Uncle Peter’s Corner

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 144, 20 June 1936, Page 16

Uncle Peter’s Corner

Here is a fascinating little experiment that is bound to make a hit with your friends. Who would not bo impressed on seeing a snake emerge from a heap of ashes and writhe along the floor? It sounds quite excitcing, doesn't it? I shall tell you how it is done. On an old saucer heap up the ashes of two cigars (or some cigarettes), and pour methylated spirits over the heap. Do not forget to recork the bottle and put it back in its proper place. Now put three soda tablets on top of the heap. On applying a match to the saturated ashes they will burn with a blue flame, and a black crust will form around the soda tablets. This crust will swell and swell until it finally bursts, when a black snake will be seen crawling out. The monster will twist itself along and attain a length of almost a yard.

If the spectators are curious to know tho reason of this phenomenon you may inform them that carbon is developed through combustion of the soda tablets. Moreover, the bicarbonate of soda in the tablets produces carbonic acid, which blows out the melted sugar and thus forms a snake.

The following little anecdote from Edward’s childhood testifies to , the king’s unusual astuteness when he was a boy of seven who would not admit himself beaten by his venerable great grandmother, Queen Victoria. Tho little prince once wrote to his great grandmother asking her to send him a pound, as he had spent too much money and was in a fix. Queen Victoria wrote back to him that she would not send him the money, as children must learn the value of thrift.. A few days later the queen received the following reply frpm her precocious grandchild, "Dear Great Grannie, I sold your letter for five pounds. Thanks awfully for the assistance! ”

The things needed are a large-seized empty cotton-reel, an elastic, a coin with a hole in the middle, and two matches with the heads removed. Double up the elastic and draw it through the hole in the reel, fixing it by means of: matches transvcrsing the loops. At one end, however, it is sufficient to use only half a match, it is pressed into a notch made for the purpose. At the other end, where a whole match is employed, interpose a button, or a coin with a hole in it, through which the clastic is passed. We are now ready to start the engine or, in other words, wo wind up the elastic as tight as possible by turning the starting-handle, i.e., the long match. Put the roller on the floor now and sec how it can hustle by its own power. A

All Constructed From Old Cycle Farts. The day when one’s biko is unfit for further service is bound to arrive, and it would certainly bo very surprising if its condition was such that it would bring in many shillings, if you tried to sell it. Before scrapping it for good, however, why not dismantle it and see what you are able to get out of the different bits. Here are a couple of suggestions. One of them shows you how a pedal-crank can be turned into a weatkcr-cock, another, how the pedals can bo turned to account as hinges for the garden-gate. Also the saddle in conjunction with part of the frame can bo made into an efficient camp-stool, and there is really no end of possibilities if only you employ a little ingenuity.