The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-10


 each half ounce or fraction.
 J. S. C.-Has wireless telegraphy yet been made to work successfully, and are the common telegrphic instruments used? @ Is there any country where thunder and lightning are unknown2 C3) Is there such thing as up strokes of lightning as well as down strokes?
 A.-Wireless telegraphy may be said to be an accomplished success. Special instruments are used. @ Lightning is most frequent in tropical countries and least so nearest the poles. It Is not like ly that the lightnings are invisible to any habitable country. (o Lightning may flash in any direction, but in order to reach the earth it must of course be downward.
 L. s. C.-I cannot give particulars of the Philadelphia and Chicago strikes without consulting files of newspapers of that time, which would be a task of considerable length.
 Bacon.-why is 1t so difficult to learn anything about Shakespeare? Please print sketch of his life,
 A.-The reason lies in the fact that so little Is known. He was born at Strat- ford-on-Avon April g, 1564, and was the eldest son of John and Mary Arden Shakespeare. The father and mother were gentle" but reverses came while William was a boy and his education. such as 1t was, was completed before he was 12 years old. He went to London in 15S9 and it is supposed became an &C., tor and adapter of plays for the Black friar's theatre. Three years later he was able to buy an interest in 1t, and from that time on his fame and fortune grew rap idly. By 1591 he was famous and a fa- forite of his queen. He finally quilted the stage about 16o4 with a comfortable competence, and devoted the remainder of his life to cultivating his mind. He died on his birthday. 1616 and was buried with his ancestors in the great church at Stratford-
 s. v.--what Is fullers earth, and where Is it obtatned7
 Alt is mineral, consisting chiefly of silica, alumina and water, with little magnesia, lime and peroxide of iron. It occurs in beos associated with chalk It has a remarkable power of absorb ping grease of oil, and was formerly much used for fulling cloth-hence it's name. Other substances are now used so that its con sumption has fallen off.
 Aug.-What city makes the most use of telephones?
 A.-San Francisco, with one to each sixteen inhabitants. Boston comes next with a phone for every twenty-five inhab- itants.
 Harris-What is the present amount of money in circulation per capita? A-$S1 .02.
 Soldier-What is the new pension ruling that we hear so much about?
 A.-The act of 1890 entities all honora- ply discharged soldiers who are disabled from manual labor to pension of ss to SIP month, according to degree of disa- bility. The new ruling of the pension bureau is that whenever a soldier who has passed the age of 62 asks for pension under the act of 1890 it shall be assumed that he is disabled one-half in 1 ability to perform manual labor and | shall be given a pension of $6 a month. | the amount being increased little by lit- | tie as he advances in years
 Ned. How long have political cam campaign emblems been used?,
 A.-The first I know about was a finger ring worn by supporters of John Quincy | Adams for the presidency in 1895. It was inscribed John Quincy Adams. 1895"
 F. B.-When was the Derby. the great | English horse race, first run, and what are the weights carried?
 A--In l7so. The weights are 1as pounds | for colts and 1A pounds for Allies.
 W. M.-Robinson Criisoe dates hack to | 17f9 and Don Quxote to 1905. l. C. W.-Who was Clevelands private secretary m ms second administration? yer of Detroit