Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-12-09

one of absolute horror. He stood
gazing first at the anvil and then at
the man, and at last, with sigh of
relief, he CALCULATED, "Perhaps this is
only jugglery," and dropped into a
chair. The young American snatched
the coil of wire from around the an
vii, and it fell with terrific force, crush.
ing in portion of the floor. 81 beg
your pardon, sir, but is there any Jug
glery. about that, think you ?" he ask
ed with smile, and also sat down.
The conversation that ensued was
long aud earnest, and resulted in this
conclusion Mr.. Blonger was to mott
fy one or two of his personal friends
in the cabinet, several scientific men
of high repute, and two or three prom
inent foreigners, the whole number
not to exceed twelve, that he wished
them to meet him in order to investi-
gate in concert 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
further revel ations.
On the night of the 23d of Novem-
Der, 1866, there assembled in st.
Georges Hall, in London, three mem
bers of the English cabinet, four gen.
tlemen we'll known in the scientific
world, two prominent Frenchmen, and
two Italians-eleven in all, exclusive
of Mr.. Blonger. At the earnest solic-
itation of that gentlemen these per-
sons had come to meet they knew not
whom and see they knew not what.
On the platform, at the end OF the
hall, lay a small cannon, a heavy piece
of iron shatting, and several large iron
wheels. What these articles were
for, they could not imagine. AT half.
past eight o'clock the young man ar
rived, and was introduced by Mr..
Blonger to his friends, as a young
American who did not care to have
his name announced. The stranger
was dressed in rough suit, the worse
for wear, and wore a slouched black
hat. His hair was brown and straight
his eyes were large and bright gray in
color, and his face was as destitute OF
beard as a woman's. He was above
the medium height and very slender,
and his age was apparently about
twenty-tour years, though he might
have been older. He was evidently
but little used to the society of dis
tinguished persons, and at first ap-
pearance somewhat embarrassed at his
position, but there was an expression
of frmness about his mouth that show,
ed a strong will and habit Of having
his own way. When he spoke, it was
with the air of man who knew the
ground upon which he stood, and
his manners were those of one who
felt that he was the inferior of no
man.
The ianitor having been dismissed
and the door locked, Mr.. Blonger pro-
ceeded to explain to those present
why he had called them together.
His young American friend, he said,
had convinced him that he was in
possession of a prodigious secret, Of
the magnitude of which they could
Judge when it was presented before
them.
The whole affair at this point came
near being broken off in disgust, by
an unexpected requirement which the
unknown stranger exacted. He de
clined to proceed, unless all present
entered into an agreement not to COM
municate what they might witness to
any living person, for a period of ten
years, without gaining his consent.
The Fright Honorable G - was
on his mettle at once. He washed
his hands of the whole matter, and
desired to retire Immediately. The
Others were equally indignant, and
expressions not considered elegant
in high society were heard. 1t re-
quired all Mr.. Blongers sagacity to
quell the storm. But the young man
was immoveable, and at last, at the
earnest solicitation of Mr.. Blonger,
the guarantee was given. The stran-
ger then took the stage, and his au-
ditors the seats Immediately in front Of
it..
"Gentlemen," he began, "from what
I have noticed Of your incredulity this