MyInventions.

NikolaTesla

Chapter1MyEarlyLife

Theprogressivedevelopmentofman isvitallydependenton invention. It isthemost important product of his creative brain. Its ultimate purpose is thecompletemasteryofmindoverthematerialworld,theharnessingoftheforcesofnaturetohumanneeds.Thisisthedifficulttaskoftheinventorwhoisoftenmisunderstood and unrewarded. But he finds ample compensation in thepleasing exercises of his powers and in the knowledge of being one of thatexceptionally privileged class without whom the race would have long agoperishedinthebitterstruggleagainstpitilesselements.

Speaking formyself, I have already hadmore thanmy fullmeasure of thisexquisiteenjoyment,somuch that formanyyearsmy lifewas littleshortofcontinuous rapture. Iamcreditedwithbeingoneof thehardestworkersandperhaps I am, if thought is the equivalent of labor, for I have devoted to italmost all of my waking hours. But if work is interpreted to be a definiteperformance in a specified timeaccording to a rigid rule, then Imaybe theworst of idlers. Every effort under compulsion demands a sacrifice of life-energy. I never paid such a price. On the contrary, I have thrived on mythoughts.

InattemptingtogiveaconnectedandfaithfulaccountofmyactivitiesinthisseriesofarticleswhichwillbepresentedwiththeassistanceoftheEditorsofthe Electrical Experimenter and are chiefly addressed to our young menreaders, Imust dwell, however reluctantly, on the impressions ofmy youthand the circumstances and events which have been instrumental in

determiningmycareer.

Ourfirstendeavorsarepurelyinstinctive,promptingsofanimaginationvividandundisciplined.Aswegrowolderreasonassertsitselfandwebecomemoreandmore systematic and designing. But those early impulses, although notimmediatelyproductive,areof thegreatestmomentandmayshapeourverydestinies. Indeed, I feel now that had I understood and cultivated instead ofsuppressingthem,Iwouldhaveaddedsubstantialvaluetomybequesttotheworld. But not until I had attained manhood did I realize that I was aninventor.

Thiswasduetoanumberofcauses.InthefirstplaceIhadabrotherwhowasgiftedtoanextraordinarydegree-oneofthoserarephenomenaofmentalitywhichbiological investigationhasfailed toexplain.Hisprematuredeath leftmyparentsdisconsolate.Weownedahorsewhichhadbeenpresentedtousbyadearfriend.ItwasamagnificentanimalofArabianbreed,possessedalmosthumanintelligence,andwascaredforandpettedbythewholefamily,havingonone occasion savedmy father's life under remarkable circumstances.Myfatherhadbeencalledonewinternight toperformanurgentdutyandwhilecrossingthemountains, infestedbywolves,thehorsebecamefrightenedandranaway,throwinghimviolentlytotheground.Itarrivedhomebleedingandexhausted, but after the alarm was sounded immediately dashed off again,returningtothespot,andbeforethesearchingpartywerefaronthewaytheyweremetbymyfather,whohadrecoveredconsciousnessandremounted,notrealizingthathehadbeenlyinginthesnowforseveralhours.Thishorsewasresponsibleformybrother'sinjuriesfromwhichhedied.Iwitnessedthetragicsceneandalthough56yearshaveelapsedsince,myvisualimpressionofithaslostnoneofitsforce.Therecollectionofhisattainmentsmadeeveryeffortofmineseemdullincomparison.

AnythingIdidthatwascreditablemerelycausedmyparentstofeeltheirlossmorekeenly.SoIgrewupwithlittleconfidenceinmyself.ButIwasfarfrombeingconsidered a stupidboy, if I am to judge froman incidentofwhich Ihavestillastrongremembrance.OnedaytheAldermenwerepassingthrougha streetwhere Iwas at playwith other boys. The oldest of these venerablegentlemen - awealthy citizen - paused to give a silver piece to each of us.Comingtomehesuddenlystoppedandcommanded,"Lookinmyeyes."Imethisgaze,myhandoutstretchedtoreceivethemuchvaluedcoin,when,tomydismay, he said, "No, notmuch, you can get nothing fromme, you are toosmart." They used to tell a funny story aboutme. I had two old auntswithwrinkledfaces,oneof themhaving twoteethprotruding like the tusksofanelephant which she buried inmy cheek every time she kissedme. Nothingwould scare me more than the prospect of being hugged by these asaffectionate as unattractive relatives. It happened thatwhile being carried in

my mother's arms they asked me who was the prettier of the two. Afterexamining their faces intently, I answered thoughtfully, pointing to one ofthem,"Thishereisnotasuglyastheother."

Thenagain,Iwasintendedfrommyverybirthfortheclericalprofessionandthisthoughtconstantlyoppressedme.Ilongedtobeanengineerbutmyfatherwas inflexible.Hewas the son of an officerwho served in the armyof theGreatNapoleonand,incommonwithhisbrother,professorofmathematicsina prominent institution, had received a military education but, singularlyenough, later embraced the clergy inwhich vocation he achieved eminence.Hewasaveryeruditeman,averitablenaturalphilosopher,poetandwriterandhissermonsweresaidtobeaseloquentasthoseofAbrahamaSanctaClara.Hehadaprodigiousmemoryandfrequently recitedat length fromworks inseveral languages. He often remarked playfully that if some of the classicswere losthecould restore them.Hisstyleofwritingwasmuchadmired.Hepennedsentencesshortandterseandwasfullofwitandsatire.Thehumorousremarkshemadewerealwayspeculiarandcharacteristic. Just to illustrate, Imaymention one or two instances.Among the help therewas a cross-eyedman calledMane, employed to dowork around the farm.Hewas choppingwoodoneday.Asheswungtheaxemyfather,whostoodnearbyandfeltveryuncomfortable, cautionedhim, "ForGod's sake,Mane,donot strikeatwhatyouare lookingbut atwhatyou intend tohit."Onanotheroccasionhewastakingoutforadriveafriendwhocarelesslypermittedhiscostlyfurcoattorubonthecarriagewheel.Myfatherremindedhimofitsaying,"Pullinyourcoat,youareruiningmytire."Hehadtheoddhabitoftalkingtohimselfandwould often carry on an animated conversation and indulge in heatedargument,changingthetoneofhisvoice.Acasuallistenermighthaveswornthatseveralpeoplewereintheroom.

Although I must trace to my mother's influence whatever inventiveness Ipossess,thetraininghegavememusthavebeenhelpful.Itcomprisedallsortsofexercises,suchasguessingoneanother'sthoughts,discoveringthedefectsof some form or expression, repeating long sentences or performingmentalcalculations. These daily lessons were intended to strengthen memory andreasonandespeciallytodevelopthecriticalsense,andwereundoubtedlyverybeneficial.

Mymotherdescendedfromoneoftheoldestfamiliesinthecountryandalineofinventors.Bothherfatherandgrandfatheroriginatednumerousimplementsfor household, agricultural and other uses. Shewas a truly greatwoman, ofrare skill, courageand fortitude,whohadbraved the stormsof life andpastthrough many a trying experience. When she was 16 years old a virulentpestilencesweptthecountry.Herfatherwascalledawaytoadministerthelastsacraments to the dying and during his absence she went alone to the

assistanceofaneighboringfamilywhowerestrickenbythedreaddisease.Allof themembers,fiveinnumber,succumbedinrapidsuccession.Shebathed,clothedandlaidoutthebodies,decoratingthemwithflowersaccordingtothecustomofthecountryandwhenherfatherreturnedhefoundeverythingreadyforaChristianburial.Mymotherwasaninventorofthefirstorderandwould,Ibelieve,haveachievedgreatthingshadshenotbeensoremotefrommodernlifeanditsmulti-foldopportunities.Sheinventedandconstructedallkindsoftoolsanddevicesandwovethefinestdesignsfromthreadwhichwasspunbyher. She even planted the seeds, raised the plants and separated the fibersherself.Sheworkedindefatigably,frombreakofdaytilllateatnight,andmostof thewearing apparel and furnishings of the homewas the product of herhands.Whenshewaspast60yearsold,herfingerswerestillnimbleenoughtotiethreeknotsinaneyelash.

Therewasanotherandstillmoreimportantreasonformylateawakening.Inmy boyhood I suffered from a peculiar affliction due to the appearance ofimages,oftenaccompaniedbystrongflashesoflight,whichmarredthesightofrealobjectsandinterferedwithmythoughtandaction.TheywerepicturesofthingsandsceneswhichIhadreallyseen,neverofthoseIimagined.Whenawordwasspokentometheimageoftheobjectitdesignatedwouldpresentitself vividly tomy vision and sometimes Iwas quite unable to distinguishwhetherwhatIsawwastangibleornot.Thiscausedmegreatdiscomfortandanxiety. None of the students of psychology or physiology whom I haveconsulted could ever explain satisfactorily these phenomena. They seem tohave been unique although I was probably predisposed as I know that mybrotherexperiencedasimilartrouble.ThetheoryIhaveformulatedisthattheimageswere the result of a reflex action from the brain on the retina undergreatexcitation.Theycertainlywerenothallucinationssuchasareproducedin diseased and anguished minds, for in other respects I was normal andcomposed. To give an idea of my distress, suppose that I had witnessed afuneralorsomesuchnerve-rackingspectacle.Then,inevitably,inthestillnessofnight, avividpictureof the scenewould thrust itselfbeforemyeyesandpersist despite all my efforts to banish it. Sometimes it would even remainfixed in space though I pushed my hand through it. If my explanation iscorrect, it shouldbeable toprojectonascreen the imageofanyobjectoneconceivesandmakeitvisible.Suchanadvancewouldrevolutionizeallhumanrelations. I am convinced that thiswonder can andwill be accomplished intimetocome;ImayaddthatIhavedevotedmuchthoughttothesolutionoftheproblem.

Tofreemyselfofthesetormentingappearances,ItriedtoconcentratemymindonsomethingelseIhadseen,andinthiswayIwouldoftenobtaintemporaryrelief;butinordertogetitIhadtoconjurecontinuouslynewimages.Itwas

notlongbeforeIfoundthatIhadexhaustedallofthoseatmycommand;my"reel" had run out, as itwere, because I had seen little of theworld - onlyobjects inmy home and the immediate surroundings. As I performed thesemental operations for the second or third time, in order to chase theappearances frommy vision, the remedy gradually lost all its force. Then Iinstinctively commenced tomake excursions beyond the limits of the smallworldofwhich Ihadknowledge,and I sawnewscenes.Thesewereat firstveryblurredandindistinct,andwouldflitawaywhenItriedtoconcentratemyattentionuponthem,butbyandbyIsucceededinfixingthem;theygainedinstrengthanddistinctnessandfinallyassumedtheconcretenessofrealthings.IsoondiscoveredthatmybestcomfortwasattainedifIsimplywentoninmyvisionfartherandfarther,gettingnewimpressionsallthetime,andsoIbegantotravel-ofcourse,inmymind.Everynight(andsometimesduringtheday),whenalone,Iwouldstartonmyjourneys-seenewplaces,citiesandcountries- live there, meet people and make friendships and acquaintances and,howeverunbelievable,itisafactthattheywerejustasdeartomeasthoseinactuallifeandnotabitlessintenseintheirmanifestations.

ThisIdidconstantlyuntilIwasabout17yearsoldwhenmythoughtsturnedseriously to invention. Then I observed tomy delight that I could visualizewith the greatest facility. I needed no models, drawings or experiments. Icouldpicturethemallasrealinmymind.ThusIhavebeenledunconsciouslyto evolvewhat I consider anewmethodofmaterializing inventive conceptsandideas,whichisradicallyoppositetothepurelyexperimentalandisinmyopinion ever so much more expeditious and efficient. The moment oneconstructs a device to carry into practice a crude idea he finds himselfunavoidably engrossed with the details and defects of the apparatus. As hegoeson improving and reconstructing, his forceof concentrationdiminishesandhelosessightofthegreatunderlyingprinciple.Resultsmaybeobtainedbutalwaysatthesacrificeofquality.

Mymethodisdifferent.Idonotrushintoactualwork.WhenIgetanideaIstartatoncebuildingitupinmyimagination.Ichangetheconstruction,makeimprovementsandoperatethedeviceinmymind.ItisabsolutelyimmaterialtomewhetherIrunmyturbineinthoughtortestitinmyshop.Ievennoteifitisoutofbalance.Thereisnodifferencewhatever,theresultsarethesame.In this way I am able to rapidly develop and perfect a conception withouttouching anything.When I have gone so far as to embody in the inventioneverypossible improvement I can thinkof and seeno fault anywhere, I putintoconcreteformthisfinalproductofmybrain.Invariablymydeviceworksas I conceived that it should, and the experiment comes out exactly as Iplannedit.In20yearstherehasnotbeenasingleexception.Whyshoulditbeotherwise?Engineering,electricalandmechanical,ispositiveinresults.There

is scarcely a subject that cannot be mathematically treated and the effectscalculatedortheresultsdeterminedbeforehandfromtheavailabletheoreticalandpracticaldata.Thecarryingout intopracticeofacrude ideaas isbeinggenerallydoneis,Ihold,nothingbutawasteofenergy,moneyandtime.

Myearlyafflictionhad,however,anothercompensation.Theincessantmentalexertiondevelopedmypowers of observation and enabledme to discover atruth of great importance. I had noted that the appearance of images wasalwaysprecededbyactualvisionofscenesunderpeculiarandgenerallyveryexceptional conditions and I was impelled on each occasion to locate theoriginal impulse.Afterawhile thiseffortgrewtobealmostautomaticandIgainedgreatfacilityinconnectingcauseandeffect.SoonIbecameaware,tomy surprise, that every thought I conceived was suggested by an externalimpression.Notonlythisbutallmyactionswerepromptedinasimilarway.Inthecourseof timeitbecameperfectlyevident tomethatIwasmerelyanautomatonendowedwithpowerofmovement,respondingtothestimuliofthesenseorgansandthinkingandactingaccordingly.Thepracticalresultofthiswas the art of telautomatics which has been so far carried out only in animperfectmanner.Itslatentpossibilitieswill,however,beeventuallyshown.Ihave been since years planning self-controlled automata and believe thatmechanisms can be producedwhichwill act as if possessed of reason, to alimiteddegree,andwillcreatearevolutioninmanycommercialandindustrialdepartments.

Iwasabout12yearsoldwhenI firstsucceeded inbanishingan imagefrommyvisionbywilfuleffort,butIneverhadanycontrolovertheflashesoflightto which I have referred. Theywere, perhaps,my strangest experience andinexplicable. They usually occurredwhen I foundmyself in a dangerous ordistressing situation, orwhen Iwas greatly exhilarated. In some instances Ihave seen all the air around me filled with tongues of living flame. Theirintensity,insteadofdiminishing,increasedwithtimeandseeminglyattainedamaximumwhenIwasabout25yearsold.WhileinParis,in1883,aprominentFrenchmanufacturer sentme an invitation to a shooting expeditionwhich Iaccepted. I had been long confined to the factory and the fresh air had awonderfullyinvigoratingeffectonme.OnmyreturntothecitythatnightIfeltapositive sensation thatmybrainhadcaught fire. I sawa light as thoughasmall sun was located in it and I past the whole night applying coldcompressionstomytorturedhead.Finallytheflashesdiminishedinfrequencyandforcebutittookmorethan3weeksbeforetheywhollysubsided.WhenasecondinvitationwasextendedtomemyanswerwasanemphaticNO!

These luminous phenomena still manifest themselves from time to time, aswhenanew ideaopeninguppossibilities strikesme,but theyareno longerexciting,beingofrelativelysmallintensity.WhenIclosemyeyesIinvariably

observefirst,abackgroundofverydarkanduniformblue,notunliketheskyonaclearbutstarlessnight.Inafewsecondsthisfieldbecomesanimatedwithinnumerable scintillating flakes of green, arranged in several layers andadvancingtowardsme.Thenthereappears,totheright,abeautifulpatternoftwosystemsofparallelandcloselyspacedlines,atrightanglestooneanother,inallsortsofcolorswithyellow-greenandgoldpredominating.Immediatelythereafterthelinesgrowbrighterandthewholeisthicklysprinkledwithdotsoftwinklinglight.Thispicturemovesslowlyacrossthefieldofvisionandinabout 10 seconds vanishes to the left, leaving behind a ground of ratherunpleasantandinertgreywhichquicklygiveswaytoabillowyseaofclouds,seemingly trying to mould themselves in living shapes. It is curious that Icannotprojectaformintothisgreyuntil thesecondphaseisreached.Everytime,beforefallingasleep, imagesofpersonsorobjectsflitbeforemyview.When I see them I know that I am about to lose consciousness. If they areabsentandrefusetocomeitmeansasleeplessnight.

TowhatanextentimaginationplayedapartinmyearlylifeImayillustratebyanother odd experience. Like most children I was fond of jumping anddevelopedanintensedesiretosupportmyselfintheair.OccasionallyastrongwindrichlychargedwithoxygenblewfromthemountainsrenderingmybodyaslightascorkandthenIwouldleapandfloatinspaceforalongtime.Itwasa delightful sensation and my disappointment was keen when later Iundeceivedmyself.

DuringthatperiodIcontractedmanystrangelikes,dislikesandhabits,someofwhichIcantracetoexternalimpressionswhileothersareunaccountable.Ihadaviolentaversionagainsttheearringsofwomenbutotherornaments,asbracelets, pleasedmemoreor less according todesign.The sightof apearlwouldalmostgivemeafitbutIwasfascinatedwiththeglitterofcrystalsorobjects with sharp edges and plane surfaces. I would not touch the hair ofotherpeopleexcept,perhaps,atthepointofarevolver.Iwouldgetafeverbylooking at a peach and if a piece of camphorwas anywhere in the house itcausedmethekeenestdiscomfort.EvennowIamnot insensible tosomeoftheseupsetting impulses.WhenIdrop littlesquaresofpaper inadish filledwithliquid,Ialwayssenseapeculiarandawfultasteinmymouth.Icountedthestepsinmywalksandcalculatedthecubicalcontentsofsoupplates,coffeecupsandpiecesof food -otherwisemymealwasunenjoyable.All repeatedactsoroperationsIperformedhadtobedivisiblebythreeandifImistIfeltimpelledtodoitalloveragain,evenifittookhours.

Uptotheageof8years,mycharacterwasweakandvacillating.Ihadneithercourage or strength to form a firm resolve.My feelings came inwaves andsurges and vibrated unceasingly between extremes. My wishes were ofconsuming force and like the heads of the hydra, they multiplied. I was

oppressed by thoughts of pain in life and death and religious fear. I wasswayedbysuperstitiousbeliefandlivedinconstantdreadofthespiritofevil,ofghostsandogresandotherunholymonstersofthedark.Then,allatonce,there came a tremendous change which altered the course of my wholeexistence.Ofall things I likedbooks thebest.My fatherhada large libraryandwheneverIcouldmanageItriedtosatisfymypassionforreading.Hedidnotpermititandwouldflyintoaragewhenhecaughtmeintheact.HehidthecandleswhenhefoundthatIwasreadinginsecret.Hedidnotwantmetospoilmyeyes.ButIobtainedtallow,madethewickingandcastthesticksintotinforms,andeverynightIwouldbushthekeyholeandthecracksandread,often till dawn,when all others slept andmymother startedonher arduousdaily task.OnoneoccasionIcameacrossanovelentitledAbafi (theSonofAba), a Serbian translation of a well knownHungarian writer, Josika. ThisworksomehowawakenedmydormantpowersofwillandIbegantopracticeself-control.

At first my resolutions faded like snow in April, but in a little while IconqueredmyweaknessandfeltapleasureIneverknewbefore-thatofdoingasIwilled.Inthecourseoftimethisvigorousmentalexercisebecamesecondnature.At theoutsetmywisheshad tobe subduedbut graduallydesire andwillgrewtobeidentical.AfteryearsofsuchdisciplineIgainedsocompleteamasteryovermyselfthatItoyedwithpassionswhichhavemeantdestructiontosomeofthestrongestmen.

AtacertainageIcontractedamaniaforgamblingwhichgreatlyworriedmyparents. To sit down to a game of cards was for me the quintessence ofpleasure.MyfatherledanexemplarylifeandcouldnotexcusethesenselesswasteoftimeandmoneyinwhichI indulged.Ihadastrongresolvebutmyphilosophywasbad.Iwouldsaytohim,"IcanstopwheneverIpleasebutisitworth while to give up that which I would purchase with the joys ofParadise?"Onfrequentoccasionshegaveventtohisangerandcontemptbutmymotherwasdifferent.Sheunderstoodthecharacterofmenandknewthatone's salvation could only be brought about through his own efforts. Oneafternoon, I remember,whenIhad lostallmymoneyandwascravingforagame, shecame tomewitha rollofbills and said, "Goandenjoyyourself.Thesooneryouloseallwepossessthebetteritwillbe.Iknowthatyouwillgetover it."Shewas right. Iconqueredmypassion thenand thereandonlyregrettedthatithadnotbeenahundredtimesasstrong.Inotonlyvanquishedbuttoreitfrommyheartsoasnottoleaveevenatraceofdesire.Eversincethat time I have been as indifferent to any form of gambling as to pickingteeth.

During another period I smoked excessively, threatening to ruinmy health.Then my will asserted itself and I not only stopped but destroyed all

inclination.Long ago I suffered fromheart trouble until I discovered that itwas due to the innocent cup of coffee I consumed every morning. Idiscontinuedatonce,althoughIconfessitwasnotaneasytask.InthiswayIcheckedandbridledotherhabitsandpassionsandhavenotonlypreservedmylifebutderivedanimmenseamountofsatisfactionfromwhatmostmenwouldconsiderprivationandsacrifice.

Afterfinishingthestudiesat thePolytechnicInstituteandUniversityIhadacomplete nervous breakdown andwhile themalady lasted I observedmanyphenomenastrangeandunbelievable.

Chapter2MyFirstEffortsAtInvention

I shall dwell briefly on these extraordinary experiences, on account of theirpossible interest to students of psychology andphysiology and alsobecausethis period of agony was of the greatest consequence on my mentaldevelopmentandsubsequent labors.But it is indispensable to first relate thecircumstances and conditions which preceded them and in which might befound their partial explanation. From childhood I was compelled toconcentrateattentionuponmyself.Thiscausedmemuchsufferingbut,tomypresentview,itwasablessingindisguiseforithastaughtmetoappreciatetheinestimable value of introspection in the preservation of life, as well as ameansofachievement.

Thepressureof occupation and the incessant streamof impressionspouringintoourconsciousness throughall thegatewaysofknowledgemakemodernexistence hazardous in many ways. Most persons are so absorbed in thecontemplationof theoutsideworld that theyarewhollyoblivious towhat ispassing onwithin themselves. The premature death ofmillions is primarilytraceable to thiscause.Evenamong thosewhoexercisecare it isacommonmistaketoavoidimaginary,andignoretherealdangers.Andwhatistrueofanindividualalsoapplies,moreorless,toapeopleasawhole.

Witness, in illustration, the prohibition movement. A drastic, if notunconstitutional,measureisnowbeingputthroughinthiscountrytopreventthe consumption of alcohol and yet it is a positive fact that coffee, tea,tobacco,chewinggumandotherstimulants,whicharefreelyindulgedinevenatthetenderage,arevastlymoreinjurioustothenationalbody,judgingfromthenumberofthosewhosuccumb.So,forinstance,duringmystudentyearsIgathered from the published necrologues in Vienna, the home of coffee

drinkers, thatdeaths fromheart trouble sometimes reached67%of the total.Similarobservationsmightprobablybemadeincitieswheretheconsumptionof tea is excessive. These delicious beverages super-excite and graduallyexhaustthefinefibersofthebrain.Theyalsointerfereseriouslywitharterialcirculationand shouldbe enjoyedall themore sparingly as theirdeleteriouseffectsareslowandimperceptible.Tobacco,ontheotherhand,isconducivetoeasyandpleasant thinkinganddetracts from the intensity andconcentrationnecessarytoalloriginalandvigorouseffortof the intellect.Chewinggumishelpful for a short while but soon drains the glandular system and inflictsirreparabledamage,nottospeakoftherevulsionitcreates.Alcoholinsmallquantities is an excellent tonic, but is toxic in its action when absorbed inlarger amounts, quite immaterial as to whether it is taken in as whiskey orproducedinthestomachfromsugar.ButitshouldnotbeoverlookedthatallthesearegreateliminatorsassistingNature,astheydo,inupholdinghersternbut just law of the survival of the fittest. Eager reformers should also bemindful of the eternal perversity of mankind which makes theindifferent"laissez-faire"byfarpreferabletoenforcedrestraint.

The truth about this is that we need stimulants to do our best work underpresent living conditions, and thatwemust exercisemoderation and controlour appetites and inclinations in every direction. That is what I have beendoing for many years, in this way maintaining myself young in body andmind.AbstinencewasnotalwaystomylikingbutIfindamplerewardintheagreeableexperiencesIamnowmaking.JustinthehopeofconvertingsometomypreceptsandconvictionsIwillrecalloneortwo.

Ashort timeago Iwas returning tomyhotel. Itwasabitter coldnight, theground slippery, and no taxi to be had. Half a block behind me followedanotherman,evidentlyasanxiousasmyselftogetundercover.Suddenlymylegswentupintheair.Inthesameinstanttherewasaflashinmybrain,thenerves responded, themuscles contracted, I swung through180degrees andlanded on my hands. I resumed my walk as though nothing had happenedwhenthestrangercaughtupwithme."Howoldareyou?"heasked,surveyingmecritically."Oh,about59,"Ireplied."Whatofit?""Well,"saidhe,"Ihaveseenacatdo thisbutneveraman."Aboutamonthsince Iwanted toorderneweyeglassesandwenttoanoculistwhoputmethroughtheusualtests.Helooked at me incredulously as I read off with ease the smallest print atconsiderabledistance.ButwhenItoldhimthatIwaspastsixtyhegaspedinastonishment.Friendsofmineoftenremarkthatmysuitsfitmelikeglovesbuttheydonotknowthatallmyclothing ismade tomeasurementswhichweretaken nearly 35 years ago and never changed. During this same periodmyweighthasnotvariedonepound.

InthisconnectionImaytellafunnystory.Oneevening,inthewinterof1885,

Mr. Edison, Edward H. Johnson, the President of the Edison IlluminatingCompany,Mr.Batchellor,Managerof theworks, andmyself entereda littleplace opposite 65 Fifth Avenue where the offices of the company werelocated.SomeonesuggestedguessingweightsandIwasinducedtosteponascale.Edisonfeltmealloverandsaid:"Teslaweighs152 lbs. toanounce,"andheguestitexactly.StrippedIweighed142lbs.andthatisstillmyweight.Iwhispered toMr.Johnson,"Howis itpossible thatEdisoncouldguessmyweight so closely?" "Well," he said, lowering his voice. "I will tell you,confidentially, but youmust not say anything.Hewas employed for a longtimeinaChicagoslaughter-housewhereheweighedthousandsofhogseveryday!That'swhy."Myfriend,theHonorableChaunceyM.Depew,tellsofanEnglishman on whom he sprung one of his original anecdotes and wholistenedwithapuzzledexpressionbut-ayearlater-laughedoutloud.IwillfranklyconfessittookmelongerthanthattoappreciateJohnson'sjoke.

Now,mywellbeing is simply the resultofacarefulandmeasuredmodeoflivingandperhapsthemostastonishingthingisthatthreetimesinmyyouthIwasrenderedbyillnessahopelessphysicalwreckandgivenupbyphysicians.Morethanthis,throughignoranceandlight-heartedness,Igotintoallsortsofdifficulties, dangers and scrapes from which I extricated myself as byenchantment. Iwas almost drowned a dozen times;was nearly boiled aliveand just mist being cremated. I was entombed, lost and frozen. I had hair-breadthescapesfrommaddogs,hogs,andotherwildanimals.IpastthroughdreadfuldiseasesandmetwithallkindsofoddmishapsandthatIamhaleandheartytodayseemslikeamiracle.ButasIrecalltheseincidentstomymindIfeelconvincedthatmypreservationwasnotaltogetheraccidental.

Aninventor'sendeavorisessentiallylifesaving.Whetherheharnessesforces,improvesdevices,orprovidesnewcomfortsandconveniences,heisaddingtothe safety of our existence. He is also better qualified than the averageindividualtoprotecthimselfinperil,forheisobservantandresourceful.IfIhadnootherevidencethatIwas, inameasure,possessedofsuchqualitiesIwouldfind it in thesepersonalexperiences.Thereaderwillbeable to judgeforhimselfifImentiononeortwoinstances.

Ononeoccasion,whenabout14yearsold,Iwantedtoscaresomefriendswhowerebathingwithme.Myplanwastodiveunderalongfloatingstructureandslipoutquietlyattheotherend.SwimminganddivingcametomeasnaturallyastoaduckandIwasconfidentthatIcouldperformthefeat.AccordinglyIplunged into thewater and,whenoutofview, turnedaroundandproceededrapidly towards the opposite side. Thinking that I was safely beyond thestructure, I rose to thesurfacebut tomydismaystruckabeam.Ofcourse, Iquickly dived and forged ahead with rapid strokes until my breath wasbeginning to give out. Rising for the second time, my head came again in

contactwithabeam.Now Iwasbecomingdesperate.However, summoningallmyenergy,Imadeathirdfranticattemptbuttheresultwasthesame.Thetortureofsuppressedbreathingwasgettingunendurable,mybrainwasreelingand I felt myself sinking. At that moment, when my situation seemedabsolutely hopeless, I experienced one of those flashes of light and thestructureabovemeappearedbeforemyvision. Ieitherdiscernedorguessedthat therewasa little spacebetween thesurfaceof thewaterand theboardsresting on the beams and, with consciousness nearly gone, I floated up,pressed my mouth close to the planks and managed to inhale a little air,unfortunatelymingledwithasprayofwaterwhichnearlychokedme.SeveraltimesIrepeatedthisprocedureasinadreamuntilmyheart,whichwasracingata terrible rate,quieteddownand Igainedcomposure.After that Imadeanumberofunsuccessfuldives,havingcompletely lost the senseofdirection,but finallysucceeded ingettingoutof the trapwhenmyfriendshadalreadygivenmeupandwerefishingformybody.

ThatbathingseasonwasspoiledformethroughrecklessnessbutIsoonforgotthelessonandonly2yearslaterIfellintoaworsepredicament.TherewasalargeflourmillwithadamacrosstherivernearthecitywhereIwasstudyingat that time.As a rule theheight of thewaterwasonly twoor three inchesabovethedamandtoswimouttoitwasasportnotverydangerousinwhichIoften indulged.One day Iwent alone to the river to enjoymyself as usual.When Iwas a short distance from themasonry, however, Iwas horrified toobservethatthewaterhadrisenandwascarryingmealongswiftly.Itriedtogetawaybutitwastoolate.Luckily,though,Isavedmyselffrombeingsweptoverbytakingholdofthewallwithbothhands.ThepressureagainstmychestwasgreatandIwasbarelyabletokeepmyheadabovethesurface.Notasoulwasinsightandmyvoicewaslostintheroarofthefall.SlowlyandgraduallyI became exhausted and unable towithstand the strain longer. Just as Iwasabouttoletgo,tobedashedagainsttherocksbelow,Isawinaflashoflightafamiliardiagramillustratingthehydraulicprinciplethatthepressureofafluidinmotionisproportionatetotheareaexposed,andautomaticallyIturnedonmy left side. As if by magic the pressure was reduced and I found itcomparatively easy in thatposition to resist the forceof the stream.But thedanger still confronted me. I knew that sooner or later I would be carrieddown, as it was not possible for any help to reach me in time, even if Iattractedattention.IamambidextrousnowbutthenIwasleft-handedandhadcomparativelylittlestrengthinmyrightarm.ForthisreasonIdidnotdaretoturnontheothersidetorestandnothingremainedbuttoslowlypushmybodyalong thedam. Ihad togetaway from themill towardswhichmy facewasturned as the current therewasmuch swifter and deeper. Itwas a long andpainfulordealandIcameneartofailingatitsveryendforIwasconfrontedwithadepressioninthemasonry.Imanagedtogetoverwiththelastounceof

myforceandfell inaswoonwhenIreachedthebank,whereIwasfound.Ihad torn virtually all the skin frommy left side and it took several weeksbefore the fever subsided and I was well. These are only two of manyinstances but they may be sufficient to show that had it not been for theinventor'sinstinctIwouldnothavelivedtotellthistale.

InterestedpeoplehaveoftenaskedmehowandwhenIbegantoinvent.ThisIcanonly answer frommypresent recollection in the lightofwhich the firstattempt I recall was rather ambitious for it involved the invention of anapparatus and a method. In the former I was anticipated but the latter wasoriginal. It happened in this way. One of my playmates had come into thepossessionofahookandfishing-tacklewhichcreatedquiteanexcitementinthevillage,andthenextmorningallstartedouttocatchfrogs.Iwasleftaloneanddesertedowingtoaquarrelwiththisboy.Ihadneverseenarealhookandpictureditassomethingwonderful,endowedwithpeculiarqualities,andwasdespairingnottobeoneoftheparty.Urgedbynecessity,Isomehowgotholdofapieceofsoft ironwire,hammeredtheendtoasharppointbetweentwostones,bent it intoshape,andfastened it toastrongstring. I thencuta rod,gathered some bait, andwent down to the brookwhere therewere frogs inabundance. But I could not catch any and was almost discouraged when itoccurredtometodangletheemptyhookinfrontofafrogsittingonastump.Atfirsthecollapsedbutbyandbyhiseyesbulgedoutandbecamebloodshot,he swelled to twice his normal size and made a vicious snap at the hook.Immediately Ipulledhimup. I tried thesame thingagainandagainand themethodprovedinfallible.Whenmycomrades,whoinspiteoftheirfineoutfithadcaughtnothing,cametometheyweregreenwithenvy.ForalongtimeIkeptmysecretandenjoyed themonopolybut finallyyielded to thespiritofChristmas. Every boy could then do the same and the following summerbroughtdisastertothefrogs.

Inmy next attempt I seem to have acted under the first instinctive impulsewhichlaterdominatedme-toharnesstheenergiesofnaturetotheserviceofman. I did this through themediumofMay-bugs (or June-bugs as they arecalledinAmerica)whichwereaveritablepestinthatcountryandsometimesbroke the branches of trees by the sheerweight of their bodies.The busheswereblackwiththem.Iwouldattachasmanyasfourofthemtoarotoronathinspindle,andtransmitthemotionofthesametoalargediscandsoderiveconsiderable "power." These creatures were remarkably efficient, for oncetheywerestartedtheyhadnosensetostopandcontinuedwhirlingforhoursandhoursandthehotteritwasthehardertheyworked.Allwentwelluntilastrange boy came to the place. He was the son of a retired officer in theAustrianArmy.ThaturchinateMay-bugsaliveandenjoyed themas thoughtheywere the finest blue-point oysters. That disgusting sight terminatedmy

endeavorsinthispromisingfieldandIhaveneversincebeenabletotouchaMay-bugoranyotherinsectforthatmatter.

Afterthat,Ibelieve,Iundertooktotakeapartandassembletheclocksofmygrandfather.IntheformeroperationIwasalwayssuccessfulbutoftenfailedinthelatter.Soitcamethathebroughtmyworktoasuddenhaltinamannernottoo delicate and it took 30 years before I tackled another clockwork again.Shortly there after Iwent into themanufacture of a kind of pop-gunwhichcomprised ahollow tube, a piston, and twoplugsof hemp.When firing thegun,thepistonwaspressedagainstthestomachandthetubewaspushedbackquicklywithbothhands.Theairbetweentheplugswascompressedandraisedtohightemperatureandoneofthemwasexpelledwithaloudreport.Theartconsistedinselectingatubeofthepropertaperfromthehollowstalks.Ididverywellwiththatgunbutmyactivitiesinterferedwiththewindowpanesinourhouseandmetwithpainfuldiscouragement.IfIrememberrightly,Ithentook to carving swords frompieces of furniturewhich I could convenientlyobtain.At that timeIwasunder theswayof theSerbiannationalpoetryandfullofadmirationforthefeatsoftheheroes.Iusedtospendhoursinmowingdownmyenemiesintheformofcorn-stalkswhichruinedthecropsandnettedmeseveralspankingsfrommymother.Moreoverthesewerenotoftheformalkindbutthegenuinearticle.

I had all this and more behind me before I was 6 years old and had pastthrough 1 year of elementary school in the village of Smiljan where I wasborn. At this juncture we moved to the little city of Gospic nearby. Thischangeofresidencewaslikeacalamitytome.Italmostbrokemyhearttopartfrom our pigeons, chickens and sheep, and our magnificent flock of geesewhichused to rise to theclouds in themorningand return from the feedinggrounds at sundown in battle formation, so perfect that itwould have put asquadronofthebestaviatorsofthepresentdaytoshame.InournewhouseIwas but a prisoner, watching the strange people I saw through the windowblinds.MybashfulnesswassuchthatIwouldratherhavefacedaroaringlionthanoneof thecitydudeswhostrolledabout.Butmyhardest trialcameonSundaywhenIhad todressupandattend theservice.There Imeetwithanaccident,themerethoughtofwhichmademybloodcurdlelikesourmilkforyearsafterwards. Itwasmysecondadventure inachurch.Not longbeforeIwasentombedforanightinanoldchapelonaninaccessiblemountainwhichwas visited only once a year. It was an awful experience, but this onewasworse.Therewasawealthyladyintown,agoodbutpompouswoman,whoused to come to the church gorgeously painted up and attired with anenormoustrainandattendants.OneSundayIhadjustfinishedringingthebellin thebelfryandrusheddownstairswhenthisgranddamewassweepingoutandIjumpedonhertrain.Ittoreoffwitharippingnoisewhichsoundedlikea

salvo ofmusketry fired by raw recruits.My fatherwas lividwith rage. Hegave me a gentle slap on the cheek, the only corporal punishment he everadministeredtomebutIalmostfeelitnow.Theembarrassmentandconfusionthat followed are indescribable. I was practically ostracised until somethingelsehappenedwhichredeemedmeintheestimationofthecommunity.

Anenterprisingyoungmerchanthadorganizedafiredepartment.Anewfireenginewaspurchased,uniformsprovidedandthemendrilledforserviceandparade.Theenginewas,inreality,apumptobeworkedbysixteenmenandwas beautifully painted red and black. One afternoon the official trial wasprepared for and the machine was transported to the river. The entirepopulation turned out towitness the great spectacle.When all the speechesandceremonieswereconcluded,thecommandwasgiventopump,butnotadropofwatercamefromthenozzle.Theprofessorsandexpertstriedinvaintolocatethetrouble.ThefizzlewascompletewhenIarrivedatthescene.Myknowledge of the mechanism was nil and I knew next to nothing of airpressure,butinstinctivelyIfeltforthesuctionhoseinthewaterandfoundthatithadcollapsed.WhenIwadedintheriverandopeneditupthewaterrushedforthandnotafewSundayclotheswerespoiled.ArchimedesrunningnakedthroughthestreetsofSyracuseandshoutingEurekaatthetopofhisvoicedidnotmakeagreaterimpressionthanmyself.Iwascarriedontheshouldersandwastheherooftheday.

Upon settling in the city I began a 4 year course in the so-called NormalSchoolpreparatorytomystudiesat theCollegeorRealGymnasium.Duringthis period my boyish efforts and exploits, as well as troubles, continued.AmongotherthingsIattainedtheuniquedistinctionofchampioncrowcatcherinthecountry.Mymethodofprocedurewasextremelysimple.Iwouldgointheforest,hideinthebushes,andimitatethecallofthebird.UsuallyIwouldget severalanswersand ina shortwhileacrowwould flutterdown into theshrubbery near me. After that all I needed to do was to throw a piece ofcardboardtodistractitsattention,jumpupandgrabitbeforeitcouldextricateitselffromtheundergrowth.InthiswayIwouldcaptureasmanyasIdesired.Butononeoccasionsomethingoccurredwhichmademerespectthem.Ihadcaughtafinepairofbirdsandwasreturninghomewithafriend.Whenwelefttheforest,thousandsofcrowshadgatheredmakingafrightfulracket.Inafewminutestheyroseinpursuitandsoonenvelopedus.ThefunlasteduntilallofasuddenIreceivedablowonthebackofmyheadwhichknockedmedown.Thentheyattackedmeviciously.Iwascompelledtoreleasethetwobirdsandwasgladtojoinmyfriendwhohadtakenrefugeinacave.

In the schoolroom therewerea fewmechanicalmodelswhich interestedmeand turnedmy attention towater turbines. I constructedmany of these andfound great pleasure in operating them. How extraordinary was my life an

incidentmayillustrate.Myunclehadnouseforthiskindofpastimeandmorethanoncerebukedme.IwasfascinatedbyadescriptionofNiagaraFallsIhadperused,andpictured inmy imaginationabigwheel runby theFalls. I toldmyunclethatIwouldgotoAmericaandcarryoutthisscheme.ThirtyyearslaterIsawmyideascarriedoutatNiagaraandmarveledattheunfathomablemysteryofthemind.

I made all kinds of other contrivances and contraptions but among thesethearbalistIproducedwerethebest.Myarrows,whenshot,disappearedfromsight and at close range traversed a plank of pine 1 inch thick. through thecontinuoustighteningofthebowsIdevelopedskinonmystomachverymuchlike that of a crocodile and I am oftenwonderingwhether it is due to thisexercise that I amable evennow todigest cobble-stones!Nor can I pass insilencemyperformanceswiththeslingwhichwouldhaveenabledmetogiveastunningexhibitattheHippodrome.

And now Iwill tell of one ofmy featswith this antique implement ofwarwhichwill strain to the utmost the credulity of the reader. I was practicingwhilewalkingwithmyuncle along the river.The sunwas setting, the troutwere playful and from time to time one would shoot up into the air, itsglisteningbody sharplydefined against a projecting rockbeyond.Of courseany boy might have hit a fish under these propitious conditions but Iundertook a much more difficult task and I foretold to my uncle, to theminutestdetail,whatIintendeddoing.Iwastohurlastonetomeetthefish,press itsbodyagainst therock,andcut it in two. Itwasnosoonersaid thandone. My uncle looked at me almost scared out of his wits andexclaimed"VaderetroSatanas!"anditwasafewdaysbeforehespoketomeagain.Other records,howevergreat,willbeeclipsedbut I feel that I couldpeacefullyrestonmylaurelsforathousandyears.

Chapter3MyLaterEndeavors

TheDiscoveryoftheRotatingMagneticField

Attheageof10Ientered theRealGymnasiumwhichwasanewandfairlywellequippedinstitution.Inthedepartmentofphysicswerevariousmodelsofclassical scientific apparatus, electrical andmechanical. The demonstrationsandexperimentsperformedfromtimetotimebytheinstructorsfascinatedmeand were undoubtedly a powerful incentive to invention. I was alsopassionatelyfondofmathematicalstudiesandoftenwontheprofessor'spraise

for rapidcalculation.Thiswasdue tomyacquiredfacilityofvisualizing thefiguresandperformingtheoperations,notintheusualintuitivemanner,butasinactuallife.UptoacertaindegreeofcomplexityitwasabsolutelythesametomewhetherIwrotethesymbolsontheboardorconjuredthembeforemymentalvision.Butfreehanddrawing,towhichmanyhoursofthecourseweredevoted,wasanannoyanceIcouldnotendure.Thiswasratherremarkableasmost of themembers of the family excelled in it. Perhapsmy aversionwassimplyduetothepredilectionIfoundinundisturbedthought.Haditnotbeenfor a few exceptionally stupid boys, who could not do anything at all, myrecordwouldhavebeentheworst.Itwasaserioushandicapasunderthethenexisting educational regime, drawing being obligatory, this deficiencythreatenedtospoilmywholecareerandmyfatherhadconsiderabletroubleinrailroadingmefromoneclasstoanother.

In the second year at that institution I became obsessed with the idea ofproducingcontinuousmotionthroughsteadyairpressure.Thepumpincident,ofwhich Ihave told, had set afiremyyouthful imaginationand imprestmewiththeboundlessabilitiesofavacuum.IgrewfranticinmydesiretoharnessthisinexhaustibleenergybutforalongtimeIwasgropinginthedark.Finally,however,myendeavorscrystallizedinaninventionwhichwastoenablemetoachievewhatnoothermortaleverattempted.

Imagineacylinderfreelyrotatableontwobearingsandpartlysurroundedbyarectangulartroughwhichfitsitperfectly.Theopensideofthetroughisclosedbyapartitionsothatthecylindricalsegmentwithintheenclosuredividesthelatter into two compartments entirely separated from each other by air-tightsliding joints. One of these compartments being sealed and once for allexhausted, the other remaining open, a perpetual rotation of the cylinderwouldresult,atleast,Ithoughtso.Awoodenmodelwasconstructedandfittedwith infinite care and when I applied the pump on one side and actuallyobserved that there was a tendency to turning, I was delirious with joy.Mechanical flight was the one thing I wanted to accomplish although stillunderthediscouragingrecollectionofabadfallIsustainedbyjumpingwithanumbrellafromthetopofabuilding.EverydayIusedtotransportmyselfthroughtheairtodistantregionsbutcouldnotunderstandjusthowImanagedtodoit.NowIhadsomethingconcrete-aflyingmachinewithnothingmorethanarotatingshaft,flappingwings,andavacuumofunlimitedpower!Fromthat time on Imademy daily aerial excursions in a vehicle of comfort andluxuryasmighthavebefittedKingSolomon.IttookyearsbeforeIunderstoodthat the atmospheric pressure acted at right angles to the surface of thecylinderandthattheslightrotaryeffortIobservedwasduetoaleak.Thoughthisknowledgecamegraduallyitgavemeapainfulshock.

I had hardly completed my course at the Real Gymnasium when I was

prostrated with a dangerous illness or rather, a score of them, and myconditionbecamesodesperatethatIwasgivenupbyphysicians.Duringthisperiod I was permitted to read constantly, obtaining books from the PublicLibrarywhichhadbeenneglectedandentrustedtomeforclassificationoftheworksandpreparationofthecatalogues.OnedayIwashandedafewvolumesofnewliteratureunlikeanythingIhadeverreadbeforeandsocaptivatingastomakemeutterly forgetmyhopelessstate.Theywere theearlierworksofMarkTwainandtothemmighthavebeenduethemiraculousrecoverywhichfollowed.Twenty-fiveyearslater,whenImetMr.Clemensandweformedafriendshipbetweenus,Itoldhimoftheexperienceandwasamazedtoseethatgreatmanoflaughterburstintotears.

My studies were continued at the higher Real Gymnasium in Carlstadt,Croatia,whereoneofmyauntsresided.Shewasadistinguishedlady,thewifeofaColonelwhowasanoldwar-horsehavingparticipatedinmanybattles.Inevercanforgetthe3yearsIpassedattheirhome.Nofortressintimeofwarwasunderamorerigiddiscipline.Iwasfedlikeacanarybird.Allthemealswereofthehighestqualityanddeliciouslypreparedbutshortinquantitybyathousand percent. The slices of ham cut bymy auntwere like tissue paper.When the Colonel would put something substantial onmy plate she wouldsnatchitawayandsayexcitedlytohim:"Becareful,Nikoisverydelicate."Ihad a voracious appetite and suffered like Tantalus. But I lived in anatmosphereofrefinementandartistic tastequiteunusualfor those timesandconditions. The land was low and marshy and malaria fever never left mewhile there despite of the enormous amounts of quinine I consumed.Occasionallytheriverwouldriseanddriveanarmyofratsintothebuildings,devouring everything even to the bundles of the fierce paprika. These pestsweretomeawelcomediversion.I thinnedtheirranksbyallsortsofmeans,whichwonmetheunenviabledistinctionofrat-catcherinthecommunity.Atlast,however,mycoursewascompleted,themiseryended,andIobtainedthecertificateofmaturitywhichbroughtmetothecross-roads.

Duringallthoseyearsmyparentsneverwaveredintheirresolvetomakemeembrace the clergy, themere thought of which filledme with dread. I hadbecome intensely interested in electricity under the stimulating influence ofmyProfessorofPhysics,whowasaningeniousmanandoftendemonstratedthe principles by apparatus of his own invention. Among these I recall adeviceintheshapeofafreelyrotatablebulb,withtinfoilcoatings,whichwasmadetospinrapidlywhenconnectedtoastaticmachine.Itisimpossibleforme to convey an adequate idea of the intensity of feeling I experienced inwitnessinghisexhibitionsof thesemysteriousphenomena.Every impressionproduced a thousand echoes in my mind. I wanted to know more of thiswonderful force; I longed for experiment and investigation and resigned

myselftotheinevitablewithachingheart.

JustasIwasmakingreadyforthelongjourneyhomeIreceivedwordthatmyfatherwishedmetogoonashootingexpedition.Itwasastrangerequestashehad been always strenuously opposed to this kind of sport. But a few dayslaterIlearnedthatthecholerawasraginginthatdistrictand,takingadvantageofanopportunity,IreturnedtoGospicindisregardofmyparents'wishes.Itisincrediblehowabsolutelyignorantpeoplewereastothecausesofthisscourgewhich visited the country in intervals of from15 to 20 years.They thoughtthat the deadly agents were transmitted through the air and filled it withpungentodorsandsmoke.Inthemeantimetheydranktheinfectedwateranddiedinheaps.Icontractedtheawfuldiseaseontheverydayofmyarrivalandalthoughsurvivingthecrisis,Iwasconfinedtobedfor9monthswithscarcelyanyabilitytomove.Myenergywascompletelyexhaustedandforthesecondtime I foundmyself at death's door. In one of the sinking spellswhichwasthoughttobethelast,myfatherrushedintotheroom.Istillseehispallidfaceashetriedtocheermeintonesbelyinghisassurance."Perhaps,"Isaid,"Imayget well if you will let me study engineering." "You will go to the besttechnical institution in theworld," he solemnly replied, and I knew that hemeantit.Aheavyweightwasliftedfrommymindbutthereliefwouldhavecome too latehad it notbeen for amarvelous curebrought about throughabitterdecoctionofapeculiarbean.Icametolife likeanotherLazarustotheutteramazementofeverybody.

MyfatherinsistedthatIspendayearinhealthfulphysicaloutdoorexercisestowhich I reluctantly consented. For most of this term I roamed in themountains, loaded with a hunter's outfit and a bundle of books, and thiscontactwithnaturemademestronger inbodyaswell as inmind. I thoughtandplanned,andconceivedmanyideasalmostasaruledelusive.Thevisionwasclearenoughbuttheknowledgeofprincipleswasverylimited.Inoneofmy inventions I proposed to convey letters and packages across the seas,through a submarine tube, in spherical containers of sufficient strength toresist thehydraulicpressure.Thepumpingplant, intendedtoforce thewaterthroughthetube,wasaccuratelyfiguredanddesignedandallotherparticularscarefullyworkedout.Onlyonetriflingdetail,ofnoconsequence,waslightlydismissed.Iassumedanarbitraryvelocityofthewaterand,whatismore,tookpleasure in making it high, thus arriving at a stupendous performancesupported by faultless calculations. Subsequent reflections, however, on theresistanceofpipestofluidflowdeterminedmetomakethisinventionpublicproperty.

Anotheroneofmyprojectswastoconstructaringaroundtheequatorwhichwould,ofcourse,floatfreelyandcouldbearrestedinitsspinningmotionbyreactionaryforces, thusenablingtravelatarateofaboutonethousandmiles

anhour,impracticablebyrail.Thereaderwillsmile.Theplanwasdifficultofexecution, Iwill admit, but not nearly so bad as that of awell-knownNewYorkprofessor,whowantedtopumptheairfromthetorrid to the temperatezones, entirely forgetful of the fact that the Lord had provided a giganticmachineforthisverypurpose.

Stillanotherscheme, farmore importantandattractive,was toderivepowerfromthe rotationalenergyof terrestrialbodies. Ihaddiscovered thatobjectsontheearth'ssurface,owingtothediurnalrotationoftheglobe,arecarriedbythe same alternately in and against the direction of translatory movement.Fromthisresultsagreatchangeinmomentumwhichcouldbeutilizedinthesimplestimaginablemannertofurnishmotiveeffortinanyhabitableregionoftheworld. I cannot findwords to describemy disappointment when later IrealizedthatIwasinthepredicamentofArchimedes,whovainlysoughtforafixedpointintheuniverse.

At the termination of my vacation I was sent to the Polytechnic School inGratz, Styria, which my father had chosen as one of the oldest and bestreputedinstitutions.ThatwasthemomentIhadeagerlyawaitedandIbeganmystudiesundergoodauspicesandfirmlyresolvedtosucceed.Myprevioustrainingwasabovetheaverage,duetomyfather'steachingandopportunitiesafforded.Ihadacquiredtheknowledgeofanumberoflanguagesandwadedthrough the books of several libraries, picking up informationmore or lessuseful.Thenagain, for the first time, I couldchoosemy subjects as I liked,andfree-handdrawingwastobothermenomore.

Ihadmadeupmymindtogivemyparentsasurprise,andduringthewholefirst year I regularly started my work at three o'clock in the morning andcontinueduntilelevenatnight,noSundaysorholidaysexcepted.Asmostofmyfellow-studentstookthingseasily,naturallyenoughIeclipsedallrecords.InthecourseofthatyearIpastthroughnineexamsandtheprofessorsthoughtI deservedmore than the highest qualifications. Armedwith their flatteringcertificates, I went home for a short rest, expecting a triumph, and wasmortifiedwhenmyfathermade lightof thesehardwonhonors.Thatalmostkilledmyambition;butlater,afterhehaddied,IwaspainedtofindapackageofletterswhichtheprofessorshadwrittenhimtotheeffectthatunlesshetookmeawayfromtheInstitutionIwouldbekilledthroughoverwork.

Thereafter I devotedmyself chiefly tophysics,mechanics andmathematicalstudies,spendingthehoursofleisureinthelibraries.Ihadaveritablemaniafor finishingwhatever I began,whichoftengotme intodifficulties.OnoneoccasionIstartedtoreadtheworksofVoltairewhenIlearned,tomydismay,thattherewerecloseononehundredlargevolumesinsmallprintwhichthatmonsterhadwrittenwhiledrinkingseventy-twocupsofblackcoffeeperdiem.

Ithadtobedone,butwhenIlaidasidethelastbookIwasveryglad,andsaid,"Nevermore!"

Myfirstyear'sshowinghadwonmetheappreciationandfriendshipofseveralprofessors. Among thesewere Prof. Rogner, whowas teaching arithmeticalsubjects and geometry; Prof. Poeschl,who held the chair of theoretical andexperimental physics, and Dr. Alle, who taught integral calculus andspecialized in differential equations. This scientist was the most brilliantlecturertowhomIeverlistened.Hetookaspecialinterestinmyprogressandwould frequently remain for an hour or two in the lecture room, givingmeproblemstosolve,inwhichIdelighted.TohimIexplainedaflyingmachineIhadconceived,notanillusionaryinvention,butonebasedonsound,scientificprinciples,whichhasbecomerealizablethroughmyturbineandwillsoonbegiven to theworld.Both ProfessorsRogner and Poeschlwere curiousmen.Theformerhadpeculiarwaysofexpressinghimselfandwheneverhedidsotherewasariot,followedbyalongandembarrassingpause.Prof.Poeschlwasamethodical and thoroughly groundedGerman. He had enormous feet andhands like the paws of a bear, but all of his experiments were skillfullyperformedwithclock-likeprecisionandwithoutamiss.

Itwas in thesecondyearofmystudies thatwereceivedaGrammedynamofromParis,havingthehorseshoeformofalaminatedfieldmagnet,andawire-woundarmaturewithacommutator.Itwasconnectedupandvariouseffectsofthe currents were shown.While Prof. Poeschl was making demonstrations,runningthemachineasamotor,thebrushesgavetrouble,sparkingbadly,andI observed that it might be possible to operate a motor without theseappliances.Buthedeclaredthatitcouldnotbedoneanddidmethehonorofdelivering a lecture on the subject, at the conclusionofwhichhe remarked:"Mr.Teslamayaccomplishgreatthings,buthecertainlyneverwilldothis.Itwouldbeequivalenttoconvertingasteadilypullingforce,likethatofgravity,intoarotaryeffort.Itisaperpetualmotionscheme,animpossibleidea."Butinstinct is something which transcends knowledge. We have, undoubtedly,certainfinerfibersthatenableustoperceivetruthswhenlogicaldeduction,oranyotherwillfuleffortofthebrain,isfutile.ForatimeIwavered,imprestbythe professor's authority, but soon became convinced I was right andundertookthetaskwithallthefireandboundlessconfidenceofyouth.

Istartedbyfirstpicturinginmymindadirect-currentmachine,runningitandfollowing the changing flow of the currents in the armature. Then I wouldimagine an alternator and investigate the processes takingplace in a similarmanner.NextIwouldvisualizesystemscomprisingmotorsandgeneratorsandoperatetheminvariousways.TheimagesIsawweretomeperfectlyrealandtangible.Allmy remaining term inGratzwaspassed in intensebut fruitlesseffortsofthiskind,andIalmostcametotheconclusionthattheproblemwas

insolvable.

In1880IwenttoPrague,Bohemia,carryingoutmyfather'swishtocompletemyeducationattheUniversitythere.ItwasinthatcitythatImadeadecidedadvance,whichconsistedindetachingthecommutatorfromthemachineandstudyingthephenomenainthisnewaspect,butstillwithoutresult.Intheyearfollowing therewasasuddenchange inmyviewsof life. I realized thatmyparentshadbeenmaking toogreat sacrificesonmyaccountand resolved torelieve them of the burden. The wave of the American telephone had justreached the European continent and the system was to be installed inBudapest,Hungary.Itappearedanidealopportunity,all themoreasafriendofourfamilywasattheheadoftheenterprise.ItwasherethatIsufferedthecompletebreakdownofthenervestowhichIhavereferred.

What Iexperiencedduring theperiodof that illness surpassesallbelief.Mysightandhearingwerealwaysextraordinary.Icouldclearlydiscernobjectsinthedistancewhenotherssawnotraceofthem.SeveraltimesinmyboyhoodIsaved the houses of our neighbors from fire by hearing the faint cracklingsoundswhichdidnotdisturbtheirsleep,andcallingforhelp.In1899,whenIwaspast40andcarryingonmyexperiments inColorado, I couldhearverydistinctlythunderclapsatadistanceof550miles.Thelimitofauditionformyyoung assistants was scarcely more than 150 miles. My ear was thus overthirteentimesmoresensitive.YetatthattimeIwas,sotospeak,stonedeafincomparisonwiththeacutenessofmyhearingwhileunderthenervousstrain.InBudapestIcouldhearthetickingofawatchwiththreeroomsbetweenmeandthetime-piece.Aflyalightingonatableintheroomwouldcauseadullthudinmyear.Acarriagepassingatadistanceofafewmilesfairlyshookmywholebody.Thewhistleofalocomotive20or30milesawaymadethebenchorchaironwhichIsatvibratesostronglythat thepainwasunbearable.Theground under my feet trembled continuously. I had to support my bed onrubber cushions to get any rest at all. The roaring noises from near and faroftenproduced the effectof spokenwordswhichwouldhave frightenedmehadInotbeenabletoresolvethemintotheiraccidentalcomponents.Thesun'srays,whenperiodically intercepted,wouldcauseblowsof such forceonmybrain that theywould stunme. I had to summon allmywill power to passunderabridgeorotherstructureasIexperiencedacrushingpressureon theskull.InthedarkIhadthesenseofabatandcoulddetectthepresenceofanobjectatadistanceof12feetbyapeculiarcreepysensationontheforehead.My pulse varied from a few to 260 beats and all the tissues of the bodyquiveredwithtwitchesandtremorswhichwasperhapsthehardesttobear.ArenownedphysicianwhogavemedailylargedosesofBromideofPotassiumpronouncedmymaladyuniqueandincurable.

It is my eternal regret that I was not under the observation of experts in

physiologyandpsychologyatthattime.Iclungdesperatelytolife,butneverexpected to recover. Can anyone believe that so hopeless a physical wreckcouldeverbetransformedintoamanofastonishingstrengthandtenacity,ableto work 38 years almost without a day's interruption, and find himself stillstrongandfreshinbodyandmind?Suchismycase.Apowerfuldesiretoliveand to continue thework, and the assistanceof adevoted friendandathleteaccomplishedthewonder.Myhealthreturnedandwithitthevigorofmind.Inattacking theproblemagain I almost regretted that the strugglewas soon toend.Ihadsomuchenergytospare.WhenIundertookthetaskitwasnotwitharesolvesuchasmenoftenmake.Withmeitwasasacredvow,aquestionoflifeanddeath.IknewthatIwouldperishifIfailed.NowIfeltthatthebattlewaswon.Backinthedeeprecessesofthebrainwasthesolution,butIcouldnotyetgiveitoutwardexpression.Oneafternoon,whichiseverpresentinmyrecollection, I was enjoying a walk with my friend in the City Park andrecitingpoetry.AtthatageIknewentirebooksbyheart,wordforword.OneofthesewasGoethe'sFaust.Thesunwasjustsettingandremindedmeofthegloriouspassage:

"Sierucktundweicht,derTagistuberlebt,DorteiltsiehinundfordertneuesLeben.Oh,dasskeinFlugelmichvomBodenhebtIhrnachundimmernachzustreben!EinschonerTraumindessensieentweicht,Ach,zudesGeistesFlugelnwirdsoleichtKeinkorperlicherFlugelsichgesellen!"

(Theglowretreats,doneisthedayoftoil;Ityonderhastes,newfieldsoflifeexploring;Ah,thatnowingcanliftmefromthesoilUponitstracktofollow,followsoaring!Agloriousdream!thoughnowthegloriesfade.Alas!thewingsthatliftthemindnoaidOfwingstoliftthebodycanbequeathme.)

AsIutteredtheseinspiringwordstheideacamelikeaflashoflightningandinaninstantthetruthwasrevealed.Idrewwithastickonthesandthediagramsshown6yearslaterinmyaddressbeforetheAmericanInstituteofElectricalEngineers, andmycompanionunderstood themperfectly.The images I sawwerewonderfullysharpandclearandhadthesolidityofmetalandstone,somuchsothatI toldhim:"Seemymotorhere;watchmereverseit."Icannotbegintodescribemyemotions.Pygmalionseeinghisstatuecometolifecouldnothavebeenmoredeeplymoved.AthousandsecretsofnaturewhichImighthavestumbleduponaccidentallyIwouldhavegivenforthatonewhichIhadwrestedfromheragainstalloddsandattheperilofmyexistence.

Chapter4TheDiscoveryoftheTeslaCoilandTransformer

For awhile I gavemyself up entirely to the intense enjoyment of picturingmachinesanddevisingnewforms.ItwasamentalstateofhappinessaboutascompleteasIhaveeverknowninlife.IdeascameinanuninterruptedstreamandtheonlydifficultyIhadwastoholdthemfast.ThepiecesofapparatusIconceivedweretomeabsolutelyrealandtangibleineverydetail,eventotheminute marks and signs of wear. I delighted in imagining the motorsconstantly running, for in this way they presented to mind's eye a morefascinatingsight.Whennatural inclinationdevelops intoapassionatedesire,oneadvancestowardshisgoalinseven-leagueboots.Inlessthan2monthsIevolved virtually all the types of motors and modifications of the systemwhicharenowidentifiedwithmyname.Itwas,perhaps,providentialthatthenecessities of existence commanded a temporary halt to this consumingactivity of the mind. I came to Budapest prompted by a premature reportconcerning the telephone enterprise and, as irony of fatewilled it, I had toaccept a position as draftsman in the Central Telegraph Office of theHungarian Government at a salary which I deem it my privilege not todisclose! Fortunately, I soon won the interest of the Inspector-in-Chief andwasthereafteremployedoncalculations,designsandestimatesinconnectionwithnewinstallations,untiltheTelephoneExchangewasstarted,whenItookchargeof the same.Theknowledgeandpractical experience Igained in thecourse of thisworkwasmost valuable and the employment gaveme ampleopportunities for the exercise of my inventive faculties. I made severalimprovements in the Central Station apparatus and perfected a telephonerepeater or amplifier which was never patented or publicly described butwouldbecreditabletomeeventoday.Inrecognitionofmyefficientassistancetheorganizeroftheundertaking,Mr.Puskas,upondisposingofhisbusinessinBudapest,offeredmeapositioninPariswhichIgladlyaccepted.

Inevercanforgetthedeepimpressionthatmagiccityproducedonmymind.For several days after my arrival I roamed through the streets in utterbewildermentofthenewspectacle.Theattractionsweremanyandirresistible,but,alas, theincomewasspentassoonasreceived.WhenMr.Puskasaskedme how I was getting along in the new sphere, I described the situationaccurately in the statement that "the last 29 days of the month are thetoughest!" I led a rather strenuous life in what would now be termed"Rooseveltian fashion." Every morning, regardless of weather, I would gofrom the Boulevard St.Marcel, where I resided, to a bathing house on the

Seine,plungeintothewater,loopthecircuittwenty-seventimesandthenwalkan hour to reach Ivry, where the Company's factory was located. There Iwouldhaveawoodchopper'sbreakfastat7:30a.m.andtheneagerlyawaitthelunch hour, in the meanwhile cracking hard nuts for the Manager of theWorks,Mr.CharlesBatchellor,whowas an intimate friend and assistant ofEdison.HereIwasthrownincontactwithafewAmericanswhofairlyfellinlovewithmebecauseofmyproficiencyinbilliards.TothesemenIexplainedmy invention and one of them, Mr. D. Cunningham, Foreman of theMechanical Department, offered to form a stock company. The proposalseemedtomecomicalintheextreme.IdidnothavethefaintestconceptionofwhatthatmeantexceptthatitwasanAmericanwayofdoingthings.Nothingcameofit,however,andduringthenextfewmonthsIhadtotravelfromonetoanotherplace inFranceandGermany tocure the illsof thepowerplants.OnmyreturntoParisIsubmittedtooneoftheadministratorsoftheCompany,Mr.Rau,aplan for improving theirdynamosandwasgivenanopportunity.My success was complete and the delighted directors accorded me theprivilege of developing automatic regulators which were much desired.Shortly after therewas some troublewith the lightingplantwhichhadbeeninstalled at the new railroad station in Strassburg, Alsace. The wiring wasdefectiveandontheoccasionoftheopeningceremoniesalargepartofawallwas blown out through a short-circuit right in the presence of old EmperorWilliamI.TheGermanGovernmentrefusedtotaketheplantandtheFrenchCompany was facing a serious loss. On account of my knowledge of theGermanlanguageandpastexperience,Iwasentrustedwiththedifficult taskof straightening outmatters and early in 1883 I went to Strassburg on thatmission.

Someoftheincidentsinthatcityhaveleftanindeliblerecordonmymemory.Byacuriouscoincidence,anumberofmenwhosubsequentlyachievedfame,livedthereaboutthattime.InlaterlifeIusedtosay,"Therewerebacteriaofgreatness in that old town. Others caught the disease but I escaped!" Thepractical work, correspondence, and conferences with officials kept mepreoccupieddayandnight,but,assoonasIwasabletomanageIundertooktheconstructionofasimplemotorinamechanicalshopoppositetherailroadstation, having broughtwithme from Paris somematerial for that purpose.Theconsummationoftheexperimentwas,however,delayeduntilthesummerof thatyearwhenI finallyhad thesatisfactionofseeingrotationeffectedbyalternating currents of different phase, and without sliding contacts orcommutator,asIhadconceivedayearbefore.Itwasanexquisitepleasurebutnottocomparewiththedeliriumofjoyfollowingthefirstrevelation.

AmongmynewfriendswastheformerMayorofthecity,Mr.Bauzin,whomIhad already in ameasure acquaintedwith this and other inventions ofmine

andwhosesupportIendeavoredtoenlist.Hewassincerelydevotedtomeandputmyprojectbeforeseveralwealthypersonsbut,tomymortification,foundnoresponse.Hewantedtohelpmeineverypossiblewayandtheapproachofthe first of July, 1919, happens to remind me of a form of "assistance" Ireceived from thatcharmingman,whichwasnot financialbutnone the lessappreciated.In1870,whentheGermansinvadedthecountry,Mr.Bauzinhadburied a good sized allotment of St. Estephe of 1801 and he came to theconclusion that he knew no worthier person than myself to consume thatprecious beverage. This, Imay say, is one of the unforgettable incidents towhich I have referred. My friend urged me to return to Paris as soon aspossible and seek support there.This Iwas anxious to dobutmywork andnegotiationswereprotractedowingtoallsortsofpettyobstaclesIencounteredsothatattimesthesituationseemedhopeless.

JusttogiveanideaofGermanthoroughnessand"efficiency,"Imaymentionhere a rather funny experience. An incandescent lamp of 16 c.p. was to beplaced in a hallway and upon selecting the proper location I ordered theworkman to run thewires.Afterworking for awhile he concluded that theengineer had to be consulted and this was done. The latter made severalobjectionsbutultimatelyagreedthatthelampshouldbeplaced2inchesfromthe spot I had assigned, whereupon thework proceeded. Then the engineerbecameworriedandtoldmethatInspectorAverdeckshouldbenotified.Thatimportant person called, investigated, debated, and decided that the lampshouldbeshiftedback2inches,whichwastheplaceIhadmarked.Itwasnotlong,however,beforeAverdeckgotcoldfeethimselfandadvisedmethathehadinformedOber-InspectorHieronimusofthematterandthatIshouldawaithis decision. Itwas several days before theOber-Inspectorwas able to freehimself of other pressing duties but at last he arrived and a 2 hour debatefollowed,whenhedecidedtomovethelamp2inchesfarther.MyhopesthatthiswasthefinalactwereshatteredwhentheOber-Inspectorreturnedandsaidtome:"RegierungsrathFunkeissoparticularthatIwouldnotdaretogiveanorder for placing this lamp without his explicit approval." Accordinglyarrangementsforavisitfromthatgreatmanweremade.Westartedcleaningup and polishing early in themorning. Everybody brushed up, I put onmyglovesandwhenFunkecamewithhisretinuehewasceremoniouslyreceived.After2hoursofdeliberationhesuddenlyexclaimed:"Imustbegoing,"andpointingtoaplaceontheceiling,heorderedmetoputthelampthere.ItwastheexactspotwhichIhadoriginallychosen.

So itwentdayafterdaywithvariations,but Iwasdetermined toachieveatwhatevercostandintheendmyeffortswererewarded.Bythespringof1884allthedifferenceswereadjusted,theplantformallyaccepted,andIreturnedtoPariswithpleasinganticipations.Oneoftheadministratorshadpromisedmea

liberalcompensationincaseIsucceeded,aswellasafairconsiderationoftheimprovementsIhadmadeintheirdynamosandIhopedtorealizeasubstantialsum.Therewere threeadministratorswhomIshalldesignateasA,BandCfor convenience. When I called on A he told me that B had the say. ThisgentlemanthoughtthatonlyCcoulddecideandthelatterwasquitesurethatAalonehadthepowertoact.AfterseverallapsofthiscirculusviviositdawneduponmethatmyrewardwasacastleinSpain.Theutterfailureofmyattemptsto raise capital for development was another disappointment and whenMr.BatchellorpressedmetogotoAmericawithaviewofredesigningtheEdisonmachines,IdeterminedtotrymyfortunesintheLandofGoldenPromise.Butthe chance was nearly missed. I liquefied my modest assets, securedaccommodations and found myself at the railroad station as the train waspulling out. At that moment I discovered that my money and tickets weregone.Whattodowasthequestion.Herculeshadplentyoftimetodeliberatebut I had to decidewhile running alongside the trainwith opposite feelingssurginginmybrainlikecondenseroscillations.Resolve,helpedbydexterity,wonoutinthenickoftimeanduponpassingthroughtheusualexperiences,astrivialasunpleasant,ImanagedtoembarkforNewYorkwiththeremnantsofmy belongings, some poems and articles I had written, and a package ofcalculations relating to solutions of an unsolvable integral and tomy flyingmachine. During the voyage I sat most of the time at the stern of the shipwatchingforanopportunity tosavesomebodyfromawaterygrave,withoutthe slightest thought of danger. Later when I had absorbed some of thepracticalAmerican sense I shivered at the recollection andmarvelled atmyformerfolly.

Iwish that I couldput inwordsmy first impressionsof this country. In theArabianTalesIreadhowgeniitransportedpeopleintoalandofdreamstolivethrough delightful adventures.My case was just the reverse. The genii hadcarriedmefromaworldofdreamsintooneofrealities.WhatIhadleftwasbeautiful,artisticandfascinatingineveryway;whatIsawherewasmachined,roughandunattractive.Aburlypolicemanwastwirlinghisstickwhichlookedtomeasbigasalog.Iapproachedhimpolitelywiththerequesttodirectme."Sixblocksdown,thentotheleft,"hesaid,withmurderinhiseyes."IsthisAmerica?"Iaskedmyselfinpainfulsurprise."ItisacenturybehindEuropeincivilization."WhenIwentabroadin1889-5yearshavingelapsedsincemyarrival here - I became convinced that it was more than one hundredyearsAHEADofEuropeandnothinghashappenedtothisdaytochangemyopinion.

ThemeetingwithEdisonwasamemorableeventinmylife.Iwasamazedatthiswonderfulmanwho,withoutearlyadvantagesandscientifictraining,hadaccomplishedsomuch. Ihadstudiedadozen languages,delved in literature

andart,andhadspentmybestyearsinlibrariesreadingallsortsofstuffthatfellintomyhands,fromNewton'sPrincipiatothenovelsofPauldeKock,andfeltthatmostofmylifehadbeensquandered.ButitdidnottakelongbeforeIrecognizedthatitwasthebestthingIcouldhavedone.WithinafewweeksIhadwonEdison'sconfidenceanditcameaboutinthisway.

The S.S.Oregon, the fastest passenger steamer at that time, had both of itslightingmachinesdisabledanditssailingwasdelayed.Asthesuperstructurehadbeenbuiltafter their installation itwas impossible toremovethemfromthehold.ThepredicamentwasaseriousoneandEdisonwasmuchannoyed.IntheeveningItookthenecessaryinstrumentswithmeandwentaboardthevessel where I stayed for the night. The dynamos were in bad condition,havingseveralshort-circuitsandbreaks,butwiththeassistanceofthecrewIsucceeded in putting them in good shape.At 5:00 a.m.when passing alongFifthAvenueonmywaytotheshop,ImetEdisonwithBatchellorandafewothers as they were returning home to retire. "Here is our Parisian runningaroundatnight,"hesaid.WhenItoldhimthatIwascomingfromtheOregonandhadrepairedbothmachines,helookedatmeinsilenceandwalkedawaywithout another word. But when he had gone some distance I heard himremark: "Batchellor, this is adamngoodman." and from that timeon Ihadfull freedom indirecting thework.Fornearlyayearmy regularhourswerefrom10:30a.m.until5:00a.m. thenextmorningwithoutaday's exception.Edisonsaidtome,"Ihavehadmanyhard-workingassistantsbutyoutakethecake."During this period I designed twenty-four different types of standardmachineswithshortcoresandofuniformpatternwhichreplacedtheoldones.TheManagerhadpromisedme$50,000on thecompletionof this taskbut itturnedouttobeapracticaljoke.ThisgavemeapainfulshockandIresignedmyposition.

Immediately thereafter some people approached me with the proposal offorminganarclightcompanyundermyname,towhichIagreed.Herefinallywasanopportunitytodevelopthemotor,butwhenIbroachedthesubject tomynewassociatestheysaid:"No,wewantthearclamp.Wedon'tcareforthisalternatingcurrentofyours."In1886mysystemofarclightingwasperfectedand adopted for factory andmunicipal lighting, and Iwas free, butwith noother possession than a beautifully engraved certificate of stock ofhypotheticalvalue.ThenfollowedaperiodofstruggleinthenewmediumforwhichIwasnotfitted,buttherewardcameintheendandinApril,1887,theTeslaElectricCompanywasorganized,providinga laboratoryand facilities.The motors I built there were exactly as I had imagined them. I made noattempt to improve the design, but merely reproduced the pictures as theyappearedtomyvisionandtheoperationwasalwaysasIexpected.

In the early part of 1888 an arrangement wasmadewith theWestinghouse

Company for the manufacture of the motors on a large scale. But greatdifficultieshadstilltobeovercome.MysystemwasbasedontheuseoflowfrequencycurrentsandtheWestinghouseexpertshadadopted133cycleswiththeobjectofsecuringadvantagesinthetransformation.Theydidnotwanttodepart from their standard forms of apparatus and my efforts had to beconcentrateduponadapting themotor to theseconditions.Anothernecessitywastoproduceamotorcapableofrunningefficientlyatthisfrequencyontwowireswhichwasnoteasytoaccomplish.

At the close of 1889, however, my services in Pittsburg being no longeressential, I returned to New York and resumed experimental work in alaboratory on Grand Street, where I began immediately the design of highfrequency machines. The problems of construction in this unexplored fieldwerenovelandquitepeculiarandIencounteredmanydifficulties. I rejectedtheinductortype,fearingthatitmightnotyieldperfectsinewaveswhichwereso important to resonant action.Had it not been for this I couldhave savedmyself a great deal of labor. Another discouraging feature of the highfrequencyalternatorseemedtobetheinconstancyofspeedwhichthreatenedto impose serious limitations to its use. I had already noted in mydemonstrations before the American Institution of Electrical Engineers thatseveral times the tune was lost, necessitating readjustment, and did not yetforesee,whatIdiscoveredlongafterwards,ameansofoperatingamachineofthiskindataspeedconstanttosuchadegreeasnottovarymorethanasmallfractionofonerevolutionbetweentheextremesofload.

From many other considerations it appeared desirable to invent a simplerdevice for the production of electric oscillations. In 1856 Lord Kelvin hadexposedthetheoryofthecondenserdischarge,butnopracticalapplicationofthatimportantknowledgewasmade.Isawthepossibilitiesandundertookthedevelopment of induction apparatus on this principle. My progress was sorapidastoenablemetoexhibitatmylecturein1891acoilgivingsparksoffiveinches.OnthatoccasionIfranklytoldtheengineersofadefectinvolvedin the transformationby thenewmethod,namely, the loss in the sparkgap.Subsequentinvestigationshowedthatnomatterwhatmediumisemployed,beitair,hydrogen,mercuryvapor,oilorastreamofelectrons,theefficiencyisthe same. It is a law very much like that governing the conversion ofmechanical energy.We may drop a weight from a certain height verticallydown or carry it to the lower level along any devious path, it is immaterialinsofar as the amount of work is concerned. Fortunately however, thisdrawback is not fatal as by proper proportioning of the resonant circuits anefficiencyof85%isattainable.Sincemyearlyannouncementoftheinventionithascomeintouniversaluseandwroughtarevolutioninmanydepartments.But a still greater future awaits it. When in 1900 I obtained powerful

dischargesof100feetandflashedacurrentaroundtheglobe,Iwasremindedof the first tiny spark I observed in my Grand Street laboratory and wasthrilled by sensations akin to those I felt when I discovered the rotatingmagneticfield.

Chapter5TheMagnifyingTransmitter

AsIreviewtheeventsofmypastlifeIrealizehowsubtlearetheinfluencesthatshapeourdestinies.Anincidentofmyyouthmayservetoillustrate.Onewinter's day I managed to climb a steep mountain, in company with otherboys. The snow was quite deep and a warm southerly wind made it justsuitableforourpurpose.Weamusedourselvesbythrowingballswhichwouldroll down a certain distance, gathering more or less snow, and we tried tooutdo one another in this exciting sport. Suddenly a ball was seen to gobeyondthelimit,swellingtoenormousproportionsuntilitbecameasbigasahouseandplungedthunderingintothevalleybelowwithaforcethatmadethegroundtremble.Ilookedonspellbound,incapableofunderstandingwhathadhappened.Forweeksafterwards thepictureof theavalanchewasbeforemyeyesandIwonderedhowanythingsosmallcouldgrowtosuchanimmensesize.Ever since that time themagnificationof feeble actions fascinatedme,and when, years later, I took up the experimental study of mechanical andelectricalresonance,Iwaskeenlyinterestedfromtheverystart.Possibly,haditnotbeenfor thatearlypowerful impression, ImightnothavefollowedupthelittlesparkIobtainedwithmycoilandneverdevelopedmybestinvention,thetruehistoryofwhichI'lltellhereforthefirsttime.

"Lionhunters"haveoftenaskedmewhichofmydiscoveriesIprizemost.Thisdepends on the point of view. Not a few technical men, very able in theirspecialdepartments,butdominatedbyapedanticspiritandnear-sighted,haveassertedthatexceptingtheinductionmotorIhavegiventotheworldlittleofpracticaluse.Thisisagrievousmistake.Anewideamustnotbejudgedbyitsimmediate results. My alternating system of power transmission came at apsychological moment, as a long-sought answer to pressing industrialquestions, and although considerable resistance had to be overcome andopposinginterestsreconciled,asusual,thecommercialintroductioncouldnotbelongdelayed.Now,comparethissituationwiththatconfrontingmyturbine,for example. One should think that so simple and beautiful an invention,possessingmany features of an idealmotor, shouldbe adopted at once and,undoubtedly, itwouldundersimilarconditions.But theprospectiveeffectof

the rotating field was not to render worthless existing machinery; on thecontrary, it was to give it additional value. The system lent itself to newenterpriseaswellastoimprovementoftheold.Myturbineisanadvanceofacharacterentirelydifferent.Itisaradicaldepartureinthesensethatitssuccesswould mean the abandonment of the antiquated types of prime movers onwhich billions of dollars have been spent. Under such circumstances theprogressmustbeslowandperhapsthegreatestimpedimentisencounteredinthe prejudicial opinions created in the minds of experts by organizedopposition.

OnlytheotherdayIhadadishearteningexperiencewhenImetmyfriendandformerassistant,CharlesF.Scott,nowprofessorofElectricalEngineeringatYale.Ihadnotseenhimforalongtimeandwasgladtohaveanopportunityforalittlechatatmyoffice.Ourconversationnaturallyenoughdriftedonmyturbine and I became heated to a high degree. "Scott," I exclaimed, carriedawayby thevisionof aglorious future, "my turbinewill scrap all theheat-enginesintheworld."Scottstrokedhischinandlookedawaythoughtfully,asthoughmakingamentalcalculation."Thatwillmakequiteapileofscrap,"hesaid,andleftwithoutanotherword!

Theseandother inventionsofmine,however,werenothingmore than stepsforward incertaindirections. Inevolving themI simply followed the inbornsense to improve the present deviceswithout any special thought of our farmoreimperativenecessities.The"MagnifyingTransmitter"wastheproductoflabors extending through years, having for their chief object the solution ofproblemswhichareinfinitelymoreimportanttomankindthanmereindustrialdevelopment.

Ifmymemoryservesmeright,itwasinNovember,1890,thatIperformedalaboratory experiment which was one of the most extraordinary andspectacular ever recorded in the annals of science. In investigating thebehaviour of high frequency currents I had satisfiedmyself that an electricfield of sufficient intensity could be produced in a room to light upelectrodeless vacuum tubes.Accordingly, a transformerwas built to test thetheory and the first trial proved a marvelous success. It is difficult toappreciate what those strange phenomenameant at that time.We crave fornew sensations but soon become indifferent to them. The wonders ofyesterdayaretodaycommonoccurrences.Whenmytubeswerefirstpubliclyexhibitedtheywereviewedwithamazementimpossibletodescribe.FromallpartsoftheworldIreceivedurgentinvitationsandnumeroushonorsandotherflatteringinducementswereofferedtome,whichIdeclined.

But in 1892 the demands became irresistible and Iwent toLondonwhere Idelivereda lecturebefore the InstitutionofElectricalEngineers. Ithadbeen

my intention to leave immediately for Paris in compliance with a similarobligation, but Sir JamesDewar insisted onmy appearing before theRoyalInstitution.Iwasamanoffirmresolvebutsuccumbedeasily to theforcefulargumentsof thegreatScotsman.Hepushedme intoachairandpouredouthalfaglassofawonderfulbrownfluidwhichsparkledinallsortsofiridescentcolorsandtastedlikenectar."Now,"saidhe."youaresittinginFaraday'schairand you are enjoyingwhiskey he used to drink." In both aspects it was anenviable experience. The next evening I gave a demonstration before thatInstitution,at the terminationofwhichLordRayleighaddressedtheaudienceandhisgenerouswordsgavemethefirststartintheseendeavors.IfledfromLondon and later from Paris to escape favors showered upon me, andjourneyed to my home where I passed through a most painful ordeal andillness. Upon regaining my health I began to formulate plans for theresumption of work in America. Up to that time I never realized that IpossessedanyparticulargiftofdiscoverybutLordRayleigh,whomIalwaysconsideredasanidealmanofscience,hadsaidsoandif thatwasthecaseIfeltthatIshouldconcentrateonsomebigidea.

One day, as I was roaming in the mountains, I sought shelter from anapproaching storm. The sky became overhung with heavy clouds butsomehow the rainwas delayed until, all of a sudden, therewas a lightningflashandafewmomentsafteradeluge.Thisobservationsetmethinking.Itwasmanifestthatthetwophenomenawerecloselyrelated,ascauseandeffect,and a little reflection led me to the conclusion that the electrical energyinvolvedintheprecipitationof thewaterwasinconsiderable, thefunctionoflightningbeingmuchlikethatofasensitivetrigger.

Here was a stupendous possibility of achievement. If we could produceelectriceffectsoftherequiredquality,thiswholeplanetandtheconditionsofexistenceon itcouldbe transformed.Thesun raises thewaterof theoceansand winds drive it to distant regions where it remains in a state of mostdelicatebalance.Ifitwereinourpowertoupsetitwhenandwhereverdesired,thismightylife-sustainingstreamcouldbeatwillcontrolled.Wecouldirrigatearid deserts, create lakes and rivers and providemotive power in unlimitedamounts.Thiswouldbe themost efficientwayof harnessing the sun to theusesofman.Theconsummationdependedonourability todevelopelectricforcesoftheorderofthoseinnature.Itseemedahopelessundertaking,butImadeupmymindtotryitandimmediatelyonmyreturntotheUnitedStates,in the Summer of 1892, work was begun which was to me all the moreattractive,becauseameansofthesamekindwasnecessaryforthesuccessfultransmissionofenergywithoutwires.

The first gratifying resultwas obtained in the spring of the succeeding yearwhenI reached tensionsofabout1,000,000voltswithmyconicalcoil.That

wasnotmuchinthelightofthepresentart,butitwasthenconsideredafeat.Steady progresswasmade until the destruction ofmy laboratory by fire in1895,asmaybejudgedfromanarticlebyT.C.MartinwhichappearedintheApril number of theCenturyMagazine.This calamity setmeback inmanywaysandmostofthatyearhadtobedevotedtoplanningandreconstruction.However,assoonascircumstancespermitted,Ireturnedtothetask.

Although I knew that higher electro-motive forces were attainable withapparatusoflargerdimensions,Ihadaninstinctiveperceptionthattheobjectcould be accomplished by the proper design of a comparatively small andcompacttransformer.Incarryingontestswithasecondaryintheformofaflatspiral,asillustratedinmypatents,theabsenceofstreamerssurprisedme,anditwasnotlongbeforeIdiscoveredthatthiswasduetothepositionoftheturnsandtheirmutualaction.ProfitingfromthisobservationIresortedtotheuseofa high tension conductor with turns of considerable diameter sufficientlyseparated to keep down the distributed capacity, while at the same timepreventingundueaccumulationofthechargeatanypoint.Theapplicationofthisprincipleenabledmetoproducepressuresof4,000,000volts,whichwasabout the limit obtainable in my new laboratory at Houston Street, as thedischarges extended through a distance of 16 feet. A photograph of thistransmitterwaspublishedintheElectricalReviewofNovember,1898.

InordertoadvancefurtheralongthislineIhadtogointotheopen,andinthespringof1899,havingcompletedpreparations for theerectionofawirelessplant, Iwent toColoradowhere I remained formore than one year.Here Iintroduced other improvements and refinements which made it possible togeneratecurrentsofanytensionthatmaybedesired.Thosewhoareinterestedwill findsomeinformation inregard to theexperimentsIconducted there inmy article, "The Problem of Increasing Human Energy" in the CenturyMagazineofJune,1900,towhichIhavereferredonapreviousoccasion.

IhavebeenaskedbytheElectricalExperimenter tobequiteexpliciton thissubject so that my young friends among the readers of the magazine willclearly understand the construction and operation of my "MagnifyingTransmitter"andthepurposesforwhichitisintended.Well,then,inthefirstplace,itisaresonanttransformerwithasecondaryinwhichtheparts,chargedtoahighpotential,areofconsiderableareaandarrangedinspacealongidealenveloping surfaces of very large radii of curvature, and at proper distancesfromoneanothertherebyinsuringasmallelectricsurfacedensityeverywhereso thatno leakcanoccureven if theconductor isbare. It issuitableforanyfrequency, from a few tomany thousands of cycles per second, and can beused in the production of currents of tremendous volume and moderatepressure, or of smaller amperage and immense electromotive force. Themaximumelectrictensionismerelydependentonthecurvatureofthesurfaces

onwhichthechargedelementsaresituatedandtheareaofthelatter.

Judgingfrommypastexperience,asmuchas100,000,000voltsareperfectlypracticable.Ontheotherhandcurrentsofmanythousandsofamperesmaybeobtainedintheantenna.Aplantofbutverymoderatedimensionsisrequiredfor such performances. Theoretically, a terminal of less than 90 feet indiameter is sufficient to develop an electromotive force of that magnitudewhile for antenna currents of from 2,000 to 4,000 amperes at the usualfrequenciesitneednotbelargerthan30feetindiameter.

In a more restricted meaning this wireless transmitter is one in which theHertz-wave radiation is anentirelynegligiblequantityas comparedwith thewhole energy, underwhich condition the damping factor is extremely smallandanenormouschargeisstoredintheelevatedcapacity.Suchacircuitmaythenbeexcitedwithimpulsesofanykind,evenoflowfrequencyanditwillyieldsinusoidalandcontinuousoscillationslikethoseofanalternator.

Taken in the narrowest significance of the term, however, it is a resonanttransformer which, besides possessing these qualities, is accuratelyproportioned to fit the globe and its electrical constants and properties, byvirtueofwhichdesignitbecomeshighlyefficientandeffectiveinthewirelesstransmissionofenergy.Distanceisthenabsolutelyeliminated,therebeingnodiminution in the intensityof the transmitted impulses. It isevenpossible tomake the actions increase with the distance from the plant according to anexactmathematicallaw.

This invention was one of a number comprised in my "World-System" ofwireless transmission which I undertook to commercialize on my return toNewYorkin1900.Astotheimmediatepurposesofmyenterprise,theywereclearly outlined in a technical statement of that period fromwhich I quote,"The 'World-System' has resulted from a combination of several originaldiscoveriesmadebytheinventorinthecourseoflongcontinuedresearchandexperimentation. It makes possible not only the instantaneous and precisewireless transmission of any kind of signals, messages or characters, to allparts of the world, but also the inter-connection of the existing telegraph,telephone, and other signal stations without any change in their presentequipment.Byitsmeans,forinstance,atelephonesubscriberheremaycallupand talk to any other subscriber on the globe. An inexpensive receiver, notbiggerthanawatch,willenablehimtolistenanywhere,onlandorsea, toaspeechdeliveredormusicplayedinsomeotherplace,howeverdistant.Theseexamples are cited merely to give an idea of the possibilities of this greatscientific advance,whichannihilatesdistanceandmakes thatperfectnaturalconductor,theEarth,availableforalltheinnumerablepurposeswhichhumaningenuityhasfoundforaline-wire.Onefar-reachingresultofthisisthatany

device capable of being operated through one or more wires (at a distanceobviously restricted) can likewise be actuated, without artificial conductorsandwith the same facility and accuracy, at distances towhich there are nolimitsotherthanthoseimposedbythephysicaldimensionsoftheglobe.Thus,notonlywillentirelynewfieldsforcommercialexploitationbeopenedupbythis ideal method of transmission but the old ones vastly extended. The'World-System' is based on the application of the following importantinventionsanddiscoveries:

1. The'TeslaTransformer.'Thisapparatusisintheproductionofelectricalvibrationsasrevolutionaryasgunpowderwasinwarfare.Currentsmanytimesstrongerthananyevergeneratedintheusualways,andsparksover100feetlong,havebeenproducedbytheinventorwithaninstrumentofthiskind.

2. The 'Magnifying Transmitter.' This is Tesla's best invention, a peculiartransformer specially adapted to excite the Earth, which is in thetransmission of electrical energy what the telescope is in astronomicalobservation.By the use of thismarvelous device he has already set upelectrical movements of greater intensity than those of lightning andpassedacurrent,sufficienttolightmorethantwohundredincandescentlamps,aroundtheglobe.

3. The 'Tesla Wireless System.' This system comprises a number ofimprovements and is the only means known for transmittingeconomicallyelectricalenergytoadistancewithoutwires.Careful testsand measurements in connection with an experimental station of greatactivity, erected by the inventor in Colorado, have demonstrated thatpowerinanydesiredamountcanbeconveyed,clearacrosstheglobeifnecessary,withalossnotexceedingafewpercent.

4. The 'Art of Individualization.' This invention of Tesla's is to primitive'tuning' what refined language is to unarticulated expression. It makespossible the transmission of signals or messages absolutely secret andexclusivebothintheactiveandpassiveaspect,thatis,non-interferingaswellassecure.Eachsignalislikeanindividualofunmistakableidentityand there is virtually no limit to the number of stations or instrumentswhich can be simultaneously operated without the slightest mutualdisturbance.

5. 'The Terrestrial StationaryWaves.' Thiswonderful discovery, popularlyexplained,means that theEarth is responsive to electrical vibrations ofdefinite pitch just as a tuning fork to certain waves of sound. Theseparticularelectricalvibrations,capableofpowerfullyexcitingtheglobe,lend themselves to innumerable uses of great importance commercially

andinmanyotherrespects.

The first 'World-System' power plant can be put in operation in 9 months.Withthispowerplantitwillbepracticabletoattainelectricalactivitiesuptoten million horsepower and it is designed to serve for as many technicalachievementsasarepossiblewithoutdueexpense.Amongthesethefollowingmaybementioned:

1. The inter-connection of the existing telegraph exchanges or offices allovertheworld;

2. Theestablishmentofasecretandsecuregovernmenttelegraphservice;

3. Theinter-connectionofallthepresenttelephoneexchangesorofficesontheglobe;

4. Theuniversaldistributionofgeneralnews,bytelegraphortelephone,inconnectionwiththepress;

5. Theestablishmentofsucha 'World-System'of intelligencetransmissionforexclusiveprivateuse;

6. Theinter-connectionandoperationofallstocktickersoftheworld;

7. Theestablishmentofa'World-System'ofmusicaldistribution,etc.;

8. The universal registration of time by cheap clocks indicating the hourwithastronomicalprecisionandrequiringnoattentionwhatever;

9. The world transmission of typed or handwritten characters, letters,checks,etc.;

10. Theestablishmentofauniversalmarineserviceenabling thenavigatorsof all ships to steer perfectly without compass, to determine the exactlocation,hourandspeed,topreventcollisionsanddisasters,etc.;

11. Theinaugurationofasystemofworld-printingonlandandsea;

12. The world reproduction of photographic pictures and all kinds ofdrawingsorrecords.

Ialsoproposedtomakedemonstrationsinthewirelesstransmissionofpoweronasmallscalebutsufficienttocarryconviction.BesidestheseIreferredtootherandincomparablymoreimportantapplicationsofmydiscoverieswhichwillbedisclosedatsomefuturedate.

A plant was built on Long Island with a tower 187 feet high, having asphericalterminalabout68feetindiameter.Thesedimensionswereadequatefor the transmissionofvirtuallyanyamountofenergy.Originallyonly from200to300kWwereprovidedbutIintendedtoemploylaterseveralthousand

horsepower. The transmitter was to emit a wave complex of specialcharacteristicsandIhaddevisedauniquemethodoftelephoniccontrolofanyamountofenergy.

Thetowerwasdestroyed2yearsagobutmyprojectsarebeingdevelopedandanotherone,improvedinsomefeatures,willbeconstructed.OnthisoccasionI would contradict the widely circulated report that the structure wasdemolished by theGovernmentwhich owing towar conditions,might havecreated prejudice in theminds of thosewhomay not know that the papers,which30yearsagoconferreduponmethehonorofAmericancitizenship,arealwayskept in a safe,whilemyorders, diplomas, degrees, goldmedals andotherdistinctionsarepackedawayinoldtrunks.IfthisreporthadafoundationIwouldhavebeen refundeda large sumofmoneywhich I expended in theconstruction of the tower. On the contrary it was in the interest of theGovernment to preserve it, particularly as itwould havemade possible - tomentionjustonevaluableresult-thelocationofasubmarineinanypartoftheworld.Myplant,services,andallmyimprovementshavealwaysbeenatthedisposaloftheofficialsandeversincetheoutbreakoftheEuropeanconflictIhave been working at a sacrifice on several inventions of mine relating toaerialnavigation,shippropulsionandwireless transmissionwhichareof thegreatest importance to the country.Thosewho arewell informed know thatmyideashaverevolutionizedtheindustriesoftheUnitedStatesandIamnotawarethattherelivesaninventorwhohasbeen,inthisrespect,asfortunateasmyself especially as regards the use of his improvements in thewar. I haverefrainedfrompubliclyexpressingmyselfonthissubjectbeforeasitseemedimpropertodwellonpersonalmatterswhilealltheworldwasindiretrouble.

I would add further, in view of various rumors which have reached me,thatMr.J.PierpontMorgandidnotinteresthimselfwithmeinabusinesswaybutinthesamelargespiritinwhichhehasassistedmanyotherpioneers.Hecarried out his generous promise to the letter and it would have beenmostunreasonabletoexpectfromhimanythingmore.Hehadthehighestregardformyattainmentsandgavemeeveryevidenceofhiscompletefaithinmyabilityto ultimately achievewhat I had set out to do. I am unwilling to accord tosomesmall-mindedandjealousindividualsthesatisfactionofhavingthwartedmy efforts. These men are to me nothing more than microbes of a nastydisease. My project was retarded by laws of nature. The world was notpreparedforit.Itwastoofaraheadoftime.Butthesamelawswillprevailintheendandmakeitatriumphalsuccess.

Chapter6

TheArtofTelautomatics

No subject to which I have ever devoted myself has called for suchconcentrationofmindandstrainedtosodangerousadegreethefinestfibersof my brain as the system of which the Magnifying Transmitter is thefoundation.Iputalltheintensityandvigorofyouthinthedevelopmentoftherotatingfielddiscoveries,butthoseearlylaborswereofadifferentcharacter.Although strenuous in the extreme, they did not involve that keen andexhausting discernment which had to be exercised in attacking the manypuzzlingproblemsofthewireless.Despitemyrarephysicalenduranceatthatperiod theabusednerves finally rebelledand I sufferedacompletecollapse,justastheconsummationofthelonganddifficulttaskwasalmostinsight.

Withoutdoubt Iwouldhavepaidagreaterpenalty later, andvery likelymycareerwouldhavebeenprematurelyterminated,hadnotprovidenceequippedmewithasafetydevice,whichhasseemedtoimprovewithadvancingyearsandunfailinglycomes intoplaywhenmyforcesareatanend.So longas itoperates I am safe from danger, due to overwork, which threatens otherinventors and, incidentally, I need no vacations which are indispensable tomost people. When I am all but used up I simply do as the darkies, who"naturallyfallasleepwhilewhitefolksworry."Toventureatheoryoutofmysphere, the body probably accumulates little by little a definite quantity ofsome toxic agent and I sink into a nearly lethargic statewhich lasts half anhourtotheminute.UponawakeningIhavethesensationasthoughtheeventsimmediately preceding had occurred very long ago, and if I attempt tocontinue the interrupted train of thought I feel a veritable mental nausea.InvoluntarilyIthenturntootherworkandamsurprisedatthefreshnessofthemindandeasewithwhich Iovercomeobstacles thathadbaffledmebefore.Afterweeksormonthsmypassion for the temporarily abandoned inventionreturnsandIinvariablyfindanswerstoallthevexingquestionswithscarcelyanyeffort.

InthisconnectionIwilltellofanextraordinaryexperiencewhichmaybeofinteresttostudentsofpsychology.Ihadproducedastrikingphenomenonwithmygroundedtransmitterandwasendeavoringtoascertainitstruesignificanceinrelationtothecurrentspropagatedthroughtheearth.Itseemedahopelessundertaking,andformorethanayearIworkedunremittingly,butinvain.ThisprofoundstudysoentirelyabsorbedmethatIbecameforgetfulofeverythingelse,evenofmyunderminedhealth.Atlast,asIwasatthepointofbreakingdown, nature applied the preservative inducing lethal sleep. Regaining mysensesIrealizedwithconsternationthatIwasunabletovisualizescenesfrommy life except those of infancy, the very first ones that had entered myconsciousness. Curiously enough, these appeared before my vision with

startlingdistinctnessandaffordedmewelcomerelief.Nightafternight,whenretiring,Iwouldthinkof themandmoreandmoreofmypreviousexistencewasrevealed.Theimageofmymotherwasalwaystheprincipalfigureinthespectacle that slowly unfolded, and a consuming desire to see her againgraduallytookpossessionofme.ThisfeelinggrewsostrongthatIresolvedtodropallworkandsatisfymylonging.But I found it toohard tobreakawayfromthelaboratory,andseveralmonthselapsedduringwhichIhadsucceededinrevivingalltheimpressionsofmypastlifeuptothespringof1892.Inthenextpicturethatcameoutofthemistofoblivion,IsawmyselfattheHoteldelaPaixinParisjustcomingtofromoneofmypeculiarsleepingspells,whichhad been caused by prolonged exertion of the brain. Imagine the pain anddistressIfeltwhenitflasheduponmymindthatadispatchwashandedtomeat that very moment bearing the sad news that my mother was dying. IrememberedhowImade the long journeyhomewithoutanhourof restandhowshepassedawayafterweeksofagony!Itwasespeciallyremarkablethatduring all this period of partially obliterated memory I was fully alive toeverythingtouchingonthesubjectofmyresearch.Icouldrecallthesmallestdetails and the least significant observations in my experiments and evenrecitepagesoftextandcomplexmathematicalformulae.

My belief is firm in a law of compensation. The true rewards are ever inproportiontothelaborandsacrificesmade.ThisisoneofthereasonswhyIfeelcertain thatofallmy inventions, theMagnifyingTransmitterwillprovemost important and valuable to future generations. I am prompted to thisprediction not so much by thoughts of the commercial and industrialrevolution which it will surely bring about, but of the humanitarianconsequencesofthemanyachievementsitmakespossible.Considerationsofmere utility weigh little in the balance against the higher benefits ofcivilization.We are confronted with portentous problems which can not besolved justbyproviding forourmaterialexistence,howeverabundantly.Onthecontrary,progress in thisdirection is fraughtwithhazardsandperilsnotlessmenacingthanthosebornfromwantandsuffering.Ifweweretoreleasethe energy of atoms or discover some other way of developing cheap andunlimited power at any point of the globe this accomplishment, instead ofbeingablessing,mightbringdisastertomankindingivingrisetodissensionandanarchywhichwouldultimately result in the enthronementof thehatedregimeof force.Thegreatestgoodwill comes from technical improvementstending to unification and harmony, and my wireless transmitter ispreeminently such. By its means the human voice and likeness will bereproduced everywhere and factories driven thousands of miles fromwaterfallsfurnishingthepower;aerialmachineswillbepropelledaroundtheearthwithoutastopandthesun'senergycontrolledtocreatelakesandriversfor motive purposes and transformation of arid deserts into fertile land. Its

introductionfortelegraphic,telephonicandsimilaruseswillautomaticallycutout the statics and all other interferences which at present impose narrowlimitstotheapplicationofthewireless.

Thisisatimelytopiconwhichafewwordsmightnotbeamiss.

Duringthepastdecadeanumberofpeoplehavearrogantlyclaimedthattheyhadsucceededindoingawaywiththisimpediment.Ihavecarefullyexaminedall of the arrangements described and testedmost of them long before theywere publicly disclosed, but the finding was uniformly negative. A recentofficial statement from the U.S. Navy may, perhaps, have taughtsome beguilable news editors how to appraise these announcements at theirreal worth. As a rule the attempts are based on theories so fallacious thatwhenever they come tomy notice I can not help thinking in a lighter vein.Quite recently a new discovery was heralded, with a deafening flourish oftrumpets,butitprovedanothercaseofamountainbringingforthamouse.

This remindsmeof anexciting incidentwhich tookplaceyears agowhen Iwasconductingmyexperimentswithcurrentsofhighfrequency.SteveBrodiehadjust jumpedoff theBrooklynBridge.Thefeathasbeenvulgarizedsinceby imitators, but the first report electrified New York. I was veryimpressionable then and frequently spoke of the daring printer. On a hotafternoonIfeltthenecessityofrefreshingmyselfandsteppedintooneofthepopular thirty thousand institutions of this great citywhere a delicious 12%beveragewasservedwhichcannowbehadonlybymakingatriptothepooranddevastated countries ofEurope.The attendancewas large andnot over-distinguished and a matter was discussed which gave me an admirableopening for thecareless remark: "This iswhat I saidwhen I jumpedoff thebridge."No sooner had I uttered thesewords than I felt like the companionofTimotheusinthepoemofSchiller.Inaninstanttherewasapandemoniumandadozenvoicescried:"ItisBrodie!"Ithrewaquarteronthecounterandboltedfor thedoorbut thecrowdwasatmyheelswithyells:"Stop,Steve!"whichmusthavebeenmisunderstoodformanypersonstriedtoholdmeupasI ran frantically for my haven of refuge. By darting around corners Ifortunately managed - through the medium of a fire-escape - to reach thelaboratorywhereIthrewoffmycoat,camouflagedmyselfasahard-workingblacksmith,andstartedtheforge.Buttheseprecautionsprovedunnecessary;Ihad eluded my pursuers. For many years afterwards, at night, whenimaginationturnsintospectresthetriflingtroublesoftheday,Ioftenthought,asItossedonthebed,whatmyfatewouldhavebeenhadthatmobcaughtmeandfoundoutthatIwasnotSteveBrodie!

Now the engineer,who lately gave an account before a technical body of anovelremedyagainststaticsbasedona"heretoforeunknownlawofnature,"

seems to have been as reckless as myself when he contended that thesedisturbances propagate up and down, while those of a transmitter proceedalongtheearth.Itwouldmeanthatacondenser,asthisglobe,withitsgaseousenvelope,couldbechargedanddischargedinamannerquitecontraryto thefundamental teachings propounded in every elemental text-book of physics.Such a supposition would have been condemned as erroneous, even inFranklin's time, for the facts bearing on thiswere thenwell known and theidentitybetweenatmosphericelectricityandthatdevelopedbymachineswasfully established. Obviously, natural and artificial disturbances propagatethrough the earth and the air in exactly the same way, and both set upelectromotiveforces in thehorizontal,aswellasvertical,sense. Interferencecannotbeovercomebyanysuchmethodsaswereproposed.Thetruthisthis:in the air the potential increases at the rate of about fifty volts per foot ofelevation,owingtowhichtheremaybeadifferenceofpressureamountingtotwenty,orevenfortythousandvoltsbetweentheupperandlowerendsoftheantenna.Themassesofthechargedatmosphereareconstantlyinmotionandgiveupelectricity to theconductor,not continuouslybut ratherdisruptively,thisproducingagrindingnoiseinasensitivetelephonicreceiver.Thehigherthe terminal and the greater the space encompassed by thewires, themorepronouncedistheeffect,butitmustbeunderstoodthatit ispurelylocalandhaslittletodowiththerealtrouble.

In 1900, while perfecting my wireless system, one form of apparatuscomprised four antennae. These were carefully calibrated to the samefrequencyandconnectedinmultiplewiththeobjectofmagnifyingtheaction,inreceivingfromanydirection.WhenIdesiredtoascertaintheoriginofthetransmitted impulses, each diagonally situated pair was put in serieswith aprimarycoilenergizingthedetectorcircuit.Intheformercasethesoundwasloud in the telephone; in the latter it ceased, as expected, the two antennaeneutralizing each other, but the true statics manifested themselves in bothinstances and I had to devise special preventives embodying differentprinciples.

Byemployingreceiversconnected to twopointsof theground,assuggestedbymelongago,thistroublecausedbythechargedair,whichisveryseriousinthestructuresasnowbuilt,isnullifiedandbesides,theliabilityofallkindsofinterferenceisreducedtoaboutone-half,becauseofthedirectionalcharacterofthecircuit.Thiswasperfectlyself-evident,butcameasarevelationtosomesimple-minded wireless folks whose experience was confined to forms ofapparatus that could have been improved with an axe, and they have beendisposing of the bear's skin before killing him. If it were true that straysperformedsuchantics,itwouldbeeasytogetridofthembyreceivingwithoutaerials.But,asamatteroffact,awireburiedinthegroundwhich,conforming

to this view, should be absolutely immune, is more susceptible to certainextraneous impulses thanoneplacedvertically in theair.Tostate it fairly, aslightprogresshasbeenmade,butnotbyvirtueofanyparticularmethodordevice.Itwasachievedsimplybydiscardingtheenormousstructures,whichare bad enough for transmission but wholly unsuitable for reception, andadoptingamoreappropriate typeof receiver.As Ipointedout inapreviousarticle,todisposeofthisdifficultyforgood,aradicalchangemustbemadeinthesystem,andthesoonerthisisdonethebetter.

Itwouldbecalamitous,indeed,ifatthistimewhentheartisinitsinfancyandthe vast majority, not excepting even experts, have no conception of itsultimate possibilities, a measure would be rushed through the legislaturemaking it a governmentmonopoly. Thiswas proposed a fewweeks ago bySecretaryDaniels,andnodoubtthatdistinguishedofficialhasmadehisappealto the Senate and House of Representatives with sincere conviction. Butuniversal evidence unmistakably shows that the best results are alwaysobtainedinhealthfulcommercialcompetition.Thereare,however,exceptionalreasonswhywirelessshouldbegiventhefullestfreedomofdevelopment.Inthe first place it offers prospects immeasurably greater and more vital tobettermentofhumanlifethananyotherinventionordiscoveryinthehistoryofman.Thenagain,itmustbeunderstoodthatthiswonderfularthasbeen,inits entirety, evolvedhere and canbe called "American"withmore right andpropriety than the telephone, the incandescent lamp or the aeroplane.Enterprising press agents and stock jobbers have been so successful inspreadingmisinformation thatevensoexcellentaperiodicalas theScientificAmerican accords the chief credit to a foreign country. The Germans, ofcourse,gaveustheHertz-wavesandtheRussian,English,FrenchandItalianexpertswere quick in using them for signaling purposes. Itwas an obviousapplication of the new agent and accomplished with the old classical andunimproved induction coil - scarcely anything more than another kind ofheliography.Theradiusoftransmissionwasverylimited,theresultsattainedof little value, and the Hertz oscillations, as a means for conveyingintelligence,couldhavebeenadvantageouslyreplacedbysound-waves,whichIadvocatedin1891.Moreover,alloftheseattemptsweremade3yearsafterthebasicprinciplesofthewirelesssystem,whichisuniversallyemployedto-day,anditspotentinstrumentalitieshadbeenclearlydescribedanddevelopedinAmerica.NotraceofthoseHertzianappliancesandmethodsremainstoday.Wehaveproceededintheveryoppositedirectionandwhathasbeendoneisthe product of the brains and efforts of citizens of this country. Thefundamental patents have expired and the opportunities are open to all. Thechief argument of the Secretary is based on interference. According to hisstatement, reported in the New York Herald of July 29th, signals from apowerfulstationcanbe intercepted ineveryvillageof theworld. Inviewof

thisfact,whichwasdemonstratedinmyexperimentsof1900,itwouldbeoflittleusetoimposerestrictionsintheUnitedStates.

As throwing light on this point, I may mention that only recently an oddlookinggentlemancalledonmewiththeobjectofenlistingmyservicesintheconstructionofworldtransmittersinsomedistantland."Wehavenomoney,"hesaid,"butcarloadsofsolidgoldandwewillgiveyoualiberalamount."Itold him that Iwanted to see firstwhatwill be donewithmy inventions inAmerica,andthisendedtheinterview.ButIamsatisfiedthatsomedarkforcesare at work, and as time goes on the maintenance of continuouscommunicationwillberenderedmoredifficult.Theonlyremedyisasystemimmune against interruption. It has been perfected, it exists, and all that isnecessaryistoputitinoperation.

The terribleconflict is stilluppermost in themindsandperhaps thegreatestimportancewill be attached to theMagnifyingTransmitter as amachine forattackanddefense,moreparticularly inconnectionwithTelautomatics.Thisinvention is a logical outcome of observations begun in my boyhood andcontinued throughout my life. When the first results were publishedtheElectricalReviewstatededitoriallythatitwouldbecomeoneofthe"mostpotent factors in the advance and civilization ofmankind." The time is notdistantwhenthispredictionwillbefulfilled.In1898and1900itwasofferedto the Government and might have been adopted were I one of those whowouldgotoAlexander'sshepherdwhentheywantafavorfromAlexander.Atthat time I really thought that itwouldabolishwar,becauseof itsunlimiteddestructivenessandexclusionofthepersonalelementofcombat.ButwhileIhavenotlostfaithinitspotentialities,myviewshavechangedsince.

Warcannotbeavoideduntilthephysicalcauseforitsrecurrenceisremovedandthis,inthelastanalysis,isthevastextentoftheplanetonwhichwelive.Only throughannihilationofdistance inevery respect,as theconveyanceofintelligence, transportofpassengersandsuppliesand transmissionofenergywill conditionsbebrought about someday, insuringpermanencyof friendlyrelations.Whatwenowwantmostisclosercontactandbetterunderstandingbetweenindividualsandcommunitiesallovertheearth,andtheeliminationofthat fanaticdevotion toexalted idealsofnationalegoismandpridewhich isalways prone to plunge the world into primeval barbarism and strife. Noleague or parliamentary act of any kind will ever prevent such a calamity.Theseareonlynewdevicesforputtingtheweakatthemercyofthestrong.Ihaveexpressedmyself in this regard14yearsago,whenacombinationofafewleadinggovernments-asortofHolyAlliance-wasadvocatedbythelateAndrew Carnegie, whomay be fairly considered as the father of this idea,havinggivento itmorepublicityandimpetus thananybodyelseprior to theeffortsofthePresident.Whileitcannotbedeniedthatsuchapactmightbeof

materialadvantage to some less fortunatepeoples, it cannotattain thechiefobject sought. Peace can only come as a natural consequence of universalenlightenment and merging of races, and we are still far from this blissfulrealization.

As I view theworld of today, in the light of the gigantic strugglewe havewitnessed,IamfilledwithconvictionthattheinterestsofhumanitywouldbebestservediftheUnitedStatesremainedtruetoitstraditionsandkeptoutof"entangling alliances." Situated as it is, geographically, remote from thetheaters of impending conflicts, without incentive toterritorial aggrandizement, with inexhaustible resources and immensepopulationthoroughlyimbuedwiththespiritoflibertyandright,thiscountryis placed in a unique and privileged position. It is thus able to exert,independently,itscolossalstrengthandmoralforcetothebenefitofall,morejudiciouslyandeffectively,thanasmemberofaleague.

In one of these biographical sketches, published in the ElectricalExperimenter,Ihavedweltonthecircumstancesofmyearlylifeandtoldofanafflictionwhichcompelledmetounremittingexerciseof imaginationandselfobservation.Thismentalactivity,atfirstinvoluntaryunderthepressureofillness and suffering, gradually became second nature and ledme finally torecognizethatIwasbutanautomatondevoidoffreewillinthoughtandactionandmerelyresponsivetotheforcesoftheenvironment.Ourbodiesareofsuchcomplexity of structure, the motions we perform are so numerous andinvolved,and theexternal impressionsonour senseorgans to suchadegreedelicate and elusive that it is hard for the average person to grasp this fact.And yet nothing is more convincing to the trained investigator than themechanistic theory of life which had been, in a measure, understood andpropounded by Descartes 300 years ago. But in his time many importantfunctionsofourorganismwereunknownand, especiallywith respect to thenature of light and the construction and operation of the eye, philosopherswereinthedark.

Inrecentyearstheprogressofscientificresearchinthesefieldshasbeensuchastoleavenoroomforadoubtinregardtothisviewonwhichmanyworkshave been published. One of its ablest and most eloquent exponents is,perhaps, Felix LeDantec, formerly assistant of Pasteur. Prof. Jacques Loebhas performed remarkable experiments in heliotropism, clearly establishingthe controlling power of light in lower forms of organisms, and his latestbook,ForcedMovements, isrevelatory.Butwhilemenofscienceacceptthistheorysimplyasanyotherthatisrecognized,tomeitisatruthwhichIhourlydemonstrate by every act and thought of mine. The consciousness of theexternalimpressionpromptingmetoanykindofexertion,physicalormental,iseverpresentinmymind.Onlyonveryrareoccasions,whenIwasinastate

of exceptional concentration, have I found difficulty in locating the originalimpulses.

Thebyfargreaternumberofhumanbeingsareneverawareofwhatispassingaround and within them, and millions fall victims of disease and dieprematurely just on this account. Themost common every-day occurrencesappeartothemmysteriousandinexplicable.Onemayfeelasuddenwaveofsadnessandrakehisbrainforanexplanationwhenhemighthavenoticedthatitwascausedbyacloudcuttingofftheraysofthesun.Hemayseetheimageofafrienddeartohimunderconditionswhichheconstruesasverypeculiar,when only shortly before he has passed him in the street or seen hisphotograph somewhere.Whenhe loses a collarbuttonhe fusses and swearsforanhour,beingunabletovisualizehispreviousactionsandlocatetheobjectdirectly.Deficientobservationismerelyaformofignoranceandresponsiblefor themanymorbidnotionsandfoolish ideasprevailing.There isnotmorethanoneoutofeverytenpersonswhodoesnotbelieveintelepathyandotherpsychicmanifestations, spiritualismandcommunionwith thedead,andwhowouldrefusetolistentowillingorunwillingdeceivers.

Justtoillustratehowdeeplyrootedthistendencyhasbecomeevenamongtheclear-headedAmericanpopulation,Imaymentionacomicalincident.

Shortlybeforethewar,whentheexhibitionofmyturbinesinthiscityelicitedwidespreadcommentinthetechnicalpapers,Ianticipatedthattherewouldbea scramble among manufacturers to get hold of the invention, and I hadparticulardesignson thatman fromDetroitwhohas anuncanny faculty foraccumulatingmillions. So confidentwas I that hewould turn up some day,thatIdeclaredthisascertaintomysecretaryandassistants.Sureenough,onefinemorning a body of engineers from the FordMotorCompany presentedthemselves with the request of discussing with me an important project."Didn't I tell you?" I remarked triumphantly to my employees, and one ofthemsaid,"Youareamazing,Mr.Tesla;everythingcomesoutexactlyasyoupredict." As soon as these hard-headed men were seated I, of course,immediately began to extol thewonderful features ofmy turbine,when thespokesmeninterruptedmeandsaid,"Weknowallaboutthis,butweareonaspecialerrand.Wehave formedapsychological society for the investigationof psychic phenomena and we want you to join us in this undertaking." Isupposethoseengineersneverknewhowneartheycametobeingfiredoutofmyoffice.

Ever since I was told by some of the greatest men of the time, leaders insciencewhosenamesareimmortal,thatIpossessanunusualmind,Ibentallmythinkingfacultiesonthesolutionofgreatproblemsregardlessofsacrifice.For many years I endeavored to solve the enigma of death, and watched

eagerlyforeverykindofspiritual indication.Butonlyonce in thecourseofmyexistencehave Ihadanexperiencewhichmomentarily impressedmeassupernatural.Itwasatthetimeofmymother'sdeath.Ihadbecomecompletelyexhaustedbypainandlongvigilance,andonenightwascarriedtoabuildingabouttwoblocksfromourhome.AsIlayhelplessthere,IthoughtthatifmymotherdiedwhileIwasawayfromherbedsideshewouldsurelygivemeasign. Two or 3 months before I was in London in company with my latefriend,SirWilliamCrookes,whenspiritualismwasdiscussed,andIwasunderthefullswayofthesethoughts.Imightnothavepaidattentiontoothermen,butwas susceptible to his arguments as itwas his epochalwork on radiantmatter, which I had read as a student, thatmademe embrace the electricalcareer. I reflected that the conditions for a look into the beyondweremostfavorable,formymotherwasawomanofgeniusandparticularlyexcellinginthepowersof intuition.During thewholenightevery fiber inmybrainwasstrainedinexpectancy,butnothinghappeneduntilearlyinthemorning,whenIfellinasleep,orperhapsaswoon,andsawacloudcarryingangelicfiguresof marvelous beauty, one of whom gazed upon me lovingly and graduallyassumedthefeaturesofmymother.Theappearanceslowlyfloatedacrosstheroomandvanished, and Iwas awakenedby an indescribably sweet songofmany voices. In that instant a certitude,which nowords can express, cameuponme thatmymother had just died.And thatwas true. Iwas unable tounderstand the tremendous weight of the painful knowledge I received inadvance, and wrote a letter to Sir William Crookes while still under thedominationoftheseimpressionsandinpoorbodilyhealth.WhenIrecoveredIsoughtforalongtimetheexternalcauseofthisstrangemanifestationand,tomygreatrelief, Isucceededaftermanymonthsoffruitlesseffort. Ihadseenthepaintingofacelebratedartist,representingallegoricallyoneoftheseasonsintheformofacloudwithagroupofangelswhichseemedtoactuallyfloatintheair,andthishadstruckmeforcefully.Itwasexactlythesamethatappearedinmy dream,with the exception ofmymother's likeness. Themusic camefrom the choir in the church nearby at the early mass of Easter morning,explainingeverythingsatisfactorilyinconformitywithscientificfacts.

This occurred long ago, and I have never had the faintest reason since tochangemy views on psychical and spiritual phenomena, for which there isabsolutely no foundation. The belief in these is the natural outgrowth ofintellectual development. Religious dogmas are no longer accepted in theirorthodoxmeaning,buteveryindividualclingstofaithinasupremepowerofsome kind. We all must have an ideal to govern our conduct and insurecontentment, but it is immaterialwhether it be one of creed, art, science oranythingelse,solongasitfulfillsthefunctionofadematerializingforce.Itisessential to thepeacefulexistenceofhumanityasawhole thatonecommonconceptionshouldprevail.

While I have failed to obtain any evidence in support of the contentions ofpsychologistsandspiritualists,Ihaveprovedtomycompletesatisfactiontheautomatism of life, not only through continuous observations of individualactions, but even more conclusively through certain generalizations. Theseamount to a discovery which I consider of the greatest moment to humansociety, and on which I shall briefly dwell. I got the first inkling of thisastounding truth when I was still a very young man, but for many years Iinterpreted what I noted simply as coincidences. Namely, whenever eithermyselforapersontowhomIwasattached,oracausetowhichIwasdevoted,was hurt by others in a particular way, which might be best popularlycharacterized as the most unfair imaginable, I experienced a singular andundefinable pain which, for want of a better term, I have qualified as"cosmic," and shortly thereafter, and invariably, those who had inflicted itcametogrief.AftermanysuchcasesIconfided this toanumberoffriends,who had the opportunity to convince themselves of the truth of the theorywhichIhavegraduallyformulatedandwhichmaybestatedinthefollowingfewwords:

Our bodies are of similar construction and exposed to the same externalinfluences.Thisresultsinlikenessofresponseandconcordanceofthegeneralactivitiesonwhichalloursocialandotherrulesand lawsarebased.Weareautomataentirelycontrolledby theforcesof themediumbeing tossedaboutlike corks on the surface of the water, but mistaking the resultant of theimpulsesfromtheoutsideforfreewill.Themovementsandotheractionsweperformarealwayslifepreservativeandthoughseeminglyquiteindependentfromoneanother,weareconnectedbyinvisiblelinks.Solongastheorganismis inperfectorder it respondsaccurately to theagents thatprompt it,but themomentthatthereissomederangementinanyindividual,hisself-preservativepower is impaired. Everybody understands, of course, that if one becomesdeaf, has his eyesight weakened, or his limbs injured, the chances for hiscontinuedexistencearelessened.Butthisisalsotrue,andperhapsmoreso,ofcertaindefectsinthebrainwhichdeprivetheautomaton,moreorless,ofthatvital quality and cause it to rush into destruction. A very sensitive andobservantbeing,withhishighlydevelopedmechanismall intact, and actingwithprecisioninobediencetothechangingconditionsoftheenvironment,isendowedwithatranscendingmechanicalsense,enablinghimtoevadeperilstoo subtle to be directly perceived. When he comes in contact with otherswhosecontrollingorgans are radically faulty, that sense asserts itself andhefeels the "cosmic"pain.The truthof thishasbeenborneout inhundredsofinstancesandIaminvitingotherstudentsofnaturetodevoteattentiontothissubject, believing that through combined and systematic effort results ofincalculablevaluetotheworldwillbeattained.

Theideaofconstructinganautomaton,tobearoutmytheory,presenteditselfto me early but I did not begin active work until 1893, when I startedmywireless investigations. During the succeeding 2 or 3 years a number ofautomaticmechanisms, to be actuated from a distance,were constructed bymeandexhibitedtovisitorsinmylaboratory.In1896,however,Idesignedacompletemachinecapableofamultitudeofoperations,buttheconsummationofmylaborswasdelayeduntillatein1897.Thismachinewasillustratedanddescribed in my article in the Century Magazine of June, 1900, and otherperiodicals of that time and, when first shown in the beginning of 1898, itcreatedasensationsuchasnootherinventionofminehaseverproduced.InNovember,1898,abasicpatentonthenovelartwasgrantedtome,butonlyafter the Examiner-in-Chief had come to New York and witnessed theperformance,forwhatIclaimedseemedunbelievable.Irememberthatwhenlater I called on an official in Washington, with a view of offering theinvention to theGovernment, he burst out in laughter uponmy telling himwhat I had accomplished. Nobody thought then that there was the faintestprospect of perfecting such a device. It is unfortunate that in this patent,followingtheadviceofmyattorneys,Iindicatedthecontrolasbeingeffectedthroughthemediumofasinglecircuitandawell-knownformofdetector,forthereasonthatIhadnotyetsecuredprotectiononmymethodsandapparatusforindividualization.Asamatteroffact,myboatswerecontrolledthroughthejoint action of several circuits and interference of every kindwas excluded.Mostgenerally Iemployedreceivingcircuits in the formof loops, includingcondensers,becausethedischargesofmyhigh-tensiontransmitterionizedtheairinthehallsothatevenaverysmallaerialwoulddrawelectricityfromthesurroundingatmosphereforhours.Justtogiveanidea,Ifound,forinstance,thatabulb12"indiameter,highlyexhausted,andwithonesingleterminaltowhich a short wire was attached, would deliver well on to one thousandsuccessive flashes before all charge of the air in the laboratory wasneutralized.Theloopformofreceiverwasnotsensitivetosuchadisturbanceanditiscurioustonotethatitisbecomingpopularatthislatedate.Inrealityitcollectsmuch lessenergy than theaerialsora longgroundedwire,but it sohappens that it does awaywith a number of defects inherent to the presentwirelessdevices.Indemonstratingmyinventionbeforeaudiences,thevisitorswere requested to ask any questions, however involved, and the automatonwouldanswerthembysigns.Thiswasconsideredmagicatthattimebutwasextremely simple, for it was myself who gave the replies by means of thedevice.

At the same period another larger telautomatic boat was constructed, aphotographofwhichisshowninthisnumberoftheElectricalExperimenter.Itwascontrolledbyloops,havingseveralturnsplacedinthehull,whichwasmade entirely water-tight and capable of submergence. The apparatus was

similartothatusedinthefirstwiththeexceptionofcertainspecialfeaturesIintroduced as, for example, incandescent lamps which afforded a visibleevidenceoftheproperfunctioningofthemachine.

These automata, controlledwithin the rangeof visionof the operator,were,however, the first and rather crude steps in the evolution of the Art ofTelautomatics as I had conceived it. The next logical improvement was itsapplicationtoautomaticmechanismsbeyondthelimitsofvisionandatgreatdistance from the center of control, and I have ever since advocated theiremploymentasinstrumentsofwarfareinpreferencetoguns.Theimportanceof this now seems to be recognized, if I am to judge from casualannouncements through the press of achievements which are said to beextraordinary but contain no merit of novelty, whatever. In an imperfectmanner it is practicable, with the existing wireless plants, to launch anaeroplane, have it follow a certain approximate course, and perform someoperationatadistanceofmanyhundredsofmiles.Amachineofthiskindcanalso bemechanically controlled in severalways and I have no doubt that itmayproveofsomeusefulnessinwar.Butthereare,tomybestknowledge,noinstrumentalities in existence today with which such an object could beaccomplishedinaprecisemanner.Ihavedevotedyearsofstudytothismatterandhaveevolvedmeans,makingsuchandgreaterwonderseasilyrealizable.

Asstatedonapreviousoccasion,whenIwasastudentatcollegeIconceivedaflyingmachinequiteunlikethepresentones.Theunderlyingprinciplewassound but could not be carried into practice for want of a prime-mover ofsufficiently great activity. In recent years I have successfully solved thisproblem and am now planning aerialmachines devoid to sustaining planes,ailerons,propellersandotherexternalattachments,whichwillbecapableofimmensespeedsandareverylikelytofurnishpowerfulargumentsforpeaceinthenearfuture.Suchamachine,sustainedandpropelledentirelybyreaction,isshownonpage108andissupposedtobecontrolledeithermechanicallyorbywirelessenergy.Byinstallingproperplantsitwillbepracticabletoprojecta missile of this kind into the air and drop it almost on the very spotdesignated,whichmaybe thousandsofmilesaway.Butwearenotgoing tostopat this.Telautomatawillbeultimatelyproduced,capableofactingas ifpossessedoftheirownintelligence,andtheiradventwillcreatearevolution.As early as 1898 I proposed to representatives of a large manufacturingconcern the construction and public exhibition of an automotive carriagewhich, left to itself, would perform a great variety of operations involvingsomethingakintojudgement.Butmyproposalwasdeemedchimericalatthattimeandnothingcamefromit.

At present many of the ablest minds are trying to devise expedients forpreventingarepetitionoftheawfulconflictwhichisonlytheoreticallyended

and the duration andmain issues ofwhich I have correctly predicted in anarticleprintedintheSunofDecember20,1914.TheproposedLeagueisnotaremedybutonthecontrary,intheopinionofanumberofcompetentmen,maybring about results just the opposite. It is particularly regrettable that apunitive policy was adopted in framing the terms of peace, because a fewyears hence it will be possible for nations to fightwithout armies, ships orguns, by weapons far more terrible, to the destructive action and range ofwhichthere isvirtuallynolimit.Acity,atanydistancewhatsoeverfromtheenemy, can be destroyed by him and no power on earth can stop him fromdoing so. If we want to avert an impending calamity and a state of thingswhich may transform this globe into an inferno, we should push thedevelopmentofflyingmachinesandwirelesstransmissionofenergywithoutaninstant'sdelayandwithallthepowerandresourcesofthenation.

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