The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-01-15
IMPURITIES of Rain Water.

Impurities Of Rain Water.
Rain water is produced by a sort of
natural distillation. and when first
formed is very pure. This condition of
purity. however is most favorable to the
absorption of foreign materials, hence
it frequently happens that when gath
cred for use the water is found to
contain considerable percentage of i'm
purities. These have been obtained in
its fall through the atmosphere, and
subsequent flow over the surfaces pro-
vided to receive it. Professor Tyndall's
investigations have shown that the air
is far from being as pure as it ordinarily
appears. BY bringing a powerful light
to bear he found it to be literally loaded
with floating particles of highly varied
nature. and besides what is thus seen,
it is known also to contain numerous
gaseous substances in addition to its
normal constituents. Portions of these
atmospheric impurities are washed out
by the falling rain, and may be found
either dissolved or suspended i'll the wa
ter after it has been collected. Such
substances as carbonate of ammonia,
nitric acid, sulphurous acid particular
" in the rain water of cOal-burning
cities) sulphuric and hydrochloric acid
lin the neighborhood of certain manu-
factories) sulphuretted hydrogen, either
free or combined, ETC., are sometimes
found in it, and the presence Of organic
matter is also not uncommon.
THE FIRST WATcH.-The word.
signifying to wake. Watches were at first
called clocks, and had weights. The
earliest known use of the modern name
occurs in record of 1912, which men,
tons that Edward I. had Onne larum or
watch of iron, this case being also of
iron gilt, with two plumets Of lead. The
first great improvement, the substitu-
ton Of a spring for weight, was about
1850. The earliest spring was not coiled
but straight pieces of steel. Early
watches had only one hand, and required
winding twice day. The dials were of
silver or brass; the cases had no crys-
tails, but opened at the back, and were
four or five inches in diameter. A plain
watch cost the equivalent of fifteen hun
dred dollars in our currency, and after
one was ordered, it took year to make
it. There is watch in the Swiss Mu-
scum only three-sixteenths of an inch in
diameter, inserted in the top of pencil
case. It's hands indicate not only hours,
minutes and seconds, but also the day
of the month. 1t is relic of old times,
when watches were inserted in snuff
boxes, shirt-studs, breastpins, bracelets
and tinger-rings. Many were fantastic,
oval, octangular, cruciform, or in shape
of pears, melons, tulips or collins.
Pooh ECONOMY is wise to cul-
tivate habits of economy, but it is not
economy to live poorly. Nature re-
quires a certain amount of nOurishment,
and will have it or be revenged, and the
revenge will in all probability take the
form Of u long doctors hill, or dimin-
ished working power. This sort of saw
ing is penny wise and pound foolish"
The things to save out of are shams.
false appearances, and self-indulgences
hot necessaries. Where is the saving
in working in dim light to save can
dies or gas, and injuring the sight in
wearing boots that take in water, and
bringing on rheumatic fever? in living
on poor food, and lowering the system
Far better wear a shabby hat week or
two longer than usual, or dispense alto
gether with that piece of finery You
were contemplating. The worst of it is,
however, that people are generally much
more willing to dispense with necessa-
ries that make no show, rather than with
useless extravagances that afford an OPP
portunity for display which every one
sees through.