The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-12-30
The ChemicaI Exhibition.
Criticism on the CourIer's Report.

Criticism on the Curriers' Report.
The attendance at High School
Hall, last night, it being the second
Of the series of chemical experiments
given by the Senior High School
Glass, was only moderate. and not so
large as we had hoped to see.
THE EXHIBITION.
The experiments given last night,
were, as on the previous evening, ex-
ceedingly interesting.
Miss Mollie Brown lectured on
carbonic acid, and illustrated her dis
course with several experiments. She
was followed BY Miss Ollie Buchanan,
who took up the subjects of fame and
illumination, which were also illus
trated by several interesting expert
ments. Miss Mary Chandler entered
into heightened address. in which
she explained the composition and
production of gas, and by means Of
model gas works--made and presented
to the school by A. w. Chute-she
gave the processes Of manufacturing
gas for illuminating purposes; she
manufactured some olifiant gas, the
principal constituent of ordinary
Illuminating gas. Mr.. Charles Hall
next proceeded to show how the
Drummond light was produced,
and also gave an exhibition of
the compound blow pipe, showing
the great heat produced by the COM
bination of oxygen and hydrogen; he
also gave experiments IN catalysis, and
in exploding oxygen and hydrogen.
The class, led by Professor Tinker,
furnished some excellent music, which
was highly appreciated by the audi
ence.
At the close Of the experiments by
the class, Professor Willett took oc.
casion to thank the Ssnior Glass for
the excellent manner In which they
had conducted the exhibition, and
said that with the exceptions of a few
slips Of the tongue, the lectures and
addresses had been scientifically cor
rect.
THE CoURIER's REPORT.
Prof. Willett said he had been
handed paper by the class, that re-
quired some attention, and he appear
ed on behalf of the members for that
purpose. He held in his hand the
report Of The Courier giving an &C.
count of The experiments on Tuesday
night, and pronounced them gross
Misrepresentation. They had char
acterizad his remarks as desultory,"
but that made no difference. and he
only desired to speak of the in
justice done the class. The Courier
called it the Junior Glass, when it
certainly knew that it was the Senior
Glass.
The Courier said that Chas. Per-
kins explained the properties of
solid sodium and phosphorus, and
the manner in which phosphorus
unites with sodium" which Mr. Will
lett pronounced gross libel on
Master Charley, aud asked what
would a chemist abroad think of this
matter, and of our High School, by
reading such a report?" The Courier
said that Miss Nellie Darr expert
mented with Prussian Blue, when,
in fact, she explained elective affinity.
The Same paper also said that s. Miss
Mollie Brown explained The forma
ton of lucifer matches" when she
did nothing of the kind. The Cou-
rier said that "Chas. Hall gave the
formation OF chloride of potash"
although there was no such chemical
composition; it should have been
chlorate of potash. In short, TO sum
up, he said the CourieT's report con-
tanned nine gross bluRders, which we
think is rather rough on a paper that
was only yesterday prating of Telia
bility. Mr.. Willett said such re-
port, to be sent abroad, was an insult
to the common sense Of the people
of Evansville, and he took it as a
personal insult to himself and the
Senior Glass. He spoke at some
length, and was indignant that such
gross misrepresentation should be
published.
Prof. Willett took occasion to
thank DIR. Fl. w. Cloud for bis kind
ness and assistance, and also for the
use of private apparatus belonging
to him, aud without which they would
have been uaable to give the many
experiments with which the lectures
were illustrated.
DR.. CLOUDS LECTURE.
DR.. Cloud then stepped forward and
proceeded to deliver lecture on
Chemistry, which he has closely
studied for a great many years. He
said it had been long while since he
had delivered a lecture, but on the
present occasion, he esteemed it as q
privilege, as member of the Board
of Education, to do all in his power
in aid Of such affairs. His discourse
consisted of scientific facts, expressed
in the choicest rhetoric, and which
we win not attempt to report, as We
oor,ld NOT do iustice IN his rau,arlrs