flowered one bearing blueish tubers one and onehalf inches long by three-quarters of an inch through; and a white flowered one with white globose tubers about one inch in diameter. Since then it is reported that some of these white potatoes have been found of the size of a hen's egg, and are palatable when cooked. Whether these are strictly native to that region may have to be further investigated, but the probabilities seem to be that they are.

PERPETUAL MOTION.

C. D. Odds, Cedar Rapids, Neb.-The secret of perpetual motion has never been discovered. There was, it is true, a clock at the Centennial Exhibition which, it was claimed, would run 100 years without being wound. The weight weighed 600 pounds, and was to fall six feet four inches during the century. This is probably as near perpetual motion as man has yet come, and even this may fail to fulfill its promise. The government at one time offered a reward to the discoverer of perpetual motion, but that offer has been withdrawn.

CHIEF STARS AND CONSTELLATIONS.

CHICAGO, Ill. Please give the names of the principal stars compos ing the northern and southern constellations, and how far south such stars can be seen. O. MOLINE. Answer.-Our northern midwinter heavens are so splendid, lit up as they are by the finest constellations of the revolving year, that it is not strange that, notwithstanding the inclement cold of this season (Januasy) there are always more astronomical queries sent to us in the winter than in any other part of the year. Just now our sparkling dome is peculiarly brilliant, for, in addition to the never changing winter constellations, the four largest of the planets have wheeled into line in the zodiacal arch, Mars at the eastern extremity early in the night, Venus at the western, Jupiter just east of the meridian, and Saturn just west of it; and, to enhance the splendors of this gorgeous spectacle, the much talked-of comet has at last thrown off the veil and trails her golden tresses across the western sky.

The constellations within 40 deg. of the pole are always in sight to observers on or north of the parallel of Chicago. First of these-because it contains that most important star, the present pole star-is Ursa Minor, the Little Bear. Its principal stars form the "Little Dipper," with curved handle, which answers to this fanciful bear's tail. The north star is in the end of the tail, pinning the animal fast. Watch him the night through and you will see him swing around this sparkling brooch on the wrong end of him at the rate of once around in twenty-four hours. Ursa Major, the Great Bear, tramps around the pole in a wider circle in the same period, now above the north star and now below. The seven chief stars in Sir Bruin have worked their way quite down upon his body and hips and out upon his tail, forming what is popularly known as "The Great Dipper," or called by some the "wagon:" Ly others "Charles' Wain," and by others "The Plow." Four of them are arranged in an irregular quadrangle, forming the "wagon" or bowl of the "dipper," the other three, the of tongue or handle

the

wagon

of the dipper. The two in the bowl opposite this handle are called "the pointers." because they point toward the pole-star. The brighter is named Benetnash. To give all the names would make this article too long. The Great Dipper now (in January) at 9 o'clock p. m. is east of north, with the pointers highest. Between Ursa Major and Ursa Minor winds a long irregular line of smaller stars called the Dragon. On the opposite of the pole from the Great Dipper is Cassiopea, "the Lady in the Chair." The "lady" is less conspicuous than the chair, which is composed of the six brightest stars. In the northern part of "the Milky Way," south and east of Cassiopea, is Perseus, the brighest stars in which form a scimetar called "the Sword of Perseus," with a small parallelogram for the handle and a curved line of stars for the blade. Still further eastward is Auriga, the Charioteer, which may be recognized by a lustrous star of the first magnitude, Capella, the Goat. The other constellations within the circle of perpetual apparition, such as Cepheus, the Lynx, the Camelopard, and the Lizard, contain no stars above the third or fourth magnitude. The constellations south of the above rise and set to us much like the sun and planets, and so can be seen by us only at particular seasons.

of

The principal ones in sight in midwinter will be next described. Following the Milky Way southward from Auriga, on the west side of it, is the fine constellation Taurus, the Bull, with the Pleiades, or "Seven Stars." in his shoulder and a v-shaped group called the Hyades in his head, of which a bright red star, Aldebaran, the Leader, also called "the Eye of the Bull," is very conspicuous. Nearly opposite Taurus, across the Milky Way, are two fine second-magnitude stars, Pollux and Castor, in the constellation Gemini, the Twins; and southwest of these is the prince of all the constellations, Orion, mentioned in the oldest book in existence, Job. The vivid red star, of the first magnitude, southeast Aldebaran, is Betelguese, in Orion's and the sparkling, shoulder, white, first magnitude star southwest of this is Rigel, in the hero's foot. A fine second magnitude star rests like a diamond studded epaulette on Orion's west shoulder, and midway between Betelguese and Rigel are three equidistant stars, forming his "belt," or, as Job describes them, "the bands of Orion." From this belt depends his sword. The belt, the sword, and a few other stars form a diamond-shaped figure with handle, sometimes called "the gridiron." Southeast of Orion blazes the most brilliant of all the fixed stars, Sirius "the dog star," in the mouth of Canis Major, the Great Dog-a cluster of bright stars south and southeast of it, forming the rest of this constellation.

In February, a part of Argo Navis, the ship Argo, may be seen above the southern horizon, but its really splendid first magnitude star Canopus is not visible in our Northern States, because below our horizon. Northeast of Orion may be seen now the bright star, Procyon, in the constellation Canis Minor, the Little Dog It is at the right angle of a triangle formed by

Betelguese, and the brighest star in the Twins, Pollux. At this time of year a beautiful, violettinted, first magnitude star is visible early in the evening in the northwest, with two fainter stars forming together a small equi-lateral triangle, This is Vega, in the constellation Lyra, the Harp. East of it is the constellation Cygnus, the Swan, with extended wings flying directly down the Milky Way, its long neck stretching far to the westward. The four bright nearly equidistant stars making an almost straight line through the neck and body and two bright stars in the wings form what is called "the Great Northern Cross. Southward of the Swan is Aquila, the Eagle, easily distinguished when the Milky Way, in the middle of which it lies, is overhead, by the first magnitude star, Altair, about midway between two other stars only a little less brilliant. Northeast of Aquila are four stars of medium brightness in the little constellation, the Dolphin, forming a lozenge-shaped quadrilateral, popularly called "Job's Coffin." An angry red first magnitude star seen southwest of Aquila during the autumn months is Antares, "the heart of the Scorpion," which is one of the largest and most striking of the constellations. Seen in all its broad extent, in August and September, it covers a vast area in the southern heavens; looking like an immense bow-kite, the tail of the fabled scorpion corresponding to the tail of the kite. Sagittarius, the Archer, embraces a number of second magnitude stars in and near the Milky Way, east of the Scorpion. Several of the brightest form the straight-handled, inverted "Southern Dipper."

In November, at 9 o'clock p. m., nearly directly overhead are seen four fine secondmagnitude stars, forming the "Great Square" in Pegasus, the Flying Horse. Then, between the northeast corner of this square and Perseus (hitherto pointed out) may be seen four second and third magnitude stars almost in a row, in the foot and body of the beautiful constellation, Andromeda. Not far east of "the Great Square" three stars, severally of the second, third, and fourth magnitude, forming an obtuse triangle, with the brightest star at the northern angle, mark the constellation Aries, the Ram, the first in order of the twelve constellations that give names to the twelve signs of the Zodiac-the imaginary belt of 18 degrees width, through the center of which runs the ecliptic, or "sun's path," and within which lie the orbits of all the principal planets. The other constellations of the Zodiac, in the order in which the sun enters them, are Taurus and Gemini, already pointed out; Cancer, the Crab, next east of Gemini, containing no bright stars, but distinguished by a nebulous cluster of minute ones. Leo, the Lion, containing a number of stars forming a very perfect sickle, with Regulus, a striking first magnitude star, in the end of the handle, at this season rises into plain view about 11 o'clock p. m. About two hours later another bright first magnitude star, of slight bluish tint, appears east of Regulus. This is Spica, in the hand of Virgo, the Virgin, the seventh constellation of the Zodiac. Southeast of

this, two hours later, will rise the insignificant looking constellation Libra, the Scales: next after which Scorpio, already pointed out, will appear in the southeast, to be followed two hours later by Sagitarius, also hitherto pointed out, the tenth constellation of the Zodiac; then Capricornus, the Goat, the eleventh; and, finally, Pisces, the Fishes, the twelfth, both of which, containing no bright stars, are inconspicuous.

In July, between 9 o'clock and 10 o'clock p. m., a glowing, reddish, first-magnitude star hangs nearly overhead. It is Arcturus, mentioned in Job, and is in theconstellation Bootes, the Bearkeeper. Not far from it, toward the northeast, is seen a beautiful cirolet of stars, Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown. There are other constellations scattered among those above named, such as Leo Minor, Eridanus, Lepus, the Hare; Columbo, the Doye; Hydra; Corvus, the Crow; Coma Berenices, the Hair of Berenice; Aquarius, the Water-bearer; Ophincus, the Serpent-bearer; Hercules: Cetus, the Whale; Centaurius, and Pisces Australis, Southern Fish none of which, except the last, contain any stars conspicuously bright. Fomalhaut, the fine star in the Southern Fish, is nearly of first magnitude, and may be seen just above other southern horizon in August and September. To persons north of N. Lat. 40 deg. stars and constellations south of S. Lat. 50 deg. are invisible. Among such are the famous "Southern Cross," composed of five second and third magnitude stars; the two brightest stars in the Ship, above referred to; the Phenix, and a few others. The south circumpolar heavens are not rich in brilliant stars and striking constellations.

LAKE NAVIGATION AND STATISTICS. Milton T. Cox, Fairmont, Ind.-1. Vessels go up the middle and north branches of the Chicago River about five miles, and up the middle and south branch about eight miles. 2. Within the city limits there are about thirty-five bridges across the different branches. 3. The lake ports most engaged in ship-building are Milwaukee, Michigan City, Port Huron, and Detroit. 4. The number of American vessels upon the Northern lakes is 3,207, and most, if not all of these have trade with Chicago.

WAS KNUD IVERSON ▲ MARTYR?

CHICAGO, Il.

I have a relative in England who greatly desires to ascertain the truth of the story in reference to Knud Iverson, a boy who died rather than tell a lie. Will you have the kindness to publish the facts concerning him? ANNA E. WHITTAKER.

Answer.-Knud Iverson was drowned in the north branch of the Chicago River about thirty years ago, by some boys who were ducking him, either in sport or to punish him for not falling in with all their plans. The story was circulated through the country for some time after his death that he had died rather than agree to participate in or cover up some petty offenses of his companions; in short, that he was a martyr to his love of truth and honesty; that the boys who drowned him were reprobates of the worst description, veritable sons of Belial; and that he ought to have monument, to be erected chiefly by the contributions of Sunday school

children, who were exhorted to imitate Knud's virtuous example. A certain newspaper manager of this city advertised himself and his paper far and wide by calling for contributions for this purpose, and printing the names of contributors in his journal. When the trial of the boys who had unfortunately ducked Knud in the north branch of the Chicago River once too often came off, the testimony did not sustain the highly sensational story which had been sent out over the country; the offenders were acquitted; the pulpits ceased to resound with the story of Knud's martyrdom: some who had been loudest in advocating the erection of a monument declared that it would be a monumental falsehood if erected; and so the money was turned to other uses, just what has never been fully explained to the satisfaction of all the contributors.

CALIFORNIA PETRIFIED FORESTS. CHICAGO, Ill. Please inform me about how old the petrified forest of California is estimated to be; how large is it, and in what part of the State; and give any other items of interest. JESSIE RUTHERFORD. Answer.-East of Sacramento, on the American River, and northward, cretaceous rocks come to the surface, and these are filled with fossil remains of marine animals. Higher up the Sierras, however, pliocene fossils appear, and here the deposits are of fresh-water origin, and are associated with volcanic detritus. That these remains have been carried far from their original place by the action of running water is shown by the fact that they are in rolled masses interstratified with gravels and fine clay. These clays contain impressions of leaves and other forms of vegetable life, and even whole trunks of trees have become

of 1,783,085, it amounted to only $1,942,114.75. As to consumption of liquors, we have not equal means of telling how that is distributed, but it is undeniable that there is more liquor per capita consumed in mining, manufacturing, and commercial centers than in agricultural districts, more in Pennsylvania per capita than in Maine or Iowa. Mr. Blaine's proposition to distribute the surplus internal revenue among all the States in proportion to population would be necessarily inequitable.

JOHN SHERMAN-MORMONS.

FLORA, Ill. Please state the age, birthplace, and early occupation of the Hon. John Sherman, United States Senator of Ohio; whether he is a brother of William Tecumseh, and which is the elder. 2. Is there any evidence to support the statement that Brigham Young is not really dead, but was smuggled away by the Mormon leaders? In round numbers, how strong are the Mor mons at this time. CHARLES H. WARNER.

Answer.-The Hon. John Sherman was born at Lancaster, Ohio, May 10, 1823, and after a course of academic study, devoted himself to preparation for the bar, to which he was admitted May 11, 1844. He is a brother of General Sherman, who was born in 1818. 2. There is no doubt that Brigham Young is "dead as a door-nail," and really buried, According to the American Almanac for 1883, the Mormons numbered 3,906 ministers and 110,377 members.

SUNRISES AND RED SUNSETS.

M. F. Morgan, Le Grand, Iowa-The cause of the unusually red sun rises and sun sets observed during December and part of November is still unexplained to the satisfaction of anybody. The theory that it is due to the earth traveling through a nebulous cloud of cosmic dust thrown off by or constituting the vaporous part of some cometary body, has not a few advocates.

THE LARGEST REFRACTING TELESCOPE. Can you tell us what is the largest scope in the world? Answer.-The standard for assumed to be the object glass.

CHICAGO, IL, refracting teleJAMES CLARK. comparison is The largest ob

animals. These fossil remains extend for several miles and form a literal underground forest. Just what the area covered is we do not know. and what number of years has intervened since these fossils were formed is largely a matter of conjecture, in regard to which geologists do not claim to be able to speak with any considerable degree of certainty. Look in the diagram under the word "geology" in Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, and you will see that the cretaceous period is the third, counting down from the present geological period. That may have been 50,000 years ago or 500,000, according to various estimates; which shows that the fossils above mentioned are of "very uncertain age."

INTERNAL REVENUE STATISTICS. James, Deerfield Prairie, Ill.-Whereas the internal revenue collected on spirits and fermented Liquors in Illinois, with a population of 3,077,871, amounted in the year ending June 30, 1882, to $26,816,771.53, in Pennsylvania, with a population of 4,282,891, it amounted to only $6,575,$16.89, and in Massachusetts, with a population

is the one lately completed for the great Pultova Observatory, Russia, by Alvan Clark & Sons, of Cambridgeport, Mass. It is thirty inches in diameter. The glass ordered for the Lick Observatory, California, is to be thirty-six inches in diameter.

THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN IN AMERICA. DENVER, Col. Which is the highest mountain in North or South America? Please answer and settle a dispute. MINER.

Answer.-It is not easy to settle disputes of this kind. "Authorities," so-called, differ materially. It is still a matter of dispute as to whether Mount Sorato or Illampu, Mount Sahama or Sajama, Mount Aconcagua, Mount Chimborazo, or Mount Illimani, is the highest mountain in South America, and the loftiest on this continent; but the weight of testimony seems to be in favor of Mount Sorato in the Bolivian Andes, claimed to be 24,800 feet high. Sahama stands next, credited by some with an altitude of 23,000 feet; Aconcagua next, 22,422 feet; Chimborazo next, 21,424 feet; Illimani next, 21,300 feet.

Other geographers rank these mountains in a different order. A. J. Schem, in Johnson's Cyclopedia, makes Mount Illampu the highest peak, 24,744; Illimani, 23,990, and Sajama 22,760 feet.

It was supposed at one time that Mount Hood, Oregon, was the highest summit in North America, but later computations have humbled its head from 17,000 feet above the sea to only 11,000. Then Mount Shasta, Cal., 14,442 feet in height, wore the crown until it was discovered that Mount Whitney measured up to 14,887. Next Mount St. Elias, Alaska, although still down on the British admiralty charts as only 14,800 feet high, was awarded the crown by the United States Coast Survey as being 19,500 feet, and lately Mount Popocatapetl comes in with a elaim for the highest honors, a recent investigator insisting that its summit is 20,000 feet high.

RENTAL OF POST OFFICE BOXES.

Mrs. P. Bliss, Eau Claire, Wis.-1. The rental of postoffice boxes is governed by cost of rental of building (which varies with localities), and by other local considerations. The Postmaster General has supervision over the prices for box-rentals, and takes all the facts into consideration before approving the same. 2. No.

LOCO-FOCO DEMOCRACY,

MACON, Miss. What is the meaning of loco-foco Democracy? B. W. SMITH,

Answer. The term was applied to the extreme portion of the Democratic party in the days of Jacksonian Democracy because of a circumstance that occurred at a Democratic meeting in Tammany Hall, New York, in 1834. The discussion had become very warm, when the presiding officer left the chair, and immediately the lights were extinguished with a purpose of breaking up the meeting. But one of the extremists produced some friction matches, then just coming into use under the name of loco-foco matches, and relighted the gas, when order was restored.

COST OF SUPPORTING CERTAIN INDIANS, William Loumis, Garfield, Kan.-Some Indian tribes have always been under the protection of the United States, and the number has steadily increased with the progress of industry westward. The total expenditure for the maintenance of these tribes from 1789 to 1882 amounted to $203,409,443.

A SQUARE IN PRINTING. FARRAGUT, Iowa. What is meant by a "square" in printer's language? A. CAMPBELL.

Answer.-According to Webster, a square, as used in printing, is "a number of lines forming a portion of a column nearly square." This definition is now almost obsolete. Formerly the "square" was used almost universally among newspaper publishers as a measure of space in fixing the rates of advertisements. Fourteen lines of the type known by printers as pica, with fourteen "ems" to the line, set "solid," fill a square space in the column of many a newspaper; but it takes only 133 pica "ems" to fill THE INTER OCEAN or Chicago Tribune column line,

and not more than eleven or twelve pica "ems"to fill a column line in certain other Chicago or Eastern papers. As the pica "em" is the standard unit in measuring type, the above fact points to the rule still prevalent in many country offices, that fourteen lines make a square. But there is less uniformity now than ever before in regard to the width of newspaper columns, and this alone would naturally tend to change the old definition of a square. Agate has been substituted for pica as the unit for measuring advertisements. Fourteen lines of agate being equal to an inch, space is sold by the agate line or by the inch; and the word "square" is now an uncertain quantity, being different in different offices. In one it still signifies as much as formerly, viz., the equal of fourteen pica lines set solid; but in others it measures no more than eight agate lines, or seven of nonpareil. The latter is the prevailing rule in the leading Chicago newspaper offices.

PROHIBITION IN KANSAS.

Inquirer, Coffeyville, Kan.-1. There is nothing in the prohibition clause of the Kansas constitution, nor in the prohibition amendment to the Iowa constitution which was adopted by the people in 1882, that is incompatible with the Federal Constitution. 2. Congress has full control over the Territories and it has not as regards the States. There can be no question as to its having authority to prohibit the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors in the Territories; there is some ground for doubt as its authority to do so in the States. 3. There is nothing in the Federal Constitution to prevent the admission of a new State with a constitution prohibiting the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors. 4 We cannot answer your other question fully.

GOLD AND SILVER YIELD.

William Alden, Polk County, Iowa-The total yield of the mines of Leadville, Col., in 1882, amounted to $17,131,853. The total yield of all the Colorado mines since the first discovery of precious metal here in 1859 had reached the immense sum of $165,000,000 before the beginning of 1883

PRESIDENTS WHO KISSED THE BIBLE. CANTRALL, IL. What Presidents of the United States have kissed the Bible on taking the oath of office? Also please tell what portions of Scripture they kissed. ETTIE CANTERBURY. MARY WELCH. Answer.-It is the prevailing form of taking the oath, in the District of Columbia, and particularly in the Supreme Court of the United States, to "kiss the book." Most if not all of the Presidents have observed this form. If there have been any exceptions, we cannot specify them. Jefferson rode into Washington on horseback, threw his bridle-rein over a fence-post, stepped into the office of a justice of the peace, and took the oath as unceremoniously as a woodsawyer would shoulder his saw-buck. Some of his friends commended this act, as manifesting his contempt for ceremony, and his devotion to democratic simplicity; but most people regarded it as a demagogic offering to that element of the Democratic-Republican party (which had elevated him to office) that was rabialy opposed to the

rather excessive fondness of Washington, Adams, and some other Federalists for ceremony. Even on this occasion, although Jefferson was tainted with the French free-thinking ideas, which became so widely disseminated in this country during the revolutionary period, he is believed to have observed the ordinary local form of taking the oath by "kissing the book." There is probably no record of the precise passages kissed in all inauguration cases.

CHECKERS.

L. Acker, Kaukauna, Wis.-In playing checkers, I your opponent leaves two men exposed to be aken by you at one play, and requests you to take them, you must capture them both. This may place you where you would rather not be, but he is entitled to the advantage a strict enforcement of this rule may give him. But if a player can take one man in one place and more than one in another, he may take in which place he pleases, not being obliged to capture the larger number of men. However, if he elects to take in the direction of the larger number, he must take all of that lot that are exposed, or en prise, as it is called

DO OTHER NATIONS HAVE THANKSGIVING DAYS? FARRAGUT, Iowa. Does any other country than the United States observe a National Thanksgiving Day? A. CAMPBELL. Answer.-The proclamation annually by the Chief Executive of a National Thanksgiving Day, to be observed religiously and socially in recognition of the goodness of God in sending seedtime and harvest, is generally regarded as peculiar to the United States. Yet there are similar festivals in other countries. The Jews had such a one; the English have their "harvest-home" festival; the French, Spaniards, and Portuguese have their several days of rejoleing after the grain harvest, or after the vintage. The old Romans and Greeks had their feasts to Bacchus, god of wine, and Ceres, the queen of harvest. Chinese, from time immemorial, have observed both seed-time and harvest with appropriate religious and social ceremonies and festivities. Even the North American Indians have celebrated the fruiting season of the year with the greencorn dance and other modes of thanksgiying and rejoicing.

THE TEAM QUERY.

The

Charles E. Cole, Cavalier, D. T.-If the doubletree swings clear, without any chains or braces, the lagging horse in a double team has as hard work as the one that forges ahead, provided the arms of the double-tree are equal in length.

JAPANESE LACQUER. SOUTH BEND, Ind. Tell us what Japanese lacquer is made from. J. BROWN. Answer.-It is a mixture of urushi, the milky secretion of rhus vernicifera, and mokuyiki, the juicy product of another tree. The better qualities contain about 60 per cent of pure urushi. The urushi tree is very similar in appearance to the ordinary wax tree, growing to nine or even twelve feet in height, and fully maturing in about fifteen years. Ki-urushi, raw lacquer, the better quality, is collected best in Juną, by making shal

low incisions in the tree, when it exudes from between the outer and inner barks. A single tree yields about 112 drams avoirdupois of this quality of juice. In its pure state urushi is a thick, grayish fluid of almost viscous consistency. Exposed to moist air, in a thin layer, at 20 deg. Fahr. or thereabouts, it dries as a dark, lustrous, translucent varnish. Different colors are given to this varnish by adding pigments, such as vermilion, indigo, lampblack, etc. Red lacquer, for instance, is a compound of twenty parts of linseed oil, seventy parts of urushi juice, and about ten parts of vermilion.

Vincent V.,

PENSIONS OF 1812.

Ozawkiè, Kan.-Soldiers of the war of 1812 are entitled to pensions for service only; but in case of their death without having secured pensions, it is hardly likely that heirs will get anything.

HEATING PROPERTIES OF ACETATE OF SODA. KENOSHA, Wis. Why is acetate of soda used for warming railway cars? How does it operate? BADGER. Answer-There is a peculiarly large percentage of the water of crystallization in solidified acetate of soda; enough to dissolve the salt when the crystals are once heated. When liquified by this application, a great deal of heat is rendered latent, which becomes sensible, or is given off, as the liquid cools and again crystalizes. This is why vessels filled with heated acetate of soda take so long to cool, often taking hours to return to the temperature of the air around them.

THE NULLIFICATION ACT. YORK, Neb. Please give the history of the nullification act of South Carolina. J. K. Answer. The controversy over the right of nullification began with the Union, and is stated at length in Our Curiosity Shop for 1881. The special act of South Carolina was but one of the fruits of this troublesome discussion, hastened to maturity by the tariff of 1828, which was specially burdensome to the cotton-growing States. In 1832, therefore, South Carolina declared the tariff null and void, and refused to pay any of the duties therein imposed, threatening to secede from the Union should any force be used to compel such payments. The excitement increased John C. Calhoun resigned the Vice Presidency to accept the position of State Governor, and medals were struck, bearing the inscription: "John C. Calhoun, First President of the Southern Coufederacy." But President Jackson's promptness and firmness averted any serious catastrophe. Military and naval troops were at once posted throughout the State and along the coast, a proolamation from the President announced that the law would be enforced, and soon after Henry Clay's compromise bill ended what had threatened to be a civil war.

WEIGHT OF A LOADED WAGON. Walter H. Smith, Chicago-1. Whether the weight of a loaded wagon bears equally on every inch of the entire length of the axle-spindles depends upon the construction of the hubs and spindles. It seldom if ever does so. The very