The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-08-02
SCIENTIFIC MATTERS.

Mons. Oh. Montigny, oil Brussels,
has noticed that not only does the
aurora borealis increase the scintilla-
ton of stars-as other observers have
noted-but that magnetic disturb
ances produce the same effect even
when accompanied by no visible
aurora. The influence is strongest for
star il the north.
Herr Schell, of Grund, Germany,
has reported that in the course of
mining operations in the HartZ noun
tainS the sounds made by the firing
the rock at point 437 feet distant, in
horizontal direction; and the drop
ping of $50 pound stamp on the sur
face was head in tunnel through
571 feet OF rock, the tunnel being 539
feet below the surface and under Il
point distant, horizontally, 1877 feet
from the stamp mill.
In England the use of bismuth has
been patented in new alloy contain
ing "copper" zinc, nickel, tin and bis
muth in varying proportions. The
so-called bismuth bronze is a hard,
tough and sonorous metallic alloy,
which is claimed to be especially
adapted for the following purposes /:
for propeller blades, shafts and other
appliances exposed to sea water for
telegraph wires, its touohness making
it Invaluable where much strain is to
be endured for piano and other music
wires. on account of it's sonOrouS
quality and for domestic utensils and
other articles exposed to atmoSheric
influence, aluminium being added to
the composition when intended for
these articles.
Investigations by Herr Schulz in
dictate that poisoning by the use OF
nickel plated appliances is very im=
probable, even when the plated ware
is used for containing acid food. He
obtained less than third of grain
Of the nickel from sour milk which
had remained in contact with the
metal for eight days, and he admin
istered acetate of nickel to dog, for
considerable time, without per-
ceiving any effect except an increase
in the animals weight. Injected I'M
der the skin, however, the salts of
nickel and cobalt are shown by An
derson Stuart's experiments to pro-
duce poisonous effects invariably.
Some days ago, Bro. Henry Ward
Beecher went west and announced
that for once in his life he expected
to keep the Sabbath in Chicago last
Sunday by refraining from all pulpit
work. Brother Kennard of the Fourth
Baptist Church, hearing of Brother
Beecher's presence in Chicago, took
the first opportunity of assailing him
as an evolutionist. OF course, the
Chicago papers published the charge
and the eX-friend of Mrs. Tilton has
just printed reply in the same pa
pers. Brother Beecher says he is
cordial Christian evolutionist,
orthodox as to the substance of Chris
tianity, but not orthodox as to its
philosophy. Above all, he does not
believe in the fall of Adam or the in
heritance of his guilt. This seems to
have been perfectly satisfactory to
Brother Kennard. The last heard of
the two divines they were dining to-
gether and discussing the evolution
question and the little trouble in
Eden over or under the genial infu-
ence of mild clerical spree. The
presumption is that Brother Ken
nard is also rapidly on the way to a
sort of cordial Christian evolution"
too, and perhaps this thing is what
the world has been waiting or racing
for so long. But who would have eX-
pected it to come from Chicago or the
noted Brooklyn divine?