“Frogs’ legs,” Harry answered. “I remember reading about that not long ago. Volta salted the frogs’ legs, thinking they were too fresh; and they kicked. That’s what you mean, isn’t it?”
“Exactly,” said Mr. Douglass, laughing. “And that frog-kick was the beginning of the impulse that laid the Atlantic cable. It was no doubt a great achievement to come upon a new world, as Columbus did; but really Volta, who knew exactly what he was about, deserves nearly as much credit. So you see that by carefully noticing what takes place in his own home in the course of his every-day life, a man may become renowned quite as well as if he braves the elements in search of a new continent.”
“Do you think electricity will take the place of steam?” asked Philip.
“No,” answered Mr. Douglass; “for, judging by the past, few really useful things are ever displaced. Every housekeeper still finds a need for candles, even where not only gas but electricity is at hand. The stage-coach is still built and used, though for different purposes than at first. We shall see to-day, in the Transportation Building, how many old inventions are yet on duty.”
THE ELECTRICITY BUILDING.
As they entered they heard a sharp pounding, and saw a crowd gathered—the surest sign of something interesting—near a counter. Gradually making their way to the front, they saw a sign announcing that they could have their own coins made into Fair souvenirs, and found upon the counter small scarf-pins, medals, monograms, hair-pins, and paper-knives made from silver and nickel coins. The charge was only five cents, so Philip drew forth a half-dollar that he had been intending to spend on a present for his sister, and putting five cents with it, handed the coins over to the woman at the counter.
“What would you like?” she asked.
“A hair-pin like that,” said Philip, pointing to one that had 1893 upon the top in openwork. The woman gave the half-dollar to the man at the stamping-machine, and he pushed it under the die. In a few moments Philip’s coin was transformed beyond recognition, and came out properly shaped and labeled “Columbian Exposition, 1893.” Harry satisfied himself with a nickel rolled into an oval and also stamped.
