Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-07-18
Something the Scientists shouid
Read


Professor y was lecturing TO his class at
blsnk College the other day on Acoustics"
anu at the conclusion he took the class
across The way To house aud got bis gun.
he said that he cocld best illustrate 10 tue
students the velocity OF sound oy an ex-
pertinent. He took his stand about eighty
} ards from the barn aud directed the stu
dents 10 remain about the same distance
nom him and little 10 the toe left OF tie
oOildlng. NOW" he said, ssyou Will see the
nash just two seconds before YOU near The
report thus showing that the waves OF light
travel with vastly greater swiftneSs than
the waves OF sound" Then the professor
aimed his gun at The barn door aud pulled
trigger, but the cap snapped. He put on
aEother cap and asked the class TO time the
sound waves, and that cap also snapped.
Then the professor picked the nipple with
PIN, and selecting fresh cap he asked IL the
class was ready, and pulled the trigger. That
cap also snapped, aud the class laughed.
Then the professor became angry and he
snapped three more caps, and still the gun
did not discharge. AT last IL occurred 10
MIN 10 try the barrels with the ramroi, and
10 bis smsZement he found that they were
not loaded. Mrs. King is timid about fire.
arms, and she drew the loads for fear the
gun might 60 OF while standing behind the
door. The professor was indignant, but he
loaded up both barrels again and was trying
the experiment, when he discovered that he
mad snapped on ali his caps. Then he began
getting excited. But one OF the class volun-
teered TO go TO the store for some more caps,
and when he returned the professor M ade
ready. AT last be fired, straight at the barn.
moment later agoniZing screams wereheard
Issuing from the building, and the class
started with the professor TO discover what
was the matter, They found the professors
mother In law writing UPON the floor OF
The barn. She had been In there n u ting for
eggs, and when they picked her up she had
aquarter OF pound of quail shot In her right
leg. The study OF the velocity OF sound was
suspended while they carried her MP to the
mouse and put her 10 bed. Some ili natured
people say that the professor knew she was
there when he fired. He has talent for that
KIDD OF accident. Last December he suffered
good deal from rheumatism, and the doc
Tor recommended him to take vapor bath.
Accordingly he obtained some alchohol aud
one or two other combustible ingredients,
and pouring them into an iron preserving
Kettle, placed the kettle beneath q cane. bot
tom chair; then he wrapped a heavy quilt
around the chair, and getting upon the in
side OF the quilt he struck a match with IN
tent TO let the heated fumes rise and satur-
ate him. AS soon as he dropped the match
into the kettle, however, q terrific explosion
occurred, and the professor, AFTER floating
about for moment In the neighborhood OF
The ceiling, landed upon the floor with a
large portion OF his body in condition o. raw
ness. AS he rolled over toward the door,
however, he retained sufficient presence OF
mind TO scream "hrei" and before the flames
obtained Roadway the village engine was
pouring two inch stream throu gh the win
cow. For more than a month he was ia such
q condition that he could go down stairs
comfortably only by sliding on the banis-
ter. But he changed bis doctor, and finally
abandoned vspor as curative.