The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-06-01

writer need not expect an answer
Sxe:F2IrH THE HEAD TO THE NoRTH-G.
SEEg9 w r. City. The belief that
eMSs..N sleeper muot n5t>- lie with the head
pointed TO the north IS deep-rooted
superstition, set much store by even by people
living In tliis enlightened century. The Hlndoos
for instance, believe that 10 sleep with the head
TO the north Will cause their days TO be short
ened. There Is much superstition In Hndosian
as 10 the point OF the compass toward which the
head should point when In bed, 10 lie In the
direction OF the south being thought TO be pro-
duclye OF longevity, whereas the east and west
1t is asserted, are calculated to bring riches aud
change Of scene respectively. The Japanese
Il ever sleep with their heads to the north, their
reason being that the dead In their country are
always buried with their heads in that direction
So particular the Japanese in this respect
that In their sleepiugrooms a diagram of The
points OF the compass will usually be found
pasted upon the ceiling of the room for the ben
eft OF guests. lie Russians, too. dr. ad the
northern position, as they have been taught that
q II evil emanaies from that quarter Of the heav-
ems and that by sleeping with their heads toward
II they In danger OF disaster, illness or sudden
death. The Hungarians and Poles have the
same prejudice. The latagoniaDs. the samoans
ana several African tribes have the same oblec-
lions on various grounds but all tending TO the
one direction-abJect fear of Visitation while
asleep by some unknown but evil influence II the
head is directed toward the north.
MA'M'sELLE-D X H., Montyille, CAL
"Ma'm'selle" is corruption Of the French
"mademoisele," from which is also derived the
corrupted word 'damsel" The origin OF the
word dame Is from the Latin "dominus,"
meaning master, and 'dOmlna," mistress. The
latter was title OF honor which long dstin-
gulshed bieh-born ladies' fiom the wives OF
citizens and of the commouality in general. In
the age of chlvalry it was even common for
queen 10 be called by her chosen knight the
fdame" of his heart. OF his thoughts, etc. In
consequence of the greater courtesy shown
toward women Of higher rank arose the custom
OF prefxing the word MAJ 10 DAME" which
gives tile French word madame" Una meaning
my ana dame mistress or lady, This was as a
sps cial proof of yenrriiion and homage and
while originally applied 10 female saints and la
dies Of quality is now common TO all married
women OF whatever condition. Under the old
French moDai chy the daughters of the King re-
ceiyed the title from earliest infancy and were so
designated, the eldest being called simply
"Madsnie." II applied more particularly per-
haps 10 the wife OF monsieur (my master or loro),
the Kings eldest daughter or 10 the eldest
daughter of the dauphin, by bu. one OF whom,
however, it could be borne at a time. The daugli-
teTs of the Kings younger sons and OF his BROTH
ers and uucles were called ..mesdemoiselles."
the one taking precedence OF the others In rank
or birth being 'mademoiSelle'' ones, plural Or
ma, singular feminlne). aud meaning my" aud
"demoiselle," young lady.
CONGRESS MADE HOLIDAYS w. H. S. A
NdlltlO COIlcSpUHucul Has luNitcu tuO atlSHNiOu
OF the @. g. to the fact that Congress has made
holidays for the District of Columbia only, evil
IDENTIFY expecting each State 10 make It's own.
Congress goes as far as it can, PERHAPS under
the Constitution and allows to all employees OF
the Government holidays, aud also pay the same
as II labor had been performed. Section 1913 OF
the Revised Statutes of the District OF Columbia
names the holidays to be observed in that dis
tiict and the act OF 1SS7.S8, approved August
l. 1888, adds May 30th 10 the list. a junt
resolution of 1SS6-S7, approved February %,
1887, allows the day for a holiday and provides
for tie payment OF all Government employees for
that day wherever they may be In the country.
Section z, Civil Code OF California, sets apart the
30th OF May as a holiday; aud so IL Is an estab
lished holiday, as well rs the Fourth OF July or
any other All Of which goes TO strengthen what
the g. q. said fortnight ago concerning Me-
motial day.
ROAD PoLI-TAx-B H., Visalla. Cal. Section
1862 OF the Political Code declares that 81 the
Board Of Supervisors may. annually, at any
regular meeting held between the first days OF
January and March OF each year, levy upon each
male person over 81 and under 90 years OF age
found III each road district during the time for
the collection OF road poll-taxes for that year, an
annual road poll-i lax not exceeding So; and every
such person In road district, VINO has no; paid
The same in some other district, must pay the
amount OF road poll-tax so levied" or work out
such TAX under such communication rules AS may