在这学习的第二年，通过稳定的气压推动持续运动这样的想法在我脑海里挥之不去。前面提到过的消防车事件，大大激发了我想象力，同时也让我对真空状态的无限可能性有了深刻的认识。我迫不及待地想利用这无尽的能量，但其实我在黑暗中摸索了很长一段时间。无论如何，我要努力创造一项其他人从没有过的发明。
想象一个圆柱体能在两个轴承的作用下自由旋转，而它的一部分被矩形槽围绕着。矩形槽开口处的隔板将圆柱体分隔成两个分区，中间的气密式滑动接头又将两个分区彻底分离开来。其中一个分区是密封的，它里面的空气一旦耗尽，另一个分区就会自动打开，这样就形成了一个永恒旋转的圆柱体。至少，我是这样想的。我按尺寸做了一个木制模型，并小心翼翼地把它安装到气泵的一侧。当模型真的轻微转动那一刻，我真是欣喜若狂。
机械飞行是我想要完成的另一件事，虽然对此我有着令人沮丧的回忆——我曾举着雨伞从屋顶跳下，结果被重重摔在地上。过去，每天我都在想象自己可以腾云驾雾，并飞到遥远的地方，但我并不知道怎样才能做到。如今，我已经制作出了实物模型，跟着我要做架只需要转轴、机翼和提供无尽能量的真空的飞机。梦想一旦成真，我将每天乘坐舒适、豪华的交通工具作空中旅行，我想所罗门国王的生活也不过如此吧。多年之后我才明白，大气压力与圆柱体表面之间是成直角的关系，至于我观察到的轻微旋转，不过是因为漏气。虽然这一认识是逐步形成的，但对我仍是沉重的打击。
在刚完成实科中学的学业时，我患上了严重的疾病，大概有十几种疾病同时缠身。我的病情令人绝望，即使是医生也束手无策。而在这期间，我不断地从一家不怎么引人注意的公共图书馆借阅图书。之后，我开始在那里做工，即对书籍进行分类，编制目录。有一天，我收到几卷新书，与我以前读过的书不同，我被这些书的内容深深吸引着，以致完全忘记了自己正处于绝望的健康状态。这些都是马克·吐温早期的作品。不知什么原因，后来我的病竟奇迹般地好了，也许是他的作品的缘故吧。二十五年后，我遇见了克莱门斯先生，并和他建立了深厚的友谊。当我告诉他这段经历时，吃惊地看到这位伟人由大笑即刻转为大哭。
后来，我到克罗地亚的卡尔施塔特的一所实科高中继续我的学业。我的一位姑姑住在那里，她是位杰出的女士，丈夫是一名久经沙场，参加过多次战役的陆军上校。我永远记得在她家生活的那三年的情形，她家的纪律比在战时的堡垒更加严明。我像只被喂养的金丝雀。所有的饭菜都是质量上乘、美味可口，但数量却少得可怜，只是我正常食量的十分之一。火腿被我姑姑切得像薄纸。当上校正要往我盘子里多放些食物时，她就会迅速将盘子拿开，并且夸张地说道：“当心！尼科的胃口很小。”其实，我的食量很大，我像坦塔罗斯一样痛苦。
当时，我所生活的环境充满艺术气息，人们举止文雅，这在当时的时代背景下是极为罕见的。这里地势低洼，沼泽成片，尽管已经服用了大量奎宁，但疟疾和高烧仍缠着我不放。偶尔，河水上涨，大批老鼠随之进入民宅。它们啃噬一切，甚至是辛辣的红辣椒。对我而言，这些坏家伙是再好不过的消遣。我用各种方法消灭它们，这使得我在当地被冠以了“捕鼠者”这样一个并不值得称道的头衔。最后，我终于完成了我的高中学业，痛苦的日子也将随之结束。我拿到了毕业证书，同时也迈向了人生的分水岭。
那些年，我父母想让我当牧师的决心依然很坚定，一想到这些，我就感到万分恐惧。在我的物理学教授的影响之下，我已经对电力学产生了浓厚的兴趣。他是一个极具创造力的人，常常用他自己发明的装置来为大家论证某些原理。我记得他曾制作过一个球状物，用锡纸包覆着，可自由旋转，一旦与静电起电器相连接，便会快速旋转。我亲眼目睹他展示那些神奇现象时的激动心情，真是无法言说。他的每次试验都在我的心里激起千层浪。我在渴望了解更多电力学的神奇力量、试验和研究的同时，也怀着沉痛的心情让自己面对现实和失败。
就在我正准备作长途跋涉回家时，却收到消息称父亲希望我去狩猎。父亲的这一要求令我感到吃惊，他一直是极力反对这种运动的。但是几天后，我打听到是因为家乡正霍乱肆虐。我不顾父母的反对，毅然决然地回到了戈斯皮奇。在当地，每隔15到20年就会爆发一次霍乱。而谈及引发这灾难的原因时，人们无知的程度真是难以置信。他们认为是刺鼻的气味和烟雾在空气中的传播导致了这致命的疾病。同时，他们却又无知地饮用受污染的水源，导致大批居民患病致死。我在到家当天便感染了这可怕的疟疾。纵使我得以幸存，但在床上躺了九个月之久，并且不能动弹。我完全精疲力竭，发现自己又一次危在旦夕。
就在我被医生认为垂危之际，父亲冲进了我的房间。他脸色苍白，极力掩饰着内心的不安，用异样的声调安慰着我。“也许，”我说，“你若是同意我学习工程技术的话，我可能会好起来。”他一本正经地回答道：“你会去世界上最好的工程学院。”我知道他是认真的，一颗悬着的心也总算放下了。若不是一种用神奇的豆子熬制的良药救了我的命，那父亲的许诺未免为时已晚。我的康复如同拉撒路复活般让所有人都大吃一惊。
父亲坚持要我用一年的时间做些有益健康的户外运动，我很不情愿地答应了。我带着猎人的装备和一捆书，游历于多座大山之间。与大自然的亲密接触不仅使我的身体更加强健，也使我的心灵得到了净化。我在头脑里构思了很多不切实际的想法。愿景是足够清晰的，但原理知识非常有限。在我的一项发明中，我提议通过海底管道，利用水压的强大力量来推动装有信件和包裹的球形容器，旨在达到信息传递的目的。我对推动管道水流的泵站做了仔细地研究和设计，其他的细枝末节也都经过精确计算，唯独忽略了一个微不足道的细节。我将海底水流的速度假定为任意值，并且乐意提高这个速度，通过精确的计算，实现性能的最优化。然而，反复思考之后，我发现我无力解决管道对水流的阻力问题，不得不留给他人来解决了。
我的另一个构想是围绕赤道建造一个自由悬浮、在旋转过程中依靠反作用力制动的圆环，从而使旅行的速度达到火车无法企及的每小时1000英里。读者也许会嘲笑我的想法犹如无稽之谈，我也承认这个计划执行起来很困难，但是说到糟糕，怎么也不及纽约的一位知名教授的计划。他打算将热带的空气抽到温带去，殊不知，上帝早已为这一目的提供了一台巨大的机器。
我还有另一个更重要、更吸引人的计划——利用地球的自转获取能量。我发现，由于地球的昼夜更替，其表面物体的运动方向有时同于水平方向，有时与水平方向相悖。我们可以用一种最简单可行的方法，将这一现象所引起的巨大的能量变化利用起来，从而为世界上任何居住地区提供动力。后来，我发现自己陷入了与阿基米德相同的囹圄——他曾徒劳地寻找宇宙中的支点，我的失落之情简直无法用言语来形容。
假期结束后，我被送到了父亲精心为我挑选的历史最悠久、名望最好的位于斯蒂里亚省格拉茨市的理工学校学习。我期待这一刻很久了，即刻开始了在这里的学习生涯，加之充足的资金支持，我决心取得成功。由于父亲的教育以及我曾有过的众多机会，我的基础知识高于同学的平均水平。我懂得几门语言，阅读过图书馆中的许多书籍，或多或少也从中获得了些有用的信息。另外，这是我第一次能按自己的意愿选择所学科目，徒手绘画也不再是令人厌烦的事。
我决心给父母一个惊喜。第一学年时，我常常每天凌晨三点就起床学习，一直持续到晚上十一点，周末和节假日也不例外。考试时，我的大部分同学都能轻松通过，而我所有科目的成绩都是破纪录的高分。由于我那一学年通过了九门考试，教授认为我的成绩已经超过了最高标准。我带着这优异的成绩单回家休假，希望带给父母胜利的喜悦。然而，当父亲对我这来之不易的荣誉熟视无睹时，我感觉受到了极大的侮辱。这件事几乎扼杀了我的雄心壮志，但在父亲去世之后，我发现了一个包裹，里面有封信，是教授写给父亲的。信上说，如果父亲不带我离开学校的话，我极有可能劳累致死。这件事使我痛苦不堪。
之后，我主要致力于物理、力学和数学研究，花大量的业余时间在图书馆学习。做任何事我都急于求成，这常使得我身陷囹圄。有一段时间我在阅读伏尔泰的作品，令我惊讶的是，他的作品全是用小号字印刷的，并且有厚厚的一百卷之多。这个“怪物”是在每天72杯黑咖啡的作用力下才完成这些作品的。我暗暗发誓要把它们全部读完。当我将最后一本书放下时，十分欣慰地说道：“终于读完了！”
我第一学年的出色表现令几位教授对我倍加赞赏，并因此赢得了他们的友谊。他们分别是教算术和几何的罗格纳教授、担任理论和实验物理学的珀施尔教授，以及对微分方程有深入研究的教微积分学的阿勒博士。阿勒博士是我见过的最出色的讲师。他对我的进步十分关心，常常在课堂上花一两个小时的时间为我解答问题，我从中获得了极大的乐趣。我把自己构想的飞机介绍给他，而这飞机的构建是有合理的科学依据的，绝非虚妄。借助我的涡轮机，它很快就会成为现实并将面世。罗格纳和珀施尔教授都是性格有些古怪之人。罗格纳教授的表达方式十分独特，每当他说到关键的地方，紧随其后的必定是一个漫长而尴尬的停顿。珀施尔教授是位德国人，他做起事来总是有条不紊，且极端务实。他巨大的手和脚就像是狗熊的爪子，但他所做的实验却没有一丝误差，如时钟般精确。
在格拉茨理工学校学习的第二年，我们收到了一台巴黎的格拉莫发电机。它的叠片磁铁如马蹄状，装有整流器的电枢用金属丝缠绕着。连接后，电流的不同效果便可展现出来。当珀施尔教授在示范这台机器时，电刷却发生了故障，火花四溅。经过观察，我提出即使没有这些装置，发电机同样可以运作。但珀施尔教授却一口咬定我的想法是不可行的，并让我就这一问题发表自己的观点。结束时他说：“特斯拉先生将来或许会取得伟大的成就，但是就这一问题而言，我敢肯定地说，他的想法是永远行不通的。这就相当于将恒定的拉力，例如重力，转化成旋转力。这是一个永恒的运动计划，是无法完成的。”但本能是可以超越知识的。毫无疑问，我们的大脑中存在着一些能使我们感知真理的神奇的神经纤维，这是逻辑推理或其他任何主观努力都无法实现的。在教授的权威的影响之下，我曾一度怀疑自己，但不久便坚信自己是对的，并带着满腔热情和无穷的信心投身于这一研究中。
我开始想象一个直流发电机的运转，并观察电枢中电流的变化。然后，我就按类似的方式研究和改进我想象的交流发电机。接下来，我想象了一个能以不同方式运作的包括电动机和发电机的系统。对我而言，我在脑海中看到的图像完全真实，如同实物一般。我把在格拉茨的所有剩余时间都用来做高强度的研究，但却被证明是毫无结果的努力，以致我几乎认为问题是不能够解决的。
1880年，为了实现父亲的愿望，我到波西米亚的布拉格接受大学教育。正是在那座城市，我取得了决定性的进步。我把发电机上的整流器取下来，以全新的视角来观察发生的变化，却始终没有得到有用的信息。接下来的一年，我对生活有了突然的改观。我意识到父母已为我牺牲了太多，所以决心减轻他们的负担。当时，美国的电话热刚刚进入欧洲大陆，匈牙利的布达佩斯打算设立一个电话局。这对我是一个理想的机会，更为重要的是，我家有位朋友是电话公司的负责人。正是在这时，我的精神完全处于崩溃状态，这点我之前已提到过。
我在患病期间的经历是所有人都无法想象的。我的视觉和听觉比常人敏感得多。我已清晰地辨别出远处的物体，当别人还未看到它们的踪迹时。童年时，我曾多次将邻居从火灾中解救出来，因为我能听到着火时的微弱爆裂声，而此时邻居正在呼呼大睡。
1899年，年过四十的我正在科罗拉多进行实验。我能将550英里外的雷声听得十分清晰。然而，和精神极度紧张时敏锐的听力比起来，这一时期，我完全可以说是聋了。在布达佩斯时，三个房间以外钟表的滴答声我也能听到；一只苍蝇落在我房间的桌上时，我的耳边就会产生一声沉闷的巨响；我的身体会因几英里外有辆马车驶过而震颤好一会儿；当有火车在二三十英里外鸣笛时，我会觉得坐着的椅子或凳子在剧烈摇晃，那种痛苦是难以忍受的。我感觉地面也在不断晃动。为了休息，我必须在床上安放橡胶垫。远处或近处的喧闹声，清晰得如同在我耳边说话，若不能将其一一分辨清楚，我将会感到万分恐惧。我的大脑在阳光时断时续时就会感到强烈的撞击，致使我昏厥。我不得不召唤出所有的意志力来抵抗通过桥梁或其他建筑物时头顶如负千斤的不适感。我在黑暗中的感觉如同蝙蝠一般灵敏，可以探测到12英尺之外的物体，所以我总是感觉有小虫子在我的前额上蠕动。我的脉搏可以从每分钟几下变化到每分钟260下，并且我身体的所有组织都在以我难以忍受的方式颤抖和震动着。一位著名医生每天给我服用大剂量的溴化钾，并断定我的病是根本不可能治愈的。
我今生最大的遗憾就是，我的病当时未被生理和心理学专家所留意。我拼尽全力地活着，却从未想过有天能够康复。没人能相信已经被放弃治疗的身体却又散发出惊人的力量和坚韧的品质，能每天工作，三十八年来从未间断过，并且依然身强力壮、思维灵活。我的经历就是如此。之所以会有这样一个奇迹，完全是基于我对生活和工作的强烈渴望，以及一位忠实的运动员朋友的悉心照料。我成功恢复了身体和精神的活力。当我再次回顾这段经历时，“战争”的过快结束令我深感遗憾。我还有那么多的能量没派上用场。我在对这个问题的认识上不同于普通人。我把这看做一个神圣的誓言，是生与死的大问题。我知道，我若是失败了，那我必将灭亡。现在，我认为我取得了这场战役的胜利。这个问题的解决方案藏于内心深处，我无法将它表达出来。
我记忆中曾有这样一个场景：一天下午，我和朋友正很享受地在城市公园一边散步，一边背诵诗歌，那个年纪，我能一字不差地将书中内容全部背出，其中一本便是歌德的《浮士德》。缓缓西沉的落日令我想起了文中壮丽的一段描写：
“夕阳西斜，暮色四合，
结束了一天的辛劳，即将开启对新的生活领域的探索。
唉！可惜我没有可以用来追逐太阳的翅膀。
一个辉煌的梦想啊！虽然现在这荣耀已褪色。
唉！躯体的双翼，终究难以同精神的双翼为伴。”
就在我背诵这段发人深省的诗句时，一瞬间如同有道闪光划过，真理浮现在我的脑海，我立刻拾起树枝在沙地上将其画下。六年后，当我在美国电气工程师学会演讲时，我将这幅图进行了展示，而那天和我一道散步的同伴对此画的含义是完全能够理解的。我看到的图像如同现实生活中的金属和石块一样真实，并且它们清晰可辨，以至于我对他说：“看，我的发动机，我现在要将它翻转。”我当时激动的心情简直难以形容。就算是皮格马利翁在自己的雕像复活之际的激动心情也比不上我当时那种强烈的感受。就算我偶然发现了一千个大自然的秘密，我也宁可用它们来换取这个发现。为了获取这个发现，我曾与生命中一切的不幸抗争，甚至差点失去了生命。
III.The Discovery of the Rotating Magnetic Field
At the age of ten Ientered the Real Gymnasium which was a new and fairly well equipt institution.In the department of physics were various models of classical scientific apparatus，electrical and mechanical.The demonstrations and experiments performed from time to time by the instructors fascinated me and were undoubtedly a powerful incentive to invention.Iwas also passionately fond of mathematical studies and often won the professor"s praise for rapid calculation.This was due to my acquired facility of visualizing the figures and performing the operations，not in the usual intuitive manner，but as in actual life.Up to a certain degree of complexity it was absolutely the same to me whether Iwrote the symbols on the board or conjured them before my mental vision.But freehand drawing，to which many hours of the course were devoted，was an annoyance Icould not endure.This was rather remarkable as most of the members of the family excelled in it.Perhaps my aversion was simply due to the predilection Ifound in undisturbed thought.Had it not been for a few exceptionally stupid boys，who could not do anything at all，my record would have been the worst.It was a serious handicap as under the then existing educational regime，drawing being obligatory，this deficiency threatened to spoil my whole career and my father had considerable trouble in railroading me from one class to another.
In the second year at that institution Ibecame obsessed with the idea of producing continuous motion thru steady air pressure.The pump incident，of which Ihave told，had set afire my youthful imagination and imprest me with the boundless abilities of a vacuum.Igrew frantic in my desire to harness this inexhaustible energy but for a long time Iwas groping in the dark.Finally，however，my endeavors crystallized in an invention which was to enable me to achieve what no other mortal ever attempted.
Imagine a cylinder freely rotatable on two bearings and partly surrounded by a rectangular trough which fits it perfectly.The open side of the trough is closed by a partition so that the cylindrical segment within the enclosure divides the latter into two compartments entirely separated from each other by air-tight sliding joints.One of these compartments being sealed and once for all exhausted，the other remaining open，a perpetual rotation of the cylinder would result，at least，Ithought so.Awooden model was constructed and fitted with infinite care and when Iapplied the pump on one side and actually observed that there was a tendency to turning，Iwas delirious with joy.
Mechanical flight was the one thing Iwanted to accomplish altho still under the discouraging recollection of a bad fall Isustained by jumping with an umbrella from the top of a building.Every day Iused to transport myself thru the air to distant regions but could not understand just how Imanaged to do it.Now Ihad something concrete——a flying machine with nothing more than a rotating shaft，flapping wings，and-a vacuum of unlimited power！From that time on Imade my daily aerial excursions in a vehicle of comfort and luxury as might have befitted King Solomon.It took years before Iunderstood that the atmospheric pressure acted at right angles to the surface of the cylinder and that the slight rotary effort Iobserved was due to a leak.Tho this knowledge came gradually it gave me a painful shock.
Ihad hardly completed my course at the Real Gymnasium when Iwas prostrated with a dangerous illness or rather，a score of them，and my condition became so desperate that Iwas given up by physicians.During this period Iwas permitted to read constantly，obtaining books from the Public Library which had been neglected and entrusted to me for classification of the works and preparation of the catalogues.One day Iwas handed a few volumes of new literature unlike anything Ihad ever read before and so captivating as to make me utterly forget my hopeless state.They were the earlier works of Mark Twain and to them might have been due the miraculous recovery which followed.Twenty-five years later，when Imet Mr.Clemens and we formed a friendship between us，Itold him of the experience and was amazed to see that great man of laughter burst into tears.
My studies were continued at the higher Real Gymnasium in Carlstadt,Croatia,where one of my aunts resided.She was a distinguished lady,the wife of a Colonel who was an old war-horse having participated in many battles.Inever can forget the three years Ipast at their home.No fortress in time of war was under a more rigid discipline.Iwas fed like a canary bird.All the meals were of the highest quality and deliciously prepared but short in quantity by a thousand percent.The slices of ham cut by my aunt were like tissue paper.When the Colonel would put something substantial on my plate she would snatch it away and say excitedly to him:"Be careful,Niko is very delicate."Ihad a voracious appetite and suffered like Tantalus.
But Ilived in an atmosphere of refinement and artistic taste quite unusual for those times and conditions.The land was low and marshy and malaria fever never left me while there despite of the enormous amounts of quinin Iconsumed.Occasionally the river would rise and drive an army of rats into the buildings,devouring everything even to the bundles of the fierce paprika.These pests were to me a welcome diversion.Ithinned their ranks by all sorts of means,which won me the unenviable distinction of rat-catcher in the community.At last,however,my course was completed,the misery ended,and Iobtained the certificate of maturity which brought me to the cross-roads.
During all those years my parents never wavered in their resolve to make me embrace the clergy,the mere thought of which filled me with dread.Ihad become intensely interested in electricity under the stimulating influence of my Professor of Physics,who was an ingenious man and often demonstrated the principles by apparatus of his own invention.Among these Irecall a device in the shape of a freely rotatable bulb,with tinfoil coatings,which was made to spin rapidly when connected to a static machine.It is impossible for me to convey an adequate idea of the intensity of feeling Iexperienced in witnessing his exhibitions of these mysterious phenomena.Every impression produced a thousand echoes in my mind.Iwanted to know more of this wonderful force;Ilonged for experiment and investigation and resigned myself to the inevitable with aching heart.
Just as Iwas making ready for the long journey home Ireceived word that my father wished me to go on a shooting expedition.It was a strange request as he had been always strenuously opposed to this kind of sport.But a few days later Ilearned that the cholera was raging in that district and,taking advantage of an opportunity,Ireturned to Gospic in disregard of my parents"wishes.It is incredible how absolutely ignorant people were as to the causes of this scourge which visited the country in intervals of from fifteen to twenty years.They thought that the deadly agents were transmitted thru the air and filled it with pungent odors and smoke.In the meantime they drank the infected water and died in heaps.Icontracted the awful disease on the very day of my arrival and altho surviving the crisis,Iwas confined to bed for nine months with scarcely any ability to move.My energy was completely exhausted and for the second time Ifound myself at death"s door.
In one of the sinking spells which was thought to be the last,my father rushed into the room.Istill see his pallid face as he tried to cheer me in tones belying his assurance."Perhaps,"Isaid,"Imay get well if you will let me study engineering.""You will go to the best technical institution in the world,"he solemnly replied,and Iknew that he meant it.Aheavy weight was lifted from my mind but the relief would have come too late had it not been for a marvelous cure brought about thru a bitter decoction of a peculiar bean.Icame to life like another Lazarus to the utter amazement of everybody.
My father insisted that Ispend a year in healthful physical outdoor exercises to which Ireluctantly consented.For most of this term Iroamed in the mountains,loaded with a hunter"s outfit and a bundle of books,and this contact with nature made me stronger in body as well as in mind.Ithought and planned,and conceived many ideas almost as a rule delusive.The vision was clear enough but the knowledge of principles was very limited.In one of my inventions Iproposed to convey letters and packages across the seas,thru a submarine tube,in spherical containers of sufficient strength to resist the hydraulic pressure.The pumping plant,intended to force the water thru the tube,was accurately figured and designed and all other particulars carefully worked out.Only one trifling detail,of no consequence,was lightly dismist.Iassumed an arbitrary velocity of the water and,what is more,took pleasure in making it high,thus arriving at a stupendous performance supported by faultless calculations.Subsequent reflections,however,on the resistance of pipes to fluid flow determined me to make this invention public property.
Another one of my projects was to construct a ring around the equator which would,of course,float freely and could be arrested in its spinning motion by reactionary forces,thus enabling travel at a rate of about one thousand miles an hour,impracticable by rail.The reader will smile.The plan was difficult of execution,Iwill admit,but not nearly so bad as that of a well-known New York professor,who wanted to pump the air from the torrid to the temperate zones,entirely forgetful of the fact that the Lord had provided a gigantic machine for this very purpose.
Still another scheme,far more important and attractive,was to derive power from the rotational energy of terrestrial bodies.Ihad discovered that objects on the earth"s surface,owing to the diurnal rotation of the globe,are carried by the same alternately in and against the direction of translatory movement.From this results a great change in momentum which could be utilized in the simplest imaginable manner to furnish motive effort in any habitable region of the world.Icannot find words to describe my disappointment when later Irealized that Iwas in the predicament of Archimedes,who vainly sought for a fixt point in the universe.
At the termination of my vacation Iwas sent to the Polytechnic School in Gratz,Styria,which my father had chosen as one of the oldest and best reputed institutions.That was the moment Ihad eagerly awaited and Ibegan my studies under good auspices and firmly resolved to succeed.My previous training was above the average,due to my father"s teaching and opportunities afforded.Ihad acquired the knowledge of a number of languages and waded thru the books of several libraries,picking up information more or less useful.Then again,for the first time,Icould choose my subjects as Iliked,and free-hand drawing was to bother me no more.
Ihad made up my mind to give my parents a surprise,and during the whole first year Iregularly started my work at three o"clock in the morning and continued until eleven at night,no Sundays or holidays excepted.As most of my fellow-students took thinks easily,naturally enough Ieclipsed all records.In the course of that year Ipast thru nine exams and the professors thought Ideserved more than the highest qualifications.Armed with their flattering certificates,Iwent home for a short rest,expecting a triumph,and was mortified when my father made light of these hard won honors.That almost killed my ambition;but later,after he had died,Iwas pained to find a package of letters which the professors had written him to the effect that unless he took me away from the Institution Iwould be killed thru overwork.
Thereafter Idevoted myself chiefly to physics,mechanics and mathematical studies,spending the hours of leisure in the libraries.Ihad a veritable mania for finishing whatever Ibegan,which often got me into difficulties.On one occasion Istarted to read the works of Voltaire when Ilearned,to my dismay,that there were close on one hundred large volumes in small print which that monster had written while drinking seventy-two cups of black coffee per diem.It had to be done,but when Ilaid aside the last book Iwas very glad,and said,"Never more!"
My first year"s showing had won me the appreciation and friendship of several professors.Among these were Prof.Rogner,who was teaching arithmetical subjects and geometry;Prof.Poeschl,who held the chair of theoretical and experimental physics,and Dr.Alle,who taught integral calculus and specialized in differential equations.This scientist was the most brilliant lecturer to whom Iever listened.He took a special interest in my progress and would frequently remain for an hour or two in the lecture room,giving me problems to solve,in which Idelighted.To him Iexplained a flying machine Ihad conceived,not an illusionary invention,but one based on sound,scientific principles,which has become realizable thru my turbine and will soon be given to the world.Both Professors Rogner and Poeschl were curious men.The former had peculiar ways of expressing himself and whenever he did so there was a riot,followed by a long and embarrassing pause.Prof.Poeschl was a methodical and thoroly grounded German.He had enormous feet and hands like the paws of a bear,but all of his experiments were skillfully performed with clock-like precision and without a mistake.
It was in the second year of my studies that we received a Gramme dynamo from Paris,having the horseshoe form of a laminated field magnet,and a wire-wound armature with a commutator.It was connected up and various effects of the currents were shown.While Prof.Poeschl was making demonstrations,running the machine as a motor,the brushes gave trouble,sparking badly,and Iobserved that it might be possible to operate a motor without these appliances.But he declared that it could not be done and did me the honor of delivering a lecture on the subject,at the conclusion of which he remarked:"Mr.Tesla may accomplish great things,but he certainly never will do this.It would be equivalent to converting a steadily pulling force,like that of gravity,into a rotary effort.It is a perpetual motion scheme,an impossible idea."But instinct is something which transcends knowledge.We have,undoubtedly,certain finer fibers that enable us to perceive truths when logical deduction,or any other willful effort of the brain,is futile.For a time Iwavered,imprest by the professor"s authority,but soon became convinced Iwas right and undertook the task with all the fire and boundless confidence of youth.
Istarted by first picturing in my mind a direct-current machine,running it and following the changing flow of the currents in the armature.Then Iwould imagine an alternator and investigate the processes taking place in a similar manner.Next Iwould visualize systems comprising motors and generators and operate them in various ways.The images Isaw were to me perfectly real and tangible.All my remaining term in Gratz was passed in intense but fruitless efforts of this kind,and Ialmost came to the conclusion that the problem was insolvable.
In 1880Iwent to Prague,Bohemia,carrying out my father"s wish to complete my education at the University there.It was in that city that Imade a decided advance,which consisted in detaching the commutator from the machine and studying the phenomena in this new aspect,but still without result.In the year following there was a sudden change in my views of life.Irealized that my parents had been making too great sacrifices on my account and resolved to relieve them of the burden.The wave of the American telephone had just reached the European continent and the system was to be installed in Budapest,Hungary.It appeared an ideal opportunity,all the more as a friend of our family was at the head of the enterprise.It was here that Isuffered the complete breakdown of the nerves to which Ihave referred.
What Iexperienced during the period of that illness surpasses all belief.My sight and hearing were always extraordinary.Icould clearly discern objects in the distance when others saw no trace of them.Several times in my boyhood Isaved the houses of our neighbors from fire by hearing the faint crackling sounds which did not disturb their sleep,and calling for help.
In 1899,when Iwas past forty and carrying on my experiments in Colorado,Icould hear very distinctly thunderclaps at a distance of 550miles.Yet at that time Iwas,so to speak,stone deaf in comparison with the acuteness of my hearing while under the nervous strain.In Budapest Icould hear the ticking of a watch with three rooms between me and the time-piece.Afly alighting on a table in the room would cause a dull thud in my ear.Acarriage passing at a distance of a few miles fairly shook my whole body.The whistle of a locomotive twenty or thirty miles away made the bench or chair on which Isat vibrate so strongly that the pain was unbearable.The ground under my feet trembled continuously.Ihad to support my bed on rubber cushions to get any rest at all.The roaring noises from near and far often produced the effect of spoken words which would have frightened me had Inot been able to resolve them into their accidental components.The sun"s rays,when periodically intercepted,would cause blows of such force on my brain that they would stun me.Ihad to summon all my will power to pass under a bridge or other structure as Iexperienced a crushing pressure on the skull.In the dark Ihad the sense of a bat and could detect the presence of an object at a distance of twelve feet by a peculiar creepy sensation on the forehead.My pulse varied from a few to two hundred and sixty beats and all the tissues of the body quivered with twitchings and tremors which was perhaps the hardest to bear.Arenowned physician who gave me daily large doses of Bromide of Potassium pronounced my malady unique and incurable.
It is my eternal regret that Iwas not under the observation of experts in physiology and psychology at that time.Iclung desperately to life,but never expected to recover.Can anyone believe that so hopeless a physical wreck could ever be transformed into a man of astonishing strength and tenacity,able to work thirty-eight years almost without a day"s interruption,and find himself still strong and fresh in body and mind?Such is my case.Apowerful desire to live and to continue the work,and the assistance of a devoted friend and athlete accomplished the wonder.My health returned and with it the vigor of mind.In attacking the problem again Ialmost regretted that the struggle was soon to end.Ihad so much energy to spare.When Iundertook the task it was not with a resolve such as men often make.With me it was a sacred vow,a question of life and death.Iknew that Iwould perish if Ifailed.Now Ifelt that the battle was won.Back in the deep recesses of the brain was the solution,but Icould not yet give it outward expression.
One afternoon,which is ever present in my recollection,Iwas enjoying a walk with my friend in the City Park and reciting poetry.At that age Iknew entire books by heart,word for word.One of these was Goethe"s Faust.The sun was just setting and reminded me of the glorious passage:
"Sie ruckt und weicht,der Tag ist uberlebt,
Dort eilt sie hin und fordert neues Leben.
Oh,dass kein Flugel mich vom Boden hebt
Ihr nach und immer nach zu streben!
Ein schoner Traum indessen sie entweicht,
Ach,zu des Geistes Flugeln wird so leicht
Kein korperlicher Flugel sich gesellen!"
[The glow retreats,done is the day of toil;
It yonder hastes,new fields of life exploring;
Ah,that no wing can lift me from the soil
Upon its track to follow,follow soaring!
Aglorious dream!though now the glories fade.
Alas!the wings that lift the mind no aid
Of wings to lift the body can bequeath me.]
As Iuttered these inspiring words the idea came like a flash of lightning and in an instant the truth was revealed.Idrew with a stick on the sand the diagrams shown six years later in my address before the American Institute of Electrical Engineers,and my companion understood them perfectly.The images Isaw were wonderfully sharp and clear and had the solidity of metal and stone,so much so that Itold him:"See my motor here;watch me reverse it."Icannot begin to describe my emotions.Pygmalion seeing his statue come to life could not have been more deeply moved.Athousand secrets of nature which Imight have stumbled upon accidentally Iwould have given for that one which Ihad wrested from her against all odds and at the peril of my existence.
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