Evening star., 1897-03-13

Leyden Jar discharges varied from 1.OOO.O
to 1O.oOO.O0o per second. according to
the size of the jar but that this
OoD.O00 0O0O.Oo0 -four hundred trillions) os-
citations per second before they would
become visible as red light. Some
conception of what this means may be had
by remembering that tuning fork vibrat-
ing at the rate of 900 oscillations per sec
ond would be compelled to vibrate 1900
years In order to encompass this number
OF oscillations. There is therefore some
| thing of task in store for the scientists
who expect to harness the ether and make
II produce light. Puluj says that The pull
sations of electric rays become more rapid
as the metallic coating Of the Leyden jar
gets smaller; that Is, the discharge from
very thin coating will produce a greater
number of oscillations than one from
thicker coating. Calculations show that II
the coating could be made small as the
material molecules of the atmosphere the
oscillations would reach many billions per
second To produce this extremely thin
coating Is the great problem. for If this
molecular film could discharge its cleo
tr1ctty In conjunction with the molecules
surrounding it oscillations would be pro-
duced which might under certain circum-
stances be perceived light. If the fire.
quency is greater than 1OO,OOO, O,OOO,WO ultra
violet or rays would be produced.
How Daylight is Made.
If it is possible to so vibrate the ether as
very near approach to daylight Phos-
phorescent substances brought within range
of the oscillating machine could be made
to glow vividly. 1t Is probable that the
energy of the oscilator would be made to
flow to two refiectCrs or plates placed op-
posite each other. Certain objects held be-
tween the ref1ectors would give off light
1t is found that where a vacuum Is con-
cerned the rate of oscillations need not be
50 high in order that light may be pro-
duced- Even now, il Puluj lamp is held
between two metal surfaces which form
part of a high frequency electric circuit
the lamp Will glow. even though no metal
connection be made between it and the sur
faces. In short, the molecules of the at
;nosphere. or. to be more exact, the ether
Is more easily affected in a vacuum than
under ordinary conditions
Tesla once made remark which was
full of the spirit of future progress in the
matter of lighting. 1T is of no little in
terest, he said. TO contemplate that we
nave possible way of producing-by other
! than chemical means-a veritable flame
which would give light and heat without
any material being consumed. without any
chemical process taking place; and to ac-
complish this Cnly need to perfect
methods of producing enormous freuuen-
cies and potentials These words of Mr.
Tesla contain suggestion the full mean
ing of which has lately been more thor
oughly understood. To produce something
from nothing has ever been.a great human
problem. not always solvable. Here Is a
great scientist pointing out a scientific way
or accomplishing the feat The hidden
meaning of the remark is not hard to dis
Germ His words would seem to intima te
that we have been employing exceedingly
crude methods of light production; that In
the laboratory Of nature means and mate
rails exist which may be procured and
used for the mere asking; that our proper
! course would be to first see how light Is
produced In nature. and then. as far as
possible. to go and do likewise The har-
Messing Of the ether means the solution of
many great secrets of the universe the
utilization of natural light, the subtle
| transmission OF speech through miles OF
space and the greatest triumph science has
yet known.