The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1885-10-10

1t used to be supposed that the in
vention of gunpowder led to the inven-
ton of fireworks, but it is now almost
certain that the invention of fireworks
led to the invention of gunpowder. TO
make twenty ounces of the best gum
powder we mix together fifteen ounces
of saltpeter, three ounces of powdered
charcoal, and two ounces of powdered
sulphur. This proportion is not al
ways followed, but it is standard
mixture, and it is the one used in the
royal gunpowder factory of England
If we leave out the sulphur, we shall
have very explosive substance, and
one that will answer the ordinary pur-
poses of gunpowder tolerahly well.
Sulphur improves the article, but the
combination of saltpeter and charcoal
is the essential secret of gunpowder,
and it was this fact that led to the first
production of fireworks.
When we inquire into the origin of
great inventions, we often find ourselves
in China, or looking over books about
China. All over the great plains of
China and India saltpeter is found
in abundance, pure or mixed with the
soil. 1t is easy to suppose that, away
back in the early ages of the Empire,
people made fires in the open air upon
some piece of ground strongly impreg-
mated with saltpeter, Suppose a fire
extinguishd, leaving upon that nitrous
soil many small pieces of charcoal and
charred wood The tread of the passer-
by, or the tramp of cattle, could grind
that saltpeter and charcoal into crude,
rudimental gunpowder. Then imagine
another party making fire upon the
same spot. In this way, or at least in
some similar accidental manner, proba-
bly, occurred the first discovery of gun
powder.
The Chinese themselves say, and the
Imperial records of Pekin attest, that
they have used gunpowder in fire.
works for about two thousand years.
To the present year the Chinese are eX-
travagantly fond of fireworks. Every
great festival in China is tremendous
and universal Fourth of July, from which
no one thinks of running away, as we
do. The whole population seem to en-
Joy not merely the fireworks, which
fill the air at night with splendor, but
those also which merely make a great
noise.
The celebrated Catholic missionary
M. Hue, in describing the manner in
which he was received by the Mandar-
ms of a Chinese city, speaks of the
''prodigious quantity of crackers, sus-
pended in large punches on bamboo
poles, their dry and noisy detonations
never ceasing for single moment. "
Every now and then, he adds, there
was an explosion of a great bomb,
which silenced the rafting of the fire.
crackers, while at the corners of the
courtyard "great dragons and other
fabulous monsters vomited fire" He
describes more particularly fire-work
which the Chinese call flying sun, re-
sembling wheel. 1t was put on a
large plate, and the plate laid upon the
ground. As soon as it is lighted at the
fuse, the wheel begins to revolve
rapidly, throwing out blush flames in
all directions. Then it whirls up into
the sky to an immense height, and lets
fall fiery rain of all the colors of the
rainbow.
M. Hue testifies not only to the pas
sion which the Chinese have for fire.
works, but also to the fact that they
did not invent gunpowder to destroy
their fellow-b beings, but to amuse them.
As NJ. Hue further remarks
"They were frework-makers before
they were artillerists, and they have re-
manned faithful to their first inclina-
tons, liking squibs and crackers great
deal better than cannon. In all their
festivals they are sure to manage some
how or other to bring in fireworks.
In the towns and villages you hear fire.
crackers popping and cracking at al
most every hour of the night and day,
so that one might take the whole
Chinese Empire for one great pyro-
technic establishment"