Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-11-11

barely 1.20,0 00th of an inch. The ply
sicist, however, knows that there are
LANCER waves of energy than this. Waves
of electricity over one hundred feet in
length have been measured; and the
theory of light supposes
that the waves of light, heat and electri-
city do not differ except in wave length.
In one sense, therefore, the wave of
electricity one hundred feet in length
can be considered Q wave-length of light
or heat or electricity. The Egyptian
had no conception of this world of waves
of this tumultuous surging, so 10
speak, across the realms of space. Even
Faraday, fifty years ago, had no con-
ception of the extent of the influences to
which we are subjected,
Is it not possible that we shall detect
and receive the long waves that come
across space from the distant stars? Aud
what impressions will they convey to us?
We now detect such long waves over
great distance on the surface of the
earth, and | know of nothing in the
realm of physical science more stlmulat-
ing to the Imagination than the recent eX-
periments with electrical waves. These
waves are excited by electrical sparks.
such as can be produced by an ordinary
electrical machine. 1t has been dis
covered that sparks send forth waves of
electricity which can pass through brick
walls or wooden partitions, and even
hills of earth. An electrical spark one
inch in length produced at "A station
thirty or forty feet above the ground,
will excite waves which can be detected
at distance of four miles; and tele-
graphic messages have been sent by means
of such waves through space without the
use of wires. The practical man imme-
diately sees in this method of prevent
ing collisions in fogs, for such waves are
not absorbed by the fog. There are GER
tain practical difficulties in the way of
utilizing the method for this purpose
which may be overcome, and which we
will not discuss in this paper. We are
chiefly concerned at present in setting
forth the remarkable extension of our
knowledge of the possibilities of waye-
motion.
A simple electric spark can produce
these long electrical waves. and acts as
the transmitter. The receiver of the i'm
pulses T is still simpler and consists
merely of a little glass tube about the
/ size of ones foretinger, which is filled
with iron fling. Two wires are embed
ded In the mass of filings and are con-
nected with an ordinary telegraph sound
/ er and "A battery. When an electric
wave falls on tube of filings there arises
click in the telegraphic instrument.
/ The tube of iron filings certainly seems a
| simple affair; the theory of its action,
| however, is complicated and not well I'M
derstood. 1t is known, however, that
the electrical waves implnging on the
particles of iron cause a response, Il pull
sation or fluctuatiOn !? in them which
allows the energy of the battery a free
flow for an instant. In similar man
ner, perhaps, some reconcile influence
can upset the particles in our brains, and
thus communicate impressions. What
physicist can fail to be astounded at the
immense possibilities In the future know
ledge of such phenomena which is sure
to come?
Faraday could not discover any infu-
ence of such sparks at greater distance
than ten feet. We have already extend
ed our conception of the extent of in
fluence of such electrical sparks I p from
distance of ten feet to a distance OF
four or five miles.
What seems to me still more remarka-
Bile is the work of recent investigation
who has experimental upon the effect OF
waves upon glass tubes filled with par
tcles of carbon. If such a vessel i;
connected to the ear by rubber tube
and the vessel is held In the beam of al
electric search-light, one can hear human
speech when it is spoken into tine trans
mitter placed in the electrical circuit OF
the search-light, and which is transmit
ted across at least mile of space to the
listener. 1t is known that there are
waves involved in this phenomenon; anC
there are doubtless short waves and long
waves; that is visible electric waves anC
invisible electric waves. These wave;
excite the fine particles of carbon in the
receiving tube into pulsations which re
produce the speech spoken into the cleo
tric light circuit.
The astronomer of the present may APP
pear to the astronomer of the future akiI
to the Egyptian astronomer; for he now
deals merely with comparatively mar
row range of waves of light, what W,
prefer to call waves of electricity
When instruments are perfected which
will take cognZance of the long electric
al waves of the stars, imagine the exten
sion of our knowledge of the mysterious
influences that reach us across the oceaI
of space.
Just as the waves of electricity from
minute sparks excite pulsation in distan
atoms, the electrical waves from cute
| opdCc uldl ScI lut dlOulo VI Oul dlluOo
phere into vibration. Indeed. it is nov
believed by many investigators that tn,
blue color of the sky is caused in thi
manner; the electrical waves set tn
molecules of the air into pulsation, ant
this pulsation results in sending fOrtl
waves which give the sensation of blu
color.
What is supposed to be meant by all o
|. this balderdash is beyond comprehension
1t is in the usual style of the one whit
knows it all. If the professor could recog
nize his utter ignorance, and keep still, /
would rebound much more to the credi
of Harvard college. The facts are tina
to us In some unaccountable way natur
has arranged for the wonderful ant
most important phenomena of electricity
sound, light, heat and color. All o