,transcriber's ,notes3    ,text enclosed
 by underscores is in italics 7italics71
 and text  enclosed by equal signs is in
 bold 7bold74    ,additional            
,transcriber's ,notes are at the end1   
including some  corrections to the text4
           99       99       99       99
       99    ,illustration3 ,,how ,,to  
,,do ,,chemical ,,tricks          ,,how 
,,to ,,do ,,chemical ,,tricks4          
,containing ,over ,one ,hundred ,highly 
,amusing and ,instructive ,tricks       
,with ,chemicals4      ,by ,a4          
,,anderson4      ,,handsomely           
,,illustrated4      ,,new ,,york3       
,,frank ,,tousey1 ,publisher1    #bd    
,,union ,,square4           99       99 
99       99       99    ,entered        
according to ,act of ,congress1 in the  
year #ahih1 by    ,,frank ,,tousey1     
in the ,office of the ,librarian of     
,congress at ,washington1 ,d4,c4        
99       99       99       99       99  
,,how ,,to ,,do ,,chemical ,,tricks4    
,from the remotest ages chemistry has   

exercised the strongest  fascination on 
the minds of the curious1 nor is it a   
matter of surprise  that boys should    
feel themselves drawn strongly by its   
mystery and  seeming magic4 ,this       
attraction is undoubtedly caused by what
 the  ancients called the elements1     
earth1 air1 fire and water4 ,there is   
something so weird about the            
manifestation of air and fire1 that it  
is not difficult to understand how the  
alchemists believed them to be  forces  
able to be used at the bidding of       
spirits1 who might be conjured  up by   
incantations and spells4    ,now it is  
known that these uncanny beings existed 
only in the  imagination of the         
forerunners of modern chemists4 ,yet    
what boy can  look on the brilliantly   
colored fires of a ,fourth of ,july     
display1 or  the burnished gold of the  
setting sun1 or the fantastic pictures  
in the  glowing coals in a grate1 and   
not feel that there is still something  
of magic and mystery in fire still8     

,what the boy feels1 the scientist      
cannot explain4 ,nobody knows actually  
what fire is4 ,all that can be  said is 
that fire is produced by certain        
substances1 such as coals1  wood1 or    
paper1 that give out heat1 while passing
 from one state to  another4    ,now the
 word 8element0 was and is used to mean 
that simplest form of  matter1 which1   
with other simplest forms goes to make  
up the whole  world of everything in it4
 ,the earth1 animals1 plants1 the sea1  
the  atmosphere1 are all made up of one 
or more of some seventy substances      
called elements4 ,hence it is clear that
 the earth1 air and water are  not1 as  
the ancients thought1 elements at all4  
,as will be seen in this  little book1  
both air and water consist of mixtures  
of elements4 ,in  chemistry such        
mixtures are called compounds4 ,this    
word occurs again  and again1 so its    
explanation should be remembered4       
,one great fact must be remembered1     
which is at the very root of  chemistry4

 ,nothing is really lost1 however much  
its form may be  changed1 or however    
many changes it may pass through4 ,for  
instance1 it  may seem that when a block
 of wood be burned that a very large    
amount  of it is lost4 ,if1 however1 the
 ashes1 the smoke1 and the carbon that  
is burned by the air be all weighed1 the
 result would be exactly the  same as   
the weight of the original block of     
wood4    ,again take an instance of a   
different nature4 ,a lump of sugar is   
placed  in a small glass of water4      
,gradually the solid is dissolved1 and  
in  time disappears4 ,it is not lost1   
however4 ,by boiling the mixture until  
all the water has evaporated the sugar  
will be found adhering as  crystals on  
the sides of the glass4 ,if these be    
carefully collected1  they will be found
 to weigh precisely as much as the      
original lump of  sugar4    ,once more1 
take a block of ice weighing an ounce4  
,having removed  it into a room1 the    
solid will in an hour or two have       

disappeared  entirely1 but the water    
that has replaced the block of ice will 
weigh  neither more nor less than an    
ounce4 ,if again heat be applied to the 
water it will all disappear1 but if     
weighed in a jam jar1 the steam1        
although invisible to the eye1 will     
still weigh one ounce exactly4    ,from 
the above-given experiments it may be   
seen that1 however matter  may change   
its form it cannot really be destroyed4 
,this truth will  appear in every       
experiment that can be performed1       
whether those given  in this little book
 or in the most learned treatise on     
chemistry4          ,chemical ,affinity4
      ,this high-sounding term means    
that substances have a power of uniting 
together that can be better explained by
 an experiment4 ,allow a few  drops of  
water to fall on a perfectly clean piece
 of iron4 ,in a short  time a           
reddish-brown substance will appear on  
the iron that in ordinary  language is  
called rust4 ,what does this mean8      

,water is a compound  substance composed
 of oxygen and hydrogen1 but when       
brought into  contact with iron the     
oxygen prefers to unite with the iron   
and sets  the hydrogen free4 ,hence1    
would the chemist say1 oxygen has a     
8stronger  affinity0 for iron than for  
hydrogen4 ,in this case the rust is     
composed  of rust1 a combination of iron
 and oxygen called oxide of iron4 ,what 
has taken place may be shown by the     
following1 which will be easily         
understood3      ,oxygen    ,water      
,iron  ,oxide    ,hydrogen  of ,iron    
,hydrogen4    ,so all that the chemical 
combination in the above means is that  
the  iron has taken the place of the    
hydrogen in the water used for the      
experiment4 ,if weighed it would be     
found as always1 that the water  and the
 iron weighed precisely the same as the 
oxide of iron and the  hydrogen4    ,it 
is to this same principle of chemical   
affinity that the curious  experiments  
of magic writing with sympathetic inks  

are possible4          ,sympathetic     
,inks4      ,by means of these may be   
carried on a correspondence which is    
beyond  the discovery of all not in the 
secret4 ,with one class of these inks   
the writing becomes visible only when   
moistened with a particular  solution4  
,thus1 if we write to you with a        
solution of sulphate of iron  the       
letters are invisible4 ,on the receipt  
of our letter1 you rub over  the sheet a
 feather or sponge1 wet with a solution 
of nut-galls1 and  the letters burst    
forth into sensible being at once1 and  
are permanent4    #b4 ,if we write with 
a solution of sugar of lead and you     
moisten with  a sponge or pencil dipped 
in water impregnated with sulphuretted  
hydrogen1 the letters will appear with  
metallic brilliancy4    #c4 ,if we write
 with a weak solution of sulphate of    
copper1 and you  apply ammonia1 the     
letters assume a beautiful blue4 ,when  
the ammonia  evaporates as it does on   
exposure to the sun or fire1 the writing

  disappears1 but may be revived again  
as before4    #d4 ,if you write with oil
 of vitriol very much diluted1 so as to 
prevent  its destroying the paper1 the  
manuscript will be invisible except when
  held to the fire1 when the letters    
will appear black4    #e4 ,write with   
cobalt dissolved in diluted muriatic    
acid2 the letters  will be invisible    
when cold1 but when warmed they will    
appear a bluish  green4    ,secrets thus
 written will not be brought to the     
knowledge of a  stranger1 because he    
does not know the solution which was    
used in  writing1 and therefore knows   
not what to apply to bring out the      
letters4    ,other forms of elective    
affinity produce equally novel results4 
,thus1  two invisible gases1 when       
combined1 form sometimes a visible      
solid4  ,muriatic acid and ammonia are  
examples1 also ammonia and carbonic     
acid4    ,on the other hand1 if a       
solution of sulphate of soda be mixed   
with a  solution of muriate of lime the 

whole becomes solid4           99       
99       99       99       99    ,some  
gases when united form liquids1 as      
oxygen and hydrogen1 which  unite and   
form water4 ,some solids when combined  
form liquids4    ,chemical affinity is  
sometimes called elective1 or the effect
 of  choice1 as if one substance exerted
 a kind of preference for  another1 and 
chose to be united to it rather than to 
that with which  it was previously      
combined2 thus1 if you pour some        
vinegar1 which is  a weak acetic acid1  
upon some pearlash 7a combination of    
potash and  carbonic acid71 or some     
carbonate of soda 7a combination of the 
same  acid with soda71 a violent        
effervescence will take place1          
occasioned by  the escape of the        
carbonic acid1 displaced in consequence 
of the potash  or soda preferring the   
acetic acid1 and forming a compound     
called an  acetate4    ,then1 if some   
sulphuric acid be poured on this new    
compound1 the acetic  acid will1 in its 

turn1 be displaced by the greater       
attachment of  either of the bases1 as  
they are termed1 for the sulphuric acid4
 ,again1  if into a solution of blue    
vitriol 7a combination of sulphuric acid
  with copper71 the bright blade of a   
knife be introduced1 the knife will     
speedily be covered with a coat of      
copper1 deposited in consequence of  the
 acid preferring the iron of which the  
knife is made1 a quantity  of it being  
dissolved in exact proportion to the    
quantity of copper  deposited4    ,it is
 on the same principle that a very      
beautiful preparation called a          
silver-tree1 or a lead-tree1 may be     
formed1 thus3 ,fill a wide bottle1      
capable of holding from half a pint to a
 pint1 with a tolerably strong  solution
 of nitrate of silver 7lunar caustic71  
or acetate of lead1 in  pure distilled  
water4 ,then attach a small piece of    
zinc by a string  to the cork or stopper
 of the bottle1 so that the zinc shall  
hang  about the middle of the bottle1   

and set it by where it may be quite     
undisturbed4 ,in a short time brilliant 
plates of silver or lead1 as the  case  
may be1 will be seen to collect around  
the piece of zinc1 assuming  more or    
less of the crystalline form4 ,this is a
 case of elective  affinity2 the acid   
with which the silver or lead was united
 prefers  the zinc to either of those   
metals1 and in consequence discards them
  in order to attach the zinc to itself2
 and this process will continue  until  
the whole of the zinc is taken up1 or   
the whole of the silver or  lead        
deposited4          ,alum ,baskets4     
,form a small basket about the size of  
the hand1 of iron wire or split  willow2
 then take some cotton1 such as ladies  
use for running into  flounces2 untwist 
it and wind it round every limb of the  
basket4 ,boil  eighteen ounces of alum  
in a quart of water1 or quantities in   
that  proportion2 stir the mixture while
 boiling until the alum is completely   
dissolved4 ,pour the solution into a    

deep pan1 or other convenient  vessel1  
and suspend the basket in the liquor1 so
 that no part of the  basket shall touch
 the vessel1 or be exposed to the air4  
,let the whole  remain perfectly at rest
 for twenty-four hours4 ,when you then  
remove  the basket the alum will be     
found very prettily crystallized over   
all  the limbs of the cottoned frame4   
,easy ,crystallizations4      ,saturate 
water kept boiling with alum2 then set  
the solution in a  cool place1          
suspending in it1 by a hair1 or fine    
silk thread1 a cinder1  a sprig of a    
plant1 or any other trifle4 ,as the     
solution cools1 a  beautiful            
crystallization of the salt takes place 
upon the cinders1  etc41 which are made 
to resemble specimens of mineralogical  
spars4          ,to ,make a ,piece of   
,charcoal ,appear as ,though it were    
,coated with ,gold4      ,dilute a      
saturated solution of chloride of gold  
with five times its  bulk of water2     
place a thin strip of fresh burned      

charcoal into it1 and  apply heat1      
gradually increasing it until the       
solution gently boils4  ,the heat will  
make the charcoal precipitate the metal 
on the charcoal1  in the form of        
brilliant spangles4          ,to ,give a
 ,piece of ,charcoal a ,rich ,coat of   
,silver4      ,lay a crystal of nitrate 
of silver upon a piece of burning       
charcoal2  the metallic salt will catch 
fire1 and throw out the most beautiful  
scintillations that can be imagined4    
,the silver is reduced1 and1 in the     
end1 produces upon the charcoal a very  
brilliant appearance4    ,many animal   
and vegetable substances1 consist1 for  
the most part1 of  carbon1 or charcoal1 
united with oxygen and hydrogen1 which  
remember1  together combined1 form      
water4 ,now oil of vitriol or strong    
sulphuric  acid1 has so powerful an     
affinity or so great a thirst for water1
 that  it will abstract it from almost  
any body in which it exists4 ,if you    
pour some of this acid on a lump of     

sugar1 or place a chip of wood in a     
small quantity of it1 the sugar or wood 
will become speedily blackened1  that is
 charred1 in consequence of the oxygen  
and hydrogen being  removed by the      
sulphuric acid1 and only the carbon or  
charcoal left4    ,when ,cleopatra      
dissolved pearls of wondrous value in   
vinegar1 she was  unwittingly giving an 
example of chemical affinity4 ,the pearl
 is simply  carbonate of lime stored up 
by the oyster in layers4 ,consequently  
the  precious jewels were decomposed by 
the greater affinity or fondness  of    
lime for the acetic acid in the vinegar1
 than for the carbonic  acid with which 
it had been before united4 ,this was an 
example of  inconstancy in strong       
contrast with the conduct of their      
owner1 who  chose death rather than     
become the wife of her lover's          
conqueror4          ,combustion4        
,it is necessary to distinguish between 
burning and the mere appearance  of it4 
,a gas flame is gas in a state of       

combustion1 whereas the  electric light 
is no example of it1 although the wire  
within the  glassen cylinder is red hot1
 and to all appearance burning4         
,combustion  generally takes place      
through the strong affinity of some     
element1 such  as carbon in a substance 
for the oxygen in the atmosphere4 ,in   
coal gas1  for instance1 the carbon     
contained in it unites with the oxygen  
in the  air to form a colorless         
substance called carbonic acid gas4 ,the
 latter  is unable to support life1 and 
may be called1 therefore1 poisonous4 ,it
  is the presence of this gas which     
makes it unhealthy to burn many jets    
without proper ventilation4    ,also1   
carbonic acid gas is given off by the   
lungs4 ,it may seem  curious1 but it is 
none the less true1 that breathing is a 
process of  combustion4 ,the blood      
brings to the surface of the lungs the  
carbon1  which has resulted from the    
waste of the internal organs of the     
body4  ,when drawing in a breath the    

oxygen present in the atmosphere meets  
the  impure blood at the surface of the 
lungs1 and purifies it by uniting  with 
the carbon in it4 ,then1 though oxygen  
has been breathed in1  carbonic acid gas
 has been breathed out4    ,to prove    
this will be interesting3 ,obtain from a
 chemist a little lime  water--two cents
 worth will do4 ,it looks like ordinary 
water1 being  perfectly transparent and 
colorless4 ,pour some into a clean      
glass1 and  through a glass tube blow   
steadily into the water4 ,in half a     
minute the  hitherto colorless liquid   
will become milky and opaque4 ,if       
allowed to  stand there will fall down  
at the bottom of the glass a white      
powder4    ,what has happened in this   
case8 ,the carbonic acid gas from the   
lungs  has formed with the lime in the  
lime water a substance called carbonate 
of lime1 which1 being insoluble in      
water1 falls to the bottom of the  glass
 as a white powder4    ,if carbonic acid
 gas were not present in the air blown  

from the lungs1  this milkiness would   
not appear1 for no other gas1 except    
this1 would  alter the lime water's     
clearness4          ,chemistry of ,the  
,air4      ,before proceeding further1  
it will be well to perform one or two   
experiments1 to prove that the air we   
breathe is by no means the simple       
substance it is generally supposed to   
be4 ,although it is invisible1 it  must 
be remembered that it presses with a    
force of over fifteen pounds  to the    
square inch1 over the whole surface of  
the earth4 ,it extends1  too1 to a      
height of some forty miles above the    
earth1 and though it  cannot be seen1 it
 can be felt in the rush of the         
hurricane1 and heard  in the roar of the
 tempest4 ,it is chiefly composed of a  
mixture of two  gases1 oxygen and       
nitrogen4    ,did the air consist       
entirely of the former1 people would    
breathe too  quickly1 and die in a very 
short time in a high fever1 burned up1  
in  fact4 ,if only consisting of        

nitrogen1 the human race would also die1
  because this element is incapable of  
supporting life2 people would be        
suffocated1 in fact4    ,therefore1 a   
judicious mixture of the two is         
essential to the life  of animals4      
,generally1 in a hundred parts of air by
 weight there are  seventy-six parts of 
nitrogen to twenty-three of oxygen4     
,besides these two gases1 there is also 
a quantity of carbonic acid gas  in the 
air1 given off by all the fires and     
animals in the world4 ,of  course1 its  
amount is much greater in the great     
towns and manufacturing  centers than in
 country districts4    ,now herein must 
be recorded one of these charming       
arrangements which  ,nature has designed
 for the benefit of her children4       
,carbonic acid gas  is much heavier than
 the air1 and1 therefore1 sinks towards 
the ground1  where1 if allowed to       
accumulate1 would cause the death of    
every animal4  ,fortunately1 however1   
plants breathe in through their leaves  

carbonic  acid gas during sunshine1 and 
break it up into carbon and oxygen4 ,the
  former1 they use for building up their
 trunks1 leaves1 and flowers1  while    
during the night they give off oxygen   
into the air4    ,this is the reason why
 plants and trees planted in the streets
 so  largely help to sweeten and purify 
the foul air of a great city4           
99       99       99       99       99  
,an experiment to prove that the        
atmosphere does consist of nitrogen  and
 oxygen1 may be prettily proved in the  
following simple manner3 ,a  glass      
marmalade jar1 or a soup-plate filled   
with water1 and a piece of  phosphorus  
as large as a pea1 are the only things  
necessary4 ,take very  great care not to
 touch the phosphorus1 for the heat of  
the hand is  sufficient to set it on    
fire1 and a terrible wound would be     
caused4    ,place the phosphorus in a   
match-box on the surface of the water1  
touch  it with a lighted match1 and put 
the jar-mouth downwards over it to the  

bottom of the plate4 ,the phosphorus    
burns with a dazzling brilliancy1  and  
gives off dense white fumes4 ,at the    
same time the water rises a  third of   
the way up the jar1 but not to the top1 
thus showing that all  the invisible    
matter has not been consumed4 ,the white
 soon settles into  the water and is    
dissolved4 ,the phosphorus has combined 
with the oxygen  in the jar and forms   
phosphoric oxide1 which dissolves in    
water4 ,there  is then only the nitrogen
 left4 ,the disappearance of the oxygen 
allows  the water to fill up the space  
it formerly occupied4    ,this may be   
followed by another experiment4    ,to  
show that oxygen is necessary for the   
support of combustion1 fix  two or three
 pieces of wax taper on flat pieces of  
cork1 and set them  floating on water in
 a soup-plate1 light them1 and invert   
over them a  glass jar4    ,as they     
burn1 the heat produced may perhaps at  
first expand the air1 so  as to force a 
small quantity out of the jar1 but the  

water will soon  rise in the jar1 and   
continue to do so until the tapers      
expire1 when  you will find that a      
considerable portion of the air has     
disappeared1  and what remains will no  
longer support flame4    ,the oxygen has
 been converted partly into water1 and  
partly into  carbonic acid gas1 by      
uniting with the carbon and hydrogen of 
which  the taper consists1 and the      
remaining air is principally nitrogen1  
with some carbonic acid4 ,the presence  
of the latter may be proved by          
decanting some of the remaining air into
 a bottle1 and then shaking  some lime  
water with it1 which will absorb the    
carbonic acid and form  chalk4    ,into 
an ale glass1 two thirds full of water  
at about #adj degrees1  drop one or two 
pieces of phosphorus about the size of  
peas1 and they  will remain unaltered4  
,then take a bladder containing oxygen  
gas1 to  which is attached a stop cock  
and a long fine tube4 ,pass the end of  
the tube to the bottom of the water1    

turn the stop cock1 and press the       
bladder gently4 ,as the gas reaches the 
phosphorus it will take fire1  and burn 
under the water with a brilliant flame1 
filling the glass with  brilliant       
flashes of light dashing through the    
water4    ,into another glass put some  
cold water2 introduce carefully some of 
the  salt called chlorate of potash2    
upon that drop a piece of phosphorus2   
then let some strong sulphuric acid 7oil
 of vitriol7 trickle slowly  down the   
side of the glass1 or introduce it by   
means of a dropping  bottle4    ,as soon
 as the acid touches the salt the latter
 is decomposed1 and  liberates a gas    
which ignites the phosphorus1 producing 
much the same  appearance as in the last
 experiment4    ,into the half of a     
broken phial put some chlorate of       
potash1 and pour  in some oil of        
vitriol4 ,the phial will soon be filled 
with a heavy gas  of a deep yellow      
color4 ,tie a small test tube at right  
angles to the  end of a stick not less  

than a yard long1 put a little ether    
into the  tube1 and pour it gently into 
the phial of gas1 when an instantaneous 
explosion will take place1 and the ether
 will be set on fire4 ,this  experiment 
should be performed in a place where    
there are no articles  of furniture to  
be damaged1 as the ingredients are often
 scattered by  the explosion1 and the   
oil of vitriol destroys all animal and  
vegetable  substances4    ,into a jar   
containing oxygen gas introduce a coil  
of soft iron wire1  suspended to a cork 
that fits the neck of the jar and having
 attached  a small piece of charcoal to 
the lower part of the wire1 ignite the  
charcoal4 ,the iron will take fire and  
burn with a brilliant light1  throwing  
out bright scintillations1 which are    
oxide of iron1 formed by  the union of  
the gas with the iron2 and they are so  
intensely hot that  some of them will   
probably melt their way into the sides  
of the jar1  if not through them4       
,but by far the most intense heat1 and  

most brilliant light1 may be  produced  
by introducing a piece of phosphorus    
into a jar of oxygen4  ,the phosphorus  
may be placed in a small copper cup1    
with a long handle  of thick wire       
passing through a hole in a cork that   
fits the jar4 ,the  phosphorus must     
first be ignited2 and as soon as it is  
introduced into  the oxygen1 it gives   
out a light so brilliant that no eye can
 bear it1  and the whole jar appears    
filled with an intensely luminous       
atmosphere4  ,it is well to dilute the  
oxygen with about one-fourth part of    
common  air1 to moderate the intense    
heat1 which is nearly certain to break  
the  jar if pure oxygen is used4    ,the
 following experiment shows the         
production of heat by chemical  action  
alone3 ,bruise some fresh-prepared      
crystals of nitrate of copper1  spread  
them over a piece of tin foil1 sprinkle 
them with a little  water2 then fold up 
the foil tightly1 as rapidly as         
possible1 and in a  minute or two it    

will become red hot1 the tin apparently 
burning away4  ,this heat is produced by
 the energetic action of the tin on the 
nitrate  of copper1 taking away its     
oxygen in order to unite with the nitric
  acid1 for which1 as well as for the   
oxygen the tin has a much greater       
affinity than the copper has4           
,illustration    ,combustion without    
flame may be shown in a very elegant and
 agreeable  manner1 by taking a coil of 
platinum wire and twisting it round the 
stem of a tobacco pipe1 or any          
cylindrical body for a dozen times or   
so1 leaving about an inch straight1     
which should be inserted into the  wick 
of a spirit lamp4 ,light the lamp1 and  
after it has burned for a  minute or    
two1 extinguish the flame quickly2 the  
wire will soon become  red hot1 and1 if 
kept from draughts of air1 will continue
 to burn  until all the spirit is       
consumed4    ,spongy platinum1 as it is 
called1 answers rather better than wire1
 and  has been employed in the formation

 of fumigators for the drawing-room1  in
 which1 instead of pure spirit1 some    
perfume1 such as lavender water1  is    
used2 by its combustion an agreeable    
odor is diffused through the  apartment4
 ,these little lamps were much in vogue 
a few years ago1 but  are now nearly out
 of fashion4 ,finally1 all the readers  
of this little  book should be very     
careful in performing all experiments4  
,if possible1  he should use a room with
 a stone floor and no curtains1 while an
  outhouse with an earthen floor is     
still less dangerous4          ,amateur 
,air ,pump4      ,a most interesting    
class of experiments can be made with an
 air pump1 a  piece of apparatus        
unfortunately beyond the pocket-money   
supply of the  average boy4             
,nevertheless1 if the following         
instructions are exactly  followed and  
carefully carried out1 a very excellent 
air pump can be  made at a comparatively
 small cost4 ,some pretty1 as well as   
interesting  results will amply repay   

you for the trouble you take to make the
 pump4  ,although the air seems so light
 in comparison with water or a heavy    
metal like iron1 you must remember that 
it really presses upon every  square    
inch of the earth's surface1 aye1 on    
every square inch of your  own bodies1  
with a force of fourteen and a half     
pounds4 ,in other words1  the weight of 
the air at the sea level resting on each
 square inch of  surface weighs fourteen
 and a half pounds4    ,don't be        
frightened1 boys1 at the explanation of 
one word that must  be used in          
connection with air experiments4 ,the   
word is vacuum4  ,vacuum really means an
 empty space1 devoid of all matter1 even
 of  air4 ,although it seems easy to    
think of an empty space1 it is quite    
impossible to exhaust a space of all    
matter1 even of air4 ,for this  reason1 
the alchemists of the middle ages used  
to say3 8,nature abhors  a vacuum40     
,this was only their way of saying how  
impossible it was to  make a space1 such

 as the inside of a vessel1 quite empty4
 ,yet it is  possible to reduce the     
amount of air in a vessel almost to     
nothing4    ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #a4   
,illustration3 ,,fig4 #b4    ,now for   
the pump4 ,in the first place obtain    
three pieces of  gutta-percha tubing of 
the following lengths3    ,no4 #a4--;,a 
tube twelve and a half inches long1     
measuring outside two and  a half1      
inside one and a half inches in         
circumference4    ,no4 #b4--,this must  
be seven and a half inches long1 one and
 a half  inches outside1 and an inch    
inside4    ,no4 #c4--,this is a length  
of tubing about sixty inches long1 two  
and a  half inches in outside           
circumference1 and at least an inch     
thick4 ,if an  inch and a half thick all
 the better1 as it will be more         
air-tight4    ,divide tube ,no4 #b into 
two equal parts1 cutting from right to  
left at  an angle of #de degrees4 ,into 
one of the parts fit a plug of hard wood
  pierced lengthwise by a red hot wire  

7fig4 #a72 the figure shows the  shape  
of it sufficiently4 ,in the hollow side 
cut a small opening1 and  over this tie 
very tightly a band of flexible         
india-rubber 7fig4 #c74  ,this band will
 serve as the valve of the piston of the
 pump4 ,figs4 #c  and #d give a side and
 front view of this valve4 ,great care  
must be  taken neither to split the plug
 in boring the hole nor to cut the tube4
    ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #c4           
,illustration3 ,,fig4 #d4    ,this valve
 must now be inserted in the large tube 
,no4 #a1 as seen in  fig4 #b4    ,at the
 other end of the large tube1 which will
 serve as the body of  the pump1 at ,b  
fig4 #b1 fix a similar valve to the     
above1 but the  india-rubber band must  
be fixed on the other side of the valve 
as at ,b  fig4 #b4 ,the fitting ,a will 
serve for escape1 the second for        
withdrawing  the air from the space to  
be exhausted4 ,finally fix tube ,no4 #c 
on  valves ,a or ,b1 fig4 #b1 according 
to your wish to produce a vacuum or to  

compress the air4    ,illustration3     
,,fig4 #e4    ,by means of a pedal made 
simply with two boards put together on  
hinges  7fig4 #e71 one pressed with the 
foot1 the air contained in the body of  
the pump 7fig4 #b7 tends to escape4 ,it 
therefore lifts the valve of the        
fitting fixed at ,a1 and escapes through
 the flexible elastic band tied  over   
the hole in the hollow side of tube ,no4
 #b4 ,if the pressure ceases  the big   
tube1 on account of its own elasticity1 
takes its former form  and sucks in the 
air4 ,this time it is the valve at ,b   
which is lifted  and lets pass the air  
which fills the body of the pump4 ,if   
one has  fixed on to the fitting at ,b1 
the long india-rubber tube ,no4 #c1     
which  is plunged in a receiver--a      
receiver is any vessel in which the air 
is  exhausted1 or into which it is      
forced--it is easily understood that    
after a few moves of the pedal1 the air 
is drawn out1 and a vacuum is  obtained4
    ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #f4    ,if one

 wishes to have a force-pump one has    
only to modify slightly the             
construction of the valve4 ,instead of a
 band of india-rubber fixed as  shown in
 fig4 #c1 it is altered as in fig4 #d1  
that is to say the valve  is formed by a
 band of supple india-rubber fastened by
 two tacks only  on one side of the     
opening in the side of the plug4 ,for   
this object it  is also necessary to    
take stronger tubes4    ,let us now     
review the few experiments that can be  
made with this  machine4    ,in order to
 conduct experiments a receiver must be 
obtained4 ,the best  vessel for your    
purpose is a large bell-jar with a      
ground glass stopper  and neck to insure
 absolute tightness4 ,such a jar may be 
cheaply  obtained at a scientific       
instrument maker's for about            
seventy-five  cents4 ,if you cannot get 
a bell-jar procure a #d-lb4 jam pot and 
a  tightly-fitting bung4 ,in the middle 
of the latter bore a hole to admit  a   
glass tube1 some six inches long and an 

inch in diameter1 and then  sealing-wax 
the whole of the upper surface of the   
bung so that air  cannot enter4 ,over   
the projecting end of the glass tube1   
bind very  tightly the free end of the  
long tubing affixed to the pump4 ,to    
ensure  tight binding1 waxed thread     
should be used4          ,asphyxia4     
,put a mouse--it is necessary to catch  
him first--into the receiver1 and  work 
the pump4 ,soon the animal will show all
 the signs of being choked1  and        
eventually will die4 ,this is proof     
sufficient that animals cannot  live    
without air4    ,illustration           
,balloon in ,vacuum4      ,place in the 
receiver a small bladder1 such as are   
sold in the streets  for a few cents4   
,wet it a little to make it more supple4
 ,now1 in the  ordinary way the air     
inside the bladder exerts the same      
pressure on  the skin of the bladder as 
does the air on the outside4 ,now work  
the  pedal so that the air in the       
receiver is gradually exhausted4 ,the   

bladder will be seen to gradually swell 
and finally burst4 ,it bursts  because  
as the air in the receiver is exhausted 
by the pump1 the air  outside the       
bladder exerts a less force than the air
 inside4 ,but the  air inside is        
confined by the bladder skin1 a not very
 strong material1  as you know1 so as   
soon as the difference between the      
inside and  outside pressures is greater
 than the strength of the bladder1 the  
latter bursts4 ,this experiment also    
shows the expansible power of air4      
,illustration          ,boiling ,cold   
,water4      ,place in the receiver a   
tumbler of cold water and work the pump 
as  before4 ,in a few minutes1 as soon  
as the air is sufficiently exhausted1   
the water will apparently boil4 ,yet you
 know the water does not boil  in a     
kettle unless heated to #bab degrees4   
,this phenomenon is thus  explained3    
,the vacuum causes the air-bubbles      
contained in the water to  escape4 ,they
 easily do so1 because there is scarcely

 any reserve on the  surface of the     
liquid 7see fig474    ,illustration     
,a ,sucking ,tube4      ,this force1 the
 pressure of the air which you have just
 ascertained1  supplies various         
experiments in its illustration4        
,take a tin tube1 for example1 the tin  
holder of a penny pen1 which you  may   
procure at any stationer's4 ,put a      
little water in it and make it  boil so 
that the steam takes the place of the   
air4    ,when steaming furiously stop   
the mouth of the tube with a small cork1
  sealing the opening hermetically4 ,oil
 it a little1 so it may glide with      
ease4 ,if you cool the tube by plunging 
it in a basin of cold water1  for       
example1 the steam is condensed1 forming
 a vacuum in the interior1  and under   
the atmospheric pressure the cork will  
glide down4 ,fasten  a string to the    
cork and you can withdraw it and begin  
the operation  again4 ,as the water gets
 hot1 steam is reformed2 you will see   
the cork  come up again4    ,a capital  

way of making this cork is to stick the 
tube in a piece of  potato1 cutting out 
of the latter a perfectly-fitting cork4 
,illustration          ,cupping4        
,instead of a jar-receiver1 take a      
long-necked bottle open at both ends4   
,if you place the hand on one of the    
open ends and exhaust the air1 by       
attaching the long tube of the pump to  
the other you cannot remove the  hand   
easily4 ,do not try to pump the air out 
entirely1 as the suction  may be too    
strong and draw blood4 ,it is by the    
rarefaction of the air  that the        
cupping-glass is applied to people who  
require bleeding4 ,in  the antiquated   
surgical operation of cupping1 the      
doctor burned a few  pieces of paper in 
small glass cups1 which are then applied
 to the  skin2 the air1 in getting cold1
 contracted and produced a partial      
vacuum1 thus acting as the bottle did in
 the above experiment4    ,illustration 
,the ,barometer4      ,now you shall    
learn something about the pressure      

exercised by the  atmospheric layer     
which surrounds the earth to the height 
of about  forty miles4 ,this is done    
with the aid of a very well-known       
instrument  called the barometer4       
,you may construct one yourselves4      
,procure a glass tube closed at one     
end1 about a yard long and one tenth of 
an inch in diameter4 ,fill it  with     
mercury1 then turn it upside down into a
 bowl filled with the same  metal1      
taking care that the air does not enter 
the tube4 ,the column  will stop at a   
height between #bi and #cj inches4      
,this1 therefore is the measure of the  
force of the air's pressure1 for  in the
 upper part of the tube there is an     
absolute vacuum and nothing  would      
prevent the mercury from going higher   
up4 ,the weight of the  air layer       
corresponds1 therefore1 to a height of  
nearly #cj inches of  mercury4          
,illustration    ,this weight has been  
before stated1 viz41 fourteen and a half
 pounds1  such a weight being supported 

by every single square inch of the      
globe's surface4 ,a marvelous pressure  
is thus exerted on the whole  earth4 ,in
 other words1 the weight of the air that
 surrounds the  earth on all sides is no
 less than the following enormous number
 of  #e1ahd1gdj1jjj1jjj1jjj tons4    ,a 
man of average height1 himself supports 
the enormous pressure of  #cd1aga       
pounds1 or over #ae tons1 and yet does  
not feel the least  inconvenience in his
 movements4 ,it is because this pressure
 is  exercised in all directions1 and a 
human body carries within it elastic    
fluids that counterbalance that         
tremendous weight4    ,so accustomed do 
people become to this weight that when  
the weather is  stormy1 a feeling of    
heaviness comes on4    ,however1 it is  
just the contrary which takes place when
 the barometer  is lower2 that is to    
say1 the atmospheric pressure has       
diminished4  ,consequently there is less
 weight to be carried4    ,you would    
experience the same sensation when going

 up in a balloon4 ,as  you rise higher  
and higher the weight of the air is less
 felt1 and this  makes people so        
uncomfortable that at a height of about 
#i1jjj or #aj1jjj  yards the liquids in 
our body--the blood1 the water1 the     
bile--tend to  escape outwards4 ,why8   
,because they are no longer balanced by 
an outside  pressure equal in force to  
them4 ,in fact1 if you continued to     
ascend1  your fate would be that of the 
bladder in the first experiment--you    
would burst4 ,thus are you and all      
creatures attached to the face of the   
earth1 and it seems as if great heights 
were forbidden to our curiosity4        
,a ,novel ,barometer4      ,construct a 
toy house of cardboard1 painted1 and let
 there be two  open doorways in the     
front1 and let it stand on a wooden     
platform to  represent the ground4 ,the 
two sides and back may come right down  
to the  ground1 but there must be a     
slight space between the front of the   
house  and the ground upon which it     

stands4    ,next make a flat wheel or   
disc of wood about the thickness of a   
penny1  its diameter or measurement     
across the center to measure the same as
  the distance between the two doorways 
of the house4 ,the wheel disc or        
turn-table must have a shaft or spindle 
in the middle1 so that it will  revolve 
easily in a hole made for it in the     
floor or ground which your  cardboard   
house stands on2 this pivot-hole should 
be just within the  house and exactly   
half way between the two doors4    ,in  
the next place get two small dolls of   
such size that they will pass  easily   
through the doorways1 or you may cut    
them out of cork or some  light         
substance4 ,dress one to represent an   
old man and the other as his  wife1 and 
fix them opposite each other at the edge
 of the disc or wheel  in such a manner1
 that when it turns on its axle1 the    
figures move in  and out of the two     
doorways provided for their             
accommodation1 for it  appears that1    

although residing in the same house1    
they are not on very  good terms4 ,when 
the husband goes out the wife remains at
 home1 and as  she only ventures abroad 
in fine weather1 her spouse is obliged  
to look  out when rain may be expected4 
,the motive power has now to be provided
 and this takes the form of  a piece of 
catgut1 such as violin strings are made 
of2 this is a  substance very           
susceptible of atmospheric influences1  
for dry weather  contracts or tightens  
it1 while a damp atmosphere causes it to
 relax4  ,double your catgut and twist  
it1 fasten one end of the rope so formed
  near the back of the house inside and 
fasten the other to the pivot  or axle1 
with two or three turns round it4 ,as   
the weather changes the  tightening or  
relaxing of the rope will cause the     
figures to move in  and out of the      
house4 ,of course1 the figures must be  
arranged so that  the lady comes out    
when the rope is tightened by the       
dryness of the  atmosphere4             

,compressed ,air4      ,to make         
experiments with compressed air1 you    
must put your wits  together to make a  
reservoir4 ,air1 you know1 is a gas     
consisting of  particles called atoms4  
,these atoms are at a certain distance  
from one  another4 ,they can be pushed  
further from one another as when you    
heat  them1 or closer together by cold  
and compression4 ,so compressed air     
only means air whose atoms are pressed  
more closely together than as  the case 
with the air around us4    ,now you have
 heard that a column of air on a square 
inch weighs  fourteen and a half pounds4
 ,also1 you know that air in a receiver 
or  any other vessel presses on the     
vessel inside and out with a force 7or  
weight7 of fourteen and a half pounds4  
,if now into the vessel you push another
 quantity of air1 equal to the  vessel's
 capacity1 you simply push the atoms of 
air closer together4  ,in fact1 they are
 now only half as far apart as the atoms
 of an open  vessel4 ,but the pressure  

is doubled and the compressed air1      
therefore1  will press on the inside of 
the vessel with a force of twenty-nine  
pounds4    ,illustration    ,now to make
 the reservoir4 ,get a tin tube about   
#dj inches long and  four in diameter1  
closed at both ends4 ,take care that the
 soldering  is well done4 ,two openings 
must be made1 and a small tube inserted 
in  each4 ,to each of these attach an   
indiarubber tube1 one four feet long1   
and the other six4 7,see fig474    ,to  
fill this reservoir with compressed air1
 apply the air-pump fitted  with the    
valve shown in fig4 #d1 in the          
description of an air-pump4  ,squeeze   
tightly the upper tube of the reservoir 
before beginning to  pump1 and then it  
will be easy to judge the amount of     
compression of  the air4 ,for the first 
experiment place a light ball or sheet  
of paper  over the mouth of the tube1   
and loosen your hold on it4 ,the object 
will  immediately be blown away with    
considerable force4          ,noiseless 

,bell4      ,we know that sound is a    
succession of vibrations which must be  
transmitted in a medium with weight1 as 
air or water2 in other words1  in a     
vacuum there can be no sound at all4 ,to
 prove this1 introduce  into the        
receiver a small bell1 and as the air is
 extracted the sounds  become weaker and
 weaker1 and cease altogether when the  
air is  completely rarified4            
,illustration          ,the ,bursting   
,bladder4      ,tie a thin piece of     
light indiarubber round the top of the  
bottle1 and  you will notice that as the
 air is withdrawn1 the indiarubber will 
stretch1 and at length form a round     
small balloon in the interior of  the   
bottle4 7,fig4 #a74    ,illustration3   
,,fig4 #a4    ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #b4 
,if a piece of bladder is tightly       
stretched and tied round the vessel     
7fig4 #b47 it will burst under the force
 of the atmospheric pressure  which acts
 upon it1 through a vacuum having been  
made underneath4 ,this  is another case 

of the first experiment with the air    
pump described  above4          ,weight 
of the ,air4      ,another experiment   
will still better make you appreciate   
the value of  this factor3 the weight of
 the air4    ,put a piece of supple     
leather in which a ring is attached     
under the  bottle2 pump the air out of  
the latter and you will be astonished at
  the weight you may hang on this       
leather without dragging it off4        
,illustration    ,should you not have at
 hand a glass receiver1 a wooden reel   
may serve  instead 7see fig474 ,on one  
of its faces place a piece of strong    
cardboard1 in the middle of which a hook
 has been fastened2 when the            
rarefaction is made1 rather heavy       
weights must be hooked on before the    
cardboard is detached from the face of  
the rest4          ,spoons which will   
,melt in ,hot ,water4      ,fuse        
together in a crucible1 eight parts of  
bismuth1 five of lead and  three of tin2
 these metals will combine and form an  

alloy1 of which  spoons may be made1    
possessed of the remarkable property of 
melting in  boiled water4               
,effect of ,compression4      ,take a   
wooden reel and hollow out either the   
top or bottom1 beginning  at the hole in
 the center and working towards the     
edge4 ,in the hollow  place a ball4     
,apply to the other end the indiarubber 
tube which  conducts the forced air1 and
 the ball will be lifted up 7see fig474 
,illustration          ,to ,cover ,iron 
with ,copper4      ,if you are about to 
perform a conjuring trick1 you will1 of 
course take  great care that your       
apparatus is ready4 ,therefore1 clean   
your piece  of iron or steel from dirt4 
,dip a piece of polished iron--the blade
  of your knife1 for instance--into a   
solution1 either of nitrate or  sulphate
 of copper1 when it will assume the     
appearance of a piece of  pure copper4  
,the ,elements4      ,before entering   
into the next series of experiments the 
young chemist  must know that all the   

substances of which the world and       
everything in  it are made up--i4e41 the
 elements are arranged in two classes1  
the  metals and the non-metals4 ,the    
former are by far the more numerous1    
altogether numbering more than fifty4   
,among the better known are  such well  
known substances as iron1 mercury1      
copper1 tin1 potassium1  antimony1      
strontium1 and nickel4 ,the non-metals  
are more widely  distributed and        
together made up of the bulk of the     
universe4    ,they comprise the         
gases--oxygen1 hydrogen1 nitrogen1 and  
chlorine1  and such substances as       
sulphur1 carbon1 phosphorus and iodine4 
,to the  latter class also belongs a    
peculiar element called fluorine1 which1
  when combined with hydrogen1 destroys 
glass4 ,it is the only liquid  known    
which cannot be contained in a glassen  
or earthenware vessel1 and  when used   
for experimental purposes must be kept  
in a leaden bottle4    ,of course it    
will be understood that the above is not

 a complete  list by any means1 but is  
sufficient to give a clear idea of the  
difference between the two classes4 ,the
 metals generally speaking are  of a    
more or less sparkling1 lustrous        
appearance4 ,the metals1 too1 are  good 
conductors of heat and electricity1 and 
generally heavy4 ,these  characteristics
 are almost entirely wanting in the     
non-metals4 ,we shall  now give some    
tricks with the metals4                 
,potassium4      ,potassium was         
discovered by ,sir ,h4 ,davy1 in the    
beginning of the  present century1 while
 acting upon potash with the enormous   
galvanic  battery of the ,royal         
,institution1 consisting of two thousand
 pairs of  four inch plates4 ,it is a   
brilliant metal1 so soft as to be easily
 cut  with a penknife1 and so light as  
to swim upon water1 on which it acts    
with great energy1 uniting with the     
oxygen and liberating the hydrogen1     
which takes fire as it escapes4         
,trace some continuous lines on paper   

with a camel's-hair brush dipped  in    
water1 and place a piece of potassium   
about the size of a pea on one  of the  
lines1 and it will follow the course of 
the pencil1 taking fire  as it runs1 and
 burning with a purplish light4    ,the 
paper will be found covered with a      
solution of ordinary potash4 ,if        
turmeric paper be used1 the course of   
the potassium will be marked with  a    
deep brown color4 ,hence if you touch   
potassium with wet fingers you  will    
burn them4    ,if a small piece of the  
metal be placed on a piece of ice1 it   
will  instantly take fire1 and form a   
deep hole which will be found to        
contain a solution of potash4    ,in    
consequence of its great affinity for   
oxygen1 potassium must be kept  in some 
fluid destitute of it1 such as naphtha  
acid1 which has been  displaced by the  
great affinity or liking of the oxygen  
and acid for  the copper4    #b4 ,when  
the copper is no longer coated1 but     
remains clean and bright  when immersed 

in the fluid1 all the silver has been   
deposited1 and the  glass now contains a
 solution of copper4    ,nearly all the 
colors used in the arts are produced by 
metals and  their combinations2 indeed1 
one is named chromium1 from a ,greek    
word  signifying color1 on account of   
the beautiful tints obtained from its   
various combinations with oxygen and the
 other metals4 ,all the various  tints1 
of green1 orange1 yellow and red are    
obtained from this metal4    ,solutions 
of most of the metallic salts give      
precipitates with  solutions of alkalies
 and their salts1 as well as with many  
other  substances1 such as what are     
usually called prussiate of potash1     
hydrosulphret of ammonia1 etc4 ,the     
colors differ according to the metal    
employed2 and so small a quantity is    
required to produce the color1  that the
 solutions before mixing may be nearly  
colorless4          ,metallic ,colors4  
,to a solution of sulphate of iron add a
 drop or two of a solution of  prussiate

 of potash1 and a blue color will be    
produced4    #b4 ,substitute sulphate of
 copper for iron1 and the color will be 
a rich  brown4    #c4 ,another blue1 of 
quite a different tint1 may be produced 
by letting  a few drops of a solution of
 ammonia fall into one of sulphate of   
copper1 when a precipitate of a light   
blue falls down1 which is  dissolved by 
an additional quantity of the ammonia1  
and forms a  transparent solution of the
 most splendid rich blue color4    #d4  
,into a solution of sulphate of iron1   
drop a few drops of strong  infusion of 
galls1 and the color will become a      
bluish black--in fact  ink4 ,a little   
tea will answer as well as the infusion 
of galls4  ,this is the reason why      
certain stuffs formerly in general use  
for  dressing-gowns for gentlemen were  
so objectionable2 for as they were      
indebted to a salt of iron for their    
color1 buff as it was called1 a  drop of
 tea accidentally spilled produced all  
the effect of a drop of  ink4    #e4    

,put into a largish test tube two or    
three small pieces of granulated  zinc1 
fill it about one-third full of water1  
put in a few grains of  iodine1 and boil
 the water1 which will at first acquire 
a dark purple  color1 gradually fading  
as the iodine combines with the zinc4   
,add a  little more iodine from time to 
time1 until the zinc is nearly all      
dissolved4 ,if a few drops of this      
solution be added to an equally         
colorless solution of corrosive         
sublimate 7a salt of mercury71 a        
precipitate will take place of a        
splendid scarlet color1 brighter1 if    
possible1 than vermilion1 which is also 
a preparation of mercury4               
,crystallization of ,metals4      ,some 
of the metals assume certain definite   
forms in return from the  fluid to the  
solid state4 ,bismuth shows this        
property more readily than  most others4
      ,,experiment4    ,melt a pound or 
two of bismuth in an iron ladle over the
 fire2 remove  it as soon as the whole  

is fluid2 and when the surface has      
become  solid break a hole in it and    
pour out the still fluid metal from the 
interior2 what remains will exhibit     
beautifully formed crystals of a  cubic 
shape4    ,sulphur may be crystallized  
in the same manner1 but its fumes1 when 
heated1 are so very unpleasant that few 
would wish to encounter them4    ,one of
 the most remarkable facts in           
chemistry--a science abounding in       
wonders--is the circumstance that the   
mere contact of hydrogen1 the  lightest 
body known1 with the metal platinum1 the
 heaviest when in a  state of minute    
division called spongy platinum1        
produces an intense  heat sufficient to 
inflame the hydrogen2 of course this    
experiment must  be made in the presence
 of atmospheric air or oxygen4 ,if a    
small piece  of the metal in the state  
above named be introduced into a mixture
  of oxygen and hydrogen1 it will cause 
them to explode4 ,a very small  quantity
 of gas should be employed and placed in

 a jar lightly covered  with a card1 or 
the explosion would be dangerous4       
,crystallization4      ,nearly all the  
metals are characterized by the         
crystals1 which  are formed as they pass
 from a state of intense heat to that of
  comparative coldness4 ,it is by this  
process they have been formed when  in  
the mine or vein in the rocks4 ,the     
earth was once a fiery mass  of molten  
matter1 as seen even now when a volcano 
is in a state of  eruption4 ,and it was 
only by the cooling of the outside shell
 of the  earth1 or crust1 as it is      
called1 that it became habitable4       
,when the crust was cooling down the    
metals crystallized among the  cooling  
rocks and gradually formed the crude    
arts4 ,you may represent by  a very     
pretty experiment the manner in which   
this cooling off of the  earth took     
place4 ,obtain a little flour of sulphur
 and put it in a red  earthenware       
unglazed jar4 ,thrust it well into the  
fire and watch the  rust4 ,as soon as   

the heat has penetrated the vessel the  
yellow powdery  sulphur becomes first of
 all brown1 and then assumes the        
consistency  of thick birdlime4 ,take   
out a little of this on the end of a    
stick and  plunge it into cold water4   
,it can then be pulled backwards and    
forwards  like cobblers' wax4 ,this well
 represents the state of the half-cooled
  crust of the earth4    ,meanwhile the 
sulphur on the fire begins to boil1 and 
looks very much  like bubbling treacle4 
,remove it from the fire and allow it to
 cool4  ,when quite cool the surface    
will be a flat1 yellow mass1 like       
ordinary  roll sulphur1 which1 when     
ground1 give the ordinary flour of      
sulphur4    ,with a sharp knife separate
 the mass from the vessel and look at   
the  under-surface4 ,there it will be   
found to have assumed a very different  
form1 owing to the exclusion of the air1
 and consequent slower cooling4  ,large 
six-sided crystals1 transparent1 and of 
a most exquisitely  delicate yellow1    

will be seen1 piled on one another as   
appear the  masses of ore in rocks4     
,nature always works in such cases on   
such a gigantic scale that it  seems at 
first difficult to believe that such    
huge piles as the ,giant's  ,causeway in
 ,ireland1 or ,fingals in ,scotland1 or 
the lodes of tin ore in  ,cornwall1     
worked by the ,phnicians three thousand 
years ago1 and still  being worked1 were
 all formed by the same process4    ,the
 time that the earth must have taken to 
cool fairly staggers the  imagination1  
yet it is only from guessing1 by means  
of such a study as  this1 that          
geologists are able to form any idea of 
how long ago it was  that the earth's   
crust became cool enough to allow animal
 and plant  life to exist upon it4      
,the most beautiful crystalline form is 
perhaps the diamond1 and yet  this      
precious gem is but the same thing1     
chemically1 as charcoal4  ,charcoal is  
pure carbon in the uncrystallized state1
 which the magic  of crystallization has

 transformed into the symbol of all that
 is  brilliant and beautiful4           
,beauties of ,crystallization4          
,dissolve alum in hot water until no    
more can be dissolved in it2 place  in  
it a smooth glass rod and a stick of the
 same size4 ,next day the  stick will be
 found covered with crystals1 but the   
glass rod will be  free from them4 ,in  
this case the crystals cling to the     
rough surface of  the stick1 but have no
 hold upon the smooth surface of the    
glass rod4    ,but if the rod be        
roughened with a file at certain        
intervals1 and then  placed in the alum 
and water1 the crystals will adhere to  
the rough  surfaces1 and leave the      
smooth bright and clear4    ,tie some   
threads of lamp-cotton irregularly      
around a copper wire or  glass rod4     
,place it in a hot solution of blue     
vitriol1 strong as above1  and the      
threads will be covered with beautiful  
blue crystals1 while the  glass rod will
 be bare4    ,bore a hole through a     

piece of coke1 and suspend it by a      
string from a  stick placed across a hot
 solution of alum4 ,it will float4 ,but 
as it  becomes loaded with crystals it  
will sink in the solution according to  
the length of the string4 ,gas-coke has 
mostly a smooth1 shining1 and  almost   
metallic surface1 which the crystals    
will avoid1 while they will  cling only 
to the most irregular and porous parts4 
,if powdered turmeric be added to the   
hot solution of alum the crystals  will 
be of a bright yellow4 ,litmus will     
cause them to be of a bright  red4      
,logwood will yield purple2 and common  
writing ink1 black4 ,and the  more muddy
 the solution the finer will be the     
crystals4    ,to keep colored alum      
crystals from breaking or losing their  
color1  place them under a glass shade  
with a saucer of water4    ,this will   
preserve the atmosphere moist1 and      
prevent the crystals  getting too dry4  
,if crystals be formed on wire they will
 be liable to break off1 from  the      

expansion and contraction of the wire by
 changes of temperature4          ,to   
,crystallize ,camphor4      ,dissolve   
camphor in spirit of wine1 moderately   
heated1 until the  spirit will not      
dissolve any more2 pour some of the     
solution into a  cold glass1 and the    
camphor will instantly crystallize in   
beautiful  tree-like forms1 such as we  
see in the show-glasses of camphor in   
druggists' windows4      ,,another      
,,experiment4    ,heat some blue vitriol
 7sulphate of copper7 in an iron ladle  
till  all the water contained in the    
crystals is driven off1 and the color   
changes to a gray4 ,take the lumps out  
without breaking them1 and  lay the     
dried blue vitriol on a plate4 ,if this 
be moistened with  water steam is       
produced2 and if a slice of phosphorus  
is then laid  on the sulphate of copper 
it ignites1 demonstrating again that the
  condensation of a liquid produces     
heat4 ,the addition of the water        
restores the blue color1 thus proving   

that water was necessary to the         
composition of blue vitriol4          ,a
 ,solid ,changed to a ,liquid4      ,mix
 five parts by weight of powdered sal   
ammoniac1 five parts of nitre  in       
powder1 and sixteen parts of water4 ,a  
temperature of twenty-two  degrees below
 the freezing point of water is         
produced2 and if a phial  of water1 or  
any convenient metallic cylinder        
containing water1 be  surrounded with a 
sufficient quantity of the freezing     
mixture1 ice is  formed4 ,the ice clings
 to the interior of the tube1 but may   
easily be  removed by dipping it in     
tepid water4    ,this experiment is the 
reverse of the last and proves that the 
sudden  reduction of a solid to the     
liquid condition always affords cold4   
,an amusing combination of two          
experiments may be made by putting some 
fresh-burned lime into one tea pot and  
this freezing mixture into  another4    
,when water is poured on the one        
containing lime1 it gives  out steam    

from the spout1 while the addition of   
water to the other  produces so much    
cold that it can hardly be kept in the  
hand4 ,thus heat  and cold are afforded 
through the same medium1 water4         
,magic of ,heat4      ,melt a small     
quantity of the sulphate of potash and  
copper in a spoon  over a spirit lamp4  
,it will be fused at a heat just below  
redness1  and produce a liquid of a     
dark-green color4 ,remove the spoon from
 the  flame1 when the liquid will become
 a solid of a brilliant emerald green   
color1 and so remain until its heat     
sinks nearly to that of boiling  water1 
when suddenly a commotion will take     
place throughout the mass1  beginning   
from the surface1 and each atom1 as if  
animated1 will start  up and separate   
itself from the rest1 till in a few     
moments the whole  will become a heap of
 powder4          ,sublimation by ,heat4
      ,provide two small pieces of      
glass2 sprinkle a minute portion of     
sulphur upon one piece1 lay thin slips  

of wood around it1 and place  upon it   
the other piece of glass4 ,move them    
slowly over the flame of a  lamp or     
candle1 and the sulphur will become     
sublimed1 and form gray1  nebulous      
patches1 which are very curious         
microscopic objects4 ,each  cluster     
consists of thousands of transparent    
globules1 imitating in  miniature the   
nebul which we see figured in treatises 
on astronomy4  ,by observing the largest
 particles we shall find them to be     
flattened  on one side4 ,being very     
transparent1 each of them acts the part 
of  a little lens1 and forms in its     
focus the image of a distant light1     
which can be perceived even in the      
smaller globules1 until it vanishes     
from minuteness4 ,if they are examined  
again after a certain number of  hours1 
the smaller globules will generally be  
found to have retained  their           
transparency1 while the larger ones will
 have become opaque1 in  consequence of 
the sulphur having undergone some       

internal spontaneous  change4 ,but the  
most remarkable circumstance attending  
this experiment  is that the globules   
are found adhering to the upper glass   
only2  the reason of which is that the  
upper glass is somewhat cooler than  the
 lower one1 by which means we see that  
the vapor of sulphur is  very powerfully
 repelled by heated glass4 ,the         
flattened form of the  particles is     
owing to the force with which they      
endeavor to recede from  the lower      
glass1 and their consequent pressure    
against the surface of  the upper one4  
,this experiment is considered by its   
originator1 ,mr4  ,h4 ,f4 ,talbot1 to be
 a satisfactory argument in favor of the
 repulsive  power of heat4              
,heat ,passing ,through ,glass4         
,although glass is a bad conductor it   
yet allows heat to pass through  it1 and
 the purer the glass the more easy is   
this done4 ,heat a poker  red hot1 and  
having opened a window1 apply the poker 
very near to  the outside of the pane1  

and the hand to the inside4 ,a strong   
heat  will be felt at the instant1 which
 will cease as soon as the poker is     
withdrawn1 and may be again renewed and 
made to cease as quickly as  before4 ,it
 is well known that if a piece of glass 
be so much warmed as  to convey the     
impression of heat to the hand1 it will 
retain some part  of that heat for a    
minute or more2 but in this experiment  
the heat will  vanish in a moment4 ,it  
will not1 therefore1 be the heated pane 
of glass  that we shall feel1 but heat  
which has come through the glass in a   
free  or radiant state4          ,metals
 ,unequally ,influenced by ,heat4       
,all metals do not conduct heat at the  
same rate as may be proved by  holding  
in the flame of a candle at the same    
time a piece of silver  wire and a piece
 of platina wire1 when the silver wire  
will become too  hot to hold1 much      
sooner than the platina4 ,or cut a cone 
of each wire1  tip it with wax1 and     
place it upon a heated plate 7as a      

fire-shovel71  when the wax will melt at
 different periods4                     
,spontaneous ,combustion4      ,mix a   
small quantity of chlorate of potash    
with spirit of wine in a  strong saucer2
 add a little sulphuric acid1 and an    
orange vapor will  arise and burst into 
flame with a loud crackling sound4      
,inequality of ,heat in ,fire-,irons4   
,place before a fire a set of polished  
fire-irons1 and beside them a  rough1   
unpolished poker1 such as is used in the
 kitchen1 instead  of a bright poker4   
,the polished irons will remain for a   
long time  without becoming warmer than 
the temperature of the room1 because    
the heat radiated from the fire is all  
reflected1 or thrown off1 by  the       
polished surface of the irons1 and none 
of it is absorbed4 ,the  rough poker    
will1 however1 become speedily hot1 so  
as not to be used  without              
inconvenience4 ,hence1 the polish of    
fire-irons is not merely  ornamental1   
but useful4          ,expansion of      

,metal by ,heat4      ,provide an iron  
rod1 and fit it exactly into a metal    
ring2 heat the rod  red hot1 and it will
 no longer enter the ring4    ,observe  
an iron gate on a warm day1 when it will
 shut with difficulty2  whereas it will 
shut loosely and easily on a cold day4  
,the ,alchemist's ,ink4      ,dissolve  
in water a small quantity1 about as much
 as will lay on a  ten-cent piece1 of   
chloride of cobalt1 which is of a       
bluish-green  color1 and the solution   
will be pink2 write with it and the     
characters  will scarcely be visible2   
but if gently heated they will appear in
  brilliant green1 which will disappear 
as the paper cools4    ,dissolve in     
water a few grains of prussiate of      
potash2 write with this  liquid1 which  
is invisible when dry2 wash over with a 
dilute solution  of iron1 made by       
dissolving a nail in a little aqua      
fortis2 a blue and  legible writing is  
immediately apparent4                   
,chameleon ,liquids4      ,put a small  

portion of the compound called mineral  
chameleon into  several glasses4 ,pour  
upon each water at different            
temperatures and  the contents of each  
glass will exhibit a different shade of 
color4 ,a  very hot solution will be of 
a beautiful green color2 a cold one a   
deep  purple4    ,make a colorless      
solution of sulphate of copper2 add to  
it a little  ammonia equally colorless1 
and the mixture will be of an intense   
blue  color2 add to it a little         
sulphuric acid1 and the blue color will 
disappear2 pour in a little solution of 
caustic ammonia1 and the blue  color    
will be restored4 ,thus may the liquor  
be changed at pleasure4          ,magic 
,dyes4      ,dissolve indigo in diluted 
sulphuric acid1 and add to it an equal  
quantity of solution of carbonate of    
potash4 ,if a piece of white cloth  be  
dipped in the mixture it will be changed
 to blue2 yellow cloth1 in  the same    
mixture1 may be changed to green2 red to
 purple2 and blue  litmus paper to red4 

,nearly fill a wine glass with the juice
 of beet-root1 which is of  a deep red  
color2 add a little lime water and the  
mixture will be  colorless2 dip into it 
a piece of white cloth1 dry it rapidly1 
and in a  few hours the cloth will      
become red4          ,wine ,changed into
 ,water4      ,mix a little solution of 
subacetate of lead with port wine2      
filter  the mixture through             
blotting-paper1 and a colorless liquid  
will pass  through2 to this add a small 
quantity of dry salt of tartar2 distill 
in  a retort1 when a spirit will arise1 
which may be inflamed4          ,the    
,chemistry of ,water4      ,more than   
two-thirds of the earth's surface is    
water1 so that in mere  quantity alone  
it is the most important substance with 
which we are  acquainted4 ,without it   
life would be impossible1 for1 owing to 
its  quality of dissolving other bodies1
 it may be regarded as the great        
purifier1 as well as the vehicle which  
brings nourishment to plants and        

animals alike4    ,not only is water    
useful1 but is among the most beautiful 
of ,nature's  products4 ,it has carved  
the valleys between mountain ranges by  
its slow  dropping for ages1 and has    
made the fairy glens by rushing down    
their  sides in torrents4 ,the stately  
rivers and the roaring oceans are but   
forms of its might4    ,in another state
 it works out those fantastic grottoes1 
mountains and  fields of glittering     
white1 that make the ,polar seas the    
very head  center of dreamland4    ,in  
still another form it paints the rainbow
 in the sky1 and hangs like  a veil over
 the landscape1 passing from the most   
delicate blue over the  plain to the    
deep purple clinging to distant hills4  
,to it the golden and red hues of       
sunrise and sunset are due4 ,the light  
fleecy clouds that speak the beauty of  
spring1 and the great thunder  stocks   
that gleam1 with lightning flashes are  
all composed of water1  and water alone4
    ,it drives our engines and          

machinery1 and speeds our ships across  
the  sea4 ,neither is it confined to    
this earth alone1 for astronomers tell  
us that vast seas and even clouds can be
 seen on the next great planet  to the  
earth1 ,mars4    ,surely1 then1 as this 
wondrous substance is examined1 the     
ancients can  be excused for worshiping 
the ocean as a god1 and the old         
alchemists  for believing it to be an   
element4    ,nevertheless1 water is not 
a simple substance4 ,it is composed of  
two  gases1 which must be combined      
before water is produced4 ,these gases  
are  oxygen and hydrogen4 ,every atom of
 water consists of one part of the      
former gas and two parts by volume of   
the latter4 ,this you may prove in  the 
following way3    ,buy a piece of       
sodium1 a metal that must not be touched
 with the  fingers1 and thrust it into a
 small one-ounce jar half full of water2
  cork the jar tightly4    ,through a   
hole in the cork pass a glass tube1 the 
outer end being drawn  in a flame to a  

fine point4 ,apply a light at the end of
 the tube4 ,the  escaping gas will catch
 fire and burn with a light blue flame4 
,this gas  is hydrogen4    ,next empty  
the jar and fill with warm water1 and   
place by means of  another cork a small 
glass jar on to the tube4 ,into the     
lower jar drop  a piece of blazing hot  
platinum4 ,repeat this again and again  
with the  same piece of platinum1 being 
careful not to uncork the upper jar1 so 
that every time the metal is dropped    
into the lower jar1 you remove  the     
upper jar with the tube and two corks4  
,after doing this a dozen  times or more
 take a match that is still glowing     
after having been  extinguished1 and    
plunge it into the upper jar4 ,it will  
burst into  flame immediately1 and the  
gas in the upper jar is oxygen4         
,two ,bitters ,make a ,sweet4      ,it  
has been discovered that a mixture of   
nitrate of silver with  hyposulphite of 
soda1 both of which are remarkably      
bitter1 will produce  the sweetest known

 substance4          ,visible and       
,invisible4      ,write with ,french    
chalk on a looking-glass2 wipe it with a
 handkerchief  and the lines will       
disappear2 breathe on it and they will  
reappear4  ,this alteration will take   
place for a great number of times1 and  
after  the lapse of a considerable      
period4          ,to ,form a ,liquid    
from ,two ,solids4      ,rub together in
 a mortar a small quantity of sulphate  
of soda and  acetate of lead1 and as    
they mix they will become liquid4       
,carbonate of ammonia and sulphate of   
copper1 previously reduced to  powder   
separately1 will also1 when mixed1      
become liquid1 and acquire a  most      
splendid blue color4    ,the greater    
number of salts have a tendency to      
assume regular forms1 or  become        
crystallized1 when passing from the     
fluid to the solid state2  and the size 
and regularity of the crystals depends  
in a great measure  on the slow or rapid
 escape of the fluid in which they were 

dissolved4    ,sugar is a capital       
example of this property2 the ordinary  
loaf-sugar  being rapidly boiled down1  
as it is called2 while to make          
rock-candy1  which is nothing but sugar 
in a crystallized form1 the solution is 
allowed to evaporate slowly1 and as it  
cools it forms into those  beautiful    
crystals termed rock-candy4 ,the threads
 found in the center  of some of the    
crystals are merely placed for the      
purpose of hastening  the formation of  
the crystals4          ,restoration of  
,color by ,water4      ,water being a   
colorous fluid ought1 one would imagine 
when mixed with  other substances of no 
decided color1 to produce a colorless   
compound4  ,nevertheless1 it is to water
 only that blue vitriol or sulphate of  
copper owes its vivid blueness1 as will 
be plainly evinced by the  following    
simple experiment4 ,heat a few crystals 
of the vitriol in  a fire-shovel1       
pulverize them1 and the powder will be  
of a dull and  dirty white appearance4  

,pour a little water upon this when a   
slight  hissing noise will be heard1 and
 at the same moment the blue color will 
instantly reappear4    ,under the       
microscope the beauty of this experiment
 will be increased1  for the instant    
that a drop of water is placed in       
contact with the  vitriol1 the powder   
may be seen to shoot into blue prisms4  
,if a crystal  of prussiate of potash be
 similarly heated its yellow color will 
vanish1 but reappear on being dropped   
into water4          ,two ,liquids ,make
 a ,solid4      ,dissolve chloride of   
lime in water until it will dissolve no 
more2  measure out an equal quantity of 
oil of vitriol2 both will be            
transparent fluids2 but if equal        
quantities of each be slowly mixed and  
stirred together1 they will become a    
solid mass1 with the evolution of  smoke
 or fumes4          ,two ,solids ,make a
 ,liquid4      ,rub together in a mortar
 equal quantities of the crystals of    
,glauber  salts and nitrate of ammonia1 

and the two salts will slowly become a  
liquid4          ,a ,solid ,opaque ,mass
 ,makes a ,transparent ,liquid4         
,take the solid mixture of the solutions
 of muriate of lime and  carbonate of   
potash1 pour upon it a very little      
nitric acid1 and the  solid opaque mass 
will be changed to a transparent liquid4
          ,two ,cold ,liquids ,make a   
,hot ,one4      ,mix four drams of      
sulphuric acid 7oil of vitriol7 with one
 dram of cold  water1 suddenly1 in a    
cup1 and the mixture will be nearly half
 as hot  again as boiling water4        
,to ,make ,ice4      ,although this     
trick is performed by means of          
chemicals1 yet its product  is obtained 
really by the use of mechanical laws4   
,we must remember that  ice is exactly  
the same thing as water so far as its   
composition is  concerned1 differing    
only in its state of density4    ,ice1  
water1 and steam differ in density      
through the possession of a  greater or 
less quantity of heat4 ,hence1 the      

turning of water into ice  really is a  
case of the operation of mechanical     
laws4    ,now for the experiment4 ,put  
into a wide-mouthed jam-jar a smaller   
glass vessel containing the water to be 
frozen4 ,around the latter put  a       
mixture of sulphate of soda 7,glauber's 
salt7 and hydrochloric acid  7spirits of
 salts74 ,the proportions must be eight 
parts of the former  to five of the     
latter4    ,the action of these two     
chemicals on one another is to cause a  
cold of  fifteen to seventeen degrees   
below zero1 or forty-seven degrees below
  freezing point4    ,the same result   
may be obtained by mixing equal parts of
 nitrate of  ammonia and water4 ,in     
winter-time when the snow is on the     
ground1 with  a mixture of one part snow
 and one part common table salt an      
intense  cold of twenty degrees below   
zero is obtained4    ,from this last    
fact we see how stupid are those people 
who sprinkle the  salt on the pavements 
to get rid of the snow4 ,true1 the      

latter melts1  but only after the       
production of intense cold1 which is the
 cause of  many diseases1 not only      
slight ones like colds and chilblains1  
but too  often the forerunners of       
consumption and other lung troubles4    
,curious ,change of ,colors4      ,let  
there be no other light than a taper in 
the room2 then put on a  pair of        
dark-green spectacles1 and having closed
 one eye view the taper  with the other4
 ,suddenly remove the spectacles and the
 taper will  assume a bright red        
appearance2 but if the spectacles be    
instantly  replaced1 the eye will be    
unable to distinguish anything for a    
second  or two4 ,the order of colors    
will therefore be as follows3 green1    
red1  green1 black4          ,the       
,protean ,light4      ,soak a cotton    
wick in a strong solution of salt and   
water1 dry it1  place it in a spirit    
lamp1 and when lit it will give a bright
 yellow  light for a long time4 ,if you 
look through a piece of blue glass at   

the  flame1 it will lose all its yellow 
light and you will only perceive  feeble
 violet rays4 ,if before the blue glass 
you place a pale yellow  glass1 the lamp
 will be absolutely invisible1 though a 
candle may be  distinctly seen through  
the same glasses4          ,to ,change  
the ,colors of ,flowers4      ,hold over
 a lighted match a purple columbine or a
 blue larkspur1 and  it will change     
first to pink and then to black4 ,the   
yellow of other  flowers held as above  
will continue unchanged4    ,thus1 the  
purple tint will instantly disappear    
from a heart's-ease1 but  the yellow    
will remain2 and the yellow of a        
wall-flower will continue  the same1    
though the brown streak will be         
discharged4 ,if a scarlet1  crimson1 or 
maroon dahlia be tried1 the color will  
change to yellow1  a fact known to      
gardeners1 who by this mode variegate   
their growing  dahlias4                 
,changes of the ,poppy4      ,some      
flowers which are red1 become blue by   

merely bruising them4 ,thus1  if the    
petals of the common corn-poppy be      
rubbed upon white paper1 they  will     
stain it purple1 which may be made green
 by washing it over with a  strong      
solution of potash in water4 ,put poppy 
petals into very dilute  muriatic acid1 
and the infusion will be of a florid red
 color2 by  adding a little chalk1 it   
will become the color of port wine2 and 
this  tint1 by the addition of potash   
may be changed to green or yellow4      
,changes of the ,rose4      ,hold a red 
rose over the blue flame of a common    
match and the color  will be discharged 
wherever the fume touches the leaves of 
the flower1  so as to render it         
beautifully variegated1 or entirely     
white4 ,if it be  then dipped into      
water1 the redness1 after a time1 will  
be restored4          ,marking          
,indelibly4      ,write upon linen with 
permanent ink 7which is a strong        
solution of  nitrate of silver71 and the
 characters will be scarcely visible2   

remove  the linen to a dark room1 and   
they will not change2 but expose them to
  a strong light1 and they will be of an
 indelible black4          ,visible     
,growth4      ,cut a circular piece of  
card to fit the top of a hyacinth glass1
 so as  to rest upon the ledge1 and     
exclude the air4 ,pierce a hole through 
the  center of the card1 and pass       
through it a strong thread1 having a    
small  piece of wood tied to one end1   
which1 resting transversely on the card1
  prevents it being drawn through4 ,to  
the other end of the thread attach  an  
acorn2 and having half filled the glass 
with water1 suspend the  acorn at a     
short distance from the surface4    ,the
 glass must be kept in a warm room1 and 
in a few days the steam will  hang from 
the acorn in a drop1 the skin will      
burst1 and the root will  protrude and  
thrust itself in the water1 and in a few
 days more a stem  will shoot out at the
 other end1 and rising upwards1 will    
press against  the card1 in which an    

orifice must be made to allow it to pass
 through4  ,from this stem small leaves 
will soon be observed to sprout2 and in 
the course of a few weeks you will have 
a handsome oak plant1 several  inches in
 height4          ,colored ,flames4     
,a variety of rays of light are         
exhibited by colored flames1 which are  
not to be seen in white light4 ,thus    
pure hydrogen gas will burn with a  blue
 flame1 in which many of the rays of    
light are wanting4    ,the flame of an  
oil lamp contains most of the rays which
 are wanting in  the sunlight4 ,alcohol 
mixed with water1 when heated or burned1
 affords  a flame with no other rays but
 yellow4 ,the following salts1 if finely
  powdered1 and introduced into the     
exterior flame of a candle1 or into  the
 wick of a spirit lamp1 will communicate
 to the flame their peculiar  colors3   
,chloride of ,soda 7common salt7        
,yellow4       8     of ,potash         
,pale violet4       8     of ,lime      
,brick red4       8     of ,strontia    

,bright crimson4       8     of ,lithia 
,red4       8     of ,baryta            
,apple green4       8     of ,copper    
,bluish green4    ,borax                
,yellow4    ,or either of the above     
salts may be mixed with spirit of wine1 
as  directed1 for ,red ,fire4           
,,orange ,,colored ,,flame4    ,burn    
spirit of wine on chloride of calcium1 a
 substance obtained by  evaporating     
muriate of lime to dryness4             
,,emerald ,,green ,,flame4    ,burn     
spirit of wine on a little powdered     
nitrate of silver4      ,,instantaneous 
,,flame4    ,heat together potassium and
 sulphur1 and they will instantly burn  
very  vividly4    ,heat a little nitre  
on a fire-shovel1 sprinkle on it flour  
of sulphur1  and it will instantly burn4
 ,if iron filings be thrown upon red hot
  nitre1 they will detonate and burn4   
,water of ,different ,temperatures in   
the ,same ,vessel4      ,of heat and    
cold1 as of wit and madness1 it may be  
said that 8thin  partitions do their    

bounds divide40 ,thus1 paint one half of
 the surface  of a tin pot with a       
mixture of lamp black and size1 and     
leave the other  half or side bright2   
fill the vessel with boiling water1 and 
by dipping  a thermometer1 or even the  
finger1 into it shortly after1 it will  
be  found to cool much more rapidly upon
 the blackened than the bright side  of 
the pot4          ,warmth of ,different 
,colors4      ,place upon the surface of
 snow1 as upon the window-sill1 in      
bright  daylight or sunshine1 pieces of 
cloth of the same size and quality1 but 
of different colors1 black1 blue1 green1
 yellow and white2 the black  cloth will
 soon melt the snow beneath it1 and sink
 downwards2 next the  blue1 and then the
 green2 the yellow but slightly2 but the
 snow beneath  the white cloth will be  
as firm as at first4          ,laughing 
,gas4      ,the above fanciful          
appellation has been given to nitrous   
oxide1 from  the very agreeable         
sensations excited by inhaling it4 ,in  

its pure state  it destroys animal life1
 but loses this noxious quality when    
inhaled1  because it becomes blended    
with the atmospheric air which it meets 
in  the lungs4 ,this gas is made by     
putting three or four drams of nitrate  
of ammonia in crystals into a small     
glass retort1 which being held  over a  
spirit lamp1 the crystals will melt1 and
 the gas be evolved4    ,having thus    
produced the gas1 it is to be passed    
into a large bladder  having a          
stop-cock2 and when you are desirous of 
exhibiting its effects  you cause the   
person who wishes to experience them to 
first exhale  the atmospheric air from  
the lungs1 and then quickly placing the 
cock  in his mouth you turn it1 and bid 
him inhale the gas4 ,immediately a      
sense of extraordinary cheerfulness1    
fanciful flights of imagination1  an    
uncontrollable propensity to laughter1  
and a consciousness of being  capable of
 great muscular exertion1 supervene4 ,it
 does not operate  in exactly the same  

manner on all persons2 but in most cases
 the  sensations are agreeable1 and have
 this important difference from those   
produced by wine or spirituous liquors1 
that they are not succeeded by  any     
depression of mind4          ,magic     
,vapor4      ,provide a glass tube about
 three feet long and half an inch in    
diameter2 nearly fill it with water1    
upon the surface of which pour a  little
 colored ether2 then close the open end 
of the tube carefully  with the palm of 
the hand1 invert it in a basin of water1
 and rest the  tube against the wall4   
,the ether will rise through the water  
to the  upper end of the tube2 pour a   
little hot water over the tube1 and it  
will soon cause the ether to boil       
within1 and its vapor may thus be  made 
to drive nearly all of the water out of 
the tube into the basin4  ,if1 however1 
you then cool the tube by pouring cold  
water over it1 the  vaporized ether will
 again become a liquid1 and float upon  
the water as  before4          ,gas from

 the ,union of ,metals4      ,nearly    
fill a wine glass with diluted sulphuric
 acid1 and place in it a  wire of silver
 and another of zinc1 taking care that  
they do not touch  each other1 when the 
zinc will be changed by the acid1 but   
the silver  will remain inert4 ,but     
cause the upper ends of the wires to    
touch each  other1 and a stream of gas  
will issue from them4          ,green   
,fire4      ,a beautiful green fire may 
be thus made3 ,take of flour of sulphur 
thirteen parts1 nitrate of baryta       
seventy-seven1 chlorate of potash  five1
 metallic arsenic two1 and charcoal     
three4 ,let the nitrate  of baryta be   
well dried and powdered2 then add to it 
the other  ingredients1 all finely      
pulverized1 and exceedingly well mixed  
and  rubbed together4 ,place a portion  
of the composition in a small tin  pan1 
having a polished reflector fitted to   
one side1 and set light to  it1 when a  
splendid green illumination will be the 
result4 ,by adding a  little calamine it

 will burn more slowly4                 
,combustion of ,three ,metals4      ,mix
 a grain or two of potassium with an    
equal quantity of sodium2 add  a globule
 of quicksilver1 and the three metals1  
when shaken1 will take  fire and burn   
vividly4          ,to ,make ,paper      
,apparently ,incombustible4      ,take a
 smooth cylindrical piece of metal1     
about one inch and a half in  diameter1 
and eight inches long4 ,wrap very       
closely round it a piece of  clean      
writing paper1 then hold the paper in   
the flame of a spirit lamp1  and it will
 not take fire4 ,but it may be held     
there for a considerable  time without  
being in the least affected by the      
flame4 ,if the paper be  strained over a
 cylinder of wood it is quickly         
scorched4          ,heat ,not to be     
,estimated by ,touch4      ,hold both   
hands in water which causes the         
thermometer to rise to ninety  degrees1 
and when the liquid has become still1   
you will be insensible  to the heat1 and

 that the hand is touching anybody4     
,then remove one  hand to water that    
causes the thermometer to rise to two   
hundred  degrees1 and the other in water
 at thirty-two degrees4    ,after       
holding the hands thus for some time    
remove them1 and again  immerse them in 
the water at ninety degrees4 ,then you  
will find warmth  in one hand and cold  
in the other4 ,to the hand which had    
been immersed  in the water at          
thirty-two degrees1 the water at ninety 
degrees will  feel hot2 and to the hand 
which had been immersed in the water at 
two  hundred degrees1 the water at      
ninety degrees will feel cool4 ,if1     
therefore1 the touch in this case be    
trusted1 the same water will be  judged 
to be hot and cold at the same time4    
,flame ,upon ,water4      ,fill a wine  
glass with cold water1 pour lightly upon
 its surface a  little ether2 light it  
by a slip of paper1 and it will burn for
 some  time4          ,rose-colored     
,flame ,upon ,water4      ,drop a       

globule of potassium1 about the size of 
a large pea1 into a  small cup nearly   
full of water containing a drop or two  
of strong  nitric acid2 the moment that 
the metal touches the liquid it will    
float  upon its surface1 enveloped with 
a beautiful rose-colored flame1 and     
entirely dissolve4          ,currents in
 ,boiling ,water4      ,fill a large    
glass tube with water1 and throw into it
 a few particles  of bruised amber or   
shreds of litmus2 then hold the tube by 
a handle  for the purpose1 upright in   
the flame of a lamp1 and as the water   
becomes warm it will be seen that       
currents1 carrying with them the  pieces
 of amber will begin to ascend in the   
center1 and to descend  towards the     
circumference of the tube4 ,these       
currents will soon become  rapid in     
their motions1 and continue till the    
water boils4          ,hot ,water       
,lighter than ,cold4      ,pour into a  
glass tube1 about ten inches long and   
one inch in diameter1  a little water   

colored with pink or other dye2 then    
fill it up  gradually and carefully with
 colorless water1 so as not to mix them2
  apply heat at the bottom of the tube1 
and the colored water will ascend  and  
be diffused throughout the whole4       
,expansion of ,water by ,cold4      ,all
 fluids except water diminish in bulk   
till they freeze4 ,thus1 fill  a large  
thermometer tube with water1 say of the 
temperature of eighty  degrees1 and then
 plunge the bulb into pounded ice and   
salt1 or any  other freezing mixture2   
the water will go on shrinking in the   
tube  till it has attained the          
temperature of about forty degrees1 and 
then1 instead of continuing to contract 
till it freezes1 it will be  seen slowly
 to expand1 and consequently to rise in 
the tube until it  congeals4    ,in this
 case the expansion below forty degrees 
and above forty degrees  seem to be     
equal1 so that the water will be of the 
same bulk at  thirty-two degrees as at  
forty-eight degrees1 that is1 at eight  

degrees  above or below forty degrees4  
,the ,cup of ,tantalus4      ,this      
pretty toy may be purchased at any      
optician's for seventy-five  cents4 ,it 
consists of a cup in which is placed a  
human standing figure  concealing a     
syphon or bent tube1 with one end longer
 than the other4  ,this rises in one leg
 of the figure to reach the chin1 and   
descends  through the other leg1 through
 the bottom of the cup to a reservoir   
beneath4 ,if you pour water in the cup  
it will rise in the shorter leg  by its 
upward pressure1 driving out the air    
before it through the  longer leg2 and  
when the cup is filled above the bend of
 the syphon1  that is1 level with the   
chin of the figure1 the pressure of the 
water  will force it over into the      
longer leg of the syphon1 and the cup   
will be emptied1 the toy thus imitating 
,tantalus1 of mythology1 who  is        
represented by the poets as punished in 
,erebus with an insatiable  thirst1 and 
placed up to the chin in a pool of      

water1 which1 however1  flowed away as  
soon as he attempted to taste it4       
,the ,magic ,whirlpool4      ,fill a    
glass tumbler with water1 throw upon its
 surface a few fragments  or thin       
shavings of camphor1 and they will      
instantly begin to move1 and  acquire a 
motion both progressive and rotary1     
which will continue for  a considerable 
time4 ,during these rotations if the    
water be touched  by any substance which
 is at all greasy1 the floating         
particles will  quickly dart back1 and1 
as if by a stroke of magic1 be instantly
  deprived of their motion and vivacity4
    ,in like manner1 if thin slices of  
cork be steeped in sulphuric ether in  a
 closed bottle for two or three days1   
and then placed upon the water1  they   
will rotate for several minutes1 like   
the camphor1 until the  slices of cork1 
having discharged all their ether1 and  
become soaked  with water1 they will    
keep at rest4    ,if the water be made  
hot the motion of the camphor will be   

more  rapid than in cold water1 but it  
will cease in proportionately less      
time4 ,thus1 provide two glasses1 one   
containing water at fifty-eight         
degrees1 and the other at two hundred   
and ten degrees2 place raspings  of     
camphor upon each at the same time2 the 
camphor in the first glass  will rotate 
for about five hours1 until all but a   
very minute portion  has evaporated1    
while the rotation of the camphor in the
 hot water  will last only nineteen     
minutes4 ,about half the camphor will   
pass off  and the remaining pieces1     
instead of being dull1 white and opaque1
  will be vitreous and transparent1 and 
evidently soaked with water4  ,the      
gyrations1 too1 which at first will be  
very rapid1 will gradually  decline in  
velocity until they become quite        
sluggish4    ,the stilling influence of 
oil upon waves has become proverbial4   
,the  extraordinary manner in which a   
small quantity of oil instantly spreads 
over a very large surface of troubled   

water1 and the stealthy manner in  which
 even a rough wind glides over it must  
have excited the admiration  of all who 
have witnessed it4    ,by the same      
principle a drop of oil may be made to  
stop the motion of  the camphor1 as     
follows3 ,throw some camphor1 both in   
slices and in  small particles1 upon the
 surface of water1 and while they are   
rotating  dip a glass rod into oil of   
turpentine4 ,then allow a single drop   
thereof to trickle down the inner side  
of the glass to the surface of  the     
water4 ,the camphor will instantly dart 
to the opposite point of the  liquid    
surface1 and cease to rotate4    ,if a  
few drops of sulphuric or muriatic acid 
be let fall into the  water1 they will  
gradually stop the motion of the        
camphor1 but if  camphor be dropped into
 nitric acid1 diluted with its own bulk 
of  water1 it will rotate rapidly for a 
few seconds and then stop4    ,if a     
piece of the rotating camphor be        
attentively examined with a lens1  the  

currents of the water can be well       
distinguished1 jetting out1  chiefly    
from the corners of the camphor1 and    
bearing it round with  irregular force4 
,the currents1 as given out by the      
camphor1 may also be seen by means of   
the microscope2 a drop or two of pure   
water being placed upon a slip  of      
glass1 with a particle of camphor       
floating upon it4 ,by this means  the   
current may be detected1 and it will be 
seen that they cause the  rotations4    
,a flat watch-glass may be employed1    
raised a few inches and supported  on a 
wire ring1 kept steady by thrusting one 
end into an upright piece  of wood like 
a retort stand4 ,then put the camphor   
and water in the  watch-glass1 and place
 under the frame a sheet of white paper1
 so that  it may receive the shadow of  
the glass1 camphor1 etc41 to be cast by 
a  steady light1 placed above1 and      
somewhat on one side of the watch-glass4
    ,on observing the shadow1 which may 
be considered a magnified               

representation of the object itself1 the
 rotations and currents can be          
distinguished4          ,fire ,under    
,water4      ,put thirty grains of      
phosphorus into a bottle which contains 
three  or four ounces of water4 ,place  
the vessel over a lamp and give it a    
boiling heat4 ,balls of fire will soon  
be seen to issue from the water  after  
the manner of an artificial firework1   
attended with the most  beautiful       
coruscations4          ,to ,light       
,steel4      ,make a piece of steel red 
in the fire1 then hold it with a pair of
  pincers or tongs2 take in the other   
hand a stick of brimstone and touch  the
 piece of steel with it4 ,immediately   
after their contact you will  see the   
steel melt and drop like a liquid4      
,a ,test of ,love4      ,put into a     
phial some sulphuric ether1 color it red
 with alkanet1 then  saturate the       
tincture with spermaceti4 ,this         
preparation is solid ten  degrees above 
freezing point1 and melts and boils at  

twenty degrees4  ,place the phial which 
contains it in a lady's hand and tell   
her that if  in love1 the solid mass    
will dissolve4 ,in a few minutes the    
substance  will become fluid4           
,an ,egg ,pushed ,into a ,wine ,bottle4 
,to accomplish this seemingly incredible
 act requires the following             
preparation3 ,you must take an egg and  
soak it in strong vinegar1 and  in      
process of time its shell will become   
quite soft so that it may  be extended  
lengthways without breaking2 then insert
 it into the  neck of a small bottle1   
and by pouring cold water upon it1 it   
will  reassume its former figure and    
hardness4 ,this is really a complete    
curiosity1 and baffles those who are not
 in the secret to find out  how it is   
accomplished4 ,if the vinegar used to   
saturate the egg is  not sufficiently   
strong to produce the required softness 
of shell1  add one teaspoonful of strong
 acetic acid to every two tablespoonfuls
  of vinegar4 ,this will render the egg 

perfectly flexible1 and of easy         
insertion into the bottle1 which must   
then be filled with cold water4         
,a ,chemical ,fountain4      ,take two  
small glass jars and close them with    
corks4 ,in each of these  pierce two    
holes and introduce a glass tube curved 
in the form of a  lengthened ,v4 ,the   
two extremities of this tube must not   
reach further  than just a little below 
the inner surface of the corks4 ,in one 
jar  pour water until it is             
three-quarters full1 and pass through   
the second  hole of the cork a straight 
glass tube1 open at both ends and       
reaching  nearly the bottom4 ,this jar  
must be hermetically corked4 7,if       
necessary1  seal the top47 ,in the other
 jar put some chalk1 and in the second  
hole  of the cork1 left free1 pass the  
extremity of a paper funnel in which    
you place a pellet of wax or putty4     
,your apparatus thus being ready1       
through the funnel pour some vinegar1   
or better still1 some sulphuric acid4   

,the latter ingredient coming in        
contact with the chalk1 forms carbonic  
acid1 which1 not being able to  escape  
through the funnel closed by the pellet1
 passes through the  curved tube into   
the other jar and is dissolved in the   
water4    ,illustration    ,after some  
time a strong pressure will be exercised
 on the liquid1 and  the water rising   
rapidly up through the vertical tube1   
will spout out  as from a fountain4     
,this experiment may be varied and      
reduced to a simpler one4 ,take one     
jar1 fill it up two-thirds with water1  
and fit it with a cork with two  holes1 
through which pass two tubes2 the one   
going to the bottom1 the  other resting 
just over the surface of the liquid4    
,the latter should be  fitted with a    
receiver4    ,seal the cork so as to    
render it air-tight4 ,in the top        
receiver pour  water1 which will go down
 into the jar and raise the level of the
 water  already contained in it4    ,the
 air1 being compressed1 will act upon   

the liquid mass in the lower  jar1 and  
the water will escape through the free  
tube in a jet with more  or less force  
according to the pressure exercised4    
,weighing ,gases4      ,do not be cast  
down because you see another term to be 
explained4 ,a  gas is1 you may have     
already guessed1 simply a fluid4 ,matter
 exists in  three states1 solid1 liquid 
and gaseous4 ,everything can exist in   
these  three states under different     
conditions of heat and pressure4    ,for
 instance1 ice1 water1 and steam are    
precisely the same thing1 a  mixture of 
oxygen and hydrogen1 though in different
 states4 ,hence steam  is simply the    
gaseous form of ice or water4 ,now some 
gases are heavier  than air1 and among  
them is carbonic acid1 a gas given off  
from the  lungs in breathing4    ,by    
means of a very simply-constructed      
balance1 you can prove this gas  to be  
heavier than air4 ,sounds queer1 doesn't
 it8 to talk of weighing  something that
 you cannot handle or see4    ,it is not

 difficult to do4 ,bend some wire1      
minding that the beams of  the balance  
are curved as in the figure4    ,for one
 side of the scales a strong cardboard  
box will answer  admirably2 for the     
other the lid of a round box will serve4
 ,hang the  whole on a string and adjust
 it by putting some grains of sand in   
the  round scale on which the weights   
are placed1 to make each side balance   
one another and the scales are ready for
 use4    ,illustration    ,the          
production of carbonic acid is easy4    
,pour a little sulphuric acid  and water
 over some chalk4 ,collect the gas given
 off in a bottle or  jar4 ,in doing so  
you need not be afraid that it will     
escape1 since it  is heavier than the   
air4    ,in pouring it in the box of the
 scale1 you will see the box sink down1 
which is clearly an indication that the 
gas1 which has just been poured  into   
the scale is heavier than the air1 whose
 place it has taken4 ,this  experiment  
may be tried in other curious ways4     

,in ,water but not ,wet4      ,with some
 lycopodium1 powder the surface of a    
large or small vessel of  water2 you may
 then challenge any one to drop a piece 
of money into  the water1 and that you  
will get it with the hand without       
wetting your  skin4 ,the lycopodium     
adheres to the hand1 and prevents its   
contact  with the water4 ,a little shake
 of the hand after the feat is over will
  dislodge the powder4          ,image  
of a ,volcano4      ,this is another    
experiment on the density of liquids4   
,in a small jar  put some wine or       
colored alcohol1 and close it with a    
cork1 through  which you have passed a  
small tube1 a quill or a hollow straw4  
,in  lowering this jar gently in a pail 
full of water1 you will soon see the    
liquid escape and rise to the surface of
 the water1 describing spirals  which   
resemble smoke1 and give a pretty good  
image1 considerably  diminished1 of a   
volcano4          ,reciprocal ,images4  
,make two holes in the wainscot of a    

room1 each a foot high and ten  inches  
wide1 and about a foot distant from each
 other4 ,let these  apertures be about  
the height of a man's head1 and in each 
of them  place a transparent glass in a 
frame like a common mirror4    ,behind  
the partition1 and directly facing each 
aperture1 place two  mirrors inclosed in
 the wainscot1 in an angle of forty-five
 degrees4  ,these mirrors are each to be
 eighteen inches square1 and all the    
space  between must be inclosed with    
pasteboard painted black1 and well      
closed  that no light can enter2 let    
there be also two curtains to cover     
them1  which you may draw aside at      
pleasure4    ,when a person looks into  
one of these fictitious mirrors1 instead
  of seeing his own face1 he will see   
the object that is in front of  the     
other2 thus1 if two persons stand at the
 same time before these  mirrors1       
instead of each seeing himself1 they    
will reciprocally see  each other4      
,there should be a sconce with a lighted

 candle placed on each side of  the two 
glasses in the wainscot1 to enlighten   
the faces of the persons  who look in   
them1 or the experiment will not have so
 remarkable an  effect4                 
,imitation of ,animal ,tints4      ,to  
accomplish this metamorphosis1 it is    
necessary to have earthen  vases which  
have little edges or rims near their    
mouths1 and should  be of a size        
sufficiently large to hold suspended the
 bird or flower  which you intend       
placing in them4 ,you should likewise be
 provided  with stoppers of cork1 of a  
diameter equal to that of their mouths4 
,to make an experiment upon some bird1  
it is necessary to commence by  making a
 hole in the stopper1 sufficiently large
 to contain the neck  of the bird       
without strangling it4 ,this done1 you  
divide the diameter  of the stopper into
 two equal parts so as to facilitate the
 placing  of it around the neck without 
doing injury to the bird4 ,the two parts
  being brought together1 you place at  

the bottom of the vase an ounce  of     
quicklime1 and beneath that a quarter of
 an ounce of sal ammoniac4  ,when you   
perceive the effervescence commence to  
take place1 you  promptly insert the    
stopper1 to which the bird is attached1 
leaving the  neck outside4 ,the plumage 
of the body1 exposed to this            
effervescent  vapor1 will become        
impregnated with the various colors     
produced by this  chemical combination4 
,melting a ,coin4      ,fix three pins  
in the table and lay the piece of money 
upon them2 then  place a heap of the    
flour of sulphur below the piece of     
money1 and  another above it1 and set   
fire to them4 ,when the flame is        
extinct1 you  will find on the upper    
part of the piece a thin plate of metal1
 which  has been detached from it4      
,explosive ,gas4      ,mix two drachms  
of the filings of iron with one ounce of
 concentrated  spirit of vitriol in a   
strong bottle that holds about a quarter
 of a  pint2 stop it close1 and in a few

 moments shake the bottle2 then taking  
out the cork1 put a lighted candle near 
its mouth which should be a  little     
inclined1 and you will soon observe an  
inflammation arise from  the bottle1    
attended with a loud explosion4    ,to  
guard against the danger of the bottle  
bursting1 the best way would  be to bury
 it in the ground and apply the light to
 the mouth by means  of a taper fastened
 to the end of a long stick4            
,cold from ,evaporation4      ,ether    
poured upon a glass tube in a thin      
stream will evaporate and cool  it to   
such a degree that water contained in it
 may be frozen4          ,self-,dancing 
,egg4      ,fill a quill with           
quicksilver2 seal it at both ends with  
good hard wax2  then have an egg boiled2
 take a small piece of the shell off the
 small  end and thrust in the quill with
 the quicksilver2 lay it on the ground  
and it will not cease tumbling about as 
long as any heat remains in it2  or if  
you put quicksilver into a small bladder

 and blow it up1 then  warm the bladder1
 it will skip about as long as heat     
remains in it4          ,flash of ,fire 
in a ,room4      ,dissolve camphor in   
spirits of wine and deposit the vessel  
containing  the solution in a very close
 room1 where the spirits of wine must   
be made to evaporate by strong and      
speedy boiling4 ,if any one then  enters
 the room with a lighted candle the air 
will inflame1 while the  combustion will
 be so sudden and of so short a duration
 as to occasion  no danger4             
,cast ,iron ,drops4      ,bring a bar of
 iron to a white heat and then apply to 
it a roll of  sulphur4 ,the iron will   
immediately melt and run into drops4    
,the experiment should be performed over
 a basin of water1 in which  the drops  
that fall down will be quenched4 ,these 
drops will be found  reduced into a sort
 of cast iron4          ,explosion      
without ,heat4      ,take a crystal or  
two of the nitrate of copper and bruise 
them2 then  moisten them with water and 

roll them up quickly in a piece of      
tinfoil1  and in half a minute or little
 more1 the tinfoil will begin to smoke  
and soon after take fire and explode    
with a slight noise4 ,unless the        
crystals of the nitrate of copper are   
moistened1 no heat will be  produced4   
,fiery ,powder4      ,put three ounces  
of rock alum and one ounce of honey or  
sugar into a  new earthen dish1 glazed1 
and which is capable of standing a      
strong  heat2 keep the mixture over the 
fire1 stirring it continually until it  
becomes very dry and hard2 then remove  
it from the fire and pound it  to a     
coarse powder4 ,put this powder into a  
long-necked bottle1 leaving  a part of  
the vessel empty2 and having placed it  
in the crucible1 fill  up the crucible  
with fine sand and surround it with     
burning coals4  ,when the bottle has    
been kept at a red heat for about seven 
or eight  minutes1 and no more vapor    
issues from it1 remove it from the fire1
  then stop it with a piece of cork2    

and1 having suffered it to cool1        
preserve the mixture in small bottles1  
well closed4    ,if you unclose one of  
these bottles and let fall a few grains 
of this  powder on a bit of paper1 or   
any other very dry substance it will    
first  become blue1 then brown1 and will
 at last burn the paper or other        
substance on which it has fallen4       
,illumination4      ,a very pleasing    
exhibition may be made1 with very little
 trouble or  expense1 in the following  
manner3 ,provide a box1 which you can   
fit up  with architectural designs cut  
on pasteboard2 prick small holes into   
those parts of the building where you   
wish the illuminations to appear1       
observing that1 in proportion to the    
perspective1 the holes are to be  made  
smaller1 and on the near objects the    
holes are to be made larger4  ,behind   
these designs thus perforated you fix a 
lamp or candle1 but in  such a manner   
that the reflection of the light shall  
only shine through  the hole3 then      

placing a light of just sufficient      
brilliancy to show  the design of the   
buildings before it1 and making a hole  
for the sight  at the front end of the  
box1 you will have a tolerable          
representation  of illuminated          
buildings4    ,the best way of throwing 
the light in front is to place an oiled 
paper before it1 which will cast a      
mellow gleam over the scenery1 and  not 
diminish the effect of the illumination4
 ,this can be very easily  planned1 both
 not to obstruct the sight1 nor be seen 
to disadvantage4  ,the lights behind the
 picture should be very strong1 and if a
  magnifying glass were placed in the   
sight hole it would tend greatly to     
increase the effect4 ,the box must be   
covered in1 leaving an aperture  for the
 smoke of the lights to pass through4   
,the above exhibition can only be shown 
at candle light2 but there is  another  
way1 by fixing small pieces of gold on  
the building1 instead  of drilling the  
holes1 which gives something like the   

appearance of  illumination1 but by no  
means equal to the foregoing experiment4
    ,n4 ,b4--,it would be an improvement
 if paper of various colors1 rendered   
transparent by oil1 were placed between 
the lights behind the aperture  in the  
buildings1 as they would then resemble  
lamps of different  colors4             
,sun and ,spirit4      ,put a small     
quantity of spirits of wine into a      
glass1 and put a cent or  coin in with  
it2 then direct the rays of the sun by  
means of a burning  glass upon the coin1
 and in a short time it will become so  
hot as to  inflame the spirits4         
,stars in ,water4      ,put half a      
drachm of solid phosphorus into a large 
pint flask--holding  it slanting that   
the phosphorus may not break the glass4 
,pour upon  it a gill and a half of     
water and place the whole over a        
tea-kettle  lamp1 or any common tin lamp
 filled with spirits of wine4 ,light the
  wick which should be almost half an   
inch from the flask2 and as soon  as the

 water is heated1 streams of fire will  
issue from the water by  starts1        
resembling sky-rockets2 some particles  
will adhere to the  sides of the glass1 
representing stars1 and will frequently 
display  brilliant rays4 ,these         
appearances will continue at times till 
the water  begins to simmer1 when       
immediately a curious aurora borealis   
begins1  and gradually ascends till it  
collects to a pointed flame2 when it has
  continued half a minute1 blow out the 
flame of the lamp and the point  that   
was formed will rush down1 forming      
beautiful illuminated clouds  of fire1  
rolling over each other for some time1  
which1 disappearing1 a  splendid        
hemisphere of stars presents itself2    
after waiting a minute  or two1 light   
the lamp again1 and nearly the same     
phenomenon will be  displayed as from   
the beginning4 ,let the repetition of   
lighting and  blowing out the lamp be   
made for three or four times at least1  
that  the stars may be increased4 ,after

 the third or fourth time of blowing    
out the lamp1 in a few minutes after the
 internal surface of the flask  is dry1 
many of the stars will shoot with great 
splendor from side  to side1 and some of
 them will fire off with brilliant rays2
 these  appearances will continue       
several minutes4 ,what remains in the   
flask  will serve for the same          
experiment several times1 and without   
adding  any more water4 ,care should be 
taken after the operation is over1 to   
lay the flask and water in a cool1      
secure place4          ,parlor          
,ballooning4      ,it is an interesting 
and amusing experiment to inflate a     
balloon made  of gold-beater's skin     
7using a little gum arabic to close any 
holes or  fissures71 filling it from a  
bladder or jar1 and tying a thread      
around  the mouth of it1 to prevent the 
escape of the gas4 ,when fully blown1   
attach a fanciful car of colored paper1 
or very thin pasteboard1 to it1  and let
 it float in a large room2 it will soon 

gain the ceiling1 where  it will remain 
for any length of time2 if it be let off
 in the open  air it will soon ascend   
out of sight4 ,this experiment may be   
varied by  putting small grains of shot 
into the car1 in order to ascertain the 
difference between the weight of        
hydrogen gas and atmospheric air4       
,marvelous4      ,wrap up a very smooth 
ball of lead in a piece of paper1 taking
 care  that there be no wrinkles in it1 
and that it be everywhere in contact    
with the ball2 if it be held in this    
state over the flame of a taper1  the   
lead will be melted without the paper   
being burnt4 ,the lead1  indeed1 when   
once fused will not fail in a short time
 to pierce the  paper1 and run through4 
,mutability4      ,infuse a few shavings
 of logwood in common water1 and when   
the liquid  is sufficiently red pour it 
into a bottle4 ,then take three drinking
  glasses and rinse one of them with    
strong vinegar2 throw into the  second a
 small quantity of pounded alum1 which  

will not be observed if  the glass has  
been washed1 and leave the third without
 any preparation4  ,if the red liquor in
 the bottle be poured into the first    
glass1 it will  appear of a straw color2
 if the second it will pass gradually   
from a  bluish gray to black1 when      
stirred with a key or any piece of iron 
which has been previously dipped in     
strong vinegar4 ,in the third glass  the
 red liquor will assume a violet tint4  
,illustration3 ,,the ,,end4           99
       99       99       99       99    
,,our ,,ten ,,cent ,,hand ,,books4      
,,useful1 ,,instructive ,,and ,,amusing4
    ,containing valuable information on 
almost every subject1 such as  ,writing1
 ,speaking1 ,dancing1 ,cooking2 also    
,rules of ,etiquette1  ,the ,art of     
,ventriloquism1 ,gymnastic ,exercises1  
and ,the ,science of  ,self-,defense1   
etc41 etc4       #a ,napoleon's         
,oraculum and ,dream ,book4     #b ,how 
to ,do ,tricks4     #c ,how to ,flirt4  
#d ,how to ,dance4     #e ,how to ,make 

,love4     #f ,how to ,become an        
,athlete4     #g ,how to ,keep ,birds4  
#h ,how to ,become a ,scientist4     #i 
,how to ,become a ,ventriloquist4    #aj
 ,how to ,box4    #aa ,how to ,write    
,love ,letters4    #ab ,how to ,write   
,letters to ,ladies4    #ac ,how to ,do 
,it2 or1 ,book of ,etiquette4    #ad    
,how to ,make ,candy4    #ae ,how to    
,become ,rich4    #af ,how to ,keep a   
,window ,garden4    #ag ,how to ,dress4 
#ah ,how to ,become ,beautiful4    #ai  
,frank ,tousey's ,u4 ,s4 ,distance      
,tables1 ,pocket ,companion and ,guide4 
#bj ,how to ,entertain an ,evening      
,party4    #ba ,how to ,hunt and ,fish4 
#bb ,how to ,do ,second ,sight4    #bc  
,how to ,explain ,dreams4    #bd ,how to
 ,write ,letters to ,gentlemen4    #be  
,how to ,become a ,gymnast4    #bf ,how 
to ,row1 ,sail and ,build a ,boat4      
#bg ,how to ,recite and ,book of        
,recitations4    #bh ,how to ,tell      
,fortunes4    #bi ,how to ,become an    
,inventor4    #cj ,how to ,cook4    #ca 

,how to ,become a ,speaker4    #cb ,how 
to ,ride a ,bicycle4    #cc ,how to     
,behave4    #cd ,how to ,fence4    #ce  
,how to ,play ,games4    #cf ,how to    
,solve ,conundrums4    #cg ,how to ,keep
 ,house4    #ch ,how to ,become ,your   
,own ,doctor4    #ci ,how to ,raise     
,dogs1 ,poultry1 ,pigeons and ,rabbits4 
#dj ,how to ,make and ,set ,traps4      
#da ,the ,boys of ,new ,york ,end ,men's
 ,joke ,book4    #db ,the ,boys of ,new 
,york ,stump ,speaker4    #dc ,how to   
,become a ,magician4    #dd ,how to     
,write in an ,album4    #de ,the ,boys  
of ,new ,york ,minstrel ,guide and ,joke
 ,book4    #df ,how to ,make and ,use   
,electricity4    #dg ,how to ,break1    
,ride and ,drive a ,horse4    #dh ,how  
to ,build and ,sail ,canoes4    #di ,how
 to ,debate4    #ej ,how to ,stuff      
,birds and ,animals4    #ea ,how to ,do 
,tricks with ,cards4    #eb ,how to     
,play ,cards4    #ec ,how to ,write     
,letters4    #ed ,how to ,keep and      
,manage ,pets4    #ee ,how to ,collect  

,stamps and ,coins4    #ef ,how to      
,become an ,engineer4    #eg ,how to    
,make ,musical ,instruments4    #eh ,how
 to ,become a ,detective4    #ei ,how to
 ,make a ,magic ,lantern4    #fj ,how to
 ,become a ,photographer4    #fa ,how to
 ,become a ,bowler4    #fb ,how to      
,become a ,west ,point ,military ,cadet4
    #fc ,how to ,become a ,naval ,cadet4
    #fd ,how to ,make ,electrical       
,machines4    #fe ,muldoon's ,jokes4    
#ff ,how to ,do ,puzzles4    #fg ,how to
 ,do ,electrical ,tricks4    #fh ,how to
 ,do ,chemical ,tricks4    #fi ,how to  
,do ,sleight of ,hand4    #gj ,how to   
,make ,magic ,toys4    #ga ,how to ,do  
,mechanical ,tricks4    #gb ,how to ,do 
,sixty ,tricks with ,cards4    #gc ,how 
to ,do ,tricks with ,numbers4    #gd    
,how to ,write ,letters ,correctly4     
#ge ,how to ,become a ,conjuror4    #gf 
,how to ,tell ,fortunes by the ,hand4   
#gg ,how to ,do ,forty ,tricks with     
,cards4    #gh ,how to ,do the ,black   
,art4    #gi ,how to ,become an ,actor4 

#hj ,gus ,williams' ,joke ,book4    ,all
 the above books are for sale by        
newsdealers throughout the ,united      
,states and ,canada1 or they will be    
sent1 post-paid1 to your address1 on    
receipt of #aj;c4 each4    ,send ,your  
,name and ,address for ,our ,latest     
,illustrated ,catalogue4    ,,frank     
,,tousey1 ,publisher1    #bd ,,union    
,,square1 ,,new ,,york4           99    
99       99       99       99           
,transcriber's ,notes3    ,illustrations
 have been moved to paragraph breaks    
near where they are  mentioned4         
,punctuation has been made consistent4  
,variations in spelling and hyphenation 
were retained as they appear in  the    
original publication1 except that       
obvious typos have been corrected4      
,additional notes3    p4 #c3 ,inserted  
8that0 7paper1 that give7    p4 #f3     
8choose0 changed to 8chose0 7and chose  
to7    p4 #aa3 8jar1 or a soup-plate0   
should be 8jar1 and a soup-plate0    p4 
#ah3 8altered as in fig4 #d0 should be  

8altered as in fig4 #f0    p4 #ah3      
8lightness0 changed to 8tightness0      
7absolute tightness4 ,such7    p4 #bb3  
8entirely4 ,as0 changed to 8entirely1   
as0 7out entirely1 as7    p4 #bh3 8valve
 shown in fig4 #d0 should be 8valve     
shown in fig4 #f0    p4 #de3 8with0     
inserted 7ground1 with a7