A valuable dis Jovery has, it is alleged, been made by a ! Dr Thomas Farris in the United States — i lamely the art of making silver out of cheap materials. This gentleman, it see ms, was employed in the laboratory of the lowa Wesley an Univer-

sity in 1873 aa wnder-teaoher, and while treating of chemical analysis before the class one day, hisjattention was directed to the condition of the waste materials, or " washings," in (the earthen vessel where they they had resnained all night. Vari-' ous metals and a<pids had been used in the illustrations. In! emptying the vessel he noticed that a metal had been formed from the waste which he con cluded was platjma. This led him care fully to note the ingredients and propor tions that ha\i been used, hoping to bo able to reproduce the same sub- Stance. He afterwards ascertained that the metal was not platina, but silver ; and, resolving to) keep the information to himself, followed up his investigations without the publicity. In continuing his experiments he w ould sometimes succeed, and other times he would fail. These experiments continued over a period of some years, and Ito has at last been able to perfect the process. He has now entered into busi ness arrangements with two gentlemen w whom he has confided the secret of thie art, and preparations are being mada for the manufacture of silver on a largje scale. The reports of experts who halve made assays of the metal produced leave, it is stated, no doubfc as to its being ; the genuine article. In the present conjdition of financial affairs Dr Farris' " discovery " will hardly be deemed a boon, 'except to himself and his collaborateurs. )

A LOVER'S TRAGEDY.
