Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-04-13

in yards, and then by one-half the ale titude in yards. Divide by 15 for tons If n circular stack, multiply the square of circumference ill yards by four times the altitude in yards. Di- the number of tons. The usual al. lowance for a ton of hay is 512 cubic feet.
 R. T. J.-Is there any school that will furnish correspondence course to fit me for civil service examina- Ition? (2) The rules for multiplica- tion say the multiplier must be an abstract number; is 1t true, to multi- ply feet by feet to get square feet? A. Correspondence schools are freely advertised in magazines and newspapers. (2) It is true. You cannot multiply feet except by num- bers, and you can multiply numbers no matter what they relate to. D. I. B.-When will the James, town exposition open, and will there be any elaborate exercises? | A. The opening exercises will take place Friday, April 26. with very elaborate exercises. At sum- rise salute of 300 guns, followed at l11:30 by the arrival of President Roosevelt at the exposition grounds after passing on the Mayfower through columns of saluting foreign and American warships in Hampton Roads. Speeches and parades of soldiery with a presidential review fill the afternoon until the reception l to MT Roosevelt between and 6 o'clock.
 1 A. M. C.-Who was the origina- tor of the rural free delivery and when was it started?
 A. The idea is said to have been that of Congressman Bingham of Pennsylvania, through whose reso- lution congress in 1892 appropriated $10,000 for experimental purposes. Little progress was made until the winter of 1S96-7, when it became 8 permanent institution. have seen it stated that the first experiment. of rural free delivery as 1t Is now understood was made in the moun- tains of West Virginia during the term of postmaster-general William L. Wilson.
 w. M. P.-If you have no objec- tiOn, please state your authority for the statement that the twenty-fifth of December was first observed as the | birthday of the Saviour in the year 9S?
 | A. Having made no such state- ment, it is difficult to quote the au- thority. Putnam's Worlds Progress is authority for the statement that Christman was first observed as . festival A, D. 9S. About 137 Pope Phosphorus ordered that solemn fest and divine service be performed on the twenty-fifth of December. It should be understood that dates re- lating to prehistoric events cannot always carry with them proofs of their correctness.
 J. T.. D-Why is April 1 called April Fools day? (2) Why are rab- bits supposed to lay on Easter Sum day? (3) Why are church bells rung when the old year goes out, and what started the habit?
 A. The custom of "fooling" the unwary by sending them on some bootless errand, or making them the subjects of some good-hum0red joke, is a very ancient one whose origin is unknown. @ From the Germans comes the habit of amusing children at Easter time by sending them to hunt for eggs which are fabled to have been hidden, not laid, by rabbits (3) The ringing of bells is supposed to welcome the new year. From the beginning of mankind 1t has been the habit to shout. sing and make noises as an expression of joy! No doubt bell ringing on such occasions began very soon after the invention of bells, early in the Christian era.