There have leen some curious feat
ures connected with the sword manu
facture in early times. The Damascus
blades, and the Toledo blades, have
each in its own particular sphere ac
quired great fame for their excellence;
the keenness of the edge and the exten
sive and jerfect elasticity having been
carried in them to the utmost point. We
have all read of Orientals wearing
their swords twisted round their waists
or even coiled up in their turbans, so
great was their elasticity ; and swords
have been made so keen as to cut a silk
shawl in two, while resting lightly on
the edge. Such, at "least, have been
the reorted wonders ; but the Easterns
may probably in this, as in many other
matters, embellish their stories a little.
Euttern Traveller.
;' nciiSTinc
. Blotting by Electricity Blasting by
electricity, one of the. latest practical
developments of - science, is being gen
erally . utilized.'' The advantages are
great savlng of explosives, safety,' and
protection' of life,, economy of capital
and time, and overcoming obstacle
that nothing else' will, such as firing
under any quantity or water, sinking
or driving in soft sandstone, granite
splitting, rooting up trees, blasting,
slag. etc.
On Saturday, June 15, a gigantic ex
plosion was arranged in the granite
quarries of Messrs. Ellis and Kvrard,
at Bardon Hill, near Leicester, bv
Messrs. Atkin and John Harris, of
Nobel s Explosive Company ; six boles
being put in, averaging a depth of 20
feet, each hole being charged with 15
lbs. of dynamite, and exploded with
Capt. Brain's electric fuses. The ma
chine used to fire them was Capt.
