Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-06-05
GALS aun gkstfbes.
IN THE BALANCE.

The only adventure ever had worth re-
lating (said my friend Philip Holman
occurred one night during journey from
New York to point few miles north
The cars were just comfortably full, the
coach entered having single vacant seat
as well as few containing only one occu.
pant each. established myself comforta,
bly, in the vacant seat close by the window,
and, rs the train moved slowly through the
depot, watched the vanishing lights and
passengers waiting for other trains. While
thus engaged my attention was arrested by
a man rushing hastily from little crowd
near the ticket office. He ran toward the
car l had taken and in another moment
entered. His appearance was striking.
He was of large commanding stature, with
a full black beard. His face was expressive
and intelligent, and would have been noble
but for peculiar look about the eyes, which
moved about restlessly and with nervous
alertness. Having closed the car door he
hesitated, looked back as if in anxiety, and
then peered intently out of the window for
a moment Finally he walked forward as
if some mental question had been decided
and stopped by my side.
is this seat occupied sir p he inquired
courteously.
No, sir, replied, and made room for
him.
Il came near missing the train,' he said,
after being seated. You haven't noticed
small man with iron-gray whiskers and
dark clothes aboard, have youp'
Mo- l answered. Were you looking
for friend p
A friend p he echoed absently and
then with animation, oh, no-by no
means-not at ALL He wound up his en-
phatic denial with short laugh. It's all
rightl' he finally exclaimed.
Rather an excentric character l
thought.
For some moments our journey was 2ur-
sued in silence, when my companion
abruptly turned to me, and said in a tone
of confidence:
For years l have been studying one of
the most gigantic problems that has ever
occupied the human mind
'Ah!' l said not knowing what else to
say.
They say the British government has
standing offer of ten thousand pounds as a
reward for its solution. Do you believe
it?'
TO what problem do you refer p l in
quired.
'Oh, pardon me? Perpetual motion
that grand desideratum of all inventors,
scholars, and thinkers
Il have heard something of such an offer,
but scarcely credit the story
And why P he demanded.
Because it is a generally accepted COR
clusion among intelligent people that there
can be no such thing as perpetual motion.
An effect without cause is an anomaly
which no amount of inventive genius can
overcome
My dear SIR he said earnestly, you
have been imposed upon by old sophism.
How singular are the delusions that logic
creates! Reason, that great attribute of
man, can prove lies to be true, and cause
people to deny facts and cling to error 1t
can and does deceive, delude, and degrade,
when it ought 10 enlighten and elevate.
And, sir, it's all owing to the hopeless i'm
becility its recognized exponents =
You are rather sweeping in your de-
nunciation.' suggested, with smile and
4 curious look at him.
Il know l am he responded loftily.
But if l am century in advance of the
age, 1 am not to blame for it. My theories
will in time be accepted as immutable laws.
But benefactors of the race seldom live to
see the fruits of their work. am content
| can endure the prosecutions have been
subjected to. 1 do not murmur. What
ever is, is right.''
And on the other hand, l said lightly,
scarcely knowing whether he meant to be
factiOus or not, whatever is not is wrong
suppose
Certainly you have hit it, he replied,
gravely.
| began to suspect that my fellow travel |
er was not exactly what is termed Sound |
in the upper story a searching glance |
into his face showed that he was in earnest,
and his eyes began to glitter with excite
ment. If he was monomaniac thought |
it best not to do anything to arouse him on
his particular hobby, and SO endeavored
to let the subject of perpetual motion drop,
but he was bent OH pursuing it.
This perpetual motion problem, he re-
sumed, has, know, received redicule at |
the hands of many but it is, nevertheless,
a fact-an existence, that has as yet been
And, sir'-he spoke In =
low, mysterious tone-'it has been reserved
for me to astound the world by making the
principle apparent and useful
Possible =
Not only possible, but true. see you are
but do not blame you. You
look like man of intelligence-in fact,
there is something in your eye that leads
me to believe you are the person have
been looking for so long,
oh, mol began.
DOM be modest about it, sir. Ifit is an
honor it is also destiny, and
destiny cannot be resisted. The con-
viction grows upon me every moment
that you are the man.
But l know nothing of the subject. l
have never looked into it, could not even