The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-09

SiaAlh oHifeIsieSs OfdheepuEs, ,. Y.
What Is the swimming record for one mile,
who made it and whenG EIGHTEEN
Twenty-Five minutes, 13 2-5 seconds by
J. A. Jarvis, In Abbey River, LEICESTER.
England, August s, 1893.
Is the English sehSel system of tagging siil.
In existence? r. A. L
1t is. with the endorsement of school
masters, alumni, and scholars, and ia
reasonably sure to continue.
What proportion Of an army engaged in tho
field generally is On the sick list? D. F.P.
In our army the sick average about Al
to LOO white troops. and little more
Tor negro soldiers In the British army
the percentage is much higher, chiefly
because OF unhealthy colonial stations. In
any army, OF course. the percentage varies
greatly according to the employment OF
the troops.
Who first said of George Washington that 10
was flrst in war. first peace, and first in
the hearts Of his eountrymen:. Fs
Henry Lee, who was Familiarity known
in Revolutionary days as Light Horse
Harry" His Characterization of Wash
ington nowadays is generally misgHoted
as you misquote 1t. Lees words were:
the hearts of his fellow-citizens."
What was the Hippocratic oath7 T. B. G.
An engagement entered into solemnly
by young men in ancient times in begin
ming the practice of medicine. Among
other things, it bound them to treat their
instructor and his offspring as one would
treat brother. TO give no deadly medi-
cine, TO abstain from mischief and cor
u H.
ed in the practice of the profession.
What vas the source Of the ounce? What 4,
the best soil for it? Can ounces be raised from
seed? L. A.
1t is a native of Western Asia, where it
was cultivated in the earliest times.
rather moist loamy soil is best suited to
it. One of our leading varieties comes
true" from seed. The usual method of
propagation, however, is from hardwood
cuttings. Sometimes it is grated on ap-
pie roots. which serve as nurse until
quin2e roots form.
What is meant by pillow lace?" Nd.
Lace made on pillow, which is a round
or oval board forming the base of a hard
cushion. Over this is laid piece OF
parchment in which holes have been
pricked to Indicate the pattern Of the
lace to be made. Through each hole pin
is stuck into the cushion, and thread.
held on bobbins. is twisted and crossed
among the pins to form the lace. Pillow
lace is one of the two principal classes Of
lace. The other is point lace.
At what speed does an electric current travelf
NICK.
The speed varies much with the condi-
lions. The veIUcity of propagation n
electromagnetic waves through space
about that of light-1s6, 600 miles pc
second. Telegraphic signals have a
greatly diminished speed, due to
static capacity and self-induction.
4 test between Washington and St. Louis
showed a rate of 5000 miles per second.
In submarine cables it is still further di-
minished, ranging from 1900 to 5000 miles
per second.
Where are there more than two tides day.
NJ. G. J.
The daily tides of the ocean are gener-
ally spoken of as four, two low and two
high; and il some localities the direction
of each tidal current is reversed, making
the tides of those places more than the us
ual number, according to popular local
theory For example, at the western end
of Long Island Sound, the--ising tidal flow
begins from the East, but an hour or two
before high water the current is reversed.
the flow coming in from New York Bay.
This last is known locally as the New
York flood" Then in our Great Lakes
minute tidal oscillations are Of almost
hourly occurrence.
Is it true that the Level Of the Mediterranean il
lower than that Of the Atlantic7 If 81. why is NOT
the difference adjustedG And, if SO, is there not
at Gibraltar current that makes it difficult for
vessels TO navigate! CURRENTS
It IS, and the explanation. lies In the mar
rowness Of the Straits of Gibraltar, and
tie excessive evaporation in the Mediter-
ranean. The latter is due to the hot winds
that sweep over the sea from Africa and
TO the Withholding of cold winds from the
north-which, should they meet the others.
would cause rains-by the Alps and the
Pyrenees. The current al the surface OF
the middle of the Straits always sets
strongly toward the Mediterranean, and
is troublesome 10 sailing vessels, but the
water of the depths and sides flows the
other way moderately.
Who were the original Knights Templar2
T. A. ".
A military and religious order founded
by Frenehmen at Jerusalem, about 111S-
AT first all were noble Iaymen. but secu-
lar priests were admitted in HIP. They
were bound by vows of chastity and pow
erty to severe religious exercises, and to
fighting necessarily the enemies of Chris
tianity, asking no quarter and refusing to
give ransom. They won great fame for
valor and piety in the Crusades, but when
the Holy Land was lost and they located
in Cyprus their wealth and luxury brought
them into disfavor. Their dissolution was
proclaimed in 1912. and many Of them were
burned as heretics. In Portugal the or
der was never suppressed. and. as the Or
der of Christ" still exists. but the VOWS as
to poverty g.; z:.z5jity are gwen up. and
the organization is purely military
. VIII YOU tell me something Of LATTE, the Gulf
pirate. OF whom SO many yarns are toldY
S. B. A.
He was born in France about 1850. and
came to the Gulf after the cession
of Louisiana to this country in 1893. He
first sailed as a privateer under the
French flag. but turned pirate, selling
.aptured cargoes at La Barataria, Ia,
near where was his headquarters. He be
came such a menace to commerce that
an expedition under Commodore Patterson
was sent against him in 1914, but he evad
ed II. His offer to enter the service OF
the United States in return for pardon
was accepted by President Madison, and
Lafitte defended the passes of Barataria
Bay and fought under Jackson at the bat
tie OF New Orleans. 1t is believed that
he later resumed his former life. with
headquarters at Galveston Island. dying at
sea about 1917.
At what period in our history came 'Bacon's
Rebellion. and what its causes AID re-
sulis7 L.
1t was revolt against the rule Of Gov