THE CONQUEST OF NATURE 



some finely divided form of carbon, such as soot or 

 lampblack made from burning paraffin or tar, with gum 

 or syrup to form a paste. Rods of proper size and shape 

 are made by forcing this paste through dies by hydraulic 

 pressure, subsequently baking them at a high tempera- 

 ture. Sometimes they are given a coating of copper, a 

 thin layer of the metal being deposited upon them by 

 electrolysis. 



EDISON AND THE INCANDESCENT LAMP 



The familiar incandescent electric-light bulb seems 

 such a simple apparatus to-day, being nothing appar- 

 ently but a small wire enclosed in an ordinary glass 

 bulb, that it is almost impossible to realize what an 

 enormous amount of money, energy, and that particular 

 quality of mentality which we call "genius" has been 

 required to produce it. First and foremost among the 

 names of the men of genius who finally evolved this 

 lamp is that of Thomas A. Edison; and only second to 

 this foremost name are those of Swan, Lane-Fox, and 

 Hiram Maxim. But Edison's name must stand pre- 

 eminent ; and there are probably very few, even among 

 Europeans, who would attempt or wish to deny him 

 the enviable place as the actual perfecter of the in- 

 candescent-light bulb. 



It is said that Edison first conceived the idea of an 

 incandescent electric light while on a trip to the Rocky 

 Mountains in company with Draper, in 1878. Be 

 this as it may, he certainly set to work immediately 

 after completing this journey, and never relaxed or 



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