THE EARLY HISTORY OF CHEMISTRY IN INDIANA. 185 



large cells, 20 or 30 in all, and properly connected them for developing 

 the electrical current with sufficient intensity of voltage, to make a small 

 arc, bringing the two opposite poles of the liattery together by means 

 of carbon electrodes and holding them in his hand with proper insulation, 

 he separated them very slightly and produced a brilliant spark and, when he 

 could hold his hand steady enough, it was a continued glow. This was the 

 first electric light I ever saw. It may not be out of place to add here that the 

 first dynamo ever seen west of the Alleghanys was one purchased by me for 

 Purdue University at the close of the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. 

 This Gramme machine is still in good condition and may be seen among the 

 treasured possessions of Purdue University. The fu-st eleciric light ever 

 shown from a dynamo was shown from the tower of Purdue University about 

 November, 1876. Thus, Dr. Tingley's small spark of light had in six years 

 grown to be a splendid illumination which was cast by means of a reflector 

 from the tower of the laboratory at Purdue on various parts of the city of 

 Lafayette. In the year 1878 I saw the first electric lighted city street, namely, 

 the Avenue De L'Opera in Paris. Thus in eight years, Tingley's spark had 

 grown to illuminate a great world capital. Now as we gaze everywhere on 

 brilliant electric hghts we can hardly realize in 1870 they were entirely un- 

 known. 



Another scientific worker in Indiana who taught chemistry more or less, 

 although astronomy was his specialty was Professor Campbell of Wabash. 

 His distinguished services to education and science are known to all. It 

 was he who originated the idea of the centennial exposition and who was its 

 permanent secretary. 



Professor Hougham connected for some time with Franklin College was 

 another early worker in chemistry in Indiana filled with enthusiasm and who 

 possessed a very great degree of skill in manipulation and experiment. His 

 particular liking was physics but he did much in the early teaching of qhem- 

 istry. 



To undertake to give now the present condition of chemical teaching in 

 Indiana and of the chemical industries would require a book and I shall not 

 venture into this field, entirely too large for illustration at the present time. 



It is well in all great fields of investigation to stop for a while and look 

 back to the little beginnings of them all. In this way, we not only get a 

 better understanding of the importance of the early work and the services 

 of the early workers but we also get a point of view by means of which we 

 can estimate the great distance which we have come. 



I trust that this brief review of the early history of chemistry in Indiana 

 may serve to impress us with the magnitude of its present proportions and 

 of the wonders which it is doing for the discovery of the unknown and the 

 welfare of humanity. 



