On supporting science journalism
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A correspondent of the Centerville (Ind.) Chronicle, [laving seen a notice " going the rounds " of the papers in regard to newspaper blankets, determined to try the experiment. The following are the results :— "I first made a blanket (as they are termed) out of the Chronicle, placed it between two covers, and went to bed. That night I slept pretty well, except a little too hot for comfort. The next night I concluded to make a larger one, and out of thicker paper; for this purpose I procured the New York Tribune, and placed it as the above, and went to bed. That night I thought that the world was turning black. I saw a host of women dressed in breeches and eating bran bread, together with black devils and monkeys. I thought that I should suffocate. The effects of this bad feeling made me jump in my sleep, and aroused me. I then began to conclude that there was something in the contents of the paper, as well as its heating power; and for the purpose of testing this fact, I again placed the Chronicle blanket on the red. My mind soon became calm and pleasant, and I slept well the balance of the night. I then began to conclude that I had discovered a new telegraph conductor to a man's mind. The following night I made a blanket out of the Cincinnati Enquirer and Commercial, and sewed them together alternately, so as to use two of each, and placing them as above, went to bed. That night my ideas became quite chequered ; first it would appear like so many little devils, and then again it would burst up in a brilliant light, and so on, until l was compelled to throw them off. I now concluded to test the matter fairly, and for this purpose I made a blanket of the SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, and placed it as before ; the result was, my ideas became so bright that I conid see through all kinds of improvements. I could see machinery, engines, and spindles by thousands, farming implements, household furniture, mitering and sawing machines, and, in fact, all kinds of machinery, so much so that I was compelled to take it off. I again placed the blanket of the Tribune on my bed, and found, to my surprise, that the same little Dlack devils, monkeys, &c., made their appearance again." [Heconcludes with theopinion that a blanket made out of some of the Indiana papers would produce the delerium tremens on the first night. Should his experiments prove to be veritable. it becomes a matter of importance that the blankets should be made of the right sort of newspapers, so as to avoid all evil results.—EDS.
