360 New Experiments toith Soap Bubbles. 



cylinder, such as a broom-handle, leaving the perpendicular 

 portion about four inches long, to serve to affix it to a piece 

 of wood as a foot, the wire ring being a support for the 

 bubble. 



To place a bubble on the ring it is 

 only necessary to blow one whose dia- 

 meter is about one and a-half times that of 

 the ring, and then by means of the pipe 

 allow the bubble to rest lightly on the 

 ring at one point, after which, by con- 

 tinuing to blow, the whole of the cir- 

 cumference of the ring can be brought 

 gently in contact with the bubble without 

 injury to the latter. When this has been 

 accomplished, the pipe can be withdrawn 

 by slightly slanting the bowl of the 

 pipe with one edge towards the bubble, and thus removing it, 

 when the latter remains comfortably resting on the ring. The 

 above is easier to perform than describe, since the bubble has 

 now a comparatively robust constitution, and bears a deal of 

 handling. If any difficulty be experienced after one or two 

 trials, it will be found to disappear if the ring be first 

 well wetted with the solution to remove any traces of 

 grease. 



When the bubble is thus established, there is no present 

 fear of its bursting, for if it be made with well-prepared 

 materials, it will possess wonderful durability. When shielded 

 from draughts by being covered with a glass shade, it forms 

 an ornament for a drawing-room. Their duration in a pure 

 atmosphere varies generally from an hour and a half to four 

 hours, but occasionally they last much longer. On one occa- 

 sion a bubble of fine dimensions remained for twenty- seven 

 hours before bursting. Several bubbles on rings placed in a 

 bright light form quite a blaze of beauty : their colours are 

 best seen by arranging them on a black ground, in order that 

 they may be visible by reflected light only, by which the tints, 

 for optical reasons, are seen in much greater brilliancy. 



The extraordinary permanence of our now improved play- 

 thing depends greatly on the purity of the oleate of soda. 

 This substance, which is merely the soda soap of a peculiar 

 fatty acid, requires, for its preparation in a state of purity, 

 some chemical skill, and the employment of a process which 

 may be found in the manuals of organic chemistry. The 

 following process, however, gives it in sufficient purity for most 

 purposes, and is easily carried out. Take some good sweet 

 almond oil, such as is used by clockmakers and gunsmiths, put 

 it into a convenient vessel, such as a porcelain basin or a clean 



