Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 March 1874 — Easter Sunday. [ARTICLE]

Easter Sunday.

Encyclopedists differ about the origin of Easter, though they seem all to agree that it has a Saxon root. Some trace the word back to “ostei,” to rise, in allusion to the Savior's resurrection; others derive jt from the rites of Eostre, or Ostara, a heathen goddess, whence April came to be styled Easter month in the Saxon calendar. By the decision of the Nic&nean Cduncil, Easter comes on the first Sunday after the first full of the moon which follows the vernal equinox; hence the great oscillates during the present century between the 22d of March and the 25th of April—a period of thirty-five days. The imperfect mode of computation in use among scholars in the time of the council scarcely admitted of any other and more accurate airangement. But though it is different now, the computation of Easter still remains, even with the greatly simplified method invented by Gauss, ’one of the most intricate calculations in arithmetic, and the technical terms “Golden Number.” “Dominical Letter,” “Solar Cycle,” etc., employed in the process, look to lay eyes someffiing very much like the astronomical abracadabra. It has therefore, well been observed that in view of the various profound problems which the human mind is called upon to study and to solve, the labor devoted to such gratuitous computations—us a wanton waste of time and brains, both of which might be more profitable employed. There are, however, always people who take a peculiar delight in siicfli bootless pains, and the solution of the Easter question might, perhaps, not be so very objectionable on that account alone, were it not that more serious argumeats are urged against the unnecessary mobility of the festival. Inter Ocean. —_ Professor Maisch recently presented to the Philadelphia College of Ph arniacy a sample of trompatilla a new remedy for hydrophobia, from Mexico,—where it is said to have been successfully used in the cure of tile terrible malady mentioned. It is administered in the form of a decoction. Trompatilla is obtained from-the stems and bramcires“of" Bouvardia triphylla.—Scientific American.

A good advertisement in a widely circulated is the best of all salesmen. It is a salesman who never sleeps and is never weary; who goes after business early and late; who accosts the merchant, in his shop, the scholar in his study, the lawyer in his office, the lady at breakfast tabic; who can be iu a thousand places at once, and speak to a million people every morning, • saying to each one the best thing in the best manner.— Rowell's Reporter. - To render posts or timber, placed in the ground, practically impervious to moisture, and for a long time prevent decay, the following simple recipe has- been tried and found to answer the purpose excellently. For fence and gate posts, it is particularly recommended: Take Linseed oil, boil it, and mix it with charcoal dust until the mixture has the consistence of an ordinary paint. Give to the posts a single coat of the mixture or paini before planting them, and n<) farmer, says one who has used it, living to the age of the patriarchs of old will live long enough to see the same posts rotten. The posts or timber should be well seasoned and dry when the paint is applied. . . .■ ■ » —- Hon. David C. Casey, formerly a resident of this county, is now mayor of Arkadelphia. Arkansas.