active 1894-1902 A. Anderson

“ To all appearance a head is thrust through the neck opening of a guillotine, the knife descends and the head is cut off. However, in order that none of the fair sex may be alarmed, it may be varied as follows:
In a cabinet a mirror is set across, sloping from the top at the back to the front. It reflects the ceiling, which is covered with the same material as that which is seen of the floor in front of the mirror. In the center of the glass is cut a hole which admits of the passing through of a man’s head. He sits or stands in under the glass at his ease. ”

“ A graphometer is not always to be had. When approximate distances only are required, the following contrivance may be used. Trace on a cardboard of large size a semi-circumference which one divides first into 180 equal parts, then each of these is divided again in 2, 3, 4 divisions, etc., according to the size given to the circumference, which constitutes a large protractor.
To measure an angle place the cardboard upright in an horizontal position, supporting it by the center of the semi-circumference by means of a screw fixed on a stick. ”

“ For example, take a yardstick, and with the graphometer (an instrument by which angles are measured) , in readiness, carry it from the latter instrument to a certain distance, till the two extremities of the yardstick measure one degree; this yard is then said to subtend an angle of one degree.
Now, measure the distance which divides the yardstick from the instrument, and you will find it to be 57 yards. Therefore, one degree corresponds to an object being at a distance of 57 times its height. A man two yards high at a distance of 57 times his height, or 114 yards will measure one degree. ”

“ The Distance of an Inaccessible Point.
Everyone knows what an angle is, and you say at once it is the inclination of two lines that meet each other. These lines by their branching off form an opening more or less wide. This opening is measured by the aid of an instrument called a protractor made of brass or horn, which [19] finds its place in nearly every box of mathematical instruments.
It represents a semi-circumference, divided into 180 equal parts, called degrees, written thus: 180°. Each degree is divided into 60 minutes, expressed thus: 60 min. ”

“ Put a tumbler upside down. By means of bread crumbs, fix a match vertically on the top. On the edge of the table place another match, partly raised on a piece of cork or wood.
Stoop down and aim at the vertical match on the glass, so that the one on the table is in the exact line of fire.
When you think it is aimed straight, give it a fillip on the lower end, it will shoot up and touch the one placed on the glass if the aim be good.
If you succeed, you may congratulate yourself on having good eyes—a very desirable gift if you should have to handle a gun, as a soldier or a sportsman. ”

“ There is no branch of knowledge more fascinating than light. To follow up its study is like walking along a shady lane, where at certain distances apart the wayfarer lights upon jewels of great brilliance. ”

“ Pass through the holes, S S, an iron rod or a long needle, which must pass likewise through the upper angle of the triangles, forming the sides, (Fig. 1) . When your lens has been fixed on the round hole of the square your camera is complete.
The shade produces complete obscurity so that the operator can see in the middle of the camera the object or person he wishes to photograph.
In order to fix it on the photographic apparatus, one may fasten a wire, in the form of an elongated U, just below the mirror at E.
The Phantom Needle. ”

“ To Make an Exact Balance.
To construct by yourselves, with the help of simple materials a balance of great precision may seem impossible. Nevertheless it can be done.
A ruler, a tin box, (in which blacking was contained, for [10] example) three blocks of wood, two pins, thread, four nails, a small piece of glass, and cardboard are all the necessary materials, and now to work.
At a short distance from the center of the ruler, and on a cross line with one another, stick two pins so that they come out a little on the other side. At one end of the ruler, in C, nail a small piece of your box. ”

“ One may get some amusement out of the agitation of the atmosphere. For the materials you only require a square or round cardboard box, in the lid of which cut a round hole of about two inches in diameter. In the interior of the box place two sheets of blotting paper, the one impregnated with muriatic acid, the other with ammoniac, in equal quantities. Immediately a whitish smoke will escape through the hole and rise straight to the ceiling. ”

“ Then, with a blue or other colored pencil, trace the outlines of the object on the glass coated with turpentine, the use of the latter being to allow the pencil marks to fix itself on the surface. One sees that the outlines thus obtained [57] will be those of the real object as clearly as possible because they are traced as seen, so to speak.
But the principal object of the instrument is not so much exactness of outline as to get the exact proportion existing between the different sizes of the objects placed in different planes. ”

“ Cut a piece of cardboard about six inches long, and by sticking the extremities together with a pin, or with gum, form a circle or ring. Balance it carefully on the neck of [39] a wine bottle or decanter, and on the top of the ring place a dime, exactly over the neck of the bottle. Now the trick to be performed is to take off the ring so that, without touching it, the coin falls into the bottle. On the inner side of the ring give a sharp knock with the finger, or, better still, with the thumb and forefinger, as in shooting a marble, as shown in figure. ”

“ In the middle of one of the rods punch a small [53] hollow so that it may freely move on the needle in the cork without fear of falling off. You have thus manufactured a rough compass.
Then cut out four dolls in paper, two gentlemen and two ladies, and stick them in the extremities of the two magnetized needles. Remember to put at each end a figure of the opposite sex.
Now, each time you present a man to the other man, which is placed on the magnetized needle, they will repel each other; if to a lady, the dolls are attracted. ”

“ Catch hold of the extremities of the string, and draw it to and fro, see-saw fashion, by which friction the part of the glass operated on will be heated.
As soon as you think that the glass is hot enough, plunge the bottle in cold water, which you will have placed handy before, and at the spot where the friction was exercised the glass will be clean cut. According to the thickness of [17] the glass, more or less heat must be produced. ”

“ Try to find out without any instrument of course, simply [37] by the aid of your eyes which you suppose exact and true. It will appear to you at first sight that the artist has made a mistake, and has made a bad drawing. The last seems the tallest, whereas the first seems shortened.
However, measure with a pair of compasses, and the illusion will at once disappear. The draughtsman was not mistaken; the first is the tallest, and the two others go diminishing in height.
[38]
This terminates our experiments on optical illusions and you will now enter upon another field of knowledge altogether. ”

“ Take a thin stick about a yard long, and thrust a pin firmly in each of its extremities. This done, place the stick on the bowls of two pipes, which a couple of persons hold by the stems, in such a manner that the pins only rest on the pipes. A third person then strikes the stick sharply in the middle, and it will break without injuring the pipes.
Ordinary clay pipes will do very well, as the more brittle the pipes are, the more striking is the experiment. ”

“ Rest the pins on a flat ruler, slightly inclined, and give them a slight balancing movement. The weight of the apparatus will fall on the pin, A, on which the whole turns the knife placed at the side, B, will knock against the support, and will tend to bring the apparatus again into its original position as the oscillating movement continues, pin, B, will, in its turn, support the whole weight, [50] and pin, A, will shift on to the other point, A, indicated in the figure. The walking cork will thus continue its movement till it has gone over the course assigned to it. ”

“ Fortunately, you can satisfy yourselves on this point without any other materials than a cardboard disc and a piece of string. On this disc paint in small sections the [12] colors of the spectrum, repeating them four or five times in the following order: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.
That the experiment may be entirely successful, the sections must be marked off according to the following scale of width of section. Let orange, next to the circumference represent 2: then
Now, in any diameter of the disc bore two holes not too near the edge. ”

“ First place a knife straight before you, then two others which you place, blade upon blade, over the first. Finally, the two last ones are arranged transversely, their blades passing over those of the two knives put down in the second instance, and below the blade of the first knife.
[25]
By taking hold of the handle of the first knife, you can lift them up all at once without breaking the equilibrium.
The Tack in the Ceiling.
To nail a tack in the ceiling without hammer, using a ladder or chair to reach it, seems as impossible as pulling the moon down from the sky. ”

“ The little missile will fly into the air all ablaze, and fall down at a distance of four, five, or even six yards.
With a little practice you will succeed each time. It [29] looks like a small rocket, especially when done in complete darkness.
Be careful to make the experiment only where there is no danger of setting anything on fire. ”

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