Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 March 1869 — An Electrical Experiment. [ARTICLE]

An Electrical Experiment.

Stone, or as he is j more gen cal Ted among his acquaintances, “Old Boek,” who: runs on the east end of the PtfoiSa ! & Oquawka Itailfbad, is. ,t nattiraj I wait, quick at repartee, and as dry : as q chip. One day “Rock” met, j 1 with a partv of St. Louis. Alton & pUilTCfigQ1 Railroad boys at Chenoa, i i and they stepped into Sam Emery’s i for a.social glass of ale. Condjie- J -toElfedgeSj qf the St. Louis road, j Fas a sort’of sentiment, gave—“ Old I • Rock, otherwise Stone is a perftet; I brick.'' “That is vtjry good,” ex--1 claimed Stone. “Here is to old I Brush, otherwise Hedges, a perfect stick.'' The next that was seen of “Rock” he was pursuing a “2-40” gait- towards his engine, Hedges with a big stick close -on his rear. This is not quite as good as a repartee of Nick Denton, while a di- ; vision engineer on the Illinois Cen- ; tral, at a festival several years ago jin DeWitt county. A fellow - named Jack Wallace gave as a sentiment: ''■The tiro Nicks—()\<\ Nick and Nick Denton." The table . came down with a clatter. Nick arose as irra.Yn.asjundge, and when I the hn'il subsided, bn an,pjiSX I fully appreciated the honor conferred on him in being named in ! connection with Jack's most intimate friend ! He hardly "knew how to requite the kindness, but as one good turn deserves another, he ; wonld give: ii The two Jacks— Jack W , and Jackass !” Jack Wallace collapsed and the company went into hysterics.

Procure four glass "tumblers or cammon glazed teacups, having wiped them dry as possible, hold them over tlic-fiie to evaporate any moisture which may still adhere to surface; foi-if there is—the least moisture it makes a connection, and spoils the experiment.— place them upon the tfoor in u square, about one foot apart; place a piece of board upon the tumblers, and have a person standing upon tbe board. This person is now coiupietely insulated, the glass- beihg a non-cohdaetor of electricity. Now take a common rubber comb, gpd having wound a piece of silk around one end of it, rub it briskly through vour hair, and draw the teeth parallel to the insulated per son's knuckles", leaving ~a""ttnTe~ space betv eon the couth and the person’s hand. The result will be a sharp, crackling noise, and if dark there will be a succession of Sphrks. Repeat the process until the phenomena cease. The person is now “charged” with electricity, the same as a Leyden jar. To draw off the electricity, approach your knuckles to the person’s hands or bis nose (being careful not to allow any jiortion of yonr hqdy..ia. jco:im in contact with his), anil there will be a loud snap and the sparks will be vefcy brilliant. If a cat be held so that tbe charged person can knuckles in proximity wliii the animal’s nose, it will suddcofy appear as if it were in contacf ’AWWt an electric battery. A glass bhftlc fnay bo uf<fd in lieu of the-eWnb, 1 but it is not" *o well adapted *fdr'the purp<«g. Much niAy be derived froii, this extremely simple experiijiept, abd Mit; humorous young reudcw-wjlljiistep to.uy fordhem* selves.— JoUrniff ‘nrChcwaslry. .■ .. ■■ ■ ■ - te