Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-05

by one Of the laboratory windows uon-
dering. just like Darius Green, whether
the fool thing would work" Into the
transmitter Mr.. fainter cried:
1t Worked.
Professor Bell! Professor Bell! II Won
hear what say come to the window and
wave your hatr'
Professor Bell did not wait for his hat.
with all the enthusiasm Of a schoolboy he
jumped TO the window and waved his arms
as 1rantlcally as he knew how. It did
work!
Latterly experiments were conducted of
taAhins through distance OF mile and q
na1. And here the progress of the inven-
ZION stopped There were other things
to engage the attention of the inventors
pussy and restless brain. and not until the
announcement Of the wonderful thing.
which Professor Roentgen was able n do
with his x rays did the instrument receiva
further attention
NOW, however. with the rapid prosress
which investigators have made in this Al.
rsctlon, PROFESSOR Bell has again taken up
the work. with view to making the radio
phone practical and commercial fnven-
ton. 1t would never do, of course. to have
an instrument which has to depend entire
~ ~ upon sunlight Tor Its working ability. and
lot long time 1t looked as though the
radiophone would be Of no use to anv ono
save men of science o
But 1t is possible that with the advance
or, OF eiectrle lighting. and means Of generat-
ing the x rays. simple and practicabla
way Will be found to praduce a light that
purpose. AVA '''i0
The conditions are that IT shall be suft1-
GENTLY powerful. and at the same fine
steady. If 1t does not possess the latter
quality. In trying to talk over a raw Of irht
you would experience the same sort Of con
fusion as when you tried to telephone over
a wire that is vibrating at the same time
from some other source
No Limit.
1 asked Prof Bell what would be the
UNIT as 10 distance through which the radi-
ophone might operate. and If by this means
1t would be possible to talk any farther
tnah you may now signal with Telegraph.
He replied that he saw no reason whv II
the right sort of light were found 1t would
not be possible to establish a series of re-
iecting mirrors ut convenient distances
apart AMI reflect the ray in any desired di.
lection. Provided the lenses EMPLOYED are
perfectly accurate, the light would not lose
its power. nor would the sound vibrations
be disturbed by any number of such de-
Elections.
Theoretically 1t Is entirely conceivable
that IL series of mirrors were set I'm at
regular Intervals, sufficient to overcome tho
curvature of the earth. it would be possible
to talk clear across the continent or for
that matter, We're the way clear, all around
the world. with this single original beam
of light. The only condition would he tho :
there should be nothing in the way of an
obstruction to cross the beam in its traye,s.
AS to the practical use of the radfophone.
IL Is easy to see that with it's simple con-
struction. 1t could be cheaply built and
might be employed for long distances. where
the cost of copper wire would be prohtbi-
tive. 1t is likewise easy to see its utility
In times of war. when 1t would be impos
sible to string wire, or when a wire
might Re cut by the enemy. By this means
free communication could be established
between armies considerably distant from
each other or from a lookout to the head
quarters OF the commanding general