The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-26

stated and the lines were long known as
Frauenhofer's lines, though no one had the
least idea of the cause or of the significance
of them, excepting that surmises we're made
by different observers that there was some
connection between the position and charac-
ter of the lines and the chemical constitution
of the substances from which the light ema-
mated. The number of lines since brought
to view in the solar spectrum is more than
six thousand
Nothing can be more wonderful than the
inconceivable delicacy of the test which the
spectrum, fully developed and microscopically
observed, affords. 1t detects the presence of
quantities of an element so exceedingly mi
mute as to be wholly inappreciable by any
other means. One of the most curious illus
trations of this fact is afforded by the dis
covery of two new metals in a certain Ger nan
mineral water, by Professor Bunsen, in 1860
metals which existed in the water in quanti-
ties so exceedingly minute that by no other
possible means than spectral analysis could
their presence have been detected. Bunsen
was led to suspect the existence of some
new element in the water by observing
two bright lines in the spectrum produced
by flame in which the alkalies left by the
evaporation of a portion of the water had
been introduced-which lines he had never
observed in any other spectrum. The ordi-
nary chemical tests gave no indications of
the presence of such elements This Bunsen
attributed to the minuteness of the quanti-
ties and in order to increase the quantities
SO as to bring the substances within the reach
of the usual methods of analysis, he went to
work to evaporate no less than forty-five
tons of the water, and from the residue thus
obtained he succeeded in obtaining an appre-
ciable quantity of the metals in question.
| The names given to them are cnsium and
rubidium.
| Another very curious instance of the deli
cacy of this test is afforded in the case of
sodium, the spectrum of which is very re-
markable, and is characterized by one line
! in particular by which exceedingly minute
! quantities can be detected. Now sodium is
one of the most universally diffused sub
stances in nature. 1t is one of the constit-
uent elements of common salt, and so exists
in enormous quantities in the ocean. And as
two-thirds of the surface of the earth is
covered with water, and as the winds are
continually carrying up fine spray from the
crests of the waves into the air, the water of
this spray in evaporating leaves the air full of
infnitesimally minute particles of salt, which
pervade the atmosphere everywhere and
form, as it were, portion of its very sub
stance. And although the quantity of sodium
thus present is too small to be detected in
ordinary cases by any of the usual chemical
tests, it reveals itself in the spectrum when
ever the minutest quantity of dust which has
subsided from the atmosphere is thrown into
the flame.
The following account of Psalmanazar we
take from the paper on Literary For
geries:"-
Psalmanazar died in 1853, some years be-
fore Chatterton. In some respects he was yet
more remarkable; with less genius, doubt
less, without even talent or real literary apti-
tude, he displayed fertility of invention
hardly to be surpassed. Psalmanazar, to speak
correctly, was not fabricator of autographs;
he was more and less than that-the inventor
OF language, OF a chlrography-what do
say?-of nation. But his life was yet more
wonderful than his inventions. 1t is all
romance. This romance he has written; we
possess his autobiography, yet we do not know
his name! Out of regard for his family he
has sought to conceal it, and he has carried
his secret with him. we shall never know who
he was, nor even whence he was. 1t is sup
posed, however, that he was born in the south
of France, in Languedoc or Provence. His
family was poor, his father established at a
distance, in Germany. George had been
brought up with the Jesuits, then with the
Dominicans having finished his theological
course, he was received as preceptor in seve-
raj families. But he had indolent and ad
venturous tastes. He was not slow to
adopt the role of religious impostor, nc
!
studies. We find him borrowing, begging
traversing Provence, on his way to Rome
repairing to Germany; playing the part some.
times of a converted Huguenot, sometimes
of an Irish student, or, again, of a pilgrim
He ran many risks, came near being shot as
} a spy, fell into the depths of misery, and be-
held himself covered with sores and vermin
From adventure to adventure, from knavery
, to knavery, George arrived at the grand frauG
of his life. Finding himself in a Protestant
country, he could remain neither pilgrim mol
Catholics he gave himself out as japanese
from the island of Formosa taken to Europe
he said, by Dutch merchants. Formosa wa:
very little known; the young impostor re-
called, as well as possible, such accounts o
Japan as he had heard among the Jesuits
then, upon this slight canvas, he began tC
embroider whole world of fancy. He fab
ricated so-called language of Formosa, al
alphabet for writing it, grammar to explain
the rules He made a new division of tn,
year into twenty months. He invented
new religion, with a book of prayers, ant
went SO far as to worship the rising and set
ting sun, with all sorts of forms and mum
meries. Finally, he accustomed himself t.
eat raw meat. The idea of doubling th'
veracity of a man who ate raw meat, anG
who wrote huently in characters which nc
one knew Meanwhile Psalmanazal
(such was the name he had adopted on be
coming japanese, and which he retained tt
the end of his life) had met another rogue
who conceived the plan of profting by him
This person, named Innes, was chaplain of
J Scotch regiment then in garrison at Sluis, il
l Holland 1t was here that Psalmanazar mad
| h foa ofrkan nj khakkI Loao ~