The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-11-11
LIQUID AIR
CAUSED
SURPRISE

Professor W. 3. Patty. the liquid air
expert. recently had no end OF fun at a
hote! while breakfasting with some college
friends.
Having a surplus quantity OF LIQUID air
along he carried TO the dining room
pint of it. enclosed in the wonderful
Dewar bulb. the vacuum-jacketed bottle
which SO protects its contents from the
heat OF the atmosphere that evaporation
is greatly retarded and the mysterious
fluid does not wholly disappear for sew
eral hours. II was a pint OF the coldest
thing on earth-made Of everyday New
York air reduced 10 l-80oth OF it's ordinary
volume, 3l2 degrees below zero, looking
and flowing just like water, but absolutely
dry-one OF the most marvellous sub
stances known 10 scientists.
A rare steak was among the things
ordered, and the same was soon on the
table before Wizard Patty, who, while
the waiter was bringing the coffee, poured
little liquefed air over the steak, quick
ly freezing II as hard as a rock.
''Waiter, where's the steak l ordered?
And what Is this you've brought me-"
said Mr.. Patty, tapping the adamantine
piece OF COW with his knife, while a WELL
assumed air OF indignation masked his
usually happy countenance.
'1 d-don't k-know, boss" the waiter
faltered; IT d-didn't DIDO IT," and he
started for the head waiter, who quickly
appeared
Does your hotel usually serve steak
this way?" and Mr.. Patty picked up the
meat between two fingers and struck II
with knife, causing 1t 10 ring like a
bell
MOI don't-perhape IL is that fool of
Q cook; he's now man. I'll hnd out
what IL means" and the head waiter
hurried with the icy beef TO the kitchen
Mr. Patty unobservedly turned little
nquid from his bottle into the tumbler
OF wafer. which. being. nearly 400 degrees
warmer than the liquid air, the latter was
caused 10 quickly evaporate. and what
looked like steam" arose from the
tumbIer.
Waiter, didn't ask you for hot water:
please bring me glass OF ice water"
BY the time the astonished waiter had
brought this the water In the first tum-
bier was nearly frozen solid. Ice bullying
above the tumblers rim, glass and ice
both chilled 10 about 300 degrees below
zero.
Now there is too much ice in this glass;
put in a little water. please" said the
professor, passing the iceberg to the
walter VINO eyed him suspicously, but
took the tunbler In his hand without first
looking at II. When he beheld the ice
his eyes opened wide and his jaw dropped
as though IL had a hall-bearing hinge
Another opening and another drop quick
ly followed-the low temperature OF what
his hano held causing him TO give forth
yell that was no respecter Of dining
rooms, and 20 drop the CONCEALED water
as ~ IL was red-hot iron. He fed TO
the kitchen.
70 de Ian sake alive. dat man IN dare
must be the debbil hisself or neah kin
shuah. know when Use got 'nouRh ana
I don't 60 neah him no mo'-not II he
done starves entirely"-snd he was true
10 his assertion.
The hotel proprietor now appeared and
recognising Mr.. Patty as the LIQUID air
exhibitor, repeated the waters kitchen
remarks and kindly requested that he
not scare away all the hotel help. adding
that good cigars were In the office await
Ing the party's pleasure.
A little liquid air yet remaining Mr.
Patty gave a few stock" experirnents
such as freezing quicksilver into a ham
rner hard enough % drive nails with. the
making brittle OF a tin dipper so IL
crushed readily. and finally the freezino
OF Strawberries as hard az bullets. mean.
time stirring them with an old steel forl
the tines OF which were almost connnIetsiy
melted, sparks OF burning steel rvins
fercely yet this intense heet not prevent.
ing the liauid air from inpsrting its
terrible frigidity TO the berries