March 1, 1886.] 



♦ KNOWLEDGE ♦ 



159 



have collected on the tmcovered glass. To use it, place the 

 knob B in connection with the prime conductor and the 

 outer coating with the earth. 



On turning the machine the jar will speedily become 

 charged, and intense sparks will pass on the discharger 

 being presented as shown, the knob D' being placed in 

 contact with the outer coating, and the other knob, D, 

 brought near the knob B. A piece of insulated wire 

 will answer the s%me ptu-pose. If, instead of the dis- 

 charger, a number of boys join hands, and the two end 

 boys touch the jar, one placing his finger on the outside 

 and the other afterwards touching B, a shock will pass 

 through them ; but a little care should be exercised, or a 

 shock too severe to be pleasant may be experienced. Two 

 or three turns of the machine should be made, and the 

 effect tried, more prolonged chargings being afterwards 

 administered if the experimenter's clientele can bear it. 

 The contortions and exclamations of those who experience 

 the shock for the first time call forth bursts nf lauglitei' 

 and provoke merriment of the most uproarious character. 



Equally interesting experiments on the heating- effects 

 of the spark can easily be performed. Put a little 

 methyllated spirit,? in a spoon, and connect the latter 

 with the outer coating of the jar. Then bring a dis- 

 charger connected with the knob B over the spirit, 

 which on the passage of a spark will ignite. Place a 

 little gunpowder on a slab of stone or brick, connect one 

 part of it with the outer coating of the jar, and connect 

 another part with a piece of wet string attached to one 

 end of the discharger. When the jar is charged, bring the 

 other end of the discharger near B. and the powder will 

 ignite. For another interesting experiment, make a mixture 

 composed of equal parts of powder chlorate of potash 

 and bisulphide of antimony. Make a paper tabe a quarter 

 of an inch in diameter, and an inch and a half long, by 

 coiling the paper round an ordinary lead pencil, and gum- 

 ming the layers together. Fill one end up with a short 

 plug of wood, through which pass two pieces of fine wire, 

 and let them come near each other, taking care that they 

 do not touch, then cover the points with the mixture, 

 fill up with gunpowder, and gum a piece of paper over 

 the open end. Connect the fixed wires by means of other 

 long pieces of wire, one with the outer and another with 

 the inner coating of a charged Leyden jar, when the 

 little "mine" will explode with some violence. By 

 coating the paper case and the connecting wires with 

 pitch, the appliance can be made waterproof, and may 

 then be immersed in a bucket of water and exploded 

 therein, with the result that the water will be blown in 

 all directions, and if the mine or torpedo be a trifle 

 larger in its dimensions, the pail will, in all probability, 

 be blown over. There is no danger of the mines going 

 off spontaneously, but they would, of course, if hammered, 

 or otherwise severely struck. So long as they are 

 handled properly, they can be made and used with perfect 

 safety. 



Such are a few of the many experiments which an 

 electric machine can be used for, but few as they are they 

 are quite sufficient to afford entertainment for an hour or 

 two, and in my next I shall deal with another batch of 

 experiments quite as interesting and perhaps more in- 

 structive. 



It has been said that every man is either a fool or a 

 physician at forty. With equal truth it ma}" be said 

 that at fifty (at latest) every man not a fool is a theo- 

 logian, — in the sense that he has determined his own 

 system of religion, both as regards worship and conduct. 



AMERICANISMS. 



(AljiAabeticalli/ arrungeil). 



Bv R. A. Proctoe.* 



HAVE been requested by so many to 

 complete my papers on " Americanisms," 

 that I resume the series, repeating what had 

 already appeared in a late number of the 

 weekly Kxowleuge as the only way of 

 giving the full set of papers in the current 

 series. It was by an unfortunate mistake 

 that the first part, written when I was in America and 

 sent thence by post, appeared earlier than had been 

 intended ; and the mistake had led me to decide on 

 discontinuing the papers, as I neither cared to continue 

 them in a new series, nor to reprint the three columns 

 which had already appeared. As, however, the study of 

 Americanisms is useful in these days, when msiny 

 American novels are read, and many English writers 

 attempt, more or less successfully, to picture American 

 scenes, the series is now resumed, to be continued 

 monthly till finished. 



Abroyans or Aheryoins Ls the Western way of calling 

 the natives or Aborigines. 



Absquatulate signifies to run away. It is now less often 

 hear<l than of yore, having been replaced in some degree 

 by the word " skedaddle." 



Account, ''of no account" is a way iif expressing worth- 

 lessness. 2^o account becomes an adjective : " no account 

 men," Bret Harte sfiys. meaning worthless fellows. The 

 latter usage alone is distinctively American. 



Admire. To wonder at. Often used with at. '• 1 

 admire at that," for I wonder at that. The expres.sion is 

 good old English. 



After night, in the middle States, means '■ after night- 

 fall." English also. 



All-rired, a polite form for Hell-fired, — the meaning is 

 not mistakable. 



All to pieces, and all to smash signify •• utterlv." 

 English also. 



Allotv. To assert, affirm, or merely to express an 

 opinion. This expression is often iiut by English 

 writers in the mouths of Yankees ; but as a matter 

 of fact it is only used in the Southern and Middle 

 States. 



Alouij. " Get along " is used in America wTiere in 

 England we should say '■ get on." Used in many parts 

 of England. 



Anan. Leatherstocking's expression. I have only heard 

 this once, — at an eating-house in Pittsburg. The expres- 

 sion is used in Pennsylvania. 



Ante. To ante a sum, is to risk it. The expression 

 belongs to a game called poker, much played by the lower 

 class of gamblers, horse-thieves, politicians, cowboys, and 

 the like. 



Anything else, Nut, — meaning '"just that.'' If an 

 American is asked whether some one really did such and 

 such a thing, and he wishes to emphasise his reply, he 

 will say, " He didn't do anything else." 



Apple Brandy and Apple Jack. A strong liquor fer- 

 mented from apple juice. When good, verg good. 



Approbate, is sometimes used in America — incon-ectly, 

 of cotu'se — for '■ approve." 



Arkansas Toothpick. A bowie-knife, with closing blade. 

 I have never seen an American pick his teeth with an 



» I have taken as my chief but by no means my sole authority 

 Bartlett's " Dictionary of Americanisms." 



