WATER-BOTTLES AND FIRES.
Pro TEE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR." J
SIB,—One of the most extraordinary cases of fire-lighting by the sun's rays through glass is the following. A few years ago my wife and I were driving in a victoria near Canterbury. It was about 3 o'clock on an October afternoon. The horse was slowly walking up a hill between two pine woods, and the sun was directly facing us, when, simul- taneously, both lamps were ignited. I called the coachman's attention to the fact, and he simply laughed, thinking we were making fun of him. It was, however, a fact that the rays of the sun through the circular lamp-glasses had actually lighted the candles.—I am, Sir, &c., PERCY BITRD.
Cheltenham.
[We know of a case in which, in September, the sun's rays, passing through an ordinary bedroom water-bottle placed on a window-sill, set fire to chintz curtains.—ED. Spectator.]
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