HOW JUGS ARE MADE.

CABERY, Ill., Dec. 24, 1879. 1. Two neighbors are named respectively Keller and Horn. Horn married Keller's daughter and Keller married Horn's sister, and both parties having children, what relation are the children? 2. How are jugs made? C. E. JUSTUS. Answer.-1. By the first marriage, Keller's second children would be half uncles or aunts of Horn's children, and by the last marriage they would be cousins, hence they sustain both these relations to each other. 2. The clay, having been worked to its proper condition, is rolled into small balls and weighed, so much clay being allowed for every jug. It is then placed upon a machine where it is made to revolve very rapidly. On this the jug is elongated and hollowed. The workman does this almost exclusively with his hands and a stick to smooth it. By dipping his hands in water frequently, the clay becomes very pliable and easy to work. The jug is made from the bottom up, the workman shaping the inside with his hand. The neck is the last part turned, and is done by having all of the hand except the thumb from the inside. The handles are made separately, and stuck upon the jug as soon as turned. They are then put in ovens and baked.

LARGEST DISTILLERY IN THE WORLD. CARROLL CITY, Iowa, Dec. 16, 1879. Where is the largest distillery in the world, and the largest in the United States, and how much corn do they consume per day? C.

Answer.-The Monarch Distillery, of Peoria, Ill., is the largest in the United States, or in the world, though there were several other distilleries that produced more liquor last year than the Monarch. This distillery used during the eleven months of last year, excluding December, 384,105 bushels of grain, about 80 per cent of which was corn. From this, 1,427,362.66 proof gallons were produced, at an average yield of 3.72 gallons to the bushel.

MAINE AGAIN.

STEWARTSVILLE, Mo., Feb. 2, 1880. 1. I have a friend, a lawyer, who is a strong Democrat, claims that the Supreme Court of Maine is all Republican. 2. Also, the people do not vote for Governor. I claim to the contrary. If your patience is not played out on the Maine question, please answer. QUI CONJUNGIT.

Answer.-1. The court is composed of four radical Republicans, two conservative Republicans, and one Democrat. The Democrat is Artemus Libbey. 2. You are right, the people do vote for Governor, but it takes a majority of all votes cast to elect.

INFORMATION WANTED.

CHICAGO, Jan. 29, 1880. An article in the London Telegraph lately on "Society Reform," speaks of certain "conventionalities as pompous and depressing as the tray of feathers that used to be carried in front of a funeral," Beyond evident allusion in such custom to life like a feather, or light as a vapor-vanity of vanities-if anything, please explain its significance, aud oblige HENRY G. PERRY. Answer.-We must ask the assistance of our readers on this question.

GROWTH OF HAIR AFTER DEATH.

I notice considerable controversy in regard to hair growing after death. In March, 1863, one of my sisters died, and, in the summer of 1865 it was necessary to exhume the body to another

cemetery, and my mother wished to see if my sister was decayed, and, to her surprise, the body was almost as perfect as when interred two yearsbefore; and, where her hands were crossed upon her breast, her hair was under her hands, and it had grown so the hair doubled over her arms. It was thought her hair had grown from six to ten inches, and seemed in a very heathy condition. -J. A. R.

ANOTHER CASE.

A short time since I noticed in THE INTER OCEAN the question asked if human hair was known to grow after death. Two cases were cited in the affirmative, with a request for others who had discovered the same phenomena tocommunicate it. I therefore will state what came under my own observation in a similar case. My father died in this place June, 1839; was buried in our cemetery, which was then new, only partially loted off. After fourteen years had passed, it was found necessary to remove my father's bones, as they were found to be in an alley. In getting to the coffin it was found so rotten (a mere pumice) it could not be handled. In taking up the head I was surprised to see the hair on top of the head had grown through the head of the coffin into the earth some three or four inches. It was new to me, also to the friend with me, never having heard of such a case, but have since heard there were such cases found. The flesh of the body was all consumed; the scalp only was left. I thought perhaps the hair preserved it.-R. T. Crane, Beloit, Wis., Feb. 1, 1880.

CURVE PITCHING.

In reply to question 6,885, in relation to "curve pitching," for the benefit of D. C. and other skeptics, I will say I believe the curve is caused by the sharp twist (the rapid rotary motion) of the ball, and the consequent one-sided resistance of the atmosphere. Suppose a ball to be pitched with this twist, with the axis perpendicular, the twist causing an additional forward movement on the left side of the ball. Now, as

the velocity is greater, the resistance of the atmosphere must also be greater on this left side, which, of necessity, would crowd the ball to the right of a direct course. In short, it would curve. -Ball Player

THE KANSAS SUFFERERS.

In an answer to a question last week in regard to the Quaker lady who is doing so much to aid the colored refugees in Kansas. you omitted the name of Elizabeth L. Comstock, well known in this country and England, and who recently returned from abroad with a handsome sum of money to aid these unfortunate sufferers.

EASTER SUNDAY 1880.

We have had twenty-five answers to the question, What day of the month did Easter Sunday 1800 come on? but only two or three seem to agree. From them it is evident April 13 is the correct answer:

RAILROADS.

CEDAR GROVE, Kan., Dec. 13, 1879. 1. How many respective railroads are there in the United States? 2. Give total number of miles. 3. Number persons employed in this branch of industry. R. RR.

Answer.-1. There were 1,705 different railroads in the United States in 1878, including the horse railways. 2. There were 79,208 miles of road in construction at the end of the same yearin the United States. 3. According to the cen

sus of 1870 there were 154,027 persons, not including clerks, engaged in railroading business.

TYPE-SETTING MACHINES,

NFW HARTFORD, Conn., Jan. 20, 1880. 1. Is it lawful for the Legislatures of each or any of the States to choose the President electors. 2. Is there any place in the United States where they set type by machinery? Some "damphools" here say they do.

WM. H. DWIGHT. Answer-1. Yes. 2. It seems the "damphools" are right this time. Nearly 100 patents have been granted for such machines in Europe and America, yet at the most, perhaps, no five printing offices in the world use the same machine, and the number using machines is certainly small. The first attempt at machine composing appears to have been made by William Church, of Connecticut, about 1820, but patented in England in 1822. It cast and set the type directly from the molten metal, requiring no distribution, but did not come into practical use. A Copenhagan man made a practical typesetting machine, which was operated for years on a daily journal in that city. It composed aud distributed at the same time. The matter was in a kind of basin, from which the letters were picked and deposited properly in the composing part. In the distribution part, the type, each having a different nick, passed by their own weight along a channel in which were openings with projections corresponding to the respective nicks in the type. This machine would do the work of three compositors. One of the best machines of the kind is that of Robert Hattersley. It does not require special nicks in the type. It comprises classed cells of type on two tables. When a key is touched, a piston is pressed against the lowest type in a cell, and causes the type to pass down a short inclined plane. This plane is furnished with conduits, along one of which the type travels to the composing-stick. The table with the lower-case types is removable, so that a full case may be supplied for the empty one. From 4,000 to 6,000 types may be set in an hour-about three men's work. Another successful machine is the Mitchell type-setter. The compositor has a keyboard, each key of which strikes out a type from a brass slide placed on an incline. The type travels along an endless band to a spot where it is turned on end and pushed forward by a notched wheel. The apparatus comprises numerous bands, the length and velocities of which so vary as to enable the types, at different distances from the wheel, to reach it in order in which the keys are struck. The words are built up in rows thirty inches long, and justified by hand; there are many other similar contrivances.

FASTEST RAILROAD TIME.. MT. CARROLL, Jan. 28, 1880. Will you please answer me this question. What is the fastest time by rail? WM. ROBINS. Answer-One mile in 504 seconds, 3 miles in 2 minutes 364 seconds, and 5 miles in 4 minutes 50 seconds, train which left West Philadelphia for Jersey City (P. R. R.) at 7:35 a. m. (Edward Osmond, engineer), Sept. 4, 1879. This is the fastest known time at the present date.

IS COFFEE LEATHER SOUP? OSSCEOLA, Neb., Jan. 15, 1880. The following I copy from the annual report of agriculture for 1869: "Milk and coffee taken separately, not to interfere with each other in the stomach, are excellent; but, what is remarkable, when mixed and taken together they constitute a new composition, which is abso(utely indigestible." From the explanation that follows the above I copy the following: "Now, the infusion of coffee is rich in tannin, hence its mix

ture with milk has the immediate result of transform ing the saseous part and the albumen that it contains into a kind of leather, indecomposable and indigesti ble, like that made in a tan pit. The composition thus produced remains in the stomach until new aliments come to displace and force it through the lower orifice of the stomach into the intestines." "Women especially, from their delicate organization, suffer in the consumption of coffee with milk. To dissuade them from its use it would be well to make them understand that cafe au lait is nothing in reality but leather soup." The above is a startling revelation. Have I all these years been running a little "tan-pit," or drinking leather soup?" What think you? Also, what is the opinion of the scientific mind generally? OLD FARMER.

Answer.-You doubtless observed that the statement in question was credited to the report of the French Agricultural Society, and did not originate in our own Agricultural Bureau at Washington, though of late "startling" statements have become quite common from that Department. Possibly there may be some truth to the statement, though scientists differ, and coffee without milk, as any soldier knows, is easy of digestion, a stimulant and a tonic. We shall be glad to get the opinion of any scientific mind on this question.

SELLING GOVERNMENT GOLD.

ANNA, Union Co., Ill., Feb. 8, 1880. In the New York Sun, of Jan. 28, I find the following, in speaking of the sale of gold which, resulted in what is termed "Black Friday:" General Grant had written a letter directing Boutwell to sell no gold without consulting him, and that he had intrusted this letter to Butterfield, who afterward told Gould that he had delivered it. Nothing now remained but to put the President safely out of the way in some remote corner, where the rising storm of public indignation would not reach him nor compel him to recognize and perform his duty." This editorial of the Sun is received by many as law and gospel. Any answer that you can give will be of great use to many who wish to know the exact truth. A. H.

Answer.-The Secretary of the Treasury ordered sales of gold as deemed necessary, the President interfering no more with that than other transactions. The Sun's constant slanders of Grant are unworthy of reply.

RAILROADS IN 1850.

GENEVA, Wis., Feb. 7, 1880. Mr. Porter says, under the head of "Economic Pictures." in yesterday's issue, that in 1850 there were 10,000 miles of railroad in this country. I think he is in error. If not too much trouble to obtain the facts, please state what roads and their length in operation in 1850. I came to Chicago in 1850, to find less than 29,000 inhabitants, and from the interior of Michigan came by stage, and steamer from New Buffalo to Chicago. I can't recollect of railroads in the Eastern and Southern States to make near 10,000 miles.

SUBSCRIBER.

Answer.-The statement made by Mr. Porter was that in 1850 there were "nearly 10,000 miles of railroads," etc. This statement is based upon figures taken from Poor's Manual, and is correct. In 1850 there were over 9,000 miles of road constructed, and the returns for the following year show 10,982 miles. We have not at hand a list of the separate roads then in existence, but Poor is good authority on these questions.

THE STOREY-EARLY SCANDAL. CALUMET, Mich., Feb. 3, 1880. You will confer a favor to many by answering the following through your columns: Origin of libel case Senator, Early's daughter vs. Wilbur F. Storey, the counsel on each side, and if Storey apologized; also, if case has been disposed of and the result.

H. P. LARSON. Answer. The origin of the Early-Storey scandal was a coarse and brutal article published in the Times in May, 1873, and in which the name of Miss Early was connected with that of a member of the Illinois Legislature whom she barely knew personally. The so-called retraction published by the Times was no retraction at all, but was written in a vein that made no amends for the great injury done-and even in the publication of this due diligence was not used to have

it appear immediately after the article containing the slander. When brought to trial Storey had in fact no defense, but simply acknowledged that the whole matter was a most outragous falsehood in which the good name and fame of a pure, spotless woman was attacked in order to make political capital against her father. The jury at once awarded the injured lady $25,000 damages, the heaviest damages ever awarded in a libel suit in this country. The court, thinking the da mages excessive, cut them down to $15,000.

The case was appealed to the Supreme Court, and reversed, on the ground that the court had no right to cut down the damages, and has been sent back for trial. So slow is Illinois justice that the case has not been reheard yet. Ex-Congressman William Lathrop, Edward A. Small, Sidney Smith, and the Hon. R. F. Crawford were the counsel for the injured lady, and Messrs. Goudy and Dexter appeared for Wilbur F. Storey.

DANIEL WEBSTER-CORN AND WHEAT.

PRESTON, Ill. 1. What is the correct pronunciation of the word "Leadville," we can find no authority on the subject? 2. Can you give me the name and address of the Superintendent of Public Instruction for the State of Colorado? 3. Did Daniel Webster vote for the Fugitive Slave law? 4. Which State ranks first in the amount of wheat produced this year, which in the amount of corn? CHAS. F. JOHNSON.

Answer.-1. The word was formerly pronounced "Leedville," and derived its name from the many leads or lodes of ore in its vicinity. It has now come to be pronounced "Ledville," and common usage would therefore make the latter the correct pronunciation. 2. Joseph C. Shattuck, Denver, Col. 3. Yes. 4. The returns give the production of wheat in the six great wheat producing States of the West, for 1879, as follows: Indiana, 55,000,000 bushels: Illinois, 45,000,000 bushels; Iowa, 40,162,000 bushels; Minnesota, 36,762,000 bushels; Nebraska, 25,400,000 bushels; Wisconsin, 24,000,000 bushels. The above makes Indiana at the head of the wheat growing States for last year. In 1878 Illinois produced 225,932,700 bushels of corn, and Iowa 175,256,400. For 1879 the corn report of Illinois is not yet published, but it is known that the crop is over 300,000,000 bushels, a greater amount than that of any other State. Iowa stands second in the list, with a crop of 225,000,000 bushels.

AGUE.

RACINE, Wis., Jan. 15, 1880. 1. What will make a good gum for envelopes? 2. What makes people with the ague shake every other day, and is ague a live worm? THOS. HOGES.

Answer.-1. A little gum arabic dissolved in water. 2. There is nothing more inexplicable, or less understood in the nature of the disease, than this fact of periodicity Some physicians have ascribed it to the daily habits of activity and rest in the organism, but the intermittents of the tertian type, the paroxysms of which occur not every day but every other day, cannot be accounted for from such a cause. Doctors now generally consider the disease, we believe, a species of fungi, or plant, which is breathed into the

lungs, and, lodging there, forms on the tender coatings of that organ.

SOME GREAT TUNNELS.

GOMERS MILLS, Col., Jan. 25, 1880. Give a description, as to height, width, length, cost of construction, and the situation of Mount Cenis and St. Gothard Tunnels. Give a like description of the submarine tunnel under the Straits of Dover, and oblige SEVERAL READERS.

Answer.-Mt. Cenis is situated between the province of Turin, in Italy, and the department of Savoie, in France, at the junction of the Graian with the Cottian Alps. Mt. Cenis Tunnel is sixteen miles from Mt. Cenis; the total length is 40,084 feet, or 7.6 miles. The elevation of the southern entrance above the sea is 4,237 feet; of the northern entrance, 3,802 feet; of the culminating point, 4,247 feet. The tunnel is broad enough for two double lines of tracks. The railway does not run in a straight line through the tunnel; the entrances are left open only for ventilation, and the tracks are laid in junction tunnels, on the south, of the length of 2,484 feet, and on the north, of 1,488 feet. Work was begun on the tunnel Aug. 31. 1857, and finished Dec. 26, 1870, snd cost $15,000,000. The St. Gothard Tunnel has its northern entrance near the small village of Goeschenen, Switzerland. It is the largest tunnel in the world. It will be 14,920 meters in length (Mount Cenis being 12,233 meters), and will probably be arched from one end to the other. It is of sufficient width for a double roadway. The contractor, Mr. Louis Favre, was the lowest of twenty-three bidders, and got the work at $196.40 per foot, and, by the terms of his contract, the tunnel was to be completed in eight years, or by Oct. 1, 1880. For each day the work may be done before that time, the company agrees to pay him $1,000. On the other hand, for every single day in arrear of contract, he forfeits $1,000. If the delay continues six months, the forfeit is $2,000 per day, and should he be one year in arrears with his work, he surrenders the contract and forfeits $1,600,000. Work is drawing rapidly toward completion, and the contractor hopes to make a good profit on this premium. The sub-marine tunnel under the British Channel was first projected and work begun on it in 1872. The route adopted was on a line drawn from St. Margaret's Bay, near the South Foreland, on the English side, to a point between Langatte and Calais, in France. The total proposed length was thirty-one miles, of which twenty-two miles were under the water. After sinking shafts the site was finally given up for one thought better, but only a short distance from the other. Work is now being carried on slowly.

MUSICAL MATTERS.

DUNLAP, Iowa, Jan. 16, 1880. 1. What is thorough base? 2. Can a person that does not understand the notes get a book and learn without a teacher? 3. Is it necessary to have a musical instrument to play on while learning? L.A. SMITH.

Answer. -1. Thorough base is a base with figure over or under the notes to indicate the harmony.. 2. Yes, but it will be difficult. 3. Certainly.

INVISIBLE INK. SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Jan. 19, 1880. Will you give a recipe for invisible ink, used for writ ing on paper or postal cards? JOHN.

Answer.-We have given this once before, and shall not repeat it after this time. A solution of nitrate or chloride of cobalt, or chloride of copper, mixed with a little gum or sugar, produces

a "magic ink," which is made visible by warming, either by holding against the stove or over a burning match. Potassium ferrocyanide in solution may also be used; but this requires a developer, for which either coffee or iron sulphate may be employed. With the former the writing will appear in brown, and with the latter in blue color.

DEAR RAISING IN MAINE.

COVEL, Ill., Feb. 2, 1880. The enclosed article from the New York Times, of recent date, has caused quite a heated discussion in this neighborhood. Some say it relates facts, and others contend that no such industry as bear raising is pursued in either of said States. Please inform us whether we can rely on what is stated in this article? L. E. SPEAR. Answer. It is evident that the funny man of the New York Times must be more careful with his statistics when he is constructing his bear fabrications in the future. He says that 1,800 persons are engaged in the business, that $1,784,000 are invested in the bear industries of Maine, and immediately afterward that the annual profits are $20,000. If the profits were 2 per cent on the invested capital they would amount to $35,680, and hence with a profit of a little over 1 per cent, bear-farming in Maine must be a highly lucrative occupation. It is evident the article is a hoax.

TO MEND RUBBER BOOTS.

EMPORIA, Kan., Jan. 18, 1880. Will you inform me how to make a glue for mending rubber boots and shoes? It is said that there is such a material in existence. R. W. TILLMAN.

Answer.-Digest caoutchouc cut in fine shreds with about four volumes of naphtha in a well covered vessel for several days. Naphtha should not be used indoors.

GLUCOSE.

FRANKSTOWN, Col., Feb. 2, 1880. What is glucose? What is the sirup made of that contains glucose? GRACE WHEELER. Answer.-Glucose is the name applied to a class of sugars similar in chemical composition, but differing in some of their properties. In its more limited signification it is applied to dextrose and laloulose, which occur naturally together in acid fruits of various kinds, and in honey. These sugars are known as fruit sugar, grape sugar, honey sugar, etc.

SUSPENDING PENSIONS.

LOGANVILLE, Sauk Co., Wis., Jan. 15, 1880. How can the Pension Office stop pensions without the pensioner being notified first, or sent to be reexamined? SAMUEL FOSNOT.

Answer.-The Commissioner of Pensions often suspends payment of pensions until an examination is made, and, in such cases, does not always notify the pensioner, but merely the Pension Agent.

NARROW GAUGE RAILROADS. HALSTEAD, Kan., Jan. 18, 1880. Will you tell me something concerning a 10-inch gauge railroad? Is there such an one? I saw an account of such a road. C. E. LIVENGOOD. Answer.-The standard railway gauge of the world is now 4 feet 812 inches. The first narrow-gauge railroad was built in Wales, and was of 2-feet gauge. The gauge of these roads is now generally 3 feet. We never heard of a 10-inch gauge.

A DAY'S WORK. PRAIRIE CENTER, Ill., Dec. 30, 1879. Please answer the following question: How many hours is a legal day's work for a man working by the year or month? CHARLES LORENS.

Answer.-1. As we have before stated there is no prescribed number of hours which shall constitute a man's days' work when working on a

farm. The customary hours would govern in case of dispute. If working in a shop by the month or year the regular day's work would probably be ten hours unless otherwise prescribed.

PERISHED FROM CHICAGO FIRE.

PRINCETON, Ill., Jan. 13, 1880. How many people were supposed to have been burned to death in the great Chicago fire? D. W. B. Answer.-The number that died from injuries received and in the flames was placed at 250 per sons.

SKETCH OF GLADSTONE.

SILVER CLIFF, Feb. 1, 1880. 1. Give a biographical sketch of the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, with his present address. 2. Address of T. Buchanan Read. V.

Answer.-1. The Right Hon. William Ewart Gladstone was born at Liverpool, England. Dec. 29, 1809, and graduated at Eaton and Christ Church, Oxford, in 1831. In 1832 he entered Parliament, and in 1834 became Junior Lord of the Treasury. In the following year he was made Under Secretary for the Colonies under Sir Robert Peel, and in 1841 was sworn Privy Councilor and became Vice President of the Board of Trade and Master of the Mint; President of the Board of Trade from 1843-45; Secretary of State for the Colonies 1845-46: Chancellor of the Exchequer 1852-55, 1859-66, and 1873-74. In 1868 he became First Lord of the Treasury and Prime Minister, which position he retained until Feb. 17, 1874, when the Ministry of Disraeli came into power. Gladstone, in early public life, was a Tory, but gradually his political views changed, and since 1859 he has been the leader of the Liberal party. For further particulars see George Barnett Smith's "Life of Gladstone," a full review of which may be found in THE DAILY INTER OCEAN of Jan. 10, 1880. His present address is Right Hon. William E. Gladstone, M. P., London, England. 2. Thomas Buchanan Read, poet and portrait painter, died in New York May 11, 1872.

FOSTER AND WADE.

ALDEN, Harden County. Iowa, Jan 20, 1880. 1. Who was Vice President under Andrew Johnson? 2. How was he chosen? 3. Give a short history of his life.

Answer.-1. Lafayette S. Foster served for the first two years and Benj. F Wade the remainder of the term. 2. They were elected by the Senate as President pro tem of that body, and acting Vice President of the United States. 3. Foster was born in Franklin, Conn., in 1806, and studied law. He was chosen to the General Assembly of that State, and served three terms as Speaker of the House of Representatives. In 1851 he was chosen Mayor of Norwich, and again the following year, when he received every vote cast. In 1854 he was elected to the United States Senate, and at the expiration of his term was elected for another six years. In March, 1865, he was chosen President pro tem. of the Senate, and on Mr. Johnson becoming President became acting President, which position he for two years. In 1874 he was elected a Judge of the Court of Errors and the Superior Court of Connecticut. Benj. F. Wade was born at Springfield, Mass., Oct. 27, 1800. He moved to Ohio in 1821, and was admitted to the bar of that State in 1828. In 1835 he was elected Prosecuting Attorney for his district, and two years later State Senator. He became United States

he

Vice

held

Senator in 1851 and served until 1869, and succeeded Mr. Foster in 1867. He was one of the commission sent to Santo Domingo to report upon the purposed acquisition of that island. His death occurred about a year and a half ago.

THE TWO WEBSTERS.

NEW SHARON, Iowa, Jan. 25, 1880. 1. Give a brief sketch of Noan and Daniel Webster. 2. Who is the chemist that a few months ago proclaimed nearly all the sixty elements in nature, heretofore considered simple, to be capable of analysis? J. C. STANLEY.

Answer.-Daniel Webster was born in New Hampshire, 1782. In 1805 he was admitted to the bar, and practiced the first two years at Boscawen, when he removed to Portsmouth, N. H. Here he soon gained the reputation of being the ablest lawyer in the State, and in 1812 was elected to Congress, but after serving two terms withdrew, preferring to devote himself exclusively to his profession. He now moved to Boston, where he had a larger field, and soon rose to be the foremost lawyer in all New England. In 1822 he was elected to Congress by the voters of Boston, and remained there until 1828, when he was elected a member of the United States Senate. In 1841 he was appointed Secretary of State by President Harrison, and was retained in office by President Tyler, but resigned his office in 1843. Two years later he was again elected to the Senate, which office he held till his death, in 1852. Noah Webster was born at West Hartford, Conn., in 1778 He graduated from Yale College, and was admitted to the bar in 1781. Soon after this he became a schoolteacher, and wrote several very able dissertations on the English language. In 1793 he began to issue in New York a daily paper called the Minerva, which was soon after changed to Commercial Advertiser. About the year 1798 he removed to New Haven, and began his labors on his "Dictionary on the English Language," which was published in 1828. He died in May, 1843. 2. Professor Lockyer, of London, England.

Answer.-In Indiana, in order to obtain a divorce, the person applying for the same must have been a resident of the State for the space of two years, and of the county where the petition is filed six months. If a man has been sued for separate maintenance, and desires a full divorce, his proper course is to file a cross-bill praying for the same, which he may do immediately upon the filing of the bill for separate maintenance. In Kansas the plaintiff in an action for divorce must have been an actual resident of the State for one year next preceding the filing of the petition, and a resident of the county where the action is brought.

[CONGRESSMEN'S TRAVELING EXPENSES.

CONCORD. Wis., Jan. 5, 1880. 1. Do United States Congressmen receive mileage both ways? 2. What is the distinction between cashmere and camel-hair shawls? 3. Please inform me how to measure timothy and red-top hay in the mow? E. O. PETRIE.

Answer.-1. Congressmen in 1873 were allowed their actual traveling expenses from their homes to the seat of government and return, by the most direct route of usual travel, once for each session of the House. But in 1874 this law was

repealed, and Congressmen are now allowed 20 cents per mile for traveling expenses. 2. Cashmere shawls are made from the fine wool of the Thibet goat, which abounds in large numbers in Cashmere, a kingdom in the northwest part of India. Camelhair shawls are made from the long hairs which grow on the back of the camel. 3. An 8-foot cube or 512 cubic feet will make A about a ton of hay at the top part of a mow. 712-foot cube of hay will make a ton at the bottom of the mow.

MALTESE CATS-HALLOWEEN.

BELOIT, Wis., Jan. 26, 1880. 1. In speaking of a Maltese cat, what does the word Maltese mean? Has it reference to the breed or color? 2. What was the origin of Halloween? When and where? NORMAN H. FARNHAM. Answer.-1. It has reference to the breed of the cat. The Maltese cat is a native of Malta, from which it derives its name. 2. Halloween, or All Hallows' Eve, occurs on Oct. 31, the night preceding All Saints' or All Hallows' Day. It takes its origin from the conversion in the Seventh Century of the Pantheon at Rome into a Christian place of worship and its dedication to the Virgin and all the martyrs. It was first celebrated on May 1, but that date was subsequently changed by the church to Nov. 1. But the "Halloween" of to-day has nothing churchly about it, and seems a relic of pagan times, or perhaps of medieval superstitions, which regard it as the time of all others when supernatural inflences prevail, and which set apart the night for a universal walking abroad of spirits, both of the visible and invisible world, for on this mystic evening it was believed that even the human spirit might detach itself from the body and wander forth. Halloween appears to be clearly allied to the witch-festival or the assembling of evil spirits on the summit of the Brockem in the Hartz Mountains, and observed in Germany on the 1st of May, the day, as already noticed, dedicated to the Christian saints. This legend, being almost coeval, and early associated with the latter day, it is probable that in England the transfer of this day to Nov. 1 carried with it the superstitions attributed to the preceding night. It has now come to be in some parts of this country and Great Britain a night to be devoted to sports and practical jokes. Nuts and apples are in requisition on that night in the South of England, giving it there the name of "Nut-cracker Night," while in parts of this country, notably in the State of Maryland, the grand sport of "ducking" or "bobbing" for apples set afloat in a tub of water is the popular amusement.

OLDEST EUROPEAN LANGUAGE. MATTOON, Ill., Jan. 20, 1880. Which is the oldest European language? MRS. A. F. CUSHMAN. Answer.-The Basque language, which is now spoken in the Basque Provinces, Spain, and is also prevalent in Navarre, is now spoken by about 600,000 Spanish and French. Its native name is Eskuara. It cannot be classed with any Indo-European or Semitic tongue, and appears to be of earlier origin, presenting some grammatical analogies with Mongol, North America, and certain East African languages, and is generally conceded to be the oldest European language.