The mirror., 1900-07-26
MAIL BOX.

No. ol92:-Charlng Cross was
originally a London suburb, where
was erected the last of the crosses
in memory of Eleanor, Queen Of
Edward 1. The cross was de-
stroyed in 1647 but new one was,
placed on the spot in 1865.
No. 4683:-The griffin is
chimerical creature, and first men,
toned by Aristeas about 500 B. c.,
The griffin is variously described
and represented, but the shape in.
which it most frequently appears
is that of a cross between a lion
and an eagle, having the body and
legs of the former, with the beak
and wings of the latter, and the
addition of pointed ears. Some
times the four legs are all like
those of an eagle, and the head is
that of a cock. The figure seems
to have originated in the East, as
it is found in ancient Persian
sculptures. Amongst the Greeks
it appears on antique coins, and as
an ornamental in classical architec-
ture.
No. 4801:-The name of Bucen-
taur was that Of the state-galley in
which the former Doges of Venice
used to sail out every year on As
cension Day, amid great festivities
in order, by sinking a ring into
the sea, to wed it in token Of per-
petual sovereignty. The word
signifies monstrous figure of half
bull and half man, such as may
originally have been depicted on
the vessel. The ceremony was
already in use in the thirteenth
century; in 1898 the last Bucentaur
was built in 1929, was burned
by the French, but some portions,
spared for their gold work, are still
preserved in the arsenal.
No. 3778:-The Maelstrom is a
whirlpool, or more correctly cur
rent, between the islands of Mosk-
en- and Moskenas, two Of the
Lofoden Isles, which is dangerous
when wind and tide are contrary.
It's sound is heard for several miles.
No. 5O97:-The deepest silver
mine in the United States is the
Yellow Jacket, one of the great
Comstock system at Virginia City,
New. The lower levels are 2,7O0
feet below the hosting works.
No. 4056:-The calumet or
'"peace- pipe" of the North Ameri-
can Indians, is a tobacco pipe,
having stem of reed or painted
wood about two feet and half
long, decorated with feathers, with
a large bowl, usually of red soap
stone. After a treaty has been
signed, the Indians fill the calu-
met with the best tobacco, and
present it to the representative Of
the party with whom they have
been entering into alliance, them
selves smoking out of it after
wards. The presentation of it to-
strangers is mark of hospitality
and to refuse it would be con-
sidered an act Of hostility.
No. 4977:-The Champ de Mars
is an open space in Paris, sur
rounded by artificial embankments.
The Franks held their annual as
semblies here in the month of
March, Mars. Here constitution
was sworn to before Napoleon L.,
May l, 1905, and other noted gath
erings were held on the spot.
No. 5O58:-The city of Amster-
dam, Holland, is built upon piles
driven into the ground. It is in
tersected by numerous canals,
crossed by nearly three hundred
bridges.
No. 4SO8:- :-HongKong, former
ly a little barren island at the
mouth Of the Canton river, in
China, was given to the English
and is now covered with the ware
houses, gardens and residences Of
wealthy merchants.
600
No. 45OS:-Caviare is the salted
roe OF the common sturgeon and
C. e /. 4