, 1873-09-14


being taken.
O0LLAPsE OF HUMBUG.
Thousand Of yards Of rotten and ront cotton,
nseloss boata. Instruments, and proyisions, and
sudden stonch in the atmosphere, arc tho out
como Of the proposed aerial voyage to Europe,
which hns been hcralded ovor the world with
auch vigorous blowing Of trampets By tho pro-
prictors Of tho Graphic newspaper. Tho great
gas-bag, which waa only oqualed in quantity and
quality by it's ownors, has collapsed and with
it's collapse exploded a1so ono Of tho most
impudont humbugs Of tho day. It is
fortunate that tho ond ia complete, and
TINT it only required one little filthy
minute to complete 1t, aud that the
colapao does not involve any distressing hard
ship, or decco the public to any appreoiable OK
tent iu pecuniary sonao. Tho circumstances
Attending the proposed voyage hive been kept
before tho public so porastenty that it is un-
nocosaary to rehearse them at this time. Wo
hsyo no doubt that the first proposition WAS made
in serious oarnest, and TINT, it Prof. Wiso had
boon furnished with what ho desired, by parties
who took porronal and sclontilo interest in tho
matter, lie would have attempted tho voyage. I'm
fortunately for him, the managers Of tho Graphic,
eoeing an opportunity to advertise themselves and
their paper, got control OF It, By series Of
most extraordinary e1aggerations and misatate-
monts. they succceded in horalding their enter
prise all over tho country. The telegraph, tho
Signal Service, the scientific institutions and
eayants Of the country, woro uacd with tho most
unbluBhing asauranco, and half tho prominent
men in the country indirectly lent their influence
to further the private purposes OF theHe men.
With considerable ingenuity, tho public curiosity
WAS aroused and kept excited until the
| balloon waa finished, and something must bo
done. Then tho proprietora commenced hedging
and preparing to got out from undor. II any
one will talo the trouble to road tue balloon dis
patches of tho past few days, 1t will DO noticed
TINT, whilo the time OF ascension waa fl1cd, it
| was in every instance stated with qualifications
| and reservations, which grew stronger and moro
decided aa tho titne of the ascension approached.
| At last came very decided hint that tho con-
instead Of 415,00u being spent upon it, it
had not cost $1,000; that it had been
lying upon tho Capltoline Grounds for
weeks. slowly rotting under tho influence
Of tho Weather TINT Prof. Wise had declined to
make the trip because tho contract had not been
fulfilled; md that an Irresponsible aeronaut,
who is better known as an acrobat, would posi-
bly, make tho trip. Tho logical ending Of all
these reservations has come at last. Tho bal
loon, tho lfe-boAts, tho acrobat and all the SON.
eational pnraphernala, have disappeared, and all
that Ii left is q profit Of some thousands OF dol
lars in tho pockets Of tho Graphic proprietors,
the advertising they havo got, and grlev-
GUS wrong done to Prof. Wiso, whom
we bolieye to have been an innoccn,
| victim. Prot. Wise ia noH IN old man, whose
his whole life to the study OF aeronautica both
theoretically and practically. Ae VAS never
Hensatiouallst or charlatan and 1t was IN eyi
day for him, therefore, when ho foil into tht
hands Of the Dohemiaus who manage tho Graphic
Ills knowledge Of the aubject md hia ardent de-
votion to It have commended him to tho scientific
men Of tho country, and they hayt
always treated hiB thooriea aud statements
with respect. Tho idea that such ma1
in his old age should have lent himself to d sen
In Lis favorito theory OF wind-curronts, and wal
prepared to risk his lifo in tho veri1cation O
that theory and le was undoubtedly looking
forward with pride to this trip ~ fact tia
would repay linn for yearH Of study aud danger
Gus experiment, and would crown luis life will
IN enduring fame. Tho imposition, thcse
foro which has been practiced upol
him ia, az we hayo characterized 1t,
grievous wrong, and entitles him to th
sympathy OF the public. Tue public is no'
tho managers Of tho Graphic that another bal
loon will be Immediately constructed. Fortu
nately, there is no danger Of this. Tho Mcssre
Goodsell will build no moro balloons, md, il a
air-voyage shall bo made to Europe In tho fu
ture, 1t will be under other auspicoH than theirs
Meanwhile. the subject suggests but ono moral
and tAat was propoundea by Theodore Tilton
who remarked, as be behold tho collapse, tia
human gas-bngs might evolve wholesome mora
from it.
| -
The Now York Tribune thinks that the cur
ronk expenditures Of tho Government call to
very serious attention, and, from n comparison
Of tho figures which It furnishes, tho warnin
appears to DO timely. Tho comparatively Hma
re4Yction in lilo Public Debt, a.,l tho largo gol
salos, arc sufficient to indicato tllat tho expense
| J., ,r, ,.,, ...t