beef, three hours; roast mutton, three hours and fifteen minutes; broiled veal, four hours; boiled corn-becf, four hours and fifteen minutes; roast pork, five hours and fifteen minutes.

TOTAL LAND ENTRIES OF 1883.

HURON, D. T. Please let us know what was the total amount of government land entered in 1883; and particularly how the amount taken up in Dakota compares with entries in other Territories and States. HOMESTEADER.

Answer.-The total area disposed of for cash, under the homestead and timber-culture acts, located with agricultural college and other kinds of sorip, located with military bounty land warrants, and selected by States and railroads, in the several States and Territories, during the year anding June 30, 1883, aggregated no less than 19,430,032 acres. It is hard to realize the significance of these figures. They represent an area slightly exceeding half the total domain of England and Wales. Nothing approaching this rate of entry was ever known before. The entries of this single year equaled those of the four years ending June 30, 1876, and exceeded the surprising total of 1882 by over 5,000,000 acres. As to Dakota, she is credited with 7,317,237 acres, or nearly 40 per cent of the whole. Tabulated for each of the States and Territories, the showing is as follows:

States. Acres entered. States. Alabama........................ 846,630 Minnesota 57,586 Missouri

Arkansas.........

Arizona............ 461,215 Mississippi.

California...... 951,376 Montana....

Acres entered. 1,555,954 517,797 239,350 443,324 ....1,327,410

421,713 Nebraska.. ..7,317,236 New Mexico...

Florida............ 452,263 Nevada

Colorado.

Dakota.......

Idaho

232,639 Ohio.

Illinois............

56 Oregon.

Indiana......................

6,388 Utah.

Kansas...........1,105,241 Washington

Michigan

So that next to Dakota, Minnesota was the favorite of the land-seekers; next to which stood Nebraska, Kansas ranging down to fourth in the list. Why Arizona led fertile Arkansas by a record of 8 to 1 is a question for the people of Arkansas to answer. There are still many more arable acres of government land in Arkansas than in Arizona, whose agricultural area is exceedingly limited. The increase of entries in Washington Territory was about 70 per cent over those of 1882, and in Oregon the increase was about 66 per cent.

HOW TO MAKE SOAP. Clerk, Claytonville, Ill.-The ingredients of common yellow or resin soap are, according to Ure: Grease and resin, 60 parts; soda, 6 parts, and water, 84 parts. None of these materials need be imported.

EMERSON'S FRIEND, HENRY DAVID THOREAU. DELAFIELD, Wis. Please give a brief outline of the life of Thoreau. J. J. B.

Ansor.-Henry David Thoreau, the son of a maker of lead pencils at Concord, Mass., was born either in that place or Boston July 12, 1817. After graduating at Harvard University in 1837, be taught for three years; but his love for solitude led him to abandon that employment and the remainder of his life he devoted to study, working at one trade or another only long enough to earn enough for the bare necessities of life.

From March, 1845-7 he lived as a hermit on Walden Pond, near Concord, having built his own nouse, and during this time his expenses amounted to but $70 per annum. He was ingenious and could turn his hand to almost any work, but nothing but want could draw him from study. His favcrite books were Homer and other ancient classic writers, the old English literature, and Oriental poetry and philosophy. He wrote much, but published little, and that little was seemingly forced from him after long deliberation. For instance, in 1849 he published a book written ten years before, entitled "A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers"-a mfnute description of the country, supplemented with observations of plants and animals along the route. His second book, "Walden: or, Life in the Woods," appeared in 1854, after a similarly long period of delay. Both works abound in the transcendental philosophy, which he shared in common with Emerson, his friend. To this companion of many years the world owes most of its knowledge of Thoreau, for after the latter's death Emerson published his manuscripts in several volumes, among them "The Maine Woods," "Excursions in Field and Forest," "Cape Cod," "A Yankee in Canada, with Anti-slavery and Reform Papers," together with several poems. Thoreau was in all his life exceedingly eccentric. He never attended church, voted, or paid taxes, and seldom ate any meat. He died at Concord May 5, 1862.

THE TARIFF ON SALT.

A. J., Texas, Mich.-The tariff on salt, "in bags, sacks, or barrels, or other packages," is 10 cents per 100 pounds, and in bulk 6 cents per 100 pounds. About one-third of the salt used in our country is imported from Europe. There are large mines in France, Austria, and Switzerland, but Great Britain is the chief exporter. Most of our coarse salt is from New York, and is not dutiable.

ILLINOIS DOG TAX

STOCK-RAISING IN WYOMING.

CLINTON, Iowa. A friend urges me to join him in the stock-raising business in Wyoming Territory. Tell us something about the fitness of Wyoming for this business, and the profits likely to be realized, and oblige several and perhaps many of THE INTER OCEAN's readers. YOUNG MAN.

Answer.-The adaptability of Wyoming Territory for stock-raising cannot be disputed. Immense fortunes have been made there in this business. For men of small capital who must rely upon themselves for the care of the herds, it is a rough life, subject to great exposure, and full of present self-denial for the sake of gain. That stock-raising in this Territory has proved profitable may be inferred from the fact that although this business in Wyoming is but about fifteen years old, the first large breeding herds having been turned loose in 1866, there are now nearly 700,000 head of cattle in the Territory, worth $14,000,000 to $17,000,000; there are about $2,000,000 invested in sheds and various real estate improvements, horses, and other things required to operate the business. Wyoming stockmen sent to market in the census year about 100,000 beef animals, valued at $3,500,000.

DISTILLERIES AND BREWERIES IN MAINE. G. A. W., Genoa, Iowa-There are no distilleries or breweries in the State of Maine. How many saloons or bars there are we cannot say. That there are drinking places in Maine cannot be denied.

PRINCE BISMARCK.

CUMMINSVILLE, Neb. Why is Bismarck called "Prince?" Please give a sketch of his career. What is the German Emperor's surname? Is it Hohenzollern?

MBS. L. M. STAPLE. Answer.-Otto Edward Leopold, Prince von Bismarck-Schoenhausen, was born at Brandenburg in 1814. In 1847 he took a decided stand as an ultra-royalist in the Prussian Parliament. Two years later he opposed the scheme of a German Empire as proposed by the German Parliament. He made a vain attempt to bring about an alliance between France, Prussia, and Russia, in 1859, but having inspired the confidence of the King by his diplomatic skill he was, in 1862, sent to Paris to get an insight into French politics, preparatory to taking the position of

Minister of Foreign Affairs for Prussia. With this office he also took that of Prime Minister, and by his hostility to Austria brought on the decisive battle of Sadowa, in 1866, which resulted in victory for the Prussians. In 1867 he was made Chancellor of the North German Confederation, from which in 1870 grew the German Empire. For his services on the formation of the new Empire, and during the Franco-German war, Bismarck received the title of Prince in 1871, together with the Chancellorship; and except but a short interval he has retained the position ever since, with the present addition of the office of Minister of Foreign Affairs Practically the Emperor of Germany has no surname. His name is Friedrich Ludwig Wilhelm, of the House of Hohenzollern.

WATCH-NIGHT.

E. F. Stodard, Greenbush, Wis.-"Watch-night" is a name given by Methodists and Wesleyans of several branches to New Year's eve, which they observe by religious services, usually commencing about 9 o'clock p. m. and continuing until a few minutes after 12 o'clock. The last minutes of the old year and the first of the new are spent in silent prayer. This observance dates back to about the middle of the last century.

ALLIGATORS.

GOOD HOPE, IL. About how large are full-grown alligators, and how far north do they come? MARY E. EDIZ. Answer-The alligators of different species vary considerably in length when full-grown, some being but two feet long, while the largest measure twenty feet or more. They are found only in the warmer parts of America. The largest species called the Alligator Lucius, comes no further up the Mississippi, except in rare instances, than the mouth of the Red River.

WHERE OUR SUGAR IS REFINED. HUNTER, IL Please tell us where the principal sugar refineries of the country are located. FRANK B. THORNTON. Answer.-The most of the sugar and molasses refining of this country is done in and around New York City-Brooklyn on the one side being the chief locality, and Jersey City and Newark, N. J., on the other side doing a very large business, exceeded only by Philadelphia and Boston. Next stand San Francisco and St. Louis. The total for each of the nine States taking the lead in this industry is given below, stated in the estimated value of the refined product;

Europe and America. They have the decimal system. Their notation is different, but cannot be explained without a knowledge of their written characters and counting board, of which we are not prepared to give illustrations.

THE DIET OF WORMS. PERU, Neb. What sort of an organization was the Diet of Worms, mentioned in connection with Luther? W. D. ABBOTT. Answer-It was an assembly of the princes and other leading representatives of all the several States of the German Empire, convoked by Charles V. at the ancient town of Worms, in Hesse Darmstadt, to consider various important state affairs, conspicuous among which was the course to be pursued toward the Reformation and Luther, its acknowledged head. Luther bravely appeared before the Emperor in the midst of this august assembly and defended himself and his followers against the charge of heresy with a dignity and eloquence that commanded the admiration of the Emperor and many of his former foes, as well as of the Protestant princes and statesmen. He was suffered to leave the city under safe escort, but his friends fearing that he would be assassinated if he returned to active life, carried him off to the castle of the Wartburg and detained him in this secret place as a prisoner for several years, until his adherents had become numerous enough and strong enough to guarantee him liberty and the right to advocate his principles without fear of molestation.

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS.

J. N. Belew, Clarksburg, Tenn.-The Seventh Day Adventists who refused to vote in California in 1883 did so from peculiar religious scruples, and in no sense because of any special dislike to the Republicans. They simply resolved to have nothing to do with political government, praying for the speedy coming of Christ to govern the world.

USHER OF THE BLACK BOD-CHARLES I. SARATOGA, IL. 1. What constitutes being committed to the custody of the black rod? 2. Was it ever known who were the masked executioners of Charles I of England? M, G. COTNEY.

Answer.-1. It is one of the duties of the Usher of the Black Rod to take into custody any peer guilty of breach of privilege in the House of Lords. This officer is also chief usher to the sovereign; he belongs to the Order of the Garter, and summons the House of Commons to the House of Lords whenever the royal consent is to be given to bills or royal speeches are to be read. He is an officer of the House of Lords, appointed by letters patent. 2, No.

THE TWO COUNCILS OF NICE GARNER, Iowa. How many bishops sat in the Council of Nice? NORMAN SCHOONOVER, Answer.-There were 318 bishops in the first or great Council of Nice, out of an estimated total of 1,800 in the whole church-1,000 in the Greek provinces of the Roman Empire, and 800 in the Latin provinces. This first Council assembled at Nice, in the Emperor Constantine's palace, June 19, A. D. 325. Its chief result was the adoption of the Nicene creed expounding the

faith of the church. The second Council of Nice convened Aug. 17, A. D. 786, by order of the Empress Irene and her son Constantine. Owing to tumults raised by the representatives of the party in favor of abolishing the worship of images, it was dissolved, and reconvened Sept. 24, A. D. 787. The Emperor Leo and his son Constantine had interdicted the adoration of images and, had caused them to be removed from many churches and destroyed. Pope Hadrian apologized for image worship and advocated its restoration. The council approved the course advocated by the Pope. In this council 376 bishops participated.

DIVISION FENCES.

Subscriber, Rockton, Ill.-The law provides for the erection of division fences, but the rearing of a hedge on such a line is left to mutual agreement of the parties interested. One neighbor cannot compel the other to have a hedge on the line, although he may compel him to build or pay for half a division fence.

OUR PRINCIPAL PINERIES. FANCHER, Пl. Where are the principal American pineries? Are pine regions believed to be beneficial to persons troubled with catarrh? JOHN WILLIAM HOWE.

Answer.-The principal pineries of the United States are in Maine, the Northern parts of New York, Michigan, and Minnesota, Montana, Washington Territory, Oregon, and California; in Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Western Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, in West Virginia, and the Western part of Virginia and Pennsylvania. The pitch pine prevails in North and South Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi. It is very generally believed that the inhalation of the odor of the pitch pine woods is beneficial to consumptives and persons afflicted with catarrh The climate of the pine regions above named, particularly in the Atlantic States, is also favorable to such persons.

THE HICKSITE QUAKERS.

HOPEVILLE, Iowa. Please give a short biography of Elias Hicks, the noted Quaker. What is the religious belief of the Hicksite Friends? Is it true that they do not believe in the divinity of Christ nor in the inspiration of the Scriptures? H. H. RYAN.

Answer.-Elias Hicks was born at Hempstead, L. L, in 1748, and died in 1830. At the age of 27 he was well known as a Quaker preacher, and later he created great dissatisfaction among the Friends in the States and Canada by his unitarianism, in that he denied the divinity of Christ and a vicarious atonement. He still persisted in disseminating his views, however, and finally caused a schism in the religious society of Friends, resulting in the formation of two seats, known as Orthodox Quakers and Hicksite Quakers. The latter also deny the “authenticity and divine authority of the Holy Scriptures."

ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
Please give me the battles of the
mac, in thetr order and date, until
Richmond.

WALTON, Kan Army of the Poto the evacuation of W.M. ZIEBER.

Answer. The principal battles fought by that branch of the grand army were the following: In 1861-Bull Run, July 21; Ball's Bluff, Oct. 21; Dranesville, Dec. 20. In 1862-Williamsburg,

May 5; Hanover Court House, May 27; Seven Pines and Fair Oaks, May 31; Seven Days before Richmond, June 24-July 1; Malvern Hill, July 1. In 1863-Chancellorsville, May 2; Gettysburg, July 1-4. In 1864-Wilderness, May 5-7; Spottsylvania, May 8-21; Cold Harbor, May 8June 2; Siege of Petersburg, June 19-29; Cedar Creek, Oct 19; Hatcher's Run, Oct. 27. In 1865 -Waynesboro, March 2; Five Forks, April 1; Evacuation of Richmond, April 3; Surrender of Lee at Appomattox Court House, April 9.

WHAT ARE HENNEQUEEN AND ISTLE.

FULTON, Ill. I inclose a list of the chief exports of Mexico, among which "hennequeen" and "istle" are mentioned. have consulted Webster's Unabridged Dictionary and Johnson's Cyclopedia with no success. I think if our next neighbor can export "hennequeen" to the value of $3,311,062.64 a year, and "istle" to the value of $596,533,23, some definition of these articles should appear in some of our reference books. I appeal to Our Curiosity Shop in this matter. O. SPRAGUE. Answer.-Hennequeen is one of the names of "Sisal hemp," a fiber derived from the maguey plant, or agave Americana, called by the Mexicans mezcal, from the juice of which they manufacture the highly intoxicating liquor called pulque. During the year 1875-76 the province of Yucatan alone produced 22,000,000 pounds of this fiber, from 18,000,000 plants; and the exports of this article for the whole country, in 1883, amounted in value to the sum above named, $3,311,062. Istle is the manufactured fiber.

THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED. Jacob Brower, South English, Iowa-There is an old tradition that there was a stone which was at first rejected as unfit to enter into Solomon's Temple that was finally used to finish the building. It is without confirmation, and is believed to have been a monkish invention.

THE DEATH OF DARWIN. CHICAGO, IL. Just when and where did Charles Darwin die? STUDENT. Answer.-Charles Robert Darwin, the famous English naturalist, died at his residence, Down House, in the village of Down, near Orpington, Eng.. April 19, 1882.

DISTINGUISHED AMERICAN ARTISTS. WAUPUN, Wis. Please name the principal American artists. MBS. D. F. Answer.-Here is a list of American sculptors worthy of remembrance: Benjamin Paul Akers, Hezekiah Augur, Thomas Ball, John Beel, S. F. Cloenger, Thomas Crawford, John Frazer, Horatio Greenough, Joel T. Hart, Harriet Goodhue Hosmer, Robert Ball Hughes, Larkin Goldsmith Mead, Clark Mills, Martin Millmore, Erastus Dow Palmer, Hiram Powers, Vinnie Ream, William H. Reinhart, John Rogers, Randolph Roger, William Wetmore Story, J. Q. Adams Ward, Leonard W. Volk.

Among American painters, the most eminent are: Washington Allston, James H. and William H. Beard, William Bradford, George L. Brown, Francis B. Carpenter, George Catlin, Benjamin Champney, John G. Chapman, Fred Edwin Church, Thomas Cole, John S. Copley, Felix O. C. Darley, Solomon A. Hart, George P. A. Healy.

William Morris Hunt, Daniel Huntington, Henry Inman, George Inness, Eastman Johnson, Benson J. Lossing, Thomas Moran, Thomas Nast, John Neagle, William Page, Charles W. Peale, Rembrandt Peale, Thomas Buchanan Reade, Gilbert Charles Stuart, John Vanderlyn, Walter Robert Weir, Benjamin West.

Among engravers, there are Joseph Andrews, James T. Dick, Asher Brown Durand, Paul Revere, W. T. Richards, and a score of others scarcely less conspicuous for their ability.

TRIPLE ALLIANCE AND TRIUMVIRATE. MILO, Iowa, What is meant by the triple alliance and the Roman triumvirate? B. F. WOODCOCK.

Answer.-There have been two treaties in history known as "triple alliances." The first was signed at Hague in 1668 by England, Holland, and Sweden, and had for its object the protection of the Spanish Netherlands and the checking of the conquests of Louis XIV. of France. The second alliance was between England, France, and Holland against Spain in 1717. The latter is the one usually intended when "the triple alliance" is mentioned. This provided for the Protestant succession in Great Britain, and that of the Duke of Orleans in France; for the retirement of the Pretender from the latter country, and the demolition of Dunkirk, according to the treaty of Utrecht. "The first triumvirate" was the league between Cæsar, Pompey, and Crassus to enable them to rule the Roman repubHo, but this was never formally approved by the votes of the people. "The second triumvirate" was the partition of the government between Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus, immediately after Cæsar's death. This did receive the sanotion of the Roman people for two consecutive terms of five years, soon after which Octavius became supreme.

FRANCO-TONQUIN TROUBLES-MADAGASCAR. E. E. Olsen, Danville, Ind.-1. The present Franco-Tonquin war grows primarily out of repeated instances of the transportation of goods to and fro upon the Red River into Southeastern China, in violation of treaty and defiance of the Tonquinese and Chinese customs laws. Other provocations on both sides have grown out of the original wrong on the part of the French and the retaliatory acts of the Tonquinese. 2. The Madagascar trouble springs from encroachments on the rights of the natives by the French, and certain acts of retaliation or defense on the part of the former.

this

meeting revived

and desire

"Holy Club," in search of a deeper religious experience: and because of the rigidity and regularity of their habits they were dubbed "Methodists." In 1725 Wesley was ordained a deacon in the Church of England, and three years later became a priest. Accompanying General Oglethorpe to Georgia as missionary chaplain, he spent two years and four months in that colony, returning to England early in 1738. It was about that time he met in London Peter Bohler, 8 Moravian minister, the old of his college days with increased vigor. A visit to Herrnhut, the headquarters of the Moravians, followed, and from his return from there dates the formation of the society which has developed into the several denominations which now regard him as their founder. The formal organization was made at a meeting in Fetter Lane, London, July 20, 1740. From that time Wesley traveled an average of 4,500 miles a year, establishing churches and holding services. To keep pace with the literature and current news of the day, he read and studied as he traveled on horseback. He also found time to edit, write, and abridge more than 200 books and many pamphlets, and at the same time actively engaged in the promotion of all of the great reforms of the day-Sunday schools, the abolition of slavery, the distribution of tracts, popular education, and many charitable institutions. His active labors did not cease until four days before his death, at the age of 88 years. He was truly a remarkable man. A person of pure life and manly character, a brilliant scholar and polished gentleman, an indefatigable worker, and successful organizer, he was indeed a typical religious leader.

PARDONING PRISONERS.

D. W. Browne, Midland, Wis.-In most, if not all, of the States, when a prisoner serves out all of his time in the Penitentiary, and is not pardoned, he cannot vote after his liberation. On this account State Governors are importuned to pardon such men a few days before their release, to rehabilitate them with their full rights of citizenship.

THE EGYPTIAN QUESTION. WALLA WALLA, W. T. What is the relation of the Sultan of Turkey to the Egyptian Government, and what the relation of the British Government to Egypt? J. BRADEN.

In

Answer.-Under the decree of 1866 Egypt became simply a tributary State to Turkey. That is, the Viceroy became King or Khedive on condition that be paid an annual tribute to the Sultan of $3,600,000. In 1873 another decree gave the right to conclude treaties and maintain armies. This was regarded as a virtual acknowledgement of Egypt's independence. 1879 the relations of Sultan and Khedive were modified by the interference of the European powers, the supervision of the administration of affairs passing into the hands of a Board of Control appointed by Great Britain and France. The rebellion of Arabi Pasha broke up this arrangement, and Great Britain, with the consent of Tur key and by request of the Khedive, undertook the restoration of the government and the reorgan

ization of the administrative system. Under this last arrangement British troops are still in Egypt, and Great Britain is held responsible for the conduct of affairs. The understood object of British policy is to relieve Egypt from Turkish influence, to relieve the Soudan of the burden of Egyptian misrule, and bring both under British influence.

DISCOVERIES IN ALASKA.

A Subscriber, Urbana, Ill.-Lieut Ray, who has Just returned from a voyage of discovery and & long residence in Alaska in the government service, reports that he discovered two rivers each about 300 miles in length, one of which he named Meade; the natives call the other Ikpikpung. Neither of these, however, is longer than the Yukon, which measures about 2,000 miles.

MORTALITY IN DIFFERENT STATES.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. Please give in the Curiosity Shop the mortality statistics from the census of 1880 in all diseases, and in consumption, for Arkansas. Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, and Nebraska. JOHN C. COOK. Answer.-The following columns give the total deaths and deaths from consumption in each State: Arkansas.

Idaho.

1

.14,812 1,729 2,547

210 22

323

Michigan..........................19,743 2,613

Nebraska.....

.............

5,920

416

NAVIGABLE WATERS AND RIPARIAN RIGHTS. Subscriber, Douglas, Mich.--All navigable waters within the United States are subject to the rules and regulations established by Congress, except certain canals and a few bodies of water not navigable until rendered so by State aid or authority. A riparian owner is one who owns lands bounded by the sea, or a lake or stream of water. Such an owner's rights extend as far out into the wat ras he can go without interfering with navigation,

THE NEAREST STARS.

CHICAGO, Ill. Which star is nearest the earth? Is it proper to call the moon a star? DAN HURLEY.

Answer.-The fixed stars and planets are both included in popular language under the name "stars," as is plainly recognized by Webster's first definition of star. The moon is a secondary planet or satellite, and is as much entitled to be called a star in this loose general sense as is Venus or Jupiter, and rare instances are not wanting in literature of its being particularly spoken of in this way; nevertheless, we venture to say that it is not in conformity with good English usage in this age, and therefore not proper, to call the moon a star. In the language of the schools only the fixed stars are spoken of as stars. Which of these is nearest the earth is not certainly known, For a time it was thought that Sirius, popularly known as "the dog star," which sheds about four times as much light as any other fixed star visible in this latitude, was our nearest neighbor outside of the solar system, but the very careful and long continued investigations of the eminent astronomers, Struve, Bessel, Henderson, Bunnow, and others, indicate that several other stars are considerably nearer. The three stars, Alpha in the Centaur, No. 61 in the constellation