this reason the encasements of flannel, etc., were first devised. In some of the storage batteries, a plate, or frame, of cast lead is used, with receptacles, cells, etc., which are filled with the red lead. ELECTRICAL TERMS.--The technical terms used in regard to electricity refer to units of various nature. Thus the unit of capacity is one farad; the unit of activity, one watt; the unit of work one joule; the unit of quantity, one coulomb; the unit of current, one ampere; the unit of resistance, one ohm; the unit of magnetic field, one gauss; the unit of pressure, one volt; the unit of force, one dyne. The names are mostly derived from the names of men that have been famous in the field of electrical research. Thus Michael Faraday, James Watt and James P. Joule, famous English discoverers, give their names to the first three units mentioned; Charles A. Coulomb and Andre M. Ampere, French inventors, to the two units following; G. S. Ohm and Carl F. Gauss. Germans, name two more units; and the volt is named from the Italian discoverer, Volta. The dyne is derived from the root word of dynamo, itself meaning force. PRESERVING WOOD.-There have been a number of processes patented for preserving wood. One of them, very generally used, consists in immersing the timber in a bath of corrosive sublimate. Another process consists in first filling the pores with a solution of chloride of calcium under pressure, and next forcing in a solution of sulphate of iron, by which an insoluble sulphate of lime is formed in the body of the wood, which is thus rendered nearly as hard as stone. Wood prepared in this way is now very largely used for railroad ties. Another process consists in impregnating the wood with a solution of chloride of zinc. Yet another way is to thoroughly impregnate the timber with oil of tar containing creasote and a crude solution of acetate of iron. The process consists in putting the wood in a cylindrical vessel, connected with a powerful air pump. The air is withdrawn, and the liquid subjected to pressure, so that as much of it as possible is forced into the pores of the wood. The processes above given not only season the timber so that it is not subject to dry rot, but also keep it from being injured by the weather, or being attacked by insects or worms. TO MAKE CLOTH WATERPROOF.-There have been various devices for rendering cloth waterproof without the use of India rubber. The most successful of these, no doubt, is the Stenhouse patent. This consists of the application of paraffine combined with drying oil. Paraffine was first used alone, but it was found to harden and break off from the cloth after a time. When drying oil was added, however, even in a very small quantity, it was found that the two substances, by the absorption of oxygen, became converted into a tenacious substance very like resin. To apply this the paraffine is melted with drying oil, and then cast into blocks. The composition can then be applied to fabrics by rubbing them over with a block of it, either cold or gently warmed. Or the melted mixture may be applied with a brush and the cloth then passed through hot rollers in order to cover its entire substance perfectly. This application makes cloth very repellant to water, though still pervious to air. THE RULE OF THE ROAD.-The "rule of the road" in the United states is "turn to the right;" in England it is the reverse. The rule holds in this country in the case where two vehicles going in opposite directions meet. When one vehicle overtakes another the foremost gives way to the left and the other passes by on the "off side;" and when a vehicle is crossing the direction of another it keeps to the left and crosses in its rear These two rules are the same in this country and in England, and why the rule concerning meeting vehicles should have been changed it is impossible to say. We find this point of difference noted by all authorities, but no reason for it is ever suggested. Probably, as it is easier to turn to the right than to the left, it was adopted as the more preferable custom in some of the early colonies, and in due time became embodied in local law, and thus was handed down to later times. PIANO POLISH.-Take equal proportions of turpentine, linseed il and vinegar Mix; rub in well with a piece of flan el cloth. Then polish with a piece of chamois skin. This treatment will entirely remove the dingy appearance that age gives to fine woods. CHRISTIAN NAMES OF MEN. Abraham, Hebrew, the father of many. Adolphus, Saxon, happiness and help. Alan, Celtic, harmony; or Slavonic, a Albert, Saxon, all bright. Alexander, Greek, a helper of men. Alphonso, German, ready or willing. Archibald, German, a bold observer. Augustus, Augustin, Latin, venerable, grand. Baldwin, German, a bold winner. Benjamin, Hebrew, the son of a right Bennet Latin, blessed, Bernard, German, bear's heart. Bertram, German, fair, illustrious. voice. Cadwallader, British, valiant in war. Denis, Greek, belonging to the God wine Douglas, Gaelic, dark gray. Edward, Saxon, happy keeper. Erasmus, Greek, lovely, worthy to be Ernest, Greek, earnest, serious. Eugene, Greek, noble, descended. Evan, or Ivan, British, the same as Everard, German, well reported. Ferdinand, German, pure peace. Fergus, Saxon, manly strength. Frederic, German, rich peace. Gabriel, Hebrew, the strength of God. George, Greek, a husbandman. Gerard, Saxon, all towardliness. Hannibal, Punic, a gracious lord. Hezekiah, Hebrew, cleaving to the Lord. Horatio, Italian, worthy to be beheld. Humphrey, German, domestic peace. Ingram, German, of angelic purity. Jabez, Hebrew, one who causes pain. of Joab, Hebrew, fatherhood. John, Hebrew, the grace of the Lord. Jonathan, Hebrew, the gift of the Lord [420 Joseph, Hebrew, addition. Joshua, Hebrew, a Saviour. Roland or Rowland, German, counsel for the land. Josiah or Josais, Hebrew, the fire of the Rollo, form of Roland, q. v. Lord, Julius, Latin, soft haired.. Lambert, Saxon, a fair lamb. Lionel, Latin, a little lion. Luke, Greek, a wood or grove. Matthew, Hebrew, a gift or present. sea. Michael, Hebrew, who is like God? Noel, French, belonging to one's nativity. Norman, French, one born in Normandy. Obadiah, Hebrew, the servant of the Lord. Oliver, Latin, an olive. Orlando, Italian, counsel for the land. O mund, Saxon, house peace. Percival, French, a place in France. Percy, English, adaptation of "pierce eye." Peregrine, Latin, outlandish. Philip, Greek, a lover of horses. Phineas, Hebrew, of bold countenance. Rufus, Latin, reddish. Samson, Hebrew, a little son. Sebastian, Greek, to be reverenced. Silas, Latin, sylvan or living in the woods. Simeon, Hebrew, hearing. Theobald, Saxon, bold over the people. Timothy, Greek, a fearer of God. Valentine, Latin, powerful. Walter, German, a conqueror. Zebedee, Syriac, having an inheritance. Zedekiah, Hebrew, the justice of the CHRISTIAN NAMES OF WOMEN. Agnes, German, chaste. Alethea, Greek, the truth. Althea, Greek, hunting. Alice, Alicia, German, noble. Amy, Amelia, French, a beloved. Aurora, Latin, morning brightness. Barbara, Latin, foreign or strange. Beatrice, Latin, making happy. [421 Bella, Italian, beautiful. Benedicta, Latin, blessed. Bessie, short form of Elizabeth, q. v. Bona, Latin, good. Bridget, Irish, shining bright. Camilla, Lat. n, attendant at a sacrifice. Diana, Greek, Jupiter's daughter. Dorcas, Greek, a wild roe. Jane or Jeanne, fem. of John, q. v. Joan, Hebrew, fem. of John, q. v. Julia, Juliana, feminine of Julius, q. v. Louisa, German, fem. of Louis, q. v. Maria, Marie, forms of Mary, q. v. Dorothea or Dorothy, Greek, the gift of Matilda, German, a lady of honor. God. Edith, Saxon, happiness. Eleanor, Saxon, all fruitful. Eliza, Elizabeth, Hebrew, the oath of Ellen, another form of Helen, q. v. Eudosia, Greek, good gift or well-given. Florence, Latin, blooming, flourishing. Gertrude, German, all truth. Hagar, Hebrew, a stranger. Hadassah, Hebrew, form of Esther, q. v. Hannah, Hebrew, gracious. Harriet, German, head of the house. Helen or Helena Greek, alluring. Henrietta, fem. and dim. of Henry, q. v. Hephzibah, Hebrew, my delight is in her. Hilda, German, warrior maiden. Honora, Latin, honorable. Huldah, Hebrew, a weazel. Isabella, Spanish, fair Eliza. Maud, German, form of Matilda, q. v. Mercy, English, compassion. Nest, British, the same as Agnes. Parnell, or Petronilla, little Peter, Paulina, Latin, feminine of Paulinus. Penelope, Greek, a weaver. Persis, Greek, destroying. Philadelphia, Greek, brotherly love. Polly, variation of Molly, dim. of Mary. q. v, Priscilla, Latin, somewhat old. Prudence, Latin, discretion. Rosa or Rose, Latin, a rose. Rosalie or Rosaline, Latin, little rose. Rosalind, Latin, beautiful as a rose. Rosabella, Italian, a fair rose. Rosamond, Saxon, rose of peace. [422 Roxana, Persian, dawn of day. Sapphira, Greek, like a sapphire stone. Sibylla, Greek, the counsel of God. Sophronia, Greek, of a sound mind. Tabitha, Syriac, a roe. THERE-my blessing with thee! See thou character: Give thy thoughts no tongue, Of each new-hatch'd, unfledged comrade. Beware Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgment. But not express'd in fancy; rich, not gaudy; For loan oft loses both itself and friend, Thou canst not then be false to any man.-SHAKESPEARE. PROTECTING LEAD WATER Pipes.-To protect lead waterpipes from the action of water, which often affects them chemically, partially dissolving them, and injuring the pipes, as well as poisoning the water, fill the pipes with a warm and concentrated solution of sulphide of potassium or sodium; leave the solution in contact with the lead for about fifteen minutes and then blow it out. This coats the inside of the pipes with sulphite of lead, which is absolutely insoluble, and cannot be acted upon by water at all. FIREPROOF WOOD.-Soak 27.5 parts by weight of sulphate of zinc, 11 of potash; 22 of alum, and 11 of manganic oxide in luke warm water in an iron boiler, and gradually add 11 parts by weight of 60 per cent. sulphuric acid. The wood to be prepared is placed upon an iron grating in an apparatus of suitable size, the separate pieces being placed at least an inch apart. The liquid is then poured into the apparatus, and the wood allowed to remain completely covered for three hours, and is then air-dried. CEMENT FOR RUBBER BOOTS.-A good cement for rubber boots is made by dissolving crude rubber in bisulphuret of carbon, making the solution rather thin. Put the cement upon the patch and the boot, heat both, and put them together. Furniture POLISH.—For French polishing cabinet-makers use: Pale shellac, 1 pound; mastic, 1 2-5 ounces; alcohol of 90 per cent. standard, 1 to 1 1-5 pints. Dissolve cold, with frequent stirring. |