Olbers
Hallev
Perihelion
Passage.
I PeriheU
Period Dist.
(Years) Earth's
Orbit=l.
1852, Sept. 23
1884, Jan. 13
1881, Jan. 22!
1886, Sept. 11
18.-4, Jan, 25
1887, Oct. 8
1836, Nov. 16
6.6
6.7
7.6
18.8
71.5
72.6
76.4
0.86
1.33
L74
1.02
a 77
1.20
0.69
Eccen-
tricity.
0.755
0.626
0.549
0.821
a 955
0.981
0.967
40
Astronomical.
K'f^t 3Wotin*iS jpijases 1896»
rl
Phase.
Boston.
New York.
Washington.
Charleston.
Chicago.
>t
H. M.
H. M.
H. M.
H. M.
H. M.
(A
3
Last Quarter.
7
10 41
A.M.
10 29
A. M.
10 17
A.M.
10 5
A.M.
9 34
A.M.
New Moon.
14
5 36
P. M.
5 24
P.M.
5 11
P.M.
5
P.M.
4 29
P.M.
a
First Quarter.
'2-1
9 59
P.M.
9 46
P.M.
9 84
P.M.
9 22
P.M.
8 52
P.M.
c3
Full Moon.
80
4 12
A.M.
3 59
A.M.
3 47
A.M.
3 36
A. M.
3 5
A. M.
^
Last Quarter.
5
7 54
P.M.
7 42
P.M.
7 80
P.M.
7 18
P.M.
6 47
P.M.
c3
g
New Moon.
18
1129
A.M.
11 17
A.M.
11 4
A.M.
10 53
A.M,
10 22
A. M.
First Quarter.
21
4 30
P.M.
4 19
P.M.
4 6
P.M.
3 55
P.M.
3 24
P.M.
Full Moon.
28
6
3 8
P.M.
2 55
P.M.
2 43
P.M.
2 82
P.M.
2 1
P.M.
A
Last Quarter.
6 45
A.M.
6 33
A.M.
6 21
A.M.
6 9
A.M.
5 38
A.M.
?,
New Moon.
14
6 4
A.M.
5 52
A.M.
6 40
A.M.
5 28
A.M.
4 57
A.M.
First Quarter.
22
7 13
A.M.
7 1
A. M.
. 6 48
A.M.
6 37
A.M.
d 6 6
A.M.
1
Full Moon.
29
4
12 38
A.M.
12 26
A.M.
12 13
A.M.
12 2
A.M.
28 11 31
P. M
J
Last Quarter.
740
P.M.
7 28
P.M.
7 16
P. M.
7 4
P.M.
6 34
P.M.
P4
New Moon.
12
11 89
P.M.
11 27
P.M.
11 15
P.M.
11 3
P.M.
10 82
P.M.
P4
First Quarter.
20
6 3
P.M.
6 51
P.M.
5 38
P.M.
5 27
P.M.
4 56
P.M.
<l
Full Moon.
27
9 4
A.M.
8 51
A M.
8 39
A.M.
8 28
A.M.
7 57
A.M.
Last Quarter.
4
10 42
A.M
10 29
A. M.
10 17
A.M.
10 6
A.M.
9 35
A. M.
>5!
New Moon.
12
3 8
P.M.
2 61
P.M.
2 38
P.M.
2 27
P.M.
1 56
P. M.
First Quarter.
20
137
A.M.
1 25
A.M.
1 13
A.M.
1 1
A.M.
12 81
A.M.
«
Full Moon.
26
3
6 13
P.M.
5 1
P.M.
4 48
P.M.
4 37
P.M.
4 6
P.M.
,1?
Last Quarter.
3 19
A.M.
3 6
A.M.
2 54
A.M.
2 43
A.M.
2 12
A.M.
New Moon.
11
3 59
A.M.
3 47
A. M.
3 86
A.M.
3 23
A.M.
2 52
A.M.
3
First Quarter.
18
6 57
A.M.
6 45
A.M.
6 32
A. M.
6 21
A.M.
6 50
A.M.
l-s
Full Moon.
25
2 11
A.M.
1 59
A.M.
1 47
A.M.
1 35
A.M.
1 4
A.M.
Last Quarter.
2
8 40
P.M.
8 27
P.M.
8 15
P.M.
8 4
P.M.
7 33
P.M.
>>
New Moon.
10
2 51
P.M.
2 39
P.M.
2 27
P.M.
2 15
P.M.
1 45
P.M.
s
First Quarter.
17
11 21
A.M.
11 8
A.M.
10 m
A. M.
10 45
A. M.
I'J 14
A.M.
•-s
Full Moon.
24
1
1 1
P.M.
12 49
P.M.
12 37
P.M.
12 26
P.il.
11 66
A.M.
Last Quarter.
1 51
P.M.
1 38
P.M.
d 1 26
P.M.
d 1 15
P.M.
d 12 44
P.M.
w
New Moon.
9
12 18
A.M.
12 6
A.M.
8 11 54
P.M.
8 11 43
P.M.
8 11 11
P.M.
3
bjO
First Quarter.
15
4 19
P.M.
4 7
P.M.
8 54
P.M.
3 48
P.M.
3 12
P.M.
3
Full Moon.
28
2 21
A.M.
2 8
A.M.
1 56
A.M.
1 45
A.M.
1 14
A. M.
<
Last Quarter.
31
6 12
A.M.
5 59
A.M.
5 47
A. M.
5 36
A.M.
6 5
A.M.
New Moon.
f-
9
A.M.
8 47
A.M.
8 35
A.M.
8 24
A.M.
7 53
A. M.
d
First Quarter.
18
11 26
P.M.
11 14
P.M.
11 1
P.M.
10 50
P.M.
10 19
P.M.
:^
Full Moon.
21
6 6
P. M.
6 53
P.M.
5 41
P.M.
5 30
P.M.
4 59
P.M.
X!
T^ast Quarter.
29
9 15
P.M.
9 2
P.M.
8 60
P.M.
8 89
P.M.
8 8
P.M.
New Moon.
6
5 35
P.M.
5 22
P.M.
5 10
P.M.
4 59
P.M.
4 28
P.M.
^
First Quarter.
18
10 4
A. M.
9 51
A,M.
9 39
A.M.
9 28
A.M.
8 57
A.M.
i^
Full Moon.
21
11 34
A. M.
11 21
A.M.
11 9
A.M.
10 68
A.M.
10 27
A.M.
o
O
Last Quarter.
29
10 37
A. M.
10 25
A.M.
10 12
A.M,
10 1
A.M.
9 80
A. M.
New Moon.
5
243
A.M.
2 31
A.M.
2 19
A.M.
2 7
A.M.
d 1 37
A. M.
ti
First Quarter.
12
12 57
A.M.
12 45
A.M.
12 32
A.M.
12 21
A. M.
11 11 60
P.M.
Full Moon.
20
5 41
A.M.
5 29
A. M.
5 17
A. M.
5 5
A.M.
4 34
A.M.
T<a.st Quarter.
27
4
10
P.M.
9 48
P.M.
9 36
P.M.
9 24
P.M.
8 63
P.M.
New Moon.
1 7
P.M.
12 55
P.M.
12 43
P.M.
12 31
P.M.
12 1
P.M.
First Quarter.
11
7 46
P.M.
7 38
P.M.
7 21
P.M.
7 10
P.M.
6 39
P.M.
Full Moon.
19
11 22
P.M.
11 9
P.M.
10 67
P.M.
10 46
P.M.
10 15
P.M.
u
s
Last Quarter.
27
725
A.M.
7 13
A.M,
7
A,M.
6 49
A. it.
6 18
A.M.
Moonlight Chart, 1896.
41
i^oonlifiljt (t%^xt, 1896.
ExpiANATiox. —The white spaces indicate the amount of moonlight each nigJit. Thus, January 7,
February 5, etc. , the moon rises at or near midnight, or the latter half only of the night has moonlight ;
January 14, February 13, etc. , or the time of new moon, when for tv\'0 or three nights there is no moon-
light; January 23, February 21, etc., when the moon sets at or near midnight, or when the former
half of the night is moonlight; January 29. February 28, etc., the time of full moon, or when for
two or three nights in succession moonlight lasts the whole night.
42
The Frenoh Mevohttio7ia/ry Era,
J^rfncCpal jglcmnttg of t\)Z <SDlar «SgjsUffl>
NAirE.
Sun
Mercuiy.
Venus ....
Earth ....
Mars
Jupiter ».
Saturn....
Uranus ...
Neptune.
Mean
Distance
from Sun,
Millions of
Miles.
36.0
67.2
92.8
141.5
483.3
886.0
1781. t»
2791. G
Sidereal
Period,
Days.
87.969
224 701
365. 256
686.950
4332. 58
10759. 22
30686. 82
60181. 11
Orbit
Velocity,
INIiles per
Second.
23 to 35
21.9
18.5
15.0
8.1
6.0
4.2
3.4
Mean
Diameter,
Miles.
866,400
3,030
7,700
7,918
4,230
86,500
71,000
31.900
34,800
Mass,
Earth — 1,
331100
0.125
0.78
1.00
0.107
316.0
94.9
14.7
17.1
Volume, Density,
Earth —1. Earth — 1.
1310000
0.056
0.92
1.00
0.152
1309
721
65
85
0.25
2.23
0.86
1.00
0.72
0.24
0.13
0.22
0.20
Gravity
at Sur-
face,
Earth =-1,
277^
0.85
0.83
1.00
0.38
2.65
1.18
0.91
0.88
The number of asteroids discovered up to present date is 384. A number of these small
planets have not been observed since their dLscovery, and are practically lost. Consequently it
is now sometimes a matter of doubt, until the elements have been computed, whether the supposed
new planet is really new, or only an old one rediscovered.
' 'It is supposed that a. Centauri, one of the brightest stars of the Southern Hemisphere, is the
nearest of the fixed stars to the earth. The researches on its parallax by Henderson and Maclear
gave, for its distance from the earth, in round numbers, 20, 000, 000, 000, 000 of miles. At the
inconceivably rapid rate at which light is propagated through space, it would require three years
and three months to reach the earth from this star. ' ' — Whitaker.
Efit ^oon.
The mean distance of the Moon from the Earth is 238.855 miles; its mean sidereal revolution round
the Earth is 27 days, 7 hours, 43 minutes, 11. 46 seconds; its mean synodical revoltxtion, or the period
fromnewmoon tonewmoon, ls29days, 12 hours, 44 minutes, 2.87secouds; the eccentricity of its
orbit is 0.0549, audits diameter is 2, 162 miles. The Earth being taken as unity, the density is . 61 ;
mass, 1-81; volume,l-50, and gravity, 1-6; thatis to say, the Earth would weigh as much as 81 Moons,
is 50 times larger, and a pound of matter at the Moon's surface would, if transferred to the Earth,
weigh 6 pounds.
iSaisttr ^tmtra^s*
A Table Showing the Date of Eastek Sunday in Each Year of the Nineteenth Century.
1801-
1802-
1803
1804
1805-
1806
1807
1808
1809
1810-
1811-
1812
1813
1814
1815-
1816 -
3817-
1818-
1819-.
1820-
April 5.
April 18.
April 10.
April 1.
ApriI14.
April 6.
March 29.
April 17.
•April 2.
April 22.
April 14.
•March 29.
•April 18.
•April 10.
March 26.
â– April 14.
â– April 6.
March 22.
April 11.
April 2.
1821-
1822-
1823-
1824-
1825-
1826-
1827-
1828-
1829-
1830-
1831-
1832-
1833-
1834-
1835-
1836-
1837-
1838-
1839-
1840-
-April 22.
-April 7.
-March 80.
-April 18.
-April 3.
-March 26.
-April 15.
-April 6.
-April 19.
-April 11.
-April 3.
-April 22.
-April 7.
-March 30.
-April 19.
-April 3.
-March 26.
-April 15.
-March 31.
-April 19.
1841-
1842
1843-
1844
1845
1846
1847-
1848
1849-
1850
1851-
1852
1853-
1854
1855
1856
1857-
1858
1859
I860-
-April 11.
-March 27.
-April 16.
-April 7.
-IMarch 23.
-April 12.
-April 4.
-April 23.
-April 8.
-March 31.
-April 20.
-April ir.
-March 27.
-April 16.
-April 8.
-March 23.
-April 12.
-April 4.
-April 24.
-April 8.
1861-
1862-
1863-
1864-
1865-
1866-
1867-
1868
1869-
1870
1871
1872-
1873-
1874
1875
1876-
1877-
1878-
1879-
1880
-March 31.
-April 20.
-April 5.
-March 27.
-April 16.
-April 1.
-April 21.
-April 12.
-March 28.
-April 17.
-April 9.
-March 31.
-April 13.
-April 5.
-March 28.
-April 16.
-April 1.
-April 21.
-April 13.
-Jlarch 28.
1881-
1882-
1883-
1884-
1885-
1886-
1887-
1888-
1889-
1890
1891-
1892
1893-
1894-
1895-
1896
1897-
1898
1899
1900
-April 17.
-April 9.
-March 25.
-April 13.
-April 5.
-April 25.
-April 10.
-April 1.
-April 21.
-April 6.
-March 29.
-April 17.
-April 2.
-March 25.
-April 14.
-April 5.
-April 18.
-April 10.
-April 2.
-April 15.
S^5c jFrtndj iHtboUttianars 2Hra.
In September, 1793, the convention decreed that the common era should be abolished in all civil
affairs, and that the new French era should begin on September 22, 1792, the day of the true
autumnal equinox, and that each succeeding year should begin at the midnight of the day on which
the true autumnal equinox falls. The year was divided into twelve months of thirty days each. In
ordinary years there were five extra days, from the 17th to the 21st of our September, and at the end
of every fourth vear was a sixth complementary day. This reckoning was first used on November
22, 1793, andw'as continued until December 31, 1805, when it Mas discontinued, and the Gregorian
calendar, used throughout the rest of Europe, was resumed. The following were the dates for the
year 1804, the last complete year of this style of reckoning
Venddmiaire (Vmtage), Sept. 23 to Oct. 22.
Brumaire (Foggy), Oct. 23 to Nov. 22.
Frimaire (Sleety), Nov. 22 to Dec. 21.
Niv6se (Snowy), Dec. 22 to Jan. 21.
Pluviose (Rainy), Jan. 21 to Feb. 20.
Ventose ("Windy) Feb. 20 to Mar. 19.
Germinal
Floreal
Prairial
jMessidor
Thormidor (Hot),
Fructidor (Fruit),
(Budding). Mar. 22 to April 21.
(Flowerv), April 21 to May 20.
(Pasture), May 21 to June 20.
(Harvest), June 20 to July 19.
July 20 to Aug. 19.
Aug. 19 to Sept. 18.
The months were divided into three decades of ten days each, but to make up the 365 five were
added at the end of September: Primidi, dedicated to Virtue; Duodi, to Genius; Tridl, to Labor;
Quartidi, to Opinion, and Quintidi, to Rewards. To Leap Year, called Olympic, a sixth day, Septem-
ber 22 or 23, Sextidi, ' ' the day of th eBevolution," was added.
The current French names of the months are: Janvier (January), Fevrier (February), Mara
(March), A vril (April), Mai (Mav), Juin (June), Juillet (July), Aoftt (August), Septembre (Septem-
ber), Octobre (October), Novembre (November), Decembre (December).
iLe^al ftoUtrags in ti)e Vatiouu .^tattn.
January 1. Nkw Year's Day: In all the
States except Arkansas, Massachusetts, Missis-
sippi, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.
JantuakyS. Annivkesary of thk Battle
OJF New Orleans : In Louisiana.
January 19. Lee's Birthday : In Florida,
Georgia, North Carolina, and \^irgiuia.
February 12. Lincoln's Birthday : Iji
Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, and
"Washington (State).
February 18, 1896. Mardi-Gras : In Ala-
bama and the parish of Orleans, Louisiana.
February 22. Washington's Birthday :
In all the States except Arkansas, Iowa, and
Mississippi.
Makch 2. Anniversary of Texan Inde-
pendence : In Texas.
March 4, Firemen's AnnIversary : In
New Orleans, La.
April 1, 1896. State Election Day : In
Rhode Island.
April 3, 1896. Good Frid.ay' : In Alabama,
Louisii«.na, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Tennes-
see,
April 19. Patriots' Day: In ^Massachusetts.
April 21. Anniversary' of thf. Battle of
San Jacinto : In Texas.
April 26. Memorial D.a.y : In Alabama,
Florida, and Georgia.
May 10. Memorial Day : In North Carolina.
May 'xO. Anniversary of the iSioNiNa of
the Mecklenburg Declaration op Inde-
pendence : In North Carolina.
May 80. Decoration Day : In Arizona, Cali-
fornia, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District
of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas,
Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts,
Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana,
Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New
.Jersey, New York, Nortli Dakota, Ohio, Okla-
homa', Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,
Tennessee. Vtah, Veirnont, Wisconsin, Wash-
ington, and Wyoming.
June 3. Jefferson Daa'is's Birthday: In
Florida.
July 4. Independence Day' : In all the
States.
July 24. Pioneers' Day' : In Utah.
August 16. Bp:nnington Battle Day : In
Vermont.
September 5, 1896. Labor Day : In Penn-
sylvania.
September?, 1896, Labor Day': In Alabama,
Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Geor-
gia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas^ Maine,
Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mmnesota,
Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire,
New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsyl-
vania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South
Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wash-
ington, and Wyoming.
September 9. Admission Day : In Cali-
fornia.
September 12. Labor Day: In Florida.
October 6 1896. Labor Day: In California.
October 15. Lincoln Day: In Connecticut.
October 31. Admission Day : In Nevada.
November 1. All Saints' Day: In. Louisi-
ana.
November 3, 1896. General Election Day :
In Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana,
Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri,
Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey,
New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island, South Carolina. South Dakota,
Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, Washington,
Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
November 25, 1896. Labor Day : In Louisi-
ana.
November 26, 18C6. Thanksgiving Day:
Is observed in all the States, though in some it is
not a statutory holiday.
December 25. Christmas Day' : In all the
States.
Sundays and Fast Days are legal holidays in all
the States which designate them as such.
There are no statutory holidays in Arkansas
and Mississippi, but by common consent the
Fourth of July and Christmas are observed as
holidays.
Arbor Day is a legal holiday in Colorado, Kan-
sas, Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and
Wyoming, the day being set by the Governor;
in Texas, February 22; in Nebraska, April 22;
Montana, third Tuesday in April ; Utah, first
Saturday in April ; Rhode Island, first Friday in
May, and Idaho, on Friday after May 1.
Every Saturday after 12 o'clock noon is a legal
holiday in New York, NewJersej', Pennsylvania,
and Marj'land, and the cities of New Orleans and
Wilmington, Del., and June 1 to September 30
in New Castle County, Del. , and Denver, Col.
There is no national holiday, not even the
Fourth of July. Congress has at various times
appointed special holidays. In the second session
of the Fifty-third Congress it passed an act mak-
ing Labor Day a public holiday in the District of
Columbia, and it has recognized the existence of
certain days as holidays, for commercial purposes
in such legislation as the Bankruptcy act, but
with the exception named, there is no general
statute on the subject. The proclamation of the
President designating a day of Thanksgiving only
makes it a holiday in those States which provide
by law for it.
(Blti iSnglt.si) f^oUtins^.
These holidays, with their names, had their origin in mediajval England when the Slate religion
was that of the Church of Rome, and they are still observed generally or in some parts of England,
Scotland, and Ireland.
jAjnjARY 6. Twelfth Day, or Twelfth-fidH, souietinn.'S
called Old Christmas Day, the same as Epiphany. Thp prtvious
eTening is Twelfth Night, with which many social rites have loug
been count-cted.
Febkuaky 2. Candlemas : Festival of the Purification of the
Virgin. Consecration of the lighted caudles to be used in the
church during the year.
Febbuaky 14. Old Candlemas : Si. Valentine's Day.
Makcii 25. Lady Da\ ; Armuuciation of the Virgin. Aj^ril
6 is old Lady Day.
JuxE 24, MiDsr.MJiE p. Day : Feast of the Nativity of John the
Baptist. July 7 is old Midsummer Day.
August 1. Lammas Day : Originally in England the festival
of the wheat harvest. In the Church the festival of 8t, Peter's
miraculous deliverance from prison. OldLammasDay is Aupust 13,
Septembkb 29. Michaelmas: Feast of St. "Michael, the
Archangel, Old Michaelmas is October 11.
KovtMuEK 1. Alluallowmas ; All-liuUows, or All Saints'
Day. The pre\ ious evening is All-hallow-e'eu, observed by home
gatherings and old-time festive rites.
November 2. An. Souls' Day : Day of prayer for the souls
of the dead,
November 11. Martinmas : Feast of St. Martui, Old Martin-
mas is November 23,
December 28, Ciulpermas : H^ly Innocents D:\v.
Lady Day, Midsuuiiiier Day, Jlicliaelmas, and Chiislmas arc
quarter (rent) days in England, and Wlutsuuds.\ , MartinnmK,
Candltmas, and Lammas Day in Scotland,
Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, and Blauudy
ThuTsda}', the day before Good Friday, are observed by the
Church. Mothering Sunday is 5Iid-Lent Sunday, in which the
old rural custom obtains of visiting one's parents and making them
presents.
1796 {one hundred years ago). Washington issued his Farewell Address September 19. The
Jay treaty with England was proclaimed ]March 1. Tennessee was admitted to the Union June 1.
John Adams was elected President November 8. Bonaparte at the age of 27 was appointed gen-
eral-in-chief of the army of Italy February 23, and the marvellous Italian campaign began. He
married Josephine March 8, won his first victory at 3Iontenotte April 11, and followed this with vic-
tories at Lodi,Castiglione, and Aicola. Hoche stamped out the insurrection in La Vendee March 29
with the execution of Charette. The armies of Jourdan and Moreau operated against Germany, and
the latter effected his masterly retreat to the Rhine in October. Ihe Sardinian's sued for peace, and
ceded Savoy and Nice to France. A French expedition to Ireland failed. Paul, son of Empress
Catherine, became Emperor of Russia* Jenner successfully demonstrated the value of vaccination.
May 14 the fii-st propeller steamboat was exhibited by John Fitch, in New York. The Shakespeare
forgeriesby Ireland were perpetrated. Emperor Nicholas I. of Kussia, Princess Charlotte of Wales
Junius Brutus Booth, tragedian ; William H. Prescott, historian ; Horace Mann, educator, and Beverdy
Johnson, statesman, were born. Robert Burns, General Anthouy Wayne, and the Empress Cath-
erine of Russia died.
1696 {two hundred years apo). The deposed Stuart, James II. , was plotting this year in France
for his return to the British throne. His attempt to invade England with a French army was frus-
trated by Admiral Russell's fleet. A plot to assassinate King William III. failed. The House of Com-
mons rejected a bill providing for the freedom of the press. Peter the Great captured Asov from the
Turks. Captain Kidd was committing piracies on the higi^seas. The first negro slaves direct from
Africa arrived in Rhode Island. Count Maurice de Saxe was born and King John Sobieskl of Poland,
Madame de Sevigne, and La Bruj'^re died.
1586 (three hundred years a[jo). Henry IV. of France and Philip II. of Spain were at war and
Queen Elizabeth of England made an^aUiance with JFIenry and sent him an army under Sir 1 homas
^ 1 ,,,- -., i T, /-.I i .!,„ i^ J x^.,:,.-., ^__^ , . ., Frenchman. Itwasthis
_ reat Sully became his
^ ,_ - Essex and Howard cap-
tured and plundered Cadiz. Des Cartes was born and Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Hawkins died.
1196 {four hundred years a go). Ferdinand and Isabella were on the throne of Castile and wel
comed Columbus home from his second voyage to the Indies. Inflamed by the tidings of the Spanish
discoveries King Henry VII. of England this year fitted out John and Seoastian Cabot and sent them
forth to find the new continent, while the King of Portugal despatched an expedition under Vasco de
Gama from Belem, on July 9, on a similar mission King James of Scotland, with the pretender
Perkin Warbeck, invaded England, but ui)on the approach of Henry retreated. France was driven
out of Naples. San Domingo was founded. «
1 396 {five- hundred years ago). On September 8 of this year occurred the great battle of Nicopolis,
in which the Turks, under Bajazet, overthrew the allied Christian armies, composed of the chivalry
of Europe and the Knights of Rhodes, commanded by King Sigismund of Hungary. The Greek Em-
peror Manuel implored the assistance of Western Europe against the Moslem advance. King
Richard II of England was wedded at Calais, November 1, to Isabella, daughter of Charles VI. of
France, and a truce of tAveiity-flve years betv.een the two nations was proclaimed. An ecclesiastical
council in London condemned the doctrines of Wickliffe as heretical. Chaucer flourished.
1296 (six hundrrd years ago). The Scotch were defeated b}^ the English in battle at Dunbar April
27, and their king, .Tohn Balliol, beingmade prisoner, surrendered thecrown. TheScotch Parliament
did hom?ge to the English King, Edward I. Wallace, Douglas, and Bruce were preparing to strike for
Scottish freedom. Pope Boniface VII. issued a bull against the taxation of church property and the
priesthood by temporal power, and this was resisted by Edward of England and Philip the ^air of France.
1196 (seven hundred yeai .. ago). Thepowerof thePopeswassupremeandRomewas againmistress
of the world. King Richard Coeur de Lion having returned to England fromhiscaptivitj , declared war
against King Philip Augustus of France. The Moors making progress in Spain captii ed Calatrava
and threatened Toledo
1096 (eight hundred years ago). The greatCrusades against the infidelsbegan this yef\r. All Europe
was on fire and Peter the Hemit began the march for Palestine with an immense undisc pliued rabble
of nearly 300, 000 men, the larger part of whom perished by the way or were destroved by the Sara-
cens. A regular military force under Godfrey de Bouillon, Hugh de Vermandois, RajTnond of Tou-
louse, and other famous warriors made better progressand entered Palestine next year. Duke Robert
of Normany pledged his duchy for means to equip his army for the holy war.
996 (nine hundred years ago). This year the Hungarians were converted to Christianity. The
Greek Emperor Basil defeated the Saracens in Syria. King Hugh Capet of France died and was suc-
ceeded by Robert II. Paris was made capital of all France. Otho was crowned Emperor of the West
and made Brono Pope with the title Gregory V.
SQG (one thousand years ago). Rome was taken by the Emperor Arnulf of Gemiany and he was
crowned Emperor of the West. Alfred the C^reat reigned in England, and this year and the next he