The general rule is that the finder has _The Handy Cyclopedia of Things Worth Knowing A Manual of Ready Reference

but the owner. The proprietor of a hotel or a shop has no right to

demand property of others found on his premises. Such proprietors may

make regulations in regard to lost property which will bind their

employes, but they cannot bind the public. The finder has been held to

stand in the place of the owner, so that he was permitted to prevail in

all action against a person who found an article which the plaintiff had

originally found, but subsequently lost. The police have no special

rights in regard to articles lost, unless those rights are conferred by

statute. Receivers of articles found are trustees for the owner or

finder. They have no power in the absence of special statute to keep an

article against the finder, any more than the finder has to retain an

article against the owner.

THE LAW OF COPYRIGHT.

The new copyright law, which went into effect July 1, 1909, differs in

many respects from the law previously in force. Its main provisions are

given below, but those desiring to avail themselves of its protection

should write to the Register of Copyrights, Library of Congress,

Washington, D. C., for full instructions and the necessary blanks. etc.

The new law provides that the application for registration of any work

"shall specify to which of the following classes the work in which

cyclopedic works, directories, gazetteers, and other compilations; (b)

periodicals, including newspapers; (c) lectures, sermons, addresses

prepared for oral delivery: (d) dramatic or dramatico-musical

compositions; (c) musical compositions; (f) maps; (g) works of art;

models or designs for works of art; (h) reproductions of a work of art;

(i) drawings or plastic works of a scientific or technical character:

(j) photographs; (k) prints and pictorial illustrations.

Necessary Steps to Secure Copyright.

For works reproduced in copies for sale: 1. Publish the work with the

(year date of publication) by (name of copyright proprietor)." 2.

Promptly after publication, send to the Copyright Office, Library of

Congress, Washington, D. C., two copies of the best edition of the work,

with an application for registration and a money order payable to the

In the case of books by American authors, or permanent residents of the

United States, the copies deposited must be accompanied by an affidavit,

under the official seal of an officer authorized to administer oaths,

stating that the typesetting, printing and binding of the book have been

performed within the United States. Affidavit and application forms will

be supplied on request.

Books of foreign origin in a language or languages other than English

are not required to be manufactured in the United States. In the case of

a book in the English language published abroad before publication in

this country, an ad interim copyright for 30 days may be secured under

certain conditions.

below) of which copies are not reproduced for sale, by filing an

application for registration, with the statutory fee of $1, sending

therewith: (a) in the case of lectures or other oral addresses or of

dramatic or musical compositions, one complete manuscript or typewritten

copy of the work. Registration, however, does not exempt the copyright

proprietor from the deposit of printed copies. (b) In the case of

photographs not intended for general circulation, one photographic

print. (c) In the case of works of art (paintings, drawings, sculpture),

or of drawings or plastic works of a scientific or technical character,

one photograph or other identifying reproduction of the work. In all

these cases, if the work is later reproduced in copies for sale, such

copies must be deposited.

Duration of Copyright.

The original term of copyright runs for twenty-eight years, and may be

renewed under certain conditions for a further term of twenty-eight

years, making fifty-six years in all.

Assignments.

Copyrights are assignable by any instrument of writing.

Every assignment of copyright must be recorded in the Copyright Office

within three months after its execution in the United States or within

six months after its execution without the limits of the United States.

LEGAL HOLIDAYS IN VARIOUS STATES.

Jan. 1, New Year's Day. All the States (including District of Columbia),

except Mass., Miss. and N. H.

Jan. 19, Lee's Birthday. In Ga., Fla., N. C, S. C., Va., Ala., Ark.

Feb. 12, Lincoln's Birthday. In Col., Conn., Del., Ill., Kans., Mass.,

Minn., Nev., N. J., N. Y., N. Dak., Penn., Wash. and Wyo.

Feb. 22. Washington's Birthday. In all the States and District of

Columbia; in Miss., observed in the schools.

April 14, 1911, Good Friday. In Ala., Dela., Fla., La., Md., Minn.,

N.J., Penn., Tenn.

April 19, Patriots' Day. In Me. and Mass.

April 26, Confederate Memorial Day. In Ala., Fla., Ga., and Miss.

May, second Sunday, Mothers' Day, recognized in sixteen States.

May 10, Confederate Memorial Day. In N. C and S. C.; in Tenn., second

Friday of May.

May, last Friday, Pioneer Day. In Mont.

May 30, Decoration Day. In all States and Territories, and the District

of Columbia. except Fla., Ga., Ida., La., Miss., N.C., S. C., Tenn.,

Tex. In Va., called Confederate Memorial Day.

June 3, Jefferson Davis' Birthday. In Fla. Ga., Ala., Miss., Tenn., Tex.

and S. C. In La., called Confederate Memorial Day.

July 4, Independence Day. In all States, Territories and the District.

Sept. 4, 1911, Labor Day. In all States, Territories and the District.

except N. Dak.

Oct. 12, Columbus Day. In N. Y., Penn., Ill., Conn., N. J., Mich.,

Mont., Calif., O., Md., Ky., and R. I.

Nov. 1, All Saints' Day. In La.

November--General Election Day. In Ariz., Calif., Col., Del., Fla.,

Ida., Ill. (Chicago, Springfield and East St. Louis only), Ind., Ia.,

Kans., Ky., La., Md., Mich., Minn., Mo., Mont., Nev., N. H., N. J., N.

Mex., N. Y., N. C., N. Dak., O. (5:30 a. m. to 9 a. m. only). Okla.,

Ore. (Presidential only), Penn., R. I., S. C., S. Dak., Tenn., Tex., W.

Va., Wash., Wis., Wyo.

By act of March 3, 1875, elections of Representatives in Congress take

place on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in Nov., 1876, and

every second year thereafter.

Nov. 30, 1911, Thanksgiving Day, observed in all the States, Ariz., N.

Mex. and the Dist. of Col.

December 25, Christmas Day. In all the States, Territories and the

District.

Arbor Day. In Ariz., Me., Md., N. Mex., Wis., Wyo., and Penn., by

appointment of the Governor. Tex., Feb. 22; Neb., Apr. 22; Utah., Apr.

15; R. I., second Friday in May; Mont., second Tuesday in May; Ga.,

first Friday in December; Col. (in the schools), third Friday in Apr.;

Okla., Friday after second Monday in March; Ark., first Saturday in

March.

Half Holidays.

Every Saturday after 12 o'clock noon; in Calif., public offices; in

Ill., cities of 200,000 or more inhabitants; in Md., Mich., N. Y., N.

J., O., Penn., R. I., Va., Dist. of Col. (for banking); New Orleans,

Charleston, La. and Mo., cities of 100,000 or more inhabitants; in Tenn.

(State and county offices); in Col., for June, July, August; in Ind.,

from first Saturday in June to last Saturday in October, for public

offices in counties with a county seat of 100,000 or more population.

PRINCIPAL POINTS OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW.

Congress must meet at least once a year.

One State cannot undo the acts of another.

Congress may admit as many new States as desired.

The Constitution guarantees every citizen a speedy trial by jury.

A State cannot exercise a power which is vested in Congress alone.

One State must respect the laws and legal decisions of another.

Congress cannot pass a law to punish a crime already committed.

U. S. Senators are chosen by the legislatures of the States by joint

ballot.

Bills for revenue can originate only in the House of Representatives.

A person committing a felony in one State cannot find refuge in another.

The Constitution of the United States forbids excessive bail or cruel

punishment.

Treaties with foreign countries are made by the President and ratified

by the Senate.

In the U. S. Senate Rhode Island or Nevada has an equal voice with New

York.

When Congress passes a bankruptcy law it annuls all the State laws on

that subject.

Writing alone does not constitute treason against the United States.

There must be an overt act.

Congress cannot lay any disabilities on the children of a person

convicted of crime or misdemeanor.

The Territories each send a delegate to Congress, who has the right of

debate, but not the right to vote.

The Vice-President, who ex-officio presides over the Senate, has no vote

in that body except on a tie ballot.

An act of Congress cannot become a law over the President's veto except

on a two-thirds vote of both houses.

An officer of the Government cannot accept title of nobility, order or

honor without the permission of Congress.

Money lost in the mails cannot be recovered from the Government.

Registering a letter does not insure its contents.

It is the House of Representatives that may impeach the President for

any crime, and the Senate hears the accusation.

If the President holds a bill longer than ten days while Congress is

still in session, it becomes a law without his signature.

Silver coin of denominations less than $1 is not a legal tender for more

than $5.00. Copper and nickel coin is not legal tender.

The term of a Congressman is two years, but a Congressman may be

re-elected to as many successive terms as his constituents may wish.

Amendments to the Constitution requires two-thirds vote of each house of

Congress and must be ratified by at least three-fourths of the States.

When the militia is called out in the service of the General Government,

they pass out of the control of the various States under the command of

the President.

The President of the United States must be 35 years of age: a United

States Senator, 30; a Congressman, 25. The President must have been a

resident of the United States fourteen years.

A grand jury is a secret tribunal, and may hear only one side of a case.

It simply decides whether there is good reason to hold for trial. It

consists of twenty-four men, twelve of whom may indict.

A naturalized citizen cannot become President or Vice-President of the

United States. A male child born abroad of American parents has an equal

chance to become President with one born on American soil.

CHAMOIS SKINS.

The animal from which the chamois skin derives its name inhabits the

high mountains from the Pyrenees to the Caucasus. Chamois are most

numerous in the Alps, where they dwell in small herds and feed on the

herbage of the mountain sides. They are about the size of a small goat,

dark chestnut-brown in color, with the exception of the forehead, the

sides of the lower jaws and the muzzle, which are white. Its horns,

rising above the eyes, are black, smooth and straight for two-thirds of

their length, when they suddenly curve backward.

The chamois hunter, provided with a gun, a bag of provisions, an

iron-shod staff to assist him in climbing and leaping, an ax to cut

steps in the ice and shoes studded with iron points, traverses the

mountains and follows his prey not only during the day, but also at

night.

Nearly all the chamois skins now in the market are made from the skins

of the lamb or sheep. This industry has been largely developed in

England and France, and these countries have supplied the market of the

United States almost exclusively until recent years, when the

manufacture of these goods was commenced in the United States.

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

ORIGIN AND MEANING OF NAMES OF MEN.

Aaron, Hebrew, a mountain, or lofty.

Abel, Hebrew, vanity.

Abraham, Hebrew, the father of many.

Absalom, Hebrew, the father of peace.

Adam, Hebrew, red earth.

Adolphus, Saxon, happiness and help.

Adrian, Latin, one who helps.

Alan, Celtic, harmony; or Slavonic, a hound.

Albert, Saxon, all bright.

Alexander, Greek, a helper of men.

Alfred, Saxon, all peace.

Alonzo, form of Alphonso, q. v.

Alphonso. German, ready or willing.

Ambrose, Greek, immortal.

Amos, Hebrew, a burden.

Andrew, Greek, courageous.

Anthony, Latin, flourishing.

Archibald, German, a bold observer.

Arnold, German, a maintainer of honor.

Arthur, British, a strong man.

Augustus, Latin, venerable, grand.

Baldwin, German, a bold winner.

Barnaby, Hebrew, a prophet's son.

Bartholomew, Hebrew, the son of him who made the waters to rise.

Beaumont, French, a pretty mount.

Benjamin, Hebrew, the son of a right hand.

Bennett, Latin, blessed.

Bertram, German, fair, illustrious.

Bertrand, German, bright, raven.

Boniface, Latin, a well-doer.

Brian, French, having a thundering voice.

Cadwallader, British, valiant in war.

Caesar, Latin, adorned with hair.

Caleb, Hebrew, a dog.

Cecil, Latin, dim-sighted.

Charles, German, noble-spirited.

Christopher, Greek, bearing Christ.

Clement, Latin, mild-tempered.

Conrad, German, able counsel.

Cornelius, Latin, meaning uncertain.

Crispin, Latin, having curled locks.

Cuthbert, Saxon, known famously.

Daniel, Hebrew, God is judge.

David, Hebrew, well-beloved.

Denis, Greek, belonging to the god of wine.

Douglas, Gaelic, dark gray.

Duncan, Saxon, brown chief.

Dunstan, Saxon, most high.

Edgar, Saxon, happy honor.

Edmund, Saxon, happy peace.

Edward, Saxon, happy keeper.

Edwin, Saxon, happy conqueror.

Egbert, Saxon, ever bright.

Elijah, Hebrew, God the Lord.

Elisha, Hebrew, the salvation of God.

Emmanuel, Hebrew, God with us.

Enoch, Hebrew, dedicated.

Ephraim, Hebrew, fruitful.

Erasmus, Greek, lovely, worthy to be loved.

Ernest, Greek, earnest, serious.

Esau, Hebrew, hairy.

Eugene, Greek, nobly descended.

Eustace, Greek, standing firm.

Evan, or Ivan, British, the same as John.

Evard, German, well reported.

Ezekiel, Hebrew, the strength of God.

Felix, Latin, happy.

Ferdinand, German, pure peace.

Fergus, Saxon, manly strength.

Francis, German, free.

Frederic, German, rich peace.

Gabriel, Hebrew, the strength of God.

Geoffrey, German, joyful.

George, Greek, a husbandman.

Gerald, Saxon, all towardliness.

Gideon, Hebrew, a breaker.

Gilbert, Saxon, bright as gold.

Giles, Greek, a little goat.

Godard, German, a godly disposition.

Godfrey, German, God's peace.

Godwin, German, victorious in Cod.

Griffith, British, having great faith.

Guy, French, a leader.

Hannibal, Punic, a gracious lord.

Harold, Saxon, a champion.

Hector, Greek, a stout defender.

Henry, German, a rich lord.

Herbert, German, a bright lord.

Hercules, Greek, the glory of Hera or Juno.

Horace, Latin, meaning uncertain.

Howel, British, sound or whole.

Hubert, German, a bright color.

Hugh, Dutch, high, lofty.

Humphrey, German, domestic peace.

Ignatius, Latin, fiery.

Ingram, German, of angelic purity.

Isaac, Hebrew, laughter.

Jabez, Hebrew, one who causes pain.

Jacob, Hebrew, a supplanter.

James, or Jaques, beguiling.

Job, Hebrew, sorrowing.

Joel, Hebrew, acquiescing.

John, Hebrew, the grace of the Lord.

Jonah, Hebrew, a dove.

Jonathan. Hebrew, the gift of the Lord.

Joseph, Hebrew, addition.

Joshua, Hebrew, a savior.

Josiah, or Josias, Hebrew, the fire of the Lord.

Julius, Latin, soft-haired.

Lambert, Saxon, a fair lamb.

Lancelot, Spanish, a little lance.

Laurence, Latin, crowned with laurels.

Lazarus, Hebrew, destitute of help.

Leonard, German, like a lion.

Leopold, German, defending the people.

Lewis or Louis, French, the defender of the people.

Lionel, Latin, a little lion.

Llewellin, British, like a lion.

Llewellyn, Celtic, lightning.

Lucius, Latin, shining.

Luke, Creek, a wood or grove.

Manfred, German, great peace.

Mark, Latin, a hammer.

Martin, Latin, martial.

Matthew, Hebrew, a gift or present.

Maurice, Latin, sprung of a Moor.

Meredith, British, the roaring of the sea.

Michael, Hebrew, who is like God.

Morgan, British, a mariner.

Moses, Hebrew, drawn out.

Nathaniel, Hebrew, the gift of God.

Neal, French, somewhat black.

Nicholas, Greek, victorious over the people.

Noel, French, belonging to one's nativity.

Norman, French, one born in Normandy.

Oliver, Latin, an olive.

Orlando, Italian, counsel for the land.

Orson, Latin, a bear.

Osmund, Saxon, house peace.

Oswald, Saxon, ruler of a house.

Owen, British, well descended.

Patrick, Latin, a nobleman.

Paul, Latin, small, little.

Percival, French, a place in France.

Percy, English, adaptation of "pierce eye."

Peter, Greek, a rock or stone.

Philip, Greek, a lover of horses.

Phineas, Hebrew, of bold countenance.

Ralph, contracted from Randolph, or Randal, or Rudolph, Saxon, pure

help.

Raymond, German, quiet peace.

Reuben, Hebrew, the son of vision.

Reynold, German, a lover of purity.

Richard, Saxon, powerful.

Robert, German, famous in counsel.

Roderick, German, rich in fame.

Rollo, form of Roland, q.v.

Rufus, Latin, reddish.

Roger, German, strong counsel.

Roland, German, counsel for the land.

Samson, Hebrew, a little son.

Samuel, Hebrew, heard by God.

Saul, Hebrew, desired.

Seth, Hebrew, appointed.

Silas, Latin, sylvan or living in the woods.

Simeon, Hebrew, hearing.

Simon, Hebrew, obedient.

Solomon, Hebrew, peaceable.

Stephen, Greek, a crown or garland.

Swithin, Saxon, very high.

Theobald, Saxon, bold over the people.

Theodore, Greek, the gift of God.

Thomas, Hebrew, a twin.

Timothy, Greek, a fearer of God.

Titus, Greek, meaning uncertain.

Toby, Hebrew, goodness of the Lord.

Valentine, Latin, powerful.

Victor, Latin, conqueror.

Vincent, Latin, conquering.

Vivian, Latin, living.

Walter, German, a conqueror.

Wilfred, Saxon, bold and peaceful.

William, German, defending many.

Zaccheus, Syriac, innocent.

CHRISTIAN NAMES OF WOMEN.

Adela, German, same as Adeline, q. v.

Adelaide, German, same as Adeline, q. v.

Adeline, German, a princess.

Agatha, Greek, good.

Agnes, German, chaste.

Althea, Greek, hunting.

Alice, Alicia, German, noble.

Alma, Latin, benignant.

Amabel, Latin, lovable.

Amy, Amelia, French, beloved.

Angelina, Greek, lovely, angelic.

Anna, or Anne, Hebrew, gracious.

Arabella, Latin, a fair altar.

Aurora, Latin, morning brightness.

Barbara, Latin, foreign or strange.

Bella, Italian, beautiful.

Benedicta, Latin, blessed.

Bernice, Greek, bringing victory.

Bertha, Greek, bright or famous.

Bessie, short form of Elizabeth. q.v.

Blanche, French, fair.

Bona, Latin, good.

Bridget, Irish, shining bright.

Camilla, Latin, attendant at a sacrifice.

Carlotta. Italian, same as Charlotte, q. v.

Caroline, Latin, noble-spirited.

Cassandra, Greek, a reformer of men.

Catherine, Greek, pure or clean,

Charity, Greek, love, bounty.

Charlotte, French, all noble.

Chloe, Greek, a green herb.

Christina, Greek, belonging to Christ.

Clara, Latin, clear or bright.

Constance, Latin, constant.

Dagmar, German, joy of the Danes.

Deborah, Hebrew, a bee.

Diana, Greek, Jupiter's daughter.

Dorcas, Greek, a wild roe.

Dorothy, Greek, gift of God.

Edith, Saxon, happiness.

Eleanor, Saxon, all-fruitful.

Eliza, Elizabeth, Hebrew, the oath of God.

Emily, corrupted from Amelia.

Emma, German, a nurse.

Esther, Hester, Hebrew, secret.

Eudora, Greek, good gift.

Eugenia, French, well-born.

Eunice, Greek, fair victory.

Eva, or Eve, Hebrew, causing life.

Fanny, dim. of Frances, q.v.

Flora, Latin, flowers.

Florence, Latin, blooming, flourishing.

Frances, German, free.

Gertrude, German, all truth.

Grace, Latin, favor.

Hannah, Hebrew, gracious.

Harriet, German, head of the house.

Helen, or Helena, Greek, alluring.

Henrietta, fem. and dim. of Henry, q. v.

Hilda, German, warrior maiden.

Honora, Latin, honorable.

Huldah, Hebrew, a weasel.

Irene, peaceful.

Isabella, Spanish, fair Eliza.

Jane, or Jeanne, fem. of John, q.v.

Janet, Jeanette, little Jane.

Jemima, Hebrew, a dove.

Joan, Joanna. Hebrew, fem. of John, q. v.

Joyce, French, pleasant.

Judith, Hebrew, praising.

Julia, Juliana, fem. of Julius, q. v.

Katherine, form of Catherine, q. v.

Ketura, Hebrew, incense.

Laura, Latin, a laurel.

Lavinia, Latin, of Latium.

Letitia, Latin, joy or gladness.

Lilian, Lily, Latin, a lily.

Lois, Greek, better.

Louisa, German. fem. of Louis, q.v.

Lucretia, Latin, a chaste Roman lady.

Lucy, Latin, fem. of Lucius.

Lydia. Greek, descended from Lud.

Mabel, Latin, lovely or lovable.

Madeline, form of Magdalen, q. v.

Margaret, Greek, a pearl.

Martha, Hebrew, bitterness,

Mary, Hebrew, bitter.

Matilda, German, a lady of honor.

Maud, German, form of Malilda, q.. v.

May, Latin, month of May.

Mercy, English, compassion.

Mildred, Saxon, speaking mild.

Minnie, dim. of Margaret. q. v.

Naomi, Hebrew, alluring.

Olive, Olivia, Latin, an olive.

Ophelia, Greek, a serpent.

Patience, Latin, bearing patiently.

Penelope, Greek, a weaver.

Persis, Greek, destroying.

Philippa, Greek, fem. of Philip.

Phoebe, Greek, the light of life.

Phyllis, Greek, a green bough.

Polly, variation of Molly, dim. of Mary, q. v.

Priscilla, Latin, somewhat old.

Prudence, Latin, discretion.

Rachel, Hebrew, a lamb.

Rebecca, Hebrew, fat or plump.

Rhoda, Greek, a rose.

Rose or Rosa, Latin, a rose.

Rosalind, Latin, beautiful as a rose.

Roxana, Persian, dawn of day.

Rosamond, Saxon, rose of peace.

Ruth, Hebrew, trembling, or beauty.

Sabina, Latin, sprung from the Sabines.

Salome, Hebrew, a princess.

Selina, Greek, the moon.

Sibylla, Greek, the counsel of God.

Sophia, Greek, wisdom.

Susan, Susanna, Hebrew, a lily.

Tabitha, Syriac, a roe.

Theodosia, Creek, given by God.

Ursula, Latin, a she bear.

Victoria, Latin, victory.

Vida, Erse, fem. of David.

Walburga, Saxon, gracious.

Winifred, Saxon, winning peace.

Zenobia, Greek, the life of Jupiter.

PRINCIPAL AMERICAN CITIES

With Population of over 100,000 in 1910.

(The population for 1900 is given in parentheses by way of comparison.)

New York, N. Y., 4,766,883 (3,437,202);

Chicago, Ill., 2,185,283 (l,698,572);

Philadelphia, Pa., 1,549,008 (1,293,697);

St. Louis, Mo., 687,029 (575,238);

Boston, Mass., 670,585 (560,892);

Cleveland, O., 560,663 (381,768);

Baltimore, Md., 558,485 (508,957);

Pittsburg, Pa., 533,905 (451,512);

Detroit. Mich., 465,766 (285,704);

Buffalo, N. Y., 423,715 (352,387);

San Francisco, Cal., 416,912 (342,782);

Milwaukee, Wis., 373,857 (285,315);

Cincinnati, O., 364,462 (325,902);

Newark. N. J., 347,469 (246,070);

New Orleans. La., 339,075 (287,104);

Washington. D. C., 331,069 (278,718);

Los Angeles, Cal., 319,198 (102,479);

Minneapolis, Minn., 301,408 (202,718);

Jersey City, N. J., 267,779 (206,433);

Kansas City, Mo., 248,331 (163,752);

Seattle, Wash., 237,194 (80,671);

Indianapolis, Ind., 233,650 (169,164);

Providence, R. I., 224,326 (175,597);

Louisville, Ky., 223,928 (204,731);

Rochester, N. Y., 218,149 (162,608);

St. Paul, Minn., 214,744 (163,065);

Denver, Col., 213,381 (133,859);

Portland, Ore., 207,214 (90,426);

Columbus, O., 181,548 (125,560);

Toledo, O., 168,497 (131,822);

Atlanta, Ga., 154,839 (89,672);

Oakland, Cal., 150,174 (66,960);

Worcester, Mass., 145,986 (118,421);

Syracuse, N. Y., 137,249 (108,374);

New Haven, Conn., 133,605 (108,027);

Birmingham, Ala., 132,683 (38,415);

Memphis, Tenn., 131,105 (102,320);

Scranton, Pa., 129,867 (102,026);

Richmond, Va., 127,628 (85,050);

Paterson, N. J., 125,600 (105,171);

Omaha, Neb., 124,096 (102,555);

Fall River, Mass., 119,295 (104,803);

Dayton, O., 116,577 (85,333);

Grand Rapids, Mich., 112,571 (87,565);

Nashville, Tenn., 110,364 (80,865);

Lowell, Mass., 106,294 (94,969);

Cambridge, Mass., 104,839 (91,886);

Spokane, Wash., 104,402 (36,848);

Bridgeport, Conn., 102,054 (70,996);

Albany, N. Y., 100,253 (94,151).

STATE FLOWERS.

The following list includes all the "State flowers" Commonly accepted or

officially adopted:

Alabama, goldenrod;

Arizona, sequoia cactus;

Arkansas, apple blossom;

California, poppy;

Colorado, columbine;

Delaware, peach blossom;

Georgia, Cherokee rose;

Idaho, syringa;

Illinois, violet;

Iowa, wild rose;

Kansas, sunflower;

Louisiana, magnolia;

Maine, pine cone;

Michigan, apple blossom;

Minnesota, moccasin;

Mississippi, magnolia;

Montana, bitter root;

Missouri, goldenrod;

Nebraska, goldenrod;

New Jersey, sugar maple (tree);

New York, rose;

North Dakota, goldenrod;

Oklahoma, mistletoe;

Oregon, Oregon grape;

Rhode Island, violet;

Texas, blue bonnet;

Utah, Sego lily;

Vermont, red clover;

Washington, rhododendron.

HEIGHT OF NOTED STRUCTURES.

Following is the height in feet of some noted monuments and structures:

Amiens cathedral, 383;

Bunker Hill monument, 221;

Capitol, Washington, 288;

City Hall, Philadelphia, 535;

Cologne cathedral, 512;

Eiffel tower, 984;

Florence cathedral, 387;

Fribourg cathedral, 386;

Masonic Temple, Chicago, 354;

Metropolitan building. N. Y., 700;

Milan cathedral, 360;

the Great Pyramid, 451;

Rouen cathedral, 464;

St. Paul's, London, 404;

St. Peter's, Rome, 433;

Singer building, N. Y., 612;

Strassburg cathedral, 465;

St. Stephen's, Vienna, 470;

Ward building, Chicago, 394;

Washington monument, 556.

MAXIMUM AGE OF TREES.

Palm, 250 years;

elm, 355 years;

cypress, 388 years;

ivy, 448 years;

maple, 516 years;

larch, 576 years;

lemon, 640 years;

plane, 720 years;

cedar, 800 years;

chestnut, 860 years;

walnut, 900 years;

lime, 1,076 years;

spruce, 1,200 years;

oak, 1,600 years;

olive, 2,000 years;

yew, 2,880 years;

baobab, 5,100 years;

dragon, 5,900 years.

Eucalyptus, or Australian gum-tree, sometimes grows twenty-four feet in

three months: bamboo, two feet in twenty-four hours.

DICTIONARY OF AERONAUTICS

The new science of aeronautics has given rise to many new words, among

them some of awkward derivation, and even those properly formed and

worthy of preservation in the language are often erroneously used. The

following compact lexicon is therefore both interesting and instructive:

Aeroplane--A generic term applied in common use to all classes of

sustaining surfaces; strictly applicable only to flat surfaces.

Adjusting Surfaces--Commonly a comparatively small surface, usually at

the end of a wing tip, used to adjust lateral balance; preferably

restricted to surfaces capable of variable adjustment, but not of

movement by controlling devices. See "Stabilizer'" and "Wing tip" and

compare "Aileron."

Advancing Edge--The front edge of a sustaining or other surface.

Advancing Surface--A surface that precedes another through the air, as

in a double monoplane.

Aerocurve--A proposed substitute for aeroplane.

Aerodrome--A substitute proposed by Langley for aeroplane. Strictly

applicable to a course rather than to a vehicle.

Aileron (a'ler-on)--A small hinged or separated wing tip or surface

capable of independent manipulation for the purpose of maintaining

lateral balance.

Aviation (a-vi-a'shun)--Dynamic flight by means of heavier-than-air

mechanisms.

Aviator (a'vi-a-ter)--The operator or pilot of a heavier-than-air

machine.

Aerofoil--Term used to indicate lifting surface,

Angle of Incidence--The angle which a line drawn from the leading to the

trailing edge of the plane makes with the horizontal trailing angle

between the tangent to the trailing edge of the plane and the chord or a

line drawn from the leading to the trailing edge.

Arc--Any portion of a circle or other curve.

Aspect--The top or plan view of an aeroplane surface.

Automatic Stability--Applied to lateral or longitudinal stability

maintained by the action of suitable elements on mechanisms independent

of any control exercised by the operator. There is a tendency to

restrict the term to such stability secured by automatic manipulation of

controlling devices, rather than to systems in which balance is

maintained by the use of dihedral arrangements.

Biplane (bi'plane)--An aeroplane with two superposed main surfaces.

Balance--To maintain equilibrium by hand or automatic movement of

balancing surfaces, as opposed to equilibrium maintained by stabilizing.

See "Stabilizer."

Body--The center part of an aeroplane or other aerial vehicle, in which

the motor, fuel tanks, passenger accommodation, etc., are placed.

Camber--The camber of the ribs is the amount of curvature which is

imparted to them in the same way that a motor car spring or a road has a

camber or curvature.

Chassis (shas-see)--That part of the main framework of a monoplane to

which the main planes and tail planes are fitted and which contains the

engine and aviators seat.

Center of Pressure--Really a line of pressure along the under side of a

wing or aeroplane surface, on either side of which the pressures are

equal.

Center of Gravity--The center of weight, about which the vehicle

balances in all directions.

Chord--A straight line drawn between the ends of the arc of a circle or

other curve.

Dirigible (dir'-igihle)--Steerable or navigable; applied to balloons.

Derrick--A tower in which a falling weight is dropped in starting an

aeroplane.

Diagonal--A diagonal brace or stay in a framework.

Dihedral (di-he'dral)--Said of wing pairs inclined at an upward angle to

each other.

Elevator--A principal supplementary surface, usually of a miniature form

of the main planes. Used for purpose of altering the vertical direction

of machine.

Gap--The distance between two main planes in a biplane.

Gliding--Flying down a slant of air without power.

Gyroscopic Effect--The property of any rotating mass whereby it tends to

maintain its plane of rotation against disturbing forces.

Gauchissement (or warping)--Applied to the main planes and produces the

same ultimate effect as the use of ailerons.

Hangar (hang'ar)--A shed for housing balloons or aeroplanes, generally

the latter.

Horsepower--A rate of work equivalent to the lifting of 33,000 ft.-lb. a

minute.

Head Resistance--The resistance of a surface to movement through the

air; closely proportionate to its projected area.

Heavier-than-air--Applied to dynamic flying machines weighing more than

the air they displace.

Horizontal Rudder--A horizontally placed rudder for steering in vertical

directions.

Lift--The sustaining effect, expressed in units of weight of an

aeroplane or wing surface.

Monoplane--An aeroplane with one or more main surfaces in the same

horizontal plane.

Main Plane--Usually the largest or lowest supporting surface of a

multi-surfaced aeroplane.

Mast--A spar or strut used for the attachment of wire or other stays to

stiffen the wings or other parts of a structure.

Main Spars--Lateral spars upon which the main planes are built.

Main Landing Wheels--In an alighting gear, the wheels that take the

chief shock in landing.

Ornithopter--A dynamic flying machine of the heavier-than-air type, in

which sustension is provided by the effect of reciprocating wing

surfaces.

Pylon--A tower to mark the course in aerial racing contests.

Ribs--Supports for the fabric, made of ash or spruce and bent to the

correct curves.

Rudder--One or more steering planes are invariably fitted to practical

machines to control the direction of flight.

Superposed Planes--Arrangement of one plane over the other, as in the

Wright, Voisin and Farman machines.

Supplementary Planes (or surfaces)--Additional surfaces which are used

for stabilization.

Stabilizer--Any surface for automatically maintaining lateral or

longitudinal balance.

Struts--Fixtures used in biplane construction to maintain an equal

distance between two planes.

Skids--Long skates on which the machine can land in safety.

Span--The distance from tip to tip of the main planes in a transverse

direction to that of flight.

Soaring Flight--The flight of certain large birds without wing flapping.

Its solution and imitation constitute one of the problems of aerial

navigation.

Sustaining Surface--Any surface placed in a horizontal or approximately

horizontal position, primarily for the purpose of affording sustension.

Triplane--An aeroplane with three main surfaces.

Webs--Small blocks of wood placed between the ribs which act as distance

pieces.

Wing Warping--A system of maintaining lateral balance by differential

twisting of wing tips in such manner as to increase the sustension on

one side and decrease it on the other.

--New York Tribune.

COLLEGE COLORS.

Amherst--Purple and white.

Beloit--Old gold,

Bowdoin--White.

Brown--Brown and white.

Columbia--Light blue and white.

Cornell--Carnelian and white.

Dartmouth--Green.

Harvard--Crimson.

Indiana--Crimson and cream.

Iowa--Scarlet and black.

Iowa State--Cardinal and gold.

Johns Hopkins--Black and old gold.

Lake Forest--Red and black.

Leland Stanford--Cardinal.

Northwestern--Royal Purple.

Oberlin--Crimson and gold

Princeton--Orange and black.

Purdue--Old gold and black.

University of Chicago--Maroon.

University of Illinois--Orange and navy blue.

University of Michigan--Maize and blue.

University of Minnesota--Old gold and maroon.

University of Notre Dame--Gold and blue.

University of Pennsylvania--Red and blue.

University of Rochester--Dandelion yellow.

University of Wisconsin--Cardinal.

Vassar--Rose and gray.

Williams--Royal purple.

Yale--Blue.

THE CLAIMS OF OSTEOPATHY.

Strictly construing the claims of osteopathic doctors, it is an

anti-medicine system of practice for the cure of every disease to which

the human body is liable.

Dr. Andrew T. Still, who claims to have made the discoveries that led to

the establishment of the school of Osteopathy, asserts that all diseases

and lesions are the result of the luxation, dislocation, or breakage of

some bone or bones; this, however, is not now maintained to any great

extent by his followers. Osteopathists, though, do generally claim that

all diseases arise from some maladjustment of the bones of the human

body, and that treatment, therefore, must be to secure the normal

adjustment of the bones and ligaments that form the skeleton. They claim

that a dislocation is not always necessarily the result of external

violence; it may be caused by the ulceration of bones, the elongation of

ligaments, or excessive muscular action.

The constriction of an important artery or vein, which may be caused by

a very slightly displaced bone, an indurated muscle, or other organ, may

produce an excess of blood in one part of the body, thereby causing a

deficiency in some other part. A dislocated member will generally show

alteration in the form of the joint and axis of the limb; loss of power

and proper motion; increased length or shortening of the limb;

prominence at one point and depression at another; greatly impaired

circulation, and pain due to the obstruction of nerve force in the parts

involved.

The osteopathist claims that pain and disease arise mainly from some

mal-adjustment in some part of the body, and that a return to good

health involves treatment for the normal adjustment of the skeleton; he

asserts, though any luxation may be only partial, it may cause pressure

at some point upon a blood vessel, or a nerve of which the patient may

be unconscious, and thus be a barrier to the restoration of good health.

Osteopathy asserts that trying to heal the body of an ailment caused by

a dislocated member, be it a bone, ligament, or nerve, by which abnormal

pressure is maintained upon a blood vessel or a nerve, would be like

trying to operate a machine with an important cog out of gear. To cure

it involves the reduction of a dislocation; the breaking up of

adhesions, and the arousing of the enervated organ or organs partially

or wholly failing in the performance of function.

THE LAW OF TRADEMARKS.

Any person, firm or corporation can obtain protection for any lawful

trademark by complying with the following:

1. By causing to be recorded in the Patent Office the name, residence

and place of business of persons desiring the trademark.

2. The class of merchandise and description of the same.

3. A description of the trademark itself with facsimiles.

4. The length of time that the said mark has already been used.

5. By payment of the required fee--$6 for labels and $25 for trademarks.

6. By complying with such regulations as may be prescribed by the

Commissioner of Patents.

7. A lawful trademark must consist of some arbitrary word (not the name

of a person or place), indicating or not the use or nature of the thing

to which it is applied; of some designating symbol, or of both said word

and symbol.

HOW TO OBTAIN A PATENT.

Patents are issued in the name of the United States, and under the seal

of the Patent Office. A patent is a grant by the Government to the

inventor, his heirs or assigns, for a limited period, of the exclusive

right to make, use or sell any new and useful art, machine, manufacture

or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, or

any new, original and ornamental design for any article of manufacture.

Every patent contains a grant to the patentee, his heirs or assigns, for

the term of seventeen years, of the exclusive right to make, use and

vend the invention or discovery throughout the United States and the

Territories, referring to the specification for the particulars thereof.

If it appears that the inventor, at the time of making his application,

believed himself to be the first inventor or discoverer, a patent will

not be refused on account of the invention or discovery, or any part

thereof, having been known or used in any foreign country before his

invention or discovery thereof, if it had not been before patented or

described in any printed publication.

Joint inventors are entitled to a joint patent; neither can claim one

separately. Independent inventors of distinct and independent

improvements in the same machine cannot obtain a joint patent for their

separate inventions; nor does the fact that one furnishes the capital

and another makes the invention entitle them to make application as

joint inventors; but in such case they may become joint patentees.

Application for a patent must be made in writing to the Commissioner of

Patents, from whom blanks and printed instructions can be obtained by

mail.

REISSUES.--A reissue is granted to the original patentee, his legal

representatives, or the assignees of the entire interest, when, by

reason of a defective or insufficient specification, or by reason of the

patentee claiming as his invention or discovery more than he had a right

to claim as new, the original patent is inoperative or invalid, provided

the error has arisen from inadvertence, accident or mistake and without

any fraudulent or deceptive intention.

CAVEATS.--A caveat, under the patent law, is a notice given to the

office of the caveator's claim as inventor, in order to prevent the

grant of a patent to another for the same alleged invention upon an

application filed during the life of the caveat without notice to the

caveator.

Any citizen of the United States who has made a new invention or

discovery, and desires further time to mature the same, may, on payment

of a fee of $10, file in the Patent Office a caveat setting forth the

object and the distinguishing characteristics of the invention, and

praying protection of his right until he shall have matured his

invention. Such caveat shall be filed in the confidential archives of

the office and preserved in secrecy, and shall be operative for the term

of one year from the filing thereof.

An alien has the same privilege, if he has resided in the United States

one year next preceding the filing of his caveat, and has made oath of

his intention to become a citizen.

The caveat must comprise a specification, oath, and, when the nature of

the case admits of it, a drawing, and, like the application, must be

limited to a single invention or improvement.

FEES.--Fees must be paid in advance, and are as follows. On filing each

original application for a patent, $15. On issuing each original patent,

$20. In design cases: For three years and six months, $10: for seven

years, $15; for fourteen years, $30. On filing each caveat, $10.

On every application for the reissue of a patent, $30. Added to these

are the usual charges of patent solicitors for preparing the application

and for drawings etc.

SHAKESPEARE'S COUNSEL.

(Polonius' Advice to His Son Laertes.)

And these few precepts in thy memory

See thou character: Give thy thoughts no tongue.

Nor any unproportion'd thought his act.

Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar.

Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried,

Grapple them to thy soul with hooks of steel;

But do not dull thy palm with entertainment

Of each new-hatch'd, unfledged comrade. Beware

Of entrance to a quarrel, but, being in,

Bear 't that the opposed may beware of thee.

Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice;

Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgment.

Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy.

But not express'd in fancy; rich, not gaudy;

For the apparel oft proclaims the man. * * *

Neither a borrower nor a lender be:

For loan oft loses both itself and friend,

And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.

This above all: to thine own self be true,

And it must follow, as the night the day,

Thou canst not then be false to any man.

--"Hamlet," 1 :3.

POOR RICHARD'S SAYINGS.

(Benjamin Franklin.)

Drive thy business! Let not thy business drive thee!

Diligence is the mother of good luck.

Now I have a sheep and a cow, everybody bids me good morrow.

If you would know the value of money, go and try to borrow some.

Great estates may venture more, but little boats should keep near shore.

What maintains one vice would bring up two children.

God helps them that help themselves.

Poverty often deprives a man of all spirit and virtue, 'Tis hard for an

empty bag to stand upright.

Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship.

For age and want, save while you may. No morning sun lasts a whole day.

HOW TO MAKE CHANGE QUICKLY.

Always consider the amount of purchase as if that much money were

already counted out, then add to amount of purchase enough small change

to make an even dollar, counting out the even dollars last until full

amount is made up.

If the purchase amounts to 57 cents, and you are handed $2.00 in

payment, count out 43 cents first to make an even dollar. Then layout

the other dollar.

Should the purchase be $3.69, to be taken out of $20.00, begin with

$3.69 as the basis and make up even $4.00 by laying out 31 cents. This

31 cents with the amount of the purchase you will consider as $4.00, and

count out even dollars to make up the $20.00 which the customer has

handed in.

MERCHANTS' COST AND PRICE MARKS.

All merchants use private cipher marks to note cost or selling price of

goods. The cipher is usually made up from some short word or sentence of

nine or ten letters, as:

C O R N E L I U S, A

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0

Five dollars, according to this key, would be eaa. But generally an

extra letter is used to prevent repeating the mark for 0. If the sign

for a second 0 in this case were y, we would have eay instead of eaa.

TIME IN WHICH MONEY DOUBLES.

Per Simple Compound

Ct Interest. Interest.

2 50 yrs. 35 yrs.

2-1/2 40 yrs. 28 yrs. 26 da.

3 33 yrs. 4 mos. 23 yrs. 164 da.

3-1/2 28 yrs, 208 da. 20 yrs. 54

4 25 yrs. 17 yrs. 246 da.

4-1/2 22 yrs. 81 da. 15 yrs. 273 da.

5 20 yrs. 14 yrs. 75 da.

6 16 yrs. 8 mos. 11 yrs. 327 da.

7 14 yrs. 104 da. 10 yrs. 89 da.

8 12-1/2 yrs. 9 yrs 2 da.

9 11 yrs. 40da. 8 yrs. 16 da.

10 10 yrs. 7 yrs. 100 da.

"A DOLLAR SAVED, A DOLLAR EARNED."

The way to accumulate money is to save small sums with regularity. A

small sum saved daily for fifty years will grow at the following rate:

Daily Savings. Result. Daily Savings. Result.

One cent $ 950 Sixty cents $ 57,024

Ten cents 9,504 Seventy cents 66,528

Twenty cents 19,006 Eighty cents 76,032

Thirty cents 28,512 Ninety cents 85,537

Forty cents 38,015 One dollar 475,208

Fifty cents 47,520

[Transcriber's note: The figures from 1 to 90 cents assume about 5.5%

interest. The one dollar amount ($475,208) assumes about 10% interest.]

SHORT INTEREST RULES.

To find the interest on a given sum for any number of days, at any rate

of interest, multiply the principal by the number of days and divide as

follows:

At 3 per cent, by 120 At 9 per cent, by 40

At 4 per cent, by 90 At 10 per cent, by 36

At 5 per cent, by 72 At 12 per cent, by 30

At 6 per cent, by 60 At 15 per cent, by 24

At 7 per cent, by 52 At 20 per cent, by 18

At 8 per cent, by 45

TRADE DISCOUNTS.

Wholesale houses usually invoice their goods to retailers at "list"

prices. List prices were once upon a time supposed to be retail prices,

but of late a system of "long" list prices has come into vogue in many

lines of trade--that is, the list price is made exorbitantly high, so

that wholesalers can give enormous discounts. These discounts, whether

large or small, are called trade discounts, and are usually deducted at

a certain rate per cent from the face of invoice.

The amount of discount generally depends upon size of bill or terms of

settlement, or both. Sometimes two or more discounts are allowed. Thus

30% and 5% is expressed 30 and 5 meaning first a discount of 30% and

then 5% from the remainder.

30 and 5 is not 35% but 33-1/3%. 10, 5 and 3 off means three successive

discounts.

A wholesale house allowing 10, 5 and 3 off gets more for its goods than

it would at 18 off.

HOW TO DETECT COUNTERFEIT MONEY.

In the space at disposal here, it is impossible of course to give a

complete illustrated counterfeit detector, but the following simple

rules, laid down by Bank Note Examiner Geo. R. Baker, will be found

extremely valuable:

Examine the form and features of all human figures: if graceful, and

features distinct, examine the drapery. Notice whether the folds lie

naturally, and observe whether the fine strands of the hair are plain

and distinct.

Examine the lettering. In a genuine bill is absolutely perfect. There

has never been a counterfeit put out but was more or less defective in

the lettering.

Counterfeiters rarely, if ever, get the imprint or engraver's name

perfect. The shading in the background of the vignette and over and

around the letters forming the name of the bank, on a good bill, is even

and perfect; on a counterfeit, it is uneven and imperfect.

The die work around the figures of the denomination should be of the

same character as the ornamental work surrounding it.

Never take a bill deficient in any of these points.

Big Trees.--Of ninety-two redwood trees in Calaveras Grove, Cal., ten

are over thirty feet in diameter, and eighty-two have a diameter of from

fifteen to thirty feet. Their ages are estimated at from 1,000 to 3,500

years. Their height ranges from 150 to 237 feet.

FACTS OF GENERAL INTEREST.

A hawk flies 150 miles per hour; an eider duck 90 miles; a pigeon, 40

miles.

A man's working life is divided into four decades: 20 to 30, bronze; 30

to 40, silver; 40 to 50, gold; 50 to 60, iron. Intellect and judgment

are strongest between 40 and 50.

Hair which is lightest in color is also lightest in weight. Light or

blond hair is generally the most luxuriant, and it has been calculated

that the average number of hairs of this color on an average person's

head is 140,000; while the number of brown hairs is 110,000, and black

only 103,000.

Goldsmith received $300 for "The Vicar of Wakefield;" Moore, $15,500 for

"Lalla Rookh;" Victor Hugo, $12,000 for "Hernani;" Chateaubriand,

$110,000 for his works; Lamartine, $16,000 for "Travels in Palestine;"

Disraeli, $50,000 for "Endymion;" Anthony Trollope, $315,000 for

forty-five novels; Lingard, $21,000 for his "History of England;" Mrs.

Grant received over $600,000 as royalty from the sale of "The Personal

Memoirs of U. S. Grant."

One woman in 20, one man in 30 is barren--about 4 per cent. It is found

that one marriage in 20 is barren--5 per cent. Among the nobility of

Great Britain, 21 per cent have no children, owing partly to

intermarriage of cousins, no less than 4-1/2 per cent being married to

cousins.

The largest bells are the following, and their weight is given in tons:

Moscow, 216: Burmah, 117; Pekin, 53; Novgorod, 31; Notre Dame, 18;

Rouen, 18; Olmutz, 18; Vienna, 18; St. Paul's, 16; Westminster, 14;

Montreal, 12; Cologne, 11; Oxford, 8; St. Peter's, 8. Bell metal should

have 77 parts copper and 23 tin.

American life averages for professions (Boston): Storekeepers, 41.8

years; teamsters, 43.6 years; laborers. 44.6 years; seamen, 46.1 years;

mechanics, 47.3 years; merchants, 48.4 years; lawyers, 52.6 years;

farmers, 64.2 years.

A camel has twice the carrying power of an ox; with an ordinary load of

400 lb. he can travel 12 to 14 days without water, going 40 miles a day.

Camels are fit to work at 5 years old, but their strength begins to

decline at 25, although they live usually till 40.

The checks paid in New York in one year aggregate $77,020,672,494, which

is more than nine times the value of all the gold and silver coin in

existence.

Pounds of water evaporated by 1 lb. of fuel as follows: Straw. 1.9;

wood, 3.1; peat, 3.8; coke or charcoal. 6.4; coal, 7.9; petroleum, 14.6.

The average elevation of continents above sea level is: Europe, 670

feet; Asia, 1,140 feet; North America. 1,150 feet; South America, 1,100

feet.

A body weighing 140 lb. produces 3 lb. ashes; time for burning, 55

minutes.

The seven largest diamonds in the world weigh, respectively, as follows;

Kohinoor, 103 carats; Star of Brazil, 126 carats; Regent of France, 136

carats; Austrian Kaiser, 139 carats; Russian Czar, 195 carats; Rajah of

Borneo, 367 carats; Braganza, 1,880 carats. The value of the above is

not regulated by size, nor easy to estimate, but none of them is worth

less than $500,000.

According to Orfila, the proportion of nicotine in Havana tobacco is 2

per cent; in French, 6 per cent; and Virginia tobacco, 7 per cent. That

in Brazilian is still higher.

One horsepower will raise 16-1/2 tons per minute a height of 12 inches,

working 8 hours a day. This is about 9,900 foot-tons daily, or 12 times

a man's work.

Good clear ice two inches thick will bear men to walk on; four inches

thick will bear horses and riders; six inches thick will bear horses and

teams with moderate loads.

One pair of rabbits can become multiplied in four years into 1,250,000.

Australia ships 6,000,000 rabbit skins yearly to England.

The largest of the Pyramids, that of Cheops, is composed of four million

tons of stone, and occupied 100,000 men during 20 years, equal to an

outlay of $200,000,000. It would now cost $20,000,000 at a contract

price of 36 cents per cubic foot.

One tug on the Mississippi can take, in six days, from St. Louis to New

Orleans, barges carrying 10,000 tons of grain, which would require 70

railway trains of fifteen cars each.

Comparative Scale of Strength.--Ordinary man, 100; Byron's Gladiator,

173; Farnese Hercules, 362; horse, 750.

A man will die for want of air in five minutes; for want of sleep, in

ten days; for want of water, in a week; for want of food, at varying

intervals, dependent on various circumstances.

The average of human life is 33 years. One child out of every four dies

before the age of 7 years, and only one-half of the world's population

reach the age of 17. One out of 10,000 reaches 100 years. The average

number of births per day is about 120,000, exceeding the deaths by about

15 per minute. There have been many alleged cases of longevity in all

ages, but only a few are authentic.

The various nations of Europe are represented in the list of Popes as

follows: English, 1; Dutch, 1; Swiss, 1; Portuguese, 1; African, 2;

Austrian, 2; Spanish, 5; German, 6; Syrian, 8; Greek, 14; French, 16;

Italian, 200. Eleven Popes reigned over 20 years; 69, from 10 to 20; 57,

from 5 to 10; and the reign of 116 was less than 5 years. The reign of

Piux IX was the longest of all, the only one exceeding 25 years.

A knot, in sailor phrase, is a nautical mile, 6,080 feet, or 800 feet

more than a land mile.

The Garden of the Gods is near Colorado Springs and consists of a tract

some 50 acres in area surrounded by mountains and ravines of red

sandstone. A number of large upright rocks, some as high as 350 feet,

have given the beautiful valley its name. It is entered by a very narrow

pass called the "Beautiful Gate."

The Trans-Siberian Railway is 6,003 miles long and was built at a cost

of $201,350,860.

The longest reigns in English history were; Victoria, 64 years; George

III., 60; Henry III, 56; Edward III, 50; Elizabeth, 45; Henry VIII., 38.

The highest mountain in North America is Mt. McKinley, at the headwaters

of the Suswhitna and Kuskokwim rivers, Alaska. Its height is 20,464

feet.

The largest viaduct in the world was designed and built by American

engineers for the English railway in Burma. It crosses the Gokteik

gorge, eighty miles from Mandalay. It is 2,260 feet long and 325 feet

high, and was constructed in 1900.

The degrees of alcohol in wines and liquors are: Beer, 4.0; porter, 4.5;

ale, 7.4; cider, 8.6; Moselle, 9.6; Tokay, 10.2; Rhine, 11.0; orange,

11.2; Bordeaux, 11.5; hock, 11.6; gooseberry, 11.8; Champagne, 12.2;

claret, 13.3; Burgundy, 13.6; Malaga, 17.3; Lisbon, 18.5; Canary, 18.8;

sherry, 19.0; vermouth, 19.0; Cape, 19.2; Malmsey, 19.7; Marsala, 20.2;

Madeira, 21.0; Port, 23.2; Curacoa, 27.0; aniseed, 33.0; Maraschino,

34.0; Chartreuse, 43.0; gin, 51.6; brandy, 53.4; rum, 53.7; Irish

whisky, 53.9; Scotch, 54.3. Spirits are said to be "proof" when they

contain 57 per cent. The maximum amount of alcohol, says Parkes, that a

man can take daily without injury to his health is that contained in 2

oz. Brandy, 1/4 pt. of sherry, 1/2 pt. of claret, or 1 pt. of beer.

The measurement of that part of the skull which holds the brain is

stated in cubic inches thus: Anglo-Saxon, 105; German, 105; negro, 96;

ancient Egyptian, 93; Hottentot, 58; Australian native, 58. In all races

the male brain is about ten per cent heavier than the female. The

highest class of apes has only 16 oz. of brain. A man's brain, it is

estimated, consists of 300,000,000 nerve cells, of which over 3,000 are

disintegrated and destroyed every minute. Everyone, therefore, has a new

brain once in sixty days. But excessive labor, or lack of sleep,

prevents the repair of the tissues, and the brain gradually wastes away.

Diversity of occupation, by calling upon different portions of the mind

or body successively, affords, in some measure, the requisite repose to

each. But in this age of overwork there is no safety except in that

perfect rest which is the only natural restorative of exhausted power.

The King James version of the Bible contains 3,566,480 letters, 773,746

words, 31,173 verses, 1,189 chapters, and 66 books. The word and occurs

46,277 times. The word Lord occurs 1,855 times. The word Reverend occurs

but once, which is in the 9th verse of the 111th Psalm. The middle verse

is the 8th verse of the 118th Psalm. The 21st verse of the 7th chapter

of Ezra contains all the letters of the alphabet except the letter J.

The 19th chapter of II Kings and the 37th chapter of Isaiah are alike.

The longest verse is the 9th verse of the 8th chapter of Esther. The

shortest verse is the 35th verse of the 11th chapter of St. John. There

are no words or names of more than six syllables.

SOME OF NATURE'S WONDERS.

The human body has 240 bones.

Man's heart beats 92,160 times in a day.

A salmon has been known to produce 10,000,000 eggs. Some female spiders

produce 2,000 eggs. A queen bee produces 100,000 eggs in a season.

There are 9,000 cells in a square foot of honeycomb.

It requires 2,300 silkworms to produce one pound of silk.

It would take 27,600 spiders to produce one pound of web.

THE RULE OF THE ROAD.

The "rule of the road" in the United States is "turn to the right"; in

England it is the reverse. The rule holds in this country in the case

where two vehicles going in opposite directions meet. When one vehicle

overtakes another the foremost gives way to the left and the other

passes by on the "off side"; and when a vehicle is crossing the

direction of another it keeps to the left and crosses in its rear. These

two rules are the same in this country as in England, and why the rule

concerning meeting vehicles should have been changed it is impossible to

say.

CANARY BIRDS.

How to Keep Them Healthy and in Good Song.

Place the cage so that no draught of air can strike the bird.

Give nothing to healthy birds but rape, hemp, canary seed, water,

cuttle-fish bone, and gravel, paper or sand on floor of cage.

A bath three times a week;

The room should not be overheated.

When moulting keep warm and avoid all draughts of air.

Give plenty of German summer rape seed. A little hard-boiled egg mixed

with cracker, grated fine, once or twice a week, is excellent.

Feed at a certain hour in the morning.

Diseases and Cures.

Husk or Asthma.--The curatives are aperients, such as endive, water

cresses, bread and milk, and red pepper.

Pip.--Mix red pepper, butter and garlic and swab out the throat.

Sweating.--Wash the hen in salt and water, and dry rapidly.

Costiveness.--Plenty of green food and fruit.

Obstruction of the Rump Gland--Pierce with a needle. Press the inflamed

matter out, and drop fine sugar over the wound.

Lice.--Keep a saucer of fresh water in the cage and the bird will free

itself.

Overgrown Claws or Beak.--Pare carefully with a sharp knife.

Moulting.--Give plenty of good food and keep warm. Saffron and a rusty

nail put in the drinking water is excellent.

Loss of Voice.--Feed with paste of bread, lettuce and rape seed with

yoke of egg. Whisky and sugar is an excellent remedy.

RECIPES, TRADE SECRETS ETC.

Toothache Cure.--Compound tinct. benzoin is said to be one of the most

certain and speedy cures for toothache; pour a few drops on cotton, and

press at once into the diseased cavity, when the pain will almost

instantly cease.

Toothache Tincture.--Mix tannin, 1 scruple; mastic, 3 grains; ether, 2

drams. Apply on cotton wool, to the tooth, previously dried.

Charcoal Tooth Paste.--Chlorate of potash, 1/2 dram; mint water, 1

ounce. Dissolve and add powdered charcoal, 2 ounces; honey, 1 ounce.

Excellent Mouth Wash.--Powdered white Castile soap, 2 drams; alcohol, 3

ounces; honey, 1 ounce; essence or extract jasmine, 2 drams. Dissolve

the soap in alcohol and add honey and extract.

Removing Tartar from the Teeth.--This preparation is used by dentists.

Pure muriatic acid, one ounce; water, one ounce; honey, two ounces; mix

thoroughly. Take a toothbrush, and wet it freely with this preparation,

and briskly rub the black teeth, and in a moment's time they will be

perfectly white; then immediately wash out the mouth well with water,

that the acid may not act on the enamel of the teeth. This should be

done only occasionally.

Test for Glue.--The following simple and easy test for glue is given: A

weighed piece of glue (say one-third of an ounce) is suspended in water

for twenty-four hours, the temperature of which is not above fifty

degrees Fahrenheit. The coloring material sinks, and the glue swells

from the absorption of the water. The glue is then taken out and

weighed; the greater the increase in weight the better the glue. If it

then be dried perfectly and weighed again, the weight of the coloring

matter can be learned from the difference between this and the original

weight.

Bad Breath.--Bad breath from catarrh, foul stomach or bad teeth may be

temporarily relieved by diluting a little bromo chloralum with eight or

ten parts of water, and using it as a gargle, and swallowing a few drops

before going out. A pint of bromo chloralum costs fifty cents, but a

small vial will last a long time.

Good Tooth Powder.--Procure, at a druggist's, half an ounce of powdered

orris root, half an ounce of prepared chalk finely pulverized, and two

or three small lumps of Dutch pink. Let them all be mixed in a mortar,

and pounded together. The Dutch pink is to impart a pale reddish color.

Keep it in a close box.

Another Tooth Powder.--Mix together, in a mortar, half an ounce of red

Peruvian bark, finely powdered, a quarter of an ounce of powdered myrrh,

and a quarter of an ounce of prepared chalk.

A Safe Depilatory.--Take a strong solution of sulphuret of barium, and

add enough finely powdered starch to make a paste. Apply to the roots of

the hair and allow it to remain on a few minutes, then scrape off with

the back edge of a knife blade, and rub with sweet oil.

Quick Depilatory for Removing Hair.--Best slaked lime, 6 ounces;

orpiment, fine powder, 1 ounce. Mix with a covered sieve and preserve in

a dry place in closely stoppered bottles. In using mix the powder with

enough water to form a paste, and apply to the hair to be removed. In

about five minutes, or as soon as its caustic action is felt on the

skin, remove, as in shaving, with an ivory or bone paper knife, wash

with cold water freely, and apply cold cream.

Tricopherus for the Hair.--Castor oil, alcohol, each 1 pint; tinct.

cantharides, 1 ounce; oil bergamot, 1/2 ounce; alkanet coloring, to

color as wished. Mix and let it stand forty-eight hours, with occasional

shaking, and then filter.

Liquid Shampoo.--Take bay rum. 2-1/2 pints; water, 1/2 pint; glycerine,

1 ounce; tinct. cantharides, 2 drams; carbonate of ammonia, 2 drams;

borax, 1/2 ounce; or take of New England rum, 1-1/2 pints; bay rum, 1

pint; water, 1/2 pint; glycerine, 1 ounce; tinct. cantharides, 2 drams,

ammon. carbonate, 2 drams; borax, 1/2 ounce; the salts to be dissolved

in water and the other ingredients to be added gradually.

Cleaning Hair Brushes.--Put a teaspoonful or dessertspoonful of aqua

ammonia into a basin half full of water, comb the loose hairs out of the

brush, then agitate the water briskly with the brush, and rinse it well

with clear water.

Hair Invigorator.--Bay rum, two pints; alcohol, one pint; castor oil,

one ounce; carb. ammonia, half an ounce; tincture of cantharides, one

ounce. Mix them well. This compound will promote the growth of the hair

and prevent it from falling out.

For Dandruff.--Take glycerine, four ounces; tincture of cantharides,

five ounces; bay rum, four ounces; water, two ounces. Mix and apply once

a day, and rub well into the scalp.

Mustache Grower.--Simple cerate, 1 ounce; oil bergamot, 10 minims;

saturated tinct. of cantharides, 15 minims. Rub them together

thoroughly, or melt the cerate and stir in the tincture while hot, and

the oil as soon as it is nearly cold, then run into molds or rolls. To

be applied as a pomade, rubbing in at the roots of the hair. Care must

be used not to inflame the skin by too frequent application.

Razor-strop Paste.--Wet the strop with a little sweet oil, and apply a

little flour of emery evenly over the surface.

Shaving Compound.--Half a pound of plain white soap, dissolved in a

small quantity of alcohol, as little as can be used; add a tablespoonful

of pulverized borax. Shave the soap and put it in a small tin basin or

cup; place it on the fire in a dish of boiling water; when melted, add

the alcohol, and remove from the fire; stir in oil of bergamot

sufficient to perfume it.

Cure for Prickly Heat.--Mix a large portion of wheat bran with either

cold or lukewarm water, and use it as a bath twice or thrice a day.

Children who are covered with prickly heat in warm weather will be thus

effectually relieved from that tormenting eruption. As soon as it begins

to appear on the neck, face or arms, commence using the bran water on

these parts repeatedly through the day, and it may probably spread no

farther. If it does, the bran water bath will certainly cure it, if

persisted in.

To Remove Corns from Between the Toes.--These corns are generally more

painful than any others, and are frequently situated as to be almost

inaccessible to the usual remedies. Wetting them several times a day

with hartshorn will in most cases cure them. Try it.

Superior Cologne Water.--Oil of lavender, two drams; oil of rosemary,

one dram and a half; orange, lemon and bergamot, one dram each of the

oil; also two drams of the essence of musk, attar of rose, ten drops,

and a pint of proof spirit. Shake all together thoroughly three times a

day for a week.

Inexhaustible Smelling Salts.--Sal tartar, three drams; muriate ammonia,

granulated, 6 drams; oil neroli. 5 minims; oil lavender flowers, 5

minims; oil rose, 3 minims; spirits ammonia, 15 minims. Put into the

pungent a small piece of sponge filling about one-fourth the space, and

pour on it a due proportion of the oils, then put in the mixed salts

until the bottle is three-fourths full, and pour on the spirits of

ammonia in proper proportion and close the bottle.

Volatile Salts for Pungents.--Liquor ammon., 1 pint; oil lavender

flowers, 1 dram; oil rosemary, fine, 1 dram; oil bergamot, 1/2 dram; oil

peppermint, 10 minims. Mix thoroughly and fill pungents or keep in well

stoppered bottle. Another formula is, sesqui-carbonate of ammonia,

small pieces, 10 ounces; concentrated liq. ammonia, 5 ounces. Put the

sesqui-carb. in a wide-mouthed jar with air-tight stopper, perfume the

liquor ammonia to suit and pour over the carbonate; close tightly the

lid and place in a cool place; stir with a stiff spatula every other day

for a week, and then keep it closed for two weeks, or until it becomes

hard, when it is ready for use.

Paste for Papering Boxes.--Boil water and stir in batter of wheat or rye

flour. Let it boil one minute, take off and strain through a colander.

Add, while boiling, a little glue or powdered alum. Do plenty of

stirring while the paste is cooking, and make of consistency that will

spread nicely.

Aromatic Spirit of Vinegar.--Acetic acid, No. 8. pure, 8 ounces;

camphor, 1/2 ounce. Dissolve and add oil lemon, oil lavender flowers,

each two drams; oil cassia, oil cloves, 1/2 dram each. Thoroughly mix

and keep in well stoppered bottle.

Rose-Water.--Preferable to the distilled for a perfume, or for ordinary

purposes. Attar of rose, twelve drops; rub it up with half an ounce of

white sugar and two drams carbonate magnesia, then add gradually one

quart of water and two ounces of proof spirit, and filter through paper.

Bay Rum.--French proof spirit, one gallon; extract bay, six ounces. Mix

and color with caramel; needs no filtering.

Fine Lavender Water.--Mix together, in a clean bottle, a pint of

inodorous spirit of wine, an ounce of oil of lavender, a teaspoonful of

oil of bergamot, and a tablespoonful of oil of ambergris.

The Virtues of Turpentine.--After a housekeeper fully realizes the worth

of turpentine in the household, she is never willing to be without a

supply of it. It gives quick relief to burns, it is an excellent

application for corns, it is good for rheumatism and sore throat, and it

is the quickest remedy for convulsions or fits. Then it is a sure

preventive against moths: by just dropping a trifle in the bottom of

drawers, chests and cupboards, it will render the garments secure from

injury during the summer. It will keep ants and bugs from closets and

store-rooms by putting a few drops in the corners and upon the shelves;

it is sure destruction to bedbugs, and will effectually drive them away

from their haunts if thoroughly applied to all the joints of the

bedstead in the spring cleaning time, and injures neither furniture nor

clothing. A spoonful of it added to a pail of warm water is excellent

for cleaning paint. A little in suds washing days lightens laundry

labor.

A Perpetual Paste is a paste that may be made by dissolving an ounce of

alum in a quart of warm water. When cold, add as much flour as will make

it the consistency of cream, then stir into it half a teaspoonful of

powdered resin, and two or three cloves. Boil it to a consistency of

mush, stirring all the time. It will keep for twelve months, and when

dry may be softened with warm water.

Paste for Scrap Books.--Take half a teaspoonful of starch, same of

flour, pour on a little boiling water, let it stand a minute, add more

water, stir and cook it until it is thick enough to starch a shirt

bosom. It spreads smooth, sticks well and will not mold or discolor

paper. Starch alone will make a very good paste.

A Strong Paste.--A paste that will neither decay nor become moldy. Mix

good clean flour with cold water into a thick paste well blended

together; then add boiling water, stirring well up until it is of a

consistency that can be easily and smoothly spread with a brush; add to

this a spoonful or two of brown sugar, a little corrosive sublimate and

about half a dozen drops of oil of lavender, and you will have a paste

that will hold with wonderful tenacity.

A Brilliant Paste.--A brilliant and adhesive paste, adapted to fancy

articles, may be made by dissolving caseine precipitated from milk by

acetic acid and washed with pure water in a saturated solution of borax.

A Sugar Paste.--In order to prevent the gum from cracking, to ten parts

by weight of gum arabic and three parts of sugar add water until the

desired consistency is obtained. If a very strong paste is required, add

a quantity of flour equal in weight to the gum, without boiling the

mixture. The paste improves in strength when it begins to ferment.

Tin Box Cement.--To fix labels to tin boxes either of the following will

answer: 1. Soften good glue in water, then boil it in strong vinegar,

and thicken the liquid while boiling with fine wheat flour, so that a

paste results. 2. Starch paste, with which a little Venice turpentine

has been incorporated while warm.

Paper and Leather Paste.--Cover four parts, by weight, of glue, with

fifteen parts of cold water, and allow it to soak for several hours,

then warm moderately till the solution is perfectly clear, and dilute

with sixty parts of boiling water, intimately stirred in. Next prepare a

solution of thirty parts of starch in two hundred parts of cold water,

so as to form a thin homogeneous liquid, free from lumps, and pour the

boiling glue solution into it with thorough stirring, and at the same

time keep the mass boiling.

Commercial Mucilage.--The best quality of mucilage in the market is made

by dissolving clear glue in equal volumes of water and strong vinegar,

and adding one-fourth of an equal volume of alcohol, and a small

quantity of a solution of alum in water. Some of the cheaper

preparations offered for sale are merely boiled starch or flour, mixed

with nitric acid to prevent their gelatinizing.

Acid-Proof Paste.--A paste formed by mixing powdered glass with a

concentrated solution of silicate of soda makes an excellent acid-proof

cement.

Paste to Fasten Cloth to Wood.--Take a plump pound of wheat flour, one

tablespoonful of powdered resin, one tablespoonful of finely powdered

alum, and rub the mixture in a suitable vessel, with water, to a

uniform, smooth paste; transfer this to a small kettle over a fire, and

stir until the paste is perfectly homogeneous without lumps. As soon as

the mass has become so stiff that the stirrer remains upright in it,

transfer it to another vessel and cover it up so that no skin may form

on its surface. This paste is applied in a very thin layer to the

surface of the table; the cloth, or leather, is then laid and pressed

upon it, and smoothed with a roller. The ends are cut off after drying.

If leather is to be fastened on, this must first be moistened with

water. The paste is then applied, and the leather rubbed smooth with a

cloth.

Paste for Printing Office.--Take two gallons of cold water and one quart

wheat flour, rub out all the lumps, then add one-fourth pound of finely

pulverized alum and boil the mixture for ten minutes, or until a thick

consistency is reached. Now add one quart of hot water and, boil again,

until the paste becomes a pale brown color, and thick. The paste should

be well stirred during both processes of cooking. Paste thus made will

keep sweet for two weeks and prove very adhesive.

To Take Smoke Stains from Walls.--An easy and sure way to remove smoke

stains from common plain ceilings is to mix wood ashes with the

whitewash just before applying. A pint of ashes to a small pail of

whitewash is sufficient, but a little more or less will do no harm.

To Remove Stains from Broadcloth.--Take an ounce of pipe clay, which has

been ground fine, mix it with twelve drops of alcohol and the same

quantity of spirits of turpentine. Whenever you wish to remove any

stains from cloth, moisten a little of this mixture with alcohol and rub

it on the spots. Let it remain till dry, then rub it off with a woolen

cloth, and the spots will disappear.

To Remove Red Stains of Fruit from Linen.--Moisten the cloth and hold it

over a piece of burning sulphur; then wash thoroughly, or else the spots

may reappear.

To Remove Oil Stains.--Take three ounces of spirits of turpentine and

one ounce of essence of lemon, mix well, and apply it as you would any

other scouring drops. It will take out all the grease.

Iron Stains may be removed by the salt of lemons. Many stains may be

removed by dipping the linen in some buttermilk, and then drying it in a

hot sun; wash it in cold water; repeat this three or four times.

To Remove Oil Stains from Wood.--Mix together fuller's earth and soap

lees, and rub it into the boards. Let it dry and then scour it off with

some strong soft soap and sand, or use lees to scour it with. It should

be put on hot, which may easily be done by heating the lees.

To Remove Tea Stains.--Mix thoroughly soft soap and salt--say a

tablespoonful of salt to a teacupful of soap, rub on the spots, and

spread the cloth on the grass where the sun will shine on it. Let it lie

two or three days, then wash. If the spots are wet occasionally while

lying on the grass, it will hasten the bleaching.

To Remove Stains from Muslin.--If you have stained your muslin or

gingham dress, or similar articles, with berries, before wetting with

anything else, pour boiling water through the stains and they will

disappear. Before fruit juice dries it can often be removed by cold

water, using a sponge and towel if necessary.

To Remove Acid Stains.--Stains caused by acids may be removed by tying

some pearlash up in the stained part; scrape some soap in cold, soft

water, and boil the linen until the stain is gone.

To Disinfect Sinks and Drains.--Copperas dissolved in water, one-fourth

of a pound to a gallon, and poured into a sink and water drain

occasionally, will keep such places sweet and wholesome. A little

chloride of lime, say half a pound to a gallon of water, will have the

same effect, and either of these costs but a trifle.

A preparation may be made at home which will answer about as well as the

chloride of lime. Dissolve a bushel of salt in a barrel of water, and

with the salt water slake a barrel of lime, which should be made wet

enough to form a thin paste or wash.

To Disinfect a Cellar.--A damp, musty cellar may be sweetened by

sprinkling upon the floor pulverized copperas, chloride of lime, or even

common lime. The most effective means I have ever used to disinfect

decaying vegetable matter is chloride of lime in solution. One pound may

be dissolved in two gallons of water. Plaster of Paris has also been

found an excellent absorbent of noxious odors. If used one part with

three parts of charcoal, it will be found still better.

How to Thaw Out a Water Pipe.--Water pipes usually freeze up when

exposed, for inside the walls, where they cannot be reached, they are or

should be packed to prevent freezing. To thaw out a frozen pipe, bundle

a newspaper into a torch, light it, and pass it along the pipe slowly.

The ice will yield to this much quicker than to hot water or wrappings

or hot cloths, as is the common practice.

To Prevent Mold.--A small quantity of carbolic acid added to paste,

mucilage and ink, will prevent mold. An ounce of the acid to a gallon of

whitewash will keep cellars and dairies from the disagreeable odor which

often taints milk and meat kept in such places.

Thawing Frozen Gas Pipe.--Mr. F. H. Shelton says: "I took off from over

the pipe, some four or five inches, just a crust of earth, and then put

a couple of bushels of lime in the space, poured water over it, and

slaked it, and then put canvas over that, and rocks on the canvas, so as

to keep the wind from getting underneath. Next morning, on returning

there, I found that the frost had been drawn out from the ground for

nearly three feet. You can appreciate what an advantage that was, for

picking through frozen ground, with the thermometer below zero, is no

joke. Since then we have tried it several times. It is an excellent plan

if you have time enough to let the time work. In the daytime you cannot

afford to waste the time, but if you have a spare night in which to

work, it is worth while to try it."

How to Test a Thermometer.--The common thermometer in a japanned iron

case is usually inaccurate. To test the thermometer, bring water into

the condition of active boiling, warm the thermometer gradually in the

steam and then plunge it into the water. If it indicates a fixed

temperature of two hundred and twelve degrees, the instrument is a good

one.

Indelible Ink.--An indelible ink that cannot be erased, even with acids,

can be obtained from the following recipe: To good gall ink add a strong

solution of Prussian blue dissolved in distilled water. This will form a

writing fluid which cannot be erased without destruction of the paper.

The ink will write greenish blue, but afterward will turn black.

To Get a Broken Cork Out of a Bottle.--If, in drawing a cork, it breaks,

and the lower part falls down into the liquid, tie a long loop in a bit

of twine, or small cord, and put it in, holding the bottle so as to

bring the piece of cork near to the lower part of the neck. Catch it in

the loop, so as to hold it stationary. You can then easily extract it

with a corkscrew.

A Wash for Cleaning Silver.--Mix together half an ounce of fine salt,

half an ounce of powdered alum, and half an ounce of cream of tartar.

Put them into a large white-ware pitcher, and pour on two ounces of

water, and stir them frequently, till entirely dissolved. Then transfer

the mixture to clean bottles and cork them closely. Before using it,

shake the bottles well. Pour some of the liquid into a bowl, and wash

the silver all over with it, using an old, soft, fine linen cloth. Let

it stand about ten minutes, and then rub it dry with a buckskin. It will

make the silver look like new.

To Remove the Odor from a Vial.--The odor of its last contents may be

removed from a vial by filling it with cold water, and letting it stand

in any airy place uncorked for three days, changing the water every day.

To Loosen a Glass Stopper.--The manner in which apothecaries loosen

glass stoppers when there is difficulty in getting them out is to press

the thumb of the right hand very hard against the lower part of the

stopper, and then give the stopper a twist the other way, with the thumb

and forefinger of the left hand, keeping the bottle stiff in a steady

position.

To Soften Boots and Shoes.--Kerosene will soften boots and shoes which

have been hardened by water, and render them as pliable as new.

To Remove Stains, Spots, and Mildew from Furniture.--Take half a pint of

ninety-eight per cent alcohol, a quarter of an ounce each of pulverized

resin and gum shellac, add half a pint of linseed oil, shake well and

apply with a brush or sponge. Sweet oil will remove finger marks from

varnished furniture, and kerosene from oiled furniture.

To Freshen Gilt Frames.--Gilt frames may be revived by carefully dusting

them, and then washing with one ounce of soda beaten up with the whites

of three eggs. Scraped patches should be touched up with gold paint.

Castile soap and water, with proper care, may be used to clean oil

paintings. Other methods should not be employed without some skill.

To Fill Cracks in Plaster.--Use vinegar instead of water to mix your

plaster of Paris. The resultant mass will be like putty, and will not

"set" for twenty or thirty minutes, whereas if you use water the plaster

will become hard almost immediately, before you have time to use it.

Push it into the cracks and smooth it off nicely with a table knife.

To Toughen Lamp Chimneys and Glassware.--Immerse the article in a pot

filled with cold water, to which some common salt has been added. Boil

the water well, then cool slowly. Glass treated in this way will resist

any sudden change of temperature.

To Remove Paint from Window-Glass.--Rub it well with hot, sharp vinegar.

To Clean Stovepipe.--A piece of zinc put on the live coals in the stove

will clean out the stovepipe.

To Brighten Carpets.--Carpets after the dust has been beaten out may be

brightened by scattering upon them cornmeal mixed with salt and then

sweeping it off. Mix salt and meal in equal proportions. Carpets should

be thoroughly beaten on the wrong side first and then on the right side,

after which spots may be removed by the use of ox-gall or ammonia and

water.

To Keep Flowers Fresh exclude them from the air. To do this wet them

thoroughly, put in a damp box, and cover with wet raw cotton or wet

newspaper, then place in a cool spot. To preserve bouquets, put a little

saltpetre in the water you use for your bouquets, and the flowers will

live for a fortnight.

To Preserve Brooms.--Dip them for a minute or two in a kettle of boiling

suds once a week and they will last much longer, making them tough and

pliable. A carpet wears much longer swept with a broom cared for in this

manner.

To Clean Brassware.--Mix one ounce of oxalic acid, six ounces of rotten

stone, all in powder, one ounce of sweet oil, and sufficient water to

make a paste. Apply a small proportion, and rub dry with a flannel or

leather. The liquid dip most generally used consists of nitric and

sulphuric acids, but this is more corrosive.

To Keep Out Mosquitoes.--If a bottle of the oil of pennyroyal is left

uncorked in a room at night, not a mosquito, nor any other blood-sucker,

will be found there in the morning.

To Kill Cockroaches.--A teacupful of well bruised plaster of Paris,

mixed with double the quantity of oatmeal, to which a little sugar may

be added, although this last named ingredient is not essential. Strew it

on the floor, or into the chinks where they frequent.

To Destroy Ants.--Drop some quicklime on the mouth of their nest, and

wash it with boiling water, or dissolve some camphor in spirits of wine,

then mix with water, and pour into their haunts; or tobacco water, which

has been found effectual. They are averse to strong scents. Camphor, or

a sponge saturated with creosote, will prevent their infesting a

cupboard. To prevent their climbing up trees, place a ring of tar about

the trunk, or a circle of rag moistened occasionally with creosote.

To Prevent Moths.--In the month of April or May, beat your fur garments

well with a small cane or elastic stick, then wrap them up in linen,

without pressing them too hard, and put betwixt the folds some camphor

in small lumps; then put your furs in this state in boxes well closed.

When the furs are wanted for use, beat them well as before, and expose

them for twenty-four hours to the air, which will take away the smell of

the camphor. If the fur has long hair, as bear or fox, add to the

camphor an equal quantity of black pepper in powder.

To Get Rid of Moths--

1. Procure shavings of cedar wood, and inclose in muslin bags, which can

be distributed freely among the clothes.

2. Procure shavings of camphor wood, and inclose in bags.

3. Sprinkle pimento (allspice) berries among the clothes.

4. Sprinkle the clothes with the seeds of the musk plant.

5. To destroy the eggs, when deposited in woolen cloths, etc., use a

solution of acetate of potash in spirits of rosemary, fifteen grains to

the pint.

Bed Bugs.--Spirits of naphtha rubbed with a small painter's brush into

every part of the bedstead is a certain way of getting rid of bugs. The

mattress and binding of the bed should be examined, and the same process

attended to, as they generally harbor more in these parts than in the

bedstead. Ten cents' worth of naphtha is sufficient for one bed.

Bug Poison.--Proof spirit, one pint; camphor, two ounces; oil of

turpentine, four ounces; corrosive sublimate, one ounce. Mix. A

correspondent says: "I have been for a long time troubled with bugs, and

never could get rid of them by any clean and expeditious method, until a

friend told me to suspend a small bag of camphor to the bed, just in the

center, overhead. I did so, and the enemy was most effectually repulsed,

and has not made his appearance since--not even for a reconnoissance!"

This is a simple method of getting rid of these pests, and is worth a

trial to see if it be effectual in other cases.

Mixture for Destroying Flies--Infusion of quassia, one pint; brown

sugar, four ounces; ground pepper, two ounces. To be well mixed

together, and put in small, shallow dishes when required.

To Destroy Flies in a room, take half a teaspoonful of black pepper in

powder, one teaspoonful of brown sugar, and one tablespoonful of cream,

mix them well together, and place them in the room on a plate, where the

flies are troublesome, and they will soon disappear.

The Handy Cyclopedia of Things Worth Knowing A Manual of Ready Reference · 第 11 / 13 章

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