Nikola Tesla's Views

The Inventor Hopeful for Better Days in His Native Land.

There is no Serbian colony in this city and very few individuals who are natives of that country. Nikola Tesla is the only one of note.

Asked last night to say something about the tragedy in his country Mr. Tesla replied: “It is difficult to estimate the consequences of the deplorable event.

“All will depend on the attitude of the European Governments toward the new King. The Balkan peninsula has been for centuries afflicted by a political cancer, and Serbia has been the centre of the disease. From there it has spread out to Austria and Russia.

“A healthful condition can be attained only by radical measures.

“Serbia has been unfortunate ever since the great battle of Kosovo Polje, the Blackbird Field. European nations do not fully appreciate the service which the Serbians have rendered to civilization by their heroic resistance to the savage tribes of Asia, which but for Serbia would have overrun Europe.

“I met King Alexander in 1892 and had a long talk with him on scientific matters. Whatever the world may have thought of him there was no doubt about his patriotism. He had his faults and his high qualities. It is very probable that the latter were not fully appreciated and that the former were exaggerated.

“Those who are familiar with the conditions existing in Serbia have long felt that a crisis was impending. My faith is strong that Serbia will see better days.”