Answer.—During the ten years from 1869 to 1879 the average annual rainfall in that part of Nebraska lying between the Missouri River and a line drawn to where Blue River crosses the Kansas-Nebraska Line, was thirty-eight inches. In the extreme southeastern corner of the State, near the Missouri River, it was nearly forty inches. West of the line above described to a line starting from the Missouri River a little south of the mouth of Bow River, running with a slight eastern curve to Kearney and then southwesterly to the State line, the average rainfall was thirty-two inches. From this last line to another starting near the mouth of the Niobrara, curving southwesterly to a point a little east of North Platte, and thence curving slightly to the southwest to a point a little west of Culbertson, the rainfall averaged twenty-six inches. Between this last line and another starting on the State line at the mouth of the Keya Paha and running southwesterly to a point on the Kansas-Nebraska line, midway between Culbertson and the southwest corner of the State, the average was nineteen inches. West of this section the rainfall is not well determined, but it diminishes from nineteen to less than seventeen inches. The heaviest rainfall is in June.
THE SIRENS.
I have an engraving representing a lady about to go into a boat, or a sailor about to land. It is entitled, “The Siren.” What is the story?
Bachelor.
Answer.—Among the old Greek legends is one that near the island of Caprera, in the Mediterranean Sea, there dwelt two—some versions say three—damsels whose music was so sweet that no one who heard it could resist its seductive charms. The passing sailor, listening to it, forgot his country, home, and all former friends, and, unable to escape the entrancement of their songs, remained on the barren rocks until he died of starvation. It is further related that Ulysses, one of the most crafty of the Greek heroes of the olden time, by the advice of Circe, filled his sailors’ ears with wax before passing the rock and had them lash him to the mast until the danger was passed. When he heard the music he struggled hard to free himself and escape to the rock, but his companions only bound him the more firmly until their ship had passed out of hearing, whereupon the fated sisters hurled themselves into the deep and were changed into two great rocks. The whole legend may be regarded as an allegory, the sirens personifying seductive pleasures.
THE FIVE POINTS IN CALVINISM.
Michigan City, Ind.
What are the “Five Points” considered essential to pure Calvinism? Did not the Pan-Presbyterian Council held at Philadelphia a few years ago indorse them all?