Prof. Crookes on Tesla's Ethereal Communication and Transmission of Power

Little men may say what they please, and folk are not much the worse or much the better. Except for the “little drops of water” teaching of our infancy, we should say they were none at all. But when a man of light and leading takes in hand to instruct the public, his teaching should be accurate as well as interesting, because the public learns its lessons by heart and picks out misstatements for choice.

“It is not too late in the day,” says the City Leader, “to refer to the admirable article from the pen of Professor Crookes, which appeared in the Fortnightly Review last month.” And it does so at some length, dwelling upon the marvellous methods of ethereal communication and transmission of power which Mr. Tesla has made so popular.

“Professor Crookes,” it says, “regards it as extremely probable that before long we shall be able to converse with each other at a distance of a mile or more, with no other medium of communication than the air. It must not be supposed, though, that such a feat will be possible without the aid of mechanical and electrical appliances.” Then the “appliances” follow: - “Electrical waves, electrical rays, sending and receiving instruments, and other paraphernalia with which the lay mind is not familiar.”

I acquit Professor Crookes of this combination. It is obviously the work of a classical brain, and is based on the Thucydidean idiom of “horses, cows, pigs, sheep, and other donkeys.”

Then, however, follows a statement for which Professor Crookes is responsible. I pointed it out before, and knew it was bound to be quoted. “The total amount of power which the sun pours out every year upon every acre of the earth’s surface is 800,000 horse-power. Of this a flourishing crop only utilises about 3,200 horse power, so that 796,000 horse power is wasted. What a great thing to utilise some of this enormous energy!”

What a still greater thing it would be to understand what is meant by 800,000 horse-power poured out every year!

One of these days Kant will come true, and the only facts that really exist will be the things that we believe to be facts. And then quantity of work and rate of work will get mixed up in space, and nature will have to violate her own laws or come to a full stop, and we shall collide with the moon and be utterly burnt up. And Professor Crookes will be responsible.