The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1894-08-16

electricity from the body.
Lightning is so destructive because
Of its enormous power. A flash OF
lightning has been calculated to
equal 1000 horse power.
1t is harder to blow out candle
with n cotton than a flax wick,
because the porous cotton absorbs
so much more of the tallow.
The bodies of moths are covered
with a thick down because these
insects fly by night and need pro-
lection from the dampness.
The flesh under the nails looks
red because the nails are almost
transparent, and thus the color of
the tissue beneath is visible.
Swallows fly low before n rain
because the insects they pursue
are then near the ground to escape
the moisture of the upper air.
The bones of the skull are arched
because in that form the greatest
strength is combined with the least
weight and quantity of material.
Spontaneous combinations occur
in many substances because during
fermentation heat is evolved and
inhammable gases are engendered.
Snow is sometimes of a red color,
because of the presence of a. minute
vegetable cell, the Protoccus nivalis,
which secretes a red coluring mat
ter.
Many springs are intermittent
probably because the channels lead
ing from the reservoirs to the surface
are crooked and constitute natural
siphons.
Sea shells murmur because the
vibrations of the air, not otherwise
observable, are collected in the
shell and by its shape are brought
to a focus,
\ match ignites because of the
heat generated by friction. Matches
are tipped with phosphorus and
sulphur, both highly inhammable
substances.
y spoon in a glass filled with
hot water prevents the breaking
OF the glass because the metal readily
absorbs a large part of the heat
of the water.
\ plumb line by the side of q
very large building inclines a little
from the perpendicular because the
weight is attracted by the mass
of the editice.
\ black down grows under the
feathers of many birds at the APP
proach of winter because down i
the best non-conductor and black
the warmest color.
Bats are not classcd with birds,
because they sucklc their young,
and. having no nests, carry them
about until able to fly alone and
care for themselves.
AIRED unset foretells dry weather,
because it indicates that the all
toward the west, from which rains
may generally toe expected, con
tains little moisture.
Flies can walk on the ceiling
because their feet are natural air
pumps, and form a vacuum SC
that the body is supported by
atmospheric pressure.
Iron rusts more rapidly when we
than when dry because it has, oil
seems to have, a greater affinity
for oxygen when the latter II
combined with hydrogen.
\ man feels drowsy after a heart!
dinner because a large part of thu
blood in the syst m goes to th'
stomach to ald IN digestion am
leaves the brain poorly supplied.
\ pint of the oil of vitriol nike
with a pint of water will not til
a quart measure, because the bul
of the compound has been reduce
by the abstraction of latent heat.
, Lightning travels in Il zigza
course, because it passes throug
different strata of air and bein
resisted in its passage turns lroi
side to side to find the easiest path.
y piece of phosphorus sprinkle
with dry powdered charcoal ignite
almost instantly because the char
coal absorbs oxygen from the a
and so produces a higher temperS
ture.