Mark Twain was, in the estimation of many, America’s first truly homegrown literary figure. And while adhering to what he perceived as the can-do American spirit, he couldn’t help but assert himself from time to time as a scientist, or more practically an engineer. Here at Open Culture, we’ve previously featured his patent inventions (like an improved bra strap), the typewriter he pioneered to write books, and even the story of his Internet predictions he wrote in 1898. Considering Twain’s inclinations, fame, and the era in which he lived, it may not be surprising to hear that he struck up a friendship with a romantic inventor. nikola tesla.
Coincidentally, Tesla had become a fan of Twain long before the two met, finding solace in the American author’s books after a long and fatal illness. He credited his recovery to the laughter he got from reading, and some imagine that seeing life in the United States through Twain’s eyes may have played a role in his eventual immigration to the United States.
Twain himself was living in Europe at the time, but was a frequent visitor to New York, where he was able to stop by Tesla’s laboratory and see his latest electrical experiments in progress. It was there in 1894 that the two took the photo above. In it, Twain holds a vacuum lamp designed and powered (outside the frame) by Tesla. Electromagnetic coil named after him.
Ian Harvey writes: vintage news“Tesla was a scientist whose work revolved primarily around electricity. At the time, to make a living as a scientist or inventor, you often had to be some kind of showman.” Twain understood the pressure. History records that Tesla advised Twain not to spend his money on an uncompetitive automatic phototypesetting machine, in addition to a highly effective electric constipation treatment, but unfortunately he was not heeded. A former riverboat captain, he continued to invest in a powder called plasmon that promised to end world hunger. Perhaps Tesla’s spiritual descendants will be found in today’s Silicon Valley and will invent the future. Mark Twain certainly takes on all sorts of outlandish schemes, albeit with a far less sense of humor.
Related content:
Mark Twain playing with electricity in Nikola Tesla’s laboratory (photo, 1894)
Mark Twain wrote the first book written on a typewriter
Mark Twain’s patented inventions for bra straps and other everyday items
Mark Twain Predicts the Internet of 1898: Read His Science Fiction Crime Novel “From the 1904 London Times”
Nikola Tesla’s 21st Century Predictions: The Rise of Smartphones and Wireless, the End of Coffee, and More (1926/35)
When David Bowie became Nikola Tesla: Watch his electric performance at Prestige (2006)
Based in Seoul, Colin Mbemust write and broadcastIt’s about cities, languages ​​and cultures. His projects include the Substack newsletter books about cities and a book Stateless City: A Stroll Through Los Angeles in the 21st Century. Follow him on the social network formerly known as Twitter. @Colinbemust.
Source: Open Culture – www.openculture.com
