University of South Carolina Libraries
COL?TMJilA. Thnraiay Jlorning, January 30.1868 Millions and mill?n?. Homti discussion is going on, or was recently, betweeu curtain papers, as to what is a billion, one asserting that it is a tho-isaud millions, and the other that it i? a million millions, and both citing good authorities hi support of their respective positions. But when they go further, and insist that a billion not only is, but ought to bo, n thousand, or a million mil? lions, it is plain that ono or the other of them must be .w rong. In fact, plain, unsophisticated man requires but a limited extent of numerical terms. It ie Only when the finances of the State, or the calculations of science have stretched far beyond the limits of the tally-stick and the abacus, that a more extended nomen? clature becomes requisite, nnd ac? cordingly we find few languages pos? sessing a term obviously or apparent? ly originnl to denote a number larger than a thousand. Of the Western languages, the Greek, with its "my? riad" to denote tens of thousands, is the only instance-the Roman no? menclature stopped with mille. From this, in process of time, the term "million" was formed, to denote thousands of thousands, and sub? sequently "billion" was added to the series, which it was perceived might be indefinitely extended to "trillion," "quadrillion," <fco., words seldom practically used, and by mathemati? cians, perhaps, nevor. But hero a difference arose-the English con? sidering that, as a million is a thou? sand thousands, so a billion should be a million millions, and a trillion a billion billions, while the French choso to establish in nil the new terms a thonsaud-fold progression, making a billion a thousand millions, a trillion a thousand billions, &c. This certaiuly seems to bo the neatei style, as the other makes the reading of very large numbers extremely cumbersome, and indeed unintelligi bio, and accordingly wo find thal later arithmeticians have, almost without exception, adopted th? French method, which makes th< reading of large numbers ex tremely simple nuil systematic Indeed, what is a number? It ma] be said that it is a certain rcputitioi of unity or one; that ten is ten units a hundred, a hundred units; a thou sand, a thousand units. The thou sand, however, is in ono sense tb second term of a aeries-a series rep resenting the three dimensions o matter. Of this series, ono is tb commencement, representing the firs term of cubical as well as of squar and linear dimension. Of tho las! ten is tlie second term, and of squar dimension, hundred is the second Tho Greeks, progressing by th square dimension, made myriad th third term-tims: One, a huudreil (or a hundred times ono,) a myriai (or a hundred times a hundred. And indeed, the Greeks made th myriad their measure of large nun bera, not sayiug a million, or a thoi sand thousand, but a hundred inj rinds. But taking tho cubical dimei sion, tho first throe terms will b< one, a thousand, (or a thousand timi ono,) and a million, (or a thousan timos a thousand.) This view won! indicate a propriety in observing tl progression by thousands through a the subsequent terms of tho serie Thus each period of throe figures bi comes a syllable of tho expressio denoting a largo number, and is rcn liko each of tho others, its prop? designation being added to each or except tho last, which is uuderstoc to bo unity-unity thus denoting bot tho lowest place in each period, an tho lowest poriod of the number; nm in fact, denoting the number itsel ?V .?. 's* v r .? . ? . * i, '<y *V?WJ?<..'(,'.>**4^"?^;- ? *?\-, - -1?---M---j lill "*l as being so many times unity. The places then of figures aro three units, ten?, hundreds, tho periods ave indefinit?*-jn >r>r.mlw?v-*ini!5S thcu sund8, millions, billions, trillions, Sec., &a. A brief explanation Of this system to a child of ordinary capacity ' will enable him readily to check off thc longest row of figures into the proper number of periods, and to read them from left to right with even greater rapidity than if words were substituted for figures. IMPORTANT ORDER.-Gen. Cunby, on Monday, issued the following order, which explains itsolf : I. It having been represented thnt, owing to certain informalities and non-compliance with certain regula tions prescribed by the laws of the State, and by military orders, for drawing juries in South Carolina, such drawings have, in some cases, been rendered irregular and iuvalid, it is ordered : 1. That juries heretofore drawn, or which, previous to the regular spring terms of the Circuit Courts now approaching, may be drawn for a Circuit ?i Diaiiict Court, in any Judicial District of South Carolina, whether the provisions of General Orders No. 32, or No. 89, or No. 100, of the year 1867, from these Head? quarters, were regarded in the pre? paration of the list from which any drawing was made or may be made, and whether such drawing was, or may be, at a regular term of any court, or at an extra court, or by the clerk of a court and the sherill of a District in the proHouce of a magis? trate, and whether such extra court or drawing by tho officers of any court was ordered by the Governor of thu State, any Judge, Circuit Court, or Court of Appeals, are hereby le? galized; and the right of challenge ns given by tho said General Orders No. 89, and tho necessary drawing ol tales, are hereby preserved as hereto? fore. 2. At the next spring terms of thc Circuit and District Courts, respect ively, and whensoever thereafter new jury lists are to bo made for any Dis trict, jury lists shall be prepared foi the list of all malo citizens theron who shall bavo paid taxes within thc twelve months next preceding; ant challenges shall bo allowed in con fortuity with General Orders No. 89 3. Upon the return of the venires the presiding judge of the cour shall be authorized, at the empanel ling of juries so drawn, to set asidi any juror for personal unfitness bj reason of intellectual or moral dis qualifications; provided, that race color or former condition of nervi tnde shall not of itself boa gonn? of exclusion. II. Tho Court of Common Plea and General Sessions in South Caro lina, aro hereby invested with cou current jurisdiction with the Distria Courts, ol' nil cases and matters o which the District Courts have juris diction under the Constitution am laws of the State. HT. The provisions of the Act c: General Assembly of the State c South Carolina, entitled "Au Act t amend tho law in relation to tei] ant3," approved December 19, 186( shall bo construed to extend and ny ply to all cases of tenancies, whethe at will or for a term limited by th Act of the parties, or by operation c law, and whether such tenancies wei created by parol or by written least or contracts of letting, wherever rei shall bo duo and in arrears, or who! ever the tenant shall hold over nih tho cessation of his right of occi paney. Whenever application made to a magistrate to remove tenant lor any cause within tho ii tent of said Act, as hereby construct it shall be the duty of such mugi trate, und of the sheriff or constabli to proceed under tho Act herein ri cited, and to charge uo greater fe< than those therein prescribed. IV. In no criminal caso wboi i thcro is appeal from any other cou to tho Court of Appeals, shall it I necessary for the accused to appei in person before the Court of A; peals, but in a case of capital felon, thc Conrt of Appeals, at its discr tiou, with regard to expediency as I the time and placo of sentence, mi order a prisoner to bo brought bofo it. --? <? *-. A list of fail.ires in this city, sn, thc New York Herald, for tho fo weeks ending January 25, exhib? aggregate liabilities of over $8,00( ODO, of whic! the assets will cov about one-fourth. THm Reconstruction Convention. TWELFTH DAT. CHABUESTON, January 28.-Tho Convention waa called to order hy president Mackey. Prayer by Isaac Brockinton, oolored. B. W. M. Mackey made a personal explanation and apology for his as? sault on a newspaper reporter yester? day. On motion, tho apology was received. The majority of the Committee on Miscellaneous Matters submitted a report, recommending the Conven? tion to petition Congress to con ti une the Freedmen's Bureau until thc re? storation of civil government, and thtit ii bureau of educaliou be estab likhed. The majority of the Com? mittee dissented, as by the- time for tho proposed discontinuance-July 1G-civil Roven nue nt will be estab? lished. The reports were made the special order for to-morrow, at 1. The President road a letter of re? signation from Johu E. Terry, a de? legato from Colleton, which was re? ceived na information. A resolution was adopted, provid? ing for the printing and distributing on member's bibles of 250 copies of the journal of each day's proceed? ings of the Convention. Til? special order, "au ordinance to levy a special tax to defray the ex? penses of this Convention and pre? serve the credit of the State," was taken up. The matter was discussed, and was finally made the special order for half-past 1 o'clock Wednesday. The ordinaneo defining the pay and mileage of members and officers of the Convention, was next taken up. T. J. Robertson said the Finance Committee had looked over the wholo ground, and could lind no other means of raisiug money to pny the expenses of the Convention, but by endorsing tho bills receivable o? the State. Some of the members report that they aro now much distressed and in need of money. According to this ordinance, the members were to be paid $9 per day. The present discount on the bills receivable of the Shite was about 20 per cent., making the real value of the per diem of the members $7.20 in greenbacks. Very few members spend daily more than one-third of thnt amount. The balance, by carrying it home and cir? culating it through the country, would furnish a medium for paying taxes which would increase their value perhaps 15 per cent., leaving only n discount of 5 per cent, to tho members. After various amendments by Roertbson, Whittcniore, Parker and Moses, the ordinance, as finally adopted, is as follows: The pay of Member $11 per day; Secretary 811 per day; Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms SS; Assistant Sec? retary $8; Engrossing Clerk S8; Reading Clerk $7; Door Keeper $7; Assistant Door Keeper SO; two Mes? sengers $5 per day, each. And tho sums mentioned aforesaid, shall bo paid to thc members and officers in bills receivable of tho State of South Carolina. The mileage of members aud officers of the Convention, shall be twenty cents per mile to and from the Convention by the usual mail routes. BROTHERLY LOVE FOU THE AFRI? CAN,-Rev. Dr. Boynton, of the Con? gregational Church, at Washington, whose prayers and sermons have been of the most radical Rtamp, has demonstrated the extent of his bro? therly love for the African, by refus? ing to admit two colored men to his church. To make the offcuco greater, he preached a sermon to justify their exclusion on spiritual grounds. "Moses refused to be called the son ofJfPharaoIl'8 daughter," ^therefore, the races should bc kept separate in tho church and society, he argued. [Springfield (Masa.) Republican. UNITED STATES SALE OF LANDS IN THE RAKISH or ST. HELENA.-Tho Charleston Advocate, of the 25th, contains a notice, signed by tho United ??ta?c? Direct Tax Commis? sioners for South Carolina, that a public sale will bo held at College Square --, in tho city of Port Royal, South Carolina, commencing on tlie 17tli day of February, 1868, at 12 o'clock m., of said day, for the disposal of tho lots of laud compris? ing thc city of Port Royal, in said Parish, not heretofore sold. NATO LEON AND THE PAULS PRESS. Sovcnteeu Paris editors were summa? rily arrested at New Year's on tho chargo of violating tho Constitution of tho French Empire, by publishing unauthorized reports of Parliamen? tary proceedings. Ijooal T.tems. CASH-PAX UP.-From and after j January 1, l??S, rue casa system wji? be strictly .euforced. Persons who are now Indebted for nubscriptions, and who wish their papers continued, will confer a favor by paying up at once. Those who fail will have their papers discontinued. C:ish will also j be required for all advertisements, i Persons forwarding advertisements from a distance, must send a remit? tance. Job work cash on delivery. Messrs. Duffie & Chapmau have received the February number of Harper's Monthly Magazine. UNIVERSITY LECTURE. -lu conse? quence of the inclemency of the weather, the lecture of Dr. LnBorde is postponed until after the examina? tion. Mr. Mnllaly delivered his second and last lecture last night, to a highly delighted audience. He waa par? ticularly denunciatory of the "great" ones now in authority. Mr. M. leaves for Augusta this morning, and will carry with them the kind wishes of the majority of our citizens. PITHY.-The Augusta Constitution? alist, speaking of the ordinauee in? troduced bj- Hayue, of Barnwell, to mnke a new District out of portions of Barnwell, Edgeficld and Orange burg, to be called the District of "Sumner," says: "Should this ordinance ever re? ceive the sanction of the 'Conven? tion,' it is to be feared that the Dis? trict of Sumner will become a cone break. "' ASTRONOMICAL-TUE TUREE EVEN? ING STARS.-The two beautiful even? ing stars, Venus aud Jupiter, are rapidly approaching each other. To? night they will be leas than the dia? meter of the moon apart, aud then, although seemingly so near, the dis? tance between will be millions of miles. Venus is the lower, and, of course, the brightest. The planet Mercury is the third evening star, but not at present to be seen, on ac? count of its low position. "DEMOREST'S YOUNO AMERICA." The February number of this beauti? ful monthly has just come to baud. The children are jubilant over its ar? rival, and anticipate its coming with persistent questions, making its ad? vent a relief and pleasure. It is quite unique in its way-fresh and spirited in tone, and full of illustrations. Subscription price SI.50, including a handsome premium. Published by W. Jennings Demorest, 473 Broad? way, New York. Ui* TO THE EEUOWS IS THE TUBA* SURY.-Tho "patriotic" body conven? ed in Charleston, by military au? thority, deemiug its services extra valuable, bas declared that members shall receive eleven dollars a day, as compensation, and twentj* cents mile? age. This is much ahead of the pay that members of Congress dared to vote themselves. Leslie, of Barn? well, a white mau, took the money grabbers to task-declaring that they would hh unwilling, if tho money came out of their own pockets, to pay moro than 81.50 for a day's work: he, for one, was willing to carry out thc present joli ui ?'?.v'?. Wright, a colored member, thought that the pay was right. "Bottom rail on top," with a vengeauco. Gen. Cunby should havo a littlo mercy on tho unfortunate tax-payers, and put tho per diem at a reasonable rato for there is no telling but that these would-be Solons, but real Shylocks, may still further increase their com? pensation-"so-called." Yesterday was tho thirteenth day of the session, and what has been accomplished, except provision for the pay of the delegates? SNOW.-It commenced to snow this morning, about half-past 12 o'clock, and ns we jro to proec.-o o'elccl: -thc flakes are coming down thick and fast. \ SOUTHERN SOCIETY.-The attention of persons desirous of subscribing to a literary journal, is called to thc ut true lions offered by the above paper, published at No. 22G West Baltimore street, Baltimore, Maryland. South? ern men and women write for it; Southern men conduct it, and it is published iii a Southern city. It is destined to reflect houor and credit upon tho South. Specimen copies will be mailed free to any address. HUNTING SUCKERS.-One of the employees of the Phoenix received a j notice, a few days ago, from Clark, Webster A: Co.," New York, inform? ing him that his ticket, in their gift enterprise, had drawn a magnificent gold watch, worth $200, and request? ing that five percent, of the amount -vlO-bc forwarded at ouce, with directions by what express the watch should be sent. The receiver of the letter immediately procured a Con? federate ten dollar bill, and enclosed that and a Jeff. Davis stamp in an envelope, to the enterprising swin? dlers. They have been cut short in their thievish career, however, aa the following paragraph from the Tribune proves: "Clark, Webster k Co.'s fraud, en? titled 'The Merchants' and Bankers' Grand Presentation Enterprise,' was again before Justice Dowling on Saturday, the complainant being Mr. David W. DeForest, of No. 580 Stoto street, Brooklyn. Justice Dowling gave a policeman n warrant for the arrest of the swindlers, and on this warrant Henry Elias, supposed to be the head of the concern; Jobn D. Wilcox, John Devauy, John Benson nnd Andrew Peters, clerks, were taken into custody, and all the books, papers, and hundreds of letters, were seized. Justice Dowling held thu prisoners for future examina? tion." There are others of the same sort still in existence; and the unwary are warned against paying any attention to their apparently attractive billet doux. Some ladies of our acquaintance say that if the "stay law" is not un? constitutional, it is nevertheless very damaging to the constitution. ARGUMENT FOR SHORT SKIRTS. They give plain girls a chance. What nature has denied the face, she often gives to the understanding. THE BETTER WAY.-Don't whip the babies. Treat God's lambs tenderly. Compel obedience, but not with thc rod. Do not yourselves make shadows in the sunlight with which God always surrounds children. Do not let them bo lulled to sleep by the falling of their tears, or by their own sad sobs and sighs. Far plea? santer is it when you go to tuck them in at night, to find pink feet on the pillow, dimpled knees in the air, toys yet in embrace, and smiles on their sweet mouths. Yourselves bear in mind their last words: "If I should die before I wake." MAIL ARRANGEMENTS.-The post office open during tho week from 8J? a. m. to 6 p. m. On Sundays, from \% to 2J? p. m. The Charleston and Western mails are open for delivery at 2 p. m.. and close at 0 a. m. Northern-Open for delivery at 10'.< a. m., closes at 1 p. m. Greenville-Open for delivery at ;J p. m., closes at 8 p. m. NEW AnvKnTisEMEN?s.- Attent ion i* call? ed to tho following advertisements, pub? lished this morniug for tho first time F. Zosterfleth-Whiskey and Bitters. Sleeting Grand Royal Areli (Jhaptor. -??????-? - During the cold weather in St. Paul, frost gathered on tho window panes three-quarters of an inch thick. At the same date peach trees wore in bloom in Florida.