The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-12-27

eyes Is not great enough Age dries up
the humors Of the eye, and hattens the
ball. To hold objects further of, compen
safes for this defect.
Estimating the surface Of the body Of
middle.sized man 10 be sixteen square
feet, il must contain not fewer than o.
304 600 pores These pores are the mouths
OF 50 many vessels which perform the Office
of insensible perspiration.
In 1880, during the reign Of Queen
Elizabeth, proclamation was issued for
bidding the erection Of houses within three
miles Of London--on account of the too
great increase Of the city
An English physician says, any one
whose bearing is good, should be able TO
perceive the ticking of watch at the dis.
tanee Of twelve yards,
Probably not particle Of matter exists
on the surfacs Of the earth, that has not
at some time formed part Of living crea-
ture,
In Ireland there are three INES as
many rainy days as in Italy or Spain.
About 1900 Of the words in the Eng
lish language are Of Saxon origin.
One pint Of boiling water will make
$500 pints of steam
BELLs.-In China bells have been
made of enormous weight. Nankin was
aneiently famous for the largeness Of its
bells At Pekin there were seven bells
east in the reign Of Zouio, each weighing
10000 pounds, The sound Of the largest
Chinese bell was very poor, owing to its
belng struck with a piece Of wood, instead
Of metal clapper. A bell given to the
cathedral Of Moscow by the Gar God
unoff weighed $4,000 pounds, and an.
other given by the Empress Ann, probably
the largest in the known world, weighed
432,00 pounds The great hell at st.
Pauls weighs between 1900 and r.
0OO pounds, and is ten feet in diameter.
On this bell is inscribed "Riohard Phelps
made me, 17l6," and Peter Cunningham,
in his Handbook for London tells us
that it is never used except for striking of
the hour and for toling at the deaths and
funerals Of the royal family, the bishops
of London, and, should he die in his
mayoralty, the Lord Mayor" We bc.
lieve, however, that it tolled at the funeral
of Lord Nelson, aud at the deaths and fu.
nerals Of the Duke Of Wellington aud
Dean Millman.
OLDEST REPUBLIC ON EARTH.-The
American Quarterly Review contains a
letter from G. w. Irving, Esq, giving a
sketch Of his visit TO Marino, small re-
public 10 Italy, between the Apenines, the
Po, and the Adriatic. The territory of
the State is only forty miles iu circumfer-
enee, and its population is about 1000.
The republic was founded more than
400 years ago, on moral principles, in
dustry, and equality, and has preserved
its liberty and independence amid all wars
and discords which have ragged around it.
Bonaparte respected it, and sent an en-.
bassy to express his sentiments of friend.
ship and fraternity. 1t is governed by O
captain regent, chosen every six months
by the representatives of the people, sixty
in number,) who arc chosen every six
mon! months : bz s the people The s.fS: ssfG: nsi si
cultivated, and on all sides are seen com
fort aud plenty-the happy effect of mo
rality, simplicity aud frugality.
The present mace Of the corporation Of
London is believed to be the same referred
to by Stow in his annals, when describing
Queen Elizabeths procession to St. Paul,
in 1888 to return thanks for the destruc
tion of the Armada. 1t is fine specimen
Of goldsmith work Of the fourteenth and
fifteenth centuries, eighteen inches long
in great part of crystal cut with dia
mond-shapcd facets, encireled with gold
bands and studded with seed pearls. The
upper part is composed of four crosses and
four aeure de lis, and studded with three
rubies, three sapphiros, aud six very large
seed pearls. The 6curs de lis are supposeC
to have been added in the time of III,
Plantaseuets. Many other old cities o
England have very curious aud handsome
maces.
THE OLDEST UMBRELLA.-A gentle
man in Boston owns the oldest umbrella
He says II have now 10 my possession
an old green umbrella, presented by my
grandfather to his wife when they com
menced housekeeping in 1867, in Halifax
N. s. Emigrating to Massachusetts, il
l776, he took sides with the patriots ant
had new handle attached to his umbrella
bearing the design Of an eagle surrounded
by thirteen stars. The frame dnd handl,
are in a state of perfect preservation, bu
the silk cover is somewhat frayed-a!
might be expected from an umbrella l01
years old.
1t is commonly supposed that the air il
heated by the suns rays passing through
it, This is not true-at least to any sen
sible degree The sun heats the surfac,
Of the earth, aud the air resting on th,
earth is heated BY contact; as soon as it il
heated, it asccnds-its place is supplied b.
colder portions, and 50 on.
A pack Of playing cards, finy-two ii
number, is susceptible of so many change
in dealing, that the entire bulk Of III,
packs necessary in order to have one 70
each change would equal that Of mas
III, 523, 500, 22S, 500, 37z ,372, ,372, 1874,
29s,793 times the size Of the earth.
Blue colors appear green by candle light
because the light of candle is tinget
with yellow, and this yellow tinge mixinl
with the blue color produces green.
To prevent voices in adjoining room
from being heard, Gil the space between
the laths with shavings or saw-dust.
II heat we're applied to the top Of ket
tie, tho water below the surface would
never be heated,
In 1879, a religious fanatic determined
to fast forty days. He died on the six
teeuth.
A German writer says 100000 spider,
will scarcely spin pound Of silk
To keep boiling water hot for d long
time, add little starch or flower to t.
A MATHEMATICAI Crfaraasrv - NJ