Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-07-01
Facts for the Curious.


antiquity, and probably had it's origin in Egypt
and Persia, rthe inhabitants of those couatries
used wax in the embslning Of bodies.
DILErrANTI.-This is an Italian word ap-
piled to an admirer or lover of the fine arts
one who delights in their pursuit. The word
is almost Synonymous with AMATEUR but does
not imply so much practical knowledge.
Urop1A.-Thls was the title of work writ
ten by Sir Thomas More, describing an i'm
agnary republic. The words has been adopted
in the same sense, to signify whatever is unreal
or visionary.
Om-PA1NrINGs ON WooD.-The Oldest pic
ture of this description known at present, is
preserved in the Imperial Galley at Vienna.
1t was painted in the year 1907, by an artist
named Thomas de Mutina, in Bohemia.
OAKs-One of the smallest oaks is the Mexi-
cana Quercus ,Nericana.) which never exceeds
two feet i'll length; and one Of the largest, the
Qucrcitron (Qucrcus Zinctoria,) or black oak
generally grows to above one hundred feet.
The longest known current of modern lava
on the earth, is in Iceland, extending 60 miles,
while from the foot of the largest volcanic conc
on the southern limb Of the moon dvergng
streams of lave flow to the distance Of 600
miles
ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETIsM.-Th word
Electricity is derived from the Greek e'ectron
which signifies amber" This name was given
from the circumstance that the dscoyerer of
electricity, Thales of Metus, found it to arise
from the traction of amber. Magnetism comes
from the Latin word Magnes, which means
j." the oadstone," or stone that attracts iron.
ELGIN MARBLEs.-T precious rollces Of
ancient art were named after Thomas, Earl OF
Elgin. who brought them from Athens, with
incredible pains and toll, to England, where
they were purchased by the Government. and
deposited in the British Museum. These scuIp-
lures were imagined and directed by Phidias
and executed in part by his chiseI.
S~rREoTYPING.-The first idea Of casting
in metal plates emanalod rom ohe William
Ged, printer of Edinburg, in l725. About
fifty years afterwards it was revived by Tiloch
and was subsequently adopted by the celebrat ed
Diderot of Paris, and ultimately brought tc
perfection by Earl Stanhope The convenience
of this method is very great, as reprint car
take place at any time, and any required numbe
of copies, however small, can be taken off; an
the expense of decomposition is thus saved.
IMPRESSIONS FROM MEDALS AND COINS
Mes little isinglass glue with spirits of wine
and pour it thinly over the metal, SO as to cove
its whole surface. Let it remain on for a day
or two, till it is thoroughly dried and hardened
and then taking it off, it will be fine, clear, anC
as hard as piece of Muscovy glass, and will
have an excellent impression Of the coin. |
will also resist the effects of damp air, which
occasions all other kinds of glue to soften and
and bend, if not prepared in this way.
Dry GILDING.-This is a light method Of
gliding, by sleeping linen rags in solution of
gold then burning them, and, with a piece of
cloth dipped in salt water, rubbing the ashes over
silver intended to be gilt. This method re-
qures neither much labor nor much gold, and
may be employed with advantage for carved
work and ornaments 1t is not, however, du-
rable.
INsEcrs,-The English word insect is derived
from the Latin word inSectum, which is probably
a corruption or contraction of interSectum cut
between y and the name as applied to a class of
animals, is doubtless suggested by the bodies Of
these animals being so made up of distinct parts
as to give the appearance of their being notched
, or ntersected.