The republic., 1851-02-20

tion il eleyating, instructing, and improving the
| truly wise and good Of our community. II is q
pleasing and gratifying thing to see the attention
whole families are giving to its lectures, and 70
know that there at least constant place OF re-
sort in our city for all who be entertained by
the teachings OF philosophy and wisdom.
CHIsooRAPHy.--It is important for learners oi
penmanship to start right. and it is equally import
ant for those who have learned bad habits to un-
learn them To be enabled TO do either, the in
structions OF Mr.. w. A. Richardson, at Lane and
fuckers new building, on Pennsylvania avenue,
are important. He is constantly teaching large
number of pupils OF all ages, and many are pre-
pared to commend him upon the testimony Of their
own experience. His visiting cards are cheaper
than engraved ones, and far more beautiful
Wnxs Is MAN DauNxs-This question, we be-
lieve has never been satisfactorily decided; but
Gaze arose the other night that ought to be regard
ed sufficient test. Two gentlemen Of no little
note in q neighboring county happened in their
rambles through Washington to get pretty tight,
as men are said to be when uncomfortably loose;
and in very audable effort to return TO their no
tel, blundered into the door of room in which =
steam engine had worked itself into tolerable
rage. "Chu-chu-chu! phiz-z-z-z." went the ma
chine, while great drum whixzed around most
furiously "What's thss" exclaimed one Of the gen.
tlemen. GA steamboat" said the other. ''To be
sure Il is said the fret; "didn'tI know that. Boy
what boat il this''' "The Phcnix,' said the pho
netc boy, speaking in two syllables "What's the
passage, boy?" "One-6fty," said the knowing
imp. "Well, here's the money" said the gentle
man, "show our berths." "Walk aft, ;" said the
bo.x Uh~ Lad IN uv~I thob bou
walked forward, and s perhaps still doing so. with
a cool "three" in his pocket. for he has not been
back for supply Of morning newspapers ever
since. Defrauded thus by winged Mercury, the
gentlemen had to put themselves under the protec-
tion of the d-l himself who led them to their ho-
tel in q far more gracious msnner than his great
nameaake had decoycd them away from it few
hours before.
NATIONAL HALL.-Sheridan Knowless beat play,
the Hunchback, is performed this evening, for the
purpose of Miss Davenport repeating her admira-
bic delineation of Julia. Mr.. Gilbert supports her
az Master Walter, and Mr.. Fenno as Sir Thomas
Clifford. Miss Davenports personation of Mrs..
BEVERLEY, in the Gamester, last night, was great
piece Of tragic acting.
CuRIous QUESTION IN NATURAL PHILosoPHy.--
Mr.. Hems enclose the following question, which
occurred to the mind ofa gentleman who does not
attend to mathematical calculus. 1t is connected
with natural philosophy. and appears 70 me TO
come within the sphere Of Mathematical calcula-
ton but there is of tho necessary data which
am not aware can be procured from our present
knowledge, and which would require series Of
experiments TO obtain. il, the distance to tcich
any noise or sound extends before Il becoses
dibIe. o.s
Some OF your readers may be able to throw some
light on this subject. ~
Russtion.-From what height must ball fall so
that, in striking object, the noise sound pro-
duced would be heard at the point from which the
ball fell, the loudcst possible, at q maximum,
supposing the atmospheric air TO be Of uniform
density at different hcights or as it is in natures
We pass. If any Of our readers think they can
"throw some light on this subject" the world has
its eyes open TO receive it. We would, however,
suggest that the skies should not be selected as
given altitude, nor spherical snowflake as the
descending ball. The preliminary query suggested
by correspondent, as to ''the distance to which
any noise or sound extends before il becomes inau
dibc." is a very grave one. but probahly does not
admit of as ready reply as would an inquiry into
it's extent after it becomes inaudibc. if except
the of the celebrated cave in which the words
s'how do you dol ." would be entirely lost be-
fore the echo would respond "prctty we'll. I
thank'ce!' But we arc informed that the ques-
ton 10 CONNECTED with natural philosophy" and
it should, therefore. not be treated lightly. al
though "ght on the subject" is the thing our cor
respondent would most delight in.