The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-04-23
principle is the same. eau You tell me

why?5
Both the boys looked puzzled. "It is only
because the wood does not weigh 50 much as
the water; neither are the stones as heavy
as the mercury. therefore they can not sink"
81 wish we could go into the mines.
Can't you take us sometime, grandpa" said
Harry.
"That is asking rather too much, my child,
for quicksilver is not common metal.
There are in the world only four important
localities from which 1t is obtained. These
are California. Peru, Austria and Almaden,
IN Spain. The mines nearest us are Call
fornia think shall never go so far as
that. but hope you both may before you
reach my age. It is curious story how the
mines in Peru were discovered. Cinnabar,
when ground very fine, will make beauti-
full red paint. The Indians used this to or
nament their bodies on grand occasions.
This caused the country where they lived to
be examined, and the cinnabar was found.
The Romans used this paint hundreds OF
years ago in decorating their images and in
painting pictures. 1t is very highly valued
now. and we call it vermlllion."
Fred" continued Mr.. Lennox, ''yOu
spoke Of the difficulty of separating gold and
silver from the rock where they are found.
Did you know that our valuable mercury
renders valuable aid in this? The rock that
contains the precious metal is crushed fine,
sifted and washed, until as much as possible
OF the gold or silver is removed; then it is
placed in vessel with the quicksilver,
which seems Immediately to absorb it, thus
separating 1t entirely from every particle of
sand or rock. If the metal to be cleaned is
gold, you viii see pasty mass or amalgans
as it is called, of yellowish tinge. This is
heated, and the mercury flies away, leaving
behind 1t the pure gold
How did people learn to do this?" asked
Fred.
"They did not learn it all at once. 1t was
only by years of patient effort and frequent
failures that they finally succeeded. You
know there are many gold and silver mines
in California" continued grandpa.
Near some of them large mines of quick
silver have been discovered. You can
imagine that this caused great rejoicing, for
all the quicksilver previously used was sent
in ships to this part of the world, which of
course made it scarce and very expensive.
Now, we can send away quantities to other
countries after supplying our own wants.
Notwithstanding that this strange metal
renders such service to manklnd-for
could tell you of many other useful things
it does-it is deadly poison. Its vapor is
so dangerous that persons searching for it
often die from breathing the air where 1t is
found. About 20 years ago the mines in
Austria took fire and 1900 workmen were
poisoned and many of them died The
water that was used to quench the fire being
pumped from the river 1dria, all the fish
died excepting the eels- Since that time
spiders and rats have deserted the mines.
Mercury is carried in sheep skin bags and
cast-iron bottles. 1t is so heavy that an
ordinary cork would soon be forced out by
il, therefore the iron-stopper must be
screwed IN. Once some bags of mercury
were stored in the hold of foreign vessel
unfortunately. q few of the bags were rotten
and leaked. Every person on board was
poisoned, and every piece OF metal connec-
ted with the vessel received silvery coat
ing of mercury"
TT is dreadful, Fred, don't let us touch
it," said Harry.
Don't be frightened yet, Harry. Did
you know that mercury was used as a medi-
cine? 1t is given in very small doses"
II am sure / shall never take it." exclaim-
ed Fred.
Perhaps you may have done SO already"
replied their grandfather, laughing. Did
you ever hear of blue pills and calomel?
they are both preparations of mercury"
Just then the sun shone into the room so
brightly that every one turned to the win
dows. Such . sparkle! The evergreens
were covered with shining ice-drops, and
the tall trees pointed their glistenipg
branches toward the few clouds that were
hurrying over the blue sky.
Il am not sorry it rained after all, said
Fred. 81 have enjoyed the morning SC
much that forgot the play we were going
to have"
Two happy tired boys went to sleep that
night, and the next morning they started
| for home. They both agreed In thinking
they had never enjoyed more delightful
visit at grandpa's.
MARY H. SEYMOUR.