The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-11-12
WHO WAS HEP

On dreary November afternoon n
the year 1866, MIR. Blonger, senior mem.
Der of the well-known firm of Blop0e,
d Co., machlnists and manufacturers M
marine engines, established in 1909 wa,
sitting before 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 OF the Times. a
moment after the door opened, and :
young man, apparently about twenty.
four years of age, plainly attired, en-
tered aud stood hat in hand, awaiting
the leisure OF the gentleman, who
merely glanced at the stranger, and i'm.
mediately resumed his paper, evidently
thinking his visitor to be person of nc
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 ?"
care you the elder Mr.. Blonger p
inquired the stranger, with an unmis.
taxable American accent.
al am"
"I heard of you, and came to see Won.
/ understand that you transact a large
and successful business, but it is not on
that account that 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 1 pay you this visit"
MIR. Blonger placed his gold-rimmed
spectacles on his nose, and gazed in
mute astonishmeut at his visitor, who
continued:
I am the inventor, or discover,
rather, of a secret of nature, a process
which will revoluhonize the world,
which will reverse natural laws. which
will inaugurate new order of things
a discovery, the results of which are Sc
vast that no human mind can compre.
hend them. In short, I can suspend
the law Of gravitation.
At this monstrous assertion a look OF
alarm appeared upon the countenance
of the listener but ns he compared 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 impatiently
"Well, we'll, 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"
The young man went on with imper-
turbable gravity CT can swing the
mightiest man-of-war England possesses
into the air with my little finger. I can
lift the largest cannon at Woolwich like
a cork I can"
eyes, YES, / know-but I am busy
now" replied the manufacturer, rising,
and advancing toward the bell to sum
mon n servant.
"Wait, Mr.. Blonger, 4" said his visi.
tor, in a tone of such deep earnestness
that that gentleman heSitated IN spite
of himself" wait a moment. am
not mad. I know you do not believe
me, and don't wonder at it; but [ will
show you that what / say is true.
He laid his hat upon the table, and
drew from the breast-poeket of his coat
& 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 moment, lifted it like a feather
from it's place to the middle of the
apartment, and then stepped proudly
back. The anvil hoated like a bubble
in the air.
To say that Mr.. BIonger looked as
founded and aghast would convey but
mild idea of the expression of his
countenance at this moment. It was
one of absolute horror. He stood gaz
ing first at the anvil and then at the
man, and at last, with sigh of relief,
he calculated, Perhaps this is only
iugglery," and dropped into chair:
The vonng American snatched the col
of wire from around the anvil, and ii
fell Mt once with terrific force, crushing
in a portion of the floor. "I beg Youl
pardon, sir, but is there any jugglery
about that, think you?" he asked will
n smile, and also sat down. The con
versation that ensued was long and
earnest. and resulted in this conclusion
Mr.. BlonPer was to notify one or two
personal friends in the cabinet, 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 investl
gate in concert a wonderful discovery
in science, the nature of which woulo
then be communicated. The Young
stranger agreed to repeat his expert
ments on the occasion of the meeting
and explain the process by means o.
which they were accomplished TOT Ih'
present he declined to make any fur
ther revelations.
Der. 1866, there assembled inst. George
hall in london. three members of the
ENGLISH cabinet, four gentlemen wei
known in the scientific world, two prom
inent Frenchmen, and two Italians
eleven in all, exclusive of MIR. Blonger
At the earnest solicitation of that gen
tlenan, these persons had come to mee'
they knew not whom, and see theN
knew not what. On the platform, a
the end of the hall, lay small cannon
a heavy piece of iron shattlng, ana sew
eral large iron wheels. What these
articles were for they could not mag
inc. At half-past eight o'clock Tn,
Young man arrived, and was lntroduce'
by Mr.. BlonGer to his friends, as
vounZ American who did not care t'
have his name announced. Inc sSrali
ger was dressed in q rough suit, tn,
worse for wear, and wore slouch pll,Ci "a
hat. His hair was brown and stFs'le y,
his eyes were large and bright gray a
color and his face was as desIltuV
of beard as a woman's. de was 49,,
the medium height and very slenuSr
and his ace was apparently aDon
twenty. four years, though he mlgh
have been older. He was eVloenIl.
but little used to the society OF disth
guisbed persons, aud at first apPeare'
somewhat embarrassed at his Posltlon
but there was an expression OF III llAls9 ~
ahout his month that showed strohl
will ond n habit OF having his own way
When he smoke. it was with the air OF
man Who knew the ground upon whicl
he stood. and his manners were those
one who felt that he was the inferior o
noiman.
Tho ianitor having been dismissed an
the door locked, Mr.. Blonger proceele
to explain to those present why ne ll,a ma
caIIeI them together. HIS Youn
American friend, he sad, had cor
vipced him that he was in the poSse'
sion of a prodigious secret. of the mas
nitude of which they could Judge Whe
II vyaa ,,rassnted to them.