Part 4

When the air is dry and cold, a rising barometer indicates wind from the north; and if it has been raining, better weather may occur.

When the air is moist and at a low temperature, a rising barometer may foretell wind and rain from the north.

When there is a northerly wind, and the barometer falls rapidly, there is likely to be a storm with snow in winter, and heavy rain or hail in summer.

When the air is dry and the temperature seasonable, a steady barometer indicates a continuance of fine weather.

A rapidly falling barometer may foretell stormy weather.

When the wind is westerly, a rapid fall may precede a storm coming from the north.

When the wind is southerly, a rise in the barometer may precede fine weather.

When there is much moisture in the air and considerable heat, a falling barometer may indicate that a wind and rain storm is coming from the south.

When the air is dry and cold in winter a falling barometer may indicate snow. When the weather is calm and warm, a falling barometer may be taken to mean rain or squally weather.

=Freemasonry.=--Its origin is unknown, but it is very ancient. It has been traced to the Knights Templars, to the Crusaders, and others. It is said that the workmen upon Solomon's Temple were Masons and that Masonry was the original trade union or protective association for workmen, each workman by signs being able to prove that he had reached a certain stage of proficiency; but this has not been substantiated. Some authorities state that Masonry was introduced into England in 674 A. D. The first record of the establishment of a Grand Lodge was at York in 926. Freemasonry was introduced into France in 1725, and into America in 1730. Freemasons are found throughout the entire world, there being more than a million of them in the United States and Canada. Other fraternal or mystic orders, known as Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Red Men, etc., are in purpose similar to Masons, and most of them were founded upon Masonry, Masonry ante-dating all of them.

=French Academy.=--Founded by Cardinal Richelieu in 1635. It has a membership of forty, known as the "Forty Immortals." Its principal object is to prepare a dictionary of the French language and to keep the Gallic tongue pure and capable of treating the arts and sciences. The first dictionary appeared in 1694. The Academy has been very severely criticised, especially in the selection of its members, many well-known men of letters having failed to be elected.

=Gold in California.=--John W. Marshall, in 1848, in connection with a man named Sutter, maintained a mill in California. Accidentally he picked up a small piece of metal which he discovered to be gold, and immediately the gold fever became epidemic, and California was overrun with gold miners.

Government

The Constitution of the United Stales is the basic law of the country, and all other laws and statutes are framed in a similar manner, each State, county, town, and city having its own laws or statutes.

Government, including that of the United States, is divided into three distinctive departments: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial.

The Executive head is known as President, Governor, Mayor, etc., and it is his duty to execute the laws.

The Legislative department is usually subdivided into two bodies,--a Senate or Upper House and a House of Representatives or Lower House. State Governments are formed similar to that of the National Government, the Upper House being known as the Senate, and the Lower House as the House of Representatives or Assembly. Most bills are presented to the Lower House, and do not become laws until they pass both the Upper and Lower Houses.

The Legislative authority of a city is usually vested in a board of Aldermen and a Council or Common Council, but occasionally there is only one legislative body, known as a Council.

The Commission Form of Government is becoming somewhat prevalent. It consists of a committee elected by the citizens, who have absolute control of the government, and this body is both executive and judicial.

The Judicial department consists of several courts: first, the Supreme Court, and a lower court, usually known as the Superior Court, and District or Police Courts. Ordinary cases are tried by the Police or District Courts and may be appealed to the Superior Court and even to the Supreme Court. Besides these courts there are several courts known as Probate Court, Court of Equity, etc. The Supreme Court, as a rule, deals only with questions at law, and few cases reach it which have not been appealed from the lower courts.

=Grain Industry.=--There was raised in the United States during last year over 3,000,000,000 bushels of Indian corn, about 730,000,000 bushels of wheat, 1,500,000,000 bushels of oats, about 224,000,000 bushels of barley, about 36,000,000 bushels of rye, and about 19,000,000 bushels of buckwheat.

=Gravity.=--The force of gravity, unscientifically speaking, is the influence which one body has upon another, commonly known as attraction. All material substances attempt to draw others to them, and the larger the substance, the greater its attractiveness or drawing power. The earth, being larger than anything near it, draws everything to it. A ball thrown into the air returns to the earth as soon as the force which propelled it upward is exhausted. If the ball were larger than the earth, the earth would move toward the ball, or rather each would move toward the other, but the smaller body would go the greater distance. The entire universe would, undoubtedly, come together in one solid mass if the bodies were not held apart by laws and energies, which are not yet fully understood by men. Sir Isaac Newton discovered the action of gravity, but no one knows exactly what it is.

Great American Inventions

The following list of fifteen great American inventions is taken from Killikelly's "Curious Questions":

(1) The Cotton Gin. (2) The Planting Machine. (3) The Grass Mower and Reaper. (4) The Rotary Printing-Press. (5) Steam Navigation. (6) The Hot-Air Engine. (7) The Sewing-Machine. (8) The India-Rubber Industry. (9) The Machine Manufacture of Horseshoes. (10) The Sand-Blast for Carving. (11) The Gauge Lathe. (12) The Grain Elevator. (13) Artificial Ice-Making on Large Scale. (14) The Electric Magnet and Its Practical Application. (15) The Telephone.

"=Great Eastern.="--The "Great Eastern" was, in her time, the largest vessel in the world, but would be considered small compared with the giant ocean liners of to-day. She was built in London and launched in 1858. She cost $300,000. She had a length of 680 ft., breadth of 82-1/2 ft., or 118 ft. including the paddle boxes, and a height of 58 ft. Her motive power consisted of eight engines with a total of 11,000 horse power. She was slow and unwieldy, and was not a success except for the laying of the Atlantic cable.

=Great Libraries.=--The Congressional Library, Washington, contains 1,800,000 volumes; Boston Public Library and New York Public Library, each 900,000; Harvard University Library, 800,000; New York State Library, 520,000; Yale University Library, 400,000; Bibliothèque nationale, Paris, 2,600,000; British Museum, London, 2,000,000; Imper. publicnaja biblioteka, St. Petersburg, 1,330,000; Königliche Bibliothek, Berlin, 1,200,000; Kön. Hof-u. Staatsbibliothek, Munich, 1,000,000; K. u. k. Hofbibliothek, Vienna, 900,000.

=Great Tunnels.=--The Arlberg tunnel under the Alps is 6-3/4 miles long. The Gunnison tunnel in Colorado is 6 miles long. The Hoosac tunnel in Massachusetts is 4-3/4 miles long. The Mont Cenis in Italy and France is 8 miles long. The New Croton water tunnel in New York is 33-1/8 miles long. The Otira in New Zealand is 5 1-3 miles long. The tunnel which drains the Freiberg mines, Saxony, is 31-1/2 miles long.

The St. Clair tunnel, connecting Sarnia, Ont., with Port Huron, Mich., is 2 miles long. The St. Gotthard tunnel in the Alps is 9 1-3 miles long. The Strawberry tunnel in the Wasatch Mountains is 50 miles long.

=Hair Growers.=--Notwithstanding the claims made by advertisers of patent nostrums, the writer has not as yet heard of a preparation or treatment which will restore hair after the hair cells are dead. It appears to be utterly impossible to grow hair upon a bald head, or upon a bald spot, unless the roots of the hair remain, notwithstanding the claims made by sellers of hair tonics. Falling hair may be prevented in many cases by the use of a good hair tonic, but as different people require different preparations, it is inadvisable to give any prescription here. A physician should be consulted, and a prescription obtained from him, adapted to conditions. Many of the advertised hair tonics contain lead and other poisonous drugs. So far as is known, there is not a preparation or contrivance of any kind which will restore gray hair to its former color. All nostrums advertised to do it are simply hair dyes. The medical profession has not discovered a method of preventing gray hair. Most of the advertised hair dyes contain lead and other poisons, and are dangerous to use, and the dyeing of the hair is not to be recommended even though a nonpoisonous dye is used. As the dye can only cover the hair in sight, it must be used constantly, or each separate hair will be of two colors.

=Half-Century of Life.=--A French statistician states that a man fifty years of age has spent 6000 days in sleep, has worked 6500 days; walked 800 days; enjoyed some amusement 4000 days; spent 1500 days in bed; and was sick 500 days. He further estimates that this man has eaten 17,000 pounds of bread; 16,000 pounds of meat; 4600 pounds of vegetables, eggs, and fish; and has drank 7000 gallons of liquid.

=Hawaii.=--The Hawaiian Islands have a total area of 6,740 square miles, and a population of about 160,000. The climate is semitropical, and pineapple growing and sugar making are the principal industries.

=Hay Industry.=--Over 48,000,000 acres are devoted to hay, producing nearly 4,500,000 tons, of a value not far from $50,000,000 a year.

=Health.=--Ninety per cent. of common ailments, and fully one-half of serious diseases, may be prevented if one gives a reasonable amount of attention to the care of his health. It would be out of place to present, in this book, any rules or regulations for the maintenance of health, assuming that it is possible to do so. Any good physician is competent to advise in the majority of cases, and will prescribe beneficial exercise and proper food. Most of us eat too much, and exercise too little. The province of the physician is as much to keep people well as it is to cure them. Good sense and economy suggest that a physician be consulted at least once a year, even by those in apparent health. So-called "doctors' books" should be avoided, unless recommended by regular practitioners.

=Historical Data=

STATE OR TERRITORY. Admitted to the Population, Area, Settled at Date. Electoral Union 1910 Sq. M. By whom vote

Alabama Dec. 14, 1819 2,138,093 52,250 Mobile 1702 French 12 Alaska Territory July 27, 1868 64,356 590,884 Sitka 1801 Russians Arizona Feb. 24, 1863 204,354 113,020 Tucson 1580 Spaniards 3 Arkansas June 15, 1836 1,574,449 53,850 Arkansas Post 1685 French 9 California Sept. 9, 1850 2,377,549 158,360 San Diego 1769 Spaniards 13 Colorado Aug. 1, 1876 799,024 103,925 Near Denver 1858 Americans 6 CONNECTICUT Jan. 9, 1788 1,114,756 4,990 Windsor 1635 Puritans 7 DELAWARE Dec. 7, 1787 202,322 2,050 Cape Henlopen 1627 Swedes 3 District of Columbia July 16, 1790 331,069 70 1660 English Florida March 3, 1845 752,619 58,680 St. Augustine 1565 Spaniards 6 GEORGIA Jan. 2, 1788 2,609,121 59,475 Savannah 1733 English 14 Hawaii April 30, 1900 191,909 6,449 Idaho July 3, 1890 325,594 84,800 Coeur d'Alene 1842 Americans 4 Illinois Dec. 3, 1818 5,638,591 56,650 Kaskaskia 1720 French 29 Indiana Dec. 11, 1816 2,700,876 36,350 Vincennes 1730 15 Iowa March 3, 1845 2,224,771 56,025 Burlington 1788 French 13 Kansas Jan. 29, 1861 1,690,949 82,080 1831 Americans 10 Kentucky Feb. 4, 1792 2,289,905 40,400 Lexington 1765 From Va. 13 Louisiana April 8, 1812 1,656,388 48,720 Iberville 1699 French 10 Maine March 3, 1820 742,371 33,040 Bristol 1624 English 6 MARYLAND April 28, 1788 1,295,346 12,210 St. Mary's 1634 English 8 MASSACHUSETTS Feb. 6, 1788 3,366,416 8,315 Plymouth 1620 Puritans 18 Michigan Jan. 26, 1837 2,810,173 58,915 Near Detroit 1650 French 15 Minnesota May 11, 1858 2,075,708 83,365 St. Peter's R. 1805 Americans 12 Mississippi Dec. 10, 1817 1,797,114 46,810 Natchez 1716 From S. C. 10 Missouri March 2, 1821 3,293,335 69,415 St. Louis 1764 French 18 Montana Nov. 8, 1889 376,053 146,080 1809 Americans 4 Nebraska March 1, 1867 1,192,214 77,510 Bellevue 1847 Americans 8 Nevada Oct. 13, 1864 81,875 110,700 Genoa 1850 Americans 3 NEW HAMPSHIRE June 21, 1788 430,572 9,305 Dov. & Portsm'th 1623 Puritans 4 NEW JERSEY Dec. 18, 1787 2,537,167 7,815 Bergen 1620 Swedes 14 New Mexico Sept. 9, 1850 327,301 122,580 Santa Fe 1537 Spaniards 3 NEW YORK July 26, 1788 9,113,614 49,170 Manhattan Isl'd 1614 Dutch 45 NORTH CAROLINA May 23, 1785 2,206,287 52,250 Albemarle 1650 English 12 North Dakota Nov. 2, 1889 577,056 70,795 Pembina 1780 French 5 Ohio Nov. 29, 1802 4,767,121 41,060 Marietta 1788 Americans 24 Oklahoma Nov. 16, 1907 1,657,155 70,430 1889 Americans 10 Oregon Feb. 14, 1859 672,765 96,030 Astoria 1810 Americans 5 PENNSYLVANIA Dec. 12, 1787 7,665,111 45,215 Delaware R. 1682 English 38 Philippines Nov. 28, 1898 7,000,000 114,000 Manila 1570 Spaniards Porto Rico Aug. 12, 1898 1,118,012 3,600 Caparra 1510 Spaniards RHODE ISLAND May 29, 1790 542,610 1,250 Providence 1636 English 5 SOUTH CAROLINA May 23, 1788 1,515,400 30,570 Port Royal 1670 Huguenots 9 South Dakota Nov. 2, 1889 583,888 77,650 Sioux Falls 1856 Americans 5 Tennessee June 1, 1796 2,184,789 42,050 Ft. Loudon 1757 English 12 Texas Dec. 29, 1845 3,896,542 265,780 Matagorda B. 1686 French 20 Utah Jan. 4, 1896 373,351 84,970 Salt Lake City 1847 Americans 4 Vermont Feb. 18, 1791 355,956 9,565 Ft. Dummer 1764 English 4 VIRGINIA June 26, 1788 2,061,612 42,450 Jamestown 1607 English 12 Washington Nov. 11, 1889 1,141,990 69,180 Astoria 1811 Americans 7 West Virginia Dec. 31, 1862 1,221,119 24,780 Wheeling 1774 English 13 Wisconsin May 29, 1848 2,333,860 56,040 Green Bay 1670 French 3 Wyoming July 11, 1890 145,965 97,890 Ft. Laramie 1834 Americans

=Holy Grail.=--One of the leading themes of medieval romance. It centers around the cup which was used by Christ at the last supper.

=Household Weights.=--Ten eggs of ordinary size weigh one pound. Sugar--One pint of sugar weighs twelve ounces. Two teacups (well-heaped) of sugar weigh one pound. One and one-third pints of powdered sugar weigh one pound. One pint of the best brown sugar weighs thirteen ounces. Two teacups (level full) of granulated sugar weigh one pound. One tablespoon (heaped) of granulated, or best brown, sugar weighs one ounce. Two and three-quarters teacups (level) of powdered sugar weigh one pound. Two and one-half teacups (level) of best brown sugar weigh one pound. Two tablespoonfuls of powdered sugar or flour weigh one ounce. One pint (heaped) of granulated sugar weighs fourteen ounces.

=How to Become a Voter.=--Every male natural-born citizen of the United States, and all naturalized citizens, are, at the age of 21 years, entitled to vote for all local, State, and National officials; but before doing so, they must be registered. Registration days are appointed, and notices of them are posted in prominent places, and appear in the local newspapers. To become a voter, a citizen must appear at place of registration and answer certain simple questions. Any town or city clerk, attorney at law, or official will properly direct the citizen.

Industrial Occupations

The following table gives the percentages of total occupied population for the principal groups in the eight leading industrial countries:

United Great Occupation States Britain France Germany

Agriculture 35.64 12.00 41.42 35.11

Commercial occupations 9.91 11.39 6.54 6.30

Conveyances of men, goods and messages 5.95 8.20 2.89 2.89

Mines and quarries 2.09 5.00 1.59 3.25

Metals, machines, implements and conveyances 3.72 7.89 4.35 6.99

Building and works of construction 4.43 6.77 4.20 6.99

Textile fabrics 2.02 6.92 4.55 3.75

Dress 4.29 7.23 8.05 5.39

Austria Hungary Italy Belgium

Agriculture 60.80 70.15 59.06 21.90

Commercial occupations 3.34 2.56 3.43 11.79

Conveyance of men, goods and messages 1.70 1.55 3.12 2.03

Mines and quarries 1.56 .78 .89 6.46

Metals, machines, implements and conveyances 2.78 2.15 2.14 5.95

Building and works of construction 2.96 1.48 5.02 7.28

Textile fabrics 3.26 .37 4.81 6.86

Dress 3.92 2.85 6.64 7.86

=Influence of the Ocean on the Climate.=--The ocean has much to do with the climate of its coast. As a rule, land on or near the ocean has more irregular weather, and is subject to more frequent changes than is territory some distance away from it. The ocean, besides, exercises a great influence on heat and cold. The land in close proximity to it has a warmer climate than territory far removed from it. While the thermometer in the summer may not show great variation, breezes coming from the ocean give an apparent coolness which does not exist inland. For this reason there are more summer resorts located on the ocean than away from it.

=Insane.=--There are, in the United States, confined in the insane asylums, about 172,200 persons, about 25,600 being foreigners, 25,000 naturalized citizens, and 121,500 native-born persons. The feeble-minded number about 150,000.

=Iron Industry.=--The United States produces annually about 24,000,000 tons of pig iron and about the same amount of steel.

=Jewelry Industry.=--Nearly $65,000,000 is invested in the manufacture of jewelry, and the annual value of the output exceeds $80,000,000.

=John Doe and Richard Roe.=--Two fictitious names, used in law, one representing the plaintiff and the other the defendant. In writs of ejection these names are substituted when the real names of the parties are unknown or in doubt.

=Kissing the Bible.=--The Jews introduced the custom of swearing on the Bible, and the custom is still maintained throughout the civilized world, some of the courts even now requiring that the Bible be literally kissed before one gives testimony.

=Koran.=--The sacred book of the Mohammedans. The doctrine of the Koran is the unity of God and the existence of one true religion, with changeable ceremonies. Punishment for the bad, and rewards for the good, are presented and exemplified by stories taken from the Bible and other works. Most of the matter is supposed to have been borrowed from Jewish works, and bears traces of Jewish influence.

=Language of Gems.=--Amethyst represents peace of mind; Bloodstone signifies that one's absence is mourned; Diamond, pride; Emerald, success in love; Ruby stands for a cheerful mind; Sapphire represents chastity, and was supposed to stand for pure thoughts; Topaz, fidelity, and is supposed to calm the passions; Turquoise, happiness and success; Garnet, fidelity; Onyx, reciprocal love; Opal, pure thoughts; Pearl, innocence and purity.

=Languages of the World.=--It is estimated that there are 3424 distinct languages or dialects, about 1600 being spoken in America, about 940 in Asia, not far from 600 in Europe, and about 275 in Africa. Probably more than 150,000,000 people speak the English language, 120,000,000 the German, 90,000,000 Russian, 60,000,000 French, 55,000,000 Spanish, 40,000,000 Italian, 30,000,000 Portuguese. The English dictionaries contain exceeding 600,000 words, about 300,000 of which are more or less technical and obsolete. Ordinary conversation does not require the use of more than 2,000 words. It is said that one can make himself understood in any language if his vocabulary is about 1,500 words.

Large Cities of North America