Физические Развлечения и Различные Эксперименты
Сочиненные и Исполненные в Разных Столицах Европы и в Лондоне
Синьором ДЖУЗЕППЕ ПИНЕТТИ ДЕ ВИЛЬДАЛЕ.
Лондон. Напечатано в 1784 году.
ПРЕДИСЛОВИЕ.
Честь продемонстрировать несколько физических развлечений перед их Британскими Величиствами и Королевской Семьей, была событием, которое в высшей степени льстило моим амбициям. Получить их одобрении, и той части сей просвещенной страны, перед которой я повторил те же самые эксперименты и развлечения в Королевском Театре на Сенном Рынке, было вершиной моих желаний. Добившись обоих целей, я благословляю моменты потраченные на изучение натуральной философии и математики, которым обязан за столь бесценные достижения.
Некоторые оскорбительные намеки относительно средств, которые я применял для демонстрации экспериментов, немного затенили испытываемую радость. Но, возможности, получаемые публичной демонстрацией простоты и честности выполнения моих экспериментов, которые казались сложными до такой степени, что требовали сообщника, навели меня на способы разрушения сего неблагоприятного впечатления, и выведения из заблуждения лиц, почтивших меня своим присутствием. Их нескончаемые аплодисменты были самыми лестными свидетельствами одобрения моих попыток развлечь публику.
Некоторые высокопоставленные персоны высказали желание, чтобы я опубликовал несколько простейших способов как удивить компанию, в городе или провинции. Я не мог не подчиниться их желаниям, что и явилось причиной сей мелкой публикации. Уже почти собравшись отправиться во Францию, я вынужден был спешно набросать несколько экспериментов, которые являются такими же простыми, как и развлекательными, и легкими в исполнении. Если среди них, случайно, будут найдены уже известные, или даже напечатанные, я надеюсь это не будет воспринято дурно, или я не буду воспринят как плагиатор. Незнакомый с этим городом я не могу быть информированным обо всем, что было в печати. Кроме того, поскольку в настоящее время изучение натуральной философии стало повсеместным, не может быть малейшего удивления если некоторые из экспериментов уже известны науке.
А потому я жду снисхождения от тех, кто будет читать дунный труд. Мое единственное желание состоит в том, чтобы объединить в книге четкость и точность необходимые для того, чтобы мои читатели смогли выполнить содержание каждой главы. В моих проектах, по возвращении в эту столицу, добиться повторного одобрения нации, продемонстрировав несколько новых экспериментов. В этом случае, раскрытие тех экспериментов, которые я выполнял до сих пор, будет пагубно для моего благосостояния, и, кроме того, большинство из них требует множество аппаратуры и сложной подготовки. Другие зависят от ловкости и умений, которые я не в моих силах предоставить, и не имею возможности передать в письменном виде.
Если сие ничтожное эссе, которое я имею честь вручить публике, будет встречено благосклонно, то обещаю по возвращении, и после получения достойной выгоды, опубликовать методы, которые применял при выполнении всего, что демонстрировал.
ГЛАВА I.
Любопытный способ, как в течение двух минут вернуть к жизни муху, которая была утоплена до того даже в течение двадцати четырех часов.
Этот удивительный эксперимент, как многие другие, имеет очень простую основу. Возьмите муху, поместите ее в стакан или чашку полные воды; прикройте это так, чтобы лишить мужу воздуха; когда увидите, что она перестала двигаться, вы мождете извлечь ее наружу, поместить на место открытое солнцу, и посыпать солью; в течение двух минут она оживет и улетит прочь.
ГЛАВА II.
To make a Colour that will appear or disappear by Means of the Air.
TAKE a smelling-bottle, put in it some alkali volatile, in which you have dissolved some copper filings: this will produce a blue colour. Present then the smelling-bottle to one of the company, desiring him to stop it; and, to their great astonishment, the colour will disappear as soon as the smelling-bottle is stopped: you will make it easily re-appear by taking off the cork, which will be not less surprising.
ГЛАВА III.
A Method of drawing a deformed Figure, which will appear well proportioned from a certain Point of View.
DRAW any thing you may fancy on a thin white pasteboard; then prick it; afterwards put the same on an horizontal surface, which we will suppose to be another pasteboard. Put a lighted candle behind that drawing, and draw on the horizontal surface the lines given by the light: this will give a deformed design. This being done, take away the drawing that was pricked and the candle; then place your eye where the light was, and you will see your drawing assume a regular form.
ГЛАВА IV.
Поменять цвет розы.
Нет ничего более желанного, чем поменять цвет розы, будь она на своем стебле или нет, как поджечь немного серы под ней, что превратит ее в белую. И она не вернет свой первоначальный цвет менее чем за два часа.
ГЛАВА V.
To render hideous the Faces of all the Company.
Dissolve some salt and saffron in some spirits of wine; dip a little tow in it and set fire to it. At this light, those who are of a fair complexion will appear green, and the red of the lips and cheeks turn to a deep olive colour.
ГЛАВА VI.
Method of Engraving in Relief on the Shell of a new-laid Egg.
CHUSE an egg that has a thick shell, wash it well in fresh water, then dry it very carefully with a linen cloth; this being done, put some tallow or fat in a silver spoon; then hold it on the fire; when the fat is melted and very hot, it will serve instead of ink for drawing with a new pen whatever you like. This being finished, you are to take the egg by the two ends between two fingers, and then lay it gently in a tumbler filled with good white wine vinegar; wherein, after remaining for three hours and an half, the acid of the vinegar will have eaten enough of the thickness of the shell; and as it cannot have the same effect on those places that are covered with the fat, all the drawing will have preserved its thickness, and will form the relief that is wanted, the operation sought for.
By this means one may draw on an egg a coat of arms, a mosaic piece, medallion, or any other design whatever.
ГЛАВА VII.
How to shoot a Swallow flying, with a Gun loaded with Powder, as usual; and after, to find Means to bring it to life again.
LOAD your gun with the usual charge of powder, but instead of shot put half a charge of quicksilver; prime and shoot: if your piece bears ever so little near the bird, as it is not necessary to touch it, the swallow will find itself stunned and benumbed to such a degree, as to fall to the ground in a fit. As it will regain its senses in a few minutes, you may make use of the time by saying, that you are going to bring it to life again; this will astonish greatly the company; the ladies will no doubt interest themselves in favour of the bird, and intercede for its liberty: sympathizing with their feelings for the little prisoner, may be the means of some of them sympathizing with yours.
ГЛАВА VIII.
To make a Calve's Head bellow as if alive, when dressed and served up.
THIS is effected by a simple and innocent stratagem, it consists in what follows: take a frog that is alive, and put it at the farther end of the calve's head, under the tongue, which you will let fall over it, taking care not to put the frog there till the calve's head is going to be served up.
The heat of the tongue will make the frog croak; which found, coming from the hollow part of the head, will imitate the bellowing of a calf as if it were alive.
ГЛАВА IX.
A puzzling Question to be proposed for Solution.
SET down three sums on paper; and say to the company, ladies and gentlemen, there are three sums, very different from each other, and very disproportionate; yet I wish to divide them among three persons, so that they may have an equal sum each, and yet without altering any thing in either of the sums. This will appear very difficult, yet nothing so simple and easy; one single addition will suffice to prove to you that the amount of each sum will be the same, and that the shares will not enrich much the respective persons: here is the proof:
EXAMPLE.
OPERATION.
Cast up the first of these sums in the following manner, and say, 5 and 1 make 6, 3 more, 9, 4 more, 13, 1 more, 14; 2 more, 16, and 2 more, 18: set down - 18
Make the addition of the second sum in the same manner as you have done the first, and you will find the same sum of - 18
Then proceed for the third as in the two preceding, and the product will be also - 18
Here then is my division made, and each person will have only 18, as I have proved by the foregoing example.
By this we see, that nothing more is required than to be attentive in setting the sums, to make the numbers so that each sum may amount only to 18.
You may make the same question on whatever sum you please, only observing, as above, that the amount of the numbers you set may not exceed the sum you desire to belong to each person that is to have a share.
ГЛАВА X.
How to dispose two little Figures, so that one shall light a Candle, and the other put it out.
TAKE two little figures of wood or clay, or any other materials you please, only taking care that there is a little hole at the mouth of each. Put in the mouth of one a few grains of bruised gunpowder, and a little bit of phosphorus in the mouth of the other; taking care that these preparations are made before hand.
Then take a lighted wax candle and present it to the mouth of the figure with the gunpowder, which taking fire will put the candle out: then present your candle, having the snuff still hot, to the other figure; it will light again immediately, by means of the phosphorus.
You may propose the same effect to be produced by two figures drawn on a wall with a pencil or coal, by applying, with a little starch or wafer, a few grains of bruised gunpowder to the mouth of one, and a bit of phosphorus to the mouth of the other.
ГЛАВА XI.
A curious Secret to make a Card pass from one Hand into the other.
TAKE two deuces, the one of spades, the other of hearts; then put on that of spades the marks of hearts, and on that of hearts, those of spades; which you will do easily, by splitting a card of each colour, which you are to cut out with dexterity, in order that the mark may be very neat: then rub lightly on the back of the spades and hearts that you have cut, a little soap, or very white pomatum; then put the mark of hearts on the ace of spades, and the mark of spades on the ace of hearts; taking care to cover them quite hermetically, and to make all your preparations before you begin your experiments.
Divide your pack of cards in two parcels, and under each parcel you must put one of your two aces thus prepared; afterwards, take with your right hand the parcel under which is the ace of hearts, and with your left that where the ace of spades.
You will then shew to the company that the ace of hearts is on the right hand, and the ace of spades on the left; when every body is convinced of it, you are to say, ladies and gentlemen, I am going to command the ace of hearts, which is in my right hand, to pass to my left, and the ace of spades to take its place, you may even propose to have both your arms tied, to prevent their joining and communicating.
All the secret consists only in making a movement and stamping of your foot, when you give your command: during this movement and stamping of your foot, you must flip with dexterity your little finger on each of the marks, in order to rub off and make the marks of spades and hearts, that were sticking on the two cards by the means explained before, fall, without any body perceiving it; then you will shew to the company that the cards have obeyed your command, by passing from the left to the right, and from the right to the left, without your hands communicating.
This trick, done with dexterity and subtilty, will appear very singular, although it is very simple.