The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1875-05-19
sri.nrinr Ne,e..

ExcxxpiNaLx soit and brilliant photographs
may he produced by exposing the scnsitircd
plate for half the time behind grOund-glaas
plate rendered tolerably transparent with salad
oil. and tho other half as usual.
Nh. GxoE0x SMITH. Of London, has discov-
ercd, among the Assyrian tablets in the British
Museum, the legend Of the building ef the
Tower Of Babel. This discovery is quite ~
importan, as that Of the tablet relating to she
Delugc. made known last Year by the same
gentleman.
THx Council Of the British Society Of Arts
have decided to offer the SOeiety's medal for
an effective means Of eSsinguishiug ere on
bcari ship. and they have directed the Socro-
tary to enter into communication with leading
shipowners with the view Of enlisting their aid
in this important matter. We trust that the
attention Of ssafaring men in the Pacific may
be called to this important matter.
Ir has been discovered that small cylin-
drical point Of steel. when made 70 rotate upon
glass in such a manner that is longitudinal
axis shall make an angle Of as degrees with
the surface Of the glass, approaches in effect
so nearly to that Of the real diamond that Il IS
a very cheap and effective substitute as a glass
cutter.
A SEw marine aquarium on a large scale IS
about to be constructed in Lendon- The site
chosen is opposite the Broad Sanctuary and
the Westminster Hotel The design comprises
a Summer and Winter garden, a concert hall,
refreshment rooms, rcading-rooms, Sc The
aquarium proper is TO be about 600 feet long
and 24O feet wide, the largest tank being capa-
bic of holding no less than 100000 gallons Of
water.
A DISCOVERY Of great interest to Egyptolo-
gists and antquarians generally is reported
from Port Said. learned Archaeological in
that place has just found monumental stone
to Thotmcs Ill, under whose reign (If9I b.
O. the exodus Of the Israeliies is supposed 10
have taken place. The inscriptions already
deciphered contain more than 100 geographical
names, all recognizable, and for the mos, part
belonging to Arabia, Armenia, Nubia, aud the
coasts of the Mediterranean.
NEw MIcRoscoPrc TKLEscOPR.-Mr c. B.
BOYLE recently exhibited before the photogra-
phie section Of the American Institute in New
York, new optical instrument, which he
called the microscopic telescope. Il consists
of two parallel telescopes, about three feet in
length and two inches in aperture, connected
with hinges at the ends, and separated to the
distance Of the eyes by an adjusting screw.
In order to produce the effect Of the microscope
he places, before the object-glass, prismatic
lenses of about three feet focus, so that when
these lenses are imposition, an object three feet
in front Of the object-glass viii be with both
eyes distinctly, and magnihed according TO the
power Of the eye-piece. With this instrument
although but lately completed, he has already
made one curious diseovery-that no matter
how long a sponge may have been kept dry,
its life is apparently restored when il is wet.
The sponge being wet with warm water and
placed in warm room, the extremities Of the
sponge, after little while, appear to be alive,
and reach out like so many snakes. The long
er they are the greater the motion. He had
observed that wetting the sponge with salt
water seemed to increase the motion. Nearly
half of all the slender points seemed TO come
to life, but after they become dry the motion /
ceases.