The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-11-20

I The straight line, which is the base of the tri-
angle, represents the elastic fluid stationary, maxi
ing mere pressure without agitation, and there
fore without curved form; and as they are curved,
the curved impressions they arele less or more SO,
form all the colors from black up, including white;
the white being the sensation of full semicircle
at the vertex of the diagram--the waves or curved
lines diminishing in length according to Newtons
measurement from the red up, including the violet
near the vertex below the red and above the vio-
let there has as yet been no measurement. But
as the violet has lately been proved by Professor
Draper, Of the New York University, to be the
most intense, we have reason to believe that white
is found above them-and still shorter than the
violet waves, and therefore perhaps not appre-
ciable by measurement-as also may be said Of
their times Of undulation. .,..,. .....ts., ar,
The increase in the number Of the undulations,
from red TO violet, makes nothing against this
theory - with fewer undulations the colors
would only be Of a lower tone-and these undula-
tions would produce effect corresponding with
the sensibty of the person upon whom they may
operate The undulations, as the colors rise from
red to violet, increasing in number with the dlmi-
mutton in the length ofthe waves, tend rather to sup
port this theory. We here then see why white is
| without black, as the circle is unmodifed by the
straight lne. We here see that all colors between
black and white, formed of black and white and
so derivatives of black and white, being impress
sions Of forms parakng of each, of the circle and
the straight line and that, therefore, black and
Z Itmay be added, as another proof, that each
color or degree of color has its wave length, as
proved by Professor Draper, each color or degree
of color having its wave length white has its
wave length, as black has also its line of i'm
preston. fit should be objected that black is
color, ask, what is coori A color is a sensa-
ton caused by an impression upon special Or
gani1etion. Now, should this special organization
be absent, there would be no sense of color, or in
other words, there would be no color, any more
N % al nea
for hearing, would there be sense of sound, or
sound as such Man would have just as little
| idea OF color, notion of sound without special
organization to appreciate them, as inamlnate mat
| ter, although the medium by which they are i'm
| pressed might beat upon him forever. He might
| feel the agitation through his system that causes
sound, but not sound, but agitation, caused by
other means upon any other part of the body--and
hence was given to him his special organization,
that he might have the special sensation Of color,
sound, taste, and SMELL If then, without the spe-
cial organization of sight, we could have no idea
of color, or have color, then l take the position
that, there being special sense for this purpose
without which we could have no color, no idea OF
color, and this sense being pressed by the elastic
fluid that pervades all space, every animated body
| special sense of sight, although this fluid may be
| unagitated.
1 Without the special sense of color, we should be
taken up with our other sensations. The world
would then De, 10 us, word OF sensations alone,
that we could have throughthe other senses with
out that Of sight. 1t would be, to us, a coloress
world-and would be to us, what it must be to
/ some animals that we know have existence.
/ But If black be not sensation what can it be
And if it be sensation through the organ Of sigh,
| why not color' ..''
| II will be observed by the reader, that / have
represented black as a straight line-a simple
pressure Of the elastic fluid unagitated, but the
| fluid is never without some agitation, there is
| never seen perfect black-perfect black is then
| imaginary. The black, which we see, is the SEN
sation Of an impression, by slight undulaton of
the elastic fuid and therefore, by line of i'm