Mountain Democrat., 1857-10-24
Oaraous Faeas from History.

The Saxons first introduced archery
in the time Of Vcltigcur. TWAS dropped
Immediately after the conquest, but rcvi-
we'd by the crusaders, they having felt
the effects of it from the Parthians. Bows
and arrows, as weapons Of war, and stone
cannon bal Is were in use as late as 1910.
It is singular that all the statutes for the
announcement Of archery were framed
after the invention of gunpowdcr and
firearms. Yew trees were encouraged III
churchyards, for the making Of bows, i'll
1T42. Hence their generality in church
yards in England at the present time.
Coats-of arms came into vogue in the
reign of Richard l. of England, and be-
came hereditary in families about the
year 1892. They took theirrisc from the
knights painting their banners with dill
ferent figures to distinguish them i'll the
crusades.
The first standing army Of modern
times was established by Charles VII. OF
France. in 1863. Previous to that time
the king had depended on his mobiles for
contingents in time of war. \ standing
army was first established in England in
1888 by Charles l., but it was declared
illegal, as we'll as the organization Of the
Roval Guards in 1870. The first perma-
nent military band instituted in England,
was the Ycomeu of the duards, establish
I'd in 1486.
Guns were invented by Swartz, Ger
man, about the year 1873, and were bro't
into use by the Vcnitians in 1882. Can
mons were invented at an anterior date
They were first used at the battle ol
Cressy in 1916. In England, they were
first used at the siege Of Berwick, in
l4O5. It was not until 1544, however
that they were cast in England. They
were used on board Of ships by the Veni
tians in 1535, and were in use among the
Turks about the same time. An artillery
company was instituted in England, fol
weekly exercise, in the year 1910.
Insurance on ships was first practiccd
in the reign of Caesar in the year 45. II
was general custom in Europe in 1104
Insurance Offices were first established ir
London, in 1907.
Astronomy was first studied by thu
Moors, and by them introduced into Eu
rope, in 1901. The rapid growth Of mod
ern astronomy dates from the time o
Capernicus. Books Of astronomy ant
geometry were destroyed as infected witt
magic in England, during the reign o
Edward W., in the year 1862.
Banks were first established by LON
bard jews in Italy. The name is derived
from JancO-bench, benches being ercc
ted in the market places for the exchange
of money, etc. The first public bank
was at Venice, about 1860. The Bank o
England was established in 1893. lr
1899 its notes were ut 20 per cent dis
count.
The invention of bells is attributed tc
Polonius, Bishop of Nola, Campania, near
the year 400. They were first introduced
into churches as q defence against thun
der and lightning. They were put up al
Croyland Abby, Lincolnshire, in 945. Ir
the eleventh century, and later, it wa:
the custom to baptize them in the chur
chcs before they were used. The cur
few bell was established in 1918. 1t wa!
rung at eight o'clock in the evening, whcr
people were obliged to put out their fire.
and candles. The custom was abolished
in1100. Bellmen were appointed in Lon
don in 1856, to ring the bells ut night
and cry out" Take care of your fire
and candle-bo charitable to the poor
and pray for the dcad!"
How many arc aware of the origin O1
the word "boo," used to frighten chill.
drcn? It Is n corruption Of +hc word
"Boh," the name of fierce Gothic gene.
ral the son Of Odin, the mention Of whose
name spread panic among his enemies.
Book keeping was first introduced into
England from Italy, by Peelo, in l55G.-
1t was derived from system of algebra
published at Venice by Burgo.
Notarics public were first appointed by
the fathers of the Christian Church, to
collect the acts and memoirs Of martyrs
in the first sanctuary.
The administration Of tho oath in civil
cases is of high antiquity. Sec Exodus,
xxi, 10. Swearing ON the Gospels was
first used in 529. The oath was first ad.
ministcred in judicial proceedings in Eng.
land, by the Saxons, in 600. The words,
$50 help me God and all Saints" conclu-
ded an oath till the year 1860.
Signals to be used atsca were first con-
trivcd by James ii. when Duke of York,
in 1865. They were afterwards improved
upon by the French commander, Tour
vile, and by Admiral Isalchcn.
Raw silk is said tOhavc been first made
by people of China called Scras, 14O
Is. G. 1t was first brought from India in
275, and pound OF it at that time was
worth pound of gold. The manufac-
ture Of raw silk was introduced into Eu-
ropc from India, in $50. Silk dresses
were first worn IN 1855. The eggs of the
silkworln were first brought to Europe in