If a kind of top, pierced with a number of holes, be added to them, they will nearly imitate a bubbling fountain.
Jets intended to represent sheets of fire, ought not to be choaked. They must be placed in a horizontal position, or inclined a little upwards or downwards.
If to the top of the cartridge be attached a tin cylindrical cap, terminating in a flat, long, narrow mouth, (similar to those attached to garden watering pots,) the stream of fire will be very much extended, and the beauty of the exhibition increased. The composition for this article is given in the table, section 7.
Chinese Fountain.
5. Chinese Fountain.
Provide a piece of dry wood, about six or seven feet long, and about two and a-half inches square; at the distance of sixteen inches from the top of this piece, (supposing it be seven feet long, and fixed perpendicular,) must be fixed a shelf, sixteen inches long, and in width about two and a-half inches, and in thickness about three-quarters. Below this shelf must be fixed three or four other shelves of the same width and thickness, but in length increasing eight inches successively as they go towards the bottom. They must be fixed the same distance from each other as the first one from the top.
Now on the top of the post, insert (into a hole of proper dimensions) a gerbe, or fire-pump; on the first shelf insert after the same manner two gerbes, on the second three, on the third four, on the fourth five, and on the bottom shelf six:—They must be so placed, that the next above stand exactly over the middle of the intervals of those below. The gerbes should be placed so that their mouths incline a little forwards; if this be not done, the stars thrown out of the cases will strike against the shelf above, and produce but little of that effect, which, when properly arranged, renders them so beautiful.
A proper connection must be formed with your leaders, between the different cases; beginning at the top, and carrying it downward to every one of them. The top one is to be lighted first.
The Pyramid, or Fountain complete, is represented by [fig. 25].