Random Readings.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 707, 26 September 1914, Page 6

Random Readings.

.WHAT THE KALENDS WERE. Kalends, or Calends (from the Greek kaleo, I call or proclaim), in tho ancient Roman calendar was tho name given to tho first day of every month. It was tho day when tho order of day a was proclaimed; hence, literally', proclamation-day. Every Roman month had threo chief days: Kalcndac (tho Kalends), Nonao (the Nones), which fell on the fifth day of tho month, excepting the months of March, May, July and October, when they iell on the 7th; and Idus (tho Ides), which fell on the 13th or tho 15th, according as the Nones were on tho /sth and 7th. The None.9 wore so called because they fell on tho ninth day before tho Ides, the Romans always including tho first and last day in .speaking of tho interval between any two days. Those throe days (the Kalends, Nones, and Ides) were taken as points from which -the other dayp were reckoned backwards ; and any particular date waa expressed by saying that it! was so many days before the Kalends, Nou.es, or Idas, as the case might tho number, as stated above, including the two extreme days. Tims, May 26th would be tho sixth day before tho Kalends of Juno; June 10th would bo tho fourth day before tlie Ides (12th) of June; and July 3rd would bo tho fifth day before tho Non'ois (7th) of July. The Inst day of any month wtm always called "tho day beforo tho Kalends" of the succeeding month (pridio kal.). Interest fell duo on tho first day of every month; bonce Horftco speaks of that day as trisles kalendao (the sorrowful Kalandes); arid a common expression among tho Romans, which aeems to partake of pleasantry, was solvere ad Graecas lcalendns (to pay on tho Greek Kalends), which roa'ly meant never to pay at nil, thei'Q being no kalends in the Greek year.

WHAT IS GERMAN SILVER P Gorman silver is a whito alloy. Everybody knows that. But in answering tko above quostion a writer in "Things Technical" tells us that it consists of nickel, copper, and zinc, the best quality being mado up of four parts sine. This quality, however, is the most difficult to work. It is known under probably a greater number of names than any other alloy. In England and the United States it is known as nickel silver, packfong, white copper, silveroid. Nevade silver and electrum. It is very ductile, and can bo hammered, rolled, stamped and drawn. At the same time it possesses tho properties of being hard, tough, and not easily corroded. Lead, iron, and tin are frequently 1 found as impurities in German silver. Iron alloys perfectly with it, increasing the strength, hardness and elasticity of the alloy, at the same time making it whiter. Tin, on tho othor hand, does not enter into tho alloy in the same way as iron, but forms a mixture which renders it brittle and unfit'for rolling. Even when present in small quantities, it gives the alloy a yellowish color. Lead does not alloy with German silver, but separates out as metallic lead. When the alloy is to bo cast and subsequently turned upon a lathe, from 2 to 3 per cent, of lead is added, as it enables tho latho to be worked at a higher speed and gives a better finish to the work. German silver is made by melting the metals in graphite crucibles. In order to produce a more homogeneous alloy, and to lessen tho oxidation of the zinc, tho separate metals are not melted together; but alloys of copper and nickel, and copper and zinc, ar,c used, and Bhortly before pouring, a small quantity of zinc is added to overcome the offect of tho voLatilation of the zinc and ensure a thorough deoiidation of the alloy. . Tho metal is cast in iron moulds previously berated and coated with oil or mixtures of charcoal and oil or rosin and oil. The tompcraturo of casting is a very important point. If tho temperature is too high tho metal will ho full of blowholes, and will eraok in rolling. If, on tho other hand, it is oajst at a low temperature, ft itends to solidifyi aa it touches the mould, with the result that there is imperfeot cohesion ef the metal. As the metying-point ofi German. w'lver is higher than that of brass, it nwist be cftst rapidly, or tlai© orucihle must be returned to the fur»ace and be reheated. If the metal is to be rolled into sheets, moulds 16in. to 18in. long, 4in. to Gin. widp, and lin. to lj-in. thick are used. When intended for wire, thfc mouMa aro 4Jft. to sft. lang, 3}in. wide, and ljin. thick. Gorman silver, besides being used for many scientific instruments, is frequently used as a base in cheap grades of silver-plate ware. German silver, containing CO per cent, copper, 14 per cent, nickel) 24 per cent, zinc, and 1 to 2 per cent, tungsten, is used, under the name of platinoid, for electrical resistances. It has also been alloyed with silver for jewellery and.subsidiary coinage. Aluminium and magnesium, have also been alloyed with German silver; but, owing to tho high cost, these alloys never found extended use.. Gorman silver can bo readily soldered. Tho usual composition of Gorman silver solder is: Copper 47 por cont.y nickel 11 per cent., and zino 42 per cent.