The times., 1899-01-15

December 81, is9s. was the last day Of tho
week, month and year; how often does that oc-
curt A. ID. F.
On an average. about once in seven years
December 81 fell ON Saturday in 1881. 1885,
1850. and 1874.
What has been the number of bales of cotton
raised each year for the past ten years IN the
United Statesi =. j. "
1889. 6.9S5. .Os2 bales 1890 7.31s.7 1891.
s,655.51S; 1892. 9OsS 7O7; 1898. 6.'i7,i42:
1894. 7.527.21i. 1895. 9.S92766 1896. -
162, ,413: 1897. s.714.0i1; 1898. II. $50
These figures are computed on an average
net weight per bale of 4s7 pounds.
How did the spelling Xmas" originated S.
1t comes from the Chrismon, or mono-
gram OF Christ. which combined the first
two letters OF the Greek word for Christ.
These corresponded to cgr X and p. and
were thus put upon Christian tombs as
early as the beginning of the second CEN
tury. AS now used. the ''X'' alone re-
mains.
Is there premium on ,h, United States nickel
having II FiTbGs Jnum under tue ''V?"
Who're can such coin sbr disposed of to advant-
age2 II. +. D.
No; professional dealers in rare coins
include these. with all Columbian half dol
lars, in the list OF coins they do not buy.
But replying to your second query as
though an affirmative answer had been
given to the first the place TO dispose
of a rare coin is where you can get
the most for it. Values in such things are
not well settled. and most collectors and
dealers in rare coins are themselves rare
hands at bargaining.
What country produces the greater number OF
bushels of wheat to the acre, the United States
Great Britain? ". L. T.
In 1896. according to the Statistical Alb
stract OF the United States, the average
production of wheat per acre throughout
the United States was 12.4 bushels per
acre. In Great Britain in the same year
the average production was 33.6 bushels
per acre. The English acreage was very
much smaller, of course; and the land in
some parts of the country is manured.
almost as if wheat were a garden crop.
The acreage in 1896 was 1.693.957-
In the late wa- with Spain was an Austrian
warshp in Cuban waters2 If so, what he.
name? Was she fired at by American
warship?
Yes: the cruiser Maria Theresa, COM
manded by Capt Ripper She was sighted
at moment when the American ships had
just finished with Cervera's squadron, and
was supposed to be another Spanish craft
So the American vessels that approached
her bore down with men and guns ready
for fight, but the Austrian showed her
colors before she was fired at Later she
took several boatloads of foreigners from
Santiago. including three consuls. = This
was done, after permission had been asked
Of and given by Admiral Sampson
Please name ten OF the largest rail-
way systems in the United States , What
is the railroad mileage in the United States and
in the world! g. How many miles of telegraph
and telephone wires there in the United
States and in the worldI S. j.
Pennsylvania, 4.0s4 miles; Chicago and
Northwestern. 1871; Chicago. Burlington
and Quincy, 1922; Atchison, Topeka and
Santa Fe, 1926; Southern Pacific, 6.7s3;
Missouri Pacific, 5,325; Southern, 5,236.
Great Northern, 4,6S2; Illinois Central,
4615; Northern Pacific. 1861. 2. There are
in the United States. 163, ,597 miles. and in
the world, 1854. g. There are more than
five million miles of telegraph wires in the
world more than half in this country. The
telephone mileage for this country is close
TO 100000 miles.
What States have adopted State aowers1
E 5. Fl.
The most recent list we have gives these
as the flowers of the various States: Cali
fornia, California poppy; Colorado, eolum-
bine; Delaware, peach blossoms; Idaho.
syringa; Indiana, corn; Iowa, wild rose;
Maine. pine cone and tassel; Michigan.
apple blossom; Minnesota, moccasin fow-
er; Montana. bitter root; Nebraska. golden
rod; Nevada. sunflower: New York. rose;
North Dakota and Oregon, golden rod;
Rhode Island, violet; Utah, Sego lily; YER
mont. red clover; Washington, rhododen-
dron: Oklahoma Territory has the mistle-
toe In most cases these flowers are adopt
ed by vote of school children, though with
Michigan it was a case OF legislative enact
ment.
When and from what did Halloween Origi-
nate! J. T. z.
1t is the evening of All Saints day. which
originated in the seventh century when the
Pantheon at Rome became a place Of
Christian worship. 1t was celebrated on
May /, but later was changed to November
l. On that day 1t is the custom in some
Roman Catholic countries to visit burial
places for devotions or for placing flowers
on graves. This practice holds in some
parts of Louisiana. About Halloween
however there is nothing churchly. 1t is a
time when spooks are supposed to be
abroad and when supernatural influences
prevail generally. Ii is closely allied to,
and may have risen in, ''Walpurgis Night
of the Germans. when popular supersti-
tion has it there is witch festival on the
summit of Broken. This is supposed to
occur on the original Halloween date.
Who abolished the slave trade in Is0s? Please
state il by England alone, or was she assisted
10y other nations? j. H. II.
No nation did so, but in 1907 Lord Gren-
vine's bill was carried through the English
Parliament. 1t forbade landing slaves in
English colonies. and being the beginning
OF the English anti-slavery movement, was
aimed al slave traders. rather than at own
ers of slaves. 1t was continually violated.
the slave trade being then so profitable
that traders were well paid if they sue
ceeded in landing one cargo of blacks out
Of three. In 1911 slave trading was made a
felony and this law is spoken of as effec-
tive. Later however. it was made capi-
tai offense. though this law was repealed
II was not until 1898 that England freed
her slaves. BY a law of 1893. c %, ,00O, eco
were appropriated for the planters. and
the slaves were 10 serve 4 seven years ap-
as a preparation for freedom.
This was finally shortened by two years.
Please give brief summary OF the advance Oh
Russia in the East. NJ
The Russian movement eastward began
mt