nd imprisoning electricity.

Society took up the invention as a wonder toy. Gunpowder was discharged
from the point of the finger by persons charged on an insulating stool.
Electrical kisses passed from bold lips to lips in social circles. Even
timid people mounted up on cakes of resin that their friends might see
their hair stand on end. Sir William Watson, of London, completed the
electrical fountain by coating the bottle in and out with tinfoil.

The great news reached America. Franklin heard of it; no ears were more
alert than his to profit by suggestions like this.

Mr. Peter Collinson, of London, sent to him an account of Professor
Musschenbroek's magical bottle.

He told his friends of the Junto Club of the invention, and set them all
to rubbing electric substances for sparks.

He had invented many useful things. A new force had fallen under the
control of man. He must investigate it; he must experiment with it; he
too must have a magical bottle.

"I never," he wrote in 1747, "was before engaged in any study that so
totally engrossed my attention and time as this has lately done; for
what with making experiments when I can be alone, and repeating them to
my friends and acquaintances who from the novelty of the thing come
continually in crowds to see them, I have during some months past had
little leisure for anything else."

What was magnetism? What was electricity? What secrets of Nature might
the magical bottle reveal? To what use might the new power which might
be stored and imprisoned be put? Silence Dogood, ponder night and day
over the curious toy. The world waits for you to speak, for Nature is
about to reveal one of her greatest secrets to you--you who gave two
penny rolls to the poor woman and child on the street, after Deborah
Read, your wife now, had had her good laugh. Your good wife will laugh
again some day, when you have further poked around among electrical
tubes and bottles, and have brought your benevolent mind to bear upon
some of the secrets contained in the magical bottle. You have added
virtue to virtue; you are adding intelligence to intelligence; such
things grow. Discoveries come to those who are prepared to receive
them.

CHAPTER XXVI.

THE ELECTRIFIED VIAL AND THE QUESTIONS IT RAISED.

THERE came from Europe to America at this time some electrical tubes,
which being rubbed produced surprising results. To the curious they were
toys, but to Franklin they were prophecie