The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-25

sNs NtN ANS
crns each pronoun in the objective case.
Be kind enough to answer for our local Browning
Society the following query; What Is the propsf
and places occurring in The Ring and the Book
Archangelis; Boi,inlgs, CeponsacShi; Compsrlni
castelnuoyo. Clyita vecchia, Luc.nn. Pleve, Ponte
Milyio? The point IN dispute, Is whether English
nunclatIon or whether 1t is allowable to .Anglicize
these proper names T., b. r.
II would seem there could be not the slightest
doubt In this case In Cha uc time and for an
audience in the court Of John o. Gaunt It was no
doubt the proper thing for him 10 write "a poet
highte Dant." but one would not do the same thing
now. So with the names OF The Ring and tho
Book: Browning was deeply imbued with a nne
feeling of the music OF the Italian names, and that
lie used them should be any Browning Society's
ample warrant for following his usage. Brownlng's
Italy without italian would be a pretty mess.
What IL the correct Interpretation of the term
talking shop" as commonly used?. a claims
i claims that il Is an expression GENERALLY used
when people are talking business TO ,hs exclusion
OF other things. NJ. NJ. WILkiNs.
The latter explanation Is correct as far as It goes,
but II does not include the further and essential
element that the shop talk be out OF place. The
locution Is used to describe the sort OF conversation
which harps upon the one string OF the speakers
personal and perhaps petty interests to the exclusion
or concerns OF Wlder moment 70 tue general cTCle
OF hearers. In business hours and In commercial
surroundings one may talk shop with perfect pro-
prety. say from 10 TO 5. yet from 5 O'Clock 10 bedtime
the same sort OF talk would be out OF place and gen
orally offensive. Small beer must be chronicled
A.plenty. yet society at large may be ~pardoned
Q lack OF interest in the rising OF the BARN.
Which boat won the race in the celebrated con-
test between the Robert E. Lee and the Naichez
WILLIAM A. BURoRss.
The recorded times of the two ,poats between
New Orleans and st. Louis are: Robert L. Leo.
8 days, IS hours, IL minutes: Natchez, 8 days, ~
hours and 0 minutes. This was without stops OF any
sort and with the boats stripped for racing pur-
poses along the river with cutods as existing In
1871. A moro remarkable feat which won the Missis-
sippi horns In the days before the war was the trip
OF the j. n. White. In 1874, making all service stops
and on q longer river without the cut offs, from
New Orleans TO ST. Louis In 8 days, u hours and 0
minutes.
Is there any authority a Tor y, the s,s use Of the me T So.,
PAUL B. coNNoR.
The most modern dictionary authority gives
sanAtorium and sanitarium as 10 all purposes
synonymous and takes cog nizance Of sanitonum
as a corrupt form OF the latter. To the ctymologist
there is visible a slight underlying distinction.
which, being altogether too nne for common use.
is negligible: thus sanatorium may be a place which
Is capable OF giving health sanitarium a place
where the conditions are h%ealthful. the result 10 the
sufferer being the same In either case.
To wha, extent is Japan, working 10 strengthen
her sire sod y,I ptopE%,erfull d navy? And An has ATS she any IA
vessels at home' II mot why not I'll. d
Japan is now reconstructing her Russian prizes,
the amount OF repair being so great as TO be q real
reconstruction and in some cases %suficicnt TO raise
the rebuilt ships into a superior class. No imme-
diate programme OF naval construction has been
announced, but several battleShips are under way.
The construction yards at Rure are ample for the
needs OF the Island empire and 1t Is not expected
that Japan will again find need to call on foreign
yards for construction.
Who laid the Atlantic csblei What year was It
laid and what vessel '''e"0eo 'ne laying 3. u w. se q,
The nrst Atlantic cable was laid By the Atlantic
Telegraph Company, formed by Cyrus W. Field,
other in the directorate being william Thomson
Uord Kelvin and John Fender. The cable was
successfully laid after two breaks and the FIRST
message was sent on August II. 1853; the cable be
came useless for messages after September /, and
after October 20 no signals passed. The cable was
laid by the Niagara OF the American navy and the
Agamcmnon Of tho British navy.
which of the two armies, the French or the Ger
man. Is the larger? : i. w, HBNS1NosES.
The latest onlclal publication gives the following
figures OF the two armies on the peace footing.
all the army forces being Included: France. grand
total, $40. 400 tof which 2e.692 ofncers, and lIl ,S53
horses. German Empire, ofncers. ASA; rank and
file, $40. 4os: grand total. COZ, s72: horses. los SIS.
On this showing the German army OF all arms has
a numerical superiority OF 26.4a2. These figures
do not include the unframed army subject to con-
scrptlon In time OF war.
Did the United States purchase the. Danish West
Indies' II not. what steps were taltcn toward
such purchase and whoni JOSEPH V. SWEENEY.
Shortly after the close of the Spanish war neCou.
atoms were set on foot looking toward the purchase
OF thes Islands 10 serve as a naval base in the Car
ribesn. There developed, however, a Legislative
scandal in connection herewith at Copenhagen
and In consequence the Danish Government with
drew It's offer to sell. Since that time negotiations
have not been renewed.
Did Norway or Sweden ever belong to Russia!
T. ]. DONOVAN.
from Sweden provinces outside The scandinavian
Peninsula which Sweden under the great Gustavus
AdolphuS and Charles GustaVus had conquered
upon continental shores Of the Baltic. The chief OF
these provinces which made Sweden for the better
part of a century tho great power Of the North are
lngriA, Karelih. Livonia. ESthonia and Finland.
VIII YOU or some one Of your readers explain
the anusion In the following lines from TennySons
Adrodre'
Exquisite Margaret, VINO can tel
The last Wild thought OF Chatelct.
Just as the falling axe did part
The burning brain from the true heart
Even In her sight he loved 80 wcll7"
Can the poet have been writing with an imper,
feet recollection OF Chasteiard and May Queen Of
Scots? ALFRED a, SMITH.
have a long case commonly known as a grand.
fathers, clock. II has below the handpost a calen.
dar dial, upon which Is sta "E. owen, Blrm m
The face above the dial bears a painting OF a sail
ing We sSel, while at tle four corners OF the dial are
pictures OF conch shells. desire 10 know " the
maker Of the works Ia the SAINT as OF the cali ndar
wheel" E.Owen OF Bir bingham. "and when he lived.
The case has T shaped handmade brais. have
known the clock for forty years. Any intorma-
lon will be appreciated. c. r. ID,
To satisfy a dispute will YOU i'm dly say through
your paper when the nre occurred at thc lroqnols
Theatre In Chicago, w, \. NJ.
December 80. 1893.
Animal Rhymes. The version Of 8~crostic animal
rhvmeS Is one familiar In my family for a long time
and am glad TO be able 70 supply the missing pair
o. lines for q and Pas follows!
"Oriole, pheasant. wolverine, aux,
Peccary. ermlne, kAtydid, hswk..
trtt H