376 BASSETT'S SCRAP BOOK year which is divisible by four without remainder, except the concluding years of centuries, €very fourth only of which is a leap year. Snow. — Why is it that snow keeps the earth warm in winter? Ans. — Because, being a bad conductor, snow keeps the warmth in the earth and prevents the frosty air from getting to it. This is the reason why the snow- huts of the Eskimos are found to be so warm. Postal change. — What is the new rate on foreign letters? Ans. — On Oct. i the new rate on first-class mail (letter postage) between the United States and for- eign countries went into effect. The change is from five cents per half ounce or fraction thereaf toi five cents for the first ounce and three cents for each ad- ditional ounce. Theosophy. — What do the Theosophists believe? Ans. — Theosophy may, broadly speaking, be termed a religion. A theosophist is one who pro- fesses to possess divine illumination. It is a name which has been given to a class of mystical religious thinkers and writers "who aim at displaying, or be- lieve themselves to possess, a knowledge of the Di- vinity and His works by supernatural inspiration." Swedenborg's name is one among those best known of the theosophic order. Theosophy differs from most philosophical systems in that others start from phenomena and deduce therefrom certain conclusions concerning God, whereas theosophy starts with an
