Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 March 1881 — Things by Wrong Names. [ARTICLE]

Things by Wrong Names.

“Papa, what kind of wood do they make lead pencils of?” asked Charlie Greaves, as he looked from the paper upon which he was drawing an outline map. “From the wood of the red cedar,” replied Mr. Greaves, as he took a seat near his son. “It is principally obtained from Florida. It Is first thoroughly seasoned, sawed into strips, dried again, then cut to the proper size for pencils. They are grooved by machinery, the leads are glued into the grooves, and the other half bf the wood Sued on. It is a little odd that, tough we call them lead pencils, there is not a particle of lead in them.” Master Charlie looked keenly at his father, under a suspicion that he was quizzing him. “Why, papa, I can see the lead,”he affirmed. “And what else makes it mark?”

“Red lead is an oxide of lead, white lead is a carbonate of lead, but the black lead used in pencils is neither a metal nor a compound of metal. It is ? (lumbago, or graphite,—one of the brms of carbon. The graphite is ground fine, calcined, and mixed with pure clay, then baked in a crucible. The different proportions of graphite and clay produce the various grades of pencils. Leads intended for very fine work, such as architectural drawings, are reheated after the baking, and immersed In melted wax or suet.”

“Red cedar must be a very light wood,” surmised Charlie as he balanced his pencil on his fingers. “Where does rosewood get its name from ? Its color is not rose color.” “Older persons than you have been puzzled over the matter,” replied Mr. Greaves. ®Whcn the tree is first cut, tile fresh wood possesses a very strong rose-like fragrance. Hence the name was suggested by tire odor, and not by the color.” “Where are the trees found?” ‘.ln South America, and in the East Indies and neighboringislands. Borne of the trees grow so large that planks four feet broad and ten feet long are cut from them. These broad planks are principally used to make tops of {>iauo-fortes. When growing in the orests, the rose-tree is remarkable for its beauty.”— Ex. | .