agent of the census of 1880, contains 531,400 square miles. This is
as large as all New England, together with New York, Pennsylvania,
New Jersey, Delaware, and the following seven grand States west
of the Alleghanies: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin,
Kentucky, and Tennessee. It is a vast region, 2,200 miles in length
from east to west (measuring to the farthest of the Aleutian
Islands), and 1,400 miles broad. It has a remarkable coast line of
25,000 miles in extent, which is about two and a half times as much
as the sea coast of all the rest of the United States. The islands
of Alaska alone, according to the estimate quoted by Dr. Jackson,
comprise an area of over 31,000 miles, or twice as much as the total
area of Maine. The highest mountains in the United States are in
Alaska: Mount Fairweather, 15,500; Mount Crillon, 15,900: Mount Cook,
16,000, and Mount St. Elias, 19,500. It is remarkable for the number
and stupendous proportions of its glaciers. Says Dr. Jackson: “From
Bute Inlet to Unimak Pass nearly every gulch has its glacier, some of
which are vastly greater and grander than any glacier in the Alps.”
Hot and mineral springs abound. The Yukon River is one of the largest
in the United States, being for the first 1,000 miles from one to
five miles wide with five mouths, forming a delta seventy miles
across. According to Mr. Robert Campbell, of the Hudson’s Bay Fur
Company, including its chief tributary, the Pelly, it is navigable at
certain seasons for nearly 3,000 miles.
Nearly all the sealskins used in the markets of the world come from
two little islands belonging to Alaska. The skins of the sea otter
are also very valuable, and there are many choice land fur-bearing
animals. The waters are wonderfully rich in fish. Besides cod,
“Alaska can supply the world,” says Dr. Jackson, “with salmon,
herring, and halibut of the best quality.” It is also “the great
reserve lumber region of the United States.” There are “thousands
of square miles of yellow cedar, white spruce, hemlock, and balsam
fir that densely cover the southeastern section of Alaska.” Gold and
silver mines of considerable importance have been opened, and there
are indications that the Territory is rich not only in the precious
metals, but in other minerals, especially in iron, copper, and coal.
In the interior the climate along the Yukon is not unlike that of
Dakota. At Fort Yukon the thermometer often rises above 100 degrees
in summer, and indicates from 50 degrees to 70 degrees below zero in
winter. Along the immense southern coast and islands the climate is
moist and warm. At Sitka, according to records kept for forty-five
years, the mean spring temperature is 41.2 degrees; summer, 54.6
degrees; autumn, 44.9 degrees; winter, 32.5 degrees; for the whole
year, 43.3 degrees. “The surprising fact is brought to light,” adds
Dr. Jackson, who takes the above figures from the Alaska Coast Pilot,
“that the winter climate of Southern Alaska for forty-five years past
has been the average winter climate of Kentucky and West Virginia,
and the average summer climate of Minnesota.” The mild climate
of this region is due to the warm Japan current of the Pacific,
the Kuro-Siwo. Generally of Alaska, Mr. William H. Dale, of the
Smithsonian Institution, says: “I come back convinced, from personal
inspection, that Alaska is a far better country than much of Great
Britain and Norway, and even part of Prussia.” The total population
in 1880 is given at 33,426, of whom 430 were white, 1,756 Creole or
mixed races, and the rest Indians—Innuits, 17,617; Aleuts, 2,145;
Thlinkets, 6,763; Hyda, 788, distributed as follows: The whites and
creoles are nearly all in Southeastern Alaska, the Aleutian Islands,
and Kadiak, which is the division including the south coast of the
Alaska Peninsula down to Zakharof Bay, with the adjacent islands,
the Kadiah group, the coast and islands of Cook’s Inlet, the Kenai
Peninsula, the coast of Prince William’s Sound, and valleys of rivers
running into the waters of these coasts. Since the census was taken
the white population has been greatly increased by the influx of gold
miners and speculators. This Territory is still without a regularly
constituted civil government. The laws of the United States “relating
to customs, lumber, and navigation” are extended over it, and the
Collector and Deputy Collectors have authority to arrest persons
violating these laws and send them to Oregon or California to be
tried in United States courts. Otherwise the government is mainly
a provisional one, organized by the people and enforced by general
consent. It is high time that this state of things was ended.
THE AGE OF BENEDICT ARNOLD.
OGDENSBURG, N. Y.
What was the true age of Benedict Arnold? No doubt you are aware
that authors do not agree as to the time of the birth of General
Arnold. Will you please give us light?
R. W. J.
_Answer._—It is true that authors differ as to the age of Benedict
Arnold. Appleton’s Cyclopedia says he was born Jan. 3, 1740.
Lossing’s Cyclopedia of History gives the time as Jan. 3, 1741, and
other authorities do not agree. We prefer to adopt the facts given
by the Hon. Isaac N. Arnold, of this city, who has just written and
published what there is good reason to believe is the most carefully
prepared and impartial history of the American arch traitor of
Revolutionary times that has ever appeared. This historian fixes
Arnold’s birth on Jan. 14, 1741, and his death on June 14, 1801, in
London.
METROPOLITAN POLICE.
WARSAW, Ind.
In what respect do metropolitan police differ from city police?
A. B.
_Answer._—Metropolitan police are appointed and supported by the
State or central government, while city police receive their
appointments from the city magistrates. The city of London is guarded
by 11,667 metropolitan policemen and 842 city policemen. At one time
the city of New York was protected by metropolitan police, but for
various reasons, one of which was because it restricted the free
exercise of the spoils system so common with city governments, the
act authorizing the appointment of such police was repealed.
WAS CHRIST BORN IN B. C. 4.
CHICAGO, Ill.
Is it certain that Christ was born four years before the Christian
era?
CHICAGO.
_Answer._—All investigations prove conclusively that it is impossible
to determine to the satisfaction of chronologists in general
either the day, month, or year of Christ’s birth. It is almost
universally admitted that this event preceded the commencement of
the Christian era as now reckoned. St. Clement, the earliest of the
“church fathers,” fixes it on Nov. 18 in the twenty-eighth year
of the Emperor Augustus, a little more than two years before the
beginning of our era. Since the death of Herod the Great, according
to Josephus, must have occurred before Easter of B. C. 4, modern
scholars are generally agreed that Christ’s birth could not have been
later than B. C. 4; and there is strong reason to believe that it was
in B. C. 6 or 7. See McClintock and Strong’s “Cyclopedia of Biblical
Literature,” under “Jesus Christ.” As to the day and month of
Christ’s birth the differences are still more difficult to overcome.
Modern investigation is strongly against Christmas, or any day in
mid-winter, as unseasonable either for the shepherds to be watching
their flocks in the fields, or for the congregating of the people
from all parts of the kingdom to be registered and taxed, which was
the occasion of Mary and Joseph’s being at Bethlehem. These two
arguments are used, along with others, by the Biblical scholars who
hold severally to the opinions that the nativity was not earlier in
the year than March, and, one party says, in March, another in April
or May, another in June, and still others in July or August.
GROWTH OF ENGLISH INTEMPERANCE.
RANTOUL, Ill.
Is it true that drunkenness continues to increase in England,
notwithstanding the wonderful success of English and American
temperance reformers and the large number of total abstainers
enrolled by the Salvation Army?
A TEETOTALER.
_Answer._—Whatever the explanation, and whether or not it constitutes
an additional argument for the temperance movement, it is declared
to be a fact that the number of persons charged with drunkenness in
1881 was 1,622 more than the number charged in 1880, being 174,481
to 172,859. Furthermore, according to the excise reports there was
7½ per cent more beer drunk in 1881 than in 1880, the total quantity
being 970,785,564 gallons in a population of 26,000,000, or about
31 gallons for each man, woman, and child. The increase in the
population during the decade of 1871-1881 was 3,256,020, which is
about 1.43 per cent a year, while the increase in drunkenness was
nearly 1 per cent in the last year.
TEMPERANCE IN COMMON SCHOOLS.
CHICAGO, Ill.
What is the text of the bill recently proposed in the Illinois
state Legislature to require teachers to give instruction in
temperance? Who introduced it? What are the arguments used in its
favor?
A TEACHER.
_Answer._—The following is the bill introduced Jan. 31 in the
General Assembly of this State, by the Hon. Jesse D. Jennings, of
Fayette County: “Be it enacted,” etc., “that they (the directors)
shall direct that elementary instruction be given in physiology
and hygiene, which shall give special prominence to the effects of
alcoholic drinks, stimulants and narcotics upon the human system.
The certificate of qualification held by any person who desires to
teach shall show that satisfactory examination has been passed upon
the effect of alcoholic drinks, stimulants, and narcotics upon the
human system.” The advocates of the bill maintain that, in view of
the admitted evils of intemperance, and particularly the moral and
physical injuries to individuals and society resulting from the use
of alcoholic drinks, stimulants, and narcotics, it is of the highest
practical importance that the youth of the public schools be properly
instructed as to the effects of these insanity engendering poisons.
They say that since the State, for purposes of revenue, and also
professedly with the desire of preventing abuses, has authorized
men and women to publicly offer these poisons for sale, it is
morally bound to warn the youth of the land not to use them except
as medicine, or in the arts, as other poisons are sometimes used.
They hold that those who admit the iniquities of intemperance, but
are opposed to sumptuary legislation, cannot reasonably oppose this
recourse to educational remedies for these appalling evils. If the
law requires road commissioners, when repairing the highways, to hang
out danger lights wherever they open cess-pools and sewers, or make
other perilous chasms in the road, the advocates of this bill argue
that it is the duty of the State licensing the opening of liquor
shops to throw enough light on the traffic to prevent young people
from falling into drunkenness in the dark.
CANADIAN DENOMINATIONAL STATISTICS.
CHICAGO, Ill.
Herewith I hand you the denominational statistics of Canada, as given
in the government returns for 1881. Those recently given in Our
Curiosity Shop, on the authority of Rand, McNally & Co.’s Atlas of
the World, are out of date:
Roman Catholics 1,791,982
Methodists 742,981
Presbyterians 676,155
Church of England 574,818
Baptists 275,291
Congregationalists 26,900
All other denominations 236,683
—————————
Total 4,324,810
K.
TWO INDIANA TEMPERANCE RESOLUTIONS.
OREGON, Ill.
Please give us the temperance planks in the platforms of the
Indiana Democracy and Indiana Republicans, as adopted in their
conventions of last summer.
A PROHIBITIONIST.
_Answer._—The Indiana Democracy met in convention last August: after
wrestling with the few prohibition delegates for a brief moment, they
adopted the following resolution:
“The Democratic party is now, as it has always been, opposed to
all sumptuary legislation, and it is especially opposed to the
proposed amendment to the constitution of Indiana known as the
prohibitory amendment, and we are in favor of the submission of the
proposed amendment, as well as other proposed amendments, to the
people, according to the provisions of the constitution for its
own amendment: and the people have the right to oppose or favor
the adoption of any or all the amendments at all stages of their
consideration, and any submission of constitutional amendment to
a vote of the people should be at a time and under circumstances
most favorable to a full vote, and therefore should be at a general
election.” The Republicans, several days later, on Aug. 9, adopted
this resolution: “The Republican party resolves that reposing trust
in the people as the fountain of power, we demand that the pending
amendments to the constitution shall be agreed to and submitted by
the next Legislature to the voters of the State for their decision
thereon. These amendments were not partisan in their origin, and
are not so in character, and should not be made so in voting upon
them. Recognising the fact that the people are divided in sentiment
in regard to the propriety of their adoption or rejection, and
cherishing the right of private judgment, we favor the submission
of these amendments to a special election, so that there may be an
intelligent decision thereon, uninfluenced by partisan issues.”
PASSION PLAYS.
BERLIN, Wis.
What is the origin and history of the “Passion Play,” of which we
hear so much lately?
F. PECK.
_Answer._—This recent dramatical representation of the passion of
Christ claims its origin and justification in sentiments akin to
those which it is said inspired the old religious dramas, known as
“Moralities,” or “Miracle Plays.” The first composition of this
nature is ascribed to Ezekiel, a Jew, who, in the third century,
adapted the story of Israel’s exodus from Egypt to the Grecian stage.
His object was to arouse the patriotism of his exiled and despondent
countrymen and excite in them a hope for the re-establishment of
their kingdom in Palestine. In the fourth century, St. Gregory
Nazianzen, the Bishop of Constantinople, having noticed the effect of
the Grecian drama upon the people, concluded that the readiest method
of extending the church of Christ was the dramatic presentation of
the sufferings of its author, which he accomplished in the drama
entitled “The Passion of Christ.” When the barbarians made their
inroads into Southern Europe, and the church began to extend its
influence northward into the lands of the Germans, Normans, and
Saxons, it found great difficulty in coping with the fascination
which the heathen festivals and performances exercised over the
uneducated minds of the people. In order to obviate this trouble,
miracle plays were introduced. Adapting the drama to the surrounding
circumstances, many of the heathen characters, slightly changed, were
retained. The play was supplied with humor by the artful caprices of
the impersonated devil. In one representation “Judas, assisted by the
devil, who sits upon the scaffold, hangs himself. When the hanging
is complete both slide down to hell on a slanting rope.” Soon after
the Reformation the miracle plays began to decline, and now they are
performed in only a few places, mostly in Southern Bavaria and the
Tyrol. The passion play of Oberammergau is famed the world over, and
attracts an immense concourse of visitors from all lands whenever it
is presented. In 1633 the flax in that neighborhood became diseased
and unfit for the spindle. To prevent the recurrence of any such
calamity the Oberammergau peasants made a vow to God that every ten
years they would present the sufferings of Christ upon the stage
in this way. This vow was kept until the beginning of the present
century, when the further performance of the play was prohibited.
Thereupon the peasants appealed to King Maximilian, who granted
them permission to continue their celebrations, providing certain
objectionable features were removed. This was agreed to, and in 1811
the drama, written by Pastor Weise, was first presented devoid of the
devil and comic personages. The gospel story commences with Christ’s
triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and closes with a scene previous to
the ascension. In a practical manner, the plot is developed. The
money changers are driven from the temple in anger. Judas smarts
under the rebuke which he received at the home of Lazarus. They
meet and plan the betrayal resulting in the crucifixion. The part
of Christ is impersonated by a peasant. The ignorant inhabitants
still regard these plays as the most impressive and effective method
of teaching the gospel and various moralities. The claim that the
passion play now occupying so much of the public attention was
inspired by religious motives is rejected by the public generally,
and is ridiculed by the press. There is an all but unanimous feeling
of opposition in England and in this country to having the passion of
the Savior, the solemn tragedy of Calvary, mimicked on the stage by
ordinary stage performers. This feeling led the late Mayor Grace, of
New York City, to refuse to license the presentation of the play in
that city, and his successor, Mayor Edson, has taken the same stand.
Salmi Morse, the manager, threatens to test the legality of this
interdiction. Such is the attitude of this matter at present.
RATIO OF BEEF TO LIVE WEIGHT.
ROGERS PARK, Ill.
What is the proportion of good meat in a well-fed beef animal
compared with its live weight?
A CONSUMER.
_Answer._—Sixty pounds of dressed beef for each 100 pounds of live
weight is considered a fair average, and indicates that the animal
was of good stock in first-rate marketable condition. Of course
the choice cuts, consisting of the ribs, sirloin and rump steak,
constitute only about half of this. So that an animal which weighs
1,000 pounds live weight will produce but about 600 pounds of dressed
meat, of which the choice cuts will amount to about 310 pounds and
the “coarse meat” to 290 pounds.
NAMES OF CERTAIN BLOOD RELATIVES.
GROVE CITY, Ill.
What relation are children of first cousins? What relation is a
child to its parents’ first cousin?
V. T. HOUSTON.
_Answer._—The children of first cousins are second cousins. A’s child
is “first cousin removed” to A’s first cousin, while he is second
cousin to the son or daughter of A’s first cousin.
FINDING LATITUDE AT SEA.
GARRISON, Iowa.
Referring to the explanation of the method of determining latitude
by observations on the pole star, given in a recent issue of Our
Curiosity Shop, I venture to submit the following indication of the
common method by which sailors ascertain their latitude at sea.
It is true that latitude may be determined by means of a carefully
observed altitude of the polar star, providing the apparent time of
observation can be ascertained within a few minutes. This method
might frequently be used at sea when the horizon is well defined if
the star were of the first magnitude; but being only of the second
or third it is difficult to determine the altitude with certainty.
For this reason the usual method of finding the latitude at sea is by
taking the altitude of the sun when on the meridian. The latitude of
a place, being its distance from the equator, is measured by the arc
of the meridian contained between the zenith and the equator; hence,
if the distance of the sun from the zenith when on the meridian and
the declination be given the latitude is easily determined.
B. F. HUSSEY.
AUTHORS, EDITORS, AND MANUSCRIPTS.
MT. HOPE, Kan.
Kindly explain the editorial rules governing the receipt and
treatment of manuscript offered for publication, whether intended
for newspapers, periodicals, or books. Suppose, too, that an author
should send the manuscript of a book to a publisher on the promise
that it would be returned if not accepted, how long ought it to
be before he should be notified of its receipt and acceptance or
rejection?
W. S. W.
_Answer._—There is no definite general rule for these matters beyond
the common understanding that the editor must attend first of all to
the regular routine of his office, and manuscript must wait, until he
has time to read it. In the case of contributions to a periodical,
it is understood unless contributors specifically request the return
of their contributions and inclose postage stamps for this purpose,
that the editor, if he does not use them, is at liberty to consign
them to the waste basket. It is not unusual for contributions to
literary magazines and standard reviews to lie on the editors’ tables
for a month or six weeks before the verdict “accepted” or “rejected”
is pronounced. A glance at a contribution, even the mere subject,
indicates to the editor whether the article is likely to suffer by
delay. Stories and many other contributions will keep; current news
and kindred matters will not. These manuscripts must be read at once;
those must wait; and how long, only the editor is in the position to
determine. Even after articles are accepted the same law prevails,
and the circumstances of each particular issue determine what is to
be used and what “held over.” It frequently happens that editorials
which have cost the editor serious labor, and are actually in type,
are crowded out by unexpected events which must take precedence,
and are held back by a succession of such events until too stale to
be used, and the writer is forced to write “kill” over against the
children of his own heart and brain. Many a disgusted contributor
would feel less mortified and indignant at the rejection of his
offering if he could understand all the circumstances of the case.
The contribution rejected to-day might have been gladly accepted
had it come a day sooner. An article accepted yesterday and paid
for, perhaps never appears; why, only the editor can explain.
Even champagne tastes flat after it has stood a few moments;
witticisms are still-born if not ushered in at the right instant.
The book-publisher is subject to similar influences, but not in the
same degree as the editor of a newspaper or review. But many a book
manuscript has been rejected because out of season. Many another has
been rejected because the writer was impatient and the editor, rather
than keep him in such a mood and unwilling to take the responsibility
of publishing what he had not read with critical care, has relieved
himself by returning it “with thanks.” It is no slight matter for
an editor to read and so digest a book, in which the publisher is
asked to invest from $1,000 to $5,000, as to enable him to pronounce
a favorable judgment with confidence. Of course long and carefully
prepared manuscripts, especially books, are entitled to more
consideration than ordinary newspaper contributions; and should never
be destroyed until the authors have been courteously notified that
they are not wanted, and have had ample time to send for them. In the
supposed case of the above question, acknowledgment of receipt of the
book manuscript should have been mailed as soon as it came to hand,
unless it was received by express or as registered mail matter, and
from thirty to sixty days, according to the length and nature of the
book would not be too long to grant the editor or publisher before
expecting a decision. Except in special cases, editors of newspapers
do not receipt by mail for contributions sent to them.
RAILROAD MILEAGE.
OSHKOSH, Wis.
Please give a few statistics in reference to railroad construction
in the United States and in the more important foreign countries.
W. L. FROST.
_Answer._—The number of miles of railroad in the world constructed
prior to Jan. 1, 1881, was 226,442, of which sum 93,671 miles
were within the United States. Germany had built 21,037 miles;
Great Britain and Ireland, 17,696; France, 15,287; Russia, 13,571;
Austria-Hungary, 11,471; British India, 8,615; Canada, 6,891; Italy,
4,999, and Spain, 4,264. During the year 1881 the railway mileage of
this country increased to 104,813 miles, to which the year 1882 added
10,821 miles, making a grand total of 115,634 miles. To build these
great highways and properly equip them about $5,750,000,000 have been
expended. Iowa during the past year took the lead, having constructed
953.37 miles, and Texas followed close after with 817 miles of new
road.
A FEW AMERICAN WORTHIES.
MANSON, Iowa.
Please name five or more of the greatest of the following classes
of Americans: Orators, poets, historians, inventors.
GEORGE BELL.