Eastern times., 1855-05-03

February, AFTER Whlch II decreased, aud was
lost in May but during this time, the lady
observed the effect to be greatest when her
mind was tranquil and cheerful. and least when
she was agitated or c"ld She had no inward
consciousness of the presence or absence of the
electric power when it existed in intensity.
while sitting at her needle work, she was tor
mented by the sparks every time she touched
her scissors, knittng-needles, the poker, or
anything metallic and when quietly reading
near the stove, three or four sparks minute
would pass from her to the mass Of iron Her
health was delicate; and she continued sub
ject TO similar manifestation till her death,
which happened few years after.
Turning from domestic to industrial life, we
meet with another mode of electrical develop
ment. The proprietor of a cotton factory at
Manlius, in the state of New York, observed
that when his machinery was in motion, and
the drums with leathern straps making nearly
300 revolutions in a minute, all the loose cot
ton-fbres within a short distance Of the strap
were attracted towards it, stretching out in
quick agitation. as though being tugged from
their attachments. If any of the work-peope
passed under the strap, although their heads
were four feet from it, their hair would be
drawn straight up. like quills upon the fret
ful porcupiue.' Fibres OF cotton held near
would fly to the strap, and sometimes come
and go repeatedly from it to the hand the eff
feet being most marked when the strap was
frightened, and the friction therefore greatest.
Here, though the nature of the climate had an
influence in producing the phenomenon, the
fact that leather is good EXETER of electric
ity is likewise of Importance Franklin once
said, that with leather cylinder, it would be
easy 10 make portable electrical-machine
But still greater excitement has been wit
messed in another factory, near the sea-shore,
In the state Of Maine, where the atmosphere
is generally damp although this phenomenon
strap, IN this case, when in motion would give
off spark to the knuckle at II inches dis
tance, TO the finger three feet distant. and an
electrical brush 10 black-lead pencil at four
feet, while steel-point at feet became lu-
miaous. The work, indeed, could not be car
ried on, for the loose, light 'royinss we're act
ually attracted from their place; nor was il,
MI the machinery was connected by wire to
an iron sieam-pipe that The Inconvenience
ceased. A strip of leather, held near the
swittiy-moving belt, drew out Jets and flashes
resembling an aurora in miniature.
Similar phenomena have been observed in
factories In this country. In 1888, the vicar
of kelghiey, in Yorkshire. sent an account TO
Mr. Faraday, of singular electrical effects in
a woisted-mill in that town Here also was
ieaihern strap, passing over two drums, and
crossed midway, so as 10 resemble the figure
r, and it was at the point of crossing that the
effects we're exhibited. Presenting the knuck-
les, numerous brilliant brushes of electric
streamed off; prime conductor drew sparks
two inches in length; large Leyden jar could
be charged in few seconds and at any time.
for the electricity was constant. In fact said
the writer TO the learned professor, in con-
cluding his statement, 'if this strap had the
advantage of silk flaps and a little amaigam,
it would rival the machine in the lecture room
in Albemare Street.
Another instance was observed at Glasgow,
three four years ago, in an engineering fac
tory. The floors of the building are of as
phalt, laid on arches of corrugated iron, sup
ported BY iron columns. Some time after The
machinery had been set agoing, the work-peo-
pie found themselves troubled by shocks of
electricity, and in one room so severe, that
measures had to be taken to divert the excite
ment, BY wires leading to the iron columns.
In this room was fixed large cast-iron lathe,
and comprehensive apparatus for turning,
worked by leathern bands A shock could be
taken at any time when the machinery was in
motion, by touching the iron of the lathe with
one hand and the column with the other and
on holding the end of the wire at a quarter of
an inch from the column, stream of sparks
passed from one to the other. Held nearer,
the light was constant An electro-magnet,
placed in the current, acquired great intensi-
fy, and an effect was produced on the needle
of the mul,iplier and the compass-needle.-
Tested by the elecirometer, the electricity was
found to be positive and so great was the
excitement, that at two feet from the belt
nearly the whole of one of the gold leaves was
torn away, and remained adherent to the side
of the jar for some hours. Gutta-percha
bands, We may add, do not develop eIecttictv
These phenomena, while remarkable in
themselves, open views of electricity which
the natural philosopher will some day make
subservient 10 his purpose. There are undis
covered powers in this subtitle element more
wonderful than anything the world has YET
dreamed of, and all facts are valuable that tend
to their elucidaiion.
Dosticks attends Charitable Fair.
l am charitable; feel it in my bones like
rheumatism | alwavs rive r,orav ,o ,hs heo