Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1851-11-20

might, tor aught | could tell, be a
capable OF malicious purposes, as
knew il to be of curious suggestions
| was yet to see, however, whether
any manifestations Of this powel
would be given me. 30 .-,
The sky was clear, and my ascent
was a beautiful one. The country
lover which | first passed was thickly
settled. and, as | judged, but very
few persons observed my progress
I assembled very rapidly, and was
soon much higher than L had ever
before been. Beneath me lay the
earth like a vast bowl, upon whose
edges rested the base of the dome,
whose centre appeared to approach
yet which only grew vaster every
moment. | had been absent from
the earth an hour, when my altitude
was so great that retreating began TO
be difficult, and as | had been obliged
TO allow a great deal of gas to es-
cape from my balloon, on account Of
its expansion in the rare atmosphere,
the earth becoming more and more
remote from me, my feelings we're Of
a nature / cannot describe. shook
as with an ague chill. BY accident,
| discovered that when the valve
cord to my balloon was just touched,
a coil of wire in the top of the bal
loon sent forth most musical tones;
then found that the cords by which
my car was suspended, when snap
ped, produced vibrating tones as
sweet as any | had ever heard upon
a violin. | was surrounded by most
powerful electric influences. Sud-
denly, the swift motion OF my balloon
was stopped. 1t hung immoveable
in the high heavens-then it began
TO move slowly in the direction Op-
posite that | had been travelling
To say that | was terrified, would,
by no means, express my condition
of mind or body. | was absorbed
with doubt and anxiety, and could
not analyze my feelings further. /
dwelt in an atmosphere Of harmony.
The most lnconceivable melody
floated around me; its influence was
wonderfully soothing. and fancied
| heard the reality of what poets
sing so eloquenily about-the music
of the spheres. --L II sla--
The motion of my air ship became
swiiter and swifter; | felt myself
yielding to an influence which gave
me a sensation of imponderability; |
felt as If | could walk on the pure
and rarified air. | saw globes ol
golden light fit past me; they in
creased in size, they blended one into
another until | was surrounded by a
luminous cloud. | could look be-
yond il, but could not see the earth.
beneath and around me stars
of immense magnitude were shining
with indescribable lustre, and knew
that was suspended in iliimitable
space. | did not seem TO see any
longer with my natural eyes-infi-
mite perception was my sight. !
knew not whether / dwelt in the
body or out Of it. In the luminous
cloud surrounding me were immune
rable shadowy forms and spectre
hands were extended towards me. |
had long since forgotten all about my
air ship; / saw it not. | knew not
whether had left it, or whether it
had left me; a thought that | was
in space chilled me, but
had no sensation Of feeling; ] had no
idea Of ponderosity--and confidence
that was in no danger Of physical
injury, when | had no perception OF
physical existence, gave me courage
then the luminous cloud surroun-
ding me, which had been golden, be-
rame like molten silver, and the |
Torms which had been shadowy were
more brilliant than the force Of the
MONDAY sun. yet looked on them,
Or rather had perception of them,
any dazzling or binding
The intensity Of the en-
ioyment-spiritual glory-w hich
now flowed upon me was beyond the
power OF language TO represent.
sndeavored again 10 satisfy myself
that the brilliant stars shone around
me. had no power Of perception
beyond the radient forms which en-
circled me; ] seemed to rise up from
their midst, / stood above them, and |
Il Das lost. ics. p aa
The morning sun shown upon my
ace. / aroused myself and stood up |
n the car Of my balloon. The col
apsed air ship lay beside me. l was
n the rude shed from which | I:had
at four O'Clock the previous
evening. | looked at my watch, il
vas Z o'clock, A. M. :, .,s,,.,. -
Was all a visieni No. i had
eff the earth; Iwas back again al
he place where started. No such
'oyage wastthere on record in the
balooning. Invent home,
ivoiding route along which | was