The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-25
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.


When was the last leap year, and when
will the next be?-B A.
The last leap year was in 1896; the next
leap year will be in 1904.
Which weighs the more. pound of gold
or pound of feathers?-O. M.
A pound of feathers; it is weighed by
avoirdupois weight, which has 1000 grains
to pound, while a pound of gold is
weighed by Troy weight, which has only
6,760 grains to a pound.
Where is Cape Francis?-Bradford.
We find no Cape Francis in the gazet-
teer, or in any geography, but we find two
capes named Francois, the French for
Francis. One of these is in Kergulen's land,
In the Southern ocean, about half way be-
tween the Cape of Good Hope and Aus
tralia; the other is another name for Cape
Haitien, in Haiti.
Can you give a good receipt for making
a powder to polish knives, forks and silver
ware?-Business.
The best polishing powder for knives is
bath brick; for plated forks and other plated
ware mix one-quarter pound of jewelers.
rouge with three-quarters Of prepared
chalk There are other powders, but the
basis of them all is chalk or something sim
liar.
Which is the heavier, tin or aluminium? 2.
Does aluminium work easily? 3. What is
hydrogen gas?-J A. K.
Tin, whose specific gravity is 729, to 26O
for aluminium 2. Compared with tin, no;
yet It is worked. 3. The lightest substance
known and one of the most plentiful 1t is
found In water and all organic substances
Is it true that fresh water can be secured
py diving, or by any other means. under
the level of the salt waters of the Red
sea or OF the Persian gulf?-C. F. S.
1t seems not to be true. In fact, it is
believed by those who have strdied the Red
sea that the lower strata of water are
saltier than the surface strata. 1t is the
same way with the Persian gulf. There
may be springs of fresh water along the
shores. but. If so. they are local.
Did the United States treasury Issue a
o-and-a-half-dollar gold piece about 1910?
g. What values of stamps are issued in
connection with the Omaha exposition ?-H.
The United States began to coin two
and-a-half-dollar piece ir 1885, under the
provisions of the oct of April 3, 1892 This
piece, known as the quarter eagle, is still
coined 2. One cent, cents, cents, cents,
cents. 10 CENTS so cents and 81 and S.
What are the different classes of revenue
stamps OF the present war and the denomi-
nations of each class?-A. s.
There are two kinds of internal-revenue
stamps of the present issue-documentary
and proprietary. OF documentary stamps
there are cent, 2 cents, cents, cents. 5
cents, 10 cents. 25 cents and so cents, 81, 50,
s., $40 and $50. or proprietary stamps there
are 1s cent, u cent. Is cent Is cent, cent,
IA cent, IL cent (this stamp is not issued
YETI, cents, 215 cents. cents and cents.
Please inform me of your knowledge of
any event in history wherein the van
qu1shed were allowed free transportation
to their country, similar to the conditions
made by the United States government to
the Spanish troops who surrendered at
Santiago? Is it true that at the close of the
war Of independence the British soldiers
We're helped in some way to reach their
homes by the government of this country?
u. H.
We know of no similar case. After the
revolution the British and Hessian prison.
ers were supported while they were taken
to the ports whence they were 20 be shipped
back to Great Britain, but they were not
shipped out as we have shipped General
ToraIs men.
Why are twenty-one guns fired in a ma
Der always PA. j. NJ.
The salute of twenty-one guns is the Pres
ideEt's salute. not the national salute. The
national salute is one gun for each State
IN the Union, and is fired on the Fourth of
July, and seldom or never on other days
Yhe Presidents salute was fixed at twenty
one guns because that was the English
royal salute. 1t is suggested that that num-
Der was chosen in Great Britain because
seven was the original salute, and three
times seven would signify one seven for
each of the three divisions, England and
Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The definite
reason is not known. however.
What IS the origin of the name mug
Wump as IL is used now? Pc. ].
The name was applied to the independents
IN the Blaine-Cleveland campaign of 1884
The Sun of New York city was the first to
apply 1t to them. Previous 20 the indie
pendent movement starting. hut in the same
year, the same paper had applied 1t to
Mr. Bradley. the owner of Asbcry Park
n J., but then it used 1t as we use now
adays the name "Poohbah," meaning one
who holds many offices The word is the
AlgoHkin translation of the word which the
translators of the Bible into English make
duke, In Genesis xxxvi, 1913 1t is found
Il Eliots Indian Bible spelled tmugquomp.
What aFe the largest cities in the world
ano their population. and the largest In the
United states and their population? "A
Reader.
The ten largest cities of the world are
these: London, with 4.<S3OlS inhabitants
city OF New York. about 100000: Paris
3,ff7 s57: Chicago. 1900 600; Berlin. 1877. s51
Vienna. l,3e4,548 Toxic, Japan 1234If3