自幼我就被迫注重内省，这使得我很痛苦，但我现在看来，却是因祸得福。它让我认识到内省之于人生的不可估量的价值，以及内省是获得成功的一种手段。职业压力和通过知识途径不断涌入我们意识的来自外界的各种印象，使现代社会在很多方面存在危险。大多数人是如此专注于对外部世界的沉思，而完全无视自己内心正在想些什么。数百万人的过早离世主要原因就在于此。即使在那些注重保健的人当中，避免想象，忽视真正存在的危险，也是一个普遍存在的错误。这种说法适用于个人的同时，某种程度上也适用于所有人。
禁欲并不总是为我所喜欢，但我从令人愉悦的经验中得到了丰厚回报。我将复述一下我曾经历过的一两件事，只是希望人们能听从我的告诫和信念。
不久前一个寒冷的夜晚，我正走在回酒店的路上，地面湿滑，也没有出租车。我后面不远处跟着一个男人，他显然也和我一样正焦急地往住所赶。突然，我整个人腾空而起，同时，一道闪光在我脑中划过。我的神经立马对此做出反应，肌肉收紧。我在空中旋转了180度后，用双手撑住地面落地。我站起来，若无其事地继续赶路。
跟在后面的那名男子急急追上来，用惊讶的眼光看着我，并问道：“您今年多大？”
“嗯，59了。”我答道，“怎么了？”
“哇！”他说道，“我见过猫做这样的动作，但从没见过人这样做！”
大约一个月前，我想订购一副新眼镜，于是去了一位眼科医生那做例行检查。当我在相当远的距离可以准确读出视力表上最小的标识时，医生表现得相当难以置信。但当我告诉他我已年过六十时，他更是惊讶地倒吸了一口气。
我的朋友总说我的衣服像手套一样合身，但他们不知道我的所有衣服都是照我三十五年前的身材裁制的，此后我的身材不曾变过。在此期间，我的体重没有变化一磅。关于这点，我可以列举一件有趣的事。
1885年冬天的一个夜晚，爱迪生先生、爱迪生照明公司的董事长爱德华·H.约翰逊、经理巴特切罗加上我，一同前去位于第五大道的公司办事处。有人提议互猜体重，并叫我站到体重秤上。爱迪生用手打量我全身后，说道：“特斯拉重152磅，1盎司的偏差。”他猜得极其准确。我现在的净体重仍和那时一样，都是152磅。于是，我悄悄向约翰逊问道：“爱迪生何以将我的体重猜得如此准确？”
“恩，”他低声回答道，“我信任你才告诉你，你可千万不要让别人知道。原因就是爱迪生在芝加哥屠宰场工作过相当长的时间，每天都要称成千上万头猪。”
我的朋友昌西·M.迪普曾经向一个英国人谈起他早期的一些轶事，那个英国人带着一脸疑惑的表情听着，直到一年之后才明白过来，并大笑起来。我不得不承认，对于约翰逊的笑话，我花了更长的时间才得以领悟。
细致而有规律的生活方式成就了我现在健康的身心，万万没想到的是，我少年时期曾三次险些因疾病而丧命。不仅如此，由于我的无知无畏，曾陷入了各种各样的困境和危险，似乎因了冥冥之中的某种力量才得以脱身。我失踪过，也差点被淹死、被活埋、被冻死。也曾遇到过疯狗、野猪及其他很多野兽，但都幸运地逃脱了。曾被可怕的疾病缠身，也卷入过各种灾祸，而如今依然身康体健、神采奕奕，不得不说是一个奇迹。但是，现在回想起这些经历，对于我的幸存，我确信并非偶然。
挽救生命，是发明家努力的本质所在。利用能量、改善设备也好，为人们提供更加便利与舒适的生活也罢，其最终都是在提高人类生存的安全性。和普通人比起来，发明家之所以有更强的能力使自己脱离困境，正是因为他们观察敏锐和足智多谋。虽然我没有证据，但我想我的个人经历应该可以证明我拥有这种品质。通过我以下的一两个实例，读者可以自行判断是否属实。
我14岁时，有一次想捉弄一下和我一起游泳的伙伴。我的计划是潜伏在一块长期漂浮的建筑物下方，之后悄悄游到对岸去。对我而言，游泳和潜水简直不在话下，正如鸭子游水般灵活，我十分自信能完成这个表演。于是，我跃入水中，接着趁大家没留意，迅速转身向对岸游去。我原以为漂浮物足够安全，我可以站在上面，不料我竟撞在建筑物的一根横梁上。这时，我迅速潜入水中，加快速度向前游，直到憋不住气。我第二次露出水面时，头仍旧撞到了梁木，失望不禁涌上心头。然而，在我集聚了所有力量，准备奋力一搏，进行第三次尝试时，结果却还是一样。我越来越难以忍受窒息所带来的痛苦，加之大脑眩晕，身体便开始逐渐下沉。就在我深感绝望之时，一道闪光在我眼前划过，接着头上建筑物的结构清晰出现在我眼前。不知是亲眼看到，还是完全出于猜测，我可以肯定在水面和木梁上的木板之间有一道缝隙。于是，在即将不省人事之时，我从水底浮上来，将嘴靠在木板上喘口气。不幸的是，一个几乎使我窒息的浪花卷了过来。这时，我就像置身梦中，曾几次试图透气，直到狂跳的心逐渐平静下来，我才又恢复了昔日的镇定。之后我又尝试了几次潜水，但都失败了。我完全迷失了方向，但最终仍成功地逃离了困境。而这时，我的伙伴们都以为我早已死了，正绝望地四处打捞我的尸体。
我的鲁莽使得那年泳季变成了一场噩梦，但我很快便遗忘了那次教训，只两年之后，我便陷入了更大的困境。有一座大型面粉厂的堤坝横跨在河岸上，而这条河在我学校附近。一般情况下，堤坝水的深度只有两三英寸，所以在那里游泳是不会有生命危险的，仅仅是作为锻炼，故我对此十分沉迷。有一天，我如往常般独自到河边去游泳。就在我离堤坝只有很短的一段距离时，我吓坏了，河水正沿着堤坝迅速上涨，我被湍急的水流卷了进去。当我打算设法从水流中挣脱出来时，却已经太晚了。庆幸的是，我用双手抓牢墙壁，才免于被水流冲倒。湍急的水流不断拍打着我的胸口，我的头刚好露出水面。周围岸上没有一个人，而我呼救的声音也湮没在咆哮般的水流声中。我逐渐感到筋疲力尽，以致无法承受水流的冲击。就在我打算放弃，做好了被冲向下面岩石的准备的时候，一道闪光出现在我眼前——是一张我所熟悉的表明水流压力与受力面积成正比的原理图。于是，我本能地将身体转向左边。像施了魔法般神奇，压力一下子减小了，并且我发现这个姿势更容易抵抗水流的冲击。但我仍然面临危险，即使我吸引了人们的注意力，他们也不能给我任何帮助，我始终是要被水流卷走的。此时，我的两只手算是腾出来了，但是右手臂几乎失去了力气，只能用左手。因此，我只能慢慢地沿大坝方向移动，而不敢把身体转向另一侧去休息。我正对着面粉厂，那里水流更急，水也更深，所以我必须变换姿势。这真是一场漫长而痛苦的考验，我承受着附近水流的冲击，快到堤坝尽头时差点彻底失败。我用尽最后一丝力气游过去，一爬到岸边我就不省人事了。后来，人们在岸边将我救起。我左侧的皮肤几乎全部撕裂了，几星期之后，高烧才逐渐退去，我又恢复了健康。这只是许多实例中的两个，但它们足以表明，若不是因为发明家的本能，我现在就不能在这里讲这些故事了。
我经常被一些对我感兴趣的人问是如何以及何时开始发明的。我现在只能凭借记忆来回答，我记得我第一次发明时是何等的雄心勃勃。发明涉及装置和方法，装置之前已有人做过，而方法则是我首创的。事情的原委是这样的：我的一个伙伴拥有一套钓钩和渔具，这引起了村里人的极大的好奇。第二天一早，大家都跟着他去钓青蛙。由于我与这个男孩子发生了争吵，所以他们丢下我独自一人走了。我未曾见过真的钓钩，所以想象它是质地奇特，式样精美的奇妙东西，并为自己未能参加“钓蛙行动”而感到无比失望。由于受到刺激，我随手抓起一根软铁丝，找来两块石头，把铁丝的一端打磨成了尖尖的形状，然后将其弯曲，并绑在一根结实的绳子上。之后我砍了根竹竿，收集了一些诱饵，便去到小溪边青蛙聚集的地方垂钓。但是，我连一只青蛙也没钓到。当我正准备放弃时，我看见摇摆不定的空钓钩前，有一只青蛙正蹲在树桩上。刚开始，它看起来像是生病了一样的萎靡不振。不一会儿，它鼓起布满血丝的双眼，身体也涨得比原来大两倍，凶猛地扑上来将钓钩咬住。
我立刻将它拉了上来，我一遍又一遍地重复着这种方法，结果被证明是可靠的。我的伙伴们却空手而回，尽管他们有精美的渔具。他们对于我丰硕的战果十分嫉妒。我将这个秘密保守了很长一段时间，直到圣诞节才公之于众。随即，全村的男孩子都知道了方法，这可使得村子里的青蛙在接下来的夏天面临极大的灾难。
我之后的尝试似乎都是在后来成为我发明创造的主要动力的原始本能的推动下进行的，也就是依靠自然能量为人类服务。我的这次尝试是以五月金龟子为媒介进行的。它们是名副其实的害虫，因此在美国又被称为“六月臭虫”。它们的数量巨大，群体的体重能把树枝压断，甚至会把灌木丛给染黑。我将四只臭虫粘在十字架上，把十字架放在细轴上转动，然后，我再使它们在一个大圆盘上转动，所以得到极大的“能量”。它们非常卖力，一旦开始就不准备停下来，接连数小时地旋转着，越热越是干劲十足。一切都很顺利，偏偏有个奇怪的男孩来找我。他父亲是一名奥地利退役军官。这个男孩竟然将臭虫活吞了，就像是在享受极美味的蓝点牡蛎。由于这恶心的场面，我被迫中止了我本大有希望的试验。在那之后，我就不再碰臭虫或其他昆虫了。
后来，我便动手将祖父的时钟进行拆装。我总是轻易就将它拆卸了，可组装时却总是失败。祖父终于忍无可忍了，以一种特没“风度”的方式将我的试验中止了。我开始处理另一只时钟却是三十年后的事了。
不久之后，我又开始制造一种由一支空心的管子、一个活塞以及两个插栓组成的玩具气枪。当射击时，活塞冲到枪腹的位置，带有两个手柄的管子迅速后移，两个插栓之间的空气受到挤压而使温度升高，其中一个插栓就会射出去，并发出巨大的响声。这种气枪的关键在于选择合适的锥形管，而我幸运地在自家菜园里找着了这种管子。其实那支枪做得非常不错，只因我的活动使家里的玻璃窗受到威胁，所以家里人苦口婆心地劝阻我。
没记错的话，我后来还爱好刻剑，而原料可以很方便地获取——从家具上取下木条便是。当时我受塞尔维亚民族诗歌的影响，对主人公的高超武艺充满敬佩。我时常将玉米地里的秸秆当做敌人，然后对其进行长达数小时的砍伐。然而，我的“英雄壮举”却遭到了母亲的耳光。值得一提的是，母亲的耳光并非形式主义的，而是实实在在的惩罚。
这些都是我6岁以前的事情，类似的事例还有不少。那时，我们住在斯米连村庄，我在那里读完了小学一年级。后来，我们搬到了一个名叫戈斯皮奇的小镇。这次搬家对我而言就像是一场灾难。在斯米连的家中，我们饲养了鸽子、小鸡、绵羊，以及一大群鹅——它们在清晨的朝霞里出门觅食，又在傍晚伴着日落排着列队回来，那队形多么整齐完美啊，即使是今天最优秀的空军中队看了也会感到羞愧。然而，在新居，我不过是个囚犯，只能透过百叶窗看着外面来往的陌生人。我的腼腆使我宁愿面对一头咆哮的狮子，也不愿看在街上闲荡的花花公子。最使我难受的要算星期日了，因为这天我不得不穿戴整齐去出席宗教仪式。在那里，我又有了新的遭遇，这遭遇使我多年后回想起来仍心有余悸，不是滋味。那是我第二次在教堂冒险，之前我曾被困在一个古老的教堂一晚上。教堂坐落在不易攀爬的高山上，每年只对外开放一次。那是一次可怕的经历，但这次的更糟。
镇上有位富有且善良的女士，但她十分爱慕虚荣。每次去教堂，她总是盛装打扮，穿着有长长的拖裙的衣服，身后跟着一群殷勤的仆人。一个星期日，钟楼的钟敲响时，贵妇人正好盛装经过，我也刚好冲下来，不料一脚就踩在了她的拖裙上。随着“刺啦”一声，拖裙被撕裂了，撕裂声犹如一群新兵一起射击时那般响亮。我父亲生气极了，不过只是给了我一记温柔的耳光，这是他给过我的唯一惩罚，我现在都还记得那记耳光落在我脸上的感受。随后的尴尬和难堪真是无法形容。接下来的日子，我几乎处处被人排斥，直到另一件事的发生，才把我从这样的囹圄里解救出来。
一位很有进取心的年轻商人建立了一支消防队，买了一辆新的消防车，并给每个队员发了制服，组织他们进行严格的训练，准备举办检阅仪式。消防车被涂上了红和黑两种颜色，十分漂亮。检阅仪式在一天下午进行，消防车被开到了河边，全镇的人都聚集起来见证这伟大的奇观。演讲和仪式都结束之后，就该是喷水表演了，但喷嘴却怎么也喷不出水来。专家和教授们想尽了一切办法，却也只是徒劳，故障依然存在。当我到达现场时，失败几乎是注定的。我对机械知识几乎一无所知，但我的直觉是空气压力出了问题。于是，我试图在水中找寻胶皮管，结果发现是胶皮管脱落了。经过一阵摸索，我终于将管子重新接好了，霎时，水便经喷嘴哗哗流出了。想也知道，当时很多人华丽的衣服都被淋湿了。阿基米德曾一丝不挂地在锡拉丘兹街头奔跑，高喊着“我想出来了”时的轰动程度恐怕也不及我那天的吧。我被人们扛在肩头，耳边是他们兴奋的欢呼声，我成了他们的大英雄。
由于为以后在学院或实科中学学习打下基础，自搬到镇上后，我就在一所所谓的师范学院开始了为期四年的学习。在此期间，顽皮的我仍制造了很多麻烦。值得一提的是，我被当地人冠以了“捕乌鸦冠军”的独特称号。我的捕捉方法十分简单，不过是事先藏在树林里的灌木丛中，然后模仿乌鸦的叫声。一般我会听到几声回应的叫声，不一会儿就会有只乌鸦振翅停在我附近的灌木丛中。之后，我要做的就是扔一块纸板分散其注意力，然后跳起来，在它逃离灌木丛之前将其捕获。我凭借此方法捕获了无数的乌鸦。但是，后来发生的一件事使得我开始敬畏起它们来。一天，我和朋友捕获了两只漂亮的乌鸦，在我们正准备离开树林的时候，几千只乌鸦突然聚集起来，将我们团团围住。我原本觉得很有意思，直到我的后脑勺被重重一击，以致摔倒在地。之后，它们开始猛烈地攻击我，我被迫放了那两只乌鸦。我急忙逃到旁边山洞，与早躲到那里的朋友会合。
我对学校里的一些机械模型十分感兴趣，最吸引我注意的是涡轮机。我也制造过许多涡轮机模型，并在操作过程中感受到了巨大的快乐。我这段时期的经历或许可以证明我人生目标的确立完全是出于偶然。我叔叔对我的这种爱好极为不满，不只一次地指责我。我读到过一篇描写尼亚加拉大瀑布的文章，并对此着迷，还想象了一幅一台巨大的涡轮机正被飞流而下的瀑布推动着的画面。我告诉叔叔，我要到美国去使这个想象变为现实。三十年后，我终于将我的想法加诸于尼亚加拉了，想象力真是神秘莫测啊。
我还做了其他的各种装置和发明，而弓弩是其中做得最好的。我的箭一射出，刹那间便从人们的视线里消失了。近距离射击的话，射穿一英寸厚的松木板也不成问题。由于持续的拉弓练习，久而久之，我的腹部便长出了一块鳄鱼皮样的皮肤，我经常怀疑，正是由于这种练习，使得我现在还可以消化小石块。
除此之外，我还有门绝技不得不提，那就是抛掷击物。凭此绝技，我定能在古希腊竞技场中令在场观众叹为观止。下面，我将讲述这令读者感到不可思议的独门绝技所产生的壮举。一天，我和叔叔在河边散步，即使这时我也记着练习绝技。夕阳西沉，鳟鱼在水中快活地嬉戏，时而从水中跃起，鱼鳞在夕阳的映照下闪闪发光，鳟鱼的轮廓在远处礁石的映衬下清晰可辨。当然，任何孩子都能在这种有利的条件下击中一条鱼，但我要进行一项艰巨的任务。我告诉叔叔，我将用石头击中鱼，让它撞到礁石上断为两截，并提醒他注意我动作的每一个细节。做的和说的一样漂亮，我分毫不差地完成了整个过程。叔叔惊愕的神情就像见着了魔鬼一般，他大声地叫道：“你这魔鬼，快滚开！”接下来的几天叔叔都没再搭理我。另外的一些丰功伟绩，都被遗忘在时光的长河里了。但是，这些荣誉够我细细回味一千年之久了。
II.My First Efforts At Invention
Ishall dwell briefly on these extraordinary experiences，on account of their possible interest to students of psychology and physiology and also because this period of agony was of the greatest consequence on my mental development and subsequent labors.But it is indispensable to first relate the circumstances and conditions which preceded them and in which might be found their partial explanation.
From childhood Iwas compelled to concentrate attention upon myself.This caused me much suffering but，to my present view，it was a blessing in disguise for it has taught me to appreciate the inestimable value of introspection in the preservation of life，as well as a means of achievement.The pressure of occupation and the incessant stream of impressions pouring into our consciousness thru all the gateways of knowledge make modern existence hazardous in many ways.Most persons are so absorbed in the contemplation of the outside world that they are wholly oblivious to what is passing on within themselves.The premature death of millions is primarily traceable to this cause.Even among those who exercise care it is a common mistake to avoid imaginary，and ignore the real dangers.And what is true of an individual also applies，more or less，to a people as a whole.
Abstinence was not always to my liking but Ifind ample reward in the agreeable experiences Iam now making.Just in the hope of converting some to my precepts and convictions Iwill recall one or two.
Ashort time ago Iwas returning to my hotel.It was a bitter cold night，the ground slippery，and no taxi to be had.Half a block behind me followed another man，evidently as anxious as myself to get under cover.Suddenly my legs went up in the air.In the same instant there was a flash in my brain，the nerves responded，the muscles contracted，Iswung thru 180degrees and landed on my hands.Iresumed my walk as tho nothing had happened when the stranger caught up with me.
"How old are you？"he asked，surveying me critically.
"Oh，about fifty-nine，"Ireplied."What of it？"
"Well，"said he，"Ihave seen a cat do this but never a man."
About a month since Iwanted to order new eyeglasses and went to an oculist who put me thru the usual tests.He looked at me incredulously as Iread off with ease the smallest print at considerable distance.But when Itold him that Iwas past sixty he gasped in astonishment.
Friends of mine often remark that my suits fit me like gloves but they do not know that all my clothing is made to measurements which were taken nearly 35years ago and never changed.During this same period my weight has not varied one pound.In this connection Imay tell a funny story.
One evening，in the winter of 1885，Mr.Edison，Edward H.Johnson，the President of the Edison Illuminating Company，Mr.Batchellor，Manager of the works，and myself entered a little place opposite 65Fifth Avenue where the offices of the company were located.Someone suggested guessing weights and Iwas induced to step on a scale.Edison felt me all over and said："Tesla weighs 152lbs.to an ounce，"and he guest it exactly.Stript Iweighed 152lbs.and that is still my weight.Iwhispered to Mr.Johnson："How is it possible that Edison could guess my weight so closely？"
"Well，"he said，lowering his voice."Iwill tell you，confidentially，but you must not say anything.He was employed for a long time in a Chicago slaughter-house where he weighed thousands of hogs every day！That"s why."
My friend，the Hon.Chauncey M.Depew，tells of an Englishman on whom he sprung one of his original anecdotes and who listened with a puzzled expression but a year later laughed out loud.Iwill frankly confess it took me longer than that to appreciate Johnson"s joke.
Now,my well being is simply the result of a careful and measured mode of living and perhaps the most astonishing thing is that three times in my youth Iwas rendered by illness a hopeless physical wreck and given up by physicians.More than this,thru ignorance and lightheartedness,Igot into all sorts of difficulties,dangers and scrapes from which Iextricated myself as by enchantment.Iwas almost drowned a dozen times;was nearly boiled alive and just mist being cremated.Iwas entombed,lost and frozen.Ihad hair-breadth escapes from mad dogs,hogs,and other wild animals.Ipast thru dreadful diseases and met with all kinds of odd mishaps and that Iam hale and hearty today seems like a miracle.But as Irecall these incidents to my mind Ifeel convinced that my preservation was not altogether accidental.
An inventor"s endeavor is essentially lifesaving.Whether he harnesses forces,improves devices,or provides new comforts and conveniences,he is adding to the safety of our existence.He is also better qualified than the average individual to protect himself in peril,for he is observant and resourceful.If Ihad no other evidence that Iwas,in a measure,possessed of such qualities Iwould find it in these personal experiences.The reader will be able to judge for himself if Imention one or two instances.
On one occasion,when about 14years old,Iwanted to scare some friends who were bathing with me.My plan was to dive under a long floating structure and slip out quietly at the other end.Swimming and diving came to me as naturally as to a duck and Iwas confident that Icould perform the feat.Accordingly Iplunged into the water and,when out of view,turned around and proceeded rapidly towards the opposite side.Thinking that Iwas safely beyond the structure,Irose to the surface but to my dismay struck a beam.Of course,Iquickly dived and forged ahead with rapid strokes until my breath was beginning to give out.Rising for the second time,my head came again in contact with a beam.Now Iwas becoming desperate.However,summoning all my energy,Imade a third frantic attempt but the result was the same.The torture of suppressed breathing was getting unendurable,my brain was reeling and Ifelt myself sinking.At that moment,when my situation seemed absolutely hopeless,Iexperienced one of those flashes of light and the structure above me appeared before my vision.Ieither discerned or guest that there was a little space between the surface of the water and the boards resting on the beams and,with consciousness nearly gone,Ifloated up,prest my mouth close to the planks and managed to inhale a little air,unfortunately mingled with a spray of water which nearly choked me.Several times Irepeated this procedure as in a dream until my heart,which was racing at a terrible rate,quieted down and Igained composure.After that Imade a number of unsuccessful dives,having completely lost the sense of direction,but finally succeeded in getting out of the trap when my friends had already given me up and were fishing for my body.
That bathing season was spoiled for me thru recklessness but Isoon forgot the lesson and only two years later Ifell into a worse predicament.There was a large flour mill with a dam across the river near the city where Iwas studying at that time.As a rule the height of the water was only two or three inches above the dam and to swim out to it was a sport not very dangerous in which Ioften indulged.One day Iwent alone to the river to enjoy myself as usual.When Iwas a short distance from the masonry,however,Iwas horrified to observe that the water had risen and was carrying me along swiftly.Itried to get away but it was too late.Luckily,tho,Isaved myself from being swept over by taking hold of the wall with both hands.The pressure against my chest was great and Iwas barely able to keep my head above the surface.Not a soul was in sight and my voice was lost in the roar of the fall.Slowly and gradually Ibecame exhausted and unable to withstand the strain longer.just as Iwas about to let go,to be dashed against the rocks below,Isaw in a flash of light a familiar diagram illustrating the hydraulic principle that the pressure of a fluid in motion is proportionate to the area exposed,and automatically Iturned on my left side.As if by magic the pressure was reduced and Ifound it comparatively easy in that position to resist the force of the stream.But the danger still confronted me.Iknew that sooner or later Iwould be carried down,as it was not possible for any help to reach me in time,even if Iattracted attention.Iam ambidextrous now but then Iwas lefthanded and had comparatively little strength in my right arm.For this reason Idid not dare to turn on the other side to rest and nothing remained but to slowly push my body along the dam.Ihad to get away from the mill towards which my face was turned as the current there was much swifter and deeper.It was a long and painful ordeal and Icame near to failing at its very end for Iwas confronted with a depression in the masonry.Imanaged to get over with the last ounce of my force and fell in a swoon when Ireached the bank,where Iwas found.Ihad torn virtually all the skin from my left side and it took several weeks before the fever subsided and Iwas well.These are only two of many instances but they may be sufficient to show that had it not been for the inventor"s instinct Iwould not have lived to tell this tale.
Interested people have often asked me how and when Ibegan to invent.This Ican only answer from my present recollection in the light of which the first attempt Irecall was rather ambitious for it involved the invention of an apparatus and a method.In the former Iwas anticipated but the latter was original.It happened in this way.One of my playmates had come into the possession of a hook and fishing-tackle which created quite an excitement in the village,and the next morning all started out to catch frogs.Iwas left alone and deserted owing to a quarrel with this boy.Ihad never seen a real hook and pictured it as something wonderful,endowed with peculiar qualities,and was despairing not to be one of the party.Urged by necessity,Isomehow got hold of a piece of soft iron wire,hammered the end to a sharp point between two stones,bent it into shape,and fastened it to a strong string.Ithen cut a rod,gathered some bait,and went down to the brook where there were frogs in abundance.But Icould not catch any and was almost discouraged when it occurred to me to dangle the empty hook in front of a frog sitting on a stump.At first he collapsed but by and by his eyes bulged out and became bloodshot,he swelled to twice his normal size and made a vicious snap at the hook.
Immediately Ipulled him up.Itried the same thing again and again and the method proved infallible.When my comrades,who in spite of their fine outfit had caught nothing,came to me they were green with envy.For a long time Ikept my secret and enjoyed the monopoly but finally yielded to the spirit of Christmas.Every boy could then do the same and the following summer brought disaster to the frogs.
In my next attempt Iseem to have acted under the first instinctive impulse which later dominated me-to harness the energies of nature to the service of man.Idid this thru the medium of May-bugs-or June-bugs as they are called in America ——which were a veritable pest in that country and sometimes broke the branches of trees by the sheer weight of their bodies.The bushes were black with them.Iwould attach as many as four of them to a crosspiece,ratably arranged on a thin spindle,and transmit the motion of the same to a large disc and so derive considerable "power".These creatures were remarkably efficient,for once they were started they had no sense to stop and continued whirling for hours and hours and the hotter it was the harder they worked.All went well until a strange boy came to the place.He was the son of a retired officer in the Austrian Army.That urchin ate May-bugs alive and enjoyed them as tho they were the finest blue-point oysters.That disgusting sight terminated my endeavors in this promising field and Ihave never since been able to touch a May-bug or any other insect for that matter.
After that,Ibelieve,Iundertook to take apart and assemble the clocks of my grandfather.In the former operation Iwas always successful but often failed in the latter.So it came that he brought my work to a sudden halt in a manner not too delicate and it took thirty years before Itackled another clockwork again.
Shortly there after Iwent into the manufacture of a kind of pop-gun which comprised a hollow tube,a piston,and two plugs of hemp.When firing the gun,the piston was prest against the stomach and the tube was pushed back quickly with both hands.The air between the plugs was compressed and raised to high temperature and one of them was expelled with a loud report.The art consisted in selecting a tube of the proper taper from the hollow stalks.Idid very well with that gun but my activities interfered with the window panes in our house and met with painful discouragement.
If Iremember rightly,Ithen took to carving swords from pieces of furniture which Icould conveniently obtain.At that time Iwas under the sway of the Serbian national poetry and full of admiration for the feats of the heroes.Iused to spend hours in mowing down my enemies in the form of corn-stalks which ruined the crops and netted me several spankings from my mother.Moreover these were not of the formal kind but the genuine article.
Ihad all this and more behind me before Iwas six years old and had past thru one year of elementary school in the village of Smiljan where Iwas born.At this juncture we moved to the little city of Gospic nearby.This change of residence was like a calamity to me.It almost broke my heart to part from our pigeons,chickens and sheep,and our magnificent flock of geese which used to rise to the clouds in the morning and return from the feeding grounds at sundown in battle formation,so perfect that it would have put a squadron of the best aviators of the present day to shame.In our new house Iwas but a prisoner,watching the strange people Isaw thru the window blinds.My bashfulness was such that Iwould rather have faced a roaring lion than one of the city dudes who strolled about.But my hardest trial came on Sunday when Ihad to dress up and attend the service.There Imeet with an accident,the mere thought of which made my blood curdle like sour milk for years afterwards.It was my second adventure in a church.Not long before Iwas entombed for a night in an old chapel on an inaccessible mountain which was visited only once a year.It was an awful experience,but this one was worse.
There was a wealthy lady in town,a good but pompous woman,who used to come to the church gorgeously painted up and attired with an enormous train and attendants.One Sunday Ihad just finished ringing the bell in the belfry and rushed downstairs when this grand dame was sweeping out and Ijumped on her train.It tore off with a ripping noise which sounded like a salvo of musketry fired by raw recruits.My father was livid with rage.He gave me a gentle slap on the cheek,the only corporal punishment he ever administered to me but Ialmost feel it now.The embarrassment and confusion that followed are indescribable.Iwas practically ostracised until something else happened which redeemed me in the estimation of the community.
An enterprising young merchant had organized a fire department.Anew fire engine was purchased,uniforms provided and the men drilled for service and parade.The engine was beautifully painted red and black.One afternoon the official trial was prepared for and the machine was transported to the river.The entire population turned out to witness the great spectacle.When all the speeches and ceremonies were concluded,the command was given to pump,but not a drop of water came from the nozzle.The professors and experts tried in vain to locate the trouble.The fizzle was complete when Iarrived at the scene.My knowledge of the mechanism was nil and Iknew next to nothing of air pressure,but instinctively Ifelt for the suction hose in the water and found that it had collapsed.When Iwaded in the river and opened it up the water rushed forth and not a few Sunday clothes were spoiled.Archimedes running naked thru the streets of Syracuse and shouting Eureka at the top of his voice did not make a greater impression than myself.Iwas carried on the shoulders and was the hero of the day.
Upon settling in the city Ibegan a four-years"course in the so-called Normal School preparatory to my studies at the College or Real Gymnasium.During this period my boyish efforts and exploits,as well as troubles,continued.Among other things Iattained the unique distinction of champion crow catcher in the country.My method of procedure was extremely simple.Iwould go in the forest,hide in the bushes,and imitate the call of the bird.Usually Iwould get several answers and in a short while a crow would flutter down into the shrubbery near me.After that all Ineeded to do was to throw a piece of cardboard to distract its attention,jump up and grab it before it could extricate itself from the undergrowth.In this way Iwould capture as many as Idesired.But on one occasion something occurred which made me respect them.Ihad caught a fine pair of birds and was returning home with a friend.When we left the forest,thousands of crows had gathered making a frightful racket.In a few minutes they rose in pursuit and soon enveloped us.The fun lasted until all of a sudden Ireceived a blow on the back of my head which knocked me down.Then they attacked me viciously.Iwas compelled to release the two birds and was glad to join my friend who had taken refuge in a cave.
In the schoolroom there were a few mechanical models which interested me and turned my attention to water turbines.Iconstructed many of these and found great pleasure in operating them.How extraordinary was my life an incident may illustrate.My uncle had no use for this kind of pastime and more than once rebuked me.Iwas fascinated by a description of Niagara Falls Ihad perused,and pictured in my imagination a big wheel run by the Falls.Itold my uncle that Iwould go to America and carry out this scheme.Thirty years later Isaw my ideas carried out at Niagara and marveled at the unfathomable mystery of the mind.
Imade all kinds of other contrivances and contraptions but among these the arbalists Iproduced were the best.My arrows,when shot,disappeared from sight and at close range traversed a plank of pine one inch thick.Thru the continuous tightening of the bows Ideveloped skin on my stomach very much like that of a crocodile and Iam often wondering whether it is due to this exercise that Iam able even now to digest cobble-stones!
Nor can Ipass in silence my performances with the sling which would have enabled me to give a stunning exhibit at the Hippodrome.And now Iwill tell of one of my feats with this antique implement of war which will strain to the utmost the credulity of the reader.Iwas practicing while walking with my uncle along the river.The sun was setting,the trout were playful and from time to time one would shoot up into the air,its glistening body sharply defined against a projecting rock beyond.Of course any boy might have hit a fish under these propitious conditions but Iundertook a much more difficult task and Iforetold to my uncle,to the minutest detail,what Iintended doing.Iwas to hurl a stone to meet the fish,press its body against the rock,and cut it in two.It was no sooner said than done.My uncle looked at me almost scared out of his wits and exclaimed "Vade retro Satanas!"and it was a few days before he spoke to me again.Other records,how ever great,will be eclipsed but Ifeel that Icould peacefully rest on my laurels for a thousand years.
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