NOTE.-A chain is 100 links, equal to 4 rods or 66 feet. Shoemakers formerly used a subdivision of the inch called a barleycorn; three of which made an inch. Horses are measured directly over the fore feet, and the standard of measure is four inches-called a hand. In biblical and other old measurements, the term span is sometimes used, which is a length of nine inches. The sacred cubit of the Jews was 24.024 inches in length. The common cubit of the Jews was 21.704 inches in length. A pace is equal to a yard or 36 inches. A fathom is equal to 6 feet. A league is three miles, but its length is variable, for it is strictly speaking a nautical term, and should be three geographical miles, equal to 3.45 stạtute miles, but when used on land, three statute miles are said to be a league. In cloth measure an aune is equal to 1 yards, or 45 inches. An Amsterdam ell is equal to 26.796 inches. A Trieste ell is equal to 25.284 inches. A Brabant ell is equal to 27.116 inches. HOW TO KEEP ACCOUNTS. Every farmer and mechanic, whether he does much or little business, should keep a record of his transactions in a clear and systematic manner. For the benefit of those who have not had the opportunity of acquiring a primary knowledge of the principles of book-keeping, we here present a simple form of keeping accounts which is easily comprehended, and well adapted to record the business transactions of farmers, mechanics and laborers. A SIMPLE RULE FOR Accurately COMPUTING INTEREST AT ANY GIVEN PER CENT FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME. Multiply the principal (amount of money at interest) by the time reduced to days; then divide this product by the quotient obtained by dividing 360 (the number of days in the interest year) by the per cent of interest, and the quotient thus obtained will be the required interest. Require the interest of $462.50 for one month and eighteen days at 6 per cent. An 60 $222.0000 180 420 420 00 MISCELLANEOUS TABLE. 12 unite or things, 1 dozen. | 196 pounds, 1 barrel of flour. | 24 sheets of paper, 1 quire. 12 dozen, 1 gross. 20 things, 1 score. 200 pounds, 1 barrel of pork. 20 quires of paper, 1 ream. 196 NAMES OF THE STATES AND THEIR SIGNIFICATION. NAMES OF THE STATES OF THE UNION, AND THEIR SIGNIFICATIONS. Virginia.-The oldest of the states, was so called in honor of Queen Elizabeth, the "Virgin Queen,” in whose reign Sir Walter Raleigh made his first attempt to colonize that region. Florida.-Ponce de Leon landed on the coast of Florida on Easter Sunday, and called the country in commemoration of the day, which was the Pasqua Florida of the Spaniards, or "Feast of Flowers." Louisiana was called after Louis the Fourteenth, who at one time owned that section of the country. Alabama was so named by the Indians, and signifies "Here we Rest." Mississippi is likewise an Indian name, meaning "Long River." Arkansas, from Kansas, the Indian word for "smoky water." Its prefix was really arc, the French word for "bow." The Carolinas were originally one tract, and were called "Carolana," after Charles the Ninth of France. Georgia owes its name to George the Second of England, who first established a colony there in 1732. Tennessee is the Indian name for the "River of the Bend," i. e., the Mississippi which forms its western boundary. Kentucky is the Indian name for "at the head of the river." Ohio means "beautiful; " Iowa, "drowsy ones;" Minnesota, “cloudy water," and Wisconsin, “wild-rushing channel." Illinois is derived from the Indian word Illini, men, and the French suffix ois, together signifying "tribe of men." Michigan was called by the name given the lake, fish-weir, which was so styled from its fancied resemblance to a fish trap. Missouri is from the Indian word "muddy," which more properly applies to the river that flows through it. Oregon owes its Indian name also to its principal river. Cortez named California. Massachusetts is the Indian for "the country around the great hills." Connecticut, from the Indian Quon-ch-ta-Cut, signifying "Long River." Maryland, after Henrietta Maria, Queen of Charles the First, of Eng land. New York was named by the Duke of York. Pennsylvania means "Penn's woods," and was so called after William Penn, its original owner. Delaware after Lord De la Ware. New Jersey, so called in honor of Sir George Carteret, who was governor of the island of Jersey, in the British channel. Maine was called after the province of Maine, in France, in compliment of Queen Henrietta of England, who owned that province. SUGGESTIONS TO THOSE PURCHASING BOOKS BY SUBSCRIPTION. 197 Vermont, from the French words vert mont, signifying green mountain, New Hampshire, from Hampshire county, in England. It was formerly called Laconia. The little state of Rhode Island owes its name to the island of Rhodes, in the Mediterranean, which domain it is said to greatly resemble. Texas is the American word for the Mexican name by which all that section of the country was called before it was ceded to the United States. SUGGESTIONS TO THOSE PURCHASING BOOKS BY SUB SCRIPTION. The business of publishing books by subscription, having so often been brought into disrepute by agents making representations and declarations not authorized by the publisher, in order to prevent that as much as possible, and that there may be more general knowledge of the relation such agents bear to their principal, and the law governing such cases, the following statement is made: A subscription is in the nature of a contract of mutual promises, by which the subscriber agrees to pay a certain sum for the work described; the consideration is concurrent that the publisher shall publish the book named, and deliver the same, for which the subscriber is to pay the price named. The nature and character of the work is described by the prospectus and sample shown. These should be carefully examined before subscribing, as they are the basis and consideration of the promise to pay, and not the too often exaggerated statements of the agent, who is merely employed to solicit subscriptions, for which he usually paid a commission for each subscriber, and has no authority to change or alter the conditions upon which the subscriptions are authorized to be made by the publisher. Should the agent assume to agree to make the subscription conditional, or modify or change the agreement of the publisher, as set out by the prospectus and sample, in order to bind the principle, the subscriber should see that such condition or changes are stated over or in connection with his signature, so that the publisher may have notice of the same. All persons making contracts in reference to matters of this kind, or any other business, should remember that the law as written is, that they can not be altered, varied or rescinded verbally, but if done at all, must be done in writing. It is therefore important that all persons contemplating subscribing should distinctly understand that all talk before or after the subscription is made is not admissible as evidence, and is no part of the contract. Persons employed to solicit subscriptions are known to the trade as canvassers They are agents appointed to do a particular business in a prescribed mode, and have no authority to do it in any other way to the prejudice of their principal, nor can they bind their principal in any other matter. They cannot collect money, or agree that payment may be made in anything else but money. They cannot extend the time of payment beyond the time of delivery, nor bind their principal for the payment of expenses incurred in their business. It would save a great deal of trouble, and often serious loss, if persons, before signing their names to any subscription book, or any written instrument, would examine carefully what it is; if they cannot read themselves, call on some one disinterested who can. |