530 



SCIENCE. 



[Vol. XIII. No. 325 



source of heat distinct from that derived from carbonaceous com- 

 bustion. It is known that the result is cumulative, but it has not 

 been known that there was another source, in the heat evolved 

 from the air itself. Incandescence of the non-combustible concre- 

 tion, or crystallization forming the Welsbach hood or burner, is 

 known to be a prolific source of heat as well as of light. And 

 there are many evidences that incombustible materials of like re- 

 fractory character may and do yield heat largely when incandes- 

 cent under an air-blast ; the presence of carbon, and the normal 

 consumption of carbon and oxygen, not being essential or even at- 

 tendant conditions. 



" As a result of experiments for some years conducted, leading 

 in this direction, and in the earlier part of this period confined to 

 the use of an air-blast with a very small adjunct of hydro-carbon 

 gas, the most intense metallurgic heat was produced without the 

 use of any solid or liquid fuel, and without the production of gases 

 as the products of combustion, in any form of carbonic acid or car- 

 bonic oxide. The very small proportions of carbonaceous gas — 

 hydro-carbon gas — used as the means of setting the air-blast on 

 fire not being sufficient to cause delivery of carbonic acid or oxide 

 from the flue, no flue was used, in fact, as an upward delivery, and 

 none was necessary. 



" These trials were but steps, however, leading to a more com- 

 plete substitution of atmospheric combustion by contact with in- 

 candescent surfaces, carbonaceous at first, and of anthracite or 

 bituminous coal, the carbon of which would remain intact after 

 hours of evolution of intense heat. The conditions of such contact 

 are still obscure as to the point of original action or the cause of 

 such action ; but it is demonstrated that the utmost intensity of 

 heat, not less than 4,000°, can be and is attained with a mere in- 

 itiative of carbonaceous combustion, and, when once established, 

 may be maintained for an indefinite period by merely preserving 



the incandescence of the surface. And this may be done by a 

 slight manipulation of the surface brought to incandescence, and 

 with some slight renewal of carbonaceous material. 



" The direction of these results is so clear that it is assumed to 

 be a new and practicable method of the evolution of heat for eco- 

 nomic purposes. The air itself, which is the only body consumed, 

 becomes a new source of heat, acting independently of the supposed 

 limit of oxygenization or of carbonaceous combustion. Nor is any 

 gaseous or aeriferous compound delivered as the product of such 

 evolution of heat or combustion, if so called. We have applied the 

 term 'combustion' heretofore to all combinations resulting in the 

 evolution of heat enough to burn or disorganize organic matter. 



" If the air itself, its nitrogen as well as its o.xygen, can be made 

 available as a direct source of heat without the attendant conditions 

 of the formation of waste products, such as carbonic acid or car- 

 bonic oxide, the discovery is one of the greatest in human experi- 

 ence. It implies the substitution of an inexpensive natural fuel for 

 the expensive natural and artificials now in use. The mere sug- 

 gestion appears too great to be credible ; but it is absolutely true 

 that this is done experimentally with complete success, and that ap- 

 pliances are already in use, heating the air in large buildings, and 

 melting the most refractory metals in considerable quantities. The 

 intensity of the heat is equal to that of the blow- pipe, while the ex- 

 tent of space to which it is applied is adequate to any requirement 

 for steam-generation or for manipulation of iron or other metals. 



" It is only intended here to cite so much of what are admitted 

 facts in heat-production by the usual processes as will show that 

 other and superior aids to heat-praduction are already reached in 

 many cases, and that the line of reasonable progress lies in the 

 direction of relief from dependence on the combustion of carbon, 

 organic or inorganic, as the sourcffof heat for economic purposes." 



X. 



ONE LANGUAGE FOR THE WHOLE WORLD. 



WORLD-ENGLISH : 



THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE. 25 CENTS. 



Every one has heard of the butcher who, after a long 

 "search for his knife, at last found it in his mouth : so 

 speakers of English have been seeking for a universal 

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 mist of letters. This is now dispersed by A. Melville 

 Bell, who has already won a world-wide reputation 

 through his invention of "Visible Speech," the great 

 boon to deaf-mutes. Professor Bell calls this new discov- 

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 which cannot fail to meet with acceptance, and at once 

 supersede the supposed necessity for '' Volapiik," or any 

 other artificial language. No language could be invented 

 for international use that would surpass English in gram- 

 matical simplicity, and in general fitness to become the 

 tongue of the world. It is already the mother-tongue of 

 increasing millions in both hemispheres, and some knowl- 

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 require that the acquisition of this knowledge shall be 

 facilitated, and it is believed that Professor Bell's inven- 

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 long been entertained, although hitherto only futile ef- 

 forts have been made. 



Ex-President Andrew D. White, of Cornell University, 

 says : " I believe that the highest interests of Christian 

 civilization and of humanity would be served by its 

 adoption. China and Japan would be made English- 

 speaking peoples within fifty years, and so brought with- 

 in the range of Christianizing and civilizing ideas, in the 

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 compared with this, Foryour system would throw wide 

 open those vast countries, as, indeed, all the countries of 

 the world, to the whole current of English and American 

 thought-" 



For Difflisioii ol Eiglisli tbroiglont tie World 



AS 



THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE 



This " Hand-Book of World-English " is the Complete, Simple, 

 and Efficient Medium, 



FOREIGNERS 



Will Acquire, by Means of this Hand-Book, a 

 PERFECT PRONUNCIATION OF ENGLISH. 



For Priiary Sclool Pupils aid IlUteraie Adults 



World-English is a Royal Road to Reading. 



To Teaclers ot Eiglisli and Modern Langnages 



This Hand-Book will be of Primary Importance 

 as a Phonetic Directory. 



DEFECTS OF SPEECH 



Will be Eeadlly Corrected by Means of the Axtloula- 

 tiye Direct! ma in this Hand-Book. 



HAND-BOOK OF WORLD-ENGLISH, 



25 CENTS. 

 The plan of this little book is altogether new. Letters, 

 and sounds are so associated, in ail the exercises, that from 

 the mere knowledge of letters a learner cannot fail t& 

 pronounce words with certainty. English reading will 

 thus he easily acquired, whether by natives or foreigners, 

 children or adults. 



The general resemblance of World-English to Literary 

 English is such that any reader of the latter deciphers, 

 the former at sight, or, at most, after a few minutes' 

 study of the new letters. A like result may be antici- 

 pated for those who shall learn to read from World-Eng- 

 lish. They will transfer their power of reading to the, 

 literary form of the language, almost without effort. The 

 orthographic aspect of words will, besides, be so fixed in 

 the eye, by contrast, that spelling will be remembered as. 

 — what it really is — a pictorial association with words. 



No special training is required to qualify teachers for 

 using this book. The subject can even be successfully in- 

 troduced m the kindergarten and the nursery. This 

 phonetic mode of initiation in reading cannot be too 

 strongly urged on the attention of School Boards on both 

 sides of the Atlantic. 



The ordinary orthography of each word is interlined 

 with the World-English version throughout the Exer-- 

 cises and Readings. 



So set down, our tongue is the best for the world to- 

 unite upon. — Brooklyn Eaf^le. 



The idea of Mr. Bell has much to recommend it, and 

 the presentation is charmingly clear.— /Jw^frzVaw, Phila, 



The result is a language which cannot fail to meet with 

 acceptance. — Boston Traveller. 



Has the merit of great ingenuity. — Railway Age. 



His treatise, as a study of English orthoepy, condenses, 

 the result of much thought and experience in small com-, 

 pass. — The Critic. 



World-English deserves the careful consideration of ail 

 serious scholars. — Modern Language Notes. 



World-English is the English language unburdened of 

 its chaotic spelling. — Popular Science Monthly. 



We commend it to the attention of teachers. — Ottawa. 

 Globe. 



" World- English" and ^'■Hand-Book of World'English'' can be had of all booksellers , or will be sent for 50 cents, post free, by the publisher, 



3Sr. 3D. O- laiOIDGI-ES, 4 Y Lafa^reijije I'laoe^ 1S^&-=J^ "STox'Ik:. 



