[Illustration]
This photo. shows the muzzle of a 12-inch gun. The curious markings are
always to be observed, to a greater or less extent, upon firing any gun;
they are probably caused by the escape of the gases past the
"driving-band" at the moment it leaves the muzzle. The "driving-band" is
the brass ring on the base of the projectile, which cuts its way through
the rifling of the gun, giving the shot the necessary rotary movement.
The regularity of each spurt of gas is very singular. We are indebted
for the snap-shot to an officer in H. M. Navy.
[Illustration]
"THE SPITE HOUSE."
This odd building stands on the corner of 161st Street and Melrose
Avenue, New York City. It is a bit over 4ft. in depth, 17ft. frontage,
and one and a-half storeys high, with a basement and sub-basement built
under the broad sidewalk, extending to the curb. The house itself is of
wood, on a steel frame, and has a slate roof. Its owner is an eccentric
tailor, who lives and carries on his trade below the street. The
interior consists of a small show-room, a store-room, and spiral iron
stairway going down to the "lower regions." The upper storey seems to
have been constructed merely as a finishing touch. It is reached by an
iron ladder from the store-room. The entire construction, appointments,
and fittings are very ingenious, and are all the ideas of the owner. The
story of the house is that the original lot was cut away in opening the
avenue, save only the few feet now occupied by the building. A
controversy arose between the tailor and the owner of the adjoining
property regarding the disposal of the small strip, and the tailor
becoming enraged because his neighbour would neither sell his property
nor pay the price the knight of the shears demanded, built this odd
structure out of spite. The photo. was taken just at the completion of
the building, and before the street had been fully paved. It shows,
however, the dimensions of the building, and also the construction under
the street, etc. Photo. sent in by Mr. W. R. Yard, 156, Fifth Avenue,
New York City.