Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-09-17

trability, and that the ocean of air which sur
rounds the earth, possesses it equally with the
solid rocks which form the crust of the earth
may be shown by the following simple expert
ment.
Place piece of cork on the surface of water
contained in any convenient vessel, and take
glass tumbler and inyert it over the cork so as
to bring its edge in contact with the water. A
portion of air is now detached from the surroun-
ding atmosphere. If now the jar be pressed
down so as to be entirely immersed, the pres
ence of the confined air in the tumbler will be
found to exclude the water from its inside and
the cork will be seen floating at the mouth of
the tumbler, thus proving that the water has
not entered its inside.
The experiment may be varied in the follow
ing manner.
Instead of tumtler take glass jar, put
handkerchief into the inside, which must be so
secured that it will not fall out when the jar is
inverted. Now invert and press the jar below
the water as before, on removing the jar from
the water and taking out the handkerchief it
will be found to be perfectly dry.
Float candle on piece ofwood or cork. In
vert jar over it and press the jar down into the
water. The light will be seen burning below
the surface of the water, and will gradually be-
come extinguished. This proves that the water
does not enter the jar, otherwise the extinction
had been instantaneous.
One of the distinctions Of modern times, is
that science has passed from speculation into life.
1t is not only pursued as source of intellectual
qualification, but it is made use of as mighty
power by which nature herselfis subdued and
the comforts and convenience of life increased.
We are indebted to the discovery Of the in
penetrability of air for gasometers or reservoirs
of gas They are formed on this principle. A
large iron vessel is inverted IN water and sup
piled with gas by means Of pipes from an ad-
Joining mandatory. All day long the metre or
vessel may be observed filling, and its top may
be seen to rise. Towards night, a weight is
made to descend on the top of the risen vessel,
and its pressure forces the gas into the pipes by
which it is conveyed to all parts of a town or
city. By this contrivance the darkness of night
is dispersed, morality is improved and crime
lessened, for every passer by is now detective
policeman, and.we walk securely from our places
Of business to our homes, through brilliantly il
Illuminated streets.
The Diving Bell is constructed on the prncl-
pie of the impenetrability Of air. A vessel in
the form of bell is inverted in water, and the
impenetrability of the air not allowing the water
to enter, workmcn may 60 underneath and de-
scend uninjured to the sea. But it must be
obvious, that the air in the bell must soon be-
come unfit for respiration, to remedy which de-
feet continual supply Of fresh air is by means
of an all pump conveyed by pipes into the bell,
which is thus kept constantly overfowing with
air. the superabundant air escaping under the
bell and rising in bubbles to the surface Of the
water.
The diving bell is used extensively in most Of
the royal dock yards in England, for the repair
inc of the bottom of vessels. 1t is also used in
the pearl fisheries in Ceylon and South America,
and for the recovery of property lost in wrecked
and sunken ships.-Arthurs Home Gazette.