The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-06-12
ITEMs OF INTEREsF.
compiled for ths Democratic Adroeats
BIZ j. $. o.

By J. $. O.
The Dark Ages or Middle Ages, com
prised a period Of about 1000 years, ex-
tending from the year 4s6 to 1495. So
called, because learning was at low ebb.
PythagoTas was a Greek philosopher,
born ia Samos about $50 B. c., and who
died in Metapotum about 504 B. @.
The mitre was worn by the Jewish
High Priests as early as 1891, B. G. In
the early days Of the Christian Church,
Cardinals and Bishops wore mitres, but at
the Council Of Lyons, ia 1915, the former
were directed to wear hats.
The length Of the Suez canal, from the
Mediterranean to the Red Sea, is one hun
bred miles, though the distance in direct
line would be about seventy mile. Its
width is three hundred and twenty-eight
feet at the top aud two hundred and forty
six at the bottom. The depth Of the water
in it is twenty-six feet.
The Pennsylvania Abolition Society,
founded in IT'S, was the first anti-slavery
society organized in the country Its first
President was Benjamin Franklin and its
first secretary Benjamin Rush.
IL is asked ''For what purpose was the
great Chinese wall built? How long is il,
and what length Of time was occupied in
building itS'' Il was originally built as a
bulNark against the invasion Of the Tar
tars. Its length is about 400 miles. Its
average height is about thirty feet and its
breadth such that six horsemen can ride
abreast on it There arc brick towers on
It at different Intervals about Forty feet
high. It was completed 2l5 years before
Christ. We have no record Of the length
Of time occupied 10 building it.
HWhy is the Court Of British sovereigns
called the Court Of st. James?p Il is so
called from the palace Of ST. James, built
BY Henry WIZ, 1906 and which has
been the official town residence of the
English sovereigns since 1908.
Why the promoutory Of Gibraltar aud
that Of Ceuta on the opposite side Of the
straits, are called the Pillars Of Hercules
According TO Mythology the Mediterra-
mean had no connection with the Atlantic,
until Hercules, demisod, rent the rocky
wall, dividing the two bodies of water,
thus forming the present straits. In com
memoratiou ofthis exploit he is represented
to have piled up the rock into these two
promontories which are therefore called
the Pillars Of Hercules.
The largest bell is the bell Of Krelnlin,
Moscow. II weighs 443, 7T2 pounds St.
Iyans bell. Moscow. weighs 127 SAG
pounds. The bell ofSt Peters At Rome
weighs 1867 pounds. The bell Of the
Kremliu Is the Great unsusponded he'll ii
much talked Of
Tho first guns or small firearms were
small cannon, borne by two men These
were used in 1864. Hand guns Of rude
manufacture were made in i4TI The
musket was invented about 1871. Pistols
were used about 1874.
Educator asks.-aJow many mira
and distinct languages are spoken in tho
the world?p The number cannot be stated
accurately. Balbi put the number Of lam
cuaces at 1000 or this nnmha, thare
are $50 Of which scholars have de6nite
information. These $50 lanenaess have
about 900 dialects. otber sn,Sors s,.,o
that there Z. eG4 known lanvn,oes - ,Ls
world. chasing many az The d;aIee,s ssd;s-
tinet ianouages.
An inouiger asks otst Whe, IA IL,
whom was III Alnh,he,;e srs,s,n as 49,;
ten langusoe i;rst uzedg 81 Wha ha;I,
The nvramids ~ Ervn, D, A,ha,s. -.
of Nenes wrote tbe history az ~ Enrn
fans n herovlvnb;cs 80 n r ~
Eovutian slnbabet was ;ova,,a,l IL Af.,-
non 600 K q Soma ,rs;,n,s ~ -. IL,
he ancient Hebraw le,,sr. ,Sss - ;.,,..s 49,,
a. carly 81 r r. aSle IA 49, s
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,ns TN prr.n;S. 49, !. ny 1"'u
eor,,;ur i Usrajr,as Il, re-; vss Sans, ~
Ian K;n~. m 49, = .'.e.s1s nsyP'
Isrrns, ~ H.. --ons 800 ~. t.ua' 81 .ns
H. chaea. 49, s iaoe p s'o; nv sas gunt
were hniIt hv n. rrod......,.. ~ O.ne.s
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ven,oa9 rs 5000 ~ .' ~ ssa' pasa -
.oade : ~ ;ara., M. - ~ $500. e.'1ee
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Isslv from rh;rs 4 fsea VnPass y
asbsr sa,hov;t;ss IN n ~ ,hs.a au ; ssa.n
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