Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-02-25

paratively modern article of diet.
Great Britain received the name of
Albion, by which it is often called, from
Julius Cesar, on account of the chalky
cliffs upon the coast, on his invasion,
half century before Christ.
The Koran, or Mahommedan Bible,
was written by Mahomed, assisted by
Baticas, Jacobin, Scrgius, Nestori-
an monk, and by learned Jew, and
was published about the year 61O A. D.
Animal magnetism is no new discov-
cry, but was practiced by father He'll
at Vienna, about 1774, and had won
derful success for q while in France
and England in 1888 and 1889.
The first book ever printed was the
book Of Psalms, by Faust and Schaf-
fer, A. D., 1457. 1t was printed on
one side only of the leaves, which were,
in the binding, pasted back to back.
Among the Romans, all men of full
age we're obliged to marry, and it is
even modern law of England which
inAicts fine upon all bachelors in the
kingdom, of twenty FIVE years and over.
The first bank was established by the
Lombard Jews, A. D. 500. The word
bank is derived from b0ncho, a bench,
which was erected in the market place
for the exchange Of money.
Calico, the well known cotton fabric,
is named from Calicot, city Of India,
from whence it first came. Calico was
. first brought to England in 1851.
The largest and oldest chain bridge
in the world is said to be that at King
tung, in China, where 1t forms rer-
feet road from the top Of ono noun
tain to the top of another.
The piano forte was invented by J.
c. Schroeder, of Dresden, in the year
TIT, during which year he presented
a model Of his invention to the court of
Saxony. They Immediately became
popular.
The bayonet derives its name from
the place where it was invented, Bay
onne, in France, and was first used in
battle as weapon by the French, in
the year 1903, proving a novel and ef-
fcient arm.
Bearded women have been known in
every age; one was seen at the court
Of the Gear Peter l., in 1924, with a
beard Of immense length. Margaret,
governess of the Netherlands, had q
heavy beard.
Bowling is an English game, and was
common there as early as the thir-
teenth century, especially among the
higher ranks. Charles l. played at it,
and it formed daily occupation for
leisure hours with Charles II.
Stone bullets were used until the
year 1914, when iron was adopted. 1t
was nearly the close of the sixteenth
century before leadcn bullets were gen.
orally adopted. Stone cannon-balls
arc yet used in the East.
The practice and principle of insu-
rance is Of great antiquity, and was
known in the time of llaudius Cas ar,
A. D., 4S, 1t is certain that assurance
on ships at sea was practiced as early
as the year As, A. y.
! Chocolate was first introduced into
England from Mexico, A. D., 1920.
1t was made from the flower of the CO.
coa-nut, and soon became very popu-
lar and universally used in London
coffee houses.
STEADINEss OF PURPOSE over
comes diAiculties-nct with rush and
a shout, but one by one. They melt
away before the incessant pressure as
icebergs before the steady radiance of
the sun. 1t gives one the strength of
a happy conscience. A weather-co
Of a man, whiting about with every
breeze, cannot have true quietness of
mind. Dissatisfaction worries and an
noys him +; but a cheerful vigor and en-
ergy grows out ef intelligent and unva-
rying purpose. 1t gives dignity and
honor to character. Men cannot but
admire the mind that marches steadily
on through sunshine and shade, calms
and storms, smiles and frowns, glad for
favor, but pressing on without it
thankful for aid, but fixed on advance
ing at all events. Such men cut out
for themselves character which cannot
but be seen and honored. 1t gives sue
cess. In any enterprise that is not
downright madness, such q man must
succeed. He has the chief element Of
q triumph over every difficulty, and If
he is not an idiot, he will do something
in the world. But he will reach this
end not, perhaps, by sudden, rapid
movements, but assuredly. When you
want to find him, by and by, YOU will
know where to look. You will look at
the topmost round Of the ladder of sue
cess, and you are sure to find him about
there somewhere.
i PoINTLEss SRRMoNs.-Iu one of his
discourses John Newton has this pithy
remark:
"Many sermons, ingenious of their
kind, may be compared to . letter put
into the post Office without direction.
It is addressed to nobody, owned by
nobody, and if hundred persons were
to read it, not one Of them would think
hirself concerned in the contends
Such, whatever excellence it may have,
lacks the chief requisite of a sermon.
It is like sword which has polished
blade, jewelled hilt, gorgeous scab-
bard, but yet will not cut, and, there
fore for real use, is no sword. The
truth, properly presented, has an edge
ii pierces to the dividing asundcr of
soul and spirit !; it is a discerner of the