The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-11
BLONDS.
A Kansas Proressor's scheme for Giving white
skins TO Negroes
From the Pittsourg Dispdtch.

From the FHfS6Hrg Dispatch
KANSAS CITY. April 3.-Can the Eth iopian
change his skin? Yes. 1t only remains TO be
ascertained just how to apply the current OF
electricity. Prof. Lucien Blake Of the Chair
Of electro-chemistry OF the Kansas University
said in his lecture last niEhl in Lyceum Hall
that the negro owes his color TO a carbon pig.
ment in tho tissues OF the skin.
IF a current OF electricity be sent through
the tissues OF the body that contain moisture
continued the Professor, las all tissues OF the
body do. the tendency of the current is to de-
compose and transport certain of the ele nents
that make up those tissues and liquids. Gold
and silver and all the metals Todeposited out of
heir solution by currents of electricity in this
way in the arts. II it can be found that a cur
rent OF electricity will thus transport carbon
out OF its pigment layer. as found in the negro.
then this pigment will lose its black color"
Whether this carbon can thus I've removed
will have to be made the subject of experiments.
Prot. Blake was asked how he would go about
making an experiment OF this kind. but he re-
fused to give the information saying he does
not care to earn the reputation "f being a sem
sationalist. He does not doubt that the result
There is II process in common use in dem
~tistry.' he said, known as. cataphoresis. by
nf electricity. For instance. cocaine Is trans
ported aloIg q nerve OF the tooth, with the re.
s sHl1 that ,o 1s the ns NoS. is made oS th asm ppsc.ss Of ie Gssa:
phcresis, some.sdbstanc could DO conveyed be-
meath the ,neGro's epidermis 70 act upon the
pigment, dissolve and remove IL. the desired
result would DO accomplished.
.hof WAY might be To place the candi-
S SSss i insert E ono pole SE'n of n the f1,T%S" in %A ,Ss
water. and place the other nuon The nsgro's
difruse itself e.uallr over the subjects body.
B:t the point of making il remove the carbon
HpfnFninR1 nv" IN rafnl Ry nnriInRnI'
From the Kansas CITY Timer.
You would he surprised. - said Prof. Blake,
from colorcd people lately. You will reTem.
here in Kansas City / said that i believed that
by tho APP %lication, of an electric current the
Kim "on Th'S i. t dsssm TO .as n snG hat hls ela ess
skin would become white, ! think. that l
must have had iifiy letters since then from ne
Are the letters from men or womeu?"
Well, princiuailv. | think. from men. but !
have had several from women"
What is the general tenor OF the letters
A OF the writers express a great desire 10
they do not want to he physically Injured by
the process. Ono girl wrote a very. funny let
Ink to have me- sspeTimeht UPON Ter. !.
would guarantee not TO splil her beauty. Not
being conversant with the lady's particular
style nj beauty, ! an unable to say whether or
not II would he damsged by the operation"
anonymous, Many OF the productions are
humorous In the extreme. but there il no
doubt of the oarnsstness OF the writer's. hey
have a, consuming desire 10 be covered with a
Caucasian skin"
Have you accepted the offer of any of the
apr cans who are willing 70 become the sub
jects OF the experiment."
moi yet. Bot 1 rope to begin some exreri-
ments when / shall have completed my LOG
lures here. You understand that do not
state positively that this thing can be success
fully and harmlessly done. While ! believe
thai the color can 90 removed, the process
might have some uIdesired effect on some OF
tho 9th err tissues OF eth" body. That II n thing
which / should have 70 investigate more fully
before | should be willing to enter en- an ex'
pertinent"
Would you experiment upou the entire
body at oncef"
no. I should start with one member-au
arm for instance. | could soon determine
whather or not there would be any Ill effecl
from the process, and the subject would be per
fectly safe. II the plan worked well I could
then take up the rest OF tho body"