PREFACE.
The design of this little work is to offer, in a convenient form, to the reading public of the country, much quaint and curious as well as interesting and instructive information in history, geography, biography, philosophy, science, philology, etc., to correct several popular fallacies, to promote accurate scholarship, and to tender an explanation of many expressions which occur in daily conversation.
Considerable time and pains have been given to the selection of the matter herein contained, and to the verification of the same. Care has been taken that no statement should be made which cannot be supported by good authority.
The information covered by the questions and answers is not generally known, even by intelligent and educated readers, and much of it has never before been published in a form accessible to the great mass of readers.
With the hope that it may prove an acceptable andready helpto all intelligent readers, the author submits it to an appreciative and critical public.
S. G. O.
Woodstown, N. J.