heroes of the telegraph-第21章
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His very thought is in itself a contradiction to the idea that there is nothing in existence but dead matter。 Science can do little positively towards the objects of this society。 But it can do something； and that something is vital and fundamental。 It is to show that what we see in the world of dead matter and of life around us is not a result of the fortuitous concourse of atoms。
'I may refer to that old； but never uninteresting subject of the miracles of geology。 Physical science does something for us here。 St。 Peter speaks of scoffers who said that 〃all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation；〃 but the apostle affirms himself that 〃all these things shall be dissolved。〃 It seems to me that even physical science absolutely demonstrates the scientific truth of these words。 We feel that there is no possibility of things going on for ever as they have done for the last six thousand years。 In science； as in morals and politics； there is absolutely no periodicity。 One thing we may prophesy of the future for certainit will be unlike the past。 Everything is in a state of evolution and progress。 The science of dead matter； which has been the principal subject of my thoughts during my life； is； I may say； strenuous on this point； that THE AGE OF THE EARTH IS DEFINITE。 We do not say whether it is twenty million years or more； or less； but me say it is NOT INDEFINITE。 And we can say very definitely that it is not an inconceivably great number of millions of years。 Here； then； we are brought face to face with the most wonderful of all miracles； the commencement of life on this earth。 This earth； certainly a moderate number of millions of years ago； was a red…hot globe； all scientific men of the present day agree that life came upon this earth somehow。 If some form or some part of the life at present existing came to this earth； carried on some moss…grown stone perhaps broken away from mountains in other worlds； even if some part of the life had come in that wayfor there is nothing too far…fetched in the idea； and probably some such action as that did take place； since meteors do come every day to the earth from other parts of the universe；still； that does not in the slightest degree diminish the wonder； the tremendous miracle； we have in the commencement of life in this world。'
CHAPTER V。
CHARLES WILLIAM SIEMENS。
Charles William Siemens was born on April 4； 1823； at the little village of Lenthe； about eight miles from Hanover； where his father； Mr。 Christian Ferdinand Siemens； was 'Domanen…pachter；' and farmed an estate belonging to the Crown。 His mother was Eleonore Deichmann； a lady of noble disposition； and William； or Carl Wilhelm； was the fourth son of a family of fourteen children； several of whom have distinguished themselves in scientific pursuits。 Of these； Ernst Werner Siemens； the fourth child； and now the famous electrician of Berlin； was associated with William in many of his inventions； Fritz； the ninth child； is the head of the well…known Dresden glass works； and Carl； the tenth child； is chief of the equally well…known electrical works at St。 Petersburg。 Several of the family died young； others remained in Germany； but the enterprising spirit； natural to them； led most of the sons abroad Walter； the twelfth child； dying at Tiflis as the German Consul there； and Otto； the fourteenth child； also dying at the same place。 It would be difficult to find a more remarkable family in any age or country。 Soon after the birth of William； Mr。 Siemens removed to a larger estate which he had leased at Menzendorf； near Lubeck。
As a child William was sensitive and affectionate； the baby of the family； liking to roam the woods and fields by himself； and curious to observe； but not otherwise giving any signs of the engineer。 He received his education at a commercial academy in Lubeck； the Industrial School at Magdeburg （city of the memorable burgomaster； Otto von Guericke）； and at the University of Gottingen； which he entered in 1841； while in his eighteenth year。 Were he attended the chemical lectures of Woehler； the discoverer of organic synthesis； and of Professor Himly； the well…known physicist； who was married to Siemens's eldest sister； Mathilde。 With a year at Gottingen； during which he laid the basis of his theoretical knowledge； the academical training of Siemens came to an end； and he entered practical life in the engineering works of Count Stolberg； at Magdeburg。 At the University he had been instructed in mechanical laws and designs； here he learned the nature and use of tools and the construction of machines。 But as his University career at Gottingen lasted only about a year； so did his apprenticeship at the Stolberg Works。 In this short time； however； he probably reaped as much advantage as a duller pupil during a far longer term。
Young Siemens appears to have been determined to push his way forward。 In 1841 his brother Werner obtained a patent in Prussia for electro…silvering and gilding； and in 1843 Charles William came to England to try and introduce the process here。 In his address on 'Science and Industry；' delivered before the Birmingham and Midland Institute in 1881； while the Paris Electrical Exhibition was running； Sir William gave a most interesting account of his experiences during that first visit to the country of his adoption。
'When；' said he； 'the electrotype process first became known； it excited a very general interest； and although I was only a young student at Gottingen； under twenty years of age； who had just entered upon his practical career with a mechanical engineer； I joined my brother； Werner Siemens； then a young lieutenant of artillery in the Prussian service； in his endeavours to accomplish electro…gilding； the first impulse in this direction having been given by Professor C。 Himly； then of Gottingen。 After attaining some promising results； a spirit of enterprise came over me； so strong that I tore myself away from the narrow circumstances surrounding me； and landed at the east end of London with only a few pounds in my pocket and without friends； but with an ardent confidence of ultimate success within my breast。
'I expected to find some office in which inventions were examined into； and rewarded if found meritorious； but no one could direct me to such a place。 In walking along Finsbury Pavement； I saw written up in large letters； 〃So…and…so〃 （I forget the name）； 〃Undertaker；〃 and the thought struck me that this must be the place I was in quest of； at any rate； I thought that a person advertising himself as an 〃undertaker〃 would not refuse to look into my invention with a view of obtaining for me the sought…for recognition or reward。 On entering the place I soon convinced myself； however； that I came decidedly too soon for the kind of enterprise here contemplated； and； finding myself confronted with the proprietor of the establishment； I covered my retreat by what he must have thought a very lame excuse。 By dint of perseverance I found my way to the patent office of Messrs。 Poole and Carpmael； who received me kindly； and provided me with a letter of introduction to Mr。 Elkington。 Armed with this letter； I proceeded to Birmingham； to plead my cause before your townsman。
'In looking back to that time； I wonder at the patience with which Mr。 Elkington listened to what I had to say； being very young； and scarcely able to find English words to convey my meaning。 After showing me what he was doing already in the way of electro…plating； Mr。 Elkington sent me back to London in order to read some patents of his own； asking me to return if； after perusal； I still thought I could teach him anything。 To my great disappointment； I found that the chemical solutions I had been using were actually mentioned in one of his patents； although in a manner that would hardly have sufficed to enable a third person to obtain practical results。
On my return to Birmingham I frankly stated what I had found； and with this frankness I evidently gained the favour of another townsman of yours； Mr。 Josiah Mason； who had just joined Mr。 Elkington in business； and whose name； as Sir Josiah Mason； will ever be remembered for his munificent endowment
