The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-11-16

Paris without another visit to the Elec-
trio Exposition, and a sight OF
Edison's Electric Machine.
His generator is steam dynamic. The
steam and the dynamic engine work to-
gether without the Intervention of belt
and the loss of power it would cause
The one characteristic of this inventor 8
work is a grand simplicity. The engine
is of 120 horse power, and lights over
200 lamps of s candle strength. The in
candescent light of Edison will probably
be preferred by females as it is not trying
to the complexion. A painted lady is
seen at terrible disadvantage when the
rays of an arc-light fall upon her face.
The incandescent light is more charita-
BILE because of a mellow tinge. The Edi-
son invention also is intended to kill two
fine, fat birds with one stone. 1t is ar
ranged so as to turn the engine to account
in distributing motive force in the day
time and light at night.
No one can look at this noble inven-
tion destined, we believe, to solve the ques-
ton of the electric light without an emo
tion of profound respect for this great in
ventor. This feeling is enhanced by the
knowledge of the patient method and
logged determination with which he has
pursued his discoveries. One of his fa-
vorite expressions is declared to be, 1--WE
must go on trying nature is much poorer
than | take her to be if she cannot afford
a solution of this difficulty" At the Ex-
position day-book is shown in which
the inventor has chronicled for five years
all the intuitions which have flashed
through his brain. Each page is attested
by three witnesses to prove the probity
OF his discoveries when made. The in
ventions now displayed to the world show
that Edison is perfect sleuth-hound in
following the scent of the notions which
have impinged upon his brain In day
books extending over thirteen months the
pages are filled with designations of ma
terials uselessly employed in attempting
to make perfect carbon button for the
telephone At last he discovered the
proper thing by happening one night in
an office where kerosene lamp was 60
ing out for want of oil. The lass chin
ney was coated over on the inside with
lamp black. "Can it be kerosene SCOT" "
thought he, that will answer my pur-
pose v? On the spot he took off the lamp
chimney and went home to experimental
ize on the black inside coating, commenc-
ing at the bottom. A very encouraging
result was arrived at. But there were
yet difficulties. The inventor scraped
higher up. The SCOT was better quality.
The more he assembled the nearer he got
what he wanted. At last, quite at the
top OF the chimney, the lamp black was
a perfect quality. Eureka
The search for carbon horseshoe for
the electric lamp was one of long failure
also-but with a splendid ending. All
kinds of rags were tried and textiles
stepped in chemical solutions-various
sorSs of paper-innumerable species of
wood-of bark, outer and inner-of bark
In the season when the sap rises and
when it descends-of grapes-and of
cornstalks prepared in many ways. Bam-
boo was the last article essayed. An ex-
pensive cane was sacrificed to science
The secret OF nature was out. Manila
bamboo voiced it plainly enough. The
cane material, however, was not sufficient
ly even in the grain. But homogeneity
was what the inventor required for his
horseshoe. Otherwise the particles here
would let the electrical current run on
fast, and others there would resist if too
stoutly. Edison had remarked something
in the Chinese wood peculiarly adapted
to carving. 1t must therefore be of
smooth and homogeneous grain He gave
one OF his trusty assistants, whom he had
taken in as boy, twenty-five thousand
dollars and sent him to China. And now
the ideal carbon burned in the incandes-
cent lamps exhibited in the Palais de
| lndustrie, Paris, is made of bamboo sent
by this assistant from Canton
L. M. @.