New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-05-21
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF SCIENCE.

political IDEAS during the last quarter Of century and 20
record tho OF those who have been prominently be-
fore the public as orators and statesmen but TO bring TO
light the silent workers in the domain Of science and TO
recaptuate their services, is a more difficult task.
Oar columns have contained the record Of each new
thing art and science as it has been proclaimed
and many have wondered why an item made out Of
some insignificant discovery, the practical bearing Of
which was beyond the ken Of superficial observer The
truth IT, life is made up Of traes as government is made
up Of individuals The sum Of many small things makes
up magnificent whole. The added links Of apparently
uuimp0ant discoveries constitutes chain Of inseyer
able strength Ours is age Of small things and It
also of progress because the wise less COMPOUNDED
By the foolish things Of the world than they in times
gone by If pick up the lost threads in the web Of
discovery the warp will be firmly set The giant St.
Christopher stopped at the crossing to carry travellers over
the raging torrent be waited long for the mighty leader
whom he col serve bu, At last his master came in the
form Of little child Elijah prayed to the Lord and God
the Lord passed by but he was not in the tempest nor yet
in the earthquake he rot in the fire. and after the
fire still small voice and IN that stH small
roice onward came the Lordl'
II great mistake to suppose that discoveries spring
armed and equipped from tho brain of one individual
Such a thing is unknown. All important discoveries are
built up isolated facts house is built of bricks and
he who contributes single block TO the cdifce claim
a share in the glory of Tho finished structure.
We settle down in easy chair and seize pen to
make out catalogue Of tribe, which during the last quar-
tcrof century have been presented 10 our readers and we
find that nearly every convenience surrounding Us Is not
older than our Journal Our pen made of gold pointed
with granular metal which formerly thrown away,
but it ia now assorted by machinery and adapted for the
nbs Of pens while the larger fused in lime
cruoblcs and worked up into vessels for chemists
We have not time TO dip the pen before our attention is
arrested by the nksand made OF guttapercha and we re-
call our mpatience when in 1874 individual brought
piece Of the gum TO bore with the story
If s probable uses and which pitched under the table
the moment his back turned Gutta-perchal What
isit7 Do you know that without this gum the insulation
Of the submarine telegraph would be impossible and thus
the cord which to bind 70 the Old World could not be
mado. We noticed the substance in the columns OF the
day and now it rises in its majesty and takes It's place
among the most valuable contributions to the wants Of
mankind
We pause again before FIJI our pen, 20 recall the
stranger who brought bottle Of new ink made Of moro
enduring materials containing carbon instead Of organic
acids and therefore not subject the changes Of time
Ne thank him for the trae, and recognize It's value
in the transcription Of public records and valuable deeds
And nov our golden pen has Of this black flowing
fluid upon it, and seize sheet Of paper 10 begin.
Boy what paper is this ?" THAT is straw paper, is
the response from M inner room
Straw paper wa unknown when set up IN business
and at one time when the price Of was carried TO un-
wontcd hight We should have been put 20 the greatest
straits without b. timely Introduction.
We observe that some Of the paper is converted into
parchment and diploma desk IA printed, not upon
sheepskn Of yor but upon tho ncwy-pPared parch-
ment paper which looks like tho beached skin, and Is
equally strong and durable and what adds 10 our aston
shment is book OF reference bound in artificial leather
closely resembling the Bet French morocco but actually
made ofplpor
We hold The pen in our hand in order to gather our
thoughts ready for the plunge when in looking ont OF the
window We observe the new piues Of glass which have just
been wased 20 1T n nor hlht The soap and the glass
recall the scene, Of early childhood when heavy
wagons drove nuoni the country to gather up ashes from
which potash ua g. be exaced soap made and the glass
manufactores supplied Now the potash is suppanted by
soda and the manufacture OF soa nsh has reached proper
tons 80 imme that nearly every industry in the world
is moro or less dependent upon H. Soda glass has taken
the place Of potash s and soda soap that OF potash soap
DAYLIGHT Is cheaper than when we began thanks 10
the progress of science and cleanliness akin to godness,
is within the reach Of all
The cover Of our table il made Of India rubber cloth,
rendered flexible By process called yulcanzation and
we are startled who we recall al Of the Of this ma
tcra consequent upon Goodyears discovery. Our early
oyershoes we're the crude gum, over wooden mouds
hard as flint in the cold and clumsy as the sabos OF Ho
land ,a
We now have India rubber in every form, soft and fex
bic and convenient for use hard as ebony and beautiful
az ivory.
Step by step Improvements have been made all Of which
have been passed in review before our readers.
Tho holder Of our pen is made Of Aluminium, metal
which is as light as feather, and which has not been
practically known more than ten years. Cups are now
made of it, and bronze ornaments, quite as beautiful as
gold II is one Of the most Of metals and the
signslbe ~ Oh our table rings out cheery &c We touch
the spring.
Az this one Of the most abundant Of the metals upon
tbe face Of the earth expect 70 see used for comces
nj houses and interior decorations where durability and
hrhtness an object
BEFORE rs is the portrait OF friend taken by light We
have described tie early stages Of the discovery OF the
process by which the light is made TO paint picture
The art vas called photography, and ever day We have 70
record some new application Of this invaluable discovery
just now some proposes to Photograph what we
write transfer IL 30 and hhogaph thousand CO.
Mos for rs before dinner; he vii copy the pages Of our
lat hook BY the sun and send mprnts Of 1t at al
early day. a..
We record the rise and fall Of the mercury in the
h-o,oeter and Thermometer; catch the movements OF
the stars we sketch the and bring down ior con
yenent study and preserve the faces OF our friends by
an Art that has gown up within . years Speaking oil
light calls to mind the box Of matches hitherto over
/ looked.
Tie ends areuppsd with red phosphorus "Lieh s'io'
ter discovered few wears ago. lind Of phosphorus
which can be cent in dry packages without danger from
FIRE and nav be worked up without poisoning the ope
nves The match il not dipped in sulphur b suoca'e
US by It's fumes, but with new substance kho"h a.
paraifne and made from petroleum and coal
Tie words parafne and petroleum have jns' slpPeo
from our pen and recall substances Of yer! recent fo