copper boiler for generating steam. This is made in two parts, and, being hollow in the center, holds the water in a thin annular sheet next the outside. At the bottom is a pipe for supplying the water, and at the top a pipe with proper safety valves, etc., for the steam. The exterior of the boiler is blackened to assist in absorbing the heat, and over it is placed a bell glass to prevent the access of cooling currents of air. On supplying the boiler with water and exposing the apparatus to the full sun, steam was raised, and kept at a high pressure without difficulty. The first apparatus of this kind used a reflector having a base, or opening, 2.60 meters in diameter, while the boiler held 20 liters of water. On a clear day in May steam was raised to a pressure of two atmospheres in forty minutes, and soon rose to five atmospheres. In July the apparatus raised 15 liters of water to steam an hour, and the steam was made available in driving a small steam-engine. The apparatus has attracted much attention, and is still under experiment. Cuir-Liége. THIS new fabric consists of sheets of cork and cloth united by a preparation of India-rubber, and, in the form of blankets, tarpaulins, horse and carriage covers, clothing, buckets, tent material, etc., has attracted much attention. Its manufacture is simple and inexpensive. Thin sheets of cork are given two coats of a solution of crude rubber on one side. Canvas, linen, or other material is then treated in the same way. When cold, the sheets of cork are laid closely on the canvas and pressed down firm. Two more coats of rubber solution are then given to the other side of the cork, and more of the linen, or other fabric, similarly treated, is laid over it. The three sheets are submitted, when cold, to heavy pressure, and the new material is finished. It then consists of a layer of cork inclosed between two pieces of cloth and united by films of rubber, and is said to be both water-proof, flexible, strong, and a good resistant to heat and cold. Air Cooler. To reduce the temperature in a factory in Paris, recourse was had to an inexpensive form of air cooler. A thin plate of metal, perforated with holes one-tenth of an inch in diameter, and having a total area equal to one-ninth of the surface of the plate, was set at a slight angle in a tight box. Over this plate a thin sheet of water at a temperature of 55 Fahr. was allowed to flow steadily, and by means of a powerblower air was forced into the box below the plate. By its pressure the air forced its way through the holes in the plate and through the water, and was then led by pipes to all parts of the factory. By this device, the air in the room was reduced to 570 Fahr., or within four degrees of the temperature of the water. Other experiments gave varying results according to the initial temperature of the water, but in each case the apparatus reduced the temperature of the current of air to within seven degrees of that of the water. Steam power is required for the blower, and, for the best results, the supply of water must be abundant and its temperature low. The application of this device might, in our warm climate, prove of use in pork-packing and other industries where a low temperature is desirable. New Measuring Instruments. THESE two instruments are designed for measuring plain surfaces, fabrics, etc., and for measuring distances on scale maps. The machine for measur ing surfaces, cloths, etc., is somewhat larger than a watch, has three sets of figures, three hands, and a slight projection on one edge in which plays a small wheel. The figures on the face are arranged in three rings. The outer circle represents ten inches and fractions of inches. The next ring gives feet, from one up to ten, and the smaller circle of figures corresponding to the second figures of a watch, give ten feet each, up to a hundred. The long hand points to the inches, the short hand to feet, and the little hand to the groups of ten feet. To use the instrument, set the hands at I, or zero, and then, holding the instrument upright in the hand, let it run on its wheel over the surface to be measured. It will then record on its face any distance up to 100 feet, and without examination or error, and without reference to the path followed by the wheel. It may follow curves, corners, or any other trace, however complicated, and if a number of pieces of cloth are to be measured, will give the total result without regard to the stoppages or changes from one piece of goods to another. To measure greater lengths than 100 feet, it is only needed to notice how many times that point is passed. The other instrument, called a charto-meter, is smaller, and has only one hand, and one set of figures on its face. It is designed for measuring distances on maps drawn to a fixed scale. Its wheel will follow any path, however crooked, and it will give the total distance in miles according to the scale of that particular map. For maps of other scales, different dials are supplied, and may be easily inserted in the chartometer. For maps of unusual scale, as 22 miles to an inch, a dial is used giving 11 miles to an inch, and the result is multiplied by 2. For a map drawn to 3 miles to an inch, a dial graded to 6 miles is used, and the final result divided by 2 gives the distance in miles. For persons using coast survey charts and other important måps, and for persons measuring great quantities of stuffs, papers, etc., these two instruments seem likely to prove useful. The Electro-Magnetic Pen. At THIS novel and interesting machine consists of a hollow metallic pen-handle of the usual length, and inclosing a slender needle. The end of the penhandle is drawn to a point ending in a minute hole. Inside the pen is hung a slender wire, having a common cambric needle soldered to the end. the top of the pen-handle is a small electro-magnetic machine, provided with a circuit breaker of the usual form and an eccentric wheel, whereby the circular motion of the machine is transferred to an up and down stroke. The interior wire, bearing the needle, From Algeria the idea of domesticating and raising ostriches for their feathers, in time spread to the Cape of Good Hope, where the business has now assumed the position of a great and growing interest. The chicks are almost wholly raised by artificial means, and during their entire life are supplied with food and shelter like so many domestic fowls. The birds grow up comparatively tame, though they never seem to lose a certain irritableness of temper. The ostrich farms are usually very large, and to start and maintain one demands at least $10,000 capital. The business has also extended to South America, and is reported to be profitable. The chicks give salable feathers during the first year, and increase in productiveness up to five years of age, when they mature. The birds are said to be hardy and healthy under the semiconfinement of the farms. The business has been suggested as available in our Gulf States. is secured to this, and performs an up and down | commercial results. Movable Propeller for Sailing Ships. Ostrich Farming. THE accidental discovery of the artificial incubation of ostrich eggs some years since in Algeria has, after many disappointing failures, led to practical Preservation of Hops. A NEWLY patented method of keeping hops employs carbonic acid as a preservative agent. Airtight, tin-lined boxes are loosely filled with hops. Carbonic acid (made in a soda fountain machine by the usual sulphuric acid and marble dust process) is then admitted to the box through a tube that reaches to the bottom. The gas fills the box, driving the air out before it as it rises from the bottom. The hops are then compressed, and more filled in with an additional supply of gas. This is repeated till the box is loaded with pressed hops saturated with carbonic acid. The cover is put on, and more gas is added under pressure to drive out the last trace of air, and then the box is quickly sealed hermetically. The first experiments in this direction proved entirely successful. Speed Indicator. ONE of the most interesting applications of centrifugal force is shown in a new speed indicator. The apparatus consists of four glass tubes placed upright in a brass frame-work that turns horizontally. One tube is placed in the center and in front of a brass plate (like a thermometer), on which are marked the figures that represent the speed. The other tubes stand at equal distances outside the central tube. All are joined together by cross pipes at the bottom, and the top of each is left open. Mercury is poured into one and finds its level in all, and rising in the center tube to any desired point on the scale. By means of a small belt the apparatus is connected with the engine, press, or other machine, and turns horizontally with it, fast or slow, as may be. The revolution of the three tubes round the central one causes the quicksilver to rise by centrifugal force in each, at the same time dragging down the column in the central tube, that is merely turning on its own axis. The top of this column of mercury then indicates the speed at which the machinery is moving, and the slightest variation of the speed is shown visibly. The rapid movement of the three outside tubes past the scale does not interfere with the sight in reading the instrument. Maritime Engineering. IN removing soft mud and silt from sea and river bottoms, a notably interesting device has recently been exhibited. The plan is to use a steam-tug or barge of large size and fitted with powerful engines, both for its propulsion and the movement of its dredging machinery. Just abaft the center of the boat, four holes are made in the bottom, and to these are fitted iron pipes, having flexible joints, so as to hang freely below the keel. These are joined together by a frame-work, and, by means of a crane at the stern, they may be raised or lowered at will. Each pipe terminates in a bent shoe, having openings at the sides. When at work, they rest lightly in the mud at the bottom, and, being flexible, readily adjust themselves to the changing depth caused by the waves, the tide, or the shoaling of the water. Through these' pipes is sucked up, by the natural pressure caused by the displacement of the boat, the loose mud and sand to be removed. It enters the hold of the boat under considerable pressure, and, by the aid of steam-pumps, is thrown up through pipes to the deck, and thence outboard into barges alongside. Fitted with such tubes, each 10 inches in diameter, such a boat, it is estimated, will lift and discharge 32,000 yards of silt in 10 hours. With clean sand, an increase of 20 per cent. over this is estimated. The plan also presents another interesting feature in a machine for tearing up and loosening hard packed silt, and preparing it for the suction tubes. This consists of an iron fork or harrow, revolving on its own axis, and supported on a framework, lowered by chains from the bow. By this means it is kept at any required angle, and, by means of a chain belt, it is caused to revolve, and thus tear and rip up the bottom just in advance of the pipes. When at work, the boat is designed to be advanced, by means of a line secured to moorings, and leaving a path on the bottom of varying depth, according to the character of the material. pipe sucks up a wide area about its mouth, and, in case of choking or stoppage, may be instantly cleared by raising the pipes from the bottom and allowing the clear water to sweep through. When not in use, the harrow and the pipes may be raised to the keel, and the boat then moved to another spot. This new dredging machine has been made the subject of exhaustive experiment, with satisfactory results. Inextinguishable Life Signals. Each leading to the open nib in a brilliant jet of light. Rain and spray only increase its brilliancy. New Fuels. IN the manufacture of bricquetts, or brick of coaldust, for fuel, a slight modification of the usual Belgium process is announced. Instead of using water in making the coal-dust into a paste, a boiling mixture of tar and pitch is employed. To this is added sulphate of lime to remove the ammonia of the tar. The mixture is composed of 331⁄2 parts of pitch, 13.6 of tar, and 1.80 of sulphate of lime, to one ton of coal-dust. The experiments going on in this department of fuel economy in this country have reached a practical stage in Pennsylvania, and fuel manufactured from coal-slack is already being extensively employed. So far, the reports are favorable to the quality of these American bricquetts, and they are being freely introduced on locomotive engines. A French company is now extensively manufacturing kindling material for domestic fires by utilizing corn-cobs. Two processes are employed. By one, the corn-cobs are first steeped in hot water containing 2 per cent. of saltpeter, and then saturated with resinous matter. By the other process, the cobs are soaked in a hot mixture of 60 parts resin and 40 parts tar. They are then dried, and afterward baked on a plate heated to 212° Fahr. Assorted and secured in bundles, they sell at the rate of four for an English halfpenny, or, at wholesale, for $2 or $3 a thousand. A process for utilizing corn-cobs by saturating them with resin has been patented in this country, and their manufacture has been attempted. The inventor already reports an active demand for them as domestic fire-lighters. Ship and Canal Boat Propellers. FROM the official reports concerning the hood placed over and before the screw of the British war ship"Bruiser," and from recent experiments with a new propeller for canal boats, some interesting facts are added to the science of sea and inland navigation. The hood or casing of iron plates placed about the screw of the steamship "Bruiser" resulted in increased speed, and less jar or motion to the ship. It also prevented, in an appreciative degree, the racing of the engine when the screw ran out of water in a high sea, by holding a certain amount of water about the propeller. The hood also serves as an effectual guard in preventing floating débris from fouling the screw. The new canal boat propeller consists of a large sheet-iron screw or wheel, 7 feet in diameter, hung in the air at the stern, and just clear of the water. A canal boat 40 feet long and drawing 13 inches was driven at a speed of four miles an hour with this screw, making 400 revolutions a minute. The power employed was a common upright engine with an eight-inch cylinder. The practical results obtained with this air-wheel were sufficient to warrant the inventors in constructing another, which is soon to be tried on THESE chemical lights are now made in a variety of forms, and serve a useful purpose in giving a bright light upon the water when thrown overboard. One of the best of these contains chemicals that will not burn at any application of heat, but touched by water will evolve a bright flame. A small cylindrical box, ending above in a soft copper nib, is weighted below to keep it upright in the water, and filled with phosphate of calcium. When thrown into the sea, after the copper nib has been cut off, the water penetrates into the box, and the phosphureted hydrogen evolved escapes through a perforated tube | the Erie Canal. Wordsworth to the Queen. BRIC-A-BRAC. THE following poem of Wordsworth, addressed to Queen Victoria, has recently been printed for the first time in an edition of Wordsworth's prose: "The Prose Works of William Wordsworth, for the first time collected, with additions from republished manuscripts. Edited, with preface, notes, and illustrations, by the Rev. Alexander B. Grosart. In three volumes." * Deign, Sovereign Mistress! to accept a lay, From deep recesses of a loyal heart. Queen, Wife, and Mother' may All-judging Heaven On earth to goodness blest by grace divine. Lady! devoutly honored and beloved Through every realm confided to thy sway; As Thou art wont, thy sovereignty adorn With woman's gentleness, yet firm and staid; And now, by duty urged, I lay this Book Nor wilt Thou blame an aged Poet's prayer, Or grief-the inheritance of human kind. For know we not that from celestial spheres, When Time was young, an inspiration came (Oh, were it mine!) to hallow saddest tears, And help life onward in its noblest aim? 9th January, 1846. W. W. Who was "The Lost Leader?" IN the preface of the recent edition of Wordsworth's prose occurs this letter from Robert Browning, in reply to an inquiry by the Editor regarding the original of the "Lost Leader." It is certainly explicit enough to set forever at rest all discussion and speculation upon this much-mooted topic: "19, WARWICK-CRESCENT, W. DEAR MR. Grosart, Feb. 24, '75I have been asked the question you now address me with, and as duly answered it, I can't remember how many times: there is no sort of objection to one more assurance, or rather confession, on my part, that I did in my hasty youth presume to use the great and venerated personality of WORDSWORTH as a sort of painter's model; one from which this or the other particular feature may be selected and turned to account: had I intended more, above all, such a boldness as portraying the entire man, I should not have talked about 'handfuls of silver and bits of ribbon.' These never influenced the change of politics in the great poet; whose defection, nevertheless, accompanied as it was by a regular face-about of his special party. was to my juvenile apprehension, and even mature consideration, an event to deplore. But just as in the tapestry on my wall can recognize figures which have struck out a fancy. on occasion, that though truly enough thus derived, yet would be preposterous as a copy, so, though I dare not deny the original of my little poem, I altogether refuse to have it considered as the 'very effigies' of such a moral and intellectual superiority. Faithfully yours, London: Edward Moxon, Son & Co. New York: Scribner, Welford & Armstrong. And is it rid-headed, ye call him? Belike he is foxy, is Ted; And goold-colored hair is becomin' til thim that's complicted wid blonde! But who cares fur color? Sure, contints out-vally the rest iv the head! And Ted has a head full iv contints, as lively as t'hrout in a pond! Good timpered? Sure niver a bett'her.-The paceablest, quietest, lamb As lives the whole lin'th iv our st'hrate, where the b'ys is that kane fur a row That Ted has to fight iv'ry day, though he'd quarrel no more than a clam. Faith, thim b'ys 'ud provoke the swate angels, in hiven, tó fight onyhow! Thim Hooligan b'ys is that d'hirty, they have to be washed wanst a wake: Faith, Hooligan finds it convanient to live down ferninst the canall Where the wat'her fur scrubbin the mud off his child'hers is not far til sake. But Teddy is allus that nate that he niver nades washin' at all! Can he rade? Sure, me Ted has the makin' iv a beautiful rader, indade, And lairn't all his lett'hers, but twinty, in three months' attindance at school: But the mast'her got mad at me Teddy, becase iv a joke that was played Wid a pin, that persuaded the mast'her quite suddint to rise from his stool. Teddy niver cu'd plaze that school-mast'her wid ony iv thim playful t'hricks; So, wid his edication unfinished, Ted found it convanient to lave. Yez can t'hrust him wid onything. Honest! Does he luk like a b'y that 'ud stale? Jist luk in the swate, open face iv him, barrin' the eye wid the wink: Och! Teddy!! Phat ugly black st'hrame is it runnin' down there by yer hale! Murtheration! Yer honor, me Teddy has spilt yer fine bottle iv ink!! Phat? How kem the ink in his pocket? I'm thinkin' he borry'd it, sur: And yez saw him pick up yer pen-howlder and stick it inside iv his slaive! And yez think that Ted mint til purline 'em!! Ah, wirra! The likes iv that slur Will d'hrive me,-poor, tinder, lone widdy,-wid sorrow down intil me grave! Bad cess til yez, Teddy, ye spalpeen! c'u'dn't yez howld on, the day Why Ye thafe iv the world!-widout breakin' the heart iv me? No. Yez must stale! I'll tache yez a t'hrick, ye rid-headed, pilferin', gimlet-eyed flay! Ye freckle-faced, impident bla'guard!-Och! whin we git home yez 'll squale! FRANK M. THORN. A Piece of Red Calico. MR. EDITOR: If the following true experience shall prove of any advantage to any of your readers, I shall be glad. was going into town the other morning, when my wife handed me a little piece of red calico, and asked me if I would have time, during the day, to buy her two yards and a half of calico like that. I assured her that it would be no trouble at all, and putting the piece of calico in my pocket, I took the train for the city. At lunch time I stopped in at a large dry-goods store to attend to my wife's commission. I saw a well-dressed man walking the floor between the counters, where long lines of girls were waiting on much longer lines of customers, and asked him where I could see some red calico. "This way, sir," and he led me up the store. "Miss Stone," said he to a young lady, "show this gentleman some red calico." "What shade do you want?" asked Miss Stone. I showed her the little piece of calico that my wife had given me. She looked at it and handed it back to me. Then she took down a great roll of red calico and spread it out on the counter. "Why, that isn't the shade!" said I. "No, not exactly," said she, "but it is prettier than your sample "That may be," said I; "but, you see, I want to match this piece. There is something already made of this kind of calico, which needs to be made larger, or mended, or something. want some calico of the same shade.' The girl made no answer, but took down another roll. "That's the shade," said she. "Yes," I replied, "but it's striped." "Stripes are more worn than anything else in calicoes," said she. "Yes: but this isn't to be worn. It's for furniture, I think. At any rate, I want perfectly plain stuff, to match something already in use." " "Well, I don't think you can find it perfectly plain, unless you get Turkey red." "What is Turkey red?" I asked. "Turkey red is perfectly plain in calicoes," she answered "Well, let me see some.' "We haven't any Turkey red calico left," she said, "but we have some very nice plain calicoes in other colors." "I don't want any other color I want stuff to match this." "It's hard to match cheap calico like that," she said, and so I left her. I next went into a store a few doors further up Broadway. When I entered I approached the "floor-walker," and handing him my sample, said: "Have you any calico like this?" "Yes, sir," said he. "Third counter to the right." I went to the third corner to the right, and showed my sample to the salesman in attendance there. He looked at it on both sides. Then he said: "We haven't any of this." "That gentleman said you had," said I. "We had it, but we're out of it now. You'll get that goods at an upholsterer's." I went across the street to an upholsterer's. "Have you any stuff like this?" I asked. "No," said the salesman. "We haven't. Is it for furniture?" "Yes," I replied. "Then Turkey red is what you want?" "Is Turkey red just like this?" I asked. "No" said he; "but it's much better." "That makes no difference to me," I replied. "I want something just like this." "But they don't use that for furniture," he said. "I should think people could use anything they wanted for furniture?" I remarked, somewhat sharply. They can, but they don't," he said, quite calmly. "They don't use red like that. They use Turkey red." I said no more, but left. The next place I visited was a very large dry-goods store. Of the first salesman I saw I inquired if they kept red calico like my sample. "You'll find that on the second story," said he. I went upstairs. There I asked a man: "Where will I find red calico?" "In the far room to the left. Right over there." And he pointed to a distant corner. I walked through the crowds of purchasers and salespeople, and around the counters and tables filled with goods, to the far room to the left. When I got there I asked for red calico. "The second counter down this side," said the man. I went there and produced my sample. stairs," said the man. "Calicoes down "They told me they were up here," I said. "Not these plain goods. You'll find 'em down-stairs at the back of the store, over on that side." I went down-stairs to the back of the store. "Where will I find red calico like this?" I asked. "Next counter but one," said the man addressed, walking with me in the direction pointed out. "Dunn, show red calicoes." Mr. Dunn took my sample and looked at it. "We haven't this shade in that quality of goods," he said. "Well, have you it in any quality of goods?" I asked. |