Huntsville gazette., 1885-08-08

OF the most important OF all lnVentlOnS,
that of gunpowder, destined, as we
may hope, to render war so destructive
that no man will dare or wish to resort
to it.
To this day, the chief materials used
by the maker of fireworks are salt
peter, charcoal and sulphur, mixed in
many combinations with filings of
various metals, chiefly iron, steel, cop
per and zinc. These filings have the
same property of instantaneous COM
bustiOn as charcoal itself. Iron filings
produce brilliant red and white sparks,
which give such splendor to wheels
and rockets. Copper filings impart a
greenish tint, zinc a fine blue color.
The combustion of amber affords a
yellow flame, while lamp black yields
an intense red. The trade has thou
sand secrets, some of which never get
into print, although there are several
extensive treatises on pyrotechnics.
For popular festivity, like the Fourth
of July, there is no conclusion better
than public display of fireworks. 1t
gives pleasure to the whole population
that is old enough to keep awake after
dark, while to the younger half of the
crowd it affords an intense gratifica-
ton. The great objection is the danger
of the whole exhibition being spoiled
by a shower of rain.
| Perhaps the largest crowd ever
gathered in the United States was that
which assembled on the evening of the
Fourth of July, lS76.in Fairmount Park,
Philadelphia, to witness the grand CEN
tennial exhibition of fireworks. The
people began to assemble long before
dark, and by eight o'clock it seemed as
if the whole immense park was full OF
spectators. The day had been fine and
very hot. Towards eight o'clock a
black cloud gave notice of its approach
by the sound of distant thunder. At
any other time nothing could have been
more welcome to a sweltering city,
and even then the storm ad-
vanced SO slowly that few thought
of it in connection with the impend-
ing show. All expected to enjoy the
artificial exhibition of fire before the
natural one opened. The fireworks
began at the appointed hour. Very
soon AFTER a few drops OF rain fell, just
enough to warn the managers to make
haste. The rain increased and it was
soon apparent that the whole range of
fire works, including temples. gigantic
portraits of Washington, mounds, vol
canoes, stars, patriotic notices, pyra-
mids, and other structures, all on a
scale of magnitude never before seen
in America, must be discharged at
once, or never discharged at all The
managers took the hint given them by
the thunder-cloud, and soon the crowd,
which had begun to disperse,. was
stilled and entranced by the most ex-
tensive and splendid exhibition of fire.
works ever seen in America at one mo-
ment.
| The display was wonderfully fine,
but very brief, for the rain soon began
to dim the brightness of the fireworks.
What scramble it was to get out of
the park! Three-fourths of the crowd
| were some miles from their abOdes.
Cars, omnibuses, carriages, all seemed
pOwerless even to diminish the wet and
clamorous multitude.
The most extraordinary displays of
! fireworks ever seen in the world used
to occur in Rome at Easter, when st.
Peters Church formed the ground
work of the display. There were two
exhibitions in the same evening. Be-
fore dark the whole of the vast edifice
was hung with white paper lanterns
All the architectural outlines of the
church, from the portico to the cross
above the dome, were marked by rows
OF these cOlOrless lanterns, the candles
OF which were lighted before sunset.
For some time, against the splendor of
the western sun, the lights were not
visible, nor the lanterns As night
drew on, the lines of light began to
show against the deepening gloom,
and the silver brightness increased
from moment to moment, until the
building stood out at last as if it were
drawn upon the black sky with PEN
Gil Of light. Nothing of the church
was visible, except these fiery lines.
1t looked as if built of fire. At nine
O'Clock. upon the first sound of the
great bell, flame burnt from the cross
over the dome .'Instantly," as Mr..
w. W. Story describes it in his ''Roba
di Roma" " "a flash of light whirls over
the dome, climbs the smaller cupolas,
descends like rain of fire down the
columns of the facade, and before the
great bell of St. Peters has ceased to
toll, the golden illumination has sue
ceeded to the silver
This second illumination lasts until
nearly midnight, great church of gol-
den fire, inconceivably striking and
splendid. Even George Eliot, woman
not prone to be much moved by any
such display. was enchanted with it.
ut is thing she says, $50 wan
drous, so magically beautiful, that one
can't find it in ones heart to say it is
not worth doing. l remember well
the first glimpse we had, as we drove
out towards it, of the outline of the
dome, like new constellation on the
black sky. l thought that was the
final illumination, when, as our car
riage stopped in front of the cathedral,
the great bell sounded, and in an in
slant the grand illumination flashed
out and turned the outline of stars into
a palace of gold. ."-Kouth's Companion.
A Stroke of Lightning