The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-12-27
Our 0liu.
USEFUL INFORMATION.
Complied for The Democratic Adsoeafe
ny J. S. q.

Complied for The Democratic Adroeafe
ny J. S. q.
A CHAPTER OF INTERESTING FACTS.
Envelopes were first used IN 1889.
The hrst air pump was made in 1850.
The hrst pen was made in 1880.
An@sthesia was FIRST discovered 10 1874.
The first balloon ascent was made in
1888.
The first lucifer match was made in
1863.
The first iron steamship was built in
1880.
Coaches were first used 10 England in
1889.
The FIRST horse railroad was built in 1926
4.
The entire Hebrew Bible was printed
in 1888.
Gold was first discovered in California
in 1913.
The FIRST steamboat piled the Hudson in
1907.
0mnibuses we're introduced in New York
10 1880.
Kerosene was first used for lighting pur-
pose in 1862.
The first watches were made in Nurem.
burg, in l477.
The first newspaper advertisement ap.
peared in 1862.
The first copper cent was coined in New
Haven 10 1857,
The first use Of locomotive In this coun-
try was in 1929.
The first telescope was probably used
in Finland in 1920.
The first saw-maker's anvil was brought
to America in 17l4.
The first almanac was printed by George
Won Purbach, in AGO.
The first ehimneys were introduced into
Rome from Padua in 1868,
The first printing press in the United
States was introduced in 1920.
Glass windows were first introduced into
England in the eighth century.
The first steam engine on this continent
was brought from England in 1853.
The first complete sewing machine wa,
patented by Elias Howe, Jr., in 1916.
The first society for the promotion ol
Christian knowledge was organized iu
1898.
The first algebra originated with Dio
phantus, in either the fourth or the sixth
century.
Glass was early discovered. Glass bead
were found on mummies over 5000 year.
old
The first attempt to manufacture pin
in this country was made soon after tn,
war Of 1912.
Organs are said to have been introduced
into churches by Pope Yitallanus about A
d. 1880.
The first glass factory in the Unite,
States, of which We have definite knowl
edge, was built in 1880.
The first national bank in the Unite,
States was incorporated by Congress De
cember 81, 1888.
The first temperance society 10 thi
country was organized in Saratoga county
49, a = ~ haiCu, lcuo-
n. ss-st .,naehiaa- far, esn nd.1,a sNei''
aud spinning cotton made in the Unitel
States was manufactured in 1856.
The first compass was used in Frame
in 1850, though the Chinese are said {,
have employed the loadstone earlier
The first society for the exclusive purpos
Of circulating the Bible was organized il
1905, under the name of british an,
Foreign Bible Society"
The first telegraph instrument was sue
cessfully operated by s. +. b. Morse, th
inventor, in 1885, though the utility wa
not demonstrated to the world until 1874
The first daily newspaper appeared il
1903. The first newspaper in the Unite,
States was published in Boston, Septembe
%, 1890, The first religious newspaper
the Record, was established 10 1915.
How RAIN Is FoRMED.-To under
stand the philosophy Of this beautiful an,
often sublime phenomenon, so often wit
messed since the creation, aud essential t,
the very existence Of animals, few fact
derived from observation, and a Ion,
train Of experiments must be observed
l. Were the atmosphere, everywhere
at all times, at u uniform temperature, W,
should never have rain, or hail, or snow
the water absorbed by its evaporation frou
the sea and the carth's surface, would de
scend in an impenetrable yapor, or csas
to be absorbed by the air when once full
saturated.
2 The absorbing powers of the atmos
phere, and consequently its eapability I,
retain humidity, is proportionably CREATE
in cold than in warm weather.
3. The air near the surface of the eartl
is warmer than ia the regions of th
clouds. The higher we ascend from tn
earth, the colder VIC find the atmosphere
Hence the perpetual snow on very higl
mountains in the hottest climates. Now
when from continual evaporation, tn,
air is highly saturated with vapor, thougI
il be invisible, and the sky cloudless, If Il
temperature is suddenly reduced BY col,
currents Of air rising from higher TO
lower latitude, its capacity to retain mois
ture is diminished, clouds are formed, an,
the result is rain. Air condenses as |
cools, and, like sponge filed with waite
aud compressed, pours out the watel
which its diminished capacity can nol
contain.
AUTHORSHIP OF THE PsALMs.-It i
common to speak Of the entire book as th,
I" Psalms Of David" Whereas, it is prob
able that only seventy-three psalms-o
about one-half Of the collection--are frou
the inspired pen Of the poet-king Of Israel
Twelve Of the sacred songs are ascribed t,
4saPh, man Of exquisite delicacy o.
feeling, who lived during Dayid's reign
about 1000 years before the advent o
Christ Two Of them are ascribed to tha
universal genius, King solomon. That
lofty and melancholy PSALM the niaeti
eth, which has been chanted as the ianera
march Of so many departed saint, is uni
yersally held TO have been written b
Hoses himself. 1t Is probably the oldes
Of psalms, as Damascus is the Oldest O
cities. How magnificent this ancient lyri,
opens "Lord thou hast been the dwell
lNg-place Of thy people in all genention
Before the mountains were brought forth
or even thou hadst formed the earth ant
the world, even from everlasting to ever
lasting, thou art God r.