The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-10-17
PARLOR MAGIC.

signed Tor the use OF young people VINO
are interested in the wonders and the
beautiful realities of Nature, and who
delight to observe for themselves how
curious are the phenomena revealed by
scientific knowledge. Simple instruc-
tons are given for the performance of
a number of petty experiments, all Of
which are perfectly safe, and cost very
little money. For g evenings at home"
it lis hoped that these experiments will
be found indefinitely amusing and rec
reative, at the same time that they will
lead the minds of boys and girls to in
quire into the entire fabric of the grand
sciences which explains the principles
on which they are founded. All the
materials spoken of, and all the need
full apparatus, which is of the simplest
and most inexpensive kind, can be OBJ
tanned at a good chemists. 1t is of the
highest importance that all the materi-
ais be pure and good.
PARLOR SUNSHINE.
Obtain a yard of magnesium tape''
or magnesium wire," sold very cheap
by most druggists. Cut length of six
or eight inches; bend one extremity 50
as to get good hold of it with pair
of forceps, or even a pair of ordinary
scissors, or attach it to the end of
stick or wire. Then hold the piece of
magnesium vertically in a strong
flame, such as that of candle, and in
few seconds it will ignite, burning
with the splendor of sunshine. and
making NIGHT seem MONDAY. As the
burning proceeds, q quantity of white
powder is formed. This is pure mag
resia. While performing this splendid
experiment, the room should be dark
ened.
CADAvEROCS FACES.
This is an amusing contrast to the
lighting-up by means of magnesium;
Again let the room be nearly darkened.
Put about a tea-cupful of spirits of wine
in a strong common dish OF saucer, and
place the dish in the middle of the
table. Let every one approach to the
distance of about a yard. Then ignite
the spirit with a match. 1t will burn
with a peculiar yellowish-blue flame,
and in the light of this the human coun-
tenances, and all objects of similar
color, lose their natural tint, and look
spectral. The contrast of the wan and
ghostly hue with the smiling lips and
white teeth of those who look on, is
most amusing. The effect of this ex-
pertinent is heightened by dissolving
some common table-salt in the spirit,
and still further by putting into it a
small quantity of saffron. Let the
spirit burn itself away.
THE BREATH OF LIFE.
Procure a tolerablv large bell-glass,
such as is used for covering clocks and
ornaments upon the mantel-piece. 1t
should not be less than eighteen inches
high, and eight or nine inches in diam
eter. Provide also common dish,
sufficiently large to allow tho bell-glass
to stand well within its raised border.
Then procure two little wax candles,
three or four inches in length, and
stand each in a little bottle or other
temporary candlestick. Place them in
the center of the dish and light the
wicks. Then pour water into the dish
to the depth of nearly an inch, and fin |
ish by placing the bell over the candles,
which of course are then closely shut
in. For a few minutes all goes on
properly. The flames burn steadily,
and seem to laugh at the idea Of their
being about to die. But, presently.
they become faint-first one, then the
other; the luster and the size of the
flames diminish rapidly, and then they
90 out. This is because the burning
candles consumed all the oxygen that
was contained within the volume of at
mosphere that was in the bell, and were
unable, on account of the water, to get
new supplies from outside. 1t illus
trates. in the most perfect manner, our
own need of constant supplies of good
fresh air. The experiment may be i'm
proved, or at all events varied, by using
candles of different lengths.
ROsE-COLOR PRODUCED FROM GREEN.
Obtain small quantity of roseine-
one of the wonderful products obtained
from gas-tar. and employed extensive
ly in producing what are called by man
ufacturers the "magenta colors."
Roseine exists in the shape OF minute
crystals, resembling those OF sugar.
They are hard and dry, and of the most
brilliant emerald green. Drop five or
six of these little crystals into q large
glass of limpid water. They will dis
solve; but instead of giving a green So
luton, the product is an exquisite GRIM
son rose color, the color seeming to
trickle from the surface of the water
downward. When the solution has