Letter from the Wise Tesla

ON THE ELECTRIC CONDENSER:

(TRANSLATION.)

New York, November 8, 1898.
Nos. 46 & 48 E. Houston St.

Señor Don José Gallegos,
Guatemala, C.A.

My dear Sir:

I have received your valued letter of October 18.

The idea you express is well known to me: some years ago I thought that something might be done in that regard, but since then I have seen clearly that it is not possible to produce electricity. There exists in nature a quantity of that agent, but a definite and unalterable quantity, whatever that quantity may be.

At present we do not know what electricity is, but we have demonstrated with certainty that it can never be produced. The earth, however, probably contains some small quantity of it; and all we can do is to draw a portion of that electricity and return it at once to the earth, thereby producing an electrical undulation which extends a considerable distance over its surface. I have expressed this idea in my writings and have demonstrated it experimentally, using at present my system of telegraphy through the natural media.

I do not wish to discourage you; on the contrary, I should like you to continue your researches in that extensive field, where there is so much probability of finding results of value; and it may be that you will be one of the few fortunate men who succeed in attaining them.

Very truly yours,
N. TESLA.

The foregoing letter was kindly sent us in reply to our inquiry as to whether by means of the electric condenser it was possible to extract electricity from the earth.

We bow respectfully before the opinion of so learned a master and admire his kindness, and also the simplicity with which his respected letter comes, typewritten, on very white and fine paper, but without his seal and without any ornament of that kind.

How modest the true men of learning are!

JOSÉ GALLEGOS.