The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-12-24
PROFESSOR BLAKE's LECTURE.

The last ledture of the course in cleo
/ tricity was given in the board of trade
hall last night to an appreciative audi
ence
Owing TO the large expense for railroad
/ fare and the fact hat the Unity club has
| spared nothing to make the course profit
able the financial side does not warrant
| the same gentlemen in giving another
| course this winter.
If the deeper knowledge of electricity
gained by so many in our city, and especi-
! ally the profound impression made on the
/ large number OF students in our higher
schools in Wichita who have attended
these lectures can be fully appreciated, the
course must be considered very great
success.
| When the deficit is forgotten in the fu
ture, the success of the young men and
women who are led to higher paths in
learning by the inspiration of these Iect-
ures, will be a rich reward for the unselflsh
efforts of those who inaugurated this lect-
ure course.
Professor Blake began by extending
public thanks to a number who had rem
dered him valuable assistance, and to the
audience which had so faithfully attended
all his lectures He then showed that as
| the study of animal and plant life leads
back to organisms that seem to unite the
two Kingdoms, so the study of light, heat,
chemistry and electricity lead to the
common grounds of the study of the ether.
He showed that in the last two or three
years this ether has become one of the
most important part of the textbooks,
and that the student who keeps up with
the times must learn many things about
it only recently discovered.
In speaking of the number of molecules
in given space the figures used were so
vast as to pass comprehension, but their
existence and their motion is absolutely
proved. To count the number of atoms in
a pin head would require thousands of
years even IL the counting were done at a
speed far beyond human power. A life
time is too short to count the atoms in
speck of dust, and yet each one is subject
to fixed laws and in all the countless
atoms and molecules of the earth not one
ever made mistake.
The ether that transmits the force of
light, heat, electricity, etc., is actually
matter, and the manifestation we call
heat, or temperature, is simply the rate of
vibration of these little atoms or mOlo-
cules of ether. Their minuteness is shown
from the fact that in electrical expert
ments they pass easily through the thick
est stone walls. They can be reflected in
the form of electricity. and even brought
to focus, like light, with lens of pitch.
The region of absolute cold is all around
us in space and is 400 degrees below zero.
The prism was used to give the spectrum
of electric light and the various colors ex-
planned as being only different rates of
vibration of the ether.
The use of the spectroscope in determin-
ing the elements that compose the sun,
stars and nebulae of space was made ex-
ceediDgly simple.
The production of light without loss by
heat was again discussed, and the fact
stated that il a thermometer be placed on
the tail of a FREELY it is found that nature
is there making powerful light at very
small waste of energy in heat.
Professor Priest, who is at the head OF
the English postal system, has succeeded
in telegraphing from the shore 10 an
island three miles from land by using two
wires of equal length and of equal electro
motor force. He compared it to the
sympathetic vibration of "A violin string
responding to another tuned with it,
Thus man enlnrges his powers and calls
upon the power of nature TO extend the
range Of his senses.
The theory of the vortex was Endorsed.
aud by means of gyroscope
and the projection of smoke rings was
made clear 20 the audience.
These rings are the same as the rings so
often seen in still weather issuing from
the locomotive. The theory is that ether
has been thrown into these whiris or rings
by the creative power and that they go on
as the PARTICLES we call atoms until the
same infinite hand that set them in motion
commands them to stop
The last act is over-the cutain has been
rung down. and the course OF electrical
lectures will soon be repeated to IA larger
audience in larger city.
Prof. Blake viii no longer give Us the
benefit of mau's researches in this sfssci-
mating field, but the God Of the universe
will continue the never ending marvels of
creation.
The lightning fash; the northern lights;
the play OF rain bow coIors and the silent
but mysterious energies of nature, Will
speak more eloqueutly to the heart and
lift the soul nearer to its God because
these lectures have been given.
THE MATEIMoNIAL SEASON.