Nearly fifty years ago Maxwell (1831-1878) professor of physics at Cambridge University, England, conceived the idea that light is electricity of a very short wave length. Nearly twenty-five years ago Heinrich Hertz (1857-1894), in Germany, proved by experiments the existence of electric waves, and measured their length and velocity, determining their various characteristics as compared with light. About fifteen years ago Marconi developed a wireless telegraph apparatus, which made it possible to use electric waves for purposes of communication. Thirteen years ago (1897) the first wireless telegraph company was formed. Eleven years ago (1899) the international yacht races in New York Harbour were reported by wireless telegraph, and bulletin boards in New York City announced to waiting crowds the details of the race while it was in progress. Nearly ten years ago (1901) wireless despatches were first sent across the Atlantic Ocean. Wireless telegraphy was opened for public use in 1905, and very soon the company began to coöperate with the regular telegraph companies. Nearly all coastwise and trans-Atlantic steamers are now equipped with wireless telegraph outfits, and a law has passed both houses of Congress making it obligatory on the part of steamers which carry fifty or more passengers to have such equipment. On several disabled steamers, notably the _Republic_, loss of life has been averted by the wireless emergency call for help, to which the captains of all steamers feel obliged to respond. If you desire to communicate with a friend who left for Europe several days ago, you simply write him a telegram, addressing it to his ship, and deliver it at your nearest telegraph office. Each telegraph office has a record of the location of every ship having a wireless telegraph outfit. It despatches your message to the wireless station along the coast which is nearest to your friend's steamer, and from this station it is sent on the ether to the ship. Or in some cases it may be repeated from one ship to another along the Atlantic highway until it reaches the desired one. Thus also news of important events on either continent is distributed daily on board ships which are crossing the ocean. There are said to be more than 50,000 amateur wireless stations in the United States, and already Congress is taking steps to regulate the use of the wireless telegraph in order to prevent interference with Government and other important messages.