Morning journal and courier., 1886-03-03
CORnlfc Dust.

From Chambers Journall
 The most crucial test of dust is that of com parative chemical analysis, and it's applica- ton to various of these iron particles reveals the fact that while those known to be of ter restrial origin contained neither nickel nor cobalt, both these metals are found present in the magnetic particles collected at the ob- servatory of Saint Marie du Mont, on Mont Blanc, and meteoric origin has, therefore been assigned to the latter. Nor is other proof wanting to support this presumption. In addition to these particles of cosmic dust larger masses forming meteorites are not un- frequently found. Their general appearance is that of dull black, but occasionally shin ing black, irregular exterior, forming thin crust, which is totally different from the main mass within. Examined microscopi- cally, the crust, which is usually one-hun- dredth but may occasionally rise to one eightieth of an inch in thickness, is found to be true black glass, filled with small bub- bles, sharply divided from the interior facts which indicate that the crust IS due to igneous action, under conditions which have little or no influence within the mass. The interior usually consists of a stony mass formed of broken or angular particles. Here we have two alternatives-either 1t has been formed by aqueous deposition, or it has had an igneous origin. The latter or fiery origin is again believed to be the true one, for the reason that certain microscopic characters al- ways present in water-deposited crystalline masses are not seen in these meteorites; and an igneous non-terrestrial, rather than an ig- neous terrestial origin, is assigned to them, because the glassy spherical structure found in meteorites can only be produced terres- trially by combination of conditions very rarely found coexistent The only instance known where such a combination obtains is in the crater of Kiiauea, where the volcanic production known as Pele's Hair somewhat resembles the glassy structure of meteorites Nor is this all, for, knowing as we do that neteors occasionally reach the earth in the form of substantial masses, the suggestion has been ventured that they fall in sufficient numbers to affect its bulk in the course of ages; and assuming as we are entitled to as- sume, that these masses, to which we are un- able to assign definitely a meteoric origin, are indeed meteorites, the link connecting them with cosnnic (non-terrsstriaD dust has then been found. M. Tissandier, examining dust which he detached from the surface of Bohemian meteorite, found it's microscopic characters to resemble those of the dust par ticles of Mont Blanc, and even more proof is not wanting to vindicate it's non-terrestrial origin.
 Woman's View of 1t.
 LFrom Washington Letter to the Congregation alist.1
 The war issues settled, reform has begun in earnest. A woman employed many years in the treasury, and one most valued and trust ed, said to me few days since: Business is done in the treasury now as it ought to be, and as it would be in any private concern. Things were very loose. There are in the build | ing 2,00O employees; no notice was given, but one morning last spring every one late was 1 checked and there were 25O late that morning