Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-11
A Little Chemistry.

| u SQi0t
1.-THE cloud-capped towers, the gorgeous
| palaces,
The solemn temples. tho great globe it,
self. 0rross
Yea, all which It Inherit shall dissolve.
And, like this insubstantial pageant
faded, ~
Leave not rock behind
TEMPEST.
| in the which the Heavens shall pass
| away with a great noise, and the ,ie-
ments shall melt with fervent heat: the
earth also and the works that are there.
in, shall be burned up."-St. Peter.
Chemistry is making us acquainted
with actualities. and possibilities that are
not altogether agreeable. The great seas
| and lakes and rivers that ogerspreass the
earth incline us to rest assured that we
are not in any danger Of being burned
up. And human ingenuity is providing
continually new preyentives OF combus-
ton and defences against fire. Yet, ma
ture is too much for u.s. and we find that
still we are in the midst of many and
great dangers, and liable 20 be consumed
by what we consider our defences: and
blow UP suddenly.
We rely on water to extinguish fire.
And yet water is made up OF hydrogen
and oxygen gas. hydrogen gas Is the
most intense burner: and oxygen gas Is
the greatest supporter OF combustion. The
air that we breath is made up OF HYDRO
gen, oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon. Hy-
drogen and oxygen keep up the fires
of life. Carbon and loxygen together XIII
us: and nitrogen alone will let us die.
Nitrogen, imprisoned with carbon, makes
gunpowder, and glycsrine gives US gun
cotton. In tho midst OF all these con-
sumers, destroyers OF life and terrible
explosives, we walk careless-as IL the
flesh that walls within our spirit were
brass impregnable. The little spark ,s
ready TO blow us to atoms. The little
pin bores through our castle walls, and
SO farewell
What makes the gases to keep together
Tor our preservation? and not consplrs
for our destructon2 II an Almighty. In
telligent, Wise, and Mereiful Being, m
hnlteIy humane, does not keep them, and
make them work together for our good,
what horrors may befal us! The in-
hnitesimals know their duty and own
their Master, as tho stars do in their
courses. Atoms and worlds together
make a grand chorus: The hand that
made US is diyine
Now, IL the biologists are right, and we
eNAN PNH2At5 HAttdIlOu6 existence on a
crust OF earth a mile or two thick, while
all below is u molten mass of ire. what
are we TO think Of IL? The water and
air only want chemical change, and
they, too become flames OF fret Our
heavens are ready to melt with .fervenf
neat, and the earth and its works 10 be
burned. This is only plain, elementary
human science; expermentally, PRACTICAL
ly true. bale OF cotton on fire within
and saturated with kerosene oil is a true
type OF this earth that we so confidently
lnhabit and so madly disgracel To an
Intelligent and thinking man the words
Or the great poet and Of the apostle ara
undeniable and unquestionable prophecy,
me earth is full OF fire and kerosene oil
and explosive material, and surrounded
with combustible elements. And We re.
eognize In electricity a strange spirit thai
can light the map
At Hellgate acres OF everlasting rock
were bored by human hands and charged
irresistible powers. Electric wires com.
lnunlcated with every cell. All was stu.
but all was ready. In the fulness OF
time the touch OF IA child spread fire
through the mass, and great rocks were
torn asunder and tossed into the air.
In the interests Of commerce and gene
raj convenience man is filling the earth
with nerves. Cables and wires extend
everywhere through earth and air.. our
world Is highly-organized sensitive ner-
'ous system. Events I'm its extreme
PARTS are communicated instanta1e eas,yc
% the centres And we infuse Intelligence
md Keeling into mere matter. And who
Knows what Is 10 be the end OF this-the
;rand consummation? We famH!arly
peak OF our wires as live" and 'Iiying"
low far can they communicate their
ifeY And what may their own light and
leat accomplish? We know wei that
'lectricity can decompose water as we'll.
Is air; and what shall be the status OF
'arth and air and water all threaded
With wires and permeated with eleetu-.
ity2 In moment. In tho twinkiinx OF
IN eye, what may the Divine touch ac-
omplish? When they shall say peace and
aIety, then sudden destruction shall
ONE upon them.
few years ago such talk as this
would have been counted as merely VI
'ionary; now we have not only serrnens.
n stones, books in running brooks.
ongues in trees, and the like. but every
hing CLEANS with living intelligence and
5 eloquent. And We must stupefy or,
rug ourselves TO avoid hearing the yoicey
II things around US. Our age Is almost
ghast at its own discoveries and achieve
nents. and at ihe revelations THAI. ara.
made TO It, Things that have been kent
ecret from the foundation OF the earth
re now unfolded and made familiar. Tho
anguage OF prophecy is the language Of
veryday life. As convenience and In
crest require. every valley Is exalted.
nd every mountain and hill Is made
lain. and the crooked are made straight.
md the glory OF tho Lord IS revealed
he demand OF the age Is reliability and
Ugh character. Business cannot 10 on
Without II. Great financial powers arc
making IL their business 20 watch ana
uard men. and compel and hold them 10
heir duty.
The terrible possibilities Of chemical and
Biological facts, the best interests Of
nan, and tho forces OF necessities Of
ctive business. Join In impresslng the
gords OF the apostle: What manner OF
ersons cugift we 20 be In all holy con-
ersatlon and godiness. The old pro-
het says Who Is he that shall dwell
nth the devouring fire? Who Is heethatl
hall dwell with everlasting burninxp2s
Ie that walketh uprightly and speaksth
xhteously. He that despisoth the gain
oppression; that shaketh his hand
rom taking byibesi that stoppeth hlsreafs
rom hearing OF blood. and shuttssh hAs
yes from seeing evil He shall dwell
n high. His place OF defence shall. b..
lunitions OF rocks. Bread shall Boz gsy<a
i'm. His waters shall be sure. $50
DIR. nuips Cough syrup IL the hoa(
are for inciplent consumption. pxica -