In an Electric Laboratory

Marvels That Nikola Tesla’s Visitors Saw the Other Night.

New York, Oct. 5. — Millions of volts of electricity were harnessed the other night in Nikola Tesla’s laboratory and turned into the plaything of men and women. The occasion was a reception given the members of the American Electro-Therapeutic Association by Mr. Tesla.

First was exhibited the machine for generating electricity, invented by Mr. Tesla. This machine looks something like an ordinary turning lathe, and with it a perfect control can be had over the vibration of the electrical current. The velocity of the movement is such that a shadow extending almost two inches from either end of the bar causes an appearance like the bar itself.

After this had been explained everybody was instructed to join a circle around a table which looked like an ordinary dining room article, but was heavily bound with wires. A wooden frame, shaped like the letter Q, with bars across it and fitted with metal-covered handles, connected with a band of wire around the frame was handed August Goelet, Mr. Tesla’s assistant, with instructions to stand off a distance of about four yards and hold it out horizontally toward the table. One of the workmen turned on the current connecting with the wires around the table and Mr. Goelet danced uneasily on the floor. Then the others tried it and found that when the frame was pointed toward the table in a certain direction a strong current of electricity was felt. Mr. Tesla explained that the electricity of the air was in a certain plane or stratum of atmosphere, and unless the frame was poised at the proper distance from the floor the electricity could not be felt. This was fully demonstrated.

Mr. Tesla then took a similar frame made of thick wire, and to which was attached a small incandescent light globe. The electricity passed through the atmosphere from the table to the frame held by Mr. Tesla and the light burned brightly. The experimenter thoroughly demonstrated his ability to make an electrical connection through the air at a distance of several feet.

A change was then effected in the experiments. In one corner of the room stood a large cylinder wrapped with wire. This cylinder attracted the electricity from the wire around the room and several glass vacuum tubes placed in juxtaposition looked like bars of white-hot steel. These tubes flashed brilliantly in the hands of Mr. Tesla and his assistants as they made fantastic motions with them. To those who handled them Mr. Tesla stated that they had received a current of about 700,000 volts.

Two dozen guests were then introduced into the front room. To each one was given one of the long glass vacuum tubes. The door was shut, so that not a particle of light was admitted, and then Mr. Tesla said: “You will now have the opportunity of receiving a current of 200,000 volts, with vibrations of about 150,000 per second.”

One young man hastily stepped to the hall door and went out, leaving his hat.

“On,” called Mr. Tesla. There was a jarring and a whirling sound. Those who held the glass tubes flashed them in the electric current planes of atmosphere and walked around the room. An immense coil carrying the current was suspended from the ceiling, and two black balls about the size of pumpkins were hung in the two front corners of the room. There was a dazzling display of white and blue lights, and the faces of the participants were touched with a ghostly hue.

There was not the slightest inconvenience from the current. Tingling could be felt in the muscles of the feet and legs, and in the wrists and arms to a slight extent. A strange feeling of exhilaration possessed every one, and the muscular tissues seemed enervated and more sensitive to the touch.