9
m
ELECTIVE AFFINITIES.
TBASSISTED FROM TSS OEBMAJf OF SOBTHE,
: -• V T v.?.
,
chapter iv (Continned.)
Charlotte’s tact, in whatever circle she
might be, large or small, was remarkable,
and she was able to set aside disagreeable
or excited expressions without appearing
to notice them. When a conversation
grew tedious, she knew how to interrupt
it; wben .it halted, she could set it going.
And this time her good gift did not for
sake her
'^T"am sure you will forgive me my
fault,” she said, “when I tell you what it
was this moment which came over me. I
beard you reading something abou Affini
ties, and I thought directly of some rela
tions of mine, two of whom are just now
occupying me a great deal. Then my at
tention went back to the book. I found
tt'Was not abou! "having things at all, and
I looked over to get the thread of it right
again.”
“It was the comparison which led you
wrong and confused you,” said Edward.
“The subject is hbihing but earth and
minerals. But man is a true Narcissus ;
he delights to see his own image every
where; and he spreads himself under
neath the universe, like the amalgam be
hind the glass.”
“Quite true,” continued the Captain.
*Thal is the way iij which he treats eve
rything external to himself. His wisdom
and his folly, his will and his caprice, he
Attributes alike to the animal, the plant,
the elements, and the gods.”
“Would you,” said Charlotte, ‘‘if it is
not taking you away too much from the
immediate subject, tell me briefly what is
meant here by Affinities?”
“I shall be very glad indeed,” replied
the Captain’, to whona Charlotte bad ad
dressed herself. “That is I will tell you
as well as I can. My ideas on the subject
date ten years back ; whether the scien
tific world continues to think the same
about it, I cannot tell.”
“It is most disagreeable,” cried Edward,
“that one cannot now a days learn a
thing once for all, and have done with it.
Our forefathers could keep to what they
were taught when they were young; but
we have, every five years, to make revo
lutions with them, if we do not wish to
drop altogether out ot fashion.”
“We women need n>t be so particular,”
said Charlotte; “and, to speak the truth,
I olily want to know the meaning of the
word. There is nothing more ridiculous
in society than to misuse a strange tech
nicalword; and I only wish you to tell
me in what sense the expression is made
use of hi connection with these things-
What its scientific application is, I am
quite contented to leave to the learned ;
who, by-the-by, as far as I have been able
to learn, do not find it easy to agree
among themselves.”
“Whereabouts shall we begin,” said Ed
ward, after a pause, to the Captain, “to
come most quickly to the point?”
The latter after thinking a Mule while,
replied shortly;
“You must let me make what will seem
a wide sweep, we* shall be on our subject
almost immediately.”
Charlotte settled her work at her side,
promising the fullest attention.
The Captain began :
“In all natural objects with which we
are acquainted, we observe immediately
that they have a certain relation to them
selves. It may sound ridiculous to be as
ssrting what is obvious to every one ; but
it Is only by coming to aclear understand
ing together about what we know, that
we can advance to what we .do not
know.”
“I think,” interrupted Edward, “we
can make the thing more clear to her. and
to ourselves, with examples; conceive
water, or oil, or quicksilver ; among 1 these
you will see a certain oneness, a certain
connection of their parts; and this one
ness is never lost, except through force or
some other determining cause. Let the
cause cease to operate, and at once the
parts unite again.”
“Unquestionably, said Charlotte, “that
is plain; raindrops readily unite and form
streams; and when we were children, it
was our delight to play with quicksilver,
andhvonder at the little globules splitting
and parting and running into one-other.
“And here.” said the Captain, “let me
just cursorily mention one remirkable
thing, I mean, that the full, complete cor
relation of parts which the fluid state
makes possible, shows itself distinctly
and universally in the globular form. The
falling water drop is ronnd ; you-yourself
spoke of the globules of quicksilver; and
a drop of melted lead let fall, if it has
lime to harden before it reaches the
ground, is found at the bottom in the
shape of a ball.”
“Let me try and see,” said Charlotte*
“whether I can understood where you arc
bringing me. As everything has a refer
ence to Used, so it must have some rcla
lion to others.”
“And that,” inicrruuted Elward, “will
be different according to the natural dif
ferences of the things themselves. Some
times they will meet like friends and old
acquaintances ;Hbey willcome rapidly to
gclher, and uni'e without either having
to alter itself at all—as wine mixed with
water. Othe-s, again, will remain as
strangers side by side, and no amonnt of
mechanical mixing or forcing will succeed
in combining them. Oil and water may
be shaken up together, and the next mo
A Novel.
ment they are separate again, each by it
self.” :
“One can almost fancy,” said Charlotte,
“that in these simple forms one sees peo
ple-that one is acquainted with; one
has met with just such .things in
the societies amongst which - ope has
lived; and the strangest likenesses of-ja 11
with the soulless creatures, are Tn the
masses in which men stand divided one
against the other, in their classes and
professions; the nobility atid the third
estate, for instance, or soldiers and civil
ians.”
j “Then again,” replied Edward; “as
| these are united together under common
laws and customs, so there are interme
diate members In pur chemical-world,
which will combine elements that are mu
tually repulsive.”
“Oil, for instance, said the Captain,”
“we make oil combine with water with the
help of alkalies—”
“Do not go on too fast with your les
son,” said Charlotte. “Let me see that I
keep step with you. Are we not here ar
rived among the affinities ?”
“Exactly,” replied the Captain ; “we
are on the point of apprehending them
in all their power and distinctness ; such
natures as, when they come in contact, at
once lay bold of each other, and mutually
affect one another, we speak of as having
an affinity one for the other. With the
alkalies and acids, for instance, the affini-*
ties are strikingly marked. They are of
opposite natures; very likely their being of
opposite natures is the secret of ibeir ef
feet on one another —they seek one an •
other eagerly out, lay bold of each other,
modify each other’s character and firm in
connection an entirely new substance.
There is lime, you remember, which
shows the strongest inclination for all
sorts of acids—a distinct desire of com
bining with them. As soon as our chem
ical chest arrives, we can show you a num
ber of entertaining experiments, which
will give you a clearer idea than words,
and names, and technical expressions.”
“It appears to me,” said Charlotte,
“that if you choose to call these strange
creatures of yours related, the relation
ship is not so much a relation of blood, as
of soul or of spirit. It is the way in
which we see all really deep friendships
arise among men ; opposite peculiarities
of disposition being what best makes in
ternal union possible. But I will wait to
see What you can really show me of these
mysterious proceedings; and for the pres
ent,” she added, turning to El ward, “I
will promise not to disturb you any more
in your reading. You have taught me
enough of what it is about to enable me
to attend to it.”
“No, no,” replied Edward, “now that
you have once stirred the thing, you shall
not get off so easily. It is just the most
complicated cases which are the most in
teresting. In these you come first to see
the degrees of th'e affinities, to watch
them as their p >wer of attraction is
weaker or stronger, nearer or more re
mote. Affinities only begin really to in
terest when they bring about separa
tions.”
“What!” cried Charlotte, “is that mis
erable word, which unhappily we hear so
often now-a-days in the world ; is that to
be found in nature’s lessons.tno ?”
“Most certainly,” answered Edward ;
“the title with which chemists were sup
posed to be most honorably distinguished
was, artists of separation.”
“It is not so any more,” replied Char
lotte ; “and it is well that it is not. It is
a higher art, and it is a higher merit, to
unite. An artist of union, is what we
should welcome in every province of the
universe. However, as we are on the sub
ject again, give me an instance or two of
what you mean,”
“We had belter keep,” said the Cap
tain, “to the same instances of which we
have already been speaking. Thus, what
we call limestone is a more or less pure
calcareous earth in combination with a
delicate acid, which is familiar to £ us in
' the form of a gas. Now, if we place a
i piece of this stone in diluted sulphuric
: acid, this will take possession of the lime,
! and aopear with it in the form of gypsum,
! the gaseous acid at the same time going
I off in vapor. Here is a case of separa
: lion ; a combination arises, and we be
-1 lieve ourselves now justified in applying
to it the words ‘Elective Affinity;’ it real
ly looks as if one relation had been delib
erately chosen in preference to another.”
“Forgive me,” said Charlaile, “as I for
give the natural philosopher. I cannot
seeiany choice in this; I see a natural ne
cessity rather, and scarcely that. After
all. it is perhaps merely a case of oppor
tunity. Opportunity makes relations as
it makes thieves ; and as long as the talk
is only of natural substances, the choice
to me appears to be altogether in the
hands of the chemist who brings the
creatures together. Once, however, let
them be brought together, and then God
have mercy on them. In the present
case, 1 cannot help being sorry for the
poor acid gas, whicli is driven out up and
down affinity again.”
“The acid’s business,” answered the
Captain, “is now to gel connected with
water, and so serve as a mineral fountain
for the refreshing of sound or disordered
mankind."
“That is very well for the gypsum to
say,” said Charlotte. ‘The gypsum is all
right, is a'body, is provided for. The oth
er poor, desolate creature may ; have
trouble enough to go through before it
can find a second home for itself."
“I am much mistaken,” said Edward
smiling, “if there be not some little nr
riere painee behind this- Confess your
THE RADICAL - FRIDAY,
wickedness! You mean me by your H m ® *
the-lima is laid hold of by the Captain, in
the form of sulphuric acid, torn away
from your agreeable society, and meta*
morphosed into a refractory gypsum.”
“If 'your conscience prompts you to
make such a reflection,” repliedjCUr
loMe, *‘l certainly need Sol dialredS : my*
self. These, comparisons are. pleasant an d
entertaining; and who is there that does
not like playing with analogies? But
man is raised very many steps above
these elements; and if he has beep some
what libera! with such fine words as Elec-'
live and Elective Affinities, he Will do
well to turn back into,himself, and
take'the opportunity of considering care
fully thenßaiue amL.meaning of such ex
pressions. Unhappily, we knorf cases
enough where a connection apparently
indissoluble between two persons, has, by
the accidental introduction of a third,
been utterly destroyed, and one or the
other of once happily united pa if been
driven out into the wilderness.”
“Then you see how much more gallant
the chemists are,” said Edward. “They at
once add a fourth, that neither may go
away empty.”
“Quite so,” replied the Captain. “And
those are the cases which are really most
important and remarkable—cases where
this attraction, this affinity, this separat
ing and combining, can be exhibited, the
two pairs severally crossing each other ;
where four creatures, continued previous
ly, aatwo and two, are brought into con-
tact, and at once forsake their first com
binatlonto form into a second, In this
forsaking and embracing, this seeking and
flying, we believe that weave indeed ob
serving the effects of some higher deter
mination ; we attribute a sort of will and
choice to such creatures, and feel really
justified in using technical words, and
speaking of ‘Elective Affinities.’”
“Give me an instance of this," said
Charlotte.”
“One should not spoil such things with
words,” replied the Captain. “As I said
before, as soon as I can show you an ex
periment, I can make it all intelligible
and pleasant for you. For the present I
ctn give you nothing but horrible -scien
tific expressions, which at the same lime
will give you no idea about the matter.
You ought yourself to see these creatures,
which seem so dead, and which so
full of inward energy and force, at .work
before your eyes. Now they seek each
other out, attract each other, seize, crush,
de%ur, destroy each other, and therisud
denly reappear again out of their combi
nations, and come forward in fresh* reno
vated, unexpected form; thus you Twill
comprehend we attribute to them a
sort of immortality—How we spea£ of
them as having sense and understanding ;
because we feel our own senses to be in -
sufficient to observe them adequat%, and
onr reason too weak to follow ttfcm-T > > -
"I quite agree,” said Edward, “that the
trange scientific nomenclature, to per
sons who have not been reconciled to it
by a direct acquaintance with or under
standing of its object, must seem unpleas
ant, even ridiculous ; but we cm eAsily,
just for once, contrive with symbols to
illustrate what we are speaking of.”
“If you do not think it looka pedantic,”
answered the Captain. “I can put my
meaning together with letters. Suppose
an A connected so closely with a that
all sorts of means, even violence, liave
been made use of to separate them, With
out effect. Then suppose aC in exactly
the same position with respect to D.
Bring the two piirs into contact; A will
ffing° himself on D, C on B, without its
being possible to say which had first left
its first connection, or unde the first move
towards the second.”
“Now then,” interposed Edward, *‘ti}l
we see all this with our eyes, we will look
upon the f )rmula as an an ilogy, ont of
which we can devise a lesson for I dime
diate use. You stand for A, Charlotte,
and lam your B; really and truly I
cling to you. I depend on you, and follow
you, just as B does with A.. C is obvious
ly the Captain, who at present is in some
degree withdrawing me from you. So
now it is only just that if you are not to
be left to solitu le. a D should bo found
for you, and that is unquestionably the
the amiable little lady, Otlilie. Yon will
not hesitate any longer to send and fetch
her.”
“Good,” replied Charlotte; “although
the example does not, in my opinion, ex
actly fit our case. However; we have
been fortunate, at any rate, in to-day for
once having met altogether ; and these
natural or elective affinities have served
to miite us more intimately. I will tell
you, that since this afternoon I have
made up my mind to send for Ottilie. My
faithful housekeeper, on whom I have
hitherto depended for everything, is. go
ing to leave me shortly, to be married.
(It was done at my own suggestion, I be
lieve, to please rile.) What is it which
has decided me about Ottilie, you fchall
read to me. I will not look over the pages
again. Indeed, the contents of them are
alroady known to me. Only read, rehd !”
With these words, she produced a let
ter, and banded it to Edward.
TO BE CONTINUED
A rcstt looking agriculturist entere
a newspaper office recently, and aft(
looking around earnestly enoUgh to elic
an inquiry as to his business, sdld :
wasn’t nothin’ much, but had left a bi
cucumber here in the fall for a nbtic
and .thought, as how he was in town, 1
might run in and get it if he was throug
with it.” |
Wj,tw
g ' HAMI LTO N ,
51 FIFTH AVRSUE, PITTSBURGH, PA*«
, h •• ■
the Cheapest and Best Mouse in the City.
The Largest and Best Selected stock of
Pianos A Organs.
TERMS TO SUIT EVERYBODY.
FOB HOLIDAY GIFTS 081 EITHER A
DECKER & BARNES PIANO,
HALLET, DAYIS & CO. PIANO,
CRAMER & CO. PIANO,
BRADFORD * CO
PARLOR GEM PIANO,
OR ONE OF J HJS CELEBRATED
Taylor & Farley Celestes Organs,
OR TUB BEAUTIFUL VOICED
STERLING ORGAN.
Quick Sales a?id Small Profits.
We guarantee to sell
AS GOOD AN INSTRUMENT
As Is In the market, at Prices tiart
DEFY COMPETITION,
And on tettfis fo etnt tnc purchaser.
Instruments rented and rent allowed to gs> toward
the purchase,
For Catalogue and fall particulars call ooor ad
dress the Manufacturer's General Agents-,.
S. Hamilton & Co.,
51 FIFTH AVENUE,
PITTSBURGH, PA.
DOT2>-Bin.
J) OCHES.TER
FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY.
Incorporated by the Legislature of Pennsylva
nia, February, 1872. Office one door cast of Roch
ester Savings Bank, Rochester, Beavtiir county,
Penn’a.
People of Beaver county can now ha-re their
property insured against loss or damage by fire, at
fair cates, in a safe and
RELIABLE HOME COMPANY.
thereby avoiding the expense, troub’e- and delay
incident to the-adjustment of losses by. companies
located at a distance.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
J. V. M’Donald. George C. Speye-rer.
Samuel l>. Wilson, 1 Lewis Schneider,
William Kennedy. John Qrsebiiuj,
Marshall M’Donald R. B. Edgar.
M. Camp, jr., C. B. Hurst.
David Lowry, Henry Goebriug.
GEO. C. SREYEREE, Rres’t.
J. V. M’DONALD, V. Rres’t
H. J. Spetr;uKti, Treaa.
John Gr.kbino, Jr., Sec’y
&W. JENKINSON.
Manufacturers and Dealers in
TOBACCO ANO CIGARS,
287 LIBERTY STREET,
feb'-U-lm
Q.ET AN AGENCY FOR THE
Net Wheeler & VIM Sewing Machine.
We are now prepared to offer more liberal
TERMS and ORKA-BSll INDUCEMENTS lO RELIABLE
men. than evi r baloro during oar experience of
FIFTEEN YEARS in the business No capita!
required HV- stand ail louse* and colled alt pa/'trr
at our own expense. Horse, \V r i.gon and Outfit Cur
nisned if necessary.
Special Inducements to men who can furnish
their own teams. Now is the time to apply and
get ready for the Spring trade.
\VM. SUMNER & CO.,
febdl-lm 140 Wood street, Pittsbos«h, Pa
J_J NOB 8,
PHOTOGHAP HER
g E A V E R COLLEGE
MUSICAL INSfITVTE
Opens its Spring Session
ON THE FIRST OF APRIL.
Teachers of the connty will do well to corres
pond with the President.
feb22-Gt
Y 16," 1813. ”
a»g-My
VITTSBUKOH. !*A
AND
R. T. TAYLOR
gOOK AND JOB PRINTING.
BEAVER RADICAL!
POWER PRESS
wT pmjm mm \
THE BEST
JOB OFFICE
IN BEAVER COUNTY.
OFFICE IN
THE “RADICAL BUILDING,”
CORNER DIAMOND,
BEAYER,PA.
Tlier proprietor has fitted op
REGARDLESS OF COST
A new and complete
PRINTING ESTABLISHMENT
TWO POWER PRINTING PRESSES*
And Is prepared to do all kinds of printing
IN THE BEST STYLE OF THE ART
as good-'and at as
Low Prices
As can be obtained a>& Pittsburgh oi elsewhere
PROFESSIONALS ARDS.
BUSINESS CARDS,
CIRCULARS,
BILL HEADS,
LETTER HEADS.
BLANK BOOKS,
| . CHECKS,
PROGRAMMES,
Executed ou the shortest notice.
THE BEATER RADICAL '
IS PUBLISHED
EVERY FRIDAY MORNING,
$2.00 PER ’ANNUM, IN'ADVANC E
Ci.VE US A CALL.
printing.
RUNNING
BLANKS,
HANDBILLS,
LABELS,
CHECKS,
DODGERS,
NOTES.
TAGS,
A-T
We have on hand a LARGE STOCK of
FINE FINISHED HEADSTOMs
Which we are selling as cheap as anv o'ivr s.
in the State. Aiso ‘ ' Drß
Granite Monnmeuls and feist*
Famished to order as reasonable as tbev ca-v
bad elsewhere. Persons wishing
MONUMENTS & HEADSTONE*
should call and set? ns before purcaa<ia> e'-e
-where, as we will guarantee to sell a betterjob'f
less money than apy other firm in Keau-rcoir -
GRIND STONES AND FIXTURES
CEMENTS OF ALL BINDS BY THE BAKili-L
marl-l-Gm
CHAMBERLAIN INSTITUTE
AND
FEMALE COLLEGE,
Randolpti. Cattaram® County. I.i
The new Boarding-hall (worth JoO.OOOChp i<
finished, furnished, and occos«ed. Thii school
■well endowed, and placed upon an enrinrim: bjv-
Its large property enables the Board to offer <’\n’
advantages at small cost.
Total Expenses for Terns of Fourteen
Weeks, Only $62.
The Spring Term opens March i:>.
Fur catalogue address
fc2l-5t Rev. J. T. EDWARDS. A, M , Princ.-pT
mm-
FUNNY SIDE OF PHYSIC.
50# Paf/es, 250 Engrnrinys,
A startling expose ol Medical Htembngs o(
past and present. It ventilates (Quacks. Iiupo«;c:-
Traveling Doctors. Patent Medicine Vender?, >
ted Female Cheats. Fortune Tellers and Medici;
and gives interesting accounts of noted Phy?;cn:
and narratives of their lives. It reveals stanh
secrets and instructs all how to avoid tee
which flesifis heir to. We give exclusive terr--
ry and liberal commissions. For' circular,- are
terms adcipess the publishers.
J. B. BURR i HIDE
Hartford. Ct.. or c'hjcaro. 1...
UNCIVILIZED' KACES
or MEN
IN ALL COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD
Being a comprehensive account ot tln-ir mar.ue 1
ners, and of their physical, social, au-nia.. n,,'
raLand religious characteristic*-.
BY KEY. J. O. WOOD, M. A., M I- S
500 Engravings, 1500 Super Royal Oc'a'ti ID:.-
■ln two volumes, or,two volumes in otic
Agent are making oyer $lOO per week
this work. An early application w;!! .•ecu.,
choice .of lemtory. . , , 1
For circulars and terms address the puhh-r.-,
J. B. BUKK & iIYUS.
Hartford, ft., or Chica.'o.!
jan-3-ly
J.
F I TTS B U n G II , r A
FRENCH PLATE
FRENCH WINDOW GLASS
MANTEL AND PIER Ol.AS.'io
STEEL ENGRAVINGS A CH!l‘'M(
Estimates lurnished Or POie 11 '
Contractor and Builders.,
GREGG, SON i O'-
, &c.,
ROOT AND. SHOE
Have removed to their new. I.ir.'e '
tour s*tory
IRON FRONT WARKllo''
(BETWEEN FIFTH AND >IXOII WiO ‘
Larf/est Sprin ff Stod*
EVER BROUGHT TO THE MALE
Bavins for CASH, wo ha' l ' :u^' - 1 ,! 1 ! .'f. \\ r s
thn» CANT BH EXC KM.KD KAM
An oxMinir.nl ton of-our stock r '
soluito.l
15b Wood stK’C-t. I*l' ■
N 1!. :itt flit ion ]>.>- M O' n
by nia;!.
A.
'mask
W.H.'MARSHALIf
MMOFACTUREROFI |
monuments
& GHAVE
STONFSy
r ‘ ntl
i ifi liill! msm
W. H. MARSHALL. Koch<-v
AGENTS WANTED FOIJ TftiL
J. GILLESPIE & C 0
86 WOOD STREET,
importers and Dealers il
M O v !•: p
WHOLESALE
PITTSBURGH, PA
no. lob wood s Tiltin'
And ace now rc-cviiim: oi.o ( '-
OKEOO. SON '■' 1
1 ■ t
feJi
; c m i : -
I; LAS'
in:':
!i I’ l