New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-20
LIGHT AT COOPER INSTITUTE.

II is rarely that public lecturer has ven
turcd to present to an audience so much OF
the history of science as Prof. Tyndall gives
in his lectures. This is really one of the best
methods of encidating science, since its facts
cannot be misunderstood if its history is COM
pretended. Perhaps the high appreciation
with which Prof. Tyndall views some OF the
discoveries whom he eulogizes, may awaken
emulation in his listeners. If the noblo exam
ple of the pursuit Of truth in the face OF bitter
opposition, so glowingly depicted last night
shall arouse one more American TO
the disinterestcd and unflnching pursuit OF
scientific inquiry it is safe to say that know
ledge of such fact would give more JOY 10
the lecturer than all the other fruits OF his
efforts here. If there is one thing rare and
admirable among scientists, it is appreciation
of each other, dead or alive. Hence we have Mt
it in our hearts to be critical, though the lee
turer passed by Huyghens and Euler
with casual remark, and heaped honors upon
DR.. Young, whom he ranked only little lower
than Sir Isaac Newton, regarding all between
these worthless as beneath them.
1t is great advantage to have lecturer
of the authority of Tyndall in science impress
forcibly upon general audiences the fact that
the corpuscular OF emission theory of Light is
not only out Of date, but no longer tenable
Strange to say, there is large number OF
people, intelligent in all other respects, who
still look upon the wave theory of light with
suspicion. Our literature is bound with the
shackles of the early theory. We not only
| speak Of light being emitted from the sun
| we think of it thus, as corporeal essence, Q
thing that moves with incredible velocity
| One of the most difficult of all misconceptions
to get rid of is the notion that We see light
and that consequently it is thing. Even tt
those who admit its real character, it is no
easy to conceive of light merely as mode o.
motion in an imperccptble ether. Worse thar
all else are text books Of science that still re-
tain the exploded theory; state it, and TIT
new one, perhaps, as each worthy Of consid
Grafton, and leave the subject in halo o.
doubt As well might they couple with mod
ern chemistry the fables of alchemy.
The experiments presented by Prof. Tyndal
increase in interest as he proceeds. Those o.
last night were lucid and beautiful, and il
the full report we give elsewhere we have
illustrated some of them by accurate drawings
which will BIO found to add much to TIT
clearness of the exposition. There is close
relationship between the characteristics Of
light and sound which render it possible tC
explain one, to great extent, by means Of
the other. The ingenious cOntrivances by
which sound may be said to become visible
are creditable not less to Prof Tyndalps i'm
agnation ard ingenuity than to his knowl-
edge. In laying them fully before our read
ers, we hope to extend to wider circle
large proportion of the pleasure which these
experiments afford to the audiences at Cooper
Institute But there these gifts of knowledge
are bathed in tho electric flame and wrapt
ia the hues of the rainbow.