The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1881-02-02
BITS OF INFORMATION.

THE fiddle is spoken of as early MS
1900 A. d., in the legendary life Of st.
Christopher.
CAAMois skins are not derived from
the chnmois, as many people suppose,
but are the flesh side Of shoepekins.
The skins are soaked in lime water, and
i'll a solution of sulphuric acid; fish oil
is poured over them, and they are care
fully washed in solution of potash.
In 1889, when the Federal Govern
ment wns organized, heads of depart
ments received $500 per annum salary.
The principal Secretaries who formed
Washmgton's first Cabinet were OF
State, Thomas Jefferson; Of the Treas
ury, Alexander Hamilton Of War, Gen.
Knox Attorney General, Edmond Ran
dolph.
The heaviest loss inflicted upon the
American arms in any battle of the Rev.
olutionaT war was at the battle OF
Long Island ., 600 in killed. wounded
and prisoners. But 10000 Americans
were engaged, AMI the loss was only 20
per cent. At the Battle OF Hubbardton,
VT, 700 patriots engaged 1900 British
troops, and 1924 were killed or wounded
--neuly 80 per cent. At Guilford Court
House, Gen. Greene lost 1900 out OF
4,4OO-a loss OF 30 per cent.
YELLOW bananas come from Jamaica
and Aspinwall, and the red bananas from
Cuba. Tho yellow bananas sell tho best
because they grow more to the bunch
A bunch Of yellow bananas averages
ebout ten dozen, and sometimes they
average as high us twelve dozen, while
the red bananas seldom run over five
dozen. The punches are sold at about
the same price, SO tharotailcrs can afford
to sell the yellow ones for less and still
make better profit than they can on
the red ones. The flavor OF the banana
depends greatly on the soil in which it
is raised.
THE English guinea was so called be-
cause the gold Of which it was first made
was brought from Guinea by an African
trading company. Originally it was in
tended that the guinea should be worth
20 shillings, but. owing to a number OF
errors in calculating the proportion OF
the value OF gold and silver, it never
circulated Mt that value. Sir Isaac New
ton fixed the true value Of TIE guinea,
in relation to silver, at 90 shillings s
pence, and, by his advice, the crown
proclaimed that in future it should be
current at Il shillings.
The hanging gardens Of Babylon con-
sisted OF an artificial mountain 400 feet
on each side, rising by successive ter
races to n height which overtopped the
walls of the city. The terraces them
selves were formed of a succession of
piers, the tops of which were covered by
fiat stones sixteen feet long and four
feet wide. Upon these were spread
beds of mating, then thick layer Of
bitumen covered with thick sheets OF
lead. Upon this solid pavement earth
was heapcd, some OF tho piers being hol-
low, 80 as to afford depth for the roots
OF the tallest trees. Water was drawn
from the river to irrigate these gardens,
which thus presented TO the eye the APP
pearance OF u mountain covered III verdi
ure.
The day upon which any historical
event referring to the Christian era hap
pened may be determined by the follow
ing rule /. Subtract / from the date
aud divide the remainder by 400. 2.
Point off the centuries from the result
ing remainder and divide the odd years
by H. 3. Multiply the resulting quo
tient by and to the product add the 70.
mainder. H. From the sum subtracttwice
the number OF centuries pointed of and
divide the remainder by Z. 5. Add the
resulting remainder to the day of tho
year upon which the event happened
and divide the sum by 7. g. TO the lasS
resulting remainder add l. Then will
the sum be the number of the day of the
week required. When the first quotient
is zero, or when it is / and the centuries
pointed off 3. unless there be Il remain
der, to avoid negative results, add " to
the date instead OF subtructing from it