Excerpta.

Kaikoura Star, Volume XIV, Issue 790, 13 November 1894, Page 2

Excerpta.

—§ —- Chromium.

A communication made to the Acamedie des Sciences, by M. Henri Moissan, contains some new and interesting researches respecting the metal chromium. By availing himself of the intense heat produced by the electrical current, the experimentalist succeeded in preparing cast chrome in a very small quantity, which rnay be fairly represented by the formula C Cr. When treated with lime or the double oxide of calcium and chrome, the metal produced under those conditions is more infusible than platinum, and takes a very fine polish. It is moreover not attacked by atmospheric agents, not to any great extent by acids, and resists the action of aqua regia and of alkalies in fusion. This preparation of chrome leads to some very important results in connection with the alloys of the metal. Alloyed either with aluminum or ccpper, it possesses some remarkable qualities. When pure copper, for instance, is alloyed with 0.3 of chrome it becomes endowed with a double power of resistance, is susceptible of a high poolish, and undergoes less change when exposed to atmospheric influences than when in a condition of purity.

A Hole Through The Earth.

Where would a Ball dropfkd INTO IT COME TO A STOP ?

‘ W. M. J.,’ residing at Richmond, Mo., sends the following peculiar query to the editor of the St. Louis liepublic s ‘ Notes for the Curious,’ and asks for an answer to it.

* If it were possible to drill a hole of a foot or more in diameter entirely through the earth and then to start a ball weighing IOOIbs. or more to falling through the same at what point wonld it fitnp ?’

Answer : Weight, in the sense that * W. J. M.’ refers to it, is the measure of attraction of gravitation ; or, in other words, it is the measure of force with which a body is attracted by the earth. This attractive force decreases both ways from the surface of the earth, both outward into space or downward toward the globe’s supposed molten centre. In partial explanation of this assertion I will say that any given size bulk of iron, or any other mineral whatever, will weigh less on tho top of a high mountain than it will at sea level. In order to be exact in this matter I will say that a mass of l.OOOlbs. weight will lose exactly 2lbs. between tidewater and the top of a mountain four miles high. This, it is plain to be seen, is because the force of the earth’s attraction is much less on the mountain top than it is at sea level.

Therefore, if a ball be started on the journey outlined in the query sent in by our Richmond friend, its weight would decrease to a certain extent with every yard of its flight (or fall), until, finallv, upon reaching the centre of the earth, it would have no appreciable weight, the attraction at that point acting equally in every direction. This being true, it is plain that the phenomenon of what we know as ‘ weight ’ would bo entirely wanting, and the ball would be held in suspension as though immovably transfixed by numerous magnetic or invisible points.

About the Queen.

‘Apropos’ of the Queen’s recent sojourn at Balmoral, a North of Scotland newspaper has been gleaning from among the Deeside peasantry some new stories about her Majesty's early visits to her Highland residence. One of these relates to the boyliood of the Prince of Wales. The Pripce on ope occasion, >vhen he had temporarily escaped from the surveillance of the parental eye, played a trick op a young country hid, whom he saw approaching with a basket of eggs on his arm, the

result of the trick being to break all or most of the eggs.

The lad was a tough Aberdonian, and. could not brood this injury, so he turned to, and, doubling his fists, gave the Prince a thrashing in spite of the latter’s protests that he was the Prince of Wales.

‘ Prince an a’ though ye be,' said the boy, ‘ ye’d nae business tae break my eggs.’ Just then the Queen appeared, having seen part of the fray. She quietly said : ‘You are quite right, my lad ; he had no right to break your eggs, and he richly deserves what you have given him.’ Her Majesty afterwards made inquiries about the boy, and sent him to school at her own expense. Another story relates to her Majesty’s visits to the cottagers in the neighbourhood. On one occasion, when she had been making calls amongst the cottage women, she dropped in, on her way back to the Castle, at the house of an old woman who did not know her visitor. The old lady was both talkative and querulous; and, referring to a fete at which the Queen had been present that day, complained about people, including her own household, ‘running like mad to see a common clay woman.’ Her grievance was that she had to wait till her folks returned in order to get her tea, for she was too feeble to make it herself.

Quips and Cranks.

Curious—There are no counts in this country, and yet every man counts. A whim is a fly that buzzes in the empty chambers of an exhausted brain.

When a barrel is full it usually gets bunged up. And this is the case with a man.

The smile and the sob have always been the same in all languages, but profanity is not so primitive. The woman who is ‘ always on the go,’ generally doesn’t know how to stop when she gets there. It is not what one knows, but how one tells it, that determines one’s ability. It won’t do any good to pray for the South Sea Islander as long as you won’t speak to the man who lives in the next house.

Every man should have a good opinion of himself. He may find it bard to persuade other people to perform this arduous duty for him.

Somehow a man feels much worse the day after he has lost an hour's sleep on account of the baby than he does the day after be has lost five hours’ sleep at the club.