apart, namely, St. Catherine's Point, in the Isle of Wight and the Lizard in Cornwall. The total height of these stations above sea level was only a fraction of what would have been necessary to clear the curvature of the earth. The result obtained from these tests, which at the time constituted a record distance, seemed to indicate that electric waves would most probably be able to make their way round the curvature of the earth, and that therefore even at greater distances such as those dividing America and Europe, the fact of the earth's curvature would not constitute an insurmountable barrier to the extension of telegraphy through space.

The belief that the curvature of the earth would not stop the propagation of the waves and the success obtained by syn- . tonic methods in preventing mutual interference, led me in 1900 to decide to attempt the experiment of proving whether or not it would be possible to detect electric waves over such a distance as 2000 miles.

The experiment was, in my opinion, cf great importance from a scientific point of view, and I was convinced that the discovery of the possibility of transmitting electric waves across the Atlantic Ocean and the exact knowledge of the real conditions under which telegraphy over long distances could be carried out, would do much to improve our understanding of the phenomena connected with electric wave transmission.

Tests were commenced by myself early in December, 1901, at a temporary receiving station erected at St. Johns, Newfoundland, and on the 12th of that month the signals transmitted from England and chiefly consisting of repetitions of the letter "S" were clearly and distinctly received by myself and my assistants in Newfoundland. Confirmatory tests were carried out a few weeks later between Poldhu, and a receiving station on the S. S. Philadelphia of the American line. On board this ship readable messages were received by means of a recording instrument up to a distance of 1551 miles, and test letters as far as 2099 miles from Poldhu. The messages received on the Philadelphia at the various distances were recorded on tape and were exceedingly clear and distinct, as can be seen by the tapes in my possession.

These results, although achieved with imperfect apparatus, were sufficient to convince me and my co-workers, that by means of permanent stations and by the employment of sufficient power it would be possible to transmit messages across the Atlantic Ocean in the same way as they were sent over shorter distances. The tests could not be continued in Newfoundland owing to the hostility of the cable companies, which claimed the rights for telegraphy, whether wireless or otherwise, in that Colony, and for this reason the base of my experimental and practical work in Transatlantic telegraphy was transferred to Canada.

The transmission of electric waves across the Atlantic Ocean, first achieved in 1901, constituted in itself a discovery which the American Institute of Engineers was the first as a scientific and technical body to notice and commemorate.

Although it may be said that no apparatus, new in principle, was used to obtain the result, still the fact of being able to transmit and receive electric waves over a distance of 2000 miles, constituted in itself an absolute confirmation of my views to the effect that electric waves could travel over such enormous distances, and that the curvature of the earth and other supposed obstacles would not prevent them being employed in carrying on the intercourse of human intelligence over any distance separating parts of our little planet.

Although the mathematical theory of electric wave propagation through space was worked out by Clerk Maxwell more than fifty years ago, and notwithstanding all the experimental evidence since obtained concerning the nature of these waves, yet so far we understand but incompletely the true fundamental principles concerning what effects the propagation of the waves on which wireless telegraph transmission is based along the surface of the earth. Although it is now perfectly easy to design, construct and operate stations capable of satisfactory commercial working over any distance up to 2500 miles, no really clear explanation has yet been given of many absolutely authenticated facts concerning these waves. .

...

A well ascertained and confirmed fact remains, that it is easier to communicate over sea than over land. We fortunately have in this case another instance of Nature helping us in the

utilization of her forces. Over land where it is easy to erect and maintain the poles and wires of the ordinary telegraph, wireless telegraphy has had some difficulties to contend with; but on the sea where connection and communication between ships is essential for their safety and where telegraph poles and wires between them are utterly impossible, special facilities have been afforded us for the prompt utilization of what is in many cases the only posssible means of communication.

In the same way that great enemy of the safety of shipsfog-seems to favor wireless transmission, which is usually more essential to them in foggy weather than in fine.

Whether wireless telegraphy will or will not displace the cables is a question which only time will decide. The view that it will soon be one of the principal means of communication over long distances is one that is unpopular in England where over $300,000,000 are already invested in cables.

There is no doubt, however, that this new method which knows no frontiers of political division is tending to cheapen and extend our means of communication between distant points of the earth and to bring telegraph communication within reach of the great majority of people to whom present telegraph rates are prohibitive. For press service it is already largely used. Nearly all the European news published in some of the great New York dailies comes across the Atlantic without the aid of any cable or artificial conductor. The New York Times which has done so much to encourage the commercial application of long distance wireless telegraphy, has received messages in New York from London in less than ten minutes, although these messages have to be repeated over land lines connecting the coast station respectively with London and New York.

By the majority of people the most marvelous side of wireless telegraphy is perhaps considered to be its use at sea. Up to the time of its introduction as soon as ships reached any appreciable distance from land they could say good-by to the shore as they had no means of getting in touch with land throughout the whole duration of the voyage. But those who now make long sea journeys are no longer cut off from the rest of the world, and the quiet and isolation which it was possible to enjoy on board ships have become things of the past.

Business men can continue to correspond with their offices in America or Europe, ordinary social messages can be exchanged between passengers and their friends on shore; even a daily newspaper is published on board some of the principal liners giving the chief news of the day.

The chief benefit, however, of wireless telegraphy lies in the facility which it affords to ships in distress of communicating their plight to neighboring vessels or coast stations, and one of my greatest gratifications has been to know that it has not yet once failed at the critical moment in successfully conveying the all-important demand for help.

That it is now considered indispensable for this reason is shown by the fact that several governments, including that of the United States of America, have passed a law making a wireless telegraph installation a compulsory part of the equipment of all passenger boats entering their ports.

In view of the fact that the attention of the American public, and indeed, of the whole civilized world, has, during the present week, been fixed in painful anxiety on the greatest disaster known in the annals of navigation it would be impossible for me not to make at least passing reference, reluctantly as I do so, to that grim and awful catastrophe whose details we have yet to learn more fully than they have reached us by wireless across hundreds of miles of ocean.

I know you will understand me if I say that all those who have been working at the problems of wireless telegraphy, many of whom, like myself, are so often brought into close touch with the wonders and perils of the sea, entertain deep feelings of gratitude that telegraphy through space has again contributed in this instance to the saving of hundreds of precious lives.

Allow me also to take this opportunity of expressing my sincere recognition of the generous sentiments that have been expressed towards me by the American Press at this moment of profound grief over the sinking of the S. S. Titanic.

JULIUS M. MAYER

THE COURT AND THE LAW

Julius M. Mayer was born in New York in 1865 and died in 1925. He was judge of the District Court, Southern District of New York, from 1912 to 1921, and United States circuit judge from 1921 until his death. The following charge was delivered in the Federal Court in New York City on October 30, 1918, by the judge imposing sentence on Roger N. Baldwin. It is reprinted here as an admirable example of a judicial charge and also as a significant exposition of the relation of the law to the individual. Mr. Roger N. Baldwin, a distinguished radical, appeared before the court as a violator of the Draft Act. He presented his case in a notable speech ending in the following paragraphs: "I ask the Court for no favor. I could do no other than what I have done, whatever the court's decree. I have no bitterness or hate in my heart for any man. Whatever the penalty I shall endure it, firm in the faith, that whatever befalls me, the principles in which I believe will bring forth out of this misery and chaos, a world of brotherhood, harmony and freedom for each to live the truth as he sees it.

"I hope your Honor will not think that I have taken this occasion to make a speech for the sake of making a speech. I have read you what I have written in order that the future record for myself and for my friends may be perfectly clear, and in order to clear up some of the matters to which the District Attorney called your attention. I know that it is pretty nigh hopeless in times of war and hysteria to get across to any substantial body of people, the view of an out and out heretic like myself. I know that as far as my principles are concerned, they seem to be utterly impractical-mere moonshine. They are not the views that work in the world to-day. I fully realize that. But I fully believe that they are the views which are going to guide in the future.

"Having arrived at the state of mind in which those views mean the dearest things in life to me, I cannot consistently, with self-respect, do other than I have, namely, to deliberately violate an act which seems to me to be a denial of everything which ideally and in practice I hold sacred."