The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1869-05-26
From the Mobile Tribune.
Astounding Discovery,

ASIouuulHS DlSCOVery,
RACE OF SENTIENT BEINGS INVISIBLE
TO THE NAKED EYE, DISCOVERED
WITH THE MICROSCOPE.
We accepted all invitation vest crday
to examine the most wonderful and
awful discovery ever made hy man,
Il community Of microscopic human
beings!
The gentleman who made the dis
covcry is well knowu citizen of Mobile.
whose name we are not at liberty 10
reveal, but whom for the sake Of conve
nlnce, we shall call Mr.. A.
Mr.. Il. is gentleman in easy circum.
stances, who has devoted much time 10
scientific pursuits, particularly Y to expert
men,s with the microscope. It was
while examining with this instrument
specimen Of moss or lichen. taken
Er,n,ih rn.,.o cr- i.---.--.,- -.v-
StEeSspsfing AiIi rond, that Mr.. A. made
his astounding discovery. He saw
clinging to the minute blarches Of the
lichen that he had been turning about
so nnceremoniously, human being,
perfect in form, and with connlcnance
revealing the widest terror The MI.
croscopc man was magmfed to tho size
OF small red ant, and when he first met
tie eye Of MIR. a. ii is doubtful which
OF the two were the more terrified, the
experimenter at the unexpected discov-
cry, or his microscopic fellow creature
at finding himsel! subjected to such
rough treatment.
zone look was enough" said Mr.. A.,
II laid aside the specimen, and for
weeks did not venture 10 use the mi.
croscope again. Was it. really true
that had seen n scntient being. where
/ expected to see only the low r orders
Of animal life; or had I fallen victim
TO my enthusiasm in the prosecution of
discoveries in the microscopic world I?
l kept my terrible secret to my.e.f. for
conld no. bear the thought of being
laughed at about q matter that had
caused such sensations in nv mind. Al
last determined 10 make further ex-
animation Of the specimen of lichen. It.
remained as | had at first examined il.
l looked again, with what interest may
we'll be imagined and there lay the
man that | had seen before, but living
no longer. He had died, probably Of
exhaustion, and there he lay clinging
with death grip TO the lichen bougl,s,
whittier he had doubtless ventured in
search ofgame.
Further examination convinced mo of
the truth Of the hypothesis. l discov.
cred several animalcul@ recently slain.
AS we'll as could be made ont by tho
magnifying power Of my microscope
the legs OF the animalcula were tied
together, as visible boys tie squirrels
and partridges The MICROSCOPIC man
evidently wore clothes but of what
material or how fashioned it was impos.
sble to determine.
Convinced beyond doubt by what
he had seen, Of the existence of race
OF microscopic human beings, and some-
what (amilIarized with the idea that so
revolted him at first, Mr.. A. continued
his researches with the greatest zeal.
The examination of several more
specimens Of lichens and the soil on
which it grew, revealed tew more IN
u'Fluuh'S llKe LnHJ meNLlOneu 8DOVe.
Mr.. A. was careful not to treat them so
roughly as he did the one first discover
cd, f,r the thought of having inadver-
etntly killed u fellow creature has great
~ disturbed HIM.
After long and careful search of the
lichens and the space occupied by them,
Mr.. A. had the qualification of making
his great and crowning discovery, the
capital city ofthe microscopic nation.
This he carefully removed with tile
foundations on which it stood, and
transferred it to flower pot in his back
yard. aa'
1t was there that we had the pleaaure
Of beholding the wonderful and minute
creation.
The portion Of the city 80 far examin.
ed contains population Of probably
three millions. or nafnber about equal
TO that OF London.