La sentinelle de Thibodaux. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 1861-1866, 1866-04-07
Useful Facts.

1He SEH an 2nG2CHCtOU " Me WeOGNeF.-
The colors Of the sky at particular times
afford wonderfully good guidance. Not
only DIES a rosy sunset presage fair
weather, and "a rudy sunrise bad weather,
but there are other tints which speak with
equal clearness and accuracy. A bright
yellow sky in the evening indicates wind !;
a pale yellow, wet; a neutral gray color
constitutes a favorable sign, in the ave.
ming, an unfavorable one in the morning.
The clouds again are full OF meaning in
themselves. If thei forms are soft. un-
defined and feathery, the weather will be
fine !; if their edges are hard, sharp and
definite, it will be foul. Generally speak
ing, any deep unusual hues betoken wind
or rain, while the more quiet and delicate
tints bespeak fair weather. These are
simple maxims, and yet not so simple but
what the British Board q Trade has
thought fit to publish them FOR the use of
seafaring men.
Signs Of Rain.-When the odor Of flow
ers is unusually perceptive, rain may be
expected, as the air, when damp, conveys
the odor more effectively than when dry.
Damp air being also a better conductor of
sound than dry, the sound of mills, rail-
way trains, distant bells, &C., may be
heard plainly just before rain.
A Truthful and Cheap Barometer.-Take
a clean glass bottle and put in it a small
quantity Of finely pulverized alum. Then
fill the bottle with spirits of wine. The
alum will be perfectly dissolved by the
alchohol, and in clear weather the liquid
will be as transparent as the purest water.
On the approach of rain or cloudy
weather, the alum will be visible in a
faky spiral cloud in the center of the
fluid, reaching from the bottom to the
surface. This is a cheap. simple and
beautiful barometer, and is placed within
the reach of all who wish to possess one.
For simplicity of construction, this is al
together superior to the frog barometer
in general use in Germany.
10 Ertinguisb a Fire IN a. Chimney.-l
some powdered birthstone on the
in the crate, or ignite some on the
hob, and then put a board or something |
in the front of the fireplace to prevent
fumes descending the chimney will
then effectuaay extinguish the SCOT on
fire.
TO preoent the Formation Of Rust within
Guns.-Take a solution of nitro-muriate
IF platina, and add to it one-fourth its
bulk of ether: shake it well, and pour it
nto a clean r~ihe-barrel a galvanic action
soon takes place, by which o thin coat of
.olatina (Which does not oxydize) is depos-
ted upon the inner surface of the barrel. |.
Hoo to Clean a Gua.-No one should
tut away a gun without cleaning. not
wen it it has fired but one shot-that one
'arrel should be cleaned. First take the
barrels off the stock and immense them in
old water about four inches deep. Then
srap some stout cloth two clings to the
'arrels and leaves particles in thcin) about
he cleaning rod, so thick that you will
ave to press rather hard to get it into
he barrels then pump up and down.
hanging the cloth till the water comes !
ut clear; then pour hot water in thcnl, ;
topping up the nipples. and turn the ,
luzzle downward. Then put on dry !
10th and work till you can feel the heat =
trough the barrels. and the cloth comes !
ut without a particle of moisture ON it. :
hen put a few drops Of clarified oil q
made by putting rusty nails into some !;
God clarified oily on the cloth and rub K
he insides !; rub the outsides all oyer and a
zen put the gun away 9
70 prepare Bees War.-To obtain wax, :
oil the combs in a strong muslin bag. in ;,
saucepan, with water sufficient to keep (
ie bag from burning; and whilst boiling, y
'ntinue to press the bag with a wooden y
ice Ct spoon, to extract the whole, as \
skim off the wax. Drop the wax into /
I'D water, where it will swino on the sur !,
ce. The wax thus obtained will still y
refining. to effect which, place it in r
saucepan, and melt it over a slow !
g. Then pour off the clear wax into =
oper vessels, and let it cool. To Written :,
make it in thin cakes, aud expose it in !,
Q an. ~
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