The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1874-11-06
VINO MAS HEa

VI AAV ~ He
On dreary November afternoon, In
the year 1866, Mr.. BlOnger, senior mem
ber of the we'll known firm of BIonger
& Co., machinists and manufacturers OF
marine engines, established in 1868, was
sitting before, a blazing fire in his office
IN the east end of London, when a visi
tor was announced. "Show him IN.
James," said the old gentleman, and
continued the perusal o the Times. A
moment after the door opened, and q
young man, apparently about twenty
four years of age, plainly attired, en-
tered and stood hat In hand, awaiting
the leisure of the gentleman, who
merely glanced at the stranger, and i'm
mediatety resumed his paper, evidently
thinking his visitor to be a person f no
Importance. After a silence of a few
minutes, Mr.. Blonger laid down his
paper, and, looking up, abruptly said :
'Well, my good sir, what do you
want with me ?" ~
' Are you the elder Mr.. Blonger ?'
inquired the stranger, with an Unmis-
taxable American accent. -E
Z" am"
'' heard of you, and came to see you.
1 understand that you transact a large
and successful business, but it is not on
that account that I have called upon
you. am told that you have consider
able influence with the chief persons in
this government, and it is for that rea-
son that pay you this visit. p"
Mr.. Blonger placed his gOld-rimmed
spectacles on his nose, and gazed in
mute establishments at his visitor, who
continued : ...s -zs
ST ON Az t,S-o,,Ao,. -, 5.-,--o.
rather, Of secret of nature, process
which will revolutionize the world,
which will reverse natural laws, which
will .inaugurate new order of things !;
discovery, the results OF which are 80
vast that no human mind can compre-
hend them. In short, I can suspend
the law of gravitation," q aa. =
At this 1nonstrous assertion a look of
alarm appeared upon the couhtenance
of the listener bat as hescompared his
own brawny frame with the slight fig
ure Of the lunatic before him, it gave
place to a cOntemptuOus smile, as he
answered, somewhat inpatiently-:
"WeIl, well, my dear sir, perhaps
you can-perhaps you can; but am
not in that line OF business, and you had
better apply to somebody else. :" t.sa
The young man went on with imper-
turbabie gravity fsIz can swing the
mightiest man-of-war England possesses
into the air with my little finger. / can
lift the largest cannon at Woolyich like
a cork / can '~ 81
&c Yes, yes, I know-but I am busy
now" replied the manufacturer, rising,
and advancing toward the bell to sum
mon a servant. SEQ Ee4E EEE
:" Wait, Mr.. Blonger," said his visi-
tor, in tone of such deep earnestness
that that gentleman hesitated iu spite
of himself" wait a moment. ] am
not mad. I know you do not believe
me, and don't wonder at 1t but I will
show you that what I say is tue"
He laid his hat upon the table, and
drew from the breast pocket Of his coat
a listening blue wire. There was an
iron anvil in a corner of the room. He
wound the coil of wire round the anvil
in a momenS, lifted it like a feather
from its place to the middle OF the
apartment, and then stepped proudly
back. The anvil fOated like a bubble
in the air.
70 say that Mr.. BIonger looked as
founded and aghasb would convey but
mild idea of the expression of his
cOuntenance at this moment, 1t was
one of absolute horror. He stood gaz-
ing first at the anvil and then at the
man, and at last, with a sigh, of relief,
he circulated, {" Perhaps this is only
jugglery," and dropped into a chair
/ The young American snatched the coil
of wire from around the anvil, and il
/ fell at once with terrific force, crushing
| in a portion Of the Hoor. &c beg your
pardon, sir, but is there any jugglery
about that, think you?" he asked with
a smile, and also sat down. The con-
veTsation that ensuea was long and
| earnest, and resulted in this conclusion:
Mr.. Blonger was to notify one or two
| personal friends in the cab bnet, several
| scientific men of high repute, and two
or three foreigners, the whole number
/ not to exceed twelve, that he wished
| them to meet him In order to investi-
gate in concert a wonderful discovery
in science, the nature of which would
| then be communicated. The Young
stranger agreed TO repeat his expert
ments on the occasion of the meeting,
and explain the process by. means of
which they were accomplished (; for the
/ present he declined to make any fur
ther revelations.
On the night of the 23d of Novem-
/ Der, 1866, thereassembledinS st. Georges
/ hall, in London, three members Of the
/ English cabinet, four gentlemen we'll
known Ia the scientific world, two prom
( inent Frenchmen, and two Italians
eleven IN all, exclusive of MIR. Blonger.
/ At the earnest solicitation of that gen
tleman, these persons had come 20 meet
they knew not whom, and see they
knew not what. On the platform, at
the epd Of The hall, lay 8 small cannon,
a heavy piece of iron shaftiug, and sev.
eral large iron wheels. What these
articles were for they. could not imag-
inc. At half-past eight o'clock the
young man arrived, and was introduced
by Mr.. Blenger 70 ms friends, as q
Young American who did not care ia
have his name announced. The stran.
ger was dressed IN rough. suit, the
worse for wear, and wore aslouch ldack
hat. His hair was brown and straight
his eyes were large and bright gray II
color, and his face was as destitute
/ of beard IS q woman's. He was above
the medium height and very slender
and his age wes apparently sbou
twenty -four years, though he mich
have been older. He was evidently
but little used to the society of distin
guished persons, and at frst apPesrst