The New York herald., 1871-11-24

The Nature aud Sources Os i.isht-Lecture by
Professor Nferton Last hvcning In the
Acadrry Oi sfusic.
The Crsl lecture OF the annual sccntnc course, IN
conaectlon wrn the American Institute, was de-
h,ered last night IN the Academy Of Music, by Pro-
fessor Norton President oi the Stevens institute,
noboken. In the presence OF larcc AMI fashionable
audience THIS N the ioursh annual course. and tho
OF the enors OF the Institute 10 popularize
science sirikiney maniicstcd hy presence OF
sncn an immense audience as mat winch nlcd
the Academy last evening. In Germany ana Eng
land IL Is purposed 10 make popular science the
basis OF education, aud Il Is felt ny the American
Institute that similar system ol education snouiI
he introduced IN this county for the tho
large numbers who are deprived by their position
from the advantages Of . collegiate training. Tue
subject OF last evenings lecture was "Lisht: Its
Nature and sources" aad In treating It tho Profess
sor divided his discourse into hcads-ilrst
showing light as . wave iKe vlbratorv motion,
Illustrating this by Q number OF beautiful Illus
uatIons. Light IL not a substance, having
none OF the elements about II which go
10 constitute a substantial holy. II Is notion as
sound Is aud Is produced IN The same way by vlbra
tory impulses. Light may be luminous non.
luminous. sound may be silent loud, but the
interposlion OF . medium VIII carry both from
place 10 place through The al. L,gnl IL prDda,cd
from a substance winch pcrvaucs Al. space. aai W
an operation unseen 10 ~ carried through space ami
maue apiarcut so the ssnt. There Ia a woDie,iui
analogy between light ana sound. SJdnd,
When investigated ny the - pucation 0f
chemistry. Is fund u consist oi a series
ol waves or vibrations, and Dgat, when saIyec,ei
To the same PROCESS win devc op Use pccu,Iar re-
sulls. ans was Illustrated bv veiy slns,Dg cx-
pcriMenf. large screen wa III ic.i ~ ,nc iiiule
u he stage. anu 0iorc u tnc icc'nrcr arranged
chemical apparatus. Taking glass plaic ne .uurcd
water OH it and sirikiAg oa u WIN voiln pos,
the lace o the sc.cen Vas eo,e'cd with az iDnn.
An Sl.a
siyic. The deeper the Do,c sAbuck ~ the BON iho
larger tie wave AMI the .nrli notes. IN u inercnt
way produced, finer waves. smaI tank Wa then
tak-n AMI water pou:cd inio " Dom
hottie. an the tro es-or, asi' ains IN IN centre
with a rod, small spot apita'ea IA tnc screen.
when uuckiy nr Ike into Ciicie- extenung an over
Its lace. Inc nature oi the eSpeiinc aDI rir
meaning were e>p'aID.i hy be ir'taief IA a man
Ber which could moi tan ~ ue .pd.rs,ooi by III.
Having treated 0i The nature o agDt he neat passed
on to describe ils sources winch are three in num-
ber-tnc sun, co'nous'lon aDi eectricny. me
il the malIsIrns " I've AID heat,
aud Is OF course indispensable 10 the Ior-
nation M o, o. ,isas eS. ss % .ne NAT. na,a'ss , I u
taken to expatiaie On tnIs 6rancD Of the .uie,
pecIally Inc next lecture OF The Course 10 be
upon lhe sun Itself. Combustion, aiter The sun, 10
the most powerful cause VI light. the cohesive
power and mutual afpiiy cxerclrsd Dy coDbusl.i,is
heat ~ an /. ~ natural eon.e .nence. nrn. So Two
gases coming together Will produce nko Tesuns,
Professor Illustrated IDi. ~ ligning . name Of
Oxygen, wmcn Lurnei with a pale nsnt,
VII jet Oi hyuIVBeu wss sutouuvci. hhu tnch q
brilliant 1sinc Illuminated Tue whole buil,Iins.
whicn was purpcsels daIkened. The point 0l =
steel sword was then inserted IA the Names aDj .
shove OF SPARKS enanitei Ifon the niEL, covering
the stage tDlckIy around. This experiment, vn.ch
IL q novel oue Was wal niiI alpiaatrd ~ 'be sudt-
ence VINO were euIhusiasiIc in Their aDpros alton.
some 0,Ber Iiiustrsikis IN connection wiih tho
powers exercised Dy combustion were given aud
incu tue tDIrd source o. laht eieirIclty wzs more
fuliy ueated Tnis was exLfDieJ IN various Ways
nv.i by an lgD,ted platinum foL or bar, wRcb was
heated 10 q dazzling vhIcness hy tne e..c Tlc cur
rent from very IowerIui battery. he reason
gwen how an electric nul passing tnrousn IA
insu ii cien space produces ana light b, reason
ol the obstacles IN ns WAY. An elccrlc gDt Was
taken, AID = piece Of steel bclug INTRODUCED
Into II regular bouquet Of nrs was y. oduced.
winch was ap. aren't ior several mmuses Ine in.uc-
ton coll, Manufactured expressly l0r M. hortoG IN
Boston and SAID 10 be Inc most powerful IN ibe
OF elec riel'y cnlei among winch was tue on
Of flashes OF real lightning, some .i them tweoiy
three incnes long. Tue while .i1ht winch IL 90
common Is not remarkab Tor its uaIty as u was
SHOWN TO consist VI ell the co.ors OF Tue fahaLos
when subsected 10 Q chemical process. wGilc
sure bsina iessened II disAppeareI, ami . yesaiiul
bow coniaihing al tnc eosvrs appeaei
the dlsplay Of . beaunEi apparsius nl..ie
mp OF number OF tubes NJ ci with vafioas liquids
an1 gasses. On bcing suDjccted 10 tue action OF
the lantern they became INSTANTLY iul1inols. aud
In q striking design tho name oi stevens coud 10
discerned IN letscrs OF every eo.or ani shade The
lecture was higny interesting thlovs hoai, And the
Professor was iregucntiy apylaulesl. rccc wing an
0vaou 81 iis close The next lecture VI the coarse
VIII 10 delivered on Thursday evening. D,cemter
L.. on the Chemistry OF the SUM-" ~ Professor
Baker, OF Yaie Coliege.