Let us hope that in the two latter cases some modicum of grease might have been used, as the outcries of tortured and unlubricated machinery are enough to drive away all wild beasts which come within the range of its complaints, while the nervous system of hunter or warrior must have been seriously damaged by it.
Even in such a structure as the spoked Wheel, Nature has anticipated Man.
My readers may remember that, when treating of nautical matters, I mentioned the singular anchor-shaped spicules that are found upon one of the sea-slugs, called Synapta.
There is another group of these creatures inhabiting the Mediterranean, in which the skin-spicules take a different form. Like those of the Synapta, they are too small and translucent to be seen without the aid of the microscope and carefully adjusted light. But, just as the spicules of the Synapta resemble the ancient anchor, so do those of the Chirodota resemble the ancient wheel, the similitude being in both cases absolutely startling.
Not only that, but, as all readers must be aware, if they have studied practical mechanics, there are many machines which are toothed on the inner, and not the outer, side of the circumference. Here, in the Chirodota, the inner toothing is manifest.
What purpose it serves we know not. The Chirodota’s wheels (of which there are thousands) never revolve, neither do the anchors of the Synapta hold the ground. Yet the very fact that such exceedingly minute objects should be so carefully constructed tells us at once that they must have some important purpose to serve, though at present that purpose is a mystery which no one has attempted to solve.
I have little doubt that when the hour and the man arrive, as arrive they surely will, we shall find in these tiny and almost unrecognised spicules the keys to treasures of wisdom which at present have been opened to no human being.
The whole history of the progress of the human race shows that facts have been allowed to accumulate, fought about, and turned in all directions, before the generaliser comes who pierces to the heart of everything, reduces apparent discrepancies to harmony, and usually is rewarded by finding some one else assume the credit of his discoveries, and receive all the honours and emoluments.
USEFUL ARTS.
CHAPTER XIV.
Paper and its many Uses.—The Egyptian Papyrus.—India Paper.—China and its Manufactories.—Materials of which Paper is made.—Annual Consumption of Material.—The “Water Mark.”—Nature’s Papers.—Wasps and Hornets.—The common Wasp, and the various Materials of its Nest.—Utilisation of Material.—Papier-mâché.—Printing.—Nature-printing.—Method and Results of the Process.—Use of the Electrotype.—“Facing” the Copper Plates with hard Metal.—The Coal Mine and its Nature-printing.—Stippling, its Use and Abuse.—The Line and the Dot.—Modification of the Dot.—Flower-petals.—The Pelargonium.—Plaster Castings.—Stereotyping and Electrotyping.—Modern Method of taking Plaster Casts.—The Principle of Corrugation.—Flower-pot Covers.—Iron Buildings.—The Polistes and its Corrugated Dwellings.