The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1897-05-22
ELECTRICAL BLONDS.
A Kansas Professors Scheme for
Turning Negroes White.
He Thinks the 0ki1 Of the Ethiopian
Can Re DleaSAsd by the Use o1
EleetFielty-AaAy Eager.
Applicants.

Can Re Dlea0Aod by the Use 01
Elsstrielty-MaAy Eager.
Applicants.
Can the Ethiopian change lis akin?
Yes. It only remains to be ascertained
just how to apply the current of cleo
tricity. Prot. Lucien Blake, of the
chair of electro-chemistry of the Kan
sas university, said In recent lecture
tlrat the negro owes his color to cur
hon pigment in the Tissues OF the skin.
eff a current of electricity be sent
through the TISSUES Of the body that
contain MOISTURE" continued the pro-
fessor, "as all tissues Of the body do,
the tendency Of the current II TO de-
compose and transport certoin of the
clementa that make up those tissues
and liquids. Gold and silver and all
the metals are deposited out Of their
solution by currents of electricity in
this way in the arts II it can be found
that a current Of electricity will thus
transport carbon out OF its pigment
layer, al found in the negro, then this
pigment will lose it's black color"
Whether this carbon can thus be re-
moved will have to be made the subject
of experiments. Prof. Blake was asked
how he would go about making an
experiment Of this kind, but he refused
to give the information, saying he does
not cure to earn the reputation of being
a sensationalist. He does not doubt that
the result could be accomplished.
There il q process i'm common use in
dentistry" he said, known as 'cnt-
aphoresis,' by which substances are car
ried bodily by current Of electricity.
For instance, cocaine is transported
along q nerve OF the tooth, with the re-
suit that the nerve is mede temporarily
insensible to pain. Now, If by this
process Of cataphD1esis, some substance
could be conveyed beneath the negro's
epidermis to act upon the pigment, dis
solve and remove it, the desired result
would be accomplished.
Another way might be to place the
candidate for q white skin in q common
water bath, insert one pole Of the bat
terry in the water, and place the other
upon the negro's body. A mild current
of electricity would then diffuse itself
equally over the subjects body. But
the point Of making it remove the car
bon without destroying the tissue would
have to be determined by careful ex-
pertinent.
"You would be surprised" said Prof.
Blake, ITO know how many letters
have received from colored people late
ly. You will remember that in the
course of a recent lecture in Kansas
City said that believed that by the ap-
plication of an electric current the pig
ment which gives to the negro his black
skin could be decompoeed and that the
skin would become white. think that
/ must have had so letton aimee then
from negroes who would like TO change
color"
"Are the letters from men or wom-
emp"
We'll, principally, think, from men.
but have had several from women"
What Il the general tenor Of the let
ters?"
"All of the writer's express a great de-
sire TO be white, but they are particular
10 say thnt they do not went to be
physically injured by the process. Ono
girl wrote . very funny letter. She
said that ahe would be perfectly will
ing to have me experiment. upon her,
il 1 would guarantee not to spoil her
beauty. Not being cumveraant with
the lady's particular style of beauty.
I am unable to say whether or not it
would be damaged by the operation"
"Are the letters all sfgned?"
'"The greater part Of them are, but
some are anonymous. Many OF the
productions are humorous in the ex-
treme, but there = no doubt Of the
earnestnees OF the writer's. They have
a consuming desire to be covered with
Caucasian skin"
"Have you accepted the offer Of any
of the applicants who are willing to be-
come the subjects Of the experiment? ?"
"Not yet But hope to begin some
experiments when shall have com
pleted my lectures here. You under
stand that do not state positively that
this thing can be successfully and
harmlessly done. While l believe that
the color can be removed, the process
might have some undesirable effect ON
some of the other tissues of the body.
That is thing which should have to
investigate more fully before I should
be willing to enter on an experiment
Would you experiment upon the en-
tire body at once"
mo. 1 should start on one member
On arm, for instance l could soon
determine whether or not there would
be any i'll effect from the process, end
the subject would be perfectly safe.
If the plan worked well, I could then
take up the rest Of the body.'-Pitts-
burgh Dispatch.
Praying Bicycles for BudAhists.
To 80 great an extent have the jap
anese adopted European methods and
models that an enterprieing Buddhist
has adopted the bicycle to serve the
needs of the praying wheel a. used by
the followers of his creed. Instead OF
attaching the written prayer to the
customary wheel which 10 generally