The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-18
LIFE IN THE DIAMOND
GEMS Now FOUND TO BE INHABITED
by LIVING ORGANISMS.
Professor Van SchrOen Finds that
Crystals Propagate and Develop
Like Vital Matter.
New York Journal.

New York Journal.
There is life in the diamond That is the
discovery announced by Prof. Won Schroen.
Of the University of Naples, one of the
greatest institutions of learning in Italy
The diamond, which has always been re-
garded as the most Ifeless of substances,
throbs with animation, like the body of a
human being. It's scintillations are the evil
dence of a vital process even as are the
wonderful internal workings of animals and
plants. This discovery applies to diamonds
alone. Prof Won Schroen has observed the
phenomena of life in various other crystals
But his discovery, as far as it relates to
crystals is only limited application of a
great law Of nature. Things have hitherto
been divided into organic and Inorganic
classes Such a division will no longer be
applicable. The so-called inorganic things
are alive as fully as the organic In short.
diamond and a man are equally alive
herperI spencer, the great English phi
losopher, has accepted the theory
Prof Herman Eduard Won Hoist. who
holds the chair of history in the University
OF Chicago, has brought the announcement
or Prof. Won Schroens discovery to Ameri-
ca. Last September Prof. Won Hoist went
to Naples. There to regain his health he
Among them was DR.. Won Schroen, who
soon became fast friend Of the patient.
lie talked to Prof Won Hoist of his scien-
tho work and explained to him by practical
experiments and microscopical investiga-
ton the theory of life in Inorganic matter
IL was fascinating revelation to the Chi
caso professor, and he at once grew enthu-
Prof Won Schroen by the use of powerful
microscopes was enabled to observe what
ne ne had suspected for over ten years, name
~ that crystals were perVaded with life
rms discovery came like a revelation to
Won Schroen, who continued to observe
ana record what he saw under the glass
Then he brought photography to his aid
and recorded with the camera the mani
Iestatlons of life he saw in the crystals.
lie selected fourteen different crystals, and
by the double aid Of camera and lens he
preserved the visible proof of his theory
he Photographed the same crystals at diff
terent tunes during the same day, the same
month and the same year. The views show
the crystal in its birth, the head showing
forth from the mother CRYSTAL and the
course is followed as it pushed out and
away. Then, in the language of DR.. Won
Hoist; The crystal meets another one
from q inherent mother. The two strike
at each other, they fight, strive and clasp
with each other 1t is war to the death 1t
is case of the survival of the fittest. One
must die. No two crystals from the same
mother ever fight, however, no matter
when they meet" All this the life deVel-
opment and the, contention, is set forth in
the views, so all can be convinced who see
them. Professor Won Hoist returned to Chi
cago with regained health last week. In
class he incidentally mentioned DIR.
Schroen's discovery. The class gave out
the secret and the professor has been be-
sieged by newspaper men and scientists to
reveal all he knows. He refuses to talk on
the subject save in a fragmentary way.
lie says he is not a scientist, but a lay
man, and that it is impossible for him to
explain in an off-hand way the whole theo-
ry. He fears that any inaccuracy of state
ment would place DR.. Won Schroen at
disadvantage In the scientific world He
says, however that he will write what he
knows of the discovery soon his
health will permit and give it to the press
and world AS yet he is unauthorized to
do so.
DR. Won Schroen is Bavarian by birth
and is now about sixty years of age. he
this new theory. 1t requires money. to
follow ii up and to present it in all of its
many and intricate phases to the scientific
world, and Professor Won Hoist hopes that
some wealthy benefactor of science will
come to the sur f5oS oo6 and Perpetuate his
Professor Won Schroen has accumulated
hundreds of photographs from as many
different inorganic objects. Some of the
can see, according to Professor Won Hoist,
the minute embryonic heads peering out
from their mother crystals. Their evolu-
ton is then accurately followed up from
week to week each species possessing an
affinity for its kind, but clash with crystals
Of others not akin. 1t IS Darwin's prtin7,
to inorganic matter. In the wa the weaker
go down, the stronger continue to exist.
The life. the development and the strug-
gle of the chrystaline life are exhibited
In the photographs. Professor Won Hoist
thinks the sum of $4,000 is none too much
for the work to be done. 1t is expensive
and laborious to bring out these micro
scopic views. Thousands must be made for
distribution all over the world.
Il saw the wave and rhythmic motion in
these crystals he said to the Journal
correspondent.
"They throbbed with life as they passed
before my eye, looking through those pow
erful magrlfying glasses. The atoms, in
intestinal in size, move about In confused
activity and force in those inorganic crys-
tails. This truth is no theory; it is a scien-
tific fact that will startle the world when
presented by it's ,discoverers Or. Won
Schroen told me that Austria, Germany
and Italy had offered to assist him, but
he was inclined to allow the Italian govern
ment and the United States government,
which is great patron of science and its
development, to take part also. Nothing
definite, however, has been decided upon as
TO tic tar