Mathieu Orfila (1787-1853). Chemist, founder of toxicology.
pearlash
Potassium carbonate.
prosody
Study of the metrical structure of verse.
Prussian blue
Dark blue crystalline hydrated compound, Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3.xH2O; ferric
ferrocyanide.
putrescible
Liable to decay or spoil or become putrid.
quassia
Shrub or small tree of tropical America, Quassia amara. Prepared form
of the heartwood, used as an insecticide and in medicine as a tonic to
dispel intestinal worms
quoits
Game; player throws rings of rope or flattened metal at an upright
peg, attempting to encircle it or come as close to it as possible.
rotten stone
Porous, lightweight, siliceous sedimentary rock; shells of diatoms or
radiolarians or of finely weathered chert, used as an abrasive and a
polish.
saltpetre
Potassium nitrate, KNO3.
sciatica
Pain extending from the hip down the back of the thigh and surrounding
area.
spatulate
Shaped like a spatula; rounded like a spoon.
sustension
Sustaining.
Tete d'armee
Head of Army.
theine
Caffeine.
towardliness
Apt to learn; promising; docile; tractable; propitious; seasonable.
[End Transcriber's Notes]
Every Purchase
Save You Money
AT
THE CENTRAL
Save money on your Drug Store Merchandise by buying at the Central. We
carry everything in Drugs Toilet Article, Rubber Goods, Sundries,
Candies, Cigars, etc.
You will be surprised at our low prices and quick service and pleased
with our complete stocks.
We carry a complete line of Burke's Home Remedies. Burke's Home Remedies
are sold under the Money Back Guarantee.
3 STORES IN DETROIT
CENTRAL DRUG CO.
Main Store 219 Woodward Ave.
Branch Stores
89 Woodward Ave. 153 Grand River Ave.
Detroit, MICH
The Handy Cyclopedia
Of
Things Worth Knowing
A Manual of Ready Reference
Covering Especially Such Information
Of Everyday Use as is often
Hardest to Find When
Most Needed
"Inquire Within About Everything"
For alphabetical index see page 277
CHICAGO
ALBERT J. DUBOIS
1911
Copyright. 1911, by Joseph Trienens
TO OUR PATRONS
This little book is presented to you to evidence our appreciation of
your patronage. We trust you will examine its contents closely, for you
will find within its covers many things that will prove entertaining,
instructive and useful.
It is new and up-to-date and has been expressly compiled for our
patrons. Only matter of real interest and value has been included in its
pages.
It is a general experience that answers to those questions which arise
most often in every-day life are hardest to find. Information on
practical subjects is usually just beyond your reach when it is most
desired. You will use this little book every day when you "want to
know."
It is equally valuable to all classes, men as well as women; to workers
generally as well as people of leisure. It is the book for the busy
housekeeper as well as the woman of fashion.
We shall feel amply repaid for the painstaking labor, care and expense
which we have bestowed upon this little volume if its constant utility
to you more firmly cements your good will to our establishment.
Just a few words about the advertisements. They are from concerns of
established reputation whose products we freely recommend with full
confidence that they are the best of their respective kinds. The index
to the advertising section is on pages 5 and 6.
Sincerely yours,
THE CENTRAL DRUG CO.
INDEX TO ADVERTISEMENTS
For index of general contents see page
Abilena Mineral Water
Albany Chemical Co
Aleta Hair Tonic
Alexander's Asthma Remedy
Allen's Cough Balsam
Ankle Supports
Arch Cushions
Astyptodyne
Athlophoros
Australian Eucalyptus Globulus Oil
Bath Cabinets
Blair's Pills
Blood Berry Gum Page facing inside back cover
"Bloom of Youth," Laird's
Blue Ribbon Gum
Blush of Roses
Bonheim's Shaving Cream
Borax, Pacific Coast
Borden's Malted Milk
Brown's Asthma Remedy
Brown's Liquid Dressing
Brown's Wonder Face Cream
Brown's Wonder Salve
Bryans' Asthma Remedy
Buffalo Lithia Springs Water
Buffers, Nail
Burnishine
Byrud's Corn Cure
Byrud's Instant Relief
Cabler's (W. P.) Root Juice
Calder's Dentine
Carmichael's Gray Hair Restorer
Carmichael's Hair Tonic
Celery-Vesce
Chavett Diphtheria Preventive
Chavett Solace
Chocolates and Bon Bons
Coe's Cough Balsam
Consumers Company
Corsets
Coupons
Crane's Lotion
Crown Headache Powders
Daisy Fly Killer
"Dead Stuck" for Bugs
Delatone
Dennos Food
Digesto
Dissolvene Rubber Garments
Downs' Obesity Reducer
Drosis
Duponts Hair Restorative
Dyspepsia Remedy, Graham's
Elastic Stockings
El Perfecto Veda Rose Rouge
Empress Hair Color Restorer
Empress Shampoo Soap
Euca-Scentol
Femaform Cones
Golden Remedy for Epilepsy
Golden Rule Hair Restorative
Goodwin's Corn Salve
Goodwin's Foot Powder
Gowans Pneumonia Preparation
Graves' (Dr.) Tooth Powder
Gray's Ointment
Great Western Champagne
Grube's Corn Remover
Guild's Asthma Cure
Harvard Athletic Supports
Heel Cushions
Hegeman's Camphor Ice
Hill's Chloride of Gold Tablets
Hoag's (Dr.) Cell Tissue Tonic
Hollister's Rocky Mountain Tea
Hot Water Bottles
Hydrox Chemical Company
Hygeia Nursing Bottles
I-De-Lite
Irondequoit Port Wine
Jetum
Jucket's (Dr.) Salve
Karith
Kellogg's Asthma Remedy
Knickerbocker Spraybrushes
Kondon's Catarrhal Jelly
Kumyss, Arend-Adamick
Lemke's (Dr.) Golden Electric Liniment
Lemke's (Dr.) Laxative Herb Tea
Lemke's (Dr.) St. Johannis Drops
Leslie Safety Razors
Louisenbad Reduction Salt
Lune de Miel Perfume
"Lustr-ite" Toilet Specialties
Luxtone Toilet Preparations
Mando, Depilatory
Manicure Goods
Mares Cough Balsam
Martel's (Dr.) Female Pills
Marvel Syringes
Mayr's Stomach Remedy
"Meehan's" Razor Stropper
Mey's Poultice
Mixer Medicine Company
Mt. Clemens Bitter Water
Musterole
Nardine
New Bachelor Cigars
Noblesse Toilet Preparations
Obesity Gaveck Tablets
Obesity Reducer, Downs'
Olive Oil
Orange Blossom
Orangeine
Ordway (Dr. D. P.) Plasters
Oriental Cream
Orthopedic Apparatus
Palmer's Perfumes
Paracamph
Peckham's Croup Remedy
Perry Davis Painkiller
Physiological Tonicum
Pinus Medicine Co.
Piso's Remedy
Planten's Capsules
Plexo Toilet Cream
Poland Water
Pozzoni's Complexion Powder
"Queen Bess" Perfume
Rat-Nox
Razor Stropper, "Meehan's"
Razors
Rex Bitters
Riker's Tooth Powder
Roachine
Rossman's Pile Cure
Saliodin
Salted Peanuts
Salubrin
Samurai Perfumes
Sandholm's Skin Lotion
Sanford's Inks
"Sanitas," Disinfectant
Scheffler's Hair Colorine
Seguin et Cie
Sharp & Smith
Shoes for the Lame
Shoulder Braces
Simplex Vaporizers
Skidoo Soap
Soaps, Stiefel's Medicinal
Solo Rye
Sorority Girl Toilet Requisites
Sponges
Stiefel's Medicinal Soaps
St. Jacob's Oil
Strong's Arnica Jelly
Strong's Arnica Tooth Soap
Sweet Babee Nursing Bottle
Tailoring for Men
Tanglefoot Fly Paper
Toilet Paper
Tooth Brushes
Typewriters
Tyrrell's Hygienic Institute
Villacabras Mineral Water
Virgin Oil of Pine
Whittemore's Polishes
Wright's Catarrhal Balm
Wright's Rheumatic Remedy
Young's Victoria Cream
SOCIAL FORMS
Manners and Customs of Good Society
ETIQUETTE OF COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE.
It is a growing custom in America not to announce an engagement until
the date of the marriage is approximately settled. Long engagements are
irksome to both man and woman, and a man is generally not supposed to
ask a girl to marry him until he is able to provide a home for her.
This, however, does not prevent long friendships between young couples
or a sentimental understanding growing up between them, and it is during
this period that they learn to know each other and find out if they are
suited for a life's partnership.
When a "young man goes a-courting" it generally means that he has some
particular girl in mind whom he has singled out as the object of his
devotion. A man a-courting is generally on his best behavior, and many a
happily married wife looks back on her courting days as the most
delightful of her life. At that time the woman is the object of a
devotion to which she has as yet conceded nothing. She is still at
liberty to weigh and choose, to compare her lover to other men, while
the knowledge that she is the ultimate girl that some man is trying to
win gives her a pretty sense of self-importance and a feeling that she
has come into the heritage of womanhood.
Whether it is one of the fictions about courtship or not, it is
generally assumed that a young woman is longer in making up her mind
than is the young man. When a man finds the right girl he is pretty apt
to know it, and it is his business then to start out and persuade her to
his point of view. "Neither willing nor reluctant" is the attitude of
the young girl.
Gifts and Attention.
Just what attention a man is privileged to show a young woman to whom he
is not engaged, and yet to whom he wishes to express his devotion, is a
point a little difficult to define.
If she is a bookish girl she will be pleased with gifts of books or the
suggestion that they may read the same books so they may talk them over
together. She will probably feel complimented if a man discusses with
her his business affairs and the problems that are interesting men in
their life work. When a man begins to call often and regularly on a girl
it is best to have some topic of conversation aside from personalities.
When a man is led to spend more money than he can afford in entertaining
a girl it is a bad preparation for matrimony. Courtship is a time when a
man desires to bring gifts, and it is quite right and fitting that he
should do so within reasonable limits. A girl of refined feelings does
not like to accept valuable presents from a man at this period of their
acquaintance. Flowers, books, music, if the girl plays or sings, and
boxes of candy are always permissible offerings which neither engage the
man who offers them nor the girl who receives them. This is the time
when a man invites a girl to the theater, to concerts and lectures, and
may offer to escort her to church. The pleasure of her society is
supposed to be a full return for the trouble and expense incurred in
showing these small attentions.
The Claims of Companionship.
A man cannot justly complain if a girl accepts similar favors from other
men, for until he has proposed and been accepted he has no claim on her
undivided companionship. An attitude of proprietorship on his part,
particularly if it is exercised in public, is as bad manners as it is
unwise, and a high-spirited girl, although she may find her feelings
becoming engaged, is prone to resent it. It should be remembered that a
man is free to cease his attentions, and until he has finally
surrendered his liberty he should not expect her to devote all her time
to him.
At this period it is a wise man who makes a friend of a girl's mother,
and if he does this he will generally be repaid in a twofold manner. No
matter how willful a girl may be, her mother's opinion of her friends
always has weight with her.
Moreover, what the mother is the girl will in all probability become,
and a man has no better opportunity of learning a girl's mental and
moral qualities than by knowing the woman who bore and reared her.
Engagement and Wedding Rings.
The form and material of "the mystic ring of marriage" change but
little, and innovations on the plain gold band are rarely successful.
The very broad, flat band is now out of date and replaced by a much
narrower ring, sufficiently thick, however, to stand the usage of a
lifetime. It is generally engraved on the concealed side with the
initials of the giver and the date of the marriage. The gold in the ring
should be as pure as possible, and the color, which depends on the alloy
used, should be unobtrusive, the pale gold being better liked now than
the red gold. Many women never remove their wedding ring after it has
been put on and believe it is bad luck to do so.
There is but one choice for an engagement ring, a solitaire diamond, and
clusters or colored stones are not considered in this connection. As
after the wedding the engagement ring is used as a guard to the wedding
ring, it should be as handsome as possible, and a small, pure stone is a
far better choice than a more showy one that may be a little off in
color or possess a flaw.
Correct Form in Jewelry.
On the wedding day the groom often makes the bride a wedding present of
some piece of jewelry, and if this is to be worn during the ceremony it
should consist of white stones in a thin gold or platinum setting, such
as a pendant, bracelet or pin of pearls and diamonds. If a colored stone
is preferred--and a turquoise, for instance, adds the touch of blue
which is supposed to bring a bride good luck--it should be concealed
inside the dress during the services.
As a memento of the event a groom often presents his ushers with a scarf
pin or watch or cigarette case ornamented with the initials of the bride
and groom, and the bride generally makes a similar present to her
bridesmaids of some dainty piece of jewelry. Whether this takes the form
of a pin, bracelet or one of the novelties that up-to-date jewelers are
always showing, it should be the best of its kind. Imitation stones or
"silver gilt" have no place as wedding gifts.
Wedding Customs.
There is no time in a woman's life when ceremonies seem so important as
when a wedding in the family is imminent. Whether the wedding is to be a
simple home ceremony or an elaborate church affair followed by a
reception, the formalities which etiquette prescribes for these
functions should be carefully studied and followed. Only by doing so can
there be the proper dignity, and above all the absence of confusion that
should mark the most important episode in the life of a man or woman.
Wedding customs have undergone some changes of late years, mostly in the
direction of simplicity. Meaningless display and ostentation should be
avoided, and, if a girl is marrying into a family much better endowed in
worldly goods than her own, she should have no false pride in insisting
on simple festivities and in preventing her family from incurring
expense that they cannot afford. The entire expenses of a wedding, with
the exception of the clergyman's fee and the carriage which takes the
bride and groom away for their honeymoon, are met by the bride's family,
and there is no worse impropriety than in allowing the groom to meet or
share any of these obligations. Rather than allow this a girl would show
more self-respect in choosing to do away with the social side of the
function and be content with the marriage ceremony read by her clergyman
under his own roof.
Invitations and Announcements.
In the case of a private wedding announcement cards should be mailed the
following day to all relatives and acquaintances of both the contracting
parties.
Evening weddings are no longer the custom, and the fashionable hour is
now high noon, although in many cases three o'clock in the afternoon is
the hour chosen. Whether the wedding is to be followed by a reception or
not, the invitations to it should be sent out not less than two weeks
before the event, and these should be promptly accepted or declined by
those receiving them. The acceptance of a wedding invitation by no means
implies that the recipient is obliged to give a present. These are only
expected of relatives and near friends of the bride and groom, and in
all cases the presents should be addressed and sent to the bride, who
should acknowledge them by a prettily worded note of thanks as soon as
the gifts are received or, at the latest, a few days after the marriage
ceremony.
Silver and Linen.
The usual rule followed in the engraving of silver or the marking of
linen is to use the initials of the bride's maiden name. The question of
duplicate gifts is as annoying to the sender as it is to the young
couple who are ultimately to enjoy the gifts. Theoretically, it is bad
form to exchange a gift after it has been received, but, in truth, this
is often done when a great deal of silver is given by close friends or
members of the family it is a comparatively easy matter to find out what
has already been sent and to learn the bride's wishes in this matter.
Prenuptial Functions.
After the wedding invitations are out it is not customary for a girl to
attend any social functions or to be much seen in public. This gives her
the necessary time to devote to the finishing of her trousseau and for
making any necessary arrangements for the new life she is to take up
after the honeymoon is over. Family dinners are quite proper at this
time, and it is expected of her to give a lunch to her bridesmaids. The
wedding presents may be shown at this occasion, but any more public and
general display of them is now rarely indulged in and is, in fact, not
considered in good taste.
The groom, as a prenuptial celebration, is supposed to give a supper to
his intimate bachelor friends and the men who are to act as ushers at
the marriage ceremony. The ushers are generally recruited from the
friends of the groom rather than those of the bride, but if she has a
grown brother he is always asked to act in this capacity. Ushers, like
bridesmaids, are chosen among the unmarried friends of the young couple,
although a matron of honor is often included in the bridal party.
The Bride's Trousseau.
The bride's trousseau should be finished well before the fortnight
preceding the wedding. Fashions change so quickly now that it is rarely
advisable for a bride to provide gowns for more than a season ahead. If
the check her father furnishes her for her trousseau is a generous one
it is a wise provision to put a part of it aside for later use, and in
so doing she has the equivalent of a wardrobe that will last her for a
year or more.
Custom has decreed that the bride's wedding dress shall be of pure
white, and, as the marriage ceremony is a religious one, whether it
takes place in a church or in a private house, that it shall be made
high in the neck and with long sleeves. Orange blossoms, the natural
flowers, form the trimming to the corsage and a coronet to fasten the
veil. A bride's ornaments include only one gift of white jewelry, pearls
or diamonds, from her future husband, and the bouquet he presents her.
So many awkward moments have been occasioned in wedding ceremonies by
removing the glove that brides are dispensing with wearing gloves at
this time. The bride's appearance is by no means affected by this
custom, and the slipping of the ring on the third finger of the left
hand is made simpler and thereby more graceful. The engagement ring,
which up to the time of the wedding ceremony has been worn on this
finger, afterwards serves as a guard for the wedding ring.
The Bridesmaids.
Millinery is a most important question in discussing a wedding, and we
cannot dismiss the question with the gown worn by the bride. A most
serious consideration is what the bridesmaids are to wear, and this is
generally only settled after long and serious consultation with the
bride.
It is generally agreed that all of these gowns shall be made by the same
dressmaker so that they may conform to the colors and styles decided on,
the gown of the maid or matron of honor differing slightly from the
general scheme. At a church wedding bridesmaids wear hats and carry
baskets or bouquets of flowers, but, if bouquets are carried, they
should be quite unlike the one borne by the bride. It is customary for
the bride to give her bridesmaids some souvenir of the occasion, and it
is expected that the groom provide the gloves and ties for the ushers.
Duties of the "Best Man."
The duties of the "best man" are arduous, and it is indeed wise, as it
is general, for a man to ask his best and most devoted friend to serve
in this capacity. The best man is supposed to relieve the groom of all
the details of the ceremony and to take on his shoulders all the worry
incident to its success as a social function. It is he who purchases the
gloves and ties for the other ushers and sees that they are coached in
their duties; he procures the marriage license, if that is necessary,
and has the ring ready for the groom at the critical moment. After the
ceremony he is supposed to hand the clergyman his fee, and at the same
time be in readiness to conduct the line of bridesmaids and ushers to
their carriages. He must be at the bride's home, in case there is a
wedding reception, before the principal actors in the ceremony are
there. It is he who sends the notices of the event to the newspapers,
and, if there is a formal breakfast with speech-making, it is the best
man who proposes the health of the newly-married pair and replies to the
toast in behalf of the bridesmaids. He is the one member of the wedding
party who sees the happy couple off at the station and bids them the
last farewell as they depart on their honeymoon. This is perhaps the
time and moment when his good sense and social tact is the most needed,
The foolish custom of decorating bridal baggage with white ribbon, and
of throwing a superabundance of old shoes and a rain of rice after the
departing pair, may be mitigated by a little care on his part.
MOURNING CUSTOMS.
There has been of late years a healthy revolt against the excessive use
of crepe or the wearing of mourning for an undue period. Mourning is
first of all a protection, for in these busy days and in a large city a
death affecting our acquaintances is not always known to us. If we meet
a friend wearing black we are instantly apprised that she has suffered
the loss of a near member of her family. It is easy to say under such
circumstances, "I am very sorry to see you in black," or "I am afraid I
have not heard of your loss."
For a father or mother full mourning, that is, black unrelieved by any
touch of white, is worn for a year, and at the end of that period half
mourning, consisting first of white with black, and then violet and
gray, is worn for the second year. For a brother or sister or
grandparent black is worn for six months, and then half mourning for the
six months preceding the wearing of ordinary colors. What is called
complimentary mourning, put on at the death of a relative by marriage,
consists of the wearing of black for a period of from six weeks to a
year, depending on the closeness of the personal relationship. For
instance, in the case of the death of a mother-in-law residing in a
distant city, it would only be necessary for a woman to wear black for a
few weeks following the funeral. If, on the other hand, she resides in
the same place and is a great deal in the company of her husband's
family, it would show more tact and affection on her part to refrain
from wearing colors for a longer period.
Crepe is no longer obligatory in even first mourning. Many widows only
wear the crepe-bordered veil hanging from the conventional bonnet for
the funeral services and for a few weeks afterward, when it is replaced
by an ordinary hat and veil of plain black net bordered with thin black
silk. Widows wear neck and cuff bands of unstarched white book muslin,
this being the only sort of white permitted during the first period of
mourning. Young widows, especially those who must lead an active life,
often lighten their mourning during the second year and discard it at
the end of the second year. Of course the conventional period of
mourning for a widow is three years, but, if there should be any
indication that a second marriage is contemplated, black should
gradually be put aside.
However, the discarding of mourning is no indication that a woman is
about to change her name, and the wearing of black is so much a matter
of personal feeling that a woman should not be criticised for curtailing
the conventional period.
In this country it is not the custom for young children to wear
mourning, and with men the wearing of a black band about the hat or on
the left arm is all that is deemed necessary.
A woman wearing full mourning refrains from attending the theater or any
large functions. She may properly be seen at concerts, club meetings or
lectures, and she may receive and visit her friends informally.
ETIQUETTE OF THE VISITING CARD.
The prevailing shape for a woman's card is nearly square (about 2-1/2 by
3 inches), while the correct form for a man's card is slightly smaller.
The color should be pure white with a dull finish, while the engraving,
plain script or more elaborate text, is a matter of choice and fashion
varying from time to time. It is safe to trust the opinion of a
first-class stationer in this matter, for styles fluctuate, and he
should be constantly informed of what polite usage demands.
A woman's card should always bear the prefix "Miss" or "Mrs." There is
no exception to this rule save in the case of women who have regularly
graduated in medicine or theology and who are allowed therefore the use
of "Dr." or "Rev." before the name. "Miss" or "Mrs." should not be used
in addition to either of these titles.
The card of a married woman is engraved with her husband's full name,
such as Mrs. William Eaton Brown, but she has no right to any titles he
may bear. If he is a judge or colonel she is still Mrs. James Eaton
Brown and not Mrs. Judge or Mrs. Colonel Brown.
A widow may with propriety retain the same visiting card that she used
during the lifetime of her husband, especially if she has no grown son
who bears his father's name. In that case she generally has her cards
engraved with a part of her full maiden name before her husband's name,
such as Mrs. Mary Baker Brown. In this country a divorced woman, if she
has children, does not discard her husband's family name, neither does
she retain his given name. For social purposes she becomes Mrs. Mary
Baker Brown or, if she wishes, Mrs. Baker Brown.
The address is engraved in the lower right corner of the visiting-card,
and, if a woman has any particular day for receiving her friends, that
fact is announced in the lower left corner. As a rule even informal
notes should not be written on a visiting-card, although when a card
accompanies a gift it is quite proper to write "Best wishes" or
"Greetings" on it. This is even done when a card does not accompany a
gift, but it should be borne in mind that a card message should not take
the place of a note of thanks or be used when a more formal letter is
necessary.
A man's visiting-card should bear his full name with the prefix "Mr."
unless he has a military title above the grade of lieutenant or is a
doctor or clergyman. In these cases the proper title should be used in
place of "Mr." Courtesy titles, although they may be common usage in
conversation and a man may be known by them, are best abandoned on the
visiting-card.
During the first year of marriage cards are engraved thus:
Mr. and Mrs. William Eaton Brown
and this card may be used in sending presents, returning wedding
civilities or making calls, even when the bride is not accompanied by
her husband. After the first year these cards are discarded, and husband
and wife have separate visiting-cards.
In some communities it is not the custom for a young girl to make formal
calls without her mother. To meet this requirement the girl's name with
the prefix "Miss" is engraved on her mother's card, below her mother's
name.
It is no longer considered necessary to leave a number of cards at the
same house when calling in person or sending cards. If there are several
women members of the family one card suffices. If a woman wishes to
leave her husband's card she should leave two, one for the mistress and
one for the man of the house. A woman never leaves a card for a man
unless she has called on him on a matter of business and wishes him to
be reminded of the fact.
At a tea or large afternoon reception a card should be left in the hall
as a guest departs, so as to enable the hostess to preserve a record of
those who have called on her. If she is not able to attend she should
send her visiting-card so that it may arrive on the day of the function.
After a dinner or any formal function she should make a personal call or
leave her card in person.
When making an ordinary call it is not necessary to send one's
visiting-card to the hostess by the servant who opens the door.
Pronouncing the name distinctly is sufficient, but, if it is a first
call, and there is danger that the hostess may not be familiar with the
caller's address, it is best to leave a card on the hall table when
leaving, no matter if the hostess herself conducts her visitor to the
door.
When one is invited but unable to attend a church wedding it is
necessary to send, on the day of the ceremony, cards to those who issue
the invitations. An invitation to a wedding reception or breakfast
demands a more formal acceptance sent immediately on receipt of the
invitation and couched in the same manner in which the invitation reads.
A newcomer in town or a young married woman may receive a card from an
older woman indicating her receiving days and hours. This is a polite
invitation to call, and if she is unable to make a call at the time
indicated she should send a card on that day.
Cards of condolence are left as soon as possible after learning of the
affliction. It is not necessary to write anything on the card; in fact,
it is better not to do so, for, if the acquaintance warrants a personal
message, it should take the form of a letter. On the other hand it is
quite proper in felicitating a friend on a happy event, such as the
announcement of an engagement in the family or the arrival of a new
baby, to send a visiting-card with "Congratulations" written on it.
There are times when it seems necessary to send cards to practically all
one's acquaintances, This is wise after a long absence or a change of
residence, and when one is leaving town for a long period it is proper
to send cards with the French expression, "Pour prendre conge."
FORMALITIES IN DRESS AND ETIQUETTE.
"Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy" was old Polonius' advice to his
son, and he counseled suitability as well. It is this question of
suitability that is the hall mark of correct dressing. A safe rule to
follow, especially in the case of a young woman, is not to be
conspicuous in attire and to conform to the standards of dress as set
down by older women of recognized standing in the town in which she
lives and the community in which her social or business life is spent.
A young girl needs little adorning. Her school or college dresses should
be characterized by their neatness, freshness, correctness of cut and
utility rather than by elaborate trimmings or costly materials. Her
party gowns are simpler than those of a girl who has left school, and
she wears less jewelry. At the end of school life, if her parents are
able and willing to give her a coming-out party, she begins her social
career under the pleasantest auspices, and this is the opportunity for
her first elaborate gown.
The Debutante.
The character of this gown depends largely on the nature of the
entertainment given her.
It most commonly takes the form of an afternoon tea or reception to
which her mother invites all of her friends as well as the younger set.
The debutante receives with her mother and wears an elaborate frock of
light material and color, made high in the neck and with elbow sleeves.
Long white gloves are worn, and her hair is more elaborately arranged
than it was during her school-girl period. In fact, she is now a full-
fledged young lady and is dressed accordingly. Such a gown may serve
later as an informal evening gown, or, if it is made with a detachable
yoke, it may be worn as a dancing-frock or for any evening occasion for
which a full evening gown is expected.
The receiving party at an afternoon function generally includes near
relatives of the debutante, and a number of her intimate girl friends
are asked to assist in various ways. These receive with her and her
mother in the early part of the afternoon and later assist at the tea
table or mingle among the guests. The ladies assisting do not wear hats,
and the young girls in the party are gowned much like the debutante,
except that their gowns may be less elaborate if they choose, and they
do not carry flowers.
A popular girl or one with many family connections may count on a good
many floral offerings on the occasion of her coming-out party. These are
scattered about the room, either left in bunches or arranged in vases.
One large bunch she generally carries in her left hand, and it is a wise
girl who avoids singling out anyone of her men friends by carrying his
flowers. A gift from her father or brother or the flowers sent by some
friend of the family is the better choice. The success a girl makes
during her first year in society depends more on her general popularity
than on the devotion of any one man.
Afternoon Reception.
For an afternoon reception light refreshments, consisting of tea,
coffee, chocolate, perhaps a light claret cup, with cakes and delicate
sandwiches, are sufficient, and these are set out on a long table in a
room adjoining the reception parlors.
If a large number of guests are expected it is necessary to have a maid
or two in attendance to remove cups and saucers, keep the tea urn
replenished with hot water and to bring additional cakes and sandwiches
if the supply on the table is in danger of running short. Two women
friends are generally asked to preside at the refreshment table, one at
each end to pour tea and chocolate, and, as this task is an arduous one
and much of the success of the entertainment depends on its being well
done, it is advisable to relieve the ladies in charge during the
afternoon. This, however, like every other feature of the entertainment,
should be arranged beforehand. The charm of an afternoon reception lies
in its apparent informality, but every detail should be considered in
advance and all contingencies provided for. The debutante, and
especially her mother, should be relieved from all such responsibilities
before the guests begin to come.
The mother's duties consist in welcoming her guests and presenting her
daughter to them. If many people are arriving the guests are quickly
passed on to some one of the ladies assisting, whose duty it is to see
that they meet some of those who are already in the room and are
eventually asked to the tea table. A part of the receiving party, and
certainly the hostess and her daughter, should remain together in a
place where they may be easily found as the guests enter the room.
No more sympathetic act of friendship can be shown a debutante than to
contribute toward the success of her party. Girls who are asked to
assist should remember that their first duty is not to entertain their
own friends who may happen to be present, but to see that everyone is
welcome and that especially those who are not acquainted with many in
the room have an opportunity to become so. Anyone asked to assist at a
function of this sort is in a sense a hostess, and it is quite within
her province to enter into conversation with any unoccupied guest
whether she has been introduced or not.
The usual hours for an afternoon tea are from four to six, but in the
case of a coming-out reception the hour is often prolonged to seven so
as to allow more men to be present than would be the case if the time
were restricted to the early afternoon. In these busy days few men are
at liberty to make afternoon calls, and it is always a compliment to a
girl if her tea includes a sprinkling of black coats. Whatever hours are
decided on, they should be engraved on the cards sent out two weeks
before the tea. These are of the form and size of an ordinary
visiting-card and include the daughter's name below that of her
mother's. If she is the eldest unmarried daughter or the only girl in
the family the card reads as follows:
Mrs. Geo. Baker Blank
Miss Blank
December 9, 1911
4 to 7 o'clock
The daughter's given name is only used in case she has an older
unmarried sister.
Ball and Evening Reception.
A more elaborate form of coming-out party consists of a ball or of an
evening reception followed by dancing, and in this case the card
contains the word "Dancing" below the date of the entertainment and the
hours at which it is given. Few homes are large enough to provide for
even a small dance, and so a party of this sort is generally given at a
hotel. The guests as well as the receiving party wear evening gowns
without hats, and men are expected to come in full evening clothes,
which means the long-tailed coats and not the popular Tuxedo, white
gloves, and, although this is not obligatory, white waistcoats.
After a girl has been introduced into society she has her individual
visiting-cards, makes her own calls and is allowed to receive her own
friends. Social customs differ with locality, and the chaperon is less
customary in the West than in the East. In many cities girls are allowed
to go to the theater and to evening parties with a man friend without a
married woman being included in the party. A wise girl, however, is
careful that any man she meets shall be introduced as soon as possible
to some older member of her family and to introduce a young man calling
for the first time to either her mother or father. Also when she accepts
an invitation to an evening's entertainment she insists that her escort
shall call for her at her own home and bring her directly home at the
close of it. Dining or supping at a restaurant alone with a young man is
sure to expose a girl to criticism.
A Woman's Lunch.
There are many pleasant forms of entertainment offered to a young girl
entering society in which men are not included, and the most popular of
these is a woman's lunch. This is a favorite form of entertainment for a
young married woman to give in honor of some girl friend who has just
come out in society or whose engagement has just been announced. One
o'clock or half after is the usual hour, and the meal is served in
courses and is as elaborate as the household resources may allow. The
decorations of the table are important, and three courses are sufficient
if they are carefully arranged. Handsome street costumes are worn for a
function of this sort, and the guest of honor, if there is one, dresses
as the others do. Outer wraps are left in the hall or in a room put
aside for this purpose, and, as a rule, hats are retained and gloves
removed when the guests sit down at table.
The custom of wearing a hat during lunch is not an arbitrary one, and it
is not universal. In France, for example, where social customs are most
carefully observed, it is the custom to wear handsome afternoon gowns if
invited for the noon meal and to remove hats. The noon meal there is a
social function, and certain formalities are observed. In London, on the
contrary, no matter if a number of guests are expected, lunch is an
informal occasion, and women dress for lunch as they would for an
afternoon tea.
Hats are worn and women are prepared to rush off afterwards to meet
other engagements. The English custom prevails now in the large cities
in America, and, moreover, women seem disinclined to remove their hats
after they are once dressed for the round of the day's social
obligations.
It is simpler and really quite conventional to leave the wearing of hats
to the individual. The hostess should ask her guest if she wishes to
take her hat off or retain it, and she can at the same time intimate to
her guest, if she is a stranger in the town, what the others will
probably do in this connection. True hospitality on the part of the
hostess is to make her guests at ease, and true politeness on the part
of the visitor is to conform to the rules governing the community that
she is visiting.
PROPER APPAREL FOR MEN.
American gentlemen are no longer dependent on English tailors or on
English fashions as they were some years ago. The American type of
physique is a distinct one, and London tailors have never been able to
fit American men as well as they do their own clients. Moreover social
life is so different in the United States from what it is in England
that men really need different clothes.
Practically all American men are business men for the working hours of
the day, and few of them have any time or inclination for anything save
business clothes while daylight lasts. For dinner or for the evening
what are generally called evening clothes are permissible, and in fact
obligatory in large cities for anything beyond the most informal home
functions.
For the evening there is the informal and formal dress suit. The former
consists of the long-tailed coat worn with either a white or black
waistcoat. For a dancing party or formal dinner the white waistcoat is
generally preferred, and, if it is worn, it must be accompanied by a
white lawn tie. A made-up bow is considered incorrect. The
accompaniments to a suit of this sort are patent-leather shoes and white
kid gloves if dancing is a part of the evening programme.
The informal evening suit includes the shorter dinner jacket or Tuxedo,
as it was formerly called, and, strictly speaking, this is only
considered proper for the club or for parties where ladies are not
expected to be present. However, men who commonly dress for dinner in
the home circle generally prefer the dinner jacket to the long coat, and
well-dressed men are often seen wearing it at small dinner parties, at
the theater or at any informal evening event. This coat is always worn
with a black tie and waistcoat, and it is not a suitable apparel for a
dance or any large formal evening affair.
The correct dress for a daytime wedding is a black frock coat with light
trousers, light fancy waistcoat and gray gloves and gray Ascot or
four-in-hand tie, and the frock coat with black waistcoat proper for
church or when making afternoon calls. Many young men are adopting for
afternoon wear the English morning suit, which consists of a cutaway
coat with trousers and waistcoat to match and made of some other color
save black.
WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES.
First Anniversary Cotton Wedding
Second Anniversary Paper Wedding
Third Anniversary Leather Wedding
Fifth Anniversary Wooden Wedding
Seventh Anniversary Woolen Wedding
Tenth Anniversary Tin Wedding
Twelfth Anniversary Silk and Fine Linen Wedding
Fifteenth Anniversary Crystal Wedding
Twentieth Anniversary China Wedding
Twenty-fifth Anniversary Silver Wedding
Thirtieth Anniversary Pearl Wedding
Fortieth Anniversary Ruby Wedding
Fiftieth Anniversary Golden Wedding
Seventy-fifth Anniversary Diamond Wedding
HOW TO SELECT COLORS
The Natural Laws of Tints, Tones, Shades and Hues.
Some combinations of color are pleasing to the eye, and some are
discordant. The reasons for this are based on natural laws and are
explained in a very simple manner in a learned article by Dr. W. K. Carr
which originally appeared in Shop Notes Quarterly. Impressions continue
upon the retina of the eye, says Dr. Carr, about one-sixth of a second
after the object has been moved. For this reason a point of light or
flame whirled swiftly around appears as a continuous ring. Or take a
piece or red ribbon, place it on white paper, look intently at it for
thirty seconds and suddenly remove the ribbon. The portion of the paper
which was covered by the ribbon will then appear green. The explanation
is that the color sensation in the eye is caused by the almost
unthinkably rapid whirling of electrons around their atoms, and that the
retina, becoming fatigued by the vibration of the red, is therefore less
sensitive to them. When the ribbon is suddenly removed, the eye sees,
not the blue, yellow and red which produce the white surface of the
paper, but, because of the fatigue of the eye to the red, it sees only
the blue and yellow constituents of the white light. But blue and yellow
produce green; hence the tendency at the eye to see the complementary of
a color. This may be referred to as the "successive contrast of colors."
Colors for Blondes and for Brunettes.
Now, for a practical application of this knowledge.
The hair of the blond is a mixture of red, yellow and brown. As a rule
the skin is lighter, that is, it contains not so much orange, and the
tinges of red are lighter. Nature, therefore, very properly made the
blond's eyes blue, since the blue is complementary to the orange of her
hair.
The brunette's skin, on the other hand, has more orange in it, and hence
a color favorable to one would not be becoming to the other.
What would be the effect of green upon a complexion deficient in red? It
would certainly heighten the rose tints in the cheeks, but the greatest
care should be exercised in the selection of the proper shade of green,
because the brunette's complexion contains a great deal of orange, and
the green, acting upon the red of the orange, could readily produce a
brick-dust appearance. Green, therefore, is a risky color for a
brunette, and so is violet, which would neutralize the yellow of the
orange and heighten the red. But if the orange complexion had more
yellow than red, then the association of violet would produce pallor.
Yellow, of course, is her color, since its complementary violet
neutralizes the yellow of the orange complexion and leaves the red.
But with the yellow-haired blond the conditions are very different. The
complementary of blue is orange, which improves the hair and freshens
the light flesh tints. A blond, therefore can wear blue, just as a
brunette can wear yellow.
In arranging flowers the same law holds. Complementary colors should be
placed side by side; blue with orange, yellow with violet, red and rose
with green leaves. And anyone who successfully selects his wall paper
and house furnishings is drawing unconsciously, perhaps, on an intuitive
knowledge of these fundamental facts. Dark papers are bad, especially in
rooms with a northern exposure, because they absorb too much light. The
complementaries of red and violet are exceedingly trying to most
complexions, and orange and orange-yellow are fatiguing to the eye. The
most pleasing effects are to be had with yellow, light blue and light
green, for the latter freshens the red in pale skins, and the blue
heightens blond complexions, and goes well with gilding and with
mahogany and cherry furniture.
COLOR CONTRAST AND HARMONY.
The following tables will be found useful in selecting colors for dress,
decoration, or any other purpose in which the proper application of the
true laws of contrast and harmony in color is desirable:
Contrasts in Color.
Yellow contrasts with--
Purple, russet, and auburn.
Red contrasts with--
Green, olive, and drab.
Blue contrasts with--
Orange, citrine, and buff.
Harmonies in Color.
Yellow harmonizes with--
Orange, green, citrine, russet, buff, and drab.
Red harmonizes with--
Orange, purple, russet, citrine, auburn, and buff.
Blue harmonizes with--
Purple, green, olive, citrine, drab, and auburn.
THE CARE OF THE TEETH.
Decay of the teeth, or caries, commences externally, appearing upon the
enamel or bony structure of the teeth. Usually it is the result of
chemical action produced by decomposition of food. Acids found in some
fruits will cause decay if allowed to remain in contact with the teeth.
Then there are the natural mouth acids, which, although not strong, are
none the less effective if allowed to remain long enough around the
teeth. Microscopical examinations have shown that the secretions of
almost every person's month contain more or less vegetable and animal
life that will withstand the application of acids and astringents and
will only succumb to alkalies. A dentifrice or mouth wash should be
alkaline.
Toothache.
Toothache is not always due to an exposed nerve, for in the majority of
teeth extracted because they are painful the nerve is dead. Inflammation
is often the cause of the trouble.
A toothache due to inflammation is a steady, aggravating pain,
overspreading the affected side of the face, sometimes even the neck and
shoulder. As there is no nerve to kill in a case of this kind, the tooth
should be treated until cured, or removed upon the first symptom of
trouble. Its extraction would be unattended by any danger and would
afford welcome relief.
Tartar, a creamy, calcareous deposit, supposed to be from the saliva,
will sometimes cause toothache. It accumulates around the necks of the
teeth and eventually becomes hard and dark-colored. It also causes foul
breath and loosens the gums from the teeth, causing them to present an
unsightly appearance.
The Teeth of Children.
Children have twenty temporary teeth, which begin making their
appearance about the sixth or seventh month. The time varies in
different children. This is the most dangerous and troublesome period of
the child's existence, and every parent will do well to consult a
reputable dentist. About the second or third year the temporary teeth
are fully developed. They require the same care to preserve them as is
exercised toward the permanent set.
About the sixth year, or soon after, four permanent molars, or double
teeth, make their appearance. Some parents mistakenly suppose these
belong to the first set. It is a serious error. They are permanent
teeth, and if lost will be lost forever. No teeth that come after the
sixth year are ever shed. Let every parent remember this.
At twelve years the second set is usually complete, with the exception
of the wisdom teeth, which appear anywhere from the eighteenth to the
twenty-fourth year. When the second set is coming in the beauty and
character of the child's countenance is completed or forever spoiled.
Everything depends upon proper care at this time to see that the teeth
come with regularity and are not crowded together. The teeth cannot have
too much room. When a little separated they are less liable to decay.
Dentifrices--Useful and Injurious.
The habit of caring for the teeth daily, and if possible after each
meal, should be established early in life.
Those who have neglected to do so should lose no time in consulting a
reputable dentist, and then persistently caring for their teeth day by
day. Children especially should be taught to use the tooth-brush and
some reliable dentifrice. The more pleasant the preparation the easier
it will be to teach them its daily use. A fragrant, refreshing liquid is
recommended, as it is a mouth wash as well as a tooth cleanser. The
habit thus formed, neglected for even a single day, will make the mouth
feel decidedly uncomfortable.
Cleansing the Teeth.
Preparations for cleansing the teeth and purifying the mouth should be
free from all acids, and should be saponaceous or soapy, containing as
one of the principal ingredients an alkali to neutralize the acids and
destroy the animal and vegetable parasites which, as the microscope
would show us, are in the secretions of almost every person's mouth.
A finely triturated powder having slight abrasive properties, but free
from dangerous grit, should be used as the complement of a liquid. One
way to use both is to pour on the wet brush or into the palm of the hand
a sufficient quantity of powder and moisten it with the liquid.
Occasionally the powder or the liquid alone could be employed. Be
careful to use a liquid and powder of established reputation.
Beware of thy teeth.
Take good care of thy teeth,
And they will take good care of thee.
THE PERFECT FEMALE FIGURE.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Miss Helen Loewe, a student at the
Chicago Art Institute, is credited by art critics with closely
approaching the standard of physical perfection set by statues of the
goddess Venus. Miss Loewe was posed as a model for a series of
photographs issued for the benefit of the playground fund of Oak Park.
Aside from the artistic nature of Miss Loewe, a comparison of
measurements with those of the typically perfect figure explains part of
the success of these photographic studies.
Miss Loewe. Perfect figure.
5 ft. 7 in Height. 5 ft. 8 in.
138 Weight 140
13-1/2 Neck 13
32 Chest 33
36 Bust 37
22 Waist 23
36 Hips 39
22 Thigh 24
10 Upper arm 11
8-1/2 Forearm 9
14 Calf 15
MEN AND COMPLEXIONS.
Dr. Katherine Blackford, of Boston, speaking of men's complexions,
arrives at the following conclusions. There are, of course, exceptions
to all rules: "As a general rule, the blonds are inconstant. They change
their minds too often. They get angry one moment and forgive the next.
They are impulsive, and when they do commit crimes they are done on the
impulse of the moment. A blond radiates his personality about him. The
brunette, on the other hand as a rule, likes to concentrate on one
subject. He is a specialist. He prefers his home and family, and his
pleasures are more often lectures and kindred entertainments than those
of a lighter order. He learns slowly, but he retains what he knows far
better than does the blond."
HOW THE BABY'S MIND DEVELOPS.
In his book on "The Development of the Intellect," Mr. H. W. Brown
presents a conspectus of the observations of Prof. Preyer on the mind of
the child which shows chronologically the gradual development of the
senses, intellect and will of the growing child and presents in a
condensed form the result of a great number of careful observations.
It is recorded that sensibility to light, touch, temperature, smell and
taste are present on the first day of infant life. Hearing, therefore,
is the only special sense which is not active at this time. The child
hears by the third or fourth day. Taste and smell are senses at the
first most active, but they are differentiated. General organic
sensations of well being or discomfiture are felt from the first, but
pain and pleasure as mental states are not noted till at or near the
second month.
The first sign of speech in the shape of utterance of consonant sounds
is heard about the end of the second month, these consonants being
generally "m," "r," "g," or "t." All the movements of the eyes become
co-ordinate by the fourth month, and by this time the child begins to
have the "feeling of self," that is, he looks at his own hands and looks
at himself in the mirror. The study of the child's mind during the first
year shows conclusively that ideas develop and reasoning processes occur
before there is any knowledge of words or of language; though it may be
assumed that the child thinks in symbols, visual or auditory, which are
clumsy equivalents for words. By the end of the year the child begins to
express itself by sounds--that is, speech begins. The development of
this speech capacity is, according to Preyer, in accordance with the
development of the intellectual powers. By the end of the second year
the child's power of speech is practically acquired.
THE WONDERFUL HUMAN BRAIN.
According to the novel computations of a renowned histologist, who has
been calculating the aggregate cell forces of the human brain, the
cerebral mass is composed of at least 300,000,000 of nerve cells, each
an independent body, organism, and microscopic brain so far as concerns
its vital functions, but subordinate to a higher purpose in relation to
the functions of the organ; each living a separate life individually,
though socially subject to a higher law of function.
The lifetime of a nerve cell he estimates to be about sixty days, so
that 5,000,000 die every day, about 200,000 every hour, and nearly 3,500
every minute, to be succeeded by an equal number of their progeny; while
once in every sixty days a man has a new brain.
MOURNING COLORS THE WORLD OVER.
Black is by no means the only color used by man to express grief or
mourning for the dead. In the South Sea Islands the natives express
sorrow and hope by stripes of black and white. Grayish brown, the color
of the earth to which the dead return, is used in Ethiopia. Pale brown,
the color of withered leaves, is the mourning of Persia. Sky-blue, to
express the assured hope that the deceased has gone to heaven, is the
mourning of Syria, Cappadocia, and Armenia. Deep blue in Bokhara. Purple
and violet, to express "kings and queens to God," was the color of
mourning for cardinals and kings of France. The color of mourning in
Turkey is violet. White (emblem of hope) is the color of mourning in
China. Henry VIII. wore white for Anne Boleyn. The ladies of ancient
Rome and Sparta wore white. It was the color of mourning in Spain till
1498. Yellow is the color of mourning in Egypt and in Burmah. Anne
Boleyn wore yellow mourning for Catharine of Aragon.
CURIOUS FACTS ABOUT HAIR.
The hair of men is finer than that of women.
The average weight of a head of hair is from 5 to 12 ounces.
On an average head there are about 1,000 hairs to the square inch.
Hair will stretch about one-fourth of its length and retract nearly to
its original length.
Four hairs of good strength will hold suspended a one-pound weight. A
single head of hair, of average growth, would therefore hold suspended
an entire audience of 200 people.
THINGS THAT ARE MISNAMED
Catgut is gut of sheep.
Baffin's Bay is no bay at all.
Arabic figures were invented by the Indians.
Turkish baths are not of Turkish origin.
Blacklead is a compound of carbon and iron.
Slave by derivation should mean noble, illustrious.
Turkeys do not come from Turkey, but North America.
Titmouse is not a mouse, but a little hedge sparrow.
Dutch clocks are of German (Deutsch), not Dutch manufacture.
Salt (that is table salt) is not a salt at all, but "chloride of
sodium."
Galvanized iron is not galvanized--simply iron coated with zinc.
Ventriloquism is not voice from the stomach, but from the mouth.
Kid gloves are not kid at all, but are made of lambskin or sheepskin.
Pompey's Pillar, in Alexandria, was erected neither by nor to Pompey.
Tonquin beans come from Tonka, in Guinea, not Tonquin, in Asia.
Fire, air, earth, and water, called the four elements, are not elements
at all.
Rice paper is not made from rice, but from the pith of Tungtsau, or
hollowplant.
Japan lacquer contains no lac at all, but is made from the resin of a
kind of nut tree.
Pen means a feather. (Latin. "penna," a wing.) A steel pen is therefore
an anomaly.
Jerusalem artichoke has no connection with Jerusalem, but with the
sunflower, "girasole."
Humble pie, for "umbil pie." The umbils of venison were served to
inferiors and servants.
Lunar caustic is simply nitrate of silver, and silver is the
astrological symbol of the moon.
Bridegroom has nothing to do with groom. It is the old English "guma," a
man, "bryd-guma."
Mother of pearl is the inner layer of several sorts of shell, and in
some cases the matrix of the pearl.
Sealing wax is not wax at all nor does it contain wax. It is made of
shellac, Venice turpentine and cinnabar.
Cleopatra's Needles were not erected by Cleopatra, nor in honor of that
queen, but by Thothmes III.
German silver is not silver at all, but a metallic mixture which has
been in use in China time out of mind.
Cuttle-bone is not bone, but a structure of pure chalk imbedded loosely
in the substance of a species of cuttlefish.
America was named after Amerigo Vespucci, a naval astronomer of
Florence, but he did not discover the New World.
Prussian blue does not come from Prussia. It is the precipitate of the
salt of protoxide of iron with red prussiate of potass.
Wormwood has nothing to do with worms or wood; it is the Anglo-Saxon
"wer mod," man-inspiriting, being a strong tonic.
Honeydew is neither honey nor dew, but an animal substance given off by
certain insects, especially when hunted by ants.
Gothic architecture is not that of the Goths, but the ecclesiastical
style employed in England and France before the Renaissance.
Sperm oil properly means "seed oil," from the notion that it was spawn
or milt of a whale. It is chiefly taken, however, from the head, not the
spawn of the "spermaceti" whale.
Whalebone is not bone, nor does it possess any properties of bone. It is
a substance attached to the upper jaw of the whale, and serves to strain
the water which the creature takes up.
THE LANGUAGE OF THE FLAG.
To "strike a flag" is to lower the national colors in token of
submission.
Flags are used as the symbol of rank and command, the officers using
them being called flag officers. Such flags are square, to distinguish
them from other banners.
A "flag of truce" is a white flag displayed to an enemy to indicate a
desire to parley or for consultation.
The white flag is a sign of peace. After a battle parties from both
sides often go out to the field to rescue the wounded or bury dead under
the protection of a white flag.
The red flag is a sign of defiance, and is often used by revolutionists.
In the naval service it is a mark of danger, and shows a vessel to be
receiving or discharging her powder.
The black flag is a sign of piracy.
The yellow flag shows a vessel to be at quarantine or is the sign of a
contagious disease.
A flag at half-mast means mourning. Fishing and other vessels return
with a flag at half-mast to announce the loss or death of some of the
men.
Dipping the flag is lowering it slightly and then hoisting it again to
salute a vessel or fort.
If the President of the United States goes afloat the American flag is
carried in the bows of his barge or hoisted at the main of the vessel on
board of which he is.
DEATH SENTENCE OF THE SAVIOR.
The following is said to be the sentence of death, word for word,
pronounced against Jesus Christ:
Sentence pronounced by Pontius Pilate, intendent of the lower province
of Galilee, that Jesus of Nazareth shall suffer death by the cross. In
the seventeenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, and on the 24th
day of the month, in the most holy city of Jerusalem, during the
pontificate of Annas and Caiaphas.
Pontius Pilate, intendent of the Province of Lower Galilee, sitting to
judgment in the presidential seat of the Praetors, sentences Jesus of
Nazareth to death on a cross between robbers, as the numerous and
notorious testimonies of the people prove:
1. Jesus is a misleader.
2. He has excited the people to sedition.
3. He is an enemy to the laws.
4. He calls himself the son of God.
5. He calls himself, falsely, the King of Israel.
6. He went to the temple followed by a multitude carrying palms in their
hands. Orders from the first centurion Quirrillis Cornelius to bring him
to the place of execution. Forbids all persons, rich or poor, to prevent
the execution of Jesus.
The witnesses who have signed the execution of Jesus are:
1. Daniel Robani, Pharisee.
2. John Zorobabic.
3. Raphael Robani.
4. Capet.
Jesus is to be taken out of Jerusalem through the gate of Tournes.
THE HORSE'S PRAYER.
To thee, my master, I offer my prayer: Feed, water and care for me; and
when the day's work is done, provide me with shelter and a clean, dry
bed. Always be kind to me. Pet me sometimes, that I may serve you the
more gladly and learn to love you. Do not jerk the reins, and do not
whip me when going up hill. Never strike, beat or kick me when I do not
understand what you want, but give me a chance to understand you. Watch
me, and if I fail to do your bidding, see if something is not wrong with
my harness or feet.
Do not overload me or hitch me where water will drip on me. Keep me well
shod. Examine my teeth when I do not eat; I may have an ulcerated tooth,
and that, you know, is painful. Do not tie or check my head in an
unnatural position or take away my best defence against flies and
mosquitoes by cutting off my mane or tail.
I cannot tell you when I am thirsty, so give me clean, cool water often.
I cannot tell you in words when I am sick, so watch me and by signs you
may know my condition. Give me all possible shelter from the hot sun,
and put a blanket on me not when I am working, but when I am standing in
the cold. Never put a frosty bit in my mouth; first warm it by holding
it in your hands.
I try to carry you and your burdens without a murmur, and wait patiently
for you long hours of the day or night. Without the power to choose my
shoes or path, I sometimes fall on the hard pavements, and I must be
ready at any moment to lose my life in your service.
And finally, O, my master, when my useful strength is gone, do not turn
me out to starve or freeze, nor sell me to some human brute to be slowly
tortured and starved to death, but do thou, my master, take my life in
the kindest way, and your God will reward you here and hereafter. Amen.
A LADY'S CHANCE OF MARRYING.
Every woman has some chance to marry. It may be one to fifty, or it may
be ten to one that she will. Representing her entire chance at one
hundred at certain points of her progress in time, it is found to be in
the following ratio:
Between the ages of 15 and 20 years 14-1/2 percent
Between the ages of 20 and 25 years 52 per cent
Between the ages of 25 and 30 years 18 per cent
Between the ages of 30 and 35 years 15-1/2 per cent
Between the ages of 35 and 40 years 3-3/4 per cent
Between the ages of 40 and 45 years 2-1/2 per cent
Between the ages of 45 and 50 years 3/4 of 1 percent
Between the ages of 50 and 56 years 1/8 of 1 per cent
After sixty it is one-tenth of one per cent, or one chance in a thousand.
Some hae meat and canna' eat,
And some wad eat who want it;
But we hae meat and we can eat,
So let the Lord be thankit.
HINTS ON SHAVING.
Learn to shave right.
Don't shave in a hurry.
Have the water hot enough so that it won't cool too quickly.
Wash the face with soap and hot water before lathering, especially if
the beard is hard.
Have the lather very soapy--thin enough to spread easily, yet thick
enough so it won't drop. Rub well into the face with the brush, then
with the fingers. The longer you lather and the more you rub, the easier
the shave.
The hair usually grows downward. Shave with the grain, not against it.
Use a sliding motion, as well as downward.
If you get a "nick," wash with cold water. Rubbing the cut with a piece
of lump alum will stop the bleeding at once and help to heal.
Hold the razor properly. Lay it as flat as possible--the back of razor
nearly touching the skin. Have it under easy control. Don't grab it--an
easy position means an easy shave.
A poor strop will spoil the best razor ever made.
To buy a good razor and a cheap strop is pour economy.
If you prefer a swing strop, pull it as tightly as you can. Better use a
stiff strop--cushion or solid--if in doubt.
A serious mistake made by a number of self-shavers is to hold the strop
loose. This bends the invisible teeth and rounds the edge.
Strop your razor before and after shaving. This keeps the edge free from
rust.
Dip your razor in hot water before stropping and shaving. This dissolves
the accumulation in the invisible teeth.
Press as hard as you like on the back of the blade, but very lightly on
the edge.
As you reach the end of the strop, turn the razor on the back of the
blade to strop the other side, pulling toward you.
Keep rust away from your strop, and remember that a cut in the strop
will ruin your razor. Don't use a strop that is cut.
FACTS TO SETTLE ARGUMENTS
Telephone invented. 1861.
There are 2,750 languages.
Sound moves 743 miles per hour.
Hawks can fly 150 miles an hour.
Chinese invented paper, 170 B. C.
A hand, horse measure, is 4 inches.
German Empire re-established, 1871.
Storm clouds move 36 miles an hour.
The first steel pen was made in 1830.
Phonographs invented by Edison, 1877.
Light moves 187,000 miles per second.
Watches were first constructed in 1476.
First steamer crossed the Atlantic, 1819.
Rome was founded by Romulus, 752 B. C.
First musical notes used, 1338; printed, 1502.
The first Atlantic cable was operated in 1858.
The first balloon ascended from Lyons, France, 1783.
Slow rivers flow at the rate of seven-tenths of a mile per hour.
Napoleon I. crowned Emperor, 1804; died at St. Helena, 1820.
Harvard, the oldest college in the United States, was founded, 1638.
The first steam engine on this continent was brought from England, 1753.
The most extensive park is Deer Park in Denmark. It contains 4,200
acres.
Measure 209 ft. on each side and you will have a square acre, to an
inch.
Albert Durer gave the world a prophecy of future wood engraving in 1527.
The first iron ore discovered in this country was found in Virginia in
1715.
"Bravest of the Brave" was the title given to Marshal Ney at Friedland,
1807.
The highest bridge in the world, 360 ft. from the surface of the water,
is over a gorge at Constantine in Algiers.
The first volunteer fire company in the United States was at
Philadelphia, 1736.
St. Augustine, oldest city in the United States, founded by the
Spaniards, 1565.
Jamestown, Va., founded, 1607; first permanent English settlement in
America.
Books in their present form were invented by Attalus, kind of Pergamos,
198 B. C.
Robert Raikes established the first Sunday-school, at Gloucester,
England, 1781.
Oberlin College, Ohio, was the first in the United States that admitted
female students.
The first knives were used in England, and the first wheeled carriages
in France, in 1559.
The largest park in the United States is Fairmont, at Philadelphia, and
contains 2.740 acres.
The highest natural bridge in the world is at Rockbridge, Virginia,
being 200 feet high to the bottom of the arch.
The largest empire in the world is that of Great Britain, being
8,557,658 square miles, and more than a sixth part of the globe.
The first electrical signal ever transmitted between Europe and America
passed over the Field submarine cable on Aug. 5, 1858.
Paris was known as Lutetia until 1184, when the name of the great French
capital was changed to that which it has borne ever since.
The longest tunnel in the world is St. Gothard, on the line of the
railroad between Lucerne and Milan, being 9-1/2 miles in length.
Burnt brick were known to have been used in building the Tower of Babel.
They were introduced into England by the Romans.
The loftiest active volcano is Popocatapetl. It is 17,784 feet high, and
has a crater three miles in circumference and 1,000 feet deep.
The largest insurance company in the world is the Mutual Life of New
York City, having cash and real estate assets of over $350,000,000.
The Latin tongue became obsolete about 580.
The value of a ton of pure gold is $602,799.21.
First authentic use of organs, 755; in England, 951.
Ether was first used for surgical purposes in 1844.
Ignatius Loyola founded the order of Jesuits, 1541.
The first newspaper advertisement appeared in 1652.
Benjamin Franklin used the first lightning rods, 1752.
Glass windows (colored) were used in the 8th century.
The largest desert is Sahara, in Northern Africa. Its length is 3,000
miles and breadth 900 miles, having an area of 2,000,000 square miles.
The most remarkable echo known is that in the castle of Simonetta, two
miles from Milan. It repeats the echo of a pistol shot sixty times.
The first deaf and dumb asylum was founded in England, by Thomas
Braidwood, 1760; and the first in the United States was at Hartford,
1817.
The largest diamond in the world is the Braganza, being a part of the
Portugese jewels. It weighs 1,880 carats. It was found in Brazil in
1741.
The "Valley of Death," in the island of Java, is simply the crater of an
extinct volcano, filled with carbonic acid gas. It is half a mile in
circumference.
The grade of titles in Great Britain stands in the following order from
the highest: A Prince, Duke, Marquis, Earl, Viscount, Baron, Baronet,
Knight.
The city of Amsterdam, Holland, is built upon piles driven into the
ground. It is intersected by numerous canals, crossed by nearly three
hundred bridges.
Coal was used as fuel in England as early as 852, and in 1234 the first
charter to dig it was granted by Henry III. to the inhabitants of
Newcastle-on-Tyne.
The present national colors of the United States were not adopted by
Congress until 1777. The flag was first used by Washington at Cambridge,
January 1, 1776.
Tobacco was discovered in San Domingo in 1496; afterwards by the
Spaniards in Yucatan in 1520. It was Introduced into France in 1560, and
into England in 1583.
Kerosene was first used for illuminating in 1826.
Cork is the bark taken from a species of the oak tree.
National banks first established in the United States, 1816.
Introduction of homoeopathy into the United States, 1825.
Egyptian pottery is the oldest known; dates from 2,000 B. C.
Authentic history of China commenced 3.000 years B. C.
The largest free territorial government is the United States.
The Chaldeans were the first people who worked in metals.
Spectacles were invented by an Italian in the 13th century.
Soap was first manufactured in England in the 16th century.
Julius Caesar invaded Britain, 55 B. C.; assassinated, 44 B. C.
Medicine was introduced into Rome from Greece, 200 B. C.
First electric telegraph, Paddington to Brayton, England, 1835.
First photographs produced in England, 1802; perfected, 1841.
First life insurance, in London, 1772; in America, Philadelphia. 1812.
Slavery in the United States was begun at Jamestown, Va. in 1619.
The highest denomination of legal-tender notes in the United States is
$10,000.
Postage stamps first came into use in England in the year 1840; in the
United States, in 1847.
The highest range of mountains are the Himalayas, the mean elevation
being from 16,000 to 18,000 feet.
The term "Almighty Dollar" originated with Washington Irving, as a
satire on the American love for gain.
The largest inland sea is the Caspian, between Europe and Asia, being
700 miles long and 270 miles wide.
A span is ten and seven-eighths inches.
First watches made in Nuremberg, 1476.
Pianoforte invented in Italy about 1710.
The value of a ton of silver is $37,704.84.
French and Indian War in America, 1754.
A hurricane moves eighty miles per hour.
Coaches were first used in England in 1569.
The first horse railroad was built in 1826-7.
Electricity moves 288,000 miles per second.
Modern needles first came into use in 1545.
The average human life is thirty-three years.
French Revolution, 1789; Reign of Terror, 1793.
$1,000,000 gold coin weighs 3,685.8 lb. avoirdupois.
Mormons arrived at Salt Lake Valley, Utah, July 24, 1847.
The largest cavern in the world is the Mammoth Cave, Kentucky.
Experiments in electric lighting, by Thomas A. Edison, 1878-80.
Daguerre and Nieper invented the process of daguerreotype, 1839.
First American library founded at Harvard College, Cambridge, 1638.
First cotton raised in the United States was in Virginia, in 1621; first
exported, 1747.
First sugar-cane cultivated in the United States, near New Orleans,
1751; first sugar-mill, 1758.
First telegraph in operation in America was between Washington and
Baltimore, May 27, 1844.
The largest university is Oxford, in England. It consists of twenty-one
colleges and five halls.
The first illumination with gas was in Cornwall, Eng., 1792; in the
United States, at Boston, 1822.
Printing was known in China in the 6th century; introduced into England
about 1474; America, 1516.
The great wall of China, built 200 B. C. is 1,250 miles in length, 20
feet high, and 25 feet thick at the base.
Glass mirrors first made by Venetians in the 13th century. Polished
metal was used before that time.
Meerschaum means "froth of the sea." It is white and soft when dug from
the earth, but soon hardens.
In round numbers, the weight of $1,000,000 in standard gold coin is
1-3/4 tons; standard silver coin, 26-3/4 tons; subsidiary silver coin,
25 tons; minor coin, 5-cent nickel, 100 tons.
The highest monument in the world is the Washington monument, being 555
feet. The highest structure of any kind is the Eiffel Tower, Paris,
finished in 1889, and 989 feet high.
There has been no irregularity in the recurrence of leap year every four
years since 1800, except in 1900, which was a common year, although it
came fourth after the preceding leap year.
It is claimed that crows, eagles, ravens and swans live to be 100 years
old; herons, 59, parrots, 60; pelicans and geese, 50; skylarks, 30;
sparrow hawks, 40; peacocks, canaries and cranes, 24.
The greatest cataract in the world is Niagara, the height of the
American falls being 165 feet. The highest fall of water in the world is
that of the Yosemite in California, being 2,550 feet.
The most ancient catacombs are those of the Theban kings, begun 4,000
years ago. The catacombs of Rome contain the remains of about 6,000,000
human beings; those of Paris, 3,000,000.
The first English newspaper was the English Mercury, issued in the reign
of Queen Elizabeth, and was issued in the shape of a pamphlet. The
Gazette of Venice was the original model of the modern newspaper.
The Great Eastern, at one time the greatest steamer afloat, and twice as
long as any other vessel at the time of her launching, in 1858, was 692
feet in length and 118 feet in breadth. She was too large to be handled
profitably with the motive power then available, but proved
indispensable in the laying of the Atlantic cable. She was broken up and
sold as junk, although the Isherwood system, on which she was built, has
since been revived, and is now successfully employed in shipbuilding.
The seven sages flourished in Greece in the 6th century B. C. They were
renowned for their maxims of life, and as the authors of the mottoes
inscribed in the Delphian Temple. Their names are: Solon, Chilo,
Pittacus, Bias, Periander, Cleobolus, and Thales.
A "monkey wrench" is not so named because it is a handy thing to monkey
with, or for any kindred reason. "Monkey" is not its name at all, but
"Moncky." Charles Moncky, the inventor of it, sold his patent for
$2,000, and invested the money in a house in Williamsburgh, Kings
County, N. Y.
The "Seven Wonders of the World" are seven most remarkable objects of
the ancient world. They are: The Pyramids of Egypt, Pharos of
Alexandria, Walls and Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Temple of Diana at
Ephesus, the Statue of the Olympian Jupiter, Mausoleum of Artemisia, and
Colossus of Rhodes.
In 1775 there were only twenty-seven newspapers published in the United
States. Ten years later, in 1785, there were seven published in the
English language in Philadelphia alone, of which one was a daily. The
oldest newspaper published in Philadelphia at the time of the Federal
convention was the Pennsylvania Gazette, established by Samuel Keimer,
in 1728. The second newspaper in point of age was the Pennsylvania
Journal, established in 1742 by William Bradford, whose uncle, Andrew
Bradford, established the first newspaper in Pennsylvania, the American
Weekly Mercury, in 1719. Next in age, but the first in importance, was
the Pennsylvania Packet, established by John Dunlap, in 1771. In 1784 it
became a daily, being the first daily newspaper printed on this
continent.
"Liberty," Bartholdi's statue, presented to the United States by the
French people in 1885, is the largest statue ever built. Its conception
is due to the great French sculptor whose name it bears. It is said to
be a likeness of his mother. Eight years of time were consumed in the
construction of this gigantic brazen image. Its weight is 440,000
pounds, of which 146,000 pounds are copper, the remainder iron and
steel. The major part of the iron and steel was used in constructing the
skeleton frame work for the inside. The mammoth electric light held in
the hands of the giantess is 305 feet above tide-water. The height of
the figure is 152-1/2 feet; the pedestal 91 feet, and the foundation 52
feet and 10 inches. Forty persons can find standing-room within the
mighty head, which is 14-1/2 feet in diameter. A six-foot man standing
on the lower lip could hardly reach the eyes. The index finger is 8 feet
in length and the nose 3-3/4 feet. The Colossus of Rhodes was a pigmy
compared with this latter-day wonder.
The largest and grandest temple of worship in the world is St. Peter's
Cathedral at Rome. It stands on the site of Nero's circus, in the
northwest part of the city, and is built in form of a Latin cross. The
total length of the interior is 612-1/2 English feet; transept, 446-1/2
feet; height of nave, 152-1/2 feet; diameter of cupola, 193 feet; height
of dome from pavement to top of cross, 448 feet. The great bell alone,
without the hammer or clapper, weighs 18,600 pounds, or over 9-1/4 tons.
The foundation was laid in 1450 A. D. Forty-three Popes lived and died
during the time the work was in progress. It was dedicated in the year
1826, but not entirely finished until the year 1880. The cost, in round
numbers, is set down at $70,000,000.
The great pyramid of Cheops is the largest structure of any kind ever
erected by the hand of man. Its original dimensions at the base were 764
feet square, and its perpendicular height in the highest point 488 feet;
it covers four acres, one rood and twenty-two perches of ground and has
been estimated by an eminent English architect to have cost not less
than 30,000,000 pounds, which in United States currency would be about
$145,200,000. Internal evidence proves that the great pyramid was begun
about the year 2170 B. c., about the time of the birth of Abraham. It is
estimated that about 5,000,000 tons of hewn stone were used in its
construction, and the evidence points to the fact that these stones were
brought a distance of about 700 miles from quarries in Arabia.
The largest body of fresh water in the world is Lake Superior. It is 400
miles long and 180 miles wide; its circumference, including the winding
of its various bays, has been estimated at 1,800 miles. Its area in
square miles is 32,000, which is greater than the whole of New England,
leaving out Maine. The greatest depth of this inland sea is 200 fathoms,
or 1,200 feet. Its average depth is about 160 fathoms. It is 636 feet
above the sea level.
The corner stone of the Washington monument, the highest in the United
States, and until 1889 the highest structure in the world, was laid July
4, 1848. Robert E. Winthrop, then Speaker of the House, delivered the
oration. Work progressed steadily for about six years, until the funds
of the monumental society became exhausted. At that time the monument
was about 175 feet high. From 1854 until 1879 nothing to speak of was
done on the building. In the year last above named Congress voted an
appropriation of $200,000 to complete the work. From that time forward
work progressed at a rapid rate until December 6th, 1884, when the
aluminum apex was set at 555 feet 5-1/2 inches from the foundation and
the work declared finished. The foundation is 146-1/2 feet square;
number of stones used above the 130-foot level, 19,163; total weight
stone used in work, 81,120 tons.
The largest State in our grand republic is Texas, which contains 274,350
square miles, capable of sustaining 20,000,000 people, and then it would
not be more crowded than Scotland is at present. It has been estimated
that the entire population of the globe could be seated upon chairs
within the boundary of Texas and each have four feet of elbow room.
The Mississippi River, from the source of the Missouri to the Eads
jetties, is the longest river in the world. It is 4,300 miles in length
and drains an area of 1,726,000 square miles. The Amazon, which is
without doubt the widest river in the world, including the Beni, is
4,000 miles in length and drains 2,330,000 square miles of territory.
THE SINGLE TAX.
This idea was first formulated by Mr. Henry George in 1879, and has
grown steadily in favor. Single-tax men assert as a fundamental
principle that all men are equally entitled to the use of the earth;
therefore, no one should be allowed to hold valuable land without paying
to the community the value of the privilege. They hold that this is the
only rightful source of public revenue, and they would therefore abolish
all taxation--local, state and national--except a tax upon the rental
value of land exclusive of its improvements, the revenue thus raised to
be divided among local, state and general governments, as the revenue
from certain direct taxes is now divided between local and state
governments.
The single tax would not fall on all land, but only on valuable land,
and on that in proportion to its value. It would thus be a tax, not on
use or improvements, but on ownership of land, taking what would
otherwise go to the landlord as owner.
In accordance with the principle that all men are equally entitled to
the use of the earth, they would solve the transportation problem by
public ownership and control of all highways, including the roadbeds of
railroads, leaving their use equally free to all.
The single-tax system would, they claim, dispense with a horde of
tax-gatherers, simplify government, and greatly reduce its cost; give us
with all the world that absolute free trade which now exists between the
States of the Union: abolish all taxes on private issues of money; take
the weight of taxation from agricultural districts, where land has
little or no value apart from improvements, and put it upon valuable
land, such as city lots and mineral deposits. It would call upon men to
contribute for public expenses in proportion to the natural
opportunities they monopolize, and make it unprofitable for speculators
to hold land unused or only partly used, thus opening to labor unlimited
fields of employment, solving the labor problem and abolishing
involuntary poverty.
THE MYSTERIES OF HYPNOTISM.
A Compend of the General Claims Made by Professional Hypnotists.
Animal magnetism is the nerve-force of all human and animal bodies, and
is common to every person in a greater or less degree. It may be
transmitted from one person to another. The transmitting force is the
concentrated effort of will-power, which sends the magnetic current
through the nerves of the operator to the different parts of the body of
his subject. It may be transmitted by and through the eyes, as well as
the finger tips, and the application of the whole open hands, to
different regions of the body of the subject, as well as to the mind.
The effect of this force upon the subject will depend very much upon the
health, mental capacity and general character of the operator. Its
action in general should be soothing and quieting upon the nervous
system; stimulating to the circulation of the blood, the brain and other
vital organs of the body of the subject. It is the use and application
of this power or force that constitutes hypnotism.
Magnetism is a quality that inheres in every human being, and it may be
cultivated like any other physical or mental force of which men and
women are constituted. From the intelligent operator using it to
overcome disease, a patient experiences a soothing influence that causes
a relaxation of the muscles, followed by a pleasant, drowsy feeling
which soon terminates in refreshing sleep. On waking, the patient feels
rested; all his troubles have vanished from consciousness and he is as
if he had a new lease of life.
In the true hypnotic condition, when a patient voluntarily submits to
the operator, any attempt to make suggestions against the interests of
the patient can invariably be frustrated by the patient.
Self-preservation is the first law of nature, and some of the best known
operators who have recorded their experiments assert that suggestions
not in accord with the best interest of the patient could not be carried
out. No one was ever induced to commit any crime under hypnosis, that
could not have been induced to do the same thing much easier without
hypnosis.
The hypnotic state is a condition of mind that extends from a
comparatively wakeful state, with slight drowsiness, to complete
somnambulism, no two subjects, as a rule, ever presenting the same
characteristics.
The operator, to be successful, must have control of his own mind, be in
perfect health and have the ability to keep his mind concentrated upon
the object he desires to accomplish with his subject.
HOW TO CARE FOR A PIANO.
By William H. Damon
The most important thing in the preservation of a piano is to avoid
atmospheric changes and extremes and sudden changes of temperature.
Where the summer condition of the atmosphere is damp all precautions
possible should be taken to avoid an entirely dry condition in winter,
such as that given by steam or furnace heat. In all cases should the air
in the home contain moisture enough to permit a heavy frost on the
windows in zero weather. The absence of frost under such conditions is
positive proof of an entirely dry atmosphere, and this is a piano's most
dangerous enemy, causing the sounding board to crack, shrinking up the
bridges, and consequently putting the piano seriously out of tune, also
causing an undue dryness in all the action parts and often a loosening
of the glue joints, thus producing clicks and rattles. To obviate this
difficulty is by no means an easy task and will require considerable
attention. Permit all the fresh air possible during winter, being
careful to keep the piano out of cold drafts, as this will cause a
sudden contraction of the varnish and cause it to check or crack. Plants
in the room are desirable and vessels of water of any kind will be of
assistance. The most potent means of avoiding extreme dryness is to
place a single-loaf bread-pan half full of water in the lower part of
the piano, taking out the lower panel and placing it on either side of
the pedals inside. This should be refilled about once a month during
artificial heat, care being taken to remove the vessel as soon as the
heat is discontinued in the spring. In cases where stove heat is used
these precautions are not necessary.
The action of a piano, like any other delicate piece of machinery,
should be carefully examined, and, if necessary, adjusted each time it
is tuned. The hammers need occasional and careful attention to preserve
original tone quality and elasticity. Never allow the piano to be beaten
or played hard upon. This is ruinous to both the action and tuning. When
not in use the music rack and top should be closed to exclude dust. The
keyboard need never be closed, as the ivory needs both light and
ventilation and will eventually turn yellow unless left open.
The case demands careful treatment to preserve its beauty and polish,
Never use anything other than a soft piece of cotton cloth or cheese
cloth to dust it with. Never wipe it with a dry chamois skin or silk
cloth. Silk is not as soft as cotton and will scratch. A dry chamois
skin picks up the dust and grit and gradually scours off the fine
finish. In dusting never use a feather duster, nor rub the piano hard
with anything. The dust should be whipped off, and not rubbed into the
varnish. If the piano is dingy, smoky or dirty looking, it should be
washed carefully with lukewarm water with a little ammonia in it to
soften it. Never use soap. Use nothing but a small, soft sponge and a
chamois skin. Wipe over a small part at a time with the sponge,
following quickly with the wet chamois skin wrung out of the same water.
This will dry it immediately and leave it as beautiful and clean as new.
Never use patent polishes. If your piano needs polishing employ a
competent polisher to give it a hand-rubbing friction polish.
The highest mountain on the globe is not, as is generally supposed, Mt.
Everest, that honor belonging to a lofty peak named Mt. Hercules on the
Isle of Papua, New Guinea, discovered by Capt. Lawson in 1881, According
to Lawson, this monster is 32,763 feet in height, being 3,781 feet
higher than Mt. Everest, which is only 29,002 feet above the level of
the Indian Ocean.
[Transcriber's Note: The highest point in New Guinea is Puncak Jaya
(Mount Carstensz or the Carstensz Pyramid), at 16,023 feet.]
SALT-RISING BREAD.
The real formula for making salt-rising bread, as set down by the
daughter of Governor Stubbs, of Kansas, and by him communicated to
Theodore Roosevelt, is as follows, according to the "Saturday Evening
Post":
"On the night before you contemplate this masterpiece of baking take
half a cupful of corn meal and a pinch each of salt and sugar. Scald
this with new milk heated to the boiling point and mix to the thickness
of mush. This can be made in a cup. Wrap in a clean cloth and put in a
warm place overnight.
"In the morning, when all is ready, take a one-gallon stone jar and into
this put one scant cupful of new milk. Add a level teaspoonful of salt
and one of sugar. Scald this with three cupfuls of water heated to the
boiling point. Reduce to a temperature of one hundred and eight degrees
with cold water, using a milk thermometer to enable you to get exactly
the right temperature. Then add flour and mix to a good batter; after
the batter is made, mix in your starter that was made the night before.
Cover the stone jar with a plate and put the jar in a large kettle of
water and keep this water at a temperature of one hundred and eight
degrees until the sponge rises. It should rise at least an inch and a
half. When it has raised mix to a stiff dough, make into loaves and put
into pans. Do not let the heat get out of the dough while working.
Grease the loaves well on top and set your bread where it will be warm
and rise. After the loaves rise bake in a medium oven for one hour and
ten minutes. When you take the loaves from the oven wrap them in a
bread-cloth."
A CURE FOR LOVE.
Take twelve ounces of dislike, one pound of resolution, two grains of
common sense, two ounces of experience, a large sprig of time, and three
quarts of cooling water of consideration. Set them over a gentle fire of
love, sweeten it with sugar of forgetfulness, skim it with the spoon of
melancholy, put it in the bottom of your heart, cork it with the cork of
clean conscience. Let it remain and you will quickly find ease and be
restored to your senses again.
These things can be had of the apothecary at the house of Understanding
next door to Reason, on Prudent street.
DOING BUSINESS WITH A BANK
In opening your account with a bank it is proper that you should first
be introduced to the cashier, or some other official. If you are engaged
in business, that officer will inquire as to your particular business or
calling, your address, etc., and unless he is already satisfied on this
point, he may make inquiries as to your business standing. This being
satisfactory, he will hand you a passbook, and some deposit tickets,
whereupon you make your first deposit, entering the amount on the
ticket. You will then be asked to write your signature in a book
provided for that purpose, or upon a card to be filed away for
reference.
The Signature.
This signature should be just as you intend to use it in all your
dealings with the bank. If, for instance, your name is John Henry Smith,
you may write it J. H. Smith, J. Henry Smith. John H. Smith or John
Henry Smith, but whatever form you adopt should be used all the time.
Once having adopted the form, it should be maintained in exactly that
way. The only excuse for variation from your usual signature is when
presenting checks or other paper made payable to you. In that case,
supposing you had adopted the form J. Henry Smith for your regular
signature, and the check is made payable to John H. Smith, you should
first write on the back of that check "John H. Smith," and immediately
under this you should place your regular signature.
Depositing Money.
When making a deposit, always use the deposit ticket provided by the
bank, filling it out yourself in ink. From this ticket, which is first
checked up by the receiving teller, the amount of your deposit is placed
to your credit. Do not ask the teller to fill our your deposit ticket.
No doubt he would be glad to accommodate you, but to do so would violate
a rule which protects both the bank and the depositor, Deposit tickets
are preserved by the bank, and often serve to correct mistakes.
How to Avoid Mistakes.
Consider for a moment the vast aggregate of bank transactions, and you
will see that perfect system on the part of the banks and bank officials
is required to insure accuracy and avoid mistakes. Sometimes the
requirements of the banks may seem arbitrary and troublesome, but
reflection will show that they safeguard the depositor as well as the
bank. The simple rules here laid down will enable anyone who has
business with a bank to do so with the least trouble and with absolute
safety.
How to Make Out a Check.
Checks are the most satisfactory and most convenient method of paying a
debt or making any ordinary remittance. The stub of your check book will
furnish a permanent memorandum, and when the check is canceled and
returned to you by the bank, it is an indisputable evidence that the
debt has been paid, or that the remittance has been made. The making of
a check is a simple matter, but even the best business men make mistakes
sometimes which are as difficult to remedy as they are easy to avoid.
The hints here given and the facsimiles of checks printed in
illustration will repay careful study.
[Illustration: A Check Properly Drawn. The name and amount are against
the left side of their fields.]
The first facsimile shows a check properly made. It will be seen, in the
first place, that this check is written very plainly, and that there is
no room for the insertion of extra figures or words. The writing of the
amount commences as nearly as possible to the extreme left of the check.
The figures are written close together and there is no space between the
first figure and the dollar mark.
All erasures in checks should be avoided. If you have made a mistake,
tear a blank check from the back of your check book and use that in
place of the one spoiled.
Some business men allow their clerks to fill out checks on the
typewriter. This is ill-advised for two reasons: First, it is much
easier to alter a typewritten check than one filled in with a pen; in
the second place, a teller, in passing on the genuineness of a check,
takes into consideration the character of the handwriting in the body of
the check as well as in the signature. The typewritten characters offer
no clue to individuality.
Never mail a check drawn to "Bearer." Remember that if your check is
made payable to "Bearer" or to "John Smith or Bearer" it may be cashed
by anybody who happens to have it. Unless it is for a large amount the
paying teller of your bank will look only to see whether your signature
is correct, and, that being right, the bank cannot be held responsible
if the check should have come into the wrong hands.
A check drawn to order can be cashed only when the person to whose order
it has been drawn has indorsed it by writing his or her name on the back
and the bank will be responsible for the correctness of the indorsement.
If you make your check payable say, to William Armstrong or order,
nobody but William Armstrong, or some one to whom he indorses the check,
can collect the amount, and if through fraud or otherwise some one not
entitled to it gets the money which the check calls for, the
responsibility is not yours, but the bank's. It is for that reason that
bankers and business men use such great care in accepting checks.
[Illustration: A Check Carelessly Drawn. The text and numbers for the
amount is in the center of their fields, leaving of space for extra
text.]
[Illustration: The Same Check "Raised". The amount has been changed from
One Hundred/100.00 to Eighty-One Hundred/$8100.00.]
For the same reason you should never accept a check from anybody whom
you do not know as responsible, and you should not be surprised or
angered if some one else should hesitate to take a check from you.
Checks or drafts received by you should be deposited as soon as
possible. Should you receive a check for a considerable amount and have
no convenient bank account, you should go to the bank on which the check
is drawn and have the cashier certify it by stamping "Accepted" or
"Certified" across the face over his signature. That formality makes the
paper as good as money so long as the bank accepting it is solvent.
It sometimes happens that a check drawn in good faith by a responsible
party is withheld so long by the person receiving it that there is no
money to the account when the check is finally presented.
Paying Notes and Acceptances.
Make your notes and accepted drafts payable at the bank where you do
business. Whether it or other banks hold them for collection, they will
be presented to your bank when due.
Pay your notes, etc., on the day they fall due, and early in the day if
convenient, or leave a check for the amount with your bank on the day
before your paper matures. Banks will not pay notes or drafts without
instructions.
Keep a careful record of the days of maturity of all your paper. Banks
usually notify all payers a few days beforehand when their paper
matures, but this is only courtesy on their part and not an obligation.
Exchange.
"Exchange" means funds in other cities made available by bankers' drafts
on such places. These drafts afford the safest and cheapest means for
remitting money. Drafts on New York are worth their face value
practically all over the United States in settlement of accounts.
Collections.
A draft is sometimes the most convenient form for collecting an account.
The prevalence of the custom is due to the fact that most men will wait
to be asked to pay a debt. If a draft is a time draft it is accepted by
the person on whom it is drawn by writing his name and date across the
face. This makes it practically a note, to be paid at maturity.
Notes or drafts that you desire to have collected for you by your bank
should be left at the bank several days before they are due, so as to
give ample time to notify the payers.
Borrowing.
Banks are always willing to loan their funds to responsible persons
within reasonable limits. That is what they exist for. There is, of
course, a limit to the amount a bank may loan, even on the best known
security, but the customer of the bank is entitled to and will receive
the first consideration.
The customer should not hesitate, when occasion requires, to offer to
the bank for discount such paper as may come into his hands in the
course of business, if, in his opinion, the paper is good. At the same
time he should not be offended if his bank refuses to take it even
without giving reasons.
Indorsing Checks, Etc.
When depositing checks, drafts, etc., see that they are dated properly
and that the written amounts and figures correspond. The proper way to
indorse a check or draft--this also applies to notes and other
negotiable paper--is to write your name upon the back about one inch
from the top. The proper end may be determined in this way: As you read
the check, holding one end in each hand, draw the right hand toward you,
and turn the check over. The end which is then farthest from you is the
top. If, however, the check, draft or note has already been indorsed by
another person, you should write your name directly under the other
indorsement, even if that is on the wrong end. If your own name on the
face of the check, draft or note is misspelled, or has the wrong
initials, but if the paper is clearly intended for you, you should first
write your name as it appears on the face, and under it your regular
signature. You should indorse every check you deposit, even though it be
payable to bearer.
Mistakes in Banking.
Mr. Samuel Woods, a member of the American Institute of Bank Clerks,
recently contributed to Munsey's Magazine an interesting article on the
subject of "Mistakes in Banking." From this we are permitted by the
courtesy of the publishers of Munsey's to reproduce two of the
facsimiles shown.
One wrong word, or figure, or letter--the right thing in the wrong way
or the wrong place--the scratch of an eraser or the alteration of a
word--or any one of these things, in the making or cashing of a check,
is liable to become as expensive as a racing automobile.
The paying teller of a bank, says Mr. Woods, must keep his eyes open for
new dangers as well as old ones. The cleverest crooks in the country are
pitting their brains against his. After he has learned the proper guard
for all the well-known tricks and forgeries it is still possible that an
entirely new combination may leave him minus cash and plus experience.
But it is not the unique and novel swindle that is most dangerous,
either to a bank or an individual. It is the simple, ordinary mistake or
the time-worn trick that makes continuous trouble. Apparently, every new
generation contains a number of dishonest people who lay the same traps,
and a number of careless people who fall into these traps in the same
old way.
Check-Raising Made Easy.
One of the first lessons, for instance, that a depositor should learn
before he is qualified to own a check-book is to commence writing the
amount as near as possible to the extreme left of the check. Those who
forget this are often reminded of it in a costly way. Some one "raises"
their checks by writing another figure in front of the proper amount.
"Five hundred" might be "raised" to "twenty-five hundred" in this way,
even by an unskilled forger.
The highest court has recently decided that a bank cannot be held
responsible, when it pays a "raised" check, if the maker of the check
failed in the first place to write it out correctly. The treasurer of
the Bath Electric Company, of Bath, Maine, had written a check for one
hundred dollars, which was raised to eighty-one hundred dollars and
cashed. The court held that the company, and not the bank, should lose
the eight thousand dollars, because of the "gross carelessness" in
drawing up the check. Facsimiles showing the check as originally written
and as it looked when paid are here reproduced.
Altered Words and Figures.
The altered check is the bane of the paying teller's profession, and it
is the general practice in conservative banks to accept no checks or
other paper which shows signs of erasure or alteration in either words
or figures.
THE NAMES OF THE STATES.
Alabama--Indian; meaning "Here we rest."
Arkansas"--Kansas," the Indian name for "smoky water," with the French
prefix "arc," bow or bend in the principal river.
California--Caliente Fornala, Spanish for "hot furnace," in allusion to
the climate.
Colorado--Spanish; meaning "colored," from the red color of the Colorado
river.
Connecticut--Indian; meaning "long river."
Delaware--Named in honor of Lord De La Ware.
Florida--Named by Ponce de Leon, who discovered it in 1512, on Easter
Day, the Spanish Pascua de Flores, or "Feast of Flowers."
Georgia--In honor of George II. of England.
Illinois--From the Indian "illini," men, and the French suffix "ois,"
together signifying "tribe of men."
Indiana--Indian land. Iowa--Indian; meaning "beautiful land.'"
Kansas--Indian; meaning "smoky water."
Kentucky--Indian for "at the head of the river," or "the dark and bloody
ground."
Louisiana--In honor of Louis XIV. of France.
Maine--From the province of Maine, in France.
Maryland--In honor of Henrietta Maria, queen of Charles I. of England.
Massachusetts--The place of the great hills (the blue hills southwest of
Boston).
Michigan--The Indian name for a fish weir. The lake was so called from
the fancied resemblance of the lake to a fish trap.
Minnesota--Indian; meaning "sky-tinted water."
Mississippi--Indian; meaning "great father of waters." Missouri--Indian;
meaning "muddy."
Nebraska--Indian; meaning "water valley."
Nevada--Spanish; meaning "snow-covered," alluding to the mountains.
New Hampshire--From Hampshire county, England.
New Jersey--In honor of Sir George Carteret, one of the original
grantees, who had previously been governor of Jersey Island.
New York--In honor of the Duke of York.
North and South Carolina--Originally called Carolina, in honor of
Charles IX. of France.
Ohio--Indian; meaning "beautiful river."
Oregon--From the Spanish "oregano," wild marjoram, which grows
abundantly on the coast.
Pennsylvania--Latin; meaning Penn's woody land.
Rhode Island--From a fancied resemblance to the island of Rhodes in the
Mediterranean.
Tennessee--Indian; meaning "river with the great bend."
Texas--Origin of this name is unknown.
Vermont--French; meaning "green mountain."
Virginia--In honor of Elizabeth, the "Virgin Queen."
Wisconsin--Indian; meaning "gathering of the waters," or "wild rushing
channel."
MOTTOES OF THE STATES.
Arkansas--Regnant populi: The peoples rule.
California--Eureka: I have found it. Colorado--Nil sine numine: Nothing
without the Divinity.
Connecticut--Qui transtulit sustinet: He who has transferred, sustains.
Delaware--Liberty and Independence.
Florida--In God is Our trust.
Georgia--Wisdom, Justice, Moderation.
Illinois--State Sovereignty and National Union.
Iowa--Our liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain.
Kansas--Ad astra per aspera: to the stars through rugged ways.
Kentucky--United we stand, divided we fall.
Louisiana--Union and Confidence.
Maine--Dirigo: I direct.
Maryland--Crescite et multiplicamini: Increase and multiply.
Massachusetts--Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietam: By her sword
she seeks under liberty a calm repose.
Michigan--Si quaeris peninsulam amoeanam circumspice: If thou seekest a
beautiful peninsula, look around.
Minnesota--L'Etoile du Nord: The Star of the North.
Missouri--Salus populi suprema lex esto: Let the welfare of the people
be the supreme law.
Nebraska--Popular Sovereignty.
Nevada--Volens et potens: Willing and able.
New Jersey--Liberty and Independence.
New York--Excelsior: Higher.
Ohio--Imperium in imperio: An empire within an empire.
Oregon--Alis volat propriis: She flies with her own wings.
Pennsylvania--Virtue, Liberty, Independence.
Rhode Island--Hope.
South Carolina--Animis opibusque parati: Ready with our lives and
property.
Tennessee--Agriculture, Commerce. Vermont--Freedom and Unity.
Virginia--Sic semper tyrannis: So be it ever to tyrants.
West Virginia--Montani semper liberi: The mountaineers are always free.
Wisconsin--Forward.
United States
E pluribus unum: From many, one.
Annuit captis: God has favored the undertaking;
Vovus ordo seclorum: A new order of ages.
The first named on one side of the great seal, the other two on the
reverse.
GEOGRAPHICAL NICKNAMES.
States and Territories.
Alabama, Cotton State;
Arkansas, Toothpick and Bear State;
California, Eureka and Golden State;
Colorado, Centennial State;
Connecticut, Land of Steady Habits: Freestone State and Nutmeg State;
Dakota, Sioux State;
Delaware, Uncle Sam's Pocket Handkerchief and Blue Hen State;
Florida, Everglade and Flowery State;
Georgia, Empire State of the South;
Idaho, Gem of the Mountains;
Illinois, Prairie and Sucker State;
Indiana, Hoosier State;
Iowa, Hawkeye State;
Kansas, Jayhawker State;
Kentucky, Corn-cracker State;
Louisiana, Creole State;
Maine, Timber and Pine Tree State;
Maryland, Monumental State;
Massachusetts, Old Bay State;
Michigan, Wolverine and Peninsular State;
Minnesota, Gopher and North Star State;
Mississippi, Eagle State;
Missouri, Puke State;
Nebraska, Antelope State;
Nevada, Sage State;
New Hampshire, Old Granite State;
New Jersey, Blue State and New Spain;
New Mexico, Vermin State;
New York, Empire State;
North Carolina, Rip Van Winkle, Old North and Turpentine State;
Ohio, Buckeye State;
Oregon, Pacific State;
Pennsylvania, Keystone, Iron and Oil State;
Rhode Island, Plantation State and Little Rhody;
South Carolina, Palmetto State;
Tennessee, Lion's Den State;
Texas, Lone Star State;
Utah, Mormon State;
Vermont, Green Mountain State;
Virginia, Old Dominion;
Wisconsin, Badger and Copper State.
Natives of States and Territories.
Alabama, lizards;
Arkansas, toothpicks;
California, gold-hunters;
Colorado, rovers;
Connecticut, wooden nutmegs;
Dakota, squatters;
Delaware, muskrats;
Florida, fly-up-the-creeks;
Georgia, buzzards;
Idaho, fortune seekers;
Illinois, suckers;
Indiana, hoosiers;
Iowa, hawkeyes;
Kansas, jayhawkers;
Kentucky, corn-crackers;
Louisiana, creoles;
Maine, foxes;
Maryland, clam-humpers;
Massachusetts, Yankees;
Michigan, wolverines;
Minnesota, gophers;
Mississippi, tadpoles;
Missouri, pukes;
Nebraska, bugeaters;
Nevada, sagehens;
New Hampshire, granite boys;
New Jersey, blues or clam-catchers;
New Mexico, Spanish Indians;
New York, Knickerbockers;
North Carolina, tarheels;
Ohio, buckeyes;
Oregon, hard cases;
Pennsylvania, pennamites, or leather-heads;
Rhode Island, gun flints;
South Carolina, weazles;
Tennessee, whelps;
Texas, beef-heads;
Utah, polygamists;
Vermont, Green Mountain boys;
Virginia, beagles;
Wisconsin, badgers.
Nicknames of Cities.
Atlanta, Gate City of the South;
Baltimore, Monumental City;
Bangor, Lumber City;
Boston, Modern Athens, Literary Emporium, City of Notions and Hub of the
Universe;
Brooklyn, City of Churches;
Buffalo, Queen of the Lakes;
Burlington (Iowa), Orchard City;
Charleston, Palmetto City;
Chicago, Prairie, or Garden City;
Cincinnati, Queen of the West and Porkopolis;
Cleveland, Forest City;
Denver, City of the Plains;
Detroit, City of the Straits;
Hartford, Insurance City;
Indianapolis, Railroad City;
Keokuk, Gate City.;
Lafayette, Star City;
Leavenworth, Cottonwood City;
Louisville, Falls City;
Lowell, Spindle City;
McGregor, Pocket City;
Madison, Lake City;
Milwaukee, Cream City;
Nashville, Rock City;
New Haven, Elm City;
New Orleans, Crescent City;
New York, Empire City, Commercial Emporium, Gotham, and Metropolis of
America;
Philadelphia, City of Brotherly Love, City of Penn, Quaker City, and
Centennial City;
Pittsburgh, Iron City and Smoky City;
Portland (Me.), Hill City;
Providence, Roger Williams' City, and Perry Davis' Pain Killer;
Raleigh, Oak City;
Richmond, (Va.), Cockade City;
Richmond (Ind.), Quaker City of the West;
Rochester, Aqueduct City;
Salt Lake City, Mormon City;
San Francisco, Golden Gate;
Savannah, Forest City of the South;
Sheboygan, Evergreen City;
St. Louis, Mound City;
St. Paul, North Star City;
Vicksburg, Key City;
Washington, City of Magnificent Distances, and Federal City.
THEOSOPHY.
Much is said nowadays about theosophy, which is really but another name
for mysticism. It is not a philosophy, for it will have nothing to do
with philosophical methods; it might be called a religion, though it has
never had a following large enough to make a very strong impression on
the world's religious history. The name is from the Greek word
theosophia--divine wisdom--and the object of theosophical study is
professedly to understand the nature of divine things. It differs,
however, from both philosophy and theology even when these have the same
object of investigation. For, in seeking to learn the divine nature and
attributes, philosophy employs the methods and principles of natural
reasoning; theology uses these, adding to them certain principles
derived from revelation. Theosophy, on the other hand, professes to
exclude all reasoning processes as imperfect, and to derive its
knowledge from direct communication with God himself. It does not,
therefore, accept the truths of recorded revelation as immutable, but as
subject to modification by later and personal revelations. The
theosophical idea has had followers from the earliest times. Since the
Christian era we may class among theosophists such sects as
Neo-Platonists, the Hesychasts of the Greek Church, the Mystics of
mediaeval times, and, in later times, the disciples of Paracelsus,
Thalhauser, Bohme, Swedenborg and others. Recently a small sect has
arisen, which has taken the name of Theosophists. Its leader was an
English gentleman who had become fascinated with the doctrine of
Buddhism. Taking a few of his followers to India, they have been
prosecuting their studies there, certain individuals attracting
considerable attention by a claim to miraculous powers. It need hardly
be said that the revelations they have claimed to receive have been,
thus far, without element of benefit to the human race.
THE EVOLUTION THEORY.
The evolution or development theory declares the universe as it now
exists to be the result of a long series of changes which were so far
related to each other as to form a series of growths analogous to the
evolving of the parts of a growing organism. Herbert Spencer defines
evolution as a progress from the homogeneous to the heterogeneous, from
general to special, from the simple to the complex elements of life, and
it is believed that this process can be traced in the formation of
worlds in space, in the multiplication of types and species among
animals and plants, in the origin and changes of languages and
literature and the arts, and also in all the changes of human
institutions and society. Asserting the general fact of progress in
nature, the evolution theory shows that the method of this progress has
been (1) by the multiplication of organs and functions; (2) according to
a defined unity of plan, although with (3) intervention of transitional
forms, and (4) with modifications dependent upon surrounding conditions.
Ancient writers occasionally seemed to have a glimmering knowledge of
the fact of progress in nature, but as a theory "evolution" belongs to
the enlightenment of the nineteenth century. Leibnitz, in the latter
part of the seventeenth century first uttered the opinion that the earth
was once in a fluid condition and Kant about the middle of the
eighteenth century, definitely propounded the nebular hypothesis, which
was enlarged as a theory by the Herschels. The first writer to suggest
the transmutation of species among animals was Buffon, about 1750, and
other writers followed out the idea. The eccentric Lord Monboddo was the
first to suggest the possible descent of man from the ape, about 1774.
In 1813 Dr. W. C. Wells first proposed to apply the principle of natural
selection to the natural history of man, and in 1822 Professor Herbert
first asserted the probable transmutation of species of plants. In 1844
a book appeared called "Vestiges of Creation," which, though evidently
not written by a scientific student, yet attracted great attention by
its bold and ingenious theories. The authorship of this book was never
revealed until after the death of Robert Chambers, a few years since, it
became known that this publisher, whom no one would ever have suspected
of holding such heterodox theories, had actually written it. But the two
great apostles of the evolution theory were Charles Darwin and Herbert
Spencer. The latter began his great work, the "First Principles of
Philosophy," showing the application of evolution in the facts of life,
in 1852. In 1859 appeared Darwin's "Origin of Species." The hypothesis
of the latter was that different species originated in spontaneous
variation, and the survival of the fittest through natural selection and
the struggle for existence. This theory was further elaborated and
applied by Spencer, Darwin, Huxley, and other writers in Europe and
America, and though to-day by no means all the ideas upheld by these
early advocates of the theory are still accepted, evolution as a
principle is now acknowledged by nearly all scientists. It is taken to
be an established fact in nature, a valid induction from man's knowledge
of natural order.
THE ENGLISH SPARROW.
The first English sparrow was brought to the United States in 1850, but
it was not until 1870 that the species can be said to have firmly
established itself. Since then it has taken possession of the country.
Its fecundity is amazing. In the latitude of New York and southward it
hatches, as a rule, five or six broods in a season, with from four to
six young in a brood. Assuming the average annual product of a pair to
be twenty-four young, of which half are females and half males, and
assuming further, for the sake of computation, that all live, together
with their offspring, it will be seen that in ten years the progeny of a
single pair would be 275,716,983,698.
FEMININE HEIGHT AND WEIGHT.
It is often asked how stout a woman ought to be in proportion to her
height. A very young girl may becomingly be thinner than a matron, but
the following table gives a fair indication of proper proportions:
Height Pounds Height Pounds
Five feet about 100 Five feet 7 inches. about 150
Five feet 1 inch about 106 Five feet 8 inches. about 155
Five feet 2 inches about 113 Five feet 10 inches. about 163
Five feet 3 inches about 119 Five feet 10 inches. about 169
Five feet 4 inches about 130 Five feet 11 inches. about 176
Five feet 5 inches about 138 Six feet about 180
Five feet 6 inches about 144 Six feet 1 inch about 186
WHEN A MAN BECOMES OF AGE.
The question sometimes arises whether it man is entitled to vote at an
election held on the day preceding the twenty-first anniversary of his
birth. Blackstone, in his Commentaries, book 1, page 463, says: "Full
age in male or female is 21 years, which age is completed on the day
preceding the anniversary of a person's birth, who, till that time, is
an infant, and so styled in law." The late Chief Justice Sharswood, in
his edition of Blackstone's Commentaries, quotes Christian's note on the
above as follows: "If he is born on the 16th day of February, 1608, he
is of age to do any legal act on the morning of the 15th of February,
1629, though he may not have lived twenty-one years by nearly
forty-eight hours. The reason assigned is that in law there is no
fraction of a day; and if the birth were on the last second of one day
and the act on the first second of the preceding day twenty-one years
after, then twenty-one years would be complete, and in the law it is the
same whether a thing is done upon one moment of the day or another."
DREAMS AND THEIR MEANING
The Bible speaks of dreams as being sometimes prophetic, or suggestive
of future events.
This belief has prevailed in all ages and countries, and there are
numerous modern examples, apparently authenticated, which would appear
to favor this hypothesis.
The interpretation of dreams was a part of the business of the
soothsayers at the royal courts of Egypt, Babylon and other ancient
nations.
Dreams and visions have attracted the attention of mankind of every age
and nation. It has been claimed by all nations, both enlightened and
heathen, that dreams are spiritual revelations to men; so much so, that
their modes of worship have been founded upon the interpretation of
dreams and visions. Why should we discard the interpretation of dreams
while our mode of worship, faith and knowledge of Deity are founded upon
the interpretation of the dreams and visions of the prophets and seers
of old.
Dreams vividly impressed upon the mind are sure to be followed by some
event.
We read in the Holy Scripture the revelation of the Deity to His chosen
people, through the prophet Joel: "And it shall come to pass, afterward,
that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your
daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young
men shall see visions, and also upon the servants and the handmaids in
those days will I pour out My Spirit." (Joel ii, 28.)
Both sacred and profane history contain so many examples of the
fulfilment of dreams that he who has no faith in them must be very
skeptical indeed.
Hippocrates says that when the body is asleep the soul is awake, and
transports itself everywhere the body would be able to go; knows and
sees all that the body could see or know were it awake; that it touches
all that the body could touch. In a word, it performs all the actions
that the body of a sleeping man could do were he awake.
A dream, to have a significance, must occur to the sleeper while in
healthy and tranquil sleep. Those dreams of which we have not a vivid
conception, or clear remembrance, have no significance.
Those of which we have a clear remembrance must have formed in the mind
in the latter part of the night, for up to that time the faculties of
the body have been employed in digesting the events of the day.
DICTIONARY OF DREAMS.
(Note.--If you do not find the word you want, look for a word of
identical or closely similar meaning.)
A
Abundance--Deceitful security.
Accident--Unexpected meeting.
Acorn--Irreparable fault.
Account--(Of possessions) bankruptcy.
Adultery--(That you commit) scandal, misfortune and disgrace.
Air--(Clear and serene) reconciliation; (dark and gloomy) sadness and
sickness.
Almonds--Peace, happiness; (tree) success in business.
Altar--Prosperity, speedy marriage.
Alms--(Giving) mediocrity; (receiving) privations.
Anchor--Safe enterprise.
Angry--(That you are) many powerful enemies.
Ape--Enemies, deceit.
Apples--Gain, profit; (to be eating) disappointment.
Apricots--Health, contentment.
Apple Tree--Good news; (if dead) ill news.
Artichokes--Embarrassment, pain.
Argument--Justice done.
Arm--(Right arm cut off) death of a female relative; (both arms cut off)
captivity and sickness; (broken or withered) sorrows, losses and
widowhood; (swollen) sudden fortune coming to a dear friend.
Ashes--Misfortune.
Asparagus--Success, profit.
Ass--Quarrel between friends; (one sleeping) security; (one braying)
dishonor; (ears of one) scandal; (one laden) profit.
Aunt--Wealth and friends.
Angel--Good news.
Ants--Time spent to no purpose.
Authority--(To have) easy times.
B
Babe--Happy marriage.
Baker--Gain.
Balloon--Literary note.
Barley--Good fortune.
Basket--Increase.
Babboon--Affronts.
Ball--(For dancing) jealousy, rage, then harmony.
Bank--Never to be rich, except by saving.
Barber--A long story, discontent.
Barn--(Full) wealthy marriage.
Bath--Marriage; (too cold) grief; (too hot) separation; (in running
water) disappointment; (in stagnant water) misfortune.
Beggar--Help when not expected.
Bells--Alarm, misfortune.
Bear--Danger, misfortune.
Beans--Quarrels.
Bed--Botheration, unrest.
Beer--Fatigue to no purpose.
Bees--Profit; (to catch) success; (stung by) to be over-worked.
Blind Person--False friends.
Blows--(To give) forgiveness; (to receive) advantage.
Boots--(New) success in love and business; (old) quarreling and failure.
Bonnet--(New) flirtation; (old or torn) rivalry.
Boat--(On clear water) happiness; (in muddy water) disgrace.
Bones--Large acquisition by small degrees.
Book--Information.
Bow and Arrows--Love affairs.
Bottles--A feast; (broken) sickness; (empty) melancholy.
Bouquet--(To carry) marriage; (to destroy) separation; (to throw away)
displeasure.
Brandy--Depravity.
Brook--(Clear) lasting friendship; (troubled) domestic quarrel.
Briars--Disputes.
Betrothal--Brief pleasures.
Birds--New pleasures; (singing) love, good fortune.
Bite--Mistrust, ingratitude.
Billiards--Hazards, dissipation.
Biscuit--Rejoicings, jolly feasting.
Blessing or Benediction--A forced marriage.
Blackbird--Scandal, deceit.
Bridge--(To pass one) success through industry; (to fall from) loss of
business and disappointment in love.
Bread--Profit; (white) lasting affection; (black) inconstancy.
Bugs--Enemies seeking to do injury.
Bull--(Peaceful) gain; (onset of) apprehension.
Butcher--Death of a friend.
Butterfly--Inconstancy.
Butter--Surprises; (to make) a legacy.
C
Cabbage--Health and long life.
Cage--(With bird) liberty; (without bird) imprisonment.
Cakes--Meeting with friends; (to make or eat) prosperity.
Calf--Assured success.
Camel--Riches.
Candle--Favors, praise.
Candy--Ardent love.
Cane--Correction.
Cards--Married life.
Carpenter--Arrangement of affairs.
Cart--Sickness and disgrace.
Cave--Quarrel, loss.
Carving--Business prosperity.
Cat--(To see) treason; (to kill) family quarrels.
Cellar--(Full) passing renown; (empty) health.
Cemetery--(To see) future prosperity; (to be in) news of a death.
Chain--Union; (broken) rupture.
Challenge--Rupture, illusion.
Cherries--Health; (to gather) deception by a woman; (to eat) love.
Chicken--(Cooking) good news.
Cheese--Vexation and after success.
Chestnuts--Home troubles.
Child--(Pretty) pleasure; (ugly) danger; (running) business difficulty.
Church--Heritage; (to pray in) deceit; (to speak aloud in) domestic
quarrels.
Chess--Affairs embarrassed,
Cider--Distant heritage, dispute.
Clams--Small possessions, stingily kept.
Clock--Marriage; (striking) a competency.
Coal--Persecution.
Cock--Pride, power, success; (one crowing) sudden trouble; (two
fighting) expensive follies.
Colic--Bickerings, estrangement
Corkscrew--Vexatious inquiries.
Corpse--Long life; news of the living; (one disinterred) infidelity.
Cow--Prosperity, abundance.
Cobbler--Long toil, ill paid.
Coffee--Misfortune.
Coffin--Speedy marriage.
Cooking--A wedding.
Corn--Riches; (to grind) abundance.
Crabs--Ill results of endeavor.
Cradle, or Crib--Increase in the family.
Cricket--Hospitality, home comfort.
Crocodile--A catastrophe.
Cross--(To see) disquiet; (to bear) tranquillity.
Crow--Disappointed expectations, humiliation; (to hear) disgrace.
Crowd--Many matters, much to hear.
Crutches--(To use) gambling losses; (to break or leave) recovery.
Cucumber--Serious illness.
Currants--(Red) friendship; (white) satisfaction; (black) infidelity.
Cypress--Despair, death of one cherished.
D
Dancing--(To engage in) successful endeavor; (to see) weariness.
Debts--(Denied) business safety; (admitted) distress.
Doctor--Robustness; (to be one) enjoyment.
Dog--Friendly services; (to play with) suffering through extravagance.
Desertion--Good news, permanence.
Devil--Temptations.
Diamonds--Brief, illusive happiness; (to find) loss; (to sell) peril.
Dice--Doubt, risks.
Dirt--Sickness, detraction.
Dispute--(Friendly) see Argument; (not friendly) see Quarrel.
Dishes--Possessions; (breaking) family quarrels.
Ditch--Bankruptcy.
Door--(Open) opportunities; (closed) unfruitful adventure; (to force)
reproof.
Dove--Home happiness, a lover.
Draughts--(To play at) disappointment.
Drawing--A proposal for rejection.
Drowning--Happiness.
Drum--Small difficulties, trifling loss.
Duck--Profit and pleasure; (to kill one) misfortune.
Duel--Rivalries; dissension.
Dumb--(One's self) quarrels; (another) peace.
Dwarf--Feeble foes.
Dyer--Embarrassed affairs.
E
Eagle--Worthy ambition; (kill one) gratified wishes.
Eating--Botheration.
Eclipse--(The sun) loss; (the moon) profit.
Eels--(Alive) vexation; (dead) vengeance satisfied.
Eggs--(A few) riches; (many) misadventure.
Elephant--Power; (feed one) gain of a service.
Embroidery--Love, ambition.
Epitaph--Indiscretion.
Eyes--Bad luck.
F
Face--(Smiling) joy; (pale) trouble.
Fairs--Sudden loss.
Falling--Dangerous elevation; (in a hole) calumny, disappointment.
Fan----Pride, rivalry.
Farmer--Full, good living.
Fatigue--Successful enterprise.
Father-in-Law--Unlucky.
Feast--Trouble ahead.
Feathers--(White) great joy, friendship; (black) hindrances.
Fields--Joy, good health, domestic happiness.
Fingers--(Scalded) envy; (cut) grief; (to see more than five on one
hand) new relatives.
Figs--(Dried) festivity; (green) hope; (to eat) transient pleasures.
Flowers--Happiness; (to gather) benefit; (to cast away) quarrels.
Flute--News of a birth.
Fire--Anger, danger.
Firearms--(To see) anger; (blaze of) spite; (to hear) havoc.
Fish--Success, joy; (to catch) deceit of friends.
Flag--Contention; (to bear) fame, honor.
Flame--(Luminous) good news.
Fleas--Unhappiness; (to kill) triumph over enemies.
Flies--That some one is jealous of us.
Flood--Misfortunes, calumny.
Fog--Deception.
Forest--Loss, shame.
Fountain--Abundance, health.
Fox--To be duped; (to kill) to triumph over enemies.
Frogs--Distrust; (hopping) vexation, annoyance.
Fruits--Joy, prosperity, gain; (to eat) be deceived by a woman;
(throwaway) trouble through others' envy.
Funeral--Inheritance, news of a birth or marriage.
Fur--(On the body) health and long life.
G
Gallows--Dignities and honors (proportionate to height).
Gambling--Deception.
Game--(Live) adventure.
Garden--Bright future days; (well kept) increase of fortune;
(disorderly) business losses and failure.
Garlic--Deceived by a woman.
Garments--Annoyance; (white) innocence, comfort; (black) death of a
friend; (torn or soiled) sadness, misfortune.
Garter--Happy marriage.
Gauze--Affected modesty.
Ghost--(White) consolation; (black) temptation.
Gift--(From a man) danger; (from a woman) spite.
Gloves--Friendly advances.
Goat--(White) prosperity; (black) sickness.
Gold--Profit, fortune.
Goose--Same as Duck; (catch one) ensnarement.
Grandparents--Occasion for repentance.
Grapes--Enjoyment, rejoicing; (scant or poor) deprivations.
Grass--(Green) long life.
Grasshopper--Lost harvest or savings.
Grave--(Open) loss of a friend; (filled up) good fortune.
Guitar--Deception, ill-conduct.
Gypsy--Small troubles.
H
Hail--Trouble, sadness.
Hair--(Orderly) comfort, complacency; (tangled) perplexities; (falling
out) anxieties.
Ham--Happiness.
Harp--A handsome partner.
Harvest--Wealth in the country.
Hay--Abundance.
Heart--(Pain or troubles) sickness, danger.
Heaven--Some joyful event will happen.
Hell--You lead a bad life and should reform before it is too late.
Hen--Profit; (hear one) consolation; (one laying) joy.
Herbs--Prosperity; (to eat) grief.
Hermit--Treacherous friend.
Hill--(Up one) success; (down) misadventure.
Hole--Obstacles. See Falling.
Holly--Annoyance.
Honey--Success in business.
Horse--(See white one) unexpected good fortune; (see black one) partial
success; (mount or ride) success in enterprise; (curry one) a speedy
journey.
Hotel--(See one) wandering; (be in) discomfort.
House--(New or strange) consolation; (many) bewilderment.
Hunger--Profitable employment.
Hunt--Snares, accusations.
Husband--If a wife dreams that her husband is married to another it
betokens separation.
I
Ice--Treachery, misadventure.
Imps--Occasion for caution.
Infants--Connubial felicity.
Ink--Reconciliation; (upset) separation.
Insanity--Bright ideas, wise thought.
Iron--Cruel experience.
Island--Solitude, loneliness.
Itch--Small foes.
Ivory--Profitable enterprise.
Intoxication--(One's self) pleasures; (another) scandal.
Ivy--Children many and handsome.
J
Jail--(To enter) safety; (leaving one) single blessedness.
Jaw--Riches in the family.
Jew--Trickery.
Joy--Bad news.
Judge--Punishment.
Jug--Loss through awkwardness or neglect.
K
Keys--Explanations, progress in knowledge; (to lose) perplexity.
Killing--(To see) security; (one's self) love quarrels; (another)
jealousy.
Kids--Consolation.
King--Satisfaction, progress in affairs.
Kiss--(In the light) true love; (in the dark) risks; (a stranger) a new
lover; (a rival) treason; (married woman kissed by a stranger) a new
baby and a jealous husband.
Kitchen--Arrivals.
Kite--Vain glory.
Knife--Inconstancy, dissension.
Knitting--Mischievous talk, malice.
Knots--Embarrassments, difficulties.
L
Labor--Conjugal happiness, increase of fortune.
Ladder--(To go up) brief glory; (to go down) debasement.
Lady--Humiliation; (many) gossip.
Lambs--(To see) peace; (to have) profit; (to carry) success; (to buy)
great surprise; (to kill) secret grief.
Lame Person--Business misfortune.
Lamps--(Unlit) neglect; (lighted) love troubles.
Landscape--Unexpected gain.
Lantern--(Lighted) safe adventure; (unlit) blunder.
Larks--Riches, elevation.
Laughter--Troubled happiness, botheration.
Leg--(If sound and supple) successful enterprise, prosperous journey.
Letter--(To see) discovery; (to receive) good news from afar.
Lice--Wealth.
Lightning--A love quarrel.
Lily--(Faded) vain hopes; (fine) innocence, happiness.
Linen--Fortune, abundance.
Lion--Future dignity.
Liver--Losses, discomforts.
Lizard--Snares of dubious origin.
Laurel--Honor, gain.
Lawyer--Marriage of a friend.
Lead--Accusations, ingratitude.
Leaves--Transient indisposition.
Leech--Aid in trouble; (many of them) extortion, usury.
Leeks--Labor.
Lettuce--Poverty.
Locksmith--Robbery.
Lottery Tickets--(Number distinct) success in affairs; (number
indistinct) foolish expenditure.
Love--An all round good indication.
Lovers--Troubles and joys mixed.
M
Macaroni--Distress.
Man--(Handsome) love; (ugly) wrangles.
Mantle--Victimizing.
Manure--Depravity, shame.
Maps--A journey.
Marble--Estrangements.
Markets--(A busy one) joyous events; (empty) deprivations.
Marsh--Unfruitful endeavors.
Masks--Hypocrisy.
Measles--Wealth coupled with disgrace.
Meat--(Roast) kind reception, (boiled) melancholy.
Melon--Hope, Success.
Mice--Annoyances.
Milestone--Desires accomplished.
Milk--Love affairs.
Mills--Legacy from a relative
Mire--Mistakes, privations.
Mirror--(To look in) misunderstanding; (broken) misadventure.
Money--Losses in business; (to find) tardy discoveries.
Money-Lender--Persecution.
Monkey--Harmless mischief.
Moon--Love; (bright) continual pleasure; (clouded) sickness, danger to
one beloved; (full) wealth; (new) awakening affection; (failing) deceit;
(red) renown.
Mourning--Impending happiness, invitation to a ball or wedding.
Mouth--(Closed so that cannot eat) sudden death; (wider than usual)
riches.
Mud--Riches.
Mule--Difficulty.
Music--Ease, pleasure.
Mustard--Troubles.
Myrtle--Love declaration.
N
Nails--(Broken) misadventure; (very long) emoluments.
Nakedness--Threatened danger.
Navigating--Approaching journey.
Necklace--Jealousy, annoyance.
Needles--Disappointment in love.
Negro--Vexation, annoyance.
Nest--Good luck, profit.
Newspaper--Botheration, gossip.
Night--(Walking) uneasiness, melancholy.
Nightingale--Happy marriage.
Nose--(That yours is large) prosperity and acquaintance with rich
people.
Nurse--Long life.
Nuts--Peace and satisfaction after trouble and difficulty.
O
Oak--(Green) health, strength; (dead or fallen) heavy losses.
Oars--Safe enterprise; (to break or lose) dependence.
Offer of Marriage--New lovers.
Office--(Turn out of) death or loss of property.
Oil--Good harvest.
Old Person--(Man) prudence, wisdom; (woman) scandal.
Olives--Honors and dignities.
Onions--Aggravation, dispute with inferiors.
Opera--Pleasure followed by pain.
Orange Blossom--A marriage.
Oranges--Amusement, pleasure; (sour) chagrin, injury.
Orchard--Much of nothing.
Ostrich--Misadventure through vanity.
Oven--Ease, riches; (hot) feasting.
Owl--Secrets revealed.
Oysters--Satiety.
P
Pain--Trouble and recovery.
Painter--That everything will be lovely.
Palm-Tree--Honor, power, victory.
Paper--Tidings; (colored) deceit; (painted) brief happiness.
Parent--Good news.
Parrot--A bad neighbor, tale-bearing.
Pastry--(To eat) annoyance; (to make) good times.
Paths--(Straight) happiness; (crooked) ill to the willful.
Pawnbroker--Little result of big endeavor.
Peacock--Peril through pride, ambition or unwariness.
Peaches--Contentment, pleasure.
Pearls--Tears, distress.
Pears--Treachery; (to eat) tidings of death; (to gather) festivities.
Peas--Good fortune.
Pens--Tidings.
Peddler--You are mistaken in your estimate of a friend.
Pepper--Affliction, vexation.
Pheasant--Good fortune; (to kill one) peril; (to carry one) honor.
Piano--Disputes.
Pig--Pork--(Few) avarice; (many) profits.
Pigeon--Reconciliation.
Pillow--Disturbance.
Pills--Trouble.
Pine Tree--Danger.
Pins--Contradiction.
Pirates--Fortunate adventure.
Pitch--Evil companions.
Pitchfork--Punishment.
Playing--Entertainment.
Plums--Pleasure, happiness.
Policeman--Trouble.
Pomegranate--Power.
Postman--News from the absent.
Poverty--Thrift, advantage.
Preserves--Loss of time and money.
Priest--Reconciliation.
Procession--Happy love.
Pump--(If water) marriage and fortune; (if dry) flirtation.
Purchase--(On credit) deprivations; (for cash) possessions.
Purse--(Empty) something to get; (full) pride, disquiet.
Puzzle--Favors, pleasure.
Q
Quail--Family responsibilities.
Quarrel--Constancy, friendship.
Queen--Prosperity.
Questions--Wisdom.
Quill--Particular information.
Quoits--Rivalries.
R
Rabbit--(White) friendship; (black) trouble; (many) extensive pleasures.
Racing--Success in life.
Radishes--That you will discover secrets.
Raft--New views.
Rain--Legacy or gift.
Rainbow--Separation.
Rat--Secret enemies; (white) triumph over enemies.
Raven--Misfortune; (hear one) grief.
Reading--Venturesomeness.
Reaper--A picnic party.
Revenge--Repentance.
Ribbons--Prodigality.
Rice--Talking.
Ride--(With men) it is a good sign; (with women) a bad sign.
Ring--Approaching marriage.
Riot--Scarcity through mischief.
Rival--Quarrels.
River--Success in enterprise; (to fall in) attempts of enemies; (to
throw one's self in) confusion in affairs.
Robber--Fear.
Rock--Annoyance; (to surmount) difficulties overcome.
Roof--Adventure abroad.
Roses--Always of happy omen; (full blown) health, joy, abundance;
(faded) success, with some drawbacks; (white) innocence; (red)
satisfaction; (yellow) jealousy.
Ruffles--Honors, profitable occupation.
Ruins--Pleasant surprises.
Rust--Idle times, decay, failure.
S
Sailor--Tidings from abroad.
Salad--Embarrassments.
Salt--Wisdom.
Satin or Silk--Gain.
Sausage--Affliction, sickness.
Saw--Satisfactory conclusion in affairs.
Scissors--Enemies, hatred.
Scratches--Inconveniences, annoyances.
Screech-Owl--Death of near relative.
Sculptor--Profit.
Sea--Long journey, large affairs.
Seabeach--Tranquilly.
Secretary--Fortune.
Serenade--News of a marriage.
Sermon--Weariness, sleeplessness.
Servant--(Man) abuse of confidence; (maid) suspicion.
Sewing--Plots.
Shawl--(A fine one) honors; (thin or old) shame; (torn) detraction.
Sheep--Great gain.
Shell--(Filled) success; (empty) ill-omen.
Shepherd--Malice.
Ship--Wishes fulfilled; (in danger) unexpected good fortune.
Shoes--Advantageous speculation; (much worn) a speedy journey.
Shop--(To be in) pleasure denied; (to conduct) dues withheld.
Shroud--Death.
Singing--Vexation.
Skating--(To see) hindrances, crosses; (to do) success.
Skeleton--Disgust.
Sky--(Clear) happiness, peace; (clouded) misfortune.
Sleep--Illusive security.
Slippers--Comfort, satisfaction.
Smoke--Extravagant expectations.
Snail--Infidelity, dishonor.
Snakes--Treason, betrayal.
Sneezing--Long life.
Snow--(In season) good harvest; (unseasonable) discouragement.
Soap--Revelations, assistance.
Soldier--Quarrels.
Soup--Return of health or fortune.
Spectacles--Melancholy, obstacles.
Spider--(In the dark) gain; (in the light) contention; (kill one)
pleasure.
Sponge--Greed, avarice.
Sports--Pleasure and after regrets.
Spot--(On clothes) sadness; (on the sun) baseless fears.
Spy--(To be one) reprehension; (to see) rumors.
Stable--Hospitality, welcome.
Stag--Gain; (chase one) business failure.
Stammer--Decision, resolution.
Stars--Happiness; (pale) affliction; (shooting) death of relative.
Stocking--(To pull off) comfort; (to pull on) discomfort; (new) a visit;
(a hole in) deceitful fortune.
Stones--(Under foot) trouble, suffering; (thrown or falling) malice.
Storks--Loss, robbery.
Storm--Contest, vexation.
Stove--Riches.
Stranger--Return of a lost friend.
Strange Bed--Contentment.
Strange Room--A mystery solved.
Strawberries--Unexpected good fortune.
Straws--Poverty.
Street--(To walk in) a favorable reception.
Sugar--Privation and want.
Sun--(Bright) discovery of secrets; (clouded) bad news; (rising)
success; (setting) losses.
Supper--News of a birth.
Swallow--Successful enterprise.
Swans--Private riches.
Swearing--Disagreeables.
Sweeping--Confidence well placed.
Swimming--Enjoyment.
Swords--Misfortune.
T
Table--Joy; (to set) abundance.
Tailor--Unfaithfulness.
Tea--Confusion, incumbrance.
Tears--Joy, comfort.
Teeth--(Handsome) health, goodness; (mean or drawn) vexation, loss.
Ten-Pins--Undesirable adventures.
Tent--Quarrels.
Theater--Sadness, loss.
Thicket--Evasions, apprehensions.
Thief--(To be one) loss; (to lose by one) good speculations.
Thimble--Work hard to find.
Thirst--Affliction.
Thistle--Disputes, folly.
Thorns--Disappointment, pain; (to be pricked by) loss of money.
Thread--Intrigue; (tangled) confusion of affairs; (to break) failure;
(to split) a secret betrayed.
Thunder--Danger; (to see thunderbolt fall) death of a friend.
Tiger--Fierce enmity.
Toads--Something to disgust.
Tomb--Family matters, nuptials, births.
Torches--Invitation to a wedding.
Trap-Door--(Open) a secret divulged; (shut) mystery.
Travel--(On foot) work; (on wheels) fortune.
Treasure--(That you find one) disappointment.
Trees--In general; (green) hope; (withered) grief; (leafless) deceit;
(cut down) robbery; (to climb) change of employment.
Trousers--Honors and responsibilities.
Turkey--If you dream of a turkey you will shortly see a fool.
Turnips--Disappointment, annoyance.
Twins--Honors, riches.
U
Umbrella--(To a lady) A new lover; (to a gentleman) a breach of promise
suit.
Uncle--Advantageous marriage.
Undress--(One's self) rebuke; (another) scandal.
Uniform--(To see) humbling; (to wear) flattery.
V
Vegetables--(In general) weary toil; (to gather) quarrels; (to eat)
business losses.
Veil--Marriage; (black) death or separation.
Veins--Grief.
Vermin--Enough and to spare.
Villain--Danger of losing property.
Vine--Fruitfulness, abundance.
Vinegar--(To drink) wrangles; (spoiled) sickness.
Violets--Success of undertakings.
Violin--(In concert) sympathy, consolation; (alone) bereavement.
Visitors--Loneliness.
Virgin--Joy without regret; (pretended one) sorrow, evil.
Vulture--Bitter enmity; (kill one) triumph over foes; (one feeding)
returning fortune.
W
Wagon--(Loaded) emolument; (empty) ease, pleasure.
Wake--Poverty and misery.
Wall--Obstacles; (to be on) prosperity.
War--Misunderstandings and contention.
Wardrobe--Advantage.
Wash-Day--New friends, good resolutions.
Wasps--Annoyance; (to be stung) affronts.
Watch--Time well employed.
Watchman--Trifling loss.
Water--See Bath, Drink; (to drink) a marriage or birth; (to fall into)
reconciliation.
Water Carrier--Gain.
Wax--Desirable marriage.
Weasel--To be outwitted.
Wedding--Unexpected danger, troubled happiness.
Well--(Draw water from) good fortune; (fall into) peril.
Wheat--Money.
Wheelbarrow, Wheel--Disability, infirmity.
Whirlwind--Danger, scandal.
Widowhood--Satisfaction, new belongings.
Wife--If a man dreams he sees his wife married to another, it betokens a
separation.
Wolf--Enmity; (to kill one) gain, success.
Woman--Deceit; (fair) love; (ugly) scandal.
Wood-Cutter--Labor without profit.
Woods--(To rich) loss; (to poor) profit.
Work--(Of right hand) prosperity; (of left hand) impecuniosity.
Worms--Secret enemies, ill-health.
Wreck--Catastrophes, peril.
Writing--Pleasant and profitable discovery.
Y
Yeast--Increase, abundance.
Yoke--Responsibilities, particularly of marriage.
Youth--Good time, light responsibilities.
THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS.
Flowers may be combined and arranged so as to express even the nicest
shades of sentiment.
If a flower is offered reversed, its direct significance is likewise
reversed, so that the flower now means its opposite.
A rosebud divested of its thorns, but retaining its leaves conveys the
sentiment. "I fear no longer; I hope." Stripped of leaves and thorns, it
signifies, "There is nothing to hope or fear."
A full-blown rose placed over two buds signifies "Secrecy."
"Yes" is implied by touching the flower given to the lips.
"No" by pinching off a petal and casting it away.
"I am," is expressed by a laurel leaf twined around the bouquet. "I
have," by an ivy leaf folded together. "I offer you," by a leaf of
Virginia creeper.
Combinations and Their Meaning.
Moss, Rosebud and Myrtle--"A confession of love."
Mignonette and Colored Daisy--"Your qualities surpass your charms of
beauty."
Lily of the Valley and Ferns--"Your unconscious sweetness has fascinated
me."
Yellow Rose, Broken Straw and Ivy--"Your jealousy has broken our
friendship."
Scarlet Geranium, Passion Flower, Purple Hyacinth, and Arbor Vitae--"I
trust you will find consolation, through faith, in your sorrow; be
assured of my unchanging friendship."
Columbine, Day Lily, Broken Straw, Witch Hazel and Colored Daisy--"Your
folly and coquetry have broken the spell of your beauty."
White Pink, Canary Grass and Laurel--"Your talent and perseverance will
win you glory."
Golden-Rod and Monkshead, Sweet Pea and Forge-me-not--"Be cautious;
danger is near; I depart soon; forget me not."
Significance of Single Flowers.
Arbor Vitae--Unchanging friendship.
Camelia, White--Loveliness.
Candy-Tuft--Indifference.
Carnation, Deep Red--Alas! for my poor heart.
Carnation, White--Disdain.
China-Aster--Variety.
Clover, Four-Leaf--Be mine.
Clover, White--Think of me.
Clover, Red--Industry.
Columbine--Folly.
Columbine, Purple--Resolved to win.
Daisy--Innocence.
Dead Leaves--Sadness.
Deadly Nightshade--Falsehood.
Fern--Fascination.
Forget-me-not--True love, Forget me not.
Fuschia, Scarlet--Taste.
Geranium, Rose--Preference.
Geranium, Scarlet--Consolation.
Golden-Rod--Be cautious.
Heliotrope--Devotion.
Honey-Flower--Love, sweet and secret.
Hyacinth, White--Unobtrusive loveliness.
Ivy--Fidelity.
Lady's Slipper--Win me and wear me.
Lily, Day--Coquetry.
Lily, White-Sweetness.
Lily, Yellow--Gaiety.
Lily of the Valley--Return of happiness.
Mignonette--Your qualities surpass your charm.
Monkshead--Danger is near.
Myrtle--Love.
Oats--The witching soul of music.
Orange Blossoms--Chastity.
Pansy--Thoughts.
Passion Flower--Faith.
Peach Blossom--I am your captive.
Pear--Affection.
Primrose--Inconstancy.
Quaking Grass--Agitation.
Rose--Love.
Rose, Deep Red--Bashful shame.
Rose, Yellow--Jealousy.
Rose, White--I am worthy of you.
Rosebud, Moss--Confession of love.
Shamrock--Lightheartedness.
Straw--Agreement.
Straw, Broken--Broken agreement.
Sweet Pea--Depart.
Tuberose--Dangerous pleasures.
Verbena--Pray for me.
Witch Hazel--A spell.
ALPHABET OF ADVICE TO WRITERS.
A word out of place spoils the most beautiful thought.--Voltaire.
Begin humbly. Labor faithfully. Be patient.--Elizabeth Stuart Phelps.
Cultivate accuracy in words and things; amass sound knowledge; avoid all
affectation; write all topics which interest you.--F. W. Newman.
Don't be afraid. Fight right along. Hope right along.--S.L. Clemens.
Every good writer has much idiom; it is the life and spirit of
Language.--W. S. Landor.
Follow this: If you write from the heart, you will write to the
heart.--Beaconsfield
Genius may begin great works, but only continued labor completes
them.--Joubert.
Half the writer's art consists in learning what to leave in the
ink-pot.--Stevenson.
It is by suggestion, not cumulation, that profound impressions are made
on the imagination.--Lowell.
Joy in one's work is an asset beyond the valuing in mere dollars.--C. D.
Warner.
Keep writing--and profit by criticism. Use for a motto Michael Angelo's
wise words: "Genius is infinite patience."--L. M. Alcott.
Lord, let me never tag a moral to a story, nor tell a story without a
meaning.--Van Dyke.
More failures come from vanity than carelessness.--Joseph Jefferson.
Never do a "pot-boiler." Let one of your best things go to boil the
pot.--"O. Henry."
Originality does not mean oddity, but freshness. It means vitality, not
novelty.--Norman Hapgood.
Pluck feathers from the wings of your imagination, and stick them in the
tail of your judgment.--Horace Greeley.
Quintessence approximates genius. Gather much though into few words.
--Schopenhauer.
Revise. Revise. Revise.--E. E. Hale.
Simplicity has been held a mark of truth: it is also it mark of
genius.--Carlyle.
The first principle of composition of whatever sort is that it should be
natural and appear to have happened so.--Frederick Macmonnies.
Utilize your enthusiasms. Get the habit of happiness in
work.--Beveridge.
Very few voices but sound repellent under violent exertion.--Lessing.
Whatever in this world one has to say, there is a word, and just one
word, to express it. Seek that out and use it.--De Maupassant.
Yes, yes; believe me, you must draw your pen
Not once, nor twice, but o'er and o'er again
Through what you've written, if you would entice
The man who reads you once to read you twice.
-Horace (Conington, Tr.)
Zeal with scanty capacity often accomplishes more than capacity with no
zeal at all.--George Eliot.
WHAT DIFFERENT EYES INDICATE.
The long, almond-shaped eye with thick eyelids covering nearly half of
the pupil, when taken in connection with the full brow, is indicative of
genius, and is often found in artists, literary and scientific men. It
is the eye of talent, or impressibility. The large, open, transparent
eye, of whatever color, is indicative of elegance, of taste, of
refinement, of wit, of intelligence. Weakly marked eyebrows indicate a
feeble constitution and a tendency to melancholia, Deep sunken eyes are
selfish, while eyes in which the whole iris shows indicate erraticism,
if not lunacy. Round eyes are indicative of innocence; strongly
protuberant eyes of weakness of both mind and body. Eyes small and close
together typify cunning, while those far apart and open indicate
frankness. The normal distance between the eyes is the width of one eye;
a distance greater or less than this intensifies the character supposed
to be symbolized. Sharp angles, turning down at the corners of the eyes,
are seen in persons of acute judgment and penetration. Well-opened
steady eyes belong to the sincere; wide staring eyes to the impertinent.
THE MYSTERIES OF PALMISTRY
[Illustration: Various Forms of Fingers and Hands.
Nine hands with various markings and eleven fingers.]
The following points, upon which the Science of Palmistry is based,
explain its mysteries, and will be found very interesting, amusing and
instructive:
Form of the Hand.
Hands are classed into seven types, each of which is illustrated by the
cuts on the preceding page, and described as follows:
Plate I--The Elementary or Bilious Hand, indicating brutal instinct
instead of reason as the governing power of the character.
Plate II--The Square or Jupiter Hand, indicating a practical, stubborn,
methodical, and conventional character; one apt to be suspicious of
strangers and radical in views.
Plate III--The Spatulate or Nervous Hand, so named because of its
imagined resemblance to a spatula. It is broad at the base of the
fingers, and indicates great energy and push to discover; also, courage
and fearlessness.
Plate IV--The Philosophic or Venus Hand, has a long, thin, muscular
palm, with long, knotty fingers; indicates a student of nature and
searcher after truth.
Plate V--The Mercury or Artistic Hand, indicates quick temper,
impulsiveness; a character that is light-hearted, gay and charitable,
to-day; and to-morrow, sad, tearful and uncharitable.
Plate VI--The Lunar or Idealistic Hand, indicates an extremely sensitive
nature.
Plate VII--The Harmonic or Solar Hand, indicates a character of great
versatility, brilliant in conversation, and an adept in diplomacy.
The Fingers.
For fortune-telling the fingers from first to fourth are designated as
Jupiter, Saturn, Apollo and Mercury.
Note the cut on preceding page, representing the different types of
fingers, numbered from one to eleven.
1--Large fingers indicate a person of vulgar tastes and a cruel, selfish
disposition.
2--Small, thin fingers indicate a keen, quick acting mind and a person
not very particular about personal appearance.
3--Long, lean fingers indicate an inquiring disposition; love of details
in narrative; short fingers imply simple tastes and selfishness.
4--Fat fingers, largely developed at base, indicate sensualness; if
small at base, the reverse.
5--Smooth fingers indicate artistic ability.
6--Knotty fingers indicate truthfulness and good order in business
affairs.
7--Pointed fingers indicate a very magnetic and enthusiastic
personality.
8--Square fingers indicate a strong mind, regularity and love of good
order.
9--Spatulate fingers indicate a character of positiveness in opinions
and lacking in gentleness.
10--Fingers of mixed shape indicate a harmonious disposition, with
ability to easily adapt oneself to all conditions.
11--Obtuse fingers indicate coarse and cruel sensibilities.
The Phalanges of the Fingers.
See plate VIII, 1, 2, 3--The Phalanges of the Thumb: 4, 5, 6--Repeated
on each finger, indicate the phalanges of the four fingers.
The Mounts of the Hands.
See plate IX--A, Mount Venus; B, Mount Jupiter; C, Mount Saturn; D,
Mount Apollo; E. Mount Mercury; F, Mount Luna; G, Mount Mars.
The Shape and Length of the Phalanges
represent certain qualities and features of character, as presented in
the following:
Jupiter, the first finger; if the first phalange is longer than the
second, it indicates ability to control others, direct and maintain
order; if the second phalange is long and well developed, it indicates
leadership; if short and thin, intellectual weakness; if the third
phalange is long, it indicates love of power in material things.
Saturn, second finger; if the first phalange is longer than the second,
it indicates ability for mastering scientific subjects; if the second
phalange is long, it indicates great interest in subjects requiring deep
study; if the third phalange is long, it indicates a love of metaphysics
and money.
Apollo, third finger; if the first phalange is longer than the second,
it indicates love of the arts; if the second phalange is long, it
indicates success and love of riches; if the third phalange is thick, it
indicates an inherited talent of the arts.
Mercury, fourth finger; if the first phalange is longer than the second,
it indicates a taste for and love of research; if the second phalange is
long and well developed, it indicates industrious habits; if the third
phalange is long and fat, it indicates a desire for the comforts of
life.
The Mountains.
These are points or elevations on the palm.
Mount Venus, if prominent, indicates a person of strong passions, great
energy in business, and admiration of physical beauty in the opposite
sex; it also indicates love of children, home and wife, or husband. When
not well developed there is a lack of love for home, children, wife or
husband; and in a man, it indicates egotism and laziness,--in a woman,
hysteria.
Mount Jupiter, if prominent, indicates a person who is generous, loves
power, and is brilliant in conversation; if a woman, she desires to
shine and be a social leader. When not well developed, it indicates lack
of self-esteem, slovenliness and indifference to personal appearance.
Mount Saturn, if prominent, indicates a serious-minded person,
religiously inclined, slow to reach a conclusion, very prudent, free in
the expression of opinions, but inclined to be pessimistic.
Mount Apollo, if prominent, indicates ability as an artist, generosity,
courageousness, and a poetical nature, apt to be a spendthrift. When not
well developed, it indicates cautiousness and prudence.
Mount Mercury, if prominent, indicates keen perceptions, cleverness in
conversation, a talent for the sciences, industry, and deceitfulness. If
not well developed, it indicates a phlegmatic, stupid disposition.
Mount Luna, if prominent, indicates a dreamy, changeable, capricious,
enthusiastic, and inventive nature. When not well developed, it
indicates constancy, love of home, and ability to imitate others.
Mount Mars, if prominent, indicates self-respect, coolness, and control
of self under trying circumstances, courage, venturesomeness and
confidence in one's ability for anything undertaken. When not well
developed, it indicates the opposite of these characteristics.
Lines On the Hand.
If the lines of the hand are not well defined, this fact indicates poor
health.
Deep red lines indicate good, robust health. Yellow lines indicate
excessive biliousness.
Dark-colored lines indicate a melancholy and reserved disposition.
The Life Line extends from the outer base of Mount Jupiter, entirely
around the base of Mount Venus. If chained under Jupiter, it indicates
bad health in early life. Hair lines extending from it imply weakness,
and if cut by small lines from Mount Venus, misplaced affections and
domestic broils. If arising from Mount Jupiter, an ambition to be
wealthy and learned. If it is joined by the Line of the Head at its
beginning, prudence and wisdom are indicated. If it joins Heart and Head
line's at its commencement, a great catastrophe will be experienced by
the person so marked. A square on it denotes success. All lines that
follow it give it strength. Lines that cut the Life Line extending
through the Heart Line denote interference in a love affair. If it is
crossed by small lines, illness is indicated. Short and badly drawn
lines, unequal in size, imply bad blood and a tendency to fevers.
The Heart Line, if it extends across the hand at the base of the finger
mounts, and is deep and well defined, indicates purity and devotion; if
well defined from Mount Jupiter only, a jealous and tyrannical
disposition is indicated; if it begins at Mount Saturn and is without
branches, it is a fatal sign; if short and well defined in the Harmonic
type of hand it indicates intense affection when it is reciprocated; if
short on the Mercury type of hand, it implies deep interest in
intellectual pursuits; it short and deep in the Elementary type of hand,
it implies the disposition to satisfy desire by brutal force, instead of
by love.
The Head Line is parallel to Heart Line and forms the second branch of
letter M, generally very plain in most hands; if long and deep it
indicates ability to care for one's self; if hair lines are attached to
it, mental worry; if it divides toward Mount Mercury love affairs will
be first, and business secondary; if well defined its whole length, it
implies a well-balanced brain; a line from it extending into a star on
Mount Jupiter, great versatility, pride and love for knowledge are
indicated; if it extend to Mount Luna interest in occult studies is
implied; separated from the Life Line, indicates aggressiveness; if it
is broken, death is indicated from an injury in the head.
The Rascettes are lines across the wrist where the palm joins it.
It is claimed they indicate length of life; if straight it is a good
sign. One Rascette indicates thirty years of life; two lines, sixty;
three lines, ninety.
The Fate Line commences at Rascettes, and if it extends straight to
Mount Saturn, uninterrupted, and alike in both hands, good luck and
success are realized without personal exertion. If not in one hand and
interrupted in the other, success will be experienced only by great
effort. If well defined at the wrist the early life is bright and
promising; if broken in the center, misery for middle life is indicated.
If this line touches Mounts Luna and Venus, it indicates a good
disposition and wealth; if inclined toward any mount, it implies success
in that line for which the mount stands. If it is made up of
disconnected links, it indicates serious physical and moral struggles.
Should it end at Heart Line, the life has been ruined by unrequited
love. If it runs through a square, the life has been in danger and
saved. Should it merge into the Heart Line and continue to Mount
Jupiter, it denotes distinction and power secured through love.
The Girdle of Venus is a curved line extending from Mount Jupiter to
Mercury, encircling Saturn and Apollo. It appears on few hands, but it
indicates superior intellect, a sensitive and capricious nature; if it
extends to base of Jupiter it denotes divorce; ending in Mercury,
implies great energy; should it be cut by parallel lines in a man, it
indicates a hard drinker and gambler.
Lines of Reputation, commencing in the middle of the hand, at the Head
Line, Mount Luna or Mount Mars, indicate financial success from
intellectual pursuits after years of struggling with adversity. If from
Heart Line, real love of occupation and success; if from Head Line,
success from selfishness. An island on this line denotes loss of
character, a start on it near Apollo implies that success will be
permanent, and a square, brilliant success. The absence of this line
implies a struggle for recognition of one's abilities.
Line of Intuition, beginning at base of Mount Mercury, extends around
Mars and Luna; it is frequently found in the Venus, Mercury and Lunar
types of hands; when deeply dented with a triangle on Mount Saturn it
denotes clairvoyant power; if it forms a triangle with Fate Line, or
Life Line, a voyage will be taken.
Health Line commences at center of the Rascettes, takes an oblique
course from Fate Line, ending toward Mount Mercury. If straight and well
defined, there is little liability to constitutional diseases; when it
does not extend to Head Line, steady mental labor cannot be performed;
when it is broad and deep on Mount Mercury, diminishing as it enters the
Life Line, death from heart disease is indicated; small lines cutting it
denote sickness from biliousness. When joined to Heart Line, health and
business are neglected for Love; if made up of short, fine lines, there
is suffering from stomach catarrh; if it is checked by islands there is
a constitutional tendency to lung disease.
Marriage Lines extend straight across Mount Mercury; if short, affairs
of the heart without marriage are denoted. When near Heart Line early
marriage is indicated; if it turns directly to Heart Line, marriage will
occur between the ages of 16 and 21; if close to the top of the mount,
marriage will not take place before the 35th year; if it curves upward
it indicates a single life; when pronged and running toward the center
or to Mount Mars, divorce will occur. If the end at this line droops the
subject will outlive wife or husband; if broken, divorce is implied; if
it ends in a cross, the wife or husband will die from an accident. A
branch from this line upward implies a high position attained by
marriage. A black spot on this line means widowhood.
Children's Lines are small and upright, extending from the end of
Marriage Lines. If broad and well defined, males; if fine and narrow,
females are indicated. A line of this order that is deep and well
defined denotes prominence for that child.
Small Lines have a signification depending upon their position and
number.
A single line on Jupiter signifies success; on Saturn, happiness; on
Apollo, fame and talent.
Ascending small lines are favorable, while descending lines are
unfavorable signs.
Several small lines on Mars indicate warfare constantly.
Cross lines, failure.
RIDDLES, OLD AND NEW.
Feet have they, but they walk not--stoves.
Eyes have they, but they see not--potatoes.
Noses have they, but they smell not--tea-pots.
Mouths have they, but they taste not--rivers.
Hands have they, but they handle not--clocks.
Ears have they, but they hear not--corn stalks.
Tongues have they, but they talk not--wagons.
What thing is that which is lengthened by being cut at both ends? A
ditch.
Why do we all go to bed? Because the bed will not come to us.
Why Paris like the letter F? Because it is the capital of France.
In which month do ladies talk least? In February.
Why is a room full of married folks like an empty room? There is not a
single person in it.
Why is a peach-stone like a regiment? It has a kernel (Colonel).
Why is an island like the letter T? Because it is in the midst of
wa-t-er.
Why is a bee-hive like a spectator? Because it is a beeholder
(beholder).
What is that which a train cannot move without, and yet is not the least
use to it? A noise.
When is a man over head and ears in debt? When the hat he has on is not
paid for.
Why is a man led astray like one governed by a girl? He is misled
(miss-led).
Why is a Jew in a fever like a diamond? He is a Jew ill (jewel).
Why are fixed stars like pen, ink and paper? They are stationary
(stationery).
What is that which is always invisible and never out of sight? The
letter I.
Why is a cook like a barber? He dresses hare (hair).
Why is a waiter like a race horse? He often runs for a plate or a cup.
Why is a madman like two men? He is one beside himself.
Why is a good story like a church bell? It is often told (tolled).
What is the weight of the moon? Four quarters.
What sea would make the best bed-room? Adriatic (a-dry attic).
Why is Ireland likely to become rich? Because the capital is always
Dublin (doubling).
What two letters make a county in Massachusetts? S. X. (Essex).
Why is a good saloon like a bad one? Both inn convenient
Why do dentists make good politicians? Because they have a great pull.
Why is the Hudson River like a shoe? Because it is a great place for
tows (toes).
Why is a race at a circus like a big conflagration? Because the heat is
in tents (intense).
Which is the left side of a plum pudding? The part that is not eaten.
Why is a man who runs in debt like a clock? He goes on tick.
Why is the wick of a candle like Athens? It is in the midst of grease
(Greece).
Why are deep sighs like long stockings? Heigh-ho's (high hose).
What occupation is the sun? A tanner.
Why are your eyes like stage horses? They are always under lashes.
Why are your teeth like verbs? Regular, irregular and defective?
What word makes you sick if you leave out one of its letters? Music.
What word of ten letters can be spelled with five? Expediency (X P D N
C).
Why should red-headed men be chosen for soldiers? They carry fire-locks.
Why is the letter D like a sailor? It follows the sea (C).
Why is a theological student like a merchant? Both study the Prophets
(profits).
If the alphabet were invited out to dine what time would U, V, W, X, Y
and Z go? After tea (T).
How can you take one from nineteen and leave twenty? XIX--XX
LAST WORDS OF FAMOUS MEN AND WOMEN.
"'Tis well."--George Washington.
"Tete d'armee."--Napoleon.
"I thank God that I have done my duty."--Admiral Nelson.
"I pray thee see me safe up, but for my coming down I can shift for
myself," were the last words of Sir Thomas More when ascending the
scaffold.
"God bless you."--Dr. Johnson.
"I have finished."--Hogarth.
"Dying, dying."--Thos. Hood.
"Drop the curtain, the farce is played out."--Rabelais.
"I am what I am. I am what I am."--Swift.
"I still live."--Daniel Webster.
"How grand these rays. They seem to beckon earth to heaven."--Humboldt.
"It is now time that we depart--I to die, you to live: but which is the
better destination is unknown."--Socrates.
"Adieu, my dear Morand, I am dying."--Voltaire.
"My beautiful flowers, my lovely flowers."--Richter.
"James, take good care of the horse."--Winfield Scott.
"Many things are becoming clearer to me."--Schiller.
"I feel the daisies growing over me."--John Keats.
"What, is there no bribing death?"--Cardinal Beaufort.
"Taking a leap in the dark. O, mystery."--Thomas Paine.
"There is not a drop of blood on my hands."'--Frederick V.
"I am taking a fearful leap in the dark."--Thomas Hobbes.
"Don't let that awkward squad fire over my grave."--Burns.
"Here, veteran, if you think it right, strike."--Cicero.
"My days are past as a shadow that returns not."--R. Hooker.
"I thought that dying had been more difficult,"--Louis XIV.
"O Lord, forgive me specially my sins of omission."--Usher.
"Let me die to the sounds of delicious music."--Mirabeau.
"It is small, very small," alluding to her neck.--Anna Boleyn.
"Let me hear those notes so long my solace and delight."--Mozart.
"We are as near heaven by sea as by land,"--Sir Humphrey Gilbert.
"I do not sleep. I wish to meet death awake."--Maria Theresa.
"I resign my soul to God; my daughter to my country."--Jefferson.
TOASTS AND SENTIMENTS
Merit to gain a heart, and sense to keep it.
Money to him that has spirit to use it.
More friends and less need of them.
May those who deceive us be always deceived.
May the sword of justice be swayed by the hand of mercy.
May the brow of the brave never want a wreath of laurel.
May we be slaves to nothing but our duty, and friends to nothing but
real merit.
May he that turns his back on his friend, fall into the hands of his
enemy.
May honor be the commander when love takes the field.
May reason guide the helm when passion blows the gale.
May those who would enslave become slaves themselves.
May genius and merit never want a friend.
May the road of happiness be lighted by virtue.
May life last as long as it is worth wearing.
May we never murmur without a cause, and never have a cause to murmur.
May the eye that drops for the misfortunes of others never shed a tear
for its own.
May the lovers of the fair sex never want means to support and spirit to
defend them. May the tear of misery be dried by the hand of
commiseration.
May the voyage of life end in the haven of happiness.
Provision to the unprovided.
Peace and honest friendship with all nations; entangling alliances with
none.
Riches to the generous, and power to the merciful.
Short shoes and long corns to the enemies of freedom.
Success to the lover, and joy to the beloved.
The life we love, with whom we love.
The friend we love, and the woman we dare trust.
The union of two fond hearts.
The lovers of honor, and honorable lovers.
The unity of hearts in the union of hands.
The liberty of the press without licentiousness.
The virtuous fair, and the fair virtuous.
The road to honor through the plains of virtue.
The hero of Saratoga--may his memory animate the breast of every
American.
The American's triumvirate, love, honor and liberty.
The memory of Washington.
May the example of the new world regenerate the old.
Wit without virulence, wine without excess, and wisdom without
affectation.
What charms, arms and disarms.
Home pleasant, and our friends at home.
Woman--She needs no eulogy, she speaks for herself.
Friendship--May its lamp ever be supplied by the oil of truth and
fidelity.
The American Navy--May it ever sail on the sea of glory.
May those who are discontented with their own country leave their
country for their country's good.
Discretion in speech is more than eloquence. May we always remember
these three things: The manner, the place and the time.
Here's a sigh to those who love me,
And a smile to those who hate,
And whatever sky's above me,
Here's a heart for every fate.
Were't the last drop in the well,
As I gasped upon the brink,
Ere my fainting spirit fell,
'Tis to thee that I would drink.
--Byron.
Caddy's Toast in "Erminie"--'Ere's to the 'ealth o' your Royal 'Ighness;
hand may the skin o' ha gooseberry be big enough for han humbrella to
cover hall your enemies."
Here's to the girl I love,
And here's to the girl who loves me,
And here's to all that love her whom I love,
And all those that love her who love me.
I will drink to the woman who wrought my woe,
In the diamond morning of long ago;
To the splendor, caught from Orient skies,
That thrilled in the dark of her hazel eyes,
Her large eyes filled with the fire of the south,
And the dewy wine of her warm red mouth.
--Winter.
May those that are single get wives to their mind,
And those that are married true happiness find.
Here's a health to me and mine,
Not forgetting thee and thine;
And when thou and thine
Come to see me and mine,
May we and mine make thee and thine
As welcome as thou and thine
Have ever made me and mine.
Industry.--The right hand of fortune, the grave of care, and the cradle
of content.
Here's to the prettiest,
Here's to the wittiest,
Here's to the truest of all who are true.
Here's to the sweetest one,
Here's to them all in one--here's to you.
Our Country.--May she always be in the right--but, right or wrong, Our
Country.-- Stephen Decatur.
Here's to our sweethearts and our wives. May our sweethearts soon become
our wives and our wives ever remain our sweethearts.
Here's to the girls of the American shore;
I love but one, I love no mare.
Since she's not here to drink her part,
I drink her share with all my heart.
Here's to one and only one,
And may that one be she
Who loves but one and only one,
And may that one be me.
A glass is good and a lass is good,
And a pipe to smoke in cold weather.
The world is good and the people are good,
And we're all good fellows together.
Yesterday's yesterday while to-day's here,
To-day is to-day till to-morrow appear,
To-marrow's to-morrow until to-day's past,
And kisses are kisses as long as they last.
Our Country.--
To her we drink, for her we pray,
Our voices silent never;
For her we'll fight, come what may;
The Stars and Stripes forever.
Woman.--The fairest work of the great Author; the edition is large, and
no man should be without a copy.
Drink to me only with thine eyes,
And I will pledge thee mine;
Or leave a kiss within the cup,
And I'll not look for wine.
The thirst that from the soul doth rise
Doth ask a drink divine;
But might I of Jove's nectar sip,
I would not change from thine.
--Ben Jonson.
Drink to-day and drown all sorrow;
You shall perhaps not do't to-morrow;
Best while you have it, use your breath;
There is no drinking after death.
--Beaumont and Fletcher.
Home.--The father's kingdom; the child's paradise; the mother's world.
Here's to those I love;
Here's to those who love me;
Here's to those who love those I love,
And here's to those who love those who love those who love me.
--Ouida's Favorite Toast.
A little health, a little wealth,
A little house and freedom,
With some friends for certain ends,
But little cause to need 'em.
Here's to the lasses we've loved, my lad,
Here's to the lips we've pressed;
For of kisses and lasses,
Like liquor in glasses,
The last is always the best.
Come in the evening, come in the morning,
Come when you're looked for, come without warning.
Here's to a long life and a merry one,
A quick death and an easy one,
A pretty girl and a true one,
A cold bottle and another one.
The Man We Love.--He who thinks the most and speaks the least ill of his
neighbor.
False Friends.--May we never have friends who, like shadows, keep close
to us in the sunshine only to desert us on a cloudy day or in the night.
Here's to those who'd love us if we only cared.
Here's to those we'd love if we only dared.
Here's to one another and one other, whoever he or she may be.
The world is filled with flowers,
And flowers are filled with dew,
And dew is filled with love
And you and you and you.
Here's to you as good as you are,
And to me as bad as I am;
And as good as you are and as bad as I am,
I'm as good as you are as bad as I am.
The Law.--The only thing certain about litigation is its uncertainty.
The Lawyer--Learned gentleman, who rescues your estate from your enemies
and keeps it for himself.
A Spreadeagle Toast.--The boundaries of our country: East, by the rising
sun; north, by the north pole; west by all creation; and south, by the
day of judgment.
When going up the bill of prosperity may you never meet a friend coming
down.
May the hinges of friendship never grow rusty.
Come, come, good wine is a good familiar creature, if it be well
used.--Shakespeare.
Shall I ask the brave soldier who fights by my side in the cause of
mankind whether our creeds agree?
May all single men be married, and all married men be happy.
Our Country's Emblem:--
The lily of France may fade,
The thistle and shamrock wither,
The oak of England may decay,
But the stars shine on forever.
The Good Things of the World.--Parsons are preaching for them, lawyers
are pleading for them, physicians are prescribing for them, authors are
writing for them, soldiers are fighting for them, but true philosophers
alone are enjoying them.
My life has been like sunny skies
When they are fair to view;
But there never yet were lives or skies
Clouds might not wander through.
The Three Great American Generals.--General Peace, General Prosperity
and General Satisfaction.
America.--
Our hearts, our hopes are all with thee,
Our hearts, our hopes, our prayers, our tears,
Our faith triumphant o'er our fears,
Are all with thee, are all with thee.
Our National Birds.--The American Eagle, the Thanksgiving Turkey: may
one give us peace in all our States--and the other a piece for all our
plates.
OPPORTUNITY.
Master of human destinies am I.
Fame, Love and Fortune on my footsteps wait.
Cities and fields I walk; I penetrate
Deserts and seas remote, and, passing by
Hovel, and mart, and palace, soon or late
I knock unbidden once at every gate!
If sleeping, wake--if feasting, rise before
I turn away. It is the hour of fate,
And they who follow me reach every state
Mortals desire, and conquer every foe
Condemned to failure, penury, and woe.
Save death; but those who doubt or hesitate,
Seek me in vain and uselessly implore:
I answer not, and I return no more.
--John J. Ingalls.
A health to Our Dearest.--May their purses always be heavy and their
hearts always light.
An Irishman's Toast.--
Here's to the land of the shamrock so green,
Here's to each lad and his darling colleen,
Here's to the ones we love dearest and most.
And may God save old Ireland--that's an Irishman's toast.
Here's a health to the future,
A sigh for the past.
We can love and remember,
And hope to the last,
And for all the base lies
That the almanacs hold.
While there's love in the heart,
We can never grow old.
Some hae meat and canna' eat,
And some wad eat who want it;
But we hae meat and we can eat,
So let the Lord be thankit.
--Burns.
A little health, a little wealth,
A little house and freedom,
With some few friends for certain ends,
But little cause to need 'em.
If I were a raindrop and you a leaf,
I would burst from the cloud above you,
And lie on your breast in a rapture of rest,
And love you--love you--love you.
If I were a brown bee and you were a rose,
I would fly to you, love, nor miss you;
I would sip and sip from your nectared lip,
And kiss you--kiss you--kiss you.
--Ella Wheeler Wilcox, in Three Women.
Strange--is it not?--that of the myriads who
Before us passed the door of darkness through,
Not one returns to tell us of the road,
Which to discover, we must travel too?
--Omar.
Away with the flimsy idea that life with a past is attended.
There's now--only now--and no past. There's never a past; it has ended.
Away with the obsolete story and all of its yesterday sorrow!
There's only Today, almost gone, and in front of Today stands Tomorrow.
--Eugene Ware.
God made man
Frail as a bubble;
God made Love,
Love made trouble;
God made the vine;
Was it a sin
That man made wine
To drown trouble in?
"My character may be my own, but my reputation belongs to any old body
that enjoys gossiping more than telling the truth."
May your joy be as deep as the ocean,
Your trouble as light as its foam.
The man that has no music in himself,
Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds,
Is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils;
The motions of his spirit are dull as night,
And his affections dark as Erebus.
Let no such man be trusted.
Mark the music.
--Shakespeare.
See the mountains kiss high heaven,
And the waves clasp one another;
No sister flower would be forgiven
If it disdained its brother;
And the sunlight clasps the earth,
And the moonbeams kiss the sea;
What are all these kissings worth,
If thou kiss not me?
--Percy Bysshe Shelley.
Jest a-wearyin' for you,
All the time a-feelin' blue;
Wishin' for you, wonderin' when
You'll be comin' home again;
Restless--don't know what to do--
Jest a-wearyin' for you.
--Frank Stanton.
Here's to Love, the worker of miracles. He strengthens the weak and
weakens the strong; he turns wise men into fools and fools into wise
men; he feeds the passions and destroys reason, and plays havoc among
young and old!
--Marguerite de Valois.
"Good Bye, God Bless You."
I like the Anglo--Saxon speech
With its direct revealings;
It takes a hold, and seems to reach
Way down into our feelings
That Some folks deem it rude, I know,
And therefore they abuse it;
But I have never found it so--
Before all else I choose it.
I don't object that men should air
The Gallic they have paid for,
With "Au revoir," "Adieu, ma chere,"
For that's what French was made for.
But when a crony takes your hand
At parting to address you,
He drops all foreign lingo and
He says, "Good--bye, God bless you."
--Eugene Field.
LANGUAGE OF PRECIOUS STONES.
The ancients attributed marvelous properties to many of the precious
stones. We give in tabular form the different months and the stones
sacred to them, as generally accepted, with their respective meanings.
It has been customary among lovers and friends to notice the
significance attached to the various stones in making birthday,
engagement and wedding presents.
January, Garnet.--Constancy and fidelity in every engagement.
February, Amethyst--Preventive against violent passions.
March, Bloodstone--Courage, wisdom and firmness in affection.
April, Sapphire--Free from enchantment; denotes repentance.
May, Emerald--Discovers false friends, and insures true love.
June, Agate--Insures long life, health and prosperity.
July, Ruby--Discovers poison; corrects evils resulting from mistaken
friendship.
August, Sardonyx--Insures conjugal felicity.
September, Chrysolite--Free from all evil passions and sadness of the
mind.
October, Opal--Denotes hope, and sharpens the sight and faith of the
possessor.
November, Topaz--Fidelity and friendship. Prevents bad dreams.
December, Turquoise--Prosperity in love.
Tiffany's list of birth stones is somewhat different from the above and
is given below:
Birth Stones. (As given by Tiffany & Co.)
January--Garnet.
February--Amethyst, hyacinth, pearl.
March--Jasper, bloodstone.
April--Diamond, sapphire.
May--Emerald, agate.
June--Cat's-eye, turquoise, agate.
July--Turquoise, onyx.
August--Sardonyx, carnelian, moonstone, topaz.
September--Chrysolite.
October--Beryl, opal.
November--Topaz, pearl.
December--Ruby, bloodstone.
GRAMMAR-SPELLING-PRONUNCIATION
Five Hundred Common Errors Corrected
Concise Rules for the Proper Use of Words in Writing or Speaking.
The most objectionable errors in speaking or writing are those in which
words are employed that are unsuitable to convey the meaning intended.
Thus, a person wishing to express his intention of going to a given
place says, "I propose going," when, in fact, he purposes going. The
following affords an amusing illustration of this class of error: A
venerable matron was speaking of her son, who, she said, was quite
stage-struck: "In fact," remarked the old lady, "he is going to a
premature performance this evening!" Considering that most amateur
performances are premature, it cannot be said that this word was
altogether misapplied, though, evidently, the maternal intention was to
convey quite another meaning.
Other errors arise from the substitution of sounds similar to the words
which should be employed; that is, spurious words instead of genuine
ones. Thus, some people say "renumerative," when they mean
"remunerative." A nurse, recommending her mistress to have a
perambulator for her child, advised her to purchase a preamputator!
Other errors are occasioned by imperfect knowledge of English grammar;
thus, many people say, "Between you and I," instead of "Between you and
me." And there are numerous other departures from the rules of grammar,
which will be pointed out hereafter.
Misuse of the Adjective--"What beautiful butter!" "What a nice
landscape!" They should say, "What a beautiful landscape!" "What nice
butter!" Again, errors are frequently occasioned by the following
causes:
Mispronunciation of Words--Many persons say pronoun-ciation instead of
pronunciation; others say pro-nun-ce-a-shun, instead of
pro-nun-she-a-shun.
Misdivision of Words and Syllables--This defect makes the words an
ambassador sound like a nambassador, or an adder like a nadder.
Imperfect Enunciation--As when a person says hebben for heaven, ebber
for ever, jocholate for chocolate.
To correct these errors by a systematic course of study would involve a
closer application than most persons could afford, but the simple and
concise rules and hints here given, founded upon usage and the authority
of scholars, will be of great assistance to inquirers.
ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN A NUTSHELL.
Who and whom are used in relation to persons, and which in relation to
things. But it was once common to say, "the man which." This should now
be avoided. It is now usual to say, "Our Father who art in heaven,"
instead of "which art in heaven."
Whose is, however, sometimes applied to things as well as to persons. We
may therefore say, "The country whose inhabitants are free."
Thou is employed in solemn discourse, and you in common language. Ye
(plural) is also used in serious addresses, and you in familiar
language.
The uses of the word it are various, and very perplexing to the
uneducated. It is not only used to imply persons, but things, and even
ideas, and therefore in speaking or writing, its assistance is
constantly required. The perplexity respecting this word arises from the
fact that in using it in the construction of a long sentence, sufficient
care is not taken to insure that when it is employed it really points
out or refers to the object intended. For instance, "It was raining when
John set out in his cart to go to market, and he was delayed so long
that it was over before he arrived." Now what is to be understood by
this sentence: Was the rain over? or the market? Either or both might be
inferred from the construction of the sentence, which, therefore, should
be written thus: "It was raining when John set out in his cart to go to
market, and he was delayed so long that the market was over before he
arrived."
Rule--After writing a sentence always look through it, and see that
wherever the word it is employed, it refers to or carries the mind back
to the object which it is intended to point out.
The general distinction between this and that may be thus defined: this
denotes an object present or near, in time or place; that something
which is absent.
These refers, in the same manner, to present objects, while those refers
to things that are remote.
Who changes, under certain conditions, into whose and whom; but that and
which always remain the same, with the exception of the possessive case,
as noted above.
That may be applied to nouns or subjects of all sorts; as, the girl that
went to school, the dog that bit me, the opinion that he entertains.
The misuse of these pronouns gives rise to more errors in speaking and
writing than any other cause.
When you wish to distinguish between two or more persons, say: "Which is
the happy man?" not who--"Which of those ladies to you admire?"
Instead of "Whom do you think him to be?" say, "Who do you think him to
be?"
Whom should I see.
To whom do you speak?
Who said so?
Who gave it to you?
Of whom did you procure them?
Who was he?
Who do men say that I am?
Self should never be added to his, their, mine or thine.
Each is used to denote every individual of a number.
Every denotes all the individuals of a number.
Either and or denote an alternative: "I will take either road, at your
pleasure;" "I will take this or that."
Neither means not either, and nor means not the other. Either is
sometimes used for each--"Two thieves were crucified, on either side
one."
"Let each esteem others as good as themselves," should be, "Let each
esteem others as good as himself."
"There are bodies each of which are so small," should be, "each of which
is so small."
Do not use double superlatives, such as most straightest, most highest,
most finest.
The term worser has gone out of use; but lesser is stilt retained.
The use of such words as chiefest, extreamest, etc., has become
obsolete, because they do not give any superior force to the meanings of
the primary words, chief, extreme, etc.
Such expressions as more impossible, more indispensable, more universal,
more uncontrollable, more unlimited, etc., are objectionable, as they
really enfeeble the meaning which it is the object of the speaker or
writer to strengthen. For instance, impossible gains no strength by
rendering it more impossible. This class of error is common with persons
who say, "A great large house," "A great big animal," "A little small
foot," "A tiny little hand."
Here, there and where, originally denoting place, may now, by common
consent, be used to denote other meanings, such as, "There I agree with
you," "Where we differ," "We find pain where we expected pleasure,"
"Here you mistake me."
Hence, whence and thence, denoting departure, etc., may be used without
the word from. The idea of from is included in the word
whence--therefore it is unnecessary to say "From whence."
Hither, thither and whither, denoting to a place, have generally been
superseded by here, there and where. But there is no good reason why
they should not be employed. If, however, they are used, it is
unnecessary to add the word to, because that is implied--"Whither are
you going?" "Where are you going?" Each of these sentences is complete.
To say, "Where are you going to?" is redundant.
Two negatives destroy each other, and produce an affirmative. "Nor did
he not observe them," conveys the idea that he did observe them.
But negative assertions are allowable. "His manners are not impolite,"
which implies that his manners are in some degree marked by politeness.
Instead of "Let you and I." say "Let you and me."
Instead of "I am not so tall as him," say "I am not so tall as he."
When asked "Who is there?" do not answer "Me," but "I,"
Instead of "For you and I," say "For you and me."
Instead of "Says I," say "I said."
Instead of "You are taller than me," say "You are taller than I."
Instead of "I ain't," or "I arn't," say "I am not."
Instead of "Whether I be present or no," say "Whether I be present or
not."
For "Not that I know on,"' say "Not that I know."
Instead of "Was I to do so," say "Were I to do so."
Instead of "I would do the same if I was him," say "I would do the same
if I were he."
Instead of "I had as lief go myself," say "I would as soon go myself,"
or "I would rather."
It is better to say "Six weeks ago" than "Six weeks back."
It is better to say "Since which time," than "Since when,"
It is better to say "I repeated it," than "I said so over again."
Instead of "He was too young to have suffered much," say "He was too
young to suffer much."
Instead of "Less friends," say "Fewer friends." Less refers to quantity.
Instead of "A quantity of people," say "A number of people."
Instead of "He and they we know," say "Him and them."
Instead of "As far as I can see," say "So far as I can see."
Instead of "A new pair of gloves," say "A pair of new gloves."
Instead of "I hope you'll think nothing on it," say "I hope you'll think
nothing of it."
Instead of "Restore it back to me," say "Restore it to me."
Instead of "I suspect the veracity of his story," say "I doubt the truth
of his story."
Instead of "I seldom or ever see him," say "I seldom see him."
Instead of "I expected to have found him," say "1 expected to find him."
Instead of "Who learns you music?" say "Who teaches you music?"
Instead of "I never sing whenever I can help it," say "I never sing when
I can help it."
Instead of "Before I do that I must first ask leave," say "Before I do
that I must ask leave."
Instead of saying "The observation of the rule," say "The observance of
the rule,"
Instead of "A man of eighty years of age," say "A man eighty years old."
Instead of "Here lays his honored head," say "Here lies his honored
head."
Instead of "He died from negligence," say "He died through neglect," or
"in consequence of neglect."
Instead of "Apples are plenty," say "Apples are plentiful."
Instead of "The latter end of the year," say "The end, or the close, of
the year."
Instead of "The then government," say "The government of that age, or
century, or year, or time."
Instead of "A couple of chairs," say "Two chairs."
Instead of "They are united together in the bonds of matrimony," say
"They are united in matrimony," or "They are married," '.
Instead of "We travel slow," say "We travel slowly."
Instead of "He plunged down into the river," say "He plunged into the
river."
Instead of "He jumped from off the scaffolding," say "He jumped off the
scaffolding."
Instead of "He came the last of all," say "He came the last."
Instead of "universal," with reference to things that have any limit,
say "general," "generally approved," instead of "universally approved,"
"generally beloved," instead of "universally beloved."
Instead of "They ruined one another," say "They ruined each other,"
Instead of "If in case I succeed," say "If I succeed."
Instead of "A large enough room," say "A room large enough."
Instead of "I am slight in comparison to you," say "I am slight in
comparison with you."
Instead of "I went for to see him," say "I went to see him."
Instead of "The cake is all eat up," say "The cake is all eaten."
Instead of "Handsome is as handsome does," say "Handsome is who handsome
does."
Instead of "The book fell on the floor," say "The book fell to the
floor."
Instead of "His opinions are approved of by all," say "His opinions are
approved by all."
Instead of "I will add one more argument," say "I will add one argument
more," or "another argument."
Instead of "A sad curse is war," say "War is a sad curse."
Instead of "He stands six foot high," say "He measures six feet," or
"His height is six feet."
Instead of "I go every now and then," say "I go sometimes (or often)."
Instead of "Who finds him in clothes," say "Who provides him with
clothes."
Say "The first two," and "the last two" instead of "the two first" "the
two last."
Instead of "His health was drank with enthusiasm," say "His health was
drunk enthusiastically."
Instead of "Except I am prevented," say "Unless I am prevented."
Instead of "In its primary sense," say "In its primitive sense."
Instead of "It grieves me to see you," say "I am grieved to see you."
Instead of "Give me them papers," say "Give me those papers."
Instead of "Those papers I hold in my hand," say "These papers I hold in
my hand."
Instead of "I could scarcely imagine but what," say "I could scarcely
imagine that."
Instead of "He was a man notorious for his benevolence," say "He was
noted for his benevolence."
Instead of "She was a woman celebrated for her crimes," say "She was
notorious on account of her crimes."
Instead of "What may your name be?" say "What is your name?"
Instead of "I lifted it up," say "I lifted it."
Instead of "It is equally of the same value," say "It is of the same
value," or "equal value."
Instead of "I knew it previous to your telling me," say "I knew it
previously to your telling me."
Instead of "You was out when I called," say "You were out when I
called."
Instead of "I thought I should have won this game," say "I thought I
should win this game."
Instead of "This much is certain," say "Thus much is certain," or "So
much is certain."
Instead of "He went away as it may be yesterday week," say "He went away
yesterday week."
Instead of "He came the Saturday as it may be before the Monday,"
specify the Saturday on which he came.
Instead of "Put your watch in your pocket," say "Put your watch into
your pocket."
Instead of "He has got riches," say "He has riches."
Instead of "Will you set down?" say "Will you sit down?"
Instead of "No thankee," say "No, thank you."
Instead of "I cannot do it without farther means," say "I cannot do it
without further means."
Instead of "No sooner but," or "No other but," say "than."
Instead of "Nobody else but her," say "Nobody but her."
Instead of "He fell down from the balloon," say "He fell from the
balloon."
Instead of "He rose up from the ground," say "He rose from the ground."
Instead of "These kind of oranges are not good," say "This kind of
oranges is not good."
Instead of "Somehow or another," say "Somehow or other."
Instead of "Will I give you some more tea?" say "Shall I give you some
more tea?"
Instead of "Oh, dear, what will I do?" say "Oh, dear, what shall I do?"
Instead of "I think indifferent of it," say "I think indifferently of
it."
Instead of "I will send it conformable to your orders," say "I will send
it conformably to your orders."
Instead of "To be given away gratis," say "To be given away."
Instead of "Will you enter in?" say "Will you enter?"
Instead of "This three days or more," say "These three days or more."
Instead of "He is a bad grammarian," say "He is not a grammarian."
Instead of "We accuse him for." say "We accuse him of."
Instead of "We acquit him from," say "We acquit him of."
Instead of "I am averse from that," say "I am averse to that."
Instead of "I confide on you," say "I confide in you."
Instead of "As soon as ever." say "As soon as."
Instead of "The very best," or "The very worst," say "The best or the
worst."
Avoid such phrases as "No great shakes," "Nothing to boast of," "Down in
my boots," "Suffering from the blues." All such sentences indicate
vulgarity.
Instead of "No one hasn't called," say "No one has called."
Instead of "You have a right to pay me," say "It is right that you
should pay me."
Instead of "I am going over the bridge," say "I am going across the
bridge."
Instead of "I should just think I could," say "I think I can."
Instead of "There has been a good deal," say "There has been much."
Instead of "The effort you are making for meeting the bill," say "The
effort you are making to meet the bill."
To say "Do not give him no more of your money," is equivalent to saying
"Give him some of your money." Say "Do not give him any of your money."
Instead of saying "They are not what nature designed them," say "They
are not what nature designed them to be."
Instead of saying "I had not the pleasure of hearing his sentiments when
I wrote that letter," say "I had not the pleasure of having heard," etc.
Instead of "The quality of the apples were good," say "The quality of
the apples was good."
Instead of "The want of learning, courage and energy are more visible,"
say "is more visible."
Instead of "We die for want," say "We die of want."
Instead of "He died by fever," say "He died of fever."
Instead of "I enjoy bad health," say "My health is not good."
Instead of "Either of the three," say "Any one of the three."
Instead of "Better nor that," say "Better than that."
Instead of "We often think on you," say "We often think of you."
Instead of "Mine is so good as yours," say "Mine is as good as yours."
Instead of "This town is not as large as we thought," say "This town is
not so large as we thought."
Instead of "Because why?" say "Why?"
Instead of "That there boy," say "That boy."
Instead of "The subject-matter of debate," say "The subject of debate."
Instead of saying "When he was come back," say "When he had come back."
Instead of saying "His health has been shook," say "His health has been
shaken."
Instead of saying "It was spoke in my presence," say "It was spoken in
my presence."
Instead of "Very right," or "Very wrong," say "Right" or "Wrong."
Instead of "The mortgagor paid him the money," say "The mortgagee paid
him the money." The mortgagee lends; the mortgagor borrows.
Instead of "I took you to be another person," say "I mistook you for
another person."
Instead of "On either side of the river," say "On each side of the
river."
Instead of "There's fifty," say "There are fifty."
Instead of "The best of the two" say "The better of the two,"
Instead of "My clothes have become too small for me" say "I have grown
too stout for my clothes."
Instead of "Two spoonsful of physic," say "Two spoonfuls of physic."
Instead of "She said, says she," say "She said."
Avoid such phrases as "I said, says I," "Thinks I to myself," etc.
Instead of "I don't think so," say "I think not."
Instead of "He was in eminent danger," say "He was in imminent danger."
Instead of "The weather is hot," say "The weather is very warm."
Instead of "I sweat," say "I perspire."
Instead of "I only want two dollars," say "I want only two dollars."
Instead of "Whatsomever," say "Whatever," or "Whatsoever."
Avoid such exclamations as "God bless me!" "God deliver me!" "By God!"
"By Gosh!" "Holy Lord!" "Upon my soul!" etc., which are vulgar on the one
hand, and savor of impiety all the other, for--"Thou shalt not take the
name of the Lord thy God in vain."
ACCENT AND PRONUNCIATION.
Accent is a particular stress or force of the voice upon certain
syllables or words. This mark in printing denotes the syllable upon
which the stress or force of the voice should be placed.
A word may have more than one accent. Take as an instance aspiration. In
uttering the word we give a marked emphasis of the voice upon the first
and third syllables, and therefore those syllables are said to be
accented. The first of these accents is less distinguishable than the
second, upon which we dwell longer; therefore the second accent in point
of order is called the primary, or chief accent of the word.
When the full accent falls on a vowel, that vowel should have a long
sound, as in vo'cal; but when it falls on or after a consonant, the
preceding vowel has a short sound, as in hab'it.
To obtain a good knowledge of pronunciation it is advisable for the
reader to listen to the examples given by good speakers, and by educated
persons. We learn the pronunciation of words, to a great extent, by
imitation, just as birds acquire the notes of other birds which may be
near them.
But it will be very important to bear in mind that there are many words
having a double meaning or application, and that the difference of
meaning is indicated by the difference of the accent, Among these words,
nouns are distinguished from verbs by this means: nouns are mostly
accented on the first syllabic, and verbs on the last.
Noun signifies name; nouns are the names of persons and things, as well
as of things not material and palpable, but of which we have a
conception and knowledge, such as courage, firmness, goodness, strength;
and verbs express actions, movements, etc. If the word used signifies
has been done, or is being done, or is, or is to be done, then that word
is a verb.
Thus when we say that anything is "an in'sult," that word is a noun, and
is accented all the first syllable; but when we say he did it "to
insult' another person," that word insult' implies acting, and becomes a
verb, and should be accented on the last syllable.
Simple Rules of Pronunciation.
C before a, o and u, and in some other situations, is a close
articulation, like k. Before e, i and y, c is precisely equivalent to s
in same, this; as in cedar, civil, cypress, capacity.
E final indicates that the preceding vowel is long; as in hate, mete,
sire, robe, lyre, abate, recede, invite, remote, intrude.
E final indicates that c preceding has the sound of s; as in lace,
lance, and that g preceding has the sound of j, as in charge, page,
challenge.
E final in proper English words never forms a syllable, and in the most
used words in the terminating unaccented syllables it is silent. Thus,
motive, genuine, examine, granite, are pronounced motiv, genuin, examin,
granit.
E final, in a few words of foreign origin, forms a syllable; as syncope,
simile.
E final is silent after l in the following terminations: ble, cle, dle,
fle, gle, kle, ple, tle, zle; as in able, manacle, cradle, ruffle,
mangle, wrinkle, supple, rattle, puzzle, which are pronounced a'bl,
mana'cl, cra'dl, ruf'fl, man'gl, wrin'kl, sup'pl, puz'zl.
E is usually silent in the termination en; as in taken, broken;
pronounced takn, brokn. OUS, in the termination of adjectives and their
derivatives, is pronounced us; as is gracious, pious, pompously.
CE, CI, TI, before a vowel, have the sound of sh; as in cetaceous,
gracious, motion, partial, ingratiate; pronounced cetashus, grashus,
moshun, parshal, ingrashiate.
SI, after an accented vowel, is pronounced like zh; as in Ephesian,
coufusion; pronounced Ephezhan, confushon.
GH, both in the middle and at the end of words is silent; as in caught,
bought, fright, nigh, sigh; pronounced caut, baut, frite, ni, si. In the
following exceptions, however, gh is pronounced as f: cough, chough,
clough, enough, laugh, rough, slough, tough, trough.
When WH begins a word, the aspirate h precedes w in pronunciation: as in
what, whiff, whale; pronounced hwat, hwiff, hwale, w having precisely
the sound of oo, French ou. In the following words w is silent:---who,
whom, whose, whoop, whole.
H after r has no sound or use; as in rheum, rhyme; pronounced reum,
ryme.
H should be sounded in the middle of words; as in forehead, abhor,
behold, exhaust, inhabit, unhorse.
H should always be sounded except in the following words:--heir, herb,
honest, honor, hour, humor, and humble, and all their derivatives,--such
as humorously, derived from humor.
K and G are silent before n; as know, gnaw; pronounced no, naw.
W before r is silent; as in wring, wreath; pronounced ring, reath.
B after m is silent; as in dumb, numb; pronounced dum, num.
L before k is silent; as in balk, walk, talk; pronounced bauk, wauk,
tauk.
PH has the sound of f; as in philosophy; pronounced filosofy.
NG has two sounds, one as in singer, the other as in fin-ger.
N after m, and closing a syllable, is silent; as in hymn, condemn.
P before s and t is mute; as in psalm, pseudo, ptarmigan; pronounced
salm, sudo, tarmigan.
R has two sounds, one strong and vibrating, as at the beginning of words
and syllables, such as robber, reckon, error; the other is at the
termination of the words, or when succeeded by a consonant, as farmer,
morn.
Common Errors in Pronunciation.
--ace, is not iss, as furnace, not furniss.
--age, not idge, as cabbage, courage, postage, village.
--ain, ane, not in, as certain, certane, not certin.
--ate, not it, as moderate, not moderit.
--ect, not ec, as aspect, not aspec; subject, not subjec.
--ed, not id, or ud, as wicked, not wickid or wickud.
--el, not l, model, not modl; novel, not novl.
--en, not n, as sudden, not suddn.--Burden, burthen, garden, lengthen,
seven, strengthen, often, and a few others, have the e silent.
--ence, not unce, as influence, not influ-unce.
--es, not is, as pleases, not pleasis.
--ile should be pronounced il, as fertil, not fertile, in all words
except chamomile (cam), exile, gentile, infantile, reconcile, and
senile, which should be pronounced ile.
--in, not n, as Latin, not Latn.
--nd, not n, as husband, not husban; thousand, not thousan.
--ness, not niss, as carefulness, not carefulniss.
--ng, not n, as singing, not singin; speaking, not speakin.
--ngth, not nth, as strength, not strenth.
--son, the o should be silent; as in treason, tre-zn, not tre-son.
--tal, not tle, as capital, not capitle; metal, not mettle; mortal, not
mortle; periodical, not periodicle.
--xt, not x, as next, not nex.
SHORT RULES FOR SPELLING.
Words ending in e drop that letter on taking a suffix beginning with a
vowel. Exceptions--words ending in ge, ce, or oe.
Final e of a primitive word is retained on taking a suffix beginning
with a consonant. Exceptions--words ending in dge, and truly, duly, etc.
Final y of a primitive word, when preceded by a consonant, is generally
changed into i on the addition of a suffix. Exceptions--retained before
ing and ish, as pitying. Words ending in ie and dropping the e by Rule
1, change the i to y, as lying. Final y is sometimes changed to e, as
duteous.
Nouns ending in y, preceded by a vowel, form their plural by adding s; o
as money, moneys. Y preceded by a consonant is changed to ies in the
plural; as bounty, bounties.
Final y of a primitive vowel, preceded by a vowel, should not be changed
into i before a suffix; as, joyless.
In words containing ei or ie, ei is used after the sound s, as ceiling,
seize, except in siege and in a few words ending in cier. Inveigle,
neither, leisure and weird also have ei. In other cases ie is used, as
in believe, achieve.
Words ending in ceous or cious, when relating to matter, end in ceous;
all others in cious.
Words of one syllable, ending in a consonant; with a single vowel before
it, double the consonant in derivatives; as, ship, shipping, etc. But if
ending in a consonant with a double vowel before it, they do not double
the consonant in derivatives; as troop, trooper, etc.
Words of more than one syllable, ending in a consonant preceded by a
single vowel, and accented on the last syllable, double that consonant
in derivatives; as commit, committed; but except chagrin, chagrined;
kidnap, kidnaped.
All words of one syllable ending in l, with a single vowel before it,
have ll at the close; as mill, sell.
All words of one syllable ending in l, with a double vowel before it,
have only one l at the close: as mail, sail.
The words foretell, distill, instill and fulfill retain the double ll of
their primitives. Derivatives of dull, skill, will and full also retain
the double ll when the accent falls on these words; as dullness,
skillful, willful, fullness.
PUNCTUATION.
A period (.) after every declarative and every imperative sentence; as,
It is true. Do right.
A period is also used after every abbreviation; as, Dr., Mr., Capt.
An interrogation point (?) after every question.
The exclamation point (!) after exclamations; as, Alas! Oh, how lovely!
Quotation marks (" ") inclose quoted expressions; as Socrates said: "I
believe the soul is immortal."
A colon (:) is used between parts of a sentence that are subdivided by
semi-colons.
A colon is used before a quotation, enumeration, or observation, that is
introduced by as follows, the following, or any similar expression; as,
Send me the following: 10 doz. "Armstrong's Treasury," 25 Schulte's
Manual, etc.
A semicolon (;) between parts that are subdivided by commas.
The semicolon is used also between clauses or members that are
disconnected in sense; as, Man grows old; he passes away; all is
uncertain. When as, namely, that is, is used to introduce an example or
enumeration, a semicolon is put before it and a comma after it; as, The
night was cold; that is, for the time of year.
A comma is used to set off interposed words, phrases and subordinate
clauses not restrictive; as, Good deeds are never lost, though sometimes
forgotten.
A comma is used to set off transposed phrases and clauses, as, "When the
wicked entice thee, consent thou not."
A comma is used to set off interposed words, phrases and clauses; as,
Let us, if we can, make others happy.
A comma is used between similar or repeated words or phrases; as, The
sky, the water, the trees, were illumined with sunlight.
A comma is used to mark an ellipsis, or the omission of a verb or other
important word.
A comma is used to set off a short quotation informally introduced; as,
Who said, "The good die young"?
A comma is used whenever necessary to prevent ambiguity.
The marks of parenthesis ( ) are used to inclose an interpolation where
such interpolation is by the writer or speaker of the sentence in which
it occurs. Interpolations by an editor or by anyone other than the
author of the sentence should be inclosed in brackets--[ ].
Dashes (--) may be used to set off a parenthetical expression, also to
denote an interruption or a sudden change of thought or a significant
pause.
THE USE OF CAPITALS.
1. Every entire sentence should begin with a capital.
2. Proper names, and adjectives derived from these, should begin with a
capital.
3. All appellations of the Deity should begin with a capital.
4. Official and honorary titles begin with a capital.
5. Every line of poetry should begin with a capital.
6. Titles of books and the heads of their chapters and divisions are
printed in capitals.
7. The pronoun I, and the exclamation O, are always capitals.
8. The days of the week, and the months of the year, begin with
capitals.
9. Every quotation should begin with a capital letter.
10. Names of religious denominations begin with capitals.
11. In preparing accounts, each item should begin with a capital.
12. Any word of special importance may begin with a capital.
THE NAME OF GOD IN FIFTY LANGUAGES.
Hebrew, Eleah, Jehovah;
Chaldaic, Eiliah;
Assyrian, Eleah;
Syrian and Turkish, Alah;
Malay, Alla;
Arabic, Allah;
Languages of the Magi, Orsi;
Old Egyptian, Teut;
Modern Egyptian, Teun;
Armenian, Teuti;
Greek, Theos;
Cretan, Thios;
Aedian and Dorian, Ilos;
Latin, Deus;
Low Latin, Diex;
Celtic Gaelic, Diu;
French, Dieu;
Spanish, Dios;
Portuguese, Deos;
Old German, Diet;
Provencal, Diou;
Low Breton, Done;
Italian, Dio;
Irish, Dia;
Olotu, Deu;
German and Swiss, Gott;
Flemish, God;
Dutch, God;
English, God;
Teutonic, Goth;
Danish and Swedish, Gud;
Norwegian, Gud;
Slav, Buch;
Polish, Bog;
Polacca, Bung;
Lapp, Jubinal;
Finnish, Jumala;
Runic, As;
Zembilian, As;
Pannanlian, Istu;
Tartar, Magatai;
Coromandel, Brama;
Persian, Sire;
Chinese, Prussa;
Japanese, Goezer;
Madagascar, Zannar;
Peruvian, Puchecammae.
FACTS ABOUT SPONGES.
By Albert Hart.
Sponges belong to the animal kingdom, and the principal varieties used
commercially are obtained off the coasts of Florida and the West Indies;
the higher grades are from the Mediterranean Sea, and are numerous in
variety.
A sponge in its natural state is a different-looking object from what we
see in commerce, resembling somewhat the appearance of the jelly fish,
or a mass of liver, the entire surface being covered with a thin, slimy
skin, usually of a dark color, and perforated to correspond with the
apertures of the canals commonly called "holes of the sponge." The
sponge of commerce is, in reality, only the skeleton of a sponge. The
composition of this skeleton varies in the different kinds of sponges,
but in the commercial grades it consists of interwoven horny fibers,
among and supporting which are epiculae of silicious matter in greater
or less numbers, and having a variety of forms. The fibers consist of a
network of fibriles, whose softness and elasticity determine the
commercial quality of a given sponge. The horny framework is perforated
externally by very minute pores, and by a less number of larger
openings. These are parts of an interesting double canal system, an
external and an internal, or a centripetal and a centrifugal. At the
smaller openings on the sponge's surface channels begin, which lead into
dilated spaces. In these, in turn, channels arise, which eventually
terminate in the large openings. Through these channels or canals
definite currents are constantly maintained, which are essential to the
life of the sponge. The currents enter through the small apertures and
emerge through the large ones.
The active part of the sponge, that is, the part concerned in nutrition
and growth, is a soft, fleshy mass, partly filling the meshes and lining
the canals. It consists largely of cells having different functions;
some utilized in the formation of the framework, some in digestion and
others in reproduction. Lining the dilated spaces into which different
canals lead are cells surmounted by whip-like processes. The motion of
these processes produces and maintains the water currents, which carry
the minute food products to the digestive cells in the same cavities.
Sponges multiply by the union of sexual product. Certain cells of the
fleshy pulp assume the character of ova, and others that of spermatozoa.
Fertilization takes place within the sponge. The fertilized eggs, which
are called larvae, pass out into the currents of the water, and, in the
course of twenty-four to forty-eight hours, they settle and become
attached to rocks and other hard substances, and in time develop into
mature sponges. The depth of the water in which sponges grow varies from
10 to 50 feet in Florida, but considerably more in the Mediterranean
Sea, the finer grades being found in the deepest water, having a
temperature of 50 to 57 degrees.
DON'T BE BURIED ALIVE.
From time to time we are horrified by learning that some person has been
buried alive, after assurances have been given of death. Under these
circumstances the opinion of a rising French physician upon the subject
becomes of world-wide interest, for since the tests which have been in
use for years have been found unreliable no means should be left untried
to prove beyond a doubt that life is actually extinct before conveying
our loved ones to the grave.
Dr. Martinot, as reported in the New York Journal, asserts that an
unfailing test may be made by producing a blister on the hand or foot of
the body by holding the flame of a candle to the same for a few seconds,
or until the blister is formed which will always occur. If the blister
contains any fluid it is evidence of life, and the blister only that
produced by an ordinary burn. If, on the contrary, the blister contains
only steam, it may be asserted that life is extinct. The explanation is
as follows:
A corpse, says Dr. Martinot, is nothing more than inert matter, under
the immediate control of physical laws which cause all liquid heated to
a certain temperature to become steam; the epidermis is raised, the
blister produced; it breaks with a little noise, and the steam escapes.
But if, in spite of all appearances, there is any remnant of life, the
organic mechanism continues to be governed by physiological laws, and
the blister will contain serous matter, as in the case of any ordinary
burns.
The test is as simple as the proof is conclusive. Dry blister: death.
Liquid blister: life. Any one may try it; there is no error possible.
HOW TO SERVE WINE.
A fine dinner may be spoiled by not serving the proper wine at the
proper time and at the proper temperature.
A white wine (Sauterne, Riesling, Moselle, etc.) should be used from the
beginning of the meal to the time the roast or game comes on. With the
roast serve red wine, either claret or Burgundy.
Use sparkling wines after the roast.
With dessert, serve apricot cordial.
Never serve red wine with soup or fish, and never a white wine with
game.
Storage, Temperature, Etc.
Store your wines in the cellar at 50 to 60 degrees.
All bottles should lie flat so that the cork is continually moist.
This rule should be specially observed with sparkling wines. Sparkling
wine should be served ice cold.
Put the wine on the ice--not ice in the wine.
Serve red wine at only about 5 degrees cooler than the dining-room.
White wine should be about 15 degrees cooler than the temperature of the
room.
THE STEPS IN THE GROWTH OF AMERICAN LIBERTY.
MAGNA CHARTA.
About seven hundred years ago there was organized a movement which
resulted in the great charter of English liberty--a movement which
foreshadowed the battle of our American forefathers for political
independence. On the 25th of August, 1213, the prelates and Barons,
tiring of the tyranny and vacillation of King John, formed a council and
passed measures to secure their rights. After two years of contest, with
many vicissitudes, the Barons entered London and the King fled into
Hampshire. By agreement both parties met at Runnymede on the 9th of
June, 1215, and after several days' debate, on June 15, Magna Charta
(the Great Charter), the glory of England, was signed and sealed by the
sovereign. The Magna Charta is a comprehensive bill of rights, and,
though crude in form, and with many clauses of merely local value, its
spirit still lives and will live. Clear and prominent we find the motto,
"No tax without representation." The original document is in Latin and
contains sixty-one articles, of which the 39th and 40th, embodying the
very marrow of our own State constitutions, are here given as translated
in the English statutes:
"39. No freeman shall be taken or imprisoned or be disseised of his
freehold, or liberties or free customs, or be otherwise destroped
[damaged], nor will be press upon him nor seize upon him [condemn him]
but by lawful judgment of his peers or by the law of the land.
"40. We will sell to no man, we will not deny or defer to any man,
either right or justice."
The Great Charter recognizes a popular tribunal as a check on the
official judges and may be looked upon as the foundation of the writ of
Habeas Corpus. It provides that no one is to be condemned on rumor or
suspicion, but only on the evidence of witnesses. It affords protection
against excessive emercements, illegal distresses and various processes
for debts and service due to the crown. Fines are in all cases to be
proportionate to the magnitude of the offense, and even the villein or
rustic is not to be deprived of his necessary chattels. There are
provisions regarding the forfeiture of land for felony. The testamentary
power of the subject is recognized over part of his personal estate, and
the rest to be divided between his widow and children. The independence
of the church is also provided for. These are the most important
features of the Great Charter, which, exacted by men with arms in their
hands from a resisting king, occupies so conspicuous a place in history,
which establishes the supremacy of the law of England over the will of
the monarch, and which still forms the basis of English liberties.
THE MECKLENBURG DECLARATION
More than a year before the signing of the Declaration of Independence a
document was drawn up that was almost a model in phraseology and
sentiment of the great charter of American freedom. There are various
accounts of this matter, but the most trustworthy is this:
At a public meeting of the residents of Mecklenburg County, North
Carolina, held at Charlotte on the 20th of May, 1775, it was
"Resolved, That whenever directly or indirectly abetted, or in any way,
form or manner countenanced, the unchartered and dangerous invasion of
our rights, as claimed by Great Britain, is an enemy to our country--to
America--and to the inherent and inalienable rights of man.
"Resolved, That we, the citizens of Mecklenburg County, do hereby
dissolve the political bonds which have connected us to the mother
country, and hereby absolve ourselves from all allegiance to the British
crown, and abjure all political connection, contract or association with
that nation, which has wantonly trampled on our rights and liberties,
and inhumanly shed the blood of American patriots at Lexington.
"Resolved, That we do hereby declare ourselves a free and independent
people; are and of right ought to be a sovereign and self-governing
association, under the control of no power other than that of our God
and the general government of the Congress. To the maintenance of which
independence we solemnly pledge to each other our mutual cooperation,
our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."
There are two other resolutions, concerning the militia and the
administration of the law, but these, having no present value, are here
omitted.
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
In Congress, July 4, 1776.
When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people
to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another,
and to assume, among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal
station to which the laws of Nature and Nature's God entitle them, a
decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should
declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal;
that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights;
that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That
to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving
their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any
form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of
the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new government,
laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in
such form as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and
happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long
established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and
accordingly all experience has shown that mankind are more disposed to
suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by
abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train
of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces
a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it
is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards
for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of these
colonies, and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter
their former systems of government. The history of the present King of
Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all
having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over
these States. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his assent to laws the most wholesome and necessary for
the public good.
He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing
importance, unless suspended in their operation till his assent should
be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend
to them.
He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large
districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of
representation in the legislature--a right inestimable to them,
formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual,
uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records,
for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his
measures.
He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with
manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused, for a long time after such dissolutions, to cause others
to be elected; whereby the legislative powers, incapable of
annihilation, have returned to the people at large, for their exercise,
the state remaining, in the meantime, exposed to all the dangers of
invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavored to prevent the population of these States; for that
purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners, refusing
to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising
conditions of new appropriation of lands. He has obstructed the
administration of justice, by refusing his assent to laws establishing
judiciary powers.
He has made judges dependent on his will alone for the tenure of their
offices and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of
officers, to harass our people, and to eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies, without the
consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the military independent of, and superior to,
the civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to
our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his assent to
their acts of pretended legislation:
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us. For protecting
them, by mock trial, from punishment for any murders which they should
commit on the inhabitants of these States.
For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world. For imposing
taxes on us without our consent.
For depriving us, in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury.
For transporting us beyond the seas to be tried for pretended offenses.
For abolishing the free system of English laws in a neighboring
province, establishing therein an arbitrary government, and enlarging
its boundaries, so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument
for introducing the same absolute rule into these colonies.
For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, and
altering, fundamentally, the forms of our governments.
For suspending our own legislatures and declaring themselves invested
with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection,
and waging war against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and
destroyed the lives of our people.
He is, at this time, transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries,
to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun
with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the
most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized
nation.
He has constrained our fellow-citizens, taken captive on the high seas,
to bear arms against their country, to become the executioners of their
friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands.
He has excited domestic insurrection among us, and has endeavored to
bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers the merciless Indian savages,
whose known rule of warfare is an undistinguished destruction of all
ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in
the most humble terms; our repeated petitions have been answered only by
repeated injury. A prince whose character is thus marked by every act
which may define a tyrant is unfit to be ruler of a free people.
Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have
warned them, from time to time, of attempts by their legislature to
extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of
the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have
appealed to their native justice and magnanimity; and we have conjured
them, by the ties of our common kindred, to disavow these usurpations,
which would inevitably interrupt our connection and correspondence.
They, too, have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity.
We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity which denounces our
separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in
war, in peace friends.
We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in
general Congress assembled, appealing to the supreme Judge of the world
for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name and by the
authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and
declare that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free
and independent States; that they are absolved from all allegiance to
the British crown, and that all political connection between them and
the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved; and
that, as free and independent States, they have full power to levy war,
conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce and to do all
other acts and things which independent States may of right do. And for
the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection
of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our
fortunes and our sacred honor.
The foregoing declaration was, by order of the Congress, engrossed, and
signed by the following members:
JOHN HANCOCK
New Hampshire--Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton.
Massachusetts Bay--Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine,
Elbridge Gerry.
Rhode Island--Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery.
Connecticut--Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver
Wolcott
New York--William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris.
New Jersey--Richard Stockton. John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John
Hart, Abraham Clark.
Pennsylvania--Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John
Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George
Ross.
Delaware--Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean.
Maryland--Samuel Chase, William Paco, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll, of
Carrollton.
Virginia--George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin
Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton.
North Carolina--William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn.
South Carolina--Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr.,
Arthur Middleton.
Georgia--Button Gwinett, Lyman Hall, George Walton.
The following clause formed part of the original Declaration of
Independence as signed, but was finally left out of the printed copies
"out of respect to South Carolina":
"He [King George III.] has waged cruel war against human nature itself,
violating its most sacred rights of life and liberty in the persons of a
distant people who never offended him, captivating and carrying them
into slavery in another hemisphere or to incur miserable death in their
transportation thither."
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect
union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the
common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of
liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United States of America.
Article I.
SECTION I.
1. All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress
of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of
Representatives.