New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-03
PERPETU5L NOTION.


Science has made progress chiefly because the
majority of men are so constituted as 10 be capable
of realizing the force OF demonstration. Were rot
this perceptive faculty general the world might
still be disputing as to what two and two make
when added together. and there would have been
no consensus of opinion upon any of those general
izations from experience which We call natnrai
laws But while most men are able to realize DEM
constructions there are always some VINO 40 not
possess this power. and these peculiar peoplc Iur-
nish the paradoxers. as Professor DE Morgan
used to style them; the cranks," as they are CON-
monty termed These they who become con-
ylnced that the circle can DO squared, and who
are fascinated by the allnrements OF perpetual
motion, or seek with chlldlke faith the Philos-
ophers Stone. To-day the quest OF che ast-named
Illusion has nearly ceased. but the circle squarers
still flourish and make life weary for mathema-
tcians and the secretaries of learned societies,
while the enthusiasts who arc sure they nave
solved the problem of perpetual motion continue
to be numerous and confident, and say and write
bitter things abOnt the hide bound men OF science
who refnse to hear of the discovery OF new laws of
nature and mechanics.
The last psradoxer to discover perpetual motion
has just been revealed in Springfield, OHIO. by The
Globe Republic of that town. He is Frenchman
of venerable years. but full of fire and of course
quite certain that he has done the trick. lInfort-
unatoly accident has happened 10 some part OF
his machine, so that q conclusive demonstration
cannot vet be given. The Globe Repubhc amply
sets forth the inventors belief in the genuine
ness of the discovery and Herewith prints
the opinions of scientific authorities upon the
problem. 1t is hardly correct however, to speak.
as our esteemed contemporary does. of perpetual
motion as dream of science" 1t is IN truth
dream of scioism. not of science. Science knows,
and has long known, that the problem IS insoluble
in practice. and the reasons for this conclusion
are at once 50 simple and so conclusive that re-
markablo degree of crankness IS needed for the
creation and maintenance of belief in the posi-
bility of success. If a man should appear who
declared that he had solved the problem of carry
ing himself in "a basket it is doubtful whether
even the most confirmed perpetualmoton crank
would give IN his adhesion To the statement. Bnt
perpetual motion Is in effect identical with car
rying ones self in a basket
No doubt seeking perpetual motion is an inno-
cent way of wasting time. comparatively speaking
IL is decidedly a better way than making
dynamite bombs, for instance. The Springfield
Frenchman certainly has not discovered perpetual
motion. for perpetual motion is an ImpOssibility.
To intimate that lie may have done so Is to ASSERT
that action and reaction may possibly not be
equal; that two and TWO may possibly not make
four; and On. indefinitely: and this Is nonsense.
No doubt the poor Frenchman has derived great
deal OF pleasure and satisfaction from his hobby,
and no doubt he will go on tnSerng with it to the
end of the chapter. for para oxers of his kind are
utterly incapable of being set right. as is obvious
when one considers that their peculiar mental con-
dition dlsabies them from thinking in straight
lines Probably time will never come when there
will be no cranks of this harmless character. and
they are interesting studies long as they are
presented for what they really are.