The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-15
EDISON MAY RETIRE.

EDISON MAY RETIRE.
Inventions the most wonderful tread
upon each others heels with startling
frequency. Some philosophers who have
watched the miraculous efforts of human
genius during the present epoch, and
have compared it with all the mental de-
velopments of past ages, are inclined to
the theory that the human intellect has
reached its highest development, and
that, as in the immutable laws Of nature
nothing stands still, the so-called human
race, now so dominantly asserting its
supremacy over the balance of the ami
NAL kingdom, will sooner or later col
lapse, retrograde and give place to some
one of the progressive species of the ami
NAL kingdom. 1t is possible. For a
time it was thought that the army mule
which, under the developing excite
ments of the late war, often showed more
military sagacity than many of our
Brigadier Generals, would step to the
front when the time came for
the great change. There is patient
assiduity combined with retrospective
and retroactive forces in the animal that
fit him for higher sphere. Other ami
mails and birds have their special school
of advocates, as the ape, the owl, the mus
tang, or the professional politician. There
be others who think that when mankind
are relegatcd to an inferior position Sc
lection of the ittest from all the beasts
of the field, and the fowls of the air,
and perhaps some from the fishes Of the
sea will be made, and that thus a greater
adaptability to different callings will be
secured than now exists under the single
supremacy of the present lords of crea-
ton. That position looks reasonable.
But in this matter of modern inven-
tions the wonders are unceasing. In
some cases even man or rather woman
rushes in where angels fear to tread, as
witness that unique invention of Mrs.
Swisshelm chemiloon-which Miss
Emma Abbot pronounces an "instrument
of torture;" and now a Chicago man,
whose name is Woodman, is threatening
to astonish the world by serious Of in
ventions and discoveries that will throw
all that Edison ever studied out or
dreamed about in the shade. Mr.. Wood
man has struck vein of truth that over
throwsa all commonly accepted philosophic
theories He hasn't yet thrown any doubt
on the rotundity of the earth, but may do
it any day, as he may also upon the New
tonian doctrine of gravitation. He is no
ignoramusif if he does live in Chicago, but is
said to be good chemist and macbinist,
and rather well educated man. 1t
appears that in his studies he discovered
that the natural philosophers had been
all wrong in their theories, and he set
himself about demonstrating the fact.
In one single direction he claims to have
succeeded. 1t is in being able to light
and heat the world with water. He has
invented machine which will decom-
pose, or, as he says, "disintegrate" water,
aud by bringing the component parts of
that fluid together in a certain manner
he claims to be able to produce any
amount of light, heat and steam power.
The light produced is most beautiful and
steady, and is under perfect control. The
heat is of the most intense character, and
by the turn of a valve steam can be
evolved to any extent. A tremendous
explosive power is generated in the
process-a power that throws all that is
claimed of the Keely motor in the shade,
but this power can be utilized to run a
world of machinery.
Mr. Woodman declares that the cleo
trio light, even if it proves to be all that
is claimed for it, is not needed, as his burn
ing water will supersede it, and that the
motor power of his invention will, with a
boiler of sixteen cubic feet capacity,
draw train of cars a mile long from
Chicago to New York. 1t is remarkably
lucky that this grand discovery was made
in Chicago-that this city is contiguous
to the chain of great lakes. Water is,
therefore, abundant. The citizens here
tofore have not been addicted to utilizing
it either as a purifying element or bev-
erage like other communities, but they
will now learn to esteem fluid from
which so much light and comfort may be
drawn by Mr.. Woodman's invention.
Editorial 6pinnlngs. -
Canes will be worn this winter on boys