Mexico weekly ledger., 1900-01-25
FAcrs ABOUT K~LECTRICETY.
J. L czrza Answers . Number d
Questions which Have Been Pro
posnaed % Him

u III blm q Ne Leager
MEXICO, No, Jan. 3@6oue tine
last summer We had publishsd in the
Mexico LEDsEB an article O. the sub
jscf q Elecfricity, and sincs that time
we hnEs rscsived nzmsrous letters
and cards cantaining questions Of
inquiry on the subject Of E~lectricify-
How We chssrfaIly answer . few q
Tie most Important questions 50 thai
Ha vic read may be pr0dtsG thereby.
HWhaf h e~isctrisityfn
Electricity d property Of farce
which rhzidss IN al matter and which
consistently seeks to establish al sqai-
hhrium.
"What - positive slsetrcityfS
Electricity when Il exists q is az
cited IN any body to an extent which
IL in excsss Of the amount natural 70
that BODY b called positive. kcAiled
also vitreous.)
tTwhaf 10 negative elsctricisys'
RhctrIclty when II exists or b az
cited In any body in an ntnounk which
is lea than % the Amount natural %
fhni body ID called negative Called
also reEinous.)
ssWhy IL positive electricity called
alvs vitrsous and negative elsctrietfy
Icnllad also reeipouEf"
Becanss some philosophers belieTe
that there h but one electricity, bal
that Il Il liable TO variations Of guam
tity or stzfs. which they Distinguish
By positive and NEGATIVES While otbsrs
think there are two electzicitiea which
they name visreous and ~resino1s; be-
csuss they may be .uesced respect
lively from vitreous 10 reaiDons sab
stances and are found 70 display
forces Of attraction and reputation
ssUpon what does the electrical
phenomenA Of nature dependsn
Upon the tendency Of electricity to
hnd an equilibrium between lie pos
tive and negative states assuming
these 70 be bat one huid), or upon the
tendency Of vltreous electricity to.
seek out and combine with r~esinonz
electricity (assuming that there are
two anIds). OF the latter we are wei
convinced.
SHOW does the equilibrium OF cleo
tricify become disturbed2"
By changes in the condition OF mat
ter. As electricity resides in al snb-
stances and l., perhaps an essential
ingredient in their condition, 90 evsry
changein the state of matter, whether
from heat 10 cold or from cold 10 heat,
from 9 state Of rest to that Of motion,
from the solo to the liquid or whether
substances combine chemically and
produce new compounds in every
change the electrical equilibrium h
disturbed and in proportion to the de-
gree Of disturbances iu the force exert
ed by electricity to resume its balance
In the seals OF nature.
SHOW does electricity seek to regain
equilibrinm9"
By passing through substances that
are favorable to its diffusion; there
fore they are called conducting or
non-conducting bodies according As
they favor or Oppose the transmission
Of the electrical current.
"Whst Substances are conductors Of
electricity7n
Metals, charcoal, animal huids,
water, vegetable bodies, animal bod
lee, fame, smoke, vapor, etc.
awhat Substances are non-conduct-
Rnst, oils, phosphorus, lime, chalk,
gutta percha, camphor, marble, por-
dry gases and air, feathers,
hair, wool, silk, glass, transparent
stones, WAY, amber, etc.
"What Is the aus Of Hghtning7n
Lightning lie the result Of electrical
discharges from the clouds.
"Whst develops electricity 10 the
clouds7n
Evaporations from the surface Of
the earth, changes Of temperature in
the atmospheric yapor, chemical
action on the earth's surface, and the
friction OF volumes Of air Of different
densities against each other.
SIS there any way one may be pro-
lected from q charge Of lightning If
one 10 in q house not protected with
pondnctors7"
Yes. Take scommon wooden chair,
place four common heavy glass tumb-
Isrs mot gobists), place the four chair
posts in the glass tumblers ss near the
middle Of the room as possible, seat
yourself in the chair, placing your
Ieet on the round Of the chair snd you
IRE perfectly safe though the house
nay be struck repeatedly, provided
he house IL not set on fire. Bat 8
we'll rodded house is safer than any
,ther precaution
Respectfully,
a Trnnr r nnrrzn 4