The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-22
SELECT STORY.
A WONDERFUL INVENTION.


marine engines, established in 1858, was
sitting before blazing FIRE in his othee
in the east end of London, when visl-
tor was announced.
"Show him in James," said the old
gentleman, and continued fthe .perusal
of the Times. A moment after the door
opened, and a Young man, apparently
about twenty four years of age, plainly
attired, entered and stood hat in hand,
awaiting the leisure of the gentleman,
who merely glanced at the stranger, and
Immediately resumed his paper evident
ly thinking his visitor a person of no
importance. After silence of few
minutes Mr.. Blonger land down his pa
per and, looking up, abruptly said:
"Well, my good sir, what do you
want with me?"
"Are you the elder Mr.. Blonger?' in
ouired the stranger, with an unmistaka-
BILE American accent,
"I am"
II heard of you and came to see you.
1 understand that you transact large
and successful business, but it is not on
that account that / have called upon
you. am told that you have consider
able 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
xpectacles OH his nose, and gazed in mute
astonishment at his visitor, who continu-
ed:
"I am the inventor, or discoverer rath-
er, of a secret of nature, a process which
will revolutfonize the world, which will
reverse natural laws, which will inau-
gurate new order of things; discovery
the results of which are so vast that no
human mind can comprehend them. In
short, can suspend the law of gravita-
ton"
At this monstrous assertion a look of
alarm appeared upon the countenance
of the listener; bnt as he compared his
own brawny frame with the slight figure
of the lunatic before him, it gave place
to a contemptuous smile, as he answered
somewhat impatiently:
"Well, we'll, my dear sir, perhaps you
can-perhaps you can; but am nor in
that line of business, and yon had bet
ter apply to somebody else"
The young man went on with imper
turbabIe gravity: 81 can swing the
mightiest man-of-war England possesses
into the air with my little finger. ] can
lift the largest cannon at Woolwitch like
cork; can
"Yes, yes, ] know-but | am busy
now" replied the manufacturer, rising
and advancing toward the bell to sum-
man a servant.
"Wait Mr. Blonger." said his visitor
in a tone of such deep earnestness that
gentleman hesitated in spite of himself
-"Wait moment. am not mad
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
n glistening blue wire. There was an
iron anvil in the corner of the ROOM
He wound the coil of wire around the
anvil in moment, lifted it like feath-
er from its place TO the middle of the
apartment, and then stepped proudly
back. The anvil hoated like a bubble
in the air.
To say that Mr.. Blonger looked as
tonished and aghast would convey but a
mild idea of the expression of his coun-
absolute horror He stood gazing first
at the anvil and then the man, and at last
with sight of relief he calculated.
perhaps, this is only jugglery," and
dropped into a chair. The young Amer
lean snatched the coil of wire, from
around the anvil, and it fell at once with
terrific force, crushing in portion of
the floor. II beg your pardon, sir, but
is there any jugglery about that, think
you?" he asked, with smile, and also
sat down. The conversation that ensued
was long and earnest, and resulted in
this conclusions: 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
| foreigners, the whole number not to ex.
ceed twelve, that he wished them to
meet him in order in investigate in con.
cert wonderful discovery in science
the nature of which would then be com
municated. The young stranger agreed
to repeat his experiments on the occasion
of the meeting, and explain the process,
by means of which they were accom-
plished; for the present he declined t.
make any further revelations.
On the night of the 23d of November
1866, there assembled in London thre,
members of the English cabinet, fou
gentlemen well-know in the scientif,
world, two prominent Frenchmen, anC
two Italians-eleven in all, exclusive o
Mr.. Blonger. At the earnest solictita
tion of that gentleman these persons hac
come to that gentleman these person.
had come to meet they knew not whom
and see they knew not what. On th'
platform, at the end of the hall, lay
small cannon, heavy piece of iron shat
ting and several large wheels. Wha
these articles were for they could no
imagine. AT half-past eight the younl
man arrived, and was introduced by Nh
Blonger to his friends as young Amer
ican who did not care to have his nam
announced. The stranger was dressed
in a rough suit the worse for wear, AM
wore a slouched black hat His hal
was brown and straight, his eyes wer
large and bright gray in color; an,
his face was as destitute of beard as
woman's. He was above the medium
height and very slender, and his age wa
J apparently about twenty -four years
though he might have been older. II
was evidently but little used to societ