The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1871-06-24
WAYNE COUNTY, IND. JUNE


ker speaks of him as having been
one of the deepest chemical stu
dents of the age, q natural mathe-
matician, q profound astronomer,
and a man of excellent general lit
erary attainments. Parker bad
known Summerfield for over TWEEN
ty years. their acquaintance having
been formed in Texas during tho
days of the republic. Continuing
his account, Parker says.
'One day, toward the close Of
last September, an old man raped
at my Office door, and on invitation
came in, and, advancing, called me
by name. Perceiving that l did
not at first recognize him he intro
duced himself as Gregory Summer
field. After inviting him to seat
scrutinized his features more
closely and quickly identified him
as the same person whom had
met twenty-five years before. lie
was greatly altered in appearance,
but there was the old charm Of in
te.lectual superiority in his con-
versation, and welcomed him to
California as an important addition
to her mental wealth.
1T was not many minutes before
he requested q private interview.
He followed me into 10Y back Of
fee, carefully closed the door after
him and locked it. We had scarce
ly seated ourselves before he in
quired of me if / had noticed any
recent articles in the newspapers
respecting the discovery of the art
Of dccomposing water so as to fit
it for use as q fuel for ordinary
purposes
; Il replied that l had observed
.. nothing new upon the subject since
the experiments of Agassiz and
Professor Henry, and added that,
in my opinion, the expensive mode
Of reduction would always prevent
its nse.'
t in few words he then informed
me that he had made the discovery
that the art was extremely simple,
and the expense attending the de-
: composition so slight as to be in
significant
: 'Presuming that the object of
his visit to me was to proclre the
necessary forms to get out patent
for the right, l congratulated him
upon his good fortune. and was
about to branch forth with des-
cription of some of the great BEN
efits that must ensue to the COM
munity. when be suddenly and
somewhat uncivily requested me to
be silent, and listen to what he had
to say"
He began with some general
remarks about the inequality Of
fortune amongst mankind, AMI in
stanced himself as striking ex.
, ample of the fate of those men
who. according to all the rules OF
III right, ought to be near the top, in
stead of at the loot of the ladder ot
- fortune. But said he. springing
Is to his feet with impulsive energy
l have now the means at my com
mand OF rising superior to my fate
or of indicting incalculable ills
upon the whole human race
Looking at him more closely,
thought l could detect in his eye
the CLEAN of madness but | re-
mained silent and awaited further
developments. But my scrutiny
stolen as it was, had been detect
ed, and he replied at once to tn,
expression Of my face: No, sir,
am neither DRUNK nor q maniac,
am in deep earnest in all that
say; and l am fully prepared, by
< actual experiment, to demonstrate
beyond all doubt the truth Of all
claim.
For the first time l noticed tha
III he carried small portmanteau il
his hand; this he placed upon tn
table, unlocked it, and took ou
two or three small volumes, pam
phlet or two, small, square, wide
mouthed vial, Theoretically sealed
watched him with profoun(
curiosity, and took note of hi
AID slightest movements. Having ar
ranged his books to suit him, an
placed the phial in a conspicuou
position, he drew up his chair close
ly to my own, and uttered in hal
Kissing tone:
Il demand one million dollars fo
the contents Of the bottle. and 20
nc must raise 1t for me in the city c
a San Francisco within one month
les or scenes too terrible tor the imas
ination to conceive, will surely
on Witnessed by every human bein
"a on the face OF the globe.
las The tone, the manner, aud til
th, absurd extravaganza OF the deman
he excited faint smile upon my lip
it'll which he observed. but disdaine
er- to notice
cd My mind was fully made up tn,
he / had a maniac to deal with. and
let prepared TO act accordingly. B,
of l ascertained at once that nv ir
ed most thoughts were read by the r
on markable man before me, an
ear seemed to be anticipated by him
IAN advance Of their expression.
IN. Perhaps said 1, Mr.. Summe
led field, you would oblige me by il
me forming me fully of the grounds
ng your claim, and the nature Of yol
ty. discov cry.
rm That is the object Of my visi
the be replied. Il claim to have di
md covered the key which unlocks tt