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Southern Star, v. 1, issue 4, December 1941

Page 12

From The Starport     SOUTHERN STAR     Page 12

plosive form to propel Mr. Condit anywhere, although I realize, of course, that the experiments which were conducted in the rather remote and singularly uncharted Eastern part of the Sahara desert were carried on in that general location because of the very great explosive possibilities of something or other, and not at all because of any desire to get away from it all -- in a very general and unspecific location.
Which is probably exactly what the reporter of those bygone halycon days of 1927 wanted me to say. Then, as now, scientists and writers of repute scoff at such things as messages from Mars and trips to Venus and write biting, cleverly satirical sentences designed to show up each imaginative inventor as an utter fool, rather than as perhaps a slightly off-the-trail dreamer whose efforts run to such intangible things as time machines rather than to the manufacturing of more sensible better can-openers or egg slicers or windshield wipers for spectacles.
But while we're on the subject of improbabilities, let me present two more clippings of the same years as those preceding:

LIGHT RAY TO HOLD WEIGHT AFLOAT IN AIR

To resist the attraction of the earth on heavy bodies, experiments are being made by a western man with a process which, it is claimed, will overcome the laws of gravity and cause the most solid metal objects to rise without any other aid. This strange force, it is said, will come from a light ray capable of reducing the hardest material to dust thinner than air, and of printing a photograph through a steel plate 5 1/2 inches thick in five seconds. When developed, this power is expected to make wings on airplanes unnecessary, and to do the work of the airship's gas bag by creating an energy that will act against the strongest downward pull, raising and lowering the craft by the amount of current passed into it, while small propellers will move it.

That article was taken from POPULAR MECHANICS. The wonderful light ray discussed, must have gone into the limbo of impractical things -- but it would have, if perfected, put a good many transportation companies and house-moving firms out of business. Imagine lifting the Empire State Building on one fingertip! I also like that part about the ability of the light ray to reduce anything to dust. Public death ray no. 1!
Here's the other item, on much the same subject:

RAY TO OVERCOME GRAVITY SOUGHT IN SECRET

There are hidden away in laboratories in the hidden heart of Russia, certain German scientists who are engaged in a secret search for a new ray to overcome the law of gravity according to recent reports. Air experts are quoted as saying that they would not be surprised if this quest has resulted in discoveries that may revolutionize aviation. With abundant money and years of practical experience, the searches are well-equipped to car-

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From The Starport SOUTHERN STAR Page 12 plosive form to propel Mr. Condit anywhere, although I realize, of course, that the experiments which were conducted in the rather remote and singularly uncharted Eastern part of the Sahara desert were carried on in that general location because of the very great explosive possibilities of something or other, and not at all because of any desire to get away from it all -- in a very general and unspecific location. Which is probably exactly what the reporter of those bygone halycon days of 1927 wanted me to say. Then, as now, scientists and writers of repute scoff at such things as messages from Mars and trips to Venus and write biting, cleverly satirical sentences designed to show up each imaginative inventor as an utter fool, rather than as perhaps a slightly off-the-trail dreamer whose efforts run to such intangible things as time machines rather than to the manufacturing of more sensible better can-openers or egg slicers or windshield wipers for spectacles. But while we're on the subject of improbabilities, let me present two more clippings of the same years as those preceding: LIGHT RAY TO HOLD WEIGHT AFLOAT IN AIR To resist the attraction of the earth on heavy bodies, experiments are being made by a western man with a process which, it is claimed, will overcome the laws of gravity and cause the most solid metal objects to rise without any other aid. This strange force, it is said, will come from a light ray capable of reducing the hardest material to dust thinner than air, and of printing a photograph through a steel plate 5 1/2 inches thick in five seconds. When developed, this power is expected to make wings on airplanes unnecessary, and to do the work of the airship's gas bag by creating an energy that will act against the strongest downward pull, raising and lowering the craft by the amount of current passed into it, while small propellers will move it. That article was taken from POPULAR MECHANICS. The wonderful light ray discussed, must have gone into the limbo of impractical things -- but it would have, if perfected, put a good many transportation companies and house-moving firms out of business. Imagine lifting the Empire State Building on one fingertip! I also like that part about the ability of the light ray to reduce anything to dust. Public death ray no. 1! Here's the other item, on much the same subject: RAY TO OVERCOME GRAVITY SOUGHT IN SECRET There are hidden away in laboratories in the hidden heart of Russia, certain German scientists who are engaged in a secret search for a new ray to overcome the law of gravity according to recent reports. Air experts are quoted as saying that they would not be surprised if this quest has resulted in discoveries that may revolutionize aviation. With abundant money and years of practical experience, the searches are well-equipped to car-