Wrap a small piece of platinum in a piece of tin-foil of the same size, and expose them upon charcoal to the action of the blow pipe; when the union of the two metals will be accompanied by a rapid whirling, and by a remarkably brilliant light. If the globule thus melted be allowed to drop into a basin of water, it will remain for some time red hot at the bottom of it.
BRILLIANT LIGHT FROM STEEL.
Pour into a watch-glass a little sulphuret of carbon, and light it; hold in the flame a brush of steel-wire, and it will burn beautifully. A watch-spring may also be burnt in it.
LIGHTED TIN.
Place upon a piece of tinfoil a few powdered crystals of nitrate of copper; moisten it with water; fold up the foil gently, and wrap it in paper so as to keep out the air: lay it upon a plate, and the tin will soon inflame.
LIGHT FROM GILT BUTTONS.
Provide a new and highly-polished gilt button, and hold it in a strong light, closely but obliquely, over a sheet of white paper, when it will present radiations exactly like the spokes of a carriage-wheel; the radiations being sixteen in number, and a little contracted in the centre opposite the eye of the button, and presenting altogether a beautiful appearance.
LIGHT FROM A FLOWER.
Hold a lighted candle to the flower of the fraxinella, and it will dart forth little flashes of light. This beautiful appearance is caused by the essential and inflammable oil contained in small vessels at the extremities of the flower, which vessels burn at the approach of any inflamed body, setting at liberty the essential oil, as that contained in orange-peel is discharged by pressure.