Chapter V: G. Bush, Cayuga, Ill.—A young lady ceases to be a minor when she

attains the age of 18. 2. Brokerage is computed on the face, or par value of stock.

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H. Joint, Logan, Kan.—The statutes of California declare the marriage of white and colored persons unlawful. The Constitution of the United States does not forbid it.

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Milton T. Cox, Fairmount, Ind.—The steamship Alaska, which made the quickest time on record from New York to Queenstown, viz., 6 days 18 h 37 m, sailed 2,925.7 miles. This may be considered a fair estimate of the sailing distance between the two places.

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Ex-Soldier, Kellerton, Iowa—1. Alcohol thermometers are used for observing temperature below 38 degrees, though ordinarily they are not as accurate as mercurial thermometers.

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John A. Hughes, Grapeland, Texas—For the election of members of the lower house of the General Assembly of Illinois the State is districted so that three members represent each district. Then every elector is permitted to cast three votes. He may give three to one candidate, one and a half to each of two, or one to each of the three.

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Subscriber, Belmond, Iowa—The real name of Eli Perkins is M. D. Landon.

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G. W. D., Chicago.—As nearly as one can judge from the names, about four-fifths of the Chicago saloon-keepers are foreign born. As to their politics, it is hard to tell where to place them, except in a local election, when a majority of them are sure to be in favor of low license and anti-Sunday legislation.

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F. M. P., Clipper, Iowa.—It is probable Saint John died at Ephesus during the reign of the Emperor Trajan. Jerome states that he was 100 years old, Suidas 120 years. There is no reference to the age of Job, save that he lived 140 years after his trials ended. 2. Molasses is a singular noun.

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R. P. Drake, Shenandoah, Iowa—The origin of the word dude, is not certainly known. It has been in English slang for a 100 years at least. It has not been widely used in this country until comparatively recently, but in Salem, Mass., and vicinity, it has held a place in local slang for many years.

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Subscriber, Houghton, Mich.—St. Patrick’s Day is the day set apart in the Romish calendar for special religious observances in honor of the founder of the Christian church in Ireland, canonized by the Church of Rome as St. Patrick. It is probably not the day of his birth, since it is generally conceded that it is impossible to determine that.

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Mrs. J. R. Dowling, Wheatland, Iowa.—After the death of the great Roman general and statesman, Cæsar became a title of all of the Roman emperors, and from them has passed into several other European countries to designate the chief ruler. In Germany it appears as Kaiser, and in Russia as Czar. 2. We have lately answered your other questions.

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E. C. W., Garden City, Kan.—The Dry Tortugas and several other islands off the Florida coast belong to the United States. The government has a military station, hospital, etc. on the Dry Tortugas, and sometimes sends convicts there.

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A. V. Bacon, Lansing, Minn.—The principal reasons for outgoing trans-Atlantic steamers from the United States bearing north, are: the influence of the gulf stream running from the southern extremity of Florida up the American coast, making to northeastward between New Foundland and Ireland; the higher latitude of the British Isles; and in certain seasons the prevailing winds. “Imaginary lines” have nothing to do with their choice of this course. If the form of the earth was the only thing to be considered, the steamers would sail on the great circle connecting the port of departure and the port of destination, both going and coming, because such a circle marks the shortest distance between the two points on the sphere. But winds and currents are more important than shortest distances.

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E. D. Vorhes, Peotone, Ill.—We believe Whittier is sometimes referred to as the “bachelor poet,” but we know of no living poet of distinction referred to as “the boy poet.” Isaac Watts wrote verses at a very early age, despite of all the attempts of his father to reform him of this weakness. Our own William Cullen Bryant, who was very fond of declaiming some of Watts’ hymns at 7, 6, and even 5 years of age, began to make verses of his own at 8 years, and wrote a poem for a school examination at 10 years, which was of sufficient merit to become a stock declamation in other schools. He wrote “The Embargo” and “The Spanish Revolution” when he was but 13. Henry Kirke White wrote good poetry before he was 15, and published a volume of poems when he was not quite 17. Other “boy poets” there have been, but who is the “boy poet,” so recognized, of this prosaic age?

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Fred Cooke, Butte City, M. T.—Probably New York State leads all others in the quantity and quality of marketable apples produced and in the prices realized.

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Adaline, Moline, Ill.—A lady writing to a person who does not know whether she is single or married should sign Mrs. or Miss ——, as otherwise the receiver cannot tell how to address his reply.

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A. P. Hargrave, Lowden, Iowa.—The rectangular system of survey was adopted by the United States Government May 20, 1785, several years before the adoption of the present constitution. It was put to practice first in Southwestern Ohio; the first principal meridian being run from the mouth of the Great Miami.

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Theodore Wiltz, Dana, Ill.—Yes, “a person who has resided in the United States but one year, and has only taken out his first naturalization papers can pre-empt or make a homestead entry in Dakota.” He does not need to reside in the country a year; fifteen minutes is long enough after he has formally declared his intention to become a citizen: so great-hearted and liberal is “Uncle Sam.”

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Charles W. Collins, Louisville, Wis.—In cases of simultaneous applications to enter under the homestead laws, the rule is as follows: Where neither party has improvements on the land, it should be sold to the one who bids highest. Where one has actual settlement and improvements and the other none, it should be awarded to the actual settler. Where both allege settlement and improvements, an investigation must be had, and the lands awarded to him who shows the prior actual settlement and substantial improvements, each as to be notice on the ground to any competitor.

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Inquirer, ——, Kan.—The law making it necessary for an officer of one State to have a requisition from the Governor of the same upon the authorities of another State before he can arrest and take therefrom any person charged with crime is designed to prevent persons from being transported to other States, in some cases far from home, friends, business interests, to be tried among strangers, without good evidence that a crime of some magnitude has been committed. Similar reasons, but of much less cogency, apply in support of laws limiting the authority of sheriffs and constables to the counties to which they belong, except when armed with special warrants.

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