In a few succeeding lessons, we intend to point out some of the scientific truths that are illustrated in the use of toys. We think we shall be able to show to our young readers, that even the hours of play may be made the periods of delightful instruction; and that there is no"reason why" the acquirement of knowledge should not sweetly accord with the occasional pursuit of those pastimes by which health of body and vigour of mind are induced.
But before we commence the discharge of that pleasant duty, let us say a few words respecting Carbon, that important agent in the world's history. It is, doubtless, perplexing to the minds of many persons, to understand how the diamond can be pure carbon; how charcoal can be carbon a little less pure than the diamond; and how coal and sugar can also be carbon, less pure than the charcoal. The statement that in the diamond carbon exists in a different atomic condition, is almost as instructive to the inquiring mind, as to say, "It is so, because it is."
Diamonds are expensive things, and so difficult to experiment upon, even if they were not expensive, that the doors of inquiry seem locked. To turn diamonds into charcoal, or into carbonic acid gas, is a very costly formula of experiment. Charcoal fires, thus sustained, would soon burn a man out of his house; and soda water, impregnated with carbonic acid gas, produced from diamonds, would be a very expensive beverage. If we could only turn charcoal into diamonds, and carbonic acid gas into brilliants, that would be quite another affair. A new Eldorado would be discovered, and there would be so many experimenters that, when they all succeeded, they would find that diamonds had lost their value. However, as a fact for the encouragement of those who would like to be early in the race, we may state that the atoms of charcoal which are repulsed from the charcoal points, during the electric agitation which produces the electric light, acquire a hardness and a sharpness almost equal to that of the diamond—only there is still the awkward obstacle in the way, that they happen to be black.
"He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth."—Daniel vii.
We must see, therefore, whether there is anything in nature that we can experiment upon, theoretically or practically, to give us a clearer conception of this difficult matter. There is a large dew-drop resting upon a luxuriant cabbage leaf—one of those great leaves that have flourished in defiance of the snail, and now spreads out like the gigantic frond of the Victoria Regina. That dew-drop is one of the beautiful diamonds which Nature sprinkles about on cloudless nights, as if to show the stars, in answer to their twinkling, that we have something that will glisten and twinkle too.
The dew-drop is a very good imitation of a diamond, and to the lover of God's works, quite as precious as the stone set in gold. It does not consist of carbon—it probably may have a mite of carbonic acid in its embrace—but that is not necessary to our purpose: all we want to know is, the different atomic conditions of which bodies are susceptible, and the very dissimilar appearances they exhibit under the variations of atomic states. It doesn't glisten so much as the diamond, because it is round—if we could cut it into a number of facets, it would refract light almost as perfectly as the diamond. It is not solid—but we can freeze it, and we shall at once exhibit two different atomic conditions, that will represent nearly enough the diamond, and the liquid carbonic acid. Then, if we evaporate the dew-drop, we shall produce a volume of vapour nearly two thousand times as large as the dew-drop. The steam will be white; but we have only to imagine it black, and then we get an analogy of the differences of the atomic conditions that prevail in the diamond, carbonic acid, and charcoal, tinder, lamp-black, or any light form of carbon. Of course we have been illustrating atomic conditions only, and not chemical composition.
There are a few other facts connected with carbon that merit consideration. Carbonic acid gas, entering the lungs, is a deadly poison; but entering the stomach, which lies close under the lungs, and is over-lapped by them, it is a refreshing beverage. Although charcoal, when burnt, gives off the most poisonous gas, it seems to be very jealous of other gaseous poisons; for if it be powdered, and set about in pans where there is a poisonous atmosphere, it will seize hold of poisonous gases, and, by absorbing, imprison them. Even in a drop of toast and water, the charred bread seizes hold of whatever impurities exist in the water; and water passed through beds of charcoal, becomes filtered, and made beautifully pure, being compelled to give up to the charcoal whatever is obnoxious. If a piece of meat that has already commenced putrifying, be sprinkled with charcoal, it will not only object to the meat putrifying any further, but it will sweeten that which has already undergone putrefaction. Although, in the form of gas, it will poison the blood, and cause speedy stupefaction and death; if it be powdered, and stitched into a piece of silk, and worn before the mouth as a respirator, it will say to all poisonous gases that come to the mouth with the air, "I have taken this post to defend the lungs, and I arrest you, on a charge of murderous intention." Such are the various facts connected with carbon; and they forcibly indicate that those who understand Nature's works, are likely to receive her best protection.