Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-08-04
Properties of Glass.

Il And here's the catastrophe of my story.
Properties of Glass.
Glass has properties peculiarly its own ; one
Of which is that it is of no greater bulk when
hot, or in the melted state, than when cold
Some writers state that it is CONTRARY to the
analogy of all other metals,1 Of greater bulk
whenscold than when hot
1t is transparent i'll itself; but the materials
Of which it is composed are opaque. 1t is not
malleable, but in ductility ranks next to gold.
Its heXibility, also, is so great that when hot
it can be drawn out, like elastic thread, miles
in length in moment, and to a minuteness
equal to that of the silk work. Brittle, also,
to proverb, it is so elastic that it can be
blown to a gauze-like thinness, so as easily to
float upon the air. Its elasticity is also shown
by the fact that globe, hermetrically sealed,
if dropped upon polished anvil, will recoil
two thirds the distance of its fall, and remain
entire until the second or third rebound. (The
force with which solid balls strike each other
may be estimated at ten, and the reaction, by
reason of the elastic property, at nine.) Yes
sells called bursting glasses, are made of suf-
ficient strength to be drawn about door. A
bullet may be dropped into one without frac-
ture of the glass; even the stroke of mallet
sufficiently heavy to drive nail, has failed to
break such glasses. lii a word, ordinary
blows fail to produce an impression upon ar
ticles Of this kind. If however, piece of
flint cornelian, diamond, or other hard stone,
fall into one of these glasses, or be shaken
therein few moments, the vessel will break
into myriad of pieces.
Glass of the class called Prince Rupert
drop exhibits another striking property. Let
the small point be broken, and the whole flies
with a shock into powder. Writers have en-
deavored to solve the philosophy of this phe-
nomenon; some attributng it to percussion
putting in motion some subtle fluid, with
which the essential substance of glass is per-
meeted, and thus the attraction of cohesion
being overcome. Some denominate the fluid
electricity, and assert that it exists in glass in
great quantities, and is capable of breaking
glass when well annealed. These writers do
net appear to have formed any conclusion sat
istactory to themselves, and failed to afford
any well-dehned solution to the mystery. 3
Glass is used for pendulums, as not being
liable to affections from heat or cold. 1t is,
as is well known, a non conductor. No metal
lie condenser possesses an equal power with
one of glass. In summer, when moisture
fails to collect on a metallic surface open glass
will gather in on the exterior the slightest
breath of air evidently affecting the glass with
moisture. Dew will affect the surface of glass,
which is apparently uninAuential upon other
surfaces.
The properties of so-called musical glass
es," are strikingly singular Glass bowls,
partly filled with water, in various quantities.
will, as is well known, emit musical sounds,
varying with the thickness of their edges or
lips. When rubbed, too, with wet finger
gently, the water in the glass is plainly seen
to tremble and yibrate.
Bells manufactured of glass, have been
found the clearest and most sonorous; the
vibration Of sound extending to a greater de-
gree than i'll metallic wires or bells.
Glass resists the action of all acids, except
the "fuoric." 1t loses nothing in weight by
use or age 1t is more capable than all other
substances Of receiving the highest degree of
polish II melted several times over, and
properly cooled in the furnace, it will receive
a polish riyalling almost the diamond in bril-
hancy 1t is capable of receiving the richest
colors produced from gold or other metallic
coloring. and will retain its original brilliancy
of hue for ages. Medals, too, embedded in
glass, can be made to retain forever their
original purity and appearance.
Another singular property Of glass is shown
in the fact, that when the furnace, as the
workmen term it, is settled, the metal is per-
fectiy plain and clear but if, by accident, the
metal becomes too cool to work, and the fur
macs heat required to be raised, the glass,
which had before remained in the open pots
perfectly calm and plain, Immediately be-
comes agitated or boiling. The glass rises in
mass of spongy matter and bubbles, and is
rendered worthless. A change is, however,
Immediately effected, by throwing a tumbler
of water upon the metal, when the agitation
Immediately ceases, and the glass assumes its
original quiet and clearness.
a UNIVERSAL EDUcATIoN.-'sTrain up child
in the way he should go, and when he is old
he will not depart from it, Such is the pro-
mise which enables us to see to the end of
the dizzy whirl of wrong and misery in
which our race has long and sinfully suffered.
On wise and systematic truths and facts based
on the widest knowledge, the fountain of
morality, and tending ever to universal know
ledge as the only assurance of special or I'M
limited wen-being, rests the great hope of the
successful trial, renovation and elevation of
man.
Not the warrior, then, nor the statesman.
nor yet the master-worker, as such, but the
Great Teacher, in our day, leads the van
guard of humanity--wheth in the seminary
or by the way-side, by uttered word or printed
book, Our true king is not he who best d.
reefs the siege, or sets his squadrons in the
fierce array, or heads the charge, but he who
can and will instruct and enighten his fell
lows, SO that at least some few of the genera
ton of which he is member. shall be wiser,
purer, nobler, for his living among them, and
prepared to carry forward the work Of which
he was the humble instrument, to its far
grander snd lpftier contamination. "a
& Far above the eonquerer of kingdoms, fh
destroyer of hosts by the sword and bayonet.
is he whose fearless victories redden no river
and whiten no plain, but who leads the under
standing willing captive, and builds his
empire. not of the wrenched and bleeding
fragments Of subjugated nations. but on the
realms Of intellect which be has discovered.
and planted, and peopled with beneacent ae-
tivity and endearing joy.-Horecs Grseley.