PHILO CELTS.
The Brooklyn delegates to the Philadelphia Con¬
vention held a reunion under the auspices of the
P.C.S. at Jefferson Hall, on May, 10. Prof. Harry
Baker held the audience in a trance for the space
of two hours, in his inimitable rendition of his "E¬
vening with Tom Moore." The exercises were
were brought to a close by Mr. Gilgannon deliver¬
ing an address in the Irish Language, and the read¬
ing of St. Patrick's address to the Kings at Tara,
by M. J. Logan. This address appeared in last
month's Gael, by Mr. A. O'Hara of Prairie Du¬
chein Wis.
It must be urged on the members and offices of
the P.C. Society to be more punctual in attend¬
ance for the future. From this forth the superin¬
tendent of classes will see that the classes are form¬
ed at 8 o'clock sharp and dismissed at 9, and that
the Irish Language only will be used during this
hour. After that members may remain and chat
as much as they please.
We are pleased to see a large number of the old
members paying frequent visits of late to the hall.
The monthly reunion held on Thursday, May 31
was quite a success.
Prest. Finn pays closer attention lately to the
affairs of the society than was his wont — the lux¬
ury of office is generally accompanied with respon¬
sibility.
Vice prest. Graham is very proud of the result of
his mission to the Philadelphia Convention.
Mr. Lacey, treasurer of the ball, made his report
which was highly satisfactory.
The society had a visit from our old respected
associate, Mr. P. C. Gray, last week. He says he
will lose a fall or have a good society in Newark in
the near future.
We hope the large number of Philo Celts who
are getting married will not diminish our numbers.
'Tis rather selfish of them to keep away after the
honeymoon, though some have done so.
Mr. Curden is all for a Gaelic convention.
Our lady members showed excellent pluck a few
meeting since in defeating a motion which was
not relished by them — They don't mean to sing
dumb when their interests are at stake.
We believe there are now between five and six
hundred names on the books of the society; we
would ask where do all these be during the week¬
ly meetings?
The latest addition to our ranks are the —
Misses Freeman, Gill, Gallagher, Mulligan,
Duff, Guinan, Messrs. McSkimming and Sloan.
We hope President Finn will exact strict atten¬
dance in future and (parenthetically) to set the
example himself.
Bídheach gach cach ann am mhaith agus
beidh áthas air gach duine a roinn féin d'
an obair a dheunadh.
WHAT CONSTITUTES DYNAMITE.
The discoveries of the proprieties of so common
products of manufacture as glycerine and nitrid
acid, when combined in a chemical mixture, and
rendered portable by sawdust, dry earth, brown
sugar, or anything of the kind that will absorb it
as a sponge, the discovery of the tremendous
power of a weapon so cheap and abundant, adds
a new element to the politics of monarchies. Gly¬
cerine, not long since, was a part of the waste
of soap factories.
Some enterprising American discovered
that by a little sweetning and flavoring it could
be sold for honey, and many a breakfast has been
made with gustatory appreciation of the substance
which the soap-maker's alkalies rejected. It is a
thirsty liquid, with such an affinity for water that
physicians employ it to keep the surface moist,
when that is desired. Nitric acid is much more
abundant, though not so accessible, as it is not
a refuse of manufactories, but must be distilled
for itself. A weak dilution of it gives a pleasant
sour taste, and it also is employed medically, and
as an adulterant. What more harmless substances
are there in nature ? and yet a quart of the com¬
bination would blow any ship, house, fortress or
wall to small pieces. The principle which gives
it action is the same as in gunpowder.
The carbon of the charcoal and the ox¬
ygen of the niter produce the combustion
of gunpower. The oxygen of the nitrid acid and
the carbon of the glycerine produce the combus¬
tion of nitro-glycerine. But the burning process
of the powder requires time; that of the liquid is
instantaneous, hence its superior energy as an ex¬
plosive. These are interesting details, because
the weapon is the most terrible that has ever
been discovered by man, and it cannot be kept out
of the hands of the degraded and criminal classes.
England is now in a panic, and every European
monarch feels like a hunted stag. If nitro-gly¬
cerine were employed as a solvent of tyranny alone
there is not any question that it would make an end
to tyranny. It will in any case, temper tyranny.
Rulers will be careful not to drive any class of
subjects to desperation. If weapons were employ¬
ed for the right it would be a blessing to men; but
unfortunatsly it is more liable to be used for crim¬
inal purposes. — Leavenworth [Kas.] Visitor.
The GAEL can now be had of all
news-dealers at five cents a copy. If
your newsagent makes any excuse,
say he can get it through any of the
news agencies; or send sixty cents to
us and it will be mailed to you one year
