The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-04-03

his windpipe for not less than SIX weeks
From Chambers Journal.
LOVE IN A DIVING-BELL.
Seventeen was just the age at which l
FIRST met Charlotte Elizabeth-under
water. What think you Of that, Mr..
Editor? Are not such circumstances Of
6rst-love newH Permit me also to add,
with my hand npon my heart, that they
are moreover true. - ea.n
1t was on o Saturday afternoon, which
was q holiday at our Office in the city
,(although the Early-cloSing Movement
was not so much as heard of at that
time), and was spendiug it in the i'm
,provement of my mind at the Polytech.
mic. j hadsat in that Stately hall which
is something between a theatre and a
dissecting room, to behold the wonders
of science; l had gazed upon that won
drous apparatus for. learning to swim
upon dry land until my limbs were on
the point of involuhtarily striking out"
for an imaginary shore; and | had gazed
upon the electrical eel to repletion, when
q great bell was wrung, and sonorouS
voice exclaimed: Experiments connect.
ed with the diving BELL" Upon this, q
great rush was made from all parts Of
the building to that circular pond of
clear green water, the excessive depth
of which has always been marvel to
me. Into whose cellars does it descend?
What sewers does it forever threaten
witch untmely flushing? From, what
fountains do its pellucid waves arise?
Then the intrepid diver made his toilet
in the presence of the company, being
loaded with heavy weights, as though he
were some desperate. criminal, and hav.
ing on his face o helmet fixed, to be
presently screwed round by the assist.
ants, o proceeding which appeared TO
the -unscientiac eye like wringing his
neck. Covered with polypiin the shape
of india rnbber tubing, this monster tad.
pole clumsly descended by an iron lad.
der into the pond, the bottom Of which
was already strewed with half,pence;
after these, we could dimly see him wad.
die and stoop made more hideous even
than before blythe watery medium-foFe.
shortened at right angles tohimself, ex-
aggerated, disproportoned, slow-the
most horrible picture Of cupidity that
the mind is capable Of conceiving. A.
bove him arose large and noisy bubbles;
and now and then he would emerge as tC
his head and shoulders, and tap his met
al helmet with the halfpence, to let us
know-as though we had not watched
his horrid movements all 'alohg-that hi
had picked them up. Incredible as il
may appear, was attracted toward thi
amphibious pursuit Of his; felt. al
though too should like to explore thost
airless depths, and make my business II
those mighty waters. When he came
out at last, like q. two-trunked sea.ele
phant, and bowed in his repulsive man
ner to the spectators, l was almost afrait
that he was going to offer "any lady OIL
gent" the loan of his apparatus wa
infinitely relieved when / saw it put ava!
in a cupboard, for now no unnatura
temptation- ..-..e
"Any lady or gent for the diving
bell?n exclaimed the sonorous voice.
"The mac hine is now about TO descend.
My heart came into my month AM
then retired about half way down m
throat, as should Judge My extremi
ties BECAME cold as ice, as | gasped out
"Stop o minute; take me in, please do
The crowd that already surrounded th
machine parted to left and right, to le
me pass There was not the least hurry
Of Course; but if l had not spoken Q
once, | should not have done so at all
l was the first volunteer for this tire
mendous enterprise, aud an object
great public interest. 70 49,,
/. 1"I wouldn'tSdo it myself fora under
/, pound" observed one gentleman, for u
{ purpose of fe.assnring me, 1 conclud,
ana friend of his replied, NO, nor VI
= for two; it's what / call foopardy."
3 I passed the little barrier;fI gave II
t manager the requisite shilling for u
. submarine passage; and l crept undt
the great goggle~eyed bell amid quite
n popular ovation. A narrow seat rs
a round the interior Of the machine; Il
atmosphere seemed close, even as it wa
if and the'light was din, although we we
|; as yet in the land Of the living. pc
ceived, however, a!shining substance iu
/, mediately opposite to me, which Sturnt
out to be aboy covered with buttons
n the page of the establishment, who
dreadful trade it was to descend, | don
!. know how many times q day, lin compaI
/ with subaqueo He had
: rope in his hand that hang down fro
!. the top Of the bell and which / fond
' imagined communicated with the sciel
!. ti6c authorities, 30 that we could 4
D hoisted up again at a moments MOTTO
Il by signal; but this confidence was el
9 tirely misplaced. la A certainround sp
J. with number of little holesA-like Il
n top Of sink-was the sole ornament
i the apartment in which we were; al
{ through this was TO come the cir
Q breathed. To say that ! would glad
0 have got out again, and sacrificed .