St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-12-10
CATS TAIL A CONDUCTOR.
Experiment of Two Northampton Young Mer
Interrupted.

Lewis E. Warner is an enthusiastic
young electrician and delights in expert
menting with the "harnessed lightning"
says the Northampton Herald. His orig
inality in such work has led him into
many queer experiences and he has some
times been shocked" by the fluid when
he least expected to be used as a con-
ductor. But the most interesting and
amusing episode in which he has figured,
and which deserves high rank among
, unusual pranks OF electricity occurred
several days ago, while Mr.. Warner and
a friend were experimenting with the X
rays and the Horoscope. They looked at
a great variety of objects, animate and
inanimate, and had unusual success in
seeing through material and tissue that
is perfectly opaque under ordinary light.
A hen was one of the living objects ex-
amined under the rays and the bones
were clearly seen through feathers and
flesh. Finally a cat was chosen for ex-
animation, and thereby hangs the tale,
or perhaps more accurately, the tail that
figures in the tale.
Those acquainted with electrical appa-
ratus and the action of electrical cur
rents know that the induction coil, which
forms an important part OF the X ray
apparatus, has two poles, one positive,
the other negative, and that consequently,
when an electric current passes through
the coils, sparks will leap back and forth
between these poles and make a loud
cracking noise, sometimes like pistol
shots. II any object that is a conductor
Of electricity happens to get too near the
poles the electric spark will jump to the
object and the attending current will
. pass off into the earth through the OBJ
iect. Mr.. Warner and his fellow expert.
menter having determined to look
, through the cat, proceeded to the expert.
ment. The friend held kitty between the
Crookes tube and the Horoscope while
e Mr.. Warner managed the electrical cur
| rent at the induction coil. Kitty evi
IDENTIFY did not understand the strange
light, and she certainly did not like the
e cracking noise. She began to protest
. by very energetic ~wriggling in the effort
n to escape, and as an accompaniment
dashed her long tail about in the mos
$ approved style of enraged kitties. Hat
a she kept that appendage still, all woult
d have been well. In an extra effort t.
c defeat the further progress OF scientific
! research into her anatomy, the ca
t swished her tail close to the poles of tn
d induction coil and Immediately becam
the central figure in a surprise party
With a gleeiul crackle, the electricit
a jumped from one pole of the coil to tn
tail, and a little electric spark marke
the end Of each hair. 1t was a brillian
Of spectacle, but only Mr.. Warner appr,
6. ciated that feature, for both the cat an
ar. the person who held her received a shoe
that established between them a con
i. mon bond of sympathy and they ii
re %stantly became quite attached to eac
other. The attachment was m%omentar,
however, for in the violent commotio
ne that followed the shock the connectio
in between the tail and the pole of the i
G. duction coil was broken and the expei
IN menter was glad to release kitty, who
restless apendage had suddenly assume
To the appearance OF a feather buster. III
d. cat made a leap for liberty, and caused
il. grand finale to the exciting episode /
he alighting in a box OF 20 incandesceI
st electric light bulbs and breaking IL
them with the noise like the explosion
%. hrecrackers.