The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-06-17
Johnny Burns Himself without Fire.

Johnny Burns Himself Without Fire.
Johnny found big brass button the
other day, and set to work to make it
shine by rubbing it on a piece of wooden
cloth. 5at 9asioH se
"Isn't it bright 2" he said, after work
ing awhile. Gust like gold"
He rubbed away for moment as hard
as he could, then-to brush off some
chalk-dust that chung to the button, for
L had told him to chalk the cloth to
make it brighten the button quicker
he put the brass to the back of his hand.
"Oh!" he cried, dropping the button.
"What the matter 20
"It's hot"
"Hot!" echoed Mary, laying down
her book. How can it be hot 20
81 don't know" said Johnny, 81 but
it burnt me-
Nonsense y replied Mary, picking
up the button. It's cold as anything
cts cold now, maybe" Johnny ad-
mitted. "But it was hot-warm any
way"
I" What a silly boy /! You just imagin-
ed it"
ct didn't, /" retorted Johnny. 'A
Seeing that they were likely to, as
great many older people have done, dis
pute about a matter that neither under
stood, took the button and rubbed it
smartly on my coat sleeve, and put it to
Mary's cheek.
There y exclaimed Johnny, as Mary
cried ''Oh!'' and put her hand to her
face.
II shouldn't have thought your arm
could make it so warm,'' she said.
rubbed the button On the table cloth
and placed it once more against her cheek
saying, :" It couldn't have been my arm
that warmed it this time
"Of course not" observed Johnny,
patronizingly.
What did warm it?' Mary asked,
her interest fully awakened.
''That's good puzzle for you two to
work at" I said. "Don't rub the but
ton on the vanished furniture or on the
marble table, for it might scratch them !;
but you can try anything else"
They worked at the puzzle long
time and still were puzzled
Maybe the heat comes from our fin
| thrust stick through the eye of the
button SO that it could be held without
touching the hand, rubbed it a moment
on the carpet, and it was just as hot as
ever.
81 guess it's just the rubbing" said
Johnny.
GA very good guess, indeed, for that
is precisely where the heat comes from"
[ replied. I" How it comes is not SO
easy to explain to those of your age.
The simple fact that heat comes from
rubbing is enough, perhaps, for you to
know about it now. We say that rub
bing makes friction, and friction devel-
opes heat. When you are older I'll try
to make it all clear to you.
L thought heat always came from
fire, said Mary, cor else from the sun. ;"
Sun-heat is fre-heat too, it is be-
heved, I replied; "but there are still
other sources of heat-our bodies, for
instance: We keep warm when out of
the sunshine and away from the fire"
81 didn't think of that" said Mary.
edo you remember the day the ma
sons were pouring water upon pile of
quicklime to make mortar for the new
house over the way? The lime Kissed
and cracked, sending up great clouds of
steam. have piece of quicklime
here, and see when pour water on it
how it drinks up the water and grows
hot I saw wagon loaded with lime
set on fire once by shower of rain. !"
erred told me about that, and I didn't
believe him. Who'd expect fire from
water 2"
ssGet me small piece of ice and I'll
show you how even that may kindle a
fire.
While Mary was getting the ice, took
from my cabinet small vial with metal
bead at the bottom.
SIS it lead?" asked Johnny, when I
showed it to him.
cit is potassium, . ]. said, "and I'm
going.to set little piece of it a-ire with
the ice that Mary brought There
ssIsn't it splendid cried Mary, as the
metal flashed into flame.
g You can do anything, can't yeu 2"
said Johnny, admiringly. His conf
dence in my ability is something fright
full. Really, if I were to tell him could
set the moon on fire, 1 think he'd be-
ieve me
"No, Johnny" I replied. "There are
very few things that I can do, as you will
discover LII time. But now, while we
are talking of heat, let me show you an
other way of warming things. Please
fetch me a fiat-iron, Mary, while John
ny brings my little hammer. Thank you'll
Now watch me while I pound this piece
of lead, and put your finger on it whenI
stop. Now!'
Does the pounding heat it?"
cit does. / have seen a blacksmith