The Harrison times. (Harrison, Boone Co., Ark) 1876-1938, 1886-08-07

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photographers have revealed us to
extraordinary chemical properties
in the suns rays, while some of
these rays are entirely destitute of
this peculiar power IL has also
been discovered TINT there are rays
of light outside of the solar spec
trum, and which are Invisible to
the human eye, just rs there may
be vibrations in the atmosphere too
high or too low TO produce an au-
dible sound.
1t is a mooted question whether
the sunlight falling upon an ordi-
nary wood-fire retards the process
of combustion. This is n popular
notion, and it certainly looks m if
the fire burned more feebly when
the sun shines full upon it, and it
is now alleged by scientific men
that there may be some such in
tiuence produced by the action of
the chemical rays.
One would hardly have supposed
that such subtle and volatile ele-
ments as light and electricity, after
having been produced, could be
stored away for future use; and yet
it is well known that n strip OF pa
per, prepared after a certain fash
ion, and exposed for half an hour
to the rays of the sun, may be
corked up and, if kept in the dark
retain its luminousness for II con-
siderable period of time. The
same property may be impaired to
paint and it has been proposed to
apply this to practical uses. What
weird look one of our country
villages would have on dark
night if all the houses were painted
with this phosphorescent pigment
The expansive and coptractile
power of heat and cold is one of
the most irresistible forces OF ma
ture. Bunker Hill monument is
22l feet high, built of solid granite
and every day 1t escilates TO and
fro, as the heat of the sun expands
the eastern or the western side.
LIZ the iron rails on our roads were
not allowed free play at the ends,
they would not curl up like n
snake. Tie tall and massive
walls of stone buildings, when they
have fallen away from the perpen-
dicular, are righted and restored
to their proper position by con
Meeting them with metallic rods,
which, after they have been ex-
banded by heat, in the process Of
cooling draw the walls together
with an irresistible force. We are
all familiar with the application of
the same principle in the hopping
of oil-casks, and the firing of
wheels. IL is one of the anomalies
of nature, that, while the cold coE.
tracts every other substance, wa
ter although it also contracts W
to certain point is actually ex.
banded by freezing. This is one
of the most striking indications of
n wise and benefcent Providence
as it is all that prevents our ponds
and rivers freezing solid to the bot
tom. To show the power of this
expansive force, | would mention
that brass sphere, one foot in nj
ameter, has been torn asunder by
the expansion of cubic inch of
water, inclosed in the center and
then frozen.
1t is a familiar and yet it always
strike us as q marvellous fact, that
worlds may have been for years in
existence, the light of which has not
yet had time to reach our earth,
and that we may still continue to
see the light of stars that have been
for long time extinct.
What is to be the destiny Of our
world, after the sources of light
and heat are exhausted, as of me-
cessity in process of time they must
be? The earth may be very old,
but as it had beginning, 30 ii
must, sooner or later have an end.
Grand Efforf