The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-07-24
A Leafw6rth Preserving.
CURIOUS FACrs rtsoM uIsr,py


The Saxons first in.rodsieed archery in ,1te
time of Voltigeur: twas dropped immodia
tely after conquest, but revived nv the
crusaders, tney having sfelt the. effects of il
from the Saracens, who probably derived it
from the Partbians. Bows and arrows, as
weapons ofwar, were in use with stone can.
non ball so late as 1910. 1t is singular that
all the statutes for the encouragement of arch.
crysswere framed after the invention of gun
powder and firear,nes. iEfYct trees weFS en-,
cournged in church yards for the making Of
bows in 1882 Hence their generality in
chqrclkyafds in England.
Conts of arms came into vogue in She reign
of Richard I, Of England, and BECOME iieredi-
tary in families about the year 1892 They
took their rise from the knights painting their
banners with differcHtf figures to distinguish
lsthem in the erusades.
/ eatablisbed by Charles VII Of France, in l445
| Previous to that ,time the king depended up.
on his mobiles for contingents in time. of war
A standing army wns first established. in En-.
gland in 1888 by Charles !, but it was deolar.
ed illegal, as well as the organization of the
royal guards in 1879. The first permanent
military bann instituted in England, was the
yc"nen 'of the guards, established in 1856.
Guns.Hwere invented by Swartz, n German
about 1873. and were brought into use by the.
Vcnctinns III 1882 Cannon Were invented Il t
! an exterior date. They were ii rSt used mt the.
battle of Cressy in 1876. In England they
were first used ut the siege Of Berwick in llo:,.
+! 1t was not until 1911, however, That they were
east III England. They We're used on Loavl of
ships by til" Ernctans in 1852, and were in
use among the Turks nb"ut te same time An
artillery company was instituted in England
for weekly military exercises in 1910.
Y Insurance ofsliips was first practis,.l i'm the
reign OF C'ccsar. ib ~. 1t was general cus-
! tom III Europe i'll Jl9i. Insurance offices wcr.
first established in I"nl"n in 1867.
! Astronomy was first studied hv the Moors.
aud was by them introduced into Europe in
/ l20l The rapid progress of modern aslrono.
my dates from the time Of G"pcrnc,ls Books
OF astronomy and geometry were DESTROYED. ns
inflicted with magic in England, under tin.
reign of Edward W. insl5.2
Books were first established bv the LON.
bard Jews in Italy. The name is derived
! the market places for the exchange Of money.
DC. The first public bank was ut Venice.
about $50. The Bank of England was cstai,.
iIshcd in 1893. SIn 1886 its notes were at 20
per cent discount.
The Invention of bells is attributed to Pau
mus l'shopo Nola, III Cainpanin, about the
year 400. They Were first introduced into
churches as defence against thunder aud light
ming. They were first hung up in England at
Croyland Abbey, Lincolnshire. IN ?i5. In tin,
eleventh century and later, it was the cusf6m
to bnptize them in the churches before they
were used. The curfew bell was established in
l06s 1t was rung NJ eight in the evening.
when people were obliged to put ont their fl re
and candle. The custom was abolished in
llo0:s Bcllmcn were appointed in London in
; 1886, to ring the bells ut night, and cry Take
| care OF your fire nnl candle be charitable to
the poor. and pray for the dead"
| How many are aware of the origin Of the
word boo! used T." frightcn children 1t
! is " corruption Of Bob, the nnrne ofa ficr.,
! Gothic General the son of Odin the mention
OF whose maine spread panic among his enc
I mics.
! Book keeping first introduced into En-
gland fr"m Italy hy peele, in 1859. It was
| derived from n system Of algebra published bv
| Bur"o ut Venice.
Notaries pnhlic We're first appointed bv the
! fathers Of the Chris; ian Church. to collect the
acts or memoirs of martyrs in the first centu-
! ~.
| The ADMINISTRATION of the oatl, in civil eases
! is Of high antiquity. See Exodus, 2a-.lo
Swearing on the gospel was ut first used in
52S. The oath was first administered in Judi.
cial proceedings in England. by the Saxons in
Gn'. The words $50 help. me God aud all
Saints, concluded an oath till 1864.
! Signals TO be used at sea were first contri-
we'd by James l., when Duke of New York.
! 1860 They were afterwards improved bv the
French commander Tourville. and by Admi.
| rablc Balchen.
Raw silk il said to have first been made by
! people Of China. called Ceres, l5O b. c. it
was first brought to India 27I and a pouiftl of
| 1T ut TINT time WAS worth pound Of gold
The manufacture Of raw silk wa. introduced
| into Europe from India by some monks in $50
Silk dresses We're first worn in 1855. The
eggs of the silk worm were first brought into
! Europe in 527.-Eoston .Jourmal.