Page:Littell's Living Age - Volume 134.djvu/198

192 For mirrors of first quality the following metal mixture is used in one of the largest mirror foundries in Kiôto: —

For mirrors of inferior quality is taken —

"After being cooled the melting-box and moulds are crushed and the mirrors taken away. These are then cut, scoured, and filed until the mirror is roughly finished. They are then first polished with a polishing powder called to-no-ki, which consists of the levigated powder of a soft kind of whetstone (to-ishi) found in Yamato and many other places. Secondly, the mirrors are polished with a piece of charcoal and water, the charcoal of the wood ho-no-ki (Magnolia hypoleuca) being preferred as the best for this purpose. When the surface of the mirror is well polished it is covered with a layer of mercury amalgam, consisting of quicksilver, tin, and a little lead. The amalgam is rubbed vigorously with a piece of soft leather, which manipulation must be continued for a long time until the excess of mercury is expelled, and the mirror has got a fine, bright, reflecting surface."

University of Tokio, Japan.

 

 From The Leisure Hour.

of lacemakers in Belgium, finding that they could not sell the produce of their industry to so great an advantage as in France, became anxious to dispose of it there, and to acquire, by that means, a more rapid fortune than by simply retailing it at home. They had a young and intelligent poodle dog which they trained to have a thorough detestation of custom-house officials, such as are encountered on the frontiers. They dressed up some one in that uniform, who, always beating and kicking the dog whenever he entered the house, and ill-treating him in every way, incurred, very naturally, poor Monton's animosity. Their object was, of course, to nourish such ill-feeling and repugnance in the dog against any one wearing the French douanier uniform, that he would be certain to avoid them. Having succeeded in inspiring the hatred they wished in the poor, innocent, and unoffending Monton's breast, they next prepared a larger poodle-skin than the one he owned, and after winding several metres of valuable lace round his body, sewed the poodle-skin neatly and cleverly over it all. Away went the master and his dog, and succeeded in passing the French frontier; the man, it is true, was examined; the dog ran off from the people in uniform as soon as he espied them, decamping as fast as his legs could carry him. Regaining his master, they reached a French town where the lace was not only sold at a good profit, but an order was given for a larger supply.

These hazardous journeys were often undertaken, and nothing could exceed their good fortune and their lucky escapes; but their success was not destined to be of long duration. Upon one occasion, one of the junior custom-house employés noticed the dog and advanced to play with him, but instead of responding to the proffered caress, Monton showed his teeth and slunk away, whereupon the youth revenged himself by throwing a large stone, which lamed him, and then another and another, until he killed the poor animal. Monton's master, not wishing to appear too anxious about him, had walked on, not doubting but that his faithful companion was following him, but missing him at last he returned to the frontier just in time to witness the official's profound astonishment at the sight a rent in poor Monton's false hide had revealed to him. Since then, I was assured, custom-house officials on the frontier looked sharply after contraband dogs.