United States or Cambodia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
I compounded the alloy, melted it, and cast a 10-inch speculum on my peculiar common-sense system. I introduced the molten alloy, chilled it in a metal mould, by which every chance of flaws and imperfections is obviated. I also showed him the action and results of my machine, by which I obtained the most exquisite polish and figure for the speculum.
"Bravo! quite sound," cried Uncle Richard. "Now the other." This proved also to have borne the journey well, and Tom looked from the two great discs to his uncle. "Well," said the latter; "do you see what these are for?" "To grind flour much finer?" "To grind grandmothers, boy! Nonsense! Not to grind, but to be ground. Out of those Tom, you and I have to make a speculum of tremendous power."
"Now, Tom," said his uncle, "I'm going to show you something in reflection. The sun is not quite high enough for the speculum, so give me that piece of looking-glass." This was handed to him, and he held it on high, so that the low-down sun shone into it, and a reflection was cast from it back upon the wall just above the window. "See that?" "Yes, uncle. Done that many a time.
The Swedish monarch recovered his lost territory; the Danes were expelled, and the poor poet was accused of treason and beheaded. The same hard fate befell John Williams in 1619, who was hanged, drawn, and quartered, on account of two poems, Balaam's Ass and Speculum Regis, the MSS. of which he foolishly sent secretly in a box to King James.
"Master and you had a deal better set to work and build me a vinery to grow some more grapes," he grumbled; but Tom laughed, and the speculum gradually began to assume its proper form. There had only been one brief letter in answer to two sent making inquiries, and this letter said that Uncle James was much better, and regularly attending the office. "My vegetables," said David, when he was told.
But, as his ambition was to have a grand and powerful instrument of not less than 24 inches diameter, the preparation for such a speculum became a subject to him of the highest interest. He began to look out for a proper position for his projected observatory. He made inquiry about a residence at Norwood, where he thought his instrument might have fair play.
We may take notice, That the White of an Egg, though in part Transparent, yet by its power of Reflecting some Incident Rays of Light, is in some measure a Natural Speculum, being long agitated with a Whisk or Spoon, loses its Transparency, and becomes very White, by being turn'd into Froth, that is into an Aggregate of Numerous small Bubbles, whose Convex Superficies fits them to Reflect the Light every way Outwards.
"You have had a visit from the gentleman who broke my new speculum." "You suspected your nephew of breaking the speculum," said the Vicar. "Oh!" cried Tom excitedly: "Yes, but I know better now. You're wrong, my dear sir, quite wrong. We can prove such an alibi as would satisfy the most exacting jury.
He passed the sponge rapidly over the ground speculum again, so as to glaze it so to speak with water, raised it upon its edge with the carefully-ground face directed at the window just as the sun rose high enough to shine in; and then by turning the great mirror slightly, the light reflected from it struck upon the wall at the side of the window. "Now, Tom, what do you see?"
We have to get the glasses to work with one another to the most perfect correctness. That task may take us for days." It did, and though Tom finished off every evening worn-out and discouraged, he recommenced in the morning fresh and eager as ever, helping to alter the position of the big speculum, then of the small plane mirror.
Word Of The Day