River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1872-09-13
Why {!

"mantei Because ~ Is work raised
before a chimney TO conceal it; mantel
originally signifying a cloak.
Why is a chicf magistrate called
mayor? Because OF It's origin from the
Teutcnic Meyer, a lover or, might.
Why is the game of whist so called?
Because it requires strict silence thus,
Whist that is, be silent.
Why is an embalmed body called a
mummy? Because OF its origin from
the Egyptian word mum, wax, which is
used in embalming. TIE custom of
emblamine originated in vanity
amongst the Egyptians OF being consid.
cred immortal. ..t
Why are the edicts Of the Pope called
bulls /? Because the seals appended to
them were formerly of gold bullion.
The bull of Pope Clement VII, con.
ferring the title of Defender of the
Faith on Henry Will, had such a seal
of gold affixed to it.
Why is potash so called? Because it
was formerly procured by burning veget-
ables in pots. Potash is now prepared
in large quantities in wine countries by
the incarceration Of wine.lees and must.
Why is soda so called? Because it is
procured by burning the plant salsola
soda, which grows on the Spanish coast.
Why do the properties of soda and
potash differ in soap making? Because,
with soda, oil forms hard soap; with
potash, a soft one.
Why do pearlash and water emove
grease spots? Because the pearl ash
unites chemically with the grease, form.
ing species of soap, which easily wash.
es out.
Why is common yellow earthenware
called "delf?n Because it vas originally
manufactured at the town OF Delft, in
Holland.
Why is a conceited person called q
coxcomb? Because his resemblance to
the fool in the early drama, who was
dressed in motley clothes, and wore a
cap surmounted with the neck and
head of a cock, or sometimes only the
creast, or comb.
Why is the X used as a mark? Be.
cause Withered, King OF Kent. first
adopted the sign OF the cross for his
mark TO his grants, he being incapable
OF writing $ name. The majority Of
the barons who signed the Ma ma Charts,
made their marks, beng ignorant of the
science OF writing
Why are certain animals called rumi.
mating? Bee. use the first imperfectly
chew and swallow their food, and sub.
sequently return il through the p5opha-
gus or outlet, in small quantities at q
time, to the mouth, here to be thor
oughly masticated, and then swallowed
a ,econd time.
Why do certain anima's see in the
dark? Because the r eyes are usually
Of a large size to admit a greater mum
her of rays, aad that part which is called
the ehoruides, reflects instead of absorbs
he light.
Why do cats see in the dark Because
the external rays OF light, of which
there are some in most dark places,
after being concentrated by those parts
which are called the eorrea and the
cry stalline lens, are reflected in bril-.
liant concaye mirror at the bottom of
the eye, c;.lled the tapetum. The con.
strueton, therefore, OF the eye of the
cat tribe enables them to collect in one
focus whatever light may be found
and few places are so dark but that
some light m y be found as we know
when We have gone into a cellar, where
the darkness at FIST appears impene
trable, but where, even with our differ
emily constructed organ of vision, we
soon distinguish objects without d fiji
Gully.
Why doe the trunk of the elephant
seize upon large and small objects with
equal cei tainty? Because the muscles
OF the trunk, which are nearly 10000,
have the power of distinct motion.
Why are birds called oyiparous Be
cause they produce their young from
the egg ovstm an egg, and pario to bring
forth.
Why does some stone decay rapidly,
although very hard when first dug from
the quarry Because it abounds with
clay or alumine, which has so great an
affinity for water as TO absorb moisture
from the atmosphere, and thus destroy
itself.
Why is the terrier so,called? Because
it burrows the earth terra in pursuit Of
foxes. r.