The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-26
A Lesson That n Pair of Martini
Taught an Observant Citizen.
Nest Building In the Funnel of On
Electric Street Lamp.
A Depression Explanatory of Mary
Occult Mysteries Enjoyed.
Tho Towering Altltudlnoslty OF Natures
Acclovlties Scaled Successfully ard
the Last and Greatest Triumph
of Mind over Matter Noted.

Second street lisa large electric street.
lamp, suspended on wire stretching
across the street.
Over the lamp is huge funnel TO pro-
tcct the glass and carbons from the rain, az
well rs to concentrate aud direct the rays
OF the light to the ground.
For some time past it was noticed that q
pair Of martins were building their nest in
the funnel shaped covering Of the lamp.
The birds did not seem to fear or care for tho
terrific current; the light did not seem TO
blind them, and the heat, # any there Is,
did not bother them. The birds worked
regularly every day, aud from little be-
fore sundown in the evening until tho
lamps woro lighted they rested. When
the current was turned on and the light
shone clear and bright, the birds resumed
their labors AMI worked far ON into the
night What was most strange was that
the birds would alight on the electric light
wire while the current was on; not only
this, but they would put one foot on each
bare wire, ''slort crcuting' the current,
without any apparent injury. Any other
animal would bo instantly killed. An Gle
plant or lion, an ostrich or a man, would
die instantly in the same position. and
oven a tree would be bligh,cd aud killed
by the heavy shock.
The attcnlion Of an ArrEAL reporter VS.
called To the phenomenon last night by
Justice Garyin, who added: "1hc spec
taclc OF martin dciying the power Of such
dynamos ~ are IN use 10 generate clec-
lricity In this city. surprised mo and set
me TO thinking. Why does the current pass
harmlcssly under the martins feet, when
any other animal would be- instantly
killed. The only reason IL that the cur
rent does not pas through the birds body.
The covering ON the feet OF the bird must
be- perfect Insulntor 10 ward oil the cur
rent. II II h perfect insulator, better
| than kcfito tape, glass, charcoal, dry air
| or anything elise, then the discovery IA
| most valuable. because the obstacles Ia tho
way ol many scicuihc ptohlcmshave hecn
! removed perfect insuafor has never
been discovered. For lack OF II, IL h difi-
| cult 10 work many OF the multiple instru-
mcnls now used In the transmission Of
news Indeed, a perfect insulaior has
been long regarded as tho philosophers
stone in tie molcrn scientific world, aud
this claim 10 have found In ihe covering
ON the feet oi these birds
"Why b. 10 doubt Il | can explain.
| Did YOU ever study chemistry Welt
/ you know that chemistry ~ not merely
one science. but u cluster Of all sciences.
! lis the quiutCHscncc ot nll law, oil science,
| all knowledge. II N the Olympus. up the
sides nl which all other kinds Of human
knowledge are cropping Elementary
chemistry teaches that all molecules. al
atoms, all acids, have certain sprcifc
| form aud sliape. one acid has nn anglo
Of 40 many degrees, another more acute
angie, and ~ ON. Annihilalion IT MOLE
culcs is impossible, aud can bat reduce
| the fragments Ia "a certain size aud shape.
/ Take. for instance, that electric light
which YOU see. Few understand how il
Is made. Many Of the scientific terms arc
misleading and cpulyocal. Thus We say
that dynamo In motion generates cleo.
/ iriciiy. This Is an crror Tho friction OF
the changing poles Of the dynamo merely
snaichcs the electricity out OF the almos-
phcp aud a.nds millions upon millions Of
tho electric bails along the Nirc. Whom
the electric balls reach the touching points
ol tho carbon tIgir free passage isimpcdcd
/ by the imprrlcciurss oi the conductor and
ihoy are piled in pcl.mcIl around these
/ points Now, MUD YOU, that next To
ether, electricity possesses the max
/ imum oi indcsimcliblIily Elhcr Is not
only iudHtmcublc but alone VI all clo-
mcnis poscssgs the roicntulity Of abso-
! lutte incsisibliity. Its the only absolute
solid. Eihrr tonnes IN constant waves
| from the sun, aud Whcnnnythiug attempts
| 20 Impede iiH progress thyfr Is an expo.
| sion. Tho huidling together Of trilliOns
Of these molecules u electricity at tho
points Of tie Curhous, ollcm q resistance TO
| the waves Oi ether, and they in turn, being
| irresistible, crush tiC electric balls into
| four atoms each. which means into heat,
| which means into light. Thus you have
| electric light Now, you sec ihat-"
Judge" slid ihc reporter, "can YOU
| begin aud tell me all that againp Can
ether pass through my body. for in
stancc'
Certainly Il can. Your BODY h a good
conductor Tor electricity also, being 90 per
| cent water unless you mix H. aud news
| paper men never do thal-nnd that brings
| me back Ia my discovery Tho covering
on the feet Of martins Is noncondurlor,
! and this nouconduuior II what scientists
! have been looking for. Now, | propose
| catching all the martins In the country
aud securing the epidcrmis IRON their
| feet This will be made into such articles
as require 10 be perfectly insulated, aud
thus the very alphabet OF electrical science
will be- TuvOlutionizcd. When / get
started regularly la the business, come
aud zee me. Bob Ice will have charge oi
the nets. and John Mason will supcIin-
tend the baling Of the skins. Joe Theirs
| will be shipping clerk