SILVER SMELTING.



AS the reader looks at the picture on this page, he will, no doubt, ask, "What is this man looking at that seems to interest him so much?" It is a ton of pure silver just as it comes from the mill where it is separated from the ore. 

Do you know the process by which it is extracted? 

If not, I will tell you. There are several methods by which this work is done, but the only one that we will attempt to describe in this article is what is known as the chlorodizing process, by roasting and amalgamation. The ore, which to the unpracticed eye appears only as pieces of blasted rock from the size of a hen's egg to that of a man's head, is placed in large iron mortars, where it is crushed to powder by heavy iron or steel stamps worked by steam or water power.

In the roasting-room are large iron cylinders which revolve at the rate of one revolution in two minutes, and under which hot fires are kept constantly burning. The pulverized ore from the stamps is placed in these heated revolving cylinders for four hours, then from six to eight pounds of salt for every one hundred pounds of ore is added; after this the ore is roasted from four to six hours longer, when it is taken out and spread upon the floor of a large pit to cool.

At the proper time this roasted ore is put into the amalgamating pans, which, in size and shape, are similar to the case around a miller's stone for grinding corn. In these pans are mullers, or stones, between which the ore is ground for an hour or two, when about one-eighth as much quicksilver as there is silver is added, and the whole is ground about ten hours longer.

In this operation the quicksilver attracts the silver and amalgamates with it. The pulp is then thinned with water, causing the quicksilver, with the silver adhering to it, to settle to the bottom of the pans. The pulp, or dirt, is allowed to pass off with the water. The silver is then taken out and conveyed to the next room, where the quicksilver is removed from it. It is then placed in the retort, melted, and run into bricks, or bars, as you see in the picture. Each one of these bars is valued at from $1,500 to $1,800. By counting the bars we find that there are eighteen, so that a pile of silver of this size would be valued at about"$30,000.

But after passing through all these operations, the silver still has particles of the native element in it, and so must be refined. It is, therefore, shipped to different points in the East, where such work is done, and is there fitted for the mint. 

From the mint it comes forth to enrich and bless its possessor.

The prophet Malachi uses this illustration, the refining of silver, when speaking of the fitness required of those who shall abide the coming of the Lord, and stand before him at his appearing. He says that the Lord " shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness." 

Malachi 3:3.

As silver is purified in the furnace from all its dross before it is fit for use, so we, before we can stand before the Lord in righteousness, must be purified in the furnace of trial, and sometimes of affliction. 

By this process, a character is gained, a character like that of our dear Saviour, pure and spotless. Only those who have such a character will finally dwell with him forever in the realms of light.





J. O. CORLISS.





SPEAK KINDLY.



KIND words are to the human heart what dewdrops are to flowers. They refresh, beautify, and awaken to new life and energy. Then use them freely, spare them not. 

They cost but little effort to the bestower yet are of priceless value to the recipient.  Speak kindly to the aged man whose steps are swiftly hastening to the tomb. 

Cheer his sunset hours by kindly tones and words of sympathy.  Speak kindly to the little child. Mar not the happiness of its innocency by harsh and sullen tones.

Speak kindly to the mourner who feels bereft of every friend, of every joy. Seek to ameliorate the sorrow and lighten the burdens by kind words.





MIRA H. CARTWRIGHT.