The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-19

Why are the two first letters in the word
aesthetic lized?-Subscriber.
Because Ale is diphthong, composed of
two letters which are so firmly united for
the time being that if one is capitalized the
other must be also. Esthetic is more re-
cent and correct spelling.
What is the best vermifuge for a human
being?-Lemuel
Probably male fern oil or extract; this
needs the smallest dose. Next comes oil
of turpentine. Pumpkin seeds are good;
the vermifugic principle is in the other
membrane surrounding the embryo in the
seed.
How is q holder of government registered
bonds paid the interest? How long will the
per cent. bonds draw interest?-A Patron.
1. He is paid by check On the nearest
subtreasury. q These bonds are redeem
able at the option of the United States.
There is no fixed date when the interest
stops.
What reason did Roscoe Conkling assign
for declining the chief justiceship of the
Supreme Court of the United States when
rendered him by President Grant?-D. A. E.
We do not find that Grant ever offered
the chief justiceship to Conkling. If he did.
Conkling declined it because he knew that
the nomination would not be confirmed by
the Senate.
publish
of the extract of '"Fouch-me-not' vine, to
be used for ivy poiSOn?-M. L. G.
We do not know of any extract of
"Touch-me-not," but the fresh juice may be
applied to the poisoned parts or an infusion
(tea) may be made of the leaves of the
plant and applied.
When and where was Jumbo killed, and
what were the circumstances of his death?
e. How much did he weigh?
July IS, 1885, at st. Thomas, Canada. He
was run into and knocked down an en-
banRment by freight train. From st.
Thomas, at the time, came accounts of his
pathetic attempts to avoid the accident. but
later 1t was said that the elephant became
hopelessly sick, and that the accident"
was prearranged. 2. About six tons.
Was Delaware slave State? If so. when
did slavery cease to exist within its boun-
DIARIES &C. /. L.
Delaware was a slave State and remained
one until the proclamation of President An
drew Johnson, Dec. IS, 1866, declaring the
acceptance of the fifteenth amendment.
which put an end to slavery in the United
States. Nearly 1000 slaves-179S. to be
exact were emancipated at that time. Lin
coins emancipation proclamation. 1t must
be remembered, applied only to those States
and parts of States which were in rebellion.
Several parishes of Louisiana and counties
of Virginia were excepted from the opera
ton of that proclamation and so slaves liv-
ing therein remained slaves until the end of
the war.
Why are the exercises held at the end of
the college year called commencement exer-
cises?-L. o. X.
Because the graduates commence bach
elors commence their lives as learned,
diplomatic men Then again commence
ment used to be held at the beginning of
the college year. In 1642 the first commence
ment of Harvard College was held in Octo-
Der. 1t is only within a comparatively few
years that commencements have been held
at the end of the year. originally the sum-
mer vacation was short, and the winter va
cation long, to allow the students to teach
the winter schools so that the graduates
would return to their colleges to com
mence bachelors" and the freshmen to be-
gin their college life.
What was the greatest battle, cvAr
fought?-A. II. X.
That depends on what you mean by great
est. The battle of Leipsic, fought between
Napoleon and the allies on Oct. 16, is and 10.
1913, involved the greatest numbers of men;
Napoleon had 100000 men, the allies-Russia.
Prussia, Austria, Sweden. Denmark and
number of combatants and from the num-
Der of powers represented this is some
times known as the Battle of Nations. But
the battle involving. perhaps, the most inn
portant results to the world was Waterloo,
fought June IS. 1915, between Napoleon and
the allies. Had Napoleon conquered,
France would have overrun Europe again,
and Great Britain as WELL and the history
of the last seventy-five years would have
been vastly different. There were other de-
cisive battles, however, before Waterloo;
and if any of them had turned out different
ly, perhaps Waterloo might never have
been needed. An authority in this matter
described these battles: Marathon, B. c.,
400; Syracuse. 3. c., AIS; Arbela, b. c.. 3S1
Metauras, b. c., 207; Teutoburg, A. D.. g.
Chalous. 45l; Tours. 1872 Hastings 1856; Or
leans, 1929; the Spanish Armada. 1888; Blen-
helm, 17O4; Pultowa, 1909; Saratoga, w.
Valruy, 1892, and Waterloo. There have
been decisive battles since then too, nota-
bly, Solferino, 1853; Gettysburg. July, 1863;
Sadowa, 1866; Mars-la-Tour and Gravelotte
August. 1870.
What is a flying switch and how is 1t
operated?-M. X.
A flying switch is not a mechanical con-
trivance. 1t is a maneuver Of railroad men,
by which the locomotive of train Ia run
upon one track and the train ~ -s-'-H - tA''