Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1881-05-11
THE UITLIZA TIONOFKNOWL
EDGE.

=
first manifestation of action observed
by men, namely, the attraction which
an electrified body has for light objects,
is the last to be signally utilized in the
arts; and that, too, not in some new
or original art by some learned investi-
gator in electrical science, but by a
couple of boys, and in an industry
which is as old as civilization.
The development of what is called
frictional electricity by lightly rubbing
poor conductor, like amber. wax,
glass, or hard rubber, by another like
silk or fur, is and long has been an in
itial experiment in all courses of cleo
trical instruction 1t is the earliest
experiment made by or for the student;
and one of the substances commonly
mentioned as well suited to exhibit the
phenomenB of electrical attraction aud
replsion is bran
The desirability of some more effect
i've means OF separating bran from -four
has been recognized by millers, doubt
less, from time immemorial Latterly
the desire has been very strongly felt
Frictional electricity satisfies the re-
! qJirements of the case absolutely and
with singular economy aud simplicity
of apparatus That its availability
should have waited so long for recog-
milton is little less than marvellous,
since muititudes of mllers have been
as familiar with the property of elec-
tricity now utilized as with the needs
of the -four mill.
Why was the electrical bran separa-
tor never invented before?
While it may not he possible to give
a specific answer to this question, it is
still possible to discover causes which
must have contributed materially to
keep the now so obvious application
4 of electricity from being made earlier
Chief CT these, it is safe to say, is the
non-suggestiveness of familiar knowl-
edge Men are apt always to overlook
the means which lie nearest ut hand
and seek assistance from afar. When
new discovery is made in science
scores of practical men stand ready to
consider whether it can be put to use-
ful purpose
The possibilities of any old truth
already explored, forgetting that it is
but little while since the utilization
of knowledge became the occupation Of
any considerable class Of men, and that
new developments in the arts are now
constantly opening up opportunities
for applying old kno vledge-otten
knowledge which previously gave no
promise OF utility.
Thus, while the newly discovered
phases ofelectrical MISUNDERSTANDING
netism, thermic electricity, galvanic
action, dynamo-electric energy, and thu
| rest-have become influential factors IL
the arts. flictional electricity has lain
neglected. every one tacitly assuming
that its possible utilizations mnst al
| ready have been worked out
The moral to the young investiga-
| tor, who would like to be an inventor,
is plain. Do not wait TO acquire q
large store of knowledge before you be-
gin to seek original applications for it.
As each new fact or phenomenon comes
within the range of your investigation
be sure to consider its possible utiliza-
ton, Think how it may be practically
applied. Use it as o factor of inven-
ton, and follow It, il you can, through
tho range Of it's present applications.
You will find again and again thai
your inventions have been anticipated
bv others; but that should not be a
source of discouragement. Invention
is the best school for the inventor, The
ability to invent grows with practice.
| Great inventions are never the first
fruits of mind Impractical in the art,
aud our greatest inventors have achiev-
ed their most valuable results OILY af-
ter years of more or less successful ef-
fort. The young man who invented
the electric purifier is no exception to
this rule. The habit of inventing is a
long-established one with him. early
deqeloped and urged on by an inheri.
ted tendency to invent, biz family being
gifted in that direction.
His knowledge of electricity was
limited, but he had been in the habit
of applying his learning as he got it,
and that habit brought him the oppor-
tunity to make the invention referred
to. One of the great mistakes of stu
dents, fostered unfortunately by the
conventional methods of instruction,
lies in making education acqulsitive
mainly. The idea Is to get knowledge,
much knowledge, and then if possible,
apply it, forgetting that the mental
habit acquired by the search for knawl.
edge for its own sake is rather calcula-
ted to make tho man an intellectual
Miser, hoarder of information, than a
practical use of knowledge. Much less
information, coupled with habit OF
turning information to use, is worth in
finitelS more to the possessor and to
sopiety.
knowledge acquired as an end in
itself is delusion, a source of weak
ness rather than power 1t is apt, also,
to be Of a shadow elusive sort, in no
way to be compared with the real
knowledge which remains after each
fact or idea has been worked over,
tested, weighed. and measured by prac-
tieal application,
And the student who aims to become
something more than learner, namely
doer, possibly creator, must never
allow himself to think that the posi-
bilities of any fact or phenomenon have
been exhausted, so far, we mean, as its
utilization is concerned. The habit o
. inventing, in other words, seeking nov
. el and useful applications for the know
J ledge gained, should 60 hand in hant
With scaaisi,ion. The apparent pro
gress will not be so rapid, may be, al
| by the method of cramming, but it vii
, be real and not liable TO baekslidings
; while the possible profit OF it will bt
oal l;,hIa 20 honE Eslidi N ra