OCR Text |
Show HOW TO SEE DOWN A WELL. It is not generally known, says the Lancaster, Pa., Intelligencer, how easy a matter it is to explore the bottom of a well, ciotern, or pond of water by the use of a common mirror. When the tun is bhiniug brightly, hold a mirror to that the reflected rays of light will fall into the water. A bright tpot will bo seen at the bottom, so liyht as to show the smallest object plainly. By this means we have examined- tho bottoms of wells fifty feet deep, when half lull or more of water. 'J'ho smallest small-est straw or other objects can be jier-1'cctly jier-1'cctly seen from the surface. In the same way one can examine the bottom bot-tom of the ponds and rivers, if the waters be somewhat clear and not agitated agi-tated by winds or rapid motion. If a well or cistern be under cover, or shaded sha-ded by a buildiDg so that the sunlight will not fall near the opening, it is only i necessary to employ two mirrors, using one to reileot the light to the opening, and another to reflect it down into the Wiuar. Light may be thrown fifty or a hundred yards to the pteciee spot desirable, and then downward. We have used the mirror with success to reflect'the light around the house to a shaded well, and aiso to carry it from ti south window through two rooms and then into a oistern under the north side of the house. Half & dozen re-ilections re-ilections of light may be made, though euch mirror diinimsbeg tho brilliancy of tho light. Let any one not 1am-iliar 1am-iliar with the method try it, and he will not only find it useful, but a very pleasant experiment. It will perhaps reveal a mass ol' sediment at the bottom bot-tom of tho well that has been little thought of, but which may have been a frightful source of disease by its decay de-cay in the water. |