The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-04-17
ouR1ous ANp soIRNTIrIo


who announces IN Philadelphis news
paper that we are approaching climax
Of pestilental period. From 1880 to
1885 Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Eep-
tune viii come nearer the earth than
they have been for eighteen hundred
years. The result viii be, Is the Doc
tor says it has been befory, that We shall
have all manner OF unplessantaess-
/ plague, famine and awfulIy hot and cold
weather. One planet would have been
bad enough-noW we ara to have four
in combined approximation and, unleas
We adopt strict sanitary measures, we
may expect a calmity indeed. Gluttons,
tobacc-chowers and smokers aud tight
iacing young ladies viii never survive
the perihelion Of ali the large planets Of
the solar system. So says the dreadful
Dr.. Trail
PRAcTIcAn Arp11oAr1oS or sxaSa
FnAzIEs.-The singing fame which
at first view might seem 20 be merely
curious phenomenon, is found to be. in
fact, discovery of very high impor-
tanee for science and the useful arts.
One OF the latest applications Of this
principle is that made by DR.. A. K Ir-
vine, of the British Iron and Steel In
stitute, who makes use OF the singing
fame in the construction of q safety
lamp for mines. II an explosive mix
ture of inhaminable gas and sir be
passed through and ignited on the sur
face of disk of wire gaEze too fine TO
suffer the fame to traverse il. and then,
surrounded By chimney, TO Preyent
air from entering, save through the
gauze, the flame vibrates, and, tho Va
bration being communicated 70 the as
cending gases, produces sound vary
ing in pitch and intensity according to
the height and caliber of the chimney.
A lamp constructed on this principle
VIII give timely warning 20 the miner
whenever the atmosphere sud the fire.
damp are coming together in the pro-
portions requisite for an explosion.
SmENoE AND ISrELuEcruAL DEVELOP
lFENr.-It is not, however, merely the
material wants of man that are gratified
by the results of science it edminis-
ters also to his highest intellectual de-
veiopment. Placed in q universe Of
constant change, on an isolated globe,
surrounded by distant celestial objects
on all sides, subjected 10 influences Of
various kinds, it is a sublime occupa-
tion to Measure the earth and weigh the
planets, to predict their changes, aud
even to discover the materials of which
they are composed; to investigate the
causes of the tempest and volcano, 10
bring the lightning from the cloads, to
submit it to experiment by Which il
shall reveal its character, and to esti-
mate the size and weight of those inviH-
ible atoms which constitute the universe
of things. 1t is the pursuit, above all,
which impresses us with the capacity OF
man for intellectual and moral progress,
and awakens the human intellect 70 as
pirations for higher condition of hu-
manity, and gives pleasurable con-
sciousness to those who successfully
pursue it, of contributing, in however,
small degree it may be, to such de-
sirable contamination. The effect Of
such pursuits on the mind Of the indi-
vidual himself can not be otherwise
than salutary. While it exists the un-
derstanding, it exercises the imagina-
ton, and awakens and constantly cher
ishes n love of truth for its own sake.
The man imbued with the proper spirit
of science does not seek for immediate
pecuniary reward from the practical
applicstions Of his discoveries, but de-
rives sufficient Qualification from his
pursuit and the consciousness of en-
larging the bounds Of human contem-
plation, and the magnitude Of human
power, and leaves to others to gather
the golden fruit he may strew along his
pathway.
PHYsEoAL SCIENCE As CvELIzna
FoRcE.-It Is said that hundred thou
sand slaves we're employed a. one time
in the construction Of the Pyramids of
Egypt; one hundred and twenty thou
sand were engaged in hewing the obe-
lisks Of Thebes, and An equal number
in digging the ancient canal which JOIN
ed the Nile and the Red Sea. These
slaves were treated Is beasts of burden,
or as mere machines, Of which Athens,
in her palny days, had four hundred
thousand, and bat twenty thousand free
men. Now, we owe the abolition Of
this condition Of humanity, ia the high
CT civilized nations Of the world at the
present day. to the study Of the laws OF
the operations Of nature. By Q know
ledge Of these laws the energies Of the
4 elements Of nature are substituted for
human labor, and by this substitution
mankind Il not only relieved from
brase-Iebor, but slso given control Of
energies which enable him 20 produce
effects which could only result from the
! muscular power of beings Of q superior
order. IT may be shown by simple
calculation that about hfteen tons Of
anthracite coal burned in the furnace Of
one Of cur best steam-engines exerss an
energy equal 10 that of an ablebodied
slave, working ten noars day for tair-
" years Of his sctive lie. Is = this
substitution of TIE energies Of nature
I for the power OF human muscle that. -
We have said, has abolished slavery and
elevated humanity 70 q higher plane
than was ever dreamed Of BY the wiseas
ssges Of ancient times. To ihustrate
this. a few examples viii nufiice. Az
one Of these. We may refer 70 the pro-
eress Of the arts Of looonsotion and the
means which science has afforded for
thsinstaataneous fnterelsange OF thought
between men in the most distant perts
Of the earth as another, 20 she prodne-
ton Of clothing fabrics. IN which . SIM
gle individual directing the energfes Of
an engine Of ons-man power. is capable
Of. doing thres thousand times tks work
Of an oriinar7 weever. A. 4 third ex-
annie. We raex mint 10 tl.a At Of rrinl-