The Indianapolis journal., 1903-12-13

II II disadvantages. Its delights are
problematic. 1t has an uncertain
kSvAI ty behind 1t which is not promis-
ing. We none of us quite know
what it will do with us. 1t presents query
that is rather big.
To that query religion brings one answer,
materialism another. These answers are all
very well as far as they go. But they do
not go far enough except when they go
too far. However. you pick and choose, each
has its little shudder. II you adopt the re-
ligious view you have the fear of going to
hell. If you accept the materialist solution
you have the more dreadful fear of not
going anywhere. That is highly disconcert-
ing. 1t initiates against any popularity
which death might otherwiSe enjoy.
Life is different. Life is packed with
pleasures. 1t is shuttled with surprises. It's
possibilities are inordinate. Every time you
pick up paper you find something new. Or,
if not new, then so old that it seems quite
novel. Here, for instance, Is something
which has the merit of appearing very orig
inal 1t is a little clipping about selenium.
You may not know what selenium is.
What is more reprehensible, you may not
care. But wait a moment, and If the pos
sibilities which it discloses do not strike
you as radiant, resplendent and altogether
remarkable, you may have your money
back, provided of course, that the news
man is willing. For in selenium there is
what do you suppose? Nothing less than
a direct and definite answer to deaths great
query and an answer. if you please. from
people who. to use an enchanting vulgar
ism, are ''in the know"
But, before getting to them. an under
standing of selenium must be had. Sele-
MUM we can-after looking 1t up in the die
tionary-learnedly define as a nonmetallic
hexad element varying in electrical resist
ance on exposure to light. Is not that
promising? If you do not think now you
will right away Recent experiments con-
Quoted by DIR. RUNNER at Wannsee. near
Berlin, have induced the entirely satisfac-
tory idea that by means of said hexad we
shall ring UP Mars.
After all, why not? The idea may seem
fantastic, but it is the charm of certain
ideas that beginning fancies they end as
facts. In this instance the idea is to tele-
phone along the rays of shaft OF light AL
ready DR.. Ruhmer has done so. He has sue
cessfully transmitted speech along a shaft
Speech that can be transmitted four miles
can be transmitted four million miles. 1t
could be transmitted to the ends of space
IL ends there were. Everybody knows that.
The trouble has been to get a transmitter.
In the experiments mentioned ii has been
found that selenium possesses properties
adaptable to this purpose. Theoretically
there remains then but the perefecting of
the apparatus and, presto. We shall ring up
Mars.
Among the disadvantages Of death is the
probability that 1t will come and carry us
off before the perfecting is perfected. Among
the probabilities of life is the objection that
such perfecting does not predicate a re-
ceiver.
The objection has, obviously. leg to
stand on. Obviously also that leg IL is our
present dlity TO amputate. The amputation
can be effected without chloroform by mere
analogy, by a comparison between man as
he is and man as he used to be.
Once upon a time man was dumb trog-
lodyte. When from the birds he harmed