SCIENTIFIC NOTES. 229 
queen changed her linen. All her ladies, of course, followed suit, and 
before the city was taken the linen had acquired a warm Titianesque 
tone that was greatly admired by the cavaliers ; and continued to be ad- 
mired and imitated long after the incident that gave it a chance to be 
appreciated. We have been told that ladies tint their lace with coffee, 
to give it an agreeable tone. Others put blue into their starch to 
neutralize the warm tone of cottons that have been long shut up, and, 
perhaps, not properly cleansed from soap. Altogether the evidence by 
no means proves that pure white is the best foil tor flesh of any and 
every hue, from the sickliest grown young or old lady, down to the 
healthy brunette who delights in sunshine. And artists incline to 
warmer hues— whether because Titian and Keynolds were so inclined, 
or because they are really more beautiful, is a question that may as well 
be considered before we rot more cloth by bleaching, For some obser- 
vation and inquiry, we believe that bleaching takes half the durability 
out of cotton and linen ; and that it is more a matter of fashion and 
prejudice than of good taste. 
Boards, Pipes, &c, of Paper.— Colonel Szerelmey is best known 
in this country as being the most successful among the many competi- 
tors for the treatment of the stone decay in the new Houses of Parlia- 
ment. But he has made it the study of his life, during many years of 
foreign travel and research, to attain a knowledge of what the zopissa 
of the ancient Greeks was composed of. But our main business just 
now is with the products from his paper pulp, treated and manufactured 
in a way peculiarly his own. They were shown at the Exhibition of 
1862 ; but, like many other things, they did not then attract the 
attention they now apparently deserve. If half of what the Colonel 
and his friends say turns out to be true, his will rank high among the 
most important inventions or discoveries of this generation. He pro- 
fesses to make zopissa paper boards stronger and cheaper by fifty per 
cent, than oak, indestructible, and perfectly waterproof. They can be 
made of any length and thickness, and may be cut to any shape like 
wood, with a common saw. They will resist a pressure of 2501b. to the 
square inch, or more if required. They are said to be suitable for ship- 
building, the construction of portable houses, roofing, flooring, coach 
panels, boxes, piano and packing cases, &c. The paper pipes, for water, 
gas, liquid manure, &c, are produced from the same substances as the 
boards, and have the same properties. They can be made of any length, 
diameter, and thickness required, and can be constructed to bear almost 
any pressure to the square inch. They are said to be fifty per cent, 
cheaper than iron pipes ; they are not affected by gas or water ; not 
being porous, no leakage can take place from them, and the material 
being a non-conductor of heat or electricity they possess many advantages * 
over all other pipes, besides keeping the passing water cool in summer 
and unfrozen in winter. Eocket tubes, cartridge cases, large guns, and 
even houses are to be manufactured of this paper. Its power of 
