To do this, procure the ordinary wooden bat used by your sister for the game of bat and shuttlecock. Cover it with a piece of flannel, fine or coarse will do. Then blow a bubble not too large, so that the film shall be robust and heavy. Such is the toughness of the skin of the bubble, and the repulsion of the woollen surface to the soapy film, that it may be batted nearly two hundred times before the collapse takes place. By striking it on the side and getting some work into the bubble, it revolves slowly and the drainage from the upper part is counteracted. Two or more can play thus with the glittering ball, passing it on, or a ring of players may be formed and a stream of bubbles passed round from one member to another. Another form of the game is the keeping up a number of bubbles by the same bat. As the bubbles are very light they fall slowly, and six or eight may be kept up by the player. By having two bats, one in each hand, this becomes a game of considerable skill, and will tax the concentrated attention of the player to the utmost.
Now cut some circular discs out of note-paper about the size of a sixpence, larger rather than smaller. Get a reel of fine white cotton, and pass the end of the thread through the centre of the disc. Tie a knot in the cotton, so that it cannot readily be pulled through the hole. Then dip the disc in the mixture till the paper is wet. Blow your bubble, and before you release it from the pipe bowl, place the dripping disc of paper on the side of the bubble by dangling it from your right hand by the cotton. When it is in complete contact, a slight turn of the wrist releases the bubble from the pipe, and you will find that you have it attached to the paper disc, which in the meantime has sunk to the lowest part of the bubble. It can now be carried about by means of the disc.
There is so much carbon dioxide in the breath that bubbles blown in this way have very little power of rising, as the difference in the heat of the breath does not sufficiently counterbalance the heavier weight of the expired air. By attaching a piece of india-rubber tubing to the stem of the pipe and gas burner, you can get a supply of lighter gas which will make the bubble into a balloon. Having effected this arrangement, dip the pipe in the mixture and turn on the gas. Feed the top of the bubble with more fluid, and when it has reached a size which satisfies you, attach the paper disc as before. It will be an easy task to detach the bubble, which will rise towards the ceiling, until the weight of the thread counterbalances the buoyancy of the gas. It will probably rise to the ceiling, where it is quite safe, as a cushion of air will prevent the bubble striking the surface. Instead of the long thread, make out of the thinnest and lightest paper you can get, a small car, attach cotton to the corners of the car and gather the threads together and tie them so that the car hangs level. Attach this to the cotton which bears the paper disc, and connect the disc with the bubble as before, wetting only the disc. You will have a miniature gossamer balloon. Cut out two small figures of men in paper and put inside the car. Do all this before blowing the bubble. If you have a glass shade, a number of these bubbles balanced by threads may be kept for hours inside. You will find it very interesting to watch the changes of colour in the films as they get thinner through evaporation. To check this, put under the shade a wet sponge, this will moisten the air enclosed in the shade, and prolong the life of the bubbles.
No great skill is required in making the above experiments, and variations of an amusing character can be made by cutting out figures of animals and men and attaching them to the disc in place of the car. If the figures are painted so much better will the trick look. To make the mixture still stronger add nearly half as much again of pure glycerine.
Boxing by Electricity.
Boxing by Electricity.—A B C is a piece of iron wire inserted in the board D E F G. Cut out the boxer H in cardboard. On one side of this figure paste tinfoil bringing the tinfoil to the other side of the figure just a little at the edges. You will be able to get your tinfoil from the packages of tea, chocolate, tobacco or other source. Fasten the boxer to the board with sealing-wax. Now make the other boxer I in the same way and suspend him from the iron wire by means of thread. Borrow a lamp glass or the chimney from the incandescent gas burner and fit a cork K into the bottom. Through the cork pass a nail L. Connect the nail with the boxer by means of the wire M. Warm and dry the lamp chimney, and rub it with fur or silk. The boxer I will rush at boxer H, then retreat hurriedly, and this will be repeated as long as you rub the lamp chimney. Men, skilled in the science of electricity, will tell you that the reason for these strange proceedings is that the rubbing of the lamp chimney produces electricity; this passes along the wire to boxer H who becomes charged with the mysterious property. This electricity attracts boxer I who goes for boxer H. When he touches he becomes charged with the same kind of electricity and is then attracted no longer but repelled, and he continues to be repelled until his electricity has drained away by the linen thread, wire and board to the earth. Then he is ready for another “round.”
A Prancing Horse.