Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-09-07

One Of The remarkable productions q
this exhibition was Balmsin's luminous
paint" which In the dark yields a pale
blush luminosity, like the light of glow
worm In q completely darkened room,
painted all over with this composition, one
can see sufficiently well to write or to read
the time on q watch dial. The theory of
the patentees is that this strange luminosity
Is produced by molecular vibration; that
the paint, when struck by rays of light,
gives out light as q bell gives out sound.
The composition is not inherently lumin-
ous- 1t requires to be ''excited" by light
every four-and twenty hours, otherwise
the luminosity fades completely out of it
but, with this periodical excitement, it
is said to retain its quality of luminosity
for years. Ordinary daylight sufficiently
changes all objects exposed to it to make
them luminous throughout the Eight. The
paint seems to admit of useful application
ID many ways Life buoys coated with it
are visible in the water by night; 1t illu-
inmates door numbers and inscriptions In
i'll lighted suburbs, and fill cellars and
other dark recesses with q dim twilight.
1t may he used for ornamental pun poses as
well, statuary. for example. when painted
with il, showing forth in darkness with
singular ghostly effect. Glazed bricks,
SAID to be impervieus to wet, which bricks
have never hitherto been, and various
kinds of vitreous decoration for walls,
standing out in ornamental relief, like
wood carving, are feature Of the exhibi-
ton. Porcelain stoves, too, seem to be
into hnx
provement on the iron ones hitherto used,
being clean and ornamental, though posi-
bly, liable to break. IL the matter of
house ventilation there is no great improve
ment TO notice. Trumpet-shaped or conf
cal tubes for insertion in the walls of
rooms, the air outside, entering by the
small end, and being diffused inside the
house without caus ng draught, are q
novelty. Various other air diffusers are
shown on 4 similar principle, also fan
worked by small jet of waller. N. Bor-
diau, of Brussels, exhibits the plan of
new system of ventilation, applicable to
theatres and other public buildings. Fresh
air drawn in from above, where it ought
to be comparatively pure, is pumped
through certain air chambers in the base
ment, where it caD be either heated or
cooled according to the requirements of
the season, and distributed over every part
of the building, 50 much of the vitiated
air as is light escaping by tine roof, and so
much of it as is heavy being Withdrawn by
suction. The system is in practical oper
alton at the Theatre Royal de la Momaie
at Brussels. 1t Is costly to apply to exist
ing buildings, owing TO the extensive
structural changes it involves, but ii might
easily be adopted in public ediflces in
course of erection. Many small improve
ments are noticeable in domestic ap-
pliances. The dangers Of window cleaning,
for instance, are obviated by sashes which
turn on horizontal pivot, and which,
therefore. combine the advantage of the
French window, which opens like door,
ami our English window, a guiiiotine
Lead wster pipes are coated inside with
tin to preveEt pDisoning; gas for country
houses is manufactured by simple appar-
aius out of mineral oils; and the products
of gas combustion in rooms are carried off
at once without being allowed to come
INTO contact with the ordinary atmosphere
on the principal adopted in the House of
Commens.