The Chitina leader., 1914-10-27

originally term of contempt?
 l The phrase was coined by Scotch
 man. and he made it it the subject so
 well that it became permanent and classic. It originated with Dr. John
 Arbuthnot 1667-1I35,. physician and author. who. though born in Scotland. 1 lived most of his life in London. He was. the author of some scientific and some satirical works. one of the latter being pamphlet entitled Law Is a BottOmless Pit-Exemplified In the Case of the Lord Strut. John Bull, Nicholas Frog and Lewis Balloon. fWho Spent All They Had In q Law suit" This pamphlet was published in TIP and few years later was re- printed. with four others. under the title of History of John Bull" The nickname was nsed by the author in a 1 satirical rather than q contemptuous sense. and it stuck. In 1T92 an Eng | lish horse named John Bull won the I Derby, and that helped the name along, and in 1920 Theodore Hook started comic paper called John Bull. So. whether Englishmen liked the nick name or not, they made the best of 1t. Which is the heavier, sand or clay? Why do farmers call clay soil heavy7 There is no exact standard of com parison. Sand is disintegrated rock, and therefore one sand may be heavier than another and some clays heavier to the cubic foot than others. The ex- pression "heavy soil' does not relate to avoirdupois weight any more than does heavy sea or heavy clouds. It means soil that becomes clogged.
 How does Aiaska's production of gold compare with that of California, and has Alaska other minerals beside gold?
 In 1912 Alaska produced SIT, ,39S. .943 worth of gold. and California S19.929,- 800. Alaska is producing largely of copper. has coal fields of greater area than those of Pennsylvania. extensive marble quarries, etc.
 Would like to know something about the early history of the United States supreme court.
 The supreme court of the United States at its first session in 179O con- sisted of chief justice and five asso- ciate justices. The number of asso- ciate justices was increased to six in 1897; increased to eight in 1887; in- creased to nine in 1863; decreased to eight by the death of Justice Catron in 1865: decreased to seven in 1867 by the death of Justice Wayne and again in- creased to eight, the present number, in 1870.
 Please give the common names of sulphate of masnesia, nitrate of silver, chloride of mercury and oxide of hy- drosen.
 Sulphate of magnesia is epson salts. | nitrate of silver is lunar caustic, chlo- ride of mercury is calomel, and oxide ISf hydrogen is water.
 Will a letter properly addressed be forwarde if the postage is not fully prepaid?
 Yes. even if no part of the postage is prepaid. Under a recent rule of the postottice department all first class mat ter-that is. letters and post or postal cards-may be dispatched whether or not any postage is prepaid thereon. Other articles will not be forwarded unless prepaid. at least in part, and in all cases of insufficient prepayment double the amount of the deficiency shall be collected of the addressee. The option of no prepayment or of part prepayment of postage does not apply. however. to either letters or other ar ticles mailed with the apparent inten- ton of avoiding prepayment.
 Does the Christian era date exactly from the birth of Christ?
 It was so intended when the calen- dar was fixed. but his birth is now gen. erally believed to have taken place about four years before the period from which we reckon the Christian era.