The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-06-14
MODERN MAGIC.
Revealing Secrets of Nature Hidden Since
the Dawn of Civilization.

Revealing Secrets of Nature Hidden Since
the Dawn of Civilization.
Until a comparatively recent period
of the history of the world, most of it's
inha bitants, the civilized as well as the
uncivilized, were imbued with the be-
lief that each of the forces and objects
of nature were presided over by some
divinity, spirit or fairy.
Such beings were supposed to exist
throughout the entire realm of nature
and it was also believed that man
had the power, by the use of certain
spells, to bring them under his per-
sonal control. Those who exercised
this control over the spirits as a pro-
fession were magicians.
To-day we no longer believe in magic
such as was existent in the past. New
ertheless, there is modern magic
which is able to accomplish more than
all of the sorcerers of old, and which
every day performs marvels that would
have made even the Caliph Al Raschid
open his eyes, accustomed as he was to
genii and the like. Even the tales
which he heard in his midnight wan
behring's would seem of small moment
by the side of those which might be
related to him by child of to-day as
actual fact.
Our modern magicians are the chem
lists. the electricians and the engineers.
They are able to command the spirits
of the air, fire and water to do their
bidding. They are able to force
them to transmit mans news around
the globe, to propel his great ships and
trains of cars, and drive great ma
chimes, saving the work of millions of
mated by the spirits. In the tropics
they make for him artificial ice to cool
his drink and preserve his food. They
perform for him countless offices,
which the fairies and genii of early
days never dreamed of being able to
do.
Each year sees these great forces of
nature under a more complete control
of our modern magicians, and still they
do not cease their task. Modern magic
is plunging into the innermost re-
cesses of nature and revealing secrets
hidden since the dawn of civilization.
Our magicians have separated sub
stances into their original elements,
and when it is believed that all the ele-
ments have been discovered science re-
veals new ones, as in the case of the
recent discovery of argOn, which, as
well as oxygen and nitrogen, is now
know to exist in the air.
After resolving things into their ele-
ments science reconstructs them, and
has reconstructed many things. The
work of reconstruction is, however,
more difficult than that of tearing
apart, and the progress in this branch
of science is somewhat slow. 1t is an
easy matter for a chemist to find out of
what an article is composed, but more
difficult to reconstruct it. Neverthe
less, man is learning to do that, and
| the only end of human power in sight
is the divine function of creation, or
| the making of something out of moth
ing.
Scientists are now endeavoring to
make artificial food. When this task
| has been achieved a great gain will re-
suit to humanity. The work of repro
duction is not an impossible task.
Take bread, for instance. The scien-
fist finds that it is composed of a given
number of parts of oxygen, hydrogen
and carbon, with other eleme nts, such
as little potash, some phosphorus and
lime.
These substances all exist in large
quantities in nature. Most of them
can be found in the air and water.
Every tree and plant contains car bon
coal is impure carbon-and oxygen
hydrogen and nitrogen can be found
in the air and water.
When the secret of recon binino
these elements is discovered why should
any one starve if out of hogshead o,
water, some air and ton of coal, with
few minor ingredients, chemist car
make enough bread to feed an army.
The chemist can fix these in the prop
ar proportions, but he is not yet BILE
to make them taste like the originals
or even possess the same nutritive pow
ers, while it has by no means the like
ness. What he now seeks is to find tn,
vital force that forms the material O.
corn, beefsteaks and eggs. That i
lacking. 1t may be that it is electric
ity. It is, in any event, some vivi,
and vivifying power that combine
and unites the material so that the.
can form nourishing and palatabl
food. This is the last step which tn
modern magician must take.
This is by no means impossible. Wit
improved processes of manufacture
waste material may be saved and man
ufactured into food. Already the chem
ist has taken tallow, oil and a littl
milk and made of it an imitation but
ter that many are unable to tell fror
the genuine.
Altogether, it does not seem at a.
impossible that the day will com
when we shall sit down to a breakfas
of hot rolls, steaks and potatoes whic
} have been manufactured out of othe
} things.
We may not live to see the dav, bu
modern magic NAV achieve that tr