struction under the governments of the 4th September and of M. Thiers, and M. Dumas, Perpetual Secretary of the Academy of Sciences and Senator of the Empire. The struggle was very hot. Each required only one vote to pass to the Immortality of the Quarantaine. If M. Dumas had not had Alexandre Dumas against him, he would have been safe enough; but the author of 'The Demi-Monde' thought that there were enough Dumases there already. The duel is postponed for six months. About that time for things do not go rapidly at the Academy-M. Lemoinne will have had his green embroidered coat made. People will say, of course, 'L'habit ne fait pas Lemoinne.' His rivals have already said that he had better put on a harlequin's coat to represent the different opinions which he has defended." MR. RUSKIN has fulfilled the promise made in "Fors Clavigera," and opened a shop in London for the sale of pure tea to all who care to have the article in an unadulterated state. The Duchess of Edinburgh is an accomplished linguist. It is said that at the czar's court she was able to speak with all the foreign embassadors, except the Turkish, in their own language. Charles Desilver & Sons, of Philadelphia, announce a new edition of Sanderson's "Biographies of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence," revised and edited by the Hon. Robert T. Conrad. ... Lord Houghton, better known here, perhaps, spite of assertions to the contrary, Sir Arthur of sense about the sums they ought to ask for their works, particularly when an American prices them. Not an unfledged artist, not a debutant who has achieved his first upward step by gaining admission to the Salon, but imagines that he would do well to compete, if not with Meissonier, and Cabanel, and Gérôme, at least with Merle and Bouguereau, in the matter of prices though in nothing else. An American gentleman one day while strolling through the Salon took a fancy to a small picture by a totally unknown artist; the work was one of no particular merit, but he was pleased with the subject, and thought he would like to become its possessor. He consulted a friend of some art-experience as to its probable price, and was told that four thousand francs (eight hundred dollars) would be more than its value. He wrote, therefore, to the artist has undoubtedly given to the world a great From Abroad. OUR PARIS LETTER. THE Salon has closed at last, and we are thousand francs (four thousand dollars) was the price of the picture. That reply at once and definitely closed all negotiations, and the artist will probably have the pleasure of keeping his picture in his studio for some time to come. The Figaro gives the following dialogue of two artists strolling through the exhibition. One asks of the other: ""How are you getting along?' ""Oh, very well,' is the answer. 'I ask now twelve thousand francs'" (twenty-four hundred dollars) ""for a head, and twenty thousand'" (four thousand dollars) ""for a full-length portrait.' ""Those are my prices also.' ""How many orders have you got at those prices?' ""Not one. And you?? It is said that the elder artists of France are responsible for these absurd prices, as they give insidious and of course bad advice to the rising members of the profession, wish ing to avoid competition. I have been tol that a foreign rival was once adroitly extin guished by the confraternity in the followin manner: A young and gifted Belgian artis was engaged, during the sunny days of the em pire, in painting a view of the Salle d'Apollo in the Louvre. His work attracted the atter tion of the Duke de Morny, who not only o dered a picture from him, but recommende him to the notice of the empress, who ga him a commission for two pictures, for whi he was to fix his own price. The work fi ished, he consulted some of his artist frien in Paris as to the price he ought to ask. distinguished Italian portrait-painter, then siding in Paris, advised him to fix no sum, I to leave the amount to the well-known gener ity of his imperial patroness, "Nonsense cried his French advisers; "charge high your pictures, it is the government that pa and governments are always expected to largely." In an evil hour he followed the vice of his French counselors. The sum he demanded was far beyond the value of s paintings from so youthful and comparati inexperienced a hand, and the empress, gusted at his apparent rapacity, never him another order. left lamenting. Never again shall we set eyes upon the greater part of the pictures exhibited there, and it was with an actual feeling of sadness that I went to take one last long, lingering farewell look at my favorites. All this week and the next will be devoted to the removal of the paintings, and then the Palais d'Industrie will be fitted up for the great Exhibition of Fluvial and Maritime Industries, which is to open on the 10th of July and remain open till November. Looking back on the glories of the vanished Salon, one recalls many of the witticisms which the pictures called forth from among the more facetious of the critics. Thus Bouguereau's lovely "Holy Family" was dubbed "a Raphael varnished with cold cream; " Brion's "Baptism" was styled " a remarkably well-painted satin coverlet, with infantile accessories;" Munkacsy's "Harem Scene" "should have had the lantern in the centre lighted to let the spectators see what was going on," etc., etc. The most popular picture with Americans has undoubtedly been the aforesaid "Holy Family." Had it not become the property of the lucky proprietor of the Bon Marché, M. Aristide Boucicault, before the exhibition opened, it would undoubtedly have speedily found its way to our shores. The finest picture in the Salon was probably the noble portrait of Madame Pasca, by Bonnet, though the vigor and intelligence displayed in the "Respha" of George Becker have met with due appreciation. The painter of this painful, powerful, and gigantic picture is said to be the smallest artist in Paris, being scarcely taller than a boy of twelve years of age. The American artists made a remarkably creditable display this year, Mr. Wylie's two fine pictures being much commended, as were also the contributions of Messrs. Knight and Healy. The panic in America will probably have the effect of low-ble, on which is placed a statue of Po ering the prices of pictures as well as of other | leaning on a medallion portrait of Gat articles of luxury. It is a strange fact that the which is said to be a striking resembli The monument was gotten up by a subs In a long review of Parkman's "Old Régime | rising artists over here have not one particle A monument to the memory of Théop Gautier is to be inaugurated in the Ceme of Montmartre, on Thursdaynext. This m ment, the work of one of the friends of th ceased poet, M. Godebski, a Russian scul is composed of a sarcophagus in Carrara tion among the personal friends of the poet, M. Godebski having contributed his work, and - M. Drevet, the architect who presided at the placing of it (a task, by-the-way, of no little difficulty, as the space was restricted and unfavorably situated), having also refused to charge for his services. A monument to Jules Janin, by the same sculptor, is to be inaugurated in the Cemetery of Montparnasse on the 28th of this month. A commemorative service for the repose of the soul of the unfortunate Emperor Maximilian was celebrated on Saturday last, in the Church of St. Augustine, the Bonapartist church par excellence. Some eighty persons only were present, among whom were several Mexicans. One old woman, who had taken up her station in one of the side-chapels, was much affected, and wept profusely. That was _ the only evidence of emotion displayed by _ any one there. As a rule, the congregation looked bored, and very much as if they would prefer a drive in the Bois to thus honoring the memory of that royal victim to imperial policy. Ernest Legouvé has just published in the Temps a curious article about Mademoiselle was great, for her family affections were very strong. But suddenly, on the third day, a strange terror became mingled with her sorrow. She remembered that her own name also was Rebecca, and that she had only taken that of nase, and at the request of M. Povison. Seized with an insane affright, she cried, 'It is I who am Rebecca it is I who am dead!' Alas! she was not far wrong. A few years later she died like her sister, and of the same disease as her sister!" had a death-scene on the stage, and she would | death of her young sister Rebecca, her grief Rachel and his great play of "Adrienne Lecou-oil-lamp beside the prompter's box, wherein vreur," which, it will be remembered, he wrote in collaboration with Scribe. He says: ""Adrienne Lecouvreur' had been composed for Mademoiselle Rachel at her own request, or I might even say in answer to her prayer. Shakespeare has written, 'Frailty, thy name is woman,' and the name of Mademoiselle Rachel was variableness. Changeable by nature and by imagination, she was still more so by weakness; she consulted everybody, and everybody had some influence over her. The raillery of a critic would suffice to disenchant her with the idea which had most charmed her a moment before, and so it occurred with Adrienne.' Her advisers terrified her respecting this excursion into the domains of the romantie drama. What! Hermione and Phèdre consent to speak in prose, the daughter of Corneille and Racine become the goddaughter of M. Scribe? It would be a profanation.' "The day of the reading before the company, Mademoiselle Rachel arrived, resolved to refuse her role. Scribe took his manuscript, and commenced the reading, while I looked on, buried in a vast arm-chair. Then was there unfolded before me a double comedy, firstly, ours, and secondly, that which was silently taking place in the hearts of the sociétaires. Vaguely instructed as to the secret inclinations of their illustrious comrade, they found themselves in a very delicate position. A drama, written for Mademoiselle Rachel, - and which Mademoiselle Rachel would refuse to play, might become a grave subject of difficulties for the theatre, and even the cause of a lawsuit if it were received by the committee. Therefore, the committee studied the reading of 'Adrienne' from the countenance of Malemoiselle Rachel. As that countenance renained perfectly impassible, they too renained impassible. Throughout these five ong acts she never smiled, she never aproved, she never applauded; they neither miled, approved, nor applauded. So comlete was the general immobility that Scribe, hinking that he saw one of our judges on the oint of going to sleep, interrupted the reading say, 'Pray, do not put yourself out count, I beg of you.' The sociétaire prosted vigorously against the accusation." on my Of course the piece was refused. The next ay three different managers came to treat for te work. One of them insisted upon having saying, "My leading lady has never yet there was no prompter; the only spectators ""My dear friend, you played that fifth act ""Yes; it was because there was no one present to applaud you, so that you did not think of the effect to be produced; and thus, in your own eyes, you became the unhappy Adrienne, dying at night in the arms of her two friends.' "She remained silent for a moment, and then she replied: ""You are mistaken, it was not thus at all. There took place within me a far stranger phenomenon: it was not for Adrienne that I wept, but for myself. Something I know not what -told me suddenly that I was destined to die young like her. It seemed to me that I was in my own room, that my last hour had come, and that I was looking on at my own deathagony, and when at the words "Farewell, O triumphs of the stage!-farewell, intoxications of the art that I have loved!" you saw me shed real tears, it was because I thought with despair that time would efface all vestige of my genius, and that soon there would remain nothing of that which was once Rachel." " This presentiment of early death haunted the great actress all through her brilliant career. Legouvé relates the following strange incident: "When Mademoiselle Rachel learned the Legouvé went to visit her during her last illness; she was unable to receive him, but she wrote him a charming letter of thanks, which terminated with these words: "No one can better delineate female characters than yourself. Promise to write me a piece for my rentrée." Three days later she was dead. Mademoiselle Aimée, "the Schneider of America," as some one once called her, has returned home (it is said with a fortune of sixty thousand dollars) from her transatlantic trip. She has bought a handsome residence at Nogent-sur-Marne, and gave her house-warming festival the other day. She is engaged at the Variétés for next season, and will make her rentrée in her favorite rôle of Fiorella in "Les Brigands." LUCY H. HOOPER. OUR LONDON LETTER. MR. RUSKIN-our greatest art-critic at one time, though, I am afraid, full of eccentricity now-has come forward as Miss Thompson's champion; Miss Thompson of "Roll-Call" fame I mean, of course. In a little volume which he has just published-" Notes on some of the Principal Pictures exhibited in the Rooms of the Royal Academy, 1875" - he speaks most enthusiastically of that young lady's "Quatre-Bras," around which, by-theway, there is still a motley crowd all day long at the Academy. "I never," says Mr. Ruskin (who but the other day, let me whisper, started a shop here for the sale of unadulterated tea), "approached a picture with more iniquitous prejudice against it than I did Miss Thompson's, partly because I have always said that no woman could paint, and, secondly, because I thought what the public made such a fuss about must be good for nothing. But it is Amazon's work, this," he goes on; "no doubt of it, and the first pre-Raphaelite picture of battle we have had, profoundly interesting, and showing all manner of illustrative and realistic faculty." Again: "The sky is the most tenderly painted and with the truest outlines of cloud of all in the exhibition; and the terrific piece of gallant wrath and ruin on the extreme right, where the cuirassier is catching round the neck of his horse as he falls, and the convulsed fallen horse just seen through the smoke below, is wrought, through all the truth of its frantic passion, with gradations of color and shade which I have not seen the like of since Turner's death." A warm tribute, surely! What will Miss Thompson's deriders-and they are many-say now? Mr. Gye has-or, at least, thinks he hasgot another prize; let us hope a second Zare Thalberg. This time she is a young Chicago lady, who has just entered into a three-years' engagement with him, and who is forthwith to be put under the best masters. This I know, and this is about all I know, for Mr. Gye always keeps his engagements remarkably close; indeed, he has recently had a quar rel with the Athenœum because it has been chronicling some of them without his author- | ization. Hence it is that I cannot give you the name of the young lady; but probably some of your readers may be able to guess. The new book - announcements are few; authors and readers and even publishers for after all publishers are human-are thinking more of the approaching holidays than of writing, reading, or issuing. However, a work by Mr. George Henry Lewes-"Philosopher Lewes"-" On Actors and the Art of Acting," is in the press; so is Mr. Arthur Arnold's translation of his friend Señor Castelar's "Life of Byron." Mr. Arnold, I should mention here, is on the point of retiring from the editorship of the little Echo, his brother, Mr. Edwin Arnold, still sticks to the redacteur-ship of the Telegraph. A new novel, "The Boudoir Cabal," by the author of "Young Brown," a very clever story which ran through one of our magazines, is also in the press, and that is almost all. Mrs. Craik, the author of "John Halifax," has just given us, through Messrs. Daldy, Isbister & Co., a volume of "Sermons out of Church." It is, I need hardly say, full of earnest and eloquent writing. The "sermons" are six in number, and are entitled "What is Self-Sacrifice?" "Our Often Infirmities," "How to train up a Parent in the Way he should go," "Benevolence-or Beneficence," "My Brother's Keeper," and "Gather up the Fragments." Even when Mrs. Craik talks in platitudes, and she does not often do that, the neatness of her phraseology makes them seemingly new. The farewell dinner to Mr. Barry Sullivan will be a grand affair. The great tragedian, for a fine actor he is, is a general favorite not only with the members of his own profession, but with authors and artists as well. Consequently, there is sure to be a goodly turn-out in his honor. The banquet will, most probably, take place at the Alexandra Palace, where Mr. Sothern and her majesty's opera-company have been performing, and the Earl of Dunraven, an intimate friend of Mr. Sullivan, will preside. Mr. Carlyle is still hale and hearty, and as antagonistic to things as they are as ever. Dr. Kenealey and the electors of Stoke form one of his favorite subjects of conversation. The venerable philosopher holds that the irrepressible doctor's return to Parliament furnishes a selle Chapuy, a young lady who for some time studied in Paris as an actress. She played Violetta in Verdi's "Traviata," and was received with remarkable enthusiasm. Four times was she called before the curtain after the first act. Yet after all she is far from faultless. Her voice is flexible and powerful, it is true; she has, moreover, a thoroughly good ear for time and tune; yet she lacks feeling. Her master, whoever he may have been, was obviously more bent on teaching her to sing correctly than with heart. One of our best writers of lyrical verses, Guy Roslyn, the younger brother, I may tell you, of Mr. Joseph Hatton, the author of "The Tallants of Barton," and the editor and proprietor of the Hornet, is about to issue his first volume. It will be called "Village Verses," and will include the many pleasing little poems he has written in the various magazines. One of the funniest, and therefore most absurd, farces I have seen for a long time has been produced at the Adelphi, where Mr. Halliday's version of "Nicholas Nickleby" is still running. It is by Mr. Martin Becker. Here is the plot, condensed, like Australian meat: "An eccentric old gentleman, Mr. Vanderpump, having, as well as his memory serves him, secreted four thousand pounds in banknotes of one thousand pounds each in a pair of old slippers, of all places in the world, finds to his horror that somebody has stolen, lost, or mislaid the articles supposed to be thus richly lined, and, in this terrible extremity, offers his well-dowered daughter in marriage to whichever of her many suitors may succeed in finding the missing treasure. The stage is soon bestrewn with all manner of second-hand slippers, saving only the pair that is required; subsequently, Mr. Vanderpump gets into a towering passion in the consulting-room of a dentist, who, to keep him quiet, makes him inhale the laughing-gas used for the purposes of painless dentistry. It is while under this influence that the old gentleman kicks off his boots, when inside them are found the missing notes. Miss Vanderpump marries the dentist, and all ends happily." As old Vanderpump, Mr. Fawn is amazingly mirth-provoking. I verily believe he could make even our prime-minister laugh! WILL WILLIAMS. sand-blast might more properly be ranked as a discovery, since the inventor has merely adapted to the arts a process which Nature has long since used, and by which she has carved out from rocks and mountain-sides those massive monuments and grotesque "reliefs" which are a feature of our Western wonder-land. Through the courtesy of Mr. Gorham Blake, general agent for the United States, we have been permitted to allow our artist to secure drawings of the latest and most improved forms of sand-blast machines, and thus are enabled to give to our readers the first authorized illustration of them. De ferring till a second paper all reference to the work of the sand-blast, particularly as that work pertains to the cutting and engraving of glass, we shall limit ourselves at present to a brief general notice of the principle upon which the success of the process depends, and a description of the devices by which these principles are applied. In its simplest conceivable form the sandblast machine may be described as nothing more than a box containing sifted quartz-sand fastened upon an elevated shelf, and from the bottom of which depends a tube, through which the sand may be conducted and allowed to fall on the substance to be carved out or engraved. This substance which is to be acted upon must, however, belong to that class generally known as brittle, such as glass or stone, though hard woods are at times used, and also the polished surfaces of softer metals which are rendered rough thereby. When this jet of sand is caused to fall with an increased force upon the object to be engraved, the results are more decided and more readily obtained, and hence the use of an air or steam-blast has been adopted at th outset, giving to the device the name of sand blast. The sand-blast may, therefore, b briefly defined as a device by which commo sand, powdered quartz, emory, or any shar cutting material, is forced or blown upon tl surface of any brittle substance, throug which means the latter is cut, drilled, or e graved. We have used the word brittle conclusive proof that the democratic theory Science, Invention, Discovery. defining those substances susceptible of government is driving England at express speed to the devil-I mean the nether abyss. There are a good many notable works in the just-opened Black-and-White Exhibition. Prominent among these is a series of drawings by Mr. Herbert Heckomer, whose "The Last Muster" is one of the most striking and original paintings in this year's Academy. Several of Bida's drawings illustrative of the Gospels-the complete series, one hundred and twenty-eight in number, is valued at five thousand pounds are on view in the same gallery. Briton Rivière, Percy Macquoid, Rajon, Jacquemart, J. D. Huiber, Legros, and many others, also contribute; indeed, altogether, counting drawings, engravings, and etchings, there are over five hundred "exhibits." This is the third year of the exhibition, so it may now be looked upon as established. By-theway, L. l'Hermitte sends some drawings which are really remarkable as showing what may be done with charcoal in the way of color. The two opera-houses continue to put forth fresh attractions; every other night or so, some one or other makes his or her début. One of the last débutantes at Her Majesty's is Mademoi treatment by the blast, in order that reader may the more readily comprehend t simplicity of the method by which the surft of such substance may be protected as w as exposed. In order to insure this prot tion, and prevent the sand from acting on t portion of the surface upon which it falls is only necessary to cover that portion wit a descriptive circular now before us, we learn that " on the 8th of October, 1870, letters-patent of the United States were granted to General B. C. Tilghman, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for the cutting, grinding, etching, engraving, and drilling | stencil of malleable or tough material, s as lead, iron, rubber, leather, or even pa To this list of so-called stencil material also be added, as the result of recent exp stone, metal, wood, or any hard substance, sand-blast, yet it is possible that many are adopted for the application of these sten mention will be again made when we com notice the work of the sand-blast, and will now proceed to briefly describe, aide illustrations, the latest improved form of chine for cutting flat plates, as in use at company's agency, No. 81 Centre Street, York. Let it be supposed that it is desire simply grind or depolish the whole su of a glass plate, so that it shall present "grinding" begins, and soon the glass plate appears at the opposite side with a rough but sion to use any form of protecting stencil, } polished surface of the glass, the work of and the plate therefore may be taken at once to the machine. This machine is of the general form and construction shown in the larger of the accompanying illustrations, and may be thus described: Resting upon a framework, and inclosed in a box-like apartment, is a smaller box, open at the top and with slanting sides, which is filled with the ordinary quartz-sand. At the bottom of this box is a long slit, through which the sand axlows into the blast-chamber below. The end of the slit appears in the illustration just beow the main blast-pipe, which leads in from hit the right. At the bottom of this slit is a deice, not as yet made public, by which the ur and is conveyed into the blast-chamber, and et the blast por tes ard. This blast-chamber is shown by its sarved side, and within this the blast is aintained at such a pressure as the nature the work demands. The sand, having elen into this receptacle, is at once having hs the pressure of the blast down through a cond and still narrower slit below, and scri the aid of a screw and hoppers to the box above, to be used over again, so long as the feeding in of the glass plates is kept up. The rate at which these plates travel beneath the sand varies from six to thirty inches a minute, according as the nature of the work demands. Where it is desired to cover the plate with a pattern, it is evident that the stencils may be adjusted to it before its introduction into the machine. In the second figure we have an illustration of a simple device by which glass plates may be bored. This is effected by means of an exhaust rather than a blast. The air is exhausted from a cylinder here shown at the right, and thus the sand is drawn up from a receptacle at the left, and projects itself with force against the glass plate above, after which it falls back into a circular box, whence it is again lifted as before. It is by the aid of a device somewhat similar in construction to this that glass globes are ground and engraved. In this brief description of the sand-blast machine we have purposed to present the main features of the latest improved form; and, as the illustrations were prepared with the special purpose of accomplishing this, a careful examination of them will take the place of a more extended description. Enough has been said, however, to prove to the reader that it is in the idea rather than in the method of its adaptation that the genius of the inventor appears that is, so far as the sand-blast machine is concerned-but in our second paper on the nature and variety of the work accomplished we shall be able to show how well have the demands for special contriv. ances been met by the same mind that accomplished the original design. LEST certain of our readers might condemn the position we assumed last week in regard to the mythical Keely motor, we are induced to reopen the case with a view to presenting additional testimony in support of the views then set forth. This testimony, which has come to our notice since the preparation of our adverse opinion, is from an authoritative source, and hence should be accepted as of decided weight and influence. The Scientific American, deeming the subject worth even more space than it really deserves, devotes a page of its editorial space to an historical and critical review of the new motor and its claims. After alluding to this latest contrivance as one "the chief purpose of which appears to be the wriggling of money out of silly people," the paper concludes by disclosing in a few brief paragraphs the weak point in the whole claim. Referring to the surprising fact that men of tried experience and business capability have become interested in the scheme, the editor adds: "We can account for this only by supposing that they mistake mere pressure for motive power. But mere pressure is not motive power-it is simply a resultant of motive power. A very slight motive power, if sufficiently long continued and properly applied, may produce the greatest pressure. A weight of only a single pound, hung upon the extremity of a suitable lever, is sufficient to produce a pressure at the opposite end of the lever of ten thousand pounds or more to the square inch. To persons not familiar with the laws of redisses out from it in the form of a long, thin The glass ced upon the shelf at the left and ben is opening indicated. A series of sinall regularly depolished surface. The sand in it is its, moving over rollers concealed by the the mean time falls or is blown into a rea, serve as carriers to the plate, which by ceptacle below, from which it is removed by probably mechanics, and this, we think, is shall investers), the exhibition of a gage showing ten thousand pounds pressure might readily be regarded as proof positive of an enormous power behind the gage-whereas the actual power, concealed from view, might be only a weight of one pound. In cases of this kind, when a body is lifted or a pressure produced, the inquirer should take pains to ascertain what the extent of the original moving power or weight is. If this precaution be taken, the falsity of motors like Keely's may be at once detected. In the example of Keely, the certificate of Collier shows that a hydrant force of twenty-six and one-quarter pounds to the inch is always required to run the machine. This force, if applied to a common wheel or engine, would produce a considerable amount of constant mechanical power. But the moving force is nearly all wasted in Keely's device, for he is only able to drive a toy-engine for a minute or two at a time. This does not look much like, driving a train of cars from Philadelphia to New York, or crossing the ocean, without the consumption of coal." THE question as to the nature and extent of the influence which forests exercise on climates commands the thoughtful attention of many careful observers, and the fact that the controversy is so prolonged proves beyond question that there is much to be said on both sides. Among the more recent papers presented with a view to establishing the affirmative of the argument, viz., that the climate and other physical conditions of our globe are certainly modified by the existence or removal of forests, is that of M. J. Clavé, in the last number of the Revue des Deux Mondes. After repeating with renewed emphasis the wellknown points regarding the prevention of evaporation and sudden snow-thaws where the land is wooded, the writer suggests a possible effect which forests may have on producing rain, which is certainly worthy of consideration. Forests are obstacles to atmospheric movements, hence, when rapidly-moving aircurrents come in contact with them, their onward course is checked, and they are forced upward. As a result of this upward movement the layers above are compressed and so compelled to yield up some of their moisture. Another interesting fact is noticed with regard to the influence of forests upon hailstorms, which is to check them. An instance of this is given, to the effect that, during one of these storms in France, it was observed that when, during its onward course, a forest was encountered the hail was changed to rain, the hail being resumed in the unwooded country beyond. purpose, though the immediate source of supply be a different one. His plan is to have in some convenient locality a flask or flasks, each about three feet in length, and one foot in diameter, containing about one hundred pounds of the gas in a liquid state. From the top of these flasks pipes are to be so fitted as to conduct the gas when free into the hull. In its application the same plan is adopted as in that above mentioned. Instead of opening cocks and admitting acid into the marble boxes, the compressed gas is by this same method released, when it at once assumes its normal condition, and fills the entire vessel below-decks. AMONG the more recent of labor-saving machines may be noticed that designed for the painting of the laths of Venetian blinds. By its aid the inventor claims that he can paint six hundred blind-laths of ordinary size in an hour. The machine is described as simple in structure, and has already been practically tested in a large English window-blind factory. MESSRS. NEGRETTI & ZAMBRA, the wellknown meteorological-instrument makers, have lately added to their list of thermometers, a new form of exceeding delicacy to be known as the "health-indicator." It is designed, as its name indicates, for the use of physicians in determining the temperature of the patient's blood, and the main feature, and that upon which its extreme sensitiveness depends, is the use of fusil-oil instead of mercury. A PATENT has recently been issued in France for a new method for obtaining paperpulp from sugar-cane refuse, which, according to the Technologiste, promises to prove of considerable value. For many years one of the leading features of the Southern sugar-house has been its cane-furnace, devised with the special purpose of burning the refuse cane, which otherwise would prove an unwieldy by-product. The plan, as proposed by MM. Meritens and Kresser, may be briefly noticed as follows: The refuse or "trash" as it comes from the mill, being still charged with a limited amount of saccharine matter, gum, albumen, etc., is exposed to a jet of steam in a closed vessel, and then repressed. The effect of this treatment is to remove the foreign NOTEWORTHY THINGS GLEANED HERE substances, including a certain portion of available "juice," and leave the refuse in a state to be more readily rendered available as pulp. In order to obtain this latter in a state fit for paper-making material, the refuse is now passed lightly through an alkaline bath, and afterward washed in acidulated water. The material is then in a condition for treatment by the paper-maker, who bleaches it with chlorine, and, by the usual process, prepares it for the rolls. It is said that fibre so prepared needs less chlorine than those usually used, and there can be no question as to the demand of some such process as this by which an immense by-product can be made available in the industrial arts. SOME interesting and significant experiments on the influence of certain compounds on the germination of seeds have recently been made by Häckel, the results of which appear to confirm views advanced by observers many years ago. Certain seeds which, when exposed to the action of pure water alone, began to germinate after eight days, when kept moist with iodine-water germinated in five days. With bromide-water the same result followed after three days, and when chlorinewater was used the interval was decreased to two days. These experiments belong to the order which "anybody can try," and we should be pleased to learn from our readers the results of any similar observation in this direction. In a former note attention was directed to a novel method proposed for the extinguishing of fires on shipboard. This consisted simply in placing, at given intervals along the floor of the hull, vessels containing broken marble or some other carbonate; to these leadpipes were to conduct sulphuric acid from tanks above. When the fire was discovered the hatches were to be instantly closed, the valves admitting the acid into the pipes opened, and, as a result, the carbonic acid disengaged by the union of the acid with the lime of the marble would fill the whole hull, and act as a smothering agent, thus extinguishing the fire by surrounding it with a nonsupporting atmosphere of carbonic-acid gas. A second and for many reasons a more practical application of the same principle, is that given by Lieutenant Barber, United States Navy, who, in a letter to the Scientific American, proposes to use the same gas for a like | balm for sin. A CORRESPONDENT of Science Gossip having claimed for the cypress of Somma, in Lombardy, the honor of being the oldest tree on record, his statement is met by a second writer who states that there is at Anuradhapura, in Ceylon, a bo-tree which was planted B. c. 288, two hundred and forty-six years before the birth of the Lombardy tree. Regarding this as the oldest tree, the writer states that it would have been blown down long ago but for a thick wall built around the trunk, and all its main branches are supported by pillars. The leaves that fall off are collected by Buddhist priests every day, and are kept in a holy part of the temple. They are also sold to the people as a sovereign A NOVEL method for aiding in the disinfecting of apartments has recently been devised by Reissig, of Darmstadt. It is in the form of fumigating canals, so composed that so long as they are lighted a continuous stream of sulphurous gas is given off. Miscellany: AND THERE. FROM Mrs. Harvey's "Every-Day Life in Spain" we make a second selection of entertaining passages : NEWSPAPERS IN MADRID. An amusing scene often takes place on the evenings when El Combate, a cheap republicat newspaper of advanced opinions, makes it appearance. Great latitude is allowed in Madrid to th press, and personal abuse of the ministe usually passes unnoticed; but El Combate som times exceeds all bounds, and occasionally i dulges in an article so exceptionally viole that the editor is fined, the paper suppresse and the day of its reappearance is doubtful. No sooner is the cry of "El Combat heard than the street is in an uproar. Ht dreds hurry out of the cafés, because every c who wishes to buy a copy must stand rea with his money in his hand, as the newsn come rushing along, disposing of their bund of papers as rapidly as possible; for, she an article be suspected and a gendarme apl in pursuit, the packets disappear in an inst and away go the venders down the maz narrow streets. We one evening saw such a chase, and exciting and amusing it was, a real chas law versus news; but the newsman had ca legs, of which he made good use, and, before he had arrived at the end of the Al his papers were all sold, and he had fairl tanced his pursuer, who, encumbered b long sword and other accoutrements, mad an ineffectual struggle, and gave in wh reached the rising ground near the midd the street. Of course, just now, intelligence is e sought for, and the evening papers h rapid sale; but, though they are read, r thinks of believing the intelligence the tain. "Son todos mentitores estan di mil disparates" (they say all sorts o sense), said our Spanish servant, as he b us a bundle of newspapers. And accou victories gained, with details of the |