Quicker than Lightning.

Manawatu Herald, 24 December 1898, Page 2

Quicker than Lightning.

" As quick as lightning " is a phrase colloquially used to express the maximum of rapidity. But, according to a well-known scientist, electricity itself is outstripped by that oldfashioned machine, the human body, by which, it appears, powers can, so to speak, be generated in the brain, transmitted through the nerves, and developed in the muscles in an infinitesimal fraction of a second. It is stated that a pianist, in executing a " presto " of Mendelssohn played "5,595 notes in four minutes and three seconds. The striking of each of these, it has been estimated, involved two movements of the finder, and possibly more. Then the movements of the wrists, elbows, and arms can scarcely be less than one movement for each note. M twenty-four notes were played «a«|jJL second, and involves three movemenfijlßC we would have seventy-two volunljajs! movements per second. t j Again, the place, the force, piti time, the duration of each of «hf jj&. movements were controlled. l| ip add to this the work of the memory lra placing the notes in their propiei' position, as well as the fact thas!f|s' performer at the same time participatgjL in the emotion the selection describHlljl and feels the strength and weakness ojlll the,perfonnanbe, we arrive, at a jbrojjy bewildering network of impoiJKS^ coursing along at inconceivably rapid rates. " j