The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-09-28
THE PROFESSORS TALK ON WA,
TER.

Here is something another Professor
wrote twelve years ago in Boston. |
don't believe you We ever SCENT. Doesn't
it seem to you as though your Profess
or is pretty generous to give other
Professors a chance now and then?
PrOt.-Well, this is storm. When
| gave out the subject, mater, at our
last meeting, | did not anticipate the
| pleasure of coming to see you with a
wet jacket. But see you have q good
warm fire, so | shall soon be comfort
able
Henry.-I hope you will tell us about
the clouds and rain tonight. 1t is a
subject closely connected with water.
Pr0t.-We shall not reach that at
present. Tonight we have another
theme. And now which of you can
tell me of what water is composed?
George.-I have heard that it was
composed of combination of gases,
but do not know the names of them.
PrOt.-Water is combination of
eight parts of oxygen and one of hy-
drogen, by aCet9ht, of two parts of hy-
drOgen and one of oxygen, by measure.
By series of experiments, which have
been made by scientific men, it is known
that water can be decomposed, that is,
the two gases can be separated. If two
thin wires, connected with the poles of
galvanic battery, be so placed that
one end of of each shall enter glass
vessel, a portion of water contained
therein will be decomposed, and the
gaseous product will be collected in
tubes, fixed Immediately over the point
of each wire. | do not suppose that
you can understand fully this matter
now, yet it will be well to fix it in your
| memory.
Flora. Pray, Mr.. Professor, how can
air exist in the water? You told us at
the last evening, when we were talking
about the atmosphere, that there was
air in the water, and then, a short time
after, you said air was lighter than
water, and that it rose in bubbles to the
top of the water.
Pr0t.-A very proper question. 1t is
now rendered very certain that water
is composed of very small particles,
nearly or quite round in form, and that
the spaces between are filled with air,
! just like a teacupful of fine shot or
muStard-seed, only infinitely smaller.
These particles cannot be seen they are
50 small, and the air in the water, when
it rises in any considerable quantity,
| displaces them. Liquids when left to
themselves, naturally form into globu-
lar shape. Shot are made by pouring
melted lead through sieve, at the top
of some high building. AS soon as the
drops are left to themselves they acquire
the proper shape, and before reaching the
ground they cool and become hard.
Drops of rain, when falling, are round.
Hail-stones are rough when they reach
the ground. Now can anyone tell me
why they are not round like shot, for
they are made in the same way SUBJ
stantially?
George.-Perhaps it is the wind; for
| have noticed that high winds general
ly accompany hail-storms.
Pr0f.-You are doubtless correct.
There seems to be some dispute about
the precise way in which hail-stones are
formed. 1t is, however, true that they
are frozen drops of rain There are
strong reasons for believing that cleo
tricity, that subtle fluid which pervades
all creation, has some connection with
the formation of hail. Another theory
is that the hail-stones, at first, are no
larger than the smallest drops of rain,
and that falling through cloud other
drops are attached to them, and become
frozen; thus causing them to grow
larger and larger, until they reach the
ground.
FIora.-How large hail-stones ever
fall?
Profit would be impossible to say,
as there are frequent hail-storms in
mountainous countries which are unin-
| habited. | have seen them of consider
able size myself. | sat under the
shelter of Il huge rock, high on the
White Mountains, many years ago,
with a friend during very severe
hail-storm. 1t was in June, ard one
of the hottest days of the season. The
storm lasted but very few minutes,
not more than five, yet in that short
period great quantity of hail fell. |
could have easily picked up bushel
of hail-stones as large as butter-nuts.
Hail-Storms are very common in the
south of France, and on the Pyrenees
Mountains. The hail-stones which fall
there are frequently as large as hens
egg; and there is no reason to doubt
that they have fallen twice that size.
But | think we are wandering from our
subject somewhat.
have told you that water can be
decomposed, 'and the two gases, of
which it is formed, weighed and
measured.
Helen Williams. What if the two
gases be put together again?
Prot.-lf the two gases are put to-
gether again and inhamed, they be-
come water as before. But they must
be in the exact proportions / have
named. If we take three parts of
hydrogen to one of oxygen. and ex-
! plode them, one part of the hydrogen