As to caustic potash, it has a great affinity for
carbonic acid mixed in air, and it is sufficient to
shake it in order for it to seize upon the acid and
form bicarbonate of potash. So much for the absorption
of carbonic acid.
By combining these two methods they were certain of
giving back to vitiated air all its life-giving qualities.
The two chemists, Messrs. Reiset and Regnault, had
made the experiment with success.
But it must be said the experiment had only been made
in anima vili. Whatever its scientific
accuracy might be, no one knew how man could bear
it.
Such was the observation made at the meeting where
this grave question was discussed. Michel Ardan
meant to leave no doubt about the possibility of living
by means of this artificial air, and he offered to
make the trial before the departure.
But the honour of putting it to the proof was energetically
claimed by J.T. Maston.
“As I am not going with you,” said the
brave artilleryman, “the least I can do will
be to live in the projectile for a week.”
It would have been ungracious to refuse him.
His wish was complied with. A sufficient quantity
of chlorate of potash and caustic potash was placed
at his disposition, with provisions for a week; then
having shaken hands with his friends, on the 12th
of November at 6 a.m., after having expressly recommended
them not to open his prison before the 20th at 6 p.m.,
he crept into the projectile, the iron plate of which
was hermetically shut.
What happened during that week? It was impossible
to ascertain. The thickness of the projectile’s
walls prevented any interior noise from reaching the
outside.
On the 20th of November, at six o’clock precisely,
the plate was removed; the friends of J.T. Maston
were rather uneasy. But they were promptly reassured
by hearing a joyful voice shouting a formidable hurrah!
The secretary of the Gun Club appeared on the summit
of the cone in a triumphant attitude.
He had grown fat!
THE TELESCOPE OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.
On the 20th of October of the preceding year, after
the subscription list was closed, the president of
the Gun Club had credited the Cambridge Observatory
with the sums necessary for the construction of a
vast optical instrument. This telescope was to
be powerful enough to render visible on the surface
of the moon an object being at least nine feet wide.
There is an important difference between a field-glass
and a telescope, which it is well to recall here.
A field-glass is composed of a tube which carries
at its upper extremity a convex glass called an object-glass,
and at its lower extremity a second glass called ocular,
to which the eye of the observer is applied. The
rays from the luminous object traverse the first glass,
and by refraction form an image upside down at its
focus. This image is looked at with the ocular,
which magnifies it. The tube of the field-glass
is, therefore, closed at each extremity by the object
and the ocular glasses.
