The Reason Why / A Careful Collection of Many Hundreds of Reasons for Things Which, Though Generally Believed, Are Imperfectly Understood

by Robert Kemp Philp

Fig. 38.—BOW AND ARROW.

Fig. 39.—JEW'S HARP.

851. Why does a Jew's harp give musical sounds?

Because the vibrations of the metal tongue are communicated to the ear.

852. Why will not the Jew's harp produce loud sounds unless it is applied to the mouth?

Because the vibrations are not very intense, but when it is blown upon by the breath, the air is pressed upon it, and the vibrations are thereby rendered more powerful.