Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-23

THE FL.
fues for the admission of vapors and escape
of gases generated during the process. The
muffie is heated to high pitch, and salts OF
aluminium, generally in the shape OF a
chloride, are heated in a clay vessel until
they vaporize; the vapors are then conducted
into the muffle by one of the hues. As re-
suit, aluminium is deposited on the prepared
heated metal. To prevent oxidation, nitro
gen is forced into the mufle along with
the chloride of aluminium vapor. Only a
small quantity of waste gases is formed dur
ing the process. and these, together with the
surplus nitrogen, escape Through the hues,
but are collected and may be again used IN
other ways. It is said that this method is
very thorough; so thorough, indeed, that
not only is coating of aluminium deposited
on the surface of the iron or copper, but
much OF the precious metal is actually ab-
sorbed by the heated and expanded iron or
copper, so that an actual alloy is formed,
which gradually shades of to a surface OF
pure aluminium.
The value of this process ought to be very
great. This coating of aluminium is found
to increase very materially the strength of
the object to which it is applied. 1t is OF
utility in machinery, for axles, etc., because
not tarnished by either acids or alkalies, nor
eaten into BY them. This fact makes an
aluminium plating most desirable for house
hold utensils of all kinds. Curiously
enough, it both conveys heat more rapidly
and retains it longer than almost any other
known metal, which makes it of special
value in cooking utensils.
AN ENDLESS CHAIN ELEvAToR.-I
entered an Office building in London, which
was not far from the Bank of England, says
writer In the New York Tribune. In the
corridor l saw a number of boxes following
one another up one shaft and down another.
They were attached to an endless chain, and
were large enough to hold several persons.
] looked at the machine in some doubt,
when suddenly man stepped out of one Of
the boxes, or cars which was coming down,
while it was in motion. Pretty soon saw
other men jumping in and out of the cars. L
at first hesitated about risking my limbs
and life on the contrivance, but finally
stepped into an ascending car, just before its
bottom was on a level with the floor.
No. sooner had I done this than began
to get afraid that 1 might be crushed to
death between the car and the floor or cell
ing when tried to step of. Of a sudden it
floor would be carried to the roof and then
be stood on my head in the ear as it turned
over. 1 was in a fever of anxiety, and
could hardly screw up my courage to the
point of alighting, but l managed to do this
when the top floor was reached. I found
that it was much easier to get out than had
supposed, and when I finished my call 1
boldly rode down on the machine. 1 after
ward learned that man who did not get
out of an ascending car at the top floor would
be in no danger of being turned upside down
at the top of the shaft, because the car al
ways maintains its upright position.
MINNIE PALMER's BEAR.-John r.
Rogers, the husband of Minnie Palmer,
whose matrimonial troubles has lately en-
gagged public attention, has photograph
which looks at first sight like picture OF
his wife, with the end Of the nose and half
of one eye cut off by the trimming of the
| proves that the portrait of Minnie Palmer
is only incidental and that the photograph
aims to represent an object that lies on her
shoulder. 1t is live bear, and not only
that but full-grown one, As it clings
to the actress shoulder and lays its head
affectionately against her cheek it looks
about as large as particularly tat pug dog,
SO the assertion that it is full grown
is rather surprising. Mr.. Rogers says that
the animal is native of Northern
Australia and is known as the baby bear,
or sometimes the miniature bear. It eat!
nothing but the leaves of tn. gum tree, and
if it cannot get these it dies. 1t has fond
ness for hanging on the under side of a imt
of tree, clasping its legs around it. Some
of the natives of Australia eat the flesh o.
the animal, but people who are not, natives
| of Australia and ought to know better have
habit of shooting the little bear in mer,
wantonness and cruelty. When it Is shot il
still hangs to the bough of the tree, crying
exactly like baby, and even when it die
its hold is not relinquished, and if its slaye
wants its body he must knock it off the tree
The particular specimen shown in Mr.
Rogers photograph was given to Mis-
Palmer by friend in Australis, wit
thought it an appropriate gilt for her be
cause its name was Minnie. Mr.. Rogers
before sailing from Australia, got larg
quantity Of the gum tree leaves, and in
duced the stew ard of the ship to put then
in the ice box for him. Everything wen
well till New Zealand was reached. N,
bear of this kind had ever been brought 81
far as New Zealand before, and the paper
there published long stories about the ami
NAL and the achievement of bringing it s.
lar. but ltS GAYS were mum Dere0. w hel
the ship reached the Samoan Islands it me
with bad weather, which lasted for fou
Gays. The bear lay on Mr.. Rogers shoulde
and cried like human baby. but manage
to live through the storm for three days
Then it died, and left only its counterfeit
presentment in Photographic form to b
shown to friends in America.
STORIES OF ERICssoN.--Colonel Will
lam G. Church, in his book on Ericsson, jus
published, tells of his eccentric life as fol
lows: "Curious contrivances here and ther
about his rooms illustrated the great engi
neer's ingenuity in providing for his pei
sonal convenience. In a doorway of hi
bedroom two short ropes, with nippers at tn
ends, hung at about the height of his shoul
ders. To these nippers he fastened his coat
so that he could get into it without liftin
; too high his rheumatic arms or subjectin
himself to the humiliation of asking assist
ance Eighteen hods of coal were placed
lust outside his bedroom door, and tw
stokers' iron pokers, six feet in length, en-
abled him to stir up his fire without ap
preaching it too nearly or calling upon
servant for help. Open freplaces were al
he used, and no furnace was permitted t
poison the air OF his house. A tin saucepan
with handle several feet in length an,
crooked so as to hang ON to the edge OF tn
IL J.; - lNA1 IL 49,