The sun., 1898-04-10

r. T.-One OF the most wonderful dis
coveries in science recently, says the
American Machinist," is the fact that
beam of light produces sound. A sun
light beam is thrown through lens on
glass vessel that contains lamp-black,
colored silk, worsted or other substances
A disk having Sits or openings cut in it
is made to revolve swiftly in this beam
of light SO as to cut it up, thus making
alternate flashes of light and shadow.
On putting the ear to the glass vessel
strange sounds are heard SO long as
the flashing beam is falling on the
vessel.
D. X. M.-The safest course if caught
i'll thunder storm is to allow ones self
to become thoroughly soaked. The
chances of safety from lightning are ten
to one in favor of the wet person.
West Chester Debaters. -" In time leap
year will 60 out of existence entirely"
explained an almanac computer to a
Sun reporter, "but, as it will not occur
for over 500 years, we haven't much
personal interest in the event. In the
ordinary course of events 1900 would be
leap year, but it will get left in the
calculation. In other words, while it
does occur, it does not occur, simply be-
cause it is not in the agreement that it
shall occur. The story Is long one, but
it can be briefly told, so that the average
person can understand it without much
difficulty. In 1882, in the arrangement
Of the Julian calendar, ten days were
dropped SO as to get things running on
the then new but the present basis of
calculating TIME. So as to keep things
running right, it was determined that
a year ending century should not be
bissextlle, except every fourth century.
Thus there was no leap year IN 400,
1900, nor 1900. 1t is, or at least was,
rather rough on the ladies who have
special advantage in leap year, for it is
tne only year that it is proper for them
to propose themselves In marriage, but
ii has always been SO in matters affect
ing womankind, men always finding
reasons for restricting their privileges
The ladies get left again in 1900, but
though there will not be many OF those
who see 1900 who will see 2OOO, the
latter year, ending fourth century, will
be leap year. In this way, three DAYS
are retrenched in four centuries, and the
remaining seven days will be made up
in little over SOU years. After that
calendar years will be like solar years
and future errors in the calculation OF
time will i'll thousands of years affect the
seasons, but ! suppose the mathema-
ticlans OF the centuries hence will be SO
flip in handling figures and calculations
that they will have 10 difficulty in keep
ing things going correctly"
Soldier, Delaware City. y."-Bullcts (of
stone) were used in 1914. Iron bullets
were first mentioned in the Foedera in
1850.
Engineer, 1T has been frequently
stated that steam is driving sailing
vessels off the seas. 1t appears that
about one-half of the tonnage of the
world is in vessels propelled by wind,
and even IN Britain 40 per cent. of the
tonnage is in sailing vessels.
"E. G. B."-The growth of the nails
on the left hand requires eight or ten
days more than those on the right. The
growth is more rapid in children than in
adults, and goes on faster in summer
than in winter. 1t requires an average
of l30 days for the renewal of the nails
in cold weather, and but 1lG in warm
weather.
Lawyer, Sixth street.-The largest
standing army is that of Russia, 100000
men; the next in size that of Germany,
592, 600; the third that of France, 900, 900
the fourth Austria, $4,000; after
which came Italy, with 235, 900; England
with 2lO,0OO; Turkey, with 10000;
Spain, with $4,000. Little Switzerland
has an enormous army in proportion to.
population. The population is $780,
900; the standing army, 10000. Over
l,W,0OO French women were made wild
ows and 100000 French children
fatherless by Napoleon's campaigns. In
proportion to the numbers engaged,
Waterloo was the bloodiest battle of
modern times. Over IS per cent of the
men engaged were killed or wounded.
"S. M."-"Four score and even years
ago our fathers brought forth upon this
continent a new nation, conceived in
liberty and dedicated to the proposition
that all men are created equal. Now we
are engaged in great Civil War, testing
whether that nation, or any nation SO
conceived and SO dedicated, can long en-
due. We are met on great battlefield
of that war. We have come to dedicate
a portion of that field as final resting
place for those who here gave their lives
that that nation might live. 1t is alto
gether fitting and proper that we should
do this. But in larger sense we cannot
dedicate, We cannot consecrate, we can
not hallow this ground. The brave men,
living and dead, who struggled here,
have consecrated far above our power to
add or detract, The world will little
note, nor long remember, what we say
here, but it can never forget what they did
here. 1t is for us, the living, rather to be
dedicated here to the unfinished work
which they who fought here have thus
iar SO nob1y advanced. 1t is rather for
us to be here dedicated to the great task
remaining before us, that from these
honored dead we take increased devo-
tion to that cause for which they gave
the last full measure of devotion; that
we here highly resolve that these dead
shall not have died in vain; that this ma
tion, under God, shall have a new birth
OF freedom, and that government of the
people, by the people and for the people
shall not perish from the earth. ."-Lin'
coins Gettysburg address, November :
1858.