The Republican journal., 1874-11-26
Who Was He.
.rom the Overland Monthly.

year 1866, Mr.. Blonger, senior member o
the we'll known affirm of Blonger u Co..
machlnlsts and manufacturers of marine
1 engines established in 1903, was sitting
before the blazing fire, in Els office in the
east end OF London, when q visitor was
!, announced. "Show him in, James," said
: the old gentleman, and continued the
pe1usal Of the Times. A moment after,
} the door opened, and young man, APP
parently about tWenty-four years of age,
plainly attired, entered and stood hat in
hand, awaiting the leisure of the gentle
man, who merely glanced at the stranger
and Immediately resumed his paper, evil
IDENTITY thinking his visitor to be Il 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?''
"Are you the elder Mr. Blongero n in
quired the stranger with an unnistakabe
American accent
Il ann
81 heard of you, and came to see YOU
l 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 considerable influence
with the chief persons in this government,
and it Is for that reason that pay YOU
this visit"
Mr. Blonger placed his gold-rimmed
spectacles on his nose, and gazed in mute
astonlshment at his visitor, who c0ntn-
ued:
II am the inventor, or dscoverer rather,
OF a secret OF nature, process which will
revolutlonize the world, which will re-
verse natural laws which will inaugurate
a new order of things; a discovery, the re-
suits OF which are so vast that no ruman
mind can comprehend them. In short, |
can suspend the law of gravtation
AT this monstrous assertion Il look of
alarm appeared upon the countenance Of
the listener, but as he compared his own
braWny frame with the slight figure Of the
lunatic before him, as he answered some
what impatiently;
"Well, 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"
1he young man went on with imper-
turbable gravity: Il can swing the
mightiest man-ot-war England possesses
into the air with my little finger. can
lift the largest cannon at Woolwich like a
cork can-''
Yes yes, | know-but am busy now"
replied the manufacturer, rising and adj
yancing toward the bell to summon Il ser
want.
wv ait, Mr.. Blonger, said his visitor, in
a tone Of such deep earnestness that that
| gentleman hesitated in spite of himself
''walt a moment | am not mad | know
| you do not believe me. and do not
wonder at it but | will show vou that
what | say is true
He laid his hat upon the table. and drew
| from the breast-pockct OF his coat Il
| gistening blue Wire. There was an iron
anvil in corner OF the room. He wound
/ the coil of wire round the anvil in q mo-
ment, lifted it like a feather from its place
to the middle OF the apartment, and then
| stepped proudly back. The anvil tioated
! like a bubble in the air
! To say that Mr. iilongcr looked as
founded and aghaSt would convey but a
mild idea OF the expression Of his counte-
nance at this moment. 1t was one Of ab-
solute horror He stood gazing first at
the anvil and then at the man. and ut last
! with a sigh of relief he calculated, Per
haps this is only jugglery - and dropped
into chair. The young American snatched
| tlip WI VI Nltt NOM ulOuUu Inc anvil
and it tell with terrific torce, crushing in
a portion Of the floor 81 beg Your pardon
sir but is there any iugglery about that.
think you 2" he asked with smile. and
1 also sat down. The conversation that en-
sued was long and earnest, and resulted
III this conclusion Mr. Blonger was to
notify one or two OF his personal friends in
the cabinet, several scientific men OF high
repute, and two or three prominent for
eigners. the whole number not to exceed
twelve, that he wished them to meet him
IN order to investigate in concert a won
dertul discovery in science the nature OF
which would then be communicated. The
young stranger agreed to repeat his ex-
perlments on the occasion OF the meeting,
and explain the eprocess by means Of which
they We're accomplished; for the present
ne declined to make any further revela-
| tiOnS.
On the night Of the 23d of November,
1866, there assembled in st. Georges Hall
i'll London, three members of the English
cabinet. four gentlemen well known in the
scientific world, two prominent French
men, and two 1talians-eleven in all ex-
solicitation Of that gentlemen these per
whom and see they knew not what On
the platform, at the end OF the hall, Law
small cannon. a heavy piece of iron shaft
ing, and several large iron wheels What
these articles We're for, they could not i'm
agine, AT half past eight O'Clock the
young man arrived, and was introduced
by Mr.. Blonger to his friends, as Il Young
American who did not care to have his
name announced. The stranger was
dressed in Il rough suit, the worse for
wear, and wore slouched black hat. IIis
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 -fouryears though
he might have been older He was eTi-
IDENTIFY but little used to the society Of dis
tinguished persons, and at first appearance
somewhat embarrassed at his position, but
there was an expression of tirnness about
his mouth that showed strong will and
a habit OF having his own way. When he
spoke, it was with the air of man who
know the ground upon which no stood,
and his manners We're those OF one who
felt that he was the inferior of no man.
The ianitor having been dismissed and
the door locked, Mi Bonger proceeded
to explain to those present why he had
called them together. His young Ameri-
can friend, he said, had convinced him
that he was in possession of prodgious
secret, of the magnitude of which they
could judge when it was presented to
them.
The whole affair at this point came near
being broken off in disgust, by an unex-
pected requirement which the unknown
stranger exacted He declined to proceed,
: unless all present entered into an agree
ment not to communicate what they might
witness to any living person, tor period
OF ten years, without gaining his consent
The Right Honorable c. 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 We're heard. 1t re-