The Life of Sir William Crookes
For some, the very admission of an ultragas was instantly recognized. But the lecture had perfectly led to this realization, and was whole in every aspect. From these elevated vantage points, one could hardly argue the existence of the luminiferous aether!
He continued, emboldened by the sense that the audience had entered that absorptive stage, where deep and permanent impressions could be made. “Between the gaseous and the ultragaseous state there can be traced no sharp boundary; the one merges imperceptibly into the other …nor can human or any other kind of organic life conceivable to us penetrate into regions where such ultragaseous matter may be supposed to exist.” Most mortals at least could not endure the ethereal air as he so effortlessly did.
“The position of the positive pole in the tube scarcely makes any difference in the direction or intensity of those lines of force which produce the green light.., and this green light is distinguished from ordinary light…it cannot be wrong to here apply the term emissive light.” The glowing globes had each spoken the thesis for him. He merely repeated those statements which he had published so many years ago. But no matter now, all minds asked the same question. All knew the identity of that pure light which issued forth from his highly electrified cathodes. There could be no question now. Those whose minds now grasped the whole message of the one who stood before them, fell silent. Why had no one ever considered these facts? One saw around his words, and conceded without a single protest. The unmistakable ring of truth.
Sir William suddenly appeared to have now satisfied himself that his message was well received. A teacher could not hope for more than this. For a few brief moments, the Hall felt silent.
“Time has not allowed me to undertake the whole of the task so vast and so manifold. I have felt compelled to follow out, as far as lay in my power, my original ideas. To these collateral questions, I must now invite the attention of my fellow-workers in Science. There is ample room for many inquirers.” It was not until a few began to clap and shout sharp words of approval that Sir William looked down once more. He smiled again and looked among them all. Standing among his glittering and delightful toys, he nodded his thanks at their approval. The green light, the melodious voice, the twinkling eyes, the silvery air, all remain suspended in memory.
Sir William Crookes left the spinning, glowing, scintillating magic of his wonderful little toys in the springtime. Nikola Tesla never forgot the date when his dear mentor and friend departed the material world. Shedding aside the crusader’s lantern to those in the scientific world, he took to the stars – the date was April 4, 1919. Those who grew to cherish his memory lifted his lantern before it fell into the relativistic dust. In so doing, one felt a twinkling joy where there should have been sadness. The great man’s passing left a sparkling tracework, and yes, like the joy which suddenly quickens and stimulates in the midst of night, it twinkles still!
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All quotes were taken liberally from the following excellent sources:
- Selected Reprints of Articles Related To The Mechanical Action Of Light And The Radiometer, Sir William Crookes, (compilation reprint) by James DeMeo, Natural Energy Works, 1994.
- The Phenomenon of Spiritualism, Sir William Crookes, London, 1874, The Quarterly Journal of Science, (reprint Health Research, 1972).
- Radiant Matter, Sir William Crookes, Nature, 1879.