heroes of the telegraph-第48章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ctric light。
In October； 1878； he telegraphed the news to London and Paris； where； owing to his great reputation； it caused an immediate panic in the gas market。 As time passed； and the new illuminant was backward in appearing； the shares recovered their old value。 Edison was severely blamed for causing the disturbance； but； nevertheless； his announcement had been verified in all but the question of cost。 The introduction of a practical system of electric lighting employed his resources for several years。 Dynamos； types of lamps and conductors； electric meters； safety fuses； and other appliances had to be invented。 In 1882 he returned to New York； to superintend the installation of his system in that city。
His researches on the dynamo caused him to devise what he calls an 'harmonic engine。' It consists of a tuning…fork； kept in vibration by two small electro…magnets； excited with three or four battery cells。 It is capable of working a small pump； but is little more than a scientific curiosity。 With the object of transforming heat direct from the furnace into electricity； he also devised a 'pyro…electric generator；' but it never passed beyond the experimental stage。
The same may be said for his pyro…electric motor。 His dynamo…electric motors and system of electric railways are； however； a more promising invention。 His method of telegraphing to and from a railway train in motion； by induction through the air to a telegraph wire running along the line； is very ingenious； and has been tried with a fair amount of success。
At present he is working at the 'Kinetograph；' a combination of the phonograph and the instantaneous photograph as exhibited in the zoetrope； by which he expects to produce an animated picture or simulacrum of a scene in real life or the drama； with its appropriate words and sounds。
Edison now resides at Llewellyn Park； Orange； a picturesque suburb of New York。 His laboratory there is a glorified edition of Menlo Park； and realises the inventor's dream。 The main building is of brick； in three stories； but there are several annexes。 Each workshop and testing room is devoted to a particular purpose。 The machine shops and dynamo rooms are equipped with the best engines and tools； the laboratories with the finest instruments that money can procure。 There are drawing； photographic； and photometric chambers； physical； chemical； and metallurgical laboratories。 There is a fine lecture…hall； and a splendid library and reading…room。 He employs several hundred workmen and assistants； all chosen for their intelligence and skill。 In this retreat Edison is surrounded with everything that his heart desires。 In the words of a reporter； the place is equally capable of turning out a 'chronometer or a Cunard steamer。' It is probably the finest laboratory in the world。
In 1889； Edison； accompanied by his second wife； paid a holiday visit to Europe and the Paris Exhibition。 He was received everywhere with the greatest enthusiasm； and the King of Italy created him a Grand Officer of the Crown of Italy； with the title of Count。 But the phonograph speaks more for his genius than the voice of the multitude； the electric light is a better illustration of his energy than the ribbon of an order； and the finest monument to his pluck； sagacity； and perseverance is the magnificent laboratory which has been built through his own efforts at Llewellyn Park。 ＇One of his characteristic sayings may be quoted here： 'Genius is an exhaustless capacity for work in detail； which； combined with grit and gumption and love of right； ensures to every man success and happiness in this world and the next。'＇
CHAPTER X。
DAVID EDWIN HUGHES。
There are some leading electricians who enjoy a reputation based partly on their own efforts and partly on those of their paid assistants。 Edison； for example； has a large following； who not only work out his ideas； but suggest； improve； and invent of themselves。 The master in such a case is able to avail himself of their abilities and magnify his own genius； so to speak。 He is not one mind； but the chief of many minds； and absorbs into himself the glory and the work of a hundred willing subjects。
Professor Hughes is not one of these。 His fame is entirely self…earned。 All that he has accomplished； and he has done great things； has been the labour of his own hand and brain。 He is an artist in invention； working out his own conceptions in silence and retirement； with the artist's love and self…absorption。 This is but saying that he is a true inventor； for a mere manufacturer of inventions； who employs others to assist him in the work； is not an inventor in the old and truest sense。
Genius； they say； makes its own tools； and the adage is strikingly verified in the case of Professor Hughes； who actually discovered the microphone in his own drawing…room； and constructed it of toy boxes and sealing wax。 He required neither lathe； laboratory； nor assistant to give the world this remarkable and priceless instrument。
Having first become known to fame in America； Professor Hughes is usually claimed by the Americans as a countryman； and through some error； the very date and place of his birth there are often given in American publications； but we have the best authority for the accuracy of the following facts； namely that of the inventor himself。
David Edwin Hughes was born in London in 1831。 His parents came from Bala； at the foot of Snowdon； in North Wales； and in 1838； when David was seven years old； his father； taking with him his family； emigrated to the United States； and became a planter in Virginia。 The elder Mr。 Hughes and his children seem to have inherited the Welsh musical gift； for they were all accomplished musicians。 While a mere child； David could improvise tunes in a remarkable manner； and when he grew up this talent attracted the notice of Herr Hast； an eminent German pianist in America； who procured for him the professorship of music in the College of Bardstown； Kentucky。 Mr。 Hughes entered upon his academical career at Bardstown in 1850； when he was nineteen years of age。 Although very fond of music and endowered by Nature with exceptional powers for its cultivation； Professor Hughes had； in addition； an inborn liking and fitness for physical science and mechanical invention。 This duality of taste and genius may seem at first sight strange； but experience shows that there are many men of science and inventors who are also votaries of music and art。 The source of this apparent anomaly is to be found in the imagination； which is the fountain…head of all kinds of creation。
Professor Hughes now taught music by day for his livelihood； and studied science at night for his recreation； thus reversing the usual order of things。 The college authorities； knowing his proficiency in the subject； also offered him the Chair of Natural Philosophy； which became vacant； and he united the two seemingly incongruous professorships of music and physics in himself。 He had long cherished the idea of inventing a new telegraph； and especially one which should print the message in Roman characters as it is received。 So it happened that one evening while he was under the excitement of a musical improvisation； a solution of the problem flashed into his ken。 His music and his science had met at this nodal point。
All his spare time was thenceforth devoted to the development of his design and the construction of a practical type…printer。 As the work grew on his hands； the pale young student； beardless but careworn； became more and more engrossed with it； until his nights were almost entirely given to experiment。 He begrudged the time which had to be spent in teaching his classes and the fatigue was telling upon his health； so in 1853 he removed to Bowlingreen； in Warren Co。； Kentucky； where he acquired more freedom by taking pupils。
The main principle of his type…printer was the printing of each letter by a single current； the Morse instrument； then the principal receiver in America； required； on the other hand； an average of three currents for each signal。 In order to carry out this principle it was necessary that the sending and receiving apparatus should keep in str
