C. H. F., Weldon, Ill.—The term creole as used in our Gulf States applies to descendants of French and Spanish settlers, in distinction from French and Spanish immigrants, and mulattoes or half-breeds: also to natives of the West Indies of European descent. But in the West Indies the word is applied to natives, whether of white, black, or mixed races.
George Fair, Fairmont, Neb.—1. The velocity of light, as determined by the latest experiments, is 186,300 miles per second. 2. The velocity of electricity traveling on metal wires was calculated by Wheatstone at 194,000 miles per second. But It travels at different rates on different wires, and as a consequence the reports of different observers do not agree. 3. We can only furnish the Curiosity Shop volumes of 1880, 1881, and 1882.
J. M. Simpson, Cherokee City, Ark.—The present form of government in France is republican. The constitution bears date Feb. 25, 1875. It vests the legislative power in an assembly of two houses, the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, and the executive power in a President, who is elected by a majority of votes of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies united in National Assembly. The President at this time is Francois J. P. Jules Grevy.
S. A. Maxwell, Morrison, Ill.—The term “O grab me act” was applied to the embargo act of Dec. 27, 1807. This embargo, laid by our government on all its own ports and vessels in retaliation for certain decrees of France and England sorely restricting the rights of neutral vessels, bore particularly hard on New England, which had been increasing its shipping very rapidly. Inverting the word “embargo,” the malcontents called it the “O grab me act,” referring to the fact that it operated to the advantage of one part of the country at the expense of the shipping interest in another. These murmurings grew until the act was repealed in February, 1809. When Congressmen voted themselves an increase of back salary a few years ago there was an attempt to transfer the name of O grab me act to this law.
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.
The Executive.