The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-08-26
Dom PEDRO
What Electricity can Do.


A scientific explanation of the pro-
cess would be out of place here. The
fact it is desired to impress upon the
reader is, that not only can the force
of electricity be carried far from the
generating source, for immediate use,
by being conducted along wires. but
that it may be bottled up in movable
vessels, which can be carried like any
other goods to distance, and at once
made available for any purpose for
which the electricity could have been
used at the spot at which it was first
produced. Electricity can be stored
in square cases, which can be con-
yeyed by hand or carriage to any
spot where it is required. The doctor
can take his bottled electricity to the
sick room under his arm to perform
an operation. The lecturer can bring
it stored up to the lecture table. The
9ronaut can carry it stored up in his
balloon. The owner Of a boat with
a screw can convey electricity in a
wheel barrow to the waters edge,
place the cases in which it is stored
in the bottom of his boat as ballast,
and turn his propeller with it. The
lady can have ii delivered at her door
as the milk is, and work her sewing
machine with it. The tricyclist can
put a case under his seat and run by
it. Lamps can be lighted, clocks can
be worked and regulated, safes secur-
ed, spoons plated, cOpperplates made
by electricity stored up in cases. In
deed, any operation within the power
Ofelectricity toaccOmplish otherwise,
can now be done by stored electricity.
But if our giant is thus a prodigy
both of strength and of application
and concentration Of strength, let it
not be supposed that he resembles
other giants in an unftness for work
that is confined and delicate. He is
no numbering, clumsy mass of power
merely, too rough handed for work
that requires sensitive touch, and too
gross in perception to be able TO
separate the coarse from the fine.
Powerful as he is from a mechanical
point of view, his powers in regard
to minuti9 are quite as marked. and,
if possible, more marvellous. The
hand that it so weighty has touch
as fine as the most delicate woman.
1t can catch up and repeat along a
long conductor the most minute
vibrations caused by the human voice,
producing them with most perfect
accuracy. 1t can grasp and magnify
the vibrations of the movements of
the tiniest insects, so that they be-
come audible to the human ear. 1t
can detect the most infinitestimal
speck of metal in any substance, and
disclose its presence unerringIy.
1t can record permanently the
rhythm of the feeblest pulse. 1t can
measure, in degrees so close that it is
difficult to put them down on a scale,
the variations in the heat of a body.
1t can detect trace of moisture to
which drop is as the Pacific ocean.
1t can act with such rapidity that by
its aid a photograph can be taken in
the five-thousandth part of second,
so that several distinct pictures of a
horse can be taken in the successive
stages of one bound. 1t can correct
clocks long distances apart to the
tenth part of second. 1t can move
in motions so minute and rapid as to
resemble the vibrations of an insects
wing. 1t can take cast of the most
delicate moulding without losing a
shade of its perfection. 1t can record
the variations Of the speed ola bullet
from the time it moves from the
breech till it leaves the muzz!e of the
gun. There is almost no limit to the
minuteness of its action, or the re-
fnement to which it can be brought.
If what has been already accomp-
lished in this now rapidly expanding
region of practical science is so Won
derful, the future prospect is still
more 50. A few years may bring
about a state of things in which men
will be astonished that they eyer
could haYe thought the appliances.of