Parachute: An apparatus like an umbrella, used by aeronauts when their balloon is in danger. In recent years many descents from balloons have been made by means of parachutes for the amusement of the public, and some fatalities have attended these exhibitions.

Pedestrianism: The best and the most beneficial form of exercise. The alternate forward motion of the legs and feet procures progression, but every limb is called into play by pedestrianism, and the circulation of the blood stimulated throughout the system. Even prolonged walking in good air, beyond the tiring point, is salutary, but for the ordinary purposes and convenience of present-day life, it is not often necessary except for observation purposes. One should, however, be capable of long and quick walking, though there is no occasion to aim at emulating the speed or endurance of such pedestrians, as P.P. Murray, who walked a mile in 6 minutes, 29 2/3 seconds, at New York, October 27, 1883, or S.S. Morill, who walked 8 miles at Boston in 1 hour, 2 minutes, 8 1/2 seconds. On September 12, 1908, T.E. Hammond walked 131 miles, 800 yards in 24 hours, over the public roads in England. Captain Barclay of Ury in Britain, was the first to walk a thousand consecutive miles in a thousand consecutive hours. Daniel Weston, the veteran American pedestrian, walked from the Pacific to the Atlantic, a distance of 3.500 miles, in exactly 77 days. On October 23, 1910, Herr Hanslian was reported to have reached Zurich after a journey of 40,000 miles on foot around the world. He left Vienna seven years previously, with his wife, who had since died, and his little daughter, and proceeded to Vienna to claim a wager, which he expected to win with his walk.

Pessimism: The theory, as taught by Schopenhauer that this is the worst of all worlds, and that it is better to sleep than wake, and to die than sleep.

Pillory: An instrument of public punishment of offenders, disused in England since 1837. It consisted (essentially) of an upright plank to which two transverse planks were attached. In the upper one there was a hole for the neck and in the lower were two holes in which the hands were inserted. Unpopular offenders, like perjurers, forgers and the like were severely pelted with eggs, mud, etc.; but for those with whom the people sided, the pillory was a slight punishment.

Prison: A place of confinement for criminals, debtors, or political suspects. Lack of means and organization made imprisonment a difficult matter is early ages, and they were generally outlawed, banished, enslaved or put to death. The Greek mode was to deny them use of water and fire in their own land. The early Germans proclaimed them wolves, giving every man the right to plunder, injure or kill them. As castles developed in the Middle Ages, their dungeons became terrible places of detention and were used without form of law. The English, in the eighteenth century, inflicted death for stealing bread, or a yard of linen, or a few turnips, as there was no provision for imprisonment. Branding, flogging and the stocks were also generally in use. The country prisons, huddling together debtors and criminals, became dens of jail- and putrid-fever. The Russian system, combined with its Siberian exile, is still the disgrace of Europe. All other civilized countries have made diligent efforts toward combining justice and reformation; the most important objects being to build sanitary prisons, to provide entirely separate criminal systems for children and lads, with every possible effort toward reformation. The expense to the state is less important than the reformatory effect of teaching a trade.

•Taken from the 1912 Standard Illustrated Book of Facts.

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Ocelot: Usually called the leopard cat, is common in the more southern parts of the United States, in Mexico and Brazil. It is about four feet in length, including tail, and of a gray or tawny color, and spotted. It is very destructive to weaker animals, but does not devour them, contenting itself with sucking their blood.

Octopus: The Devil Fish, a marine cephalopod, differing from squid and cuttle-fish in having eight instead of ten arms, extending from the hideous, one-eyed head.

Optical Illusions: These are frequently occasioned by a disordered condition of the nervous system. They are indicative of brain disturbance. Also optical illusions occur in delirium, caused by alcoholic excesses, fever, or injury. They are the outward sign of inward mischief, which needs very serious attention. Morbid affections of this kind have received much attention by specialists in our day, and much more enlightened methods of treatment are employed now than formerly.

Ostracism: A right exercised by the Athenians of banishing for a time any citizen whose services, rank or wealth appeared to be dangerous to the general good.

Otis, James: (1724-1783) An American Revolutionary patriot, famous for his oratory, and especially celebrated for his speech at Boston, in 1761, in opposition to the so-called “Writs of Assistance.” He was waylaid by Tories and a blow on his head destroyed his reason. He was killed by a stroke of lightning.

•Taken from the 1912 Standard Illustrated Book of Facts.

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