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The difference between a dark chamber of this construction and a magic lantern is very slight, and consists chiefly in the relative pcsition of parts and the source of illumination, By whom the great im. provement was made, of substituting artificial light for sunlight in exhibiting transparent pictures, is unknown to the writer.

Deschales in his "Mundus Mathematicus" (Leyden 1674) states that a Dane, possibly the physician Thomas Bartholin, showed him in 1665 a lanterna magica having two convex lenses. (Pogg. Gesch. Phys, p. 436.)

Athanasius Kircher, a learned Jesuit, Professor of Mathematics at the Collegio Romano (b. 1602, died 1680), in his second edition of "Ars magna lucis et umbra," 1671, describes the magic lantern.

The oxy-hydrogen light now commonly used in connection with the exhibition of pictures by the lantern, was the invention of Thomas Drummond of the Royal Engineers (b. 1797, d. 1840), who employed it in 1824 in the trigonometrical survey of Ireland. The principle on which it is based had, however, been established in 1801, by Prof. Robert Hare of Philadelphia. To prevent explosions from the ignition of the mixed gases, Dr. Hare also applied the principle of Sir H. Davy's safety lamp, but this was not altogether satisfactory for it did aot prevent some disastrous explosions. Later the so-called " safety. jet" was introduced, consisting of concentric tubes which prevent the gases, oxygen and hydrogen, from mingling previous to their issuing from the orifice. This invention is variously ascribed to Hemming, Maugham, and Daniell. The publication of the latter is dated 1833. H. C. BOLTON, New York City.

FOWL VOCABULARY. The following domestic fowl vocabulary is very good, and will perhaps recall to the reader's mind a farm-yard picture:

Ur-ka-do-dle-do-oo. Challenge of male.

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R-a-r-r-ee. Announcing presence of hawk.

Cut-cut-ca-da-cut. Announcement of egg-laying.
Cluck, cluck cluck. Call of young.

Kerr, kerr, kerr. Song of contentment of hen.

C-r-a-w-z-ze. Quieting young chicks.

W-h-o-o-i-e (whistle). Expression of apprehension at night.

C-r-a-i-a-i-o-n. Terror and protest at capture.- Wide Awake.

Periodicity-Immortality.

The exposition of Dr. Slavonski's Periodicity in the February issue of Notes and Queries is very interesting and stimulating to thought. But I feel assured that there is a higher point of view than that employed by this renowned scientist; consequently that there are "mis. sing links" in the system. If I rightly regard the conception of Dr. S. it makes matter, or material form, commanding in rule or authority, and life subordinate or dependent upon its mutations; whereas life is the ruler and material form the servant. Whether the form of matter operated by life be high or low; simple, complex, or composite; it is never wholly abandoned by life. If any special power of life abandons its form or vehicle as no longer useful-leaves it dead as to that special form-the great over-soul of life begins the work of decomposition as a process that shall make it the element to nurture and give form to other definite life-expression. Time and Space being the immeasurable continents, and material substance the equally immeasurable content of creative investiture, they can only be rightly estimated as they serve to inseminate, evolve and give organic expression to Creative Life which presides over and rules all in orderly providences. So, while these external instrumentalities are of much subordinate interest, inasmuch as they are to be ruled and converted in perfect efficiency and use to the fulness of Life in the Human form, they can never function to constitute immortal vitality, but can only minister to its immaculate powers in whatever relations and conditions such vitality may command. Immortality must be a verity of Life, and not a pendant of matter. Even continuous existence in spiritual form does not realize immortality; for immortality is quality and power in Su. preme Life, and not mere spiritual continuity in immature personal expressions of life. Amplest conceptions of life will recognize its presence and power in all of its instrumental forms from the very lowest upward, but a valid conception of Immortal Life will never identify it with aught below Divine Supremacy in character and power: for the Divine alone hath immortality. To me a mathematical chase after immortality in the vortices and immeasurable changes of physical substance is futile in the extreme, for it is never to be found there. Only the Light of Supreme Life is adequate to solve the ultimate

problems of Life: and this, reflexly, is literally "the Light of the world."

Newness and ascension is the law in matter, because newness and ascension is the order of Life operating through matter.

I rejoice in the truth of Immortality for man, revealed as a state of Supreme Lordship without regard to time, space, or local state, for this, indeed, is the Light of Life, and at the same time the Light of the world.

But while I must not trespass further in these desultory strictures, let me formulate as concisely as possible, the order of

it.

LIFE IN THE HUMAN-FORM.

In Sub degree it organizes corporeal sensibility, and at last perfects

In Super degree it organizes personal spirit and rational understanding, and finally perfects this form.

In Supreme degree it organizes the wisdom and power of Divine Natural Personality, and finally perfects it-realizes its fulness.

This threefold Personality matured constitutes, as I understand it, the Life and Light of Immortality revealed by Jesus Christ.

WILLIAM H. KIMBALL, Concord, N. H.

SONNET. The following appeared about thirty years ago, with no credit of authorship, in some of the leading literary journals of the country. Can any of your readers tell us of its paternity?

H., Manchester, N. H.

SONNET OF A YOUTH WHO DIED OF EXCESSIVE FRUIT-PIE.

Currants have checked the current of my blood,

And berries brought me to be buried here;

Pears have pared off my body's hardihood,

And plums and plumbers spare not one so spare:

Fain would I feign my fall; so fair a fare

Lessens not fate, but 'tis a lesson good :

Gilt will not long hide guilt; such thin-washed ware

Wears quickly, and its rude touch soon is rued.

Grave on my grave some sentence grave and terse,

That lies not, as it lies upon my clay;

But in a gentle strain of unstrained verse,

Prays all to pity a poor patty's prey;

Rehearses I was fruit-full to my hearse,

Tells that my days are told, and soon I'm toll'd away!

WARSAW-WARSAU. (Vol. II, p. 543; III, p. 50.) I have been much interested in the scraps of information, derivation, and explana tion of the almost endless variety of subjects discussed in your pages. I send a few geographical names observed in a half hour's study, and would like more light.

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J Cheboygan is a town or city in the north of Michigan.
Sheboygan is a town or city on the lake in Wisconsin.

(LaCrosse is on the east of the Mississippi river.
LaCrescent is on the west side nearly opposite.

Somerset is on the east side as above.

Winterset is on the west side.

Winnepissiogee, a lake in New Hampshire.

Winnepisgoosis, lakes in Canada

Winnipeg,

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Two MORE ASTEROIDS DISCOVERED IN 1888. (Vol. V, pp. 8-13.) Asteroid No. 271 has been named Penthesilée.

No. 272 was discovered February 4, 1888, by Prof. Charlois of Naples, to be added to the list as Charlois2.

No. 273 was discovered March 8, 1888, by Prof. Pilasa, of Vienna, to be added to the list as Pilasa

ERRATA. Vol. V, p. 6, second line from bottom, for "Virgin of Haran al Rasit," read Vizier of Haran al-Rasit.

Vol. V, p. 28, first line from top, for "capable," read incapable. Vol. V, p. 39, first horizontal row, second square to the right, for "484," read 485. Same page, for "95" read 59, in the mixed number.

DIES IRE.-NEW TRANSLATION. I find in NOTES AND QUERIES, August, 1886, a memoranda about translations of Dies Ira. I do not remember sending you a copy of Judge John S. Hager's translation of it, and have asked him to send one, which I presume he will do. I know something of the different versions of this magnificent old hymn, and I consider Judge Hager's the best one. The Judge is now collector of this port, änd is a man of high position and character, and of much culture besides. This hymn is a fine instance of impossibility of translation. Take for example the stanza:

Tuba, mirum spargens sonum

Per sepulchra regionum,
Coget omne ante thronum.

The massive vowel sounds, in solid syllables, intrinsically proper to represent the great trumpet blasts, cannot be matched in English. The English sounds sizzle and squeak in comparison. The full voiced oo and o strike upon the ear with a boom that cannot be rendered by the English e, and a, and i. You could as well render a picture mainly of dark red, by a copy in full blue; but our San Francisco Judge has done the best.

F. B. PERKINS, San Francisco, Cal.

Dies Ira.-TRANSLATION BY JUDGE JOHN S. HAGER.

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