societies for the promotion of science, literature, or the arts.
It is not worth while to enumerate more than a few of those in
foreign countries. In France they have the famous Institute of
France, with its four academies, viz: The French Academy, the Academy
of Inscriptions and Belles Lettres, the Academy of Sciences, the
Academy of Fine Arts. There is the Royal Academy of Sciences at
Berlin; the Academy of Science at Manheim; the Electoral Bavarian
Academy of Sciences at Munich; the Imperial Academy of Sciences at
St. Petersburg; the Academy of Sciences at Stockholm; the Royal
Academy of Sciences at Copenhagen; the Royal Academy of Sciences
at Amsterdam; the Academy of Sciences at Madrid; the de Screti. or
Academia Secretorum Naturæ, at Naples; the Royal Academy of Sciences
at Turin; the Academy of Sciences at Lisbon; the Royal Academy,
London; and the Royal Irish Academy. Then there are academies for
the advancement of literature in nearly all European countries.
There were no fewer than 171 of these in Italy alone as early as
the sixteenth century, many of which still exist. Then there are
many academies of archæology and history, such as the Academy of
Herculaneum, Italy; the Academy of Inscriptions and Belles Lettres,
constituting one of the four academies of the Institute of France,
as above shown; the Celtic Academy, and others. There are academies
of medicine and surgery in various parts of the old world. As to
painting, sculpture, and music, they have such powerful auxiliary
societies as the Royal Academy of Arts, the Royal Academy of Music,
and the Academy of Ancient Music, in London; the Academy of Painting
and Sculpture and the Royal Academy of Music, in Paris; and similar
academies at Rome, Turin, Madrid, Berlin, Munich, and elsewhere.
There are geographical societies at all the principal capitals of
Europe. Of these the most conspicuous are the Royal Geographical
Society, London, the Geographical Society of France, Paris, the
Geographical Society of Berlin, and the Royal Asiatic Society,
London, with branches at Calcutta and Shanghai.
For the practical purposes stated above, and other laudable causes,
which are certainly worthy of encouragement, the following list of
some of the most important societies in the United States is of much
greater consequence to readers of THE INTER OCEAN:
Academy of Sciences, Chicago.
Albany Institute, Albany, N. Y.
American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Boston, Mass.
American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Mass.
American Association for Advancement of Science, Salem, Mass.
American Association for Advancement of Social Science, Boston, Mass.
American Bible Society, New York.
American Colonization Society, Washington.
American Geographical Society, New York.
American Institute, New York.
American Museum of Natural History, New York.
American Numismatic and Archæological Society, New York.
American Oriental Society, New Haven, Conn.
American Peace Society, Boston, Mass.
American Philological Society, New York.
American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia.
American Public Health Association, Washington.
American Society of Civil Engineers and Architects, New York.
American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, New York.
Anthropological Society, Washington.
Board of Trustees of Peabody Academies and Model Schools, New Orleans.
Buffalo Historical Society, Buffalo, N. Y.
Chicago Historical Society, Chicago.
Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford, Conn.
Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, New York.
Essex Institute, Salem, Mass.
Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, Pa.
Georgia Historical Society, Savannah, Ga.
Iowa Historical Society, Iowa City, Iowa.
Lowell Institute, Boston, Mass.
Maine Historical Society, Brunswick, Me.
Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore, Md.
Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston, Mass.
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul, Minn.
National Academy of Design, New York.
National Academy of Sciences, Washington.
New England Historic-Geneological Society, Boston, Mass.
New Hampshire Historical Society, Concord, N. H.
New Jersey Historical Society, Newark, N. J.
New York Academy of Sciences, New York.
New York Historical Society, New York.
Ohio Philosophical and Historical Society, Cincinnati.
Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia.
Peabody Academy of Sciences, Salem, Mass.
Peabody Institute, Baltimore, Md.
Pennsylvania Historical Society, Philadelphia.
Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence, R. I.
Smithsonian Institute, Washington,
South Carolina Historical Society, Charleston, S. C.
Southern Historical Society, Richmond, Va.
Virginia Historical and Philosophical Society, Richmond, Va.
Vermont Historical Society, Montpelier, Vt.
Washington Philosophical Society, Washington.
Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio.
Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Madison, Wis.
Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wis.
WILLIAM EWART GLADSTONE.
CHICAGO, Ill.
Please give a short biography of William E. Gladstone.
C. B.
_Answer._—The Hon. William Ewart Gladstone was born of Scottish
parents in Liverpool, Dec. 29, 1809. He received a thorough education
at Eton and Oxford, graduating from both with the highest honors.
In 1832 he entered politics, being returned for Newark. He early
joined himself with the Conservative party, under the leadership of
Robert Peel, in which his abilities were soon recognized by that
distinguished statesman, who gave him the position of Junior Lord
of the Treasury in 1834, and in the following year made him Under
Secretary of State; but with Peel’s retirement he relinquished that
office, in 1841, when Peel again became Premier, Gladstone served
under him as Vice President, and afterward as President of the Board
of Trade, in which capacity he derived much information concerning
the commerce of the nation. He left the Conservative party in his
support of Peel’s free-trade policy, and again retired in 1845. In
1859 he became Chancellor of the Exchequer in Lord Palmerston’s
administration, which office he held to his credit until 1866.
Two years afterward he was elevated into the premiership; but
his defeat in 1874 resulted in the elevation of his great rival,
Disraeli. He then resolved to remain out of politics; but the
policy of Beaconsfield in the Eastern question called forth his
earnest disapprobation, and again brought him before the people
in opposition to the administration. The year 1880 signalized his
triumph, a triumph which was universally acknowledged as the result
of his own personal popularity and sterling qualities. Gladstone
has always been recognized as a man of strong character, who has
conscientiously endeavored to advance the interests of the nation
and people. In oratory he possesses the wonderful faculty of making
statistics eloquent. He quickly perceives a difficulty, and with wise
discernment unravels it. The past three years have only added honor
to his name, and it is to be hoped that so favorable a beginning may
be the dawn of a fruitful administration, and that ere long the vexed
Irish question or questions will be solved forever.
INTERNAL REVENUE.
MADISON Wis.
Let us know how the receipts from internal revenue in 1883 compare
with those in 1882, and oblige an opponent of the proposition to
take off the tax on spirits and tobacco. Add cost of collecting the
same.
JAMES.
_Answer._—The total receipts under the internal revenue laws for the
two fiscal years ending June 30, 1882, and June, 1883, were as shown
in the table below;
Objects taxed. 1882. 1883.
Distilled spirits $69,873,408.18 $74,368,775.20
Tobacco 47,391,988.91 42,104,249.79
Fermented liquors 16,153,920.42 16,900,615.81
Banks and bankers 5,253,458.47 3,748,994.60
Adhesive stamps—
Bank checks 2,318,455.14 1,946.272.10
Friction matches 3,262,258.00 2,920,545.20
Patent medicines, etc. 1,978,395.56 2,186,236.16
Penalties 199,830.04 305,803.57
Collections not otherwise
provided for 81,559.00 71,852.43
——————————————— ———————————————
Total $146,523,273.72 $144,553,344.86
The increase of revenue from spirits during the last fiscal year
was $4,495,367.02; from fermented liquors was $746,695.39: the
decrease from tobacco, $5,287,739.12; and from banks and bankers,
$1,504,463.87. The total decrease of internal revenue from all
sources up to June 30, 1883, was $1,969,928.86. This decrease was
due mainly to the removal of certain taxes and the reduction of
others effected by the legislation of the last Congress. The cost
of collecting the internal revenue in the last year above named
was $5,113,734.88. Owing to the recent action of the President
consolidating collection districts, which dispenses with the services
of a number of collectors, and other curtailments rendered possible
by the legislation of the Republican Congress of 1881-1883, the
estimated cost of collecting internal revenue during the current
fiscal year is $4,999,190, and from present indications the actual
cost will be considerably less than this.
INTEREST PAID BY PACIFIC R. R. COMPANIES.
COLUMBUS, Neb.
What amount, if anything, have the Pacific Railroad Companies
repaid on account of interest on their bonds advanced by the
General Government?
ANTI-MONOPOLIST.
_Answer._—We are not prepared to give the whole amounts, but during
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1883, the total amount received by
the Secretary of the United States Treasury toward repayment of
Pacific Railroad bonds, of various names and descriptions, guaranteed
by it, was $1,556,866.90, an increase of $716,312.53 over the sum
received on this account during the next previous year. During the
same period the sum of $1,322,103.11 was collected for the various
Pacific railway sinking funds toward liquidation of their bonds. This
was $525,831.69 more than during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1882.
SALT REVENUE OF NEW YORK STATE.
MUSKEGON, Mich.
Please let us know what income New York State has derived from salt
since the manufacture was brought under State control, or monopoly,
whichever you please to call it.
A MICHIGAN SALT.
_Answer._—The following statistics on this subject, derived from
official sources, have been compiled for these columns by David H.
Mason, Esq., who is authority on questions of revenue obtained from
industrial products, either by Federal or State authorities. It
should be observed in this connection that the State of New York
supplies the brine to the manufacturers at the cost here indicated.
That is to say, for example, for the thirty-six years, 1846 to 1881,
inclusive, it supplied the brine for all salt made, and collected in
return therefor 1 cent for every bushel of salt produced within the
State.
Salt expenditures and revenues of New York in undermentioned years:
Rate Duties
Expenditures. per bu. received.
1843 $29,816.72 6c $187,650.00
1844 33,286.58 6c 240,213.24
1845 30,407.77 6c 225,741.48
—————————— —— ———————————
$93,511.07 $653,604.72
Deduct expenditures 93,511.07
———————————
Net revenue $560,093.65
The total net revenue to the State from this industry from 1818 to
1881, inclusive, was as follows:
Net revenue—
1818 to 1824, 7 years $452,393.39
1825 to 1845, 21 years 2,900,916.50
1846 to 1881, 36 years 706,319.58
—————————————
Sixty-four years $4,059,629.47
The State tax of 12½c per bushel was levied previous to 1834: from
that time to April 20, 1846, the tax was 6c per bushel; since then 1c.
Another statement—
1818 to 1833, 16 years, 12c per bu. $1,746,719.45
1834 to 1845, 12 years, 6c per bu. 1,606,590.44
1846 to 1881, 36 years, 1c per bu. 706,319.58
—————————————
Net revenue in 64 years $4,059,629.47
THE ORIGINAL MONITOR.
CHICAGO, Ill.
Is not the statement recently made that the original Monitor, which
fought the rebel ram Merrimac, is still afloat a mistake? I am of
the impression that she foundered at sea.
OLD CITIZEN.
_Answer._—You are quite correct. According to G. V. Fox, at one time
Assistant Secretary of the Navy, “At 1 o’clock a. m., Dec. 31, 1862,
Cape Hatteras bearing N. N. E., distant twenty miles, this little
Monitor—whose fame, ‘following the sun and keeping company with the
hours, had circled the earth,’ found a resting place at the bottom of
the ocean.”
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Prohibition.
[2] Liberal.
[3] Independent Republican.
[4] Independent Democrat.
[5] Independent.
[6] Readjuster.
[7] By union of anti-Prohibition Republicans with Democrats.
Lieutenant Governor and Legislature went Republican.
[8] By union of Democrats, Greenbackers, and Independents.
[9] By fusion of Democrats and Greenbackers.
[10] By combination of Readjusters and Republicans.
[11] Republican, elected for term of one year, beginning May 29, 1883.
[12] This is what is known as “Police London,” its broadest
definition. The London covered by “Mortality Bills” contained but
3,831,719 inhabitants.
[13] Glasgow and its suburbs.
[14] Dublin County, most of the population of which is in Dublin and
its suburbs.
MISCELLANEOUS ANSWERS
AND
EXECUTIVE AND CONGRESSIONAL DIRECTORY.
R. D. M., Edwardsburg, Mich.—THE DAILY INTER OCEAN first took that
name in March, 1872.
* * * * *
S. L. Moore, Prior Lake, Minn.—General Sheridan was married to Miss
Irene Anna Rucker, daughter of General D. H. Rucker, U. S. A., June
3, 1875, by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Foley, of Chicago.
* * * * *
A School Girl, Westville, Ill.—The Russians held Alaska by the right
of Behring’s discovery, in 1741, and the subsequent settlement of the
territory. In 1799 Paul VIII. granted this land to the Russo-American
Fur Company. The charter of the corporation was renewed in 1839, but
finally expired in 1863, and in 1867 Alaska was ceded to the United
States for $7,200,000.
* * * * *
Willis Hollings, Albany, Ill.—Greenwich, situated upon the right bank
of the Thames, six miles southeast of London Bridge, is a favorite
suburb of Londoners, on account of its fine parks and picturesque
views. Its meridian was selected as the one from which to reckon
standard time because from it navigators generally, the world over,
are in the practice of reckoning time and longitude.
* * * * *
G. H. S., McLean, Ill.—Snow-shoes consist of a flat wooden frame,
of lanceolate form, from four to seven feet long, and from eight to
fourteen inches in width at the broadest part. This frame is filled
with wicker-work or thongs, and furnished with straps upon the upper
side, for the feet. The sole may be wholly of wood. By the extreme
length and breadth the shoe is prevented from sinking in the snow.
* * * * *
S. S. H., Smith Center, Kan.:—“The Little Old Sod Shanty on the
Claim” was composed by Mr. F. E. Jerome, and first published in the
_Smith County Pioneer_ in 1878, and refers to a claim one mile from
Smith Center.
* * * * *
John Stuart, Lyneville, Wis.—The ordinary expenditures of the United
States Government for the year 1881 amounted to $178,204,146.41.
* * * * *
Constant Reader, Chicago—The first negro slave owned in Chicago, it
is believed, was Black Jim, the property of John H. Kinzie, brought
here by him in 1804.
* * * * *
A Subscriber, Morris, Ill.—“Johnson’s Universal Cyclopædia” says
that Miles Standish lost his wife, Rose, during the first winter in
America.
* * * * *
Daisy, Emporia, Kan.—The sections of one mile square are the smallest
tracts, the out-boundaries of which the law requires to be actually
surveyed. The minor subdivisions are defined by law, and the
Surveyors General, in protracting township plats from the field notes
of sections, designate them in red ink, the lines connecting being
imaginary.
* * * * *
Mary Maxwell Call, Fulda, Minn., evidently agrees substantially
with another correspondent, whose communication on this subject was
published a few days ago, as to the origin of the saying “All is
lovely and the goose hangs high.” She writes: “It is a corruption of
the sentry call, ‘All is lovely and the goose honks high,’” meaning,
the weather is pleasant and the high flying of the geese indicates
that it will continue so. She thinks, therefore, that it is not
“slang.” Webster, however, does not recognize “honk” as an English
word in good standing, though we are not sure but he should do so.
* * * * *
W. F. Smith, Manning, Iowa.—The steeple of Trinity Church, New York
City, is 284 feet in height.
* * * * *
W. H. L., Springfield, Ill.—“Lady’s Day” is the name given in England
to “Annunciation Day,” which always comes on the 25th of March. In
France it is known as Notre Dame de Mars. This year it and Easter
Sunday corresponded.
* * * * *
James Wilson, Pontiac, Ill.—Journeymen printers on Chicago morning
dailies are paid 40 cents, on evening and weekly papers and book
work 37 cents per 1,000 ems. Job printers get from $18 a week, the
minimum, to $21. The expenses of living are greater in the city than
in the country; this is one reason why wages should be higher in the
city. Another is that most of the work on a daily paper must be done
at night.
* * * * *
W. D. Doane, Kokomo, Col.—The government farms out the seal fur
fisheries of Alaska to a commercial company for a stipulated revenue,
and under strict laws regulating the business.
* * * * *
C. L. Gilbert, Eau Claire, Wis.—“The Fall of Jerusalem” was written
by Henry Hart Milman, who lived from 1791 to 1868.
* * * * *
L. Brock, Oswego, Kan.—Patented articles must bear notice of some
kind that they are patented, and date of patent.
* * * * *
S. M. Sinclair, Marshalltown, Iowa.—Homesteaders and pre-emptors must
file their claims in person. They cannot legally do it by proxy of
any kind.
* * * * *
James Allen, Chicago—The name of the village at the mouth of the
Mississippi, Balize, is the Spanish for beacon. A beacon-light has
shone here from early times.
* * * * *
George S. L., Attica, N.Y.—The deepest artesian well in the world is
at Sperenburg, about twenty miles from Berlin, Prussia. It is 4,194
feet deep.
* * * * *
“Lunatic,” Vermont, Ill.—The nineteenth century began Jan. 1, 1801,
and will end with Dec. 31, 1900.
* * * * *
F. P., Amherst, Wis.—The Michigan Central Railroad was completed to
Ypsilanti, Feb. 3, 1838; to Jackson, Dec. 30, 1841.
* * * * *
J. F. Clymer, Silver Lake, Ind.—The total colored population of the
United States in 1880 was 6,580,793.
* * * * *
M. B. Hilts, Towanda, Ill.—The present capital of West Virginia is
Charleston. Wheeling was the capital until recently.
* * * * *
Charles Shick, Imogene, Iowa.—In the contest between John C. Heenan
and Tom Sayers for the championship of the prize-ring, Sayers carried
off the belt.
* * * * *
Harry, Creston, Iowa.—Dealings in “futures” or “puts and calls” are
contrary to the laws of Illinois. These laws have not been strictly
put in force. There is a disposition to do that now.
* * * * *
Mr. Thompson, Monona, Iowa—There are about 320 acres inclosed in the
Union Stock Yards, Chicago.
* * * * *
G. M. Ford, Chicago.—The total imports of the United States for the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1882, amounted to $767,111,964; the total
exports to $799,959,736.
* * * * *
C. Allen, Rock Island, Ill.—The great earthquake which destroyed so
many lives in the Island of Scio in 1881 occurred on the 3d of April.
About 4,000 persons perished.
* * * * *
Subscriber, Emmetsburg, Iowa—Chore is a corruption of the old English
noun char or chare, derived from the verb _to char_ or _to chare_,
signifying to work by the day, take one’s turn at doing jobs, instead
of working as a regularly hired servant.
* * * * *
A. Annubehale, Chicago.—None but native Americans are eligible to the
office of President of the United States; but children of American
citizens residing abroad are legally regarded as natives of this
country so far as this and all other civil rights are concerned.
* * * * *
G. W. Carter, Blair, Neb.—The fastest mile recorded of a running
horse was made by Ten Broeck at Louisville, Ky., May 24, 1877, in
1:39¾. The fastest mile recorded of a trotting horse was made by Maud
S. at Rochester, N. Y., Aug. 17, 1881, in 2:10¼.
* * * * *
J. S. Ewell, Adrian, Ill.—The term “thoroughbred” means bred to a
high point from stock of good pedigree. It may be applied to any
species of animals, although, owing to the extensive breeding of
horses for speed, there has resulted what is now a distinct class
known as “thoroughbreds.”
* * * * *
Blonde and Brunette, Chicago—The phrase “Bread is the staff of life”
is attributed to Dr. Jonathan Swift. It is in his “Tale of the Tub.”
It is not a Bible phrase. The original of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” is
still alive. He has published an autobiography. He was in Chicago
not many months ago. His name is Rev. Josiah Henson.
* * * * *
Non-voter, Rockford, Ill.—The fact that you are not a citizen and
are, therefore, a non-voter does not exempt you from payment of
poll-tax in case you do not wish to work out your assessment on the
highways. The public roads are enjoyed by citizens and aliens alike,
and—so are the taxes for keeping them in proper order.
* * * * *
C. T. Smith, Braddyville, Iowa—The United States Government has
erected a line of towers in Illinois on about the meridian of Urbana,
and similar towers in other places, including the one near South
Bend, Ind., for the purpose of effecting a more accurate survey of
the country, and for other scientific purposes.
* * * * *
D. W. Barlow, Nettleton, Mo.—Honey-dew is a sweet substance found
on the leaves of certain trees and plants in small drops, like dew.
There are two kinds of honey-dew, one which exudes from plants,
and the other which is deposited on leaves by an insect called the
_aphis_, or vine-fretter.
* * * * *
H. M. Eastman, Fourche, D. T.—The oldest form of religion now extant
is the Hebrew religion. The next oldest, probably, are Parseeism,
or the religion of Zoroaster, and Brahmanism. All of these have
changed materially as regards ceremonial, but in doctrine they are
essentially consistent with the faith of their founders.
* * * * *
“306,” Dana, Iowa—General P. H. Sheridan was at Sedan, by courtesy of
the King of Prussia, at the time of the surrender of Napoleon III.
and Marshal MacMahon’s army. At the opening of the battle, according
to the account of the correspondent of the New York _Tribune_,
written on the field, “the King, Count Bismarck, General Von Roon,
the War Minister, General von Moltke, and Generals Sheridan and
Forsythe stood in a group overlooking the principal field of attack.”
* * * * *
Leonard Bauman, Clarence, Iowa—The most productive salt region of the
United States is the Saginaw salt district, Michigan. The most famous
and productive salt mines in the world are those of the rock salt
region of Wieliczka, in Gallicia, a province of Polish Austria. Great
chambers have been excavated in the solid salt, some of them fully
150 feet in height, and of immense length and breadth. One of these
is fitted up as a chapel dedicated to St. Anthony.
* * * * *
An Engineer, Des Moines, Iowa—The assertion that State prisons are
filled with criminals of good education is a gross exaggeration.
Unhappily, the laws of all the different States do not provide for
full and carefully kept statistics, but in all cases where such
statistics are kept they go to show that, as a rule, ignorance is
the accompaniment, if not the foster parent, of crime. For the
most reliable report on this subject write to the Commissioner of
Education, Washington, D. C., asking for copy of the paper of Dr.
Wickersham, read at a recent session of the National Teachers’
Association.
* * * * *
P. L. Stevens, Montfort, Wis.—Coal oil is much better as a
preservative of fence posts than kerosene oil, which is more
expensive and is not so effective.
* * * * *
Peter Sanborn, Chicago.—Every soldier who, prior to June 22, 1874,
had made a homestead entry of less than 160 acres, may enter so much
more as, when added to the quantity previously entered, shall not
exceed 160 acres.
* * * * *
S. G. Salisbury, Independence, Kan.—You are right in the opinion that
the President may call the militia from one State to another.
* * * * *
Subscriber, Chicago.—The great single span of the Brooklyn bridge
is 1,595½ feet, or about one-half longer than the great span in the
Cincinnati suspension bridge, which is 1057 feet.
* * * * *
F. V. Noggle, Galien, Mich.—Probably the deepest mine in the world
in actual working is a shaft in the Rosebridge colliery, near Wigan,
Eng., which is 2,445 feet deep.
* * * * *
C., Muscatine, Iowa—According to the laws of Iowa, one-third of the
estate, real and personal, of a wife who dies without issue and
intestate goes to her husband as dower, and the rest goes to her
parents or heirs on the parents’ side.
* * * * *
A Subscriber, Pittsburg, Ind.—1. The total number of troops called
for by the President during the late civil war was 2,763,670 men, and
there were 2,772,408 men furnished, besides 86,724 paid commutations,
making an aggregate of 2,859,132 men.
* * * * *
A. O. A., Cambridge, Wis.—The total tobacco crop of the United States
in 1880, as given by the statisticians of the Bureau of Agriculture,
was 446,296,889 pounds, valued at $36,414,615. The crop of 1881 was
449,880,014 pounds, valued at $43,372,336.
* * * * *