Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-03-26
Accidental Discoveries.

Accidental Discoveries.
Many of the valuable discoveries that
have blessed mankind, and the novelties
that have pleased his fancy, have been the
result of accident.
Every schooboy will remember the
story of the lad Calico who watched the
swinging of the lamp suspended from the
ceiling of the Cathedral OF Pisa, and how
it led him to investigate the laws OF the
oscillation of the pendulum, and to be
the first to employ it for the measurement
Of time. So, many of the great discoveries
in steam aud in locomotlon were hit upon
by seeming chance, and turned to account
by minds prepared for such work by
long and labrious study over the sub
ject.
1t was by accident that the wonderful
buried city of Pompeii was discovered,
and the world Was enabled to again wall
its streets, which had been for centuries
silent to enter its marble halls, and view
the marvels of art and luxury which they
contained to behold the tokens OF de
pravity so foul we do not wonder that
Gods judgment destroyed this heather city
as it did Gomorrah of old.
y youth who had been very i'll was
slowly recovering. All his symptoms
were favorable, but he astonished his kind
watchers oae day by saying that he saw Il
horse pass along the wall of his room.
Pretty soon pig followed, and then came
various other objects. The friends were
alarmed, and the physician summoned
He examined the pulse, but found no
symptoms OF fever or brain excitement
But the patient persisted that some people
bad just passed over the ceiling Of S
room. Going to the closed window shut
ter, little knot hole was discovered,
through which sun ray pierced, and THIS
was the cause of the illusion. Whatever
came within range passed shadow-IiNe
upon the wall. This little circumstance
ed to the invention of the camera oJScura,
which has gwen so much enjoyment and
instruction TO the masses IN all civilized
| lands.
The novelty of blue tinted paper came
from an odd little accident. William
East, great paper maker, saw that his
establishment was in working order, and
went away on business. HIS wife acct
dentally let blue bag fall into one of the
great watts of pulp. She was alarmed, but
concluded to keep her own counsel. The
workmen were amazed at the appearance
of the pulp, and the proprietor vexed at
the heavy loss that he anticipated. The
paper was made up, and stored away for
four years. At length, growing tired of
seeing it around; he sent it to his London
agent, with the direction to "sell for
what it would bring"
The agent, misunderstanding the tenor
of his letter, remarked, " 1t certainly is a
novelty, but he must not expect too much. "
However, he sold it for a considerable ad-
vance over common paper, and sent back
for as much more as ne could get.
The astonished and delighted paper
maker made haste to tell his wife of his
good fortune She did not hesitate now to
tell her share in the transaction, and
Iaughingly put in her claim for share Of
the profits. The well satisfied husband
compromised by buying handsome
cloak just then mach coveted. He kept
the story of the indigo a secret, and
thrived wonderfully by the lucky accident
But the demand grew SO great that other
manufacturers also blued their pulp, and
competed with him. Perhaps some tried
editors, who have been inflicted with man
uscript done in pale ink on blue paper
wish the good lady had been more careful
of her blue bag.
One Lundy Foot used to keep tobac
const shop in Dublin. One night il
; burnt down, and poor Lundy felt stunned
and stupefed over his total loss, as the
house was not insured. The poor neigh
bors went poking around in the ruins fo
what they could find, and stumbled on som,
canisters of half baked snuff They en-
ioyed it so much that they filled the
waistcoat pockets and went their way re
joicing. Lundy finally followed their ex
ample, and took pinch to comfort him
self. What was his surprise to find i
; vastly improved by the accident 4
bright thought struck him, and reused hin
from the stupor of despair. He would be
gin business again, and bake his snuff
making people pay well for the delights i
: would afford to their noses.
He succeeded so we'll that ne accumu
lated large fortune by being, as he use'
to say, utterly ruined" In later years
when he had set up carriage, he applied
to Lord Norbury for an appropriate mot
to to inscribe on its panels. The judg
suggested the phrase, which may be reat
in Latin or English, as you chose, "Quit
rides"
IT all the misdirected talent and labor
in the world were turned into good, hon
est channels that would bless the world, W.
might almost think we were living in mil
lennial times Young Folks Neass.
Our hen-pecked neighbor remarks tina