398 



THE INTELLECTUAL RISE IN ELECTRICITY. 



any one." Here he is anticipating Franklin in recogniz- 

 ing the effect of pointed conductors in drawing off the 

 electric charge. 



"But," he continues, "if one places a lighted candle 

 upon the table and drives the feather at a distance of about 

 a hand-breadth from the candle up to the globe, the feather 

 suddenly recedes and flies to the globe as a sort of guard;" 

 and thus he observes the dissipation of the charge on the 



a, # 



VON GUERICKE'S BIiECTRICAI, MACHINE AND SUI.PHUR GI.OBE. 



feather by the hot air, so that it becomes no longer re- 

 pelled but once more attracted by the rubbed globe. 



Now follows a number of other curious observations of 

 the electrified feather. He finds that the same part or 

 face of the feather by which the feather has been once 

 caught up by the globe and then repelled is kept un- 

 changed in the orb of virtue; so that if any one puts the 



1 Reproduced in reduced fac simile from von Guericke's Experimenta 

 Nova Magdeburgica. On the right appears the first electrical machine ; 

 on the left, the sulphur globe on the end of the staff held by the figure 

 is represented as repelling the floating feather (a). 



