All About Inventions and Discoveries
The Romance of modern scientific and mechanical Achievements

4 All About Inventions l Naturally these achievements aroused intense in- terest among those to whom the results were commu- nicated. And when Marconi repeated the experiments in the laboratory, to the satisfaction of Sir William Preece and other scientists, they were received with such emphatic favour that it was decided to carry out further trials without delay in the open air. Ihe com- parative security of Salisbury Plain was selected as the most favourable spot, and here the results were re- peated without the slightest interference or publicity. «But these trials proved additionally remarkable, be- cause it was found possible to send the signals through houses, hills, and other obstacles with as much facility as over a stretch of the open level plain. Moreover, the influence of the height of the capacity above the ground upon distance was brought home very strikingly, and forthwith it was decided to determine how far such signals might be sent with the instruments available. In order to elevate the capacity to a sufficiently imposing height weird fand novel efforts were made. Tiny balloons covered with tinfoil, and kites of varying forms and design, similarly covered with tinfoil, were sent aloft, a thin wire being used instead of the conventional string, and connected to the instruments upon the ground below. This work proved somewhat exasperating, because the fickle Clerk of the British Weather would persist in intervening, and appeared to be striving desperately to thwart the realisation of the young Italian’s dream. Balloon after balloon was wrenched free and hurried away in mad glee by the boisterous winds, never to be seen nor heard of again. Kites were ripped, torn, and smashed by the same rebellious