The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1915-12-17
ELECTRICITY.


49, - '-S-- - ~ " LIZ 0SchO W
~get a rise" or Of scientific man.
And when -. rs to answer it in
the same = fashion that he
might ire o. stion What is
biscuit j Fiefiioner cries out {:
about elee.rierrf We Why, YOU can't at
even tell what it is :"
Now, to "tell what a thing IS
that is, to define its to STATE It's
relations with something more ia
miliar. The particular familiar
thing that the questioner is think
ing of in this case is ordinary mat
ter. Heat has been explained to
him as a vibration of material par
ticles. Light, he has been told, in
o wave motion In the ether, and he
understands the ether to be a kind
Of matter or a esbetsnce resem-
bling matter in some particulars.
1t is not to be denied that no
such simple general relationship
can be stated hetween electricity
and matter E4t, this being SO, it
would be Just IS correct to say that
we Go not kn ~ what matter is as
that we do n crow what electrici-
ty is. AS 2 rl2r Of fact, we do
not know what matter is, and the
latest plausible theory of it builds
it up on an electric basis, so that on
this theory the idea Of electricity is
more fundamentals tiaa That q
matter. Urtor.rhstely our senses
] have been evolved by contact with
matter and are trained to detec,
only matter. ElaeEsity they know
only secondarllv, through its action
upon matter-the light or heat that
it causes matter tassiye out, the at
traction that it causes certain sub
stances to exert, and o on. To tho
man in the street, e .efore, matter
is familiar, and he demands a state
ment Of the latter. in terms of the
former, illogical though this may
be. After the scientist has stated
all this the reply comes back, eyes.
l understand all that, and it is
most clear, l am sure, but tell NE,
then, what is electricity anyway ?"
Another source Of confusion to
the lay mind is that scientific men
do not always use the word "elec-
tricity" to mean the same thing.
The engineer often employs it to
express the thing that the theoret-
zeal electrician calls Electric ener-
gy."
To find the energy of electricity
that is, its ability to do work
the electrician multiplies the guam
tity of electricity by the potentia
or tension under which it exists
But to the engineer this product
itself measures the thing that he
calls Electricity"
The work that a pound Of water
may do by falling foot is one foot
pound. The water is the same after
falling as before, though its energy
is less. SO to the electrician g
quantity of electricity at 100 volts
is precisely the same as at one volt
though the former is able to do 8
, hundred times as much work.
This difference. IN meaning 'ause'
thousands OF Gisptstes among stu,
dents. ELECTRICITY is Q form o.
energy" says one, 'mst like Iigh'
or heat Doh, nos is the reply
"It is not energy at all, though i
may possess or conyeysenergy.' Cp'
disputant is .alking about the elec
tricity of tie physical and the othel
about that of the engineer; hence
their dispute is merely matter Of
definition, though they do not know
1t. What wonder that some people
, re still content to regard the whole
subject as a civihu | MllmbO " n
or st. Lo is ler BIZ
no Accepted the Apology.
A prominent New York lawyer Il
noted for his ready answers and
skill in repartee. When young
practitioner he appeared before 8
pompous old judge, who took Of
Tense at remark the lawyer made
criticising his decision.
of you do not instantly apologize
for that remark, Mr.. Blank" said
; the Judge, 81 shall commit you for
; contempt of court"
upon reflection, your honor" in
stantly replied Mr.. Blank, 81 find
! that your honor was right and
was wrong, as your honor always
: L."
The judge looked dubious, bui
finally said that he would ac,ept The
apology