The wonder grew, and its suggestions. One of the Philadelphia philosophers, Philip Sing, invented an electrical machine. A like machine had been made in Europe, but of this Mr. Sing did not know. The Philadelphia philosophers discovered the power of metallic points to draw off electricity. "Electricity is not created by friction," observed one of these men. "It is only collected by it." "And all our experiments show," argued Franklin, "that electricity is positive and negative." During the winter of 1746-'47 these men devoted as much of their time as they could spare to electrical experiments. "William," said one of the philosophers to the son of Franklin one day, "you have brought your friends here to see the vial genii; he is a lively imp. Let me show you some new things which I found he can do." He brought out a bottle of spirits and poured the liquid into a plate. "Stand up on the insulating stool, my boy, and let me electrify you, and see if the imp loves liquor." The lively lad obeyed. He pointed his finger down to the liquor in the plate. It burst into flame, startling the audience. "Now," said another of the philosophers, "let me ask you to give me a magic torch." He presented to his finger a candle with an alcoholic wick. The candle was at once lighted, emitting sparks as it began to burn. "Hoi, hoi!" said the philosopher to the young visitors, "what do you think of a young man whose touch is fire? We have a Faust among us, sure!" "Now, girls, which of you would like to try an experiment?" we may suppose Father Franklin to say, in the spirit of Poor Richard. William stepped down, and an adventurous girl took his place on the experimental stool. "You have all heard of the electric kiss," said Poor Richard. "Let this young lady give you one. I will prepare her for it." He did. Another girl stepped up to receive it. She expected to receive a spark from her friend's lips; but instead of a spark she received a shock that caused her to leap and to bend double, and to utter a piercing cry. "I don't think that the kissing of young men and young women in public is altogether in good taste," said the philosophers, "but if any of you young men want to salute this lively young lady in that way, there will be in this case no objections." But none of the young men cared to be thrown into convulsions by the innocent-looking lass, who seemed to feel no discomfort. Experiments like these filled the city and province with amazement. The philosopher made a spider of burned cork that would _run_, and cause other people to run who had not learned the wherefore of the curious experiment. The wonderful Leyden vial became Franklin's companion. He liked ever to be experimenting in what the new force would do. What next? what next? How like lightning was this electricity! How could he increase electrical force? He says at the end of a long narrative: