

280 



There being little or no apparent deposition of moisture, 

 the scientific member of our staff observed that it was not 

 the amount of moisture held in the atmosphere that deter- 

 mined its suitability for filmy culture, but the amount that 

 the atmosphere could be induced or compelled to part with 

 in the shape of condensed moisture. 



4 What we want " remarked our tame scientist, "is a 

 current of cold air to come in contact with this warm 

 moisture laden atmosphere. We should then get artificial 

 rain on a small scale inside this case al] the year round, 

 provided the stoker did his duty. The stoker compels 

 evaporation and the current of cold air would compel 

 condensation." 



But how are we to acquire a current of cold air in this 

 torrid weather, and had we not better c ' draw out leviathan 

 with a hook and loose the bands of Orion," " to leave no 

 rubs nor botches in the work ? " Queried our irreverent 

 stoker who was on his dignity. ' ' If we make an opening, 

 our carefully imprisoned moisture will escape and be ab- 

 sorbed in the dry outer air." 



' What we must have," continued our scientist, ignoring 

 the stoker's ill-timed levity, "is a current of permanently 

 cold air, and to insure its being uniformly cold , it ought to 

 travel some distance underground. Why not utilise that 

 old drain which formerly carried off the rainwater from the 

 roof ? It is close at hand, and the drain being untrapped, 

 the flow of water clown the drain will displace a correspond- 

 ing volume of air, and thus compel a constant upward 

 current of air from the main sewer if we break into this 

 upright shaft. It will only mean removing a few bricks 

 which are our own property and on our own premises." 



"Alas! How oft the sight of means to do ill-deeds 

 makes ill-deeds clone." 



