A “Perfume Saint” Shows His Wonders

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”

“Everything has its season, and there is a time for every purpose under heaven.”

I did not have this wisdom of Solomon to comfort me; I gazed searchingly about me, on any excursion from home, for the face of my destined guru. But my path did not cross his own until after the completion of my high school studies.

I did not have this wisdom of Solomon to comfort me. Whenever I left home, I searched the faces around me for the guru I was destined to meet. But our paths did not cross until after I finished high school.

Two years elapsed between my flight with Amar toward the Himalayas, and the great day of Sri Yukteswar’s arrival into my life. During that interim I met a number of sages-the “Perfume Saint,” the “Tiger Swami,” Nagendra Nath Bhaduri, Master Mahasaya, and the famous Bengali scientist, Jagadis Chandra Bose.

Two years passed after Amar and I fled toward the Himalayas before Sri Yukteswar entered my life on that great day. During those two years, I met several sages: the “Perfume Saint,” the “Tiger Swami,” Nagendra Nath Bhaduri, and Master Mahasaya. I also met the famous Bengali scientist, Jagadis Chandra Bose.

My encounter with the “Perfume Saint” had two preambles, one harmonious and the other humorous.

Two events led up to my meeting with the “Perfume Saint”, one harmonious and the other humorous.

“God is simple. Everything else is complex. Do not seek absolute values in the relative world of nature.”

“God is simple. Everything else is complex. Do not look for absolute values in nature, where everything is relative.”

These philosophical finalities gently entered my ear as I stood silently before a temple image of Kali. Turning, I confronted a tall man whose garb, or lack of it, revealed him a wandering sadhu.

These final philosophical truths reached my ears gently as I stood silently before an image of Kali in a temple. I turned and faced a tall man. His clothing, or lack of clothing, showed him to be a wandering sadhu.

“You have indeed penetrated the bewilderment of my thoughts!” I smiled gratefully. “The confusion of benign and terrible aspects in nature, as symbolized by Kali, [^5] has puzzled wiser heads than mine!”

“You really have understood my confused thoughts!” I smiled gratefully. “Nature’s mix of gentle and terrifying sides, symbolized by Kali, [^5] has puzzled people wiser than me!”

“Few there be who solve her mystery! Good and evil is the challenging riddle which life places sphinxlike before every intelligence. Attempting no solution, most men pay forfeit with their lives, penalty now even as in the days of Thebes. Here and there, a towering lonely figure never cries defeat. From the maya [^5] of duality he plucks the cleaveless truth of unity.”

“Few solve her mystery! Good and evil form the challenging riddle that life, like the sphinx, sets before every mind. Most people attempt no solution and pay with their lives, just as in the days of Thebes. Here and there, a towering, solitary figure never admits defeat. From the maya [^5] of duality, he draws the indivisible truth of unity.”

“You speak with conviction, sir.”

“You sound sure of what you’re saying, sir.”

“I have long exercised an honest introspection, the exquisitely painful approach to wisdom. Self-scrutiny, relentless observance of one’s thoughts, is a stark and shattering experience. It pulverizes the stoutest ego. But true self-analysis mathematically operates to produce seers. The way of ‘self-expression,’ individual acknowledgments, results in egotists, sure of the right to their private interpretations of God and the universe.”

“I have long practiced honest self-examination, an intensely painful path to wisdom. Examining yourself and relentlessly watching your thoughts is a harsh, shattering experience. It crushes even the strongest ego. But true self-analysis produces seers with mathematical certainty. The path of ‘self-expression,’ of affirming one’s individuality, produces egotists. They are certain they have the right to their own interpretations of God and the universe.”

“Truth humbly retires, no doubt, before such arrogant originality.” I was enjoying the discussion.

“Truth no doubt steps humbly aside in the face of such arrogant originality.” I was enjoying the discussion.

“Man can understand no eternal verity until he has freed himself from pretensions. The human mind, bared to a centuried slime, is teeming with repulsive life of countless world-delusions. Struggles of the battlefields pale into insignificance here, when man first contends with inward enemies! No mortal foes these, to be overcome by harrowing array of might! Omnipresent, unresting, pursuing man even in sleep, subtly equipped with a miasmic weapon, these soldiers of ignorant lusts seek to slay us all. Thoughtless is the man who buries his ideals, surrendering to the common fate. Can he seem other than impotent, wooden, ignominious?”

“No one can understand any eternal truth until he has freed himself from false pretenses. Laid bare, the human mind reveals centuries of slime, teeming with the repulsive life of countless worldly delusions. The struggles of battlefields seem insignificant when a person first confronts his inner enemies! These are no mortal enemies to be defeated by a terrifying display of force! Everywhere and never resting, these enemies pursue us even in sleep. Armed with a subtle, poisonous weapon, these soldiers of ignorant desires seek to kill us all. A man who buries his ideals and surrenders to the common fate acts without thought. Can he seem anything but powerless, lifeless, and shameful?”

“Respected Sir, have you no sympathy for the bewildered masses?”

“Sir, don’t you have any sympathy for the confused masses?”

The sage was silent for a moment, then answered obliquely.

The sage was quiet for a moment, then gave an indirect answer.

“To love both the invisible God, Repository of All Virtues, and visible man, apparently possessed of none, is often baffling! But ingenuity is equal to the maze. Inner research soon exposes a unity in all human minds-the stalwart kinship of selfish motive. In one sense at least, the brotherhood of man stands revealed. An aghast humility follows this leveling discovery. It ripens into compassion for one’s fellows, blind to the healing potencies of the soul awaiting exploration.”

“Loving both the invisible God, who holds all virtues, and visible people, who seem to have none, is often baffling! But ingenuity can find a way through the maze. Looking within soon reveals what unites all human minds: the strong bond of selfish motives. In at least one sense, the brotherhood of humanity becomes clear. This discovery puts everyone on equal ground and brings a shocked humility. That humility grows into compassion for others, who cannot see the soul’s healing powers waiting to be explored.”

“The saints of every age, sir, have felt like yourself for the sorrows of the world.”

“Sir, saints throughout history have felt the same compassion you feel for the world’s suffering.”

“Only the shallow man loses responsiveness to the woes of others’ lives, as he sinks into narrow suffering of his own.” The SADHU’S austere face was noticeably softened. “The one who practices a scalpel self-dissection will know an expansion of universal pity. Release is given him from the deafening demands of his ego. The love of God flowers on such soil. The creature finally turns to his Creator, if for no other reason than to ask in anguish: ‘Why, Lord, why?’ By ignoble whips of pain, man is driven at last into the Infinite Presence, whose beauty alone should lure him.”

“Only a shallow person stops responding to others’ suffering while sinking into the narrow world of his own pain.” The SADHU’S stern face visibly softened. “Anyone who examines himself with a surgeon’s precision will grow in compassion for all. He is freed from his ego’s deafening demands. The love of God blooms in such soil. The created being finally turns to his Creator, if only to ask in anguish: ‘Why, Lord, why?’ The cruel lash of pain finally drives a person into the Infinite Presence. Yet the beauty of that Presence alone should draw him.”

The sage and I were present in Calcutta’s Kalighat Temple, whither I had gone to view its famed magnificence. With a sweeping gesture, my chance companion dismissed the ornate dignity.

The sage and I were in Calcutta’s Kalighat Temple. I had gone there to see its famous splendor. With a sweeping gesture, my chance companion dismissed the temple’s elaborate grandeur.

“Bricks and mortar sing us no audible tune; the heart opens only to the human chant of being.”

“Bricks and mortar sing no song we can hear. The heart opens only to the song of human life.”

We strolled to the inviting sunshine at the entrance, where throngs of devotees were passing to and fro.

We strolled into the inviting sunshine at the entrance. Crowds of devotees were walking back and forth there.

“You are young.” The sage surveyed me thoughtfully. “India too is young. The ancient rishis [^5] laid down ineradicable patterns of spiritual living. Their hoary dictums suffice for this day and land. Not outmoded, not unsophisticated against the guiles of materialism, the disciplinary precepts mold India still. By millenniums-more than embarrassed scholars care to compute!-the skeptic Time has validated Vedic worth. Take it for your heritage.”

“You are young.” The sage studied me thoughtfully. “India too is young. The ancient rishis [^5] established lasting patterns of spiritual living that cannot be erased. Their age-old teachings are enough for India today. These rules for disciplined living are neither outdated nor helpless against materialism’s tricks. They still shape India. Over thousands of years, Time, the skeptic, has confirmed the value of the Vedas. More thousands, in fact, than embarrassed scholars care to count! Accept this wisdom as your heritage.”

As I was reverently bidding farewell to the eloquent sadhu, he revealed a clairvoyant perception:

As I respectfully said goodbye to the eloquent sadhu, he revealed something he had perceived through clairvoyance:

“After you leave here today, an unusual experience will come your way.”

“After you leave here today, you will have an unusual experience.”

I quitted the temple precincts and wandered along aimlessly. Turning a corner, I ran into an old acquaintance-one of those long-winded fellows whose conversational powers ignore time and embrace eternity.

I left the temple grounds and wandered aimlessly. Turning a corner, I ran into an old acquaintance. He was one of those long-winded fellows whose conversations ignore time and stretch into eternity.

“I will let you go in a very short while, if you will tell me all that has happened during the six years of our separation.”

“I’ll let you go very soon if you tell me all that has happened during our six years apart.”

“What a paradox! I must leave you now.”

“What a paradox! I have to leave you now.”

But he held me by the hand, forcing out tidbits of information. He was like a ravenous wolf, I thought in amusement; the longer I spoke, the more hungrily he sniffed for news. Inwardly I petitioned the Goddess Kali to devise a graceful means of escape.

But he held my hand, drawing out bits of information from me. I thought with amusement that he was like a ravenous wolf. The longer I spoke, the more hungrily he sniffed for news. Silently, I asked the Goddess Kali to find a graceful way for me to escape.

My companion left me abruptly. I sighed with relief and doubled my pace, dreading any relapse into the garrulous fever. Hearing rapid footsteps behind me, I quickened my speed. I dared not look back. But with a bound, the youth rejoined me, jovially clasping my shoulder.

My companion left me abruptly. I sighed with relief and walked twice as fast, afraid he might start chattering again. When I heard rapid footsteps behind me, I sped up. I didn't dare look back. But the young man caught up with a leap and cheerfully gripped my shoulder.

“I forgot to tell you of Gandha Baba (Perfume Saint), who is gracing yonder house.” He pointed to a dwelling a few yards distant. “Do meet him; he is interesting. You may have an unusual experience. Good-by,” and he actually left me.

“I forgot to tell you about Gandha Baba (Perfume Saint), who is honoring that house over there with his presence.” He pointed to a house a few yards away. “Do meet him. He is interesting. You may have an unusual experience. Goodbye,” and he actually left me.

The similarly worded prediction of the sadhu at Kalighat Temple flashed to my mind. Definitely intrigued, I entered the house and was ushered into a commodious parlor. A crowd of people were sitting, Orient-wise, here and there on a thick orange-colored carpet. An awed whisper reached my ear:

The similarly worded prediction of the sadhu at Kalighat Temple flashed into my mind. Clearly intrigued, I entered the house and was shown into a spacious sitting room. A crowd of people sat here and there on a thick orange carpet, in the Eastern style. I heard an awed whisper:

“Behold Gandha Baba on the leopard skin. He can give the natural perfume of any flower to a scentless one, or revive a wilted blossom, or make a person’s skin exude delightful fragrance.”

“Look at Gandha Baba on the leopard skin. He can give a scentless flower the natural fragrance of any flower. He can also revive a wilted blossom or make a person’s skin give off a delightful fragrance.”

I looked directly at the saint; his quick gaze rested on mine. He was plump and bearded, with dark skin and large, gleaming eyes.

I looked directly at the saint, and his eyes quickly met mine. He was plump and bearded, with dark skin and large, gleaming eyes.

“Son, I am glad to see you. Say what you want. Would you like some perfume?”

“Son, I’m glad to see you. Tell me what you want. Would you like some perfume?”

“What for?” I thought his remark rather childish.

“What for?” I thought his comment was rather childish.

“To experience the miraculous way of enjoying perfumes.”

“To experience the miraculous way to enjoy fragrances.”

“Harnessing God to make odors?”

“Using God’s power to create scents?”

“What of it? God makes perfume anyway.”

“So what? God makes perfume anyway.”

“Yes, but He fashions frail bottles of petals for fresh use and discard. Can you materialize flowers?”

“Yes, but he makes fragile bottles of petals for fresh use and then discards them. Can you materialize flowers?”

“I materialize perfumes, little friend.”

“I make perfumes appear, little friend.”

“Then scent factories will go out of business.”

“Then perfume factories will go out of business.”

“I will permit them to keep their trade! My own purpose is to demonstrate the power of God.”

“I’ll let them keep their trade! My own goal is to show the power of God.”

“Sir, is it necessary to prove God? Isn’t He performing miracles in everything, everywhere?”

“Sir, do we need to prove God exists? Isn’t he performing miracles in everything, everywhere?”

“Yes, but we too should manifest some of His infinite creative variety.”

“Yes, but we too should show some of his endless creative variety.”

“How long did it take to master your art?”

“How long did it take you to master your art?”

“Twelve years.”

“Twelve years.”

“For manufacturing scents by astral means! It seems, my honored saint, you have been wasting a dozen years for fragrances which you can obtain with a few rupees from a florist’s shop.”

“To make scents by astral means! My honored saint, it seems you’ve wasted twelve years on fragrances you can buy at a florist’s for a few rupees.”

“Perfumes fade with flowers.”

“Scents fade as flowers fade.”

“Perfumes fade with death. Why should I desire that which pleases the body only?”

“Perfumes fade with death. Why should I want something that pleases only the body?”

“Mr. Philosopher, you please my mind. Now, stretch forth your right hand.” He made a gesture of blessing.

“Mr. Philosopher, I like the way you think. Now, hold out your right hand.” He made a gesture of blessing.

I was a few feet away from Gandha Baba; no one else was near enough to contact my body. I extended my hand, which the yogi did not touch.

I was a few feet away from Gandha Baba. No one else was close enough to touch me. I held out my hand, but the yogi did not touch it.

“What perfume do you want?”

“What perfume do you want?”

“Rose.”

“Rose.”

“Be it so.”

“So be it.”

To my great surprise, the charming fragrance of rose was wafted strongly from the center of my palm. I smilingly took a large white scentless flower from a near-by vase.

To my great surprise, a strong, lovely rose fragrance drifted from the center of my palm. Smiling, I took a large white flower with no scent from a nearby vase.

“Can this odorless blossom be permeated with jasmine?”

“Can this scentless flower be filled with the scent of jasmine?”

“Be it so.”

“So be it.”

A jasmine fragrance instantly shot from the petals. I thanked the wonder-worker and seated myself by one of his students. He informed me that Gandha Baba, whose proper name was Vishudhananda, had learned many astonishing yoga secrets from a master in Tibet. The Tibetan yogi, I was assured, had attained the age of over a thousand years.

A jasmine fragrance instantly burst from the petals. I thanked the miracle worker and sat beside one of his students. The student told me that Gandha Baba’s real name was Vishudhananda. Gandha Baba had learned many astonishing yoga secrets from a master in Tibet. The student assured me that the Tibetan yogi was over a thousand years old.

“His disciple Gandha Baba does not always perform his perfume-feats in the simple verbal manner you have just witnessed.” The student spoke with obvious pride in his master. “His procedure differs widely, to accord with diversity in temperaments. He is marvelous! Many members of the Calcutta intelligentsia are among his followers.”

“His disciple Gandha Baba does not always perform his perfume-feats simply by speaking, as you just saw.” The student spoke with obvious pride in his master. “He uses widely varying methods to suit different temperaments. He is marvelous! Many of Calcutta’s intellectuals are among his followers.”

I inwardly resolved not to add myself to their number. A guru too literally “marvelous” was not to my liking. With polite thanks to Gandha Baba, I departed. Sauntering home, I reflected on the three varied encounters the day had brought forth.

I quietly decided not to join their ranks. A guru who was too literally “marvelous” was not to my taste. I thanked Gandha Baba politely and left. Strolling home, I thought about the three very different encounters I had had that day.

My sister Uma met me as I entered our Gurpar Road door.

My sister Uma met me as I stepped through the door of our home on Gurpar Road.

“You are getting quite stylish, using perfumes!”

“You’re getting quite stylish, wearing perfume!”

Without a word, I motioned her to smell my hand.

Without saying a word, I gestured for her to smell my hand.

“What an attractive rose fragrance! It is unusually strong!”

“What a lovely rose scent! It’s unusually strong!”

Thinking it was “strongly unusual,” I silently placed the astrally scented blossom under her nostrils.

Thinking it was “very unusual,” I silently placed the astrally scented flower under her nose.

“Oh, I love jasmine!” She seized the flower. A ludicrous bafflement passed over her face as she repeatedly sniffed the odor of jasmine from a type of flower she well knew to be scentless. Her reactions disarmed my suspicion that Gandha Baba had induced an auto-suggestive state whereby I alone could detect the fragrances.

“Oh, I love jasmine!” She grabbed the flower. A comically puzzled look crossed her face as she sniffed it again and again. She smelled jasmine from a type of flower she knew very well had no scent. Her reactions dispelled my suspicion that Gandha Baba had made me imagine the fragrances, so that only I could smell them.

Later I heard from a friend, Alakananda, that the “Perfume Saint” had a power which I wish were possessed by the starving millions of Asia and, today, of Europe as well.

Later, my friend Alakananda told me about a power the “Perfume Saint” had. I wish the starving millions in Asia and, now, Europe as well had that power.

“I was present with a hundred other guests at Gandha Baba’s home in Burdwan,” Alakananda told me. “It was a gala occasion. Because the yogi was reputed to have the power of extracting objects out of thin air, I laughingly requested him to materialize some out-of-season tangerines. Immediately the luchis [^5] which were present on all the banana-leaf plates became puffed up. Each of the bread-envelopes proved to contain a peeled tangerine. I bit into my own with some trepidation, but found it delicious.”

“I was at Gandha Baba’s home in Burdwan with a hundred other guests,” Alakananda told me. “It was a festive occasion. Because the yogi was said to create objects out of thin air, I laughingly asked him for some out-of-season tangerines. Immediately, the luchis [^5] on all the banana-leaf plates puffed up. Each piece of bread turned out to hold a peeled tangerine. I was a little nervous as I bit into my tangerine, but found it delicious.”

Years later I understood by inner realization how Gandha Baba accomplished his materializations. The method, alas! is beyond the reach of the world’s hungry hordes.

Years later, through inner realization, I understood how Gandha Baba made objects appear. Sadly, the method is beyond the reach of the world’s hungry masses.

The different sensory stimuli to which man reacts-tactual, visual, gustatory, auditory, and olfactory-are produced by vibratory variations in electrons and protons. The vibrations in turn are regulated by “lifetrons,” subtle life forces or finer-than-atomic energies intelligently charged with the five distinctive sensory idea- substances.

The sensory stimuli people respond to are touch, sight, taste, sound, and smell. These stimuli are produced by changes in the vibrations of electrons and protons. The vibrations, in turn, are controlled by “lifetrons,” subtle life forces or energies finer than atoms. These energies are intelligently charged with the five distinct sensory idea-substances.

Gandha Baba, tuning himself with the cosmic force by certain yogic practices, was able to guide the lifetrons to rearrange their vibratory structure and objectivize the desired result. His perfume, fruit and other miracles were actual materializations of mundane vibrations, and not inner sensations hypnotically produced. [^5]

Through certain yogic practices, Gandha Baba brought himself into harmony with the cosmic force. This allowed him to guide the lifetrons to rearrange their vibratory structure and produce the desired physical result. His perfume, fruit, and other miracles were actual physical forms created from vibrations of the material world. They were not inner sensations produced by hypnosis. [^5]

Performances of miracles such as shown by the “Perfume Saint” are spectacular but spiritually useless. Having little purpose beyond entertainment, they are digressions from a serious search for God.

Miracles like those performed by the “Perfume Saint” are spectacular but spiritually useless. Because such miracles serve little purpose beyond entertainment, they distract from a serious search for God.

Hypnotism has been used by physicians in minor operations as a sort of psychical chloroform for persons who might be endangered by an anesthetic. But a hypnotic state is harmful to those often subjected to it; a negative psychological effect ensues which in time deranges the brain cells. Hypnotism is trespass into the territory of another’s consciousness. Its temporary phenomena have nothing in common with the miracles performed by men of divine realization. Awake in God, true saints effect changes in this dream-world by means of a will harmoniously attuned to the Creative Cosmic Dreamer.

Doctors have used hypnotism in minor operations as a kind of mental chloroform for patients an anesthetic might endanger. But hypnosis is harmful to people frequently subjected to it. It causes a negative psychological effect that, over time, disrupts the brain cells. Hypnotism intrudes into another person’s consciousness. Its temporary effects have nothing in common with the miracles performed by people who have realized God. Awake in God, true saints bring about changes in this dream-world through a will harmoniously aligned with the Creative Cosmic Dreamer.

Ostentatious display of unusual powers are decried by masters. The Persian mystic, Abu Said, once laughed at certain fakirs who were proud of their miraculous powers over water, air, and space.

Masters condemn showing off unusual powers. The Persian mystic Abu Said once laughed at certain fakirs who took pride in their miraculous powers over water, air, and space.

“A frog is also at home in the water!” Abu Said pointed out in gentle scorn. “The crow and the vulture easily fly in the air; the Devil is simultaneously present in the East and in the West! A true man is he who dwells in righteousness among his fellow men, who buys and sells, yet is never for a single instant forgetful of God!” On another occasion the great Persian teacher gave his views on the religious life thus: “To lay aside what you have in your head (selfish desires and ambitions); to freely bestow what you have in your hand; and never to flinch from the blows of adversity!”

“A frog is also at home in the water!” Abu Said pointed out with gentle scorn. “Crows and vultures fly easily through the air. The Devil is present in the East and the West at the same time! A true man lives rightly among his fellow men. He buys and sells, yet never forgets God, even for an instant!” On another occasion, the great Persian teacher shared his views on religious life: “Let go of what fills your head (selfish desires and ambitions). Give freely what you have in your hand. And never flinch from the blows of hardship!”

Neither the impartial sage at Kalighat Temple nor the Tibetan-trained yogi had satisfied my yearning for a guru. My heart needed no tutor for its recognitions, and cried its own “Bravos!” the more resoundingly because unoften summoned from silence. When I finally met my master, he taught me by sublimity of example alone the measure of a true man.

Neither the impartial sage at Kalighat Temple nor the Tibetan-trained yogi had satisfied my longing for a guru. My heart needed no one to teach it what to recognize. My heart’s cries of “Bravos!” rang out all the louder because they so rarely broke its silence. When I finally met my master, his noble example alone taught me what makes a true man.

5-1: Kali represents the eternal principle in nature. She is traditionally pictured as a four-armed woman, standing on the form of the God Shiva or the Infinite, because nature or the phenomenal world is rooted in the Noumenon. The four arms symbolize cardinal attributes, two beneficent, two destructive, indicating the essential duality of matter or creation.

5-1: Kali represents the eternal principle in nature. She is traditionally pictured as a four-armed woman standing on the form of the God Shiva, or the Infinite. This is because nature, or the world of appearances, is rooted in the Noumenon, the underlying reality. Her four arms symbolize four main attributes, two beneficial and two destructive. These attributes show the essential duality of matter or creation.

5-2: Cosmic illusion; literally, “the measurer.” maya is the magical power in creation by which limitations and divisions are apparently present in the Immeasurable and Inseparable. Emerson wrote the following poem, to which he gave the title of maya:

5-2: Cosmic illusion, literally, “the measurer.” maya is the magical power in creation that makes the Immeasurable and Inseparable appear to have limits and divisions. Emerson wrote the following poem and titled it maya:

Illusion works impenetrable, Weaving webs innumerable, Her gay pictures never fail, Crowd each other, veil on veil, Charmer who will be believed By man who thirsts to be deceived.

Illusion works in ways no one can understand, weaving countless webs. Her bright images never fail. They crowd each other, veil upon veil. She is a charmer who will be believed by people who long to be deceived.

5-3: The rishis, literally “seers,” were the authors of the Vedas in an indeterminable antiquity..

5-3: The rishis, literally “seers,” wrote the Vedas in ancient times, though exactly how long ago is unknown.

5-4: Flat, round Indian bread..

5-4: Flat, round Indian bread.

5-5: Laymen scarcely realize the vast strides of twentieth-century science. Transmutation of metals and other alchemical dreams are seeing fulfillment every day in centers of scientific research over the world. The eminent French chemist, M. Georges Claude, performed “miracles” at Fontainebleau in 1928 before a scientific assemblage through his chemical knowledge of oxygen transformations. His “magician’s wand” was simple oxygen, bubbling in a tube on a table. The scientist “turned a handful of sand into precious stones, iron into a state resembling melted chocolate and, after depriving flowers of their tints, turned them into the consistency of glass.

5-5: Nonspecialists hardly realize how far twentieth-century science has advanced. Transforming metals and fulfilling other alchemical dreams are becoming daily realities in scientific research centers around the world. The distinguished French chemist, M. Georges Claude, performed “miracles” before a scientific gathering at Fontainebleau in 1928. He did so through his knowledge of chemical transformations involving oxygen. His “magician’s wand” was simply oxygen bubbling in a tube on a table. The scientist “turned a handful of sand into precious stones and made iron resemble melted chocolate. After removing the colors from flowers, he gave the flowers the consistency of glass.

“M. Claude explained how the sea could be turned by oxygen transformations into many millions of pounds of horsepower; how water which boils is not necessarily burning; how little mounds of sand, by a single whiff of the oxygen blowpipe, could be changed into sapphires, rubies, and topazes; and he predicted the time when it will be possible for men to walk on the bottom of the ocean minus the diver’s equipment. Finally the scientist amazed his onlookers by turning their faces black by taking the red out of the sun’s rays.”

“M. Claude explained how changes involving oxygen could turn the sea into many millions of pounds of horsepower. He explained that boiling water is not necessarily burning. He showed how a single blast from an oxygen blowpipe could turn little piles of sand into sapphires, rubies, and topazes. He predicted a time when people would be able to walk on the ocean floor without diving equipment. Finally, the scientist amazed the onlookers by turning their faces black by removing the red from the sun’s rays.”

This noted French scientist has produced liquid air by an expansion method in which he has been able to separate the various gases of the air, and has discovered various means of mechanical utilization of differences of temperature in sea water.

This well-known French scientist has produced liquid air using an expansion method that separates the different gases in air. He has also discovered several ways to use temperature differences in seawater to power machinery.