Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-11-20
Things Some People
Have Asked About

(Such information as may be asked by letter
will be given to readers in this column. We
are not omniscient or infallbe, but shall en-
deavor to exercise care that answers be CIV
en- unless reliable and trustworthy author
ity We shall not in this department go into
political, theological legal controversy, nor
reply to any inquiry relating TO the credit or
methods of any business concern. Correspon-
dents are requested to make questions brief
and accompany them with their full name.
No notice will be taken Of anonymous COM
munications, but the name of the writer Will
not be printed IL also signed by initials or
other substitute.)
Reader-What was the Phlogiston
theory, by whom was it advocated and
by whom overthrown? What other ia
nous scientific theories in the past have
risen, flourished and fallen?
A. The Phlogiston theory is the sup
posed principle of infiammability, or the
matter of fire in composition with other
bodies. Evolved by Stahl, an English
student of chemical philosophy. He
assumed that pure fire was fixed In som
bustible bodies and therefore not in ac-
ton, or at liberty. This theory can hard
ly be said to have been overthrow; it is
simply mot proved" 1t would be diff
cult to select examples of theories among
the multitudes which have been assumed
to be scientific by old-time chemists and
philosophers. Almost every fact of SCI
ence as understood today has had its per-
NeTl6u Twin III past ages. Inc SCAcICCS DIS
understood at the beginning of the seven
teenth century are excellently classified
by Bacon in his Novum Organum.
H. H.-What was the date Of the death
of Gen. Custer, the Indian fighter?
A.-July 2, 1876.
Jack.-How long since japanese ports
have been open to foreign trade?
A.-Since 1867.
Memory.-Can the memory be improv-
ed?
Ayes, by care and study. Concen-
trate the mind on the thing to be remem-
bered, and it win be found that practice
makes perfect"
r. R.-How long have railroads been
operated in the United States?
A.-The first railroad in this country
was built between Boston and Quincy in
1927. to bring granite for the Bunker Hill
monument.
Jester.-Is marriage under an assumed
name binding?
Ayes.
Rose-What is altar of roses, and how
made?
Att is a perfume obtained by aqueous
distillation of rose petals. To make an
ounce you will need three hundred ounces
of the petals.
Fourth-Are there any national holi-
days?
A.-No, not even the fourth of July.
Q.-What are the salaries of the presi-
dent and vice president?
A.-$50,0O0 and 5000 respectively.
War.-Where was the famous Libby
prison located, and is it in existence now?
Alt Richmond, Va. Three years ago
some Chicago capitalists bought and
moved it to that city. where it was con-
verted into a museum and filled with war
relics.
Financier.-What is meant by the term
call loan?
A. Money loaned with the understand
ing that 1t will be repaid on demand
Reader-Who devised the Roman cali
endar?
A. Romulus, B. C. 7sS. 1t was improved
by Pompilius b. c. 49, who added two
months to the original ten, by Julius Gaze
sar, and perfected by Pope Gregory in
1882
G. A. C.-when did the battle of
Brandywine occur?
A. September II, III.
oldtime-Were criminals ever boiled to
death under the law?
A. England punished murder and trea-
son by boiling the convicted to death by
a law of 1882. The law was in force
some years. for a woman was thus pun
ished in 1541.
B. B.-What is hydropathy?
A. A term applied to the treatment of
disease by water, commonly known as the
cold water cure.
D. A. els the famous Mother Ship
ton prophecy real, or a fake?
Att is very ancient. The original is
said to be in the British museum.
China.-When was the Chinese immi-
grafton prohibited?
Ain 1881. At that time the census
showed 105. 465 Chinese in this country.
The total admitted previous to that time
was 232. 2S3 showing that more than half
had returned home.
Subscriber.-Q) What American woman
became a queen? ca Why is there now
no vice president?
A. ID Elsie Hensler, of Boston, beau
tif1l opera singer, came near being a
queen, having married Ferdinand, king
regent Of Portugal She was made a
countess. CD Because the vice president
last elected has been called to the presi-
Dental chair.