The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-08-05

tions of one tone must exactly coincide
with certain other numbers of vibra-
tiOns in the other tones, the least devi-
alton from which will cause a discord.
Similar acoustic principles are be-
lieved to exist in the composition of
light. The white light as received from
the sun may be compared to a grand
chord in music. 1t is composed of a
vast multitude of vibrations of differ
ent color values, as shown in the spec
trum. Each color is produced by
vibrations of certain rates of speed.
red being among the lower and violet
the higher. The lowest vibrations in
light composition are so rapid as to be
beyond the possibility of computation
by any method as yet known to science.
Color is manifested to us in two
ways: by reflected light or vibrations
thrown from the surface or outer strata
of objects; or, by refraction, light
vibrations passing through some pom
derable substance. Every substance
has its rate of vibration which gives
rise to its color. Take a leaf as an
example, like the string of musical
instrument, it has its certain vibration.
If the string of the instrument vibrates
at the rate of 52S per second it will
produce the note c in the treble staff.
No matter whether it is struck heavily
or lightly, it's tone is always the same
in pitch. So with the leaf; when it's
atoms are set into vibration by light it
gives off the color of green. Its atoms
will vibrate at no other rate. All
other vibrations contained in the
ray of white light are checked, and
light after passing through the green
will not show any vibrations which are
not contained in that color. If we
further analyZe the light after passing
through some transparent green SUBJ
stance we shall find that the vibrations
causing green are like the vibrations
composing chord in music.
We have seen that a chord in music
is composed of vibrations acting in
certain relations to each other, the
whole making complete and pleasing
harmony. When we pass the light
from a green glass, through prism,
the spectrum will disclose that it has
been robbed of all but the blue and
yellow rays, while these are as pure and
bright as if taken directly from the
spectrum of white light.
We might for further proof reverse
the order of procedure and first pass
the white light through the spectrum,
then combine the blue and yellow in
the same manner as they were pre-
viOusly separated and we will have the
original green with which our exper-
iment was begun.
The same principles hold good with
every color and there would be no use
in going deeper into details.
There is one more thought, however,
that want to call attention to, in con-
nection with colOrs. 1t is the "dis-
cords When you place side by side
two or more cOlOrs which do not har-
monize with each other, the effect, to
say the least, is irritating. It seems to
| have about the same effect upon our
nerves that discOrd in music pro.
duces; while other colors seem to fall
into perfect harmony, each enhancing
the beauty of the other. If you ask
any artist you will be further informed
that two colors which do not harmo-
nize, will not, if mixed together, make
pleasing color. 1 do not think the
cause of this has ever been explained,
but believe am not far from the
truth when advance the theory that
the reason is Identical with that of
music. Compare the color chart to the
keyboard of piano. Those colors
whose vibrations correspond at stated
intervals will harmonic, and vice versa
Here is an opportunity for some
scientist to win immortal fame, and
give to the world system of color
combination corresponding to written
music, with the aid of which a woman
may literally dress herself in the latest
popular melody. A.C.R.