For twenty-five centuries—during which the world has seen the birth of its greatest generals, ora­tors, poets and philosophers, and has witnessed its most marvelous history and progress—for over half of the years of the human race has electricity not only been observed, but it has been made a sub­ject of close study, constant experiment, and scientific investi­gation.

Before Hannibal or Alexander, before Archimedes or Euclid, before Cicero or Demosthenes, before Virgil or Herodotus, before Aristotle, Plato or Socrates ever were known to earth, Thales, the chief of the Seven Wise Men of Greece, had bent his philosophic genius down to the level of a piece of Electron, or Amber, to account for its wonderful power in attracting light articles to itself, when excited by simple friction.

We might naturally suppose that these centuries of genius would hand down to us a better knowledge of this property of Electron, or electricity, than of any more recent subject of investigation.

What is the fact? One hundred years ago it was prac­tically as much a mystery as ever, and Professor Henry, whose invention of the practical form of the electro-magnet made telegraphy and practical electricity possible, has but a very few years been resting in the quiet precincts of Oak Hill.

No scientific study has developed such wonderful com­mercial results. We no sooner grow accustomed to the sur­prises of telegraphy than the telephone makes its Bell resound in every ear. As we become convinced of the truth of this seeming impossibility, we are startled by the brilliance of an unaccustomed light. Under its illumination we can see on all sides the busy ateliers turning out magnetic machines for every purpose that men could have, until we perceive not far ahead the gradual abolishment of steam as a source of motive power.

Surely, this bespeaks a perfect knowledge of that subtile fluid that Franklin deftly lured into his battery by a kite-string.

Investigators, who make electricity a specialty, are compelled to confess that, notwithstanding the remarkable powers that they have revealed, these are as pebbles on the beach compared with the vast ocean of undiscovered possi­bilities, only awaiting some Columbus to courageously em­bark upon its inviting bosom.

Some one has said that a dew-drop contains enough elec­tricity to blow up a house. Professor Faraday, who never made a careless statement, said, "The chemical action of a gain of water upon four grains of zinc can evolve electricity equal in quantity to that of a powerful thunder storm. Is there not, then, great reason to hope and believe that by a closer experimental investigation of the principles which govern this subtle agent, we shall be able to invent new instruments which shall a thousand-fold surpass in energy those which we at present possess?"

It will be well understood how it is possible for different persons to make statements that seem conflicting and yet all be facts. This is a necessary caveat in a book like the present. Its principles may seem to contradict the teachings of other books or instructors, but in the midst of so much undevel­oped wealth, every delver may bring forth things new and old.

This chapter is introductory to the rest and must con­tain an explanation of some terms and principles which will make magnetism more intelligible than it could otherwise be.

Some facts have been so constantly demonstrated as to be looked upon as settled beyond all probability of contra­diction.

The chief of these axioms is, all substances contain elec­tricity.

This latent electricity is only made sensible to us under peculiar circumstances. One of these is the contact of two dissimilar substances—for instance, metals. Take any two different metals, as a piece of zinc and a silver teaspoon, put one over the tongue, the other under that organ. While thus separated their latent electricity is quiescent. But touch their outer ends and a new taste is instantly presented to the sensi­tive papillae of the tongue.

This simple experiment contains in it the explanation of all electrical generation. There are two sources of electrical motion here employed. First, the contact of two metals, each containing a different degree of electricity, which tends to equalize itself upon their contact, thus producing electrical motion. Second, the connection of two metals by a weak acid, associated with the alkaline saliva, which induces elec­trical motion by means of the electrical action that results.

We can thus construct two kinds of batteries, one con­sisting of a large number of alternate plates of any two metals, which is known as the Voltaic Pile, the other being a series of such plates dipped into a tank of some powerful acid, called a Galvanic Battery.

Another axiom of this science is that electricity disposes itself upon the surface of objects. Hence arose the popular but mistaken term, electrical fluid, because it seemed to flow like an imaginary liquid over the surface of things it traversed.

No substance—whether solid, liquid or gas—refuses to conduct electricity. But all substances present a varying amount of resistance to its progress. In some, such as glass, wood, vulcanite, etc., this is so great as to practically make these insulators. Yet sparks have been developed of such tension as to penetrate over three inches of solid glass.

Whenever electricity is insulated and not allowed to flow, it is called static; but when a current is set up it is known as dynamic electricity.

Our most familiar illustration of these conditions is seen during a thunder storm. Each cloud is charged with static electricity of great accumulated tension, but when they ap­proach near enough for the resistance of the air to be over-come, then a discharge or current is set up, whose dynamic effect often sends terror to the beholder. Density is a term used for convenience, by which is indicated the amount of electrical energy on any given surface.

Experiment has shown that density varies, in accordance with the outlines of a conductor.

Only on spherical surfaces is the density alike at every spot. On objects of other shapes the density increases on all projecting parts, becoming the greatest as a point is ap­proached, while in depressions it decreases until it may be practically nothing.

Another fundamental discovery is that there are two equal and opposite electricities, technically called positive and negative.

When amber is properly rubbed it develops electricity that attracts light articles to it. But glass, rubbed upon silk, develops electricity as well, yet things are repelled. For a long time these two forces were termed resinous and vitreous electricity, and later the terms negative and posi­tive supplanted their earlier terms. Benjamin Franklin maintained a theory, which became popular, that these were but opposite manifestations of one and the same electricity. But later research has convinced us that there are two dis­tinct though concomitant electricities, as they can be made independent use of; for example, in multiple telegraphy. Whenever these electricities are separated, even in the slightest degree, there arises a proportional desire for their union and equalizing. Until this occurs there exists what is called electrical tension, which may become so great as to break all previous bounds.

Theories are constantly changing as new developments are attained, and no honest investigator holds rigidly to any hypothesis, but daily anticipates even an entire revolution in the philosophy of this marvelous double-force.

At present the verdict seems to lean toward the judg­ment that electricity is not a fluid or a substance, but rather a vibration, like light, sound and heat. What makes this more plausible is the close analogy between heat and elec­tricity in certain respects.

Electricity exerts an instant and powerful effect upon surrounding objects, just as heat does by what we call radia­tion. This influence is termed induction. Induction has a peculiar effect upon all objects. When a body is in elec­trical equilibrium there is no tension, current or other phase of electrical phenomenon. But upon the approach of an­other body induction sets up, by which there comes a new state of electrical condition, in which the opposite electricity to that of the approaching body is driven to the side nearest to it, and the other kind to the reverse situation. This is called polarity. Faraday proved that induction is caused by the polarity of the intervening particles of the atmosphere, which offered too much resistance to permit a current or conduction; hence polarity was conveyed from atom to atom of the air until the object that manifested the effects of induction was reached and influenced. The ordinary compass shows the effect of induction, the needle being in­fluenced by the magnetism of the earth, so as to always point toward the North. This is one of the most useful phenom­ena, and especially so in the study of personal magnetism, as we may more clearly see in the following chapters.

Let us make a summary of the present chapter and find what relation it bears to Human Electricity.

The following important facts are before us:

1. We are yet upon the threshold of our knowledge of Electricity.

2. All the old and apparently established theories con­cerning this mighty agent may, by a single experiment, a single fact, be completely overturned in the near future.

3. Every substance, whether solid, gas or fluid, contains electricity.

4. There is not a bone, muscle, fibre, drop of liquid or particle of matter in the human body that does not contain electricity.

5. One drop of blood contains sufficient electricity to evolve a well-regulated thunder storm.

6. Electricity disposes itself upon the surface of objects.

7. Electricity held in check by insulation is called static.

8. Electricity in motion or in current, as it is called, is termed dynamic. "Dynamic" is defined as: belonging to or having energy or effective action; forceful; as the opposite of potential or quiescent force.

9. Density means the amount of the electrical energy. 10. The best theory at the present day is that electricity is not a fluid or a substance, but a vibration, like light, sound and heat. If this is true, it is an important explanation of the phenomena of personal magnetism. The many thou­sands of experiments in this art substantiate, in their results, such a theory, but the whole line of study mapped out in this book follows the teachings of facts rather than theories, be­cause one fact is worth more than a thousand theories.

It is well, however, to bear in mind that the author agrees with the most advanced views of the scientists of the present day that electricity is a vibration. If this is remem­bered much that follows will be more easily understood.

Induction is the process by which another person or object is influenced. That actual contact or near approach is not necessary is clearly proven by the magnetic needle, which feels an influence exerted thousands of miles away; yet, were this not a fact established beyond all power of con­tradiction, no person could be found at the present day to believe it. So in the cultivation of personal magnetism the author himself confesses he would not believe his own asser­tions were they not already perfectly proven, and he is as much surprised by them as any one can be. More of this later on.