CAPILLARY RIPPLES. ,- 
PROFESSOR C. V. BOYS, F.R.S. 
# 
‘ 4. 
(A Lecture delivered at the Royal Artillery Institution, Woolwich, 7th November, 1895). 
Cotoyen R. D. Extotr Lockuart, R.A., In THE CHAIR. [ ¥ 
Tar CHarrman—Ladies and gentlemen, Colonel Trench, who was to 
have taken the chair to-night, has, unfortunately, been unable to come, 
and has asked me to take his place. Some of us had doubts as to what 
the capillary ripples actually were, but I was talking with a lady from 
Girton, and she very kindly explained it to me this afternoon; she was 
quite sure they had something to do with the art of preserving curls 
and fringes in this damp weather (laughter). We all realise the im- 
portance of the subject, and probably it will lead to a very animated 
discussion, so that I am sure you will be glad that Professor Boys 
should begin at once (applause). 
Prorrssor Boys—Colonel Lockhart, ladies and gentlemen, before I 
proceed with my lecture, 1 must begin with some words of apology, 
explanation and excuse. Apology, for I have put the Institution to a 
most unintended and enormous amount of trouble, and I fear to some 
expense, in choosing a subject which requires absolutely for its 
successful treatment the electric ight. I did not doubt for a moment 
but that the electric current was laid on here, so that it was as easy to 
turn it on as to turn on the gas; and rather late, and too late in the 
day to make any change, I was informed that there was no current, 
but that every means should be taken to supply one. So much for the 
apology. And now fortheexplanation. This afternoon, unfortunately, 
when everything was just on the point of being exactly right we found 
that everything was exactly wrong owing to a mishap—a copper on 
which everything depended was fused. The skill of an artificer in the 
place was sufficient three or four minutes before five o’clock to replace 
it by an extemporised one; and Professor Greenhill also when he 
heard of this mishap went off at once ina cab to Charlton where he was 
successful in bringing back another copper which appeared one and a 
half minutes after the artificer’s copper was finished. And I must now 
make my excuse: that in consequence of having got the light turned 
on only just before five o’clock, I have been unable to rehearse any of 
my experiments or to arrange that the apparatus should be completely 
2. VOL, XXIII. 
