LITTLE FAITH.

Northland Age, Volume VIII, Issue 25, 9 February 1912, Page 8

LITTLE FAITH.

p It Is generally known that if an - uneor, ed bottle is placed mouth 5 downwards in water the air in the ’ bottle will restrict the entrance of J the waier, or only as much water will enter as is required to compress j the air in the bottle enough to j. equal the pressure of the water. p If the air pressure could be inj creased not a drop would enter. The principle is made use of in submarine tj boats. These contain an air chamber 3 in which the air pressure is made a j trifle greater than the w'ater pressure outside. When a door is opened in the boat no water enters, a nd the t crew are able to pick up sponges., oysters, or other spoils at the sea j bottom. It is told of a scientist that with great difficulty he was persuaded to t trust himself under water in a subI 1 marine boat. When, near the bottom j it was proposed to unscrew the .panel f in the lower part, of the boat, in s order to let the scientist see the result, he was greatly alarmed, but in I spite of his expostulation the door was thrown open to the water. Not j a drop entered, and the learned man was reassured. Gazin *- on the surp face of the water, he remarked, '"I 3 knew it couldn’t come in, and I know why it doesn’t come in. But e if I had not seen it I should not e have believed it !”