Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-09-01
THE SURFACE FILM.

some interesting EaclS Explained ETY =
Curious Property of Water.
At recent lecture before the Royal
institution IN London some very inter-
esting facts were explained, which de-
pend upon the existence Of what is
called the surface film of water. Many
simple experiments show that the sur
face of water possesses property which
causes it to resist the passage of bodies
either from above or from below. This
is true not only of soapy water, but of
the clearest and purest water as we'll
A sheet of fine gauze tends to float, be-
cause, its weight being widely distrib-
uted, each of the numerous separate
wires is resisted by the surface film SO
that the water cannot readily pass
through the mesheS.
Insects and plants utilize this fact in
many interesting ways. Some water
plants, whose leaves float on the water,
have very simple continuance to keep
the upper surfaces of the leaves dry.
This consists of great number of min
mute hairs covering the tops of the
leaves Water cannot penetrate among
these hairs even when the leaves are
forced down beneath the surface.
The little RATS of eggs that gnats set
afoat on the water are kept from sink
ing and from being upset through this
same principle. The tiny eggs have
their points all upward, and they are
glued together SO closely that, while
there is open space all around the point
of each egg, yet the width of these
spaces Is so slight that water cannot
readily pass through You may again
and again upset such an egg raft, but
it will right itself every time, and the
upper surface will remain dry.
The water-spider, which spends most
of its time under water, carries bubble
of air for breathing on the under side
side of its body, and when this air is
exhausted it comes to the surface for
more.
It is enabled to carry the air bubble
because the under side of its body is
covered with tiny hairs set so close to-
gether that the surface film of the wa
ter does not pass them, although the air
does, and thus the air is imprisoned
among the hairs
Every reader can observe for himself
interesting instances of the way in
which insects take advantage of the
resisting property Of the surface film Of
water.-Youth Companion.
All the mountains of Japan are of I'M
questioned volcanic origin, and Full
stands where Hondo, the main island,
is broadcast About twenty craters are
still active throughout the islands, but
Fuji-san belongs to the much greater
number which are now inactive. Its
| last eruption occurred in 1907, contin-
uing more than month As far away
as Tokyo, sixty miles northeast, the
ashes fell to a depth of seven or eight
| inches; while on the Tokaido, twelve OF
fifteen miles southeast, the aocumula-
ton was six feet at this time was
/ formed Ho-yei-san, a secondary or para
site cone on the southeast slope. Nc
| other mountains in Japan reach within
three thousand feet OF the elevation O,
! Full, and it is therefore in prominent
| view from an immense area, including
thirteen provinces Of the empire. Ger
tain avenues in Toyso are called Fujf
mi, or Fuji-viewing streets. and from
all of them the famous peak is a glori-
Gus spectacle ALI winter long the sum
nit of Fuii-san is unapproaehable, and
from November to July SHOWS reign su.
preme. In the latter month, however
| when the trails up the mountain slopes
are laid bare, the ascent becomes feast
BILE. and remains so throughout thu
summer and early autumn-Pro< and
Mrs Todd, in Century.