The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1845-05-23

/ am, let me sntrsat you to satisfy my curl
osity moment. You seem to be man Of
extraordinary powers"
swell, then" said the German in gent
Ter voice" if you come as friend, shall
be glad 10 give you information: it is the
custom Of my country not to deny any thing
to those that love to learn" Go8
| The former sighed deeply, and murmursd,
And yet you are Teuton. But you were
Just reading little case of strange, and yet
most interesting figures: was it manu-
script"
No, il was printed book"
"Printsdf What is printing! l never
heard Of but writing"
1T is an art by which one man can give
TO the world, in enc day, as much as three
hundred men could. give by writing, and in
character of. superior clsarness, correct
ness, and beauty; one by which books are
made universal, and literature eternal"
Admirable, glorious arto' said the in
quirsr: who was its illustrious INVENTOR"
GA German"
"But another question. / saw you look
at most curious instrument traced with
figures; it sparkled with diamonds; but lis
greatest wonder was its sound. II gave the
hour with miraculous exactness, and the
strokes were followed by tones superior to
the richest music in my day."
".That was repeater"
@ "How? When had the luxuries of the
earth at my command, ! had nothing to tell
the hour better than the clepsydra and the
sun-dal. But this must be incompatible
from its facility Of being carried about
from its suitablencss TO all hours, from its
exactness. 1t must be an admirable guide
even TO higher knowledge. All depends
upon the exactness Of time. 1t may assist
navigation, astronomy. What an invention!
Whose was itG He must be more than
man." 'ft
"He was German"
"What, still barbarian! remember his
nation. | once saw an auxiliary legion of
them marching towards Rome. They were
bold and brave, blus-syed troop. The
whole city poured out to see these northern
warriors; but we looked on them only as
savages. l have one more question, the
most interesting of all. l saw you raise
your hand, with small trunchson in it; in
a moment something rushed out, which
seemed portion Of the fire from the clouds.
Were they thunder and lightning that saw 2
Did they come by your command? Was
that luncheon your talsman? and are you
a mighty magcianf Was that truncheon
scepre commanding the elements? Are
you God!'
The strange inquirer had drawn back gra-
dually as his feelings rose. Curiosity was
now solemn wonder, and he stood gazing up
ward in an attitude that mingled awe with
devotion. The German felt the sensation
of a superior presence growing upon himself,
and he looked on the fixed countenance of
this mysterious being. II was in that misty
blending of light and darkness, which the
moon leaves as it sinks just before morn
There was single hue of pale grey in the
east, that touched its visage with a chill light;
the moon, resting broadly on the horizon,
was setting behind: the figure seemed as if it
was standing in the orb Its arms were lift
ed towards heaven, and the light came
through its drapery with the mild splendor
of vision; but the German, habituated by
The vicissitudes of perils by flood and field"
shook off his brief alarm, and proceeded
calmly 10 explain the source of this miracle.
He gave slight deail of the machinery of
he pistol, and alluded to the history of gun
powder. sit must be mighty instrument
n the hands of man, for either good or ILL.," {
laid the former. "How much it must
,hange the nature of war! How much it
aust influence the fate efnations BY whom
vas this wondrous secret revealed to the
readers of earth?"
"a German"
: The form seemed suddenly to enlarge; its
cebleness Of voice was gone; its attitude
was irresstably noble. Before it uttered
word, it locked as made to persuade and
command. Its outer robe had been flung
way: it stood with an antique dress of drill
ant white, gathered in many folds, and edged
With a deep border Of purple: slight
wreath of laurel, dazzling green, was on its
'row. ltlooksd like the genius ofeloquence.
. " Stranger" it said, pointing to the Ap-
'eniRes, which were then beginning to be
marked by the twilight, /" eighteen hundred
'ears have passed since was the glory of
III beyond these mountains. Eighteen hun
lred years have passed since | entered Rome
n triumph, and was honored as the leading
mind of the great intellectual empire of the
world. But knew nothing of these things.
was as child TO you; we were all children
o the discoverers Of those potencies. But
las Italy not been still the mistress of mindtl
She was then first of the first. bas she MT
eptsher superiority? Show me her noble
INVENTIONS. i must soon sink from the earth
let me learn still to love my country"
The listener started back. "Who, what .
ra vou2n In