Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-12-27
1.-THE WORLD ONE HUNDRED
YEARS AGO TO-DAY"
(Co@pyright. 1900. by R. E. Hughes,
I,ouiSyille)

(Co@pyright, 1900. by r. e. Hughes.
Louisville.) .aH .
Phosphorus matches were being in
troduced in Paris. but not successfully
because of the danger incurred from
their great innammability. Expert
ments at ehis time also led to the use
of chemical agency for the ordinary
production of fire. An apparatus was
introduced consisting OF small bottle
containing asbestos. saturated with
strong sulphuric acid. with splints or
matches coated with sulphur. and tip
ped with n mixture of chlorate of pot
ash and sugar. The matches SO pre-
pared when brought in contact with
the sulphuric acid in the bottle. ignited
and thus by chemical action fire was
produced. However. lint and steel with
finder box and sulphur-tipped Splints
of wood-"spunks" or matches-were
the common means of obtaining fire
for domestic and other purposes. The
sparks Struck off by the percussion of
hint and steel were made to fall among
the finder which consisted of carboniz-
ed fragments of cotton and linen. The
entire mass of finder was set into
glow developing sufficient heat to ignite
the sulphur with which the matches
were tipped and thereby the splints
themselves were set on fire.
One of the memorable duels of Great
Britain took place during the year be-
tween Isaac Cory and Henry Grattan.
The latter had the year before entered
the Irish Parliament to oppose the mo-
ton for union with England. In the
course of these debates Grattan was
three times virulently attacked by Cor
ry, Chancellor of ExcheQuer. but at
last retaliated with overwhelming eff
feet and the duel followed, Cory be-
I'm mr. 70 dttal In,
the United Kingdom was that next year
between Major1uapeY and ientennnt
Willis The former was killed.
The first part of "Mechanique &C.
leste." which as a monument of mathe
NAUTICAL genius applied TO the celestial
revolutions ranks second only to the
principal" of Newton, appeared. The
declared aim of the author-Pierre ST.
mon Laplace, .fifty-one years of age
was to offer a complete solution of the
great mechanical problems presented
by the solar system and ITO bring
theory to coincide so closely with OBJ
servation that empirical equations
should no longer find place in astron-
omical tables.
AT the age of sixteen Giovanni Bap-
tista Amicl, while studying maizena,
tics at Bologna acquired n taste for
astronomy and began the improvement
of instruments for the science with
great ingenuity and success. He in
vented the micrometer with which to
obtain measurement of the diameter
of the sun. Amici was we'll known.
too. for his microscopes. His rejecting
microscopes with elipsoidal specula
were an improvement on all that pre-
ceded them.
Among those who died at the close
of the century who had done much to-
ward making noted names in art. SCI
ence and literature were the following:
Alonzo Vurnez de Haro, Spanish
archbishop.
Thomas Hartley. American soldier
and statesman.
John Hazelwood, English naval off,
Ger in America.
Charles Louis l. Heritier de Brutelle,
French botanist.
John Hermann, physician and natu-
ralist.
Edward Rutledge, signer OF the Dec
laraEion OF Independence.
John Rutledge, American statesman
and jurlst.
George Stevens, English editor.
Charles Stuart. Irish soldier and
statesman.
Simon Thayer. American soldier.
William Walter. American Protest
ant Episcopal clergyman.
Baron Won Wagenheim, German ma
turalist.
Ar.emus Ward. American Revolu-
tionary general.
Joseph Warrior, English poet and
critic.
Samuel Wharton, American mer-
chant and statesman
Matthew Young. Irish bishop and
physicist.