The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-07-03
Five Gents
Electrical Science.
THIRD PAPER.

IHlhb
Electrical science was but imperfectly
developed in America during the first half
OF the eighteenth century. but was destined
to be carried forward to a higher degree of
perfection by that illustriolS person. Ben.
jamin Franklin. Born in Boston on the
18th Of January 17O6; of poor but respect
able parents. his father being a soap boiler,
whom he assisted for two years. Not lik-
ing that business he was, at twelve wears
of age, apprenticed to his brother to learn
the printers trade. After time he went
to New York in search of employment,
drifting from there to Philadelphia and
then to London; returning after eighteen
ponths had elapsed to Philadelphia. Early
developing taste for the sciences, and
hearing of the discoveries that were Great
ing great amount of discussion throughout
Europe. he determined to investigate this
branch of science. Accordingly he had
some instruments sent to him from Eng
land, by friend of his, by name Colinson.
His study of this science embraces two
points, the one theoretical. the other ex-
perimental. AS theories are nearly always
tedious course of reasOnings. l will not
follow them any further than to give the
reader slight idea of his theories.
The great question presented to Franklin
was whether electricity was produced by
the application of friction to bodies or
communicated to such bodies. by means of
other bodies, this, and the questions that
naturally follow upon an Introduction of a
subject to reasoning mind were the the
cries upon which Franklin'S experiments
were founded. Franklin was the first stu
dent of this science to establish the identity
of lightning and electricity The expert
ment generally we'll known by which this
was aScertained was very simple. An
ordinary kite, as used by boys, covered
with silk, to one of the wooden crOsspeces
OF which he attached a wire, to which was
fastened the cord used for flying the kite,
made Franklin ready for the experiment,
but the weather was not. Finally in June
1852 during a heavy thunderstorm he
raised his kite and waited anxiOusly for
some manifestations of electricity, but was
deSpalring OF success, when he noticed the
threads composing the cord were diverging
from each other. Bringing his knuckle to
key attached to a silk cord, the same be-
ing tied to the cord holding the kite. an
electric spark passed between his knuckle
and the key. A Leyden jar was connected
to the cord and from which shock was re-
ceved. All the peculiarities of electricity
were observed, which thoroughly established
the identity between the forces and made
Franklin famous. He was also the in
ventOr of the lightning rod. The discOv-
cries OF Franklin are to numerous to men
ton, all tending however to more fully de
velOp the science of electricity Franklin
died on the 18th of April 176O, i'm his
eighty fifth year.
The attention of many scientists and
scholars was drawn to the science of cleo
tricity, especially atmOsphercal electricity.
through the death of Professor Richman,
at st. Petersburg in 1853, while engaged in
making an experiment to establish the de-
gree of intensity in which electricity pre-
vailed in the atmosphere during the pas
sage of thunderstorm. He had contrived
an apparatus for that purpose. to which he
had attached chain. connected to an iron
rod fastened to his house. One day during
a thunderstorm he. in company with a per-
son by name SOkOlOw. repaired to the
apparatus. and while engaged in con-
versatiOn terrific clap of thunder re-
verberating and echOing throughout the
whole city. startled their ears. and at
the same instant a ball of fire leaped
from the rod to the head of Professor Rich
man killing him instantly. while SOkolow
though rendered Speechless was uniniured.
The apparatus constructed by Professor
Richman has developed into what is now
known as an electrometer.
LEONARDUs.