10 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



is stated that, owing to some atmospheric conditions, this 

 system has not been a conspicuous success in South Africa. 

 If so, it would seem that there is some subtle connection 

 between the ether and the atmosphere that is rather disturb- 

 ing to the ideas we have been forming on the subject. But 

 wireless telegraphy as yet is only effected by bold and ex- 

 plosive discharges which generate the waves, and who can 

 say that the new century may not see the same effect pro- 

 duced by vibrations as mild as those set up between the 

 transmitter and receiver of an ordinary telephone circuit ? 

 Those vibrations represent an electric current so feeble that 

 no known galvanometer can even detect their presence, and 

 yet they effect the most delicate reproductions of the human 

 voice. Nothing is known of the still more feeble currents 

 circulating in the human brain ; but that in the cells of that 

 organism currents are transmitted through the nerves, and 

 having performed the behests of the will are returned, much 

 in the same manner as in ordinary electrical work, can 

 hardly be doubted. And, further, it only requires the sup- 

 position that among the millions of human-brain batteries 

 two may be now and then found so accurately syntonized as 

 to respond without the conducting nerves being physically 

 joined, and that Hertzian waves may in this manner be the 

 foundation of thought-reading, of the possibility of which 

 many very startling demonstrations have been given. It is 

 also possible that by much training and practice certain indi- 

 viduals may acquire the power of syntonizing the transmitting 

 cells of their brains with the receptive cells of others, who 

 may be already nearly in syntony with them, and thus the 

 phenomena of hypnotism may yet be elucidated. 



I have, I fear, allowed this rather jerky and disjointed 

 disquisition, if I may presume to use the term, to extend to 

 undue length, and I will endeavour to utilise the remaining 

 time at my disposal by touching on one or two subjects having 

 general interest, and which are calculated to affect the well- 

 being of our colony. Foremost among these stands technical 

 education. I observe with pleasure that this subject has been 

 engaging the attention of the Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout, 

 and, after his master-mind and perspicuity of diction, I might 

 well let the matter rest. But if only to add my testimonv 

 to the truth of his line of argument, and recall a few illustra- 

 tions within my experience, I have the temerity to follow on. 

 The first thing that strikes me is what is commonly under- 

 stood by the term " technical education." We have had a 

 technical school in our midst for some years, and towards 

 gaining an insight as to what the term is understood locally to 

 mean I very gladly availed myself of an opportunity of visiting 

 it and seeing for myself. Well, I saw a school in which 



