The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-22
GREATEST OF SCIENTISTS
THE DAILY LIFE, HABITS AND PHI
LOSOPHY OF NICOLA TESLA.
His Only Dissipation Is a Daily Dim
ner Costing $40 Why He Has
Avoided Matrimonial Ties.

| SPECIAL to the Indianapolis Journal.
| NEW YORK, Aug. 21.-The name of
| Nicola Tesla has again flashed around the
| earth. He is the foremost man in the
world. No human being has ever reached
| the pinnacle upon which he stands to-day.
| Almost coincident with the announce
ment that he has solved the great problem
upon which he has been at work for nearly
| seven years comes the news that an Ital-
| ian youth, Gugielmo MarcOni, has discov-
cred a means of telegraphing without
wires.
The scientific world acknowledges the
value of Marconi's invention. 1t admits its
practical use. The same men who honor
Marconi worship Tesla Marconi has ex-
planned, and his methods are easily
grasped. Tesla has simply said that he
| has accomplished his great work, and they
| believe.
Years ago those recognized as masters
admitted that Tesla had no peer in alb
stract electrical research. To-day the most
scientific, the farthest advanced, look upon
him with rapt, admiring eyes. That which
he says he has accomplished seems like
the dream of an intoxicated god The
most brilliant and wonderful flights of i'm
aginaton become feeble ana pitiful beside
Tesla's facts.
When the young man announced public
y, about five years ago, that he believed
the time would come when he would be
able to transmit electrical vibration with
out wires, it was looked upon as a dream
in nowise to be taken seriously.
The dream has become a reality. If any
man knows the secret of the invention
by which the results have been accom-
plished he has guarded it closely. Tesla
has given his word that it is so. The sus-
pcious scientific world that demands con-
vincing proof has taken his assertion, &C
cepted it as a demonstrated fact.
The discovery Of Marconi is admittedly
one possessing enormous practical value.
But it does not compare with the achieve
ments of Tesla. Telegraphy is an unim-
portant factor in the great scheme. 1t is
the transmission of power that is the vital
principle.
With his machine he can disturb the cleo
trical conditions of the EARTH and make
the electrostatic force do his will.
AS he told one writer he hopes to make
Niagara Falls drive mills in New England
send ships across the sea and transmit
thought or information to the uttermost
parts of the earth.
AS to the working out of the mechanical
part of the problem Tesla gives no nfor-
nation 1t is a mere detail in his mind,
something that any able electrical engineer
can do. 1t is trif1e with which he has
not time to bother.
The achievement carries with it another
that has been more talked about-the maxi
ing of light without wires. Tesla has pro-
duced light that has all the brilliancy
and qualities of sunlight. And it can be
made cheaper than. the ordinary electric.
light.
These latest wonders he has worked
arouse an intense interest in the personal
lty OF the man. 1t is in keeping with his
work.
TESLA'S EARLY LIFE
The material facts of his life are we'll
enough known He was born in SmiIian
village of perhaps forty houses, in Lika.
on the borderland region of Austro- Hun
gary, Of the Serbian race, which has mann
tanned an unceasing struggle with Turkey
for freedom. In his native language there
are hundred words for knife, and only
one for mercy.
in the Greek church, in which a Younger
brother is now a recognized force. His
mother possessed extraordinary mecban-
ical skill
Nicola was intended for the priesthood
He passed four years in the public school
at Gospich and three years in the Real
Skule. Then he was sent to Carstatt
Croatia, where he spent three years in the
Higher Real School, graduating in 1873.
He devoted himself to electricity and
magnetism. His father consented to his TAX
ing scientific course and he entered the
Polytechnic School at Gratz
He was not yet twenty when he told his
professor that it was possible to operate a
dynamo without commutator or brushes
and he was laughed at as a foolish bow
But the time came when he made the ro-
tattng field principle an accomplished fact.
From Gratz he went to Prague and Buda-
Pesth to study languages and to broadly
quall1y MIN for his profession. He entered
the government telegraph department. At
terward he went to Paris, searching for
more knowledge. He connected himself with
an electric lighting concern.
1t was while he was in Paris, in 1882 that
he perfected the rotating field principle
which has had profound influence upon
dynamo electrical machinery He purposed
giving his discovery to The world But wise
business men, who learned of its value
urged him to first secure a patent Tesla
had not thought of a patent
Americans whom he met in Paris urged
him to come to this country He acted
swiftly. The day he arrived in the United
States Tesla went to work in Edson's
laboratory.
Afterward he became associated with Diff
ferent companies, which placed his inyen-
lions upon the market, for Tesla has made
many which only electricians know about.
1t was little more than seven years ago
that he established a laboratory in South
Fifth avenue. in New York and devoted
himself to that research and experiment
that is his joy and ambition.
HIS PERSONAL APPEARANCE
These bald facts give little hint of the
man himself So far as personal appear
ance goes no one can look upon him with
out feeling his force. He is more than six
feet tall and very slender Yet he pos
sesses great physical power. His hands
are large, his thumbs abnormally long
and this is a sign Of great Intelligence. His
hair is black and straight, a deep, shining
Black. He brushes it sharply from over his
ears, so that 1t makes a little ridge with
serrated edges.
His cheek bones are high and prominent
the mark of the Scav; his skin is like
marble that age has given the first soaring
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