heric' may,
thirteen years ago, have seemed to many people absurd. But now we are
all beginning to call these inductive phenomena 'etheric.'"

With these preliminary observations, let us now glance briefly at
Edison's laboratory experiments, of which mention has been made.

Oh the first manifestation of the unusual phenomena in November, 1875,
Edison's keenness of perception led him at once to believe that he had
discovered a new force. Indeed, the earliest entry of this discovery in
the laboratory note-book bore that caption. After a few days of further
experiment and observation, however, he changed it to "Etheric Force,"
and the further records thereof (all in Mr. Batchelor's handwriting)
were under that heading.

The publication of Edison's discovery created considerable attention at
the time, calling forth a storm of general ridicule and incredulity.
But a few scientific men of the period, whose experimental methods were
careful and exact, corroborated his deductions after obtaining similar
phenomena by repeating his experiments with intelligent precision. Among
these was the late Dr. George M. Beard, a noted physicist, who entered
enthusiastically into the investigation, and, in addition to a great
deal of independent experiment, spent much time with Edison at his
laboratory. Doctor Beard wrote a treatise of some length on the subject,
in which he concurred with Edison's deduction that the phenomena
were the manifestation of oscillations, or rapidly reversing waves
of electricity, which did not respond to the usual tests. Edison
had observed the tendency of this force to diffuse itself in various
directions through the air and through matter, hence the name "Etheric"
that he had provisionally applied to it.

Edison's laboratory notes on this striking investigation are fascinating
and voluminous, but cannot be reproduced in full for lack of space.
In view of the later practical application of the principles involved,
however, the reader will probably be interested in perusing a few
extracts therefrom as illustrated by facsimiles of the original sketches
from the laboratory note-book.

As the full significance of the experiments shown by these extracts
may not be apparent to a lay reader, it may be stated by way of premise
that, ordinarily, a current only follows a closed circuit. An electric
bell or electric light is a familiar instance of this rule. There is in
each case an open (wire) circuit which is closed