The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-11-09
COL PoNDENC CE.
Letter from France.
PARIS, Oct. 10th, 81.
Electrical Exposition.

ELECTRICAL ExposltlOn.
Messrs EIditors,-The human thought,
Notwithstanding its infinite intensity
wants forever to follow all the marvellous
advances of physical science-the changes
wrought by steam, magnetism, electricity,
the discovery of new gases, and the COM
position of chemical substances. Priestly
discovered oxygen, Lavoisier analyzed
the atmosphere; detected virtues con-
cealed in different minerals helpful to
agriculture and found great number of
alkaloids till then unknown, which gave
new acids to medicine. Electricity came
to add to these wonders. From the mys-
teries of Cagliostro we come to the clear
experiments of Galvani, who lent move
ment and apparent animation by his cleo
trio sparks to the limbs of dead animals.
From the rudimentary and imperfect ex-
periments of Galvani, we arrived at the
knowledge of the electric fluid and its
laws, thanks to Volta, who placed me-
chanically piece of damp newspaper on
his lip between thin plates of copper and
zinc, and found their wonderful relation
so that in perfecting these discoveries
he arrived at the great fountain of cleo
tricity through the means attained by
the Voltaic combination. Morse-proud-
ly be it said, an American belonging to
the race of Franklin-the first whom the
Almighty thought worthy to hold the
lightning in his hand-Morse invented
the telegraph, and put the electro-mag-
netic fluid, the soul of fearful tempests,
under the dominion of man.,
But now, for the first time in the his
Ill H.
tions of electricity been collected under
one roof. Standing on the threshold of
the Electric Exposition, inaugurated in
Paris, 1881, we feel that the race has Just
entered upon new cycle of advance, and
that the marvels of the era of electricity
will far surpass the wonders of that of
steam. The epoch of electricity as a
communication has been astounding,
reaching it's climax in the submarine ca
bles which have bound the world to-
gether. The cycles of electricity as an
illuminator and as motor, are Just open
ing the storehouse of their mysteries and
glories The Exposition will expedite
this, since it not only furnishes meet
ing ground for telegraph engineers, cleo
tricians, and scientific men from all parts
Of the globe, but it also brings the utility
of electricity to the knowledge Of the
great public upon whose acceptance or
rejection every invention so much de-
pends. Indeed, the inventor may come,
but his discovery will die still born un-
less humanity is ready to accept it. In
this respect modern democracy is most
favorable to invention, and the race
emanc pated from the tyranny Of custom,
is on the "qat5 vive" of expectation for
anything that will hasten production and
economize labor. Forcible illustrations
of the necessity of public to welcome
the productions of the inventor, abound
in the Exposition.
Verify There is Nothing New Under
the Sun
Scientific men have examined with
wonder the Palecennotti Electro Motors
which resemble SO closely the Gramme
and the Brush machines, and were made
so long ago. There is another Italian
apparatus not generally noticed, but de-
serving of especial study This is the
three-needle telegraph of Antoine Mag
mini, Of the University Of Padua, made in
1888. The date Of Wheatstone's five
needle instrument is 1887. In this ap-
paratus signals are made by notes on a
keyboard representing the letters Of the
alphabet. The depression Of any one Of
these makes the proper contact on the
three circuits 50 as to move the three
needles in the right direction.
The practical use of the electric light
IS a question time alone will solve. In
Paris the Jablakof light is now in use on
the Avenue de IOpera, and from our
hotel (the Grand) we witness its per-
torrance every night. There is steely
or supulchral tinge which characterizes