[21] In the payment of the postage no stamps were as yet used. Indeed the postage stamp is a late invention. Postage stamps were not used in England until the year 1840, while in the United States they were not regularly used until 1847. [22] In 1840, the English government following the recommendations of Sir Rowland Hill, adopted throughout the United Kingdom a uniform rate of one penny for letters not exceeding half an ounce in weight, and after this cheap postage became the rule in all countries. [23] The verb telegraph means to write at a distance afar off. [24] As there are only 24 letters in the Greek alphabet, the last group was one letter short, but this did not interfere with the working of the system. [25] Just as the word telegraph means to "write afar off," so the word telephone means to "sound afar off." INDEX A Aerial messages, 228. Aerial telegraphy, 229-233. African loom, 115. Alfred the Great, 196. Alphabet, 208-211. Alphabetical Code, 229, 236. Amphora, 193. Anacharsis, 170. Anchor, 169, 170. Arch, 135, 137. Arc-light, 36. Argand, 34. Arkwright, 119. Atrium, 16. Automobile, 161. Axle, 147. B Balance-wheel (of a watch), 199. Bamboo dwelling, 128. Basket weaving, 110. Batten (of loom), 115. Beam (of plow), 75, 80. Bell, Alexander Graham, 239. Bellows, 43, 47. Bessemer, Sir Henry, 51. "Black room," 16. Blast-furnace, 46-52. Block-book, 219. BOAT, history of, 166-186. Boiling, 15. Bolting (flour), 107. BOOK, history of, 203-221. Bourseul's telephone, 239. Branca's engine, 58, 71. Brazier, 18. Bresnier, 163, 164. Bronze, 38-40. Bronze Age, 38. Burning glass, 9. C Cable, Atlantic, 238. Calamus, 213. Candles, 30-32, 190. Canoe, 168. Capital (of column), 133. Car, electric, 161. CARRIAGE, history of, 144-165. Cart, 147-151. Cast iron, 47. Cave dwellings, 125. Chappe, Claude, 231. Charcoal, 42, 48, 49. Charlemagne's clock, 196. Chariots, 151-152. _Charlotte Dundas_, 182. Chemical matches, 9. Chilcoot loom, 113. Chimneys, 21. China, 175, 191. Clepsydra, 193-195. _Clermont, the_, 183. CLOCK, history of, 187-202. Cliff dwellings, 125. Coach, 153. Coke, 49. Cologne, cathedral, 138. Colonial architecture, 141. Columns, 131, 132. Compass, mariner's, 175. Complete harvester, 95. Condenser, 69. Cooking, 15, 19. Corinthian column, 133. Cradle (for scythe), 86. Cradle scythe, 87. Cugnot's steam-engine, 156. Cutter (for reaper), 90, 92. D Darby, Abraham, 49. Deck (of a boat), 172. De Vick, Henry, 197. Digging-stick, 74. Doric column, 132. Drag, 147. Dudley, Dud, 49. Dutch plow, 79. E