The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1881-06-22
Education for Lighthouses.

Why should not lighthouses learn TO
spell ont their own names? Such is the
latest idea Of our scientific men, and the
last word Of the advanced educationalists
Some distinctions there are at present,
but too many OF those "towers along the
steep which, in spite Of the poet Camp
bell, Brittania does need are furnished
with fixed lights, and these have been
more than once confounded with the
ordinary CLEAN from a seaport town, or
even village on the cliff. 1t might be
thought that the glare Of our beacons,
with all their costly apparatus and null.
tplied rcilectOrs, couldncyer be mistaken
for an ordinary lamp, yet Professor Tyn-
dali stated at the Society Of Arts, on
Wednesday night, that Sin certain con
ditions Of the atmosphere II candle in a
lantern and the electric light were undis-
tlngulshable by mere appearance, 30
that Shakespearc's " How far that little
candle throws its beams!" had scientific
basis. 1t is now proposed that by n
system Of "group flashes" every light
house in the United Kingdom should
indicate its own identity. Tclcgraphists
are aware how numerous are the comb
nations which may be made by grouping
and regrouping the long and short
clashes" Of the Morse system, and the
Photograph has applied the same princi.
pie TO the flashes of the sun. On this
principle it is hoped that finally every
lighthouse in the Kingdom will be able
TO spell ont its name 10 benighted and
bcwldcrcd scamcn, instead Of as now,
simply making Its mark" Scores of
greeks may thus be avoided. Tho fog
horns" or "Sircns -" Buch names min.
Elcd are also to be sent 10 the new
nightschool, and, instead of the hoarse
bcllOwingB which are now their only
uttcrancc, are 10 he endowed with more
or less uniculatc speech. These are Sir
William Ihompson's excellent proposals,
aud they have received the approval Of
the Trinity House, -Lond0n TicWaph.
A Pleasing Incident.
There is lady living in little four.
room cottage in the cnyirons of Boston
whose name il well known TO literary
people. She depends wholly upon her
own cXcrtlOms for the support of herself
and children, and does all her own house
work, yet her cottage is the focus Of the
best society Of the locality. A gentle.
man calling there recently was received
at the door by adaughtcr of the lady,
who told him her mother was too busy 10
be called, but that he could see her in
the kitchen if he pleased and he fol.
lowed her to that ROOM The lady
greeted him without the least embarrass
mcnt, though she had on n big apron
and her sleeves were pinned back TO her
shoulders. She was cutting u pumpkin
into strips for pies; and there sat n ven.
"rnhIo gentleman gravcly pairing the
STRIPS to the accompaniment Of brilliant
conversation. ] was asked TO guess who
the gentleman was, and, after scvcrG
irilIcss attempts, was told that it was
the poet l4ongicllow. While the pump.
kIn-pnrlng was n sncccsB, another dis.
tlngulshcd poet called, and no also in.
sisted upon being impressed into the
service. II was drcary day outside,
and no one cared to leave the pleasant
cottage, 80 they all stayed to lunch one
Of the pies forming the piece dc resist
0'cc of the occasion. Speaking of this
incident aftcrward the lady said Ny
friends are kind enough to come aud SEE
me, though they know cannot leave
my work to entertain them. Visiting and
work must proceed together, and when
set my callers at work with mo we are
sure to have All agreeable time. "-Ljp.
UiHCOU.