The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-04-30
SCIENCE AND PROGRESS.
MATTERS OF INTEREST TO IN.
CURING MINDS.
Some Dangers in Electric Lighting.
The Greatest ScIentist--Light-
ing Tunnels by Electricity
~ &--Portable Bath,
The Greatest Scientist,

The Greatest Scientist,
whether we look to it's width or
it's depth,' writes Geo. J. Romanes,
"we must alike conclude that the
range OF Aristotle's work is wholly
without q parallel in the history OF
mankind. Indeed, it may be said that
there is activity where the mind of
this intellectual giant has not ex
erted more or less influence-in some
cases by way of creation, in others by
way OF direction. The following is a
list OF subjects on which Aristotle
wrote: Physics, Astronomy, Meteor
ology, Zoology, and Comparative
Anotomy, Physiology, and Psych-
ology, Poetry, Ethics, Rhetoric, Logic,
Politics, and Metaphysics. From his
works on Natural History we find
that he mentions at least 20 species
of mammals, $50 of birds, 20 Of rep
tiles, 116 of fish, 81 of articulata, and
about 40 of lower forms-making
close upon 500 species in ALL Artisto-
tie appears to have been the first
the Importance of heredity as a
principle, not only in natural history,
but also in psychology; for he dis
tinctly affirms that the children
of civilized communities are capable
of a higher degree Of intel]ec-
tual GUILTY. alton than are
children OF savages. Looking
to the enormous range of his work in
biology alone; considering at thesame
time he was thus single-handed COL
lector Of facts, and a single-minded
thinker upon their import; it becomes
evident that Aristotle would have
been something more than human if
either his observations or his reason
ings could everywhere be justly COM
pared with those of scientific genius
when more favorably circumstanced.
But it is the glory of Aristotle that
both his observations and his reason
ings can stand such comparison as
we'll as they do. For when on the one
hand we remember the immensely of
his achievement, and on the other
hand reflect that he was worse than
destitute of any ancestral experience
OF method, born into a world of mys-
ticism, nurtured in the school ofPlato,
therefore compelled himself to forge
the intellectual instruments of re-
search, himself to create the very con-
ception of scientific inquiry-when we
thus remember and thus reflect, it ap-
pears to me there can be no question
that Aristotle stands forth, not on
~ as the greatest figure of antiquity,
but. as the greatest intellect that has
ever appeared upon the face OF this
SOME Dangers in Electric Lighting.
William McDevitt, Inspector of the
Philadelphia Board of Fire Under
writer's, recently pointed out, before
the electrical section OF the Franklin
Institute, that the most important of
theexisting defects in electric lighting
is that relating to fusible connection
as the innunaerable variety OF alloys
used forfuse metal is very misleading,
and is still an element of danger.
Some of these compositions possess
the properties of good electrical con-
ductivity and are slow to heat; other
compositions are of a character ex-
hlbltlng weakness when heated, result
ing IN annoyance from continuous
breaks and offering temptations las
has been found) to use ordinary wire
IN the absence of proper fuses
Another universal danger in electric
lighting RESULTS from the want of same
uniform or more ready method of per-
fectlng spices or joints in conductors.
Some workmen are in the habit of
making loose copper unions, leaving
the solldlty OF the joint dependent on
solder, which, being a metallic cement,
IS liable to be fused by apostolic heavy
short-current occurring on the line,
thus melting the solder and leaving a
loose connection. v.'-
Probably the most alarming danger
was pointed out to exist through the
possibility of lightning being conduct
ed into houses lighted by electricity
where the latter is supplied by aerial
wires. The existence of this danger
has been demonstrated where the
wires are attached to gas fixtures, Of
ferlng ready path for lightning, which
In leaplng from the charged wires to
the gas pipes, carries the electric light
current across, forming an arc, which
plerces the pipe, and where gas is pres
emit. it will be ignited, causinga steady
blaze. If this accident should occur
near the ceiling; the building would be
endangered.
Lighting Tunnels by Electricity.
Since the recent sad accident in the
Fourth avenue tunnel of the New W rk
and Hartford railroad i'm New York
city there has been a vigorous agita-
ton for tunnel lighting, and already it
has been decided to light the Bergen
tunnel, OF the Delaware and Lacka-
wanna road, through which SO many
commuters pass daily for New York.
At the investigation of the accident
one of the witnesses described the
good results obtained in the Hoosac
tunnel, where some 1850 lights are
employed. placed forty feet apart.
The cost is only $50 day, and the
tunnel is as light at it's heart as it's
portals. One of the locomotive