The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-05-26
CURIOUS FACTS FROM HISTORY.

| The Saxons first introduced archery in the
time of Voltigeur. 1t was dropped immediate
| ly after the conquest, but revived by the cru
saders, they having felt the effects Of it from
| the Saracef's, who probably derived it from the
Parthians. Bows and arrows as weapons Of
war were in use with stone cannon balls SO late
| that all the statutes for the encouragement o.
archery we've framed after the invention of gun
| powder and fire arms. Yew trees were cncour
aged in church yards, for the making of bows
in l482. Hence their generality in church
yards in England.
| Coats of arms came into vogus IN the reign
Of Richard / of England, and became heredi
| tary in families about the year 1892. They
took their rise from the knights painting their
banners with different figures to distinguish
them in the crusade.
| The first standing army of modern times was
established by Charles VII of France, in l445
| Previous to that time the king had depended
| upon his mobiles for contngents in time of war
A standing army was first established in Eng,
| land in 1893 by Charles l. but it was declared
illegal, as well as the royal guards in 1919
| The first permanent military band instituted in
| England was the yeomen of the guards estab
| lish in l4s6.
Guns were invented by Swartz German
about 1878, and were brought into use by the
Venetians in 1882 Cannons were invented at
an anterior date They were first used at the
battle of Greasy in 1916, In England they
were first used al the siege of Berwick in l4O5
1t was not until 1914, however, that they were
cast in England. They were used on board OF
| ships by the Venetians in 1889, and were in
use among the Turks about the same time, An
artillery company was Instituted in England
for weekly military exercises In l6l0.
Insurance of ships was first practiced in the
reign of Caesar in As. 1t was general custom
in Europe in 1894. Insurance 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 astron-
omy dates from the time Of Copernicus. Books
of astronomy and geometry were destroyed, as
| infected with magic, in England, under the
reign of Edward vi, in 1862.
Banks were FIRST established by the Lombard
Jews in Italy. The name is derived from JdRco,
bench--benches being erected in the market
places for the exchange of money, &c. The
first public bank was at Venice, about $50.
The Bank of England was established in 1899,
In 1896, its notes were at twenty per cont dis.
count.
The invention pf bells is attributed to Pau
linus, Bishop Of Noia, in Campania about the
year 400. They were first introduced into
churches as defence against thunder and light
ming. They were first hung up in England at
oyland Abbey, Lincolnshire, in 945. In the
eleventh century and later, it was the custom to
baptize them in the churches before they were
used. The curfew bell was established in 1868.
1t was rung at eight in the evening, when peo-
pie we're obliged to put out their FIRE and can
die, The custom was abolished in Ito. Bell
men were appointed in London in 1856, to ring
the bells at night, and cry "Take care of your
fire and candle, be charitable to the poor, and
pray for the dead"
How many are aware of the Origin Of the
word Boo" used to Tighten chidrep2 1t is
corruption Of Roh, the name of fierce Gothic
General, tAe son of Odip, the mention of whose
name spread panic among his enemies.
Bookkeeping was frat introduced into Eng
land from Italy by Peele, in 1869. 1t was de-
rived from a system of algebra published by
Burgo, at Venice,
Notaries Public were first appointed by the
Fathers of the Christian Church, to collect the
acts and memoirs of martyrs in the first Gen.
fury, 4 rs 4t ttas sea-1 i.l4 i
The administration of the oath in civil cases
is of high antiquity. See Exodus 22-l0.
Swearing on the gospels was at FIRST used in
52S. The oath was administered in judicial
proceedings in England by the Saxons in quo.