A TRICK WITH WATER.

New Zealand Times, Volume LIV, Issue 9903, 17 May 1893, Page 4

A TRICK WITH WATER.

If <i drop of water is let fall on a piece of paper, it spreads in a largo circle. If, however, the paper has been oiled, or covered with lampblack or some similar substance, the drop of water will roll upon it as a ball slightly flattened. This fact may be made use of for the performance of a pretty trick. Take a band of rather strong paper, about a foot wide and as long as possible—several sheets pasted together end to end will do admirably—pass it over a smoking lamp, or, better still, cover one side of it with graphite, commonly called black-lead or plumbago. Stand upright on the table saveral books, decreasing regularly in size, and pin the band of paper on their backs, taking care that the waves of the paper are longer and more shallow as you approach the smallest book.

At the lower end of the band place a dish. At the other end pour water drop by drop on the paper. The drops will roll rapidly down the first incline, and with the irauetus thus gained will remount over the back of the second book, and so on over one book after another till they drop into the dish.