5QO THE INTELLECTUAL RISE IN ELECTRICITY. 



Two light strips of cedar placed crosswise, and a large 

 thin silk handkerchief secured to them at its corners 

 such was the kite. To the top of the upright stick of the 

 cross was fastened a sharp wire about a foot long. The 

 twine was of the usual kind; but he provided a piece of 

 silk ribbon and a key the first to attach to the twine and 

 to hold in his hand after he had raised the kite, as some 

 possible protection against the lightning running through 

 his body the other to be secured at the junction of ribbon 

 and twine, to serve as a convenient conductor from which 

 to draw sparks if they came. 



He had not long to wait for a thunderstorm in that hot 

 summer weather. As he saw it gathering he betook him- 

 self accompanied only by his son, then a young man 

 twenty-two years of age to the open commons. He de- 

 sired no other assistant he had confided his intentions to 

 no one else. The experiments of the Frenchmen had con- 

 vinced them, perhaps, but not him. He proposed to be 

 satisfied now. 



It has been said that he kept his own counsel concern- 

 ing this, because he feared ridicule should he fail. There 

 is no basis for that. Why should he, who had borne 

 already with perfect equanimity the derision of the Royal 

 Society, fear more of it? Many a time before he had done 

 things, many a time afterwards he did others, which made 

 him the very butt of sneers and scoffs; but his serenity re- 

 mained unbroken. Why should he fear ridicule now ? 

 Nor was there anything else that he feared not even 

 death. And with death he now believed he was to stand 

 face to face. 



All his past work had taught him this. He had seen 

 the furious shock blot out life from animals, he had felt it 

 in his own body rack him almost into insensibility. He 

 had said, over and over again that if potent enough it 

 would be instantly fatal. He was now going to lead into 

 his hand the fearful fire of the thunderbolt. 



He knew nothing of the laws of conduction. If the 



