The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1893-04-19

Oer1ul CuFrcntBs -
Almost from the time that the tib
tory theory of light was accepted scle
tific men have looked forward to thed
s when it would be possible to- produ(
light without heat. For it is an unfo
tunste fact that SO far every effort ~
produce light has been accompanied x
an enormous waste of energy due ,esh
production Of useless heat. The e !
way OF producing light is by noes so&(
the combustien OF some comp ou
carbon. 1t does not matter whetn =,
carbon is solid. as in u candle, OF
as in a lamp, or il ayas, as in ord
illuminating gas, the process is tbs
The union of the carbon of theN
stance with tie oxygen Of the air pro-
duceS the rapid vibration that the ey3N
recognizes as light. Carbon, though the
element usually employed, is not a necess
sary factor, for magnesium, potassium,
iron-indeed almost any of tho elements
will take its place. Neither is oxygezf
necessary part in tLe productiQn6 Of
light. Chlorine will produce an wen
moro brilliant light with certain sub
stances. 1t is evident, therefore, that tho
rate of vibration and not the clement
employed is the principal factor in pro-
ducing light.
Unfortunately all methods Of produc.
ing light by means Of chemical combina<
tions tsuch as the union of tho carbon of
the candle with the oxygen of the. .air)
are accompanied by very large pro-
duction Of heat waves, which in the ma
jority of cases are utterly useless, if not
absolutely troublesome. The old simil8
of a musician desiring to produce GER
tain high note being compelled to press
down all the keys Of his instrument is
an apt one. The lower notes are not
merely useless, but they are positively
annoying. :.
Singularly enough. the first solution Of
the problem that was attempted success
fully was by the aid Of heat A very
small amount Of light waves are required
for recognition by the wonderfully de-
veloped special sense which man pos
sesses. tits intensity, not quantity, that
is wanted, to use technical term. Con-A
sequently if very small particle il heat
ed to incandescence the light which it
throws out bears far greater ratio to
the amount of heat required than itdoes
if large mass is similarly heated.
This is one of the radical bases of the
utility of the incandescent electric light.
An extremely small filament is heated to
incandescence through the resistance
which it offers to the flow of an electric
current. It generates heat, it is true,
but the amount of heat thus produced is
directly proportional to the mass of the
carbon, which is very small. The light
produced, however, is amply suf6cient
for ~ Olfinary purposes.
This solution, however, is highly nm.
satisfactory to scientists, however useful
it is to the public at large. Light apart
from heat altogether was wanted. The
FREELY, the phosphorescent searapimal-
cules and even the exhausted tubes of
Geissler furnished the hope that there
was yet some method of reaching the
high note without pressing down the z
whole keyboard.
Recently an extraordinary genius has )
appeared in this country who seems .
upon the verge Of discovering, il not to
have actually discovered, metl1ed by
which this might be done. Niko1A Tesla. :,
q man Of independent fortune and mosts
brilliant n1ipd, who was foE;h time cons
nected with Edison, has dared to expert
ment with. fs1idly alternating Electric :
currents result has surprised the
wildes dreams 6 he theorizers. Ho Z
hs,succeededfnpf6ddtin light of COM
<dratively high intensity without the
production of heat and apparently 5i-
rectly by the dse. of electricity. The
halls OF the Rqfai society of London and
Of tho Franklin institute of Philadelnhie
have tecn Illuminated by means Of tho
light radiated from bare copper wires in
ne open air carrying these SO called
Tesla currents.
The wires were not hot. but they radi-
ted from their surface light and sent
rom one to another bands and stream.
rs OF the mysterious light which we see
the aurora borealis. The effect must
o seen to be thoroughly appreciated
Ut when It is stated that the experi.
lenter without difficulty succeeded - Rx
adiating light not only from an a.. n y ]. !.
austed glass tube held in his hand. h,,A
$50 from his thumb, his nose and OIL. ~ I
'atures, the enthusiasm which rv~.,@ ;Ts.ss
yer nus audiences in London and n Nc
niiadeiphia may be appreciated. IS
AS yet no useful application has beeu Z
und for these wonderful new develorz 81 S 8
ents In electrical science, but tles s, \
ouid DC welcomed as . harbiuQer 81 81
rther progress. Baltimore Sun.
One Way Of Debating.
-
Iaoael Elliott +. Shepard does not 8.
Q his prospective debate with ths - - u
i,s1 : en1lrely ignorant Of such intellec. &. .s3
y contests. The colonel once debetsa 81 81
oclaa question with . youthful ent.s
st before the young peoples assoc;s- &!
Of . New York congregation. Shorf. s
0elore the debate began the coIome, Z