Morning journal and courier., 1888-07-02

| as much for equal weights, aluminium at
/ one shilling and two pence per pound would
be cheaper than copper at five pence per
pound. Possessed of the rare qualities of
| indestructibility, freedom from tarnish,
strength and lightness, the purposes to which
aluminium will be applied, if it can be OBJ
tained at lower price, are innumerable.
And as we have already seen, its cost has been
reduced from eight shillings an ounce to
twenty pence pound. and it may be hoped
that we are far from having reached the low-
est limit Of cheapness in production. AS the
electric agency has now been satisfactorily
yoksd to the retort, We may hint that SCOT
land. or some other district where water
power may be economically applied to the
driving of the dynamo, is not unlikely here
after to form the scene of a new metallurgic
industry.
The oriental ruby consists of nearly pure
a1umina in q crystalline form, containing but
one per cent. of oxide of iron and one-haIf
per cent. OF any other substance. The spe-
cifc gravity Of this precious stone ia higher
than that of many other gems, ranging from
3.9 TO 4.2. It is remarkable that the same
chemical element should form one of the
heaviest of gems and one of the lightest of
metals. Pure aluminium has when cast
density of 2.56; when forged of 2.67-or
only one-third of that of forged steel, or q
fourth of that of silver. The melting point
is about thirteen hundred degrees Fahren-
heit. The metal is the best conductor of
heat and Of electricity that is yet known; SO
that it may be considered that it approaches
more nearly to some of the most important
characteristics of the structure of the ami
NAL skeleton than any other metal. its ten
sible strength is much greater than that of
steel; SO that it is possible not only to re-
duce the weight of an apparatus to one
fourth of that of one of corresponding size
in silver, but to effect further reduction by
using thinner plate of metal for the same
purpose.
As an alloy for other metals aluminium
possesses qualities no less valuable than
when pure. Mixed with ten per cent. of tin
it can be readily soldered and takes fine
polish. Mixed with copper and nickel, un-
der the name of aluminium silver, it makes
excellent cutlery, which will take an edge
like steel. Added to ordinary brass up to
the proportion of ten per cent. it improves
the color, the durability, the tensile strength
and the resistance to corroslon of the alloy.
Mixed with bronze in the same proportions
it gives rich gold colsr; and with specific
gravity of twenty per cent. less, the alloy
has a tensile strength Of thirty per cent.
more than the steel specified for guns by the
French and German governments. Com
bined in smaller quantities with steel or iron
it produces extraordinary effects, tripling
their tensile strength and increasing their re-
sistance to rust Added in the low proper
tion of one part in thousand to Siemens-
Martin steel, it reduces the melting point,
increases the fuidity and consequently ena~
bles the founder to produce souEder castings.
It has been announced that the age of iron
is to be followed by an age of steel, but
there is sound reason for anticipating that
the twentieth century may prove the age of
aluminium.
Habits worth Breaking.
'tJust look at that grip
eyes; it is Miss Blank. What about
hera"
''Don't you see her tongues'
s'Ohi yes. Isn't 1t perfectly dreadfuls
They say she always sticks 1t out like that
when she's thinking about anything"
The young woman in question was prome-
nading on West Fourteenth street early one
recently, attired in a bewitching
costume and with a pensive expression,
while the tip her little tongue protruded
between two lips of the description known
to noyelists as coral. eyes," said one of her
feminine acquaintances, "she always does
that when thoughtful or worried. It's one
of those terrible habits which, when once
contracted, stick closer than million broth
ers. Miss Blank began it when a child and
no one ever took the trouble to break her of
it, Now, poor girl, it morti6es her terribly
to be told about it, Though of course she is
anxious to cure herself. But then nearly
everyone has some curious little habit which
he would be very glad to break if he could;
some trick more or less unpleasant caused in
the first place probably by nervousness. We
all know the man who tugs at his moussache
and the one who is perpetually pulling up
his collar. Then there is the girl who is al
ways rubbing one eye as if in search of a
stray eyeIash, and the man who can't be
quite happy without some more or less frag
lie article to twist and bend and turn about
in his fingers. Anything and everything
from your finest lace handkerchief to your
new and extremely delicate paper cutter is
to the demon Of nervousness which
possesses him, and yet you can't find it in
your heart to rob him of his play thing. He
is quite happy and at his ease long as ne
is allowed to Iwirl and twist much as he
wants to, but bereft of the temporary OBJ
iect of his affection he would be abieotly
miserable, and you know it. Many a man
can talk huently and well while winding
something -anYthing-abou his finger, who
without it would be constrained, awkward,
silent
"One of the most annoying forms of this
disease is the incessant tattoo which some
people keep up on their knees or the table,
or whatever happens to be most convenient
as a keyboard. I have noticed that musi-
clans usually indulge in this habit and it is a
very trying one, though don't know that it
is worse than stwiddle your thumbs There
are lots of other curious little ways peculiar
to individuals. I know man who, when
always taps the side of his nose
with his little finger, and girl who is so
given to pushing her hair behind her left
ear that she has worn bald spot there"