The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-03-14
H @ N E RECREhTI0 MS.

Among the most pleasing of our recre-
ations are those afforded by the arts and
sciences \ collection of engravings,
which every one can make gradually and
at trifing expense, affords an ineXhaus-
tiblc source OF not only innocent but also
improving recreation. The stcreoscope, a
recently invented optical instrument, is
one of the most beautiful. Microscopes
are ma lie SO eheaply that one might well
be found IN every parlor; and the col
lection of insects, curious vegetables and
mineral productions for examination,
would pleasantly occupy many an idle
hour.
But, if you have not microscope, a
very good one can readily be made Of a
pretty high power, and sufficient for the
examination OF small objects, thus: take
sheet Of lead, about a sixteenth of an inch
in thickness. Make q perfectly round
hole in it, of from an eighth to a quarter
Of an inch in diameter Drop in this hole
a drop Of perfectly pure water, and you
will have a double convex lens as perfect
as be made by art, and high magni-
flying power
Narrow strips Of glass, such as g!aziers
cut from panes in fitting them, may also
be melted at the end into little globules,
which answer very well for examining
small objects.
One Of the prottiest things in the world
is the camcra-obscura. 1t may be con
structed in various ways. Make a room
perfectly dark, except an opening in the
blind an inch across, and you viii have an
inverted picture Of the external landscape
in all its beautiful colors, on the opposite
wall, or on white curtain. a more per-
feet picture, but on a smaller scale, is
found by placing a convex lens-an odd
spectacle glass Will answer-in the OPEN
ing or over it on the outside, sand recciv-
ing the picture on sheet OF thin oiled
paper; or with looking glass it may be
thrown down upon a table, which should
be covered with white.
The camera-obscura is formed on the
same principle as the eye; and the picture
OF external Nature is like that painted on
the retina.
There are some experiments in physics,
as modified by the will, which are full OF
wonder and amusements. Here is one
which science has never been able to ex-
plain.
Let one person lie down upon the floor.
Select four others, who must stand, one
at each shoulder, and one at each thigh.
They all stoop, and placing the forefnger
of each hand under the shoulders and
thighs, attempt to raise the person from
the floor. II he is OF the ordinary weight,
this cannot be done except BY particu-
lar process.
At signal given by one selected 70 d.
rect the experiment, the five persons. IN
Guiding The one to be lifted, draw in their
breatbs together, and breathe out in the
same way-thrce fullinspil ations, followed
by three full expirahons. IF all has been
done properly, at the third expiration the
person on the floor may be lifted slowly,
aud with scarcely any apparent effort, upon
the points OF the eight fingers as high as
they can reach. The persons lifting are
not conscious Of raising more than a
weight of two or three pounds, while the
person lifted has sensation of buoyancy,
as if he were rising on air cushions. 1t a
person outside touches one Of those who
are lifting, with so much as the llghtest
touch of the finger, it appears to break
the spell, and the man who was reposing
so pleasantly on the air, falls through the
fingers suddenly and violently upon the
floor.
No scientific man has given any expla-