Page:The fairy tales of science.djvu/44

 subject to the influence of thunderstorms, but in other respects they are more troublesome than those suspended in mid air. The buried wires are greatly affected by the earth's magnetism and other disturbing influences; moreover, trenches have to be dug for their reception, and they are with difficulty reached when deranged. Thus we see that each kind of road has its peculiar advantages and defects.

As gutta percha effectually cuts off all communication between a wire and surrounding conductors, we make use of this marvellous substance to enclose the wires which convey our Spirit through the sea.

The practicability of these submarine roads was demonstrated in 1849, when a trial was made with two miles of covered wire laid in water. Soon after this a cable was constructed, which enclosed four copper wires covered with gutta percha; and by means of this cable France and England were brought within a speaking distance of each other.

The Amber Spirit soon gave proofs of his ability as a continental messenger, and on the 14th of November, 1851, our great morning journal published a despatch from Paris, dated seven o'clock the preceding evening!

Another cable was now stretched across the Irish Sea, by means of which England was able to exchange civilities with her sister isle. Others followed, and man, emboldened by their success, now began to think of despatching his obedient courier