Show Why Snow Is White The pure white luster of the snow is due to the fact that all the elementary colors of light are blended together in the radiance that is thrown off from the surface of the crystals It is quite possible to examine the individual snow crystals in such a way a to detect these several colors before they arc mingled together to constitute the compound impression of whiteness upon the eye The snow is then clothed with all the varied hues of the rainbow The soft whiteness of the snow is also in some degree referable to the large quan thy of air which is entangled amid the frozen particles I Snow is composed of a great number of minute crystals more than a thousand quite distinct forms of snow crystals have been enumerated by various observers One hundred and ft one were noticed during eight days in February and March 1S55 by Mr Glaisher which were carefully carefuly drawn and engraved printed in a paper attached to the rej9irt of tho British Meteorological Mete-orological society for that year I These minute crystals and prisms reflect refect all the compound of which white light consists Sheets of snow on the ground are known to reflect beautiful pink and blue tints under certain angles of sunshine and to fling back so much light as to be painful to the eyes by day and to guide the traveler in the absence of moonshine I by night London TitBits I |