Chapter C: E. J

_Answer._—The “Battle of the Pyramids” was fought at Embabeh, opposite Cairo, Egypt, July 21, 1798, between the French, commanded by Napoleon Bonaparte, and the Egyptian Mamelukes, commanded by Murad Bey. The latter fought with desperate valor, but they were completely bewildered by European tactics. The French infantry, formed into squares, received the fierce charges of the magnificent Mameluke cavalry, which swarmed around them, on their serried bayonets, while a galling fire of grape and musketry virtually annihilated whole divisions of their army. Out of an army of over 60,000 men Murad Bey escaped with barely 2,500 horse, leaving 15,000 men on the field of battle and the rest of his troops, their arms abandoned, fleeing in utter rout in all directions completely disorganized. From the circumstance that this battle was fought within sight of the famous pyramids of Gizeh, near Cairo, it took the name above mentioned.

FIRES OCCASIONED BY LOCOMOTIVES.

ADELINE, Ill.

Are railway companies responsible for damage to farm property
occasioned by locomotives or must the farmer bear the loss.

ADELINE READER.

_Answer._—State laws require railway companies to use certain precautions against fire from locomotive sparks or coals from ash pan. If it can be shown that damage to property has resulted from neglect of these laws or through culpability of railway employes, the company is responsible. The spark extinguishers on locomotive smoke stacks check the draft and on this account engines frequently run considerable distances with them uncovered. Again they often dump panfuls of live coals on the track, when the prairie grass and stubble are like tinder and the wind is blowing a gale. Damage done through such culpability is fairly chargeable to the railway companies, and, if the facts can be proved, they can be made to pay the loss.

SERGEANT MASON’S SENTENCE.

GALT, Mich.

What was Sergeant Mason’s sentence? Please answer and settle a
dispute. State main facts.

SUBSCRIBER.

_Answer._—Sergeant Mason, one of the soldiers detailed to guard Guiteau, fired into his cell on Sept. 12, 1881, with the intention, as he confessed, to kill him. He was tried by court martial early in 1882, and sentenced to be dismissed from the army, with loss of pay, and to be imprisoned for eight years in the Penitentiary at Albany.

AUTHOR OF DYING CALIFORNIAN.

GRAND DETOUR.

Seeing no response to the question as to who is the author of the poem entitled the “Dying Californian,” I wish to say that this poem was written by Kate Harris, of Pascoag, R. I., now Mrs. Charles Plass, of Napa City, Cal. It was suggested by hearing a letter which was dictated by Brown Owens when dying, on his way to California. It was read at his funeral services at Chepachet, R. I.

M. W. GILMAN.

THE CHRISTIAN ERA—WHEN FIRST USED.

1. When was the practice of reckoning time from the birth of Christ
instituted, and by whom? 2. What nations now reckon time according
to this era?

G.

_Answer._—Dionysius the Little, a learned monk, introduced the use of this epoch in Italy in the sixth century. It began to be made use of in Gaul and England about two centuries later. It is now followed in nearly all Christian countries and in several Eastern nations.

THE TWELVE CÆSARS.

SAOPI, Minn.

Who were the twelve Cæsars?