Wikipedia:Reference desk/Humanities
of the Wikipedia reference desk.
Main page: Help searching Wikipedia
How can I get my question answered?
- Select the section of the desk that best fits the general topic of your question (see the navigation column to the right).
- Post your question to only one section, providing a short header that gives the topic of your question.
- Type '~~~~' (that is, four tilde characters) at the end – this signs and dates your contribution so we know who wrote what and when.
- Don't post personal contact information – it will be removed. Any answers will be provided here.
- Please be as specific as possible, and include all relevant context – the usefulness of answers may depend on the context.
- Note:
- We don't answer (and may remove) questions that require medical diagnosis or legal advice.
- We don't answer requests for opinions, predictions or debate.
- We don't do your homework for you, though we'll help you past the stuck point.
- We don't conduct original research or provide a free source of ideas, but we'll help you find information you need.
How do I answer a question?
Main page: Wikipedia:Reference desk/Guidelines
- The best answers address the question directly, and back up facts with wikilinks and links to sources. Do not edit others' comments and do not give any medical or legal advice.
August 27
Weimar republic post-inflationary wages, in currency
Does anyone have a source for the wages in the Weimar Republic after the inflationary crisis? I'm interested in 1929-1933. I've found sources giving them in percentage of adjusted 1918 wages and so on, but I just wanted an idea of what people earned in marks (currency), for context on how expensive quoted prices were. I realize that people earned widely varying amounts; I'm mostly interested in the less-well-off and the unemployed. Apologies is this is obvious and I've somehow missed it. HLHJ (talk) 02:44, 27 August 2018 (UTC)
- I found this about a general development of actual wages from 1929 onwards, although without any numbers in currency given. The german Wikipedia also has an article on average yearly wages and gives a number of 2.110 Reichsmark in 1929 for example. 85.16.162.137 (talk) 06:03, 27 August 2018 (UTC)
Thank you very much! That context improved the article no end. HLHJ (talk) 05:33, 28 August 2018 (UTC)
young aristocrat carrying a cane?
In HPMOR (a Harry Potter fanfic novel), Lucius Malfoy is a powerful political figure who carries a cane with a silver snake (as in Slytherin) handle. That detail didn't seem too odd for a middle-aged British aristocrat-type despite his having no pronounced physical infirmities. Much is also made of his son Draco being the future Lord Malfoy. Later in the novel (spoiler), Lucius gets killed. In the sequel "Significant Digits",[1] Draco Malfoy is now Lord Malfoy and is in his twenties, and carries Lucius's old cane.
Question: is that detail realistic at all, someone in their 20s and in good shape, carrying a fancy cane without looking like a complete git? I mean by comparison to other aristocrats in such a milieu. Presumably to regular people they all look like gits whatever they do. Thanks.
173.228.123.166 (talk) 20:25, 27 August 2018 (UTC)
- They were considered a "fashion accessory", rather than a walking stick -- sort of a vestigial sceptre.[2] In fiction, they often signify power and prestige; in those days, they didn't consider somebody with a cane a "cripple" or a "git". Didn't John Steed typically have a cane? 107.15.157.44 (talk) 22:27, 27 August 2018 (UTC)
- Thanks! That's about what I was asking. That link is excellent. I don't remember John Steed having a cane but ok, at least he was old enough that maybe he'd have wanted to lean on it once in a while even if he could walk without it. It just seemed incongruous for a 20-something athlete (Quiddich) to carry one. But in a formal setting I guess it can work. 173.228.123.166 (talk) 22:57, 27 August 2018 (UTC)
- In addition to Steed, some of us older folk on the left side of the pond recall TV's Bat Masterson. Deor (talk) 14:57, 28 August 2018 (UTC)
- Thanks! That's about what I was asking. That link is excellent. I don't remember John Steed having a cane but ok, at least he was old enough that maybe he'd have wanted to lean on it once in a while even if he could walk without it. It just seemed incongruous for a 20-something athlete (Quiddich) to carry one. But in a formal setting I guess it can work. 173.228.123.166 (talk) 22:57, 27 August 2018 (UTC)
- Also look at swagger stick, for the military equivalent. Baritsu / Bartitsu wouldn't hurt either. Andy Dingley (talk) 23:01, 27 August 2018 (UTC)
- P.s.: Steed's cane concealed a sword, ("saber" as he called it) -- as with his "brolly".[3] —107.15.157.44 (talk) 23:13, 27 August 2018 (UTC)
- P.P.S. In 1961 (the debut of The Avengers) Patrick McNee was 39 years old, and presumably was playing John Steed as close to that age. The cane was hardly a necessity. - Nunh-huh 14:27, 28 August 2018 (UTC)
- P.s.: Steed's cane concealed a sword, ("saber" as he called it) -- as with his "brolly".[3] —107.15.157.44 (talk) 23:13, 27 August 2018 (UTC)
- Google-Image "astaire puttin on the ritz" for a number of visuals. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 02:08, 28 August 2018 (UTC)
- I remember reading two news articles about Benjamin Disraeli giving a speech in parliament. One praised his statesmanlike speech on the Corn laws. The other was utterly outraged by him carrying the wrong sort of cane. And yellow gloves. And his waistcoat was loud or something and I forget what else. The speech hardly got a look-in. Aristocrats of the time lived in a society which had long had a reliable 10% return on investment, so associating yourself with the right people and not offending their tastes became very important. Those less dependent on the goodwill of others are freer to do as they please, which may mean dressing like Cédric Villani, or acting like a git. HLHJ (talk) 05:33, 28 August 2018 (UTC)
- There are numerous photographs of a young Winston Churchill pre WWI (probably aged in his late 20s or 30s) on his way to (or from) Parliament... he is dressed appropriately for the era (cut-a-way coat, top hat... and jauntily carrying a cane as a fashion accessory. It was a common accessory with upper class formal wear in the late Victorian and Edwardian era. Blueboar (talk) 15:12, 28 August 2018 (UTC)
- I just looked up "git"; I always thought it meant "an obnoxious and overtly rude person", but Wiktionary disagrees and gives an unfortunate etymology, so apologies.
- 173.228.123.166, I do not believe that there exists a modern social milieu where one can carry such a cane in everyday life without being regarded as a bit old-fashioned and eccentric, even in the UK. There are also strict legal limits on carrying weapons. After Terry Pratchett was knighted, he was still not allowed to wear a sword, to his amusement and disappointment. HLHJ (talk) 00:59, 29 August 2018 (UTC)
- That usage of "git" comes up in the Monty Python "argument sketch". ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 01:06, 29 August 2018 (UTC)
- HLHJ, I would certainly think that popular hiking trails in rugged mountainous terrain worldwide qualify as a "social milieu". The use of Walking sticks is common on such trails, and countless people use them frequently. I have owned and used several for decades. Cullen328 Let's discuss it 06:07, 29 August 2018 (UTC)
- HLHJ, thanks! I think the setting in the Potter novels is intentionally anachronistic, so the customs would be more like Victorian than modern England. The wizarding world has't had to pursue much modernization or technology because they can do stuff by magic instead. HPMOR probably develops this idea more than the Rowling novels did. Anyway it sounds like the cane fits in better because of that. 173.228.123.166 (talk) 07:36, 1 September 2018 (UTC)
- That usage of "git" comes up in the Monty Python "argument sketch". ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 01:06, 29 August 2018 (UTC)
I can't believe no-one has mentioned Chris Eubank yet. He commonly carries a cane. Unlike the Malfoys, Eubank is subject to WP:BLP including on project pages, so careful what you say disparagingly about this quote from RS "The former world boxing champion is fine, and as ever dandy, in camel hair frock coat, sharply pointed designer boots and jeans that bear a striking resemblance to the jodhpurs that once accompanied his trademark monocle, cane and lisp." ([4]) --Dweller (talk) Become old fashioned! 10:14, 29 August 2018 (UTC)
- Thanks, I hadn't heard of him. I didn't find any pictures of the whole getup, but found a nice one with the monocle.[5] I liked some of the stories in his biography too, though others of them are not so cheerful. 173.228.123.166 (talk) 08:36, 1 September 2018 (UTC)
- Here are some photos: ([6]) --Dweller (talk) Become old fashioned! 09:35, 3 September 2018 (UTC)
August 28
An unidentifiable place described as Lensham
While campaigning for the United Kingdom general election, 1906, H. H. Asquith is described by Roy Jenkins as having spoken in the fortnight beginning on December 29th 1905 "at Sheffield, Huddersfield, Stockton-on-Tees, Oakham, Henley-on-Thames, Perth and an unidentifiable place described as Lensham". Can anyone identify Lensham? Thank you, DuncanHill (talk) 14:07, 28 August 2018 (UTC)
- Might it be Lenham? --Jayron32 14:19, 28 August 2018 (UTC)
- Lenham seems somewhat of a backwater compared to those other locations, too small to have been worth Asquith's delivering a campaign speech there. I wonder if it could be a misprint (in Jenkins' source) for Lewisham? {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 90.208.127.181 (talk) 15:59, 28 August 2018 (UTC)
- Lenham does seem to be a backwater, and Lewisham seems too far south compared to the other places. It also seems an unlikely typo. The source would be Life of Herbert Henry Asquith, Lord Oxford and Asquith by J. A. Spender and Cyril Asquith. DuncanHill (talk) 16:38, 28 August 2018 (UTC)
- Lewisham is not much further South than Henley on Thames --ColinFine (talk) 17:27, 28 August 2018 (UTC)
- I cannot imagine that a Westminster MP, or any Londoner writing about one, would not be able to identify and spell "Lewisham". Do we know who his source is? There was a Lensham House, here, in Kentish Town, London, but I have no idea where it's named after. The Camden History Society might well know.
- Henley-on-Thames is also a bit of a geographic outlier, especially if that was the order of the speeches! Lenham seems to have been in Maidstone parliamentary borough, which was a tight contest, so maybe he spoke there to reach the outlying voters: Maidstone (UK Parliament constituency)#Elections in the 1900s, see also description in article. Sheffield and Huddersfield also had tight races. Stockton-on-Tees didn't. Of course, which races were perceived as tight at this unidentified but presumably late point in the election might not correlate well with the end vote. HLHJ (talk) 02:14, 29 August 2018 (UTC)
- I've just had a look through The Times Digital Archive and found accounts of his speaking at Sheffield (4 Jan), Huddersfield (8 Jan), Stockton (9 Jan), Perth (11 Jan), Oakham (15 Jan) and Henley (18 Jan), but nowhere else. I won't swear I haven't missed something, but might this Lensham be a "ghost", introduced into the list God knows how? You'll see that the dates of the known speeches don't really fit the description of them as being delivered in the fortnight beginning on December 29th, so I'm not sure the source is altogether reliable. --Antiquary (talk) 08:48, 29 August 2018 (UTC)
- Lewisham is not much further South than Henley on Thames --ColinFine (talk) 17:27, 28 August 2018 (UTC)
- Lenham does seem to be a backwater, and Lewisham seems too far south compared to the other places. It also seems an unlikely typo. The source would be Life of Herbert Henry Asquith, Lord Oxford and Asquith by J. A. Spender and Cyril Asquith. DuncanHill (talk) 16:38, 28 August 2018 (UTC)
- Lenham seems somewhat of a backwater compared to those other locations, too small to have been worth Asquith's delivering a campaign speech there. I wonder if it could be a misprint (in Jenkins' source) for Lewisham? {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 90.208.127.181 (talk) 15:59, 28 August 2018 (UTC)
If Jenkins, who researched meticulously, called it "unidentifiable", I'd be surprised if we could do any more than wildly speculate. For all we know, it might have been a surname (a speech in someone's home), a typo, a ghost inclusion or, I dunno, a joke. --Dweller (talk) Become old fashioned! 10:09, 29 August 2018 (UTC)
- With regard to my earlier suggestion of a misprint for Lewisham, consider the case of Brian Duppa, sometime Bishop of Winchester. Our article gives a reference (No 4) for stating his his birthplace to be Lewisham, but this work found on Google books prints it as "Lensham."
- A few other mentions of "Lensham, Kent" can be found online, often in genealogical materials, where it's impossible to say if they reference an obscure place or are misprints for Lenham (or indeed Lewisham, which was within Kent until 1889).
- This work listing parishes in Kent clearly prints "Lensham" in reference to Lenham (which is geographically adjacent to Leeds in Kent as well as following it in the list).
- Conversely this work refers to Lewʃham (with the archaic 'long s'), clearly referring to Lewisham, but Google's OCR has read it as "Lensham." {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 90.208.127.181 (talk) 11:45, 29 August 2018 (UTC)
- On p. 1 of 90.208's first link there is a lower case italic "w" in "what" and a lower case italic "n" in "England". The "n" has a hook at top left, the "w" has a hook at top left and top right. Consequently, the word on p. 405 is "Lewsham". There's no link to Google's OCR transcription of this word. In which of Roy Jenkins' many biographies of Asquith does his remark appear? 86.133.58.87 (talk) 13:43, 29 August 2018 (UTC)
- It is on page 161 of the 3rd (1986) edition of his Asquith, in the chapter "The Radical Dawn". As I mentioned above, it also appears in Volume 1 of Spender & Asquith's Life of Herbert Henry Asquith, Lord Oxford and Asquith. DuncanHill (talk) 23:14, 29 August 2018 (UTC)
- On p. 1 of 90.208's first link there is a lower case italic "w" in "what" and a lower case italic "n" in "England". The "n" has a hook at top left, the "w" has a hook at top left and top right. Consequently, the word on p. 405 is "Lewsham". There's no link to Google's OCR transcription of this word. In which of Roy Jenkins' many biographies of Asquith does his remark appear? 86.133.58.87 (talk) 13:43, 29 August 2018 (UTC)
Lensham (derived from Lensheim) is the mysterious homeworld of these people. 173.228.123.166 (talk) 07:41, 1 September 2018 (UTC)
August 29
Looking for any info on Asian coin found in Queensland, Australia.
A coin my Uncle and Dad found medal detecting in Australia, a bit north of Brisbane by the beach. They found a bunch of WWII stuff there and suspect that there was dirt dumped there from somewhere else by the council, as the soil was not the natural colour. Would love to know what it says, if it has any significance or history. I appreciate any help.
58.179.70.15 (talk) 05:58, 29 August 2018 (UTC)
- I don't know how helpful this is, but the overtly obvious obverse depicts the area encompassing Borneo, Java, Sumatra, Indonesia, Malaysia, etc. Interestingly, there appears to be a Japanese flag at Jakarta. 107.15.157.44 (talk) 08:00, 29 August 2018 (UTC) ... hmmm, this might be relevant: Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies. My guess is that it is more of a medallion rather than a coin. (Coincidental misspelling above: "medal detecting"?) -- P.p.s: you might want to check over at WP:Reference desk/Language for a translation of the reverse; 東 = "east" is the best I can do.
Haha, yes that's a coincidental error with medal. Thank you for the input, I really appreciate your insights. I'll do as you suggested and post this over on the language reference desk.
Thank you
58.179.70.15 (talk) 09:49, 29 August 2018 (UTC)
Someone with a better view than I have might identify the characters as "Greater East Asia" and what appears to be "participate." That suggests Japan's WWII "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere," but I can't see it clearly enough to be sure. DOR (HK) (talk) 12:39, 29 August 2018 (UTC)
- The top, to me, looks like 戰亞東大 "zhan yadong da." It looks like a university medal to me, but I've never heard of a university named zhan yadong. Zhang Yadong - that is something completely different. 216.59.42.36 (talk) 18:51, 29 August 2018 (UTC)
- This question was also posted to the Language Desk. Please don't multipost. I'm moving the thread from there to here:
- A medallion my Uncle and Dad found metal detecting in Australia, a bit north of Brisbane by the beach. They found a bunch of WWII stuff there and suspect that this is also from WWII.
- So far we know it's Japanese and that some characters are illegible due to damage but it seems to be a mix of old or new characters or dialects as even a Japanese friend could not translate properly.
- I appreciate any help to find out what it says so we can track the history of it.
- 58.179.70.15 (talk) 09:59, 29 August 2018 (UTC)
- The map on the obverse appears to be of Indonesia with a Japanese flag on Java, likely Bandung, the Japanese headquarters. Perhaps the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies or Battle of Java (1942) will lead you places. --Jayron32 11:39, 29 August 2018 (UTC)
- On the top is 大東亞戰 (old kanji for 大東亜戦), Greater Asia War. In the center it is みのり會. Cannot speculate what it means. Шурбур (talk) 12:14, 29 August 2018 (UTC)
- I'm not sure about the leftmost character, but the bottom looks like 參加記念, 'participation commemorative'. Top of the right column: 昭和?七. Is it 昭和十七, the 17th year of Showa (1942)? Top of the left column 爪哇, Java. Шурбур (talk) 08:51, 30 August 2018 (UTC)
- 58.179.70.15 (talk) 09:59, 29 August 2018 (UTC)
- (End of content moved from Language Desk) --76.69.47.228 (talk) 20:06, 29 August 2018 (UTC)
- みのり會 = みのり会 (Minori-kai, Minorikai). —Stephen (talk) 05:09, 30 August 2018 (UTC)
- (End of content moved from Language Desk) --76.69.47.228 (talk) 20:06, 29 August 2018 (UTC)
- This thread on a coin collecting site I've often found to be useful in identifying items.--Wehwalt (talk) 09:51, 30 August 2018 (UTC)
- This website may be helpful [7]. 86.133.58.87 (talk) 11:38, 30 August 2018 (UTC)
Did any Cuban rebels in the 1890s want Cuba to be annexed by the U.S.?
Did any Cuban rebels in the 1890s (during the Cuban War of Independence) want the United States of America to annex Cuba--either immediately or at some future point in time? Futurist110 (talk) 20:26, 29 August 2018 (UTC)
- The article you linked answers the question In the section titled "background". --Jayron32 20:52, 29 August 2018 (UTC)
- Well, yeah, but I was wondering if anyone here knew of any additional information about this beyond what is written in that Wikipedia article. Futurist110 (talk) 21:10, 31 August 2018 (UTC)
History: early civilizations and polytheism.
Okay my current understanding is this: Native Americans did human-sacrifices, ancient Greeks/Romans did animal sacrifices (for sun god, rain god, etc.). I asked a history professor who specializes in African history, says not much is known about Africa before they were converted to Islam and Christianity, but he thought they leaned towards animal sacrifices.
- 1.Did any civilizations did both human and animal sacrifices?
- 2.What did Asians do, human or animal sacrifices?
- 3.And when Native Americans did human sacrifices, did they ever do that to humans from a different tribe, rather than their own? Thanks. 12.239.13.143 (talk) 21:18, 29 August 2018 (UTC).
- Your question 1 is an interesting question. Unless an usage strongly established, following a rigorous tradition it seems that the passage from the one to the other could easily be a matter of opportunity. During prehistory, auguries were practiced on the entrails of victims. Then they quite obviously could be human, or not. --Askedonty (talk) 21:39, 29 August 2018 (UTC)
- The Carthaginians may have practiced child sacrifice as well as animal sacrifice. Blueboar (talk) 21:56, 29 August 2018 (UTC)
- The medieval Scandinavians also practiced both: Old_Norse_religion#Sacrifice. - Lindert (talk) 22:02, 29 August 2018 (UTC)
- There also are some finds that could be interpreted as evidence for human and animal sacrifices by a neolithic society in todays Germany. There also are suggestions that some bog bodies could have been human sacrifices. But neither of those are definitive of course. 31.150.103.255 (talk) 04:39, 30 August 2018 (UTC)
- Your question 1 is an interesting question. Unless an usage strongly established, following a rigorous tradition it seems that the passage from the one to the other could easily be a matter of opportunity. During prehistory, auguries were practiced on the entrails of victims. Then they quite obviously could be human, or not. --Askedonty (talk) 21:39, 29 August 2018 (UTC)
- You say "ancient Greeks/Romans did animal sacrifices", but the Romans, for all their loud and probably exaggerated, if not invented, criticisms of Gauls and others for making human sacrifices, did so themselves in various circumstances. Vestal Virgins who were accused of breaking religious vows were sealed in caves or pits to die on religious grounds, which might be viewed as human sacrifice. Prominent prisoners of war were taken back to Rome, exhibited in triumphal parades, and sometimes subsequently (perhaps after some years of imprisonment) sacrificed to Roman gods (c.f. Vercingetorix who was ritually strangled as an offering to Mars). Moreover, gladiatorial combat originated in the funeral rites of Latin tribes absorbed by Rome in which men fought to the death as a religious sacrifice. See also Religion in ancient Rome#Human sacrifice.
- Greek legends also contain various stories that are suggestive of human sacrifice in an early period, but there is less material or direct written evidence for it. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 90.208.127.181 (talk) 23:39, 29 August 2018 (UTC)
I don't think "Native Americans" in general did human sacrifices, but rather certain Mesoamerican civilizations -- probably the Aztecs were the most prolific. AnonMoos (talk) 02:43, 30 August 2018 (UTC)
- That's true. Native Americans do not represent a cohesive cultural group; there were dozens of cultural areas, many of which had little to connection with the other, as different or more so than Icelanders would have been from Vietnamese. --Jayron32 16:04, 30 August 2018 (UTC)
- Agreed. I'll also suggest that a history professor who says that little is known about Africa from before the spread of Islam is just trying to stop talking to you. African history and archaeology are enormous fields of study. Matt Deres (talk) 13:31, 31 August 2018 (UTC)
- I'm sure I read somewhere that the Mississippian culture had the same or similar religious practices to the Aztecs and other Mesoamericans, including human sacrifice, but our article here makes no mention of that (and Southeastern Ceremonial Complex says they developed independently, and makes no mention of sacrifices). Iapetus (talk) 09:29, 3 September 2018 (UTC)
- Is it a myth that having the Chinese military pose for sculptures was a way to give the emperor an army in the afterlife without killing some soldiers? The Ancient Egyptians were even more efficient, they just had to draw servants on the tomb's walls and pharoah would have that many servants. Sagittarian Milky Way (talk) 14:29, 31 August 2018 (UTC)
August 30
Jeremiah Evarts Chamberlain
I’m trying to find what novel by Jeremiah Evarts Chamberlain is mentioned here?KAVEBEAR (talk) 08:47, 30 August 2018 (UTC)
- There is not a lot on the web about him. It seems he went by the name "J. Evarts Chamberlain" or sometimes just "Evarts Chamberlain", and there's some interference in the research from two other people with similar names, Jeremiah Evarts was a notable missionary for whom your guy was named, and there's also a "John Evarts Chamberlain" that appears to be a different person. Other than your book, I only find This newspaper discussing his memorial service in a short blurb, This yearbook mentions on page 10 that he attended Williston Northampton School in 1846, and there's not much else I am finding. --Jayron32 10:44, 30 August 2018 (UTC)
- John Evarts was his nephew. Here is what I found on him. It is still not much and doesn’t answer the question about the novel he wrote. Can anyone help find concrete sources of his service in th Civil War. This said he served in the 7th Wisconsin Volunteer while this States he served in Captain Edmond’s Volunteer Company (whatever that is). While the book I linked above States he was served on a Mississippi steamboat. So context wise, Chamberlain seems to be a Union military chaplain who served in a Wisconsin or Michigan regiment or both and saw action at the Battle of Shiloh. He attended Harvard Law and lived in St. Joseph, Michigan after the war until returning to Honolulu in 1873. Can anyone with a better research knowledge of the Civil War find any more information him? KAVEBEAR (talk) 16:54, 30 August 2018 (UTC)
Kitchener's three salaries
In Asquith by Roy Jenkins, we read of Kitchener that "his special status, as Sir Philip Magnus has informed us, was symbolised not only by his sitting on the right hand of the Prime Minister in Cabinet, but also by his drawing three salaries". One salary would of course be that of Secretary of State for War, but what were the other two? DuncanHill (talk) 10:37, 30 August 2018 (UTC)
- He was still earning his Field Marshal's crust, and he had a "special allowance" of £1140 a year. Source: [8]. --Antiquary (talk) 12:47, 30 August 2018 (UTC)
- Thank you. Do we know what a Field Marshal got in those days? And, for that matter, a Secretary of State for War? I see our article Philip Magnus is not about the author, who is at Philip Magnus-Allcroft. I'll have a go through the incoming links to sort them out. DuncanHill (talk) 13:15, 30 August 2018 (UTC)
- So he only had to sit in one place but had three salaries? I was robbed, I once had three different jobs with three desks on different floors of a building - but they only gave me one salary ;-) Dmcq (talk) 17:02, 30 August 2018 (UTC)
- This referenced article says: "In the British Army of 1914, the commander in chief was paid at an inclusive rate (excepting field and travelling pay) of £4,500 per year. A general received £800 per year".
- I had thought that not being an active officer, Kitchener might be on half-pay or a pension, but it appears that " field marshals never retire, and this is a way of rewarding them for the great services which they have rendered to the country in order to reach that exalted rank". Hansard 1956 Alansplodge (talk) 17:18, 30 August 2018 (UTC)
- That google books link does not display the text for me. The link to Hansard is here, and talks of field marshals being on half pay in 1956. We still don't know what a field marshal in the First World War would have been paid, or whether Kitchener got full- or half-pay for it, nor do we know what he got as secretary of state. DuncanHill (talk) 10:46, 31 August 2018 (UTC)
OK, I found this in Hansard from March 1916, Arthur Lynch and William Cowan asked about Kitchener's salary, David Lloyd George, as Minister of Munitions answered "On the outbreak of War, Lord Kitchener was in receipt of £6,140 a year, which was the salary drawn by the British Agent and Consul-General in Egypt while on leave. On his acceptance of the post of Secretary of State for War this salary was continued." DuncanHill (talk) 10:50, 31 August 2018 (UTC)
- According to this a Secretary of State at the time would have received £5,000. This, with the "special allowance" of £1,140 would make the £6,140 that Lloyd George referred to. We still don't know what his military salary was. DuncanHill (talk) 16:43, 2 September 2018 (UTC)
Prayer as Cultural universal?
I was expecting to find prayers included in the long list of cultural universals. However, apparently it's either implicit in things like "attempts to control weather" or "Death rituals, mourning" or it's simply not really a universal. Has some anthropologist an opinion on this? --Doroletho (talk) 17:32, 30 August 2018 (UTC)
- As far as I know, you would only need one significant cultural group that doesn't pray to make it not a universal. I believe that Australian Aboriginal religion and mythology does not include prayer. --Jayron32 17:42, 30 August 2018 (UTC)
- I think Meditation is the real "cultural universal" in that sense since also rituals and dances, from Tea ceremony over Sufi Dance up to aboriginal Songlines, are forms of meditation and prayer is actually just another variation of meditation common to the Abrahamic religions civilizations. --Kharon (talk) 11:42, 31 August 2018 (UTC)
- I think "prayer" is subsumed under myth and ritual. "I asked the gods to make my crops grow, and they did, so they must have heard my request." Prayer as a distinct "thing" is a bit Abrahamic religion-centric; many religions (as noted by Kharon) involve ritualistic dancing, trances, etc., which are intended to commune with gods/spirits/etc., but it's hard to point to a specific element of these and say "that's prayer". (Cultural universal could do with some work. That whole big list appears to be pulled from a single book, and it's unclear whether the items are intended to be an exhaustive list or examples of each category.) --47.146.63.87 (talk) 07:31, 1 September 2018 (UTC)
August 31
Kitchener - "he is not a great man, he is a great poster"
Margot Asquith is quoted in our article Lord Kitchener Wants You as saying "He is not a great man, he is a great poster", and is in the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations as saying "Kitchener is a great poster". ODQ cites her More Memories, 1933. Our article cites Brushes and Bayonets: Cartoons, Sketches and Paintings of World War I by Lucinda Gosling. Do we have an earlier citation for her using this (or a form of this) saying? I ask because in researching K's salaries, I came across a comment in Hansard by Arthur Markham in May 1916 where he says "Lord Kitchener, we all know, is a great poster, and has been very successful as a poster, but what happened with regard to recruiting?" DuncanHill (talk) 11:45, 31 August 2018 (UTC)
- Excellent! According to Nigel Rees's Cassell Companion to Quotations Margot Asquith, in her More Memories, actually attributes the remark to her daughter Elizabeth. In 1924 Christopher Addison wrote that "someone" had once told Lloyd George that "Lord Kitchener might or might not be a great General, but he was certainly a great Poster." But I think you've practically got back to the horse's mouth. --Antiquary (talk) 16:53, 31 August 2018 (UTC)
- That reminds me that Lloyd George did quote it in his War Memoirs - he ascribes "Not a great man, but a great poster" to a "lady with a pernicious gift for stinging epigrams", which would be as good a description of Margot as any other. So - everyone thinks Margot said it, Margot says her daughter said it, but Markham seems to have got there first. DuncanHill (talk) 17:15, 31 August 2018 (UTC)
- Quite possibly, though I am worried by that "we all know". Does that suggest that it was a joke already doing the rounds? --Antiquary (talk) 18:58, 31 August 2018 (UTC)
- Yes, that struck me too. Margot seems to say that her husband quoted Elizabeth when she (Margot) warned him of K's possible unsuitability for the role of War Secretary, but as his appointment preceded the poster this seems unlikely. I did go back to search Hansard for earlier uses, and there do not appear to be any. Addison's book came out in 1924, LlG's War Memoirs between 1933 and 1936 (the character sketch of K is in an early section), and Lady Asquith's More Memories in 1933. It would be out of character for Margot to deny originating a line like that if it really was her own. I don't think it beyond her to claim it as her daughter's even if it was a common quip at the time. Anyone got the ability to search old numbers of Punch or John Bull and the like? DuncanHill (talk) 19:28, 31 August 2018 (UTC)
- Quite possibly, though I am worried by that "we all know". Does that suggest that it was a joke already doing the rounds? --Antiquary (talk) 18:58, 31 August 2018 (UTC)
- That reminds me that Lloyd George did quote it in his War Memoirs - he ascribes "Not a great man, but a great poster" to a "lady with a pernicious gift for stinging epigrams", which would be as good a description of Margot as any other. So - everyone thinks Margot said it, Margot says her daughter said it, but Markham seems to have got there first. DuncanHill (talk) 17:15, 31 August 2018 (UTC)
- How could he be a great poster, the Internet wasn't even invented yet Asmrulz (talk) 22:25, 31 August 2018 (UTC)
Publicly announcing deaths several days after the death occurs in East Asia
In Japan, it appears to be the common place, if not the norm for deaths of public figures (at least in entertainment) to be announced several days after the death occurred, usually after wakes and funerals have already taken place. There are exceptions to this in Japan (some deaths are announced immediately), but these are exceptions. I was wondering: is this also the case in China and Korea? And what are the reasons for this kind of practice in Japan then? Narutolovehinata5 tccsdnew 13:38, 31 August 2018 (UTC)
Is this valid method of procurement in any government agency in utility sector
Under Indian law, is it allowable for a department (or department head) to bypass the a formal open "request for tender" process, by instead calling limited tender among arbitrary selected vendors. Specifically, does this (or is this likely to) violate vigilance rules of central vigilance commission or state vigilance commission, for a state-owned company for generating thermal power?
The company has a official public notice published in its website stating that material and services will be procured through e-tender and interested parties must acquire Digital Signature Certificates from authorized agencies for participating in the e-tendering process and in the said notice there is no mention of value range or type of items or services for which e-tendering is exempted and other methods are to be followed.It is also mentioned in the notice that for any unforeseen eventualities interested parties may follow notice in organization website
However, in one of this company's power plants,information technology related goods , services and works procurement is not handled through the open e-tendering process, but instead tender is only available to vendors arbitrarily selected by an official.
Is the "limited tendering" policy described above valid? If not, is it a form of corruption? Could this be evidence of a kickback scheme or other systematic corruption?Wrogh456 (talk) 15:27, 31 August 2018 (UTC)
- Your apparent IP 103.24.110.233 geolocates to India. No one here is qualified to answer the legal questions you're raising. If you're concerned, you should consult an attorney there in India. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 15:45, 31 August 2018 (UTC)
- This is nothing to do with legal advice. This is a request for information concerning rules for government procurement. E-tendering is normally only for high value contracts, i.e. those above a certain financial limit. You say that there are no value ranges specified, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. It would be silly for a government agency to require e-tendering for paperclips or pencils, for example. You can ask the agency for their detailed procurement rules, but they might not give them to you. You could also write to the agency's auditors and see if they're interested. --Viennese Waltz 16:08, 31 August 2018 (UTC)
- Asking whether something is illegal is a request for legal advice. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 18:20, 31 August 2018 (UTC)
- Not at all. He's not proposing to do it himself, therefore it's not a request for advice. --Viennese Waltz 20:36, 31 August 2018 (UTC)
- He's making an accusation of illegal activity. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 22:17, 31 August 2018 (UTC)
- No he's not. He's asking whether existing rules mean that particular activity, carried out by a company he carefully hasn't identified and cannot therefore be accusing, is legal or not.
- I agree that no-one on this Desk is likely to be able to answer the question. Given its nature, I doubt (though IANAL) that an attorney would be a suitable authority to consult, since this is not a matter of a personal tort. More likely there will be an appropriate Ombudsman or, this being India, a Lokpal or a Lokayukta, to which the question should be addressed and who would be responsible for investigating such matters. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 90.212.15.178 (talk) 08:23, 1 September 2018 (UTC)
- He's making an accusation of illegal activity. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 22:17, 31 August 2018 (UTC)
- Not at all. He's not proposing to do it himself, therefore it's not a request for advice. --Viennese Waltz 20:36, 31 August 2018 (UTC)
- Asking whether something is illegal is a request for legal advice. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 18:20, 31 August 2018 (UTC)
- This is nothing to do with legal advice. This is a request for information concerning rules for government procurement. E-tendering is normally only for high value contracts, i.e. those above a certain financial limit. You say that there are no value ranges specified, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. It would be silly for a government agency to require e-tendering for paperclips or pencils, for example. You can ask the agency for their detailed procurement rules, but they might not give them to you. You could also write to the agency's auditors and see if they're interested. --Viennese Waltz 16:08, 31 August 2018 (UTC)
"It would be silly for a government agency to require e-tendering for paperclips or pencils, for example. " I work for a community college in North Carolina and we DO use e-tendering to purchase such things.--Khajidha (talk) 17:23, 1 September 2018 (UTC)
Pisan title to Sardinia
Did the doges of the Republic of Pisa ever adopt a title in reference to Sardinia, which they ruled for some time? For example, the doges of Venice called themselves dukes of Dalmatia. And did the Genoese use a title in reference to Corsica? Surtsicna (talk) 18:59, 31 August 2018 (UTC)
- Apparently no - Sardinia was never ruled as a single territory and the Pisans don't seem to have considered an integral part of the Republic. It was already split between the four giudici and the Pisans just installed their own citizens in those positions, rather than creating a new title/office. Eventually the giudicates were conquered by (or sold to) the Aragonese who established the Kingdom of Sardinia as an integral part of the Crown of Aragon. Adam Bishop (talk) 00:19, 1 September 2018 (UTC)
Greek Orthodoxy on Sardinia
When did Sardinia become Roman Catholic? And when did its native rulers, the judges, become Roman Catholic? The New Cambridge Medieval History says that Pope Gregory VII (r. 1073–85) "was anxious to bring the island into line with the institutions and customs of western Christianity, challenging the strong local tradition of Greek Orthodoxy". It seems it was not yet Catholic during the pontificate of Gregory VII, despite having become independent from the Byzantine Empire 200 years earlier. Surtsicna (talk) 19:23, 31 August 2018 (UTC)
- Unfortunately, I don't know the answer to this question. That said, though, you can try getting the answer to this question at historum.com if you won't be able to get an answer here. This also applies to your other question here. Futurist110 (talk) 22:31, 31 August 2018 (UTC)
- The Byzantines were probably already gone by the time the Arabs started raiding the island in the 8th century, so the local tradition of Orthodoxy was probably not that strong. Like you said, there's about 200-300 years where apparently there just wasn't really much of a church on Sardinia. After the schism in 1054, there definitely couldn't be any further Byzantine influence, if there had been any before that. As you mentioned, it was brought into line with western Christian customs under Gregory VII, who sent papal legates, sent the Benedictines and other monastic orders to found monasteries, built new churches, etc. I wouldn't really say it "became" Roman Catholic or converted though, since there's not much practical difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism in the 11th century. From Gregory's point of view, they were just restoring/reaffirming Christianity, not converting the Sardinians from one religion to another. A helpful starting place for all this is Michelle Hobart, "Merchants, monks, and medieval Sardinian architecture", chapter 4 of Studies in the Archaeology of the Medieval Mediterranean (p. 109-112 specifically). Adam Bishop (talk) 00:38, 1 September 2018 (UTC)
Mark Levin and Alex Jones
Do Mark Levin and Alex Jones say nice things about each other? Are they friends? ThanksRich (talk) 23:44, 31 August 2018 (UTC)
September 1
How potent of a force was republicanism in Europe before WWI?
How potent of a force was republicanism in Europe before World War I?
I know that France, Switzerland, and--starting from 1910--Portugal were republics. However, what about the European countries that were still monarchies before World War I? Were there large-scale republican movements in any of these countries? Or was it almost universally believed in these countries that their monarchies should be maintained (with or without reducing the powers of these monarchs)?
Any thoughts on this?
I know that republicanism really caught on in Europe after the World Wars, but I'm wondering if this trend would have still occurred if it wasn't for the World Wars. Futurist110 (talk) 03:09, 1 September 2018 (UTC)
- Britain had a republic in the mid-17th century (per Republicanism in the United Kingdom); and, Spain had its First Spanish Republic in 1873–1874. 2606:A000:1126:4CA:0:98F2:CFF6:1782 (talk) 05:37, 1 September 2018 (UTC)
- I knew about Britain (Oliver Cromwell and all that) but forgot about Spain. Futurist110 (talk) 20:37, 1 September 2018 (UTC)
- see Dutch Republic. Blueboar (talk) 10:46, 1 September 2018 (UTC)
- The Dutch Republic however, had little to do with republicanism, at least initially; the Dutch opted for a republic simply because there was no suitable candidate to become monarch. After driving out the Spanish, the Dutch provinces offered the kingship of the Netherlands to both Elizabeth I of England and Henry III of France, but both declined. - Lindert (talk) 17:12, 1 September 2018 (UTC)
- The Dutch Republic also had a hereditary stadtholder--something which makes it much different from republics such as the United States of America. Futurist110 (talk) 20:37, 1 September 2018 (UTC)
- The Dutch Republic however, had little to do with republicanism, at least initially; the Dutch opted for a republic simply because there was no suitable candidate to become monarch. After driving out the Spanish, the Dutch provinces offered the kingship of the Netherlands to both Elizabeth I of England and Henry III of France, but both declined. - Lindert (talk) 17:12, 1 September 2018 (UTC)
- see Dutch Republic. Blueboar (talk) 10:46, 1 September 2018 (UTC)
- I knew about Britain (Oliver Cromwell and all that) but forgot about Spain. Futurist110 (talk) 20:37, 1 September 2018 (UTC)
- There's also the Republic of Letters. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 90.212.15.178 (talk) 08:36, 1 September 2018 (UTC)
- I never heard of this topic before. Thus, thanks for sharing this! Futurist110 (talk) 20:37, 1 September 2018 (UTC)
- In which case (as, although it's straying from the concept of Republicanism, there is a Republic of Letters connection) you might also be interested in The Invisible College. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 90.212.15.178 (talk) 21:07, 2 September 2018 (UTC)
- I never heard of this topic before. Thus, thanks for sharing this! Futurist110 (talk) 20:37, 1 September 2018 (UTC)
- Constitutional monarchy may be a relevant article. --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 17:55, 1 September 2018 (UTC)
- Yes, of course. Futurist110 (talk) 20:37, 1 September 2018 (UTC)
- Three bits for you: (1) the Dutch opted for a republic simply because there was no suitable candidate to become monarch Same with France: there was a dispute in 1871 over who should become king, and the only way it was resolved was by settling on a pretender who ended up refusing the throne under the terms that it was offered, so they re-compromised on nobody. See French Third Republic#Parliamentary monarchy. (2) Bits of Germany were a republic. All the states of pre-1866 Germany survived until the end of the imperial period (aside from a few that fought Prussia in 1866 and got annexed as a result), including the republican free cities of Lübeck, Hamburg, and Bremen. (3) Another fully sovereign republic in 1914: San Marino. As far as I can tell, the only other part of Europe with no monarch at the time was Albania, and that's because there was chaos. Albania during World War I was a failed state, a mix of anarchy in some regions and foreign occupation in the rest. Nyttend (talk) 22:10, 1 September 2018 (UTC)
The Romans were extremely passionate about republicanism for about 5 centuries, really, very passionate, until awfully suddenly, (about 5 years later) they weren't. --Dweller (talk) Become old fashioned! 22:42, 2 September 2018 (UTC) (Warning: gross simplification). --Dweller (talk) Become old fashioned! 22:44, 2 September 2018 (UTC)
Russian Republic 1917 borders
I'm going through Russia Goes to the Polls: The Election to the All-Russian Constituent Assembly, 1917, working on the Russian Constituent Assembly election, 1917 and wanted to check a bit on the administrative borders at the time. Overall, the electoral district seems to match the subdivisions of the Russian Empire (such as File:Subdivisions of the Russian Empire in 1897 (governorate level, uyezd level and localities).svg). Where there any significantly transfers of territories between governorates during 1917? --Soman (talk) 05:59, 1 September 2018 (UTC)
- I know that Kholm Governorate was created in 1912, but I don't think that any guberniyas (governorates) were created in Russia after 1912. Futurist110 (talk) 21:14, 1 September 2018 (UTC)
- Altay (from southern part of Tomsk) and Bukey (from eastern part of Astrakhan) governorates were created in 1917. The former is present in the Election Regulations, the latter is probably implicitely mentioned as part of Astrakhan governorate with nomadic population. There were other changes sinc 1897. Шурбур (talk) 08:18, 2 September 2018 (UTC)
- Many thanks. We find a Caspian or Pricaspian electoral district in 1917, "September 23, the Oblast Election Commission set up 52 electoral precincts: Maloderbetovsky ulus 10 precincts, Manychsky ulus 10, Yandyko-Mochaznyi ulus 7, Ikitsokhuro-Kharakhusovksy 12, 9 precincts in the uluses of Bagaotsokhuro-Khoshoutovsky and Erketenevsky and 4 precinct in the Kuma aimak of the Terek oblast (which initially had not been planned to be part of the Caspian Electoral District)". Would this be the same as the Bukey? (@@Шурбур:) --Soman (talk) 11:26, 2 September 2018 (UTC)
- No, those were Kalmyk uluses, in the south-western part of Astrakhan governorate. Bukey (Bukeyevskaya) governorate included the lands of the Bukey Horde, populated by nomad Kazakhs, to the east from the Volga. See the map (in blue): File:Zapadnye_gubernii_Rossii_1917.png. Шурбур (talk) 12:50, 2 September 2018 (UTC)
- Many thanks. We find a Caspian or Pricaspian electoral district in 1917, "September 23, the Oblast Election Commission set up 52 electoral precincts: Maloderbetovsky ulus 10 precincts, Manychsky ulus 10, Yandyko-Mochaznyi ulus 7, Ikitsokhuro-Kharakhusovksy 12, 9 precincts in the uluses of Bagaotsokhuro-Khoshoutovsky and Erketenevsky and 4 precinct in the Kuma aimak of the Terek oblast (which initially had not been planned to be part of the Caspian Electoral District)". Would this be the same as the Bukey? (@@Шурбур:) --Soman (talk) 11:26, 2 September 2018 (UTC)
- Altay (from southern part of Tomsk) and Bukey (from eastern part of Astrakhan) governorates were created in 1917. The former is present in the Election Regulations, the latter is probably implicitely mentioned as part of Astrakhan governorate with nomadic population. There were other changes sinc 1897. Шурбур (talk) 08:18, 2 September 2018 (UTC)
Cabin crew announcements
Why are there so many variations on cabin crew announcements? For example even within the same airline for departure announcements I’ve heard everything from “cabin crew boarding complete”, “cabin attendants doors for departure and cross check” “cabin crew doors to automatic and cross check” to “cabin attendants door armed” etc. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 90.206.70.170 (talk) 12:34, 1 September 2018 (UTC)
- Because there is no mandated standard. Nanonic (talk) 21:08, 1 September 2018 (UTC)
- Next time you fly, you could ask them. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 21:13, 1 September 2018 (UTC)
- There would be different cabin crew actions required on different models of planes. HiLo48 (talk) 23:03, 1 September 2018 (UTC)
- It would be an interesting question to ask. As in, do they have a script memorized, or are they kind of "winging" it. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 01:43, 2 September 2018 (UTC)
- There would be different cabin crew actions required on different models of planes. HiLo48 (talk) 23:03, 1 September 2018 (UTC)
- The "Boarding complete" announcement does not mean the same thing as the "Arm doors and cross-check" announcement. The former indicates that the last expected passenger has entered the aircraft and the cabin crew can start to shut the overhead bins and settle passengers down (and it also means that passengers can leap toward better seats although the last passengers to board may still be working their way down the aisle). The latter instructs the cabin crew to set the doors so that opening them will inflate the life rafts, and to check that this has been done on the other side. Hayttom (talk) 06:21, 2 September 2018 (UTC)
- Related question: as a frequent flyer, I've noticed slight changes in the timing of some announcements. For example, on landing the announcement "cabin crew, doors to manual and cross-check" used to be done at the same time or just after the engines were switched off and the plane reached a complete standstill. Now it is done just before the aircraft comes to a halt. Any idea why this change was made? --Viennese Waltz 07:03, 3 September 2018 (UTC)
- The last time I flew anywhere, back in December 1974 when it looked to be safe to return to the U K (if I'd known about the IRA bombing campaign that year I might not have come back) the only announcements ever made were "fasten/unfasten seat belts" (at take off/landing or when encountering turbulence), or information such as "we are crossing the equator", disembarkation information at refuelling stops and weather information for an approaching destination. There might also be announcements about the completion of landing cards. When were all these modern announcements introduced? For those who have been following the saga of announcements on London buses Special:Permalink/837698934#Bugged they are now trialling a simple "this bus is ready to depart" after the doors are closed. 86.133.58.87 (talk) 13:38, 3 September 2018 (UTC)
- Related question: as a frequent flyer, I've noticed slight changes in the timing of some announcements. For example, on landing the announcement "cabin crew, doors to manual and cross-check" used to be done at the same time or just after the engines were switched off and the plane reached a complete standstill. Now it is done just before the aircraft comes to a halt. Any idea why this change was made? --Viennese Waltz 07:03, 3 September 2018 (UTC)
- The "Boarding complete" announcement does not mean the same thing as the "Arm doors and cross-check" announcement. The former indicates that the last expected passenger has entered the aircraft and the cabin crew can start to shut the overhead bins and settle passengers down (and it also means that passengers can leap toward better seats although the last passengers to board may still be working their way down the aisle). The latter instructs the cabin crew to set the doors so that opening them will inflate the life rafts, and to check that this has been done on the other side. Hayttom (talk) 06:21, 2 September 2018 (UTC)
September 2
Proposed national capital transfers that were never carried out
I know about the successful transfer of national capitals--for instance, Kazakhstan's decision to move its capital from Almaty to Astana. However, what proposals have there been to move national capitals that were never actually carried out? Futurist110 (talk) 02:34, 2 September 2018 (UTC)
- Do you want to include rejected candidate cities when one was finally chosen? Hayttom (talk) 06:23, 2 September 2018 (UTC)
- Yes, I do. Futurist110 (talk) 06:45, 2 September 2018 (UTC)
- Dalgety in Australia was chosen as the site for the new nation's capital in 1903, two years after the nation was created. It currently has a population of 205, and doesn't ever seem to have had much more. For details of how it missed out, see Canberra#Decisions to start and locate a capital. HiLo48 (talk) 07:22, 2 September 2018 (UTC)
- Yes, I do. Futurist110 (talk) 06:45, 2 September 2018 (UTC)
- Frankfurt was originally going to be the first capital of West Germany in 1949. They even built a parliament building there. Roh Moo-hyun, President of South Korea, proposed to move the national capital to South Chungcheong Province, but that attempt seems to have stalled. Still in Korea, in the 7th century king Sinmun of Silla failed to move his country's capital to Daegu. --Antiquary (talk) 09:24, 2 September 2018 (UTC)
- Viedma, Karakorum, virtually empty Ngerulmud, Ciudad Libertad in Venezuela, to name a few. I guess every country had such proposals. Шурбур (talk) 09:31, 2 September 2018 (UTC)
- There were a number of other candidates for the US capital, in addition to NY and Philadelphia, (the temporary capitals). There was some sentiment for moving the capital after it was burned by the British in the War of 1812 but it didn't go anywhere. Plainly.--Wehwalt (talk) 10:08, 2 September 2018 (UTC)
- There were several suggestions for a capital of Canada, and Ottawa was chosen as it was in between the centres of power in English (Toronto, Kingston) and French (Montreal, Quebec) Canada. Apparently it was also chosen because it would be more difficult for Americans to invade as it was further from the border. I don't think we have an article about the various different capitals prior to Confederation, but there's a lot about this in History of Ottawa. Adam Bishop (talk) 12:38, 2 September 2018 (UTC)
- Ottawa was also chosen for being exactly on the river that forms the border of Quebec and Ontario (except near Montreal, the far north and New York). I think a canal was built so they could move from Ottawa to Toronto without being right on the border (The Welland Canal of course has to be built if Canadians want to sail to Lake Erie in their own country but it also has the advantage of not being in a river shared with America. Maybe they even built a canal between Lake Erie and Huron? In the end everything done after 1815 was a waste of money but no one could be sure of that till much later. Sagittarian Milky Way (talk) 17:15, 3 September 2018 (UTC)
- Huron and Ontario you mean? There is a series of canals there, yeah - the Trent-Severn Waterway. Adam Bishop (talk) 18:58, 3 September 2018 (UTC)
- Ottawa was also chosen for being exactly on the river that forms the border of Quebec and Ontario (except near Montreal, the far north and New York). I think a canal was built so they could move from Ottawa to Toronto without being right on the border (The Welland Canal of course has to be built if Canadians want to sail to Lake Erie in their own country but it also has the advantage of not being in a river shared with America. Maybe they even built a canal between Lake Erie and Huron? In the end everything done after 1815 was a waste of money but no one could be sure of that till much later. Sagittarian Milky Way (talk) 17:15, 3 September 2018 (UTC)
- There were several suggestions for a capital of Canada, and Ottawa was chosen as it was in between the centres of power in English (Toronto, Kingston) and French (Montreal, Quebec) Canada. Apparently it was also chosen because it would be more difficult for Americans to invade as it was further from the border. I don't think we have an article about the various different capitals prior to Confederation, but there's a lot about this in History of Ottawa. Adam Bishop (talk) 12:38, 2 September 2018 (UTC)
- There were a number of other candidates for the US capital, in addition to NY and Philadelphia, (the temporary capitals). There was some sentiment for moving the capital after it was burned by the British in the War of 1812 but it didn't go anywhere. Plainly.--Wehwalt (talk) 10:08, 2 September 2018 (UTC)
- Viedma, Karakorum, virtually empty Ngerulmud, Ciudad Libertad in Venezuela, to name a few. I guess every country had such proposals. Шурбур (talk) 09:31, 2 September 2018 (UTC)
- We are kind of in limbo. https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/parliament-sets-up-feasibility-study-to-look-into-move-to-pretoria-20180523 196.213.35.147 (talk) 08:05, 3 September 2018 (UTC)
- While not a national capital, the attempted move of Alaska's capital may be of interest. In 1974, the voters of Alaska voted to move the capital from Juneau to a new location, with the specific location to be selected in a later election. In 1976, the voters chose Willow over two other sites as the new capital. However, in 1978, the voters voted not to issue bonds to fund moving the capital, and in 1982 they voted against spending the $2.8 billion needed to relocate the state capital. The failure of the latter vote also meant that the plan to move the capital was repealed. [9] --Metropolitan90 (talk) 08:27, 3 September 2018 (UTC)
Some communist leaders of Poland touted Łódź as the new national capital just after World War II. After two failed uprisings (in 1943 and 1944) Warsaw was completely destroyed and depopulated. Łódź, on the other hand, had been pre-war Poland's second largest city and survived the war relatively unscathed. It was centrally located within Poland's new post-war borders, it had a largely left-leaning worker population (in contrast to Kraków, the ancient capital, with its conservative bourgeoisie) and lots of apartments vacated, for different reasons, by Jews and Germans. Eventually, the plan didn't work out. People started moving back to Warsaw and rebuilding it brick by brick, and Stalin himself told Polish communists that they should rebuild the city and keep the capital there. — Kpalion(talk) 10:14, 3 September 2018 (UTC)
- I haven't read it, but you may find this book interesting: Vadim Rossman, Capital Cities: Varieties and Patterns of Development and Relocation. — Kpalion(talk) 10:21, 3 September 2018 (UTC)
Differences between Lutheranism and Anglicanism
What are the main differences between Lutheranism and Anglicanism? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.177.207.202 (talk) 19:28, 2 September 2018 (UTC)
- You could start by reading and comparing the "Doctrine" sections of Lutheranism and Anglicanism. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 22:36, 2 September 2018 (UTC)
- See also this Quora reply which seems to be on the money and has a list of references. Alansplodge (talk) 12:19, 3 September 2018 (UTC)
What happened to Baldwin's statue?
In our article on his home, Astley Hall, we read "There is a monument to Stanley Baldwin just below Astley Hall, directly on the Stourport to Worcester road. After his death, a national appeal failed to raise sufficient money for this memorial. Winston Churchill personally made up the shortfall and attended the dedication. The monument originally consisted of an inscribed base topped with a statue; the statue has since disappeared." I would like to know who was the sculptor, is there a picture of the statue, when did it disappear, and do we know why or how? Thank you, DuncanHill (talk) 20:54, 2 September 2018 (UTC)
- I wonder if the people currently campaigning for a statue in his memory have any answers for you? https://stanleybaldwincampaign.webs.com/contact-us --TammyMoet (talk) 18:28, 3 September 2018 (UTC)
September 3
Historical information on the Orient Express
I'm looking for information on the Orient Express, specifically in the early 20th century just prior to WWI. (Yes, I have played The Last Express.) I'm specifically looking for an exact timetable of the Express and the stops it would make in 1914, which is surprisingly hard to find - I would have thought the railheads would be all over that. Any pointers? Dr-ziego (talk) 13:42, 3 September 2018 (UTC)
- You want a Thomas Cook's Continental Timetable or a Bradshaw's Continental Railway Guide for the relevant dates. There have been re-prints of the latter which you may be able to find on well-known websales sites. DuncanHill (talk) 16:46, 3 September 2018 (UTC)
Civil War records
Is there a comparable source listing all the Civil War combatants from Wisconsin and Michigan such as the linked sourced above about Massachusetts in book form?KAVEBEAR (talk) 15:08, 3 September 2018 (UTC)
National Museum of Brazil fire
What were the most significant and iconic artificats lost in the National Museum of Brazil fire? 107.193.163.81 (talk) 15:16, 3 September 2018 (UTC)
- Some are mentioned here:
- Daniel Victor (September 3, 2018). "What Artifacts Were in the National Museum of Brazil?". New York Times.
- Presumably too soon to determined what was "destroyed" (meteorites should do fine, for example). 2606:A000:1126:4CA:0:98F2:CFF6:1782 (talk) 15:43, 3 September 2018 (UTC)
Luxury in communism
In communism what happened to all luxury articles that already existed before the revolution?