The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-11-21

BILE.
A London correspondent of the New
York Evening Post sends that paper an
interesting letter of which the following
is condemnation
Harriet Hosmer is we'll known as q
sculptor Of the highest rank, but she
now comes before the world in another
character, and, il the testimony of some
of the best informed savants of England
is worthy OF trust, she has placed her
name on level with those of Fulton
and Morse. One of her discoveries is
of kind which, it is said, will enable
us to dispense with the present methods
of obtaining power for machinery.
Miss Hosmer arrived in London last
August, bringing with her the model of
her latest statue, "The Pompeiian
Sentinel" In the preparation of this
model instead of using the traditional
clay, Miss Hosmer first constructed a
rough shape, in plaster of Paris. This
was handled while soft, and the founda-
tion of the statue laid. When it had
been brought into general conformity
with the idea existing in the artists
mind, it was coated to the depth of
about one inch in white wax. The deli
cate touches of the modelling knife were
then all applied to this outer coating,
and when the model was completed it
retained its shape, to the finest line and
furrow, without the constant care that
clay model requires. Miss Hosmer re.
CARDS this method of modelling as far
superior to the old. It gives much less
trouble and can be worked with far
greater ease, besides giving the effect
of marble instead of the dull, gloomy
effect of clay.
"What do you think I've been do
ing9" Miss Hosmer suddenly asked
i've turned inventor. I've invented a
contrivance to enable player to turn
the leaves of music, either on piano or
on conductors stand, and it works
beautifully. But that is a mere toy. I
happened on the idea and worked it out.
What l am going to show you now will
astonish you. You may think Pm crazy
most every one does at frst-but you
will change your mind when you see my
discovery applied"
Miss Hosmer then went on to show
and describe discovery she had made.
am not allowed to repeat all that was
told to me. The essential secret Of the
discovery am obliged to withhold until
Miss Hosmer authorizes fuller revela-
tion. can only give general idea
of its application with the testimony of
such savants as have seen it. They are
unanimous in declaring it to be not only
wonderful novelty but apparently a
thoroughly useful and practical power
producer.
The machine now in process of con-
struction for Miss Hosmer by Browning,
on the Strand, is not dissimilar in lis
general design to an electro magnetic
engine. The important feature consists
in an absolutely novel application of the
permanent magnet. There is no electric
battery, and consequently no induced
magnetic action. The magnets are per-
manent magnets. They are arranged 80
that the whole power is derived from
them, but there is no battery nor any
other device for creating or conveying
an electric current. The power derived
is due solely to the force contained in
the permanent magnet. There has been
no such property known until Miss
Hosmer discovered it. Herein lies the
whole secret, and the whole of her
claim to originality. The machine to
which the principle is applied in
genious and valuable though it isis
not an absolute novelty but, on the
other hand, this machine is only one of q
thousand applications which can be
made of the principle. If were allowed
to set forth the method adopted to OBJ
tain this result, I could cover the whole
in ten lines.
"When I knew that had succeeded
in finding what had been seeking for
by study and experiment for fifteen
years." said Miss Hosmer, 81 first asked
the opinion of well-known American
engineer, Mr.. Clarke, relative of the
Rev. James Freeman Clarke, of Boston.
Having seen the invention, he assured
me that need have no doubts as to the
value and Importance of my discovery.
[ then came to England and consulted
Mr.. Newton, of the well-known firm of
Newton & Hales. Well, he could scarce
ly believe his own eyes, and I had 10 re-
peat my demonstration several times.
Then he made the magnet accomplish
the work himself. His partner, Mr..
Hales, came in, and dropped down upon
his knees beside the table as he saw me
repeat my experiment. These gentle.
men and Mr.. Browning, the well. lnown
maker of scientific instruments, are all
enthusiastic over my discovery, and are
thoroughly convinced as to its practi-
cability.
Miss Hosmer said further that among
others who had been shown the new
principle applied was Mr.. John Penn,
Jr., of the we'll known works at Green
wich, and she had letter from him
saying that the discovery actually fright.
ened him, so great would be the revolu-
ton in machinery. Prof. Tyndall was
away in Switzerland, but he had had the
principle described to him, and in let
ter from Mrs. Tyndall to Miss Hosmer
he in closed message testifying to the
importance and absolute novelty of her
discovery, and saying that he should
give it careful attention on his return to
England.
Mr.. Browning is now engaged on a
four-horse power machine for Miss Hos
mer, and it is to be completed this win
ter, when Miss Hosmer will return here
from Rome and have it publicly exhibit
ed.
"But now I will show you another
Of my Inventions" Miss Hosmer said,
taking polished slab from a center
table. What do you think of that for
a piece of antique marble Well. that's
my second invention, an imitation of
marble. 1t is made from soft limestone.
You know that in Italy and elsewhere
there have been many attempts made to
turn limestone into marble. but hereto