Democratic Sentinel, Volume 5, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 June 1881 — BITS OF INFORMATION. [ARTICLE]

BITS OF INFORMATION.

The national debt of Great Britain is nearly <k>uble that of the United States. ; average ffiur gallons of milk v&oduee sixteeta ounces of butter. The best butter is produced from cowj fed in rich natural meadows. The following is the production and 'eEfdrt of ‘ whaht for the four decennial years mentioned: ' f IP ’ J ’■ ivi JProduetion. Export. Tfeo../.... .100,485,»44 782,768 .-. 1f...; r......... 34491,215 1880..448,756,630 153,869,935 “Amende honorable ” was a punishment formerly inflicted in France on great offenders. The offender was given over to the common hangman, his shirt was torn off, a rope was placed around his neck and a wax light in the hand. He was conducted into the court and compelled to ask pardon for his mis*The following is a list of the Treasurers of the United States, with the dates of their appointment and their terms of service: Samuel Meredith.. ..1789 John Sloane..lßso ThomaeN. Tucker.. .1801 Samuel Caaeylßs3 M.Nourae (ad. int)..1828 W. O. Pricelß6o Waa. Clarklß2B Francis E. Spinner.. .1861 John Campbel!.',lß3o John C. Newlß7s Wm.5e1dta.....1840 James Gilfillanlß77 The phrase “ dead as a herring” may .be traced to the fact that the herring is an extremely delicate fish, and whenever it is taken out of the water, even though it seems to have no hurt, it gives a squeal and immediately expires, and though it be thrown immediately back into the water it never recovers. Halcyon days is the name given by the ancients to the seven days which precede and the seven days which follow the shortest days of the year. There is a fable that, during this time, while the kingfisher, or halcyon bird, is breeding, there were no storms at sea. Hence the sterm “halcyon days” means peace, calmness ana tranquillity. The origin of the slang expression, “ I’ll cook your goose for you,” is this :■ King Eric, of Sweden, coming with a few troops to a certain town, the inhabitants, in contemptuous defiance, hung out a goose for him to attack. But Eric being in earnest, the citizens sent heralds to ask what he wanted. “To cook yonr goose for you,” was the facetious reply. Tint greatest painters, in order, were Raphael, Michael Angelo, Corregio, Leonardo da Vinci, Titian, Guido, Rubens, Rembrandt, Vandyke, Tenier, Murillo, Carracci, Claude, N. Poussin and Carlo Dolce. The oldest known painting is a “ Madonna and Child,” done in 886; name of author unknown. The oldest known in England are a portrait of Chaucer, painted on a panel in 1390, and one of Henry IV., in 1405. The leaning tower of Pisa is cylindrical in form, 179 feet in height and 50 feet in diameter, and is divided into eight stories, each having an outside gallery projecting seven feet. It was begun in 1174 by Bonanus, of Pisa, and William, of Innspruck. The summit is reached by 330 steps. The tower leans about thirteen feet from the perpendicular. This was manifest before the tower was completed, and was guarded against by extra braces and an adaptation of the stone in the highest portion. There are seven bells on the top,.the largest of which weighs 1,200 pounds, and are so placed as to counteract by gravity the leaning of the tower.