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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

PHARAON. (Vol. V, p. 163.) I suspect that Pharaon is the game of cards vulgarly denominated faro. A. W.

PATER NOSTER. (Vol. V, p. 163.) As a guess, I would say that such a name as “Paternoster Row" originated in the same way as Notre Dame street in Montreal.

A. W.

MACROCOSM AND MICROCOSM. (Vol. V, p. 163. The term Mikros Kosmos is found in a life of Pythagoras. The compounds macrocosm and microcosm are not correctly formed, and so are not found in classic literature. The latter term appears in a work of Isidorus Hispalensis, bishop of Seville, Origincum sive Etymologiarum, Liber XX, in the seventh century. Thomas Norton, writing on alchemy four centuries ago, declares the "philosopher's stone" to be microcosmus and Galen used the phrase brachys kosmos.

A. W.

ABSTAIN FROM BEANS. (Vol. V, p. 163.) The maxim of Pythagoras "Abstain from beans," has had many interpretations, and perhaps the right one has not been given. The popular one is based on the practice of voting by beans, and would be a direction that most philosophers prefer to follow: to keep clear of political strife. Others, however, affect the physiological explanation-that beans are heating and hard of digestion, accordingly unsuitable. The philosopher is said to have convinced an ass of this, and the donkey ever after eschewed them. In Plutarch's Symposiacs reference is made to their orchid shape as being the reason. It is said that there are mystic phallic symbols on each side of the esculent. A. W.

THE QUINQUARTICULAR CONTROVERSY. (Vol. V. p. 163.) The five docritnes controverted between the Calvinists and Arminians, viz., predestination, extent of the atonement, grace, free-will and final perseverance. The quinquarticular controversy in England was a dispute which arose at Cambridge in 1594 respecting the above points. In 1626 two fruitless conferences were held on these points; and in 1630 Bishop Davenport preached at court on these disputed matters, and thereby gave great offence to Charles I. The next year the controversy was revived at Oxford and in Ireland, of which Archbishop Usher was then primate. The king issued certain Injunctions con cerning the bounds within which these points might be discussed.

BARCHOCAB. (Vol. V, p. 163.) With the destruction of the Temple at Jerusalem, the Jewish people cherished the expectation of deliverance. Even the Christians of that time appear to have looked for something of the kind. The 24th chapter of Matthew contains predictions, which after we look beyond the symbolic parlance, seems to be an account of the Advent of "the Son of Man" and the sending of angels or messengers to bring in the faithful Jewish people. "This generation shall not pass," says the oracle, "till all these things be fulfilled." Rabbi Akiba, in the reign of Trajan, went through all the countries of the East preaching that the time had come to restore the kingdom. He was a man of wonderful parts; in the language of the Talmud he had been in Paradise and came forth in his right mind. A great secret fraternity existed, and the members were ready to rise as one man. Akiba had a leader in his mind. This was one Bar Chonta, whose name the Rabbi changed to Bar Cochba, or Son of the Star (Haggai 11, 21). The insurrection began; Samaritans joined with the Jews, making an army of from two to five hundred thousand men. The war was one largely of extermination. In twelve months Palestine was free, and the war waa carried into Egypt and Cyprus. A kingdom was set up at Jerusalem, a civil order established and money coined. The Great Synagogue was revived, and the name YAVA (Jehovah?) was made public, becoming the watchword of the new nationality. This name the followers of Jesus would not pronounce, It is conjectured that additions were made to the Gospels, in regard to this matter. Families were divided; Judaæn partisans denounced their Nazarean kindred to the authorities, to be scourged and even put to death as partisans of Rome. Hadrian recalled Julius Severus from Britannia, and sent him with an army against Palestine. The war was fiercely contested, but with the common result. More than half a million perished in the battles, and an innumerable host by famine, sickness, and fire at the sack of towns. The country bccame a desert. The conqueror was merciless in his vengeance. Bar Cochba perished in battle. Akiba was tortured and sent to the executioner, the last Jewish patriot. When Jerusalem fell the "abomination of desolation," the statue of Hadrian, was erected on the site of the sanctuary, and all compelled to do it homage. This was prior to the final overthrow; but the statue remained there for centuries, and every Jew who did not worship it was killed at once. The fate of the Da

and they A. WILDER.

vids of Mara was united upon the devoted Judean race became aliens in their former country.

(Vol. V. pp. 8-13, continued.)

ASTEROIDS DISCOVERED IN 1888. Nine asteroids discovered in 1888 have been added to the 271 given in the January N. AND Q., 1888; and Nos. 269 and 271 have been named, as follows:

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A and

"THE SUM OF TWO NUMBERS IS EQUAL TO THEIR PRODUCT." B, two workmen dispute on the above problem. A says the only number that will solve the problem is 2, namely:

2 + 2 = 4; 2 X 2 = 4

B says there is another solution to the problem, but does not give it. Can you give any other number that will solve the problem ? A BYSTANDER.

B is right. It is a problem of algebra. Let x = the larger number, and y the smaller number. Then the equation, x + y = xy, when solved will give two numbers satisfying the conditions:

=

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Many other relations also exist between these two numbers which may interest the reader :

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CARRYING COAls to NewcasTLE."

to signify anything unnecessarily done.

(Vol. V, p. 180.) A phrase Newcastle is noted for its

coal fields, hence it would be unprofitable to send coal to that town. Chaucer has a similar phrase:

And add more coals to Cancer when he burns.

Fuller, in his Gnomologia, (1732), has " You bring owls to Athens," which has the same signification, as owls were plentiful in that city. CAXTON.

"SOUND ON THE GOOSE." (Vol. V, p. 68.) Bartlett's "Dictionary of Americanisms "says: "Sound on the goose" is a phrase origininating in the Kansas troubles, and signifying true to the cause of slavery. A. H.

LETTERS OF "JUNIUS." (Vol. V, p. 43.) "Junius Unmasked; or, Thomas Paine author of the Letters of Junius, and of the Declaration of Independence," Washington, D. C., 1872, was written by Joel Moody, Mound Citv, Kansas. Mr. Burr claims to be only its godfather. J. FRANCIS RUGGLES, Bronson, Mich.

ZOUNDS. (Vol. II, p. 460; III, 19.) I have recently found an instance of the older form of this word, which may be interesting: I cannot Martinize-swear by my say in a pulpit, and rap out gogswounds in a tavern. GREENE, Farewell to Folly, 1590, (prefatory CAXTON.

epistle).

Order of the CHERUBIM. What is the order for placing the cherubim ? J. P. SHIELDS.

As far as our observation goes it seem to have been optional. instance, this correspondent is referred to the following:

In Genesis 1, 20, it is given as
In Ezekiel 1, 10, it is given as
In Ezekiel x, 14, it is given as
In Revelation IV, 7, it is given as
In the Zodiac it is

For

Man, Ox, Eagle, Lion.
Man, Lion, Ox, Eagle.
Ox, Man, Lion, Eagle.
Lion, Ox,
Ox, Lion,
Lion,

Man, Eagle.

Eagle, Man. Ox, Man, Eagle. Man, Eagle, Ox, Lion. Ox, Lion, Man, Eagle.

In Godfrey Higgin's "Anacalypsis," In the legend of the H. B. of L., In "The Trumpet of Israel" it is We therefore infer that it is optional how these are arranged. Mr. Higgins's arrangement is the same as that in Revelation.

THE CRESCENT. (Vol. V, p. 163.) A secret religion underlay ancient beliefs, and hence a significant symbolism was adopted. Strictly speaking, there are no new religions, but every one is in some way an outgrowth from the one preceding it. This is as true of Mohammedanism, as of any other. The founder had already been identified with the doctrines of Hanyf; and after his death the same thing occurred as in other instances. His doctrines were revised and amalgamated with these of preceding faiths, and the symbols also were adopted. Some religions have a masculine outlook; others are feminine. Saivism and Vaishvavism in India, Yavism and Alahism in Palestine, Prottesantism and Romanism in Christendom, are illustrations. The ancient Arabic religion of Mekka was female. Al Huza or Astarté was their goddess, and like the the other Mother-goddess, had a black or magnetic stone for a symbol. It was built into the structure of the Kaaba, and is venerated like stone on Mount Pessinos, or at Kyprus. The holy day is Friday-the Venus' day and woman's day of the whole world—anciently the day of Good Fortune, till the Christian practice of executing criminals reversed the superstition. Their adoption made Islam acceptableto the goddess-worshipping populace. The crescent naturally came in with the other symbols of femininity. Its meaning is this: "The moon is the isthmus which joins the immortal principle of life to earthly existence." It denotes maternity, and hence the crescent constituted the horns of Ashtaroth-Karnaim, of Isis, and other divinities. Whatever the imams and others may teach to the populace, there is a secret religion behind which the instructed ones understand. Their beliefs, many of them, are remarkably compatible with this sentiment.

A. WILDER.

BANBURY CROSs. (Vol. V, p. 180.) Banbury Cross is a borough in Oxford County, England, celebrated for its buns, tarts, and cheese. But its buns will give one the dyspepsia for a week, as I found to my sorrow in 1887. S. L. G.

KING LEMUEL. Vol. V, p. 180.) It is not known who the Lemuel, mentioned in Proverbs XXXI, 1, was. Most interpreters refer it to Solomon, some to Hezekiah, while others refer it to some petty Arabian prince, or to an imaginary person. S. L. G.

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