Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-12-09
WHO WAS HE.
From the Overland Monthly. ]

From the Overland Monthly.]
On a dreary November afternoon,
in the year 1866, Mr.. Blonger, senor-
member of the we'll known firm of
Blonger e. Co., machinists and manu-
tacturers of marine engines, establish
ed in 1903, was sitting before the
blazing fire, in his Office in the east
end OF London, when a visitor was an
nounced. "Show him in James" said
the old gentleman, and continued the
perusal Of the Times. A moment
after, the door opened, and a young
man, apparently about twenty-four
years ofage, plainly attired, entered
and stood hat in hand, awaiting the
leisure of the gentleman, who merely
glanced at the stranger and immedi-
ately resumed his paper, evidently
thinking his visitor to be person OF
no importance. After 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 2"
"Are you the elder Mr.. Blonger ??
inquired the stranger, with an unmis-
taxable American accent.
81 am"
81 heard of you, and came to see
you. understand that you transact
a large and successful business, but it
is not on that account that / have call
ed upon you, | am told that you have
considerable influence with the chief
persons in this government, and it is
for that reason that l pay you this Wis
it.
Mr.. Blonger placed his gold-rimmed
spectacles on his nose, and gazed in
mute astonishment at his visitor, who
continued
ii am the inventor, or. discoverer
rather, of a secret of nature, process
which will revolutionize the world,
which will reverse natural laws, which
will inaugurate a new order of things
q discovery, the results of which are
so vast that no human mind can COM
prehend them. In short, I can sus-
pend the law of gravitation."
At this monstrous assertion Il look
of alarm appeared upon the counte-
nance of the listener, but as he compar.
ed his own brawny frame with the
slight figure of the lunatic before him,
as he answered somewhat impatient.
ly.
"Well, well, my dear sir, perhaps
you can-perhaps you can but I am
not in that line of business, and you
had better apply to somebody else
The young man went on with i'm
perturable gravity: 81 can swing the
mightiest man,of-war England possess.
es into the air with my little finger.
l can lift the largest cannon at Wool
wich like cork l can-"
eyes, yes, l know-but l am busy
now," replied the manufacturer, rising
and advancing toward the bell to sum-
mon servant.
"Wait, Mr.. Blonger," said his visit.
Or in a tone of such deep earnestne IS
that the gentleman hesitated in spite
of himself-"wait a moment. | am
not mad. l know you do not believe
me, and | do not wonder at it ; but
| will show you that what | say is
true"
He laid his hat upon the table, and
drew from the breast.pocket of his
coat glistening blue wire. There
was an iron anvil in a corner of the
room. He wound the coil of wire
round the anvil in moment, lifted it
like a feather from its place to the
middle of the apartment, and then
stepped proudly back. The anvil
floated like bubble in the air.
To say that Mr.. Blonger looked as
founded and aghaSt would convey but
, .>,;Id ;doo ~ tbo ovNroueiop .of hiu