The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1867-02-08
A EIDE ON A WHIRLW1ND.


-5.s- s-
A German University is a little world
tof itself, embodying elements ueriy dis
| tincL from lie practical world of com
merce and politics. So far as many oil
its ideas and practices are concerned IL
belongs to the med aval ages, while in
other respects it involves he Outre gro
iesqueries Of gnomeland To the bust
ness man of Wall o. Thredneedle street.
the life of many a German student or
tprotessor would be as iucomprehen ible
las that of one living on the planet
Jupiter.
1t must not be supposed that the soci-
ETY. Of these schools is wholly or mainly
of one nationality. Heidelberg TO which
my observations were mainly confined,
has an extensive patronage from England.
America, and almost every country in
Europe. with an occasional Tartar, Afri-
can. or Hindoe. There are many queer
hangers-on. also, not directly or G fficially
connected with The University; 50 that
he who fairly reaches the heart, and lives
the life of Heidelberg. cannot fail to en-
counter strange people. and hear strange
stories. Indeed. l do not know of an
other place on the continent. where the
lover OF the bizarre and marvellous can
accumulate such treasures.
Some store Of these have gathered,
and sought to weave into presentable
form. Ii 1 use the first person singular
where ! was BOT the real actor, or alter
a date here, or a name there, do it for
m ' cWn CONVENIENCE as narrator; the es
seritial facts remain tie same
Worn out in body and morbid in mind
L BasTesting for a day or two at The
quaint old historic town of Toulouse,
alter n year OF aimless wandering over
a tomb,1 where ALL loved was buried
Ny old ancestral home was lonely, gloomy
and aunied. The pursuit of business
or of pleasure seemed alike dislastelul
All ambitions and vital forces were buried
in one woman's coffin, and haunted ty
a visionary regret and remorse, I was
drifting as circumstances led me, needing
only the insliuct that kept me away from
the home which memory made SO terrible.
Sitting listlessly in my hotel at Tou
louse. mechanically reading local news
paper, was suddenly startled and elect
.rihed by an announcement that met any
eye. M. Nancy, an 6eFo~ aut. shen com
ing to be s0mewha Eeelebrated for hi5 en-
tbu~iasm and daring, was to make bal
loon fight from the marker place OF the
city al sunrise the following morning
As | said, this announcement startled
me, Tor aerial navigation was at that time
afxrsf I n
my restless iaueyat once seized upon il
wish intense aVidity, seeking to coniure
up the wonderful possibilities yet il store
for me. To soar above the clouds, to
scale the inaccessible mountains, TO sweep
across continents on the breath Of the
tempest-w hat grander acme was left for
human achievement I would COL
at once soughl the se onaut. He was
sitting at desk 10 his laboratory, husIy
engaged in writing. A nervous. black
haired, curt little man, who yet had a
glow OF strange and solemn enthusiasm
ia his face. He treated me with scanty
courtesy, and went at my business At
once us- - h sF Geo.
You are going to make an ascent to
morrow % 1 said.
Eye
'.Have you room fora companion In
your car % fs4 s-
Yes"
Il should like 10 60 with YOU
"Many people say So"
L But am determined to goif possible -
= ''.Are you ready 10 leave the world 20
morrow? Have you made your will, and
set all things in ordei?"
Il can be ready" I answered.
but shall charge you la thousand
francs.' be continued.
III ! laid the money on the table.
"You will want complete suit Of fuSs
Be on the ground Al daybresk;,' and h
resumed his writing. b
I retired, to pass a night of hurried
preparation and eager. feyerish, sleePlesi
aniicpaton- s o5os1
4 The chemicals did their work. TIL
vast silken globe trembled aud expanded
as if unfolding its wings for fight. i
jslightly rose from the earth; soon, severa
lsuong, men were required 20 restrain III,
/ piuions Of our struggling sky bid A
4 lenStn We TOOK our SSatSs the cotus were
i Ioosepsd,l and the great glitteringi ca
|leaped heaEenward.
4 It would be very hard Tor me to de
scribe my emotions at this period Of ms
1fight We were not rising; we wef,
lf5asing, molionless, IN motiehless Sc
lof air. But The earth was sinking; IA
great, broad gasden-laud, the glitIerihl
river, ths restless, tossing, shouting Sc
la isslg uss .faisg q seG}oS &c