MICHAEL FARADAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20988, 26 September 1931, Page 1 (Supplement)

MICHAEL FARADAY.

BX MAT.VNG.V

A HANDFUL OF STORY. '

The celebrations of Faraday's genius and achievements now proceeding in Englanddays on days ot' memorial honour by his heirs in science—do the Old Land infinite credit. It is well that they should have an echo in this land, well above ail that even to this remotest British people should have been broadcast the opening ceremony of the festival. For the miiie. as tie microphone is being familiarly Iris' Led by its devotees, owes more than can be easily reckoned to the Michael born in Surrey but of a lineage looking back to an earlier Celtic home in John Efull's other island. "Mike" this poor and piotis blacksmith's son was called for short, and he has quaintly unwitting memorial in the easy term heard in every station studio in the world.

Mike. The fancy would have pleased him, given as he was, through all his life, to simple, wholesome jollity, laughing gaily as his or his playfellows' marbles found their bidets on the flagstones in the street, writing playful letters about solemn experiments with zinc plates " of the immense siie of halfpence each." varying grave research with his devoted .Anderson by throwing little bits of potassium into water to delight with spurts of purple flame a little niece left for the day in hi 3 care, and enjoying bagatelle and charades at horie ere he closed his day with supper and family prayer. " Reasonably merry is a biographer's description, as applicable to the days at seventy-six when he wrote of " enjoying the gradual decav of strength and life" as to the days of boyish fun always recalled with fond zest. Of course he " turned philosopher" with enthusiasm—he has told how—because his native bent took him that way and he could make shift to indulge it. for all the poverty of childhood circumstance. There was an early day when he nearly broke his back by tumbling on to his father's through a trap-door above the forge—so intent had he been on an experiment up- there. That intenrness was characteristic. Ha was for ever ready with a silent query about the significance of thinss.

There came a day, long after scientific fame was pj.rt of the guerdon of his happy toil, when he walked away from the Royal Institution with Tyndall. " Come, Tyndall." he said, with a comradely tucking of his arm into his companion's, " I will show you something that will interest von." They got to Blandford Street. Looking round a little, Faraday paused before a stationer's shop. " On entering the shop." writes Tyndall, bis usual animation seemed doubled; he looked rapidlv at everything it contained. To the left on'entering was a door, through which he looked down into a little room with a window in front facing Blandford Street. Drawing me towards nim, he said eagerl#. ' Look there. Tyndall; that was mv working place; I bound books in that little nook.' " On Which Side am I?" Bind book:, there he did, when a boy, and from that nook—part of a bookseller's place that was a lending library of newsDaners and less valuable literature as well as a workshop for tailoring unbound, or shabby volumes—l\e was often sent on a round of errands. _ . In those diuvs an errand took him to a house with'iron area railings on each side of the door. He knocked: no one came; knocked again, and waited: still no one. Thf.n his incjtiinnc mind his head through the railings—and an absorbing question at once arose. "On which side am IV' Was his personal id emit v associated with h:s head. tprhaps, but in the midst of this fascinating mental debate the door was suddenly opened outward. His exploring head was as suddenly withdrawn and struck by the door, and Mike carried away a damaged and bleeding nose, hut t tie problem"raised was worth i f . There was another well-remembered da> when a customer brought in for binding a creat pile of unbound copies ot the Encvclopedisi Britannica, the third edition" notahle especially for Robi son s scientific articles, and these he was edlv allowed to con. And _ that btte nook was often the vestibule ot the temple of knowledge for his reverent mind, and what happened there was'not so much a series "f turning-points as a progressive entrv to a Holy of Holies. A Gracious Aptitude. All his life he had the gracious aptitude so venerated by Huxley, the ah:uzs to sit d"wn before facts as a at.le ctnld. The unchallenged mastery to whicn tie | came even on th<= lay mind a mere list ! of his marvellous researches leaves an impression of amazing power and industry, and the savants hold him in unanimous honour —was reached by that blest road of ooen-heG.rted ouest. In penury or i n t he house at Hampton Court, placed at his disposal by the Queen, at Prince Albert's suggestion, it. was ever tae same. On the platform of the Royal Institute, unfolding as he knew it some anstnise problem of phvsics. or preaching on alternate Sundavs" to his feUow-memoers ot the little Scottish sect to which he gave single-minded. Tifelons allegiance, he was equally self-dedicated to inquiry alter truth. The nail-makers of Interlaken—travel in the Swiss Alps was a restorative jov to powers heavily taxed ny zealous "work —found him keenly observant, of their craft, and could have endorsed bis letter's word s ;. " I love a smith s shop and anything relating to srnithery; mv father was a smith." And he died, sereneiv questing still, where he wished to l, e in "his study, in Ihe chair where he had so often pondered hopefully. Resounding Gratitude. " A thought here struck me : I will tell vou-'-" he writes of one experiment. and the gentle gaiety of his description of its quaint contrivance yields place to a close reasoning of his theories and deductions. There vou have him playful and profound, youth undimnied breaking j into some vet more surprising flash, and ever the now ot' a thrusting endeavour to reach the utmost bounds of knowledge —like the sparks and currents of the mighty element h° learned to know and handle, in order that others might know and handle. And so he is remembered with rebounding gTaritude. The year after his death one of England's most eminent men ot" science wrote of him. Taking him for all in all. I think it will be conceded that Michael Faraday was the greatest experimental philosopher the world Jias ever sen.; and I will add the opinion that the progress of future research will tend, not to dim or to diminish, but to enhance and glorify the labours of this mighty investigator.' And to Tyndall we owe this rupst penetrating judgment. Surelv no memory fouid be more beautiful Hp was equally rich in mind and heart. The fairest traiu of a character sketched by Paul found in him pertect illustration. For he was " blameless, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, apt to teach, not given to tilth? lucre." He had no, a tiace of worldly ambition. . . He did not '.earn his gentleness from _ the world, torhe withdrew himself from its culture: and still this land of England contained no truer gentleman than he. Not half aia greatness was incorporate in his science, for science could not reveal the bravery and delicacy of his heart.

That was well said long ago. _ It is good that it should be said again and again—and! by Englishmen central in a worldwide fellowship of honouring homage.