The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-05-08

BY JULIAN A. SELBY.
AN ERoNAuT1c ExpER1MENT.-Two
french mronauts have recently made an
interesting experiment. in nrial naviga-
tion. The balloon "Etoile Polaire"
was sent up to ascertain if the respira-
tion of highly o1ygenized air would
mitigate the suffocating effects of high
levels, and thus enable the ;cronaat to
venture beyond attitudes already
reached. This experiment was sne.
gested by the French physicist De Fon-
vielle, and was made by the baloonists
Sivel and Crocc-Spiuelli, in IN air-s!,ip
constructed for the purpose The last
named nronaut, when he had renched u
height of 16.40O feet, was nearly sufro.
Gated; but upon using the oXygepized
mir respirator, he soon recovered. The
temperatures encountered, even at this
comparatively moderate level, were very
low. At $4,000 feet elevation, the
6peotToscopic observations showed none
OF the lines which indicate tho presence
OF aqueous vapor, and the solar rays
were nearly invisible. When not using
the respirator. the skies appeared to the
observers quite dark, bat when freely
respiring, the oxygenized mir, the blue
color OF the heavens was restored In
ascending the summit of one of The
Andean peaks, Humboldt was overcome
by the aerial tenuity p little over G,OOO
feet; but in the Ihibetan Him .layas,
the German brothers Schluglntwelt
slopt oil night 10, 200 feet above the sea,
ana aiterward scaled the peak of tho hi
damin,. 8, 600 feet higher. The effect of
helght ls felt on most men at 16, 600 feet
OF less, but varies with their physical
condition al with the circumstances of
altitude to which they have been accus-
toned. In the recent experiment., while
the pulse at the ground was beating
clghty.slx minute, at 10000 feet the
number OF beats rose to 140; but on
bringing the oxygenized air respirator
into reauisition, the number fell to 1ao
This fact would show that those who
will venture their lives on the probIs
matic and perilous air voyage would do
we'll to supply their balloons with an
apparatus for generating pure oxygen,
to be respired If necessary. M. de Fon.
yielle's experiment. has demonstrated
nothing further. Mr.. Glaisher. the
English balloonist. it is claimed. went
10,0O0. feet higher than the recent
voyageFs, and did not need oxysenlzsd
air or Experience any very serious suff,,.
cssiol. ELL nearing 1000 feet above the
sea. The results Of late balIoonipo
afford, therefore, little or no encourage.
ment to it's votaries. and tbs perils 80
far have heavily oyerborne any benefit.
present or prospective, which Sc. en- q
can reap from these Icarian ventures.
Mfichelet, the French writer who ra.
Gently died, wrote, most touohinely
about the happiness of domestic life;
the family; tho Iove and affection of
home; the close ties which binds those
living. together to each other. Not
Byron, who did every thing but beat his
vile. apd then wept over the recognition
OF his dog, could have been more ten.
der. Swift, when he had just returned
from that stormy interview that broke
the heart OF Eanessa. could not hnye
praised more highly the sweet ameni-
ties OF happy household. Now, Mi
cheiet did, after his fashion, love his
vile, loved her too much, ir fact. While
ne was turning his pretty phrases in his
studies ne sided with his vile against
the rest OF his family. and in q short
time ne and his wife were isolnted from
all the rest. First his eldest son was
driven from the paternal roof. The
young fellow lived in great misery for
long time. but finally got place in the
railway Office at StrasL0rg. He had Just
enough to keep him alive and no more.
One day he fell i'll, and his place was
given to another. When living on
charity he wrote homo for aid, but re-
celved no reply. This killed him. The
next n letter was from the doctor, aud
Mlchelet went to Straaburg to find his
son corpse. Then his son-in law left
his home; his daughter died on bad
terms with him on account of his second
vile, and as NJ. Dnmesnill was not
wiling to have his children raised By
Nine. Michelet. an open warfare was be-
body Of Miohelet. ..,-.-,''
A negro boy died of h5drophobia in
Athens, Ga, on Monday.