The herald., 1896-12-06

partial answer to that question or rath-
er as a suggestion looking to its eventual
solution l will show you little radiant
matter engine or heat engine. 1t has
been running day and night since got it
nineteen years ago. Crookes devised 1t
to show the motion of matter in Il
vacuum. 1t runs by heat, and heat is
everywhere within the confines OF our
atmosphere. Matter in motion. the
belt attached to the wheels of nature
drives this little machine. You, as well
as l, can therefore imagine how, in some
such way, natures forces may yet he
utilized to produce power as well as
light. The problem has not yet been
solved, but way will be found enabling
us to convert the energy of coal into
electricity direct. But, 1t is not likely
that it will be done soon, as evolution
governs here as elsewhere, and such a
tremendous discovery will probably be
the result of the work of many minds.
Much is being done on this subject, ana
some results accomplished; still not or
an economical character.
AS to the problem of utilizing electric
ity to produce light without heat, l
can say beginning only has been made;
a large room has been successfully
lighted with a beautiful soft light, diff
fused like sunlight, with no one bright
spot to attract the eye, and without the
non-luminous rays contained in sun
light. l will now give you some idea as
to the appearance of the glow. And
after that will complete the story up to
date of the other forms of luminescence,
some of which cannot be seen by the
eye, yet they act as light, and are light
We have here under the table three
storage batteries which supply the cur
rent to this induction coil. The coil is
composed of two Independent circuits Of
wire; the primary composed of large
wire, and the secondary of many miles
of fine wire wound outside the primary.
By means of the interruptor, every time
current goes through the primary coil
attached to the batteries there is set
up, by induction through space in the
secondary coil, currents of enormously
high pressure, which will spark across
space and make waves in the ether of
very short length. Remember these two
coils of wire do not touch each other
Tesla says: 'If a man were at the north
pole without clothing and had hold OF
one of these wires he would never be
cold. AS these actions are electro stat tic
and act on the whole body at right an
giles to 1t, SO large surface is presented
for the current to pass no danger is 10
be feared. A small portion of the energy
would be fatal if it were concentrated
in any one part of the body.
These tubes become luminous to a
certain point: the fewer molecules of
ar tnere are IN the tune the more easily
are they shaken up by these electro
static effects. All objects around the
machine when it is running are so high
ly charged that by touching them we
get sparks; as electricity, like water,
tries to keep its level.
These two plates are connected by
wires to the Tesla apparatus. One may
be imagined to be hidden in the ceiling
cf room, the other under the floor;
and when l move these lamps without
wires attached you will see the faint
glow, and understand that we have light
without heat; IA light which cannot be ex :
tinguished by water, and yet so ethereal
and pure that it can set nothing on fire.
These are not the so-called X-rays. nor
can photographs be taken by them
This leads up to the other forms Of ether
disturbances, and to molecular motion
set up by electricity, which produces
luminescence, and we arrive at the next
in order the X or Roentgen rays. A
light that penetrates solid bodies, and
the discovery of which so surprised us
a few months ago. 1t has been said that
an amateur photographer may photo
graph person or a skeleton in his own
house; through a flight of stairs AMI
a deal door" / have even heard it sug-
gested that one would have to line his
house with lead or glass, which are al
most impenetrable to the rays, if one
wished to protect himself from the pho
tographc fiend
The term. "a new light" is rather con-
fusing for it is not a light in the sense
in which we are in the habit of think