New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-30


and if they sing, lighthouse experience
might suggest. what De Profunds they must in
tone as they up, seaweed-draped and drip
ping, from their icy depths! Notice. too the pretty
model of the cable-aying steamer. the Faraday,
with Its drums and pulleys and brakes, as useful
ship, probably ever sailed the ocean since Col
umbus touched land al San Salvador
Pass the English section with its delicate mach
nery for measuring electric resistance, etc, and
its clustering Swan" bulbs. The hight beautiful
in itself. is feeble enough by day, and at night
looks smoky and dull in the white glare of the arc
lights all around. So look the quiet domes-
tic virtues beside the spendor of public life
and activity. But somewhere within this quartet of
names-Swan Edison, MAJ I'M and Lane Fox-seems
to lie Tor the present the word of the enigma concern
ing incandescent light. About comparative merits
and prospects we unscentiic people need not task
our brains Just The question will get a
thorough examination at the Scientific Congress
anon and practical solution will make itself per-
ceptibe. in few years hence in the stock-lIst
and at our fresides
Step in moment to TIE Italian Pavilion which is
just emerging from its long tCrpOr. Notice the
beautiful gavanopastic plates-topographica relief
models of the two great volcanoes, Vesuvius and
Etna. And speaking of volcanoes here are the Rossl
notifications of the Protose ismograph and the
Microseismograph, the comparatively simple appa-
ratus with which Professor Palmieri, high perched
amid the lava and scorlG, in hlial watchfulness
feeling the pulse of poor old Mother Earth NAV
detect the first faintest culver which hints the
coming earthquake. Thus far prophylactic lags
far behind diagnosis. Mr. f. E. Hale has told us
of man who kept his private brck-moon. and
another who studied the secret of modifying the
weather Now let HIM give the history of the
daring innovator who shall supplement Palmieri
ana not only predict the coming ague-t but ad-
minister the cosmic quinine which shall cure it!
While we examine, n pleasant young Italian at
tendant smilingly announces that he can show us
miear que ca, and sraightway leads to glass case
in one of the gallery chambers the very shrine and
k-ot-the-covenant of magnetO-electric tradition.
Ancient casuists amused themselves with discuss
ing the question to which came first in the order
OF creation, the egg or the hen. Decidedly we seem
10 nave come to the egg; for here cased n silver
and mounted on chased casket like sacred relic
is the little oval bit of magnetic ore with which
Calico studied the magnetic force. Bewderng
possibilities and far-reaching reflections cling about
that dirty scrap of ore. Think of il one momenti
Without magnetic discovery compass; no Col
umbus; no America: Ncw-Yorb no Broadway.
no TRIBUNE but that's uuthinkable. Let us shun
the attempt to grasp the inconcevable, and turn
for moment TO the companion relic the little dry
piie,' about as big rs Il bank teller's roucau of
dollars with which Volta got the first faint current
OF that electricity which has made his name i'm
mortal verify We have got back to the birth place
of art the starting point of Modern History Mark
Twain declares that he wept at the tomb of Adam
and in presence of these shabby little bits of rub.
biSh one feels strange respect and ave. much as n
modern General might feel before the helmet of
Achilles or the mace of Charemagne.
Ana having thus returned to first principles let us
give over further search for novelty and take "A
slight review of the situation. In rapid glance
at the Exhibition we have done, all things con
roll, Pa, III
we have not examined all. nor One-twcntieih no.
nor one-hundredth part Of the vast congerics IF
matter on view. Still less have we been able In
render account TO ourselves others of the mnuer
principles ami applications involved. To do that
would require, first, the skill and knowledge of a
trained scientist, and secondly whole volumes of
encyclopaedia report. Even then it il doubtful
whether any one man could be found who at first
view, could understand or expound all the curious
and complex apparatus now brought together in
the Palace While the broad fundamental prin-
clpeS OF electricity are the common stock of edu-
Gated physicists. the awakened interest OF the last
lew decades, and the concentrated activity of
numheress ingenious and eager dIscovcrers work
ing each on his own lines, have pushed the minutcr
Application of principles. aud the delicate devices
OF mechanical appliance to an amazing DEVELOPMENT
In the most varied directions. The cleverest of
techhclsts is forced to confess that outside his own
special and limited domain re is almost M sea ana
lor iull understanding of his COLLEAGUES work
mast apply to him for detailed explanation. So
"hcre tue wise are at iault we humble laymen
may De resigned To our comparative ignorance
Comparative, | say, for the hours spent auonu tho
philosophers have not been altogether fru,tl,so
Fundamental principles have grown clearer mud
many OF the broader and simpler applications con-
paratiVely familiar The shlbboleths of the scicn,,
pegn to have "A meaning to our minds The
dynamo, the induction coil, the primary and
secondary current, the short circuit resistance
tension, polarity, all the manifold vocaluIarv az
'he electrician, begin to SAVIOR less of the mystc-
rious and awful than some months nro We oro
not ready, certainly, with our own fair hands IN
run dynamo or invent n new battery but we
nave very much clearer notion than ever before
VI oho points at which electric science is aiming
The methods 1t pursues, and the results il may prc
sunaDly hope to ATTAIN
before quitting the Palace once for all. LET ia 90
up once more to the gallery and take glance Mt the
"hoe pic'are-a sort OF mental photograph for fu-
ture memory and reflection. Sit down with ma nm
the landing of the noble stairway at the wost end
Mh,ie .he eye roves at leisure over the panorama
IL wished to express it in one word should call
III an electrical Coney Island condensed The floor
OF the nave Is one great checker work of planked
and carpeted platforms, gravelled walks and
corridors, gayly decked counters and povilou. ora
gia2ed Enclosures. Moorish, Italian Renaissance
anu o'her architectlires alternate with ornamental
columns, busts and fountains Sheov,s and
trophies OF varieeated banners futter from roof
'oPS or oroop nom gallery, mast and pillar: while
the mdair of the west end is a mere cobvch oc j.;
'eriaclhg wires festooned across the building Tho
eye Is dazed ana weary with the glitter of metal
ana glass. the gaudy tints of stuiis and toncstry
In and out amid this labyrinth of material ohecta
he iIa