Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1857-07-17
From the Boston Journal
Curious Facts from History.

The Saxons first intro luced archery il
the time of Voltigeur. 1t was dropet
Immediately after the conquest. but re
vivel by the crusaders, they having fel
the effects of it from the Saracens, who
probably, derived it from the Parthians
Bows AMI arrows as we,p)ns of war
were in use. with stone cannon balls 81
late as 1910. 1t is singular that all thu
statutes for the encouragement of archer,
were framed after the invention of gun
powder and firearms. Yew trees were
encouraged in churchya rds, for the max
ing Of bows, in 1882. Hence their gen
erality in churchyards in England.
Coats of arms came into vogue in the
reign Of Richard I. Of England, and be
came hereditary in families about the
year 1892. They took their rise from
the knights painting their banners with
different Ggnres to distinguish them in
the crusades.
The first standing army Of modern
times was established by Charles VII. of
France. In HIS. Previous to that time
the king had depended upon his mobiles
for conting ,nts in time of war. A stand
ing army was first cs ablished in En- gland
in 1853 by Charles L., but it was dec ar
ed illegal, as we'll as the organization of
the royal guards in 1878. The first
permanent military band instituted in
England, was the yeomen of the guarls,
establishcd.i in 1886.
Guns were invented by Swartz. a Ger
man, about 1878. and were brought into
use by the Venctians in 1882 Cannon
were invented at an anterior date
They were first used at the blttle of
Cressy in 1916. In Engllnl they were
first used at the scise of Brewck in
1905. Itwas not until l5i4, however
that they were cast in England They
were used on board Of ships by the Ven
ctians in 1889, and were in use among
the Turks about the same time. An
artillery company was instituted in Eng
land for weekly military exercise, in
1910.
Insurance Of ships was first prlc;is d
in the reign of Caesar. in 45. 1t was
general custom in Elropc in 1874. In.
surance offices were first established in
London in 1867.
Astronomy was first studied by the
Moors, and was by them introduced into
Europe in 1901. The rapid progress of
modern astronomy dates from the time OF
Copernicus. Books of astronomy and
geometry were destroyed, as infected
with magic, in England unde the reign Of
Edward W., in 1862.
Banks were first established by the
Lombard Jews in Italy. The name is
derived from Jdnco, bench-benchs
being erected in the market places for
the exchange of money, e.. The pub.
lie bank was at Venice, about LOO
The bank of England was established in
1898. In 1906 its notes were at 20 per
cent. discount.
The invention of bells is attributed
to Paulinus, Bishop of Nola, in Canpania
about the year 400. They were first
introduced into churches as defense
against thunder and lightning in 600
They were first hung up in England at
Croylanl Abbey, Lincolnshire, in 945.-
In the eleventh century and later it was
custom TO baptize them in the churches be-
fore they were used. The curfew bell
was established in 1868. 1t was runy at
eight in the evening, when people were
obliged to put out their fire and candl,.
The custom was abolished in 100. Bell
men were appointed in London in 1856.
to ring the bells at nigl, and cry. Take
care Of your fire and candle. be charita-
bic to the poor, ard pray for the dead
How many are aware Of the origin of
the word "boo," used to frighton chill
dren, 1t is corruption of Bob, the
name Of a fierce Gothic General. the son
of Odd, the mention Of whose name
spread panic among his ons mics.
Book keeping was first introduced into
Eas and from l,aiy by Peele in l56o.-
1t was derived from system OF alge bra
published by Eargo at Venice.
No,aries Public were first appointed
by the Fathers of the Christian Church,
to collect the acts of memoirs Of martyrs
in the first century.
The administration ofthe oath in civil
cases is of high antiquity. See Exodus
Swearing on the gospel was
first use in 52s. The oath was first
in Judicial proceedings in
England by the Saxons .in 600. The
words ''so help Inc God and all Saints"
concluded an oath till 1850.
Signals to be used at sea were first
contrivcd by James H., when Duke of
York in lG65. They were afterwards
by the French commander
Tourville. and by Admiral Belchen.
Raw silk is said to have first been
made by people of China called Seres,
$50 b. c. 1t was first brought from
India PA, and pound of it at that time
was worth pound of gold The man.
ufacture Of raw silk was introduced into
Europe from India by some moaks in
$50. Silk dresses were first worn in
lass. The eggs of the silk worm were
first brought into Europe in 527.
MONKEYS THAT HAVE SEEN THE
WoRLD.-A traveller is native Of all
countries and an alien at home. His
are like sieve that lets