The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-05-24

TIE CLErSYDKA, OR WATER CLocK.-
The clcpsydra, or WAS water.clock, WIS in
troduccd into Rome in the year 1877. B. G..
I by y. Corrections Scipio Nucissa. This
clock consisted Of two hvliow cvlindrrs.
! placed one above another. From the upper
one, the water issued, drop by drop, into
the lower one. In this WAS lgat body
which tioatc1. and as the cylinder gradual
ly filled with water, this light body rose.
and by means Of certain marks indicated the
| time of the day. But there WIS one great
! difficulty in all these clocks. At first the
water flowed out rapidly, and afterwards
more slowly, so that they required great
deal OF care and regulation. In the scvrn-
trrmth century much care WAS given to the
! Improvement Of watcr.clucks J he most
! ingenious of these VAS effected by an Italian
priest, who lived at Bologna. but the clock
Was 'rought to opcrtrctiOn by Tallusson. pro-
lessor Of law ut Toulouse, and a clergyman
| named De LlsIe. Ii consisted Of a cylinder
divided into several small cells, suspended
by 4 thread fixed to its axis, in a frame. on
which the hour distances found by trial
were marked. As the water flowed from
one cell to another, it caused the cylinder to
rnvolvc slowly.
\ very ingenious application Of tho p in
ciPIc OF the clcpsydra for mcasurcing minute
! portions of time is due to the late Can't.
ii. katcr. Instead of water he used mcr-
curry.
| TYRIAN PURPLE.-The famous dive, called
| Tyrian purple. WAS not true purple. but
was garnet, or deep rose-coIor, like fresh
blood. 1t was called Tyrian purple, be-
cause the Phcncians, whose capital was
! Tyre, We're famous for this particular dive.
1t was the juice contained in the little bag
or sac of II shell fish. 1t also cxudcd from
the shells of the animals, but in such small
Quantities as to make the dye very dear.
FISHING FIsH.-Prof Owen, in the course
of lecture before the Royal Institute, Lon.
don, gives an account OLA peculiar fish which
is provided with an apparatus resembling
iishing-tarkcl. a bone projecting from the
upper jaw is the rod and from il hapos =
bright red substanc which s~~vrs fLc n,,r
pose of Il bait. The fish first burics itself
in the sand, all but this apparatus, and by
moving it backward and forward, attracts
the smaller fishes which catch hold ofthc
bait, and are instantly transferred to its month
a boy called dOctcr TO visit his father.
VINO had the Ccrium lremcns; not rightly
remembering the name Of the d,asc, he cal.
led it the devils trcmblcs, ,-.-makinp bad
Latin, bat very good EH5Ish
why does father call mother honey
asked Il boy Of his elder brother,
Ian think, cept because she's got a
comb in her heac"
The CiLcinatt Enquirer tells m anecdote
of n pious old gentleman, who told his woy.
ward sons not TO go. under any circumstan-
ces, fishing on the Sabbath; but if they did,
all means bring home the fish.
The celebrated Whitson, dining with La
dy JekylI, she asked why woman was made
out Of rib
"lndccd, my lady," replied he, ~ don't
know, except it was because the rib is the
crooEedest part of the body"
II You would be happy, take the papers,
we never knew man out Of humor, cash or
piety, who had the latest news on his shoul-
ders. Newspapers and happiness are broth.
ers and sisters
why do you not admire my daughterslo
sad proud mother to a gentleman.
"Because," replied he,"l am no Judge of
paintings"
What part Of scripture do two ladies' fuI.
NIL when they kiss each other Doing nm.
10 Others what they would that men should
do unto them,