The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-02-06
VOL. XVIII---NO. "A.
Talk on Eiectflcity.

have those Of heat and vitality. We may
nave seen some oil-producing substance, o.
/ the common hydro-carbon, as coal, converted
/ lrst from a solid into liquid, from a liquid
! ihto gas, and from gas into iiquld
| again, VIZ, water and carbonic acid. but
have we seen the subtle element that hns
entered between each solid particle aud e.
bowed them SO far asunder that they became
selfrepellent and few oil into "A pas? Or
when we have rubbed two pieces of wood
together till they became warm. can we see
the element Of hect that is set frcep There
was no phenomenon Of flame, but heat ard
IT'S attendant, electricity, was there. We
have seen the resultant forces Of vitality, ac-
ton and growth; but have we ever marked
The vital spark as it passed the lips oi the
dying.
We have seen the Lightning leaping from
cloud to cloud, flashing from heaven 10
earth, careering through the air, On the
storm fiend's track, rending the most solid
structures With gigantic power, striking life
from the living with the breath OF the
Omnipotcnt. Though we have seen al this,
and though franklin drew it down from The
skies and Gagged d tanned il, and though
Morse made the harness fDr il and set il 90
ing our humbie-t bidJings, was it not -uil a
secret to them: Could they tell It's con po-
nent parts or whether it has mono, and is
therefore a simple element. lie makcth
the ishtnings his messengers this WAS
thought by one Of old to be grand pre-.
eminence that belonged only to the A.
mighty. How would the oquauimity or that
good Old saint be disturbed by seeing one oC
our citizens send by the lightning To- a bal,
Of goods or a parcel Of money.
Resisting the temptation TO enlarge on its
Effects we viii pass on to the object 10 view,
ylz, the eXteGsiyrness Of tlc apparatus lvr
setting this agent free.
Al mechanical action, ss condensation,
friction. and evaporation, change IL tao !,r.l
OF bodies.
All chemical action, from the chemical ef-
fecls produced by the rays Of the sun down
TO the combustion Of wood 3nl coal in the
kitchen fire.
Under mechanical action, the condensation
OF air plays an important part as q lberator.
You have watched the lightning, in it, play
among the clouds, and have heard is voice.
You have seen it dlrting along in 4 straight
line till it seemed u meet something IN the
air that would not let it pass, "a sort Of
closed gate that compelled il 70 % rouGlJ
30 they would dart aside, making an acute
angle with the old rack, and on j. would 20
I'LL it would come against al invisible gate,
when they mnst pull in the re;us, b ci 4 lit
.lc and turn another acute angle and 50 get
around 1t. The fact is this, ii moves with
greater velocity than the air which it piles
up in a great bank before it, and extends
partly back on tuc sides 50 il has II turn
back to where the bank is weakest, and
runs through il. Thus it goes on eoudcns-
ing and thereby lt.ratng that which is Ia
tent or inactive in the air, until it ezpsrds H.
self in burning roxious gases and purifying
L for our use
As an evidence Of condensation we have
the rain falling faster, for few seconds after
each fash, which is the moisture forced out
i the condensed cloud. As proof that
is evolved by this process, con-
vince yourself by taking an air condenser,
which i a SINAI! metallic barrel with n valve
n the bottom, opening out, and piston At
ing air tight with q valve opening in) Vow
nsl'ate it with a glass handle aul rest il oa
.lasS or silk, tLrn work it few moments
III 1t becomes quite warm, then suddenly
,rnC II near the dry >ilksn hair OF some lit
le urchin, and you will ini each particular
lair reaching up after it. getting It's charge,
arryiug II away, and going U..-A .yg more,
i'll the electricity is al, gone.
Friction Is another fruitful source. Think
4 all the rubbing, sliding gliding, grinding,
huiiling Of atoms upon atoms, animate aud
nanimate that YOU can, and then of thc fric-
ion produced by all the machines in the
World in their ceasc'css work, in commerce
nd manufactures, then try 10 conceive Of
he amount that must be evolved bv them il
ne little stick of sealing wax, on being rub
'ed till it gets warm, will free enough 10 at
ract silken threads 1t has been stated on
o0d authority that some peculiarly c0nsti-
lted persons, have gathered electricity
nou-h by shufliing their bare feet across
he carpet to light the red wick of a candle
'hen they pointed the finger at IT, The
arih Itself is one great ponderous irictional
lcctrical machine, turning on its axis at the
ate of more than a thousand miles an hour,
With the atmosphere for rubber, producing
magnetic power in many substances, as bars
nd ores Of iron, which simply lay in con-
act with it.
Evaporation, that ceaseless circulation OF
loisture that hangs our sky in all the cor-
eousness of its cloudy drapcry and spans it
18th rainbow colors; seems TO be ia leading
trines to electricity for it can only take
lace between opposite states, as substances
iiferently charged.
The earth and atmosphere are in these
iiterent states, and so evaporation goes on
{ all temperatures till the air is fully satu-
lted and can hold no more, and thea we say
raius.
II yOu are sKeptcal Won can Convince
ourself by this little experiment.
Take a saucer of topid water and hang it
p in the cod air by silllcn cord - that it
i'll be perfectly insulated. IN few Nh
utes no vapor will rise, because it has given
II its own electricity. and has come into the
.me condition with the air. Now connect
with the earth by a wire and the vapor
ill rise again. Simple as this is, it is ann
lie proof.
From the numerous changes in the form
bodies, we will select only one as an
yample, that Of water passing into the form
steam.
You can generate electricity enough by
oling tea-kettie to give slight shock. ii
is perfectly insulated. Under favorable
,nditions, locomotives frequently come into
high electrical state.