Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-04-19
Who Was He!

/ =
the well known firm of Blonger & Coz ma
chinists and manufacturers of marine en-
gines, established in 1903, was sitting be-
| fore a blazing FIRE in his office. in the east
end of London, when a visitor was an.
nounced. Show him In, James," said the
old gentleman, aud continued the perusal of
the Times. 4 moment after the door opened,
and young man, apparently about twenty
four years of age, plainly attired, entered
aud stood hat in hand, awaiting the leisure
of the gentleman, who merely glanced at the
stranger and Immediately resumed his paper,
evidently thinking his visitor of no inpor-
tance. After a silence of 10 few minutes, Mr..
I'longer laid down his paper, aud looking up,
abruptly said
"Well, my good sir, what do you want
of me ?"
Are you the elder MIR. Blonger ?" in
quired the stranger, with an numistakable
American accent.
8" am"
81 heard of you, and came to see you. |
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 considerable influence
with the chief persons in this government,
and it is for that reason that pay you this
visit"
Mr.. Blonger placed his god-rmmed spec
taces on his nose, and gazed in mute as
Constituent at his visitor, who continued
81 am the inventor or dscoverer rather,
of a secret of nature, process which will
revoutonize the world, which will reverse
natural laws, which will inangurate a 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 gravitation."
At this monstrous assertion look of
alarm appeared upon the countcnance of the
listener, but 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 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
The young man went on with impertur-
bable gravity Z" ! can swing the mightiest
man-of-war England possesses into the air
with my little finger. | can lift the largest
cannon at Woolwich like cork ! can---'
"Yes, yes, know-but ] am busy now,
replied the manufacturer, rising and advanc-
ing toward the bell to summon a servant.
AWAIT, Mr.. Blonger," said the visitor, in
a tone of such deep earnestness that 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"
| lie laid his hat upon the table, and drew
from the breast-poeket Of his coat a glisten.
| ing blue wire. There was an iron anvil in
\ r. Il h.. ,,,,I "a
wire round the anvil in moment lifted it
like feather from its place to the middle of
the apartment, and then stepped proudly
back The anvil iloated like bubble in
the air.
To say that Mr.. Blonger looked astounded
and agbast, would convey but mild idea of
the expression of his countenance at this
moment 1t was one of absolute horror.
He stood gazing first at the anvil and then
at the man, and at last, with sigh of re-
| lief, he calculated, Perhaps this is only
| juggery," and dropped into chair The
Young American snatched the coil Of wire
| from around the anvil, and it fell At once
with terrific force, crushing portion of the
| floor. " ] beg your pardon, sir, hut IS there
any iugglery about that, think you z" he
asked with a smile, and also sat down. The
conversation that ensucd was long and ear
nest, and resulted in this conclusion Mr.
| Blonger was to notify one or two of his per
sonal friends in the cabinet, several scientific
men of high repute, and two or three prom
inent foreigners, the whole number not Il
exceed twelve, that he wished them to mee
him in order 10 investigate IN concert 1
wonderful discovery in science, the NATURE
of which would then he communicated
The young stranger agreed to repeat his ex
periments on the occasion of the meeting
and explain the process by means of which
they were accomplished for the present Ia
declined TO make any further revelations.
On the night of the 23d of November
1866, there assembled in st. Georges Hall
in London, three members of the Englisl
cabinet, four gentlemen well known in tia
scientific world two prominent Frenchmeu
and two ltalians-eleven in all, exclusive O
Mr.. Blonger. At the earnest solicitation o
that gentleman, these persons had come :
meet they knew not whom, and see the
knew not what On the platform, at Tia
end Of the hall, lay small cannon, a heay
piece of iron shafting, and several large iro
wheels. What these articles were for, the
could not imagine. At half-past eight o'eloc
the young man arrived, and was introduce
by MIR. Bonger TO his friends, as youn
American who did not care TO have his nam
announced. The stranger was dressed in
rough suit the worse for wear and wore
slouched black hat. His hair was brow
and straight, his eyes were large, and bngl
gray in color, and his face was as destitut
Of beard as woman's, lie was above th
medium height and very slender and hi
age was apparently about twenty-four year
though he might have been older. lie wa
evidently but little used 10 the society {
/, distinguished persons, and at first appeare
somewhat embarrassed at his position, bu
there was an expression OF frnness abo'
his mouth that showed a strong will and
! habit of having his own way. When i
spoke, it was with the air OF man VIII
knew the ground where he stood, and h
manners were those of one who felt that b
was the inferior Of no man.
The janitor having been dismissed and I'll
door locked, Mr.. Blonger proceeded TO ei
plain TO those present why he had calle
: them together. His young American frien
he said had convinced him that he was
possession OF prodigious secret, of the ma
, nitude of which they could judge when
was presented 10 them.
The whole affair at this point came net
being broken OFF in disgust, 10y an une
pected requirement which the unknow
! stranger exacted. lie declined TO procee
: unless all present entered into an agreemel
: not to communicate what they might wi
/, ness to any living person for period Of e
= years, without gaining his consent. III
? Right Honorable C. was ON bis NETT
! at once. lie washed his hands Of the who
Q matter, and desired to retire immediatel
The others were equally indignant, and G
pressions not considered elegant in high S
G ciety were heard, II required all Mr. Bio
!, gers sagacity TO quell the storm. But Il
5 young man was immovable, and at last,
u the earnest solicitations of Mr., Blonger, Il
u guarantee was given. The stranger the
e took the stage, and his auditors the seats in
:. mediately in front Of il.
/ Gentlemen" he began, from what
, have noticed Of your incrednlity this eyeninl
2 am satisfied that II should inform 20
I that the'attraetiou OF gravitation could be i
s suspended that objects upon the earth's su
face would have absolutely no weight, AM
g further, that | was Ia the possession of IL
g simple means whereby this end could be a
\ complished, you would only greet my asse
r tions with jeers and ridicule. shall ther
fore show you what can do first, and tai