In the conflict known as the “Boston Massacre,” between the British soldiers and the citizens of Boston, March 5, 1770. Two Americans—Samuel Gray and James Caldwell—and a half-breed Indian negro—Crispus Attucks—were killed, and eight citizens were wounded, two of them mortally,—an Irishman named Carr, and Maverick, an American.
108. What remarkable fish is found only in Lake Baikal?
The golomynka, the only known species of its genus, which belongs to the goby family. It is about a foot long, is destitute of scales, and is very soft, its whole substance abounding in oil, which is obtained from it by pressure. It is never eaten.
109. Who was inventor of the most perfect alphabet ever devised for any language?
George Guess, or Sequoyah, a half-breed Cherokee Indian (1770–1843), invented, in 1826, a syllabic alphabet of the Cherokee language, which consisted of eighty-five characters, each representing a single sound in the language. This is said to be the most perfect alphabet ever devised for any language. For the characters he used, as far as they went, those which he found in an English spelling-book, although he knew no language except his own. A newspaper called the Phœnix was established, a part of it printed in Cherokee, using the alphabet of Guess. A part of the New Testament was also printed in this character. Guess was not a Christian, and is said to have regretted his invention when he found it was used for this purpose.
110. Who was the “Little Giant”?
This was a popular sobriquet conferred upon Stephen Arnold Douglass (1813–1861), a distinguished American statesman, in allusion to the disparity between his physical and his intellectual proportions.
111. Which was the grandest funeral pageant ever known?
That of Alexander the Great. For two years after his death the body was deposited at Babylon, while preparations were being made for the march to Egypt. At length all was ready, and the grandest funeral pageant ever witnessed on earth started on the long march of over one thousand miles from Babylon to Alexandria. Over a year was occupied in this journey. The accounts of the splendor and magnificence of the golden car that bore his body are almost incredible. The spokes and naves of the wheels were overlaid with gold, and the extremities of the axles, where they appeared outside at the centre of the wheels, were adorned with massive golden ornaments. Upon the wheels and axle-trees was supported a platform twelve feet wide and eighteen feet long, upon which was erected a magnificent pavilion supported by Ionic columns, and profusely ornamented, both within and without, with purple and gold. The interior of this pavilion was resplendent with precious stones and gems. Upon the back of the platform was placed a throne, profusely carved and gilded, and hung with crowns representing the various nations over which Alexander had ruled. At the foot of the throne was the coffin, made of solid gold, and containing, besides the body, a large quantity of the most costly spices and aromatic perfumes, which filled the air with fragrance. Between the coffin and throne were laid the arms of Alexander. On the four sides of the carriage were basso-relievos, representing Alexander himself, with various military concomitants. There were the Macedonian columns, the squadrons of Persia, the elephants of India, troops of horses, etc. Around the car was a fringe of golden lace, to the pendants of which were attached bells, which tolled continually with a mournful sound as the carriage moved along. This ponderous car was drawn by a long column of sixty-four mules, in sets of four, all selected for their great size and strength, and richly caparisoned. Their collars and harnesses were mounted with gold and enriched with precious stones. A large army of workmen kept at a considerable distance in advance, repairing the roads, strengthening the bridges, and removing all obstacles along the entire line.
112. What is the “oft-quoted epitaph” composed by Franklin?