The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-10-21
IN AN OLD TENEMENT.

II is doubtful, exceedingly so, Whetner the
bright October guns we are now having ever
penetrate the damp and noisome alley-way
which was certainly no thoroughfare, and
which led out Of Ursulines street and into
dingy courtyard where there were numerous
rooms, but hardly one tenanted. But human
nature, especially that portion OF it which has
in youth reveled in the generous warmth OF
old Sol. rarely cares to live in it when those
October suns have come and gone, many times
carrying away with them prosperity and penl-
tude. The disappointed in life shun old heids'
old scenes, old thoughts
It was for this reason, perhaps, that Adrian
once so well known here as the hghtest
spirit in q belle Orleans, sought this dreary
abode Antiquated spiders, perfect gems to
an entomologist, hurried up long dusty webs,
apparently wrathful at the intrusion, whilst q
superannuated cat rushed out the causeway,
upsetting numberless old bottles deposited
wears agone behind leaky cistern. The
whole place wore an aspect OF some OF those
by-ways in London which Dickens has painted
so faithfully in his wonderful word pigments
Not to be daunted by such trivial obstacles
we pushed our way on and entered the yard.
ragged stunted fig tree tried to send out
a leaf or two from its branches in little patch
left unpayed, whilst between the bricks
wealth of damp, uncomfortable weeds stood
mn in a regularity of design conformaole only
with the characteristics OF the pavement.
broad stairway, with a railing or two lett here
and there to show what it had been, invited
the visitor to the second story OF the rear
buildipg, an invitation we yesterday accept
ed for we had learned that it was up here
what was left of Adrian - was engaged IN
perfecting work, the labor OF his llfe-the
Utopian perpetual motion. Plantation, slaves
everything had been ground out OF him be-
tween the little wheels of his device, and now,
with the debris Of his former purchases OF
metal, machinery, etc., he was still prose-
cutting his work.
A small blacksmith forge confronted us at
the head of the stairs, rusty and eaten, the
fire having long since smoked and gone out,
forever, probably. Passing along the gallery
an open door was found, out OF which the
taps of very feeble hammer came modestiy,
as if fearing 10 disturb the quiet OF the
place When we knocked there was stir
ring inside, a rattle amongst iron rods, tin
pans and brass wheels, and our host pre-
sented himself Ordinarily, sixty years is
not a great age for a man to live, even IN
these DAYS, when the medical men estimate
life is getting brlefer but if these sixty years
told on all as they had on this feeble old ma
chinist then two score ought to be the limit.
Two bright, black eyes of piercing brilliancy
scan us closely from out sea OF wrinkles.
They had kindly expression, but this
seemed only to make one the more to pity
and commiserate rather than admire.
The few long and thin, gray tangles OF hair
were brushed behind his ears, leaving the
more exposed broad, high forehead. The
smoke or CRIME of the workshop had given
the whole countenance a brownish hue,
varied only when the thin, white lips OF the
old m an moved. The room WAS hoored, we
belieye-but this we believe only because it
sustained our weight-but our eyes IN long
search failed to get a glimpse OF 1t, SO com
pletely covered was it with bolts, tools,
scraps, springs and a heterogeneous mass Of
every possible metallic thing.
Introducing ourself and stating the object
of our business, the old man at once bright
ened up, and, in q nervous and tremulous
manner opened the window shutter for light.
If the confusion was conspicuous ID the
darkness before, it was confounding in the
light. Only in one spot was there anything
like order, and that was in one corner, where
stood a curious looking device of innumerable
little band-wheels and pullies.
"My very good sir, there it is, sir, said
he, pointing to it. "The principle is simple,
perfectly so-just as plain as the laws OF
gravity, sir-but then, my boy, the people
who do not inquire into it only laugh. No,
sir, do not think have made any error in
my calculation l know | have not Mathe-
NAUTICAL principles can not lie. Those inclined
planes are for the platinum balls; they are
nv motors. You set ball rolling down hill,
and gravity accelerates its speed. When 1t
has this speed it has more force or weight
than it did when it started. Now, put these
balls on the inclined planes, which are just
long enough, and no more, to get the force L
want. and when the balls get to the bottom
they strike piece of mechanism, which re-
ceives all the power except that necessary to
place the balls back in their original position.
This force drives whatever machinery l
choose. Then the balls do the work over and
over forever.
"Ab, sir, you smile too. would like to
show YOU, but one little wheel is out of
order, one little wheel out of order, " he re-
peated in sad and touching manner. We
looked at the mechanism. 1t was like all the
rest-a vain attempt at cheating Nature IN
the knowledge of her own laws, but the
shaky voice of the old man repeating there
is oue wheel out Of order, sir" prevented any
remark.
There was one wheel out of ordU The
wheel of this once vigorous, happy life had
gotten out of place long ago. That delicate
piece of workmanship had been unseated by
the merest trite, and although the machine
went on it brought ont nothing but visionary
old man. The springs of existence for q time
may have moved liveler, but friction told,
and fortune and favor were worn away just
because there was "just little wheel out of
order"
Wants aud To Rent inserted in the BULLETIN for
fifty cents.
Negotiable paper in England having been
manipulated in fraudulent manner to an
alarming extent, the following remedial pro-
L.