Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-01-25
EVENING STAR.
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE

PROP CHAcE's LEcrURE.-Prof. deorge y.
Chaee. of Brown University, lectured at the
Smithsonian Institution on Wednesday night, |
on Chemistry as applied to the Arts The
lecturer commenced by alluding to his unac-
eustOmed position before an unaccustomed |
audience. having left the retirement of Pro- |
fessor's recitation room and the quiet duties |
of Professors chair, in a distant college, to |
lecture on a subject generally unpopular.
81 come not, - he continued, "to present |
Won the flowers of literature or the thrilling |
"reminiscences Of history. Nor do 1 intend to |
sneak of the philosophy Of mind My theme !
is matter-lOwer, indeed, in the scale Of con- |
sideration than mind, but necessary to its de- |
velopement and application. What is matter?
This is q question easier asked than answered
We see matter, feel it, taste it, tread upon 1t
but are not able to give il definition Phil |
OsOphers have thought that it was receivable
into infinitely small atoms, too minute to be |
seen by the naked eye, or even the most pow
erful microscope Whether this be so cannot |
be determined by our imperfect senses, but
there are many arguments which sustain the
hypothesis. 1t is supposed that each OF these
malcules or atoms are surrounded by an in
tensely refined stmOsph,r re Of caloric.
Four principal forces pervade matter The
first of these is Gravity, by which every par
ticle Of matter tends toward the centre Of the
earth This is the source of stability. The
second force is Cohesion, by which the parti-
cles Of any body are held together. This is
the source Of solidity. Without cohesion even
fluids could not exist Were it TO cease, solids
would be changed into an impalpable powder
and fluids would expand into gases. The
third force is RepulsiOn, often called Calorifc
Repulsion. because calOric heat is the
great agent by which it is accomplished
By the application Of heat the atmosphere of
cslOric surrounding each atom Of matter is
deepened, and they are thrust apart. Re-
rnlS ia he Of oh \
we should have no winds, currents, or rain.
The fourth and last force by which matter is
moved is Chemical Attraction or affinity. This
is exerted at insessible distances, and between
particles of unlike bodies. This is the great
source OF transformation. By il two bodies
totally unlike can be combined and form a
third substance in every respect differing from
the other two.
The lecturer then performed a number Of
experiments, demonstrating the nature and |
operations Of affinity. After which he pro- |
ceeded to speak Of oxygen, which, he declared, |
existed TO greater extent than any other |
chemical agent. Forty five out of every hun |
dred parts Of the matter composing the entire |
globe are oxygen. Although so,extensiye, yet |
nothing was so difficult to obtain, for its afini |
ties for every other element of matter were
too powerful to admit Of its separation from
them. That which he used in his experiments
that evening was obtained by application of
=
supporter of combustion. Substances which
will not burn in the atmosphere will burn
brilliantly in oxygen This he illustrated by
setting fire to a steel spring, which made
splendid light Many other experiments were
performed of an equally beautiful character,
with one of which-the burning of phosphorus
an a large glass globe over the speaker plat
foTm-this very interesting lecture closed:
K Us.
The SLRIGHING-Yes terday afternoon was
I grand gala for every one who could obtain |
Il sleigh, and the avenue presented gay APP |
pearaEee. Among the " turn outs we no |
ticed Kelly Lambert, driving his old Sap"
and rather beating Mr.. Teal, with whom he |
was raeing-W. J McCullom, John Bohlayer, |
and Joseph Berrett, had each @ fast crabs - |
Henry Birch drove pair that made very near |
2 49-and Mr.. Nolan, with his pair OF blacks, |
flew along like the wind. The most amusing |
teams were those driven by our old friend Will |
son, of Union Hall, who sported three mules,
tandem, with outriders; and Of the good hu- |
mored Frazier, whose nag hurried along with |
the genuine pOlka-step-One leg up and three |
down. A large sleigh, filed with the " fair |
yet frail,' was the object of considerable at |
tention, yet we could but remarks: Let him !
who is without sin cast the first snoIc-baH."
While we are enjoying the delights and mer-
riment of this Siberian pastime, the inhabit- |
ants of more northern ATTITUDES have to use |
wheels A letter dated at Halifax, Nova SEQ |
tia, on the 3lst ult says: |
There is no sleighing here yet, and people |
begin to think there never will be any again. |
The tandem club, which in years past emil |
vened the town and made many a heart gay,
with its numerous turns-out and its merry mu-
sic Of bells and bugles, has already become a |
thing Of tradition; and many a love Of a sleigh |
with the most charming Of trapping, is mould |
ing and rOtting many igh-mettled horse |
Is growing stiff in the joints; and many a |
oil 4
with impatience; because the Obdurate snow |
won't csme, or won't stay when it does |
come. Under such disheartening circum- |
stances amusements have to be sought in |
doors"
1t is very evident from this that the " ele-
ments' have been dancing perpetual mo-
tiOn," and that old Boreas has stopped at the
wrong place.
p. :. Since the above was in type, we learn /
that the police have thrown n wet blanket |
over the fast men, who run fast horses, and |
drove too fast over the Avenue yesterday. |
Sixteen Of them (alas alasD have been sum- |
mOned by an memorable star, Z" and must |
pay the legal penalty for " letting out" |
their nags. High dignitaries, city fathers, |
and jOvial good fellows are alike taken, and |
the merry ring of their sleigh-bells will |
hencefarth chime the dead march in SAUL"
instead of the lively gailOpade which they |
rang out yesterday. Instead of "g'lang hi |
yah g'lang" we shall hear " whoa, steady |
boy, steady" One thing is certain, the House /
will not be summoned for driving business too |
fast
The PESITENTIARY. According to the re- |
port Of Mr.. Thornley,, the efficient warden Of |
the United States Penitentisry in this District |
the number If eOnyicts on the 30th September |
1854 was ~. COnvicts received for the year
ending Goth September, 1855, 22-making a |
total Of lOl. OF this number, ore died; dis |
charged by expiration of service, %; number
pardoned, ii one escaped-in all 50 which
left, at the last date referred to, 80.
The employment Of the cOnvicts is thus
stated ShOemaking, 40; broom IN aking, ;
barber cooking, 2; steward, 1 tailoring,
1; labor, 3; women shOebinding and washing,
8. farmed out as labOrers, z.
There were from Virginia, Is; Maryland
10. District Of Columbia, AZ Germany,
Switzerland, Prussia, 1 ireland; ILL