340 



SHAVING WITH WATER. 



have perhaps very little notion of an apparent figure unlefs 

 from our former habits, or from the angular motion produced 

 by the wind. This will be greateft near the zenith, and by 

 (hewing us that the clouds over our heads are nearer than the 

 others, will give us aconviflion of the figure of aflat arch. 



Cotton in ink 

 recomnricnded. 



Shaving with 

 water. 



Ufeful Notices refpe^ing various ObJeSls. By a Correjpondent, 

 Cotton in Ink, R. B. 



A HE ancient pra6lice of putting cotton in ink is almoft en- 

 tirely given up. But when we confider that the colouring 

 matter of ink is merely a precipitate, in the ad of flow fub- 

 fidence, and that the gum as well as the Gallic acid, are fub- 

 je6l to fpeedy decompofition or mouldinefs by expofure to the 

 air, we fliall fee good reafons for refuming it. The black fe- 

 cula is kept fufpended by the cotton ; the fluid is prevented 

 from circulating by hea,t, cold or mechanical agitation, and 

 confequently prefents a very fmall furface to the air; and laflly 

 the method of dipping tends to keep the pen clean and in good 

 condition. I can take upon me to aflTert that ink in cotton is 

 blacker, more durable, and much lefs liable to become mouldy. 

 The latter effedt may be almoft entirely prevented byoccafion- 

 ally turning the cotton upfide down, that is to fay, every two 

 or three days 



Shaving zvith Water. 



IN fome of your early numbers the operation of fiiaving has 

 been rather amply difcufled by yourfelf and correfpondents. I 

 have nothing to add in the way of reafoning to what has been 

 there brought forward; but I take this opportunity of noticing 

 ^ fadl. Long ago it was obferved to me that the foap anfwers 

 no other purpofe than that of clearing the fliin, in proof of 

 which it was aflerted that the face fo cleaned may be fhaved 

 quite as well without the lather as with it. I made trial of this 

 procefs, but did not find it fucceed, becaufe I wiped the fkin 

 dry. But I have fince found that if the beard be well waflied 

 with foap, and then with clear, water, the operation of fliaving 

 may be very efl^e<5tually and pleafantly performed, while the 

 water continues upon the fkin. The effects are that the razor 

 cuts more keenly and clofely, and the fkin feems to be much 

 lefs tender. I leave your other correfpondents to reafon and 

 difcover the caufe of the excellence of this method ; in the 

 mean time I ftiall continue to ufe it, unlefs a ftill more con. 

 fiderable improvement fhould be made. 



