The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-04
NOTES AND QUERIES.

NOTES AND QUERIES.
Where was the ba,.Ieship Texas buil.i
w.S.S
with what majority did Mckinley carry New
York State in 1896? C. Il W.
His majority was $500; his plurality
over Bryan, 26S, 463.
What the basis Of the order for closing
the Worlds Columbian Exposition at Chicago on
Sundays2 F.
The ac. of Congress providing for gift
of souvenir coins.
What year since 1879 has had the greatest num-
Der Of national bank failures in the United
States? +. X. b.
The year 1895, with sixty-five failures.
was away ahead of any other year.
Have aerobats been able TO turn many as
four somersauts from one rise? q What is the
greatest number? L. G. j.
The triple somersault is the limit, and
the chances OF fatal consequences are so
great that it is very rarely tried.
The arrival Of the transport Warren at Naga-
sak with the Ninth Cavalry on board Was re-
Gently noted and the statement made that
they were TO leave the next day for Manila; when
did they arrive at Manilaf S.MW.
The Warren was reported as having ar
rived at Manila on September 1S.
Has tempering copper ever been accomplished
| II so, where and by whomf S. 8. s.
Occasionally some smith announces
with a great splurge that he has re-dis-
covered the lost art" Of hardening cop
per. but nothing comes Of it. perhaps be-
| cause steel is cheaper. harder. and better.
Does Queen Victoria have the veto power over
Parliamentary legislation? 2. Can a Roman
Catholic be President of the United States il he
| gets votes enough2 ]. D. s.
Nominally she has absolute power Of
veto over all Parliamentary legislation.
but the last exercise Of 1t was in 1907.
and the prerogative is considered practi-
cally obsolete. 2. He can
Will you tell something of brant7
| M.P.F.
1t is a small wild goose that breeds
in the Arctic Circle coming south In the
fall to the coasts of Europe and eastern
| North America. 1t is of brownsh grey
above, pale grey below, and it's head end
neck are black. The latter streaked about
| the middle with white.
1
| What proportion of the energy of water
| power do the best water wheels make available
for running machinery H.
| About 80 per cent is sometimes obtained.
| Theoretically the entire power is made
available when water enters the wheel
| without shock and leaves with its velocity
| entirely exhausted But it is impossible
to effect either of these conditions also
lutely, and fractional resistance causes
| further loss.
| Are the peal of thunder and the fash Of light
ming ever accompanied by fall of solid matter
| that is in the nature OF a missile? 5. 4
No; meteorites and aerolites sometimes
| fall in thunderstorms. but one is not the
| cause Of the other. Many so-called thun-
| derbolts are lightning tubes. caused by
| heavy lightning striking and entering
sand The sand is melted for several feet
into glass-like tube that suggests mis-
sile to many.
When John Mitchell returned to Ireland had ne
| completed the term for which he was transported
2. How was his election TO Parliament decidedf
j. C.
No; he was transported for fourteen
years, and escaped to New York when
about third OF that time had expired.
2. On his first election he was declared
ineligible. He was again returned, but
died before action was taken on the sec
ond election.
How many starr. according to astronomers
be seen with the naked eye and how many with
the largest telescopes? 2. Is there any theory to
the effect that all the stars have centre such
as the sun is to the solar system? st.
On clear nights a person with good
sight can see over 1000. AS but half Of
the celestial sphere is viewed, and as
many stars near the horizon are OBJ
scured by the vapors of our atmosphere.
the total number of stars visible with the
naked eye is put at 5000. certainly, and
very likely as high as 5000. The number
the largest telescope brings into view is
estimated at over 5O,000,00O. 2. There are
many such theories, but none of them has
general acceptance. Most astronomers ad-
init that no sure evidence exists that the
stellar universe is held together by bond
similar to that of our solar system.
How can the breech of large breech-loading
cannon be closed securely against the discharge
OF the gun. yet so quickly as to admit of several
discharges 4 minute? II. "
The portion OF the breech block that en-
tiers the gun may be likened to screw.
whose circumference is divided into six
sections. From every other section the
threads are cut away. The bore Of the gun
has a similar alienation of threaded and
plain sections. The block swings on it's
hinge into tine gun, with its plain parts
opposite the guns threaded sections Then
a one-sixth turn of the block interlocks
the threads along their entire length. and
secures the block in place. A reversal Of
the motion releases it. second is ample
time for either operation.
Do all kinds of birds build nests of some sort
or other? Az
No: few lay their eggs directly on the
ground more numerous are those that de-
post their eggs on shelves OF seaside
cliffs, and still others take deserted nests
of other birds, in some cases first driving
away the rightful owners The most Curl
Gus exception of all is the bird that lays
eggs in the nests of another kind of bird.
leaving the latter to hatch the eggs and
attend to the young. Our cowbird, or cow
bunting, is OF this class, choosing such
smaller birds as fnches and warblers as
foster parents for its offspring The sum-
T. 10 A.,A