How to become a scientist : $b Giving interesting and instructive experiments in chemistry, mechanics, acoustics and pyrotechnicsWarford, Aaron A.
Science
How to become a scientist : $b Giving interesting and instructive experiments in chemistry, mechanics, acoustics and pyrotechnics
Warford, Aaron A.
Scientific recreations
This instrument consists of a long, narrow box of very thin deal, about
six inches deep, with a circle in the middle of the upper side of an
inch and a half in diameter, in which are to be drilled small holes. On
this side seven, ten or more strings of very fine catgut are stretched
over bridges at each end, like the bridges of a fiddle, and screwed up
or relaxed with screw-pins. The strings must all be tuned to one and
the same note, and the instrument should be placed in a window partly
open, in which the width is exactly equal to the length of the harp,
with the sash just raised to give the air admission. When the air blows
upon these strings with different degrees of force, it will excite
different tones of sound. Sometimes the blast brings out all the tones
in full concert, and sometimes it sinks them to the softest murmurs.
A colossal imitation of the instrument just described was invented at
Milan in 1786 by the Abbate Gattoni. He stretched seven strong iron
wires, tuned to the notes of the gamut, from the top of a tower sixty
feet high, to the house of a Signor Moscate, who was interested in
the success of the experiment; and this apparatus, called the “giant’s
harp,” in blowing weather yielded lengthened peals of harmonious music.
In a storm this music was heard at a greater distance.
FIREWORKS.
We know full well the intense delight taken by boys in risking their
limbs or their lives, especially when such risk is accompanied with
noise. Boys always have done so, and always will do so in spite of the
very best of advice or precautions. As, therefore, it is impossible
to keep them from making noises, and endangering themselves, we have,
in this article, endeavored to show them how to make as much noise as
possible, with as little danger as possible.
What is there that makes the most noise, and is most dangerous?
Gunpowder, of course. Therefore, we have given descriptions of the
best methods of employing this material, feeling quite sure that of
accidents with gunpowder nine out of every ten are caused by ignorance.
We knew a boy who lost the use of a thumb, and took all the skin off
the palm of his right hand, by ignorant management of powder. He had
read of blasting rocks, and nothing would satisfy him but blasting
a bank. So he bored a deep hole in it with a stick, filled the hole
with gunpowder, and then poked a lighted lucifer into the powder. The
consequence was that his face was so scorched as not to be recognized,
all his eyebrows and eyelashes, and most of his hair were burned off,
while his right hand was injured, as has been already mentioned. Now
that boy had been studiously kept out of the way of powder by female
relatives, and was naturally profoundly ignorant of its effects. Had he
been taught to handle it, he would not now be forced to keep his right
hand closed, or to write by holding the pen between the fingers of his
clenched hand.
Gunpowder.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account