Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-08-04
Questions OF General Interest.

We copy the following into the Dispatch
from the Philadelphia Times:
l. How would you explain the difference
between an eminent man ana IA distih-
gllished man, or between an eminent man
and a celebrated man? Does not emi-
hence imply scholarship?
.. What would be an example or
genius?
3. Why do .ailway companies use salt
10 melt ice and snow In the street, when
ice-crcam makers use ii for exactly the
opposite purpose?
1. when lightning strikes an object,
why IS tho thunder following Of 50 great
intensity?
&. What is the supposed reason why
cat can ina its way home after being
talgen many miles away?
We quote these questions here because
they all seem 10 be of general interest.
and we answer them here for the same
reason:
/. The adjectives eminent. distinguish
ed and celebrated have a kindred, but
not Identical, meaning. Perhaps It would
BE- better TO quote what Webster's Inter
national Dictionary says OF them. an
authority that will not be questioned by
any one:
Eminent-Being metaphorcally above
others, whether by birth. high station,
merit, talent. or virtue
Dstlnguished-Separ from others by
distinct difference; having, or indicating,
superiority.
Celebrated-Haying celebrity; distin-
guished; renowned
ANSWERS.
In a note under the word distinguished,
the International says:
\ man is eminent when he stands high
as compared with those around him;
conspicuous when he IS 50 elevated as TO
be- seen and observed, distinguished. when
hs has something that makes him stand
apart from others in the public view;
celebrated when he Is widely spoken Of
with honor and respect; illustrious, when
a splendOr IS thrown around him that con-
fers the highest dignity.
You see. therefore. that when we say
man IS eminent. we DO not necessarily
imply that he IS a scholar
3 Genius implies high and peculiar
gifts of nature. impelling the mind TO GER
tain favorite binds Of mental effort. and
producing new combinations Of ideas,
imagery, etc. Edison is one Of the most
familiar examples Of a genius that we
could give you.
3. When salt and ice are combined.
they turn into q liquid that Is a good
deal colder than either the Palt or the
ice That IS because they use Up the
heat in turning from a sond to liquid
state Railway companies put salt on
their tracks. therefore, particularly on
the switches, because II turns the ice
and snow into liquid; In other words 1t
melts the ice and snow, and permits the
switch 20 move freely.
When the ice-cream maker mixes salt
with the ice in his freezer, II IS not
his purpose 10 melt the fee. but 10 freeze
the cream, and the principle that he relies
upon Is the one that We have Just stated
when two solids turn into a liquid they
use up a good deal OF heat. In changing
into q liquid thu fee ard salt in the
freezer draw the needed heat from the
cream and II becomes frozen. You see.
It - a very simple, but beautiful pro-
cess.
4. When lightning passes from one
cloud 10 another. or from a cloud to the
earth. Il leaves a. vacuum. or empty place.
IN its course and It is the rushing in OF
the surrounding air 10 fill that vacuum
that makes the sound called thunder The
intensity OF the report. when the light
Ming strikes some object. is due to the
fact that the thunder Is nearer Us than
when discharge takes place from one
cloud 10 another