|t:xe 22, 1911. 



NATURE 



555 



The Formation of Stable Columns of Liquids. 



When a liquid of slightly greater density than water is 

 poured into a shallow layer of the latter, it is often 

 possible to produce the formation shown in the accompany- 

 ing photograph, in which the heavier liquid appears as a 

 column of curved outline, stretched by its own weight, and 

 hanging from the surface of the water. By performing the 

 experiment in the following manner, the production of the 

 column is rendered easy and certain. A test-tube of the 

 dimensions shown in the photograph, preferably furnished 

 with a foot, is filled to about one half the height of the 

 hemispherical end with water, and 5 to 10 c.c. of aceto- 

 acetic ether are then added. Usually, the formation of 

 the column is automatic ; if it should fail to form the 

 contents should be shaken up, and the test-tube allowed 

 to stand for a short time, when the liquids will settle as 

 shown. Water globules entangled in the aceto-acetic ether 

 may be removed by drawing to the side with a wire. 



If the original layer of 

 water be too deep, the column 

 vill break at its narrowest 

 part, ' and the same occurs if 

 water be poured gradually 

 into the tube after the column 

 has formed. By varying the 

 width of the vessel, a great 

 variety of shapes may be 

 obtained, all of which are 

 perfectly stable. The water is 

 in all cases displaced from the 

 lower part of the vessel, 

 ' and bounds the sides of the 

 column of heavier liquid. Similar results may be obtained 

 with aniline, orthotoluidine, butyl benzoate, and some 

 other liquids ; but in these instances the manipulation is 

 rather more difficult, owing to the tendency to break up 

 into separate globules. By placing the test-tube in a flat- 

 sided vessel and surrounding with water, the column may 

 be projected on a screen, thus furnishing an interesting 

 lecture experiment on the subject of surface tension. 



Chas. R. D.arling. 



THE CORONATION. 



FROM the point of view of social psychology 

 to-day's great ceremony may be said to bind 

 together in a circle of symbolism the past history of 

 the English people and the present interests of the 

 British Empire. From the point of view of individual 

 psychology it may be regarded as a symbolic elevation 

 of human personality to its highest power. 



It is an interesting problem for the sociologist how 

 far a given social ceremony succeeds in realising a 

 modern content in an ancient form. The relation of 

 form and content in social ceremonies and institutions 

 alike is analogous to that of structure and function 

 in organisms. But the inertia of social forms is far 

 greater than that of organic structures, for in the 

 case of the latter there is neither sentiment nor tradi- 

 tion to assist survival. 



The development of the ceremony of crowning from 

 Greek and Roman times is clear, but the origins of 

 the crown-symbol itself are still obscure. Outside the 

 sphere of classical antiquity its use is rare. But 

 within it, as in mediasval and modern Europe, the 

 crown is, next to the King, the central feature of 

 coronation. Not only in popular language, but in 

 legal phraseology, it is a synonym for the kingly oflfice 

 itself. It has, in fact, long ago superseded unction 

 as the central element of royal investiture, making 

 the recipient a king rather than a priest. 



The crown of the kings of Egypt was, like regalia 

 generally, considered divine. Kings of the Yorubas 



NO. 2173, VOL. 86] 



sacrifice sheep to their own crowns. In South Celebes 

 It IS the regalia that reign; the king is but their 

 representative. If we attempt to penetrate to the 

 strata of early custom which preceded the Greek and 

 Roman kingly crown, the Athenian crowns which were 

 given, just as ribbons of the Legion of Honour are 

 given, the Roman crowns corresponding to the Vic- 

 toria Cross and similar honours, the Greek wreaths 

 of sacred leaves won in the games, and even the oak 

 chaplet of the early Roman kings identifying them 

 with the oak-god, we may follow some such 'line as the 

 following. Like unction, crowning had its origin in 

 personal decoration or accoutrement. Savage chiefs 

 are sornetimes invested with a girdle. Just as ankle 

 and wrist straps and the like are frequently worn by 

 rude peoples for the practical purpose of protecting 

 the joints and ligaments, and afterwards attract super- 

 stitious ideas, such as the idea that they prevent the 

 soul from escaping, so it may have been with the 

 head-band or head-dress, originally used for protection 

 or for confining the hair. The brain being the crown 

 of the human organism, the head has always received 

 honour. From this point of view the cro'wn is the 

 one royal symbol likely to be retained by enlightened 

 peoples, who for various reasons retain kingship. 



Coronations in other latitudes are instructive. In- 

 vestiture with a special or sacred dress is frequently 

 the main feature. The king-elect of the Aztecs went 

 in procession to the temple. Here, after paying 

 homage to the god, he was anointed over the whole 

 of the body by the high priest, and sprinkled with 

 holy water. The unguent was a black oil of rubber. 

 He was then clothed in ceremonial robes, and about 

 his neck was hung a gourd containing remedies 

 against sorcery, disease, and treason. Hindu corona- 

 tions took the form of a baptism or an unction. 

 Eighteen ingredients were required for the holy 

 water, one being the water of the sacred river 

 Sarasvati. After a preliminary sprinkling, the king 

 received a bow and arrows, with which he symbolic- 

 ally conquered the four quarters of heaven and earth. 

 Then, seated on a tiger-skin, facing the east, he 

 received the holy water in a shower from a rose-head 

 of gold. Four officiators poured it. Many pravers 

 were recited meanwhile, some "to enable him to dis- 

 charge his duties," others to the "divine quickeners"; 

 others stated that he was being consecrated by the 

 gods, and being filled with divine force. Vigour and 

 vitality, royal and priestly dignity, were contained in 

 the ingredients of the holy water. His head was then 

 adorned with stalks of holy grass and ears of corn. 

 At the end he quaffed a draught of the sacred soma. 

 His hair was not to be cut for a year after the cere- 

 mony. In modern times a Rajput raja is anointed 

 with sandal-paste and rose-water, and the priest 

 marks his forehead with the sacred Tika symbol. 

 When the raja of the Bhuiyns is consecrated, a chief 

 winds a flexible creeper round his head-dress to signify 

 that he is " Lord of the forest." 



Ellis describes the installation of Tahitian kings. 

 The king bathed, and was 

 struck by the priest with 

 He was then girded wifli ,1 

 red feathers, which rendi I'd 

 old .Siam the king was f)lacfd 

 tiered imibrella. the great symbol of royalty. .\ crown 

 and a collar of diamonds wore placed unon him, and 

 he received a golden tube containing his name. In 

 old China the king (like Plato's philosopher-kings) 

 deprorated his elevation, declaring himself to be un- 

 worthy. No crown was used ; the king was seated 

 upon the throne of the Nine Heavens. In .Abyssinia, 

 that most curious pioneer of Christian kingdoms, there 



then ceremonially 



a sacred branch. 



•sacred girdle of 



him divine. In 



under the seven- 



