The Portland daily press., 1876-05-15


spring; as they do this they catch against a
sort of trigger, which in its turn releases a
weight that runs down and draws the cur
tains.
Almost as he had finished speaking the
metal had become sufficiently heated by the
now lighted gas to act on the lever, and the
shutters closed and the curtains drew them
selves together as if by magic
That is very cleverly managed" said ].
but here is another knob with the letter A
upon it; what is that for?''
The A stands tor alarm. | have one in
each room, but have never required them
yet. When either of them is pressed, a large
alarm bell on the top of the house is setrng-
ing by electricity, and it continues to ring I'M
til the electric power is turned ffagain. We
won't try that, as it would alarm the whole
neighborhood. But have more to show
| you. Here is q small recess, with a curtain
| in front; I have had it fitted up as shower
| bath; it is elf-acting; in second or two at
| ter you enter. the water comes down. You
can try it in the morning if you like"
''Thank you. You do indeed abound in
| ingenious contrivances; you, however, must
have exhausted all in this room, at any
rate"
so dear, no. Will you see if there is any
water in the basin ?'
l went to look, and remarked that some
was just running in from the tap.
| "Just so; in walking to it you trod on a
| spring in the foor and set the water to run
ming; now when you come away you will
tread on another and cause it to run away"
again admired tie continuance, when he
| said: '"There is one more, and think that is
ALL See; here by the bedside are three speak
| ing tubes; this marked number one, commu-
nicates with my bed room: this, marked two
with my sisters room; and the third tie SER
wants room. The last two do not suppose
| you are likely to have any occasion to use, un-
less you want Jane to bring you an early cup
of tea.'
SIS Jane the pretty little housemaid who
| opened the door for us?'
Eyes, you sly dog; yeu were not long in
| finding that out. But mind, my pretty Jane
will stand no nonsense"
"Why, Harry, should have thought you
would have known me too well to make such
| a remark-you know | never"
GAN right, old fellow: was only joking.
But come, you must look sharp and get ready
for dinner.''
After Harry had left, and when was ready
to go down, determined try the tube num-
Der one; [ blew the whistle.
"HolloW replied Harry from the other
end.
II am ready to go down when you are;
shall you be long"
81 am ready now, and shall we meet at the
landing" came his answer.
As we were going down stains Harry told
me we should be four at dinner, as his sister
had invited Miss Denbigh, young lady who
lived near. We found the ladies in the
drawing room, where l was introduced TO
Miss Denbigh. l could not hely thinking she
was mole at home with Harry than with his
sister, and this was confirmed later on, when
| he walked home with her.
We had very nice little dinner; and after
the ladies had left us, Harry explained TO me
some more of bis inventions, and showed me
his telegraphs, by which he communicated
with his neighbors. While we were talking
one of the bells rang.
"Hullo," said Harry, "lhat's Pool. What
does he want, l wonder?" Then followed a
series Of clicks. "He wants to know if will
come and have game of billiards tomorrow
evening. shall say have friend staying
with me-" Click, click, click. ''He says :
Bring your friend with YOU What say you,
Mark? Will you go?"
II have no objection" answered.
Click, click, click, went the machine fol
some time; and then Harry came and sat
down, saying: "He says: AN right; he shall
expect u.s."
After time we joined the ladies in the
drawing room, and had some music and sing
ING, as Miss Denbeigh had very fine voice
she aud Harry sang some duets together, and
appeared so much accustomed to it that they
must have had great deal of practice. In
the room was nice organ, on which Harry
gave very creditable performance. He ex-
planned to me that it was blown by water
power. He had fixed a horizontal windmill
on top of the. house, which pumped up the
water; and from the hight to which it was
raised he got sufficient power TO work small
water engine to blow his organ. When he
had finished playing he remarked ''Perhaps
Al.
gan?"
"What do you mean? '' said "Can you
wind it up like clock, and make it play by
means of a barrel?"
4 "Nothing of the kind, l assure you; it has
neither barrel nor spring.
| And now, 10 my great establishment, a
sonata by Beethoven pealed forth from the
instrument; the keys went down inst as
though the fingers pressed them. But no fin
gers were there! l could not understand it
at all.
At length Harry let me into the secret. He
had musical friend, who lived only a few
hundred yards distant, and who had an Or
gan exactly like this one. Between the two
a cable containing a number of wires was
laid, and on drawing out certain stop the
current passed from one to the other, so that
when note in one organ was struck, the
corresponding note was drawn down by an
electo-magnet in the other. Thus, the piece
| Harry had just played had been produced
simultaneously on the other organ, and now
the friend was performing on his, and this
was repeating it. Several pieces were played
in this Way, Harry, between times, holding
conversation with his friend, and making
suggestions by means of the telegraph. When
it began to get late, Miss Denbeigh declared
she must be going; and Harry walked home
with her, leaving me to the tender mercies oil
| (-rQHinnt Whom afr otf
she began asking me if 1 had seen anything OF
missionary labors during my residence abroad.
l told her had not. She then said she took
great interest in such matters, and was now
at work on some gauze frocks for negro chill
dren, thinking they would be cool and pleas
ant to wear. was next cross-questioned as
to the moral character of the people where 1
had been staying. / thong 1T Harry (the
rogue) would never come back, and made up
my mind he must be flirting with Miss Den
beigh. or he would have returned sooner, for
-shehad remarked that she lived close by. How
ever, he came at last, and, after a glass Of
grog and one pipe of tobacco, we went OF
bed. Before we did so, however, Harry told
one more of his contrivances; this was to
prevent the entrance of burglars.
between the kitchen and the front part OF
the house, he explained, sis pair of swing
doors, on which are two brs IS handles; these
are connected with an induction coil, and
when l 60 to bed turn on the battery power
by small winch in my room. Now, woe
betide any one who tries to open these doors
in the night! If he takes hold of these han
dies he Immediately receives a tremendous
seemed an age. Yes; would make up my
mind to go. l would leave note for Harry,
asking him to excuse my sudden departure.
and begging him, whatever might be alleged
against my moral character, to suspend his
judgment until he had heard what [ have to
say, if we should ever meet again.
| found in my pocket note with blank
half sheet: this tore off. and writing my
letter to Harry in pencil, placed it on the
dressing table and prepared to start. 1 had
only small portmanteau, which l could cas-
lily carry to the station myself Soon all was
ready. cautiously opened the door and
cept noiselessiy down stairs, carrying my
boots in my hand. In the hall L sat down
and put them on. Confound it; the front
door was locked and the key taxed away. ]
must try some of the back entrances. 1 was
determined to get out of the house if possible
/ had not been in the kitchen, but | saw
passage which had no doubt led in that d
rection. Cautiously traversed il, for the