Questions and Answers.
Henry Osborn asks what causes Indian-summer weather, and why it is so called. Neither is quite clear, dear Sir Henry. In Canada it is known as St. Martin's summer. Why we call it Indian summer we have been unable to find out. Can any one tell us? By early American colonists it was thought that the haze was real smoke wafted from fires started by the Indians in anticipation of winter.—A Pennsylvania member asks how commercial pop-corn is made so excellent, when he has so much difficulty in getting his corn to pop well. The reasons are several. One is practice, which makes perfect. Another is good tools. Coal is poor stuff to pop corn over. Get coke. That is better because it stays hot, and does not die down as coal does. For popping corn in large quantities regular furnaces lined with fire-brick are provided, and there are huge wire baskets that are handled crane fashion. Some hold a bushel of corn when popped. Pop-corn parties are said to be more common than usual this autumn.
Gardner W. Millet asks when rifles were invented, and when metallic ammunition, all ready for use, was first used. He also asks about breech-loading guns and magazine-rifles. The earliest breech-loaders were used in 1537, but during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries they were common. They were also crude. At Kuisyingen, in 1636, only seven shots were fired by soldiers in eight hours. The flintlock was of Spanish origin, and came in about 1630. William, Prince of Orange, brought it to England in 1688. Rifles are quite old, having been used in Germany in the eighteenth century—early part. The Furguson, a breech loading rifle, was used by American patriots during the Revolution. The civil war brought into use the metallic ammunition, all ready for loading on the instant, though there were many breech-loading rifles in use before that day. The magazine-guns were invented in 1835, but not much used till thirty years later. The rifle used by the United States weighs eight pounds and twelve ounces, has a 0.3 calibre, and five rounds of ammunition.
"C. G. A." is informed that Mrs. Augusta J. Evans, the author, is still living, we believe, in Mobile, Alabama. A granddaughter is also a resident of Mobile, named Mrs. Gaillard, formerly Miss Wilson.—Jay F. Hammond asks if a barrel is used for a post-office at Cape of Good Hope, as is said to be used at the Strait of Magellan. We think not. The extremity of Africa is quite unlike the extremity of South America. Perhaps some South African reader can tell us more.—Edwy L. Taylor: The Camera Club Competitions close February 15. The reference to an earlier closing was an error.—Edward C. Wood: Your game may be copyrighted, but unless it be a mechanical contrivance, or a part of such, and that new, it cannot be patented. The cost of a copyright is fifty cents, with a further fifty cents for a transcript, while a patent costs upwards of $100. We can find no record of the firm you mention. To copyright your game mail two copies addressed to the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. C., give your full name and address, state the purpose of sending, and enclose $1. Nothing else is required. To make the copyright effective you must conspicuously place on every copy the words "Copyright, 1896, by Edward C. Wood, Philadelphia."—C. B. M.: Apply to Samuel French & Son, Dramatic Publishers, New York, and state just what you want. They will reply at once, giving list, if you mention the Round Table.
Any questions in regard to photograph matters will be willingly answered by the Editor of this column, and we should be glad to hear from any of our club who can make helpful suggestions.