One of the scientists attached to the Peary expedition tells us of the effect of intense cold on a wax candle that he tried to burn. The temperature was thirty-five degrees below zero, and its effects were felt not only by the members of the expedition, but even by the candle in question. It gave forth no cheery light such as might have been expected from it in other circumstances and when it came to be examined it was found that the flame had all it could do to keep itself warm. The air was so cold that the flame was not powerful enough to melt all the wax of the candle, but was compelled to eat its way down, leaving a skeleton structure of wax in the form of a hollow cylinder. Inside this cylinder the wick burned with a tongue of yellow fire, and here and there the heat was sufficient to perforate the outer covering and leave holes of odd shapes which turned the cylinder into a tube of lacelike wax, through the holes of which the light shone with a strange, weird beauty.*
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Bibliographic details
Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 26, Issue 64, 6 August 1915, Page 8
Word Count
187Untitled Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 26, Issue 64, 6 August 1915, Page 8
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