The Phonogram, Vol. 1:1 (1891-01)

' 'Y THE PHONOGRAM,\ fluid and a vortex existing in ether would be Lodge, in a recent volume. It seems to permanent and indestructible. It may be bring us very near the origin of things; observed here, that vortices are not neces- since, if man could produce ether vortices, sarily circular; their shape depends upon he would create matter, and be able to con- the vibrating impulse; but they will always trol it. But that “ if ” is as long and broad be annular and their peculiar motion will al- as creation itself; and the theory, instead of ways persist. augmenting man’s powers in this direction, Let us now suppose that the atoms of the but serves to show us more distinctly one atomic theory are vortices. They must, of insurmountable limitation. course, have some kind of form and .. t # , structure; and the vortex, as we have seen,'' is the most primitive of structures. We are then obliged to assume only an original impulse creating vortices in ether and of ether; in other words, to assume some origin to motion; an assumption necessary to all theories of existence. Portions of ether we will say are differentiated by vortex motion; they thus become virtually solid particles, of the quickest dispatchers in the business yet with no transition of substance. They The necessity of “taking’’ what that ojxrr are neither to l>e destroyed nor created; ator sent made him an inventor, they are whirling rings of ether, capable He arranged the old Morse registers ii of definite vibrations, of free movement, such a way, that by running a strip of paper and of collision; and their crispings and through them, the dots and clashes were re crimpings illustrate the way atoms may corded on the first instrument as fast as thi vibrate. . Cincinnati operator dispatched them, an< It is agreeable to reason to,)conceive df were transmitted to him through the othe the universe ns one universal substance, ho- instrument at any desired rate of speed nogeneous, continuous and simple in The words would come on one instrumen structure, existing equally everywhere; at the rate of forty a minute, while Edisoi #)me portions of it at rest, or merely trans- would grind them at the rate of twenty-fiv< mitting light undulations; others, mtilineal —a numlier he could readily write out 01 motion—in vortices — and 4 therefouT'v |>er- “the manifold.” manently differentiated from the rest fif the By this rude automatic recorder Edisoi medium. These whirling particles win then was led to invent the phonograph. He hat constitute what we call matter; their motion worked out an instrument which would re suffices to give them rigidity, and of them peat a message any number of times, and a our own vortices and all other material ob- any rate of speed. While experimentinj jects are composed. And this conception with the telephone, this idea occurred t« of creation is one continuous substance per- him: vailing all space, capable of being “sheared ” “If the indentations on paper could bi into positive or negative electricity which, made to give forth again the click of th- in whirls, constitutes matter, transmitting, instrument, why could not the vibrations o not by impact but by continuity every pos- a diaphragm be recorded and similarly re sible material action and reaction. This is produced ? ” the modern view of ether and its functions, He rigged up an instrument, and pullei as formulated by Sir William Thompson, a strip of paper through it, at the same lim and adopted by the English philosopher, shouting, “ Halloo! ” A friend then pullei How It Originated