Southold High School - Snuffbox Yearbook (Southold, NY)

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THE SNUFF BOX MICHAEL FARADAY Someone once asked Sir Humphrey Davy what his greatest discovery was, and he answered, “Michael Faraday.” Today our whole life is influenced by the early discoveries of this man. When we press a button to flood a room with light or turn a switch to start a motor or tune our radio sets, we are making use of some of the discoveries of Michael Faraday, who was the greatest scientific investigator of the nineteenth century. To this man more than any other we owe the transformation of electricity from a plaything of the laboratory to a useful servant, lie was born in Newington, England, on September 22, 1791. His parents were of the poorer class in England. His father was a blacksmith and his brother was a gasfitter. Michael was an active, laughing boy who when he was but thirteen was apprenticed to a man named Riebau. In Riebau’s shop he learned bookbinding. Faraday soon made a firm friend out of old Riebau, who allowed him to spend time in reading as well as binding the books in the shop. It was from these books that young Michael gained his early education. The books which interested him most were works of science. He specialized in the study of chemistry and electricity. Faraday saved his money and bought himself simple apparatus and with it conducted many chemical experiments. He did not tire of this sort of thing, but with every book and every experiment he became more enthusiastic. During his spare time he read nearly all the books of science in Riebau’s shop. Sir Humphrey Davy at this time was giving lectures at the Royal Institution. Young Michael expressed the wish that he should like to hear Davy. He mentioned it to one of Riebau’s customers. Fortune favored Faraday in that the customer gave him four tickets to the lectures. Michael went to these lectures and listened attentively. He found that his knowledge of science enabled him to understand Davy’s discussions. Faraday made notes on these lectures and later elaborated them, thus showing that he had understood Davy. The same audacity which prompted Michael to speak of the lectures to Riebau’s customer soon moved him again. This time it was an attempt to get away from bookbinding, a trade which was fast becoming distasteful to him. lie wrote to Sir Humphrey Davy, enclosing his elaborated lectures and asking for work. Fortune again favored Faraday in that Davy asked him to come to the Royal Institution for an interview. He obtained a position as laboratory assistant in the Royal Institution. At this time Sir Humphrey was working on a safety lamp for miners. Faraday understood the principle upon which the lamp was to work well enough so that he was able to make many a brilliant suggestion. About six months after Michael’s arrival at the Royal Institution Sir Humphrey Davy decided to tour Europe. The object of 26

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THE SNUFF BOX happen to Bill unless you are there to protect him? Ruth )., we advise you to turn your car north instead of west after dismissal in the afternoon. “Mac,” spinach is supposed to he very good for the constitution, but too much of one thing is as bad as none at all. Mary A., how about giving the boys a break instead of your school books? Walter K.. spend more time in getting your scholastic average above your batting average, instead of vice versa. Ruth O., you have shown us how well you navigate your “ship ’. Suppose next year you show us how to sail through the year with living colors. Bertha, it’s too bad you have only two thumbs because you can have them in only two pies at once. Surprise everyone next year and stick both of them in your studies. John C., “breezes” are very refreshing, but watch out for whirlwinds. We suggest that you give the local girls a break instead of traveling so far. Clem, chauffeuring is a good job but don’t do all your practising in a “Graham.” Madlyn, between bringing people to school and keeping people’s minds off school, there ought to be a happy medium. Thus, dear Juniors, it behooves you to follow this well-meaning and friendly advice if you wish to shine as brilliantly as your illustrious predecessors. LITTLE ANTARTICA Admiral Byrd and Peary, too, traveled far, I’m told. Each to find a spot on earth that was very, very cold. Never was I an explorer, nor journeys did I take, But I have found a local spot that should receive the cake. ’Tis the music room of Southold High that 1 am speaking of; Antartica compared with it is as hot as Mae est's love. When other rooms are nice and warm, with heat enough to spare, We pupils in the music room shake in the icy air. Every plan of warmth’s been tried, but nothing helps at all; There’ll be one consolation, though, for in the early fall September comes, a stifling month, whether we like it or not; Then we’ll delight in the cool music room, one place that isn’t hot! 25

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THE SNUFF BOX this trip was to catch up on the scientific discoveries of other countries. Faraday was to go along as valet and general handy man. Although lie was a servant on this trip he had the opportunity to talk with many of the famous scientists. During their long stay in Switzerland he talked a great deal with Gaspard d'e la Rive, professor of pharmaceutical chemistry at the Academy of Geneva. This was quite a rise for a mere bookbinder in little over half a year. Not until lie was thirty did Michael think of marriage. In his early years he worked hard in the laboratory, lectured to the City Philosophical Society, and wrote for the Quarterly Journal of Science. All these tended to establish him firmly in the field of science. Faraday was religious and went regularly with his mother to a little Sandemanian Church. Here it was that lie met Sarah Barnard, who was to become Mrs. Faraday. She was a wise, clear-eyed, kindly daughter of a silversmith. They were married on June 12, 1821. Soon after his marriage Faraday made some important scientific discoveries. Wollaston was primarily a chemist, but in some way he had gotten the idea that a wire carrying an electric current, if brought near the pole of a magnet should revolve on its own axis. Wollaston tried this experiment in Davy’s laboratory but failed. Possibly Faraday saw Wollaston’s unsuccessful experiment, for in September, 1821 he made the electric wire rotate on its axis. The value of this experiment and discovery cannot be overestimated, for it was the forerunner of the present day electric motor. Wollaston tried to claim the credit for this discovery, but Davy and others agreed that the discovery was Faraday’s. Soon after this Michael offended Davy. He conducted an experiment in an attempt to liquify chlorin, using a suggestion of Davy’s. The experiment was a success, and he prepared a paper on it for the Royal Society. He included in it that Sir Humphry made the suggestion, but Davy was very jealous of this former bookbinder and his two discoveries. Not long after this Faraday was proposed for membership in the Royal Society. He was opposed by Wollaston and Davy, but nevertheless gained membership. Faraday had risen to the position of director of the laboratory in the Royal Institution and was more than ever determined to devote his entire time to science. Fie gave up all outside business except his work as an expert on lighthouses. 11 is next great discovery was in the field of chemistry. Fie separated benzine from condensed oil-gas. Many a big business has been built up around this discovery, but Faraday did not attempt to make any money from it. Fie also spent much time in perfecting the art of making glass for optical instruments. In 1820, a year before Michael’s marriage, Sir Humphrey Davy had magnetized a bit of soft iron by wrapping a wire around it and passing an electric current through the wire. In 1822 Faraday wrote in his notebook, as one of his objects, the words, “convert magnetism into electricity.” Nine years later we find him still struggling with this knotty problem, lie conducted many experiments with 27