is a question asked, "How is it that dew-drops on a thorn and drops of rain in their descent assume a globular form?" I take the liberty of sending the following answer for your consideration. The power which causes the globular form of both the dew on the thorn and the rain in falling, is called attraction of cohesion, and acts only at insensible distances, as when the particles of bodies apparently touch each other. This kind of attraction may be described as the quality in nature which causes matter to cohere or stick together. It is much stronger in some bodies than in others. In general it is most powerful among the particles of solid bodies, weaker among those of fluids, and least of all, or almost entirely wanting, among the elastic fluids, such as the gases. Thus a small iron wire will hold a suspended weight of many pounds without having its particles separated; the particles of water are divided by a very small force, while those of air are still more easily moved among each other. These different properties depend on the force of cohesion with which the several particles of these bodies are united. When the particles of a body can be suspended in the air in a fluid state, they will, if not under the attractive influence of some other body, arrange themselves, by virtue of the same law, around a centre, and take a spherical form. Thus the dew on the point of the thorn becomes a globule, because, in that case, the attraction of the particles towards their own centre is greater than the attraction of any neighbouring body. Tears running down the cheeks, drops of hail, as well as rain, are all examples of this tendency in insulated bodies to assume the globular form. When two perfect globules of mercury are brought into contact, they instantly unite together and forn one spherical drop. The manufacture of shot is also a striking illustration. The lead is melted and poured into a sieve at the height of about two hundred feet from the ground; each stream of lead, immediately after leaving the sieve, separates into little globules, which, before they reach the ground, are cooled, and become solid: thus is formed the shot used by sportsmen. To account for the globular form in all these cases, we have only to consider that the particles of matter are mutually attracted towards a common centre, and in liquids, being free to move, they arrange themselves accordingly in a globular shape. QUESTION BY W. B. "Why does fanning the face in summer make it cool?" ANSWER BY G. W. By the action of the fan the air is put in motion, and made to pass more rapidly over the face; and, as the air is always cooler than the human face, each particle absorbs some heat from the skin; and makes it feel cooler. In the same manner, when we blow on hot tea or broth, a rapid change of air is made to pass over the surface, which quickly reduces the temperature. QUESTION BY B. B. "Which makes the best tea, a black earthenware teapot, or a metal one? And why?" ANSWER BY G. W. "to Bright metal teapots should never be placed, as some absurdly place them, on the fender, or trivet, draw." It does little or no good, as nearly all the heat from the fire is reflected back from their polished A bright metal teapot will make surfaces. The best way is to wrap them up in flannel after putting in the water-a plaid or old shawl does very well-till needed for the table. better tea than a black earthenware one, if not set on the hob to "draw;" because polished metal being a very bad radiator of heat, the water will be kept hot much longer than in the earthenware one, and the hotter the FRESH THOUGHTS FOR YOUNG water the better it "draws" the tea. THINKERS. But, as all dull and dark substances are good radiators of heat, the heat of the water passes off so rapidly through the dark surface of the earthen teapot, that the water is in autumn than in spring? very quickly cooled, and cannot "draw" the tea. 1st. Why is it so intensely cold on the tops of mountains? If, however, the earthenware teapot be set on the hob, it will make better tea than the metal one, because the former will absorb heat from the fire very freely, and keep the water hot; whereas the polished surface of the latter will throw off the heat by reflection. NOTE.-Almshouse women and aged cottagers generally prefer an old-fashioned little black teapot to the finest bright metal one you could give them; and they do so because they set it on the hob "to draw," and keep it a long time hot before using the tea. During all this time it is absorbing heat from the fire, so keeping the water hot and "brewing" the tea well. 2nd. Why are fogs more general 3rd. Why are not distant sounds heard so distinctly on a hot day as in frosty weather? G. W. 4th. How is it that the inside of a silver spoon reflects objects upside down, but the back just the reverse? ROMULUS. 5th. What are shooting stars? JANE. (Question left unanswered from August.) 6th. Why are some things transparent, and others opaque? F. S. All the answers to be in the Editor's hands by September the 10th. Poetry and Music. THE SAILOR'S MOTHER. ONE morning (raw it was and wet, A foggy day in winter time) A woman on the road I met, Not old, though something past her prime: Majestic in her person, tall and straight; And like a Roman matron's was her mien and gait. The ancient spirit is not dead; Old times, thought I, are breathing there; When from these lofty thoughts I woke, "A simple burden, sir, a little singing-bird." And, thus continuing, she said, In Denmark he was cast away: And I have travelled weary miles to see If aught which he had owned might still remain for me. "The bird and cage they were both his: 'Twas my son's bird; and neat and trim He kept it: many voyages This singing-bird had gone with him: When last he sailed, he left the bird behind; From bodings, as might be, that hung upon his mind. "He to a fellow-lodger's care, Had left it to be watched and fed, And pipe its song in safety; there And now, God help me for my little wit! I bear it with me, sir, he took so much delight in it." WORDSWORTH. Reviews. LIFE'S LAST HOURS; or, the Final | if not denouncing their own princi Testimony. London: 18mo, pp. 192, price 6d. in paper covers, 1s. in cloth. Life's last hours are grand testing hours. Death tries all our principles, and lays bare all our foundations. Vast numbers have been found to act the hypocrite in life, who were forced to be honest in the hour of death. What atheists have owned their madness, what infidels have denounced their principles, what worldlings have bewailed their folly, when death approached. Misgivings of heart that have been kept secret through life, have come out in death; and many who seemed all fair and right for glory, have had to declare that they had only been self-deceived. It has been said, "Men may dissemble through life, but none ever dissembled in death;" hence the value of dying testimonies. We gather the last words, the last acts, the last experiences; and we treasure them up as the indubitable evidences in favour of, or against the character of, those that were their subjects. None have ever impugned their value as tests of character, and all have felt their force. The little book before us is valuable as gathering together many dying testimonies. Here are the testimonies of the worldly, the gay, the frivolous, to the follies and the unsatisfactory character of their past pursuits and lives. Here are the testimonies of the infidel, the sceptic, the profane, which, ples, only too plainly show their utter inefficiency to give any support in nature's final struggle, or smooth, in the slightest degree, the agonies of a dying bed. And here are the testimonies of the Christian, bearing beautifully out all his principles and teachings through life, maintaining and affording precious and brilliant evidence of the truth and power of the gospel. In another part of this number we have made an extract from the work, and in future numbers hope to gather more. All about the work is judicious, sensible, and devout; and many parts most impressive and affecting. The book is very much to our mind, and one eminently fitted to be a blessing to our rising youth. They here see what the end is of much that now flatters and allures, and may learn which path to choose, by observing to what results it conducts its travellers. THE YOUNG WORKING MAN; or, a Few Words to a Farm Labourer. London: Religious Tract Society. A very useful, sensible, and wellwritten book; admirably suited to the class for whom it is designed. Some idea may be formed of its character by its plan; it is divided into twelve chapters, viz. : I. Introductory. |