LITTLE FAITH.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 23, Issue 8, 30 January 1912, Page 2

LITTLE FAITH.

It s generally known that it an imroived bottle is placed, mouth dos.nwards in water the air in the i.o: tie will restrict the entrance of .the v..rer,. nr only as much water will <nler as is required to compress . the"', air in the bottle enough to equal (he pressure of the water. "If the air pressure could he increased not a drop would enter. The principle is made use of in submarine boats. These contain a n air chamber in which the air pressure is made a trifle greater than the water pressure outside. When a door is opened in the boat no water enters, a nd the crew are able to pick' up sponges,, oysters, or other spoils at the sea bottom. It -is told of a scientist that witji great difficulty he was persuaded to trust himself under water in a submarine boat. When, near the bottom it was proposed to unscrew the ipanel in the lower part of the boat, in order to let the scientist see the result, he was greatly alarmed, hut in spite of his expostulation the door was thrown open to the water. Not a drop entered, and the learned man was reassured. Gating on the surface of the water, lie remarked, ’“I knew it couldn’t come in, and I know why it doesn’t come in, But if I had not seen it I should not have believed it !”