The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-18
NOTES AND QUERIES.
What S, the origin Of pllmistya

NOlEso AMI QUE0IEso.
"hat is the origin Of psimistrye
IGNORANCE.
The origin Is unknown. but the so-cailci
science vas much cultivated in times %
great antiquity.
Why is China called the celestial S,uglom1
Because OF the alleged Chinese belief
lhat the empire was established by au-
thority Of heaven.
Who were the parents Of Winston Churchill.
the south African correspondent PRO.
The late Lord Randolph Churcbu AMI
Lady Randolph Churchill. formerly Miss
jerome. Of New York.
Cabin frst produred2 r.. W.
The first performance Of which we frd
I record was on August % 1852 40 the
Chatham Theatre, New York city.
What is ginseng. and what is it used isr2
It is the root Of a plant that IS valued
highly as a medicine in China Aralia quin-
I quefOlia is the name OF the American va
riety.
What is the present duty on diamonds
ABERDEEN
Uncut diamonds are free. cut but not
set they pay 10 per cent ad yalorem. and
cut and set the rate is so per cent al va
loren.
Under what Administration did John C. New.
| toni g. M.
President Harrison appointed him Con-
sui General at London and he held the
Office for four years.
Who was the author VI the song a,sn..
Laurie and what was his nationality
/ Brewer places the authorship with vii
! liam Douglas, Of Fingland. Kirkudbright. a
/ Scotchman. and states that Lady John
| Scott wrote the music.
/ Il there any duty on tea OF coffee imported
into the United States! j. s.
Tea and coffee we're left on the free list
| by the Dingley Tariff bill but the War
Revenue bill imposed tax Of 10 cents o
pound on tea imported from abroad.
Is there any law in the District of Coiumbfl
preventing a Government empoyc from disr0urt-
ing his salary? A. j. L.
No; but the disbursing officers Of the
Government will not recognize an assign
ment Of salary by an employee
he die, and where was be buricd2 w B.
He was born at Arbigland. on the Firth
Of Solway. in Scotland. July g. 17i1 He
died at Paris. July IS, 1892, and was bur
led in that city. His real name was John
Paul.
How many foreigners immigrlted to the United
states from $50 70 lss0. from lss0 90 lssg aud
from ls90 10 1907 Ii
From 1870 to 1850 they numbered 2.742.-
49, for the next ten years they were s.
24S.56S. and since then. uD 10 June 30 Of
last year, 5s51 $50.
How long did it take to build the Washington
Monument j. H. r. H.
Thirty-six years. FIVE months. and two
days The cornerstone Of the monument
was laid on July 4, 1S4s, and the cap stone.
or top piece was put in place December 6.
1884. The total cost OF the structure was
81 300, 600.
Who was the first man to take thorough
collcgiltc course in this e5unrryg NJ :. l.
The first class to graduate at Harvard
consisted Of Benjamin Woodbridge George
Dowing. John Buckley. William Hubbard.
Samuel Bellingham. John Wilson. Henry
Saltonstall Tobias Barnard. and Nathaniel
Brewster. This was in August. 1872.
What kind Of shells are pearls found in, and
PRosPECToR.
Pearls come chiefly from The large she'll
fish known as the pearl-o oyster but some
are found in pink conches and fresh water
Those attached to the she'll are
Of little value. rounded pear shaped ones
that are separate from the shells being the
prizes.
4 says that giant powder or dynamite ezplod-
ing VIII work downward with most of its force:
4 that the force is equal an sides. Which
is right! G.. \. Il.
B is right. but owing TO the instantane-
BUSINESS Of such an explosion, its effect is
apparent in the direction Of greatest re-
sistance. Thus dynamite exploded on the
surface OF the ground is described as work.
ing downward.
When was the first newspaper published in the
nited States. and what was the name o. the
paper! Z. y. 8
In 1890 On September p OF that year
Benjamin Harris. Of Boston. published
''PubliCk Occurrences both Foreign and
1t had three pages each sew
IN inches by eleven He planned TO iss 10
Il monthly. but the authorities suppressed
It after the first issue. One copy OF it il
preserved in London.
When was the first American Gag mlde3
r.
The national emblem was adopted by
Congress June "A. 1717. II had thirteen
stripes alternately red and white. with
thirteen white stars in a blue field. Two
stripes were added by a law passed in 1885,
but in ISIS return was made 10 the Origi-
nal number So now the flag contains thir-
teen stripes alternately red and white and
1ne white star in q blue field for each
State in the Union.
Docs the law OF che District ~ Columbia -r5ut
divorce to O. man whose wife is lHsurhIy ill.,
auc and confined IN au asylum. d. n. =.
There is no statute either iu the Dis
rict or in Maryland which makes insanity
ground for divorce. Such a condition
n either party is considered the same as
would be any other misfortune I'm the
vent that either party We're deceived as
o the mental condition OF the other prior
o marriage then insanity would be good
,rouud for divorce.
What was ,hc strength o. tbr British at rio
attic ui Waterloo. Who Ufu juf allies, lut