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.