This concludes the article "The Mystery of the Ether"
from 'Modern Electrics' issue dated August, 1911. It shows
how the minds of that day grappled with the 'structure'
of the ether. I'd be interested in modern day thinking,
and conclusions, on this subject. Any takers?
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(Author: Owen Ely)
"Perhaps nothing has contributed so much to the possible
development of a theory of the ether as the electron theory,
which has done so much to reduce phenomena to the interplay of
the electro-static, magnetic, and inductive forces of charged
atoms. These forces, together with matter, which may be simply
their source in the ether, and gravitation, which is probably
an electro-static effect, constitute the whole problem of the
ether. The ultimate task is to explain them as varieties of
motion in the fundamental stuff.
"To sum up, it is apparent that the problem of the ether,
the greatest enigma of all time, can not be solved by one group
or generation or class of scientists. It claims the work of
specialists in many fields. While each may see the rask from
his viewpoint alone, it is worthy of attack from many standpoints.
To analyze and classify a nearby infinite variety of phenomena
to reach the root-causes of nature, requires the genius of the
investigator.
To arrange the data in the most logical relationships requires the
work of the theorists.
To condense and reduce these relations to the simplest and most
elegant form, the brain of the mathematician is necessary.
To appreciate the ultimate significance of those factors which
the others use but as the material of their building, the
philosopher is final critic.
And to make the results of all the others of interest and value
to the human race as a whole, the interpreter must picture them
in simplest phrase and most apt illustration" - Popular Astronomy
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And does this bring back any memories?
"After lunch 124C 41 and Miss 212B 423 rolled uptown and
the former explained the various sights as they progressed. On
Broadway and 389th street, in a large square, an extinct petrified
animal stood upon a pedestal. Miss 212B 423, desiring to know
what it represented, approached and read the inscription hewn in
the stone:
- PETE -
|
|
- The last Horse in Harness in the - |
- Streets of New York, - |
- Died on this Spot -
- June 19th, 2096 A.D. -
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"The poor thing," murmured the young lady, "but I think
the world is better off without torturing poor dumb beasts when
electricity can well take care of all the work."
Her companion, touched by this feminine remark, smiled
softly.
---- and until E.D.O.W. # 14, this is 73 de Gil, VE4AG ---------