Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-26
NOTES AND QUERIES.
Curious Facts Regarding the Early
Presidential Elections.
ACROSS PLAINS WITH A COMPASS.
Why tho High Army Officers Wear Silver,
the Subordinates Gold.
SOME ODD FACTS AND FANCIES
WRITTEN FOR THE prsPArcH.1

SOMH ODD FACTS AND FANCIES
| WRITTEN FOR THE pIsPArcH1
/ We have had the system of national con-
ventions tor SO long that one might be par
doned for thinking that the Presidential
candidates had always been chosen at such
conventions But they have not There
were no candidates for the Presidency and
the Vice Presidency at the first or the sec
ond election, but the electors met and cast
their ballots for the persons whom they
considered best. Each elector voted for
two persons, the person receiving the great
est number of votes, so long as it was ma
jority, was chosen President; he who re-
ceived the next largest number was chosen
Vice President
| In 1876 Congressional caucuses nominated
the candidates, the Federalists putting up
Adams and Pinckney, the Republican party
(now the Democratic party), Jefferson and
Burr. In 1900 the Republican caucus
nominated Jefferson again; but Adams ran
without a nomination. The last nominations
| by Congressional cancuses were in 1924
The candidates in 1928 were nominated by
the State Legislatures. On September 26-
%, 1881, the Anti-Masonic party held the
first National Convention in Baltimore, and
nominated Writ and Ellmaker; the National
Republicans Qater Whigs) held their con-
vention, also in Baltimore, December 1914,
1881; and the Democrats theirs. in Balti-
more, May %, 1892 The election was not
until November, 1882. Since then-tor go
years, that is-we have had national con-
ventions of the various parties.
Will you tell me how to use pocket COM
pass? A. P. D.
Generally pocket compass is needed
only in the woods, but there are times when
it is needed even on the plains. Suppose
you want to 60 to the house Of a friend 20
miles away to the southwest, the interven-
ing space being partly woodland and partly
prairie or open land. Take your compass
in your hand, and hold it steady until the
needle becomes quiet. Now if you stand
so that the needle of the compass points a
little to the right of your breast, you will
be facing nearly southwest-that is, in the
direction of your friends house. Now look
straight ahead toward the southwest, and
fix on some natural object as far away as
thing that does not move will do-a house,
tree, bill. Now, having fixed on the
object, put up your compass and make for
the object. When you get there place your
compass as before, choose another object
and go to it, just as before. If you have to
60 around pond, it will be best to leave
your track at right angle, counting the
steps or the time necessary to clear the OBJ
stacle, and then, having got beyond the
pond, count your steps or your time back to
the original line of march. Always leave
your original line at right angle and re-
turn to it at right angle; then you will
run little if any risk of losing your road
What Is meant by comforting the freedom
of city upon person? ARTHUR F. H.
The bestowing. upon that person of the
privileges of citizenship in the city. In
the old days only Stree men of city" were
allowed to exercise their trades or profess
sions in. that place; and it took long time
to obtain the freedom. A person began as
an apprentice to freeman; then he became
journeyman, and travelled around, learning
how his trade was managed in other places;
then he came home to become master; and
in time he obtained the freedom of his
trade, and could work at it for himself in
his CITY. Nowadays the freedom of city
is purely honorary distinction conferred
on some distinguished person. The foreign
cities, especially Great Britain, where they
keep up old customs more than we do, be-
stow the freedom even now; some of our
own cities used to bestow it, but of late
years, SO far as we recollect, it has not been
bestowed formally by any American town.
What is the difference between the titles
King and Emperor? NJ. L. B.
Speaking generally, the sovereign of a
single country is king, the sovereign of
two or more countries united under one
crown is an emperor. Thus we have the
King of Spain, the King of Greece, the
King of Sweden, the King of Prussia and
the Emperor Of Germany, which is COM
posed of number of Kingdoms, principali-
ties, duchies, ETC.; the Emperor of Russia,
which is composed of several kingdoms and
duchies; the Emperor of Austria, which is
composed of a kingdom and several duchies.
Great Britain is an exception to the general
rule, for though it is composed of four king
doms and principality, it is governed by
Emperor Is not English. By the way, the
four Kingdoms are those of England, Scot
land, ireland and Man; and the principality
is that of Wales.
What is the population of the city of Lon
don? MIsNoMER.
There are six different answers to this
simple question. First, there is the real
city of London. The city, as old English |
people call it, covers 66S acres, rather more
than square mile, and has population of |
81 ,694. In 1881, its population was 5O.652;
and it is the only part of London that has
lost in population. Within the limits cov-
cred by the Registrar-General in making up |
his tables of mortality lie 1852 acres,
whereon dwell 4,211,0 persons. The
county of London and the London school
district each covers Is, 462 acres, with
population of 4, 231 ,431 souls The Metro
politan police district, which is circle with
q diameter of 80 miles, covers 44O, S91 acres,
viii population of 5,595, 5,63s; and the
and city police districts, taken
cover Al, ,559 acres, with $685.
559 Inhabitants.
We read about "horse. foot and drasoons;"
what is the difference between horse and
dragons? A. III. ).
The "horse' were mounted soldies
trained to act only on horseback; the dra-
goons were soldiers trained to act either on
foot or on horseback. The cavalry carried
long swords that an infantryman or foot
soldier would find in the way; the dra-
goon's sword was a happy medium in
length. Our First and Second Regiments
of cavalry were originally called dragons;
in fact. it was only by the reorganization at
the outbreak of the war that the name was
General LORD Wolseley says that