The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-04-04
ARTS, SCIENCES, ETC.

| artificial Stone.--Making stone is a
business IN st. Louis. There is q concern
there which makes out of common sand a
mantel equal to one of white marble, and
sells 1T for about ten dollars. The sand in
few hours is converted into q rock pre-
ciseiy similar to the strata and Lodges
beneath the earth, that have required ages
OF aqueous and igneous action to form them.
The process is strikingly scientific and
chemical. The materials used are common
brown OF white sand, soda, flint, chlorine,
calcium. The flint, which is the cementing
agent, is melted by being subjected to heat,
in connection with soda. Flint, in its
chemical constitution, is an acid, and, like
all other acids, readily combines with an
alkali. Combined with soda, the flint
(siiica) forms q silicate of Soda thick,
viscid, transparent substance. very much
like glue. If it is too thin when first made,
it is reduced by evaporation in pans till it
reaches the proper consistency. 1t is then
mixed with sand in mill from which the
mixture comes forth o good deal like wet
brown sugar. This substance is called
"pug." 1t is very plastic, and works as
easily in the hand as wet clay or putty.
Each naoulder has quantity of the 1spug'
placed in a box on the end of his work
bench, from which he takes handfulls as he
requires it to press into the mould. 1t mat
tiers not whether the mould is q rosette, a
diamond, flower, or leaf ornament-a
of a mantel- piece-he moulds anything and
everything with equal ease, beauty, and
accuracy and when the form is taken
from the mould, the product is n plastic
ornament more perfect and beautiful than
q carver could execute in a week of con-
slant and patient labor.
Speed of Birds.-We suppose it is not
positively known what speed birds can
attain when on the wing; but some of them
cleave the air with almost incredible swift
mes. Humboldt says the condor scars to q
height of twenty eight hundred feet-from
which he could be able to overlook Great
Britain-and then again darts down to the
Level of the sea. The albatross, quietly
facing the gale, bids defiance to the fury of
the unshackled storm. The frigate bird,
though frequently met at distance of four
hundred leagues, or twelve hundred miles,
at sea, is said to return every night to his
solitary land-roost. The carrier pigeon
has been known to travel in less than six
hours from London to Liege, in Belgium.
Teal ducks have been shot by sportsmen in
the waters of Canada, with rice from the
fields of the Gulf States still undigested in
their crops. To perform such flights, these
a4eRaFehs of the air have been gifted with
an extraordinary speed of wing. Thus the
pinions of the aIbatross extend from ten to
thirteen feet, and those of the frigate bird
and condor even more, FROM tip to tip. The
tinny humming- bird, though generally
averse to long migrations, darts from flower
to flower with such velocity that the most
attentive observer is unable to distinguish
the rapid vibrations of it's WINGS. which
seem to be in state of rest. Two hundred
miles an hour would appear to be beyond
the power ofany bird to compass; yet there.
is every reason to believe that the frigate-'
bird can sustain this tremendous rate of
speed for hours ut time.