New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-03-27

rame Is placed Just under the breast, ana
extending quite to the back Of the chimney,
70 that plate of the same metal may slide
horizontally backwards and forwards in
plate is just 90 large as to fill the whole
space, and shut the chimney entirely when
thrust quite in, which is convenient when
there is no fire, drawing it out so as to leave
. space between its further edge and the
back of about two inches; this space is SUI
fiCient for the smoke to pass; and 80 large .
part Of the funnel being stopped by the rest
of the plate. the passage of warm air out of
room, up the chimney, is retarded, and by
that means much cold air Is prevented from
coming in through crevices to supply its
place.
s'This effect is made manifest in three
ways: first, when the fire burns briskly in
cold weather, the bowling or wbistling
noise made by the wind ceases as soon rs
the plate is Slid in to its proper distance;
secondly, opening the door of the room
about half an inch. and holding your hand
against the opening near the top of the
door, you feel the cold air coming IN against
your hand, but weakly, if the plate be in.
Let another person draw it suddenly out,
30 as to let the air of the room go up the
chimney with its usual freedom, and you
Immediately feel the cold sir rushing in
strongly; thirdly, place something against
the door to hold it nearly shut, then sud.
denly draw out the plate, and the pressure
of the external Air will force open the door
by the increased pressure OF the cold air en-.
deavoring to get in to supply the place OF
the warm air which now passes out OF the
room to go up the chimney
1t was but step from this
iron slide in the fire place to the iron
stove, of which the earliest invention was
the counterpart of fire place, and called
the "Frankiin stove;" and from this simple
and coy ancestor has descended an innu'
merable off asng of psrlor and kitchen.
wood and coal stoves, heating by furnaces,
hot water, gas and all other devices for
keeping the outer man comfortable in cold
weather with the least possible pecuniary
outlay.
Again he expatiates on peculiarities he
had observed in chimneys. In all Chin
neys, he explains that he has observed a
constant current tending upward when the
external air is colder than that within the
room, and downward when the case is re-
versed. This, in summer, is upward from
about five or six o'clock in the afternoon
until eight or nine o'clock in the morning.
The current at these hours seems to slacken
and hesitate for little while. and then
takes it's direction most decidedly until the
approach of Its next change. By blacken-
ing and lepgthening chimney much ex.
posed to the sun, he deems that the upward
current might be induced to continue
through the twenty-four hours.
Upon these facts he suggests that mines
might be ventilated by means of a chimney,
thirty Or forty feet high, being built over a
shaft, the open shafts supplying the air
while the foul air should be melted to rise
through the chimney, thus producing a
constant change of air in the mines.
Or, in domestic life, he suggests that a
canvas safe. with doors, might be placed
before the mouth of the fireplace, and the
upward d-aught would tend to keep cool
and sweet whatever of milk or meats might
be placed within, and that this capability
might be largely increased by keeping the
canvas wet. He also suggests that house.
located near hill, might have a sunken
tube passing from the house, until it met
shaft sunken from the summit Of the hill,
and that through this tube would pass a
constant current during the hottest day or
stillest night.
These pleasing instances illustrate that
the end and aim of Frenklin's philosophical
observations was to promote the comfort and
happiness of the human race. His charita.
BILE donations are said to have been made
with the Injunction that when the recipient
was able he should bestow the sum on the
next fellow-suferer, with the charge that
he, in like manner, should pass it on to the
next. So, with his philosophical elucida-
tions we can fancy him drawing pleasure
from the thought that they might become
the self-sowing seed of innumerable bless
ipgs, which
When he was dead in dust each child,
With leaning shesves should crowd the Wild.
Certain it is. that while his world-lauded
achievement in drawing lightning from the
olouds wins our admiration, this thoughtful
regard for the every day necessities and
comforts of life most warmly recommend
him to our love.
1t can not readily be decided as to how
much Franklin owed to native genius, and
how much to indefatigable industry. But,
as genius is trivial without industry, so in
dustry often becomes great without genius,
and, as peculiar responsibilities are laid on
every toiler in the field of labor, 80 each
should put forth the strongest efforts to
achieve results worthy himself as man
among his fellow men, and as child of the
most high God.
Nature, with self-appreciative pride,
seems to fast lock her secrets, save from
those who by patient and tireless industry
prove themselves worthy the honor of discov-
erers. Nature has acquired no new powers,
that from her hand moderns should wrest
the genius of steam and the magic of the
telegraph, yet for nearly six thousand years
the fact has lain in our grasp, and no man
knew the "open sesame" for revealing the
secret. What other miraculous powers may
we not yet be able to educe. To the indus
try of such as Franklin they shall yield their
allegiance, as Aladdin was forced to
bow the genius of the wonderful lamp.
There are workers, and they not few,
who, becoming infected by the spirit of the
incapables, blush for their virtues. and are
abashed that sthey are useful. Ashamed OF
calloused hands and sunburned brows ?
Away with the false self estimate! 10 you,
and such as you, it is, that the world owes
all that it is or has that is good or great.
You are the kings and queens of earth. AT
you nod the ball of manufactures and com.
merce rolls on; by your skill are enlarged
and directed the capabilities of the body