xxii
INTRODUCTION
mean are very different from the ones you see displayed in public
exhibitions. For once I feel an inclination to take up a somewhat
more experimental subject and to put the exact measurements
aside for a while. The subject I have in mind is involved in much
obscurity, and little has been done at it; its investigation would
probably be of great theoretical interest. So I should like to find
in it material for a fresh research; meanwhile I keep rushing
about without any fixed plan, finding out what is already known
about it, repeating experiments and setting up others as they
occur to me; all of which is very enjoyable, inasmuch as the
phenomena are in general exceedingly beautiful and varied. But
it involves a lot of glass-blowing; my impatience will not allow
me to order from the glass-blower to-day a tube which would not
be ready until several days later, so I prefer to restrict myself to
what can be achieved by my own slight skill in the art.
In point
of expense this is an advantage. But in a day one can only pre-
pare a single tube, or perhaps two, and make observations with
these under varied conditions, so that naturally it is laborious
work. At present, as already stated, I am simply roaming about
in the hope that one or other of the hundred remarkable pheno-
mena which are exhibited will throw some light upon the path.
31st July 1882.
I have made some preliminary attempts in the way of build-
ing up a battery of 1000 cells. This will cost some money and a
good deal of trouble; but I believe it will prove a very efficient
means of pushing on the investigation, and will amply repay its
cost.
After devoting the first half of the ensuing autumn
vacation to recreation, he begins the construction of the
battery.
6th September 1882.
I am now back again, after having had a good rest, and as
there is nothing to disturb me here I have at once started fitting up
the battery. So I am working away just like a mechanic. Every
turn and twist has to be repeated a thousand times; so that for
hours I do nothing but bore one hole and then another, bend one
strip of lead after the other, and then again spend hours in
varnishing them one by one. I have already got 250 cells
finished and the remaining 750 are to be made forthwith; I expect
to have the lot ready in a week. I don't like to interrupt the
work, and that is why I haven't written to you before. For a
while I feel quite fond of this monotonous mechanical occupation.