Explaining a Prevalent Belief. A superstition very prevalent among workinginen is the injurious effect supposed sup-posed to be exeicised by the 6un's raya falling upon their tools. The best tools made for use in tropical countries are subjected to exactly the same amount of tempering as those made for home use, although they are to be used under un-der a greater heat. A heat greater than any which reaches this earth from the sun would be required re-quired to affect them. No metallic or other matter is equally equal-ly susceptible to heat as the sand of which the soil of the desert of Scinde, in India, is composed. It has been found heated by the sun to almost 200 degrees F. But to affect the temper of steel more than double this temperature is required. In the steel used for a lancet the temperature of the metal must be brought to 430 degrees, in razors ra-zors and surgical instruments to 450 degrees, de-grees, in penknives to 470 degrees, in scissors and chisels to 490 degrees, in axes, planes and pocketknives to 510 degrees, in table knives and large shears to 530 degrees, in swords and watch springs to 550 degrees, in fine saws and augers to 5C0 degrees and for hand and pit saws to GOO degrees, or to three times the greatest heat of the sun felt on this earth. At SOO to 350 degrees Eoft steel and iron become much deteriorated in power to resist percussive action and strain, but their temperature can never be raised to such a degree as this by the heat of the sun. New York Hextdd.