The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-11-29

Perpetual Motion.
In your issue Of 22d inst, you insert an
article on the never-to-be. exploded subject
of perpetual molten. 1t appears the ma
chinery is invented and the thing accom-
plished, NOT this time by Down Easter
but by Canny Scotchman, and is described
rs the usual device of a wheel, with weights
sliding from and to the centre, alternately
This periodical phenomenon, i. e., the com
muncatIon Of such 4 discovery, is as regu-
lar and frequent nova days as the visits of
the sea serpent were a few years ago to the
rips and eddies Of Nantucket shoals, until
by frequent repetition, many are led to be-
lieve the thing is possible. Now it would
be mere waste of paper and ink to endeavor
to convince such minds Of its physical in
possibility, and shall not attempt it.
1t is question in mechanics, as the quad
nature Of the circle is in geometry, which is
now degraded to the rank of solemn trtles
and rank absurdtics. Cannot phrenoiogy
throw any light on the cause Of such pre-
vailing delusions and may there not be
bump Of perpetual motion, more or less de-
veloped m the Uranium of every individual,
the existence Of which has been hitherto
unsupported? ask this with all due rcver-
ence for Gall and Spurzheim and for the fra
ternity generally. One of the most marked
characteristics Of the present age is intel
ectual activity. Life is great race for pre-
cminence; a sweepstake wherein all may
entcr-the ernpiric and the philosopher, the
strong the weak, the rich and the poor, and
amid the jostlings of such a crowded coarse,
it often happens chat the philosophers path
is blocked up by folly and ignorance, which
laugh defiantly at his impo,ent sup riOrity,
while lucky simpleton reaches the goal
before him, and carries off the prize. This
frequent result gives reliance and concet to
very slender requirements and measurabiy
eGualiZcs all men chances 1t is therefor.
but thankless Office to attempt to dissuade
men from entering On such chase even
when you knOu the prize is less solid than
phantom's shadow.
These reflections are produced by calling
to mind an oddity Of such cast of mind,
who, with consequential air has often called
to consult your correspondents superior
knouledge, that he might nave an opportuni-
ty of exhibiting his own still greater superb
0rity. The first time he (thc latter Eas
sold (very cheap for he spent two days in
preparing mathematical argument to show
that certain great inrentt0H would net
work, and cautioned him against investing
capital in il. For this he yet owes ten dol
lars. Peace 10 his ashes II his light is ut;
for think liz was good honest soul for all
that
will give one OF his crotchets as an ex-
ample Of how many principles Of science
man may outrage in his great Intentions.
This may serve as the moral 10 my tale, as
a warning 10 the uninitiated, and, If the in
dividual in question is yet alive, as a souve-
mir Of "au!d lang syne," should this article
meet his eye. On the occasion referred to,
| was informed with mysterious elevation
0! the eye brows that 10y great labor he had
succeeded in decising tie principle Of an in
rention which would be recognized by pos
teiiiy as the greatest blessing TO mankind,
or a, least TO the nautical part; il being no
less than discovery which enabled the sail .
or to watch the compass horizontally. In /.
other words, to place It on the same level
with the eye and make the compass card
visible by perpendicular mirror placed be-
hind il. Ills lac contended wouli enable
him 10 iooA about him and thus ensure
greater safety. knowing the individual 20
well, could only tno1es.ly suggest that Isl,
a perpendicular mirror would throw the re-
hcc,ed ray forty five degrees above his head,
and therefore the card would be invisible.
End That as there would be three reflections
and two refractions Of the ray, therefore not
more than one-third Of the light could be
ob;aineG-a serious objection in dark night
with the common pinnacle lamp. 81, That
even supp0,ing the eye in the right drec
ton, the swing of the card by the ships
motion would keep the s,eerrnan's head in
cessGnt'y lodging to catch the reflection, as
the compass could only be visible 10 the eye
when both formed the sane angle with the .
mirror, and ! would have told him 4thly,
That granting al other difficulties removed,
the reflected image would point soUTH when .
the compass pointed NORTH, and move 10 tie /
LEFT when the needle moved TO the EIGHE;
but th+ was $: eg, q! 81 tRso eigewiss against
the formidable stream of ,Spedicnts which
would ueuIralzc the aforesaid objections
Verify, Il ihougbtJ Solomon indeed WAS
wise. In sober earnest granting the labor
as great as stated, and considering the mum
bers engaged in such speculations, unpre-
pared Tor such efforts by previous familiarity
with the simplest principles Of science, and
we have an aggregate of labor lost absolute
ly appalling; for the appropriate motto of
ninety-nne in the hundred will be 50 77.0ntes
pGrtartuHt naseitur ,idiculuS mus"
Still, new aspiran,s for fame rise up as
others descend exemplifying by such oscil-
latons. at least phase of motion which
is perpetual. Y.