Nikola Tesla Books
to familiarize himself with the mechanism of his grandfather's clocks, which he later was unable to put back together. He was especially happy when he first constructed a "rifle" from elder wood. Even then he loved animals; he gladly fed pigeons that landed on his shoulders and ate from his hands.
When he arrived in Gospic, during the first days he could not find his bearings in the "big city." But that too soon passed. Before long he found the company of his peers, who, among other things, admired his skill in swimming and diving. One day a new fire pump had been acquired, and on that occasion a large celebration was organized. People gathered from the town and the surrounding area to see how the pump worked. After the parade and the ceremonial speeches, disappointment followed. The pump did not function. All attempts to put it into operation were unsuccessful. Then the young Nikola crept over to the hose, which was in the water, stripped and dived in, and with a single motion freed the hose that had become twisted. At that moment a jet of water burst forth and thoroughly soaked the official representatives in their ceremonial clothes. The delighted peers carried Nikola, stark naked, through Gospic, and thus he became the hero of the day.
After finishing elementary school, he enrolled in the secondary school (Realschule). He never studied for school, although he was an excellent pupil. He was very fond of catching birds. His mother often wondered why there was less and less beef in the cooking pot, until she discovered that Nikola, during her absence, was stealing meat from the pot and feeding the young eagles he kept in a cage.
He also occupied himself with more serious pursuits. He constructed a small water turbine and carried out experiments with electricity and with a Leyden jar. He also loved mathematics. Only drawing did not come easily to him. Once, as a passionate swimmer, during a careless dive
