The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-07-24

poses, it has been left to the inventive
mind of the moderns to discover. 1t is
only in recent times that man has SUBJ
iected this powerful but elusive force of
nature.
Electricity is a modernrconquest. This
agent gilmore than Titan strength to-day
transports us at high speed over land and
water, by it machinery is kept in motion
and messages conveyed in a twinkling.
Electricity Eliminates our cities, cooks
our meals, and heals the sick. To produce
this indefnable something, to handle and
supply it to consumers in the forms of
power, light and heat, gives profitable
employment to a multitude of skilled
workmen. In so many ways is electricity
useful and economical, and the demand
for it increasing so rapidly, that the cleo
trical calling offers an opening, and
promises liberal reward for the services
and ingenuity OF operators who are duly
qualified.
Inventive genius finds ample scope and
alternative occupation in this ever enlarg-
ing field. Great fortunes are being ac-
cumulated by the inventors of electrical
appliances, and competent judges con-
slider that all that has been done in this
line is hardly more than beginning.
1t is safe to say that young men to-day
appreciate the value and Importance of
electrical knowledge, whether viewed
from the commercial or scientific stand-
point. In this brief space we can only
offer few suggestions and submit a
number of test questions.
just what electricity is in reality no
one can tell. Sunshine, gravitation, and
vegetable growth, however, are mys-
teries just as deep. We can study and
understand the attributes and phe-
nomena of electricity. A few of the more
elementary facts and principles are
briefly stated:
Electricity is either positive or mega
tive. If two neighboring clouds are
charged, one positively and the other
negatively, they will be connected by
flash of lightning.
Rub hard rubber pen-holder vigor-
ously with silk handkerchief, and it
will be found to attract small pieces
of paper, pith ball, soap bubble, or a
light pendulum.
Rub two sticks of sealing wax with
flannel; they become negatively charged
and repel each other.
Two glass rods rubbed with silk become
positively charged and will also repel
each other. The positive glass and the
negative wax, however, will attract each
other. They are said to be at different
potentials, one plus and the other minus,
When any two unlike bodies are rubbed
together they both become electrified,
one positively and the other negatively,
and one will then attract and the other
repel third electrified body.
Bodies that transmit electricity freely,
as water or metal wire, are called con-
ductors Other bodies, such as glass, silk,
or hard rubber, which do not transmit
electricity, are called nOn-conductors.
If you brush your friends clothing
while he stands on piece of clean dry
glass, vigorously applying an ordinary
clothes brush, he will be electrified. If
you then place your finger near his own,
an electric spark viii be produced.
Draw rubber comb briskly num-
Der of times through your dry hair, and
with the spark from it you can light the
gas.
Rubthe fur ofthe house cat the wrong
way in the dark, and you will see cleo
tric sparks in abundance.
QUESTIONS.
l. When was the electric light first
seen?
2. Name one or more ways in which
electricity is employed for different pur-
poses, as follows: In the arts; for exam
pie, electrotyping.
3. Chemically, as resolving water into
its component gases.
T. In war, as in firing torpedoes.
5. In mining, as in exploding dynamite
charges.
g. In therapeutics, as the electric belt
T. In benefiting health, as the prOduc-
ton of ozone by lightning.
8. AS a motive power.
Prepare answers to these questions as
well as you are able, and forward your
exercise for correction.