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easier (lone. Is a plain surface required ? the
machine furnishes it better than man can with
all his skill. Is a shaft required the sliding
lathe shall present it, perfect, in all its pro
portions. Is an immense cylinder required to
he bored out exact in its dimensions, the ma
chine with scarcely the intervention of a mas
ter accomplishes the lask. The machine
shop has its wonders and beauties, visible
only to the eye of the initiated.
i —i
ICE IN HOT ASHES.
A traveller, who lately visited Mount Et
na, gives the following account of a phe
nomenon which struck his notice :—“ The
main crater is about five hundred feet deep
at this time (so say the guides) but I think
this must be. pleasured down the slope of the
funnel. I could not, however, see to the bot
tom, owing to the volleys of sulphurous
smoke whirling up ever and anon, accompa
nied by a rumbling noise, and occasionally
by a slight vibration of the ground under
foot. Here I found, amid the warm ashes,
on the slope of the crater within, heavy crys
tals of ice set all at one angle, and curved
like a shark’s teeth. I picked up one piece
as big as a walnut and asked the guide if he
could account for its presence. Far be it from
him to give a “rationale” of anything of the
sort; it would derogate from the dignity of
Etna. It reminded me of a chemicai exper
iment played of by a French savant at one of
the late “Scienziati” meetings. He made!
water freeze in a red hot cup. The silver \
or platina being brought to a red heat, a few
drops of water are thrown in, which do not
evaporate, but jump about. Sulphuric acid
is now poured in, which in the act of boiling
produces so intense a cold by the disengage
ment of its latent heat, that the drop of wa
ter at once turns to ice. I opine the chemical
process here to be the same, only on Nature’s
grand scale. The morning mists supply the
moisture, and within the crater there is no
lack of sulphurous mixture boiling as in a
retort; hence as hot fumes ascend, the crys
tals of ice are precipitated. If any one re
jects this solution of mine, let him find a bet
ter, remembering he is to account for pieces
of ice forming on a bed of warm ashes. The
principle of “disengagement of latent heat”
may also account for the severity of the cold
felt on Etna, whrch is far greater than is due
to its eleyation.”
gold Tens.
Few persons are probably conversant with
the extent to which this useful article has
been introduced, or the present capital inves
ted in its manufacture.
The first gold pen was made in 1836, the
use of the metal for this purpose having been
suggested to Mr. Brown of New York, by a
clergyman. Brown was succeeded in the
business by Bagley and others, and a capital
of SBO,OOO is now employed by Bagley in the
manufacture: $75,000 worth per annum, has
been sold by one house in New York, of this
article.
In the manufacture of pens, the gold is first
rolled out into ribbands, and then cut with a
die to the proper shape, the points put on, and
ground down to the required nib. The points
are composed of irridium, anew metal formed
with platinum, and costing from $7.00 to $55
per ounce. It is estimated that at least
$1,000,000 of gold pens, per annum, are made
in this country; eight hundred pounds weight
of gold are used up every year in this small
article! who would have thought it! Yet
such is the fact. The demand for the article
is enormous, and it is now difficult to find a
person who writes at all, unprovided with
this most economical of pens, Nor is the use
confined to our own land, but large quanti
ties are exported to Europe. One invoice , of
1,000 gross, has been sent to England, where
they sell for a guinea(ss 00) a piece.
Fertilizing Effects of Rain-Water.—
Rain is never absolutely pure water: it is
variously impregnated; and this in conse
quence of two offices which it seems to have
to perform (not to mention others); namely, j
the purifying of the atmosphere, and the fer
tilizing of the earth, Carbonic acid, oxygen,
and azote, are always contained in it, and the
former in considerably larger proportion than
in the atmosphere, oxygen being more solu
ble in water than azote. And besides these, 1
there are other matters, such as carbonate of
ammonia,.and various substances, which it
brings down with it, exercising its purifying
function, upon the atmosphere, in which they
were suspended, or dissolved. — Dr. Davy.
Newspapers in Boston. —It appears by the
Boston Almanac, that there are 14 daily pa
pers published in Boston ; nine semi-weekly,
and 57 weekly—total; 80.
©©©uriauM n.a'u'&LEiitßY ®&ssif it $ ♦
PI Column Grrrttci) to -fun.
A TALE OF A BAKED EEL-PIE.
An English paper tells a tale which hap
pened near Dog-lane, Romford, and which
shows that the school-mistress, in her peram
bulations through the country, ought to car
ry a cook with her. A brazier in that locali
ty had captured a snug haul of eels in the
gullet, and, with a chuckle at their delicious
ness, handed them over to the house-wife for
a pie. She, good soul, not being very deeply
read in the secrets of Soyer, in the hurry of
her cookery, entirely overlooked the skinning
and killing, and into the oven they went, be
neath a mass of crisp crust, wrinkled nicely
round the rim, and a hole as if for the special
accommodation of the inmates in the centre.
Os course, as the crust began to brown, the
eels began to feel rather fidgety; and when
the daughter opened the oven, soon after, she
found some of them inspecting the neighbor
ing delicacies in search of cooler quarters,
and others peeping through the crust to see
what was the matter, with their heads sadly
burnt in the experiment. This was a good
joke to all but the husband, who did not seem
quite so tickled as the eels were by this novel
treatment of the dainty morsels; but he, good
man, was obliged to take his dinner as he
took his wife, “ for better or for worse,” and
sit down content with his cookery.
1 ■ i
A DIVING BELL.
A funny incident happened a few days ago
on the Lawrence cars, which is thus related
by the Lowell Journal.
A substantial wholesome looking Irish la
dy was so intent in her gossip with a friend
in the cars just as they were starting from
Lawrence, that she did not awake up to the
reality until she was making a course for
Boston at a twenty mile speed. The instant
she perceived this, she rushed for the door.
Conductor Billings, a very gallant man and
exceedingly tender of woman kind, started to
stop her, and arrived at the platform just as
the frightened woman made her leap. Luck
ily the cars were upon the canal bridge; and
as she shot out the speed of the cars turned
her over in the neatest possible somerset, and
then down she went straight as a mealbag,
bonnet first, into the canal. The dive was
beautiful, and as she arose, puffing with fright
a board was thrown to her, and she soon
found herself, dripping like a fat naiad, upon
dry land, unharmed, but a good deal scared,
as she might be. Last night she came up’ in
the cars, looking as nice as a sunflower, and
calm as a summer morning.
•> —i
VERY FUNNY,
The Philadelphia Dispatch tells an excel
lent story connected with the whipping-post
of Delaware, where a man by the name of
Smith received twenty lashes, “well laid on,”
for some offence of which he had been con
victed, against the good people of that im
mense commonwealth. The culprit, instead
of bellowing like “ ten thousand” when the
sturdy constable applied the lash, laughed all
the time most immoderately in themidstof his
groans and oil’s, which made the angry offi
cer lay on still harder, without, however, les
seneing in the least the extraordinary hilari
ty of the prisoner. On giving the twentieth
blow, with all his strength, which made the
blood spirt, and broke his whip, the constable
could stand it no longer.
“ Well, here, mister, said the offended offi
cer. “I’ve done my duty, and can’t lick ye no
more; but I*d just like to know what is is
that’s so funny I”
“Funny! Ha! ha!” roared the other.
“Funny! Why, it’s the best joke I ever
heard of ! Ha! ha! ha! ha! Excellent!
good! ha! hal Whew! Oh! Ha! ha!” said
he, as alternately his pain and his merriment
predominated.
“Funny! Well, what is it?—what is the
joke ?”
“ The joke!” now roared the other—“ why
it’s excellent! You've got the wrong Smith !
I aint the man that was to be whipped ! It's
the other one! Now you’ll have to go it all
over again! Really’, it’s too good! You
must lick the other man ! Ha ! ha!” roared
he, as they took him back to prison to dress
his wounds.
We remember witnessing the com
plete discomfiture ol a wit, of no inferion or
der, by a message, politely delivered, at a
supper party by a little gill :—“ If vou please
Mr. B -, mamma sends her compliments
and would be much obliged if you would be
gin to be funny”
£!jc ill or king fltan.
SIMPLE AFFINITY.
Some Water and Oil
One day had a boil,
As down in a they were dropping,
And would not unite,
But contiuued to fight,
Without any prospect of stopping,
Some Pearlash o’erheard,
And quick as a word,
He jumped in the midst of the clashing,
Whed all three agreed, ♦
And united with speed,
And Soap was created for washing.
GUTTA PERCHA WORKS.
The editor of a London paper recently vis
ited the extensive works belonging to the Gut
ta Percha Company, in Wharf-road, City
road. He writes:—
The pre mises in which the business of the
Company is carried on, cover a large area of
ground. Several floors of the building are
devoted to the operations of the workmen,
amounting to nearly one hundred and seven
ty individuals, including a sprinkling of stout
hearty-looking boys. The basement is oc
cupied by two steam-engines, without whose
presence the works would be by no means
complete. These groan from “ early mom
till dewy eve,” in turning lathes, in the en
gineering department, in kneading the gutta
percha, cutting out soles and heels for boots
and shoes, rolling out driving-bands of every j
dimension, and heating the steam-chests, by
which the gutta percha is rendered pliable
and fit for the hands of the workmen. On
the principal floor there are several powerful
hydraulic presses, used in the process of man
ufacture ; and we had the good fortune to wit
ness the production of a complete dessert ser
vice of the most chaste and elegant pattern, !
in imitation of gnarled oak. The subject of
adornment, were brought out in high relief,
and after undergoing the process of varnish
ing, were surprisingly beautiful, light, and in
capable of being fractured or broken by a fall
or a blow. Some of these sets were of the
vine-leaf pattern, in close imitation to nature. !
These things were pressed out with some rap
idity, but not without great manual labor, :
notwithstanding the aid of the powerful press
es alluded to. Inkstands of the most beauti
ful character, were also fashioned in a short
time; indeed, all sorts of ornaments, elabora
ted with the most ingenious devices, were
made during our stay. We observed a vast
deal of ornamental work, intended to super
sede the labor of the carver. There were
frames of large dimensions ready for the re
ception of pictures. We were particularly
struck with the appearance of one intended
for a large pier-glass. The foliage was of
the most sumptuous workmanship, and pos
sessed a sharpness and finish, which the hand
of man could scarcely accomplish. A design
for a Bible cover was exhibited. The sub
ject harmonized with the nature of the book
it was intended to enclose, and was in bold
relief. It is believed that gutta percha, will
in a short time, be in general use among book
binders, not only in the shape of massive cov
ers, but to supersede the present cotton bind
ing, which has so pretty an appearance, but
is not of that lasting character as to induce
persons to adopt it, in cases where strength
and durability are required. In other portions
of the factory, workmen were employed in
making instruments used by surgeons, to he
employed in cases of a delicate nature ; oth
ers were finishing off the numerous objects i
just turned out or the moulds. Amongst the
ai tides of curiosity we observed several yards i
of gutta percha rendered exceedingly thin by j
machinery, and intended for ladies’ dresses;
It was of a light pink color, by no means dis
pleasing to the eye, and possessed of great
strength. By the aid of delicate machinery
the gutta percha was run out into thread, to
be used in the manufacture of ladies’ work
bags, fishing-nets, and for a hundred other
purposes. Large tubing, and some with an
inconceivably small bore, was run out to
lengths of various dimensions. Waggon and
cart harness, of enormous strength, combined
with lightness, we observed hanging up in
the establishment, besides gentlemen’s riding
whips, and thongs of every kind. Greatly as
we were delighted with all these things, we
had yet another treat to come, which infinite
ly surpassed any thing we had seen. We
were shown several specimens of enormous
pannelling, imitation of ancient oak, on which
the carving of the original design was brought
up with remarkable fidelity. Considering
that gutta percha is an indestructible materi
al, we have little hesitation in stating, that
the mansions of the Nobility will soon l>e dec
| prated with* ornamental work produced by
this new system of multiplying objects n ro dn.
ced by the ancients to their glory and eternal
honor. The gutta percha works are under
the direction of Mr. Frederick Moore, a gen
tleman of great intelligence and mechanical
knowledge.
EDITOR’S DEPARTMENT^
I ATHENS: SATURDAY, JAN. 13, 1849.
VALUABLE PRIZES!
The Editor of the Southern Literary Gazette, le
ing desirous of developing and encouraging Literary
Talent in the South, has resolved to offer the sum of
One Hundred Dollars, in prizes, as exhibited in
the annexed schedule:
THE FIRST PRIZE
For the best Tale of the South, . . Fifty Dollars.
TIIE SECOND PRIZE
For the second best Tale, . . . Twenty Dollars
THE FIRST PRIZE
For the best Poem, Twenty Dollars,
OR A COPY OF harper’s SPLENDID PICTORIAL BIBLE.
THE SECOND PRIZE
For the second best Poem, Ten Dollars,
All competitors must send in their MSS. before
the first day of February next, and they must
come, if by post, pre-paid. They should be legibly
written on one side of a sheet only. The authors’
names must be sent in separate sealed envelopes,
which will not be opened until the prizes have been
, selected —when the successful competitors will be an
nounced. The articles will be submitted to the ex
amination and decision of a Committee, composed of
several gentlemen of distinguished character, whose
names will be announced in due time. The award
of prizes may he expected to be made known in the
last number for the present year, and the publication
of the First Prize Tale will be commenced with the
New Year.
The articles offered in competition will become
the property of the Editor, and those which are
deemed worthy will appear in the Gazette.
All communications relating to the prizes must be
addressed, post-paid, to the Editor.
COMMITTEE OF AWARD.
The following gentlemen have kindly consented
to act as Judges upon the articles offered in compe
tition for the above prizes:
Professor JAMES P. WADDELL,
Dr. HENRY HULL,
JAMES W. HARRIS, Esq.
Subscribers to Newspapers.
We have something to say to a very numerous
class of people— the subscribers to newspapers ; ami
as there are some among our own readers who ban
what appear to us very singular notions of proprie
ty, we shall take the liberty of speaking out—trust
ing that those of our patrons who are not included
in our remarks, will pardon them, and that those
who are, will profit by them.
In the first place, then, wc would have some sub
scribers to newspapers learn the very obvious truth
that it is one thing to find fault with a journal, ac
another thing to conduct it with more ability aD( -
discretion. There are persons who really fancy,.*®
suppose, that if they were only in the
chair, they would make a newspaper, the trainee
ent merit of which should extort praise from ciery
reader, and which should be not only in gen 1 nil,
in the minutest particular, a model of
We simply beg leave to express our conviction,
such persons manifest a perfect ignorance of humo
nature, and a very laughable degree of self-esteem
Secondly, we would have other subscribers k
that before they pass sentence upon the oemcuk
any Journal, they should carefully estimate- by
knowledged standards, their fitness for the a( J**
cation. It is barely possible, let us with all ®
ence be permitted to say, that they may be lae
in some very important, nay, essential quali
for the censorship they propose to exercise.
may be destitute of those perceptions
dispensable to make them suitable judges,
not suppose cases —contenting ourself by meie .
minding such generous, se’f appointed crilie-