6

From The Fireside.

THE CELTS.

self in the summer twilight by setting fire | without relating anything concerning it, he to the inflammable atmosphere which sur- brought his companion before the group rounds the essential-oil glands of the of poppies. The latter observer was soon Fraxinella. One sultry summer evening, in raptures of astonishment and admirawhen sitting in the garden, she was very tion. Many other persons were then led much surprised to notice the flowers of a to the same spot, some of whom immedigroup of nasturtiums emitting luminous ately remarked that the flowers were radiations, and she observed the same throwing out flames.' It is chiefly in the thing occur on several subsequent even- summer months that the emission of light ings in June and July, 1762. The same from flowers is seen, and generally during phenomenon has also been observed by twilight. It is said, however, that flashes several naturalists, but almost exclusively have also been noticed in the morning, in connection with yellow or orange-col- just before sunrise. The light emitted is ored flowers, such as the sunflower, the always most brilliant before a thundermarigold, poppies, and the orange lily. storm." The following account of interesting observations of some of these luminous flowers is given by Dr. Phipson. "The Swedish naturalist, Professor Haggern, perceived one evening a faint flash of light dart repeatedly from a marigold. Surprised at such an uncommon appearance, he resolved to examine it with attention, and, to be assured that it was no deception, he placed a man near him, with orders to make a signal when he observed the light. They both saw it constantly at the same moment. The light was most brilliant upon marigolds of an orange or flame color, but scarcely visible upon pale ones. The flash was frequently seen on the same flower two or three times in quick succession, but more commonly at intervals of several minutes. When several flowers, in the same place, emitted this light together, it could be seen at a considerable distance. This phenomenon was remarked in July and August at sunset, and for half an hour when the sky was clear; but after a rainy day, or when the air was loaded with vapors, nothing of it was to be seen. On the 18th of June, 1857, about ten o'clock in the evening, M. Fries, the well-known Swedish botanist, whilst walking along in the Botanic Garden at Upsal, remarked a group of poppies (Papaver orientale), in which three or four flowers emitted little flashes of light. Forewarned as he was by a knowledge that such things had been observed by others, he could not help believing that he was suffering from an optical illusion. However, the flashes continued showing themselves, from time to time, during three quarters of an hour. M. Fries was thus forced to believe that what he saw was real. The next day observing the same phenomenon to recur at about the same hour, he conducted to the place a person entirely ignorant that such a manifestation of light had ever been witnessed in the vegetable world, and,

THE Complexions of the Celts were fair and succulent, apparently from their northern climate, but attributed to their being always clothed except in battle, and to their long indulgence in bed during peace. From whatever cause, their bodies were remarkably white, compared with other nations. Their eyes were blue and large, but when enraged they darted fury, and having naturally a stern look, it is said to have then been awful. Their aspect must have been remarkable. Ammianus Marcellinus, himself a veteran soldier, who had often fought with these fierce nations. confesses that in the cast of their eyes there was something terrible. The women were very beautiful, and were as tall and courageous as the men. The beauty of Claudia Rufina, a British lady, is celebrated by Martial. Ammianus seems to represent the females as stronger than their husbands; but he probably means in domestic warfare only. They paid much attention to their persons, especially in Aquitain, where you could not see a woman, however poor, in foul and ragged clothes, as in other places. Small eyebrows were considered very beautiful among the ancient Caledonians, and some females received their names from this handsome feature. The teeth of the Celta were sound, and of a beautiful whiteness. This is observable in all their interments, where they are found to retain the enamel when every other part has gone to decay. The voice of the Celts was loud and terrible; and although they spoke little, even their ordinary words were dreadful. They had a terrible aspect, an awful and loud voice; their stern looks were sufficient to intimidate most people,

and their bare appearance, when irritated, I was solemn and mysterious, the ordinary struck the beholder with terror and dismay. The "loud and sonorous voice" of the ancient Celts was inherited by the Caledonians, and was esteemed a qualification of some importance. When Fingal raised his voice, "Cromla answered around, the sons of the desert stood still, and the fishes of the troubled sea moved to the depths." Columba, when performing service in his church of Iona, is said to have been heard at the distance of a mile and a half. The Celtic nations spoke very little, and their language was dark and figurative: their manner of talking

words of most of them, as well when they were at peace as when they were irritated, being dreadful and full of menace. They were hyperbolical in their own praise, and spoke contemptuously of all others. "My pointed spear, my sharp sword, my glittering shield," said an old Celtic hero, "are my wealth and riches; with them I plough, with them I sow, and with them I make my wine: whoever dare not resist my pointed spear, my sharp sword, and my glittering shield, prostrates himself before, and adores me as his lord and his king."

A NEW METAL.-M. Prat, of Bordeaux, | the London Medical Record) yet remains for has communicated to the Société des Sciences study. Physiques et Naturelles de Bordeaux, a research on the characters and chemical properties of a metal to which he has given the name of Lavcesium, in memory of Lavoisier. This metal is silver-white, malleable, and fusible; PORTABLE ELECTRIC LIGHT.- An ingenit forms crystallizable and colorless salts, and ious little electric-light apparatus (says the gives the following reactions:- Potassa: a Mining Journal) has been invented by Mr. hydrated white precipitate, insoluble in an ex- Facio, of Paris, and is applicable to watches, cess of the precipitant. Ammonia: the same walking-sticks, and such like. The watch, precipitate, very soluble in an excess. Alka- for instance, to which it is applied, is united line carbonates: a white precipitate of hy-by a chain to a link-bar, which may be placed drated oxide, followed by the disengagement in a button-hole, another chain communicates of carbonic acid. Ferrocyanide of potassium: with a pile which may be carried in the waista dirty yellow precipitate. Hydrosulphuric acid: a brown color at first, then a tawny yellow precipitate. Alkaline sulphurets: a tawny yellow precipitate. Tannin: a dark greenish yellow precipitate. Iron and zinc: a metallic black precipitate, ash grey, or under the form of extremely thin leaflets, having a metallic aspect, and spontaneously detaching itself from the zinc. This metal colors flame of a slightly purple blue. In the spectroscope it gives a spectrum: 1, in the indigo blue, two groups of characteristic bands; 2, in the pure green, two other more simple groups of bands, equally characteristic; 3, finally, some blue, violet, and green bands; in all, twenty-three bands. The characteristic bands correspond with those of copper, which might indicate, M. Prat thinks, that copper perhaps contains this metal. The spectrum, the white silvery aspect, the solubility of its oxide in ammonia, the color of the ferrocyanide and its hydrated sulphuret, constitute a group of properties which distinguish it from all the known metals. According to M. Prat, this body is much more common than might be thought, for he has met with it in many minerals, and notably in iron pyrites. Its therapeutic action (says

coat pocket; to the link-bar another chain is attached in communication with a receptacle or box containing wick, and a "Geissler" tube, which will transmit the spark produced by the electricity. Thus the time can be easily seen in the dark. The apparatus is composed of other conducting chains coming from the pile, and of a receiver which may be perfectly independent, the receiver being provided with a wick or bobbin, and the receiver may be made like a locket or other article, if desired; communication between pile and locket or other article may be produced by means of a button or other suitable appliance placed in any convenient position. The chains may be formed or composed of two wires and surrounded by insulating material, which latter may be cov ered with some precious metal or other material, as fancy or taste may dictate. The lighting material may be carried by the watch itself, or the light-generating apparatus may be provided with a case to hold the watch, or other object to be lighted up, in such manner that the glass which covers the aforesaid case will receive the action of the lighting tube containing the “Geissler" tube, and the case itself will be independent of the object to be lighted.

JA

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