The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-04-05
INTERESTING FACTS.

Chocolate, the flour of the cocoa
nut, was first introduced into Eng
land from Mexico, i'm the year 1920,
and soon after became fayorite
beverage in London coffee-houses.
The most ancient manuscripts are
written without accents, stops, or
separation between the words, nor
was ii until after the ninth century
that copyists began TO leave spaces
between words.
The most stupendous canal in the
world is one in China, which passes
over two thousand miles, and to forty
two cities; it was commenced as fan
back as the tenth century.
TIE first bank was established in
Italy in the year sos, by the Lom-
bard Jews, of whom, some settled on
Lombard street, London, where many
banks have ever since been located.
The first piece of artillery was in
vented 10y German, soon after the
invention of gunpowder, and artillery
was first used by the Moors at AL
gesiras, in Spain, over 500 years ago.
Billiards were invented by Henri
que Devigue, French artist, in the
reign of Charles TX, about the year
1871, and at once became most fash
ionable and captivating game among
all classes.
Armorial bearings became heredit-
airy at the close of the twelfth CEN
fury, and took their origin from the
Crusaders, who were accustomed to
paint their banners with various de-
vices.
The oldest and largest chain bridge
in the world is said to be that at
Kingstung, in China, where it forms
Il safe and perfect road from the top of
one lofty mountain to another.
Calico, the well known cotton
cloth, is named from Calicot, city in
India, from whence it first came.
Calico was not known in England at
all until as late as the year 1851.
Among the Romans all men of full
age were obliged to marry, and it is
even a modern law OF England which
infiicts a fine upon all bachelors in
the kingdom, of twenty-five years
and over.
Women never appeared upon the
We're represented by men until as
late as 1862, when Charles III. first
encouraged their public appearances.
Glass bottles were made in England
about 1858, but the art was practised
among the Romans in the year 10 A.
d., as they have been found plenti-
fully among the ruins of Pompeii.
The bayonet derives its name from
the place where it was invented,
BayOnne, in France, and was first
used by the French in the year 1903,
and soon became universal.
The practice of insurance is of great
antiquity, and was known in the
time of Claudius Caesar, A. ID. 43. 1t
is certain that assurance of ships at
sea was practised as early as TIE year
45 A. ID.
The first book ever printed was the
book of Psalms, 10y Faust and Schaf-
fer, A. D., 1457. 1t was printed on
one side only of the leaves, after
which they were, in the binding,
pasted back to back.
Bowling was a famous old Eng
lish game, and was very common as
early as the 18th century. Charles L.
played at it, and it was daily sport
with Charles III. at Tunbridge.
japanese auctions are conducted on
n novel plan, but one which gives
rise to none of the noise and cenfu-
sion which attend such sales in
America Each bidder writes his
name and bid upon slip of paper,
which he places in box. When the
bidding is over the box is opened by
the auctioner, and the goods declared
the property OF the highest bidder.