The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, November 22, 1896, Page 23

“Thought Photogr : - Is Soei THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1896. 23 aphy * Fair Woman Finds the New Phenomenon Far More lnterestir\g Than Palmis- try or Star-Gazing A new fad bes seized upon society. ! Thought photograph clubs have been formed with surprising and sometimes | startling results. By fixing the gaze upen .* an undeveloved photographic plate or even holding these platesin the hands, figures of persons and forms of a very ex- trgordinary character bave been produced . when these plates were developed. The facts in the matter are well substantiated. This is far and away more interesting than palmistry and crystal zing, as .these might by a prejudiced mind be a tributed to imagination, bat actual pi tures on an actual plate cannot be so ac- counted for. The only alternative in this .‘case is the assertion of frand. This is ‘done away with when the undeveloped sensitive plates are purchased at random from any photographer, or tbose on hand for use in .one’s own private camera are iaken. A brilliant society woman who is ‘up to date in everyiting, including the . latest scientific discoveries, reflected that _if Dr. Baroduc, the Parisian electro- therapeutist, could obtain these pictures and astopish the French Academy of Medicine with them, she ought to be able * to do the same, eince the method was simplicity itself, and tbe cost not worth considering, nothing more being necessary n a box of plates and from two toa zen people who were capable of concen- ) 7ating their thoughts on a given person * Gt subject for a few minutes. Invitirg a few trusted frienas, a circle was formed and a box containing four un- ovened plates placed in the center. The results, were astonishing when the plates were developed. She was an amateur photographer herself and did the develop- ing. Luminous pictures made their ap- pearance. On the top plate no distinct form was visible, but in the shadowy out- nes various figures and faces could be cerned by a lively imagination. On the xt plate, however, there was a well- defined finger-shape, across which lay a light figure that might be held to resemble afemale. But the really startling result was the pictures wnich developed them- selves on the two middle plates. On these were distinct faces, recognized by mem- bers of the circle as perfeet pictures of liv- ".ing - friends they had held in their : thoughts, In one case tihe photograph was thit of a brother who had been lost at sea. A second experimental circle was held. The room was darkened and a new bex of plates, unopened, was put into the s of one person, and the hand of the without ever allowing the box to -vass from her possession, they were de- veloped, and this strange result was dis- covered. All the piates had pictures, but ome Wwere positives and others were nega- ve Two had to be transformed to a lide before they could be printed ng was a success, and now s afed thatit will not tire of for ue to come. Even the chappies fortanate enough to find the the bheiress they are following up 1 upon the plate they have held. .No. woman, heiress or otherwise, could - fail to be touched by so convincing a proof as this furnishes that her image dwells in .an admirer’s breast. Society women sare still women, and when they are able to obtain a photograpn of some one they admire, yet don’t care to ask for his picture, they exo:rience a - seise of power which borders on the supernatural. Sometimes the pictures ob- faired are of unknowr men and women, and then the theory is that these are their | affinities, not yet encountered, but wait- ing somewhere in the future. How is this photography accomplished ? - Dr. Baroduc's explanation is that every human being has the power of expressing tess Jald over it for about one minute, | conscious or unconscious thought ex- teriorly. He believes thata mysterious, impalpable force resides in and emanates | from the human body. In the sphere ! formed about us by this vital emanation our thoughts create forms which tke u?n- sitive plate seizes upon and retains. The discovery of the Roentgen rays was a preparation for this statement. Dr. Baroduc has proved his statement in re- gard to the existence of this Juminous radiation by bis magnetometers and by | photographs, cver 300 of which he repro- | duced in his report read before the | Academy of Medicine, “The Photography | of Thought.” | be well up in this knowledge and know | marked off with 360 degrees. surface of each dfal moves a fine need{e as carefuily balanced and as free as possible. The aial is protected from all exterior in- | fluences by a glass globe. Not a breath of air can move the hands. These, more- are not subject in any way to magnetism. The investigator points both hands toward the magnetometers and watches what follows. In about two minutes, if be or she is of normal temperature, he sees the needle nearest his left hand move away from zero so far as degree 5. Itis repelled. At the same time the needle nearest the right band is attracted 15 degrees. It moves toward the fingers of the rignt hand. | definite manner. All light is excluded | | from the parlor or laboratory, and a pho- | tographic plate is interposed between the i | hands and the magnetometers. Under | these conditions the nitrate of silver of | the plate is incapable, according to ali| | previous experience, of receiving ary im- | pression except by actually touching some substance. It would remain intact for an | indefinite period. But here Dr. Baroduc's | vital force comes into play. When the plates are developed in a bath by the members of the | nearest the left hand bes received one im- | pression and that which was nearest the | | right another. It, therefore, seems that | the vital force has not only penetrated the | | glass but is Juminous. The photograph proves it, and the skep- \Genius Makes It Possible for a Bicyclist tical may, with the greatest of ease, make | tests for themselves. | Dr. Baroduc calls the vital force given out on the left side the *‘expir'’and tha attracted on the right side the “‘aspir.” The experiment has been repeated 300 | | times, and in every case the photographic | plate has shown an impression, varying | according to the subject. The members of the club are instructed | that it is to be noted that while the left | | side exerts only five degrees of force the | right absorbs fifteen. There remains a difference of ten decrees accumulated in | | the system. This, according to Dr. Baro- duc, is psychic force, which can be exert | on external objects by the will. | This brings us to the most important | part of his experiments. The magneto- meters are taken away and a society man places himself in tront of a fresh photo- graphic plate. He extends his handsin | the direction of the plate and is requested to think of some one particular thing with all the energy and concentratiou of mind of which he is capable. At the end of a period which varies | from two minutes to two nours the plate | is impressed by a sort of luminous cloud, | in which the outlines of certain objicts can be discerned. These vary in distinct- ness, according to the character of the thinker, and can only be expected to ap- | pear when he has fixed his mind on some concrete and clearly defined object. The kind of thought photograph most ety’'s Latest Fad | proving the power of mind over matter. The society women must ; that the magnetometers are small dials | Over the | over, are of specially prepared copper and | The existence of the vital | force is mext demonstrated in a more | thought-vhotography | | club, it is found that the one which was | ed | easy to produce isa likeness of some per- son. Thus it wiil be seen that society in this, its newest fad, has at last taken up some- thing that is of real value in demonstrat- ing the world’s mental progress and in If this fad really results in turning the minds of the smart set toward things that are not altogether of the earth earthy the | fact will rank with the most pronounced achievements .of modern scientific thought. Li Hung Ghang Broke the Rule. Li Hung Chang hasearned the thanks of all inveterate smokers. He has broken down the rule of the Belgian court etiquette which strictly forbids smoking in the Btate apartments, by the simple process of taking out a long pipe, and, atter it had been filled by bis secretary, smoking it. King Leopold, though, we doubt not, a good deal astonished, rose to the occasion admirably. He at once caused cigarettes to be handed round, with the result that Li Hung Chang soon found his position no longer one ‘of “splendid isolation.” j 2 i SOCIETY WOMEN TRYING THEIR LUCK AT THOUGHT PHOTOGRAPHY. Genius has now made it possible for a bicyclist to ride under water. We have | bad plans for wheelmen to ride to und from the clouds and to ride underground in cycle tunnels. | There bave been bicycle railwaysand | bicycle boats, but Reuben H. Plass of 508 | Lafayette avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y., an in- 1venmr. is constructing a machine which makes submarine wheeling an accom- plished fact. The practicability of the in- vention has been demonstrated by means | of a model, and the workings of this model { bave been such as to attract the admira- }!ion and indorsement of every practical cyclist who has seen ite# Not only do the cyclists praise it, but the submarine divers believe it is destined to be of the greatest use to them. All men of brains agree that thisis an age of progress and that the bicycle is one of the most practical instruments of ad- vancement. This invention proves the truth of the latter belief, and it goes with- out saying that the former is correct. To those who are familiar with whatis known as deep-sea diving the utility of the sub- marine bicycle is plainly apparent. Under the present circumstances it is necessary for.the diver to sink directly-to the bottom before he can begin operations. With the new contrivance he can pedal aboutatany | Ui I il i A i TR I "IIQIIIIU' I\ THE SUBMARINE BICYCLE. \! I = Ll e - | A ". | il T T ol pl WA el I \I g () i y A ol yun \"[ '. n.;fi {l 1 ;‘W | LwHMW iy o 1! i i RN Under the Water desired distance above the bottom and take a birdseye view as 1t-were of the scene of operation. Thus it will be seen that the submarine bicycle, from a busi- ness standpojnt, is a very excellent thing indzed. Entirely unlike anything ever before prodaced in the bicycle line this machine is still in all its essential features a bicy- cle, with wheels, gearing, sprocket wheel and all complete. Itisintended solely for submarine use. It is painted with a water- proof composition which prevents rust. The machine itself consists of the regu- lation shaped bicycle frame, two wheels, the usual running gear, with ‘some addi- tions, and two cylinders. These cylinders are really the secretof the whole machine and its ability to travel below the ocean. They are about eight feet long and nine inches in diameter through the center. Their construction is a bit peculiar in that while they are constructed of copper they are balanced with several hundreds of pounds of lead fastened to the under side. This is done so that when beneath the sur- face the cylinders will maintain their proper -position. The cylinders are filled with air and serve to keep the submarine bicycle at the desired depth. It is by means of these same cylinders that the machine is raised or lowered at the will of the rider. On the forward side of each cylinder is an automatic vaive which is controlled by the rider by means of a wire runuing from the valve to the hundle bar of the machine. This valve opens into two narrow compartments run- ning the length of the cylinder and which are kept closed by the outside pressure of the water. ‘When it is desired to send the machine to any depththe rider pulls the wire con- necting with the valve, and the inrushing water causes the machine to gradually sink below the surface. When the desired depth has been reached the' wire is re- leased, the valve closes and the machine remains stationary, not between heaven and earth, but between the surface and the bottom of the ocean. Connecting the two cylinders are two hol- low metal rods which serve the aouble pur- pose of connecting the air-filled cylinders and acting as axles for the two wheels of the bicycle. The rims of the wheels pro- ject above and below the cylinders, These wheels have the customary spokes, inter- woven as usual, but the rim is entirely diflerent from that of the land machide. In place of big pneumatic tizes the ont- side of the rims of these wheels are fitted with cogs. These coes fit into the cogs of two much smaller wheels which work on a rod running close beside the wheels, on the opposite side from the running- gear. These cog-wheels are cone-shaped and firmly fixed to the rod, at the rear end of which is a propeller. The pedals of the submarine bicycle are fixed in exactly the same manner as an ordinary machine, the only unusual ap- pearance being tnat instead of. one ma- chine there are two—one connecting with the front and the other with the rear wheel. In order to operate these two chains the sprocket wheel is double. As the pedals are worked by the rider both wheels revolve at the same time, and, working upon the small, cone. shaped cog-wheels on the bar, cause the propeller to revolve, and so give motion to this most unique of all vehicles. The rider sits somewhat higher on the submarine bicycle than on the ordinary machine, and the external appearance of the submarine rider is rather uncanny. As riging under water in an ordinary bicycle suit might be somewhat uncom- fortable, alight form of diving suit, helmet and all, has been devised for the use of the submarine rider. The helmet is somewhat lighter than that used by the professional diver, but the arrangement is exactly the same. The restof the suit is in no way different. Directly beneath the seat of the subma- rince bicycle is an oblong metal box or chest which isdivided into two equal parts. The larger division is used for the storage of compressed air, whilein the lessar diyi- sion is a valye chest. A small driving-rod copnects with the rear wheel of the ma- chine, and when the rider does not care to operate the submarine bicycle in the usual manner by means of the pedals the Speeding on a Wheel Under the Ocean's Waves to Ride With Safety pressure of a spring set in the forkhandle opens a valvein the compressed-air cham- ber and the wheels are set in motion. Fixed 1n the forward part of the ma- chine is an air gauge which has two dials, one indicating the amount of air in the cylinders and the other the pressure of the compressed air in the chest beneath the seat. The method of steering the submarine bicycle is rather odd. There is no rudder nor any provision for one, but when be- neath the surface the machine is so evenly balanced that the leaning of the rider to one side or the other causes it to change its plane, and consequently iis courso. ‘When it is desired to rise to the surface wateris forced from the chambers within the cylinders and the submarine bicycle and its rider slowly rises to the domain of light and air. 1t 1s surely a novel way to sesk pleasure in a bicycle beneath the water’s suriace, but that it can be a genuine pleasure will become plain to any one who Will take sufficient time to give the matter a little study. For instance, what would be more pleasant on a hot summer day than to go down to some resort on a submarine bicycle at whatever distance from the sur- face the rider may desire. Of course, there will be some difficulty at first steet- ing a proper course, but genius always solves such problems as that, whether on land or water. It would only be a ques- tion of a short time until charts of the underwater route to adjacent summer re- sorts would be on sale. Again, how pleasant it would be con- struct a sextuplet submarine bicycle, equip it with a good-sized storage battery, prop- erly protected, and thus have an ample source for a brilliant electric light, that would enable three couples to go bike- riding under water, instead of taking moonlight rides on the surface. The elec- tric liznt would also guard against any collision that might otherwise take place. The accompanying illustration shows the bicycle just as it will appear when ridden by a submarine diver. The illus- tration also shows how easy it ‘will be with the new machine for a diver to circu- late about a wreck and ascertain its exact position without having to go crawling about slimy decks and run the risk of breaking his air-tube by getting it twisted with the tangled rigging. 1t is a natural supposition that if society takes to the sub-marine bicycle there will be new styles in diving armor, and that this wiil furnish a new line of business for the pur- veyors who cater to the devotees of fashion. Inventor Plass is enthusiastic over this, the latest child of his brain. “Why,” said he, “it is 8 wonder to me that no one ever thoughtof this machine betore. You see, if a bicycle can go on top of the water what is there to prevent the construction of one that can be ridden under water. The principle is just the same as that of the boat. We bave boats that ride on top of the water, and the United States Gov- ernment has just built a boat that will travel about underneath the surface. It was the knowledge of all these plans that set me to thinking about the idea which has led to the invention of the submarine bicycle. “While I thought first of the machine being of great use to the diver it has seemed to me-that there was no reason why it should not be popular with peopie generally. Ldon’t bave any idea that it will be necessary for the rider of this wheel to wear heavy armor like the diver does. I know, of course, that it takes something pretty strong to resist the water, but 1t is my observation that these days, when anything new is wanteq, somebody always manages to get it up. 8o I put this submarine bicycle into prac- tical shape. Of course I'm proud of it, but I truly believe that it 1s going to be- come a popular and everyday method of amusement. “I'm hurrying the construction as rap- idly as possible, but have been put to un- avoidable delay by the difficulty of secur- g some parts. They are not made by the regular bicycle manufacturers, so I have had to have them built to order. In a few weeks I hope to have the submarine bicycle ready for a test. Clad in a flannel- lined diving-suit the cold will not be felt.” Runs A strange craft is likely to invade the leading toWwns and cities of the United States within the next few months. The people of Pniladelphia, New York, Chi-| cago, Cincinnati, St. Louisand Pittsburg. and even San Francisco need not be at all surprised if they see, some fine morning, a big cruiser plowing through the air, down the principal street. It will be the trolley man-of-war that furnishes this strange sight, one of the most unique ob- jects that was ever put on wheels. This pioneer of ali land crait is not to be despised when it comes to a question of force. Dainty “barkers” peep ont throuzh her portholes, prototypes of the smiling faces that gleam from the sides of the flag- ship New York. This trolley man-of-war, or white cruiser on wheels, has been dig- nified with the name of the next Presi- dent, Mr. McKinley. While her mission is not that of protection so iar, she is quite likely to exercise a rather patriotic influence among at least the younger gen- eration in the days that are to come. It is designed to run on electric roads of standard cauge, and as all electric roads are of that gauge, it is very likely the queercraft will have many imitations be- fore long. Sheisin appearance a minia- ture, to great extent, ot the big cruisers that have followed Admirzl Bunce’s flag for so many months. Her superstructure 1s painted green, her bull and spousons white, her guns and ironwork black. She | carries 100 men, officers and crew, and is | 37 feetlong, 9 feet wide, 12 feet high. The lines on which she was constructed were | taken from the model of the battle-ship | Brooklyn by Naval Arcaitect Henry P. Lapoi Originally the McKinley was a flatear, and she was extenaed fore and aft so that finally her length from stem tostern was 37 feet. She had adouble -row of port- holeson each side, and as she advances toward you you see the sullen counte- nance of two grim six<pounders, while peeping from the tiny turret on the gun deck is a ferocious-looking 18-pounder. The quarterdeck israther small. In fact, the officer of the day has hard work to | make his rounds, owing to the confusion | that numbers always occasion. Another | odd feature is that Jack Tar and his offi- cers areon the bestof termsand ail hands mess in the wardroom. Unique Man-of-War That, on Trolley Lines The Fully Equipped Miniature White Gruiser on Wheels That Is Named After the President-Elect valuable suggestion. It depends upon no trolley wire for its motive power, for it is equipped with two 30-horsepower electric motors and a Bemis truck. Thus, while nominally it is supposed to operate solely on electric roads, it can in reality be taken over almost any sort of a railroad of the right gauge, as it drives its own wheels. It demonstrates the fact thatit is pos- sible to construct a car for operation on street railroads in cities that would be of infinite use In case of riot. Itisnot beyond the range of the ability of modern mechanics to build a car that would be bullet-proof and really constitute a travel- ing fort. It would be possible to carry on such a car several pieces of ertillery, or, better still, equip it with the light guns that are used in the navy, the recoil of which would not be sufficient to damage the iort on wheels in any way. Indeeq, it is believed that a car con- structed on the same model as the Me- Kinley, only of course of substantial material, would form a very effective pro- tection for a company of men whom it was necessary to move from one partof the city to another. Certainly it would be very much easier to transport guns and men in this fashion in case of riot than in the ordinary way, and it is also true that movements could be made from one point to another with far greater celerity. Therefore it is plain to be seen that the McXKinley is really the representative of 2n idea of exceeding practicability. It is certainly a fact that a trolley man-of-war ike her, made of the real stuff and carry- ng her equipment—four zuns in sponsous and two in the deck turret—would be a ratber formidabie engine of war. The accompanying illustrations give a very excellent idea of the appearance of he McKinley, although they do not show er at her very best, because it isimpos- sible for even the advanced art of the photographer to secure the transmission from life to paper of anythiag that breathes so pronounced a spiritas the McKinley. She is really much more of an affair than she luoks to be, and to see her quietly gliding down the street, with colors flying, the captain on the bridge, and the dark mouths of the guns frowning silenuy front, sides and rear, gives one the im- pression that surely things are seldom what they seem. = S~ MAN-OF-WAR TROLLEY-CAR. Here 1s the gallant complement of the trolley man-of-war: Captain, Major Charles K. Darling; lieutenant-com- mander and executive offic r, Walter L. Emory; adjutant, W. P. Hall; paymaster, E. E. Dennett; surgeon. Dr. Sawyer; equipment officer, W. W. Lapointe; navi- gator, H. E. Jennison; chief engineer, Kendzll F. Crocker; lieutenant of marines, Walter Hardy; second lieutenant of ma- rines, L. A. Scannell; captain first com- pany of tars, W. K. Jewett; lieutenant, H. K. Bennett; captain and lieutenant of second company of tars, Messrs. Dillon and Page; drum major, Judge Charles H. Blood. They are nq among the leading business and professional men of Fitch- burg, Mass. What would a man-of-war be without lifeboats? Though the McKinley is small, she is fully equipped, and two staunch jolly-boats hang to the davits just abaft and on either side of the bridge, while a dingy graces the stern. All are kept fully provisioned and ready for immediate use in case the anchor chains should become togzled and all bands be required to splice the main brace. If it should become necessary at any time to castanchor the requisite apparatus is at hand and its flukes will be sure to catch in some convenient paving stone. In fact, the McKinley compares iavorably with alpost any war vessel except 1n size, construction and equipment. The hull is of the finest quality of duck. The smoke- stacks are genuineg, however, and if it is desired to create a sensation red fire can be burned in them. The interior of the cruiser is by no means commodious, but atones in point of luxury for what it lacks in the matter of size. Naturally in a boat 37 feet long, 9 feet wide and 12 feet high there are not accom- modations for either officers or crew, that is, so far as the interior of the hull is con- cerned. So there has been a compromise on board the McKinley, and the space be- low decks from stem to keelson is devoted to culinary and gastronomic purposes. For the McKinley has a cook. Like the mariner of song, he is just now *‘the cook and the captain bold and the mate of the Naacy brig; the bos'n tight and the mid- ipmite, and the crew of the captain’s gig,” for the McKinley lies at anchor in the shops of the Fitchburg and Leominster Street Railway Company at Fitchburg, Mass. This trolley man-of-war is really the pioneer in an entirely new feature of trol- ley, or rather electric raiiroad. For, though built for the dual purpose of pleas- ure and demonstrating the practichbility of a unique idea, it has really becomea Another Lightning Galculator. 8. Harry Crawford, who livesat Harrow- on-the-Hill, recently declared his ability to recite from memory after hearing them once read out to him a series of twenty totais of six figures each. Accordingly, says the Westminister Gazette, we wrote down this formidable array of figures while he sat with his back to the tabie. Then he requested that five more should be added, which were to be regarded as outside the bargain, but a creditable work of supererogation if he succeeded in re- citing all twenty-five. Then his wife, who accompanied him, read out the figures distinctly and slowly, but consecutively. Mr. Crawford explained that what he chiefly required in readinz was an even and uniform pace, whicn—crede experto— is not at all an easy thing to achieve, ~ All the figures having finally been read out, Mr. Crawford braced himself to his task, and rehearsed them fluently and without a single mistake down to the last two digits of the twentieth line. Here ha sub- stituted 543,245 for 543,216. Proceeding then to the nexf series, he recited all these without an error. We then asked him at random o give us the fifth, sixth orany of the series, ana he not only did this but recited them backward or forward at pleasure, With the exception of the two erring digits in the twentieth line, the whole series seemed to be correctly photograpked in his memory. The next experiment consisted inar- ranging at random twenty cards out of an ordinary pack and calling them out in the same manner. These also were recited in order without a mistake. Finally Mr., Crawford offered to do three sums in quick succession and the square and the cube of any number up to 100, and the subtraction of any series of twelve figures froméany other. We wrote down any that occurred 1o us, and before two members of the staff of the Westminster Gazette had worked them out on paper Mr. Crawford had done all three in his head. Then we returned to the first series of figures, and Mr. Craw- ford gave us any that we selected, either backward or forward. We haye only to add that in our opinion no kind of collu- sion or deception was possible, ana that the British calculator seemed to have earned his right to have his talents re- corded. —_—— A detor in the Highlands of Scotland, whose patients are scattered over a wide district, takes carrier pigeons with him on his rounds and sends his prescriptions by them to the apothecary. Heleavas pigeons, too, with distant families to be let looss when his services are needed,